Baby Blue

This comfortghan is being sent to the parents of a little 7 month old boy who passed away due to very tragic circumstances. I can only begin to imagine the pain from the loss of a child and I only wish there was much more I could do to help them.

The answer is no

I did not drop off the face of the planet and yes, I have completed some things. Did you ever have too many pans in the fire and not only that, they all began to be finished cooking at the same time? Repeat after me, I would love to, but at this time I just can't. I would love to, but at this time I just can't. So, did it work? That's what I thought!!
It isn't just learning to say "No", it is deciding what to say "No" to. It absolutely can not be things with my kids including the volunteer time at their school (even though I really HATE lunchroom duty at the Jr. High) and it can't be school since I pay money for that so at some point it is going to have to be something else. I just have to figure out what.

CRAZY!!

Yes, that is me. So, we are shopping for things for Halloween costumes the other day. My youngest wants to be the Grim Reaper. We get the skeleton mask and sythe, but they want $25 for a cape. I think, NO WAY, I can make that for like 5 bucks. My son gets very excited that Mom is going to make his cape. Everyday when he gets home from school he wants to know if I have made it yet so on Monday I went to JoAnns to get the stuff to do so.
They only had patterns in adult sizes so I am now modifying it to make one to fit a 6 year old. Not only that, fabric is not cheap and I need a bunch for a cape with full sleeves and a hood! So, I get the one sale Costume fabric and it is the slip satin stuff. I am absolutely insane to be doing this. Note that with the cost of the pattern (40% off) and the fabric (50% off) I am still at $17. Then there is the time and altering patterns is not really my strong point.
After spending all of yesterday and half of Tuesday working on it, I have it completed except for finishing the edges (that will take another full day) and I am pretty proud of it and my son LOVES it. Next time though, $25 is fine with me!!!

Comfortghan ready

I have assembled another comfortghan. This one is what we called "banked". That means that I did not have a recipient assigned while assembling it and it is now ready for a situation that needs the speed of an already completed ghan. The yellows and blue really make for happy combination.

In Honor of Cory W. Brooks

This OPH comfortghan is being sent to the parents of Army Staff Sgt. Cory W. Books. Please know our thoughts and prayers are with you.


Thank you to those contributors that helped to complete this comfortghan.

pictures

Pictures of another pair of sideways mittens with a Tychus hat.

Also the quilt now it is tied.

Sock yarn scarf

WOW! This scarf is really cool! You have to scroll down a bit, but that she worked it side to side lengthwise makes it turn out pretty neat IMHO. Someone else translated that she used leftover sock yarn and #3 needle with CO of 300. Maybe...............................

Cold and cold

So, the weather has been icky, gray and cold. Now I have developed a cold so I feel icky, gray and cold. Not a lot of fun for me or those around me. My voice is almost nonexistent, but fortunately, so far this morning, the chills are gone and my throat actually feels less sore. Seems to be a good day to sit and work on projects. Unless the medicine prevents me from focusing :).

I did get the quilt tied and was very unoriginal and used white. I know, I know, but the top is so colorful that I am not worried about it being boring.

What color?

I have finished a small (45 x 60) quilt and need to tie it. What color should I use? The back is tea stained muslin.

I haven't gotten this far with the denim one yet. I have to piece together the red flannel for the backing and just seem to keep putting it off :).

I do have another OPH comfortghan almost completed so I am getting something done.

Dirt anyone?

We are packed up and ready to go camping. Two nights and three days in a camper with my family. The weather is predicting cold and rain. Sure is a good thing I love these guys because we are probably going to be very close and very stinky!!!
I have packed my needles, hooks and yarn so should be just fine. I also packed the Uno cards for everyone else so they will leave me alone while I play :). See you in a couple of days!!!

Busy, busy

This weekend was very busy. Not just with family, but with crafts and projects! I was able to FINISH the quilt top for the denim quilt I have been working on. I have been saving old jeans for over a year and periodically cutting them into 7 inch squares. I completed a top that is 16 x 11 squares. It should be plenty large enough for my older son's bed. It is intended as a Christmas gift for him. If I am able to collect enough denim, I will do one for the younger son as well, but his might need to be another Christmas. I went and purchased the batting and flannel backing yesterday. OUCH! Even with the batting at 40% off and the flannel on sale it still was almost $40!!! Good thing the denim was free ;). Maybe I will have it all together except for tieing it by tomorrow afternoon.

I also was able to get another comfortghan completed and ready to mail. This is for a woman who recently lost her Mother. I hope she finds peace and comfort.

In Honor of Kyle W. Burns

This comfortghan is to honor Kyle W. Burns and is being mailed to his parents.

Thank you to all who contributed squares in order to make this possible.

Tychus I love you!

What is Tychus you say? That is the name of the pattern used to create this wonderful, warm and EASY hat to go with the sideway mittens! The pattern is designed by Brooke T. Higgins and can be found at Knitty.com. I see many more of these in my knitting future as well.

Sideways mittens

Aren't these just the cutest? They are from a pattern developed by a lady on my Native American Support Yahoo Group and it is a wonderful pattern! Easy to do, easy to follow and look just how stinkin' cute they are!! I can hardly wait to make a bunch more!!

