Blog is a bunch of pictures and commentaries about different items I sew/crochet and sometimes will have directions, advice on good groups to join and

1/31/08-

I was advised to write a blog, so here goes: currently I am working on several projects- I always do things that way, versus, finishing something before I begin. That way if my hands begin to hurt using a specific set of stitches, I can go to another that calls for another kind. I am working on, a ripple style blanket with matching pillows for my college age daughter, a felted diaper bag for a client, a shell stitched bunting with matching blanket for another,a lacy cardigan for someone, a bathrobe for a child, a pair of leg warmers for a teen,a shawl for a lady,a shrug for a new mom,a few pair of slippers, a sweater and a teddy bear! Wow, when I typed it all just now it looked like a lot. I tend to be on the neat side,so I have to put everything away when I move onto another project!

Also, I am getting prepared for next Tuesday (2/5), as I will start a new intermediate crochet class..

2/4/08-Finished 3 pairs of slippers and am back to the shell bunting and a pair of mittens-I belong to some yahoo groups that I highly recommend to others, one is called "bbadder2000-crochet and needlecraft newsletter","crochet partners"and NYS crafters association...

2/7/08-have such a crick in my neck as I feel asleep while trying to piece together a bunting!!

2/8/08-am sewing some more pillows, for car seat and some sewn on one side and crocheted on the other for my college age daughter, need to finish organizing miles and piles of fabric!! After I complete the crocheted stuff listed above, I want to do a few beaded purses and then a few jeans/recycled purses...

2/27/08-well of the last entry? I didn't get quite so industrious....finished the two pillows, but haven't gotten near organizing all the fabric. Today I continue working a special order of stockings for Christmas (yes, some folks are very organized!), a special order Easter afghan (not the usual pastel-y colors, will take pic soon), and a sweater/jacket for my 6 year old..here is a pic of the one pillow for my college aged daughter..

3/2/08-Why do I feel compelled to type in the year? I dunno, however if I don't I feel quite anxious..hmmm, odd. My DH has gone back to Canada for a month to work, and my 16 year old is doing better since her last report card left something to be desired, and now she has been reading (forcibly in some cases), voluntarily "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows"-amongst the force fed "choose one of the following SAT review books Pam, and read "Chicken Sop for the Teenage Soul-Challenging" I absolutely LOVE to read, in fact, when I crochet I have to put reading aside; right now on a 6 week loan I have "Make Peace with Anyone","The Gospel of Mary of Magdala"[2nd time reading this],"Glimpses of the Devil","Stitch-n-Bitch,Knitter's Handbook","Healing the Wounds of Childhood","ABC's of Serging"[will end up buying this one]","Pain Control","Dark Night of the Soul","Bead Crochet","My Utmost for His Highest","The Gospel of Judas"[2nd time on this one too],and "Child Custody, Building Parenting Agreements that Work.:..but I need to go crochet, it is calling me, and pic to follow!

3/7/08-Ok so I am pleased with how this sweater jacket for my 6 year old daughter, Sara, turned out. I am not going to stay on here long,as I have been reading all kinds of crochet pages and need to get back to work. Plus I babysit tomorrow at 5:30 a.m.(presently it is 1:33 a.m.) so I have to at least TRY to catch some zzz's.

I know that there was a site or two where you could dispay a pic of something that was puzzling you and someone out in cyberland would ususally have an answer...well, I have that dilemma right now. A dear older lady called me and then sent me a rather poor quality photograph of a piece that she'd like to remember how to replicate (a grecian style bedspead to be presice), and I spoke with several ladies "in the know", icluding a designer who created a very similar design, but alas, no luck yet..more soon friends in cyberland.

3/25/08-Just a quick note to my cyber crochet buddies, I took a knitting mini course tonight, and wow, learned a TON-however, am busy on several new projects that will be pictured here shortly, and please note the various price reductions throughout my website due to celebration of 4 years in business! Oh, and here's a pic of Jennifer's order:

3/26/08-Having fun with creating these little creatures whilst working on some items for the Cicero United Methodist Church fair on April 5th, 10-4, on Brewerton Rd:

3/31/08-BTW, I am still busy at work on both the sewing machine and the crochet hooks for the craft show and of course, making various other projects (like two sweaters for myself-wow, I feel so selfish!), working on a bathrobe for Sara, (she and Pam are so darn fussy, they never seem to like the"first" item I make for them, and want me to refine it..grrr), some knee high socks for Pam ( I haven't decided if I want to do a more time consuming, but cuter shell stitched sock pattern or a simple but effective single crochet stitch-either way I will be using the yarn she chose, a pretty dark varigated (red,blue green) Red Heart blend. Also, I am looking at craft fairs/shows coming up for the spring and summer months, and a few that have been very successful for me in the past, and/or I hear they are "good" ones, I need to get moving on and get a spot reserved. A new one I want to try is May 24th the "Springside Farm 5th Annual shearing festival", in Fabius that apparently had over 1,000 attendees last years and has been named one of the top "10 things to do in Onondaga county", so we shall see if I can do it this year. Well back to work, more later I am certain of that as I will have stuff to "show off"!

4/1/08-I got sidetracked bit when a creative idea came to me to fill glass balls (the kind that hang on Christmas tree) with "stuff" and have them decorate different areas of the home, instead of the usual use for these glass ornaments, which is to make a covering with crochet thread that is quite ornate. However, back on "track" and added the baby penquin to the growing crocheted (and now knitted) animals I have been making.

4/5/08- Boy, I keep a detailed journal of all the craft shows I have done over the years and if I would have read it before today's show, well I wouldn't have been there..I will hope that is is just a state of the economy. This week though, I should be getting the ability to process credit card payments, so that should help tremendously all around.

I wrote an article on the website called www.ehow.com ..It is called "How to Cope Effectively with Chronic Pain", I hope that those of you who read this blog will take a monute and read that article, not only because it is informative, but it helps me to earn more "points", so thank you in advance and God bless you!

4/8/08-Have been down and out the past few days with debilitating pain, so I haven't been able to do much, like get the credit card thing going, etc, let alone crochet..I hope to come out of this real soon!

4/26/08-Wow, I had been SO ill, now am finally better..later will pic my latest work; a sweater jacket for spring

4/30/08-Here it is and I made up the pattern after adapting it from a simple jacket that I saw on several sites, people who saw me working on it wanted to know what it was, fawned all over it, and I even got some referals just from this little jacket alone! It is made with "TLC mint sparkle" baby yarn

5/3/08-Here is a nice throw I started a few weeks ago and set it down, just finished it today..Yahoo! and more later..in depth "stuff"

5/6/08-This was redone to the client's liking to accomadate a few books..

5/11+ 12/08- Now on this page ( was on the home page) "Strawberry Shortcake" blanket (pic), an "Orange Blossom" afghan pic and the last issue of Crochet magazine featuring a "Noah's Ark afghan..(oh yes, and at the near bottom of the home page, two coasters..with changes to the blankets, (avoiding copyright infringement) I will be creating these three afghans shortly and the coasters in many different styles,colors,shapes, along with dishcloths,placemats and much more as hinted at and outright promised! I am so excited and have a lady who already special ordered the girlie blankets! More soon!

5/13/08..skirt sewn and fish design....

5/17/08-still so sick with the bronchitis/pnemonia, what a bummer, and this morning I woke up in SOOO much pain that I had to jump out of bed and try to stretch/walk it off, at 4:50 a.m., but my hubby who just "doesn't get it" said "Oh, you don't like to sleep much do you?"..I could have choked him, but thanks to God's grace, I refrained. Anyway, pictured is my latest creation, made from cotton, minus the wrist bunny (which I will get to)...

5/17-later, now with "wrist bunny"

5/19/08- I had to babysit and my middle daughter was very sick, so I promise for pics tomorrow..(because of course every crocheter woth their salt knows that's the thing to do when we are stressing-crochet away!!)-ok here's a beginning, I love the soft acrylic, 3 ply, lke coton and the flecks of navy blue and yellow throughout!

5/22/08-Here it is for size 6-9 months, and I am stil babysitting like crazy, plus have terrible pain due to rainy weather and too much work, not enough rest, but my 19 year old is home for the summer from college, (YEAH!!)

5/24/08-Ok hectic day and night yesterday, LOTS of children to watch and some just visiting the visitors (if that makes any sense), but I made the first of many styles of bookmarks and used a commercial starching solution to stiffen it, but the ones online that are recipies for homemade stiffener work just fine too!

Recall that I said that I babysit a lot? Well the mom is having trouble paying what is owed, much to my dismay, but these came from a grateful customer and really brightened my day! More tomorrow, God bless all who read this blog!

