Setting up to take this mornings picture I realized a color theme had developed. Funny how that happens when you're occupied with other things! This week has been challenging as health issues have reared their ugly head and demanded my attention. It's been necessary and therapeutic for me to keep my hands and mind busy on some simple projects.  So I decided to give amigurumi a try.  The spiral that you see is the beginning of Sammy Snail. I imagine that he'll be whole by the end of the day.  I don't think the same can be said of the socks. But that's okay.  I'm still working on finding the perfect sock pattern for me.  That's why I have two toes started here. One from my default pattern  - Socks That Fit, and the other is something new called Round and Round Toe Up Socks.  I'll let you know where my preference lies after working them each a bit more.
This week's book is Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, the second installment in the Hunger Games Trilogy.  I haven't started yet as I just closed the case on The Body in the Boudoir by Katherine Hall Page.  Stop in tomorrow when I share my review.

I'm off to check out other great projects and books with Tami, Ginny, and Susan.  Why don't you join me?

Until next time friends,
Be blessed and stitch & read with love!

It should be simple, but it’s not. Just the fact that you made it with your own hands should be enough, but it isn’t. Choosing the perfect gift is as much an art as creating it! So how do you decide? Each of us has our own method. Some use surveys, some do secret sleuthing throughout the year and others simply pick something they like in hopes that the recipient will share their taste!

Not sure what to do? Here are a few things to keep in mind as you’re browsing patterns in search of that magic item destined to be cherished for years to come.

Consider making something that you’ve seen them wear or use before. For example, Uncle Jim always wears a hat. Making him one in his favorite teams colors or that he can wear while fishing will probably be a hit. Aunt Doris on the other hand has been getting her hair done every Tuesday for as long as you remember. So as much as she might love the floppy brimmed hat you made for her to wear in the garden, chances are it will never settle on her perfectly coiffed curls. A better choice might be a wrap or shawl to keep her shoulders warm when she’s sitting on the porch enjoying her flowers.

Color matters as much as design! Unless you’re sure that Aunt Wanda is crazy for fuchsia and lime, stick with colors that are classic and go with anything.  That doesn’t mean boring, it means tasteful! Review the offerings in your stash carefully. The goal is to use it as a resource as much as possible, but only when it works!  Still stuck on the fuchsia? Use it to make removable accent flowers!

Keep their personal style and hobbies in mind. Does your co-worker always read a book at lunch? Make her a bookmark. Your best friend loves to cook, why not make something for the kitchen? How about potholders or adding lace trim to towels that match the décor. Is you sister-in-law the family fashionista? Browse “Hot Right Now” in the Ravelry patterns to see what the trends are and make her something fabulous!

The perfect gift doesn’t have to be extravagant or expensive. The smallest offering, chosen with careful thought and crafted with love is sure to be cherished. Anyone can buy a gift all done and ready to go. Making something with your own two hands, that’s special no matter what it is.  And if they don’t appreciate your effort – next year remove them from your “worthy” list and give them a gift card!  

For more suggestions or to share your strategy for choosing the perfect gift, stop by Underground Crafter for the Holiday Stashdown Challenge.

Until next time friends,
Be blessed and stitch & read with love!

I'm having trouble getting started. Trying to figure out what to say. Here's why, my husband is in the hospital. He's doing much better, and I expect that he'll be able to come home in a few more days. I started to write this big description of what had happened and how it's effecting me, but that's not what I want to do. Then I started writing about appreciating life and loving your family, but that's not what I want to say either.  Those things are important, but what I really want to tell you is this:

I've been trying to stay busy to keep the worrying at bay.  I wanted a small project that I could finish in one afternoon. I was flipping through this issue of Crochet Today! and I found inspiration.

So I grabbed my supplies...

and following the step by step instructions on page 83 - 84, I created a collection of parts. I don't have much experience making things like this, but I threaded my needle and attached them one by one.

When I was all done there was a little red bird in the world that hadn't existed earlier in the day. That makes me happy, and it kept me busy.

I had to go to the library this afternoon and empty the book drop so the staff that open on Monday  don't have to spend their morning checking in books.  We just started closing on Saturday's and our patrons are still getting used to the idea.  I stopped for a moment to appreciate the lovely flowers that are blooming in our garden.

I brought along my little red bird because I thought it might be nice to take his picture outside. The sun was so bright, but he seems to be enjoying himself, and he's so light that he can perch just about anywhere!

We were having so much fun that I decided to let my new Chubby Sheep spend a little time grazing.

It was the perfect way to spend the afternoon.  If it weren't for my ability to loose myself in my crochet I would have spent the day worrying about John. And worrying isn't going to make him get better any faster. So I guess what I really wanted to say was this: The only thing in this whole world that you have any control over is how you respond to things.  And when something happens that knocks you for a loop, you can choose to worry and fret and be anxious. Or you can choose to stay calm, to trust in your higher power, and find yourself some yarn.

Until next time friends,
Be blessed and stitch & read with love!

