Do you have trouble deciding on big projects? Once you decide do you second guess your decision?  I have wildly grand ambitions, and I know what I like when I see someone else’s work, yet somehow I get lost when I'm trying to do my own thing. My blanket project is the perfect example of this condition.  I have been in love with the Groovyghan since the first time I saw it, but when it came time for me to make my own I just couldn't do it. (You can read about in Tale of the Groovyghan.)

Realizing I need a new plan I did what I always do and hit the books. 100 Colorful Ripple Stitches to Crochet seemed to hold the answer - or at least offered a place to start!   It’s almost overwhelming looking through all those designs.  The smallest change to a stitch pattern can alter the entire look.  Introduce color and you add another layer of options to the project!  Talk about confusing!! I have a box of 9 bright colors of yarn - how am I ever going to decide what pattern to use?!

Before committing to an entire blanket I wanted to make sure that I 1) enjoyed working the pattern and 2) was happy with the density and body of the fabric. After narrowing it down to these three choices I decided on Roman Blinds.  Using just one color I made a good sized swatch. It passed the first test. I could imagine spending hours with it. The second test was a moderate success. It was a little stiff, but looked like it would be nice and warm.

Next I had to decide what to do with all those colors.  Creating a striping pattern is not easy! It takes a lot of effort to come up with a design that is visually appealing. Again the options are vast! The only thing I knew for sure was I didn't want to repeat colors in the same order. When I was writing the Granny Square Project I came across the Random Stripe Generator.  It's free and super cool.  You select the colors that you're using, enter the total number of rows and viola the program generates an image and a list. If you want to see another option, just refresh the page. It lets you see how colors work together and how incredibly different something can look depending on what color goes where.  I really encourage you to check it out. Even if you don't need it now, it's a terrific resource that will come in handy someday - plus it's fun to play with!  Of course you know it took forever for me to decide on the perfect sequence!  I started with 10, narrowed it down to 3 and finally made my choice. Yeah, it's that way for everything!

Alright, now I've got the stitch pattern and the color pattern. I'm ready to make myself the most awesome blanket ever! I worked 3 rows and knew I made a mistake. I am not in love. Not only am I having reservations about the colors and the drape of the fabric, I don't know how I'm going to put a border on the ripple without it being a major pain - and I really want a border! What am I going to do?!? Honestly I'm starting to wonder if I'll ever turn all this yarn into a blanket.  I know it has the potential to be spectacular, but I can't quite get it together.  

I'm not ready to give up. I poked around on the internet seeing what Pinterest and Ravelry had to offer. I kept gravitating to granny squares and granny stripes. Since I know that I will never complete a full sized blanket of squares I decided that maybe I should try a basic straight granny stripe. I spent so much time deciding on the random color pattern maybe the simplicity of this classic design is what I need.  With 9 bright hues a complicated stitch pattern might get lost and the whole thing could easily end up looking like "eeeww" instead of "aaaahhh"!

The decision made (again!) I devoted quite a few hours to getting started. The crochet work is truly effortless making it excellent for night time and when I'm concentrating on important things like what is going to happen next on Sons of Anarchy!  Of course after just a few rows I started to second guess (again!) my decisions about the color pattern and working singles rows of color instead of 2 rows of each for a stripier stripe. Aargh!!

This is my problem.  This indecision that thwarts my progress on big projects. It is one of the reasons that I stick with the small stuff.  I struggle to have faith in my choices and the patience to let things come together.  I think it's my inner child.  That part of me that wants to be done NOW! This is when I have to remind myself why I crochet. I like making things with yarn, and it is as much about doing as it is about the finished product. Maybe even more.

Writing today's post has helped me to remember some other important things about crochet. Things  like:

• It's okay to change your mind.
• If you are going to take on a big project be sure that working on it makes you happy.  Don't commit to hundreds of rows of Back Post Double Crochet if the stitch still feels awkward - even after you get the hang of it!
• Relax and enjoy the time spent making.
• Don't be so critical!!  Whatever this turns out to be it's going to be great because: 
  a) you did it!
  b) you love the colors!
  c) you love the yarn!
  d) there is no wrong when you're making art (yes, I think crochet is art)!

