Well, I'm still working on my American Indian Wall Art bags. Pictures will have to be for next week. Today is Crochet Day and I will be going to my friend's house to crochet.
What I REALLY need to work on is my Abstract Crochet Wall Hanging for the Church International Art Competition. I've never seen anything crocheted get in to the contest, so I tried the last time and didn't get accepted. Sometimes, I think I don't get accepted because I'm from Utah and it's trying to show more of the International people's work.
Well, I need to get to work on that one... and my little AIWA bags.
Since the pics from my last "work of art" are on the other computer which doesn't work and can't communicate with this one... I'll just have to find a pic that has to do with crochet and is on THIS computer.
Okay. So, Mr. Computer says, "No Pictures Today."
Next week. Next week pictures.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Writing Wednesday - More of an: Idea for a Story talk Wednesday
I WANT to write a story about something that happens to me. But, I'm not sure how to go about it. Here's what happens:
As I walk to the school to fetch various kindergarteners, one belonging to me, I have visions of Worst Case Scenarios (Dark Visions is going to be the title of the story) and then I think about what I would do, how would I react in each scenario.
I see myself falling on the ice and breaking my leg and having to pull myself along to a nearby house.
I see a mushroom cloud in the distance and imagine myself instantly not exsisting and ending up as a black sillouette on the brick wall of the school.
I see an earthquake happening as I walk to the school and see myself getting to the school and huddling with my kids and waiting to see if my husband will make it to the school...
On the way home I can see kids impaling themselves on sticks that they are running with...
I see that stupid pit bull that gets out of his yard, attack us and rip up my arm because I'm trying to protect the children (would I be able to ever crochet again?).
I see a kid I'm supposed to being taking care of Jump off of playground equipment and break his leg,
I see a kid NOT listen to me and run out into the street and get run over by a car who didn't see him because they were talking on their cell phone.
Then I get home and sink in my chair and sigh a big sigh of relief... I made it home... nothing bad happened! Whew!
and then...
What if one of those things ACTUALLY happened and because I have been running it through my mind and thinking about what I would do if that happened... I was the hero because I was able instantly jump into action and save the day!
Anyway. That's MY idea. And I will keep thinking about HOW to write that into a story.
Thanks for listening.
As I walk to the school to fetch various kindergarteners, one belonging to me, I have visions of Worst Case Scenarios (Dark Visions is going to be the title of the story) and then I think about what I would do, how would I react in each scenario.
I see myself falling on the ice and breaking my leg and having to pull myself along to a nearby house.
I see a mushroom cloud in the distance and imagine myself instantly not exsisting and ending up as a black sillouette on the brick wall of the school.
I see an earthquake happening as I walk to the school and see myself getting to the school and huddling with my kids and waiting to see if my husband will make it to the school...
On the way home I can see kids impaling themselves on sticks that they are running with...
I see that stupid pit bull that gets out of his yard, attack us and rip up my arm because I'm trying to protect the children (would I be able to ever crochet again?).
I see a kid I'm supposed to being taking care of Jump off of playground equipment and break his leg,
I see a kid NOT listen to me and run out into the street and get run over by a car who didn't see him because they were talking on their cell phone.
Then I get home and sink in my chair and sigh a big sigh of relief... I made it home... nothing bad happened! Whew!
and then...
What if one of those things ACTUALLY happened and because I have been running it through my mind and thinking about what I would do if that happened... I was the hero because I was able instantly jump into action and save the day!
Anyway. That's MY idea. And I will keep thinking about HOW to write that into a story.
Thanks for listening.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Sorry about Friday. Let's continue with a Miscellaneous Monday.
Today for Miscellaneous Monday I'll show you the cake I made and decorated for a Baby Shower that I was volunteered to be in charge of...
I've never hosted a baby shower before... but I hear that I did a good job. That's one of my talents I guess, that even though I'm a bonefide introvert, I can get up in front of people and be entertaining.
I LOVED this cake and was sad that I only got one piece.
I took a lemon cake mix (I always sift the cake mix to make it lighter and airy and NO Lumps) and added the juice of one lemon to the water amount, and the zest of same lemon to the mix as well. Nice and lemony.
Then, I put cream cheese frosting with the zest of another lemon in the middle and frosted all around with a lemon frosting. Wrote the words with a vanilla frosting w/ blue food coloring and paste.
After I got done I realized that the baby coming out of a flower seemed a bit Freudian... but, it's also very Japanese fairy tale too. Babies are always coming out of plants and fruits to be raised by childless elderly people in Japan. So, that made it okay. whew!
The lady who voluteered me to be in charge makes a wonderful Texas Sheet cake and was in charge of making sure the gift opening went smoothly.
Everyone enjoyed the Introduction Game: where everyone took turns standing up telling what their name was and WHY their parents gave them that name and/or what their name means.
Then we also played identify the baby food without the labels on them, and who can guess the measurement of the mom-to-be's tummy?
That was ENOUGH games. Games are best in moderation.
Present opening, cake and icecream eating.
And everyone had a great time.
And Now I have Baby Shower Hosting Experience under my belt.
Let's hope I don't have to do this again for a loooong time. K?
