CROCHET ADVENTURE

Since I can no longer knit (my left thumb with arthritis won't allow it)--last evening I
watched videos from "Annie's Attic" and learned how to crochet.  (I think anyway!)

I have decided to make an afghan-- all in double crochet stitch (dc) to practice gauge and tension.  I have a couple skeins of hand painted blue yarn (worsted weight or so--can't recall really!!) and a few balls of that luscious Noro variegated yarn leftover from my knitting days.

And so..... I cast on 250 (!!) stitches while watching Poirot on Netflix as my DH was out playing his gig.      

                                                            
      Here are a few shots of the colorways in my first ball of the Noro--taupes, ranging to dark 
peach and lighter tones.....

    I definitely like the feel of crochet...and am hoping that my wrist will cooperate.

     this amaryllis that I received for Christmas has finally decided to bloom giving the impression that perhaps, SPRING is a possibility in the not too distant future!!  

          But, sad to say, I think Mother Nature still has some cold, snowy days ahead for us here in coastal CT....
Hope you are having a wonderful Sunday
Hugs , Julierose, La Blageuse Crocheteuse    

"ON THE ROAD AGAIN..."

Took out my Travel Journal that I made in Mary Ann Moss' online class a few years ago.

For our birthdays DH and I will be taking a week trip--could it be that all this SNOW and ICE has prompted us to "get outta town"....???

Here are some shots of the inner pages made from papers and fabric:

this was page one of our Caribbean Cruise......what a dream vacation that was...our mantra was:
"The boat, the boat, the boat"--with my anti-sea sickness patch I fared well even tho' the trip was a little rough seawise....

blank pages waiting to be filled....

I used magazine papers and old music prints, too.............

and here is the last page with a handprint of my darling Fiona.....

the button is one of my Grand'mere's and the lace (you can just see it along the flap) is a piece of crochet she did....

We are so READY for a May getaway.....more on that later.

I'll end with my latest page of our dear friends and their baby doggies....(oh, and on the left my daughter --in blue--and her friend on a "girls' night out!)...

Huggies to you all, still scrappin' 
Julierose, La blageuse Scrapeuse

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY !!

Julierose, La Blageuse, Scrapeuse
Stay Warm and safe.....

JUST PLAIN HAPPY

Our Fiona hiking in the woods -- one of her favorite pastimes.

This is my latest full page layout--I thought this picture of Fiona deserved a whole page of its own... & my being a "newbie" at this-- the spread took about 2 days and maybe 3 1/2 hours to achieve--I am happy with it!! Stamping, writing and punching out papers and shapes...fun, fun, fun!!

DH and I got her a little book that names them all for her to take along on her rambles....

She is our cutie-pie!! Gotta love the hat!! :--)))

Here she is at our house this past weekend--a busy little whirlwind at two years old!! Finally--"piggy tails"!!!

And here is 'Kota patiently awaiting her "people" to come and pick her up after spending the evening and overnight with us....notice she is sitting in a chair ..just like a person!! 

Little Willa looking on.............and taking it all in-little "red cheeks"!!













We had a wonderful weekend with our two girls and family...

Hugs to all 
Julierose, La blageuse--still scrappin' with my papers...

ALL QUILTING ASIDE....

I have put all my UQP's aside for now; and re-tooled my room to include a 
"Scrap Station"....Thom bought me a real typewriter for Christmas so that 
I can type directly onto my card inserts (being the computer challenged
person I am!!).  

I have done quite a few spreads (2 sheets L and R); this one is a memory
of little Fiona--of course, Grand'mere knows she's a "big girl" now--no more "goo-goo ga-ga"!! LOL

This page includes twins Greg & Connor--"then and now" with we two Grandparents holding the twins...and Steven pulling his hair to dispel the "crying"...
I love juxtaposing these times.  Here you can see the 4x6 vertical pocket arrangements--the other page has 4 (4x6) horizontals and 4 (3x4) slots....
I am so loving this--I hope to get all my pix Out of The Shoebox!!!! and into some meaningful layouts.

I am also spraying and creating my own little tags and cards and embellishments...

And finally--here is a picture of our deck this morning--OH NO........

MORE SNOW!!!

To all my quilting buds--I am just taking a little break--feeling overwhelmed at the moment and my arthritis (shoulder, arm etc ad nauseum!! ugh) is playing up, too.
I am still following and leaving occasional comments...hugs to all
Julierose, La Blageuse

A PICTURE & A THOUSAND WORDS..

In Here:

Layout One of our Christmas holiday................

Layout Two:...................

Is Grand'mere happy or what and "....here's Willa"!!

Our Christmas Family Portrait after a few thousand takes....see below 

'Kota kept getting into the action....  ;----))) great memories...

This is what I've been up to -- scrapping our lives.  For some reason I cannot fathom I feel compelled to scrap this year of 2014...and my quilting "Mojo" has
gone into hiding...so  this is where I am at right now...
Hope you enjoyed the photos...Hugs to all Julierose, La Blageuse

BONNE ANNEE--HAPPIEST OF NEW YEARS

Today my DH and I hot-footed it up to my son's house in MA @ 7 am, to drive him to hisOrthopedic doctor to have his broken wrist/arm/ thumb (??? whatever) evaluated and casted.  I baby sat for Fiona --our partay-gal--while Lin took Willa to MD for her shots.  So, Willa is very sore, of course, and this wonderful baby girl who never EVER complains is in distress...poor pumpkin...

Turns out, Jeff needs an MRI this Friday to determine just what is broken---oh..yes, and this is WHY:

.on Christmas Day he fell off the bumper of his car getting Christmas presents out of the top of the car carrier...and so ended up at our local Clinic to get a wrap and sling and x-rays...we had to open his presents for him...and generally wait on my baby boy..
.With a 2 yr old and a 4-month old babe in arms, things are rather hectic and difficult....not funny, in fact.

We are hoping that the MRI results are positive for just a bad sprain....in the meantime he has a half-cast and his thumb is immobilized.  We hated to leave them this New Year's Eve...
but at least Willa fell asleep and Jeff was able to relax his super sore arm...my baby....you know, you never ever stop being a "Mommy"....

As the year sets along with the sun above, we are resting and looking forward to yet another wonderful year with our family....and I am sending  a huge thank you to all my followers and commenters for making this year a banner one for me--I am very grateful for all your interest and your thoughts......

Hugs, and our best to you all

Love, Julierose, La Blageuse