I was drawn to The Lost Years, the most recent offering by Mary Higgins Clark,  because the inside cover told me, "(it) is at once a breathless murder mystery and a hunt for what may be the most precious religious and archeological treasure of all time." Sounds exciting doesn't it?  Unfortunately, for me the book falls short of being "breathless" or any kind of treasure hunt.

The story begins in the Vatican Library in 1474 A.D., where thousands of sacred manuscripts are stored.  The most controversial of these is know as both the Joseph of Arimathea Parchment and the Vatican Letter, believed by many to be the only letter ever written by the Christ.  Fearful that it will be destroyed by Pope Sixtus IV who believes it to be a fake, a monk removes the letter from the Vatican and it is never seen again. 

Jonathan Lyons is a biblical scholar who, while cataloging documents from an ancient monastery, discovers what he thinks is the Vatican Letter. Within a few days of sharing his discovery with his closest colleagues Jonathan is found murdered in his home by his adult daughter.  His wife, who suffers from dementia and advanced Alzheimer's, becomes the prime suspect as she is found hiding in the office closet holding the murder weapon. Mariah Lyons is convinced that her mother is innocent and sets about trying to discover who really killed her father and to find the missing letter.

There's tremendous potential for a really great mystery here, but the book just doesn't take advantage of any of the characters or the significance of the missing document. The author introduces us to many people (too many?). I don't think any of them are well developed and as much as I wanted to, I just didn't care about any of them. Except maybe the mother. I was a little worried about her.

The book reads really quickly.  I admit that I didn't figure out "who-dun-it", and there were some unexpected little twist. Overall, I'd say it was a fair offering from Mary Higgins Clark.  Not worth going out of your way for, but acceptable if you find it in the library of the B & B when you're looking for an easy read on a long weekend!

Currently I'm reading The Body in the Boudoir by Katherine Hall Page. This is a Faith Fairchild Mystery and in this installment the author goes back in time and tells of the story of how Faith (the caterer) and her pastor husband Tom met. I'm about 70 pages in and so far the story is moving easily and the characters are as unique and entertaining as I hoped they would be. Check back next Thursday and I'll tell you if it holds its own or misses the mark!

Interested in seeing what others are reading this week? Come with me to An Accidental Knitter where I link up on Thursdays.

I may not have loved this book, but what do you think of the latest addition to my yarn stash? This is a bulky weight wool from Canada that I got for free from my terrific crochet/knitting group. The label says it's from Candide Yarns and is color 79. I have 6 skeins (about 1140 yds. / 24 oz.) of this wooly goodness - now what am I going to make with it!?!

That's all for now.  Until next time friends,
Be blessed and stitch & read with love!

It's been a busy and productive week!  I have several irons in the fire right now, but I'm very pleased to report that instead of feeling overwhelmed by this I am in fact very EXCITED!  Balance is so necessary to me, and when I start to waiver I need to remind myself to step back and take time to meditate and pray.  This allows me to calmly evaluate the things that are going on.  Then I can make decisions and assign priority to things that are important. It also helps me to see where I'm wasting energy on things that don't deserve it. And then things fall into place and I'm having fun and enjoying life instead of fretting!

Now about those crochet projects!! Marie at Underground Crafter is hosting the Holiday Stashdown Challenge which has been helping me to get organized and motivated.  One of the projects that I'm making for gifts this year are her adorable Chubby Sheep!  The pattern is a FREE Ravelry download and has been a breeze so far. (I made this much of him last night - after 10 PM!)

Last week I was gifted (by my knitting/crochet group) this great sock yarn of unknown wooly goodness that I've named Autumn Stroll.  As you can see I haven't made a lot of progress, but truthfully, getting the toe started is still a little hard for me and takes some time.  With it done I'm at the point I can just start rolling round and round until I get to the heal decrease/increase.  I'm following my go-to guide for Socks-That-Fit which has proven to be invaluable!  

In case you're wondering, I'm still not done with the cardigan - but I have finished the sleeves!  One more row on the body (it's not quite long enough) then a little trim and voila! Ready to block and wear.

This week I'm reading The Body in the Boudoir by Katherine Hall Page.  This is a Faith Fairchild Mystery. I have read several in this series whose main character is Faith Fairchild, the owner of a catering company called Have Faith, and the wife of Reverend Tom Fairchild a pastor in a small Massachusetts parish.  Faith is down to earth, funny and spunky and can't resist a good mystery.  I've enjoyed all of the titles I read in this series.  Even after several they are fresh and always draw me right in.  This book is the story of how Faith and Tom met.  I'm only 40 pages in, and so far it hasn't disappointed! Check in on Thursday when I'll review the book I just finished: The Lost Years by Mary Higgins Clark.

Now I'm off to see what everyone else is creating and reading this week and Tami's Amis WIP Wednesday and Small Things Yarn Along.  I'd love it if you joined me!

Thanks for stopping by! Until next time friends,
Be blessed and stitch & read with love!

Today we made earrings for a couple of friends.