Let me just quickly make up for Friday by telling you about this: At my children's school there is a big display set up about Ancient American Indian Wall Drawings. I felt inspired and started making a figure from those wall drawings... then I turned it into a bag. I want to make more and then I will photo graph it and show and talk more about it on Friday. K?
I've never hosted a baby shower before... but I hear that I did a good job. That's one of my talents I guess, that even though I'm a bonefide introvert, I can get up in front of people and be entertaining.
I LOVED this cake and was sad that I only got one piece.
I took a lemon cake mix (I always sift the cake mix to make it lighter and airy and NO Lumps) and added the juice of one lemon to the water amount, and the zest of same lemon to the mix as well. Nice and lemony.
Then, I put cream cheese frosting with the zest of another lemon in the middle and frosted all around with a lemon frosting. Wrote the words with a vanilla frosting w/ blue food coloring and paste.
After I got done I realized that the baby coming out of a flower seemed a bit Freudian... but, it's also very Japanese fairy tale too. Babies are always coming out of plants and fruits to be raised by childless elderly people in Japan. So, that made it okay. whew!
The lady who voluteered me to be in charge makes a wonderful Texas Sheet cake and was in charge of making sure the gift opening went smoothly.
Everyone enjoyed the Introduction Game: where everyone took turns standing up telling what their name was and WHY their parents gave them that name and/or what their name means.
Then we also played identify the baby food without the labels on them, and who can guess the measurement of the mom-to-be's tummy?
That was ENOUGH games. Games are best in moderation.
Present opening, cake and icecream eating.
And everyone had a great time.
And Now I have Baby Shower Hosting Experience under my belt.
Let's hope I don't have to do this again for a loooong time. K?
Let me just quickly make up for Friday by telling you about this: At my children's school there is a big display set up about Ancient American Indian Wall Drawings. I felt inspired and started making a figure from those wall drawings... then I turned it into a bag. I want to make more and then I will photo graph it and show and talk more about it on Friday. K?
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Writing Wednesday is more like Writer's Wednesday
I don't have time to write a story today. I have one in mind... I have several in mind... but, no time. And I don't want to get into any habit of missing my Monday, Wednesday, Friday crafting habit.
So, instead of writing a story I'm going to mention a few of my favorite books. I can't mention them all, but, I can write about the ones that have really stuck with me through the years and new favorites too.
1. Sherri S. Tepper the 9 books that all start with King's Blood Four.
I read King's Blood Four after I borrowed it from my mom's bookcase. And then I kept it. And then I read it over and over again. A world based on chess ...cool.
Then, year's later the night before my wedding I was in a used book store in Logan, Utah. That is where I found book number three: Wizard's Eleven! I was FLOORED! There are more?
That night I bought that book and began my search for number 2: Necromancer's Nine.
I found the first trilogy and then found out there were two more trilogies that went with the first one.
So far I've found 8 out of 9, PLUS a 3 books in one book that includes the one book I'm missing.
Last night I even thought about writing Sherri S. Tepper a fan letter about the King's Blood Four series. They never mention these books when they tell about the books she's written.
I think she also wrote a book about a River... oops, I can't remember but I'll have to find it... I've been thinking about it lately. I like that one too. I think I got a two books in one book and I still need to find it! Southshore and Northshore from 1987. Found the names not the book. :(
She writes about wonderfully grotesque and fantastical characters, she uses such beautiful and highly descriptive language that I can see exactly what she is writing about, and talk about great plot and world making!
They are all out of print and hard to find... but, WORTH IT!
She also has a Marianne trilogy that I'm trying to find too. I think I have the middle one...:(
I've figured out that I love books about people from Earth coming to a new planet and then seeing what their society develops into after hundreds or thousands of years after they've even forgotten they are originally from Earth. The King's Blood Four series does that.
2. Also, Marion Zimmer Bradley's world of Darkover series does that and I grew up loving those books. MZB also did an anthology series, Swords & Sorceress. I almost have all 21? of those books. Alas, Marion Zimmer Bradley died a while back.
I went downstairs to my triple stacked bookcase and found these books. They are all dog-eared, much read and much loved. I remember them. I grabbed them and want to read them again!
3. Nor Crystal Tears by Alan Dean Foster
4. The Colors of Space by Marion Zimmer Bradley
5. Crystal Singer by Anne McCafferey (also Killashandra Ree I think is the next one)
6. The Postman by David Brin
7. One for the Morning Glory by John Barnes (a great fairy tale)
8. Snow Crash by Neal Stephens (cyber punk!)
and then there's
9. The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett (also A Hat Full of Sky and Wintersmith)
SO FUNNY! (I want to read all of Terry Pratchett's books... a life time goal. :)
10. All the Harry Potters!
11. All the Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
(well, anything by Lemony Snicket! Have you read The Latke that wouldn't stop screaming?)
12. Motel of the Mysteries by David Macaulay
There's more but, I'd say that's enough for now. That's the basics.
Each one of these books brings memories and feelings to my mind and heart.
I remember far away places and favorite people that I have visited and revisited.
Who needs to travel?!
I love books.
So, instead of writing a story I'm going to mention a few of my favorite books. I can't mention them all, but, I can write about the ones that have really stuck with me through the years and new favorites too.
1. Sherri S. Tepper the 9 books that all start with King's Blood Four.
I read King's Blood Four after I borrowed it from my mom's bookcase. And then I kept it. And then I read it over and over again. A world based on chess ...cool.
