tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69557397050928803702024-03-13T13:33:49.863-05:00Ann's Creative NeedleSewing, Knitting, Crochet, Quilting, Shuttle Tatting and Cross-stitchingAnn H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03130662144901163719noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955739705092880370.post-36424075288094032702014-02-10T18:40:00.003-05:002014-02-10T18:44:48.201-05:00A new way of torture?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Not really but it is feeling a bit like it.<br />
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Today I am practicing the art of making Cluny Leaves which are used in tatting. Every time I attempt to learn a new technique, my poor fingers get the workout. This is definitely the case today with the cluny leaf. It is a bit like trying to walk and chew gum at the same time as the saying goes. At first, positioning my fingers in this manner and holding them in place has been quite awkward. I tried holding them precisely the way I saw it done in instructional videos ( I love youtube!) { <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kL8bIVusfrk" target="_blank"> video by Tatmantats </a> }and website directions {<a href="http://home.netcom.com/~ntrop/cluny/instruct.htm" target="_blank"> "Tatting Cluny Leaves by hand" </a>}. As well as having attended a live online class by Georgia Seitz <a href="http://www.georgiaseitz.com/" target="_blank">WELCOME TO THE HOME OF THE ONLINE TATTING CLASS</a> I should be well on my way. I have found that what works best for me though is to come to terms with the basic technique and then figure out the best way for me to go about it while finding some way of doing it without undo stress on my arthritic fingers. This is actually very good exercise for them, keeps them more limber by keeping them in motion. Why go through all this bother? Anything worth learning and doing is worth learning and doing well. I know I will eventually have this mastered so long as my fingers survive the process. I would really like to make this doily <a href="http://www.georgiaseitz.com/2014/lindadavies2014newyeardoily.pdf">http://www.georgiaseitz.com/2014/lindadavies2014newyeardoily.pdf</a> but not until I have the art of making cluny leaves as a second nature. I also want to finish up a doily that I am currently in the process of making. My son Jared bought me this wonderful, wonderful book "Tatted Treasures" by Jan Stawasz for my birthday last month. It has some of the most breath-taking work I have ever seen! I am in the slow process of working the first doily from the book which is also on the cover of the book. Here is your sneak peek!<br />
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Time to go "torture" my hands and fingers some more. I WILL get the cluny leaf mastered! </div>
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Ann H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03130662144901163719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955739705092880370.post-22971560662370326082014-01-31T00:25:00.000-05:002014-01-31T00:29:18.403-05:00Time flies while dealing with Fibromyalgia Syndrome<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Where has the time gone? Why is it that when your a child the time seems to just drag on forever at the snails pace but once you reach adulthood it speeds by about as fast as the roadrunner that teases the wily coyote? I would love so much for time to slow down some and let me enjoy each day just a little bit more. Maybe the fact that I recently celebrated my first 49th birthday and inching me ever so close to 50 that I am wanting the time to slow it's pace for just a little while. I tend to get so preoccupied with getting through each day that I often forget to sit back and just relax. I also forget to keep up with my posts on this blog. I keep saying I will do better about posting to it but it just seems to slip away from me. I wonder if I can blame it on Fibro fog, that nasty little condition that goes along with having Fibromyalgia. My oldest son, A.J. has noticed that I am really starting to show issues with my short term memory over the past 9 months or so. I have complained about it to my doctor and was told that it is time to start taking at least some of the drugs on the market to treat my Fibromyalgia Syndrome. I have been fighting against taking any of the drugs since 2003. Why? Well when I was diagnosed in 2000, I was placed on Vioxx. And we all know how dangerous that drug became. Such a shame because it did so much for my pain. I was later put on Celebrex and it worked for a short time then it became useless. I am now taking a high dosage of prescribed naproxen twice a day for pain and another drug at bedtime that helps me to sleep without my legs convulsing. It has helped me tremendously to get the rest I need. I no longer lay awake hour after hour waiting on my problem solving brain to shut down. I seem to fall asleep rather quickly now. I can now get through each day and bare the aching pain from having Fibromyalgia a little better.<br />
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I had a rather weird experience recently. I have been sent to an orthopedic surgeon to help me with issues I have going on with my left foot and ankle that date back to 2007 when I fell down our stairs. I actually suffered 4 falls in less then 10 days. I blame my parents for giving me a middle name that means "graceful" Gravity was testing just how graceful I was! Anyhow due to complications from those falls, my left ankle and foot are in pretty bad shape. This Orthopedic surgeon put me on a super high dose steroid that I was to take for 6 days. The morning after the first day of taking it, I stepped out of bed and onto my feet and as I stood up bracing myself for the pain I have felt in my feet for the last 7 years and there wasn't any. No pain at all. Not only was it gone from my feet but it was gone from all of me! I could not believe it. I felt so free to move around. I started to make plans for all the things I would love to do again like taking long walks. It was overwhelming to feel so free of all pain. All those years in pain and now there was none. I was able to walk around and "window shop" without breaking into a sweat (always from increased pain) I did not get short of breath (another issue from pain) nor did my face become all red. It was amazing. I took my time and enjoyed my pain free outing. There was a very bad downside to this. The prescription ran out after 6 days and within 24 hours of taking the last dosage, my pain came back, all of it. It overwhelmed me and turned me into a couch potato for 4 days straight. I never really realized just how much pain I have been living with until it was all gone and then all back. I became so enraged by this. I am still in pain now but I have started to adjust to it again. I will be seeing my doc next week and see what can be done to better help get the pain under control. In the meantime I am trying to keep my hands busy working on many different projects to help relax me and take my focus away from the pain day after day that I continue to live with. Speaking of which I do have updates on quite a few of my projects.<br />
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Back in October my younger son Jared helped me get a sewing area set back up so that I can enjoy sewing from time to time. I have a lot of back issues that have kept me from being able to sew for a long time. I am now able to sit at my machine for about an hour or so before I have to take a break from it. Within a day of helping me to get this area ready for me, my son told me about a best dressed Halloween contest at the store where he works. We put our heads together and came up with a plan of action. Jared wanted to dress as a pirate. So we found a pattern and put our game plan into action with just barely getting the costume completed in the nick of time. Below is a photo of Jared posing in his costume. He absolutely loved it! He grew that beard to help sell the look of a pirate. I tried hard to convince him that he needed to tuck in his white shirt but he absolutely would not budge on it.<br />
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I recently completed one of my older crochet projects. I made a griffin filet lace piece to match up with the dragon filet lace I made a few years ago. I was quite pleased with the way it turned out. </div>
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Here you can see both pieces side by side. </div>
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I recently decided to get my tatting shuttles back out and play around some with that. It has only been two years now since I learned how to make tatted lace using shuttles. I learned from watching videos on YOUTUBE.COM I rather enjoy tatting. Here are some of my recent tatting projects. I actually designed the trim on the handkerchief directly below. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePHnsMBRzINjtSZ0NoMS_uVSsPEB_r5797CB4tfXT74X4AMKbO3xrmU-Z-VsS_yWp2a4T9zHPs8c3qNRRGwbNecvjB6BaQkdj9w7yDw0g6I-TH0EeaG7sXH-lYqXQgBwwotdVDcbxMKA/s1600/Hand+tatted+hankercheif.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePHnsMBRzINjtSZ0NoMS_uVSsPEB_r5797CB4tfXT74X4AMKbO3xrmU-Z-VsS_yWp2a4T9zHPs8c3qNRRGwbNecvjB6BaQkdj9w7yDw0g6I-TH0EeaG7sXH-lYqXQgBwwotdVDcbxMKA/s1600/Hand+tatted+hankercheif.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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The doily was started last summer and was made from a pattern that was originally published in the 1920's. The thread I used was size 40 so it really made the doily very dainty to the touch. I am fairly pleased with the way it turned out. </div>
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I have this dresser scarf that I started back in late spring/ early summer. I am hand embroidering the cotton fabric and tatting the trim that is going to frame the cloth. I have the other end of the fabric to embroider yet and I need to finish all the tatting for the trim. I work on it from time to time and hope to complete it sometime in the next few months.<br />
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As I mentioned I recently celebrated a birthday, well, one of my special gifts was from my husband Joe. He gave me this very special shuttle that I have wanted for quite some time now. It is handmade by the G8 shuttle brothers and designed by them as well. It is made from black walnut wood and holds two round bobbins to allow me to blend two separate colors together to create a unique color to tat with. I am still adjusting to using it but play around with it here and there to experiment and become used to the weight of it. It is quite considerably heavier then my regular shuttles. I am so pleased to finally own one. I do also enjoy collecting shuttles.<br />
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I was gifted a couple bags of yarn last fall and decided to turn a good portion of it into a new afghan for my family. After some careful thought, I decided it was time for me to conquer working a ripple pattern. I am pleased to say I did manage it and found it was not nearly as tricky as I had always thought. Of course I have a photo to show you. :)<br />
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Lastly and as usual, I have several photos to share with you of updates to multiple cross-stitch projects.<br />
First we have Le Grand Marquoir. I have a few blocks of the second page completed.<br />
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I actually put in quite a lot of time working on the Sistine Chapel piece but unfortunately it goes at such a snails pace that I still have not quite reached the richer colors of the piece so it gets too boring for me to work on. I did grid out the various pages of chart thinking that I might start skipping about to work different pages here and there to break up the monotony I am experiencing in the drab color areas.<br />
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I am finding that I really enjoy working on the Two Crowns piece. The dusty rose colored fabric is a dream to work on. The soft tone of it helps me to see my stitches better and has taught me that I really need to stop working on white fabric because the white has become rather blinding to me. I am finding the Two Crowns piece to be much easier to stitch.<br />
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I recently pulled the Handblessings 2012 Diamonds piece out of hiding with the intent to finish it up over the next week or so. I really put in a lot of time on it yesterday and find it a very easy piece to stitch in comparison to the artwork pieces. I ran into a problem though. An annoying one. If you look closely at the last framed square at the bottom right you will notice the frame is not completed on the left side. I ran out of the specialty thread with only lacking 7 cross-stitches to go! Grrrrrrrr. I will have to make a trip over to my local needlework store and purchase more of that thread.<br />
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This final piece is the mini Fairy Book design from the artwork of Nadia Strelkina and was charted by Heaven and Earth designs, the same company that charted Two Crowns and the Sistine Chapel pieces. I had not touched this piece since early summer and was recently inspired after seeing a friends stitching and commented that her stitching was tempting me to pull this piece out and work on it. Well another friend saw my comment in our Facebook group and politely challenged me to do it, to pull this peace out and work on it as well as taking a before and after photo. This was back on Sunday. I did get it out and worked on the area near the horses hoofs on the right side of the piece where I had become so bogged down with all the different shades of blue that I stopped all work on it last June. Thanks to the friends, I worked may way through it and finished that area. I have since moved on down and am happily working in colors that are not blue. LOL! After taking the photo earlier, I decided to remove the piece from the scroll frame and return to working it with a hoop instead. It was for self survival. The frame was actually becoming too heavy for me to hold due to the recent escalation of pain across the top of both of my shoulders from a new fibro flare up. Anyhow, I am pleased with my new progress and very thankful to my friends for helping me to get my stitching mojo back. :) I am considering focusing on this piece in particular and see if I can get this one finished this year. I might be overly hopeful in this but that is something I would dearly love to do.<br />
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Well these are the last of the goodies I have to share with you right now. Here I was thinking that I have not accomplished very much since June but now that I have included all the projects that I can remember working on, I see that I have actually done quite a bit.</div>
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Ann H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03130662144901163719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955739705092880370.post-32768174553563724562013-06-01T22:30:00.001-05:002013-06-01T22:30:34.273-05:00Changes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Wow, eight months and no updates, well we have had a crazy eight months since I last blogged with lots of changes in our little corner of the world. We celebrated our oldest son's 25th birthday back in late October. That was a bit sobering to think of him being a quarter century old. I still have visions of him as my little guy running around the house and singing songs in his high pitched voice which has long ago been traded in for a deep manly one. We decided to have a special cake made for the occasion.<br />
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A. J. did find it very humorous. Not sure what happened to the number 5 candle. He made sure to get photos of his cake with his phone and was showing them off at work. :) </div>
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November brought huge changes for our family. My husband and son A.J. were both laid off from work so we have really had to pull together as a family and learn how to get by with less. It has been a very difficult time living on unemployment however that too has run out but thankfully Joe (due to all his serious health issues) has finally qualified for Social Security Disability. So now my husband is officially retired and we are learning how to adjust to the two of us always being at home together. This has really been huge for both of us. We are starting to get used to it though. :) Joe had another medical emergency with congestive heart failure again back in February and was later diagnosed with stage three renal disease. He just had a recent check up with the endocrinologist and things look good and stable right now, thankful for that. He also recently went through surgery for a ventral hernia (abdomen) and came through that just fine. This was his second hernia operation in just 4 years. </div>
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As for me and all those issues with my knee after the fall I had in April 2011, well we finally had to get an mri and found that I have degenerative bone disease but I seem to be doing okay. Since the job loss, we also lost our insurance which is humbling so I am at the mercy of a medical clinic now for all my medical needs. Again, lots of life changes for us. I am learning to live with high blood pressure. We are having a little trouble getting mine down to a stable consistency. Mine is doing something really weird. It drops when I stand up causing dizziness and balance issues. We have no clue why it is doing this nor how to get it to stop. It does not do this every time I stand up but when it does, it almost knocks me out. I am hoping the new doctor I have can get this resolved and hopefully soon. The biggest thing for me has to be learning to avoid that salt shaker. I really miss it on my hard boiled eggs. :( The doc got me started on the "Dash" diet and I said good bye to eleven pounds so far. I am very happy about that and hope to keep those off and send more packing with them. LOL! Last night I was in the grocery store and had serious wardrobe malfunctions with my new jeans. They kept sliding down. I had to keep one hand holding on to them the whole time I was in the store. They used to fit better when I first bought them. Time to get to the sewing machine and alter stuff. </div>
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Among our changes, my youngest son Jared started working for a grocery store near us. This is his first official employment. He seems to enjoy working and we are very proud of him. He looks so handsome in his store uniform shirt. :)</div>
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We lost a beloved family member last December just days before Christmas. Our 16 year old Siamese cat Sophie passed over the rainbow bridge. This was so hard for my family. Sophie will always have a special place in all of our hearts. </div>
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It is weird the way the other animals have adjusted to her passing. Our youngest cat, Zelda a solid white rescue used to be very aloof but now she has become my constant companion of her own free will. Maybe she senses how grieved loosing Sophie has made me and she is trying to console me. Who knows for sure. All I can say is that she is never very far from where I am sitting and has developed a very loud purr. She is a very whimsical sort of cat, always looking for ways to grab my attention by getting into the things she knows she is not allowed to touch. She cracks me up. She and the dog get along really well together. </div>
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I celebrated my 48th birthday in January. I am still adjusting to that number "48." I am not sure why this one is anymore different then the others. Maybe it is because I see 50 quickly approaching. I am in a few yahoo email groups and in one of them we have this cool little birthday club. Basically those that signed up for the club all send small gifts to each other on our birthdays. It was so much fun getting little goodies in the mail! These are the goodies I received on my birthday.</div>
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Now that the weather is so nice and warm outside I am challenging myself to sit outside in the fresh air and sunlight at least 15 minutes every morning and another 15 every evening. I used to live to be outdoors but over the years I have really become stuck indoors all the time. I am trying to change that and have found that I am craving those moments when I can sit outside in the peacefulness of nature. I feel healthier inside just from doing this every day. I strongly encourage everyone to do this for themselves. I have also decided to do some container gardening this year. I used to have three large garden beds in my back yard but the trees have really taken over the yard to where there just is not enough sunlight back there anymore. I hope my container veggies will do okay. The big issue right now is to keep this one very large fat squirrel out of the containers. I am slowly turning into Bill Murray from "Caddyshack" when it comes to chasing after this critter. This morning I had to re-plant a young tomato plant because the screwy squirrel had dug it up and tossed it to the side of the container. ARGH!!!!! </div>
