Another turtle!

This is the turtle I crocheted for my younger daughter. She chose the colors. I used an old t-shirt for the little pillow insert inside the turtle "shell." This turtle is named Pistachio, in honor of one of our favorite movies, starring Dana Carvey, called The Master of Disguise. Google it.
The pattern for this turtle is by Angie at http://www.lemondedesucrette.com

Elegant Little Victorian Bags

I saw the pattern for some cute little bags this morning in an email from http://www.anniesattic.com
I thought they would make great little gifts. I bought the pattern (3 different patterns for little bags=$5.99 for PDF download) and decided to use some yarn I already had in my supply basket...
Here is bag #1...
I added the beads...a friend made me several necklaces and earrings years ago and I lost the matching earring...doesn't it make a great embellishment for the bag?!

Poncho progress!

Am making progress on the poncho that I am making for myself. Have decided to leave out the yellow yarn, so there will be 5 colors plus black in between each one. Very vibrant. Can't wait to finish it! But it will be late fall here on the east coast, maybe even early winter, before I can wear it! So I am going to have to look at it sitting on the shelf in my closet for many months.
In the meantime, I have been making lariats and barefoot sandals to match. Very pretty floral pattern by Nancy Brown of http://nancybrown-designer.com
I bought the pattern for about $4 I think. I usually don't like to buy patterns because there is such an abundance of free stuff to be found online. BUT couldn't resist this one. I feel that it has been well worth it. It was relatively easy for me to commit the pattern to memory, so now I am enjoying making all different colors of lariats! Have experimented with different sizes of crochet hooks, but have found that size D works best. The hook I am using is made by Susan Bates/Mexico and says 3.75mm.
I am not using cotton yarn as is recommended, though, because I just don't have any right now. I have challenged myself to use up all of the yarn I have before buying anything new. Difficult to do because I have a weakness for pretty yarns in interesting textures! I am using worsted weight. So the little flower petals may not stay as flat as they should be. I think with cotton yarn they would retain the desired petal shape a little better. Ah well. I think these lariats would make nice garlands, too.
My oldest daughter requested a coral or poppy color, but I couldn't find exactly the shade I liked in my extensive stash, so I broke down and bought one called strawberry. It is by Caron. Then younger daughter requested grey. Which I did have. But she didn't want a lariat. Made 2 for myself, one with crystal-like plastic beads I had leftover from a snowflake ornament kit from ages ago, and the other with white plastic pony beads. The original pattern calls for wooden crow beads, which I couldn't find in either of my 2 local craft stores, so I settled for white plastic pony beads I had leftover from making ponytail holders for the volleyball team in the fall. Anyway, that's what I have been up to, craft-wise, this past week. Also am finishing up a turtle in different colors for younger daughter. Older daughter took Sheldon back to college with her when she visited last weekend. Apparently he is a hit in the dorm room.
(The fact that he's a pillow makes me think she actually sleeps with him close to her. And that's comforting to know. The child has never had regular sleep patterns. But that's just my mommy worry showing.)