Of course it's an entirely different story if you're working under contract or have to meet someone elses guidelines!  But if you're not, don't let the fun and joy of your favorite activity get lost!

I'm ready. I've finished 23 rows. I don't know what it will look like when it's done, but that's okay. It will be as unique as I am and just as warm and snuggly!

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

I know that I'm not alone in my thinking that people who spend time with fiber (what ever form it's in, no matter what they do with it) are the nicest people you could ever hope to meet. This has been my experience over and over again.  Social media plays an important role in keeping me connected to my fellow enthusiasts. I know that it sometimes gets a bad wrap.  We hear that that we spend too much time interacting virtually instead of in the "real" world.  That it is a impeding our ability to build healthy relationships.  While that may be the case for some people, it certainly hasn't been my experience.  For me social media is a happy supplement to my daily fix of fiber!  I get to see what people are making. I get pattern recommendations.  I'm inspired to try something new. I get assistance when I get stuck. I find new resources - and that's just in one visit to my FaceBook and Instagram accounts! So what does all of this have to do with today's post?

Well, through Facebook I became friends with DyeNamic Yarns, (who I recently learned is a lovely woman from Canada named Kim)! We don't really know each other, but I enjoy looking at the pictures that she shares of her hand dyed sock yarns.  A few weeks ago Kim posted a status indicating that she would send a sample of her sock yarn to the first 10 people who responded.  I just happened to be in the right place at the right time so of course I responded. Who am I to pass up the opportunity to sample hand dyed yarn? Kim immediately messaged me for my address - and to ask if there was any color that I absolutely hate! There's that niceness again! 

A short time later my mailman delivered my samples. Two mini-skeins, one in soft shades of pink and the other a fresh lime sorbet and blueberry mix that looks good enough to eat.  I grabbed my crochet hook and made myself a granny square.  The yarn is soft and smooth with a slight sheen.  It is rather elastic and moved easily over my hook and through stitches.  The colors are consistent and true with no real blending between them.  I think that this means the stripes on your socks will be nice and defined. As I sat there holding my finished square I decided it would be a shame to just set it aside.  I sewed a small square insert, stuffed it with poly-fil, and using the last bit of yarn that was left stitched the corners of the granny together to make a sweet little pincushion!

Let me say that I am by no means a yarn expert.  In fact it is only recently that I have found myself in a position to sample and purchase what I consider to be gourmet fibers.  Most of my projects are made from acrylics, cottons or commercially produced wool blends that you find at department and craft stores. My new obsession with knitting socks has brought me knee deep (sorry!) into the word of sock yarns!  What I am learning is 1) there is a huge, amazing on-line sock community; 2) there are spinners and dyers who specialize in sock yarn; 3) self-striping yarns are incredible - color changes without changing yarn! 4) because you generally only need one skein to make a pair of socks it is an affordable way to indulge yourself with a special yarn.

I am very thankful to Kim at Dyenamic Yarns for sharing her wares with me. When I'm ready for my next sock yarn purchase I'll be visiting Kim's shop, that is if her FaceBook posts don't tempt into an impulse buy first!  You can find her on Etsy at DyeNamicYarn and on FaceBook as - you guessed it - Dyenamic Yarn! Stop by and tell her Robin sent you!

Thanks so much for stopping by and spending a bit of your day with me!
Until next time,
Be Blessed and Stitch & Read with Love!

Greetings Friends!

Let's talk about socks. Generally speaking we don't give them much thought.  Lot's of people wear the same style every day. I am a white cotton gym sock.  My husband is a wool boot sock and my son is a black cotton dress sock. We are dedicated to our styles and because of our commitment it is the one thing we don't have to worry about when getting dressed each morning (hooray!). So while consistency does have it's advantages, I'll openly admit that it is boring (boo!). 

