About Me

I'm a stay at home mom, and I love that I'm able to do this.  I never thought this is what I would want to do, but now that I can, I can't imagine my life any other way.  I used to work in a movie theater, and my husband and I decided to start a family.  I began my 3 months of maternity leave the day my son was born in the end of November '08.  I went back to work toward the end of Feb in '09.  I worked as a manager, and was working 20-35 hours a week, depending on business and home life schedules.  I had 2 sitter's we'd alternate between, and work on all 3 of my husband's days off.  (He works 4 10-hour days a week)  I wasn't paying for sitters, but would exchange dinners or baked goodies and sometimes the use of my laundry facility in the basement for childcare.  Well, long story short, when  I got my W-2 for 2009 at the end of the year, I discovered that in 9 months of working, I made LESS than my husband made in 2 months.  That week we decided we could save that amount of money, if I stayed home with the kids (by that time I was pregnant again) and changed our life-style a little bit.   

I'm going to be 26 this month, and my grandmother taught me to crochet when I was just 9 years old.  I love my Gramma, and miss her so much.  She also taught me to knit when I was 7, but I didn't like it as much as crocheting, once I learned that.  Aside from a knit or pearl stitch, I don't know anything about knitting.  My Gramma was a neat lady, I used to spend afternoons with her after school, until I was old enough to stay home alone.  And even then, since she lived so close to home, I would go visit her some days on my way home from school.  For me, crocheting is nostalgic, and calming.  I used to sit with my Gramma way before I even knew how to, and watch her work on projects and be amazed with what she could create in just an afternoon. 

She taught me how to crochet with knit cro-sheen thread, (I think that's size 10 thread) and a size 10 crochet hook.  At first, she just taught me the basic stitches, but after I made my first practice piece, she showed me how to read diagram patterns.  I made mostly little coaster sized doilies to learn different stitches.  Eventually I moved on to using yarn, and making lap-sized blankets, or shawls.  But I really didn't crochet much at all for 5-6 years, being in school, I didn't have time or really that much interest.  It was just something I knew how to do.

Shortly after I graduated from High School, my grandmother died. (by that point, she was living with us.)  It wasn't until after she was gone, that I really loved to crochet.  It brought back memories of her.  When I work on projects, or pick out colors, I can hear her in my head "coaching" me the way she would when I was little, or even a young teen. 

Now staying home, taking care of my family, I make things for our home and kids.  Hats, stuffed toys, and other things I've featured here.  And more.  I make gifts around the holidays for people, I love it.  I love crocheting.  I wish more people were open about this hobby, and it wasn't considered "old lady-ish" to be an avid crocheter.  My goal with this blog is to share some "vintage" ideas that remind me of my childhood, and also to show that crocheting doesn't have to be boring granny-square blankets, and doilies.