Greetings! Thanks so much for stopping by. I've been hard at work on Sweet Eleanor and learning about color for the next installment of the Granny Square Project. As much as I'm enjoying myself, yesterday I found my mind wondering, thinking about the next "big thing".  I blame the mailman since he's the one that brought me the latest issue of Crochet Today! I always get antsy to start something new when any of my magazines arrive.  I decided to appease my desire by whipping up this little cow pencil topper (from the February 2012 issue of Crochet World). I actually think it looks more like Snoopy, don't you? No matter, it was quick and fun and gave me a chance to do something different without a commitment.  Kind of like speed dating. (Not that I know anything about that, I'm just saying...) With that out of my system I'm ready to focus on my color research and,  if the weather cooperates, maybe do some work on Julianna.

Everyday on my way to work I walk by this unlikely outcropping of beauty that appeared near the drive through of our bank.  It seems that these flowers were determined to find their way into the world.  Seeds from last year's container must have landed in a crack in the blacktop giving them their start. 

I can't help but be inspired by their perseverance and adaptability.  Others must be intrigued as well because they have remained untouched.  And on one particularly hot day I noticed that the lawn service had given them water along with the other flowers!

In addition to my fiber offerings, I like to participate in Five Minute Friday over at Lisa-Jo Baker's place. It's writing in the raw and if you've never done it, why don't you give it a try? It's really easy - you just:
1. Write for 5 minutes flat on this week's prompt with no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking - then post it just as it is!
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

Here's what happened when I spent five minutes writing on the prompt "Stretch"

I remember him from my childhood.  The super elastic plastic man – Stretch Armstrong.  You could pull him and twist him and without complaint he returned to his original muscular stance.

I don’t have that ability to move my body like that, but I do try to expand the limits of my mind as often as possible. There was a time when that may have implied psychedelic exploration, but that’s not where I’m at today.  Today I am open to learning as many new things as I possibly can. I want to experience as much as I can and then some. I want to press the limits of my brain capacity.

Seeking the unknown, my willingness to absorb as much as I can has become a big part of my life as an adult. It’s this desire to seek just a little bit more, to go a little bit further than I have in the past that makes life so interesting.  And then as I come back I am the same, yet something more.

Friday is a great day for browsing on the internet. I'll be linking up these wonderful bloggers and sharing today's fiber offering. There are so many creative people to meet and new things to be inspired by - I hope you'll take a look.

This week I'm also joining in with Tricia and her Stash Bash. Click over for a peek!

Thanks so much for stopping by and spending a bit of your day with me.
Until next time friends,
Be blessed and stitch & read with love!

I am not a winner. Lady luck does not shine graciously upon me. I can't even remember the last time I won anything. And while I avoid gambling like the plague (no scratch tickets for me!) I do enjoy casting my name into the pot when it comes to entering blog give aways. I don't go out of the way to find them, but if one of my regular reads happens to be running a contest I'll gladly leave my comment and take a chance.  Once I've moved on to the next blog, it slips my mind and I don't give it a second thought.

Imagine my surprise when Danielle from A Stash Addict dropped me a line to let me know I'd won her recent give away! How cool is that?! I've been reading her blog for some time and coveting the brilliant hand dyed colors she produces in her studio. Danielle further rewarded me by posting my prize straight away. It arrived within a week from West Susex, UK to Massachusetts, USA! I've had mail sent from the same state take longer to reach me!

It was so exciting to open the plain gray package and find this beautiful  100g / 400m skein of sport/sock weight super washed BFL in a rich teal. According to the product description "the Bluefaced Leicester breed is unique to the UK and produces stunning lustre wool; this is because there are only a few surface scales on the fibre." A coordinating button and stitch marker were an added bonus.  Now I need to find a project worthy of such special prize. After all, because of this yarn I'm a winner!

