WIP and Yarn Along

I've started another new project! I'm making another patchwork dog pillow, this time using a more solid square. I'm making him for my nephew's birthday coming up later this month. He has loved my first patchwork pillow the most out of everyone, he has loved snuggling it when he's over, so I decided he needed one of his own for his house in more boy colors.

I'll be sharing the square pattern and how to make the dog pillow once I've gotten him finished!

I finished reading A Moment Like Forever last night, it was a pretty good read. There was a twist towards the end, one I wasn't really expecting. At first it annoyed me but I got over it and liked the rest of the book. I'm still reading Crochet Saved My Life, I'm only reading small chunks at a time, it's still a good one.

On Goodreads, there's a reading challenge that you can set up at any time. At the beginning of this year, I set a goal to read 20 books. I have set higher goals before but I didn't think I would be reading as much this year, so I set it pretty low. I hit my goal with this last book and I see no signs of my reading slowing down. I'm going to be starting another new book tonight, Room by Emma Donoghue.

I'm sharing at WIP Wednesday and Yarn Along today.

PS: Don't forget to check out my review of the Sharp Crochet Hook and enter to win your own!

yarn along

Yarn along time! It's been awhile since I've joined up. Yarn along is hosted by Ginny at Small things each week, come join in and share what you're reading and crocheting/knitting.


I've finally started reading Crochet Saved My Life, it's been on my shelf for quite some time, so I don't know what's taken me so long to open it. I have wanted to read this one since Kathryn released it. I'm also reading A Moment Like Forever by Martina Reilly. It's a much lighter read compared to the crochet book.


This week, I'm crocheting a Superman doll! My son's 5th birthday is this weekend, so I'm last minute making for him. I looked for patterns online but didn't find anything I really liked enough, so I'm making my own pattern up. I don't think I will have time to make him more than one doll before his birthday but if this Superman turns out good, I'll be making him a Batman and Spiderman eventually. I'm taking notes as I go, so I may even release the patterns as well.

Are you working on anything fun this week?

summer of stash busting granny blanket & yarn along

My stash busting granny square blanket has grown a lot! I'm still having loads of fun crocheting this, I think I could even be done with it before the end of the month. I'm going to make it four by four squares big, I still have plenty of yarn left to do it. The color selection is getting a little limited which is a good thing, I'm actually getting through the stash!


Besides the stash busting crochet, I've been doing some reading again. I think I'm still going through a bit of a funk with it though, I'm taking a lot longer to get through books right now, even when it's a really good one!

I finally finished The Infernal Devices trilogy. The last book was really good, it wrapped everything up so well. And it was nice to get to the end and know that I actually finished and won't have to wait another year for the next!

I recently finished Catherine McKenzie's newest book Hidden, I enjoyed it, it kept me guessing throughout. The book is out right now in Canada and is being released in the US in the spring of next year. If you read this one, don't forget to read the epilogue.

And I just started Neanderthal Seeks Human: A Smart Romance, I haven't gotten anywhere in it yet so I don't have anything much to say yet. There is a knitting circle in it though.

I'm sharing here today:

yarn along...

Gah! I had meant to get at least one more post in before Yarn Along again. Getting onto the computer lately feels like a bit of a chore most of the time but I'm going to work on it and get something besides this up again!

I'm still reading Clockwork Prince this week, usually I gobble these books up but it's going slower than usual. I am really enjoying it but I'm not as into the characters in this series as much as I was with Mortal Instruments. I'm not sure what it is but I really don't care much that Will is sad, blah!


I finished a big heart pillow last night. I used the Navaho method again but with an extra thread of yarn mixed in this time. The heart ended up being just shy of 18 inches big! I used FreshStitches' free Valentine's Day Hearts pattern in the large size.

Next up with this method will be a teddy bear! But, I really need to rest up my arms before I take that on.

yarn along

My wrist is doing much better after a week (almost) break from crochet, so I'm back at it! I added another batch of squares to Colour Punch, it's now 64 squares big! I love just staring at it and it's finally starting to feel like it's growing. There's still a long way to go though, luckily there's still a lot of cotton left to use.

I finished Clockwork Angel from last week and am now reading Clockwork Prince. I really enjoyed the first book, so I'm excited to get into this second one.

I'm joining in again with Yarn Along at Small Things.

yarn along

I made a hanging owl decoration this week, I am so excited about how this turned out! I wanted to try some actual macrame to add to a space in my house but I decided on crocheting a macrame style owl instead. The pattern can be found here.


I used a size 10mm hook and just one skein of worsted weight yarn. I found a really cool method called the navaho technique, where you use one skein of yarn but at triple thickness. This youtube video shows you how to do it, it's a really amazing technique! Maybe someday I'll make a big toy using it.

