Another buttoned cushion cover
Most of the patterns I see for pillow / cushion covers have a zipper attachment.Now that bothers me a big deal because I'm a buttons person! I try my best to incorporate buttons whenever a zipper is required. Believe it or not, I go to great lengths to achieve this! This ap[plies to everything including various covers, garments, bags etc...What is it about zippers that I don't like ? Well, for starters, I hate it when zippers get stuck or when the yarn gets caught is the zipper , or maybe it's just because I'm not comfortable with attaching a zip to fabric. I usually make a mess of it.
So here is my latest cushion cover with buttons. Now I really wish we had all those gorgeous buttons available out here. Especially the big sized ones. I would go nuts collecting them!
This one is made to go with the granny afghan I made a while back for my friend's daughter.

Yet another one
I call this Snow Lace Doily. This is another one of my attempts at designing doilies from simple motifs. This is going to be a tray doily for a friend. I hope she like it. I've used Aunt Lydia's size 10 thread... and I'm feeling bad that now it's almost over!I must say , I love working with this thread. And made the most of it while it lasted. I used it for some of my best projects.Anyways, here is the picture of the doily-

I have been visiting a lot of food and recipes blogs lately. And Wow! there are some amazing blogs out there. I'm getting interested in cooking all over again. I enjoy cooking but at times lose interest in the daily mundane cooking! All these new recipes are tempting me to experiment. So don't be surprised to read about food stuff out here!
While I've been checking out stuff ( especially since Ravelry is blocked- don't want ot talk abt this ...it makes me very upset!),I'm also doing my favourite pass time - checking out all the new crochet/ knitting supplies online and drooling over them.And basically envying anybody in blogland who mentions new acquisitions like yarn, hooks, accessories etc. My target today has been Amazon and it's been amazing !!! It's unbelievable the amount of things available and to think of it you don't get any of the stuff out here. It's not surprising as crafting is really not too popular out here. But the good news is things are changing and I now find a few crocheter/ knitters who blog and live in UAE. That has been great ...now I just hope someday we can work out some kind of arrangement or get together for all of us. I'm hoping!!

Doilies to show

I've been crocheting like there is some kind of race going on ....Is this what happens before you get a burnout? You go on crocheting like crazy and have a dozen more projects to work up next until eventually to end up having a crochet breakdown. I've seen many of my blog friends go through this and I hope I don't end up in a slump! Though right now every single minute I'm fighting the urge to pick up the hook.
Anyhoos, here is my latest doily. I have seen dozens of motifs looking like this and whipped up this one based on those. The rest is just a matter of putting them together and giving it an edging! So can I say I designed it myself ...I wonder!




This one next is based on a pattern stitch I really like. I've seen this stitch used on various garments, shawls and tops etc. I wanted to experiment it on a doily - more like a tray cloth.Hmmm... I had wanted to give it a frilly edging but ran out of thread :(. And you know by now ....that I have to improvise in such circumstances as there is absolutely no chance what so ever to be able to get that thread here.


There's more to show ...so don't forget to check back!

More to show
I know my blog posts are coming in slow these days. The weird reason being that I'm getting more crochet done and that's why I lose out on Blogging time. This one is new for me ....I'm more used to spending more time on PC drooling over patterns and supplies and yarn rather than actually crocheting!
This is a chair caddy done as one of the quick results projects. It's a quick and easy pattern. I'd say a good one beginners. And real handy too.It's already made it's home on my arm chair and has begun it's loyal service as well.



And now for the goodies. Kids have their own set of logic and reasons and nothing said can change that. Sometimes I'm at a loss of words and shamefully resort to treats!! So when faced with a tough situation : A donut does the trick , at least for now! What would we do n a world without donuts and chocolates?

Jibbs loved the chair caddy and has decided to make one himself. Of course, that means he will learn to crochet and he wants to learn so badly. I've tried explaining to him that 5 years is to young for this but then like I said : they have their own logic! He says , if he is old enough to make his own bed then he is old enough to crochet! Besides, I know he loves to play around with my hooks! I find the missing ones in his stuff. The little fella has begun to make his claim on my yarn too lately...I'm not sure this mommy wants to share!!! I'm very possessive about my hooks , yarn and threads....after all we don't get them here!

A few of my crocheted things

It's not cold out here at all , in fact summer is in full glory and yet I have afghans to show!! Ironic , but that's how it is ! This an afghan I finished recently for a friend. It's a basic granny pattern and worked up in a Jiffy.So I really enjoyed it except for feeling very hot while I had to have it on lap. Thank goodness for Central air conditioning !


