Check out this amazing crochet. I really, really need to learn to crochet properly. I recently took a stringbag class with a great instructor and I learned so much (thanks Andrea!) and I loved it! But do I get home and work on it? Hah! I get frustrated without an instructor at the ready to rescue me.

Since there are so many luscious crocheting projects out there I think I'll have to make more of an effort. Maybe at our craft night tonight I'll sit with Cece (AKA crochet master) and interrupt her knitting with my crocheting needs.

Let's check out some work by a crafty snarker who actually finishes projects. Tada! The door:

Or at least part of it. This is just part of one side. Check out the link on the side "What Exactly is a Door Project?" for more information about this project.

Wish all of you in blogland could join us for craft night. Nancy

The Dark Side of Crafting

When you scan through the myriad of wonderful crafting sites out there you can't help but feel unworthy of all that brilliance; all those beautiful, perfect, oh-so-cute crafts that talented crafters whip up with no effort whatsoever. Well, at least I feel terribly inadequate. Especially since the Hedgehog incident. Lollychops posted instructions for the most adorable hedgehogs. Her instructions were clear and I followed them faithfully. Twice. Neither looked anything like hers. I couldn't get the face right and the "spines" would never line up no matter how much pinning and re-pinning I did. One side would have nice even spineing and the other side would have about twice as many in a random array. Argghhh!

Then I discovered this site: http://craftfail.com/. I feel so much better. Other people are making spam soap and off-kilter baby caps...You often only see an artist's best work and that's why Craft Fail so refreshing. Crafters are fessing up to their worst nightmares. It's not only me! Craft Fail also leads you to other sites, all brutally honest about the the woe side of crafting:

What Not to Craft (oh my!)
What Not to Crochet (check out the kid's shawl)
Kraptastic Krafts
Cake Wrecks (when professional cakes go horribly, hilariously wrong)

Once again, I'm at work so no craft pics. I'll leave with a lovely image of Oregon

In the Spirit of Spring

This is a pretty cool craft, even if you don't do things like Easter:

http://www.marthastewart.com/article/silk-tie-easter-eggs

Still Crafting

Hey gang. It's been awhile. I have plans to post some reviews of the books that live in my craft room; some are actual crafting books and some are off-beat and inspirational books on random topics. I can't help myself, when I see books titled "Sex in the Garden" I just have to get a copy. It has great line drawings, quirky formatting and diverting text. I can spend hours with these kinds of books.

I've also been working away on cute little bunnies made from this free pattern from Danger Crafts. These bunnies are quick to make; look for a picture of one in "Craft of the Week". Rebecca Danger has all sorts of other great stuffed, knitted toys on her blog. You can purchase many of her patterns on Etsy.

All my pictures of crafty things are on the laptop at home. I'll leave you with this picture of the Oregon Coast. Enjoy. Nancy