I took this picture a few years ago when the bright red and bright orange leaves really stood out. This year I think the colors were a bit muted but still beautiful...more oranges and yellows with sprinklings of red and green!
My post is late this morning because I stayed up past 2:00am watching the election returns. I was surprised, in a good way, at how the electorate cast their ballots. I think a couple of the winning candidates had a good insight besides the economic situation...they both said that people were tired of the division and fear that was being created in our nation. I agree. I remember a time when members of both parties had different ideas from each other but they still respected one another as worthy human beings. That doesn't always seem to be the case now. It's not going to change over night but maybe this can be the beginning of the road to a better place in our nation.
I haven't had the time to finish one of the fall decorations but I have a good start. You can see that I painted both small twigs and jig saw pieces with white very cheap paint...
I'll share the rest with you later. In the meantime, I did finish crocheting some pumpkin shapes using the half double crochet stitch...
The stack of pumpkins is about 11 inches tall. I simply used a long length of yarn passing it through the center of each pumpkin up and down twice to keep the stack from falling over. I love the yarn colors and think this pumpkin decoration is really cute...what do you think?
Once you master the half double crochet stitch, it doesn't take long to make the pumpkins. All you need to do is vary the length of the cast on row to reflect the different sizes. To measure how many rows needed is easy. Remember how to make a square out of a rectangle by bringing down the edge of one side to line up with the edge of the bottom side resulting in a triangle. Do that with the length of crocheted piece and once you achieve a square then add about half the rows that made up the square and that's it.
For instance, if it took 28 rows to make the square, then add 14 more to finish the size needed to make the pumpkin. Tie off, sew or crochet the two edges together widthwise. Then with a large needle and yarn sew around one open side completely with straight stitch, pull tight to close the hole and secure. Sew around the top in the same way but as you gather the stitches add stuffing to create the shape of the pumpkin. When you have it stuffed enough, gather the stitches tight to close, secure and then pass the needle from the top of the middle through the pumpkin to the bottom middle and repeat three or four times pulling it tight enough to make a dip at the center both on the top and bottom. Secure and that's it.
I have another eye doctor appointment early tomorrow morning so I won't be posting at the normal time again.
If it's warm where you are, take a few minutes to enjoy the outdoors...
Thanks for dropping by...talk with you later...