And then matching pillows ,of course ,follow. This one is called charming clusters. And it worked like a charm!


I've worked with the same yarn as the previous floral buttoned pillow and the same King Cole Magnum chunky yarn.The pillow measures about 16 inches and the afghan is about 63 inches.
One thing I learnt in this project is that making afghans is not at all bad and can be quite fun too. If you know me , you'd know how I run away from making afghans. I guess it stems from the shortage of yarns and threads out here. And prefer to make full use of it! And the amount of yarn needed for an afghan actually scares me! And chunky is not my favourite type of yarn still looks and feels great for afghans. Now that's a whole lot of Ands....
Another yarn project finished recently is a an apple coaster - but since I used really thick yarn it's more of a potholder!


Not that I'm complaining , who doesn't need yet another potholder? I like to make a bunch of these as gifts. My friends appreciate it and i gives me the excuse to make more;).

THANK YOU MIMI !
I got your Pay It Forward Package yesterday and so totally loved it. The book is gorgeous...there is something so dainty and feminine about Japanese designs, rt? And I was thrilled to be a proud owner of your own Original design. I drove dh nuts ..kept showing him that I have a friend who designs stuff and gets them published too. So proud of you. And once again, thank you so much.
Here are the pictures of the lovely package from Mimi.

You can see Mimi's name printed out here. Way to go , girl! I have to get this bag done , it's so pretty.

Floral Buttoned Pillow



As promised more pictures for you. This is, again ,my own pattern and I guess I'm pleased with the way it's turned out. As you might have already guessed by now that I've not written down a pattern yet! But then any crocheter with a little bit of crocheting experience ca whip up this little unoriginal pattern..lol! I'm working on a matching afghan too. Ofcourse, I'll be posting the pictures real soon as it is almost done. It feels so good to have projects rolling by ....ahh! the feel of having FOs to show.
This time around I've got to use some really pretty yarn. Its called MAGNUM CHUNKY - King Cole.When I saw it first I must admit I thought it looked a bit rough and brushy . But once I began working with it all doubts dispersed. I enjoyed working with this yarn. How do you like it?

Sweetheart Roses Baby Layette





I fell in love with this pattern as soon as I set eyes on it. I had to wait a long while to get this pattern. I had tried various sources and given up. But I did out it up in this post on this blog expressing my absolute desire for it. And before I could imagine I had an angel looking out for me. And Shari got back in touch with me and mailed the book to me. Wasn't that the sweetest? Thank you so much Shari, I really appreciate your kindness and generosity.
I made this little layette for my one and only niece born this February. It was her 'Coming Home ' outfit but she turned out to be way too tiny to wear this! But now she has finally grown into it and looks thoroughly adorable. I love the little shrug....it looks so cute! All in all, I'd say this is an amazing pattern- really quick and easy to follow. Great job by the designer .
Once the set was done I had to add a berret too. I've seen many online and whipped this one up. It looks way too much like many of the other designs I've seen on line. So I just crocheted it up looking at the pictures. I love the way it turned out.



Many more projects are actually making their transition from UFO to FO finally! Can't tell you how proud that makes me. I'll be putting out more pictures really soon.

Pineapple Soap Sachet




Latest project off my hook! This a real quickie and pretty cute to make too. So I ended up making two. I'm planning on making more of these for gifts. I love the smell of soap in my cupboards. You'll find many of these tucked away in all the various rooms in my house ...I know it's weird but then I told you I love the smell of some soaps. Since I have extremely sensitive skin and I cannot use them, I use them to keep my clothes and towels fragrant!
The pattern is not all that well written. I had to rewrite it to make it easily understandable . This one was worked as a thread special project with a friend. I also like to call it my stash buster project. I used up my scrap threads!

Tidal Flow Afghan



This is the second full adult sized afghan I've made so far. The first one was given away before I could take pictures :( . But now I'm learning and improving. I take pictures immediately after completing the projects. Yes sometimes even before blocking. As in this case....as I'm sure you'll note . This one is already in it's new home and I couldn't post the pictures before my friend received it .
This pattern is called Tidal flow and that's all I know of it. I had seen it long back and made a few swatches of it with different colours. I just followed the pattern from my swatch and made the Afghan.If anybody happens to know the source of this pattern, please let me know . I'd love to credit the designer . It's alovely pattern and fun to work and surprisingly quick too.
My son call it the sun and sea afghan because of the colours. I think it's an apt name , it does remind me of the beach in summer. We have a lot of summer days spent on the beaches. If you are interested in the close up of the pattern stitch , here you are :



And if you are wondering about my previous post about the Ring Cushion - Well, it got there in time . I delivered it personally , my own sweet self!! I had promised to get it delivered on time ...and sooo I'm glad I could!!