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I think this about catches up on all the changes over the last eight months. I did manage to work from my stash and create a few crafting projects and work some of my ongoing projects. So without further delay... on to the craft photos. :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7x_9_mddBAM30XjRsrR50pJeA82P95LsIkZgyWRAPtarDq33VQOWIKcWbk8Ilj6ULeFTcazGmckZh1tbNOkCmJpdmFgucdJFRaq2n8a51c_9Vp1gthANjEuBezWKqaIVGYFq3YtGCpZw/s1600/A.J.'s+cabled+beanie+hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7x_9_mddBAM30XjRsrR50pJeA82P95LsIkZgyWRAPtarDq33VQOWIKcWbk8Ilj6ULeFTcazGmckZh1tbNOkCmJpdmFgucdJFRaq2n8a51c_9Vp1gthANjEuBezWKqaIVGYFq3YtGCpZw/s320/A.J.'s+cabled+beanie+hat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is a beanie hat I designed and knitted for my son A.J.</div>
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This ornie is cross-stitched from the Just Cross stitch yearly ornament magazine. I designed and tatted the red lace used for hanging it. I also dyed the linen fabric. It is 32 count stitched 1 over 1. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtgv2t8Xbd1YF6Hza-MsOGyK9fxW5vTjxIRUhUyH1bk8Elmzo2Cbzl83EqpgAHjEvHFE3ABy1-FGva63VuA4Glwm1VtBh77_dXcNwOmMPQelyQoqvfWrQyWTQgGCIwJ7Ar1vOJxDRo6c/s1600/cell+phone+pouch+necklace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtgv2t8Xbd1YF6Hza-MsOGyK9fxW5vTjxIRUhUyH1bk8Elmzo2Cbzl83EqpgAHjEvHFE3ABy1-FGva63VuA4Glwm1VtBh77_dXcNwOmMPQelyQoqvfWrQyWTQgGCIwJ7Ar1vOJxDRo6c/s320/cell+phone+pouch+necklace.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is a cell know necklace I designed and crocheted. I have been mulling over the idea of making them to sell on www.Etsy.com. </div>
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Two more crochet cell phone pouch necklaces that I designed. </div>
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These are two little felt Santa ornies from a kit I got from Herrschner's. Fun little projects. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZN-LUsVJD40v21A7dTwAbKk2HXaS8HMp2Z_nsI18oiKMdjv0qTLjtfbKxI2S0U0zrl26KyYRVdMdWGj49FRm9qPxZNYKPqFY4AmM_SDabjkpInG41w9fR_yBKRgam8mKLOukn2rY-O5k/s1600/HAED+Mini+Fiary+book+mid+page+3+update+feb+17,+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZN-LUsVJD40v21A7dTwAbKk2HXaS8HMp2Z_nsI18oiKMdjv0qTLjtfbKxI2S0U0zrl26KyYRVdMdWGj49FRm9qPxZNYKPqFY4AmM_SDabjkpInG41w9fR_yBKRgam8mKLOukn2rY-O5k/s320/HAED+Mini+Fiary+book+mid+page+3+update+feb+17,+2013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I am really pleased with the progress that I have made on this Heaven and Earth Design called Mini Fairy Book. I love the wild colors in this piece. </div>
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The round magnet needle holder to the left was a birthday gift from my friend Kay Cahall. I love it!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFEtMY5FyZHLc3NeoU8IKtgkB5uzdDyPi3pYRS2Q3S_rJZEw9goKKHE1qXmKGIAO-dNQ3_XYUGT3201lOATgB1zzYxQFuicA4KmI2M5H2RA-MBxDgp649Afn4k517yBDDVOZ_l3m3TW2M/s1600/Jared's+socks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFEtMY5FyZHLc3NeoU8IKtgkB5uzdDyPi3pYRS2Q3S_rJZEw9goKKHE1qXmKGIAO-dNQ3_XYUGT3201lOATgB1zzYxQFuicA4KmI2M5H2RA-MBxDgp649Afn4k517yBDDVOZ_l3m3TW2M/s320/Jared's+socks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Knit socks for Jared. Yup, those are his feet too. :)</div>
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Le Grand Marquoir. I love this piece! This is page one of multiple pages. I am working it on 25 count working one over one. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN23HTt2L_hQY8ewMmNypP7CMbjnQw-jMpIk6SIh1bHN1rbGa2hjNQx8tnGxMn0Owqv9WuGWbmYRD-PG09g88vec5Tlh1khn0aEYT6viV0EXveulBcir5yhTmrAOeKmwLvJZN4fAWLwZc/s1600/puff+stitch+grannies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN23HTt2L_hQY8ewMmNypP7CMbjnQw-jMpIk6SIh1bHN1rbGa2hjNQx8tnGxMn0Owqv9WuGWbmYRD-PG09g88vec5Tlh1khn0aEYT6viV0EXveulBcir5yhTmrAOeKmwLvJZN4fAWLwZc/s320/puff+stitch+grannies.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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More progress on the puff stitch granny squares afghan. This is nice and thick and warm so will not be worked on again until next fall. </div>
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And more progress on Sistine Chapel. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNgb4ZvA56tSzr9jeLnG4FzHa5r56JcqjJszZjClMdA6600Lo9gzWzXtWKcyQBB4fZ-5FlFGvg_mlj2YW_rv2e9wOIYh9UMNMdy6qREbwkAeYtX9okmAn-cWHxNIpOXN_Wak3baKr4X00/s1600/tree+farm+ornie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNgb4ZvA56tSzr9jeLnG4FzHa5r56JcqjJszZjClMdA6600Lo9gzWzXtWKcyQBB4fZ-5FlFGvg_mlj2YW_rv2e9wOIYh9UMNMdy6qREbwkAeYtX9okmAn-cWHxNIpOXN_Wak3baKr4X00/s320/tree+farm+ornie.jpg" width="204" /></a></div>
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I love this cute little ornie. The cross-stitch design is Tree Farm by Little House Needleworks and the lace trim is my own hand shuttle tatting. I made it for an ornament exchange. The recipient really seemed to like it. :)</div>
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And lastly, this is my most recent finish. I hand embroidered this pillowcase and shuttle tatted the lace edge trim using a pattern from one of Georgia Seitz books. I am really pleased with the way it turned out. I still need to embroider the mate to it. </div>
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Here is a close up of the tatted lace. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtCULOr8TUJWXym3d4jq5_-tfeaxtBPF66rde7CN6tNUuWLCpXKJaYvELbO3fpC93XxNzdSzhDdQtxsYytgBw7HX7lFN_AlNq9R1-Oo7j15V9sZUrc7wnUR_JTF8bh-SjMc4LVCi8_8iM/s1600/tatted+lace+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtCULOr8TUJWXym3d4jq5_-tfeaxtBPF66rde7CN6tNUuWLCpXKJaYvELbO3fpC93XxNzdSzhDdQtxsYytgBw7HX7lFN_AlNq9R1-Oo7j15V9sZUrc7wnUR_JTF8bh-SjMc4LVCi8_8iM/s320/tatted+lace+1.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>
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Well this does it for this update. I hope you joyed seeing all the photos of my various projects and catching up with all the recent changes in our lives. Take care my friends. :)</div>
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Ann H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03130662144901163719noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955739705092880370.post-14815931339616144492012-10-07T02:31:00.000-05:002012-10-07T02:31:04.476-05:00Insomnia, oh how I hate it. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
But at least I am using the time I have to be productive at least productive enough to finally write an update on this blog. I really thought that this time I would actually get in a good full night of sleep but an hour after I was asleep, my older son was making enough noise to wake me up. I no sooner dozed back to sleep when about a half an hour later the younger son came through the house sounding like a heard of elephants. I still tried to get back to sleep but no such luck. I am awake again. So that being the case, I may as well try catching everyone up on my summer. <br />
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We didn't go anywhere so no fun adventures. Well unless you count the wind and rain storms that hit Central Ohio on the 29th of June. It knocked out the power for over 600,000 central Ohio families, with power being out any where from 4 days to 2 weeks. We lost an enormouse branch from one of our maple trees out back and it is still caught upside down hanging wedge between branches. What a sight to see every time I look out the back windows! Our neighbor lost the side of one of his trees taking down his electic line from the pole and damaging our line at the pole as well. We were totally without power for about 50 hours before it was restored to our area however, with the damage at the pole, my home only regained partial power. We called the power company numerous times explaining the situation to them but they kept insisting it was our electric breakers. We spent several more days with this partial power and large orange outdoor power cords running power from the few electric outlets that worked to other areas in the house. We were able to get our refridgerator powered this way but not our oven/stove so we cooked outside on a grill until full power was eventually restored. We were able to power two very small air conditioning units upstairs but not enough power for the new large one we purchased last year for the downstairs. We resorted to using fans. We were able to run the computers but, they added to the heat index and it was extremely hot during this outage. Well sometime around day 5 the power company finally went next door to repair our neighbors downed power line and immediately saw the damage to our power line at the pole and fixed the issue. What a crazy week that was. This was the sum of our summer excitement. The expense of that week, lost food etc., was most unwelcomed to our budget. We also spent the week worried that we would possible have to replace our entire electric circuit board because we found the fuse/breakers for it are outdated and no longer sold. We still need to face making this change but now we can choose a better time for us financially to attend to it. Other then this crazy week, the remainder of the summer was spent with Joe and A.J. working and Jared and I at home every day looking for ways to entertain ourselves.<br />
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I did a lot of cross-stitching and Jared has been tending to me quite a bit. I have had several situations with back issues and I am still having issues with that knee I injured back in April. The hospital did a doppler sonagram test on the knee to check for blood clots and thankfully that came back fine. It just doens't seem to take much to re-stress it and cause it to swell back up. With this being an issue, I spend most of my time at home in the house. So, I cross-stitch and knit and crochet but the knitting and crocheting are causing that stupid bursitis in my right shoulder to flare up so the knitting and crocheting had to be set aside nearly as soon as I started on it. At least I discovered Netflix. LOL! I have really enjoyed having control over what I watch and when I watch it. I love all the programs it has to offer and the variety too. So I sit and cross-stich and watch Netflix oh and I have also been playing that sci-fi computer game I love so much, Anarchy Online. I did purchase quite a few Heaven and Earth Designs for cross-stitch over the summer. I sort of regret doing that. As much as I love the artwork, I strongly dislike all the confetti stitching that is incuded in the charting. They really need to be cleaned up better before being sold. So I really have no clue if I will ever buy any more of their charts or stich half of the ones I bought. Too much confetti stitching takes the joy of stitching away. Also there is a tendancy to make the size of the finished designs far too large for the tiny stitch count they recomend. I have quite a few of the charts already in progress. <br />
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Speaking of my needlework in progress, I guess it is time to post a few photos of what I have been working on and some of my purchases. <br />
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I do not generally get into Halloween type stuff but I have had this chart since it was published in a magazine back in 1994 and it just sort of caught my attention. I am doubtful that I will have it completed in time to hang up and display for this Halloween but definitely for next year. It is stitched on 14 count Aida cloth.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAyKxqXVor0mL1xtaIth2NsRdy5PBBwQBSrPe1QDpXlvUeun6SRVMMSorfHcvPGbG91_jCQE6yMWuYJE5H8E8Rj-9l53hsAoLkuca-22PI5M6FRsl01gT8OyIqv8BomJgbmbt4soXqArw/s1600/Diamond+Squares++July+17,+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAyKxqXVor0mL1xtaIth2NsRdy5PBBwQBSrPe1QDpXlvUeun6SRVMMSorfHcvPGbG91_jCQE6yMWuYJE5H8E8Rj-9l53hsAoLkuca-22PI5M6FRsl01gT8OyIqv8BomJgbmbt4soXqArw/s320/Diamond+Squares++July+17,+2012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is the current completed progress on Diamond Squares design by Handblessings. I did recieve the next 3 squares to add to it but haven't gotten around to adding them just yet. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkH4oNQm6Q23IJxYRsbl_TD-ZCogNJC7ZJGjNiUJPI9W2-ZQpVou3lXltfDuVKFjH_tkU6p9gIeGzpza9PHM-UaAe3BAPV1A9YPh9_WzTeqrkuZbJU4JyxcVI-Y1qXtlYJBrq6TqSOYtc/s1600/Enchanted+Flute+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkH4oNQm6Q23IJxYRsbl_TD-ZCogNJC7ZJGjNiUJPI9W2-ZQpVou3lXltfDuVKFjH_tkU6p9gIeGzpza9PHM-UaAe3BAPV1A9YPh9_WzTeqrkuZbJU4JyxcVI-Y1qXtlYJBrq6TqSOYtc/s320/Enchanted+Flute+pic.jpg" width="233" /></a></div>
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This is one of my purchases over the summer from Heaven and Earth Designs called "Enchanted Flute" I love the image of it but wow it will have a lot of "confetti" stitching in it. This is not one I plan to tackle any time soon.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXI7UCKt32aPrPJcEN4VNER_GBs_zO6v0s1Axd5jhymoiepJhgcfdcBgQEzItbY1aQTb1Ji9U1djx_aFBJpxQ6DdP9m5M2FULarg7fUVzj7YFh6WlRTHQvfWT2SFW9cse4uqaieOmWAiU/s1600/Galadrial+the+stitching+companion+of+the+evening.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXI7UCKt32aPrPJcEN4VNER_GBs_zO6v0s1Axd5jhymoiepJhgcfdcBgQEzItbY1aQTb1Ji9U1djx_aFBJpxQ6DdP9m5M2FULarg7fUVzj7YFh6WlRTHQvfWT2SFW9cse4uqaieOmWAiU/s320/Galadrial+the+stitching+companion+of+the+evening.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is my son A.J's cat Galadrial. For some reason she has really taken a strong liking to me lately and is constantly sitting as close to me as she can while I am stitching. She doesn't bother my floss nor attack it while I pull it through the fabric. Nope, she just constantly purrs loudly enough to be heard at least 10 feet away and paws at me to stop and give her a scratch on the head or a stroke down her back. She has become one of my stitching companions. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiflgWWBo3x1uDNOQbB7dAWD6fioGAj1ev8YWzwK1wu-zkg2QqEqr3lUWmoXO5jhABnQTNWeYyzIyZZVqJ4Cs3FdKZ5Upds8r7lME1uH3tSm58ATk8n2DQTP3wZkQf5eVIe0fgMnXO2sHg/s1600/grannies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiflgWWBo3x1uDNOQbB7dAWD6fioGAj1ev8YWzwK1wu-zkg2QqEqr3lUWmoXO5jhABnQTNWeYyzIyZZVqJ4Cs3FdKZ5Upds8r7lME1uH3tSm58ATk8n2DQTP3wZkQf5eVIe0fgMnXO2sHg/s320/grannies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I was working on using up scraps into these puff stitch granny squares to later assemble into an afghan but have set this aside due to the bursitis in my shoulder.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFKXG6z6_IFhWGY7YWre5AkEIBCNErp-Ps-HF5i7FaQ88YV8rCVtsc3wGHgMjdCEkeKjXnJknbhaoSEi6bKw0bGZK8reu7Q8abenIfayAR5Fu7Qqm3A7NpDlop5MYHoz08HwXLjCqKT38/s1600/LMR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFKXG6z6_IFhWGY7YWre5AkEIBCNErp-Ps-HF5i7FaQ88YV8rCVtsc3wGHgMjdCEkeKjXnJknbhaoSEi6bKw0bGZK8reu7Q8abenIfayAR5Fu7Qqm3A7NpDlop5MYHoz08HwXLjCqKT38/s320/LMR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is a piece I started that was a free chart. I rather enjoy working on this one as a nice vacation from the busier pieces I have. I replaced the sugested color scheme with some silks in the Caron Waterlillies collection that were left over from another piece I finished last spring. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWE538kTIDN_aP16Z5KTMSefw9WO5RnTjWrF46c4mFZXlKw9NvmHe58-HrolckrX4qpmkOS1ACKPhGKYPJb6-NJwCzb2MwpeE6CY2K7iIyjPc7Hq8L-3DaBAIRS-h31-mgZJ_JQ8gJCNc/s1600/Mini+Christmas+Wonder+and+Old+WOrld+Map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWE538kTIDN_aP16Z5KTMSefw9WO5RnTjWrF46c4mFZXlKw9NvmHe58-HrolckrX4qpmkOS1ACKPhGKYPJb6-NJwCzb2MwpeE6CY2K7iIyjPc7Hq8L-3DaBAIRS-h31-mgZJ_JQ8gJCNc/s320/Mini+Christmas+Wonder+and+Old+WOrld+Map.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Two more of the charts I purchased over the summer from Heaven and Earth Designs. "Mini Christmas Wonder" and "Old World Map"</div>
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This one is "Mini Fairy Book" and I worked on this a lot during the power outage. This is just 1/16th of the total design complete. I decided to count how many colors were used in a single 10 x 10 grid square and there were over 23 colors just in that one square. That much confetti is just plain rediculous! At least the design is going to be stunning if I ever live long enough to complete it, lol. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMb2XfXQE3RC_SVPhMoO1YoJTOvlZvvQ7GJgTY0tRkvUcliQBU4btPhKoJM5Qed2_3RDcxhgwAIZY0LBhu-zRSM5oZfSioMCu3Ilj0Xqcoyto06c0HDgPEZFmt7Sc-vaFfLDQhQeqATnc/s1600/Sistine+Chapel+and+Mini+Catch+a+Falling+Star+charts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMb2XfXQE3RC_SVPhMoO1YoJTOvlZvvQ7GJgTY0tRkvUcliQBU4btPhKoJM5Qed2_3RDcxhgwAIZY0LBhu-zRSM5oZfSioMCu3Ilj0Xqcoyto06c0HDgPEZFmt7Sc-vaFfLDQhQeqATnc/s320/Sistine+Chapel+and+Mini+Catch+a+Falling+Star+charts.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And two more Heaven and Earth charts I purchased. I actually have the Sistine Chapel piece in progress but I am somewhat unhappy with this chart as it should have been through some editing in the photo before even begining to be made into a chart. There is a section of the top of the side wall that is included in this chart that really should not be there and is causing a waste of time in stitching as it does look very much out of place. I am extremely dissapointed that this was not both edited better nor was there a test stitching done by the people at Heaven and Earth Designs before marketing this chart. Had they tested the chart first, they would have seen their error right away. I am now debating as to whether I will ever bother to complete the entire design chart. </div>
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This is part of the top of the side wall that should not have been included in this design chart. Lots of wasted stitching due to poor charting. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7iwcw65uZCSXMIpqlWx1_LR2wRJw4HH32rXVen-7G88JIzU-B5ghpZvUCx5OtJsYUGQ6YvPJA5C3zCsnyBbDQi23776GjDYq9xjsowmY36Tx4s-XQyGT_DhUSfJH0-dTYlE8TDf_XvA/s1600/spring+berry+patch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7iwcw65uZCSXMIpqlWx1_LR2wRJw4HH32rXVen-7G88JIzU-B5ghpZvUCx5OtJsYUGQ6YvPJA5C3zCsnyBbDQi23776GjDYq9xjsowmY36Tx4s-XQyGT_DhUSfJH0-dTYlE8TDf_XvA/s320/spring+berry+patch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I made this little piece for an exchange that I was in for a Spring theme. It is a portion of a Jeremiah Junction Chart "Live within your Harvest." The recipient seemed to like it. I wanted to send her something with a cat in it because I knew she loves cats. I also sent some extra goodies of strings of beads and a variety of trims for her projects. </div>
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And these are the goodies I recieved from my exchange partner. :) I have really enjoyed that little flower ornament!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPaBoXDMkYzw9EigdGE0edFlom9vnfk2vguOL_WPnPZTks0TzaipBFQcAdegER8vSyX4DdaNGhk9Rc8YzTQccMPTCK6kqfg6tDFa7pv6xBZDSDMlA8yt9G8vZFJvsykVfvvWu-Mxi3bcw/s1600/The+Castle+Sampler+++July+16,+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPaBoXDMkYzw9EigdGE0edFlom9vnfk2vguOL_WPnPZTks0TzaipBFQcAdegER8vSyX4DdaNGhk9Rc8YzTQccMPTCK6kqfg6tDFa7pv6xBZDSDMlA8yt9G8vZFJvsykVfvvWu-Mxi3bcw/s320/The+Castle+Sampler+++July+16,+2012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I started this piece a few years ago and then came to a screetching hault because of errors in the design chart. I get really upset when there are printed errors. There is a correction page on a website somewhere that I need to track back down and print out. I would very much like to get back to work on this piece as it is a particular favorite of mine. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyMbPuC8UGlMdZqBqJKUhLsvFftlTuaAJFLD_1c0xb6rhZqJhJr6LHE9WqYbZBSudj9PxZ_uBsd7pggvB3xdKU0FcNmnDc18mOjYgiJlNTo_sTne5j5FvwZTEBw5C0uJ1T8KGhq8Pa5Qs/s1600/Two+crowns+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyMbPuC8UGlMdZqBqJKUhLsvFftlTuaAJFLD_1c0xb6rhZqJhJr6LHE9WqYbZBSudj9PxZ_uBsd7pggvB3xdKU0FcNmnDc18mOjYgiJlNTo_sTne5j5FvwZTEBw5C0uJ1T8KGhq8Pa5Qs/s320/Two+crowns+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Now this is a favorite Heaven and Earth chart. I love this piece of artwork, the cross off to one side and the way the king is looking over at it. I was looking up on you tube for videos of people showing thier cross-stitching and found one of an asian women working on this chart. I could only see a small portion of the design as she was stitching but the colors were so lovely and striking that I had to look up the chart and see what the full image was. I did quite a bit of work on this back in August and only just returned to this project 2 days ago. There is some confetti stitching in this piece but not nearly as bad as all the other Heaven and Earth charts I own. The colors were more limited when she produced the chart and I am sure this is what kept the amount of confetti stiching down more compared to other charts. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6mR2neBvyZnVkUPuhc5dG4szIsI8csPH4bUD542N6XHq0v9f3TAdYmYLzkTB1il7tAHIr_Xg9SPxi9gq_sIKap2JRWPi3gAlNH5HQP7SMY-yngTnsXjlYEh5IWO79CYpJuIm18jazN8U/s1600/Two+Crowns+progress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6mR2neBvyZnVkUPuhc5dG4szIsI8csPH4bUD542N6XHq0v9f3TAdYmYLzkTB1il7tAHIr_Xg9SPxi9gq_sIKap2JRWPi3gAlNH5HQP7SMY-yngTnsXjlYEh5IWO79CYpJuIm18jazN8U/s320/Two+Crowns+progress.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is more of "Two Crowns." I found just a few stitches were off a tad and had to be fixed so I decided to use some bright lime colored serger thread to grid that area where I am working to help me stay on the count better. I will pull the grid threads out when this area is filled in and then grid the next area to be worked. </div>
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Well, I think this is enough eye candy for this update. I am sure I will have plenty of other projects to share with you when I next post to my blog. I hope you have enjoyed your visit here and please feel free to leave any comments you desire. </div>