Hand knit socks however, are not.  The assortment of specialty yarns geared specifically for our feet are fabulous! You can find bright colors, light colors, self striping, ombre, jacquards, fair isle, heathered, and sparkles. Hand spun, hand dyed and hand painted in nearly any fiber or combination of fibers you can name! Then of course there are the patterns. On Ravelry alone there are nearly 30,000 matches for the search "knit socks"! Wow!

It only makes sense that there are a variety of different techniques for turning yarn into fashionable footwear. Like all things in knitting, one way is not better than the other, or the "right" way to do it. It all comes down to what works best for you and the sock you're making!

There is one more technique that I've come across.  The magic loop uses just one long (40 inch) circular needle.  In fact, there is even a way to knit two socks at the same time using this method!  When I first started knitting I thought that might be easier for a beginner.  You know, get them both done at the same time and then you don't have to worry about the dreaded second sock syndrome.  Turns out I was wrong. I didn't know enough about the basics of sock construction and I wasn't confident enough in my skills to be sliding stitches around and pulling needles from one side to the other! It was a disastrous undertaking that ended with some choice words and a knotted mess of yarn. I haven't given up on the magic loop, and I still think there is wisdom in the two at once philosophy, especially for someone like me who has a hard time finishing all the things I start!

I'm not sure which of these I'll finish first. I've been plugging away at all of them everyday.  I like having a variety of different projects all set and at the ready.  Plus socks are great on the go. I can toss any one of them in my bag and not worry about having a pattern or keeping track of where I am on a chart. 

Did you have any idea that there were so many ways to make socks?  And we didn't even talk about the actual construction techniques (like top-down, toe-up and flat) or the many kinds of heels and toes you can make! With such a variety of options it's understandable why knitting socks is so popular.  There really is something for everyone. 

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!

Join the Love Affair with Yarn!
Guest Post by Author and Yarn Enthusiast Betty Hectman

A lot of people are going to be celebrating I Love Yarn Day on October 11.  According to the Craft Yarn Council there are over 50 million people of all ages who knit, crochet or otherwise work with yarn.  And it’s no wonder.  It’s not just the destination of getting a scarf or sweater; the journey is full of benefits.  Knitting and crocheting are great anxiety busters, offer something productive to do while waiting and can be a social outlet when done with a group.  Want to Join in?

Getting Started

It’s great if you have a friend or family member to teach you, but if not, there are other options.  Check out your local yarn store.  According to Lisa Garcia of the Close Knit Circle yarn shop in Tarzana California, for a nominal fee they will teach someone to knit or crochet.  In addition with a yarn purchase comes the invitation to hang out at the group table in the store and get help on a project.  Some of the craft stores like Michael’s or Jo-Ann’s offer group lessons.  Try your local community college.  Pierce College in Woodland Hills, California offers yarn craft classes as part of their extension program.  *Your local library is another spot to check out.  Many  have groups that welcome sharing their skill and experience with new members.

If you’re more of a do it yourselfer, it is possible to learn on your own.  There are numerous  books on the market, but Betty Hechtman, author of two yarn related mysteries series  suggests doing what she did and trying a kids’ kit.  “I found that the instructions were broken down into easy to follow steps with lots of illustrations. And if the instructions would work for a ten-year-old, I figured they would work for me.  I learned how to crochet granny squares with a kit meant for kids and it changed my life.”

First Projects   

Don’t defeat yourself by choosing something too complicated for a first project.  Also, it is best to stick with easy to work with yarn like basic worsted weight.  A scarf is a great project to start with using either this free knitting pattern or this free crochet pattern. Both use only the most basic techniques.

The Beauty of Handmade

Every knit or crocheted item has its own story.  The experience of picking the yarn, making the project and what was going on in your life are all woven into the stitches.  Remember that what makes handmade items special is they look like real hands made them.  That means there might be a wiggly stitch here and there, but just look at it as part of the tale. 

