Vintage Ornaments Galore

Yesterday morning we went to our first Estate sale. I was on the hunt for vintage ornaments and I had heard that this sale had lots.I was not dissapointed, look at all the yummies I came home with. Lots of ornaments and a few tree toppers.

We made a direct dash for the ornaments and a good thing too as a lot of the folks waiting in line had come for the ornaments as well :)

One day I would love to have a whole tree of vintage ornaments. They are so colorful and shiny!

Oh Christmas Tree!

 We all had a wonderful Thanksgiving here at Hopscotch Lane! Lots of eating and relaxing. 

Now that all of the pie and leftover turkey is gone it is time to jump right into Christmas. 

So here it is out Dining Room Christmas Tree 2012!

 This is the biggest bushiest tree we have had to date. Last year was our first time in a long time having a live tree. We loved it so much we HAD to get another one and I think this one is just as perfect as last year. Like my bedroom tree, most of the ornaments are handmade. I love handmade ornaments, in 20 years I know I will be so excited to take out each ornament and feel all warm and fuzzy inside with the memories of making them.

 Here's the tree in all of it's night time glowy glory!

Thank you all for your lovely comments on the owl pattern! I am so happy you all are enjoying it! Also if you blogged about your owl please keep the links coming :) I can't tell you how happy it makes me to see all of your little owls hanging on your trees! You can also add your project on Ravelry here if you have the time.

Happy Wednesday!

Crochet Owl Ornament Pattern

Thank you so much everyone for your sweet comments on my blanket! You guys are the best! It seemed everyone who commented puts up their tree either the weekend after Thanksgiving or the first week of December, so to get you ready for tree decorating here is the pattern for a little crochet owl ornament!

 Materials:

• scrap worsted weight cotton
• size US H crochet hook
• black brads or black buttons
• poly-fil stuffing
• stitch marker 

Notes: The body is worked in a spiral so you will not slip stitch at the end of each row. Instead place a marker so you know where the beginning of the next row is. I like to use a small piece of contrasting scrap yarn because it is easier to just pull out and place between the stitches.

Body:

I used the colors pink (A), green (B) red (C), blue (D).
With Color A make magic loop
Row 1: 12 sc in loop (12sc)
Row 2: *Sc 1, 2 sc in the next sc*, rep 6 times. (18sc)
Row 3: *sc 2, 2 sc in the next sc*, rep 6 times. (24sc)
Row 4: *sc 3, 2 sc in the next sc*, rep 6 times. (30sc)
Row 5:  Sc in each sc around. (30sc)
Row 6-7:  Change to color B and sc in each sc around.(30sc)
Row 8-9:  Change to Color C, sc in each sc around. (30sc)
Row 10-11 Change to color D, sc in each sc around. (30sc)
Row 12: Change to color A, sc in first 3sts, decrease (sc2tog), sc in each st. (29sc)
Row13-18: sc in each sc around. (29sc)
Row 19: Sc in next 4 sc,  fold the body on the top and crochet together 6 sts, slip stitch in the sc 1 row below, stuff the owl with poly fil, crochet together last sts, end with a sl.st.
Fasten off. Weave in ends

Eyes (make 2):
magic loop in white.
Row 1: ch3, 11 dc in loop. Join with a sl st to top of ch3.
Fasten off. Weave in ends.
Add a black brad or button to center of eye. You can alternatively embroidery a french knot in the center.

Beak:
1) Ch 3, turn.
2) Crochet 2 sc, turn.
3) Crochet 1 sc, turn.
4) Make a sl.st.
Fasten off. Weave in ends.


Assembly:
I am extremely lazy and just glue on the eyes and the beak on to the owl, but feel free to sew them on. If you would like to add a hanging loop, just make a chain of 14 and sew it on the center top of the owl. I decided that I liked the owl better with just a Christmas ornament hook looped through a stitch on the top :)

There you have it a super simple Christmas ornament!
I hope you all enjoy!

Christmas Cheer

Did you happen to notice what was in the corner of my room in my last post. Yes it was a Christmas tree! I know it's a bit early for some of you, but I promise there is not a lick of Christmas decorations downstairs yet :) It's a bit of tradition for me to put up the bedroom tree in the beginning of November. It really puts me in the Christmas spirit and makes me excited. There is nothing like laying in bed at night and staring at a Christmas tree.

I did this years theme a little differently. Normally I have colored lights with lots of glittery ornaments in the same colors as the lights. This year I brightened it up. A lot of the ornaments you see are handmade (I think those are the best kind). I included lots of white and did clear lights. It has to be my favorite tree ever.I love it so much I decided to do the big tree downstairs in the same style.Yay! 

Its always been tradition to put up the tree and decorations the day after Thanksgiving. It is honestly my favorite day of the year, I look forward to it all year. I love it even more than Christmas Day :)

When do you put up your tree and decorations?

Granny Square Blanket Tah Dah!

I've been a bad little blogger lately. Around the Holidays I seem to be super busy with lots of fun things (as I'm sure all of you are) and don't have as much time for the computer. 

Despite my lack of blogging here is a tah dah moment I am super excited about! I finished it so quick that there was no time for in progress pictures :)

 

It's a super simple granny square blanket. Each square is 7 rounds and the 4th and 7th round are always white. It is 6 squares wide and 7 squares long. The border is just double crochet with each color alternating with white. The border really did seem to take longer than the making of all the squares. I probably won't be doing that big of a border anytime soon.

Sophie approves!

 

 Doesn't it look smashing with my new red gingham Ikea comforter!

 

There it is! Such a fun project and I'm in love with it :) 

Hope you are all having a great week!