A Prayer For The Children

We pray for the Children
Who sneak popsicles before supper,
Who erase holes in math workbooks,
Who can never find their shoes.
And we pray for those
Who stare at photographers from behind barbed wire,
Who can't bound down the street in a new pair of sneakers,
Who never "counted potatoes,"
Who are born in places where we wouldn't be caught dead,
Who never go to the circus,
Who live in an X-rated world.

We pray for children
Who bring us sticky kisses and fistfuls of dandelions,
Who hug us in a hurry and forget their lunch money.
And we pray for those who never get dessert,
Who have no safe blanket to drag behind them,
Who watch their parents watch them die,
Who can't find any bread to steal,
Who don't have any rooms to clean up,
Whose pictures aren't on anybody's dresser,
Whose monsters are real.

We pray for children
Who spend all their allowance before Tuesday,
Who throw tantrums in the grocery store and pick at their food,
Who like ghost stories,
Who shove dirty clothes under the bed,
Who never rinse out the tub,
Who get visits from the tooth fairy,
Who don't like to be kissed in front of the carpool,
Who squirm in church and scream in the phone,
Whose tears we sometimes laugh at and
Whose smiles can make us cry.

And we pray for those
Whose nightmares come in the daytime,
Who will eat anything,
Who have never seen a dentist,
Who aren't spoiled by anybody,
Who go to bed hungry and cry themselves to sleep,
Who live and move, but have no being.

We pray for children
Who want to be carried and for those who must,
Who we never give up on,
And for those who don't get a second chance.
For those we smother and . . .
For those who will grab the hand
Of anybody kind enough to offer it.

by Ina Hughs

Paisley Passion

I recently bought an old magazine off ebay, called Good Housekeeping Needlecraft. It is the spring/summer 1978 issue. I bought it because I want to make this shawl. I think it appeals to the hippie in me. :)

Now to find the appropriate yarn. The yarn it calls for is Berroco Mirabella, which is no longer made. I asked the members of Crochet Partners and contacted the company, and they all gave me the same information:

Mirabella was 87%wool and 13% nylon. 105 yards per 50 g skein, with 4 sts = 1" on a number 9 needle.

Hmmm.. so now I need to find a yarn (that is 20% wool or less.. allergies, mine and husbands) that will work up about the same (or bigger. I don't want smaller) and have lots of colors.

After doing some looking at yarn sites and at stitchguide.com, I've
come up with two or three possible substitutions for the Mirabella.
I'm open to other yarn suggestions, but I need to be able to get these
colors (or close to them): Raspberry, Saffron, Lime, Turquoise,
Lilac, Natural, and Rose-Mist.

1) Paton's Melody ~ a little on the chunky side, but has many of the colors.

2) Lionbrand Woolease ~ many of the colors and low amt of wool.

3) Caron Dazzleaire ~ discontinued, but still sells on eBay, and I have a few skeins.

I'm still looking around, but I think these are the main contenders.

Wool Gathering

I wish I could wear wool. Look at this GORGEOUS coat.

Some fiber related Haiku. This is my favorite:

(One more stitch... One more row... Ah..? It's dawn.)

And one other thing: I recently emailed a small yarn supplier, praising the patterns (all knitted) that one of the owners had asking if by any chance they were available in crochet. They very kindly took the time to write back, but one of their first sentences was "I hate to crochet".

I know it wasn't intended as a personal insult, but it feels like one. I've pondered this for a few days and haven't responded to the person. While I much prefer crocheting and knit very poorly now, I once could do a decent stockinette stitch. I would never say I "hated" knitting.

Perhaps it's from my upbringing, Momma would always tell us that hate is such a strong word and to save it for when we really needed it. And she grew up with a father whose strongest expression was "Tarnation"!

Back to the knitter who hates crochet, I guess I should feel sorry for her, her scope is limited.

Before I forget, here's one more site of lovely work. I want the pattern for the Pineapple shawl in the middle. And CrochetMe's Halcyon Shawl is pretty too.

