This is an amigurumi butterfly that I made for Anna Rose last year. If you are looking to craft any amigurumi dolls yourself I recommend the following site, it has this pattern and many more.
http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/directory/amigurumi.php

Valentines Day Dolls

So here are my little cuties for the Lovers Holiday. The patterns were created by Dumplin Dolls back in the late 70's when Strawberry Shortcake was all the rage. You can actually still purchase the patterns off of E-bay and if you search for yarn doll heads you may find the heads as well. The patterns are so easy you could make these cuties in your sleep! The only boring part is the arms and legs, and putting it all together. I am willing to make custom dolls for you, e-mail me if you want more details.

Zach's boylish cake

Zachariah was quite specific on what he wanted for a birthday cake this year, which I blame on watching entirely too much Cake Boss. He told me to make "a road, a hill, and have a race car....but not look like a race care, like a track for a race car....." (this went on for about 4 minutes). After such elaborate instructions here is what I came up with. I didn't have a new race car on hand, but I did have a really cool motorcycle! So I used that instead. He adored the cake and the motorcycle.

Cherry Pie!

It's probably one of the prettiest pies I have made in a very long time. I just had to share it. The crust only takes me about 5 minutes to make, sooooo sooo easy. Let me know if you want my crust recipe.

Amigurumi

Last year I stumbled upon Amigurumi patterns for crochet and we decided they must be made. I haven't made anymore as of late....but snowy days tend to strike the fever for such projects. Here is a wee little blue bird that I made for Bell. Just google Amigurumi +crochet and you should find many, many pattterns. They are simple really, just go around in a circle....for a very long time.

Flowers, flowers, flowers!

If you are in the mood for a simple or quick project, make some flowers!!!
I love flowers because you can hot glue them to hair pins and interchange them with scarves, hats, coats or put them wear as a hair piece. They are just too easy to make.
I have gone to http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/directory/flowers.php for a lot of my patterns. Most of them are simple and easy to follow.

Plus a flower! Same head band just added a flower.
Ch 68. slip stitch to form a ring. ch 3, double crochet in each stitch around. slip stitch to chain three at the end. chain 3, skip one stitch and *double crochet in the next then chain 1, repeat from * and slip stitch in the chain. Row 3 is the cluster row. First chain 3, yarn over your hook (yoh) through the chain space, yoh again (should have 3 loops one your hook) and pull through 2 of the loops. you and hook through the chain space (3 loops on hook now) and pull of two, yoh and hook through chain space, (4 on hook now)and pull off two, yoh and hook through chain space one last time and pull through all loops on hook, thus creating the cluster stitch. ch 3 and repeat cluster stitch in every other ch 1 space.
Row 4: ch 3, 1 double crochet in each stitch around, slip stitch to chain 3 at the end of the row
Row 5 ch 3, *skip 1 stitch, double crochet in next stitch, repeat from star around and slip stitch into chain
Row 6: chain 3, 1 double crochet in each stitch around, slip stitch to chain and fasten off.

To create the flower:
ch 37
Row 1: 1 dcr into 5th ch from hook, *miss 1 ch, (1 dc, ch1, 1 dc) into next stitch, repeat from * 15 times, ch 1 and turn
Row 2: 1 dc into top of dx *(1 halfdc, 1dc, 1tr, 1dc, 1hdc,) into ch 1 space. 1 sc into top of dc and repeat from *. This will create a long pattern that when you wind it up will turn into a flower. You could come back in on row 3 if you wanted with a trim color by using a single crochet in each stitch.

I tried to simplify this pattern for beginners and don't worry I didn't break any copyright laws as I modify all of my projects. As such I only post my original creations. Hope you enjoy it!

Hot of the crochet hook! I just finished this tonight. Since head wraps and ear warmers are all the rage in the winter I thought I would take a stab at a pattern that I printed off in 2008....yes, I was quite the novice in 2008, and as such this pattern never got completed. To my defense the pattern is from the UK, which means the instructions read differently. To my second defense, I struggled with the cluster stitch and how to execute it correctly. Either way I have conquered a much desired pattern and absolutely love it! It's not too snug and wears very comfortably. If you want the pattern leave a comment and I will post it for the daring or otherwise interested. Hope you like it!