Granny fever is sweeping the nation! Okay, maybe not the nation, but it has taken over my corner of the world. I could not be happier with the response to the Granny Square Project.  Reveling in the enthusiasm, I'm anxious to keep up the momentum. I was only going to use yarn from my stash, after all that is where granny got her start.  But my colors seemed lack luster and didn't have the variety I was looking for.  I found Herrschners was having a sale and I was able to buy this rainbow of colors for $12.70!! A special email  promotion gave me a discount plus free shipping and I was unable to resist!

I did dabble a bit with some cotton I had for washcloths (the brightest colors in my stash before the new order arrived!).  The big square on the bottom is my version of the Granny Corner Dishcloth. I added a few rounds as I like my cloths a bit more generous. It was a good way to get my hooking into the granny groove.

This weekend I'll be dividing my time between Granny and Sweet Eleanor.  Can you imagine all the color combinations my new yarn has to offer? My first "project" is a study of the basic granny pattern and how small stitch variations create big changes. I can't wait to see what happens!

In addition to my fiber offerings, I like to participate in Five Minute Friday over at Lisa-Jo Baker's place. It's writing in the raw and if you've never done it, why don't you give it a try? It's really easy - you just:
1. Write for 5 minutes flat on this week's prompt with no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking - then post it just as it is!
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

Here's what happened when I spent five minutes writing on the prompt "Connect"

Writing a craft blog has allowed me to connect with the most diverse group of people.  Although I knew that the internet was a conduit to the world, I had no idea that I would interact regularly with women from England, Australia, Greece, Korea and South Africa.

This exploration has created connections that I never imagined. I have met so many wonderful, funny, smart creative people.  And we share and encourage and support each other.  Often these connections that occur while sitting in front of my computer are more personal than the relationships I have with people that live in my community.

I am amazed at the different ways we connect. We blog and tweet and share status updates.  We pin things to our boards.  We participate in group activities like CALs where we cheer each other on and help each other with the intricacies of complex patterns.  The possibilities seem endless when new ways to connect are just a click away!

Well my friends, another week has come and gone.  As I consider all that has happened I can't help but smile. The "new temporary" library is officially open, and it's working out better than we could have hoped! I have plenty of yarn, plenty of projects, a well stocked pantry and an encouraging (tolerant!) family. The air conditioner is humming along and the Olympics are on the TV. What more could I ask for? I guess I really am a winner! 

Today I'll be linking in with these wonderfully creative blogs. Before I settle down with my yarn I'll be seeing what you've been up to this week. I hope you'll visit along with me.

This week I'm also joining in with Tricia and her Stash Bash. Click over for a look!

Thanks so much for stopping by and spending a bit of your day with me.
Until next time friends,
Be blessed and stitch & read with love!

Hello, I'm so glad you're here! In an effort to keep cool this summer I've been making thread crochet bookmarks using a pattern called Graceful Gothic Cross. It's fairly easy (you need to be comfortable with joining thread as each point is worked individually off the center square) and works up quickly. They're lovely in any color and I'm planning on giving them away this holiday season.

In anticipation of making Christmas ornaments and decorations,  I decided it was time to experiment with stiffening lace.  There are a variety of ways to turn your lace from flimsy to firm.  Options include: purchasing spray or liquid starch (the kind for laundry); buying a product like Stiffen Stuff or Stiffen Quick (on line or at the craft store); boiling sugar and water together to make a sticky sweet home stiffener; or another homemade option mix together plain old white glue and water, from the tap, no cooking required. Of course you know which one I picked!

I gathered together all of the white glue I could find. I also came across a big bottle of Magic Mend Liquid Plastic Adhesive. What?! It's used for repairing book bindings. We don't use it anymore at work so I brought it home (2 months ago?) thinking I might be able to do something with it. I checked it out on line since  it does have warnings on the label and I didn't want my lace to disintegrate. No problem. It's PVC free, won't discolor the book pages, is archive quality and dries clear and flexible. Very cool.

Before I got started I covered my work area with an old table cloth.  I cut the bottoms off old orange juice containers to make disposable bowls. I covered a piece of cardboard with tin foil and wax paper to make a disposable blocking board and I had my pins ready.  I also had my mixing utensils handy and paper towels laid out. Age and experience has taught me that I will make a mess, and it's better to be prepared than have to clean unnecessarily!

