Greetings Friends!

Last week one of the projects that I showed you was the totally groovy peace sign granny square from Petals to Picots.  My mission was to turn it into a pincushion for lovely young lady named Phoenix who volunteers at our library.  As you can see it was a terrific success and I'm overjoyed with the results.  It's a simple project that came together in just a few hours.  I made mine using Sugar 'n Cream Cotton in Sunshine, Hot Green and Psychedelic and a G hook.

Here's how:

1.    Using the granny square pattern, make just the peace sign.  For the base make a basic circle working in continuous rounds moving the stitch marker after each round. 

2.    When it's the same size as the peace sign work one round into the front loops only.  That forms the little edge and allows you to start working up.  Work 4 more continuous rounds making it about an inch and a half tall. Don't finish off.  To give it a bit more structure using the peace sign as a template, cut a piece of cardboard to fit snugly in the bottom. 

        To make the cushion, using the cardboard circle as a guide, cut 2 pieces of fabric about a 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch larger than the cardboard.

3.    Put the wrong sides of the fabric together and using a basting stitch sew around the circle.  Leave 1/4 inch seam allowance and an 1 1/2 - 2 inch opening.  Leave the needle and thread attached.

4.    Turn the circle right side out and stuff with fiber fill.  Over stuff so it's nice and firm and puffy.  Fold the edges of the opening in and stitch closed.

5.    Plump up your cushion and stuff it into the base.  It should fit snugly.  You could stop right here and have yourself a great little pincushion.  In fact, that's exactly what we're going to be making at the next YA craft class at the library!

6.    To finish, attach the peace sign to the base by single crocheting through the back loops of the base and the front loops of the peace sign.  Fasten off and weave in the end.

Well that it'll do it for me today.  I have all kinds of projects to share with you so please stop back and visit again.  Thanks so much for spending a bit of your day with me,
Until next time friends,
Be blessed and stitch & read with love!

Greetings Friends!
How are you?! I've missed you all so much!  I trust that you glided smoothly through the holidays enjoying all the good things and letting the rest slide?  Things at our house were low-key and pleasant.  I made a point of focusing on what's really important (like family and the true meaning of Christmas) instead of getting tricked into thinking I somehow had to create the perfect "TV Christmas" with tons of gifts, over the top decorations, mountains of food and a houseful of jovial guests. That we were all sick with the worst cold/flu/bug we've had in years made it even easier to adjust expectations!  Happily we have all recovered and it feels terrific to be getting back into the blogging zone. 

My self imposed hiatus from blogging and computer use in general has allowed me to evaluate my goals for 2013.  This is really important because as the title of the post indicates, by the end of the year I was feeling woefully unable to successfully navigate my world of crochet, books, family, and work.  I was trying to do so many things it was inevitable that they would all suffer and so would I. Giving myself time to simply relax and enjoy the activities that fill my world turned out to be the best present ever.  I worked on and completed all kinds of crochet projects  (plus read several books!).  Now I have lots great material for blogging.  That was one of my biggest worries - that I was running out of interesting things to write about.  I mean really, how many Wednesdays do you want to see the cardigan that I'm still working on??

The other significant change was the creation of my new book blog - Robin Reads and Writes. (RR&W) If you're a regular you know that I've been including book reviews (mainly fiction) in with my crochet posts for some time.  When the library where I work approached me about making my reviews available on their website I knew that a change of format was in order. After trying several layouts the new blog was born.  Having everything live together under one roof works well for me as far as maintenance goes.  When I started Crochet Nirvana I knew that books would always be part of my site.  Now I'm happy that they have their own special place where they can really shine.

Of course a second blog means more work.  But it's work that I love, and the response has been amazing.  In fact, I have been approached by two different publishers and asked if I would like to be an "early" reviewer.  You know that I said yes!! I mean honestly, how cool is that?  (I'll tell you all about in an upcoming RR&W post!)

Now that I've given myself time to regroup I feel energized and focused. Knowing that I have interesting projects, patterns and tutorials to share makes me feel confident about the future.  I also am thrilled about the direction the book blog is headed.  In addition to fiction I'll be reviewing new crochet/knitting (and other yarn/fiber/craft) books.  With so many exciting things on tap the future looks bright indeed. 

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!

Long before I learned how to crochet, I learned how to read, and I haven't stopped either since!  To me books have so much to offer.  They entertain, they teach, they keep me company, they make me think, they allow me to escape, and help me find my way. They are how I earn a living and how I spend my free time.  Books surround me (literally and figuratively).  I can't imagine going through the day without spending at least a part of it reading.

Not long after I started Crochet Nirvana I discovered Ginny's Yarn Along.  A place to where I could share my latest book and my latest project with others.  It had always been my intention to incorporate books into my blog.  So in addition to telling you what I was reading I started writing reviews to tell you what I thought about the book when I was done.  I was skeptical at first.  I didn't know if anyone was really interested.  Most of the craft blogs that I read don't wonder onto other subjects. I reminded myself that this is my space and I can do what I want here - even if no one else is doing it.  So I ventured on.

