La Fin

Photography by Melissa Gaggiano

    It has been very quiet on the blogging front. I have definitely been all blogged out - as in no fresh thoughts to share. Plus I have been plenty busy in other areas of my life.
    For one thing I have been working on my granny square blanket project. And I am happy to say that it is pretty much finished. All that's left to do is lacing up the hanging threads. And let me tell you that is one tedious job. Makes me wish I'd worked on those threads as I worked.

Click here to follow the entire progress of this project.

12 x 17

    It has been a while since I last posted about my granny square project. But that doesn't mean it is dropped or forgotten. In actual fact I finished making all my granny squares. Now is the patient task of crocheting the pieces together. I imagine this will take one or two months to complete.

Click here to see the full progress of my granny square project.

180

Photography by Melissa Gaggiano

    One hundred and eighty! That is the number of granny squares that I have completed. I now have another 25 to make.

Click here to view the entire progress of this granny square project.

166

Image by Melissa Gaggiano

    I have now finished making ONE HUNDRED and SIXTY SIX granny squares for my blanket project. To view my entire progress of this project simply follow this link.

11 x 11

One hundred and twenty one granny squares done.

Image by Melissa Gaggiano

Click here to check out the entire progress of my granny square project.

Crochet and Me

Image by Melissa Gaggiano

    It's a quiet day inside today - what with the grey clouds about. It looks like it might rain any moment now. So I am turning the day into a granny square working bee. I hope to knock out ten of these things today. Or at least until my fingers give out. I have to admit the crochet work is taking it's toll on my fingers.

10 x 10

Image by Melissa Gaggiano

    Will you look at that... One hundred granny square pieces done. Just another 105 to get through. I haven't worked out what colour I will use to thread the pieces together. Perhaps it'll be something light coloured.

Click here to follow the entire progress of this project.

9 x 9

I now have 81 granny squares under my belt.

Click here to follow my entire progress for the granny square blanket project.

8 x 8

    Yay! Hooray! Making good progress on my granny square project. I have now made 64 pieces. If my math is correct that is 31 % complete. To see the full progress of this project, simply follow this link.

Image by Melissa Gaggiano

Admiration, Projects, Ideas and Music

    So what is happening in the world of Melissa? I am reading Neon Angel by Cherie Currie and I am hooked, line and sinker. I am so into it that I have created an ipod playlist that includes Joan Jet, David Bowie, Blondie, Billy Idol, The Divinyls. What is the theme here? Well I guess it's vintage rock mixed with essence of pop - old school baby. 


Neon Angel written by Cherie Currie, with Tony O'Neill

    I am also working on my granny square project - 52 squares down. I just gotta work on that momentum.
    I am brainstorming new photography ideas. And of course Cherie's book has been inspiring me and I have had a whole bunch of fresh ideas burning a hole in my brain since 3 o'clock this morning. So you can imagine I am a bit tired this morning.
    I have saved my first piece for my eventual pinhole camera. It is a baby formula cannister. My next step will be to spray the inside of the can with black matte paint.
    Yonks ago I had a Vogue magazine with this creative fashion shoot involving balloons. I was reminded of the photoshoot when my daughters were playing with balloons the other day. The photography in question was by Sølve Sundsbø and here are some examples from his balloon fashion shoot...


Image by Sølve Sundsbø 



Image by Sølve Sundsbø



Image by Sølve Sundsbø



Image by Sølve Sundsbø



Image by Sølve Sundsbø



Image by Sølve Sundsbø



Image by Sølve Sundsbø

7 x 7

Image by Melissa Gaggiano

    I have now ploughed through 49 pieces for my granny square project. I almost cannot believe I am actually getting through with this. Years ago if you told me that I would one day know how to crochet I'd probably laugh and say 'I think not'. Not because I wasn't into it, but just that it wouldn't have occurred to me that I was capable of teaching myself. And now here I am making a granny square blanket. That's something to be proud of.

6 x 6

    New progress on my granny square project has brought me to a whopper 36 squares. Just 168 squares to go.

    As a side project to the granny square blanket I have been saving the off cut yarn and tying the ends together. When I have finished I'll do something with this. Maybe some experimental knitting, just to see what it looks like.

    The living room floor has turned into a Lego wonderland. Gwen loves my old Lego collection. And her Dad and I have been getting in on the action. Each day Gwen asks me to build another house.

Growing Granny

    I am now at the 25 mark. 25 granny squares, that is. I am rather enjoying this project now that I am confident enough to not have to refer to instructions as I produce each square. If not too under the pump with other things I can manage to do one square per day.
    The past week has been busy and my goodness, it sure has gone quickly. One of my activites included sewing a birthday dress for my eldest daughter. She loves, loves, loves Alice in Wonderland. So, naturally enough I sewed the blue dress and matching apron, which she will wear to her own birthday tea party.

    And now I say adieu. I am sleepy and want to watch the fifth Harry Potter film I picked up today, before going to bed.

The Watch Word Is Resolve

    When I was a teenager I wrote New Year resolutions that were almost a page long. I recall once having as many as 24 resolutions on my list. That was at least fifteen years ago and I have since given up on resolutions because they got me absolutely nowhere.
    But then each New Year season rolls around and like anybody else I like to think of the happy possibilities for the year to come. So despite the fact that New Year resolutions rub me the wrong way. I do like the word 'resolve'. It is strong and empowering and really should have nothing to do with the New Year. Resolve! Resolute!
    So here are some of the things I am resolved to do:

• Crochet a granny square blanket for my husband.
• Work toward an even healthier eating plan and reduce some excess body fat.
• Visit the roller skating rink once a month.
• Do a little bit of photography and writing each day.

    Other things I may or may not do:

• Learn to speak French.



My granny square project is coming along.



I Like Flowers

     I like flowers. Indeed I do. There are roses in my garden, as well as zinnias, marigolds, sweetpeas and gardenias.
    This week I have been busy with the usual things that need doing around the house, as well as trying to recover from a head cold, playing with the girls, reading the Trueblood Omnibus [for the third time], and crocheting granny squares. Never a dull moment.

It Grows!

    The one thing worse than getting sick in winter, is getting sick in summer. Tragically I have been struggling with a bit of a virus. It is never good to be sick on Christmas day. But fingers crossed, I do think I am over the worst of it.
    Still life goes on and I am finding pleasure in watching the Dr Who Christmas Special, my family making me laugh and working on my granny square project - see how it grows...

4 Done

This week I began work on a granny square blanket. I have been following a pattern courtesy of Pip Lincolne's book - 26 crafty projects and things to make. I have now made 4 squares. Yay! Hooray!

My Creative Space

    In my creative space this week I have begun a granny square blanket project. This is my first attempt at making granny squares. It is all quite new and exciting for me.
    This is going to be quite a large blanket. I have estimated that I'll be making 204 squares so this will most definitely be a long term project. I am giving myself a whole year to get it done.

The first granny square.

Get Granny

    I am setting myself a new challenge. I am learning to crochet granny squares and intend to have completed a nice big comfy blanket by November next year. That may seem a long way away, but it is a large project and I want to give myself plenty of breathing space to complete the thing.
    I have been following Pip Lincolne's instructions of making a granny square. I have her book, 26 crafty projects and things to make, plus I have referred to her videos for some visual  reference.
    I am so excited about doing this project. I will keep you posted on the progress of my blanket.



Some of the yarn that I will use for the blanket.




Getting some crochet practice in before I really begin.




Check out this lovely book,
by an equally lovely lady.
Simply lovely.