Lace School In Ireland needs Help

I got the below email in my crochetpartners mail list... I think this is a worthy cause and hope anyone reading my blog will take the time to send an email in support of the project.

I wrote and said that I was from the US and one of my longtime dreams was to visit Ireland and If I ever get to make that dream come true, I'd love to be able to visit a Lace museum.

LACE SCHOOL IN IRELAND HELP NEEDED

A very dedicated group of people in Co. Mayo are trying to turn the
building that housed the Muings Lace School into a museum. It is
envisaged that the museum will exhibit Irish crochet lace and hand
knitting with other traditional crafts. There will also be lectures,
courses, workshops in traditional crafts, including crochet lace,
local history, research etc, for adults and children.

This part of Ireland has been left behind by the Celtic Tiger Economy
and could do with the extra jobs generated by increased visitor numbers.

Fibre crafts in general need all the help they can get in Ireland at
the moment. Wool shops are closing. Tivoli Mills are discontinuing
most of their wool yarns and importing only novelty yarns. I had a
long search to just find 100% wool I could felt recently.

You can read about the project here:

http://www.laceschool.com/

You can help by sending emails of support to laceschool@hotmail.com .
If you would be likely to visit such a place it would be useful to
mention this. I have sent off an email myself but funding boards
would be much more impressed by letters from overseas. They will be making their presentation to the funding body on Wednesday 15 February so need these messages of support as soon as possible.

I am not personally involved in this project and have no affiliation
with it.

Thanks

Lynda
Co. Cork, Ireland

Pre-Olympic Jitters

Just a quick post to show off the button for my Crochet Olympic Team. It's hyperlinked back to the webpage for the Crochet Olympics. I need to get my yarn out and start swatching. So glad I have Fridays OFF!! And my dentist appt is Tomorrow, so I should be over any pain by Friday (Still working on getting that broken tooth capped.. eek).

It's almost 11pm and I need to be up by 5am. I've been awake since 3am. I'm gonna be WORN OUT tomorrow.

Crochet Olympics

I hate sports. I really do. I REALLY hate watching them on TV. I think this stems from my childhood and having only one TV in the house and the men being allowed to bully the females about what was watched on the Television. Probably the main reason I despise football.

I've never gotten over the idea that a guest in my home was allowed to dictate to me what I could watch on the television. Rudeness and discrimination.

So I never got over it. I got better, I got revenge. I still hate sports on TV.. but now I crochet through it if I can't avoid it.

I'm going to have my own version of the Olympics.. Crochet style. The wonderful folks over at crochetville are starting a Crochet Olympics CrochetALong.

Rules are:

The rules are:
1 - The project must be a challenge for you to complete in the specified time frame.
2 - You can NOT start until opening ceremonies (Feb 10, 2pm Eastern Time)
3 - You MUST finish by closing ceremonies (16 days later, Feb 26th)
4 - You can do prep work before (guage swatches, winding, etc), but no working on the actual project.
5 - Pick something that is doable, but challenging. Do not set yourself up for failure.

For those of you who knit.. Yarn Harlot is having a Knit Olympics. Some brave souls are doing both!! yikes!!

I hope to go buy my yarn tomorrow. I might take son and hubby to go see "The End of the Spear" and shop while they're occupied. hehehee

Several people have asked me what the purpose of having a Crochet Olympics was. My first thought was "does everything have to have a purpose?" But not wanting to sound snippy (and while the response does sound sarcastic and snippy.. it's not, it's a real question), I have replied with these are the reasons/purposes to have a Crochet Olympics:

1) Fun
2) A self challenge
3) something to do while watching the Olympics
4) an excuse for another project
5) all or none of the above.

Off to work on my hat-a-week project. I would be half finished by now, but the pattern writer put two patterns in one long post and didn't put a note to refer to the stitch instructions at the beginning for those making the second item. grrrrr. I had to sign back on the computer and find the post all over again to print the missing instructions. I would've winged it, but I had NO IDEA what a ALTSP was. LOL. ( it means Alternating Stitch Pattern, I'll probably never forget that now).

