Knitting Passion

This should be one I can keep . . . giving home made for Christmas. As the grands have asked for certain things already - and those things being from the needles - I think I am on my way to keeping this pledge already.

I’d like to thank Summer at Creative Mom Cafe for the link and the idea. It’s not too late for you to get in on the fun . . . click on the buy handmade button above and go on over to sign up.

The bag for oldest granddaughter is coming along - but all of that stockinette stitch gets old after a bit - so I have to set it aside to either pick up something else to work on - or come back here to type about the latest projects.

either way . . . heh

If you’re looking for a new project . . . other than Shelly’s Share a Square, that is . . . check out the Jesse’s Branch Charity Crafts site. There are lots of ideas there, including Duffel Bags for foster kids. These are sewn, not knit, but worth looking into if you have time and the capabilities to do some up.

There are also patterns for baby sweaters and Christmas ornaments. How cute are they?!

I sent a batch of mini socks off to a charity that requested them awhile back and have been working on some for coworkers for Christmas gifts. I am thinking I NEED to do some of the little hats and sweaters and mittens, too. Maybe I will take in my Mom’s mini Christmas tree for my office and place some of the ornaments on it! Actually, I think they might dwarf the tree. Ah, well.

handmade Christmas gifts, mini socks, mini hats, mini mittens, mini sweaters, Christmas ornaments, charity

So you have a favorite man on your list - he’s a knitter - AND - he’s a dog lover. What to get him for Christmas/birthday/anniversary/just because I love you gift?

How about this great book? Men who Knit and the Dogs who Love them. It’s only $24.95 at full price and is currently listed for $18.21. Can’t go wrong at THAT price, right? Right.

Team it up with Knitting With Balls - I’m sure that is pun intended. What a name!

So, if your man is a REAL man - and we know real men knit - then gift him with a special book this year.

And, if your best friend, mother, (ahem!!!!), sister, aunt, uncle, etc. is a knitter . . . how about a new book of patterns for him/her, too????

Some hints (for those who love me - heh)

Knitting Never Felt Better

Twelve Bags Fulled (oh my, oh my! Lovely)

Bag Style - LOVE the bag on the cover of this book!

New Pathways for Socks

Favorite Socks (staying with THAT theme for a moment)

Twisted Sisters - man I love that name, too!

Well, as you see, I could go on and on and on some more. There are so many things out there that any of us would love to have for a special gift. If you draw a blank on what to get that favorite person, just think about the many projects s/he has been working on lately and go from there - or maybe you have something you would like made for YOU - get the pattern or the supplies needed to complete that project and gift your favorite crafter with those. Yeah, that’s sort of sneaky - but I wouldn’t mind it. Okay, I might - IF the project is out of my comfort or knowledge range. So, know your knitter might be a good mantra.

When all else fails, get them a gift certificate for their favorite LYS (local yarn store). S/he’ll love you for THAT.

Okay - I am out of here. Hubby just called and is headed home from the big city. Should be rolling in here in a couple of hours. So I think I will go out and pull out some needles and the latest project and settle in for a night of some knitting.

Sounds good to me. Have a wonderful weekend, everyone.

amazon, books, gifts, giving, Christmas, knitting, supplies

As promised here - I have chosen the winners of the skully dishcloths:

Gillian posted a link in her entry here, and since she is the ONLY one who posted a link - and told me about it - SHE IS THE WINNER of one of the cloths. Congratulations, Gillian. Please email me at:
prplmoose AT kenaiwriter DOT net with your postal address so that I can ship one of these off to you tomorrow.

I had three commenters who mentioned they would like one of the cloths. I wrote those three names down on paper, folded them all up teeny-tiny, then asked hubby to choose one from my hands. By the time I had folded them all up, jiggled them about in my hands, walked into the front room, jiggled them about yet again, and asked him to choose I had ABSOLUTELY NO CLUE who was on which piece of paper.

I’m pleased to announce that Wendy is the winner of the second cloth. Wendy, please send me your postal address so that I can mail it out to you tomorrow.

