Adorable Newborn Photo Session in Yarn

Photos are from Wildflowersphotos.com - what an amazing, creative and fun photographer!

To see more adorable Clemetine/Yarn newborn Photos: See blog post here

love!

Sharp Crochet Hook Giveaway Winner

DRUM ROLL PLEASE......

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Congratulations Kimberly!! and thank you so much to those that entered to win!

I do need to say a quick apology - I thought I was supposed to announce the winner today but I just realized that I wrote i was going to announce the winner on Monday. So sorry about that! I hope it didn't inconvenience anybody!

If you would like to see more about the sharp crochet hook see here - it really is a must have for us crocheters ( :

and thank you so much Jessica for being willing to do this giveaway - I wish you loads and loads of success with you awesome product....that all of us crocheters are kicking ourselves in the butt for not coming up with it ourselves. haha

live and learn....or not

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What this means to me:

Stop fretting about all those lemon bars you ate yesterday and....

Source - recipe

remember to add strawberries next time ( :

Crochet edging Patterns

Little crochet edging pattern 

Materials:
*I used a Sharp Crochet hook - this hook has a sharp point at the tip to make is much easier to push through fabric.
*Size 10 cotton thread
*An edge you want to make extra pretty
*Scissors
*Yarn Needle

Top Layer edging:
You'll need a multiple of 3 plus 1 for your base row.
Rnd 1 - Sc base sc row around edge, join with sl st to first sc of rnd
Rnd 2 - Ch 1, Note: working first st's into same st you joined into *(dc, ch 2, dc) in same st, skip next 2, repeat from * around, join with sl st to first dc of rnd.
Rnd 3 - Ch 1, work 4sc into each ch 2 space around, join
Fasten off and weave in ends.


Bottom Layer edging:
You'll need a multiple of 3 plus 1 for your base row.
Rnd 1 - Sc base sc row around edge, join with sl st
Rnd 2 - Ch 1, sc in each st across, join with sl st to first st of rnd.
Rnd 3 - sc (in same st you joined into), Ch 4, skip 2, *sc in next, Ch 4, skip 2, repeat from * around, join to first sc of rnd.
Rnd 4 - Ch 1, *work 5sc's into each ch 4 space around, join.
Fasten off and weave in ends.

Right now I do have a giveaway going on for a Sharp Crochet Hook..it ends September 26th 2011.  For more information see here

Meet Jessica / Sharp Crochet Hook /

I'm so excited to introduce you to Jessica.
Jessica has an awesome product (the Sharp Crochet Hook), below is her interview (a very good read!) and she is doing a giveaway with us so keep reading because I bet'cha you'll want one of her crochet hooks!

Here's Jessica:

Who taught you how to crochet and how long have you been crocheting?

My mom taught me how to crochet when I was six years old. That means I've been  crocheting for 20 years! Wow!

What is your favorite yarn to crochet with?

My favorite yarn depends on what project I am doing. I love to use the size 3 crochet thread for crocheting edges on flannel baby blankets. Lately, I love to use the Caron Simply Soft yarn for baby blankets because it washes well, is really soft, and comes in really fun colors...but usually I just use whatever is on sale thought! haha!

Do you enjoy any other crafts? which?

I love all kinds of crafts. If I have time tonight I'm going to sew a little project for my daughters. It's a maze made out of fabric where you sew the walls of the fabric and use a marble to go from one end to the other. If it goes to plan, it will be a portable, quiet, somewhat educational toy for them to enjoy. 

Tara Note: She had time to make a maze....I have a photo of it too. Such a great idea! I think I'm going to have to make one too!

Last week I had my two older girls paint a 10x13 canvas black. Then I covered each girl's foot with white paint and put it on the canvas. I wrote on the top "The Taufer Ghosts" and "2011" on the bottom. I added an orange bow and googly eyes to the "head" of the ghost (the heel of the footprint). Hung it with a ribbon. Ehh, not the best craft to do with small children (black paint! yikes! why would I do that??), but the end result was dang cute!

Tara Note Again: I got a photo of this project from Jessica too....she was right, dang cute!

Tell us a little about yourself.

I married my husband when I was a senior in college, I've been married almost 7 years. I am lucky enough to have three beautiful, healthy daughters. My oldest is four years old. 