Red Scarves for Valentines project

A scarf for the "Red Scarf for Valentine's Project". BlueHaze is the color (lotta pink in that there yarn to be named blue haze.. but that's what the label reads). It's Bernat Berella 4. soooooo soft & cuddly. And it's even acrylic!! yeah for non allergy provoking fibers!!!

BernatSofteeChunky that I bought earlier this month. Not my usual color choice, but at 1.00/skein, I thought why not. No pattern, just noodling around.

Bernat Softee again, but in two colors and a sttich from the Harmony Guide. I think it's called CrossHatch. I like the effect.

My very favorite, it will be hard hard hard to let this one go. Simply Soft in Autumn Red and the pattern is adapted from one once posted on the now defunct LiveJournal Crochet Community. I did the edging different, but the flowers are the same as the LJ pattern. I may have to make another before I can stand to give this one away.

I made many more, but don't want to overwhelm folks with the pictures. These are the ones I like the best. There's more on the 25 Things for Charity Blog. And you can see other people's gorgeous creations there too.

Hat Attack

UBW hat for Crochetville Hat-a-week CAL. I did a FPDC, BPDC around on the last round to make a stretchy band and added a floppy pompom.

Homespun Hat, my design. Pattern coming soon.


Another Homespun Hat.

and again

one more

Hats & Scarves.. version 1 These scarves are made from the Christensen pattern found at Lionbrand.com

version 2

and Version 3

Garnet and Gold Scarf for the Red Scarf Project. Pattern is CrabbyCabbies Unnamed Scarf found at Crochetville.

Scarves made from Moonlight Mohair. My pattern, stitched on the diagnal. It will be written up soon.

Cathedral Window (in progress) There's a crochet a long for this at Crochetville.

My son being eaten by the Cathedral Afghan *grin* My son is approximately 5'8" and he's having to hold the thing over his head. We roughly measure it at nearly 5 ft across.. it's probably bigger. And there's still lots more to go.

Up close and personal.

Pictures du Jour

Baby blanket I made several years ago. I think it's just plain ole RedHeart.. because I know I made it before I knew about "other" yarns. *grin* I had intended to donate this to ProjectLinus, but hubby has claimed it. LOL.. no, he's not going into his second childhood. One of the technologists that work for him is having a baby and the department is having a shower for her this Friday. He wanted one of my blankets to give. I showed him the ones I currently have made up and he picked this one. I'm very honored, cause he's very picky about certain things.

Homespun Montana Sky and Little Victory pattern from Lionbrand. Made for ProjectLinus.

Circular Baby Blanket also intended for ProjectLinus. This is made in Caron 3/4 pound. Color name is BabyRainbow Ombre. Dyelot # 45532. I ran out when finishing the edging.. If ANYONE has some, please email me at Lisatm at gmail dot com. I'd like to work out a trade or I'll even buy it from you (if the price is reasonable). I can't find Caron 3/4 pound listed on Caron's website. I've written them to inquire if Caron 1 pound is the same yarn as 3/4 pound, but have had no response.

Close up of where it ended. :(

Same Circular BabyBlanket, only using Caron Natura and this time I didn't run out!!

Extreme Closeup of the Completed Edging.

Caron TriColour Cluster Hat

My own pattern.. designed for Homespun, but this time made up in plain ole Red Heart.. to test the pattern for other yarns. The hats are for the Hat-A-Week CrochetALong at Crochetville.




















Scarf made for the Red Scarf Project. *I know it's not Red*.. they said they'll take other colors.
Scarf pattern is Unamed Scarf at Crochetville.
Well, I need to get off of here and do laundry and make more pictures. Things have to go in the mail soon.

The Lord Provides

I took my daughter to the airport yesterday to send her back to FSU. Cried while watching her go through the checkpoint. I was ok until then. The screener felt sorry for me and offered me tissues. I kept on crying as I walked back to the car.. everyone in the airport looking at me. I didn't care. That's my baby.. the one I waited 15 years to find the right father for. I had wanted to have a baby since I was 15, but waited until I had the right situation. (Now everyone can closely guess how old I am >grin<)

I was messing around on Crochetville this morning, trying to keep myself occupied and keep my mind off my daughter being gone, and I found this wonderful charity project. The Orphan Foundation of America has a Red Scarf project going on. They want to have 2500 scarves to hand out to their college age kids (OFA advocates for older foster youth who were never adopted and provides a comprehensive scholarship program).