To Randi and Lisa - thank you thank you thank you for coming by and commenting! I wish I could send cloths to everyone. (maybe next time)

I have just completed day three of a five day workshop - I’m the main facilitator of the workshop which means I get to do most of the talking. It covers some really heavy stuff and it makes all of us (teacher and students) think about the things mankind can do to mankind. It’s not easy being on EITHER side of the podium.

I’m whupped!

Add to that - tonight was the agency’s annual Board meeting. All of the component supervisors had to attend to give a report of the previous fiscal year. Since I’ve changed positions in the agency, my fy07 report was given by that new person and I gave the fy07 report for the person who used to hold my job. Veddy interesting!

skully dish cloth, knitting, dish cloth, comment

This column is a departure from my normal sunny and funny and punny disposition.

If you’ve been reading here you know that I have been working on grannies for a project that Shelly came up with - to blanket 140 kids with cancer at Camp Sanguinity this year.

I check her site pretty much daily to see the new squares sent in and to read a bit about her life down there in Texas. Yesterday she posted about one of the other granny suppliers - Thorne - and a loss she had suffered in her family.

Thorne’s new grandbaby would be 6 months old today. But, Thorne and her daughter and son-in-law . . . her entire family . . . is missing their little Pharaoh today. He unexpectedly “simply stopped breathing” last week.

Please go over and offer your condolences to this family.

We lost a little grandboy 7 years ago - he was 9 days shy of turning 2 years old. Because of his age the police keep the case open - they will not call it SIDS. They will not even call it SUDS (Sudden Unexplained Death) although both are documented reasons for such a death at his age.

The fact that the police hold the case open does not really matter to us anymore. It was a horrific time to live through due to a LOT of family dynamics with the added stuff of the police being involved because of some of the outside family dynamics.

But what REALLY matters is the gaping hole Jacey’s loss has left in our hearts. He was a red haired little charmer and I miss him still.

The last picture taken of him and his two brothers was done at a K-Mart studio - the background chosen (for some unexplicable reason) shows a shooting star - the starburst is directly above Jacey. His daddy puts a lot of stock in that.

I say take your comfort where you can find it. If it helps to think that is God’s light shining on your child, then look toward that Light and praise Him for the comfort.

You know, Grammas and Nanas have really strong hearts - really full and loving hearts - but sometimes those hearts just break with the sadness of it all. Please go and give Thorne some love today. I know that she could use a virtual hug - even from folks she might not know.

It’s those hugs and expressions of love that get you through from one minute to the next.

The pain - it never truly goes away. It just changes over time. Soon you remember the good things more than you remember the loss. Soon the hole in your heart just grows scabbed over. I envision my scab with a picture of Jacey on it. And, that makes my heart swell a bit and my smile to come a bit more easily.
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One other thing I would like to add - there is a request for money to help the family. Please - if you can, drop something into the pot to help. I canNOT tell you of the amazing expenses that are involved in the death of a child. They are many.

So many people helped my daughter and her family after Jacey died. So many helped my other daughter after her husband died. One person even brought PAPER products to help. You know, the things you run out of because you have forgotten to go to the store because you just can’t even THINK about it? Yeah, toilet paper, paper towels, paper plates and napkins and plastic ware so we wouldn’t have to wash dishes. What a blessing!!!

thank you all.

Thorne, Pharaoh, loss of a child

Busy week this one - I am facilitating a week-long conference - boy do my ankles hurt! All that standing in front of a class of eager learners - ouch, ouch, ouch.

But, I love my job!

After work, picked up the Girl from her auntie’s and then fixed a quick dinner for her, brother, and hubby and myself.

then . . .

The Girl’s band concert - first of the school year. They did very well. Nothing like a middle school band to keep you listening to GOOD music - you know? I really have to hand it to the teacher, Ms. S. She must REALLY love music in order to work with these kids as well as she does. To think that Miss M (aka the Girl) was once a beginner herself - although she DID own up to at least one of the squeaks tonight. Heh

While waiting for the concert to start I worked on her Christmas gift - the felted bag she requested. It is getting there - looks like I have at least 12 inches - of the 30 inches required.

