UConn Crochet Blanket

I just got back from a snowboarding vacation in Utah, and while I was there, started a blanket I'm making for my husband when he graduates (with his PhD!- DOCTA lol) from UConn. I decided I'd make it all out of granny squares since the pattern fit nicely into squares.  It was a great project to work on (espically on the plane) because I didnt have to follow a pattern, I could use all one skein (I used a Caron One Pound in Cape Cod Blue) and I didn't have to hold anything too big.  I got 17 squares done which I guess is a good start but still a bunch left to do.  Luckily he's been a student (at least part time) for 10 years so far with at least a year left to go so he's giving me plenty of time to finish. :-)

Layout of the blanket is below. The squares are 5 inches wide and have five rows each.  The base size is 9 squares x 11 squares, but I might make it a little bit larger (add more squares around it).  I could make the squares larger instead, but I think I like having more of a border around the inner UC.
 On the graph, the colors are actually swapped- the UC will be in white and the rest will be blue.

Layout of the blanket.  The inner rectangle is 9x11- the outer lines are just what I'm guessing I'm giong to add to the inner rectangle to make the blanket big enough.  I could make the squares larger also, but I think I like having more of a border around the inner UC.



Cartel - Chroma - The Minstrel's Prayer

This is the best song to listen to on headphones- the drum is awesome loud and in your ears.  Its one of those songs you can feel.
                                       

Spiral Paper Flowers Magnets Tutorial

My sister in law is getting married this summer, and I thought it would be cool if she had some of these paper flowers on the guestbook table, either in a cluster or in a bowl or on a plate.  I made these with random scraps of paper I had lying around- I dont love the colors together but they worked for practice.  There are a lot of sites out there with great tutorials on how to make them, but here's the quick and dirty version:

**If you sell or post any items made from this pattern, please include a link back to my site.  (EX- "This item was made from a pattern on Stargazun Designs" ) Thanks!!**

1. Cut a square of paper. The size doesn't matter- a bigger square will make a bigger (wider) flower.  I trim the edges so they are rounded.

2. Cut a swirl pattern into the square, leaving about a 1/2 - 3/4 inch in the middle.  The width of the swirl is the height of the flower.  If you like, cut a wave design into the outer edge of the swirl to give the flower a different look. 

3.  Starting at the end (the edge of the 'square'), twist the swirl into a flower.  I glue the swirl to itself (one rotation around) at the beginning to keep the end together and at the end to the circle that was left in the middle.

These flowers all started as either 3x3 or 4x4 squares.  After making them and gluing them down, I attached a magnet to the back- just for something to do with them.

After making them, I think I preferred the paper that was dyed all the way through, so there wasn't a white line on the edge (the orange flower has the white line), though most of the interesting designs of scrapbook paper arent on paper that is dyed all the way through.

White Paper Spiral Flower

Pink Paper Spiral Flower

Purple Paper Spiral Flower

Craft Room Corner

Craft Room Window

Howie Day - She Says

Love this song (THIS version) but really dont like the more poppy version (aka him on Letterman).

I have an awesome recording of him doing a live cover of 'Africa' by Toto, but couldn't find a good one on YouTube.  In the recording I have, he records his voice a number of times and harmonizes with himself- its really cool.

I saw him live in '03 ('04? dont remember) at my college, and it is still one of the best concerts I've seen.

Fat Bottomness!!

About a year ago, I was trolling through a Savers (never heard of it? think Goodwill) and came accross Debbie Stoller's 'Stitch 'N Bitch: The Happy Hooker' for a measly $3! I was super excited since it had been on my wishlist on PaperbackSwap for months and months (P.S- Being quite thrifty, I LOVE PBS- trade your books for credits to 'buy' different ones). I had tried crocheting years ago, but really got into it again with the help of this book. About a month or two ago, I tried making the Fat Bottomed bag, but used yarn too thin and it was coming out wayyy to small, so stopped out of frustration. Recently I started it again with thicker yarn (Lion Brand Vannah's Choice- $2 a double skein at Ocean State Job Lot!) and I finially made it. Well sort of. I've finished the crocheting, now I just need to line it. I found this tutorial which explains really well how to line the bag.  My fabric is all cut and ready to go, the biggest obsticle is going to be learning how to use my new sewing machine that I've had for months but stilll haven't spent the time to learn how to use.