I designed these little cards to hold our creations.

We needed a name.  Something that we can use for all the creative ventures that we undertake. I love Crochet Nirvana, but it doesn't say "Jewelry".  And so Nirvana Designs was born.

We've only just begun our journey, and there's so much to learn.    As long as we have a good time being creative together and maybe have the good fortune to make a few bucks then it's a trip I want to take! (Does this mean we're starting an etsy shop?!?)

Although all this work isn't doing anything to reduce my yarn stash, it is giving us some great ideas for holiday gifts.  Check out what others are doing over at Underground Crafter!

Until next time friends,
Be blessed and stitch & read with love!

A few months ago John and I started making stitch markers.  After seeing some very nifty little ditties a friend was using I thought - We can do that!  So I went in search of supplies, which are very easy to come by, and we set to it. We both have a role - I design and he builds.  We make a good team, and we've been having fun working together. We began just for that reason, to have fun and to make some handy markers to use and to give away.  We've also  made several pairs of earrings since the process is exactly the same! After sharing with several friends and family members, we've been hearing "You should sell those!" a whole lot. I'm not sure though. It's not that I don't think they're not good enough, after only a few sessions we got some neat designs and John's technical skills improve with each item. What I'm worried about is it will stop being fun. 

So before I jump into the deep end, I'm going to do some research, talk it over with John and give myself time to ruminate on the pros and cons of joining the ranks of millions(?) of others peddling their wares on the internet. I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts.  Should I go for it? What has your experience been? If you have an etsy shop what is one thing that you know now that you wish someone had told you before you started?

In addition to the stitch markers, I took time to work on the cardigan that I just can't seem to finish.  I feel like the end may actually be in sight.  Look at how far I've come!  I have a finished sleeve and a half! I'm still trying to decide it it's long enough.  One more round might be in order, don't you love the zig-zagginess of the edges?! I'll admit that I'm dreading blocking.  I've never blocked a whole sweater.  Pieces yes, but I'm feeling intimidated by the thought of manipulating the whole thing.

Maybe there will be some sort of sweater miracle and it'll be perfect without blocking? I've also been wondering what happens when I wash it?  I know that I'll have to do some sort of shaping.  I sure hope that it retains it shape fairly well.  If it wants more than that from me we may have some trouble!
Alright my friends, time to sit back down in that big burgundy chair and finish off that sleeve!  Enjoy your day!

Until next time,
Be blessed and stitch & read with love!

The only fiber action today is this new yarn that I got for free! I don't know what I'll do with the cotton, but I'm sure I'll figure something out.  And I don't even know what the orange sherbert looking stuff is, but I thought it would make a nice wash cloth or doily since there's not that much of it.  The coup of the new addition however is that totally beautiful sock yarn,  I have no idea what brand it is, but I think it's gorgeous.  Since it doesn't have a name I'm going to call it "Autumn Stroll".  I can't wait to give it a try with my new sock skills. I'm going to try a smaller hook this time because I think it'll make a nice fabric that way.

The past 24 hours have been busy.  On Wednesday I wrote about balance, my lack of it to be specific.  To add to the chaos I've been feeling, I spent way to many hours trying to make friends with Facebook (that's me asking for help on the Rav Group The Blog Hub).  Eventually we established what can only be considered an "association".  Friendship I fear is not in the cards for us. On top of that I've been trying to buy a new computer for the past two weeks.  Really.  I've somehow managed to turn a fairly straight forward purchase into I don't even know what. How's that possible? Here's the quick version: I purchased computer 1, brought it home, set it up and used it for about 10 days.  It couldn't stay connected to the internet (wirelessly) and the space bar stuck.  I tried trouble shooting with my internet provider with no improvement.  Back it goes. Computer 2 (a different brand) comes home, gets set up and is incredibly slow and temperamental on the internet.  Some pages open, some don't, those that do are so slow I could make dinner while waiting. I try to adjust settings, firewalls and such.  It doesn't get any better.  Back in the box it goes. And oh yeah, my son's 7 year old laptop is working like a champ so I know the connection is fine. Today I went to the store for one last try.  The bright side of this adventure has been the staff at the store who have made the exchanges easy.  I was going to get my money back, but I was assured by the friendly clerk that I can try another one if I want and as long as I keep my receipt I can bring it back (for any reason) within 15 days for a full refund. I figured why not? So here I am with yet another model computer. It's been about 6 hours and it seems like the third time might be the charm.  I'm staying connected, the keys don't stick and it even has the big 17 inch screen (fancy!). Buying a computer shouldn't be like this, and I've probably added to the situation because I refuse to settle and I refuse to spend 3 hours on the phone with the manufactures tech support who I can't understand trying to adjust something that I just spent a bunch of money on. I'd rather take it back to the store. Again and again.

Now I'm going to relax and see what's happening at Natural Suburbia and Wisdom Begins in Wonder.  Why don't you join me?

Until next time friends,
Be blessed and stitch and read with love!