Crocheted Slippers

My house shoes finally gave and being the cheapy I am decided I was going to try and crochet some. I have done baby slippers before and figured it couldn't be that hard. So, the search for the perfect pattern began. Only problem for me was I either didn't know a stitch or didn't like something about the way they turned out. I am not a fancy person and wanted something basic. I decided it couldn't be that hard to figure it out.
The first slipper was way to big for me and I did not like the way the heel turned out (it was puffy!). My husband woke up this morning and learned that it fit him. Yes, I only did one , but he has a prosthetic so it worked...except that it's pink.
I will share with you what I figured out and do my best at recreating my pattern. I should have counted better to give you a better idea, but hopefully you will get the idea

I wear a size 7 1/2 shoe and would say my foot is as small as I would go in this pattern, but it would stretch and be comfortable for feet bigger than mine. It could also be adjusted pretty easy, just don't ch as many for the sole and then adjust the sc and dc accordingly.

I used 2 colors of worsted weight yarn and an H hook.
ch - chain
sc - single crochet
dc - double crochet
hdc - half double crochet
sl st - slip stitch

Sole
Ch 20
Round 1: 3sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each of the next 11 ch, dc in each of the next 6 ch, 7dc in the last ch and turn. dc in each of the next 6 ch, sc in the next 11 ch, 2 sc in the ch with the original 3sc

Rounds 2-5: sc in each ch increasing when necessary to keep your work flat (around the toe and heel). When complete with round 5 tie off.

Top
To begin the top find the center stitch of the heel and attach your second color.
Rounds 1 & 2: sc in each ch

Round 3: sc in each ch.When you reach where the curve of the toe barely starts *skip 1 ch, sc in next 4ch*, repeat * until you are at the opposite side of the toe, continue the round sc in each ch.

Round 4: sc in each ch.When you reach where the curve of the toe barely starts like round 3 *skip 1 ch, sc in next 3ch*, repeat * until you are at the opposite side of the toe, continue the round sc in each ch. Skip the last ch of this round. This reduces the heel and helps hold the slipper on your foot.

Rounds 5 & 6: sc  in each ch until you reach the curve of the toe again hdc in ch, dc in ch, *skip ch, dc in next 2 ch* repeat * until around the toe. Skip ch, dc in next ch, hdc in ch. continue sc in each ch. skip the last ch of round 5.

Round 7: sl st in each ch and tie off.

I hope this makes sense. Sorry I didn't take pictures during the process. I wasn't thinking about them at the time. I hope the ones I posted help. Feel free to ask any questions and I will do my best to answer them.

Crystal ABC's

Well today I started school with Josiah. He had so much fun and did wonderful! (I'm sure I'm not biased) After much research and sorting through so many resources I picked from here and there and came up with our own thing that works for us. Josiah is really active so I knew it had to be short, sweet, and hands on!
 Through play he already has a lot figured out. He can count to 20, knows his colors, knows his shapes, and can say his ABC's. We said our ABC's when we washed our hands basically since we started washing his hands. While potty training we had a color and shape book that we read and it worked to keep him on the potty long enough to go and was educational. When we tired of the book we started pointing to different things for shape and color. We travel quite a bit so we would count trucks on our way. He is all boy and a semi is so much cooler than some minivan.
We are working on letter recognition. Josiah loves to read so we have done some, but haven't pushed it hard. This week we are working on the letter A. So we colored a picture and read a story about an alligator. Played some free online games about the letter A. Then we made crystal A's. There are so many free printables out there that with a little research you will have more than you need. We made a capital A and a lower case a. Josiah had so much fun shaping them (I did help to get the lower case a to stay by doing the twisting).

Making the A's

What you need:
Pipe Cleaners
Borax
Yarn
Popsicle Stick or Something to tie your letters to
Hot/Boiling Water
Glass Jar

 I started water in the tea kettle. I figured that would make it easier to pour in the jars.
 Then we made our A's out of the pipe cleaners. There is no right or wrong way as long as you get an A that fits in your jar.

Tie one end of the yarn to the A and the other to your popsicle stick so that your letter will hang in the jar.
Before you put it in the jar fill the jar with the hot water and start mixing in the Borax until no more will dissolve. I let Josiah stir it since I was right there.

Finally hang your A's in the jars and wait.
 As the water cools it can not hold as much of the Borax and it will start to separate out. Borax is a crystal in nature and will return to that state.

I had to put them in the window above my sink to keep little hands out of them. He can't wait for tomorrow to see what his A looks like. I think an entire alphabet would be fun!