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Ann H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03130662144901163719noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955739705092880370.post-42478357772322171412012-06-03T17:05:00.000-05:002012-06-03T17:05:55.127-05:00A nice quiet Sunday update<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Greetings my crafting and artsy friends. It has been a few weeks since I last posted updates on my projects. I decided to wait a bit until I had a bit more progress on my projects underway before updating. Part of the problem is that I am fervently stitching daily and keep thinking, "Hmm, think I will wait and update tomorrow after I get in just a few more stitches." The problem is, a few more today leads to a few more tomorrow, lol. Before I know it, a week has passed then two weeks and still no update. I am still trying to get my right knee to mend so this is why I keep having extra time to work on my cross-stitching. As much as I am enjoying this, I think I would prefer for my knee to fully mend. There are places I would like to get out visit but with this big swollen lump, it is not very safe for me to be driving since it is on my driving knee and all activity just seems to make the swelling increase greatly. UGH! So here I am sitting with the knee elevated the majority of the time and stitching, stitching, and more stitching. Actually, I also did a little genealogy research through the use of my PC and had a really nice break in my Schreiner side of the family research. I have had trouble with this one brick wall as they say since I started researching in 1997. I managed to find a website on rootsweb.com that published a list of names in a biography book printed in 1911 and the email address of the contributor of this information to the website. So I sent the fellow an email to ask where I could obtain a copy of one of the biographies and honestly doubted if anything would come from it but a few days later I received a very welcomed response with the biography transcription of my ancestor included in it! How awesome was that! Through this data from the biography I have new searchable leads and another generation back. This was thrilling for me! Now I just need to get over this stupid knee injury issue so I can get out of this house and get over to the Ohio Historical Society Library and delve into some research. In the meantime, I continue with the embroidery counted - cross stitching, lol.<br />
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I did not work on all of my projects this time around but rather instead I selected just a few of them to focus on and worked on an old project that had been set aside for well over a year as well as started another new projects.<br />
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Since I am talking of genealogical stuff in this post as well, I will start the updates with two photos of my great-grandparent's 1899 wedding photo tapestry. My great-grandparents were Louis Schreiner and Evalyn "Eva" Mae McNutt. I decided to put the tapestry on the scanner to get a better clean image of it but due to size limitation of the scanner bed, I scanned the tapestry into two sections. This tapestry is being worked on 32 count linen fabric working two strands of DMC cotton floss over two strands creating a 16 count image.<br />
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Here is Great-grandmother Eva. I completed the side of her and will continue working down to complete her wedding gown. I have more back-stitching to work into it but holding off just yet. I added some faded frosted lavender glass beads into her wreath on her head to better depict the flowers that were in her wreath.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLwZV29-gzLc7d37GYbIwXgLWI5Raa0p4c9emXvZzv6hdjehZWXisgLGVk2jAhgRlVkRMfjX0jpYkZIzjVT9bfaNvS7l7Rt_FIRlGVeYkoXzj8zbIzZ98IxnQSqu2qLw0SJk6dkA9cSWU/s1600/1899+Wedding+photo+update+bride+side+May+24,+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLwZV29-gzLc7d37GYbIwXgLWI5Raa0p4c9emXvZzv6hdjehZWXisgLGVk2jAhgRlVkRMfjX0jpYkZIzjVT9bfaNvS7l7Rt_FIRlGVeYkoXzj8zbIzZ98IxnQSqu2qLw0SJk6dkA9cSWU/s320/1899+Wedding+photo+update+bride+side+May+24,+2012.jpg" width="221" /></a></div>
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And I have moved over to the other side to fill in some on great-grandfather Louis.</div>
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The reason part of his suit is so dark is because it is the shadow in the photo causing the dark shading. The photo was a sepia toned photograph and this is how the computer program I used to create a graph from the photograph interpreted the image for design. </div>
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This next update shows one completed page of the "A Token of Love" sampler. I am already working into the next page and making more progress then is shown in this scanned image. I do love this simple one color stitching as it is a very nice break from my busier projects. This is 18 count Aida cloth using DMC cotton floss working with two strands.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3DEdkNceqvvkH1vaTXcqtyKawH7Z8493t4u8kpKmPhHnLFcXsDRdZm25w28jPms_8DAyUDK-4esxLupVYj8TJcEdubBvXlr6LJ43rE-knzl2dfiakvjxdtPQkTkM9_BelHBK-aQrHspQ/s1600/Page+1+of+Token+of+Love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3DEdkNceqvvkH1vaTXcqtyKawH7Z8493t4u8kpKmPhHnLFcXsDRdZm25w28jPms_8DAyUDK-4esxLupVYj8TJcEdubBvXlr6LJ43rE-knzl2dfiakvjxdtPQkTkM9_BelHBK-aQrHspQ/s320/Page+1+of+Token+of+Love.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
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In my last update, I was just barely started on a tapestry of "The Last Supper" which I created the design chart for myself from a photo of the painting but I have spent some time on that piece as well. Here is my update for it.This is worked on 25 count Lamb's Wool colored Jobelan cloth working 1 thread over 1 thread. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwyI_UWnOe3o120b-ZQJJGGODm7c_sz4zT0zzBzvFl1OE673bAdhN4-Q0bJlVRTIqnlhY2RVB4upy7E9J6PB5JCCRqZSel3vE0FZDD7-jBHWOrcqaxSDD7_hkIv5ifA1oI7kKlzOdA0ZY/s1600/The+Last+Supper+update+May+24,+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwyI_UWnOe3o120b-ZQJJGGODm7c_sz4zT0zzBzvFl1OE673bAdhN4-Q0bJlVRTIqnlhY2RVB4upy7E9J6PB5JCCRqZSel3vE0FZDD7-jBHWOrcqaxSDD7_hkIv5ifA1oI7kKlzOdA0ZY/s320/The+Last+Supper+update+May+24,+2012.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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I have really made some nice progress on this next tapestry, "Earth Song" whose chart was produced by Heaven and Earth Designs. I am slowly trying to make my way across the entire top of the design. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsLhQtO8Ve8pNWGscjIDzHeHowKvQhCyjKYrPn3KCFWNOueYaOCgk0xncQuWBFyBuEDk5IxYkwL9SKgVnavfmJWco0HXsi7LXHOIUnBBIjVMkZ_v8Iuzvlh4FcN1nzVZg8FI7AzstauaM/s1600/Earth+Song+update+May+24,+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsLhQtO8Ve8pNWGscjIDzHeHowKvQhCyjKYrPn3KCFWNOueYaOCgk0xncQuWBFyBuEDk5IxYkwL9SKgVnavfmJWco0HXsi7LXHOIUnBBIjVMkZ_v8Iuzvlh4FcN1nzVZg8FI7AzstauaM/s320/Earth+Song+update+May+24,+2012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This little nativity piece is the UFO project I started over a year ago. Actually the design has a bit of history to it for me. This is actually my second time to stitch this design. It is the symbol of my beginning into the realm of counted - cross stitch. </div>
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I actually received my very, very first cross -stitch kit as a Christmas gift in 1982. It was sent to me from a sister that was living out in Germany at that time. The kit was very tiny and the image was a rose to be stitched on a very small count fabric with a small wooden frame. I remember when I opened the gift and looked at it, another siblings now former spouse made a comment about, "You actually think you can stitch that?" He didn't mean it in a negative way, he would never do that but when he saw the sheer size of it, he had his doubts. To me, I saw this as a challenge and I welcomed it. I was not quite 18 at that time. So I did stitch it and complete it but not without errors. It was rough going, I will be honest of that. I think it was 32 count, 1 over 1 and not a beginner's project by any means. I kept that piece for many years but eventually lost in in one of my many moves. Okay so that was officially my first cross-stitching kitted piece. I did other types of embroidery before and after that rose. But still had no clue about charted cross stitching designs that you kit up yourself. </div>
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Sometime after entering my 20's I moved across the county (1986), working, living single on a too tight budget with little to entertain myself with. I couldn't even afford a TV, lol. My dad eventually bought a small color one for me just because he could not imagine surviving without a television set. I found ways. I read books from the library! However everyday on my way home from work, I would pass by this store that was called "Spare Time Crafts." Being a crafter/artist type of person, I decided to stop one day to check it out. It was not a craft store that I thought it would be. It was a cross-stitching store that sold fabrics for embroidering on, lots and lots of cross-stitching design charts and embroidery floss. I had never seen anything like this before, ever. The store clerk was not the most friendly person but she did explain to me about cross-stitching and how to follow a chart, purchase the cloth and floss. I had no clue that there was a thread called DMC with a number coding system, lol. I had very little cash to spare but I saw this chart for a nativity scene that just sort of called out to me so I purchased my very first ever design chart that day of the Stoney Creek design "Humble Stable." I also purchased my fabric and a few of the flosses. Not many as this was about to break my limited budget. So I opted to purchase the colors that were used at the center of the deisgn, the starting point for my stitching to get me going. I later found that the floss was far less pricey at another store in town and slowly began purchasing the flosses each pay day. It meant work went slowly on that design. I set it aside when I met my husband, got married and had the first child. No real time to stitch for a while but I picked it back up when my son was a busy toddler and eventually I finished that design. I discovered I could actually use these stamps we had been collecting from the local Big Bear grocery store over in the Hearts department store to purchase the remaining floss I needed so I basically got a lot of the floss for free that way. :) I made a gift of that finished piece and have been a cross-stitcher off and on every since. I had marked up that original chart as I worked each stitch which I later regretted as I found obtaining a fresh copy nearly impossible. I really wanted to make the design again, this time to keep for myself. A few years ago a friend on one of the yahoo email groups I am in had a great windfall. She received a number of tubs of cross-stitching charts from off of her local freecycle group and decided that she didn't want all the charts and freely offered to share them with others of us in the group. We simply paid for the postage. Well, the Humble Stable chart was among them!!!! I finally had a copy again. I am still so thankful for this. I have nearly half of that design complete now. I have also since learned to go make photo copies of my charts as a working copy that I can mark on and still have the original design chart to refer back to in he event of a disaster such as having to restart a design. I had that experience on a few projects. </div>
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I absolutely love this nativity "Humble Stable" working this on linen.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjESwy_tVaSUWU6GnXK5Bmi17JMDKsMjvyOZN9W46UIPZsy5M8_dE1SKDNXU9n9iR-V3aSWnpMRV-1VZNdwr_cx0kWiakxI04_og1DRplTSENoR1gLf7XxUbOW0sPYuhH3kWEma_b7tsE0/s1600/Humble+stable+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjESwy_tVaSUWU6GnXK5Bmi17JMDKsMjvyOZN9W46UIPZsy5M8_dE1SKDNXU9n9iR-V3aSWnpMRV-1VZNdwr_cx0kWiakxI04_og1DRplTSENoR1gLf7XxUbOW0sPYuhH3kWEma_b7tsE0/s320/Humble+stable+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I know this is a really long post already but I do have one more tapestry piece to share today. It is simply called "Lion" and he is a design I created from my own original painting I did back in 1999. I always felt like this Lion would look so much better in thread then he does in paint but I kept storing him away and debating on whether or not I should try and turn him into a tapestry. As you will see, I finally decided to move forward and have completed the first page of the tapestry. I am working 1 over 1 on 25 count Lugana a linen blend fabric. I have no clue if he will turn out well or not but I do like what I have completed of him so far. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhypv9quEXPwUxPyZEyXQ5QmIGU48wTMkLpUo3lGHKDvjAMpedK5Ic0fPX8E8zaUaKRpWl5bV5saIuPGhgsqNEPJf3Eo6h2hx5aEji1-mhuqoDgT0ZhXT2Fxsnn533pqjSI1rZeqwI-9NI/s1600/Lion+page+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhypv9quEXPwUxPyZEyXQ5QmIGU48wTMkLpUo3lGHKDvjAMpedK5Ic0fPX8E8zaUaKRpWl5bV5saIuPGhgsqNEPJf3Eo6h2hx5aEji1-mhuqoDgT0ZhXT2Fxsnn533pqjSI1rZeqwI-9NI/s320/Lion+page+1.jpg" width="281" /></a></div>
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This is an image of the painting I created the design chart from. I made a few tweeks to the painting in Photoshop to obtain a sharper image in the software I used to create the chart and added a copyright across his face hopefully prevent copy theft. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3W3-qCBYc88RhD1LnEaRwseVkIsNSlUw7jvnnidQZsGFqPaEKdDZ840ACA2-OjvG0csK7Dguvu_osbGJ5cxQBQhF6dp40j1DFTiQjwQJlSg8L8az9R8w92rBifzyKMl9CD8eLnX3JJ4/s1600/Ann's+Lion+retouch+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3W3-qCBYc88RhD1LnEaRwseVkIsNSlUw7jvnnidQZsGFqPaEKdDZ840ACA2-OjvG0csK7Dguvu_osbGJ5cxQBQhF6dp40j1DFTiQjwQJlSg8L8az9R8w92rBifzyKMl9CD8eLnX3JJ4/s320/Ann's+Lion+retouch+copy.jpg" width="263" /></a></div>
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Well I think that about sums up what has been keeping me busy with my stitching of late. I do hope you have enjoyed reading up on the progress and seeing the photos. </div>
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Until next time friends.</div>
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<br /></div>Ann H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03130662144901163719noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955739705092880370.post-13876713090120999092012-04-30T13:07:00.000-05:002012-04-30T13:07:04.574-05:00Happy Monday!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I know, what is so great about Monday, lol. Well today we are having a lovely weather day so it makes it worth getting up and getting the day going. Our temperatures had one of those typical Ohio spring drops over the weekend which included some rain near the weekend making everybody just feeling blah. So waking up to sunshine this morning makes it worth getting up and functioning on a Monday. In addition though to my blah cold weekend I dealt with the beginning of a nasty flare up with my fibromyalgia. YUCK! I should have expected it or seen it coming. I think it was triggered by my fall two and half weeks ago. Speaking of which. My right wrist is doing much better now. I just wear the brace on it at night when I sleep. However on the downside of that fall.... The day after I fell I went to an urgent care center to get my wrist treated, they also looked at my right knee, pushed around on it but didn't take x-rays and thought it would be fine. In the week that followed, my pain level in the knee began to increase from ouch that sort of smarts to wholly cow that darn thing really hurts and making my blood pressure hit the roof. I ended up in the ER because my blood pressure diastolic number was really getting high, 117 (80 is what it should have been). While I was there I told them about the prior fall and trip to urgent care. They decided to perform a number of x-rays on the knee. When the doctor came back to talk to me he informed me that I had landed on that knee a whole lot harder then I thought. He said I had to have hit it extremely hard. He told me I have a contusion that is extremely deep down in my knee causing fluid to build up. They started me on pain meds and made me stay until the meds could kick in and the BP came down to be reasonable and also wrapped my knee up like a mummy in ace bandaging. The doc was trying to offer me a choice between crutches or a walker. I told him the last time I tried to use crutches I managed to fall 3 more times because of the crutches so that was out. He tried to push to get me to use a walker but I informed him my cane would work just fine. We discussed it for another 5 minutes until he realized just how how stubborn I can be and gave up and consented to my cane while also telling me to stay off the knee. So here I am still hobbling around with a cane a week later. I decided that telling me to stay off my knee and keeping it elevated sounded like a prescription to sit and work on my cross-stitching tapestries. :) So I am working my way through my rotation of cross-stitching projects. I am having fun with this although I am spending more time working on the Earth Song piece designed by Heaven and Earth Designs over the other pieces right now.<br />
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Here are photos of the WIPs and SAL in my rotation ATM.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrbMj16mcQ_dR4AL_8TKQG2V7_WBdgVxEdI-7kmHrdEQqy-88hPm0iJwZ3GMc3KwNRs0hzwUUNwl03zHOqjr8yQv2D_p5Zchy59ccdqWKg1sVaLoGnXI4IfZF0xgFy5UsgPVajPdSrS4/s1600/Diamond+Quilt+by+Handblessings+SAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrbMj16mcQ_dR4AL_8TKQG2V7_WBdgVxEdI-7kmHrdEQqy-88hPm0iJwZ3GMc3KwNRs0hzwUUNwl03zHOqjr8yQv2D_p5Zchy59ccdqWKg1sVaLoGnXI4IfZF0xgFy5UsgPVajPdSrS4/s320/Diamond+Quilt+by+Handblessings+SAL.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This is a little piece I am doing as a SAL (Stitch a long) through Cross My Heart the needleshop near my home. The charts for it are free so long as I purchased all the supplies for it from the store. It is called "Diamond Quilt" by Handblessings. I love this little piece. It is being stitched on 28 count Jobelan cloth working over 2. The frames around each diamond are stitched with one strand of Watterlillies Nefertiti. I love this thread. The color is gorgeous when you can actually see it being stitched up close. The rest of the threads that are used in the diamonds are all over-dyes. I am all caught up on this projects and nothing really more for me to do until the next three diamonds are released which likely will not be until June. This project really introduced me to Jobelan evenweave cloth and I think this is my new favorite cloth to work on.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJC3wFccD1kqEUqzAd6wynLpLWY3L4HGcZfWXIw6G4Fg2SO3yD-5SUqUxicHmpCRyF-hlQWbLp8PLFeVvmahONdWjep7xhhRE9AogEv1EP5BLcFMsJEUU78ym8gwHR1OPwm4jedA05LF0/s1600/1899+Wedding+photo+of+L.+Schriener+and+E.M.+McNutt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJC3wFccD1kqEUqzAd6wynLpLWY3L4HGcZfWXIw6G4Fg2SO3yD-5SUqUxicHmpCRyF-hlQWbLp8PLFeVvmahONdWjep7xhhRE9AogEv1EP5BLcFMsJEUU78ym8gwHR1OPwm4jedA05LF0/s320/1899+Wedding+photo+of+L.+Schriener+and+E.M.+McNutt.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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This is a current update on my progress of the 1899 Wedding photo tapestry I started three years ago from my great-grandparents wedding photo. I decided to include the original photo in this picture for some comparison. It is really coming along nicely. I am working this on 32 count linen working two over two making the stitched 16 count. I have always said that I wished I had chosen to use silk instead of DMC floss for this project but it is looking good. I am also slowly becoming a fan of working 1 over 1 on 25 count (more about this later) and now wish I would have done that for this tapestry.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3b4tCjh7IiTiPLXgWva9y32xcOj3l89a2mG3Irgn7IHxgV3hIGfquwpXomx4o-Ll2UZx3tHobreIkRGpqFGHeCy4NSSbtWFjkpM2AEiQ9nzpwfshGtQNb1xM8grgGRQ_kKTzfC5mabWk/s1600/Last+Supper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3b4tCjh7IiTiPLXgWva9y32xcOj3l89a2mG3Irgn7IHxgV3hIGfquwpXomx4o-Ll2UZx3tHobreIkRGpqFGHeCy4NSSbtWFjkpM2AEiQ9nzpwfshGtQNb1xM8grgGRQ_kKTzfC5mabWk/s320/Last+Supper.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Now this is my absolute newest start. I found a really nice photo of the Last Supper painting and turned it into a chart for my own personal use. I am working this on 25 count Lamb's Wool colored Jobelan working 1 over 1 and loving it. It is much easier working 1 over 1 on this evenweave fabric. The last time I worked 1 over 1 it was on linen and the linen had too many blurps (thick areas in the strands) and created a nasty uneven look. The Jobelan evenweave is all precise strands keeping this tapestry uniformed, neat and tidy. I have also found that I love the thickness and softness of the Jobelan cloth. I think it will be lovely when it is completed. I am limiting my stitching time on this to one day a week for now. I still need to finish gathering all the floss I need for this piece.