Newborn Lace Cocoon Crochet Pattern

I have a new pattern up in my etsy shop! This cocoon is so soft and comfy. 

It is CROCHET PATTERN for a newborn/infant/baby cocoon in PDF format.

It is written in the English language only.-This pattern requires approximately 125 yds. of lace weight yarn and uses sizes (H) 5mm and (J) 6mm crochet hooks.-The finished cocoon will have a bit of stretch to it to accommodate most newborn sizes.Stitches needed:St(s)=stitch(es)Sc=single crochet Hdc=half double crochet Dc=double crochet Sk=skip Sl st=slip stitchmagic ringTo purchase click on the link below and it will take you over to my Etsy shop. Once payment is made Etsy will send you an email with a link to download the pattern. Thank you!

**This pattern may not be copied, reproduced or sold. You may however sell finished products made from this pattern.

Cross Creek Gifts by Kayla Anderson original pattern design. © 2014

Newborn Lace Cocoon Pattern

The Sarafan Dress

The Sarafan Dress-designed by monpetitviolon is the newest addition to my etsy shop. This is one of my favorite thins I have ever made. She designs such beautiful things. Here is a link to her etsy pattern
shop.

Mon Petit Violon Etsy Pattern Shop

Here is a link to my etsy shop where you can find this dress for sale.

The Sarafan Dress - listing

Cross Creek Gifts now sells fabric crafts!

I have some adorable new dresses up for sale in my etsy shop.

Cross Creek Gifts

star wars

Lemons, limes and oranges

These two are officially my first fabric crafts to be offered. I have only specialized in knitted and crocheted gifts until now. I am loving this new craft so much. I am currently working on a couple more dresses that will go up for sale soon. Please check my etsy shop often and spread the word. 

Thank you for your support!

I haven't blogged in awhile because I have been busy SEWING! I finally sat down and forced myself to learn to read a pattern. I have learned so much in the last couple of months it's crazy. I have definitely found a new passion.

I've also been busy opening my etsy shop. Right now it only contains crocheted items, but within the next week I will have other things in there that I have sewn. Please click on the link and support my shop by making it one of your favorites. Thank you!

My etsy shop - Cross Creek handmade gifts

I've been praying and thinking and praying and thinking and praying and praying and praying and my husband and I have decided to home school our children once we move back to Indiana. It's been on my heart for awhile now, and after budgeting and *praying* we have made a plan. Now to see it in action. God has blessed us with the opportunity to make this happen and I couldn't be happier. My etsy shop is just a small portion of our plan.

Here is what I have been working on the last couple of months (in between my reading and crocheting).

As you can see we are thomas the train and superhero fans! I love sewing for the ones I love, but I am very excited to sew for others so that I can spend more time with the ones I love! 

Book Review: To Rise Again At A Decent Hour

....to clarify...I won this ARC in a first reads Goodreads giveaway.

Ok. There. I did it. I finally finished the book. Now I can move on with my life.
How do I even begin to describe my feelings about this book. It is like nothing else I have ever read before. I'll start by giving it a 3.649284 out of 5.

It was so boring at times I gave into my headache and actually put the book down. That was disappointing. I wanted to love every word in the book, but I was constantly repelled every time I got to the parts about religious history. Not because it was uninteresting, but mostly because I feel like it was over my head and I didn't know what to believe. Then to my relief I came to the conclusion that my opinion on it's validity was of no importance to the overall concept of the story.

I eventually picked the book up again, and oh was I so happy I did! There are many moments that made up for the small boring tidbits (x10000000). There were parts that I literally LOLed. There were even more times that I related a little more to the main character than I would ever have wanted. There were some pretty brilliant descriptions about everyday events that I would have normally never stopped to appreciate how grand they really are. 

Much like the main character, my opinion on the novel is also a contradiction to itself. I loved it, but hated it. I loved it more than I hated it though... and I really grew fond of Dr. Paul C. O'Rourk. His character was so meticulously created and displayed. I haven't read of any other character yet that has been built upon with each line, each word. Every eccentricity was more insight to his character. He went off on a lot of tangents, and I ALMOST got confused and lost in it all, but the author brought you back soon enough for it not to be a problem. It was in all of those tangents that you get to know Paul for who he is and why he is they way he is.

I like how the book ended. That's all I will say.

Book Review: The Edge of Never

My book reviews are my personal opinion. I am not paid for reviews. I read and write reviews for fun. Some books are given to me, some are won in giveaways and some are purchased. All reviews are my full honest opinion and it is not in any way for or against a specific author. Thank you!

The Edge Of Never

by

J. A. Redmerski

** spoiler alert ** Every once in awhile I need to read a really good love story. This was a really good love story. I thoroughly enjoyed following the characters.

