"We are all wanderers on this earth...our hearts are full of wonder, and our souls are deep with dreams." ~ Gypsy proverb

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Yarn Along ~ Squares, doodles, and a surprise

Joining Ginny once again for Yarn Along!!

I started working on the vintage crocheted afghan I showed you last week.  The hardest part is staying conscious of the conversions or I find myself doing the wrong stitches.  The rebellious side of me wants to say---who cares! As long as it measures up and it still looks like a flower, right?!  Then that other voice says--what?? Deviate from the pattern??  Then I remember all of my lovely friends that don't even use patterns, and I think--why not?? 

I finished Forgotten Garden :).  It's a wonderful book and I recommend it to anyone who loves mysteries, fairy tales, and drama.  As far as new books, I have been drooling over the newest issue of Flea Market Style, which also has a lovely blog.  But the biggest surprise is what I've found at Anthropologie!  As expensive as it is, I still have to torture myself and browse the place.  I absolutely adore the style, the furniture, the dishes, the little details--, you know what I mean right?  I have noticed lately that they have been expanding their book section and selections.  Decorating books, cookbooks, kids' books, art books, etc.  I usually go straight to the sale section and what I found that day was Made at Home: A guide to simple sewing by Lisa Stickley.  Originally $23, I got it for $10!  It looks lovely and I can't wait to really dig in.  Then, though not on sale, but reasonable, I found these for the kids: 

Doodles for Breakfast, Doodles for Lunch, and Doodles for Dinner are adorable tear out placemat books.  Each page is alphabetical, and has step by step visual directions, using that  letter to help create the doodle.  So it's learning while doodling!!

Let me show you.  The doodles E. is working on are a "helicopter", using the lowercase "h" (sideways), and "Grandpa", using the uppercase "G" to draw Grandpa's head.  Can you see?





Cool right? Well, I thought of you all because I got an extra copy of Doodles for Dinner and want to give it away!  Just leave me a comment on today's post and I'll "draw" the winner tomorrow!!

Looking forward to your yarn along today :)!!

30 comments:

  1. Oh, how great is that--Doodles for Dinner! I have never heard of them before and would love a chane to win. Thank you.
    I love Anthropologie too and always drool over their catalog.

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  2. Can't wait to see your finished afghan. The Forgotten Garden sounds like something I would read. The doodles for dinner sounds fun. Although, I think I would be waiting a lifetime for my kids to finished dinner if they had something like that to do! I am intrigued with Anthropologie. Is it like a big homeware department store? I have heard it mentioned, but I haven't checked it out online. I think will have to now, even though it is well past my bedtime! Jacinta

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  3. Oh! How fun! Hailey could use some serious help with drawing. I think I would count it as school instead of "fun"! Isn't school supposed to be fun, though?

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  4. Ha! I love the "letter" drawings!

    I'm one of those people who's always scouring the "Sale" section at Anthropologie, as well. I've recently found http://shopruche.com/ which is similar in clothes-cuteness (minus the huge price tag), but they don't have the other amazing stuff (like furniture, etc) that Anthro does.

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  5. very fun! i bet your kids absolutely love those doodle books. i love just walking through anthro - so lovely!

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  6. Those Doodles books look like so much fun! What a cool idea. I love the sound of Anthro - all the clothes I've seen people wearing from there look so gorgeous and just my kind of thing, but I think there is only one store in London over here, so I have to just admire from afar for now, but it would definitely be one of the first places I would go to if I were to cross the ocean.
    [PS Exclude me from the giveaway because postage fees would be ridiculous, but I wanted to comment anyways!]

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  7. Squeee! Love it, I want to see more. The colours are beautiful. The Doodle books look fun & the children looked like they are putting them to great use already.

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  8. It's always good to get a bargain! I have the Made At Home book too. I was looking at it last night and was thinking of having a project to make matching placemats and napkins.

    Those doodle books look fun too. I think I'd want to have a go! x

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  9. Your afghan looks awesome! and the doodles look like a lot of fun!

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  10. The afghan is looking so lovely! Those Doodle books look adorable, I wish they were around when my kids were little. Like you, I loved the "Forgotten Garden" very much.

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  11. Oh, my goodness! How fun those doodles look :-)

    And, I love the colors on your afghan.

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  12. It is probably a good thing we don't have Anthropologie here in Ireland... I just salivate over the photos of the store displays and their website...! The colours in your crochet are just lovely! I love edging things in cream or white. I hope I'm encouraging you to deviate from patterns, har har!!!!!!!

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  13. Oh , your granny squares look fantastic. I love the colours you're using with that neutral edging. So pretty!!
    That series of books looks amazing! No Anthropologie here but I will have to keep a look out for them!

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  14. I love your granny squares, and the book is wonderful! Thanks for the opportunity to win the book!

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  15. Thanks for stopping by today! The book looks like such fun.

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  16. Your granny squares are beautiful, so bright and happy! And those doodles books look great.

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  17. Very cool! I can hardly get my son to pick up a pencil (or crayon, marker, paint brush...you name it). He's a hard-core perfectionist. Maybe this will break it down into manageable chunks for him. Thanks and good luck on my giveaway!

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  18. Neat doodle book! Your squares are looking great! Can't wait to see it all together.

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  19. that is a totally cool book! Also, that afghan is going to be so pretty! I can't wait to see it!

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  20. Those flowers are gorgeous! I love the colors. I lurk around Anthropologie too. Kudos to you for finding a deal. Those doodle books look like a lot of fun!

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  21. Those Doodle books are adorable.
    There's talk that an Anthro might go in down the street from us. I know it will be trouble!

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  22. The DOODLES books are new to me and I love the idea! Thanks for posting about them! Granny squares can be so addictive, a bit of magic happens in a very short time!

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  23. That doodles book is so cool. The male twin struggles with drawing, I know he would enjoy this! Win or not, I'll be looking for this for him. Thanks!

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  24. My boys love you now because the doodles books just hopped onto our next amazon order. :)

    I really like your choice of the plain border on your granny squares!

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  25. Very cool books! They look great for kids who think they "can't" draw!

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  26. Oh, I so want that doodles book. Looks so fun! I love the colors of the afghan you are working on! Beautiful!!

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  27. I saw the Doodles books as a bookstore recently. Didn't know about Made at Home.

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  28. The doodles are awesome!
    What acreative idea. I love your squares. The combination of colours works so well!
    I also have the same conversations about patterns :)
    I used to be far more flexible with pattern following, but I've found out the hard way that following the pattern properly usually yields the best results.

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  29. Nice squares!
    And the doodles book looks like a lot of fun :)

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  30. love granny squares, they are such fun!

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“Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”
~ George Bernard Shaw