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEKu9S8shCHnNhjpLaHnl3IvX5QvAHuNzuj9Zk7FUnPd7OMeSqbhlus_CsRZ8oB4kn1Jqi346wTaMPPR1gXPaxIwSej05Ciert5d5dX4gkFaotq6rgi8Af5JMauCZ5uWiMLWmV6Tsaj0/s1600/token+of+love+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEKu9S8shCHnNhjpLaHnl3IvX5QvAHuNzuj9Zk7FUnPd7OMeSqbhlus_CsRZ8oB4kn1Jqi346wTaMPPR1gXPaxIwSej05Ciert5d5dX4gkFaotq6rgi8Af5JMauCZ5uWiMLWmV6Tsaj0/s320/token+of+love+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This is another SAL that I am spending about 1 day a week on. It is called "Token of Love" and I am working on this through the Yahoo group <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wiehenburg-samplers/?yguid=294162824" target="_blank">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wiehenburg-samplers/?yguid=294162824</a> I changed the color scheme to suit my own taste, dark blue DMC floss #823 on sky blue 18 count Aida. It is a fairly easy stitch and a great take along project.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0-Ld6QtA8MIKffzER1C_i1dMNodDrOxC5H_bOQmtOTLbX2cL0mwrS_RWTdzXPom1XSLMI6NfHjqCmlOavwqdqB6P7weg7qVjVpAfPb_yGIAXMX58UT6ks7baxoA0-BupFmp09nKONzi8/s1600/Magnolia+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0-Ld6QtA8MIKffzER1C_i1dMNodDrOxC5H_bOQmtOTLbX2cL0mwrS_RWTdzXPom1XSLMI6NfHjqCmlOavwqdqB6P7weg7qVjVpAfPb_yGIAXMX58UT6ks7baxoA0-BupFmp09nKONzi8/s320/Magnolia+tree.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And here is the early stages of the "Magnolia Tree" tapestry I created from a photo of my own tree. There is a great deal of "confetti" stitching involved in this tapestry so it is very slow going. There are 100 different DMC floss thread colors in this chart. I am limiting my time to one day a week on it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlSNBL0mcZmu25WVepGiHQa1KIYKY4elAvPjVDVhmaNdYqH2OxbY2Vd55-27131mWlDozsvi8cU8c5FvdenyOwF2jWCN-0xFni51ibRsyxmn4N5WywQ-yT7QwM4Y-RWF1F2WtVylZ9MxY/s1600/Earth+Song+by+HAED+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlSNBL0mcZmu25WVepGiHQa1KIYKY4elAvPjVDVhmaNdYqH2OxbY2Vd55-27131mWlDozsvi8cU8c5FvdenyOwF2jWCN-0xFni51ibRsyxmn4N5WywQ-yT7QwM4Y-RWF1F2WtVylZ9MxY/s320/Earth+Song+by+HAED+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I guess you could call this my main project here. It is "Earth Song" by Heaven and Earth Designs. I am working this on 18 count Aida using two strands of DMC floss. You will also notice that I am actually using one of my q-snap frames to hold it while I am stitching it. I have never been a q-snap fan, ever. LOL, but I do pull them out from time to time and try to get used to handling them. I just really dislike the weight of them, trying to hold them up high enough to my face to see what I am stitching. I have found that if I tuck pillows around me, I can rest my arms on those to help support them while holding the frame close enough to my face to see to stitch. I have strange eyesight. I wear bifocals but I cannot see well enough through the bifocals to stitch so I take them off to see my stitching then I cannot see the TV to watch the programs. I end up listening to TV more then watching as I prefer my stitching over watching the TV anyhow. :) The thing I will say that I do like about this particular q-snap set up is that I am able to work across the top of several of the pages of the chart at a time and it does hold the fabric at the sides nicely taught verses when I used my table scroll stand. And my table scroll frame also creates issues with my eyesight. I find I have to really lean in over it and then this creates very bad back issues for me. Stitching/embroidering should not be painful so I try different things to try and get is comfortable as I can.<br />
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I have set aside the "Old Friends" piece I was working on. I accidentally got yellow highlighter on the fabric and have tried a few things to get it out but not having any luck with it for now. I decided to set it aside for the time being.<br />
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I recently made another purchase for my design chart stash. I took advantage of a 30% off sale that Heaven and Earth Designs held a few weeks back and purchased a design I have longed to get. It is the Purple Dragon. I love the look in his eyes as that little bird is sitting on the end of his nose. It always makes me chuckle!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQKSLOODK2hAvXvAnkWdVa2HQWU_4CtSMrp_rxKpmYZEjgyh3VLjz305pYctjJqdB02-GVEYSY9GP9N-1rhjW2KQZIJqOw82BSvXGVWxH_2ZNDRLVS2vFEEZNRubYGKP66f9dVivwEd6s/s1600/Purple+Dragon+by+HAED+chart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQKSLOODK2hAvXvAnkWdVa2HQWU_4CtSMrp_rxKpmYZEjgyh3VLjz305pYctjJqdB02-GVEYSY9GP9N-1rhjW2KQZIJqOw82BSvXGVWxH_2ZNDRLVS2vFEEZNRubYGKP66f9dVivwEd6s/s320/Purple+Dragon+by+HAED+chart.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Purple Dragon by Heaven and Earth Designs</div>
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This is it for now my friends. Until next time. Peace!<br />
<br /></div>Ann H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03130662144901163719noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955739705092880370.post-19224116294072660922012-04-13T15:05:00.005-05:002012-04-13T15:29:59.146-05:00Just a few finishes and one of my new starts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I am really pretty happy to be making progress on finishing a few of my projects. I always have such a hard time at finishing my cross-stitching pieces. I really need to get better at it. I have to say it is a wonderful feeling to finally see some of this work on display in my home. In the past, my finished needlework seemed to always get gifted but of late I am finally keeping some goodies for myself. I finished the SAL from 2010 called "My Little Heart" designed by Sylvia Kuhnert. I love the way this looks. I did some subtle changes here and there in the design. I even managed to frame it. The night we were out shopping for the frame and floss for a new projects was quite eventful. It was stormy when we left here but everything seemed fine when we entered the Hobby Lobby store and did all our shopping. I was accompanied by the hubby and my son Jared. When we were exiting the store, rain was pouring down and the tornado sirens were blaring. They had sounded out while we were in the store but we NEVER heard them because of the store music being played. I don't know about anyone else but I find this very scary to think we could have been swept away and killed in a tornado because of store music taking a priority during a storm! Scary stuff to think about. The other issue was that it was closing time when we were leaving the store and the employees were pushing to get everyone out in spite of the fact that everyone should have been trying to find shelter until the warning was lifted. Traveling home in total blackness was most unpleasant. So anyhow, once we were home safe and sound I did proceed and framed the SAL.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am glad I went with a simple frame for it. I also manage to download Sylvia's newest SAL which is being released at the turn of each season being that the new SAL is all about the different seasons of the year. I completed the first Season "Spring" on an old piece of rough looking linen and then turned it into a simple flat fold. I have never tried this method of finishing before but I have to say, I love it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>This is just such a simple sweet little piece. It makes me happy and smile just to look over at it. I think the whole thing only took me about two days to stitch and then just a few hours to make it into the flat fold. It could not have been simpler!<br />
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Since finishing these items, I have since started a number of new projects. I did work some on my Great-grandparent's 1899 wedding photo piece. It is coming along but I think I will wait until I have more progress to show before I include a new photo of it. I took one of the photos from my magnolia tree and imported it into PCStitch 10 and created a chart and have started work on it working on size 18 count Aida cloth in a sky blue color. Speaking of the chart, I was asked if this was something I could share. I thought it over and I have decided to share the chart freely. Please understand though, the Magnolia Tree is in the process of being tested so if you choose to download it, just understand, it is not fully tested. Also, please do not attempt to upload the PDF to any website nor attempt to sell my chart for profit. I ask that you play fair. You can access the PDF by clicking the title here: <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/view/?k26oljvgb1p4a4c" target="_blank">Magnolia Tree ©Copyright 2012 By Andrea C. Heslin</a> I will be posting a progress photo of the Magnolia Tree in my next update. As I said, I am working on a number of new projects or rather trying too. I recently put in an order for my very first Heaven and Earth (HAED) design chart. I have to say I was really getting antsy and impatient for my chart to get here. I got my fabric, got all my floss and I even got all the floss wound onto bobbins and organized into it's own project floss caddy and then I waited. I waited and then I waited some more. I called the company and found out that they were having issues with a dead printer. So I waited some more, lol. Finally on the 10th I received notice of it being mailed. Yehaa, so exciting. The morning of the 11th.......... I slipped and wiped out all over the floor while racing to let the dog outside. Banged up my right knee and landed hard on the palm of my right hand. I ignored my hand and was being careful with my knee. I even made sure I walked with my cane to play it safe. I went over to the koala sewing cabinet to retrieve something and when I went to close the door, it fell off the hinge and landed against my left knee. Later when the hubby came home from work, he walked in and saw the koala cabinet door resting against my PC desk and me sitting with both knees elevated. He was cracking up laughing at his wife the klutz! Now this was bad enough but later in the evening, I hobbled to the refrigerator for a drink but when I swung the door open, the rail that went across the lowest shelf in the door flew out followed by all the condiment bottles. What a day! Joe did come in and pick everything up for me. I did have to go to an Urgent Care facility though last night to get four x-rays and a look at my right hand and wrist from the fall. I wound up with this.....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpDc7DCRARqInN2-WJ8YE2Do9Mr_J2VmRRpr7qnFx-H_UCtnf7uWnhA8PWMAy_5JlCjgfKqCN8BVP568cKTBXshED41XFUFLV6lr8NG4udoTDQ0H9ohYiAiwpsQM6nPwoJc8wP_w7QjQ/s1600/ouchie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpDc7DCRARqInN2-WJ8YE2Do9Mr_J2VmRRpr7qnFx-H_UCtnf7uWnhA8PWMAy_5JlCjgfKqCN8BVP568cKTBXshED41XFUFLV6lr8NG4udoTDQ0H9ohYiAiwpsQM6nPwoJc8wP_w7QjQ/s320/ouchie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>So the doc says I sprained the ligaments in my thumb and wrist area and need to wear this for the next 6 to 8 weeks. WHAT!!!!! I cannot fathom wearing it that long. I have cross - stitching to do. So......... guess what was in today's mail. Yup, my new design chart I ordered from HAED! Talk about karma biting you in the butt! I decided I would stitch anyhow. I can stitch some left handed. I had the fabric all set up already in my scroll table frame so why not give it a try, right. I tried. It worked until my back started hurting from me leaning in close over it to see what I was doing. I wound up taking it out of the frame and decided I would give my q-snap frame a try. So far not so bad. I figure it will drive me crazy though enough to eventually just move back over to using a hoop. But for now I am going to try and keep using the Q-Snap. This photo below is my beginning progress on "Earth Song" in 18 count on Aida cloth.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtbqgNwhuk3ZzMpuyRfbxmcmIf2BhBluTNiur_wv0_nE1NOWLVChcGAPx7V8fKhl9luA5RAnmbW5dtoFKZ9u8GxsHXzhUFpYKLFYNLfYzPayMpqwYCywRaYccl_IY3GYfJr_D1xxkoQJU/s1600/Earth+Song+HAED.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtbqgNwhuk3ZzMpuyRfbxmcmIf2BhBluTNiur_wv0_nE1NOWLVChcGAPx7V8fKhl9luA5RAnmbW5dtoFKZ9u8GxsHXzhUFpYKLFYNLfYzPayMpqwYCywRaYccl_IY3GYfJr_D1xxkoQJU/s320/Earth+Song+HAED.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I nearly forgot, I have one more tiny finish to post about. I finally made a biscornu. I have admired these funky little decorative pincushions for a few years now and have always wanted to make one. Well I finally did it this week before the injury, lol. I think it took me two days to complete it. I made a very small one using up some scraps of 18 count Aida cloth for it.<br />
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Well that is about all I can think of to share at this time. I hope to share more about the other new projects I have started in my next posting. TTUL for now.</div>Ann H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03130662144901163719noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955739705092880370.post-37621401430350762062012-03-23T11:22:00.000-05:002012-03-23T11:22:36.212-05:00Productivity with Cross-stitching and Yeah, it is spring.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Wow, I went for over a year without posting in this blog and now I have a second blog post in less then a week. Good things happen when you try to avoid FACEBOOK. LOL! <br />
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I am really making some great progress on the "Old Friends" piece. I am really loving this bear and she will look even better when she has all the outline stitching completed on her.<br />
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I really love the accidental lavender shade in the Aida cloth. It really seems to make those floss colors shine.<br />
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In addition to working on this "Old Friends" piece, I also found all my supplies to another unfinished cross-stitch that is actually very close to being completed. I started working on a SAL (Stitch - a- long) that was designed by Sylvia Kuhnert out in Germany and whom provided the design project freely for anyone who was interested. <a href="http://syku66.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Sylvia's Kreuzstichliebe</a> is the website and she has a new SAL that she has started for this spring. Be sure to check it out. The one I am working on was for the full year of 2010. Each month she presented a new part of the design and she called the project "My Little Heart." It was a year long calender. Each picture in the grid represents a theme for each new month. I was doing quite well staying on top of it until the bursitis situation developed in my shoulder. <br />
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Here is an image of where I am at in this project. I have made a few little personal tweaks of my own, changing colors at times and adding outlines for each picture. I have also adjusted a few changes to the border. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The months start left to right with January. I added the September scarecrow yesterday and played with the slight additions to the border. It is hard to see in the scan of the image but I have added gold metallic thread in the border. In person it really adds that simple touch of regal bling to the piece. I am still trying to decide what I will do with the finished piece. Framing will always be lovely but I am considering turning it into a small quilted wall hanging. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Spring has really been roaring through Ohio this week. We spent part of our Sunday ducking down in the basement from Tornado warnings and endured three different hail storms. The hail was about the size of hazelnuts. It was insane. The area where all the backyards meet became instantly flooded as did a large corner of the yard across the street from us. By Tuesday all the water was gone and our temps were crazily in the mid 80's. We actually had to turn our AC on for a while by Wednesday evening. Rain came back through last night and cooled things down to be more reasonable today. We even have sun shine again. One of the things I really look forward to every single spring is the blooming of my magnolia tree. I LOVE that tree! Joe has threatened to cut that tree down nearly every year too because of where it resides so close to the driveway and has to be dodged when turning the cars around in the driveway when trying to get out on the road. I did not plant that tree in that spot. Joe's mother planted that tree there. In the years after she planted it, that tree would never bloom for her but in the spring we lost her to cancer.... that tree went into full bloom. As long as we live here, it will never be cut down unless it dies on its own accord. I managed to go out the other day while it was still so warm and take quite a few photos of the tree in full flowering. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I do. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Ann H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03130662144901163719noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955739705092880370.post-72480227324384593362012-03-20T19:02:00.000-05:002012-03-20T19:02:44.495-05:00Eeeeek! Has it truly been over a year since I last posted on my blog?!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I am telling you, 2011 was a blur and so far 2012 is becoming one too. I have been so lazy about keeping up on this blog. I am so sorry. We just seemed to be hopping through 2011 so fast. It was our youngest son's last year of school. Preparing for this new big change for Jared and for us as well was very hard I think for all of us. It was a time to be making several decisions. We thought he would go on to college but in the end he didn't quite feel ready for this big leap just yet. Maybe next fall he will feel differently. Jared did quite well though during his senior year. He received several awards through the school year. Here are just two of them...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSIt-wrpyIjlp0L13VgH8dx8QXw8MnH1DqICg5YNkpV49sbpWF_bZLXtKaLMd9XewatVoFEv2fqYY05tXmoJSLGStinSOu4JtSOdnC6hkYMtKGKHllZCzmsYD9gBIiqv2lQI8N7oQELE/s1600/honor+roll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSIt-wrpyIjlp0L13VgH8dx8QXw8MnH1DqICg5YNkpV49sbpWF_bZLXtKaLMd9XewatVoFEv2fqYY05tXmoJSLGStinSOu4JtSOdnC6hkYMtKGKHllZCzmsYD9gBIiqv2lQI8N7oQELE/s200/honor+roll.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWYwiRY-Nao4iXeCJgHO-Gq5fY4kQDAyEGUxB_WqxGryxE8rhIAW9pm1l5SCeMvS7jN1BP94oVqfO56lliPs-_XpY7xHSGjqHChThXGaciwhLrobPpu8NQdY3mbHjqGVrrYerBR7FclA/s1600/web+publishing+award.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWYwiRY-Nao4iXeCJgHO-Gq5fY4kQDAyEGUxB_WqxGryxE8rhIAW9pm1l5SCeMvS7jN1BP94oVqfO56lliPs-_XpY7xHSGjqHChThXGaciwhLrobPpu8NQdY3mbHjqGVrrYerBR7FclA/s200/web+publishing+award.jpg" width="200" /></a>Honor Roll and an award for his work in Web Publishing.<br />
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Graduation in June was a big deal of course. He was so happy that Joe was doing well enough to be there to see him graduate. He worried and still does about his dad's health all the time and was so afraid Joe would not still be living by the time graduation rolled around especially since Joe had a close call back on New Years Eve just 6 months before graduation. Joe "the Iron Man" wasn't about to let anything stop him for seeing his son graduate. <br />
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June 4, 2011<br />
Joe and Jared outside the Nationwide Arena after the commencement ceremony.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZCwC3Qkn-IeSZvs4udca_IRd_Qi8rLeu3uF2Q5FO-RSlph65pECof39QN3t1tEIHEPWljHXDsgALORvDts-mtF8T8eMbpDjx_2S-bafIrmQM88S3g6jGKond2xqeRWrICi48uK0t0lQ/s1600/Jared+and+Joe+grad+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZCwC3Qkn-IeSZvs4udca_IRd_Qi8rLeu3uF2Q5FO-RSlph65pECof39QN3t1tEIHEPWljHXDsgALORvDts-mtF8T8eMbpDjx_2S-bafIrmQM88S3g6jGKond2xqeRWrICi48uK0t0lQ/s400/Jared+and+Joe+grad+day.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The time stamp on the photos is wacko. The day is correct, but the time itself is not stamping properly.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVqxp52tTpuCk-JO-UOCC_2DHDDJdq2qIxrU7XhX6HpZEVQklMbEJSpzxryU68_8KCTDeHi1RcwgwDG6iwDnxmi6XIKT4rqN-dG-gsG7jx7yjwpVxf-01RmEzUOnvCL79HE5WSMiuzDDs/s1600/Jared+grad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVqxp52tTpuCk-JO-UOCC_2DHDDJdq2qIxrU7XhX6HpZEVQklMbEJSpzxryU68_8KCTDeHi1RcwgwDG6iwDnxmi6XIKT4rqN-dG-gsG7jx7yjwpVxf-01RmEzUOnvCL79HE5WSMiuzDDs/s320/Jared+grad.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
He was so happy that day! We all were and so proud of him. One of his accomplishments was completing 5 math units during his high school years and later after after graduation received a certificate recognizing him with a specialization in mathematics. Jared also completed as one of those math courses the college level Calculus course and received credit for it from Kenyon College. Not to shabby for the kid whom the pediatrician claimed would never learn to read, write or due simple math calculations because of having autism. Boy was she wrong, lol!<br />
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Here are a few more photos of Jared and his older brother A.J.<br />
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Jared has developed a passion for the color red.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu9PJv5PqgAP1XI5IUH4mjMWfh1xipR8fanGIUVFeAmEvbH48CKP_xtQ-h8Htxsc0WfD2zO8g2yQ4eFG1429vhf5NyLE7j2G7mZtkjOVS45CtGBRLzIe7PQc3q5Rr2q_jfLlsHsQPzll4/s1600/Jared+Heslin+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu9PJv5PqgAP1XI5IUH4mjMWfh1xipR8fanGIUVFeAmEvbH48CKP_xtQ-h8Htxsc0WfD2zO8g2yQ4eFG1429vhf5NyLE7j2G7mZtkjOVS45CtGBRLzIe7PQc3q5Rr2q_jfLlsHsQPzll4/s320/Jared+Heslin+2012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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If I didn't know better I would say the boys color coordinated, lol! A.J. is camera shy so it took some effort to get him to pose for me to take this photo of him.<br />