Sister #2 wants a Fleuri purse in RED RED.. and Sister #1 wants a larger Fleuri purse ( I made her a mini version for her bday). The extra bridal purses went over well.. except now I have an order for another royal/navy blue one. Success is wonderful, non?

I WON!!!

Some time back I had joined an email list at one of the online crochet stores, just to keep informed of when they get new patterns. Yes, I did notice that they had a monthly give away, but thought nothing of it, I never win anything.

Saturday, April 2, I got an email saying "Congratulations! You are the lucky winner of the Fashion Stole Kit from Yarn Obsession."

Wow.

Read it again

"Congratulations! You are the lucky winner of the Fashion Stole Kit from Yarn Obsession."

Double Wow.

Ok, I think to myself, I won a pattern, that's great. Then I read more in the mail.."Please contact me and let me know which color you would like and where I can send the package."

HUH? Patterns come in colors?

Ok, time to mosey over to the site and see what I didn't remember about this place. Zoiks!! They're not giving me JUST a pattern, they're giving me a pattern AND the yarn to make it.
A Fashion Stole Kit!

oh boy oh boy oh boy.

Looking at the colors listed, it sounds like Homespun for the body and trimmed with Funfur.. oooohhh I love this stuff, I dont care what other people say about working with it, it's soooo soft and cuddly when made up. And I haven't had that much trouble finding where to put the stitches.

Nouveau & Chocolate; Carribbean & White; Edwardian & Black; Ranch & Copper; Covered Bridge Red &Champagne; or Corinthian & Copper are the color choices. I've made my selection, but not telling what I picked out just yet.

I've got more news, but will save some for another post. Now off to find a place to hide this free yarn... LOL.

WORRIED

I'm sitting here worried out of my mind because it's 10pm, a school night, and my senior student hasn't come home or called yet.

The drama dept at the HS had the UIL (University Interscholastic League) 1 act play competition today, and I expected her to be somewhat late, but not THIS late. We drove up to the HS around 8:30 and left a note on the car she drives to CALL HOME NOW. Also left messages at her teacher's home number and with the local civic theatre where she has been rehearsing several times a week.

I'm going to have a long long talk with this young adult when she finally gets home. Her dad and I provide a cell phone for her safety, and she either leaves it in the car (they're not supposed to have them on school campus) or doesn't turn it on. So what good is having one doing? She recently went to Dallas for a school function for a few days.. and never called to say they arrived. We had to call the hotel late the night of their arrival to verify that the group did arrive. Her excuse for not calling us when she got home? "I didn't know how to make a collect call"!!!! What is wrong with this child that she can't read directions in a phone book or ask an operator or a friend?????

As I type this her dad just came in the room and said she had called, they were just now leaving the restaurant in a town an hour away from here. So, she will be home around 11 or 11:30, if all goes well.

This has been a long long day. I finished the last of 4 more bridal purses for the mom & aunts of the bride, two in what I hope is a salmon pink ~two because I couldn't decide on what kind of beads~, one in royal navy with darker glass beads. Then when I was almost finished with the Navy blue one, I found out the sister it was destined for has decided now to wear Sage green. ACK. So finished the Navy one..and then being there was NO TIME to go shopping for some good thread.. I used some southmaid thread in a spruce color, with pale green "pearls". I just hope it's close enough to sage green to work out.

No time for pictures, I just packaged them up and mailed them with a note of explanation. If they want to use them fine.. if not fine.

While that was going on, the plumber/field line man showed up. I've been having trouble with the grease trap for 2 years.. ever since I started teaching the kids how to cook. Little did I know that when I told them to drain the hamburger.. they were draining it straight down the sink instead of into a bowl to throw out later. $1500.00 later, we've got a new field line, but they still have to pump the grease trap. Seems my contractor poured a cement slab over it when they were making my patio some 13 years ago. I remember them putting a cap on the grease trap then.. and I remember being worried about what would happen if it needed pumping.. but the contractor was.. dont worry, we can just crack the cement... well joy joy.. it's not quite as easy as he made it sound. Live and learn I guess.