I started with the white glue. I used 1 part glue to 3 parts hot water. They blended easily and the mixture was very thin. I thought about adding more glue, but I decided to see what happens with this ratio. I laid the bookmark in and let it soak for 3 or 4 minutes.

I blotted the excess moisture with paper towels and pinned it into shape. It was easy to work with. It didn't stick to my fingers and I wasn't worried about it drying out on me before I was done pinning.

Next up is the Magic Mend, which smells just like white glue and isn't offensive at all despite the warning label!  I used 1 part MM and 2 parts warm water. It blended easily and produced a much thicker mixture. I followed the same steps as the first bookmark.  It was much sticker than the glue, and a little harder to work with. I felt it getting tacky and starting to harden by the time I was done pinning.

Once they were secured in the proper shape, I set them in the air conditioning to dry. 8 hours later they were done.

This is the au naturale bookmark, which is lovely but flimsy. And the stiffened bookmarks, which stand firmly on their own.  I was worried that the white glue solution was too weak, but for a first try it's just fine. Next time I'll use less water, and see what happens. I'm pleased with the Magic Mend. It's very sturdy, but not brittle. I think it's a good option for use in the future. Both mixtures did darken the thread slightly, and stiffening brings out and defines the stitches very nicely.

I love learning new things and sharing my experiences with you! Now that I've done this I have no reason to avoid projects that require stiffening. I also like that I was able to use things that I have on hand. I know not everyone has Magic Mend, but I bet you have a bottle of two of white glue hanging around!

Well friends, another busy week is drawing to a close, and isn't it amazing how much we've done?  I'll be linking up with these creative bloggers and sharing my accomplishments. I sure hope you'll come with me and see what everyone else is up to!

This week I'm also joining in with Tricia and her Stash Bash. Click over for a look!

Thanks so much for stopping by. I had a great time, and I hope you did too!
Until next time,
Be blessed and stitch & read with love!

Welcome friends! So glad you're stopping by today. It's been a crazy busy week, but even still I have a few little projects to share with you. I've been on a washcloth kick lately. Of all that I've made I think this simple square is my favorite.  The pattern - I Love This Washcloth - says it all! It's a cobble stitch that works up quickly and creates a fabric that's sturdy and flexible at the same time - exactly what I want in a washcloth.

This ear bud project was a lot of fun. I didn't follow a pattern, I just decided to give it a go. Initially I tried a SC (single crochet) around the wire, but it felt too bulky. Then I tried using a SS (slip stitch). Success! Working alternately over and under the wire I actually did this from start to finish in one (short) evening.  I was thinking about doing this as a project with the teen youth group at the library - I'm sure they'd love it. What do you think about my micro cassette player? Isn't it a trip?! I came across it packing at work, and while I don't expect we'll ever use it I think it makes a great prop for this picture!

I'm still working on the Graceful Gothic Cross  Bookmarks. I'm going to try stiffening them using a mixture of white glue and water. I've never done this before, but it seems easy enough - a little messy maybe. I'll let you know how it goes. I'm pleased to say that all of the things I made this week were with yarn from the stash. I'm hoping that makes up for the yarn I bought (for 60% off) last week!

And finally this weekend I'll be tallying up the results of the vote for my next YoP project. How fun it's been this week to watch the votes come in. There isn't a clear leader - so it you haven't voted yet I'd sure love to get your input! Click here to pick my next big project!