I don't do pets. I tried keeping a goldfish alive about a year ago, but it only lasted a few days. Luckily I've had better luck with my daughters! haha!

My personality.....I would like to think I'm this really great, super mature mom, but really I'm just a kid in a grown up body. I am probably more silly than my four year old at least half the time. Like, I heard this joke the other day and I laughed so hard: "What is Beethoven's favorite fruit?" "Ba-na-na-naaaaa." Or, the other day I had a "shopping cart race" with my four year old down the aisle at the grocery store. 

Likes....I draw with chalk with my girls in the driveway, ride bikes with my girls around the neighborhood, paint my girl's toenails, play in the sandbox with my girls, etc. I'm a stay at home mom, so most of my "likes" are doing what my daughters are doing. For fun (without my girls), I like to go to dinner with my husband or with my friends. Going out to eat is my favorite. I'm not that good of a cook, and cleaning up dinner after a long day is so not fun. My friends and I go out about once a month, and if we go out on a Wednesday we almost always go to Village Inn because it's their "Free Pie Night." (Free pie, another like!)

What is your favorite snack/dessert?

Great question! My favorite is the Ghirardelli brownie mix. I'm saving my box to make when I lose the last of the baby weight (I still have 8 pounds left!) So, while working on loosing the rest of the weight, I'm TRYING to be healthy, but I have such a sweet tooth, so it's hard. At night, I like to snack on chips and salsa (or if I feel energetic, I'll make bean dip!), or cold cereal. When I need a pick me up I go to the Andes Mints, Twix, or just straight up chocolate chips or chocolate chip cookies. 

This is going to sound gross, but when i was pregnant, all I wanted was pickle brownies. Brownies smothered in relish. Yum. 

How did you come up with the idea for the Sharp Crochet Hook?

I'm lazy. No really! I hate using more effort for something than necessary. I have been making a lot of the flannel baby blankets where you crochet an edging around it. 

I was just pushing a normal crochet hook through the fabric (I'm way too cheap to pay to get it hemstitched!) and I thought "THIS SUCKS!" So, the Sharp Crochet Hook was born out of my laziness, really. haha. It saves so much time and makes crocheting edgings much more enjoyable (and cheaper then hemstitching!)

Here it is: 

A little about the hook:

The Sharp Crochet Hook!! It is ideal for crocheting edges through fabric. The sharp pointed head glides through fabric and paper much easier than normal crochet hooks do. You can use it to crochet edges on all kinds of things - flannel baby blankets and burp cloths, socks, gloves, scrapbook pages, birthday cards, guest towels, etc. The best part of using the Sharp Crochet Hook is that you don't have to get it hemstitched (with the presewn holes), or poke holes through it before crocheting. It makes it quick and easy to crochet edgings through all kinds of fabric. 

Jessica was kind and so generous to send me one of her Sharp Crochet Hooks and I LOVE it!!

I had an old vintage bath towel that i've been using for little fabric crafts. I cut out a square and made a dishcloth. I can't tell you how happy I am with how it turned out, I loves it! This crochet hook pushes through the terry cloth much easier than a regular crochet hook and you know I'm all about EASY! I also took one of my other dishcloths and added another pretty edging to it (this edging is a free edging patterns that comes with the crochet hook). 

Cleaning up messes should be a little less ugly around here ( : 

Yep, I'm so happy with my new hook.

Giveaway Closed

The Leaves are turning to the Orange side

Wood Midnight Doily by UnCommon

Vintage Necklace from UrbanCottageStudio

DirtyBirdyVintage

bhg

Vintage Bowl from RabbitandRally

Vintage Linens Bunting by BlueAcresFarm

AmeliaKayPhotography

                

Buccaneer Bootie Crochet Along Winner

Thank you so much Renae. After you've picked out your 5 free patterns just send me a quick e-mail to mamacheepatterns@gmail.com letting me know what your picks are and I'll send them right over.

I just want to say.....

Source: The Black Apple and Etsy Shop (very cute stuff!)

Yes, thank you kindly to all those that took the time to vote and to those that entered their Buccaneer Booties in the Contest! You guys are the best!!

Till next time!

Buccaneer Bootie Crochet-a-long Contest Finalists - Vote today!