Oh, and the field line man had to take down part of our chainlink fence to get his backhoe in.. and we have a dog that is psychotic...and attacks our little dog, so we're having to deal with that too. Can't let them outside at the same time. Seriously, the big dog wants to kill the little one.

I think I need a stiff drink. As soon as the kid who's giving me all the grey hair comes home, I just might have one.

Jessica Marie Lunsford

If you live in Florida, and are a registered voter, please take a moment and click on the banner, or manually go to www.ProtectFloridaChildren.com and download, print and sign the petition.

Please help prevent what happened to Jessie from ever happening again. Thank you.

For more information, visit www.JessicaMarieLunsford.com


P.S. You may have seen some online petitions regarding this issue, those are not authorized by the Lunsford family.

Here comes the Bride (well, the purse anyways)

Here's the purse I made for my niece. This is cebelia thread and 4mm pearls. The pearls are crocheted in place. The pattern calls for them to be sewn on. Not this chickie.. LOL. So, on the next attempt, I threaded the "pearls" onto the Cebelia before starting the purse, and devised a way to incorporate them into the purse as I went. It worked beautifully, see below.

And here's everything I made. There's one purse with pearls (as above) One without pearls but Krenik blending fiber is worked with the Cebelia (this is the one without the drawstrings). The purple one is worked with Cebelia and variegated quilting thread held together, with pearls crocheted in place. I never tried using quilting thread before.. I quite like it. I'm keeping the purple one for myself.

Sorry for the poor quality of the pictures, we were trying hard to get these in the mail, and I didn't double check what my daughter had taken first. The wedding is April 2 and we were mailing these on March 18.. yikes!!

I just finished another little bag (no pics yet) with Cebelia, quilting thread, and silver DMC metallic embroidery thread [the kind that comes on a spool]. It's stiffer because of the metallic thread, but nice. I may try to sell it on eBay as a prom/special occassion bag.