Then, year's later the night before my wedding I was in a used book store in Logan, Utah. That is where I found book number three: Wizard's Eleven! I was FLOORED! There are more?
That night I bought that book and began my search for number 2: Necromancer's Nine.
I found the first trilogy and then found out there were two more trilogies that went with the first one.
So far I've found 8 out of 9, PLUS a 3 books in one book that includes the one book I'm missing.
Last night I even thought about writing Sherri S. Tepper a fan letter about the King's Blood Four series. They never mention these books when they tell about the books she's written.
I think she also wrote a book about a River... oops, I can't remember but I'll have to find it... I've been thinking about it lately. I like that one too. I think I got a two books in one book and I still need to find it! Southshore and Northshore from 1987. Found the names not the book. :(
She writes about wonderfully grotesque and fantastical characters, she uses such beautiful and highly descriptive language that I can see exactly what she is writing about, and talk about great plot and world making!
They are all out of print and hard to find... but, WORTH IT!
She also has a Marianne trilogy that I'm trying to find too. I think I have the middle one...:(
I've figured out that I love books about people from Earth coming to a new planet and then seeing what their society develops into after hundreds or thousands of years after they've even forgotten they are originally from Earth. The King's Blood Four series does that.
2. Also, Marion Zimmer Bradley's world of Darkover series does that and I grew up loving those books. MZB also did an anthology series, Swords & Sorceress. I almost have all 21? of those books. Alas, Marion Zimmer Bradley died a while back.
I went downstairs to my triple stacked bookcase and found these books. They are all dog-eared, much read and much loved. I remember them. I grabbed them and want to read them again!
3. Nor Crystal Tears by Alan Dean Foster
4. The Colors of Space by Marion Zimmer Bradley
5. Crystal Singer by Anne McCafferey (also Killashandra Ree I think is the next one)
6. The Postman by David Brin
7. One for the Morning Glory by John Barnes (a great fairy tale)
8. Snow Crash by Neal Stephens (cyber punk!)
and then there's
9. The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett (also A Hat Full of Sky and Wintersmith)
SO FUNNY! (I want to read all of Terry Pratchett's books... a life time goal. :)
10. All the Harry Potters!
11. All the Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
(well, anything by Lemony Snicket! Have you read The Latke that wouldn't stop screaming?)
12. Motel of the Mysteries by David Macaulay
There's more but, I'd say that's enough for now. That's the basics.
Each one of these books brings memories and feelings to my mind and heart.
I remember far away places and favorite people that I have visited and revisited.
Who needs to travel?!
I love books.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Miscellaneous Memory Monday
As the oldest child of four, (I have 3 younger brothers) I often remember being the first to do something. Except blowing bubbles in gum and whistling, I had to work hard on those to catch up to my brothers.
From my perspective today I've thought of something interesting:
I was the first to take piano lessons and play clarinet and be in band at school. It was "my thing". I played clarinet from Jr. High through college until my carpal tunnel got bad.
I can still plunk out a tune on the piano... but, man! I'm rusty!
Plus, I spent hours and hours forcing my brothers to "play school" during the summer and I was their teacher!
And now my youngest brother is a Band Teacher in a High School in Idaho.
I ALWAYS got A's in Psychology. I've always loved studying how the mind works, personality tests, etc. Even talking with my brother on the phone about what I should study in school (someday!) he reminded me that I always loved Psychology!
What is this brother doing? He's going to school to be a Psychologist/Therapist.
I ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS loved reading books. I remember searching for books on Eygpt in 4th grade. I remember wearing my dad's army jacket in Jr. High and getting teased about being "Hot Lips" Hoolihan. Why did I wear that jacket? Because it could hold two paperback books at the same time. From Jr. High through High School I always was reading two books at the same time. I remember being proud that I read at a college level all through High School.
Even on the night before my wedding I went to a used book store with my mother-in-law and husband to be.
What does my middle brother do? He SO out-reads me and not with just any books... he reads the classics! He is SO SMART. My husband and I really enjoy talking with him.
He's read all the classic books that I've always wanted to read but, this sci-fi/fantasy book over here looks like more fun...! :)
I'm not really jealous... the more I've thought about it, the more I would like to think that perhaps I helped my brothers? Maybe I started doing or liking something that helped them get toward where they've ended up? Could it be that I was any sort of good example for them?No matter what, I'm happy for them.
Growing up, I was like a little mother to my brothers. I wish we could be better friends now.
And I can see that we each DO have something in common.
From my perspective today I've thought of something interesting:
I was the first to take piano lessons and play clarinet and be in band at school. It was "my thing". I played clarinet from Jr. High through college until my carpal tunnel got bad.
I can still plunk out a tune on the piano... but, man! I'm rusty!
Plus, I spent hours and hours forcing my brothers to "play school" during the summer and I was their teacher!
And now my youngest brother is a Band Teacher in a High School in Idaho.
I ALWAYS got A's in Psychology. I've always loved studying how the mind works, personality tests, etc. Even talking with my brother on the phone about what I should study in school (someday!) he reminded me that I always loved Psychology!
What is this brother doing? He's going to school to be a Psychologist/Therapist.
I ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS loved reading books. I remember searching for books on Eygpt in 4th grade. I remember wearing my dad's army jacket in Jr. High and getting teased about being "Hot Lips" Hoolihan. Why did I wear that jacket? Because it could hold two paperback books at the same time. From Jr. High through High School I always was reading two books at the same time. I remember being proud that I read at a college level all through High School.
Even on the night before my wedding I went to a used book store with my mother-in-law and husband to be.
What does my middle brother do? He SO out-reads me and not with just any books... he reads the classics! He is SO SMART. My husband and I really enjoy talking with him.
He's read all the classic books that I've always wanted to read but, this sci-fi/fantasy book over here looks like more fun...! :)
I'm not really jealous... the more I've thought about it, the more I would like to think that perhaps I helped my brothers? Maybe I started doing or liking something that helped them get toward where they've ended up? Could it be that I was any sort of good example for them?No matter what, I'm happy for them.
Growing up, I was like a little mother to my brothers. I wish we could be better friends now.
And I can see that we each DO have something in common.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Crochet Friday!
How many times do I need to say it... I Love Crochet! (I guess I need to say it a lot!)
This is MY Crochet Story:
I've always had a need for creative outlets.
I doodled political cartoons when I was in Elementary / Jr. High School.
I doodled and drew all the time. I read all the time too.
I took piano lessons. I sang in my Ward choir.
I joined Band in Jr. High and learned to play a clarinet.
I remember learning how to crochet a chain as a young teenager.
But, that's as far as I got with crochet back then.
My whole life I would experiment with creative things. I even made a Ninja Turtles cake for my little brother and an MTV cake for myself (back when MTV showed videos that had a story line and good music! :)
I even took some of my mom's counted cross stitch material and made a bustier for my Barbie doll.
It's funny that I can't remember anyone helping me or encouraging me or giving me any opportunities in the creativity department. I had to go out and do and find what I could to give myself a creative outlet. And boy! did I need an outlet! (Mom, if you read this, and if you can remember encouraging me or helping me discover creative outlets... let me know. :)
When I was a newlywed and newly diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, I used my ample time to hand stitch together a levi quilt out of old levis. After 13 years it's ALMOST done... I
worked on it last year with my new sewing machine.
I was able to make a wedding cake for our friend's wedding, they liked my carrot cake recipe and I even decorated it very nicely using baggies before I got into Wilton products.
In college I took art classes and loved to paint. Having kids made it so I had to take a hiatis and I hope to be able to paint again (when kids are both in school all day and I can be by myself).
In 1999 we moved from Provo to Salt Lake City.
In, I believe, May of 2000 we had a Homemaking meeting where a friend of mine taught a class on crocheting doilies. I still have the one I made... it's HORRIBLE!!!! My friend makes gorgeous doilies and even gave me one of hers later on... but, me?, I make horrible doilies!
Doilies will NEVER be my claim to fame.
From that one meeting, I was curious. I bought a book that taught me the stitches and how to read all the abbreviations in patterns. I bought hooks. I bought yarn. and because at that time I was wanting baby #2, so, I started my first real crochet project.... baby booties.
I wasn't very good at it though, because I ended up making ONE BOOTY per pattern I found.
and I found a lot of patterns. I still have a bag with a collection of different booties in my basement.
Thanks to the internet I found tons of patterns and experimented and tried and played with all sorts of yarns, hooks and ideas and patterns.
I discovered Tunisian Crochet and figured out that THAT was how my Grandma made afghans for all her grandkids. Unfortunately she gave all her tunisian crochet away BEFORE she found out that I crocheted. (a small sore spot with me, let's move on)
I discovered a kind of tunisian crochet that uses two yarns at the same time... and even managed to figure out how to do three!
After all that I figured out how to make my own crocheted projects just by looking at the pictures in the patterns and in magazines.
I now have almost all of the hooks (not too many thread crochet hooks). I have B-K, plus the LMNP also the Q hook (my favorite!), S hook and a two sided T size maple wood Tunisian crochet hook. I have also dabbled in the knitting world and own a few sets of knitting needles.
AND after almost 8 years I have ended up with 6+ rubbermaid containers of yarn.
I'm also a subscriber to CROCHET! magazine and am trying a subscription to Crochet today! magazine too.
I am now officially "the Crochet Lady". Even women who know how to crochet call me if they have a problem with a pattern OR have a pattern in their head that they would like made into a written pattern. (It was fun for her to make her reversible afghan and have me write down what she was doing.)
I love making little bags (coin bags, dice bags, tooth fairy bags, etc.). I end up making requested outfits for small stuffed animals (so far, ballerina tutus and karate gi's). I make small blankets for baby dolls and stuffed animals. I make scarves, and hats and slippers. I WANT to make socks and gloves. I've made myself a purse... and now I need to make another one that's smaller but, still fits my stuff... but not too much stuff.
Any time any one needs something, I can do it. And I like the feeling of being able to say that.
I am working on trying to be a crochet instructor for Michael's... sheesh people call me already!
AND
Right now I'm working on an abstract art piece for the Church International Art Competition in which I have never seen a crocheted work of art. (wish me luck!)
I'm looking into Amigurumi (a japanese form of crochet where you make little animals and people with big heads. :) and Free Form Crochet where you can use all your little scraps to make a beautiful work of art that you can wear.
I love having Crochet Day at my friend's house on Fridays.
