Owl Mobile

So there were a few new babies born in our extended family this year and I couldn't wait to create something magical for a tiny new person.  I didn't want to make the usual booties and blankie, so over done.  Nothing at all wrong with that, I will always enjoy making anything baby related, but I wanted something really special.  Around the same time on Ravelry there was a beautiful owl mobile being featured.  When I found out this new baby was going to have an owl themed nursery I knew it was the perfect project! 
This particular pattern was available for sale but this year has been especially difficult financially and buying a pattern is completely out of the question.  So this is where my crochet experience (and the ability to scour the darkest corners of the internet) came in handy.  I was able to make this completely with found free patterns online.
I worked on it for about a week and my wonderful father made me the wooden top for the mobile.  I was so pleased with how it turned out.  I knew that the recipient is a beginner crocheter, so I knew that she would appreciate all the time and thought of this gift.  I wasn't prepared however to have her open it in front of 40+ people.  I was sooooooo nervous.  Its so ridiculous I know, of course she was going to open it in front of everyone lol.  I guess I have it in my head that most folks look down on the handmade items.  I feel that most folks enjoy seeing everything being purchased off of their registry. 
I hid the mobile in the bottom of a large gift bag and covered it with a cute outfit and some pretty socks that my daughters and I had purchased earlier, so when she uncovered the mobile I saw her true and pure reaction, all the while I thought I was going to have a heart attack.  To my great joy everyone in the room loved it.  She later came up to me and said that she was so in love with it.  She had realized as the shower began that she had forgotten to put a mobile on the registry and was hoping that someone would get one for the nursery.  My nerves were calmed and my heart was happy.

 

 The cute little owls were made using this pattern; Little Owls.

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I crocheted two small circles and then joined them together, they kind of looked like cartoon eyes, then added matte black buttons.  I embroidered the noses and feathered tummies.  Not shown, there are cute little colored buttons sewn to the tops of the wings. 

I used this pattern for the Little Flowers and Leaves .  I used some fine thread and some well placed knots to string them all together.  This is by far one of my most favorite projects completed.  

Thanks for looking and happy hooking!

County Fair

Hello Hookers, I hope things have been well!  What a busy summer it was for my family, we didn't get to go on any fancy vacations, but did a lot of day trips and fun outings.  A few years ago I posted a thread about a Round Ripple afghan that I had started for my oldest daughter.  I always have such great intentions when beginning an afghan and then after getting in about 20 rows I remember how much I hate dedicating my time to something so colossal.  But it was for my daughter after all, so I kept on trudging however slow it may be.  Well my local county fair is at the beginning of August and after having such a stressful year I decided to have some fun and enter a project.  I have never entered before so I was pretty excited.  Now being that I decided to enter just two weeks before the Fair I had to get my butt in gear.  I picked a small quick project that I knew would only take a day to make. I chose the Angel Wings Pinafore.  When I was quickly finished and satisfied I started eyeing up the afghan sitting in my project bag.  I swear it was crying out to me, "Please finish me already!!".  So then I started thinking, how awesome would it be to enter two projects in the fair and actually finish this afghan?!  And then I never crocheted so fast in my life lol.  But I got that sucker done!!  I was soooo pleased to finally bring this project to life.  The Round Ripple Afghan was finally finished!! It only took about 2 years *hangs head in shame*. 
Well for my first time ever entering, I was happy to receive second place blue ribbons for each project.  Now, I don't want to seem ungrateful but I know that I should've won first place.  I entered the pinafore in the category, Dress For Under 2 Years.  The dress that won first place was honestly made crudely from an old pillowcase that had shoddy embroidery and random buttons haphazardly placed all over.   The afghan lost to another ripple afghan, the only differences were the colours and that mine happened to be round.  Now nepotism runs rampant in this area, so again for the first time ever entering, winning second place is not bad at all.  It just makes me want that big pretty red first place rosette even more!!!

This picture best shows the colours in the afghan, all picked by my daughter (her favourite colours)

Don't let this picture fool you!  The finished afghan measures over 6 ft from point to point.  My daughter thinks it is so cool that her afghan is award winning :)

 Here is the Pinafore.  I stayed with a neutral palette, not shown so great in this picture.  It is tan and cream.  My daughter claimed this also and put it on her giant teddy bear Honey. 
My hubby and kids thought it was so cool to see my creations on display, and of course it felt great to put them out there for all to see.  I loved entering the fair and can't wait until next year to do it again!!
Thanks for letting me share,
Happy Hooking!!