Now I know why I was led to make all those scarves last month. God works in mysterious ways. I even have a 6ft long red scarf that I made for my daughter that she decided she didn't want. Well.. off it goes to the Orphan Foundation.

This means I have to get busy this weekend and make lots of pictures. UGH. The foundation needs to have the scarfs by January 20th. Nothing like a deadline to motivate me!!! And to help me keep my mind off missing my baby.

Broke & Toothless in 2006

I broke a tooth last night while eating (of all things) salad!! I didn't find the broken piece.. I must've swallowed it. Ick.

I dont have dental insurance. I can't get into the dentist's office today (they are getting me in tomorrow) and I can't find my Darvocet.

I think I'll go back to bed.

Happy New Year!!!

Scarfocopia

I've been on a scarf making kick lately. Here's a picture of a few of the ones I've made from the Christensen pattern at lion brand. I've changed the pattern just a little, mainly making it a little longer, but it's basically the same. These are all at least 6 ft long.


from left to right: (click on the picture to see a larger image)

1.Gray homespun (it might be the Metropolis color, not sure) Ebony Suede & FancyFur Stained Glass.
2. Homespun Windsor, Ebony Suede, Gray Homespun(?), and a Blue Boa (by Bernat).
3. Homespun Windsor, Ebony Suede, Homespun Montana Sky and Peacock Green FunFur (I think this one is my favorite.. wild colors)
4. Homespun Barley, Spice Suede, Homespun Sierra, and Bernat Disco Mr. Brown.
5. Homespun Sierra, Scarlet Suede, Gray Homespun(?) and Paton's Divine Black.

And finally:
6. Homespun Sierra, Spice Suede, Homespun Barley and some strange funfurish type yarn I got at BigLots.

I didn't consider this when making the photo, but the last one on the list is the first one I made. :)
Now I'm working on hats, by my own pattern, to coordinate with the scarves. I'm not doing the funfur stuff on the hats, just the homespun and possibly the suede. I'll get pics of the hats up as soon as I can.

Other news.. the Disco Throw has morphed into an afghan and is complete. And my daughter doesn't like it. Too many bright colors. Oh well.. such is life. I can remember not liking some of the things my mom came up with too. I will find a good home for it.

Other things have been completed.. but not yet photographed. Will post about them when photos are available.

Friendship bread?

****Warning**** NON CROCHET POST*****Warning******

Found this while cleaning off the bathroom counter (what was a recipe doing in the bathroom? who knows..I remember making this stuff years ago when kids were young. I must've been busy, set it down and forgot about it. I'm not the world's most organized person!!! )

Please be sure to read this ALL THE WAY through.. there's information at the end that will be very helpful.

Amish Cinnamon Bread

RULES:

1) Do NOT use metal bowls or utensils

2) Do not refrigerate starters, leave out on the counter.

3) Use PLAIN flour (not self-rising).

4) Let air out of bag periodically; it is NORMAL for the batter to ferment & thicken.


STARTER:

1(.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water (110 degrees F / 45 degrees C)
3 cups all purpose flour, divided
3 cups white sugar, divided
3 cups milk

(the instructions aren't clear, but I think you put the yeast, water and 1 cup of each flour, sugar & milk in a large (gallon size) ziploc bag. With all the fermenting and squeezing going on, I think I'd use the name brand bags too.)


Instructions (10 days)

Day 1: do nothing

Day 2: leave on counter, squeeze several times a day.

Day 3: leave on counter, squeeze several times a day.

Day 4: leave on counter, squeeze several times a day.

Day 5: leave on counter, squeeze several times a day.

Day 6: add 1 Cup Sugar, 1 Cup Flour, 1 Cup Milk, squeeze into mix until combined.

Day 7: leave on counter, squeeze several times a day.

Day 8: leave on counter, squeeze several times a day.