ROST PEACHY RING BEARER PILLOW



This is just off my hooks! The latest project. It's for a friend and this time I got the picture before giving it away !! Learning from experience. It's one of those urgent requests and I hope it get to her in time and that she likes it.
For those of you interested to know the details : I've used Aunt Lydia's thread -white- size 10. And the inner lining is done in white silk. Yes , stitched by my own self!!! This time the pattern too is an original -right to the stitch pattern!! Oh yes, how much original can you get in making a cushion??? ;) !
And now for the Ranting part of the story.....I'm really mad at Aramex courier service. Since this was a top urgently required item I had been after these guys to collect it from me and deliver it to Dubai ( which happens to be merely 1 and half hour drive from here !!!! ) and after stalling me for a whole day , now they tell me it cannot be delivered by tonight !! And what's worse they cannot be sure whether they can deliver it by tomorrow evening. Ofcourse I get all mad and worked up and ask them what I can do? And would you believe it ...they ask to lodge a complaint!!!Ah well...how intelligent , like that would get my package there. I'm so MAD right now and sorry too for ranting on and on out here but those of you thinking of using Aramex -think again. I'd say stay away.

April Showers !
Where are they? There aren't any rains out here and looks like summer has made an early start this year.My poor plants are already suffering the heat and it is showing too ( this could also be the results of poor gardening skills!)
I came across a nice Give Away at Ana's blog of Lullabies and lace. It's her 400 th post - Do drop in and check out her blog . She is a very creative woman and I so enjoy her blog and love to see her various projects in crochet and sewing and other crafts too. She has some really gorgeous patterns on her site.

NO EXCUSES !

Absolutely no excuses for it - I've been neglecting my poor poor blog lately to the point that it has begun to shrivel up and dry just like my balcony garden! I've not been neglecting my garden but the dry summer wind is to be blamed. I haven't given up - atleast not yet!
Things have been moving very fast and life is very happening at the moment , thankfully all good stuff. Looks like a week from now I'll be having some free time to be online more often.
I've been crocheting away like a nut but I cannot put up the pictures out here yet. These are surprise gifts , don't want to ruin it ! I've been reading a lot too lately.A whole of Erma Bombeck . I think she was one of the greatest writers ever!I've been reading her books since my teens and everytime I get a wonderful feeling reading it.

Pay it Forward
I came across this on Mimi's blog and signed up for it.I love sending out gifts and haven't been able to participate in exchanges due to time restraints. But this special concept gives me a one year (Wow! 12 whole months ) time period to send out my gifts. I have received some really wonderful gifts from some very generous online friends. Well, I figure it time to pay it forward :).

Now for my Pay-it-Forward rules:
* I will send a gift to 3 people who leave a comment here requesting to join this PIF exchange.

I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within this year, that is my promise!

* The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.

Want to participate?

* Leave a comment on this post.

* Make the same promise on your own blog.

A new contest!
Not on my blog, atleast not yet! I'm still caught up with some projects and the deadline is zooming .So unfortunately blogging has been slow...really slow lately.
But life is on the fast track ,thankfully! And lots of good things happening and it's been fun. I'm going to an aunt for the first time.....so all excited as you can imagine,Like I needed anu reason to make more baby stuff!!!!!
Before I forget , I came across this really cool contest at Ravelry. Check it out and maybe enter too. The deadline is 9th of February. Anyways the blog is cool and lots of lovely work done there. Here is the link CONTEST - Enjoy!

Finally Blogger is back in English!!! My blog had switched to Arabic and ofcourse I have no idea how that happened! Anyways , it has now decided to to get back to it's original language.
2008 began with a great deal of fun, new years eve and a surprise B'day bash for me and lots of gifts for my son. Yes, for some reason even now he thinks that anybody can have a birthday as long as he gets a present...kids! It was such fun.Dh had told me to get ready for a candle light dinner and instead drove over all the way to Dubai where we had all of our family waiting! Needless to say we had such a wonderful time.
The year also started with a lot of crocheting getting done as well. Just a pic to show you one of the current Finish offs. It looks cuter in person. I manage to ruin the look when I take the pictures.



This pattern is called Pink Posies but ofcourse I have used lavender. The design is by Sandra Abbate from the book LA Tender Touch Layettes. I've used ordinary local yarn called Venus. It's one that is widely available and is pretty sturdy but not as soft as I'd like . But I like the look of the finished product. This pattern was very quick and easy to work and I'm sure I'll be making more of this.
I'm currently working on bottle covers , a couple of doilies and an afghan. Will upload the pictures when I finish and hand them over to my friend for whom these are being made.