In addition to my fiber offerings, I like to participate in Five Minute Friday over at Lisa-Jo Baker's place. It's writing in the raw and if you've never done it, why don't you give it a try? It's really easy - you just:
1. Write for 5 minutes flat on this week's prompt with no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking - then post it just as it is!
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

Here's what happened when I spent five minutes writing on the prompt "Beyond"

Above and beyond the call of duty.  That has absolutely been the theme of work this week.  Moving a library doesn’t even sound easy! And that’s what we, the librarians and student pages have been tasked with.  The reasoning is sound – why pay a moving company thousands of dollars when we can do it ourselves and spend that money on actual things for our new library.  In practice however, it’s been hard work! Not that I’m complaining. Really.  It’s satisfying work, but not what any of us we’re ever expecting we’d be doing. Sure we move books all the time, but only one or two at a time -  from shelf to shelf. Not thousands from one building to another! In a heat wave no less. But this is work to be tremendously proud of. Because we, a group made up of mainly middle aged women, are accomplishing something on a grand scale that will benefit our entire town and the surrounding communities that use our library. How wonderful is that!

I’m honored to be part of this historic undertaking. And I’m pleased to say that yes, I am willing to go above and beyond for my library. Because it’s totally worth it!

On Friday I like to link up with these creative folks and share my accomplishments. Then, the best part is visiting and seeing what everyone else has been up to. Why don't you join me?

This week I'm also joining in with Tricia and her Stash Bash. Click over for a look!
And, for those of you participating in the Ravellenics - good luck and have fun. I'll  be watching from the sidelines, cheering you on!

There you have it friends, another week is drawing to a close - and look at all the amazing things we've done. Thanks for sharing part of your day with me!
Until next time,
Be blessed and stitch & read with love!

Look what I made! Quick, easy and fun, these Album Coasters are a great way to use up bits of color, while finding a use for the black acrylic I had hanging around. They're not the most intricate design, but I think the concept comes across clearly. Plus there's the happiness and satisfaction that comes with finishing a project - no matter how small!  This week I noticed that several of my blogging buddies have made the knitted ear bud wraps (like these from Crafts from the Cwtch). Do you see my naked ear buds? I desperately would like to cloth them, but I still don't knit.  Ravelry to the rescue! I had an idea of how to get it done, but this pattern should help me if I get stuck. I'm thinking of using rainbow embroidery floss for a sleek, shiny look.

I've also been seeing hexipuffs running rampant.  Knitters everywhere are making these adorable little puffs. But how am I going to join the craze? Thankfully Valerie Lawson has created the Apiary Puff pattern.  Her crocheted interpretation is available for free. Thank goodness! Now I can find out for myself what the fuss is all about!

In addition to these new ideas, I have couple of things still on the hooks that I hope to finish soon - really, how many times can I show you my unfinished Juliana Mod Wrap as part of Wip Wed??  I also need to decide what to work on next for my Year of Projects.  I've narrowed it down so I'll either be working with thread or fabric.  We'll see. Check back Monday to see what I decide!

In addition to my fiber offerings on Friday, I like to participate in Five Minute Friday over at Lisa-Jo Bakers place. It's writing in the raw and if you've never done why don't you give it a try? It's really easy - you just:
1. Write for 5 minutes flat on this week's prompt with no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking - then post it just as it is!
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

Here's what happened when I spent five minutes writing on the prompt "Enough"

That’s it! I’ve had enough!  There’s just never enough_____. Do you have enough? There are so many ways that you can use this word. But it either implies that you’re lacking (never enough) or have plenty (more than enough!) I hope to lean towards having more than enough or even just enough to get by.  After all, I don’t need anymore than that.  More becomes excessive. And in our world it is easy to have that become negative.

Today I have been fortunate to have gotten enough sleep.  I’ve had enough to eat.  At work, there was enough to do to keep me busy and enough help so that I wasn’t overwhelmed.  I have enough time with my family and enough money to pay the bills.  I haven’t always had enough. At least I didn’t think that I did.  Now I know that I can be happy, very happy with what I have and do and think and feel.  And that really is enough for me!

There you have it friends. Another Friday is upon us.  It's been a really long week at the library, and I'm looking forward to some R & R. Moving is hard work! Our website has lots of pictures if you're interested in what I'm doing when I'm not crafting! Now it's time to settle down and get to visiting! I love seeing what you've been up to this week! Plus, I always make a point to stop in and meet someone new.  Why don't you come with me? I promise we'll have a great time!

