And what a trip it was...

So, a year ago tomorrow I began my journey, hooking my way through the year one square at a time.

I could wax poetic about the quest (God knows I'm not above a little waxing), but aside from the fact that My Beloved is making me a grilled cheese sandwich in advance of an evening of movies and games at my sibling's house and I don't have much time to write, I'm not altogether sure there is anything especially poetic to say.

I loved the journey. I enjoyed the challenge of choosing a new pattern every day, catching up when I missed a day or two, finding patterns that reflected the changing seasons, and figuring out what to say about the creations that tumbled from my hook and fingers at the end of the day.

But I don't know that it taught me anything all that momentous - except that that's not necessarily a bad thing. Not everything is a lesson, nor does it have to be. Not everything needs to have a deeper meaning. Some things are just pure enjoyment. Pure escapism. Pure creativity at its most pleasantly satisfying best.

Sometimes a journey is just a journey. Moving quietly from A to B and enjoying the travel time in between.

Enjoying the travel. Those are absolutely the journeys I like best, and I'm so happy that this was one of those trips.

December 31, 2009


A rising sun motif to usher in the start of a new year and a new decade. And, of course, still more adventures in crochet.

Stay tuned...

I have a feeling...

...that by the end of this journey, there will be holes.

And yeah, more that just crochet holes. Punny, that.

I've tried to hook one motif per day. I really, really have. That was my grand plan all those many months ago. And I think I've done pretty well, all things considered. Work, illness, family obligations, plain old bad days - given all those variables, I've done pretty well if I do say so myself.

The last time I checked, I was about 8 or 10 motifs behind.

But the thing is, I'm not sure I'll be able to catch up. As the holidays bear down upon me complete with their own contractual obligations - including some Christmas hooking - it just might not be possible for me to actually catch up.

But I think that's okay.

As it says in the header, it's the journey, not the destination. And sometimes the journey isn't as easy as you'd planned.

I happen know that in spades.

But still, I keep going. Holes and all.

November 24 & 25, 2009


Another dishcloth. I'm addicted to cotton.



Now, it dawned on me as this was taking shape that it totally does NOT fit into the whole "motif" theme. It's more of an object than a square. You could not make an afghan out of a string of these crocheted Christmas lights.

The problem is, in addition to this pattern, I'd also printed out had a pattern for a Christmas light dishcloth - and that's what I thought I was making. I was watching Glee whilst hooking, and it didn't sink in until I was too far into the project to turn back that I was using the wrong pattern.

I blame TV.

The end.

Can't seem to stay away from Christmas...

...or dishcloths.

November 23, 2009


I think this would be a cute stocking stuffer wrapped around a small bottle of dish soap.

After all, if you HAVE to clean dishes, you might as well be festive about it.

Angels and reindeer. That's what they should call this episode.

I'm not entirely sure that the first two motifs really look all that much like angels, but that's indeed what they are. One is a tiny little ornament, the other is a dish cloth (although I'm not sure I understand the logic behind using an angel to wash up after your spaghetti dinner. Or the desire, for that matter).

Anyway, if you squint - or, perhaps, use your Picasso glasses - I'm sure you'll see the angelic resemblance.

Luckily there's no mistaking Rudolph. The nose gives him away. Or maybe it's the vacant stare...


November 19, 20 & 21, 2009






Ah, Christmas. I love you.

Icky sicky

There are far, far worse things than this cold - or whatever it is I'm cooking - and I thank my lucky stars that all I'm dealing with is a runny nose, sore throat and crazy fatigue.

But still, eeew to being sick. And a one finger salute to germs while I'm at it.

November 16 & 17, 2009




Thank heavens for tissues with lotion, Halls cough drops, chicken soup, hot tea, a kind husband, and a 1992 Christmas magazine with a handful of Christmas crochet crafts in it.

I've been hit! I've been hit!

Despite my best efforts (seriously, I've been single-handedly keeping the hand sanitizer companies in business), I seem to have come down with a bit of a plague.

Just a little one - and I'm hoping it stays that way since I haven't been allowed to get the H1N1 vaccine yet. Which, of course, really means who the flock knows what I'm cooking up?

Luckily sitting on the couch feeling like crap is also a good time to hook. And catch up on missed hooking.

'Cause there seems to be some of that going on...

November 13, 14, & 15






Special thanks to Shanna for, quite out of the blue, sending me Stitch 'n Bitch: The Happy Hooker, which is where I found all three of these patterns.

It's got heart

If I hadn't been so lazy, I'd have photographed the little heart motif before I sewed it onto the hat.

But I was indeed very lazy (it would have involved moving my ass off the couch and climbing up a flight of stairs). So I didn't.

So an entire hat it is.

And that's the kind of day it was.

November 10, 2009


Fortunately I found enough energy to drop the hat in the mail this afternoon, along with all kinds of love and kisses. It's winging its way to a friend who is due to have her baby early next week.