Talking with a friend and crocheting, it's a perfect combination.
I love Crochet.
I love yarn.
I'm a yarn hoarder.
I know I have a problem.
I can stop any time I want.
Crochet Land, it's a beautiful and colorful and soft place to live...
however you do end up with little pieces of yarn stuck to your clothes all the time...
eh, it's a cheap price to pay to live in Crochet Land!
This is MY Crochet Story:
I've always had a need for creative outlets.
I doodled political cartoons when I was in Elementary / Jr. High School.
I doodled and drew all the time. I read all the time too.
I took piano lessons. I sang in my Ward choir.
I joined Band in Jr. High and learned to play a clarinet.
I remember learning how to crochet a chain as a young teenager.
But, that's as far as I got with crochet back then.
My whole life I would experiment with creative things. I even made a Ninja Turtles cake for my little brother and an MTV cake for myself (back when MTV showed videos that had a story line and good music! :)
I even took some of my mom's counted cross stitch material and made a bustier for my Barbie doll.
It's funny that I can't remember anyone helping me or encouraging me or giving me any opportunities in the creativity department. I had to go out and do and find what I could to give myself a creative outlet. And boy! did I need an outlet! (Mom, if you read this, and if you can remember encouraging me or helping me discover creative outlets... let me know. :)
When I was a newlywed and newly diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, I used my ample time to hand stitch together a levi quilt out of old levis. After 13 years it's ALMOST done... I
worked on it last year with my new sewing machine.
I was able to make a wedding cake for our friend's wedding, they liked my carrot cake recipe and I even decorated it very nicely using baggies before I got into Wilton products.
In college I took art classes and loved to paint. Having kids made it so I had to take a hiatis and I hope to be able to paint again (when kids are both in school all day and I can be by myself).
In 1999 we moved from Provo to Salt Lake City.
In, I believe, May of 2000 we had a Homemaking meeting where a friend of mine taught a class on crocheting doilies. I still have the one I made... it's HORRIBLE!!!! My friend makes gorgeous doilies and even gave me one of hers later on... but, me?, I make horrible doilies!
Doilies will NEVER be my claim to fame.
From that one meeting, I was curious. I bought a book that taught me the stitches and how to read all the abbreviations in patterns. I bought hooks. I bought yarn. and because at that time I was wanting baby #2, so, I started my first real crochet project.... baby booties.
I wasn't very good at it though, because I ended up making ONE BOOTY per pattern I found.
and I found a lot of patterns. I still have a bag with a collection of different booties in my basement.
Thanks to the internet I found tons of patterns and experimented and tried and played with all sorts of yarns, hooks and ideas and patterns.
I discovered Tunisian Crochet and figured out that THAT was how my Grandma made afghans for all her grandkids. Unfortunately she gave all her tunisian crochet away BEFORE she found out that I crocheted. (a small sore spot with me, let's move on)
I discovered a kind of tunisian crochet that uses two yarns at the same time... and even managed to figure out how to do three!
After all that I figured out how to make my own crocheted projects just by looking at the pictures in the patterns and in magazines.
I now have almost all of the hooks (not too many thread crochet hooks). I have B-K, plus the LMNP also the Q hook (my favorite!), S hook and a two sided T size maple wood Tunisian crochet hook. I have also dabbled in the knitting world and own a few sets of knitting needles.
AND after almost 8 years I have ended up with 6+ rubbermaid containers of yarn.
I'm also a subscriber to CROCHET! magazine and am trying a subscription to Crochet today! magazine too.
I am now officially "the Crochet Lady". Even women who know how to crochet call me if they have a problem with a pattern OR have a pattern in their head that they would like made into a written pattern. (It was fun for her to make her reversible afghan and have me write down what she was doing.)
I love making little bags (coin bags, dice bags, tooth fairy bags, etc.). I end up making requested outfits for small stuffed animals (so far, ballerina tutus and karate gi's). I make small blankets for baby dolls and stuffed animals. I make scarves, and hats and slippers. I WANT to make socks and gloves. I've made myself a purse... and now I need to make another one that's smaller but, still fits my stuff... but not too much stuff.
Any time any one needs something, I can do it. And I like the feeling of being able to say that.
I am working on trying to be a crochet instructor for Michael's... sheesh people call me already!
AND
Right now I'm working on an abstract art piece for the Church International Art Competition in which I have never seen a crocheted work of art. (wish me luck!)
I'm looking into Amigurumi (a japanese form of crochet where you make little animals and people with big heads. :) and Free Form Crochet where you can use all your little scraps to make a beautiful work of art that you can wear.
I love having Crochet Day at my friend's house on Fridays.
Talking with a friend and crocheting, it's a perfect combination.
I love Crochet.
I love yarn.
I'm a yarn hoarder.
I know I have a problem.
I can stop any time I want.
Crochet Land, it's a beautiful and colorful and soft place to live...
however you do end up with little pieces of yarn stuck to your clothes all the time...
eh, it's a cheap price to pay to live in Crochet Land!
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Writing Wednesday!
Just so you know, everything I write on Writing Wednesday, is right out of my head with only a couple of read throughs and adjustments. Thus they are all pretty much rough drafts of things that have been floating around in my head for a while. Read them as such. I don't mind any critics piping in. (make sure you don't miss the pic at the bottom!)
