New Places, New Faces.

I am officially all moved in to my new place! I start graduate school tomorrow and I'm excited and anxious at the same time. It's going to be a bit difficult at first to get back into the class-homework routine, but overall I know things will go great.

I had this past week off since it was my 21st birthday and I also had a lot of packing/moving to do. It was nice to have the time off and be able to take care of everything I needed to get done. I finally am an adult! I got to spend my birthday with my dad and best friend and enjoy some sun. I couldn't have asked for a better day.

My dad's girlfriend bought me this SUPER cool bamboo chest for my birthday - I am so in love. I have just the place to put it in my new apartment. I actually have a lot more room here than I thought, as there's tons of storage space!

As far as crafts go, I was able to get some cross-stitching in - it has helped me relax so much. I absolutely love these pieces. Slowly but surely my small frames are getting filled - and of course I bought another one since I've been here.

I also finally got the amigurumi Leia I made to my friend! He has quite the collection of Star Wars crochet figures from me now. I just had to snap a picture - it's like a family reunion!

I have most of my cross-stitch supplies here, but not a lot of yarn. I hope to bring more soon and continue on more projects. After this week is over I think I will feel a lot more settled in. Only 1.5 years to go until I will be done with college!

It's My Birthday...Almost!

Yes, I'm actually remembering to update this blog. I've been cross-stitching up a storm lately! I found some great books at Goodwill (and they're in color, too!) and got a bunch of supplies from my mom for an early birthday gift.

I just love the little patterns...they're so cute and simple and I have a massive collection of small frames they're perfect for. In fact, I need to quit buying small frames...(I bought 3 today). Here is a picture from a trip I took last week...I am craft crazy, I know.

I was absolutely elated to find those towels - they are brand new and I got them for less than $1 each AND another 20% off of that! Same with the cross-stitch floss...those bags each had a TON of floss in them and they were marked at .60 apiece, with another 20% off they were practically free! I'm just addicted to bargains. One of my friends wants to start cross-stitching, so I am giving her my extra supplies.


With the holidays coming up and some of the spare time I will have, I plan on filling all the frames eventually. Most will go in my craft fair pile. Plus, the thrift stores in my area donate the proceeds to good causes so that's always a nice feeling, too.

Here's what I've finished lately:

All these patterns came from the same book - Donna Kooler's 555 Country Cross-Stitch Patterns. I got it for $3 and there are TONS of great designs. Such a steal! You can get the book for super cheap on Amazon.

As far as life goes, things have been great. My best friend is back, my birthday is next week, and I also move in to my new place next week. I will miss being home, but I know I will enjoy being so close and living in a great city. A new life for me is starting and I am so thankful to be in the place I am today.

I'm hoping my busy schedule will allow for lots of craft time. I'll make time if I have to. I hope to update again soon with more creations!

Crochet Lion Hat!

I have been wanting to crochet one of these hats for the longest time, as I bought the pattern a while ago. I put it off for quite a while (mostly because my yarn collection has been in 3 places after moving), but after spotting the perfect yarn for it at the GoodWill, I decided to quit making excuses and complete one. I think it's my favorite hat I've made so far (and one of the cutest).

I didn't have a baby to model it on, so I used the bear.

For the body of the hat, I scored 4 skeins of Vanna's Choice yarn for $4.50 at the GoodWill. I want to say the color is tangerine mist, but I don't have the packaging with me at the moment (I am pretty sure it is). For the mane I used a chunky red yarn I found at JoAnn's and paid $2.50 for after a coupon. 

The hat itself didn't take me very long. Tying the mane took some time, but still not bad. I'm thrilled with the way it turned out! I purchased the pattern from one of my favorite people on Etsy, Kat Goldin. I made the hat sized for children ages 1 to 3. I can't wait to use up the rest of my yarn to make more!

In the world of shoes, I did get two new lovely pairs for cheap at Kohl's. The ones on the left are Dana Buchman and the ones on the right are Candie's. I had a $10 Kohl's Cash certificate to use (thanks dad) and of course I found myself in the shoe department!

After my cash and coupons I paid about $20 for both. What a steal! They are both extremely comfortable. With my promise to myself to get rid of one pair of shoes for every pair I take in (I just have so many), I gave my mom a pair that hurt my feet and put another pair in the "sell" pile. I need to stop clinging to uncomfortable shoes because "I might wear them someday." 

I have been wearing different pairs to work lately to make sure all my shoes are ones I will actually wear sometime. I think it's a good little experiment.

As a final note, I want to add this Freud quote that's in one of my books - it's one of the most popular quotes from him and certainly very true.