Also included are a garter and two different sizes of Lucky Pennies (one made with size 6 [1.80mm] hook and the other with size 1 [2.75mm] hook). I left them unfinished because I can't find a penny with the right year. I will let the mom of the bride take care of that detail (or the bride, or one of the other aunts.. there's a ton of us).

~~~~I made two of the LP holders because when I made the first one with the size 6 hook, I looked at it and thought "there's NO WAY I can get a penny into that", so away I went with my size 1 hook. Hahaha.. turns out I COULD get a penny into it. I have no current need for a lucky penny holder, so I sent them both to the brides mom and she can decide what to do with the extra. If I find I need one, they don't take long to make up.~~~~

Please excuse the loose ends. Normally I finish things completely, but this wedding is 1000 miles away from me, I can't go (boooohooo) so I'm leaving things to where the bride or seamstress (the brides other aunt) can finish things to their liking. I'm considering making little bags/purses for the 3 aunts of the bride.. but doubt if I will have time to do so. Oh well, less stress for me that way.

Late Birthday Gifts

I've been big on handwarmers lately, made this set for my eldest sister. The bag is from CrochetMe's latest issue.

And this is what I made for youngest sister, who is into doing some historical recreation. The pattern for the bag is from Michaels, it's the blue cotillion purse, only I only went 6 or 7 rounds on the base, instead of 10.

And here are matching mesh mitts to go with the bag. I made these from the basic handwarmer pattern posted on this blog, but used thread and dc. They're modeled by my teenage daughter.. hopefully they won't be so loose on my sister. 

Sick today

I wanted to post some pictures today, show everyone why I haven't posted in a month, but I really don't feel very good. I will try to get the pictures up, no promises though.

I've finished birthday presents for two sisters, and a brides purse, lucky penny holders and a garter for a niece who is getting married in early april. Almost have a shawl of my own design finished, did finish a reverse Sierpinski shawl... along with keeping up with my AngelsForHope projects.

One of our dogs had a seizure yesterday too, so I'm having to deal with that... and my senior daughter keeps waiting till the last minute to mail applications for programs that she wants to get into at FSU, and that is driving me batty.

Sorry about the delay. I'll try to get better and do better soon.

some funny~weird stuff

Fryup

Strange Proposal

Brave New World

Had a study group over here last Thursday... senior AP English class had a project to do on Brave New World ( I dont know how I managed to escape reading that in High School, guess I have to mend my education now) and these girls waited till the night before to pull the project together. Typical!

Although I can't really blame them, I do my best work when under pressure. Something about having a deadline somehow makes thoughts conjeal into something worth putting on paper.

Anyhow, this girl was walking through the house just amazed at all the yarn I have.. I guess it takes "new eyes" to see what we are used to. I started thinking about it and I have yarn in every room of the house except the kids rooms, the bathrooms and my husband's closet. Oh dear, sounds like I have let it get out of hand. :( Time to stay away from eBay for awhile.. ouch!!! Either that or SELL some of it that I bought on sale.. (which is why I bought it to begin with, thinking I'd make a profit..LOL.. now I can't stand to let it go)

I started showing my daughter's friend some of the things I've made, and she fell in love with the purple handwarmers.. so I gave them to her. She just went on and on.. How did you know my favorite color was purple.. I love these.. thank you so much. I am so glad to see them go to someone who will enjoy them. My own offspring wont wear anything I make.. sheesh.

Btw: the people who put out the SnB book are going to do one for crochet. Check out the post at getcrafty.

almost 6am, time to wake the youngins...and to look at new templates for this baby...

Linkster

just a couple of links today:

poptop hat

yes, it says knit at the bottom of the page, but it truly is a crochet pattern.

crocheted carrot (for dieting?? hehe)

and I soooooooooo want this bag:

I sent an email to hubby asking for it (the bag, duh!), too bad valentines has already passed.

I've been so busy with cleaning house (omg, the mess a teenage boy can make.. I think we cleaned 3 large black trash sacks out of his room and there's still mess, but at least now you can see the carpet in about 85% of his room) and setting up new computer and work that I've hardly had time to crochet. Last night I tried to crochet but fell asleep with the hook in my hand.. LOL.. woke up several hours later still holding it.

My approximation of a Sierpinski shawl is coming along nicely. Instructions I started with are here. Alternate instructions here. Mine won't be an exact Sierpinski because I wanted more of a curve to fit over the shoulders, so I'm making some alterations to the pattern. I think I like it.. who knows, maybe I'll frog it and start over. eek.