Occasionally in the comments, a few of you would mention that you'd like to try a book I reviewed.  Or you'd tell me about book that you thought I should try.  And then one of my coworkers suggested that we should publish my reviews on the library's web page.  She said that she enjoyed reading them, and thought our patrons would too.  It was a great boost to my confidence. Our web-mistress approached our director and we got the green light. 

I knew that it would be a lot of work.  I needed a name and a logo, and then I needed a format for making the reviews easily accessible.  After a lot of trial and error I ended up with the a new page (Book Reviews) and a new blog (Robin Reads & Writes).  The page is where at a glance you can see the covers of all the books. Click on the cover to go to the review. The new blog is where I'm publishing the reviews.  They both live here at Crochet Nirvana.  So while I'll still be sharing my latest book each week here and at Ginny's, I'll be publishing the reviews on Robin Reads & Writes.  Already I can feel them expanding and evolving.  I'm including things like audio snippets, what other reviewers think, and author interviews.   I have plans for a guest reviewer and I'm toying with the idea of starting a virtual book club.  There are so many possibilities! I can't wait to see how things grow from here.

The other new feature (page) is Booked for Lunch. I created this page as a supplement for the folks who are in the library's monthly book group.  With a link from the library's website, I provide information about what we're reading each month.  I'm also looking into doing a on-line forum as a companion to the regular meeting.  We'll see if the group has any interest in continuing the discussion past the one hour we're given each month. 

I hope that those of you who like hearing about my latest read will pop-over to RR&W.  I'll be sure to include links here and let you know when there's something new.  With my new connection to the library it's the perfect time to launch these new features.  I'm excited to be able to stretch my reviewing wings while staying true to my original vision of sharing my crochet adventures with you.

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

Greetings friends! I'm glad you're here. I decided to take Sweet Eleanor on a field trip to work. It seems a great excuse for a little public display of crochet, as well as a chance to show off our new library! As you may know, we've spent the last month moving out of our cramped and tired historic library building. It's been a massive project, but absolutely worth it as our old library we be undergoing a much needed renovation. The current plans say that in about a year we'll be moving into a stunning structure that combines the original Andrew Carnegie building with a state of the art "green" addition that will see us through the next century!

On the crochet front I've been busy! The Granny Square Project is spectacular fun. There's been such fantastic feedback and it's generating more interest than I ever imagined! This week I'm exploring the use of color. That means more research and experiments! My Sweet Eleanor Scarf is making steady progress and the CAL continues to provide encouragement. I'm pleased that the pattern is finally taking shape, although some serious blocking is going to be in order! And Juliana Mod is patiently waiting for the weather to break. I'm so close and I'm really looking forward to being able to wear her this fall. I'm also thinking about putting beads on the last row - something I've never done. I have some that are a lovely iridescent glass that might add the right bit of sparkle to this snow white beauty!

Since it's Wednesday that means I get to (further) indulge my reading obsession! I'm just about through with the Mermaid Chair. I was really taken with the beginning. I'll let you know it was able to keep up the momentum and finish as well as it started.

The Time of Our Lives by Tom Brokaw
Random House Audio
November 1, 2011; Unabridged 7 hours
Read by Tom Brokaw

I don’t typically read (or listen to) non-fiction. It’s just not my thing. And I’m inclined to avoid anything that may have political overtones, because honestly politics confuse and depress me and I prefer for my book time to be spent with things that make me feel good. That said, I have been drawn to The Time of Our Lives since it hit the shelves last year. I brought home the book, but returned it unread because others seemed more interesting at the time.  And then, as packing was wrapping up at work there was the audio edition – lonely and forlorn having somehow been overlooked in the frenzy. It must have been divine intervention and seeing how Tom Brokaw was doing his own reading I brought it home to give a listen.

In The Time of Our Lives Mr. Brokaw explores the challenges that we face today in America and asks, “What can we do to restore our country to greatness?”  Through stories about his working class family and their experiences as well as those of several interesting and inspirational Americans he paints a vivid picture of the country that was, and the American dream that meant so much to so many. But what has become of that dream? What do we hope to achieve in our lives and what do we want for our children? In the past century we have gone from the great depression to decades of great excess and now into the great recession. How do we find our way back to the top?  Can we find our way? Mr. Brokaw doesn’t profess to have all the answers, but he offers insight into what restored us following WWII and how it might help us now.