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I caught Jared and the dog lounging just the other day and could not resist!<br />
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I think this about has my guys all up to date. I did work on a lot of projects in 2011 and already into 2012. Some projects were started new while others are/were older projects I decided to try and put time into. I did so many that I am posting here so they may be out of order somewhat as to the timeline but trust me, these are what I worked on while not blogging. LOL!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5eCRySwT3jcD70Bnl1Y06gb8axDmfIsm_xxqTp2A4umRxwTWt5xenvq9uutL0TebY9LaVJkrtFNQZDGgtxQ33eId3LoyUUgQ5ut2zEQDXw0lpCLtHendqm5TFLVZoeDSZwkweeZLwFTA/s1600/simple+doily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5eCRySwT3jcD70Bnl1Y06gb8axDmfIsm_xxqTp2A4umRxwTWt5xenvq9uutL0TebY9LaVJkrtFNQZDGgtxQ33eId3LoyUUgQ5ut2zEQDXw0lpCLtHendqm5TFLVZoeDSZwkweeZLwFTA/s320/simple+doily.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
This little doily simply named "Simple Doily" came from a free pattern I found online somewhere. It was an enjoyable small project and it now resides on a lamp table in my family room.<br />
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This large maroon doily is also another free design. You can find the pattern here: <a href="http://www.angelfire.com/wv/happyghan/ruby2.html">http://www.angelfire.com/wv/happyghan/ruby2.html </a><br />
This is a very large piece and resides in the center of my dining room table.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3IxiykQyQkcHXf-HDudxpPtkcoZGQB-e8_iwnZZyn4hWHrvKbkc771YoCc26Dy4DXk5sX6AbyCw8cDwIdHUq46RtuMLP1VSm62wHZqOIFfTmf7uh-HGdMfnKl8m-PdFNRaXafQ6qDX2g/s1600/chullo+hat+in+progress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3IxiykQyQkcHXf-HDudxpPtkcoZGQB-e8_iwnZZyn4hWHrvKbkc771YoCc26Dy4DXk5sX6AbyCw8cDwIdHUq46RtuMLP1VSm62wHZqOIFfTmf7uh-HGdMfnKl8m-PdFNRaXafQ6qDX2g/s320/chullo+hat+in+progress.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
This oddity in knitting is also from a free pattern called the Chullo Hat. If I ever finish it, there will be a tassel at the top that flips over to one side and ear flaps. I started it in 2011 for my great-niece and worked on it until I realized the hat would end up being far too large for her when finished so I am not sure that it will ever get completed. <br />
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I have had this baby "Bobbles Cardigan" pattern since, well since before I had Jared and he is 20 now, lol. I decided that I would knit a baby layette to keep on hand for last minute baby shower gifting. I am still working on the matching blanket, hat and booties. Below is the blanket in progress.<br />
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This yellow table runner is something I crocheted using size 5 crochet thread for a mother's day gift for my mother. It took me longer to make it and get it to her then I would have liked. She seemed to really love it though when she did receive it. I also made her this large yellow doily with the left over thread. I just barely had enough to finish it.<br />
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I decided to try my hand at going green and recycled our plastic grocery bags into something called "plarn" and used some of it to crochet into a tote bag. I found working with the plarn to be too harsh though on my shoulder and wrists. I am going to donate the remainder of my plarn balls to church. The ladies in church are working with plarn and crocheting it into mats for the homeless to place on the ground and put their bedding on. <br />
I think this is a wonderful thing that they are doing!<br />
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While sorting through many of my older projects I found this small collection of maple leaf quilt blocks and quickly found myself arranging them into a wall hanging. This is one of the rare times that I actually did the actual quilting at my sewing machine to speed things along. Even though the seasons have changed and it is now spring, I still find myself keeping this wall hanging up on my living room wall. I just really enjoy the colors from it. Working on this quilt helped to get me motivated into completing the hand-applique work on this Hawaiian applique Sea turtles wall hanging.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5B-6Pm4jIPQWNMovSB9WeGrz-FI0mqDXEMIT8YlXpV-PmzvJSFqVhlVuSeiFE2m9EgR9arkwYmVCpsJEkuHYcA7jG7Lu8AJ9YXuRe2tgoaWQNyAXDVui4i3aKwgmxkRqNsm78Rwizbgg/s1600/Hawaiian+Applique+Sea+turtles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5B-6Pm4jIPQWNMovSB9WeGrz-FI0mqDXEMIT8YlXpV-PmzvJSFqVhlVuSeiFE2m9EgR9arkwYmVCpsJEkuHYcA7jG7Lu8AJ9YXuRe2tgoaWQNyAXDVui4i3aKwgmxkRqNsm78Rwizbgg/s320/Hawaiian+Applique+Sea+turtles.jpg" width="272" /></a></div><br />
I even began work on hand-quilting this turtle piece. I think it is now just over halfway finished on the quilting. My shoulder started to be an issue again so I had to put this piece away for a while but I bet I will have at it again in a few months or maybe even less. Below here is a closer photo for you to see my hand-quilting skills.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNRFg6Ruo1gbKTqQQhvkyiEeH1wsj-Y96s41GobcqSXQGaGoXuxjfb50jXA-7AjOmPDWVERY_GeHRkJWPNOmyboYIdwsliikIPBxGL0IQpsTugHtIgGjgshp1pknCLszfyP0ncSWB_S60/s1600/Hawaiian+Applique+Sea+turtles++close+up+of+quilting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNRFg6Ruo1gbKTqQQhvkyiEeH1wsj-Y96s41GobcqSXQGaGoXuxjfb50jXA-7AjOmPDWVERY_GeHRkJWPNOmyboYIdwsliikIPBxGL0IQpsTugHtIgGjgshp1pknCLszfyP0ncSWB_S60/s320/Hawaiian+Applique+Sea+turtles++close+up+of+quilting.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVg8TT_6J6cOei_-Ju7gidthIYGpgMN2FF7hySRa9l9qY3Ceii7sZEhDJSedHNu0Rv-tpnRVedd2sc49_hUKpMAhMi-mH9O43EUUICdOXJi_ITckNP4OUUWHSW381KI5uo4kSYWyuIpSE/s1600/cille%2527s+design+and+crocheted+by+andrea+heslin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVg8TT_6J6cOei_-Ju7gidthIYGpgMN2FF7hySRa9l9qY3Ceii7sZEhDJSedHNu0Rv-tpnRVedd2sc49_hUKpMAhMi-mH9O43EUUICdOXJi_ITckNP4OUUWHSW381KI5uo4kSYWyuIpSE/s320/cille%2527s+design+and+crocheted+by+andrea+heslin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This pink doily was part of a crochet along in a yahoo group I am a member of. It was designed by a member of the group that calls herself "Cille." I made a slight change to the pattern on the very last edge round and changed the picots that were in the pattern to white pearl beads.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH0mTiwD_LO4aaZqIqombCMzS0XMCjrdbKwTr6prK6z4zkFN-Z8xWKz_z61zG4dooMZZxA_adskhp8CvqOYMNdUrHidnDNIPNSeA-auOwaEoZAYX-XrP6HTIbVCAmz1NScYry1O_eLvD8/s1600/heart+pillowcase.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH0mTiwD_LO4aaZqIqombCMzS0XMCjrdbKwTr6prK6z4zkFN-Z8xWKz_z61zG4dooMZZxA_adskhp8CvqOYMNdUrHidnDNIPNSeA-auOwaEoZAYX-XrP6HTIbVCAmz1NScYry1O_eLvD8/s320/heart+pillowcase.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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I purchased this pillowcase with the printed design on it years ago and was thinking about how I would like to get this out and work on it but wasn't quite sure exactly where it was. Well about a week after having that thought, Jared was digging around in the storage room and found it while looking for something else. I think I finished the embroidery work in about two days then I crocheted an edging for it. I think it came out quite nice. Now if I could only find the mate to it......<br />
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This next doily is quite a pleasure to look at. I found the design in a Thread Crochet magazine and the doily is titled "Posies on Parade." I worked the piece using size 20 Lizabeth brand crochet/tatting thread. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBz8FoijXTL0S3rFul88Ce_BJJi250sX1i2MfA8jExvFSodjmQxE5UHuZzBD-7EcuqIaARyHHt_CORr0Z0SScUlFBOrlkJnwFpMhX8ispmlY85_wAFpy1fO10e-natYMfbmQWqcuE4Bo/s1600/posies+on+Parade+doily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBz8FoijXTL0S3rFul88Ce_BJJi250sX1i2MfA8jExvFSodjmQxE5UHuZzBD-7EcuqIaARyHHt_CORr0Z0SScUlFBOrlkJnwFpMhX8ispmlY85_wAFpy1fO10e-natYMfbmQWqcuE4Bo/s320/posies+on+Parade+doily.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Last October I dug in my heels so to speak and learned how to tat with a shuttle. No, I am not talking about putting tattoos into people's skin, lol, I am talking about a very old form of lace making also known as knotting. It took me a while to get the knack of it but I am now doing a pretty fair job at it. I find it quite relaxing. This doily below is my first finished tatted doily which I just finished a few weeks ago from a free design I found at <a href="http://www.be-stitched.com/">www.be-stitched.com </a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicvDc2qXlXorHGUzy4x9vCsSA0tXnjFFbBzQ6Tc2F8q9akuT1dJ7T_mnQjJ7b39SmjUvwFuWVgcchrQo8Iu5B2mAfC6aDWecSW9WGtuLp5Ye5wIdJeTYn1MlXYiA2S0_y_wuilR27qNMI/s1600/First+completed+tatted+doily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicvDc2qXlXorHGUzy4x9vCsSA0tXnjFFbBzQ6Tc2F8q9akuT1dJ7T_mnQjJ7b39SmjUvwFuWVgcchrQo8Iu5B2mAfC6aDWecSW9WGtuLp5Ye5wIdJeTYn1MlXYiA2S0_y_wuilR27qNMI/s320/First+completed+tatted+doily.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I enjoy tatting so much that I decided to start a second blog and I am just going to talk about my tatting learning and adventures in it so if you want to follow along with me on that journey, be sure to visit the new blog. <a href="http://adventuresintatting.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://adventuresintatting.blogspot.com/</a><br />
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Believe it or not, I almost have all the projects caught up here. Just a few more to post about, whew!<br />
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I have my cross-stitching mojo back! I actually managed to put in quite a few stitches on my 1899 wedding photo project. It is the piece I created by scanning my Schreiner great-grandparents 1899 wedding photo and importing it into PC Stitch to create a chart to work from. I just ordered the new version 10 of that software so looking forward to getting that and playing around with it when it gets here. :) Anyhow, here is the most recent progress. I am really loving how this piece is looking! It is being worked on pure linen in the photos original sepia tones. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg96ZBgGTOJ3Nsz__1MPjmkg0D8btfN8IVWTdfRMNDGzVL1w1L7NFu2SviPCShdDc9c3yLTuxrtmeD0iZlADrNzoHUylCRLY7rhmgHYXTpR6-ULjAzULjedaPSdfxBTqj1ckGg2b_nailY/s1600/1899+wedding+photo+update+1+for+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg96ZBgGTOJ3Nsz__1MPjmkg0D8btfN8IVWTdfRMNDGzVL1w1L7NFu2SviPCShdDc9c3yLTuxrtmeD0iZlADrNzoHUylCRLY7rhmgHYXTpR6-ULjAzULjedaPSdfxBTqj1ckGg2b_nailY/s320/1899+wedding+photo+update+1+for+2012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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And now for the very big surprise...........<br />
after 15 long years......... drum roll....................................<br />
I finally finished the "Fairy Idyll" piece! See the before and after framing photos below.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjavSceoeQ76DNQhpj3uxMPuYD4KU1pkGUUMtuhzJt8Vrz2eANLPRVY6bFC8Rf0QiK1qebd7GMFZxmxrUikbXg4pxRqxxblumT0mM5i2vKUoZ3TIvMYBoS-fnLCIQQ1RTmtjY6uFUfAI8o/s1600/DCP_5683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjavSceoeQ76DNQhpj3uxMPuYD4KU1pkGUUMtuhzJt8Vrz2eANLPRVY6bFC8Rf0QiK1qebd7GMFZxmxrUikbXg4pxRqxxblumT0mM5i2vKUoZ3TIvMYBoS-fnLCIQQ1RTmtjY6uFUfAI8o/s320/DCP_5683.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8lCJ2mIFsBtxZB6FB89fshJQxruM7x1vZSiZxTCCJiurcno9-fsMJMyfCmqy3pQuNrwXbxhEAnryEHmpi4T4S6R7YzuxV3JSLShAt6ad5cn1HwYogI26-4SUnXfqID7NoVz0JinXNMy4/s1600/fairy+framed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8lCJ2mIFsBtxZB6FB89fshJQxruM7x1vZSiZxTCCJiurcno9-fsMJMyfCmqy3pQuNrwXbxhEAnryEHmpi4T4S6R7YzuxV3JSLShAt6ad5cn1HwYogI26-4SUnXfqID7NoVz0JinXNMy4/s400/fairy+framed.jpg" width="363" /></a></div><br />
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I became so overjoyed for having finally completed the fairy that I became motivated to get another of my colorful unfinished cross-stitch pieces out and work on it. I have had this chart "Old Friends" since it was first published in 1990.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2km4oJt8eoWlXXyjVuV7XAaDXXeP7l6dyxf7eibu03NEJuw75yw5YzgMrcXSFjjOG4F5s4GXHnyZQFxJC8w8DO6xCixwSgTXJT-P4iPZOUunNks4ky9AIMs5NNoX26sxZrnh8USs1iKs/s1600/cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2km4oJt8eoWlXXyjVuV7XAaDXXeP7l6dyxf7eibu03NEJuw75yw5YzgMrcXSFjjOG4F5s4GXHnyZQFxJC8w8DO6xCixwSgTXJT-P4iPZOUunNks4ky9AIMs5NNoX26sxZrnh8USs1iKs/s320/cover.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>I am working the piece on 14 count aida that I hand dyed. I love it and find it to be very cheery.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCEdYswpRXGVo4PKZP4HgfqAGq_uC3XijTbQnA6LmXips8hqq5s1qsIwAQKkRO_jXDZIKvZZD0iLFdDdRrTBr7oJIHW7bUNvJ3UJvJw_sbPLfg5610Fajd2y6J_JLwGW6p0oXIMgGxbs/s1600/old+friends+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCEdYswpRXGVo4PKZP4HgfqAGq_uC3XijTbQnA6LmXips8hqq5s1qsIwAQKkRO_jXDZIKvZZD0iLFdDdRrTBr7oJIHW7bUNvJ3UJvJw_sbPLfg5610Fajd2y6J_JLwGW6p0oXIMgGxbs/s400/old+friends+2.jpg" width="366" /></a></div><br />
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I really had not been motivated to do any cross-stitching at all after having so many issues with my right shoulder but I think that enough time has gone by without stitching that it was able to heal better. I only got my stitching mojo back after attending the monthly ladies craft group at church and as I sat there working on my tatting, I was watching three friends working on their cross-stitching and thinking hmmmmm, that looks like just what I need to be doing too! They definitely inspired me and got my motor going again. I am having a ball at it and I am so loving walking past my living room sofa and seeing that finished fairy piece residing where I hoped to someday see her settled in. She really changes the entire feel of my living room. I love it!<br />
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Until next time my crafting friends. :) <br />
</div>Ann H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03130662144901163719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955739705092880370.post-84649897951817134502011-02-23T20:16:00.002-05:002012-03-21T09:48:33.883-05:00First post for 2011 "Catching Up"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Wow, can it already be the 23rd of February and I have not posted in 5 months. I bet some of you thought I fell off the face of the Earth, lol. I apologize for not posting anything sooner. The last 5 months have been busy, busy.<br />
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Lets see what projects I can share with you. In <u>September</u> I made this little brown doily using size 30 crochet cotton thread and tiny pearl seed beads. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-PewOsAjzq_e4EbUwOP0TNgieg0DbXB34rVRfgmWFX-gFTkOqHZ91NeUjA0QpCgqWh67G0vmLWTBj852eAuaSqbRwdb30ECykxljSEmPbZl51mCw2Jsn0X-vjV9d4DZ3PzXwGeMrgZKM/s1600/brown+doily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-PewOsAjzq_e4EbUwOP0TNgieg0DbXB34rVRfgmWFX-gFTkOqHZ91NeUjA0QpCgqWh67G0vmLWTBj852eAuaSqbRwdb30ECykxljSEmPbZl51mCw2Jsn0X-vjV9d4DZ3PzXwGeMrgZKM/s320/brown+doily.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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In <u>October</u> I began work on two different twin sized afghans for the Central Ohio Binky Patrol charity. This charity provides binkies to many different agencies for the care of foster care children as well as several other important projects such as the <a href="http://www.gracehavenhouse.org/%20">Grace Haven House</a> which is a recovery house for girls and young women who have been exploited in human trafficking. While I was making these afghans an old sports injury decided to flare up and I now suffer on an on-going basis with bursitis in my right shoulder and upper right arm. It has really slowed down my productivity with spending weeks at a time with my right arm stuck in a sling. Not fun and very annoying. I now take my time on projects and choose to work on smaller stuff and hope to someday be able to get back to making afghans for charity.<br />
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Below are photos of the two I donated to COBP. Sadly, this charity has since been dissolved but at least I was able to help them for a little while. <br />
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This is my husband Joe an our little Pekingese Frodo on the left. My son Jared is hiding behind the afghan on the right. I appreciate them for being willing to pose the afghans for me. :) They did sort of distort the black themed one a little bit in the way they were holding it but it went right back into shape after the photo.<br />
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When <u>November </u>hit I was still experiencing too much pain with the bursitis to do much of anything but I did somehow manage to put in a few more stitches into my Great-Grandparents 1899 wedding photo piece. I was able to heal up enough to cook a nice Thanksgiving feast for my guys. I really wanted to do this as last year I was still suffering the lingering effects from Swine Flu and we elected to eat out. Don't worry, I was NOT contagious at the time, lol. <br />
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Here is the latest view of the 1899 Wedding.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNQkGd_f6Gp0U7nRD1qTwH1v5DmiVGdPlYCYkZL26g9FxkPH2kXIzIqLIcUn3UOpgalIUI7brj7Q03i9Ru8sk8OJX3yl1IA6lYFTjmL6aQqUFK6Dyp4acNi0vGVZ_-FwCoecv1yoK6Ps/s1600/1899+nov+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNQkGd_f6Gp0U7nRD1qTwH1v5DmiVGdPlYCYkZL26g9FxkPH2kXIzIqLIcUn3UOpgalIUI7brj7Q03i9Ru8sk8OJX3yl1IA6lYFTjmL6aQqUFK6Dyp4acNi0vGVZ_-FwCoecv1yoK6Ps/s320/1899+nov+2010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
I also spent some time making another doily. I found this really nice vintage pattern somewhere online. I know I really need to save the locations so that I can share the links. I am sorry I keep forgetting to do that. Anyhow, after a bit of trial and error I managed to make this lovely "Vintage Roses" doily for a relative. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggSopHwt52fyLEihSxRpOfeoR32_75NNznsfIWlolhp2c5tCl9nojx5_BwCcdKIb8Thy49qveL_DcLdxyxiiQ4O5TQSSsYJ1vYuFT_NBXvMl7olu1dLfv-PG2dU1TfImJulVg_ZMwXKKk/s1600/Vintage+Roses++close+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggSopHwt52fyLEihSxRpOfeoR32_75NNznsfIWlolhp2c5tCl9nojx5_BwCcdKIb8Thy49qveL_DcLdxyxiiQ4O5TQSSsYJ1vYuFT_NBXvMl7olu1dLfv-PG2dU1TfImJulVg_ZMwXKKk/s320/Vintage+Roses++close+up.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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I enjoyed making the doily a lot and then it dawned on me that I should make one of yellow roses for my mother since that is her favorite flower so in <u>December</u> I did just that and added a touch of green to it as well. My mother also liked hers very much too!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHOd0q9iSLQm3YBf6y-lzfVmc-S7Twm6OXI16M9PkpUZ1vRUSu5Vd6Wz1DhJu2viDrDGgqE2ThFoa5El66486g_xhP0sgi0gw5KvMKmlgnPfQgOnoEF6xnEjs5SoWHlONGdStLRZ8e5g/s1600/yellow+roses+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHOd0q9iSLQm3YBf6y-lzfVmc-S7Twm6OXI16M9PkpUZ1vRUSu5Vd6Wz1DhJu2viDrDGgqE2ThFoa5El66486g_xhP0sgi0gw5KvMKmlgnPfQgOnoEF6xnEjs5SoWHlONGdStLRZ8e5g/s320/yellow+roses+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8dGiLd3JFu4RsNEV9pe3E43KYiLUXzbw00_MXVrVnzDEbxI8zR4lGScuS-EJ5s7ngEfrtmy7gla4iT9pu30m4WDRSjxXPXFguw3kj1yCYNhQKMnL48T1yeOA8nJgLyr-tsx7ocu_HHEc/s1600/yellow+roses+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8dGiLd3JFu4RsNEV9pe3E43KYiLUXzbw00_MXVrVnzDEbxI8zR4lGScuS-EJ5s7ngEfrtmy7gla4iT9pu30m4WDRSjxXPXFguw3kj1yCYNhQKMnL48T1yeOA8nJgLyr-tsx7ocu_HHEc/s320/yellow+roses+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I did not block the doilies because I knew that with them going through the mail it would really just unblock them again. I also worked in November and December to make Barbie doll sized clothing for my great-niece for Christmas. I managed to create a satchel like bag that I crocheted for the doll stuff to go in and also finished up an outfit for a stuffed bunny for her. I just wanted to make sure she had a good Christmas.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVkn44u_XdWhVHGTaHMZCgS-Sq4PHWuBBtxjJ98ydupH74D2lQ1Xxki_M1QVl8tOurOw1ROWmt6cER2M09g4yQ1PefJvrnHKDYFNPrHl_kj1imCB8P-quL5VEvz-1NMKPno1SwrRUTaU/s1600/bunny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVkn44u_XdWhVHGTaHMZCgS-Sq4PHWuBBtxjJ98ydupH74D2lQ1Xxki_M1QVl8tOurOw1ROWmt6cER2M09g4yQ1PefJvrnHKDYFNPrHl_kj1imCB8P-quL5VEvz-1NMKPno1SwrRUTaU/s320/bunny.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVamdqIxeha3FKnC-F24RNVb5znPlOyyihBrpNplzj7eP5_KAv_7j3aO8uZDcDT76gowaUFCAlsPsjDzHbRNR2oEIPXgn1Mio6bCCnZfl6TPlhaUGkCGmi2JxLCl2LZBOOSZ_0bFk-kw/s1600/satchel+bag+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVamdqIxeha3FKnC-F24RNVb5znPlOyyihBrpNplzj7eP5_KAv_7j3aO8uZDcDT76gowaUFCAlsPsjDzHbRNR2oEIPXgn1Mio6bCCnZfl6TPlhaUGkCGmi2JxLCl2LZBOOSZ_0bFk-kw/s320/satchel+bag+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04o-Sm90L4z94WixrG6rjf6GkYCi8HNBSAE5P7M21Wu1iAX3IzlOfRs35CJQL7zrDRzFuBObHHOZJqzTKXN85pSRkqp-6MHJevkJQEWLHOzZPMazLg8e5MEAJXu4fvKYLmB9XFawVELs/s1600/satchel+bag+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04o-Sm90L4z94WixrG6rjf6GkYCi8HNBSAE5P7M21Wu1iAX3IzlOfRs35CJQL7zrDRzFuBObHHOZJqzTKXN85pSRkqp-6MHJevkJQEWLHOzZPMazLg8e5MEAJXu4fvKYLmB9XFawVELs/s320/satchel+bag+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I really wish I had written down how I made that lavender satchel as I made it because now I have absolutely no idea how I did that. I guess I will have to sit down here one day soon and just play around and make notes and see if I can create another one like it. <br />