The owl is 18 inches long but with the fringe it's 25 inches! It's so big and fits so well in the space I put it. The big blue beads I used for the eyes really finish it nicely, which I am very happy about because they cost more than the rest of the supplies for this owl.

After I finished the owl, my wrist and arm started acting up, so I'm on another crochet diet. I'm actually not minding it so much though because I've started reading the Infernal Devices series! It's one I've been wanting to start since it came out. Now that the third and supposedly last is out I decided to finally start. I'm hoping the third really is the last, I hate getting to what I think is the end of the series only to find out I have to wait another full year for the next book.

I'm already about half through this first one, so far I'm liking it. It's the prequel series to the Mortal Instruments series that I read some time ago, I loved that series and think I will like this one too.



I'm joining in with Yarn Along over on Small Things this week.

yarn along

This week I'm reading The Comfort of Lies by Randy Susan Meyers. It's this weeks book in a group on goodreads, 52 books, 52 weeks. The group is reading a new best seller each week. I'm not planning on reading each book because I can't always read that quickly but I'm picking up what I'm interested in, so far I've read 4 of the books chosen.

I'm participating in the Mandala CAL on A Creative Being right now, I finished my mandala yesterday. If you follow me on instagram, you probably saw it grow! I used a size 5 hook and Loops & Threads Impeccable Solids. It's quite big at 17" in diameter! I'll be sharing better photos of it soon and finishing it off as a pillow!

Yarn Along

I'm still working on my shawl from last week! I'm hoping to finish it up by next week.

I finished my book The Painted Girls from last week, as well as two others over the weekend, I went on a bit of a reading binge!

I read Bloom by Kelle Hampton, I expected to like it after reading her birth story some time ago but I didn't like it much. It may have been my sour mood while reading it I think.

I also read S.E.C.R.E.T by L. Marie Adeline, which is not the type of book I would ever normally read. While it wasn't awful, it wasn't great (especially the ridiculous ending. UGH, dumb) I probably (or most definitely) will not be trying out the genre again.

Now I'm reading The Survival Kit, I downloaded it on my iPad after having a really hard time figuring out what to start next. I'm just starting to get into it, it's not exactly what I thought but it has a lot of good reviews on goodreads, so I'm hoping it will be worth the read.

yarn along

I'm finally participating in yarn along! If you've never heard of it, it's a weekly post to share what you're reading and knitting or crocheting.

Last night I cast on my first knit shawl! One of my goals this year was to knit at least one shawl and I'm actually doing it. I planned on a different shawl but since I'm still not that confident in my knitting, I decided to try a free pattern. I'm making the Age of Brass and Steam shawl and so far it's going pretty smoothly. I do notice a couple things that aren't looking so good but I'll figure out how to do it better I'm sure. I'm using Stroll Hand Painted sock yarn in the retro colorway, I love all the colors in it!

I always like to have a book on the go at all times, I feel really strange when I have no book that I can pick up when I don't want to crochet. Right now I'm reading The Painted Girls by Cathy Marie Buchanan. I'm really enjoying it!

I challenged myself to read 20 books this year, I think I can most likely do it. Last year I challenged myself to 15 and ended up reading 20. You can see my challenge on goodreads here. Are you on goodreads? And do you participate in the year challenges?

this weekend...

My plans for this weekend include some reading and crochet.

I'm reading The Silver Linings Playbook, I saw the trailer and had to get a copy of the book! I'm about half way through it and am hooked, if I could I would not put it down!

I'm also crocheting a baby blanket, I'm testing it in a ravelry group. It's a super cute owl blanket, I can't wait to get it finished!

What are your plans this weekend?

crochet boutique (& giveaway!)

I was recently given the opportunity by Lark Crafts to review a new crochet book. It's called Crochet Boutique: 30 Simple, Stylish Hats, Bags & Accessories written by Rachael Oglesby of Softspoken. Just from the cover, I knew it was one I wanted to check out and when I got it, I was right, it's full of projects I want to make!

This book is really well put together, I liked the photography and the way each pattern was set up. It's very pretty to even just flip through! Each pattern tells you the skill level, which most are either easy or beginner. I especially love the section on 'basic stitches & techniques', it has illustrations to show you how to do stitches. I don't really need those anymore but I love to look at them!

There's a great mix of patterns in here, you can see all the projects here on the ravelry page. This book is great for fall weather though, so many projects perfect for the season! I want to have a few finished soon since it's starting to cool down.

The first project from this book that I decided to try was the Bamboo Handle Bag. I unfortunately couldn't get my hands on an oval bamboo handle like the pattern calls for, so I settled on round plastic ones. I got them with my 50% off coupon at Michaels, so I'm not too upset. Next time though, I will order handles online!

