Crocheting, Gimp, and Other Stuff

It really bugs me that I can't figure out how to layer an image in Gimp. I need to get with the times and learn about this stuff. I found out how to do it in Photo Shop but the problem is...I don't have that program. I have the free one:) Also I got frustrated with my last post because I wanted to move the pictures around and I couldn't. Hmmmmph! I have a lot to learn! But I want to learn to use Gimp because I may transition into digital scrapbooking. It seems a lot easier...and cheaper than the traditional way I have been doing it...even though I still love it.

Also I wanted to share my crochet project. I got this out of Vanna White's crochet book that I bought. You use two strands of yarn together the whole time. This is my very first big crocheting project. Before I have made dishclothes that look like triangles (not on purpose!). As my friends grandma said, "I can tell you how to make a chain from here to North Carolina but I couldn't tell ya how to get back!"...that has been the extent of my skills. But I decided that I wanted to learn so I bought a book and watched some You Tube videos and away I went. I don't do this consistantly...I have to be on a kick and then I will get this project out and work on it. Then I will get bored with it and move on to something else. One of these days I will finish it. I don't think my stitches are right but for my first time I don't think it is that bad. I am planning on giving this to my parents for Christmas this year. Hopefully I will be done by then! With my short attention span, who knows:)

It's Sunday which means it's mean planning time for this coming week. I have been following "The Grocery Cart Challenge" blog that is a really cute stay at home mom who is sharing her menu and money saving ideas. She has a big family and they only spend like $65 a week on groceries. I could really cut down on this area of our budget so if you are in the same boat this is a great place to stop by for tips and inspirations. She also posts links to her recipes. So I am off to plan my cheap but good menu for this week and hopefully I will get my grocery bill down by taking her advise. I am excited:)

I'm On a Sewing Kick

Here are a few of the projects I have been doing. Don't you just love my photography skills? These are all baby gifts. The ones with the initials on them are fonts I copied and made patterns from. I used a tight zigzag stitch and sewed them onto the fabric. The two bottom pictures are of what I call "lovies"...just smaller squares of fabric that the little ones can carry around. I sewed little loops of ribbon onto the lovies for the babies to play with. All of my friends loved these and I just got an order for two of them. Not that I was taking orders but a sweet friend of mine asked if I would make her 2 for her friends. I had a lot of fun with these and with the blanket for baby Henry at the top. All of this was very easy and it got my creative juices flowing again. So I got really brave and decided to make my six year old daughter's Easter dress. It turned out really cute too. Now I am on the search to find what I want to sew next. I found this really neat link on another blog I am following for cloth napkins. They are so cute and vintage that I thought I might make a set for my mom to go in her Mother's Day basket. I'm not sure what else will go with them but Mom is easy to please.