Welcome 2008 !

Icey Dicey Baby Vest and matching Hat



This is my latest designing experiment and I'm happy with the way it turned out. A few more projectson the go but not yet done to be shown yet.
The yarn used is Hariri in white and the pattern stitch is plain old V-Stitch. I just added in the scallpoed edge to the vest and the cap. So how do you like it? This is an attempt to create designs from simple stitches.....again nothing original! Just inspiration from amny existing patterns. Now that makes me wonder ....when you design clothing the basic idea is already around ....you just end up making slight differences.Like for instance when you make a baby sweater or a vest, how many variations can you seriously have and still keep it practical? Just random thoughts....okay ,you can change the stitch patterns , colour combos, textures, yarn types, maybe even alter the style a bit but then what more can you change?





More pictures to show but I guess it'll have to wait . The next few days are going to busy with Eid just round the corner , the winter vacations and finally my Birthday! Yes come the new year and I grow another year !

And More .....
And as I promised a few more pictures. I really enjoyed making this tisuue holder the last time so much that I made another one just the same ,yes even the holly is identical !




Another little trivet. It's candy cup but looks very cute as a votive candle holder. It's one of those just one more stitch projects- real quickie and great for using up scraps. Thats my another new thing with me ...using up scraps. I'll put up more pictures of my scrap yarn projects ....I'm just loving it !




And finally , finished designing another baby pattern. I'll post about that with pictures soon .

Many Fos
Looks like the the year end is seeing many Finish off this year and it's a good feeling. Finally most of the ' to do ' for 2007 seem to have been done with except the few standard exceptions !!!

So here are a few of the projects to show. Most of these are baby stuff as there are many babies on their way pretty soon. and before you begin to wonder ....no, I'm not expecting one ! But it looks like everyone around me is ...so I'm bcak to crochting my favourite things ...Baby stuff!

This is very cute and super easy and quick to make Romper & cap Set.I've used Hariri acrylic yarn and I'm please with how soft and snuggly it has turned out to be.







I've been wanting to make the very popular 'Baby it's cold outside' sweater. And now I understand why everyone just loves these. It's a very easy, fast and absolutely cute pattern. The picture just doesn't show the colours well(.....maybe I should try it with another camera) but it looks adorably pretty in person.


I'll put up more pictures tomorrow as blogger decides not to upload any more today.

New Blogs
Well new to me anyways ! I just came across a couple of new Indian bloggers who also crochet besides doing other crafts. These blogs were very interesting and have some really lovely projects done. This is Ummeyusuf - lovely projects done and she is generous with the patterns too..... very talented and beautiful work done .
Another blog I came across is Nimatitus. It's very interesting and has a feel about life in UAE as well as some very pretty projects. Check these out.
And when I'm not busy blog reading and browsing I actually am doing some crocheting and catching up with more knitting stitches. I've tried many different stitches and now have officially started on cable stitches!!!

It's mid-November already ???? Where did all the time go? Another year coming to a close. And so much more to do before that happens. Is it just me who is in a rush or are there others who feel the same ? I think I"m begining to panic!!!!!
Here are some kitchen Pretties to make the cooking area charming. Simple and quick projects really. These were for kitchen themed exchange. And glad to know that my partner loved it.






It's mid-November already ???? Where did all the time go? Another year coming to a close. And so much more to do before that happens. Is it just me who is in a rush or are there others who feel the same ? I think I"m begining to panic!!!!!
Here are some kitchen Pretties to make the cooking area charming. Simple and quick projects really. These were for kitchen themed exchange. And glad to know that my partner loved it.

Another bag

I'm in the Bag mode , big time and looks like it will go on for sometime. This bag is for Lisa for the Crochet Mania bag exchange..I hope she liked it.



I also added in the necklace I showed in the previous post and a tissue cover . I had seen it in the Pinkrose crochet blog sometime back and was totally smitten by it. There was no pattern but the picture was clear enough.

Inspired by Jewellery



When it comes to jewellery the options are unlimited .....and there is plenty of inspiration all around . Actually plenty of inspiration. One look at Irish flowers and my mind automatically pictures beads and jewellery more than anything else. This is a crocheted necklace for a very dear online friend./ I hope she likes it.
And here , a closer look at the rose. It's done in silky nylon thread about size 20. And the pattern is inspired by the crocheted jewellery all over the web. Nothing oroginal here but I love it since it's my first peice of thread crocheted jewellery.