Update 1/30 - We took the A's out of their jars this morning (they sat for 24 hrs), and they are awesome.They are hard, the plate was just to keep the water mess contained.

Crackle Sign

Well my goal was to blog about something or other once a week. Well, that didn't happen. Summer has slipped away without a post. Wheat harvest went fairly well. Had a few glitches and days that it seemed we couldn't keep a combine going, but it wouldn't be a wheat harvest without those.
A friend of mine just had her baby boy yesterday, but earlier in the summer they had a baby shower for her. I decided I would attempt to make her baby shower gifts. After a few test runs and fixes they were complete. I made a sign and a block set with his name on it. Neither gifts was difficult to make, just took a lesson in patience.

The Sign...

I first painted the sign with a white acrylic base coat and let that coat dry. I let mine set half an hour.

I then painted a layer of Elmers glue. You don't want it to be to thick or to thin. This is the layer that makes the next layer crackle. If you paint it to thin your cracks will be tiny to no existent. If painted to thick they will be huge and take forever to dry. I paint just enough to start to kinda see a white in the glue instead of it looking clear. Let this coat sit just a minute to let it start to get a little sticky. Do not let it dry completely.






I then added my blue coat of paint (cover the entire surface). Allow this coat to dry well. I let this coat sit over night to make sure it was completely dry.

Once this process is complete you can now add your saying or design. I create my design on the computer then in the printer options is mirror image. I have found this to be the easiest way to flip my image. Cut out you image leaving little white outline. Lay it out on your board to decide how you would like the layout.

Once this is determined move one piece at a time and paint a thin coat of Gel Medium (found in the painters section of a hobby store). Quickly get your picture/word back on before it starts to dry. And work across the board until it is all down. This needs to sit at least 24 hrs. I found that the longer it sits the better your design transfers.

Now it is time to remove the paper. Using lots of water, your fingers, and a wash cloth wet the paper. It's OK to have a little water standing. Gently using your fingers in a circular motion start rubbing on the paper. it will start to come up. Do this across your sign. Then using the wash cloth, very gently wipe across the sign removing any remaining paper. Be careful not rub too much on your design or it will start coming off. To make sure all the paper is off let it dry completely to check for any white. I will sometimes touch up with watered down paint to make the design bolder.

Finish the sign by sealing it so it can be washed without fear of losing the design. I have used Mod Podge and water based polyurethane (I buy the spray can, so much easier). Allow this to dry then add the hanger of your choice. I have a hanging kit that has many different types of hangers in it and decide what to use based on the size of my sign

Let the adventure begin! My last day of school was May 18th. I have since enjoyed the last couple days cuddling with my kids. Another stay at home mother told me she doesn't work for the shine of her home, but for the shine in her children's eyes. I found that to be very fitting.

Finished Corn Free Retirement Cake

The adventure began by being asked to make a retirement cake for a couple teachers. The challenge being that one is allergic to corn. I don't know how many of you have read ingredients, but everything includes corn! I used a cake recipe (most boxed cakes have corn products) and found that I was out of all purpose flour. I usually make my own flour since we are wheat farmers and so it had gone unnoticed. The good Lord was on my side because the cakes were perfect even with whole wheat flour. Then came the frosting. I thought about fondant,but didn't have the substitutes to make corn free fondant. Once again checking products along the way. Checking shortening and margarine, the obvious things. I make a batch of frosting and ran out of powdered sugar in my container and grabbed a new bag. Heading out of the pantry I happened to look at the ingredients and corn starch is the anti-caking agent. One batch of frosting that I can't use. I start the process of making my own powdered sugar. 1/2 cup of sugar at a time in the food processor, but it still wasn't getting fine enough. My husband thoroughly enjoys his coffee to my advantage this time. I cleaned out his coffee grinder and it worked wonderfully at making powdered sugar unfortunately in very small batches. I finally had the frosting made (Wilton's Buttercream Recipe). I went to start coloring the frosting and found that gel colors contain corn syrup. Plain food coloring works! My frosting was not as smooth and creamy as with store bought powdered sugar, but was acceptable and the flavor was still good. Everyone loved that cake and the best part for me was that Linda was able to enjoy her cake.

Oh, remember I said this was an adventure. Before I started decorating the cake I went to check on my goat, Ebony, who had been in the process of kidding all day and still we didn't have babies. When I checked her she was having complications and I pulled both her kids. I was not able to save them. After finishing this I washed my hands at least six times and set to work and finally finished the cake at midnight.