Cats in the Park
It was cold as I walked to school to pick up Mara from kindergarten. It's only a block and a half, but it's a nice little walk. I love to walk past our little neighborhood park where the sky really opens up and I can see the mountains.
And then, a month ago those statues were put into MY park. I know the city means well by putting "art in the park", but did they have to put those creepy giant cat statues there? They sit just so, each one looking in a different direction. Each one a different color. Each one taller than my 6 year old.
I know I'm just paranoid, but, every time I walk past the park I swear I see a flicker of an ear, or a movement of a brass eye. The lady across the street told me that she likes to think that they are protectors of the neighborhood. I want to believe that. I want to believe they are on "our" side. I'm a cat person, and I know that cats are basically good creatures. But, I also know that, unlike dogs, you have to earn their love and respect and protection.
As much as I love art and love cats, they're still creepy.
On the other hand, it's been a while since I've seen graffiti in the park.
Older kids have begun to avoid the park...
So, no matter what happens, no matter what I see out of the corner of my eye, as I pass my little park I always end up thinking of the Egyptian cat goddess Bast and I bob my head towards the creepy Cats in the Park and thank them for protecting my neighborhood.
Cats in the Park
It was cold as I walked to school to pick up Mara from kindergarten. It's only a block and a half, but it's a nice little walk. I love to walk past our little neighborhood park where the sky really opens up and I can see the mountains.
And then, a month ago those statues were put into MY park. I know the city means well by putting "art in the park", but did they have to put those creepy giant cat statues there? They sit just so, each one looking in a different direction. Each one a different color. Each one taller than my 6 year old.
I know I'm just paranoid, but, every time I walk past the park I swear I see a flicker of an ear, or a movement of a brass eye. The lady across the street told me that she likes to think that they are protectors of the neighborhood. I want to believe that. I want to believe they are on "our" side. I'm a cat person, and I know that cats are basically good creatures. But, I also know that, unlike dogs, you have to earn their love and respect and protection.
As much as I love art and love cats, they're still creepy.
On the other hand, it's been a while since I've seen graffiti in the park.
Older kids have begun to avoid the park...
So, no matter what happens, no matter what I see out of the corner of my eye, as I pass my little park I always end up thinking of the Egyptian cat goddess Bast and I bob my head towards the creepy Cats in the Park and thank them for protecting my neighborhood.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Today's Miscellaneous Monday is about Photography!
The City of Salt Lake purchased this mansion just recently and on Saturday had an open house so citizens can help figure out what to do with it. It was built in 1893 for a man from Germany who was a brewer. The pamphlet said that it cost $13,000. to build back then. Man! have times changed! Their open house was from 2-4pm and we got there soon after 2pm and had to park WAYY down the street and THEN it took a whole hour to get through it because there were SO MANY PEOPLE there. WE had to wait for people to come down the stairs before we could go up, and wait for people to come up before we could come down. It was crowded and smelled like an old musty house that's seen better days, BUT it WAS BEAUTIFUL. I think I will be using that word a little too much here. BEcause there were so many little details, so many little beautiful details. It's the little details that make things really special. And this was a special mansion. I was happy to get to go and take part in our local government.
Here's a statue of Mary out in front of the mansion. After the mansion wasn't being used as a house anymore it was turned into a convent for the sisters of Our Lady of Victory and after that was used as a halfway house for men who were homeless or on drugs. So there was a lot of wear and tear and too many modern "fixes" that made a prettty room into an ugly office.
Here's a detail from the front steps. You just don't get to see detail work like this anymore.
Here's a fireplace in a front room of the mansion. Such beautiful tiles!
Here's a close up on the decorative tile on that fireplace.
The carriage house. It was all boarded up. No one allowed inside. Nice view of the smokestacks in the background, eh? When it was built it was 2 miles away from downtown and out in the middle of nowhere. Now it is by itself in the middle of an industrial area and behind Questar Gas (we could SMELL the natural gas) and a freeway is right across the street from it.Our neighborhood is 9 blocks north of here and 50 years ago it was out in the middle of nowhere too. It used to have natural springs and a big dairy. My how things change!
Here's a beautiful wall air vent... in the basement. The basement was, well, basementy ew. but, in the middle of it all was this beautiful air vent.
Here's the inside of the front door as we left. I wish I had been able to take a picture of the tile on the floor right here, but, like I said there were so many people coming and going, I was lucky to be able to stand still long enough to take this one.
Isn't this a beautiful stone bench? It was outside in the back yard next to the carriage house.
I want one in front of my house! I also want some pretty statues of St. Francis of Assissi.
Anyway, it was a nice tour. I took a ton of pics. I think some of them are kind of good. I hope you enjoyed some of the neater details of this mansion that could some day be an art / cultural / community center.???
Friday, February 8, 2008
CROCHET FRIDAY!!!! (and figuring out putting pics on here!)
There is no ORs today! I LOVE crochet! Today I'm going to talk about a couple of my own creations. I really am thankful/blessed/happy that I'm the type of person that doesn't need a pattern to make things. I can read patterns. I can write a pattern. But, I can also take that pattern and change it and add to it and make it my own.
AND I can imagine patterns and develop items to fit my needs.