Finished the two skully dishcloths this morning - the orange one is really a lot more orange than gold - but the camera sees it kind of funny. But, the commenter who wins the orange one? It’s be orange - really.

More like this.

These are just too much fun to make. I have two more on the needles right now - these are for folks here at home.

Have a wonderful week, everyone. I’m off to rest the weary feet and ankles. Remember to comment for a chance to win one of the dish cloths.

skully dishcloth, comment contest, knitting

The Box has been repacked and returned . . . with two lovely afghans stitched together and a couple of surprises for Shelly added also. For some reason the box cost $8 more to return than it did to get here. Didn’t realize that black yarn would weigh so much. Hubby looked at me last night and said “you don’t look right without all that black yarn around you.” Ha, ha, ha. He is a punny fellow.

Afghan #1 . . . and a

close-up of one corner.
Click all pics for a larger version

I edged this one with a blue yarn in between two rows of black.

and, here’s number 2. I used green for this one.

While these are headed back to Texas and Shelly’s overflowing (with love) house, I have started two of the Skully dishcloths. Figured it would go just as quickly - AND get two done in the same time - if I put black and orange on the needles. Pics tomorrow, perhaps.

hmmmmm - who shall receive these spooky cloths?????

Tell you what . . . leave a comment telling me why YOU should receive one of these dish cloths and I will choose from the comments on Wednesday (the 24th) and put one into the mail Thursday.

For a bit of extra fun - mention this in a post on your blog before Wednesday - come back here and let me know via comments that you have done so - I will pick from them and send the writer of THAT blog the other cloth - also on Thursday. (the 25th)

Off you go now . . . See you back here soon.

share a square, knitting, crochet, skully dish cloth, contest

I am taking an annual leave day today - yesterday was a holiday for me - Alaska Day. It just felt GOOD to take an extra day off and I have PLENTY of annual leave to use, with little time to do so . . . so, here I am.

Have worked out this morning - only 23 laps in the pool today. I am still way ahead of where I was just 6 short weeks ago, but I did 3/4 mile yesterday! (27 laps) Daughter, Ladybug, forced encouraged those last two out of me. All in good fun, of course.

After pool, hubby and I took oldest grandson (15) out to breakfast - there is an In-service for the schools today so, no school! (and, his mama is off galivanting around CA with celebrity chefs and all that! Leaving us the delightful chore of watching her babies! - she’ll tell us all about that on her return)

Then we went to a garage sale hosted by an associate of mine - where we found a lawn mower for $40 (now that snow is coming, that is surely a necessity!) and goodies for the Boy and for some of the grands - unopened things that are PERFECT for Christmas gifts! And, I only spent $15 on them. Lessa and Ladybug will be very impressed.

I have been paying bills and straightening up the dining table since then and now hubby is resting from his all night shift and I am trying not to make too much noise - so I am here. Yay!

Hello to Summer at Creative Mom who is planning some winter knitting herself.

So . . . here’s something I am planning to do before Halloween - yikes! That is coming up SOON! Is that like FUN, or what?

Have an awesome weekend, everyone!

knitting, halloween, creative mom, swimming, garage sale, fun

Here we are past the middle of the month and I have not mentioned Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We talked earlier about Domestic Violence Awareness Month, but I put this one on the back burner and am only now getting around to it.

Breast cancer affects many people - every one of us can name at least one person in our circle of family and friends who has been diagnosed or died from breast cancer. My mother’s sister - my Aunt Mickey - died from metastasized breast cancer in 1972. My cousin, daughter of another sister of my Mom’s, died three years ago at a very young age, leaving behind two children and a husband - and a grieving mother and father.

A comment I heard recently stands out as one of the most unknown facts about the disease - approximately 7% of breast cancer victims are MEN. That’s right - MEN. So, ladies, talk to your loves and teach THEM how to check for lumps and thicknesses, too.