Day 9: leave on counter, squeeze several times a day.

Day 10: In large bowl, combine batter with remaining Sugar, Milk, Flour (1 cup of each). Mix with woooden spoon (remember, no metal).

Place 1/2 cup of mix in each of 4 gallon ziplock bags and label each as day 1 of starter. Give 3 bags away (with a copy of the instructions) and keep one for yourself.

To what is left in the bowl add:

1 Cup Oil
1/2 Cup Milk
3 large eggs
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 C Flour
1 C Sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
1 small box instant vanilla pudding
1&1/2 tsp baking powder

Mix well with wooden spoon and pour into 3 well greased loaf pans (about 2/3 full). In a seperate bowl, mix tsp cinnamon and 2 Tbsp sugar. Sprinkle on top of batter. Bake at 325 for approx 1 hour or until done. Slice and serve. Enjoy.

~~

since it had been so long since I had made this, I went digging through google to see what I could find to verify my memory. I found these instructions at http://bread.allrecipes.com/az/AmishFriendshipBrdStrtr.asp

seems I remember almost correctly. And very nice to know that the starter can be frozen.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
• 1/4 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 3 cups all-purpose flour, divided
• 3 cups white sugar, divided
• 3 cups milk

---

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Let stand 10 minutes. In a 2 quart container glass, plastic or ceramic container, combine 1 cup flour and 1 cup sugar. Mix thoroughly or flour will lump when milk is added. Slowly stir in 1 cup milk and dissolved yeast mixture. Cover loosely and let stand until bubbly. Consider this day 1 of the 10 day cycle. Leave loosely covered at room temperature.
2. On days 2 thru 4; stir starter with a spoon. Day 5; stir in 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk. Days 6 thru 9; stir only.
3. Day 10; stir in 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk. Remove 1 cup to make your first bread, give 2 cups to friends along with this recipe, and your favorite Amish Bread recipe. Store the remaining 1 cup starter in a container in the refrigerator, or begin the 10 day process over again (beginning with step 2).

Editor's Note:

Once you have made the starter, you will consider it Day One, and thus ignore step 1 in this recipe and proceed with step 2. You can also freeze this starter in 1 cup measures for later use. Frozen starter will take at least 3 hours at room temperature to thaw before using.


Also take a look at this: http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/388/Friendship_Fruit_Starter14094.shtml

Gmail troubles

Gmail has been wonderful.. until some id-i-ot has figured out how to use gmail for file sharing. Ever since that became common knowledge (Nov. 28th) Gmail has SUXXXXXDDDDDD. I can log in, but mail doesn't arrive. Mail was down yesterday, I complained and it came back. Now it's down again. Here goes another complaint email.

And NO, I won't tell anyone how to set up their gmail account for file sharing.. my mail is slow enough as it is. The info is out there if you know how to look.

Here's to hoping that the powers that be at gmail shut down this service so our email can continue. If not, I'll be moving my accounts back to yahoo mail.

I'm a strong supporter of Electronic Freedom, but as the saying goes, your freedom ends when it starts impinging on mine!!!

Listening to: Robert Earl Keen "Merry Christmas from the Family" Love this song. :)

Two Baby Blankets

A blanket I made specifically to donate to the Linus Project. No pattern, I just grabbed a hook and some RedHeart Baby clouds that I had in various colors and started. I intended for it to be a square, but it wanted to be a pentagon. ~~shrug~~ why fight what it wants to be.

colors used were Pale Yellow, Lavendar, Pale Blue, Cotton Candy and one of the Pink shades of Baby Clouds (don't remember the name and too lazy to go find the wrapper).

I took it to one of the drop off places today and the lady taking it thought it was very pretty. I may try to make some more like this.. I kinda like how it turned out. This one is about 35 or 36 inches across. Hope that's a good size for a baby blanket.

Here's another baby blanket made for some online friends of mine who had a baby this past weekend after many attempts and disappointments. This is Red Heart Baby Clouds in Pale Yellow and the pattern is from Lionbrand. It's their Little Victory baby blanket. I usually do this one in white and then border it in the appropriate color, but decided to go monochrome this time, just to be different. Mailed it today. Hope they like it.