About Betty Hechtman

Betty Hechtman is the author of “Yarn to Go,” the first book in the Berkley Prime Crime Yarn Retreat mystery series, as well as the author of the best-selling Berkley Prime Crime Crochet mystery series. The eighth book, “For Better or Worsted,” comes out in November.  She has also written newspaper and magazine pieces, short stories and screenplays as well as a children’s culinary mystery. She has a bachelor of fine arts degree and has been active in handicrafts since she was a small child. Hechtman divides her time between Los Angeles and Chicago.

I hope you enjoyed Betty's post!  I couldn't agree with her more.  In fact, I learned how to crochet by checking out children's books from our library. And when I needed more help I turned to our resident experts - The Knit Wits, who have been meeting on Wednesdays at the library for years!  The comment following the * is mine.  I had to mention the library, not just because I work there, but because they're such a great resource in so many communities
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!

Today I've got something really cool to tell you about.  If you ever visit me on any of the social networks you may have already seen this hat, and have heard me talking about My Mountain.  So what is My Mountain? It’s a little hard to explain, but I’ll give it a try… The concept started as a promotion in Europe where the Schachenmayr Yarn Company asked people what gives you that exhilarating feeling of accomplishment, or the adrenaline rush like you’ve just slalomed down a black diamond trail or summited a world class peak.  Now they're reaching out to North America to see how we challenge ourselves and what makes us feel like we're on top of the world. Well, I’m not much for mountain sports,  but there are a few things that make me want to throw my arms in the air and let out a big whoop of joy!

Right now my greatest mountain moments come from creating original crochet designs. It's something that I'm just getting into, and the process of going from idea to sketch then watching as it comes to life with the yarn and hook is just awesome.  The final thrill comes from putting the whole thing together on paper so I can share it with you.  How cool is it then, that as part of the promotion the folks at Schachenmayr Yarns and Westminster Fiber are having a My Mountain hat design contest. By submitting a design using their yarns you can be eligible to win some really awesome prizes.  As if that weren't enough, by emailing [email protected]  they'll even send you the yarn for free! I don't know when the cut off for the yarn request is, but your finished hat pictures need to be submitted (also by emailing Linda) by August 30.

Using the yarn that they sent me I came up with this 1920's / Gatsby inspired design.  If you know the book then you know that Daisy was bold and sassy.  I think she would have rocked this hat, so in her honor it's called Daisy's Cloche.  In addition to this beautiful violet colorway, they also sent me their new specialty Lumio yarn that has threads that reflect when you take a flash picture.  I've made a hat similar to Daisy's that I'm just about finished with.  I figure it they were kind enough to send the yarn then I'm going to use it to make some cool hats for their contest!

I'm not sure how the winners are going to be picked, and while winning is always nice, the truth is that participating in the promotion has been a great experience.  The yarn that they sent is squishy, soft and so pretty.  Plus it's really given me the confidence to come up with my own designs.  Lately I've been doing a lot of work with thread, and I don't usually use super bulky yarn so it was a real challenge to move outside my comfort zone and try something new.  My initial thought was what on earth am I going to do?! I started brainstorming and incorporating some of my favorite thread elements (like the flowers!) and before too long the cloche was born.  Along with the designing, it's also given me a reason to work on my pattern writing skills.  I think the presentation of the pattern is really important.  One of my biggest pet peeves is bloggers who share their designs, but don't have downloadable PDFs.  I never work from patterns on my laptop, and I don't have a tablet.  That means in order to print I have to copy and paste into a Word document.  It's not hard, but the formatting is always off and honestly unless the item is really special I usually don't bother.  With that in mind, I'm working on a layout that I can use for all of the patterns I share here.  My goal is to  design something that I want to use - with a little background, clear pictures and of course accurate instructions! 

