Hi friends,

I'm sorry, but you know I can't resist the easy, cheesy pun. Douglas is the much-loved dachshund of Canadian Living copy editor Lisa Fielding (you've met before: remember her crafty organization tips?) and her husband, Dave. These days, Douglas is also the best-dressed dog I know.

Lisa found the directions for the crocheted bow-tie in Craft magazine. After trying an adult-sized version, she made a few changes to the pattern, then made a tie for Douglas. Here's what she did:

"I altered the pattern to make it dog size, added a separate piece to wrap around the centre, then sewed the whole thing together to slip over his head. ‘Cause I wasn’t sure if he knew how to tie a bow tie."

Sure, tying a bow tie might be beyond him, and sure, it took both Lisa and Dave to wrangle him into sitting up for this photo session. But he's also the fastest wiener dog in southwestern Ontario...so I'm willing to cut him a little slack. I mean, seriously. Just look at him.

Thank you for sharing with us, Lisa!

p.s. Don't forget to enter this week's contest. I'm getting such a kick out of reading your notes.

Hello, friends,

Tuesday already. It's a beautiful day today, and for the first time in a while I'm not thinking about going home to curl up on the couch with a cuppa and one of my many projects – it's just too nice outside.

Of course, that doesn't mean I'm not thinking about my projects. After that crochet crash course I took a few weeks ago, I added a granny square afghan to my to-do list. (Those are a couple of the squares up there.) I've just been making it up as I go along...

...but then, just the other day, I stumbled across this crocheted afghan. Go on and take a look. Isn't it spectacular? Now I'm considering a new plan of attack – one with lots more colour, and lots more white.

Do you have a favourite afghan? What's it like?

PS There's been a great response so far to this week's giveaway. Head over to Monday's post for your chance to win that copy of Creative Keepsakes: Joy of Scrapbooking (completely revised and expanded) by Lisa Bearnson, PLUS a selection of treats from Stampin’ Up! (a set of stamps, a stamp pad, and a pack of scrapbooking paper). You've got till Friday at 5 p.m.

Hello, crafters!

It's another rainy May day here in Toronto (blech). While I wait for the sun to reappear,  I thought I'd answer another question from the list I gathered during last week's giveaway. Last week, Jeannine asked:

I want to make a bag out of plastic bags. I have so many plastic grocery bags…so rather than throw them out, I’d like to crochet a bag. How would I do that?

Well, Jeannine, today's your lucky day! I did a little searching around the Canadian Living website, and found you not one, but two, patterns for crocheted carryalls made with recycled plastic bags.

If you're interested in making this project but don't know one end of a crochet hook from the other, you'll probably find this crochet tutorial handy.

Like the idea of recycling yourself a new totebag, but fancy a sewing project instead? Why not try this juice-bag totebag?

As always, I'd love to see what you make with these directions – leave a link in the comments, or send me an email (agilliland[AT]canadianliving[DOT]com).

Don’t forget about this week’s giveaway: Hooked for Life: Adventures of a Crochet Zealot by Mary Beth Temple. Leave a comment on Monday’s post for your chance to win. Entries are open until tomorrow at 5 p.m.

Have a great day!