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After doing all of those projects, I was pretty worn out and the shoulder was being an issue again. New Years Eve brought Joe back into the hospital. He collapsed and turned blue at work. A person in the building gave him CPR after which as he recovered he either had convulsions or a seizure just as the EMT squad got there. His blood pressure was far too high. Thankfully this time he was only in the hospital for one night but the downside is that he has reached the point in his heart/kidney health that he can longer ever be alone. Someone has to be present with him at all times. I am trying hard not to become depressed about reaching this stage but it is VERY HARD not to. I try to spend as much time with him as I can while I can and doing what he loves. Mostly he just loves playing games at his computer. There is one game that we are able to play live together and team up and do things in. That is fun. Except when his character dies. He is not a good looser, lol. We don't play board games together anymore because he is such a poor looser. We played Monopoly ONE TIME in our first year of marriage. I won, he refuses to play me every since and he STILL calls me Leona Helmsly. Oh well, lol!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Okay so moving on, lol, in <u>January</u> I started getting back into beading again. So much fun! It is a lot less stress on my shoulder too. This little bracelet is the first seed bead piece I have made since 1985. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDS-J56G9Gwz7sDZ0q_DdjX3SB3E63kNftK6Ce5GJoCnZqolEzel3QY8xIdggyAdXabQdl2VuV7QVuNFPQK7WXTJH3VEs5e4WHm2nkwm5nhYr0bjev6pVzltydHSNqmvSYU0X2eDMoTjw/s1600/bracelet1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDS-J56G9Gwz7sDZ0q_DdjX3SB3E63kNftK6Ce5GJoCnZqolEzel3QY8xIdggyAdXabQdl2VuV7QVuNFPQK7WXTJH3VEs5e4WHm2nkwm5nhYr0bjev6pVzltydHSNqmvSYU0X2eDMoTjw/s320/bracelet1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I had so much fun making this bracelet that I soon found myself looking around the net for free loom beading patterns. Okay kids, I actually have a link to share, lol.<a href="http://www.free-beading-patterns.com/"> http://www.free-beading-patterns.com/</a> I found this website to be loaded with them. I was showing the website to my youngest son, Jared and he found a design that he really liked and before I knew exactly what was happening I was committed to making him a wrist band from one of the designs. He had a few color change requests but I think his choices made the wristband rather awesome. He wears it nearly every day. We did change the clasps though to some magnetic ones to make it easier for him to fasten himself.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6zNOMscrQLdof769xXvB_apwIhfFTFwdF0IOzimBoRG1CsMKvimPwSKldU5M-LAKyYUywe5uPSfRocWkZ3mq5mB710of9GtHs_IPth6Y93U64gqqhFLIizP3z3VqgLhVZ0gHnzkicuno/s1600/Jareds+wrist+band.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6zNOMscrQLdof769xXvB_apwIhfFTFwdF0IOzimBoRG1CsMKvimPwSKldU5M-LAKyYUywe5uPSfRocWkZ3mq5mB710of9GtHs_IPth6Y93U64gqqhFLIizP3z3VqgLhVZ0gHnzkicuno/s320/Jareds+wrist+band.jpg" width="86" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9F1iyvvSkfl9EhfjvQ7E5nWaM6mXjK_GkysTNk7_uKzTDS-indxNh2sWQofKO_jHXFiokt_BtTH6VleCyOs-v8nGALibuhJZYckImA9uOspGQUFZ9LKgmsoqRfqS6OCZGt7r4UUPUQvA/s1600/Copy+of+J+band+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9F1iyvvSkfl9EhfjvQ7E5nWaM6mXjK_GkysTNk7_uKzTDS-indxNh2sWQofKO_jHXFiokt_BtTH6VleCyOs-v8nGALibuhJZYckImA9uOspGQUFZ9LKgmsoqRfqS6OCZGt7r4UUPUQvA/s320/Copy+of+J+band+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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I began work on a filet crochet rectangle doily. The design came from an antique pattern from France. I was working to fill a shape on my coffee table and discovered that one image would not be large enough so I then worked the pattern in reverse making the piece viewable from either side of the table. It is a fairly large piece measuring 22 inches tall by 18 inches wide. I am now currently working on a similar design for the other end of this same coffee table. I finished this first piece just a few weeks ago which brings us into the month of <u>February</u> finally. :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw_ypIso8q1D_GAlvIyv5y9YkQlPUC7ert6Ur7-8UWwuQjU_OajT8ohLCQzn_zz0sFGFQfIG40B3kmbj8Q6L2Hx9t6aJTjJXsZWucgGKi43PdoAp2D1oipyynSHlvh5GjbNQOfQrb19s8/s1600/filet+beast+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw_ypIso8q1D_GAlvIyv5y9YkQlPUC7ert6Ur7-8UWwuQjU_OajT8ohLCQzn_zz0sFGFQfIG40B3kmbj8Q6L2Hx9t6aJTjJXsZWucgGKi43PdoAp2D1oipyynSHlvh5GjbNQOfQrb19s8/s320/filet+beast+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I also, believe it or not, got back into some knitting this month and knitted a new pair of socks. Dare I mention I have another pair on the needles already. :)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqIDT8x3UqHe43GZxesYO2sGi562VMI9ZyvNPb8bDGQsJJelIwV1tZZVxASIz3k8JzJGhX27Zl1CFX-L0z_x8HjkrmeoDpGW2z6CFuy8OWG_L8LwWCjOfQGNdTEVnoyu32RaROReb9y4/s1600/long+socks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqIDT8x3UqHe43GZxesYO2sGi562VMI9ZyvNPb8bDGQsJJelIwV1tZZVxASIz3k8JzJGhX27Zl1CFX-L0z_x8HjkrmeoDpGW2z6CFuy8OWG_L8LwWCjOfQGNdTEVnoyu32RaROReb9y4/s320/long+socks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Both socks are the exact same size, I just have the cuff folded down on one. The new pair I am working on has beads incorporated into them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well this pretty well gets my last 5 months all caught up. I don't think I have left much of anything out. Well actually there is one more thing I really want to share with you. I have mentioned before in prior posts about my youngest son Jared being high functioning autistic. He is always making so much progress. He recently took the ACT this last December and did very well. He actually scored in the 98th percentile on the science section with a score of 31. His English score was not as high as we would have hoped but he did great over all. He is always amazing me! We butt heads and lock horns often but that is just a part of it. I think at times he is just a little too much like me if I am to tell the truth, lol. While English is not a strong plus for him and where the greatest area of autistic deficit resides for him, the kid or I should say young man has a way with his writing. Jared wrote a sonnet and with his permission I am sharing it here. I am encouraging him to start his own blog. I think he will be doing that this coming weekend. In the meantime I close this update edition with Jared's sonnet. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">"My dear"</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">By Brian Jared Heslin</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> Copyright 2011 Brian Jared Heslin</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">A simple gaze upon your eyes, without thought is enough to leave a man stumbling.</div><div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">My dear, you leave much room for talk, but little room for strict codes, with friendship.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">How might one get through these days, searching for your grace, living with hardship?</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Is it possible you have affected his nature so that it is made that he is fumbling?</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Or has his own nature affected your own, to where you have canceled his with your light.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Many have sought this light, but so few have reached its length, while one has it found.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Though he may have found it, surely you must have found the darkness in his sound.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">So it is your light that guides him though tougher times, for with him, now comes a night.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Perhaps then, your nature is peace, while his was war. Or was it perhaps his own will?</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Your will is one towards a pleasant time, a reflection on the good days, with a smile.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">His will is one towards a darker time, when he is alone; his is to run for a hundredth mile.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">So is it to be you care for him no matter what? Or does he care much about you still?</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">A long three year it would seem, for both light and dark to not clash, with hope.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Alas, it is more eternal than it appears, with both you and he to carry on this slope.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Ann H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03130662144901163719noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955739705092880370.post-79525909182443938522010-09-18T14:51:00.003-05:002011-10-16T18:32:54.669-05:00Sharing a "Happy Accident"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDlsVEEhMDkt4WdfCc7k4CV2NCZtIUvv8951U3FVKWdN9EmdASdqniMVcmqd8YzbCEOFN_scg-jmK-rJRgd3UCoIpYoq_nHv53TOslNjFdzfy38dpFMKUizndubOcmwAiGddImjDguYCE/s1600/a+very+happy+accident.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDlsVEEhMDkt4WdfCc7k4CV2NCZtIUvv8951U3FVKWdN9EmdASdqniMVcmqd8YzbCEOFN_scg-jmK-rJRgd3UCoIpYoq_nHv53TOslNjFdzfy38dpFMKUizndubOcmwAiGddImjDguYCE/s640/a+very+happy+accident.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
About a week ago I began a crazy search online for a very old granny square block pattern with nothing but an old black and white photo from the later 1940's to base my search on. Well that, and visual memory of of an afghan I have not seen in 1989. It was an afghan that had been in my husbands family for many, many years and has traveled off to another line in the family. Such is life. I wanted to try and reproduce the afghan design but try as I might, I have not been able to find the exact pattern anywhere though there are many internet friends out there keeping a keen eye out for me. In the meantime I decided to try and reproduce the design myself but again, with only the black and while image to go by, this became a futile task. Or so I thought. While I did not reproduce that beautiful design that I sought after, I instead created my own design that came about quite nice accidentally so to re-coin the saying of the late painter Bob Ross, I am calling this design "The Happy Accident." I hope you find it to be as pleasing of a design as I have and I am including my directions below with photos, many, many out of focus bad photography photos but hoping they can help in some way. It was quite hard to take the photos one handed while holding the work with the other hand, lol. One of these days I will re-shoot them when I can get one of my guys to sit by me for an afternoon and patiently take the photos for me, lol.<br />
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"The Happy Accident" block<br />
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Supplies:<br />
For an 8.75 inch block Size "H" hook. (I did try one with a size "K" and it was much looser and came to be a perfect size 10 inch block I tried "I" as well and ended up with same size as the "H" but didn't look as nice.)<br />
6 different colors of size medium worsted weight yarn. I used Red Heart Super Saver acrylic yarn.<br />
My colors in order were: 1. lt. purple 2. red 3. green 4. dk. yellow 5 purple and 6 black<br />
1 yarn needle and scissors.<br />
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<div style="color: #ea9999;"><b><u>Update:</u></b> About a week or two ago I decided to play around with hook sizes and I found that using a size "F" hook produced a perfect size 7 inch square. </div><br />
Abbreviations:<br />
Slip Stitch SS <br />
Single Crochet SC<br />
Half Double Crochet HDC<br />
Double Crochet DC<br />
Treble Crochet TR <br />
Yarn Over YO<br />
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Beginning and ending repeat symbols used: * # %<br />
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You will be working in color rounds in this pattern.<br />
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1. Beginning with lt. purple, chain 4 and join with a SS.<br />
Chain 1 and work 7 SC. Join through the 1st SC with a SS.<br />
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Work beginning puff stitch as follows: Chain 3, YO and work through same SC as the SS join and base of chain 3. Hook yarn and pull through the SC. You now have 3 loops on hook. Hook the yarn and draw through all three loops. Chain 1 to secure beginning puff stitch. Chain 1 once more. See photo below.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5VuabuT2ELYd8RO3S1MYFAGd7LFbVeSdQ0nRdvb6R3SZolRnSjUY91DRju6t15KL6giNBaDWjBHsnUMSeNmvYaozdmFpJgscY873KQDDoKG7KF5jpImUrJBr0VMNmSXaT0agN2ZsNhk/s1600/DCP_5220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5VuabuT2ELYd8RO3S1MYFAGd7LFbVeSdQ0nRdvb6R3SZolRnSjUY91DRju6t15KL6giNBaDWjBHsnUMSeNmvYaozdmFpJgscY873KQDDoKG7KF5jpImUrJBr0VMNmSXaT0agN2ZsNhk/s400/DCP_5220.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZq6MVLHemDyrl-3H7yIlPDPNohD0Tx12A65MWg0oS6XQePD_IAda6ZRSOvA_Vg20mmasGoUv7svEOzwvTRLyU8jXKodUxNRo_VJM8JrVOgCh3x2AG0_D64q6Ve4dC6yqRnQWQlmzj-O8/s1600/DCP_5222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZq6MVLHemDyrl-3H7yIlPDPNohD0Tx12A65MWg0oS6XQePD_IAda6ZRSOvA_Vg20mmasGoUv7svEOzwvTRLyU8jXKodUxNRo_VJM8JrVOgCh3x2AG0_D64q6Ve4dC6yqRnQWQlmzj-O8/s400/DCP_5222.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>Puff Stitch: <br />
YO and work through the next SC. 3 loops on hook. YO again and work through the same SC. 5 loops on hook. Hook yarn and draw through all 5 loops. Chain 1 to secure puff stitch. PUFF STITCH made.<br />
Chain 2 (this will form corner) See photo below. PLEASE NOTE: TYPO IN PHOTO SHOULD READ THROUGH ALL 5 LOOPS ON HOOK!<br />
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*Work puff stitch through the next SC. Chain 1. Work puff stitch through next SC. Chain 2. Repeat from * 2 more times and join to top of chain 3 of beginning puff stitch with a SS. Fasten off and use yarn needle to work loose ends in. Your piece should look like photos below.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOygR_z5qEct2StYbPgMeYyvyhM5QprWRdoMT7jqXwusWlNKWSD2hLBtZyDTb7lYYIXJ2r4H2KaGWRwaZTmE9I8xv4nP-cX2ruy-67Xr6nGfN0CXVEBktNJWwWfIDHymjtI8uhotWf5Cg/s1600/DCP_5227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="357" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOygR_z5qEct2StYbPgMeYyvyhM5QprWRdoMT7jqXwusWlNKWSD2hLBtZyDTb7lYYIXJ2r4H2KaGWRwaZTmE9I8xv4nP-cX2ruy-67Xr6nGfN0CXVEBktNJWwWfIDHymjtI8uhotWf5Cg/s400/DCP_5227.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="color: #ea9999;"><b><u>Update:</u></b> Note, an alternative method to get thicker puff stitch is to be more traditional and continue adding more yarn overs until you have made 5 yarn overs and have 11 loops on the hook. Draw through all of them. </div><br />
2. Next color Red.<br />
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Attach red in any chain 2 space and chain 3. This chain 3 counts as Beginning DC. Work a DC through the chain 2 space and chain 1. Work TR, chain 1, TR, Chain 1, and 2 dc. Chain 2. In next corner work *2DC, chain1, TR, chain1, TR, chain 1, 2DC, chain 2. Repeat from * 2 times more. Join the last chain 2 into top of the Beginning DC with a SS and fasten off. Work ends in. See photo below of finished round.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJU8et-KVo9y-5beBEW4IMMluNwNLEnqeM6bPhvWfqwFrQbsN7bcBSk3Ky9YuPVEn1DzfCfgN143gS0A_puATwfamfcPzFVarlH1tmLKxAOlqgRjg27IwUs1-x8Bxxfdqkik2FIqNE70M/s1600/DCP_5230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJU8et-KVo9y-5beBEW4IMMluNwNLEnqeM6bPhvWfqwFrQbsN7bcBSk3Ky9YuPVEn1DzfCfgN143gS0A_puATwfamfcPzFVarlH1tmLKxAOlqgRjg27IwUs1-x8Bxxfdqkik2FIqNE70M/s400/DCP_5230.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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3. Attach next color, green, in any chain 2 space. Chain 1(counts as beginning SC).<br />
I hope I can explain this next part well enough for you. You will now reach down to work a DC through the chain 1 space of the Lt. purple puff stitch round 1. You are working over the red and lt. purple chains encasing them. Study my photos below for visual aid.<br />
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Work a 2nd DC in same way. Work 1 SC through the red chain 2 space only. Study photos below.<br />
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*Chain 1, work 3DC in next chain 1 space, chain 1. Work 1DC, chain1, 1DC in the chain 1 space between the TR of red round. Chain 1, work 3DC in next chain 1 space. # Chain 1, work SC in next red chain 2 space. Reach down to Lt. purple chain 1 space and work 2DC as you did prior. Work 1SC through the red chain 2 space. % Your piece should resemble the back and front photos below. <br />
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Repeat from * to % 2 times and from * to # once. Chain 1 and join with a SS. Fasten off and work ends in. <br />
Your piece should look like the photos below.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZORE9v1lEMr0gWFBX3cNBrrKnkhzDQEfJd_7lQHl1b2wnRhNUyJPPo_xFTKdiz24-8WAZ1-OACPp-LJ6KCfk_5h9OlPq7i8n9WpzfA93xKajWkgP9ThdkORvwMxfLR2rL1oT1vh0UoI/s1600/DCP_5246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZORE9v1lEMr0gWFBX3cNBrrKnkhzDQEfJd_7lQHl1b2wnRhNUyJPPo_xFTKdiz24-8WAZ1-OACPp-LJ6KCfk_5h9OlPq7i8n9WpzfA93xKajWkgP9ThdkORvwMxfLR2rL1oT1vh0UoI/s400/DCP_5246.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG5FkmgCRoQ7Qkx0_VLJwXKcgZ6jbYji8BsHU1Oplk4XiVOnf1E5vr-hLxfONrArjaYyXAGHeteJgt4Fm-a5APE4FgeCne6fArciPxSvxxkGY3o8Qn0RJ8wvQYy4uOYKFFEae2q2LCTAE/s1600/DCP_5247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG5FkmgCRoQ7Qkx0_VLJwXKcgZ6jbYji8BsHU1Oplk4XiVOnf1E5vr-hLxfONrArjaYyXAGHeteJgt4Fm-a5APE4FgeCne6fArciPxSvxxkGY3o8Qn0RJ8wvQYy4uOYKFFEae2q2LCTAE/s400/DCP_5247.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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4. Attach dk. yellow through chain 1 space between a SC and 3DC as in photo below.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg2k1C-WbfeYEcgny5UltCZ7Q5SRyi1rsVVWVBggsqfKSMs_FUxfLr7E3B9WJ7QW_Cwuo_3EmB_B8rvWkZPVO7kWdEGlp04lV5B09JJqr1fxUU8Q9vnPHgTjauWEfjELg9XeS_SQ8onRk/s1600/DCP_5249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg2k1C-WbfeYEcgny5UltCZ7Q5SRyi1rsVVWVBggsqfKSMs_FUxfLr7E3B9WJ7QW_Cwuo_3EmB_B8rvWkZPVO7kWdEGlp04lV5B09JJqr1fxUU8Q9vnPHgTjauWEfjELg9XeS_SQ8onRk/s400/DCP_5249.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Chain 3 (counts as 1st DC) *DC through each of the next 3DC of green round. 1DC through chain 1 space. Work 2TR, chain 1, 2TR through the corner chain 1 space of green round. Work 1DC through chain 1 space and 3 more DC across tops of DC of green ground. DC through through chain 1 space. # Chain 2, work 1DC through next chain 1 space. % See photo below.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jUGwJ_oFxegIL1a89Oay9Vw4LfiLN92ZpISmuU5gRDf5EmpApvywQ-TnODl50hwzP5Sy4V4_TKFhzwVv6veCOh77UX2Zrai-KPfg09SfhVzVlDc1ucIUiuhDsbqFZm9vXwRZd7xgvpc/s1600/DCP_5251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jUGwJ_oFxegIL1a89Oay9Vw4LfiLN92ZpISmuU5gRDf5EmpApvywQ-TnODl50hwzP5Sy4V4_TKFhzwVv6veCOh77UX2Zrai-KPfg09SfhVzVlDc1ucIUiuhDsbqFZm9vXwRZd7xgvpc/s400/DCP_5251.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Repeat from * to % 2 times and from * to # once. Chain 2 and join with a SS to top of Beginning chain 3. Fasten off and work in ends.<br />
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You finished round should look like photo below.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESsmijuAjoIokoxDCc7shvwPrSP4B-qM1IowcQ3MQAZ_gm28wkytdYQoHcyDIgLsIsc97IdFkiWBcITfvLD5SQ_xRIg4Wcgxw0AAUKlr9upp_X7qud2Nsknv1h2_PGzmWF83T8zuN2BM/s1600/DCP_5260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESsmijuAjoIokoxDCc7shvwPrSP4B-qM1IowcQ3MQAZ_gm28wkytdYQoHcyDIgLsIsc97IdFkiWBcITfvLD5SQ_xRIg4Wcgxw0AAUKlr9upp_X7qud2Nsknv1h2_PGzmWF83T8zuN2BM/s400/DCP_5260.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
5. Attach purple at chain 2 space on side of the block. Chain 1 (counts as 1 SC) Work 2DC over the dk. yellow and into the tops of the 2 DC of the green round. (same method as you worked the green over the red and lt purple in round 3) Work 1SC over the dk. yellow chain 2 space. Work SC across to corner chain 1 space. Work 3SC in corner. See photos below.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGIbaMSwjbzX8wXnZarg24xl0ZUQXHvFp6Xm86_af_mdeMaVMldyRC2rbZ31LfxP80kCT9ta14XIoTh649m4gPUkMgJvRRELdn1IA92RTJf8VXDojpNLVQFM5zFPv8DRtqF4K3VsW7FFk/s1600/DCP_5259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGIbaMSwjbzX8wXnZarg24xl0ZUQXHvFp6Xm86_af_mdeMaVMldyRC2rbZ31LfxP80kCT9ta14XIoTh649m4gPUkMgJvRRELdn1IA92RTJf8VXDojpNLVQFM5zFPv8DRtqF4K3VsW7FFk/s400/DCP_5259.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie2F3Qi8rI-Rux6LnKBqsk1yuU4YZ1W1aBw27HOXLmNykab_ptk6YecwchgYhjc1Uz3eJ6PWJGmTOcGkfq_7xjtDMQ4KruqimcjiWYDuuxmBuPL5tSFPQJzm0QOx6cud36J3NSvbtoXl0/s1600/DCP_5261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie2F3Qi8rI-Rux6LnKBqsk1yuU4YZ1W1aBw27HOXLmNykab_ptk6YecwchgYhjc1Uz3eJ6PWJGmTOcGkfq_7xjtDMQ4KruqimcjiWYDuuxmBuPL5tSFPQJzm0QOx6cud36J3NSvbtoXl0/s320/DCP_5261.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Sc across to chain 2 space. 1SC over dk. yellow chain 2 space, 2DC over dk. yellow and into the 2DC of green round below. Work 1SC over dk. yellow chain 2 space. SC across to corner and work 3SC in corner chain 1 space. Continue in this way around and join to beginning chain 1 with a SS. Fasten off and work in ends. <br />