Camryn had dealt with a lot of heartache. She was somewhat damaged, but understandably, but not in the horribly horrific worst way. She still had a little fight left in her. She wanted to change things. She had her reservations, but that didn't stop her from living her life. She just went after what she knew would make her happy...along the way she met Andrew.

I love Andrew. I know I'm married and I can't have him (nevermind the fact that he is a fictional character-haha), but he really is amazing. He has his flaws, but he makes up for them in every other aspect. He's got a great story of his own and I COULD NOT put the book down in anticipation of finding out what it was.

These two had chemistry like no other. They had a beautiful friendship that quickly turned into a beautiful "love story." The best love story I've read in awhile.

I entered the giveaway for "The Edge of Always" #2 in this series and WON! ...that is actually how I heard of this book. I quickly read this so now I am ready to receive my copy of the second book in the series and see what else happens :)

Book Review: The Book Thief

My book reviews are my personal opinion. I am not paid for reviews. I read and write reviews for fun. Some books are given to me, some are won in giveaways and some are purchased. All reviews are my full honest opinion and it is not in any way for or against a specific author. Thank you!

The Book Thief

by

Markus Zusak

5 stars!

For a book set during the Nazi Germany time period it was thoroughly entertaining and hilarious. The perspective from which it was written gives a neutral view that allows for that kind of humor. You will instantly fall in love with every character, even the ones you don't want to. You will feel their joy, pain, satisfaction, humiliation, gratitude, etc... I felt like a member of Liesel's very disfunctional family, and was quite proud of it!

Liesel deals with so much heartbreak it's hard to read sometimes, but her challenges and journey keep you turning the page. I love a book that will make me think and cry....and cry I did! A lot. Mostly on the inside because I don't like to blur my vision (that makes reading more difficult). It's a feel-good cry. The moments you know are inevitable, you see them coming, but you still bawl like a baby. 

There's a lot in this book that is very hard to fathom, but I believe is necessary for everyone once they reach a certain age. Although a fictional story, it still paints a very realistic picture of the times. The truth of this time is painful, but the knowledge of the past must be passed on and this novel is a great tool to do just that. 

Book Review: The Rosie Project

My book reviews are my personal opinion. I am not paid for reviews. I read and write reviews for fun. Some books are given to me, some are won in giveaways and some are purchased. All reviews are my full honest opinion and it is not in any way for or against a specific author. Thank you!

The Rosie Project 

by 

Graeme Simsion

5 stars :)

I instantly fell in love with Don Tillman. He is so honest and lovable. This book follows his journey of finding a wife in his very logical, statistical manner. When his approach doesn't necessarily deliver the results he expected he receives so much more.

Written from Don's perspective, you're taken within the mind of a genetic's professor with Asperger's Syndrome. His concise, methodical, systematic, deliberate way of thinking and acting makes for a very entertaining narrative! I couldn't put this book down. I really hope it is made into a movie. I can't wait to watch it!

Book Review: Labor Day

My book reviews are my personal opinion. I am not paid for reviews. I read and write reviews for fun. Some books are given to me, some are won in giveaways and some are purchased. All reviews are my full honest opinion and it is not in any way for or against a specific author. Thank you!

Labor Day

by 

Joyce Maynard

2.5 STARS

** spoiler alert ** SPOILER!!!! I didn't really like this book much. Other than the lack of quotation marks the writing wasn't too bad. ...the dialogue without quotation marks made reading the first part of the book difficult but I eventually got past it. I think using a pubecient teenage boy as the narrator was a gross and creepy choice. The "love story" included sex, of course, which had to be conveyed by the narrator...dusturbing at the very least. However I do think the young boy was a superb choice only when it came to his mother's pathetic life. ("pathetic" being used in a non-malicious way-she truly was a sad sad person) I wasn't really feeling the "love" between Frank and Adele. He just spent the last almost 20 years in prison-why wouldn't he jump in the sack with the next available woman... Her side was even more unbelievable. She leads a sorry life putting so much worry, responsibility and pain on her son's shoulders yet some convict rolls into town and she's a changed woman! ...and even worse, her son goes along with all her shenanigans because he will still do anything to make her happy. No one in their right mind would make the mistake Adele did (at least I hope not). If she were so quick to "fall in love" with this supposedly dangerous criminal why wouldn't she just use that effort to get out of the house, find a real job, support her son emotionally and otherwise and work on herself. Afterall you can't love another until you love yourself...which makes this all the more unbelievable. I was really looking forward to this one, but was sadly disappointed. I will give her kudos for the idea. It's not your typical sunshine and butterflies love story.