And - I hope that each of you over the age of 35 (or younger on your doctor’s advice) are having your mammograms. I had mine last week and heard today that it is considered normal. That’s a blessing for at least another year. In the meantime I will be continuing examining my breasts every month for changes. I hope you will be doing the same at your house. (YOURS - not mine, of course)

How, you might ask, will I tie this into knitting? Hmmmmm - how about a pair of these lampworked pink knitting needles? “The Breast Cancer Site will fund 1.0 % of a mammogram for each pair of Pyrex™ Lamp-Worked Pink Glass Knitting Needles purchased.”

The price is right - or at least, not exorbitant beginning at $14.95 - AND you could help a woman who is unable to pay, receive a mammogram. What a bargain that is!

Check out the Pretty in Pink knitting set, too.

Click on the picture for the pattern.

Take care, everyone - and be nice to yourselves.

breast cancer awareness, knitting,

When hubby and I arrived home from the big city last Friday, we noted that it apparently had tried to snow sometime overnight. There was not much evidence of the event as far as we could see - until we spotted this:

Apparently there was just enough snow to make a mini-snow dude to sit atop the dumpster and wave at the traffic. Hey - we live in Alaska - we make our own fun. Yes, indeedy.

So - on the knitting front . . . what? did you forget this was a knitting blog? Nah, me, either.

Awhile back I told about my friend traveling with me to the big city for some retail therapy.

To occupy her fingers while I drove and we talked, B brought along her needle basket in hopes of making order out of chaos.

before (click for larger)

Oh, come on, you can admit it. Your needles sometimes look just like that, don’t they? I know that mine do. I recently did much the same thing - attempted to set all things in order.

My friend succeeded - even if it is only for a moment . . . here was that moment captured for you digitally:

After: again, click for larger view

Nicely done, friend.

I received an email from her this morning telling me her progress on her Lucy bag. She’s a bit further along than I am on the bag I am knitting for granddaughter for Christmas. But I will get there soon.

Have a great afternoon everyone.

click for larger view

Well, I’m not clipping along as quickly as I had hoped, but one afghan is now complete. I will show pics of the completed afghans when both are done.

The first - and, really, the hardest - thing I did was lay out all of the squares and mix them around until I had a sort of pleasing array of crocheted goodness. How lovely to see all of the beautiful squares made by so many people for the kids of Camp Sanguinity! I did some changing around as I sewed the squares together, too. All in all, the effect is pleasing to the eye.

An added blessing of seeing all those different names on the squares . . . I was able to pray for each person who had a hand in that afghan. And, also to pray for the child who will receive the completed wrap of love. For, really . . . that is the ONLY reason people would commit to working on such a project, right? Their love for their fellow man/woman/child.

Perhaps that is a bit philosophical for a knitting blog, but there you have it. There really is a connectedness in the internet world. Shelly has discovered many new friends from this project of love - and so have I.

I’m sending out a huge Alaskan hug to all of you out there.

And . . . for the sticklers out there - yes, I know this is a KNITTING blog. But, there is room for all of the different ways to “tie knots” as my hubby calls it. He tells me that “it’s all just tying knots, dear” and grins when I throw a ball of yarn at him - in a totally non-violent way, of course.

Daughter, Lessa, is fixing to leave us for awhile. She is taking a much needed “mommy health” break and running away to California to visit with friends and family. Hubby and I and daughter, Ladybug, will be charged with keeping tabs on her three youngsters. Well, they are getting big enough to pretty much take care of themselves, but we will do the feeding and rassling into bed and making sure they are where they are supposed to be over the next week and a half.

It is a joy to be a Gramma - exhausting at times, but a joy nonetheless.

And, now, my friends, it is time to get the bathing suit on and head over to the high school for my morning workout. Whoot!

knitting, crochet, share a square, camp sanguinity

Hubby had his second cataract surgery Thursday. I talk a bit more about the surgery and staff over at Diabetes Health Talk. You’ll want to check out where we ate lunch before leaving Anchorage. Oh, my!

I like to keep my fingers busy - especially when going through something stressful - like hubby’s surgery - so I took some squares from the Box I received from Shelly’s Share a Square project to edge with black while I waited. Several times the staff walked by and commented on the different squares. Some thought I was REALLY fast to do so many in such a short time. I had to tell them I was only adding the black.

