Coming soon

My sister finished coasters + progressing with the Polar blanket...
Right now my camera is not working, but I'll post new pics ASAP!

Crocheting with Valda

Today even Valda the Dog wanted to learn how crochet, so she sat on my sister's belly and watched her very carefully. Who knows if she actually got the basics of crocheting... Sure it is my sis almost crocheted the dog's hair onto her coaster!

Check out the comic I made on our Easter Brunch :-)

Happy Easter!

Care2 Easter E-cards Here!

My sister's first project

Yesterday was a great day, I went back on crocheting and my sister started and completed her first crochet project ever!
After seeing the season finale of "Prison Break" on Monday, my sister and I realized that we had finished almost all our favorite series and there wasn't much left for us to watch on tv. So we had to find something else to do at night!! And besides that, yesterday evening, we also had a black out in our building, so even if we wanted to we could not get much tv anyway.

When when my sis came home, I was already crocheting this blanket I decided to make the very same afternoon. Maybe because there was no tv, or maybe because crochet is contagious, she asked me to show her how to make something. "Nothing easier!", I told her and I went directly to my stash, grabbed a skein of yarn, a crochet hook and the "Cozy Crochet Kit" with some project to make her decide what to start with.

We picked up together a nice coaster project worked in rounds. I think that working in rounds is the better and easier way to approach crochet. I remember when I started, the most difficult thing was completing a foundation row from the chain. Making the chain is always easy and funny, but work your way through it, when you are a beginner (so probably you made your chain too tight) can be really tricky. So, I made her start with the coaster, worked in rounds in double chains, and in NO TIME, she made it!!

Here it is, isn't it great? I wish I made such a nice and neat project the first time I touched a hook. I am very proud of her, and tonight, who cares if there's nothing on tv, we'll crochet a whole coaster set! ;-)

That's the header I wanted

It took me another entire day of work but this last header is really "me". The others were nice, but this one reflects more my personality and the personality of this Blog. Besides I put on the header all the progress icons I made until now :-)
Happy! Happy! Happy!
And now I can finally go back on crocheting... It's time!

New Header

As you can see I have changed Cloudy Crochet's header. I have been working on this all morning, but I have to say I'm not 100% satisfied. I think I'll go on trying different headers in the next days! ;-)
Here are different headers I've been tying, I guess now I am satisfied with this one...

The Five Factor Personality

I found this test on Sue's Blog, Good Yarns. Very funny, and in some way true.

Your Five Factor Personality Profile

Extroversion: You have medium extroversion. You're not the life of the party, but you do show up for the party. Sometimes you are full of energy and open to new social experiences. But you also need to hibernate and enjoy your "down time." Conscientiousness: You have high conscientiousness. Intelligent and reliable, you tend to succeed in life. Most things in your life are organized and planned well. But you borderline on being a total perfectionist. Agreeableness: You have low agreeableness. Your self interest comes first, and others come later, if at all. In general, you feel that people are not to be trusted. And you're skeptical that anyone else really feels differently. Neuroticism: You have high neuroticism. It's easy for you to feel shaken, worried, or depressed. You often worry, and your worries prevent you from living life fully. You tend to be emotionally reactive and moody. Your either flying very high or feeling very low. Openness to experience: Your openness to new experiences is high. In life, you tend to be an early adopter of all new things and ideas. You'll try almost anything interesting, and you're constantly pushing your own limits. A great connoisseir of art and beauty, you can find the positive side of almost anything.

The Five Factor Personality Test

Italian Blogging

Lately I have been neglecting a bit this blog, and I'm very sad about it. The fact is that I have started working as a payed blogger. Can you believe it? Actually there is an Italian blog network, called Blogo.it, that publishes daily very focused webblogs on various subject. I have been recruited for the "women blog", it's called Pinkblog.it and it's taking a lot of my spare time!

I try to post as much as I can on Knit&Crochet, a practice not yet very fashionable and cool among the younger Italian ladies, and I hope it will get some attention thanks to me. It would be great.

That's why my last post was on Pam of Knotty Generation, I really think she's a very nice example of a woman who made her passion into a proper proper profession. I hope my Italian friends will take the example from her and from you all, passionate crocheters around the world!

Future projects

This is what I'd like to realize this springtime :-) I already know that I will never have the time, but I'd love to!

Vogue Knitting is coming

I have a real weakness for Vogue Knitting. Every time a new issue hits the kiosks I fell in love with its new collection of perfectly knitted and crocheted garments, sweaters, skirts and more. Look at the new Spring/Summer collection 2007, isn't it gorgeous?

I know I will never ever have the patience, the skills and the budget to realize models like those, but I like to dream about it! ;-)

New Knitting Videos

I've just received an e-mail from Lion Brand informing that they started doing podcasts with knitting videos, look at that tutorial on how to knit with Ruffles Yarn.

Interesting isn't it? Actually I tried downloading the Quicktime version and didn't work, but the flash version works pretty good. Nice!

Real Men Knit, a funny video

Very funny!

It's Poncho weather

This winter is pretty bizarre. Since December I've traveled a bit around Europe always finding sunny days and warm weather. Last month, passing the Alps I couldn't see a bit of snow. How weird. I mean it's pretty cool, because the weather is really mild, but very strange.

Anyway all this warm weather makes me want to make plenty of ponchos!
And once again I go back to Viva Poncho looking for inspiration. What about the pinky one? And the beige with a collar? It's so hard to choose!!!

Crazy baby booties

It's a baby boom! Everybody around me is having babies, and I must find some new cute patterns for baby booties, mittens and hats. Do you have suggestions? I'm looking for something fast and funky, not the typical picot baby bootie.

I've had a look at Crochet Pattern Central, of course, and at this page and I'm trying different patterns, I'll post some pics asap, and if you have a sweet crazy pattern on your favorites, please post it here, I'd appreciate it!! :-)

Brushing, sandpapering and painting

After the Christmas rush I've put aside a little bit of knitting and crocheting, to concentrate on other activities. Here in Brittany we had such lovely days, with sunny weather and clear sky, that Vincent and I decided to seize the moment to work on Vincent's boat. In the last three days I've been brushing, sandpapering and painting it. So funny. Well it's a hard job, but I really enjoyed it. Doing this with my hands makes me feel good. So pardon me if I have neglected a bit our common passion, I'll start anew very soon, in the meanwhile, if you don't see me much online it's because I'm on the sea... painting ;-)