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!

This week while I was wondering around in the unbelievably diverse world wide web, I discovered Lisa-Jo Baker and Five Minute Friday. A great place to flex your writing muscles without fear of - well anything really.  Early Friday morning Lisa-Jo posts a word, a link and the simple rule of visiting the person who linked before you and offering encouragement for their effort. The idea is to write spontaneously for five minutes with total abandon. No planning and no editing. Totally cool. Lots of people participate and it’s really interesting to read how differently we all spend our five minutes.

Intrigued, I decided to give it a go. After scoping out this week’s word (Risk) I opened a new document, set the timer on my phone and let the words fall where they may.  Here’s what happened:

Ready – GO!

Risk

Typically I am not one to take risks.  When I was younger it was a different story.  Then I was all about living on the edge and taking chances. Now, though as I approach 50 – wow 50! I look at things differently. I evaluate the outcome of my choices and my behavior. I know now that if I take a chance or a risk I may not bounce back as quickly as I once did.

But I will take risks in other areas that I didn’t when I was young.  Now I will wear what makes me comfortable and risk being out of style. Or, I’ll say what I really think about something and risk ruffling a few feathers. I’ll also ask questions when I don’t know the answer and risk looking foolish. Because these days it’s much more important …

STOP!

Five minutes goes by really quickly.  It took a few moments to get started. Even though the directions say to just write what comes to mind first, I couldn’t do it. I needed to think a little – otherwise I’m afraid it would have been a bunch of sentence fragments.  In the free form writing of my youth I think I remember taking a bit of time to organize my thoughts before putting pen to paper, but I may just be trying to rationalize my more restrained adult self!  I found it hard to stop myself from editing as I went along – because that’s what I always do.  It was a refreshing and entertaining exercise, and I’m glad I gave it a try. I need to push myself outside of my comfort zone and allow my creative mind some new influences.  I encourage you to take a peek and see what it’s all about.

Two crochet projects are dominating my hooks this weekend. I’m nearly finished with the Angry Red Bird Hat that I’m testing for Sue, and the Juliana Mod Wrap is making swift progress. It’s great when something takes shape rapidly. It keeps me motivated. Before I settle down with a cool iced-tea and my yarn I’m going to stop in and see what everyone else is up to this weekend. Why don’t you join me?

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

Thank you for sharing a smile with us. There's always plenty to see on Friday.  Come on, we'll visit together! Until next time friends,
Be blessed and stitch & read with love!

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

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

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

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

The instructions in the STF pattern are a little vague - it's more like sock guidelines rather than a traditional pattern.  That's okay it just means I needed to keep my thinking cap on. I struggled a bit with the toe.  It came out kind of pointy, but I'll adjust that next time and I made quick progress of the body.  The heal was another story though. I increased just fine, but it took a few tries and a bit of ripping to get the decreases right.  I finally got it though and once that was done the rest was a breeze!  It's a bit tight across the instep (I'll spare you more pictures of my foot!), but I think I know how to fix that next time. And there you have it - my first sock!