You can see from this picture that I do have a serious yarn addiction. Those rubbermaid containers are filled with yarn! Plus, I still have more bags FILLED with yarn! At least now it's organized and when I go looking for yarn it's like shopping and I can find what I need... most of the time... I still need to buy new yarns every once in a while! :)
This story all started when I was getting tired of lugging my purse around. Often, you don't need a whole purse full of stuff. Purses have always been annoying to me anyway. SO!
I crocheted a "KeyChain Wallet" for myself.
I crocheted it to fit my license and a credit card. The loops at the top, (one loop on one side of the bag and one loop on the other side so that the insides will definitely NOT come out.) fit around a D ring that my keys are all on. Obviously, keys are not enough for me... i also need a lego glow in the dark ghost and a lego Cat woman! :)
So, after telling my friend (whose daughter is in my daughter's kindergarten class) about my nifty Keychain Wallet, the other day she asked me to make one for her. She hates lugging around her purse as much as I do and liked my little Keychain Wallet. So, she offered to pay me to make her one. Her's however needed a space for a cell phone.
This is the side to hold credit cards and a license. I crocheted a keychain right onto the top of it. She can just hook her keys right on it.
I earned $10.!
Here is the side of the bag that will hold my friend's cell phone.
It's makes me feel old when I see a cell phone and think , Wow! That thing is tiny!
(we don't have a cell phone... it wouldn't work very well at home anyway, since we have a metal roof.)
This is a bag I made for myself. Yay! I was tired of having some of my hooks with me, and some hooks in the last hook keeper I made (where they can fall out), etc. So I made this bag to keep ALL of my hooks. Looks like I need to add a few rows to the top so my Q and S hooks can live here comfortably too. Maybe I'll make a shell pattern around the top?
Down below is the inside of the bag. I fpsc'ed aka. single crocheted around a post and then chained two , skipped a post and then sc'd around the next post. With two of these lines made I can slip my hooks down into this bag pretty securely and they will stay where they are and not clink against each other. Those lines on the inside make the nice dotted line pattern on the outside as shown above. Nice!
I can also fit my scissors case with all my finishing needles in there too.
Of course, ALL of my hooks aren't in there yet... I have to go figure out which crochet bag they are in! I can't wait to have ALL my hooks together in one bag!
Anyway. That's my crochet story for today. If I have a non-crochet week, which DOES happen, I will try to review previous work or talk about new techniques I've found out about.
Happy Crocheting! Happy Crafting!
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Today is Writing Wednesday.
Wednesdays are either going to be Writing Wednesdays or World of Warcraft Wednesdays.
Writing is a craft and you get to craft and be crafty when you play WoW.
Perhaps today will be a Writing Wednesday.
Then I need to hurry and finish cleaning the house because today is our Bear Cub Scout Meeting and we are going to be making some crafts. Chinese New Year place mats and Chinese lanterns for the Blue and Gold Banquet at the end of the month! yay!
So, here goes!
The Mountain
Miranda was cold. Wait, no. Miranda was colder than she'd ever been in her whole life! She hugged herself to give herself at least the hope of some extra warmth as she stepped carefully over the icy trail. The altitude was so high it was hard to breath but she did her best.
'Why did I decide to walk the tops of these mountains?', Miranda thought to herself. 'I could be home watching the snow and drinking hot chocolate!'
The footing was treacherous and any slip would be a disaster. It was a good thing she had her trusty guide to show the way. He'd fallen and slipped a few times in front of her and had saved her from the same fate. Only his mountain climbing expertise had saved his life.
"We're almost to the end!", he yelled.
"Oh good! I'm ready to go home!", she yelled back.
A few more feet ahead was a drop off. Miranda was confused.
"Where do we go from here?", she asked her guide.
"We jump, of course!", her guide said with a big smile.
"What?" Miranda's heart jumped uncomfortably in her chest.
"Jump! Come on it's fun!" and with that, her guide jumped over the edge.
"Come on Miranda, Jump! It's time to go home." Miranda's mother said, "We've been playing on this snow heap for too long and we need to take Jacob home too. Hey, what do you say we have some hot chocolate when we get back?"
Miranda shook her head and blinked her eyes.
The adventure was over and it was time to go home.
She jumped over the edge...
Writing is a craft and you get to craft and be crafty when you play WoW.
Perhaps today will be a Writing Wednesday.
Then I need to hurry and finish cleaning the house because today is our Bear Cub Scout Meeting and we are going to be making some crafts. Chinese New Year place mats and Chinese lanterns for the Blue and Gold Banquet at the end of the month! yay!
So, here goes!
The Mountain
Miranda was cold. Wait, no. Miranda was colder than she'd ever been in her whole life! She hugged herself to give herself at least the hope of some extra warmth as she stepped carefully over the icy trail. The altitude was so high it was hard to breath but she did her best.
'Why did I decide to walk the tops of these mountains?', Miranda thought to herself. 'I could be home watching the snow and drinking hot chocolate!'
The footing was treacherous and any slip would be a disaster. It was a good thing she had her trusty guide to show the way. He'd fallen and slipped a few times in front of her and had saved her from the same fate. Only his mountain climbing expertise had saved his life.
"We're almost to the end!", he yelled.
"Oh good! I'm ready to go home!", she yelled back.
A few more feet ahead was a drop off. Miranda was confused.