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6. Attach last color black in any corner. Chain 1 and 2SC in corner. *5SC across, 2HDC, 4DC, 2HDC, 5SC to corner % 3SC in corner. # <br />
Repeat from * to # 2 times and from * to % 1 time. Join with a SS. Chain 1, 2SC in corner, SC across to next corner. 3SC in the corner. Repeat around and join with a SS to beginning chain 1. Fasten off. Work in loose ends. Block is finished. <br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">©Copyright 2010 Andrea C. Heslin</div><br />
</div>Ann H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03130662144901163719noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955739705092880370.post-48595669791789038102010-08-31T19:12:00.000-05:002010-08-31T19:12:46.063-05:00Crochet for Pine Ridge Reservation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZ7laDXWWGDvKpRsm56waN936eiYJIQt6OErtvkHfPYlYe63s53h1vCwjdLr0GdfCm6cACsPNFPt71YAbvDfvwP7s7jJlslDZjkkD8NeW5TADVfmXrIrPx_JCot-zbUJe2XTMKQ2s3CQ/s1600/baby+items2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZ7laDXWWGDvKpRsm56waN936eiYJIQt6OErtvkHfPYlYe63s53h1vCwjdLr0GdfCm6cACsPNFPt71YAbvDfvwP7s7jJlslDZjkkD8NeW5TADVfmXrIrPx_JCot-zbUJe2XTMKQ2s3CQ/s400/baby+items2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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This has been a busy few weeks with the hook flying so to speak. I am working on a care package of items to go out hopefully soon to the Pine Ridge Reservation of South Dakota. I still have space in my box for a few more items so I need to get back to work. I have found so many free patterns on the internet that just beg to be used and what better way then to use them to help another person. There are at least a few clothing drives each year for the reservation where winters are harsh and income is severely lacking. It is my hope that someone out there encountering my blog will see this post and will decide to take a stand and aid these people as I and many others working with the "Friends of Pine Ridge Reservation" are doing. You can learn how you too can help by clicking on this link. <a href="http://friendsofpineridgereservation.org/projects/Clothing_and_Winter_Gear_Donation_Drive_for_the_Community_of_Red_Shirt.shtml">Clothing and Winter Gear Donation Drive for the Community of Red Shirt </a><br />
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On a much sadder note, the reservation is suffering with the loss of life from this summer. Over the course of seven weeks there were seven suicides among it's people. I have been told the oldest was age 30 and the youngest was only a 12 year old child. For those of you who are people of faith I ask that you keep those families held up in prayer.Ann H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03130662144901163719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955739705092880370.post-78592275503436081832010-08-20T11:56:00.001-05:002011-04-01T14:46:50.452-05:00Just another update<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I thought I would try and do a quick update. It has been a busy two weeks. Lots of different projects were worked on. The first item I want to share with you though is a long term project I have been working on since 1999. I started this quilt using Moda Marbles in the sashing and Oregon Trail II fabrics collection having fallen in love with this color scheme. The problem as to why this is such a slow moving project (11 years into it) is that I made the blocks 6 inches and each block has 24 parts to it. I will never do this on a small scale block ever again, lol. It is turning out lovely but it does take some time and patience to sew together each block. I think I have enough blocks made over the summer that I can finally add one more row. <br />
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"Clay's Choice"<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLpr_qyWgGhLtPEQnkNTbyrfwhZjw9l2otRSmVRDVb2fpaIYLF1-O8jB1JxIMS3siFSH8Kl97W1SHZQ5peXXW9lBbQf19dwr17NRRqPa7LbympXwi4egw6J2xXhI93-d7qi8Z_-XLfMHI/s1600/clay's+choice+in+progress+since+1999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLpr_qyWgGhLtPEQnkNTbyrfwhZjw9l2otRSmVRDVb2fpaIYLF1-O8jB1JxIMS3siFSH8Kl97W1SHZQ5peXXW9lBbQf19dwr17NRRqPa7LbympXwi4egw6J2xXhI93-d7qi8Z_-XLfMHI/s640/clay's+choice+in+progress+since+1999.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
I also recently made a crochet lace edging and have added this to an old tea towel I sewed a few years ago. The lace pattern came from the book "Our Best Thread Crochet" By Leisure Arts Leaflet 2889 Copyright 1996. I really love this book.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilSrPwV_pNgcpkyJQK-MM4VAlg26hXZxFApwpWmbtG437td39kwStSGfIL4d-tXtYl2_kMtaQniWLgBk5KGJdNz7LrKZYwmS_2N_qwgGhBcJZZ6xyfcAZBrSDmhX2OUgtteRCHq5YjCL4/s1600/towel+edge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilSrPwV_pNgcpkyJQK-MM4VAlg26hXZxFApwpWmbtG437td39kwStSGfIL4d-tXtYl2_kMtaQniWLgBk5KGJdNz7LrKZYwmS_2N_qwgGhBcJZZ6xyfcAZBrSDmhX2OUgtteRCHq5YjCL4/s400/towel+edge.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The last item I am including in today's update was a lot of fun for me. I saw some water-bottle totes photos and thought to myself, I bet I can design a pattern for one. So that is exactly what I did. I sat down with hook, yarn and pencil and paper and I created my first pattern. I really love it too. After I made the first one, the brown one in Red Heart super saver acrylic yarn, I made a second one with the Peaches and Cream cotton yarn in shades of cream and blue. I am sharing not only the photos of the drink totes I made but I am sharing the pattern I designed for them. I hope you will be able to follow it since I have never written out a crochet pattern before. I would appreciate any feedback regarding issues or ease is using the pattern.<br />
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"Ann's Nifty Drink Totes"<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqV9xfJXfUPgvOgCgZ8sjWLgfrpFmKFWxr4iBcWgKa5LXRGDumLf1pvUgSHfhzY_negg_ffjElSEkMVR4sgixfHvy42BfwTW3zz3H0tlXt10WL29LAshIrdxjmiIcBY7XckX4P9ntdtvo/s1600/drink+totes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqV9xfJXfUPgvOgCgZ8sjWLgfrpFmKFWxr4iBcWgKa5LXRGDumLf1pvUgSHfhzY_negg_ffjElSEkMVR4sgixfHvy42BfwTW3zz3H0tlXt10WL29LAshIrdxjmiIcBY7XckX4P9ntdtvo/s400/drink+totes.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<u><b>Pattern:</b></u><br />
Supplies: Red Heart Super Saver Acrylic worsted weight or Peaches and Cream Cotton<br />
Size I crochet hook<br />
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Abbreviations:<br />
Slip Stitch SS <br />
Single Crochet SC<br />
Double Crochet DC<br />
Treble Crochet TR<br />
Beginning Cluster BC = chain 3 and two TR into same stitch of previous row.<br />
Treble Cluster TRC = 3 TR into same stitch of previous row<br />
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Beginning round: Chain 5and join in 5th chain form hook with a slip stitch (SS) forming a ring.<br />
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<u><b>Round 1:</b></u> Chain 3. Double Crochet (DC) 15 times into the chain 5 ring.<br />
<u><b>Round 2:</b></u> Chain 2. Single Crochet (SC) into the first DC of previous round. 2 SC into next DC. Repeat pattern of 1SC into DC and 2 SC into next DC all around. Join to beginning of round with a SS.<br />
<u><b>Round 3:</b></u> Chain 2. Work this round as a pattern of SC, SC, then 2SC in into next SC so it will be SC, SC, 2SC repeated all around. Join to beg of round with a SS.<br />
<b><u>Round 4:</u> </b>Chain 2. SC through the BACK LOOPS only all the way around. Join with a SS. This will begin to cup shape the sides of your piece.<br />
<u><b>Round 5:</b></u> Chain 2. Sc into each SC all around. Join with a SS.<br />
<b><u>Round 6:</u> </b>Repeat round 5.<br />
<u><b>Round 7:</b></u> Chain 2. SC in the first 4 SC of previous round. Work a decrease in the next two SC of the previous round. Repeat this pattern of 4 SC and one Decrease all around. Join with a SS. <br />
<b><u>Round 8:</u> </b>Chain 2. SC in each SC around. Join with a SS. <br />
<b><u>Round 9:</u> </b>Repeat round 8.<br />
<b><u>Round 10:</u> </b>Work Beginning Cluster (BC){ chain 3 and two TR} into first SC or previous row. Chain 1 and skip the next 2 SC of previous row and work a Treble Cluster (TRC) {3 treble crochet) into next SC of the previous row. Repeat pattern of Chain 1, skip 2 SC and make TRC all around ending with a chain 1 and join with a SS into the top of the BC with a SS. You will have 10 clusters in total from this round counting the BC.<br />
<b><u>Rounds 11:</u> </b>SS into the first chain 1 space of previous row. Work BC into this chain 1 space. *Chain 1. Work TRC into next chain 1 space of previous row. Repeat from * around and end with a Chain 1 and SS to join. 10 Clusters in total. <br />
<b><u>Round 12:</u> </b>Repeat round 11. 10 clusters in total. <br />
<b><u>Round 13:</u> </b>Chain 2. Work two SC into the first chain a space of previous round. Work 1 Sc into top of cluster from previous round. Repeat this pattern around and join with a SS. <br />
<u><b>Round 14:</b></u> SC in each SC of previous round. Join with a SS.<br />
<b><u>Round 15:</u> Forming the drawstring row. </b>Chain 4. Skip 1SC and DC in the next SC of previous row. Now work pattern of Chain 1, skip 1SC and make 1DC all around. Join with a SC to the beginning chain 4. <br />
<u><b>Round 16:</b></u> Chain 2. Work 2SC in first chain 1 space and in each chain 1 space around. Join with a SS.<br />
<u><b>Round 17:</b></u> Chain 2. SC in each SC of previous round. Join with a SS.<br />
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<u><b>Beginning straps</b></u><br />
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<u><b>Row 1:</b></u> Chain 2. SC in the next 3 SC of ROUND 17.<br />
<u><b>Row 2:</b></u> Chain 2. Turn and work SC across 3 SC of row 1. You are now starting to make short rows to form the shoulder strap. <br />
<b><u>REPEAT</u></b> row 2 until the strap measures 46 inches. <br />
Be very careful not to twist the strap when you begin to attach it. Attach the strap to the other side of drink tote bag using a single crochet stitch and ties off. Weave ends into the piece.<br />
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<u><b>Drawstring </b></u>Chain 70 and work slips stitches along the chain back to the start and tie a knot. Cut 1/4 inch from knot. Weave the drawstring through the DC drawstring row. This will help secure the bag around the neck of your drink bottles.<br />
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Enjoy!<br />
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Ann Heslin <br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">©Copyright 2010 Andrea C. Heslin</div><br />
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<u><b></b></u></div>Ann H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03130662144901163719noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955739705092880370.post-89839519197422604632010-08-06T11:42:00.000-05:002010-08-06T11:42:11.589-05:00A Blues Melody.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZpvIeoVqKtNf0nYnhyyVU0iDU4asBiygeywQ3NehQ9kZ2xynG1WE52Z65wRd1_B50tcUUEhkAk5BBoYKjgSVn8Un6GYg_rQRdRvaS7dYxqpefETZgwPuVc8KdaV43U0_mnD9I3DVrrE/s1600/blues+med+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZpvIeoVqKtNf0nYnhyyVU0iDU4asBiygeywQ3NehQ9kZ2xynG1WE52Z65wRd1_B50tcUUEhkAk5BBoYKjgSVn8Un6GYg_rQRdRvaS7dYxqpefETZgwPuVc8KdaV43U0_mnD9I3DVrrE/s320/blues+med+1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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I really love this afghan! Rarely do I say anything like this about my own work but in this case it really is true. I have loved every stitch I put into this. I made this afghan for my 18 year old son, Jared. It is a reward for his attempts over the past 4 to 6 months of trying to keep his room tidy on his own initiative. He has made so many changes in his maturity of late. For those people who aren't aware, Jared is one of the many that have been diagnosed to fall in the PDD Autism spectrum. When I was first told of his Autism, I was told he would never read, write or do even simple math calculations oh and that he had no consciousness to him. Jared has consistently proved just how wrong that statement was. Not only can he do all those things, but he does them extremely well and is a very bright, verbal, creative and compassionate young man that also happens to be fully main streamed in school and an honor student. Anyhow, Jared's new found love for keeping his room tidy has greatly impressed me with his moving maturity in the right direction. So since he is making this effort, I felt it would be good to make him something that would be just for him and enhance his room, his personal space. This blues themed color selection is perfect for him and matches the colors of his room perfectly. Jared absolutely loves music of all types and to me the colors moving up and down in value made me think of music notes dancing up and down the scale something which Jared immediately could see when he first saw me working on this afghan. The entire pieces is worked using the half double crochet stitch using a size "N" hook and each color was worked in rows of 6. I added in some white and amethyst as separators for the color repeats. I am not a huge fan of fringe but Jared asked me several times to add the fringe to it and I have to say once I added it, I decided I liked it. I hope you enjoy this afghan as much as we do.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOh77WMMA3pvj2vxLhjJ2krvEo123w5k_ad5tQQPxTh03fMzq4TsHwImelvEVeRFNw03B3b9z6k3Eq7j9VvRhDdmnsjJLzpb0zI_mRDWxr4DZrZcCyXMwmjsP8DHRdzG87QRUTPNk-Jg/s1600/blues+med+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOh77WMMA3pvj2vxLhjJ2krvEo123w5k_ad5tQQPxTh03fMzq4TsHwImelvEVeRFNw03B3b9z6k3Eq7j9VvRhDdmnsjJLzpb0zI_mRDWxr4DZrZcCyXMwmjsP8DHRdzG87QRUTPNk-Jg/s320/blues+med+2.jpg" /></a></div>Ann H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03130662144901163719noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955739705092880370.post-77070271965036794652010-07-26T14:52:00.000-05:002010-07-26T14:52:23.414-05:003D Rose AfghanThis was a fun project! Each rose took me about an hour to crochet but was well worth the time investment. This is the first time I have tried to crochet anything on this scale. I finished it a few weeks ago and apologize for not posting sooner. I have already started 3 new crochet afghans. I guess I am in crochet mode but hope to get in some work on my cross-stitch projects soon.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_Pc_J_UTTAmUNJUp7zvde53vQvVvYVAf-qic9xEY8NEL1jeGrn7cuVwI858Lu7LBvQObJ4_UrtEUHgoT8Eyh0zQrUFogjt4IDgHWVu71TdvGyOJ7fBecSQjXT8-NlvlK3nOGqfgsbI4/s1600/rose+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_Pc_J_UTTAmUNJUp7zvde53vQvVvYVAf-qic9xEY8NEL1jeGrn7cuVwI858Lu7LBvQObJ4_UrtEUHgoT8Eyh0zQrUFogjt4IDgHWVu71TdvGyOJ7fBecSQjXT8-NlvlK3nOGqfgsbI4/s400/rose+1.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><br />
This goofy dog of mine could not resist posing for the photo. The hard part was keeping him off the afghan!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ymDmusIGiXRLQc87l6FEQnF1APDMM0yYpnP4l3vh4cIK0Ua4tj_WqPoiNg6iIwSDo4KnPo8NFvWfQLX5_rPb_yC42K9hE2kOfO9JiJiUxgC4ud_ZXe-HHWYrTytBzLel_D7095F2-Ug/s1600/rose+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ymDmusIGiXRLQc87l6FEQnF1APDMM0yYpnP4l3vh4cIK0Ua4tj_WqPoiNg6iIwSDo4KnPo8NFvWfQLX5_rPb_yC42K9hE2kOfO9JiJiUxgC4ud_ZXe-HHWYrTytBzLel_D7095F2-Ug/s320/rose+3.jpg" /></a></div>The roses were created first and the green yarn was attached to the back of the rose. The green granny square background was formed from the back with double crochet stitch and bordered in white yarn with a row of single crochet stitching. Each white portion was also made with double crochet stitching to form solid granny squares and bordered with a row of single crochet then all the squares were sewn together. Once all the blocks were together, I used 2 rows of double crochet in green around the entire afghan which I then followed with 5 rows of a cream white. I finished this afghan with a row of green using the single crochet stitch.Ann H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03130662144901163719noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955739705092880370.post-13805267926235867942010-03-09T12:08:00.000-05:002010-03-09T12:08:36.626-05:00A Stoney Creek Jungle Babies design<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-_qEzFDUjiTWVX0QqDsRiBpVeN84Y6sNMoKjLhtACd9byQ0VIpwpvwvzJimqoTZvhWs0FPAjN7ppmIShMXRjCipqYtRjDrLxQVQYRdvO69H5Q80RGOzAK5ijqHuF2ix3yV-r47VZds3Y/s1600-h/jungle+babies+elephant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-_qEzFDUjiTWVX0QqDsRiBpVeN84Y6sNMoKjLhtACd9byQ0VIpwpvwvzJimqoTZvhWs0FPAjN7ppmIShMXRjCipqYtRjDrLxQVQYRdvO69H5Q80RGOzAK5ijqHuF2ix3yV-r47VZds3Y/s320/jungle+babies+elephant.jpg" /></a></div>Isn't he darling! I just love him. I stitched him up and mailed him off to take part in a crib quilt being produced by the Krafters Korner Charity Quilt Yahoo group. We are working on quilts to donate to "Grandma's House" which is a temporary home for infants, toddlers and their young mothers who have no place else to live. A very worthy cause in my opinion. Thank you Mary for bringing this need to attention.Ann H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03130662144901163719noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955739705092880370.post-17692072486955232602010-03-06T11:05:00.029-05:002010-03-06T11:27:20.401-05:00Pine Ridge ReservationFor some time now I have wanted to write something to bring attention to this Native American Reservation. Words always fail me. I am not sure where to begin to describe what to me seems like a nearly modern day holocaust right here in America. I always thought and stupidly so that the Native Americans that are living on reservations were being well cared for by our government. I could not have been more wrong!! I knew we have poverty in our country but never ever would I dream it to be on such a scale as what these beautiful Native Americans are experiencing on the Pine Ridge Reservation. The teenage suicide rate on the res is the highest in our entire country! The average life expectancy is only to the age of 50! But you do not have to take my words alone for this information. Please follow the links and read for yourself the facts.<br />
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<a href="http://www.nativevillage.org/Messages%20from%20the%20People/the%20arrogance%20of%20ignorance.htm">Native Village</a><br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pine_Ridge_Indian_Reservation">Wikipedia</a><br />
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If you don't mind taking a few more moments of time, watch the videos on you tube and see first hand and hear the Oglala speak. Please be sure to pause my music choice player on my blog site before you click on the following links.<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJdp8J3HN1E">video 1</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TH-Z0l24h88&feature=related">video 2</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dq0Joi1ELps&feature=fvw">video 3</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fo40uUXPQ8">video 4</a><br />
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After learning the facts, I became compelled to do what I can to help. I am asking you that if you feel as compelled as I was to please get in touch with the "Friends of Pine Ridge Reservation and learn what you too can do to help.<br />
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<a href="http://friendsofpineridgereservation.org/">Friends of Pine Ridge Reservation</a><br />
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Thank you,<br />