I finally heard today from my friends from Chalmette, LA. THANK YOU GOD, they are safe and with family in Florida. Their house is likely gone, but thankfully they have another house on the north side of the lake (where they rode out the storm), so at least they have some options.

I just haven't been able to post about the storm, I've been so worried. We're still trying to contact the ASPCA folks to see about fostering or adopting a pet from the storm. Can't get through to anyone yet.

I'm being urged to finish the honeycomb shawl instructions. The more people ask, the more I don't want to work on it. I understand the urge to make something and am flattered by the admiration of my work, but with the stress from the storm, work, my husband doing the work of two (a colleage has taken ill with metastatic cancer, so my husband is trying to work his job, then drive 30 miles and do another job), a son that I have to sit on to get him to do his homework, and dealing with all the repercussions of lightening striking the house last week.. I'm just not in the mood to write a pattern. SORRY FOLKS!!!

Now that I've had my little rant.... I need to get offline so my son can do homework.

Watch out FSU, here she comes!!!

Letter Pillows I made for my girls dorm room.



KamoKitty that I made for her last summer, to help her being away from her real cat. Don't remember where the pattern came from, but I do know it was online. If/when I do find it again, I'll link it here.



The cat she had to leave behind. :( No animals in the dorms. (other than goldfish type fish)
Don't worry momma, Thunder still gets the Tuna juice on his dry food.



Dads truck, partially packed, getting ready to go.



Ready for FSU!!

They actually left Thursday and moved her in on Saturday. I just haven't been able to emotionally look at the pictures till now. Even now it makes me want to cry to see her pretty face and not be able to talk to her any ole time I want. I know I must let her go and let her grow.. but it's hard. If I let go, she'll be more willing to come back.

Procrastination Pays Off

I've been wanting to go to HobbyLobby for over a week now, and kept finding excuses not to go...too tired, too hot outside, gas is too expensive to make a run JUST for yarn, I got too much yarn already, etc etc etc. And I was really having a battle with myself because the Omega Sinfonia that I like is.. now was.. on sale. But I ended up not going.

I was GOOD!! I was RIGHT!!! I am VINDICATED!!!! Hobby Lobby has the TLC Essentials that I want for my Cathedral Window afghan on sale this week. I'm going first thing Monday Morning and get it. I usually go to work first, then go play, but with all this heat.. I know I won't go shopping if I wait till the afternoon. Thank goodness for part-time jobs that let you set your own hours.. woohoo!!!

Difficulties

I'm trying to write out instructions for the Honeycomb Shawl and Word crashes on me just as I'm putting on the finishing touches and thinking about asking for testers. Lovely. I hope I saved most of it before the crash.

I'm having a hard time settling into doing anything. Restless. Talked to John today, he told me some of the trials and tribulations of getting S. settled in the dorm room.. he said it was extremely hot. I believe it. I remember how bad it was in June when I was there for orientation. I've tried calling her dorm a few times this afternoon and the phone just rings and rings. I know she's probably having the time of her life.. but I need to hear from her.

This is so hard.

Pictures?... We got pictures

Pink shawl made from "Conny" yarn. It's a vintage all acrylic imitation mohair yarn from Israel. I don't know the name of the stitch. It looks like a honeycomb to me and that's what I'm calling it till I learn different.

I took a stitch I saw in a japanese pattern book and made it slightly lacier. Maybe someone else knows the name of the stitch. I don't know if I want to fringe this or do anything to the neck edge. I really love this, it's so soft and light. The pattern works from one fingertip to the other, so the sizing is extremely variable. The pattern increases every row and when the shawl is about half the size you want it, then you start making decrease rows.



Close up of the pattern work. (yeah I know it could've used a better background, but I was lucky to get my teen to model at all). I want to call this an "interlocking ring" or "honeycomb" pattern.



Hooded cape from "Wrapped in Style" booklet. I made it with Light n Lofty instead of Homespun, and have not put the funfur on the edge. I dont think I'm going to either, as this was made simply because I had the L&L at an almost free price, and was making this just for the heck of it. I also chose not to go full length. It will probably be given away to someone.



back view. uh.. that's not a tail on the thing, I just didn't have time to weave in the ends before picture taking time. My daughter's best friend is very graciously modeling for me.