I'm making it out of some vintage Bernat Savannah, which is an acrylic/cotton blend. The color is misty blue. I had 7 skeins which I think it going to be just enough, but I started getting panicky that it wouldn't be enough around skein #5, so went looking for more. Luckily, the YarnBarn had 3 skeins available and a wonderful price (not being sarcastic.. 1.50 a skein) so I got them, sight unseen, just hoping they would match. They arrived yesterday and I think they will match (haven't checked numbers yet, way too busy) and even if they don't.. I can do something else with them.

ok, i hear the hook calling me....

PS. sorry about all the goofed up links.. think I got them all fixed now... what I get for trying to post while child is waiting to use pc. That's my story!! :)

What Kind of Yarn are YOU??

You are Dishcloth Cotton.
You are a very hard worker, most at home when
you're at home. You are thrifty and seemingly
born to clean. You are considered to be a Plain
Jane, but you are too practical to notice.

They don't know me too well.. while I do like to stay home, I sure don't like to clean. :)


What kind of yarn are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Alienware Rocks!! kinda

Finally had the time to finish cleaning out my little "hole in the wall" where my old computer resided before aol ate it for lunch...thanks for the memories aol.. never never never install anything above aol 5 on an older system...it wrecks havoc and the damage is almost always unrecoverable from. :(

So, since my system was nearly 4 years old anyways, decided to get a new one.. went with alienware this time instead of micron..

So far the system is great... but installing starband hasn't gone well, and the case on the main cpu is cracked. :(

Fortunately the damage is only on one side.

We will see what happens next week when Customer Service receives my email with the pics of the damage. :::keeping toes crossed, can't type with crossed fingers::: 

Hats & Hoods & Scarves, Oh My!!

a beret and scarf made with Caron's Simply Soft brites

Hooded scarf, I think the pattern is from www.lionbrand.com. I made it tri-color to use up scrap yarn.

back view, with tassels.

hooded scarf in red. seriously considering donating the hooded scarfs to the band booster's garage sale. we'll see. 

Handwarmer pattern

to those who asked for my handwarmer pattern.. here it is, such as it is. I've never written a pattern before, so please let me know of mistakes, omissions, etc.

Lisa’s Hand Warmers

1 skein of Moda Dea Sassy Stripes

Or

2 skeins of fingering yarn (or one skein divided into two balls)
Fingering yarn is worked holding two strands together.
(I’m not sure of the amounts needed for the fingering yarn yet, still working that out)

Size G hook.

Chain 12 for average width wrist band

Row 1: sc in 2nd chain from hook and in every chain across. Ch 1, turn (11 sc)

Row 2: working in Back Loops Only, sc in every sc across. Do NOT skip 1st sc.

Repeat row 2 for 33 rows. (If you have wide wrists, you may want to go to 35 rows).

Ch 1, bring up beginning Row to make a tube, and slip stitch across to join.

Ch 1, and sc even around the tube you just made.(34 sc)

NOTE: on the follow rounds, do NOT join, but do MARK the beginning of each round. (I like to use a length of scrap yarn, in a contrasting color. Other people use bobby pins or safety pins. Whatever works for you, but do make sure to mark the rounds.)

Round 1: sc in the next 6 sc, 2 sc in the next sc (increase), sc in the next 17 sc, increase, sc in the remaining 10 sc. (36 sc)

Round 2: sc in each sc around. (36 sc.)

Round 3: sc in first 8 sc, 2 sc in the next (increase), *sc in the next 8, increase* repeat between * twice more. (40 sc)

Round 4: sc in each sc around. (40 sc)

Round 5: sc in first 9 sc, 2 sc in the next (increase). *sc in the next 9, increase* repeat between * twice more. (44 sc)

Round 6: sc in each sc around. (44 sc)

Round 7: sc in first 10 sc, 2 sc in the next sc (increase) *sc in the next 10, increase* repeat between * twice more. (48 sc)

Round 8 -10: sc in each sc around. (48 sc)

Check mitt for fit at this time. Usually I need between 10 and 14 rows for the palm area. This will vary for the individual who will be wearing it and the crafter/artist. Assuming that the mitt is now near the base of the thumb:

Round 11: sc in first two sc, chain two, skip 10 sc, sc in remaining sc around. (38 sc and 2 chains) (this makes the thumb hole)

Round 12: sc in first two sc, sc in each of the two chains from the previous round, sc in next 14 sc, insert hook into sc on previous round, draw up loop, do not complete sc, insert hook into next sc, draw up loop. Yo and draw through all 3 loops on the hook, decrease made. Sc in next 18 sc, decrease. (38 sc)

Round 13: sc in each sc around. (38 sc)

Round 14: sc in first 17 sc, decrease, sc in next 17 sc, decrease. (36 sc)

Round 15: sc in each sc around. (36 sc)

Check fit again. If the round is near the bottom of the little finger, you are ready to finish. If you need more length, continue sc around until it is long enough to suit you.