If you're interested in making Daisy's Cloche for yourself or for a gift (the holidays are coming!) just click on the link below and you're in business.  Because you're using such thick yarn the whole project comes together really quickly making this a great pattern to keep on hand for when you're looking for a fast project that looks harder than it is!  Since I did edit the pattern myself you may come across something that doesn't make sense.  First, accept my apologies and then let me know about it so I can fix it!

Good luck to my fellow entrants - I hope you have as much fun as I did creating your designs.  Thanks to the folks at Westminster Fibers for reaching out, sending the yarn and encouraging us to embrace life, conquer our mountains and live each moment to the fullest! 

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!

Hey Everybody!

Lets face it. Controlling ends is a challenge.  No matter if they're split ends, loose ends or yarn ends.  The one thing that they all have in common (other than needing to be tamed and their overall messiness) is if you're willing to spend the money, someone has developed a product that is guaranteed to keep your ends in line. 

Even your yarn ends.

Now I'm all for free enterprise, but we live on a budget and spending money on frivolous conveniences is frowned upon. Hair gel, by the way, is neither frivilous nor a convenience when you have very long, very curly hair.  Especially when it's been in the 80s and 90s for weeks and the relative humidity flirts with 100% daily.  Sorry, where was I?? Oh right, saving money.  Anyway, I was flipping through a yarn catalog that the nice mailman brought me, not looking for anything in particular when I came across Yarn Wraps.   Smart idea.  For $4.99 plus shipping I can buy 3.  Closer inspection reveals that this particular brand are really no more than pieces of stretchy nylon fabric stitched into tubes. Huh.  I can do that.

I'd like to say that I was so motivated to get organized and save us money that I set to making my own yarn wraps that moment.  That's not what happened.  Instead I stored the idea away.  You could say I pinned it to the big board of things I want to do someday that lives in my brain.

A couple of months later I was doing a lot of thread work.  And even though I store the balls of thread in a big bin, when I'm using them I usually just toss them in a basket.  It was getting pretty messy so I decided it was time to make some wraps.  My first idea was to dig out a pair of pantyhose.  They would work perfectly. I hesitated though, because as far as I'm concerned they are an evil invention and I avoid wearing them at all costs.  No good can come from squeezing my Rubenesque figure into those sausage casings. In the end, I cast that idea aside since I don't even like handling them.  Something about the feel of that material just gives me the heeby jeebies.  Then I remembered the cotton/spandex leggings that were packed away to go to Goodwill.  Why not give them a try? In no time at all I had a pile of free and easy wraps ready to keep my thread from becoming a tangled, unusable mess!  I also considered using old gym sock (tube socks), or the arms from a cotton/spandex shirt.   If you don't share my pantyhose phobia I'd say they're the best choice, but if it's tubular and stretchy it probably will do the job.

I was able to keep the organizational momentum moving forward when my hubby came home with this adorable set of shelves later that week.  It turns out one of our neighbors was moving and put this treasure out with the trash!!  For ages I'd been telling him that I want shelves next to my chair in the living room to hold my ever growing collection of WIPs, yarn and books.  I'll admit that "Little Girls Room" doesn't exactly fit with the rest of our decor, but it's sturdy and clean and since we're pretty eclectic in general it's working out just fine.

So there you have it!  Any easy way to keep your yarn or thread from coming undone without spending a dime or having to touch the horrid pantyhose!!

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 had no idea that there would be such a big variance in the size of the squares.  Two inches is a lot, especially if you consider that there's only .75mm difference in the hook sizes.  I'm not sure how much thicker the worsted yarn is, but I imagine it's 1mm or less.  I'm a nerd at heart, and I'm partial to math and the role that it plays in crochet.  That means that I had to see what would happen if I made the same square out of thread!  This time I knew that the difference would be much greater, but how much?  As you can see it's half the size of the dk/sport square.  Now my love of math is elementary, so figuring out what yarn thickness, coupled with which hook size produces stitches that will make squares of what size is way beyond me.  What I do know is size matters.  And the only way to definitively know how big (or little) your square is going to be is to grab your supplies and get hooking!