"Where do we go from here?", she asked her guide.
"We jump, of course!", her guide said with a big smile.
"What?" Miranda's heart jumped uncomfortably in her chest.
"Jump! Come on it's fun!" and with that, her guide jumped over the edge.
"Come on Miranda, Jump! It's time to go home." Miranda's mother said, "We've been playing on this snow heap for too long and we need to take Jacob home too. Hey, what do you say we have some hot chocolate when we get back?"
Miranda shook her head and blinked her eyes.
The adventure was over and it was time to go home.
She jumped over the edge...
Monday, February 4, 2008
Memory Monday
I want to write a memory every Monday. I re-experience Memories all the time in my head and perhaps it would be beneficial to keeping the memory and developing my writing skills to write them here. Welcome to Memory Monday!
I remember my wedding day back in May of 1994.
I remember that the night before our wedding there was a terrible storm! We barely got back from a used book store before it started. At 5am on our wedding day (obviously I didn't sleep well, I was too happy and excited!), I looked out the window of my motel room and couldn't see across the parking lot the FOG was so bad!
By the time we were ready to get going to the temple the weather had cleared and it ended up being a really beautiful day! The sky was a perfect blue! The sun was out and it was warm. We got some nice pictures that I can't post because we got married BEFORE digital cameras and e-mail. ONE TREE ripped out of the ground on the temple grounds was the only evidence that the storm had happened.
I felt very happy and lucky to have such a great weather story from my wedding day.
My FAVORITE memory is of what song Ross and I couldn't stop singing all day long!
This song will forever remind me of my temple wedding.
"What do you do with a drunken sailor?
What do you do with a drunken sailor?
What do you do with a drunken sailor?
Ear-li in the morning?
Put him in the long boat till he's sober,
Put him in the long boat till he's sober,
Put him in the long boat till he's sober,
Ear-li in the morning!"
and on and on...
I remember us walking happily up to the temple singing this sea chanty together,
I remember us walking happily away from the temple (Yay! married!) singing this sea chanty together, I remember singing this sea chanty at odd times during that whole day.
It's weird and it's interesting and it's just us, I guess. :)
The only thing I really remember from actually getting married is that the guy who married us advised us to "Always have a love story in the home." Isn't that sweet. I think we do.
I remember my wedding day back in May of 1994.
I remember that the night before our wedding there was a terrible storm! We barely got back from a used book store before it started. At 5am on our wedding day (obviously I didn't sleep well, I was too happy and excited!), I looked out the window of my motel room and couldn't see across the parking lot the FOG was so bad!
By the time we were ready to get going to the temple the weather had cleared and it ended up being a really beautiful day! The sky was a perfect blue! The sun was out and it was warm. We got some nice pictures that I can't post because we got married BEFORE digital cameras and e-mail. ONE TREE ripped out of the ground on the temple grounds was the only evidence that the storm had happened.
I felt very happy and lucky to have such a great weather story from my wedding day.
My FAVORITE memory is of what song Ross and I couldn't stop singing all day long!
This song will forever remind me of my temple wedding.
"What do you do with a drunken sailor?
What do you do with a drunken sailor?
What do you do with a drunken sailor?
Ear-li in the morning?
Put him in the long boat till he's sober,
Put him in the long boat till he's sober,
Put him in the long boat till he's sober,
Ear-li in the morning!"
and on and on...
I remember us walking happily up to the temple singing this sea chanty together,
I remember us walking happily away from the temple (Yay! married!) singing this sea chanty together, I remember singing this sea chanty at odd times during that whole day.
It's weird and it's interesting and it's just us, I guess. :)
The only thing I really remember from actually getting married is that the guy who married us advised us to "Always have a love story in the home." Isn't that sweet. I think we do.
Why two blogs?
This first post must be about why I have two blogs.
First of all. I have a friend and a brother with blogs on blogspot here, and I can't comment or even look at them without having a blog here myself.
Second of all. Why not? Why not have a blog that I can devote to my arts and crafts. I've tried to talk about and show my arts and crafts on my other blog... but, I just can't seem to get it going. I really wanted to write a Crochet Friday and talk about crochet, but, I just haven't.
So, having this blog is going to MAKE me do it. I think I will come up with themes for the days of the week and work on a good crafty blog.
Thank you for your patience.
Although, I don't know who I'm talking to, all my blog friends are on livejournal...
So, oh well, it's okay... I like talking to myself. :)
my other blog is roster007.livejournal.com just in case you are curious and don't really want to read about arts and crafts all the time. :) see, I'm nice.
First of all. I have a friend and a brother with blogs on blogspot here, and I can't comment or even look at them without having a blog here myself.
Second of all. Why not? Why not have a blog that I can devote to my arts and crafts. I've tried to talk about and show my arts and crafts on my other blog... but, I just can't seem to get it going. I really wanted to write a Crochet Friday and talk about crochet, but, I just haven't.
So, having this blog is going to MAKE me do it. I think I will come up with themes for the days of the week and work on a good crafty blog.
Thank you for your patience.
Although, I don't know who I'm talking to, all my blog friends are on livejournal...
So, oh well, it's okay... I like talking to myself. :)
my other blog is roster007.livejournal.com just in case you are curious and don't really want to read about arts and crafts all the time. :) see, I'm nice.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