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

Here on the east coast of the US the weather has been hot. Dreadfully hazy, hot and humid. The atmospheric elements that are the least conducive to getting your creative groove on. At least for me they are! Desperate for light and easy projects I decided that I was onto something with my Tunisian washcloth. Scanning the Ravelry library of patterns I found lots and lots of washcloths. Here are two that I finished this week:

Both patterns are from Lion Brand. They're quick and easy and it felt so good to be able to whip one of these babys up in an evening - even after a long day of packing the books at the library. (We're moving so we can have an addition built - very exciting, and very hard work!)

The orange variegated cotton is a DK weight (?) from my stash. No idea of any specifics as it was a freebie without a label. But it's pretty and nice to work with.  As much as I like that one, I have to admit that I am in love with the Peaches & Cream cotton stripes. The colorway is Sweet Pea and I want to make something to wear out of it! It's soft and comfy and I think the colors are terrific together!

On Fridays I like to link up and visit my friends at these terrific blogs. There are always lots of great projects to see and wonderful new people to meet. Why don't you come with me?

That'll do it for me this week.
Until next time friends,
Be blessed and stitch & read with love!

In case you were wondering about my Five Minute Friday writing in the raw - Lisa Jo is on vacation this week. I thought about picking my own prompt, or even asking John for one, but then I got lazy and decided not to.
I really need that structure to keep on task!
I do enjoy this writing exercise and encourage you to give it a try at least once if you've never done it. Who knows what kind of story you might have inside you!

It's been a fabulously productive week. As I began pulling things together for today's post I was surprised by all that I (we) accomplished, and with the variety of mediums that I've been using. Fabric and sewing have been prominent. I figured out a way to combine cloth and crochet and used it to make these handy hair ties/elastics. I'm always looking for something pretty and unique to keep my mop of hair out of my face. These hit the mark and are easy to whip up.  I've been having a blast making flowers. Along with attaching them to barrettes, I wanted to make them into pins. I know you can buy the pin backs, but I decided to upcycle and pulled apart an old promotional pin and stitched the pin part to one of my flowers. Now it's ready for my denim jacket!

Stitch markers and earrings were on the agenda yesterday.  It's been a while since John and I have done this. Like anything creative I have to be in the right mood to want to do it - and for it to be successful. Let me tell you, I was in the zone! I know the pictures don't show them off, but they were coming together so easily! I've had days that no matter what combinations I tried, nothing looked right. Yesterday I could do no wrong! In about an hour and a half I had laid out at least 8 sets of markers and maybe 10 pairs of earrings. John is finishing up the last of them as I'm write this!

The sewing seed was planted a few weeks ago, when a class to make a tote bag was held at the library.  I couldn't attend because I had to work, but Jean set my up with a tasty stack of fabric squares and the pattern. I keep my sewing machine in the corner of the dining room for easy access. Truthfully, I haven't used it since I hemmed a pair of pants for John last winter, but it was ready to go. I chose 4 complimentary prints and had at it! You begin by making 4 strips of 4 squares (easy). Then you lay them out in a kind of windmill pattern and sew them together (still pretty easy). Now the fun begins because you have to somehow sew the sides together in the right order to create a very awkward looking bag (not easy anymore). I did alright for the first three, then managed to sew the top together instead of side three to four. That's why I have seam rippers! I made the lining (really easy) and pressed and pinned it all together. I had to reattach the handles a couple of times to get them to end up between the lining and the main part of the bag, and because once I pinned it so the handles would have ended up sewn into the lining! All things considered, it was a lot of fun and now I have this adorable little tote!

In addition to my fiber offerings on Friday, I like to participate in Five Minute Friday over at Lisa-Jo Bakers place. It's writing in the raw and if you've never done why don't you give it a try? It's really easy - you just:
1. Write for 5 minutes flat on this week's prompt: “Story” with no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking - then post it just as it is!
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

Here's what happened when I spent five minutes writing on the prompt "Story"

Fact, fiction, fantasy, fable there are so many stories out there. And I want to read them all!