Buddy's Sweater

So Cory's dog Buddy looked cold, really cold, as such I made him a sweater. The pattern you ask? Well, um....I basically took some measurements of his head, chest, and legs and them forest gumped my way through the pattern using a triple crochet.

Favorite Hat

This was the first hat I made this winter. It is also a new pattern. I had this pattern picked out several years ago but each time I tried it it wouldn't turn out right. After a few years of other projects I decided to come back to this and tweek the pattern to my liking. Mary has successfully made my pattern so I assume its free of errors, but if you have any questions send 'em to me!
Enjoy!!
chain 4, slip stitch into 1st stitch to make a circle
Row 1: chain 3, 13 double crochets into the circle, then slip stitch into the top of your chain 3 to pull it together
Row 2: chain 3, 2 double crochets in each of the stitches around the hat (should double in size) slip stitch in top of chain 3 to pull together
Row 3: chain 3, 2 double crochets in one stitch, then one double crochet in the next, continue this pattern all the way around and slip stitch into your chain 3 at the end.
Row 4: repeat row 3
Row 5: chain 3, 2 double crochets in first stitch, one double crochet in the next 3 stitches, repeat and slip stitch into top of chain 3
Row 6 : repeat row 5
Row 7: chain 3, 1 double crochet in same stitch, skip two stitches, 2 double crochets in next stitch. repeat around and slip stitch into top of chain 3.
Row 8-12: repeat row 7
Row 13: single crochet in each stitch around and fasten off

Arm Warmers

I noticed that since I went back to school my arms, wrists and hands get extremely cold when working on assignments. So I remedied the problem. They are also quite nice when we entering a cold car and not wanting to touch a cold steering wheel.

winter = crochet

So at the bequest of a good friend I am going to start posting my creations. I am currently working on 2 afghans.....will post those later. I have made several hats with a new pattern this year that I absolutely adore. This is my fabulous sister (in law) that is wearing the pattern. Will upload pictures of arm warmers, dolls, flowers and what have you later.

6 months later!

Well, since the last update we PCS'd to the "coast." Managed to see Cory graduate from basic training and AIT at Fort Jackson. Arabell turned 8 and is now wearing glasses. Zachariah had his eye surgery and is doing fabulous! Anna Rose is 3 and loving it! She has been labeled Hurricane Anna due to her massive abilities in trashing rooms within mere seconds.
Zach started boy scouts. Bell has finally found another girl scout troop (hurray) and Anna Rose is enrolled in what she calls "baby dance." Arabell is not competing this season in dance, but she is taking Lyrical and Ballet, both of which seem to be quite challenging for her. Zachariah is in an all boys class for strengthening.
Arabell started taking flute lessons and is doing quite fabulous. Zachariah is in drum lessons and loving it. He is destined for them!
Nate seems to be liking his new job.....although we are waiting to find out if he got promoted and whether or not we are moving again.... (sigh). But if it is His will then it will be fine.
I have returned to school and am working on a BA in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Science. Since I have a blood aversion I abandoned my love for medicine. I hate legal drama so I decided not to be a lawyer. And so I decided I will go with choice number 3, might as well do what I seem to excel at, but I enjoy teaching.

Well it's dance competition season which means absolute craziness. Arabell worked on her solo today with Shawntay. She rocked her scorpion, heel stretch and no handed heel stretch. Her next solo is Saturday at Taylorsville H.S. Here's hoping she takes queen! She gets so emotional with these competitions but I suppose that is because it's her first year.

We are still waiting for Zach's eye doctor to finish the paperwork, which will determine our future and where life will take us for the next few years. So here's to waiting. *sigh*

Anna Rose is still refusing to potty train. Ugh. Although I'm sure that the week she spends with Granny at Granny's potty training boot camp will ultimately change that. Go Granny!

Soccer season has kicked back up. Just another thing to add to the plate of craziness. Not to mention Girl Scouts and homeschool. At least the school year is coming to an end- which means they will only do schoolwork every other day........ (am I done raising kids yet?!?).