Serafina Shawl made in Homespun & M size hook. I think the color name is Antique. Funny story, I made this same shawl in the Mission color for my daughter's theatre teacher, then made one just like this for my son's long suffering English teacher. Then my daughter decided she didn't like the Mission color and wanted one in Antique for her theatre teacher. soooo back to the hook I go. And in the middle of making it, I found multiple flaws in the yarn.. so I write to Lionbrand and they send me not 1 replacement skein, but 3!! so I had enough to make a 3rd shawl. Which I don't know what it's eventual fate will be. Right now I wear it while on the computer when it's cold. I may give it to a friend.


Wrap from a Crochet! magazine (I'll look up which one). The one in the magazine was made with Paton's Grace in Apricot with a multi-color edging of Funfur. This one is made with Omega Sinfonia. I think it's still too short and I'm not sure I will edge with funfur.. maybe just do a picot or a small shell edging.

Close up of pattern stitching.

I have found another pattern book I want to add to my collection. It's Leisure Arts "Stunning Crochet Shrugs". Michaels didn't have it last week and I haven't been able to make it to HL yet. Maybe Thursday of this week. Hope so cuz they've got the Sinfonia on sale. Wouldn't you know it.. when I just bought some 2 weeks ago. Sheesh.

Comment Spam and Yarn shopping

Oh good grief.. I just got spammed for the first time in my comments. The perpetrator didn't even have the cajones to leave their real name.. just Anonymous. Yeah, right, like I'm going to invest in something unsolicited and from an ANONYMOUS poster. Where do these people store their intelligence? In the freezer? If intelligence was something that got used up.. they'd certainly never run out.. because these spammers don't USE what little they have to begin with.

Made a run to the "big city" to get Meningitis shots for oldest, school supplies for #1 (& only) son, got battery for key with alarm for older car, and scored big on an estate sale. Just ran in on a whim to see if they had any silverware or plates that daughter could use in her dorm. Lady told me we could have anything in the kitchen except the Microwave.. for FREE. She also gave us two small round particle board tables and a wallhanging. She also offered us 3 TV's, but we turned them down.. they were too big and my daughter's roomie is supposedly bringing a TV. I'm really happy about the things we got for free. Not that buying any of that would break us, but it helps to have somethings free, with paying out of state tuition.

I think I have some of the yarn for my Cathedral Window afghan. I really wanted to use Paton's Canadiana.. but I found TLC Essentials on sale at Michaels..for 2.75 a skein. Only problem is that they didn't have a great selection of the variegated. I did get the Shaded Blue Jean, and then some Navy blue and some Steel Blue and some white. Thinking I could use the Steel Blue in place of one of the variegated and the Navy in place of the Black. Then I started looking at other places that carry TLC Essentials and found a place that has a variegated called Dream, that I think would work well with the Shaded Blue Jean, but their prices are higher than I would like to pay.

I really meant to also go to Hobby Lobby today, but ran out of energy. I was so tired and weak I wasn't sure I'd be able to make it home tonight, so passed on HL. Maybe they will have a variegated of TLC essentials that will work with the BlueJean, and I won't have to order my other variegated. I also need to go swimming in my bathtub full of yarn and see what I have of TLC in there.

Mood: Tired, but accomplished.

Music: G&R: Sweet Child of Mine (haha.. what the kids have on their "confuser")

Pre Semi-Empty Nest

My oldest leaves for Florida State University in less than a week. I'm already beginning to feel the labor pains of letting go. These are emotional (of course) rather than physical, but hurt just as much. I just hope we don't have a fight before she leaves.

Here's a Tip

When using very fine, mohair like yarn.. be very careful not to make mistakes... it's hell to frog. I only noticed the mistake about 10 rows away...>>sheesh<<

Crochet Kroshai Crotchet Krahchit

Interesting little post I ran across in the Daily Chaos blog, about the history and meaning of the word Crochet.

Now I know why I'm krahchitty when I can't kroshai.