When I think about stories I begin with the story of my life.  As interesting as that may be, it’s not where I want to spend my time – after all I’m here every day! I’d much rather hear a good story about something I know nothing about. Mermaids, knights in shining armor, being a wealthy celebrity, the possibilities are endless! I suppose that’s why I love the library. Because it’s a building bursting with stories.  Every kind imaginable.

I can loose myself in the stacks. Pulling book after book, looking at the cover and wondering what it holds inside. Will I be transported to Italy or maybe to the desert of New Mexico. I travel and meet new people. I learn and explore and immerse myself in the world the author creates for me.

I remember reading stories to my son – every night until he was too old to let me. And then, once in a while he would allow me to snuggle with his near pre-teen self and share an adventure before bed. Those were magic stories.

Perhaps not my most inspired five minutes. I honestly contemplated not posting it. Only for a secondthough.  Because it's about giving yourself an opportunity for free flowing thoughts, and letting them be just as they are. And how often to do you let yourself do that?

On Friday's there's always lots to do. I'll be heading out to visit my linky friends to see and be inspired by the wonderful things you all are working on this weekend. I'd love it if you came along.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your weekend.
Until next time friends,
Be blesses and stitch & read with love!

I'll admit that I have never  played this game, and that I really know nothing about it at all. Except that it lends itself to a very fun hat that easily brings a smile to your face! Sue at SusanD1408 Crochet Addict creates these wonderful character hats, and a few weeks ago I offered to test this one for her. If you're interested in making your own, you can find the pattern for sale here. It's a snap to make and I'm sure would make any of the little (and medium) people in your life very happy!

In addition to my fiber offerings on Friday, I've started to participate in Five Minute Friday over at Lisa-Jo Bakers place. It's writing in the raw and if you've never done why don't you give it a try? It's really easy - you just:
1. Write for 5 minutes flat on the prompt: “Dance” with no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

Here's what happened when I spent five minutes on Dance:

Listen to the music.

Can you feel the beat?

Happy feet.  Ballet. Swing. Jitterbug, Waltz, Tango, Ballroom.

I see the people dancing. Laughing, smiles on their faces. How can you feel bad when the music is pulsing through your body, loud and full of energy?

I dance in my kitchen. To a rhythm that is my own. Usually with the music that plays in the sound track of my life.  I don’t dance very often and now that I am thinking about it I really should.

Let myself go, and get lost in the spirit of the moment.

But life doesn’t always lend itself to dance. Sometime it’s more like crawl. I don’t want those moments to be the ones that dominate.

Listen to the music.

Dance like no one is watching! Freely and just for the fun of it. I bet that I’ll feel better!

I do already.

And there you have it. This week I didn't give myself any time to think about it or to organize my thoughts at all. Surprisingly when I relaxed and set my fingers to the keys the words just started to flow!

Friday is a great day for visiting on the web. Why don't you join me?
Until next time friends,
Be blessed and stitch and read with love!

What are the stories of your life that you love to tell people when you have the chance?

I have learned to stop trying to control my life and learned how to enjoy it instead. I used to spend so much energy keeping things in order, planning, trying to figure out what’s going to happen next.

I don’t do that any more. Because now I know that the only thing I have vontrol over is me and my choices and feelings. I get to choose to feel happy. I get to decide if I’ll allow someone to hurt my feelings. This has been an enlightening and uplifting lesson that allows me to live peacefully in my world. I no longer worry about everything. Instead I take things one moment at a time. I work hard on being present here and now and enjoying all the small things that make up each day. This brings me a tremendous amount of peace. Peace I never knew existed.

When I finally gave myself permission to let go and let God my world changed. I found that I can be happy and content everyday if I just let myself.

This is a story not often shared that has changed my life.

I originally discovered Stream of Consciousness Sunday on Gabby's Blog -  Living La Vida Normal. I knew that I wanted to practice this kind of writing so I filed it away future reference. It turns out that the future is now! Thanks Gabby for helping me expand my creative endeavors.

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