5/25/08-Had such awful insomnia last night, that I unfortunately can't make it to church today...but more later after a nap and some creative time (also prayer and mediation)

5/28/08-YAHOO! I finally feel better and am busily working, ok realistically 5 projects right now, but have 2 newer customers joining the list, so there will be 7 projects going in a few days (with pics here of course)..anywho, I have a great idea that I am sure many others have had, but for me, it is sort of already with my first client..$7/per 1/2 hour, any crochet project,stitch, WHATEVER the customer would like, with me on the webcam, and they do not even need one! The lady who is interested right now, has done one lesson, (she has no cam at the moment), oh and gave me permission to speak about her on this blog, and is presently disabled, so not sure when she will get herself a webcam, BUT without giving away all the "secrets", she watches what I do as many times as she requests with microphone and/or typing requests to have this or that angle changed, etc...IT IS SO INNOVATIVE...I LOVE IT!! Ok, more later, with pics.

5/28...later--- Well they look like two totaly differenent lapghans,but they are just taken in house and outdoor lighting to give a fair view of the colorsThis "baby", or pet,or dolly, or little person blanket measures 31" x 27", and I used Moda Dea "Cheerio", 100% nylon ,powder pink yarn mixed with Caron simply soft 100% baby brights acrylic then trimmed with Caron simply soft pale green (100% acrylic) and the powder pink Cheerio..I am in love with it!!

5/30/08..more interesting news later today AFTER I have taken a nap, day 2 of my severe insomnia..but still working and babysitting, of course ;)

6/1/08-OMG..I have been so swamped that I can't even recall what was so interesting and newsworthy! Presently am working on several items, and am also taking care of a friends' baby who has to go to the hospital, so I WILL write and post more tomorrow!

6/3/08-"the best intentions of mice and men"..(didn't I say tomorrow meaning the 2nd?) sorry..

Darn my DH is calling me, pics tomorrow!

6/7/08 My friend Denise will be at the Marcellus craft show today: booth 29, outside and yes, my stuff (some) will be with her, including the finished off to the side caplet...

6/21/08-Can anyone say "It's soooo good to be back!" along with me..wow! First,I fell out of the shower, on get this, a safety rubber shower/bath mat,then I spent almost 5 agonizing days and nights married to the toilet with a really potent strain of the flu..so, I am back on the horse and working on finishing a lapghan for a patient lady in Princeton and several sewing orders. Pics shall be posted asap.

6/27/08-Ok, finally finished Ann's lapghan..at one point I had to start from square one, rip out all my work, because it was totally messed up, or "frogged" as some crocheter's say..that was a bit heartbreaking! My font is messed up, I will try to fix it now..let's see, well that is better, albiet not the same..so now I have a few other crochet projects in the works, a sweater with big sleeve for myself, a sleeveless top with a really large hook for me too, and a few items for my daughters. Sewing, I have a few fancy men's vests to do. Well, back to work! Here is Ann's lapghan:

6/28/08..Mailed out the lady's lapghan yesterday and am working on several vests (sewing) for Matt..in the meanwhile, in between vests, I am doing several crochet projects: several sweaters and tops, one dress for litle girls, a top that is actually a beach cover up, and want to make one for myself also..and am working on some placemats, coasters, and various kitchen items, and a few other projects that I will include pics of shortly...

6/29/08..well, Matt didn't take my advice regarding his vest and using polyester for the lining as well as the fabric, so guess who was so unhappy (and forgot to pay me too) with his vest? Here is my lovely top that is presently for sale and after I take a mini nap, I am back to work!

6/29/08..So, I made some more denim purses, and had started to make some pretty little baby sweater sets as I had corresponded with this lady for about literally 10 e-mails, and after all that time and fussing, where I had been "hired",she then said her "husband found all the folks they needed" and she'll keep my name in mind..Thanks a lot. It is just one of those days, but I firmly believe that when God closes a door He opens a window, (or hopefully another door!)..And I feel like kicking my DH in the a## because he just reminded me that I have to get up at 5:30 to babysit, gee thanks, I don't know how to tell time, I need Daddy to remind me! GRRRRR!!!!! I will be making this soon..cute-and here are the pics of the purses:

7/2/08-I am busy working on a little girls dress, placemats and a sweater/top..pics soon

7/4/08-Happy Independence Day to all!! I am lacking a pic right now of the little girl's "strawberry Shortcake" outfit as my camera was out of batteries and I just gave it to mom anyway..hopefully she will bring baby over in the outit and I can take a pic..still working on the placemats, etc..more soon.