Another way to help

Dear Stamping Friends,
USArtQuest has found a small, yet significant way to help those who will for
some time, be living in makeshift housing of our devastated south. We know
that once the evacuees have reached a point where essential life-needs are met,
they will also need something to keep their spirits up.

The employees of USArtQuest will begin assembling Card Art Kits on October 1.
These kits are to benefit those suffering from their overwhelming sense of
loss, by providing a bit of art therapy. Hands can stay creatively busy, while
helping hearts heal. Although the process of evacuating and relocating may take
several weeks or months, our project will also take that long to assemble.

This is how you can participate:
Please gather your friends, your cardstock and pretty Christmas stamps, new,
old, juvenile, pretty, elegant, cute and in-between – all just begging to be
used. Stamp and emboss at least 6 Christmas/Holiday cards with envelopes and
send them to USArtQuest.

DO NOT color them or do anything to embellish them in any way, other than to
stamp and emboss. Pre-layering images is acceptable. We want nicely stamped,
but plain cards. Please put postage on the envelopes and 6 cards into one
zip-lock bag. If you use dark cardstock, please enclose a piece of white paper, so
that personal notes can be written with regular ballpoint pens.

USArtQuest will supply the brushes, watercolors, stickers, additional
paper/card, markers and the oodles of donated creative materials, as well as do the
assembly, packing and shipping of the kits to the affected areas. Those who
receive the kits will have, for at least a few hours, the opportunity to sit,
paint, embellish and finish the cards for their friends and family for the
holidays. We all know that something as small as sending or receiving a card can be
very important. But, more importantly, these handmade cards may be the only
gift they can give this year.

Our goal is to send 200 kits, each kit having enough materials for 12 people.
(That means a staggering, 72 stamped cards per kit.) If we receive more
cards, then we will assemble as many kits as the cards support. We would like to
ship the first pallet of kits, by mid-October. If my arrangements to personally
distribute the kits does not happen, (my sister lives in Houston), then we
have asked that Points of Light Foundation and the Salvation Army to begin
distributing the kits in late October.

If you would like to include ribbons, stickers or other creative materials
not commonly carried by USArtQuest, we will also include them in the kit boxes.
If you are able to participate, please begin sending your cards, with postage
attached and/or materials to:
USArtQuest, Inc.
7800 Ann Arbor Road
Grass Lake, MI 49240
Attn: We Care

With heartfelt thanks and prayers for our neighbors,
Susan
president
Susan Pickering Rothamel
USArtQuest, Inc.

Coming Soon

Pictures that is. I have two comfortghans almost completed. One is an OPH and the other is for a cousin of a friend. Both are very pretty and I am excited to share the completed projects with you!!!

Katrina-help for those in need

Feeling useless and like you need to do something to help those who's lives have been forever changed due to the effects of Katrina? What is the BEST thing you can do? Send money. Seriously. I know that people want to gather together the needed items and send them, but truly, the best way to get this accomplished is to donate funds. Don't have any, but have extra blankets and clothes? Hold a yard sale and send the earnings. Where to donate? There are many reputable organizations, but please be sure your money will get where you want it to get. Some you might want to check out are : LDS Humanitarian Services, America's Second Harvest, The American Red Cross, or anyplace you prefer. The listing at NPR also has organizations that need volunteers if that is something you are able and inclined to do.

Katrina

As I see the images on the news I am heartbroken at the destruction I see. Those who have suffered please know you are in my heart and prayers. Please stay safe and know that there are many who care about you and the safety of your loved ones.

Stitches from the Heart

The local chapter of Stitches from the Heart met today for brunch and we all brought our completed items for mailing. These women are AWESOME! I am so glad to have the opportunity to associate with them. This is all that were able to make the brunch (minus me since I am behind the camera). Look at how many items were collected!! The small batch is what I was able to contribute this cycle and is included in the complete picture.

A Girl Can Dream

You all have GOT to check out this room!! WOW!! First, I must say that the sheer volume has me impressed. Next, the organization is awesome. Normally I would wonder with that much stuff how anyone could possibly use it. The way she has it all set up though and I can see it is possible to do so.

I have been busily working away on baby/preemie items. My local group of Stitches for the Heart has a brunch on Saturday and it is the time to take completed items. My thinking is that anything I finish is that much less yarn I have sitting around not doing anyone else any good. Baby caps crochet up very quickly so I have been able to get quite a few done in addition to some sweater sets and a few booties. I'll get a picture of everything before I hand it in :).

I am also actively debating my decision to take the ASL 3 class. I think the teacher is going to be fantastic and that I stand to actually learn a lot about the language. However, in order to attempt to make it fun, this class will involve a lot of games and performance type situations. Now, I have no problem with being in front of the class or any other group. I also have no problem using the language and learning. The problem is that if you say "Act out three things you do every day" my brain will totally FREEZE and I will have that deer in the headlights look and not be able to come up with one single thing. See my problem? That is the type of thing this entire semester (and probably most of next semester as well) consists of. And I pay money for the privilege!!!