Show a bootie some love and vote for your favorite!

This was very hard to choose....the pictures were chosen each with one or two of the following factors: creativity, quality of photo and quality of crocheted bootie.

Here are the finalists:

To Vote: see the right-hand sidebar poll box (scroll down a bit to find it). Select your favorite and hit "vote" I hope you'll take the time to vote for one of these booties

I want to give a huge THANK YOU to all those that crocheted-a-long with me this past week. It was really fun!! All of the entries were beautiful and I hope everybody enjoyed doing this as much as I did!

If you'd like to take a peak at all the entries see here

Thank you again! until next time ( :

*Smooch*

Source: Embrace life 

aww, their shadows are kissing....a sign of true love!

Source: http://www.barmsheimer.blogspot.com/

Not a kiss (although, I suppose one could argue that their ears are kissing...no?) but still such a great photo (love it!)

Source: lelove

Source: Kallie Anna

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I'll have to do this one day ( : 

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A kiss a day keeps the doctor away!! I'm a real believe in preventative medicine such as happiness (lots of smiling), positive outlook, keeping active and kisses ( : 

Buccaneer Bootie Crochet Along!

1 week is almost over! It's time to share your photo's to enter to win 5 free Mamachee Patterns!

You'll have all night today and all day Wednesday (linky will close 11:59 p.m. Alaska Time on Wed the 14th).

I'll select 4 of my favorite photo's. I'll be looking for a couple different things...creativity, quality of bootie, quality of photo and # of likes on the photo's. On Thursday I'll post the photo's of the four winners and you'll be able to vote for the winner. I'll announce the winner Friday.

BUCCANEER BOOTIE CONTEST

enter your photo below.

Here is what I made over the past week.

I know, they don't look like the buccaneer bootie...but they are, just with a different buckle.

and here is your surprise: a new buckle pattern for you!

0-3 mo. Granny Buckle
With CC1, Ch 3

Rnd 1 – Work 12 hdc’s into 3^rd ch from hk.  Join with sl st to first hdc of Rnd. 

Change to CC2

Rnd 2 – Ch 2, skip next 3 hdc’s, work 6hdc’s in between the posts of the 3^rd and 4^th hdc’s of previous Rnd, *Skip next 3 hdc’s, work 6hdc’s in between posts, repeat from * two more times. Join

Change to MC

Rnd 3 – Ch 1, sc in next 2, Ch 4, sc in same st, (sc, 2hdc) in next, hdc in next 6, (2hdc, sc) in next, sc in next, Ch 4, sc in same st, sc in next 3, 2sc in next 2, hdc in next 4, 2sc in next 2, sc in last 2.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Note: Finished Buckle should measure slightly under 2” wide and slightly over 2” tall.

3-6 mo Granny Buckle

With CC1, Ch 3

Rnd 1 – Work 12 hdc’s into 3^rd ch from hk.  Join with sl st to first hdc of Rnd. (12)

Change to CC2

Rnd 2 – Ch 2, skip next 3 hdc’s, work 6hdc’s in between the posts of the 3^rd and 4^th hdc’s of previous Rnd, *Skip next 3 hdc’s, work 6hdc’s in between posts, repeat from * two more times. Join (24)

Change to MC

Rnd 3 – Ch 1, sc in next 2, Ch 4, sc in same st, (sc, 2hdc) in next, hdc in next 6, (2hdc, sc) in next, sc in next, Ch 4, sc in same st, sc in next 3, 2sc in next, 2hdc in next, hdc in next 4, 2hdc in next, 2sc in next, sc in last 2.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Note: Finished Buckle should measure slightly under 2” wide and slightly under 2 ¼” tall.

6-12 mo Granny Buckle

With CC1, Ch 3

Rnd 1 – Work 12 dc’s into 3^rd ch from hk.  Join with sl st to first dc of Rnd. (12)

Change to CC2

Rnd 2 – Ch 2, skip next 3 dc’s, work 6dc’s in between the posts of the 3^rd and 4^th dc’s of previous Rnd, *Skip next 3 dc’s, work 6dc’s in between posts, repeat from * two more times. Join (24)

Change to MC

Rnd 3 – Ch 1, sc in next 2, Ch 4, sc in same st, (sc, 2hdc) in next, hdc in next 6, (2hdc, sc) in next, sc in next, Ch 4, sc in same st, sc in next 3, 2sc in next 2, hdc in next 4, 2sc in next 2, sc in last 2.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Note: Finished Buckle should measure slightly under 2 ¼” wide and slightly over 2 ¼” tall.

