Greetings friends! Welcome to another busy Wednesday at Crochet Nirvana.  Can you believe that there are just 82 days until Christmas? While that make seem like ample time, I am acutely aware of how quickly it races by!  And, despite my good intentions I am woefully ill-prepared for the gift-giving part of the season.  This week, in between work, family and my other crochet pursuits I have vowed to devote at least a portion of each day's crafting time to the holidays. 

A set of embellished towels is taking shape.  I originally thought that I would use individual mini squares across the bottom edge. Then I thought - I wonder what a long granny style rectangle would look like?  Since I wanted to try the yellow and white anyway I went ahead and made this piece.  John and I both like the way it looks, however I remain unconvinced that this is the color scheme to use.  What do you think of the white on white? I'm going to applique the rectangle to one end, and the squares to the other before I make my final decision.  I've never sewn a piece of crochet work to fabric.  I'd love to hear your suggestions or tips if you've done it already!!

Wednesday is book day!  That means I get to spread a little literary love!  Right now I'm reading a new release (July 2012) called Imperfect Bliss by Susan Fales-Hill.  Library Journal calls it "Chick lit with an intellectual streak." but I'm not sure that I'd agree. Really I don't know how I feel about this story that the jacket describes as "Reality TV - Jane Austen Style!" I'm only a few chapters in and I'm just getting to know everyone! 
Without a doubt I can tell you how I feel about this week's book in review ~ I Loved It!!  Keep reading to find out why!

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
Random House Publishing
July 24, 2012; 336 Pages

Harold is a simple man. He and his wife Maureen live a simple  life in a small English village. He has recently retired from the brewery where he worked, well always.  Maureen thinks that Harold is dull. Everything that he does irritates her just slightly. Predictably, the mail arrives just as it does everyday.  But this time there is something different among the bills and adverts. A letter has come for Harold from a woman he hasn't seen or heard from in twenty years.  Queenie Hennessey is gravely ill and has written to say goodbye.

Harold is surprised by the letter.  He hasn't even thought of Queenie in years. Regardless, proper English etiquette requires that he at least acknowledge her letter with one of his own.  Quickly Harold jots a few lines, and heads out to post the letter.  When he reaches the mailbox on the corner he finds that he's not quite ready to let the letter go.  He continues on from box to box venturing out of his neighborhood.  Then, following a chance encounter with a young girl in a convenience store Harold decides that he must deliver his message in person.  And, that he must walk nearly six hundred miles in order to do so.  Because, he believes as long as he keeps walking, Queenie Hennessy will keep on living.

And so begins the Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. Though he has forgotten to bring his mobile, is wearing yachting shoes (though he doesn't yacht) and has only a light sweater to keep him warm he embarks on a quest that will bring him to places he never imagined existed both physically and emotionally.  With each step he travels closer to Queenie, and to discovering the man that is buried beneath years of monotony. 

Harold and Maureen seem to be an average, normal couple who have settled into life.  But the truth is they have been together for so long that they have forgotten why they fell in love in the first place.  And then there's their son David.  He's something of an enigma but a source of friction non-the-less. As Harold walks he thinks. As Maureen waits she thinks. And there is so much for them to think about!

Along the way Harold happens upon a cast of characters that are as diverse as your imagination allows and so rich with personality that their stories seamlessly become Harold's. Everyone has something to offer. Some times it's food or shelter and others it's a bit of advice.  It is because of them that he is able to keep walking.  But what's even more interesting is what Harold gives them in return, and how these brief chance meetings have such an impact on each of them.

As I was reading and getting to know the characters I grew fond of them.  With every encounter that unfolded on the road I found myself holding my breath as I waited to see what happens next.  There are so many layers to this book. So many stories that the author has brilliantly blended together.  I didn't know if Harold would make it or if Queenie would live.  I wondered what Maureen was going to do when she realized that she really missed her husband. And what about David?  How did he fit into the story? Page by page, step by step they all are finding their way, and what started out as unlikely makes perfect sense by the end of the story.

Interesting, funny, charming, sad, curious, awkward, corny, scary, personal, heart warming, unexpected, delightful, offbeat, wonderful. These are just some of the words that I can use to describe this book.  It's quite different from anything I've read lately.  It's a human story that I was able to immerse myself in.  I don't know if you'll enjoy it as much as I did, but there's a good chance you will. Check out a copy at your library and see for yourself. You might end up taking your own unexpected journey!

Well folks, that's about all for today!  To wrap things up I'm linking in with with this lovely group of bloggers. It's my first time visiting Ginger (Wow Me Wednesday) and Kara (Look What I Made) - who both have super creative blogs (take a peak!).  All these ladies have something special to offer and I'm so glad to be able to include my work.  I love seeing what others are doing and I always find something that I have to 'Pin' to my ever growing collection of boards!

Thank you so much for stopping by and spending a bit of your day with me!  I hope you enjoyed your visit and come back again soon!
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!

This Wednesday finds me working on little things. Mainly, these thread bookmarks.  I struggled the first time I tried this Gothic Cross pattern, but persistence and faith did the trick and now it's one of my favorites! I'll be making several of these to give as gifts this holiday season.

The weather here in New England remains hot and humid. And in this weather we've been moving the library to our temporary location where we'll be living for about a year while our building is renovated.  It's a huge project on many levels, and as exciting as it is, the work is exhausting. We decided to handle the packing and moving ourselves so we could spend the money we saved buying cool things for the new library. You can check out our progress here. By the time I get home I'm not good for much. Last night I kept falling asleep while trying to finish the blue cross.  After I dropped it for the third time I decided to put it down!

I suppose that may account for my inability to choose my next YoP project. Enlisting your help was the brightest idea I've had in a while and the response has been amazing!  If you haven't had a chance to cast your vote, please click here to add your input. It only takes a moment. You just point and click! No comments required (unless of course you want too!)

As for books - as usual I have several happening simultaneously. Last week I started Knit with Love by Lisa Bogart. This little book is sweet and full of wisdom. For me it reads much like a devotional so I'm taking my time with it and giving the words a chance to simmer together to reach their full flavor.

Over the weekend I finished listening to Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. This is the third installment in the Hunger Games trilogy. As much as I'd love to offer a full review, I'm just going to say this -  I liked these books. They have a lot to say for a Young Adult series and if you haven't read them I suggest you give them a try. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

This week I started listening to Tom Brokaw read his book Time of Our Lives. I love Tom and his voice. He could read me the phone book and I'd listen raptly. Of course this book is much deeper than that as he explores life in America and the changes time has brought us. Interesting and thought provoking.

And finally a bit of murder among the beautiful people.  I'm pages away from finishing James Patterson's Guilty Wives.  It's been a long time since I read one of his books which seem to come off of a conveyer belt these days. I know that he has many fans - I used to be one. Not so much anymore.  This book, like the last several I've read, is just to formulaic for me. I knew from the beginning how it was going to end -  unless something totally out of the blue happens in these last pages. As much as I was hoping for more, I'm not surprised. If you've never read him, go ahead and give this one a try. Otherwise, unless you're a die hard fan I'd say your not missing anything if you decide to skip this one.  Maybe next time James!

On Wednesday there's always lots going on. I like to link up with my friends on there blogs and then I spend a while checking out all the cool projects everyone is working on. The links are below. I'd love it if you joined me - this  I guarantee will be fun!

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