Finished the rest of them yesterday and this morning after getting home. Have just started to stitch the squares together for the afghans now. I hope to have that part done by tomorrow, Shelly. Then I will start on the edging around them. I bought some bright colors - and more black - while in Anchorage.

click for larger view

Shelly has given me until December to finish these, but I would like to finish them a lot sooner - then if she wants me to do a couple more she can send those to me - and, while waiting for those I can work on the requested Christmas items for the two older grandkiddos.

Hubby’s feeling a tad puny today - I don’t think it has anything to do with the surgery, thank the Lord. He got chilled Friday while pumping gas for the return trip home. And, he hasn’t been able to get warm since. He’s in his chair sipping on tea and snuggling in a fleece blanket the Ladybug made for him.

He’s resting up for our shopping trip with Master TAT. Have a great weekend, everyone.

share a square, afghans, camp sanguinity

Yesterday I received a surprise in the mail - okay, I was expecting it, but it was still a surprise. Seeing that there is a key for the package cluster box is always fun.
it was a bit crumpled - but the contents were just fine.

Squares - lots and lots of lovely squares. Enough squares to put together two afghans for Shelly’s Share A Square project.

The ones in the upper left hand corner I have already added black to. I think I’ve done about 20 so far of the first 48. There are 48 more in the bag on the right waiting to have black added to them.

But now i have a favor to ask of all of you . . . It’s the big push, everyone. If you have been meaning to take up that crochet hook and your leftover yarns, now is the time to do so. Come on, you know you wanna!

Grannies are so quick to work up, too, and what a fun way to use up all of those leftover little balls of yarn rolling around in your stash closet. A person can whip up several while watching evening shows on the telly - well, unless you’re like me and tend to fall asleep with hook in hand during the news! The news! Yes, I fell asleep tonight while watching the news and putting black around a square! How tired can someone be to do that? Come on, you can laugh along with me.

But, seriously, folks. Shelly is working on a really neat project. 140 kids attending Camp Sanguinity next summer will be given their choice of one of the afghans we’ve all been stitching the squares for this fall and winter.

I can only imagine the looks on their faces when they find out the afghans are THEIRS for keeps. And, each afghan will contain 48 hugs from 48 different people. 48 prayers tied up in many variations of colors.

Okay . . . at least 48. But there are other prayers and hugs going into each afghan. Each person who has taken time to edge a square in black . . . each person who has taken time to stitch an afghan together . . . each person who has then edged the afghans . . . each of those folks has breathed a prayer for the recipient.

As I have been edging the squares, I have offered simple prayers to my Lord to bless the person whose hands stitched the square. May He bless each and every one of you who has been working on the project. May He bless each and every one of you who is considering adding to the project. May He bless each and every one of you who is doing something to make your world a better place - whether with this project or your own project.
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Hubby and I are off to the big city tomorrow. He is having his second cataract surgery sometime after noon. We have to be at the doc’s office at noon. Your thoughts and prayers are coveted and we are thankful.

Have a great rest of the week.

share a square, crochet, knitting, charity, camp sanguinity

Why should that title belong to a knitting blog? Well, you might ask.

According to a RTE news article, the painting at left above by daVinci was stolen in 2003 by thieves disguised as tourists. Called the Madonna of the Yarnwinder, the painting on the left was on display at a Scottish castle when stolen. The painting on the right is the American version.

You’ll note that the yarn winder is shaped like a cross - thus the religious connection.

However, in searching for a better picture to show, I came across mention of Meister Bertram’s Knitting Madonna, the Visit of the Angels as discussed in The History of Knitting.

I couldn’t find a picture of that painting, but found the following:

She’s using 4 needles - AND - is knitting in purple - a favorite color of mine. How perfect.

I suddenly find myself singing Knitting Madonna (Lady Madonna . . .) a version only in my head. You may thank me later for that when you sit down for a cuppa. Haha.

But, now you tell me . . . when the Lord’s mother crosses your mind - do you see her sitting and knitting? Nope, I guess I never did, either. But it only stands to reason that she had a hand in making the clothes she and Joseph and Jesus wore, right?