I used Loops & Threads Charisma yarn in chocolate cupcake, I love the colors in this yarn! The pattern was easy to follow too, I only spent a couple hours on this one. I'm using it now as a project bag for a knitting project I'm working on (I haven't shared it yet but I will soon, it's getting so big already!).


Are you interested in this book? Want to win a copy? Lark Crafts was generous enough to offer a copy to giveaway to one of my readers! All you need to do is leave a comment on this post, be sure to include your email address so I can get in touch with you if you are the winner! This one is only open to those living in the US or Canada this time.

Which project would you start with if you win! (see them here)

I will announce the winner on Sunday, September 16th! Good luck!

flower bookmark

I made myself a super simple crochet bookmark using this pattern from Lulu Loves. I used Bernat Handicrafter cotton in lavalamp for this one and a size 3.75mm hook. I made the chain at the end a little longer so that it would hang out of my books a little more.


I took the picture using the latest book I've read, I'm having a hard time picking a new one to read. The last book I read was Divergent, it was a good book but I didn't go running out for the second, I'm going to wait on paperback. This book was no Hunger Games!

Have you read any good books lately? I love some reccomendations!

reading in 2011

This year at goodreads, I entered the reading challenge, I challenged myself to read 30 books. As of yesterday, I have finished 30 books! You can see all the books I read in 2011 right here. My favorites this year were The Birth House, Still Alice, Something Borrowed, The Mortal Instruments series, and the one I just finished last night in a few hours, If I Stay.

I plan to read quite a few books this upcoming year too, maybe not challenge myself to as many though. I received a few books for Christmas, so I've got a good start for the year. And I also got an iPad, so I'm downloading books through iBooks.

As for my crochet right now,

I started another crochet project, I bought that tag blanket from a craft show (polka dot piggy designs) earlier this month and am making a toy to go along with it. I think I found some good matching blues, I'm hoping it will be a cute set for a new baby born the other day.

I hope everyone has a happy and safe New Year!

Don't forget to check out my crochet of 2011 wrap up post!

birdy bookmark

I made this adorable birdy bookmark using this tutorial. It's a super fast and adorable project! I have no clue what type of yarn I used to make it, I bought it last year sometime for another project that ended up never finished, I assume it's Bernat something. I used a size 5 hook, bigger than what is suggested in the pattern, so my birdy is pretty big. I also didn't stuff him since my yarn is so fluffy.

He's super cute and I made him just in time to start a new book. I picked up The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo the other day, I avoided it for awhile but I keep reading how great it is over and over, so I decided to read it. I'm doing pretty good with my reading challenge on goodreads.com, I've read 25 books so far this year, 5 more to go!

reading in 2011

I planned on sharing more about the books I read in this space this year but I haven't kept up with it. I still read all the time though! There's a space over to the right where I share what I'm currently reading, I change it every time I start a new book. I've read thirteen books so far this year, my favorite is probably Something Blue by Emily Giffin, it's the sequel to Something Borrowed.

I keep track of all the books I read on goodreads.com, I've been a member there since 2008. Goodreads is a really great site, there are bookclubs you can join, giveaways for books and a lot more. Since I haven't been posting about my books here, I've been trying to write what I think over on goodreads. There are review sections to fill out whenever you add a new book to your reading list. You can see all my books read this year right here.

This year I set myself a reading goal of 30 books. I'm not sure if I will make it to that but it's fun to try.

2011 Reading Challenge

Casey has


read 13 books toward her goal of 30 books.

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13 of 30 (43%)

view books

Are you on goodreads? Let me know, I'd love to make some more friends over there.

Prudent Advice

This book was a really great read, plus the book is super pretty to look at! I enjoyed every minute of reading through this. There is funny advice and there is the kind that really makes you think. It was so good, I've already shared it with a few friends.

The book is better than the movie.

The only problem you can solve by eating is hunger.

You're never too old to start.

Those are just a few of my favorites on the list, there are tons more. Go pick up this book! You won't regret it at all.

Prudent Advice is written by Jamie Morrison Curtis and you can find her blogging over at Prudent Baby.

Secret Daughter

The second book of 2011 I've finished is called Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda. I heard about this one awhile back when I entered a giveaway for it on goodreads, I never won and actually forgot all about it until I spotted it as one of the staff picks at the bookstore.

It's about an Indian woman, Kavita, who gives up her second born daughter to save her life, her first was taken from her right after birth because it wasn't a boy. Her baby, Usha (she is called Asha due to a mix up at the orphanage) is adopted by a couple in America, Somer and Krishnan (who is from India).

The book does a lot of bouncing around from character to character but I didn't find it to be too much, it worked well for the story I think. The story follows Asha, her parents and her birth parents and the impact the adoption has on all their lives. This was a really enjoyable read, definitely one to add to my 'favorites' shelf.