AnnAnn H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03130662144901163719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955739705092880370.post-33054867090702623252010-03-05T10:11:00.004-05:002010-08-19T16:34:07.766-05:00Vintage Rose Granny Square Potholder<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtcl0uNlEP2Ikq33CxPsUFnUKkw02uY2WYaiEpHcYJJH6V2KEKKlR39ELywf0BahqMbqK9s3XLUSzfwpkJdisw5M2SmfznNuTfo-A4UEmWg8jkY-TG2pJNVVC6YMV6qDGdwzhE3lQPYg/s1600-h/rose+potholder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtcl0uNlEP2Ikq33CxPsUFnUKkw02uY2WYaiEpHcYJJH6V2KEKKlR39ELywf0BahqMbqK9s3XLUSzfwpkJdisw5M2SmfznNuTfo-A4UEmWg8jkY-TG2pJNVVC6YMV6qDGdwzhE3lQPYg/s320/rose+potholder.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Happy, happy Friday! </div>This week has seemed to have lasted forever. I have been rather busy over this entire past month of February and now we are into March. I wonder if it will hold true of March to come in like a lamb and exit like a lion. I hope we find ourselves in full spring by the end of the month. I am also a tad nervous about this March. The last week of March will make it a year since my sons and I nearly lost my husband from Congestive Heart failure. I am praying this this March will go far smoother. Joe seems to be doing quite well so I am feeling rather confident that we will certainly be celebrating his one year marker since being revived . I am also hoping that I will soon be finding more relief for my own health issues. I am one of the many millions that suffer from Fibromyalgia Syndrome. The doctor I saw last weekend was telling me that it is one of the least understood health conditions being experienced today. He was saying how each person experiences it differently, some mildly and others quite severely. At the moment, I am in that later category unfortunately. I have resisted taking medication for it because I was initially placed on Vioxx and we all know what happened to people on that nasty drug. It would seem though that I am reaching the point where I can no longer refuse medication and will be seeking out the best informed solution I can over the next few months. I really need to get mobile again! So anyhow, to keep from loosing my mind, lol, I keep myself busy with my needle projects. Although lately there have been times where the pain was even too much for me to do very much of that as well. Anyhow, today I want to share with you a longing fulfilled. It is this pretty little rose granny square crochet potholder. My husband and I had inherited several of these in a different color combination from my mother-in-law and I loved them. I just thought she was so cleaver! However over the years they vanished from our home. Some were lost in a basement flood that destroyed all the laundry I had in the basement ready to be washed and others just seem to sprout legs and leave the house. We lost all but one potholder she made and I have always wanted to find a pattern and make more. Well, I got so excited a few weeks ago because someone posted the link to a website with the instructions to make the rose granny square. The pattern for this can be found here: <a href="http://replay.waybackmachine.org/20040725152045/http://www.potholderlady.com/potholders5/Rose_Granny_Square.pdf">Potholderlady</a> It will take a few moment for the page to load the pdf file for it so please be patient. The green that I used is home dyed. I could not find a good green in the store so I just figured, hey why not use some of my white and just give it a dye bath. I really like the shade of green that I got from this. I have just enough left to make one more potholder. I hope to find the time in the next week or so to do that. In addition to making this crochet rose granny potholder, I have been busy crocheting dishcloths and I made two very large thick potholders from worsted weight yarn using another vintage crochet pattern. I just love them. They are large but wok well. And unfortunately, I have no clue where the pattern came from.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF51wtoKUGB_HBH7UTGu69mwsMfbVL-QplA0Mbgo98BvmsUnyr3xazbPMlQiacV8MlyxfrQLz2ExxDbvznRU8_XYjs8Pl1eWwnT1UQXi_0eqh1-57Eh12KLlI4DGNqbWCL3WKJ4e943ec/s1600-h/vintage+potholders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF51wtoKUGB_HBH7UTGu69mwsMfbVL-QplA0Mbgo98BvmsUnyr3xazbPMlQiacV8MlyxfrQLz2ExxDbvznRU8_XYjs8Pl1eWwnT1UQXi_0eqh1-57Eh12KLlI4DGNqbWCL3WKJ4e943ec/s320/vintage+potholders.jpg" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I hope to have more updates for you within the next few days as I have several projects that are very close to be finished and I look forward in sharing them with you. </div>Ann H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03130662144901163719noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955739705092880370.post-82398289787638633172010-02-13T17:03:00.007-05:002010-02-13T17:30:22.301-05:00A cross-stitching update<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn31a4PYTLBksXEJIxK7NiiZWNi1xoJNj5g8nATY_E587rR3naKtWM8N9iH25jm0cpZoDZ8IeLmEuN-9Vn67cvNkF-PkyLxVlvdEpA9XrEPFF77wJmMEzZWUN-YnNFmhhDIQyoAQ523yk/s1600-h/1899+wedding+photo.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 184px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn31a4PYTLBksXEJIxK7NiiZWNi1xoJNj5g8nATY_E587rR3naKtWM8N9iH25jm0cpZoDZ8IeLmEuN-9Vn67cvNkF-PkyLxVlvdEpA9XrEPFF77wJmMEzZWUN-YnNFmhhDIQyoAQ523yk/s320/1899+wedding+photo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437856306866121058" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />I managed to get in some more stitching on this piece of my Great-grandparents 1899 wedding photo. I still need to fix Grandpa Lou's ear but I will get to that eventually. My main goal was just to get back to some stitching. I rather enjoyed working on his suit. It was just the thing I needed to get me motivated to start cross-stitching again.<br /><br />I also returned to another of my stitching projects that I started over the summer. I was feeling the need to work on something simpler that would stitch up more quickly. So this old Cricket Collection piece of the Lion and the Lamb was screaming at me to be worked on.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLl-KwJKSgmNWZQaXetfGVp4suP1iDXO7aSwGsL40Su_6YkDP6H7y_tL17XEEsEtKCvvLT63WbtHelQCievd52cnfnWkwjckvnNy5NWiPwqNzEyjNQJXU9TdOcRjZnNH6pvkXeUZ8eJ4/s1600-h/lion+and+lamb.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLl-KwJKSgmNWZQaXetfGVp4suP1iDXO7aSwGsL40Su_6YkDP6H7y_tL17XEEsEtKCvvLT63WbtHelQCievd52cnfnWkwjckvnNy5NWiPwqNzEyjNQJXU9TdOcRjZnNH6pvkXeUZ8eJ4/s320/lion+and+lamb.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437856474381913378" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I am making rather good progress. Two days ago all I had was the frame border. I felt quite cleaver when it came to the lambs wool. I used to design and stitch needlepoint for a local shop and still have some Appleton's wool left over in my stash and found the perfect white and oyster colors which gave the lamb a fuzzy woolly effect. It is a shame that it just does not show up well in photograph. It is my hope to work more on this piece tonight after I cook dinner. I look forward to a nice relaxing evening of stitching.Ann H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03130662144901163719noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955739705092880370.post-87388006094713536782010-02-13T16:35:00.004-05:002010-02-13T16:50:29.085-05:00Valentine's ExchangeI am not sure how many of you are familiar with doing swap exchanges through the mail so let me give you a little background. This is a popular activity among hobbiests in the online Yahoo Groups. A theme is chosen, people sign up and names are assigned and a deadline is announced. It really is a lot of fun when they work. I have been partaking in Group exchanges for about 5 or 6 years now and in all that time I have only been burned once when my exchange partner did not follow through. I recently joined in on my first exchange in the Krafter'sKorner group having not participated in one with them before. This was the first time I was in a cross-stitch type of exchange. I have mostly been involved with sewing and scrapbooking exchanges in my past. If you have heard of exchanges and never tried them, I encourage you to give it a try. They are a lot of fun. It is always nice getting a surprise in the mail. You never really know what your partner will send you. Sure you know the theme, but that actual package you get is another story. Well I received my first exchange packaged and I am posting a photo here on this blog. I got some nice goodies. I received a printed pattern for a Valentine's Elephant with the floss and fabric to make it (this will be made into a pillow) a bookmark fabric piece with a pattern on the back of it and I received a blank card with an oval cut from it for making a cross-stitch design card. All in all I was pleased with what I received. Thank you "Grandma Dee."<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPB2mwoMSmwmkb3IXUBSpQjKQryHLT7YaTzY6f1gitAXkDZ5IfeBFNqaWDfvBaX5iu0_MrGENcPtfAIa4edMc21WYLRXzKOY1k1q9gT9s2VZGDbCf40YvbZ4sFsSiKdxN51x0dkE8HQdw/s1600-h/swap+from+Grandma+Dee.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPB2mwoMSmwmkb3IXUBSpQjKQryHLT7YaTzY6f1gitAXkDZ5IfeBFNqaWDfvBaX5iu0_MrGENcPtfAIa4edMc21WYLRXzKOY1k1q9gT9s2VZGDbCf40YvbZ4sFsSiKdxN51x0dkE8HQdw/s320/swap+from+Grandma+Dee.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437847811600712434" border="0" /></a>Ann H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03130662144901163719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955739705092880370.post-31593987755234403562010-01-12T18:13:00.007-05:002010-01-12T18:37:20.113-05:00My first finish for 2010!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_VeQ91izFbnFPU-PRNiR25nnqerh6XQKMZY0S9nR6O36MxmMceZ4cAZ7mboAODtqpEC458lXFcMsp31YKv4guigLocU0lczdbxaIAy1Ht91E_yV9aKYbNvYvHr4jhNXo-4b5SJT6qP3c/s1600-h/DCP_5023.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_VeQ91izFbnFPU-PRNiR25nnqerh6XQKMZY0S9nR6O36MxmMceZ4cAZ7mboAODtqpEC458lXFcMsp31YKv4guigLocU0lczdbxaIAy1Ht91E_yV9aKYbNvYvHr4jhNXo-4b5SJT6qP3c/s320/DCP_5023.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425999874748750962" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEs71FK2lV0NjMTL-By6Xz2AVr1IjV4xbQvR1UQoRamc88xqc8prsiAjmdwxyiVUjjg9NCETbyhPCVolwmdrG4LS_aTOvNLkcCoqMSYMMM3_BdJSSKn6i6T296zMuJhB7xBtRVgtLe5rE/s1600-h/DCP_5024.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 205px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEs71FK2lV0NjMTL-By6Xz2AVr1IjV4xbQvR1UQoRamc88xqc8prsiAjmdwxyiVUjjg9NCETbyhPCVolwmdrG4LS_aTOvNLkcCoqMSYMMM3_BdJSSKn6i6T296zMuJhB7xBtRVgtLe5rE/s320/DCP_5024.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425999693178040178" /></a><br /><b>This is actually an old project I started two years ago and forgot about thus turning it into a UFO. I am not talking about aliens from outer space though sometimes I wonder about some of these projects I have. I realize that the non-crafty friends of mine that may have just been sent to this blog per my request may not have the slightest clue about some of these little crafty terms we crafters and hobbiest often use. In craft speak a UFO = </b><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>U</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>n</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>F</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>inished </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>O</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>bjects which we eventually find our way back to working on and turn them into WIPs = </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>W</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>orks </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>I</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>n </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>P</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>rogress. I found this crochet afghan blanket last December in the forgotten state of UFO and it quickly became a WIP which I found to be a rather enjoyable project to work on. I had forgotten just how much I actually enjoy the process of crochet. I am pleased with the finished piece and as you can see so are the pets. LOL, if you spread it, they will come and hop on top of it. The dog is Mr. Frodo and the little white feline is our youngest cat Zelda the zany. She is so much fun and has quite the sense of humor about her. I rescued her from a cemetery as a wee little kitten that still needed lots of help. She was deathly ill and we had to buy special kitten formula to feed to her. I wasn't too sure she would survive but the plan was to get her healthy and find her a good home. Well here she is four years later and I guess we became her good home, lol. She follows me everywhere in this house! As soon as I spread this afghan out to get a good look at it and photos, both the dog and Zelda immediately hopped up and planted themselves. This afghan is now in my oldest son's collection in his room. He seemed to be rather pleased with it. </b></span><div><b><br /></b></div><div><br /></div>Ann H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03130662144901163719noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955739705092880370.post-83416949670678054462009-12-15T10:20:00.004-05:002009-12-15T10:30:33.510-05:00Finished socks for my oldest son, A.J.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwQNcHXvrlH5slaWvzaWdYEOcxR5qfM6-qgiZaEzgUQE_lLCU6cd1rx6GdgGAAXvdSULDXMesw-B7KlPVp9kplI8KQTyXQCbP7wfVuT6lYWcpoQp3_JOw4DIe3yOPq-HP2HdF40cJooM/s1600-h/Socks+for+Aj5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwQNcHXvrlH5slaWvzaWdYEOcxR5qfM6-qgiZaEzgUQE_lLCU6cd1rx6GdgGAAXvdSULDXMesw-B7KlPVp9kplI8KQTyXQCbP7wfVuT6lYWcpoQp3_JOw4DIe3yOPq-HP2HdF40cJooM/s320/Socks+for+Aj5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415483666308825218" /></a><br /><div>Well after frogging (ripping out) the first sock twice I finally managed to get the size adjusted to fit my son in the way he likes his socks to fit. Yes, I know they look a bit baggy around his toes, this is how he wears his socks. *Shakes head* He and I both had a good laugh though when noting just how big the feet look but after all this fellow does wear a size 13 shoe so of course the feet will look big, lol. Most especially since his feet ARE BIG! But as my grandfather would say, he is standing on a good strong foundation. Overall he seemed rather happy with the new socks and said they feel much better then the store bought ones so I am well pleased. Trust me, if he didn't like them he would tell me without thinking twice about my feelings in the matter. :) <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0suu0JRUFyLdrJ4Zyk4T31Df2xLEKguzqy1VfYNP_gKvliHisbnDL5iw5vEi471nMLeuVLrbT0jnu2qG4-XIHc-73I5SU6N9lXsEjnnYfTgc4ammnFSXW-iakuVoXwYbv-ABnntPoop0/s1600-h/Socks+for+Aj4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0suu0JRUFyLdrJ4Zyk4T31Df2xLEKguzqy1VfYNP_gKvliHisbnDL5iw5vEi471nMLeuVLrbT0jnu2qG4-XIHc-73I5SU6N9lXsEjnnYfTgc4ammnFSXW-iakuVoXwYbv-ABnntPoop0/s320/Socks+for+Aj4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415483482570944498" /></a><br /></div>Ann H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03130662144901163719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955739705092880370.post-11244292746528196362009-12-14T14:44:00.002-05:002009-12-14T14:51:58.616-05:00Here is a little something I just finished.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6CnpTcQDK7ED3noe3YnE0hvgWCmH1fxI870XQq6ijkfgg8_5CVJYWWkgE5fXH_9SMVKWcmaudWjidIFuXypZHihdPuy_olmgwPlb1XRc9Uzjlr_C7FlrVoyi4vdqa7vV2KVvtmNdYnQ/s1600-h/DCP_5011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 193px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6CnpTcQDK7ED3noe3YnE0hvgWCmH1fxI870XQq6ijkfgg8_5CVJYWWkgE5fXH_9SMVKWcmaudWjidIFuXypZHihdPuy_olmgwPlb1XRc9Uzjlr_C7FlrVoyi4vdqa7vV2KVvtmNdYnQ/s320/DCP_5011.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415180525372695714"></a><br /><div><br /></div><div>I started to make this little dolly dress and bloomers a few years back when I had a booth in a local craft mall selling doll clothing. The store owners went Chapter 11 so I pulled out and still had a lot of doll stuff cut and ready to sew but have been storing it every since. I figure now is a good time to get back to sewing them up only I am going to save them to gift to my great niece for her birthday in the spring. This is the first time I have used my sewing machine in over 6 months. It felt good to be sewing again!<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div>Ann H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03130662144901163719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955739705092880370.post-85539777087280759332009-12-08T23:26:00.004-05:002009-12-08T23:49:09.652-05:00Warm winter socks<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioQdZYO20iXFsC-r8mNvnzJ3scFnXrC409qfNIBXqABXzv3zZdvmfxSaNXg_IOecTEXhBFvyPDZtV-1WgrAxXOXCwGR-Sn539Bl6OoZqC2DLyqnC2I95BcNB-R5AELPgafE0Wm1rUPTHo/s1600-h/sock+blue+green+finished.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 241px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioQdZYO20iXFsC-r8mNvnzJ3scFnXrC409qfNIBXqABXzv3zZdvmfxSaNXg_IOecTEXhBFvyPDZtV-1WgrAxXOXCwGR-Sn539Bl6OoZqC2DLyqnC2I95BcNB-R5AELPgafE0Wm1rUPTHo/s400/sock+blue+green+finished.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413092062959840066" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">It must be winter time because the knitting needles and yarn are screaming out to me. I found this lovely yarn just a few weeks ago on Thanksgiving and had to get it for some cozy warm winter socks. I love it. They are so soft and keep my feet toasty. Yep, I already wore them and have had them in the wash. They came out great. It feels good to be knitting again! I used the "Magic Loop" method to knit them and did my own basic sock pattern of a 64 cast on working a 2k, 2p rib for 6 inches for a fold over cuff though they don't have to be folded over. After I finished the ribbing I reduced from 64 to 48 by doing a k2, k2tog for one row then knitted 10 rows straight stockinette stitch. I worked my heel over 24 stitches of row 1: slip 1, k1 and row 2 slip 1 perlwise and perl across for my desired heel length and worked the traditional sock method of turning the heel, working the instep by picking up 16 stitches on each side of my heel flap and working in alternating rows of reducing a stitch on each side of the foot and knitting without reducing until my stitches were reduced to 48 stitches on the needle then I worked straight knitting stockinette until my desired foot length to the start of the toes then I worked alternate reduction rounds just as before but reduced 2 stitches on each side of the foot for the toe shaping until I was down to 8 stitches and closed the toes using kitchner's ( I am sure I did not spell that right) technique. I am really pleased with how they turned out.</div>Ann H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03130662144901163719noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955739705092880370.post-49940973290336080362009-12-08T22:06:00.008-05:002009-12-08T22:48:48.676-05:00Adventures in Chaos and a finished hat<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldKnpXoXTAaSLdOGHGgl5dppNT0AQVXOyax3sewXi1scRbRPOhQ87q7ejOYN9jeU1qwfp3wsOGQv7dapXLAWb-Ls25qdPlj39r_yN3SglKdQquQiEHVUFucFLwGT1iC_txa7cgEl8V1c/s1600-h/Jared's+hat+2009.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 390px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldKnpXoXTAaSLdOGHGgl5dppNT0AQVXOyax3sewXi1scRbRPOhQ87q7ejOYN9jeU1qwfp3wsOGQv7dapXLAWb-Ls25qdPlj39r_yN3SglKdQquQiEHVUFucFLwGT1iC_txa7cgEl8V1c/s400/Jared's+hat+2009.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413074070812391890" /></a></div><br /><br />Hmm chaos and yet a finished item, how can that equate? Believe it or not it worked. Ah the beginning..... The search for the lost cord and no I am not referring The Moody Blues album. I am speaking of a lost sewing machine cord. Last spring hubby was in the hospital in dire straights and I gave orders to my sons just after Joe was released to help tidy the house. Well, my dining room was in sewing chaos and stuff got stuffed into containers and carted upstairs. So I have been assuming for a number of months that my sewing machine cord went upstairs in one of those containers. After I all, I have a clear memory of seeing a cord in one of the tubs and the cord to my Viking Designer 1 was in fact not with the machine so for me it only made sense that this had to be the cord. I sent the younger son after the containers one at a time hauling them downstairs for me to dig through them in better lighting. In them I found all sorts of goodies including half of my knitting supplies and a hat I started to knit two and a half years ago when I broke my foot. The hat was nearly finished yet I had managed to stuff it in one of these tubs and it was forgotten about until the search for the cord. I did located the cord I had remembered about in a tub and assumed it was my sewing machine cord. Well, since I had found that hat I decided to focus on knitting the hat instead of sewing so my machine set out on the dining room table waiting for me another 2 weeks before I decided to plug it in. However, the cord was not the correct cord. Good news, I have found the missing cord for my CD Player that I lost last spring, lol! Argh!!! Where was my sewing machine cord? Oh did I mention all this chaos was going on while I was fighting with swine flu?! My younger son and I spent two hours going through more boxes and containers yet we found no cord. I finally went in that room where I store everything and tore through it all like a bull in a china cabinet. Still no cord! I was getting depressed and figured I would have to contact Viking headquarters to see about ordering a new cord. My son commented that he just could not imagine me not putting that cord with my machine or the supplies for it then he headed off to bed and told me we could give searching a try again in the morning. No sooner then he left for bed when the hubby walked through and pretty much said that same thing about his disbelief that my cord would not be with the machine or supplies. At this point I did not want to hear this. I was so grieved and feeling sick about this. I started to head for my computer and thought, well I have checked the china hutch in the dining room three times already, why not try one more time just for the heck of it. I walked in there and up to the cabinet and realized as I looked through the glass doors that in my frenzy I had been checking the lower area behind the solid doors but here in the upper portion behind the glass was a small three drawer chest with my attachments for my machine in it. I though, "Naw, it can't be that simple." "Dare I even hope!?" So I opened the top drawer and out popped my sewing machine cord like a fake snake from a can of peanuts!!!! So let's see here, in search of my sewing machine cord I have found that cord, the missing cord for my CD player and I found a hat I was nearly finished knitting. Well, I think that was pretty good. And I went ahead and finished knitting the hat!<br /><br />This hat is a double knit hat designed by Nancy Lindberg and it is my very first ever attempt to make a double knit piece. My younger son has adopted it. The colors are not quite the masculine shades of blue I had called in to request from my local yarn shop which were picked up for me by my loving husband while I was laid up in bed for 6 weeks with a broken foot. My son does not mind the light colors and says it is soft and comfortable which is all he cares about.Ann H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03130662144901163719noreply@blogger.com1