Like I said, non-fiction isn’t my thing, but I’m really glad that I brought this one home. First, I love his voice – he could be reading the dictionary and I would listen. The main reason though is it gave me so much to think about.  It also led to several stimulating conversations with my husband, John. What is our American dream? Things that were once so important, like owning a home, have a completely different meaning to us now. And how about retiring and living a life of leisure? I’m pretty sure that won’t be happening any time soon! It isn’t all about the big stuff. He reminded me that my son won’t ever have a collection of 45 rpm records, and that the salesman won’t be coming to the door with this month’s encyclopedia!  There are other things too, like how much our life expectancy has increased, and the amazing advances that we’ve made in medicine. I’m pushing the envelope on 50, but hopefully I’m only half way done!

The book moves along at a good pace. Even the parts that touched on politics and world events were presented in a way that held my interest.  I like Tom and his family (by the end, I felt like we were friends so it’s okay to use his first name!)  There’s a bit where someone asked what his wife thought of being married to a “news celebrity”, and he replied, “I’m surprised when she even remembers what I do at the end of the day!”  Family and community are important and he reminds us with touching stories of everyday heros and regular people displaying extraordinary strength and compassion.  I’ll even admit that listening to a story at the end of the book about a herd of cattle in the Montana wilderness was so moving that I found myself tearing up! The moral of the story - when we’re faced with a difficult situation it’s always easier to go through it together. You’re right Tom. And I promise to do my best!

So there you have it my friends! Thanks so much for dropping by and spending a bit of your day with me. I'll be linking up with these talented bloggers to share my adventures this week.  I just love taking a little time to see what you've been doing, and I'm always rewarded with something special.

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

Yesterday was a wonderfully inspirational day! The library is having a mini sewing workshop led by the multi-talented Jean W. Last week they made lounge pants and this week tote bags! Unfortunately, I have to work so I can't participate. Fortunately, Jean (who organizes our knit/crochet group too) filled my fabric void with a hearty stack of 8x8 inch squares and a copy of the tote pattern. So I'll be dusting off my sewing machine this weekend and giving it a go!  In the mean time, I'm itching to do some hand stitching so I'm making a batch of flowers following the (fabulous) pincushion tutorial Truly Myrtle posted recently. I won't be making the pincushion though as I'm planning on attaching the flowers to barrettes or a headband for my hair.  Keeping with the sewing theme, this wonderful new book, 101 One Yard Wonders came home with me yesterday as well. With sew many (sorry!) neat things and instructions that seem clear and easy to follow I'm not sure what I want to make first. I'm torn between a holder for my hooks or a new apron.

I continue to make swift progress on the Juliana Mod Wrap. Last night I finished the set up row of the mesh section. Working the 2DC Cluster is a little awkward at first, and it took a bit to get my grove, but it's easy to memorize and in no time I was at the end. I panicked for a moment when it looked like I was one stitch short (I counted 240 three times!) but I worked into the top stitch of the turning chain below and breathed a sigh of relief! The even rows of this section are a breeze. I'm so glad I decided to give this a go!

Now, how about that Nora Roberts book?! I am literally pages away from the end her latest offering, The Last Boyfriend. It's book two in the Inn BoonsBoro trilogy.  What do I think? I'll fill you in on my thoughts on this one and Catching Fire (another book two!) later in the week. Guess what's up next? Finally it's my turn for 50 Shades of Grey. It's gotten so much hype - can it really be that good?

Just a few more stops to make before I have to get to work. I'd love it if you'd join me while I visit Ginny, Tami and Sue. We can take a look at what everyone else has been inspired by this week. What inspires you?

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 am thrilled to be able to share these pictures of the fine stitchery of the Knit-Wits!  This fantastic, talented group of knitters and crocheters meet weekly at the Athol Public Library (where I'm so fortunate to work!).  They have taken me in, offered guidance and support, and they always, always make me smile!
    Since I'm in charge of the display that we set up each month by the front door of the library,  it was a no-brainer that I would create an homage to my fellow fiber fans!  I wanted to showcase their beautiful work as well as offer patrons a selection of yarn-crafty fiction and how-to/pattern books.  I'm hoping that we'll gain some new members to our community and that we may inspire someone who doesn't know how-to knit or crochet to venture into our wonderful world. ( It was because of a display of yarn and needle craft books a few years ago that I decided to give crochet a try!)
The response has been fantastic.  The display has captured lots of attention and I've seen at least a few folks pick up one of the flyers I made.  I've also checked out enough books from the display that I had to pull more titles from the stacks.  It's turned out to be everything I hoped it would be! 
    The display will stay up through the end of the month, and I have enough items to keep changing it around.  I want to make sure I give everyone who brought stuff in ample show-off time!
    To my Knit-Wit friends: Fantastic work everyone!  Thank you for bringing things into share.  And thank you for all of your help and kind words.  If you've never hung around with a group of Knit-Wits, go ahead and give it a try.  I bet your local library has one.  I can guarantee that you will meet the nicest, most diverse (yet united!)  and giving group of people you could ever imagine!

Until next time,
Stitch & Read with Love!