I hope that you enjoyed my little foray into size, swatching and squares!  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!

Day Four: Color Review
What are your favorite colors for knitted or crocheted projects. Have a think about what colors you seem to favor when yarn shopping and crafting.

Only after writing this part of your post should you then actually look to see what colors you have used in your projects. Make a quick tally of what colors you have used in your projects over the past year and compare it to the colors you have written about. Compare this, in turn, to the colors that are most dominant in your yarn stash – do they correlate?

Color! Bright and brilliant, soft and soothing, warm, cool, shocking, neon, pastel, variegated, ombre - I love them all!!  Well, I suppose that's not entirely true.  I do have my favorites. In fact since I was young my favorite color has been purple - a passion I attribute to a long-ago obsession with Donny Osmond (I know some of you out there know what I'm talking about!).  My initial thought then is that purple would be the color I gravitate to when shopping for yarn.  Not so.  As it turns out I am much more of an equal opportunity color shopper.  My yarn/thread budget is small.  This year I made two major purchases.  The acrylics were for my series - The Granny Square Project (you can find the links in the sidebar if you missed it when I originally published).  The thread I bought because I love working with it and I was tired of using white.  Looking at these pictures makes me smile as I imagine all the possibilities that they hold!

I would have thought that purple would dominate. It came in tied for second - from the bottom!!  Imagine that!  The next big shocker is green.  12% of my projects were made from some shade of green or teal.  I never would have guessed!  So what color did I spend the most time with this year?  Pink.

How about that?  21% of the projects I counted were predominately pink.  What's interesting too is the variety of shades that I have in my stash.  I have everything from the palest almost white thread to a hot pink neon cotton yarn. The color that I used almost as much as pink is white.  I made a white shawl, wrist warmers, a hat, a doily, and a thread cross.  White was also the base for lots of granny squares.  In fact, the one big project that I'm planning is a predominately white granny style blanket.

Collecting the information for today's post has been really interesting.  I learned a lot about myself and my habits.  It was great to examine where I've been over the past year.  Not just the colors, but the type of projects I've made.  I'm looking forward to see what other Blog Week bloggers found out about their colors.  If you want to read other blog posts on this topic, please enter 4KCBWDAY4 into a search engine of your choice, or click here.

That's it for today!  Thanks so much for stopping by and spending a bit of your day with me!  Please stop in tomorrow and see what day 5 has in store.

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

Greetings and welcome to my pumpkin patch!  Autumn is my favorite season for so many reasons. Apple picking, the special way the air smells while walking through the woods, Halloween, sweater weather, craft fairs, candy, scary movies, costumes and of course pumpkins!  Whether it's carving a jack-o-lantern, making pie, toasting the seeds or crocheting one of these little beauties pumpkins are fun. I think of them as an ambassador for the holidays.  We see them first as one of the final crops from the summer growing season. We use them for decorations in October and then turn them into pies that grace our tables at Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner.  By the time the new year comes we've had our fill, but rest assured we'll be excited to see them come autumn next year!

I was looking to make some harvest themed decorations to use at the library as well as at home.  I came across this simple (free) pattern. These little lovelies are a snap to work up and actually are somewhat addicting! I've left mine plain, but Dawn over on her blog Fiddlesticks shows what can be done with a little embroidery thread, a few buttons and some imagination. She has several ideas for terrific ways to bring the harvest home. I know she's inspired me!  To get you motivated here's a look out how easy it is to make your own mini pumpkin.

I found another free mini pumpkin pattern on Petals to Picots (one of my new Friday link parties).  Kara works her's in the round.  I haven't tried it yet, but it's on my list for the weekend!  What do you think of our kitty?  She has to be part of everything!  And since she was determined to oversee my progress and my photography I had to include her in my story! 

Have you heard the news?  Today is I Love Yarn Day!  Not that we don't love yarn every day! Here is a chance for us to let everyone know just how important yarn is to us and our crafty lives.

I'm doing my part by posting here today, and by spending as much time as I can crocheting (pumpkins of course!)