According to the History of Knitting, some of the first knitting came from Egypt - all together with me now, where did Joseph take his family to escape the king? Right - Egypt! So, that could be where Mary learned to knit items for her family.

Well, it makes for good conversation at any rate. Guess away, friends. Guess away.

And, with that, I need to hit the hay - 5 am comes awfully early and I need to be up and bright eyed for swimming with the daughter.

knitting history, knitting, master bertram, davinci, madonna, painting

A very beloved friend of mine and I drove to the big city yesterday. I need new office clothes and we BOTH need (yes, it is TOO a need!) yarn for winter projects. While our local yarn shop offers a variety, B and I needed to get away for a day. So that trip to anchortown was definitely in order.

We talked and talked and TALKED our way through the 157 (or so) miles up the highway. The leaves are BEEE-UTIFUL and the skies were a vibrant blue (once we got past the bit of rain) with huge clouds. God’s beauty in Alaska is breathtaking at times.

After lunch it was time for SHOPPING! And - for meeting a new friend.

Thanks, Linda for permission to share your picture!
click for larger version.

It was a delight to meet you, Linda. Among the other things we talked about during our visit (yarn! patterns! more yarn!), Linda thanked me for writing the piece on Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

And the absolute NICEST thing about meeting you, Linda, is to find a Sister in Christ. My friend and I were delighted to find a sister in you.

We visited for a bit - and shopped for a bit and both of us came away with yarn to add to our projects’ stash. And, then we went off to another yarn store, the Yarn Branch.

So much yarn, so many projects, so little time. Time enough, however, to ooh and ahh, and caress skeins of gorgeous yarns at both shops. Thank you, Anchorage, for the variety.

Next time, B, we stop by Far North Yarn Store and Oomingmak, the Qiviut store in downtown! I’ve not been to either, yet. So, I think some saving of money is in order, as is another trip to Anchorage with good friends!

Have a blessed Sunday, everyone.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

This is a bit of a departure from your normally expected postings on this site. But, the issue is important enough - and close enough to my own life - that I feel it is important to post on it here.

I volunteered for our local domestic violence shelter for about 20 years. Then I was hired as the Volunteer Coordinator. I have since taken a different position with the agency and am in my 6th year as a staff member.

There are very devoted people who work in the field - and it is not an easy one in which to work. The work-life of a direct service advocate (one who works closely with the victims) is about 18 months.

The advocate is free to move on with her life . . . take a job in a different field . . . or (as is sadly sometimes the case) completely break down. She becomes another victim of the problem.

But . . . when the advocate moves on and out of the field . . . the victim is left behind. You see, SHE (the victim) is not always able to move on in her own life so easily. It can take a lot longer for her to heal.

Did you know . . .

. . .It takes an average of SEVEN times for a victim to leave her abuser?

. . . An Alaska Native woman may leave her abuser up to 25 times before she can get out of the situation?

. . . Children are the “hidden” victims in abusive homes?

. . . PTSD (post traumatic stress syndrome) is a HUGE medical factor in the healing of a victim of abuse?

. . . October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month - but your local emergency shelter deals with the problem 24×7x365.

. . . Consider them in your 2008 giving plan. If you have time to give, that is even better. Call the local Volunteer Coordinator and ask how you can help. S/he will be DELIGHTED to give you a job.

. . . Consider taking a workshop through your local shelter that will teach you the basics of domestic violence and give you tools to help you or your loved ones out of situations.

. . . Alaska has the highest per capita rate of domestic abuse and sexual assault in the United States. (this is one of the times that we would much rather NOT be known as number 1!)

Some places you can go for more information:

Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault

Alaska Family Violence Prevention Project

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence

The Eva Foundation Help for afterwards.

Several folks in the 451 Press family have been writing about the subject as well. This link goes to an entry with a very profound statement: “Only in our selfish hearts, does the victim take the blame”.

I hope you will reach out to a victim today and just lend your ear if that is all she needs. Thanks, everyone!

domestic violence, domestic violence awareness month, the hidden victim, emergency shelter