Finishing round: chain 2, do alternating fphdc (front post half double crochets) and bphdc (back post half double crochets) around. Join to chain 2 and end off. Weave in ends.

Extras: you can trim the wrist area with eyelash or funfur. What I did was to do two rows of hdc around with funfur.

Choose any small flower pattern you like and sew it to the back of the handwarmers.

TaDa!!! You’re now the proud owner of a pair of handcrafted handwarmers.

Seraphina Shawl

I finally got all the ends woven in on the Seraphina (or batwing) shawl. Isn't it lovely? I made it from LB's wool-ease. I wish it had less wool content in it, because although it's gorgeous, it makes my back itch to wear it. And the Homespun shawl doesn't have that effect. I plan to wear the Seraphina to work today.. supposed to be in the low to mid 40's as a high. Brrrrrrrrrrr. Time to go get ready. I'll upload more from work if time allows.

The third picture is to show the sparkly of the yarn. :)

btw, this is my first time using photobucket to upload to my blog, we'll see how it goes.

ps: photobucket did OK for loading the pics.. had to resize, but the text wasn't to my liking at all. I had to go in and take out a bunch of extra space.

Some Promised Pictures

The latest handwarmers. Added some fun fur to the cuffs and crocheted a flower. Two strands of fingering yarn held together, purple n white. I love them.

And here are three more sets in the works. The pink pair I cross-stitched a heart on to one of them, I think I like it. I'm thinking of putting pink eyelash on the cuffs.. or maybe pink eyelash/purple fur. Not sure yet. The blue/red pair on the left I think will be a birthday gift. The pair in the middle I was trying out crocheting a design into them. haven't decided if I want to make the second mitt, or frog this one back to before the design.

Some funky yarn I got for myself from Stitches n Stuff in Longview. I love that store. And how cool is it that it is in the "Afghan Romance" book? Not sure what I plan to do with it, but I had to buy it. I did find a pattern for it at www.trendsetteryarns.com, but I dont have enough. Oh the pain, the pain. LOL

And this is the yarn my dear sister gave me for christmas. I've had the most wonderful time trying to decide what to make with it. I'm leaning toward the Seraphina shawl, but havent decided yet.

And the last picture from tonight..a shawl made from one of the free patterns from Tabitha's vintage crochet. It called for two strands of #10 thread held together throughout, but I used LB Homespun and a large Crystalite hook (I think it was the M, but not sure). This color is called Waterfall. I used 4 skeins and didn't quite have enough for the pattern, but I like the way it turned out and that's what counts!!! I have more to upload, but it's time to get off the pc awhile.

New computer on the way

Just got the email from Alienware: my new computer has been shipped. yeah!!!! Now I have to clean out my cubby where the old computer has been. boo!!!!!

On the crochet scene: Finally wove in the loose ends on the Seraphina shawl. I'm really loving it, even though it does have small amount of wool in it and makes my back itch a lil. I've almost finished a peasant shawl (from Tabitha's vintage crochet newsletter), but making it in homespun instead of thread, so I'm having to adjust the pattern a little. Made two more pair of handwarmers (I think I'm addicted to these.. lol.. I even slept with a pair on the other night). Oh, and I finally worked out the skull n crossbones, from a graph from Glampyre's site, but it's a knitting pattern, so had to improvise a little. It came out huge, like a pillow size. I'll keep it, make a back and have a pillow.

Then today.. I found this at LiveJournal
designed for crochet. I love Live Journal's crochet community, they always have the neatest stuff.

well, better get off of here and make some headway in cleaning up the mess in my old computer cubby. Till next time....

Things I've made

Thought it would be good to link my picture trail stuff here:

Shoulderette (3x or larger)

Baby Hats for Kayla (my grand niece)

Various things I've made

The Hearts & Diamonds throw in the last link is my current favorite afghan to make. I've made at least 8 of them (wish I had made pictures.. but christmas was a rush) and have only kept 1. I'd like to sell it on eBay, but no way would I get what I put into it.

I sat down and figured out that it takes me about 50 hours to finish one (it has 28 hearts, each heart takes me one hour to crochet..) at any reasonable rate of pay.. wow.. then there's the cost of the yarn to be considered. But since Valentine's day is coming.. maybe I should give it a try.. hehehehe.. I'd probably be wasting my money tho to list it. Perhaps I should go with the Ioffer site.. free listings I do believe.

Too many people in the computer lab where I work to feel comfy with dragging out my crochet. I like it better when there's no one here. :( Oh well, at least I got my assigned angel mailed. Special angelings aren't on a deadline so that's good.

I'm itching to get home and work on the handwarmers some more.