On their website and Facebook page you'll find places to share your activities and see what other yarn lovers are up to today.  Here are some other suggestions from their site:

Whether you knit, crochet, craft or just adore fiber, October 12th is the day to affirm your passion for yarn. Show it off, tag with it, carry it, gather with friends. Declare your LOVE! Get involved.

• Create an I Love Day Yarn badge
• Teach someone to knit or crochet
• Do something for charity
• Wear a knitted or crocheted item
• Give a gift of yarn
• Take your yarn to work day
• Host a yarn-a-bration party
• Knit, crochet and craft in public

This is the perfect excuse for spending the day with your favorite yarn! Enjoy yourself and create something that makes you happy!

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 "Race"

There are so many things that I want to do.  I often feel like there isn't enough time in the day to get it all done.  And so I find myself hurrying through instead of taking my time and enjoying myself.  I have to pull back and remember that life is a journey not a destination (thank you Stephen Tyler and Aerosmith for instilling that bit of wisdom in me so long ago!).  Anyway, I forget that I don't have to get it all done right now.  Especially when it comes to crochet and crafting.  This is my hobby.  It's a passion, but it's a hobby.  And the reason that I do it is to relax and enjoy myself.  Of course for the pleasure of creating and having wonderful handmade gifts to give, but it's about the act of doing - or at least it should be.

So when I start getting anxious and find that I am racing to the end, I step back.  I breath into the moment.  I say the mantra that has been mine for years: Be Here Now.

Five minutes doesn't last for long!  Like last week I was tempted to keep going, but the exercise is five minutes period.  So this week when the timer went off I stopped (after I jumped because it scarred the beep out of me!).

And so this brings us to the end.  I had a lot to share today.  I hope that something here caught your eye!  For more eye catching fun, check out these other blogs.  Each one has something unique to offer and I'm sure you'll find plenty to ooh and aah over! Enjoy your weekend ~ no matter what you're doing!

Greetings!

Well, I tried to come up with an inspirational post.  Something to wow you with, but honestly I've got nothing.  That's not really true.  I have lots of ideas:

I could tell you about my 10 favorite yarny blogs,
or share my banana bread recipe (I already took the pictures!).
I could tell you about  the book group I'm running this year.
If I spent the time taking pictures I could show you the awesome stitch markers John and I have been making.
Then there are the lace ornaments I want to make for Christmas.
And the great gift idea I have for my mother-in-law.
Plus I have an apron that I want to embellish with granny squares, but haven't.
And of course I have WIPS. Plenty of those.

Unfortunately, I don't want to do any of those things.

You see, I'm very close to finishing Juliana and Eleanor. And I have just a bit more work to complete the pansy project so I can write the next installment of the Granny Square Project.

And when I get this close to the end I start thinking about the beginning - as in what will I be beginning next??  I have LOTS of yarn that I want to make things with.

I'm sure that there are plenty of you out there who know where I'm coming from.  I call it my crochet ADD and let it go at that! I know that I will never have just one project happening at a time.  And I know that when the end is near I have to buckle down and just get it done - otherwise all I do is increase my WIP stash. And it does feel so good to actually put those finishing stitches on.

So for this moment I'll just indulge myself with a little fantasy crochet and call it "planning".  Planning is good right??

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 "Focus"

It is that time of the morning, before the birds are even awake.
The moon still shines huge in the sky and the grass is wet with dew.
It is the time when I am so completely alone that even with my eyes closed
I focus.

I see the day for what it is. For what it has the potential to be.
I am the most perceptive and free in the deep dark - before dawn is even a thought.
I know that the day is waiting.  With all kinds of opportunity and adventure.
But in my quiet place, my peaceful place, it is me and my creator.
Where I give thanks for so many blessings.
Ask for strength to do my best this day.
Ask for wisdom in my words and for the chance to be a blessing to someone else.

I close my eyes
and focus
on the glory that will come with dawn.
_

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