12-18 mo Granny Buckle

With CC1, Ch 3

Rnd 1 – Work 12 dc’s into 3^rd ch from hk.  Join with sl st to first dc of Rnd. (12)

Change to CC2

Rnd 2 – Ch 2, skip next 3 dc’s, work 6dc’s in between the posts of the 3^rd and 4^th dc’s of previous Rnd, *Skip next 3 dc’s, work 6dc’s in between posts, repeat from * two more times. Join (24)

Change to MC

Rnd 3 – Ch 1, sc in next 2, Ch 4, sc in same st, (sc, 2hdc) in next, hdc in next 6, (2hdc, sc) in next, sc in next, Ch 4, sc in same st, sc in next 3, 2sc in next, 2hdc in next, hdc in next 4, 2hdc in next, 2sc in next, sc in last 2.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Note: Finished Buckle should measure about 2 ¼” wide and 2 ½” tall.

I hope you enjoy! and thank you so much to all of you that played-a-long with me!

Update day

Did some crocheting last night, it felt so good! I haven't been able to crochet enough lately.

I've also been working a lot lately with collecting new and healthier recipes. I've really been trying to put together three healthy and yummy meals for my family everyday. Trying to get rid of the artificial as much as possible.
I was looking through this recipe book yesterday. I got it at a garage sale several years ago.

While flipping through, I came across this recipe...

It reads:

Elephant Stew

1 elephant, Salt and Pepper, Brown Gravy and Two Rabbits

Cut elephant into bite-sized pieces. This should take about 2 months. Cover with Brown Gravy. Cook over kerosene fire for two weeks at 465 degrees. This will serve 3,800 people. If more are expected, two rabbits may be added, but this only if necessary as most people don't like to find hare in their stew.

SO FUNNY! I've never seen a joke recipe in a recipe book before and it was a real treat!

Buccaneer Booties Crochet-a-long Contest (win 5 free crochet patterns)

Jacqueline of Mukweto blog gave me an idea that I love and thought I'd try out. You all know that i love seeing finished product photo's!!

If this works out and you guys enjoy doing this with me then we may do this with many more patterns (fun!) but today we will start with the buccaneer booties.

The buccaneer booties pattern comes in sizes Newborn to 18mo. and is worked with worsted weight yarn and f hook. These would be great for your little ones with the cooler months coming or for a coming baby shower.

If you do not already have this pattern and would like to play along with this crochet-a-long then this pattern can be purchased here or here.

Here is what we'll do (the scoop):

Crochet-a-long starts today. After one week (next Wednesday, the 14th) I'll put together a linky party where you can share your photo's and links of your finished Buccaneer Booties crocheted up how you like them. On Thursday (the 15th) I'll choose my favorite 4 photo's and let you guys vote on the best photo. The winner will win 5 free mamachee patterns.

How does that sound? If you are going to play along please leave a quick comment on this post to let me know. I'm excited!!

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Family

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Family!! Nothing better than that. I wish I had a better understanding of how important family was when I was growing up. I used to go every summer to visit my dad in West Virginia...when I was 14 I stopped going, because of friends, sports and other stupid and selfish excuses. I regret that so much!
I didn't visit my dad again until I was married 4 yrs later and 7 yrs ago. I hope I can visit again soon!

When I think about how to raise my kids one of the most important things I want to teach them is how important it is to always put family first. To love, help and stick by eachother no matter what....I really hope I can accomplish this and my children will grow up and never be too far away from me or from eachother....because they don't want to be.

Source: think nice

We took family photo's a couple days ago. Our family has grown so much...wowzahs

Josh did so good setting up the camera with our Gorillapod (I love it!) and taking our family photos with the timer.

Source: Professional Snapshots

When all the kids are bigger, i'd like to try and get a photo like this.....looks neat and would be fun!

Source: Max Wanger

Hope you guys are enjoying your day and hope you will go give all your family (you can get to) a big hug....right now!