Sunday Morning. . . 18 Months Later.

In many ways, it feels like years since I last wrote. Chronic pain and depression have taken their toll.

One of my goals as I attempt to make this journey back to a happier self is to post at least once a week. However, speaking from experience, posts will always be sporadic. What's different is I am trying to stop beating myself up about missed goals.

There hasn't been much productive time since the last post, but some is better than none. You'd think that there would be tons and tons of completed projects in an eighteen month time span. Alas, not so much.

Purchased some wool felt a while back (when there was still a few dollars in the coffer). Made a lot of brooches with it. Over a hundred to be exact. Little projects make me feel like I'm accomplishing something without increasing my pain level.

My favorite is a little birdie that takes about half an hour to make (and will be priced appropriately at $5). As you can see in the photo, they are each a little different - rather like having their own personality. I call the ones with snowflake flowers "snow birds". LOL

Am going to call them "cheer up" birds and make little cards to be sent with them. Another marketing tool that could pay off big. There are at least thirty Cheer Up birds made so far. Might have to increase the price to $7.50 to offset the cost of materials for the card.

The other brooches range from simple to rather complex.

This is an example of one of the more complex brooches using several different stitches, threads and beads on a two and one-half inch circle of felted wool. The back is a brooch clasp.

It is based on the yin-yang symbol.

Brooches like this are in the $20-30 price range.

A stylized, beaded flower vase on felted wool is a good representative of the mid-range brooch.

As with most of the brooches, it measures about two and one-half inches in diameter and is backed with a brooch clasp.

Brooches similar to this average $10-15.

This simple woven two color brooch attaches via a simple safety pin.

It is based the Swedish Hearts traditionally made with paper and filled with candy treats before placing Jul/Christmas Trees.

Like the "cheer up" birds, it will retail for $5.

Button Inspired Mobile Phone Covers. A Personal Note: Winter in Northwestern Pennsylvania.

As can be expected after a couple dozen pair, I got bored with crocheting baby booties and turned my hand to other projects.

One current project is cell phone covers inspired by my button jar. I LOVE collecting buttons and these are a few from the button stash.

The mobile phone cover pattern is from Lily® Sugar’n Cream® and is very simple. As usual, changing the size of the hook or yarn or tension will change the size of the finished product.

Finally Friday. Panama/Cloche. Forest Reflections Shawl.

Panama/Cloche Paid Pattern

You may have previously read about the Panama/Cloche hat crocheted using the free pattern and how after making a hat I purchased a paid version of the pattern in hopes of obtaining a better result.

Am not entirely happy with either the paid pattern or the way it's developing. Mostly because I'm an old lady and working with the super-fine yarn and size C hook that this pattern calls for is a little more delicate than these eyes with "multi-focal" goggles can handle.

Part of the pattern problem is its inaccuracies. For example, there's a difference between "standing double crochet" and a plain old double crochet. A standing double crochet is generally used when changing colors. A double crochet... well, you use it when the pattern tells you to. Why on Earth you would even write 'standing double crochet' when you mean 'double crochet' is beyond my comprehension. Fortunately the pattern maker (NOT designer) was able to quickly respond with proper terminology.

Another part of the problem is gauge -- my fault entirely. In my haste to get the project underway I exercised bad judgement rather than caution. First by not making a pattern swatch. Second by using a larger than necessary hook. (C versus E).

Plus the yarn itself is smaller than the pattern calls for. When I started the project my reasoning ran along the lines of "surely two strands of lace-weight yarn will equal one strand of super-fine weight." Uhmmm: NOT. But the yarn is pretty, has a nice hand and is easy to work with.

The gauge is just off.

Anyway, the gauge problem can't be immediately be remedied as I have no super-fine yarn in The Closet of Doom. The photo shown is merely a visual reference of how the purchased pattern is starting to shape up using a double strand of Harmony lace weight yarn by JoJoland* in the color they call "Lavender Fields".

Obviously, until I can get some disposable income and make the journey to JoAnn's to purchase said yarn, this project is on hold.

In the interim I'm working on Crocodile Stitch Booties using a free crochet pattern which you can find here.

On that note I'm signing off for the time being. Y'all have a great Friday!

 * A note about the purple Harmony yarn. It's such a beautiful color that when I saw it in a friend's shop I couldn't keep from buying it. Soft to the touch. A pleasure to work with both when knitting and crocheting. I know it's country of origin is China. Normally I try to limit purchases from that region to essential items only ( for humanitarian reasons, of course ). Consider this the exception to the rule. Two small balls are all that remain from the skeins I purchased to make a shawl from the Forest Reflections pattern in the Summer 2010 issue of Interweave Crochet. Shown unblocked while I decide whether or not to add fringe.

Patterns: Free or Purchased?

The Morning Work Table. Check out that basket of booties!

For the last few days I've been looking for small projects that crochet up quickly. How quickly? Say an hour or less.

Preferably easy projects that don't require a lot of thought. [i.e., that can be made while watching TV or a movie.] Twenty to thirty lines for the entire pattern.

With so many choices available it's hard to narrow the search enough to come up with viable results. I DO have a few "go to" sites. Google, Ravelry, Pinterest, Etsy and CrochetPatternCentral. Searching for free narrows the search results, but if you're like me you're likely to follow that rabbit down the hole. Sometimes it can take days of research to find a worthy project.

On the Assembly Line

Hope everyone had a Happy Halloween.

Guess I'm getting old 'cause I miss the kids trick-or-treating from door-to-door. Now-a-days most children go to events organized by local fire departments and schools. Perhaps it's for the best. I remember walking from house to house in the neighborhood freezing as the sleet/snow fell around us all. The loot we'd bring home was well worth it -- even if it was confiscated and doled out a little at a a time. I remember the joy of dumping a full shopping bag out on the floor and sorting through it for favorite stuff. The first night sister and I were always allowed to eat until we pretty much fell into a sugar coma. Great memories!


Several projects are underway at the Petunia Magpie factory in anticipation of the forthcoming holidays. For example, this trio of googlie-eyed ponies await final assembly. When completed they'll look very similar to the ones below.

Am trying to decide on a color for their mane and tails. Should I stick with the color of their bodies or mix it up a bit? Any suggestions?

These are child-safe. Crocheted by hand using Morning Glory fiberfill and Red Heart yarn (both products made in USA). Machine wash and dry.

Happy "Snow-vember"!

Googlie-Eyed Ponies

 Aren't these just the cutest little ponies? One of the reasons I like them so much is their hair/mane. Some would say that they're Punk Rockers. To me they're just silly. Guaranteed to make you smile.

Very easy to make too! I had one finished in just a couple hours.

It's amazing the free patterns you can find on the Internet. Of course, you have to sift through a lot of yucky ones to find the good. Plus you have to avoid getting distracted. lol


Here's a link to the crochet pattern if you like to do-it-yourself. The pattern calls for "stripe" yarn; shown here with variegated yarn. Amigurumi Ponies from Red Heart. Note: I didn't make the "eye-lids" shown in the pattern. The blue pony doesn't have the hoofs 'cause he's a wild pony and therefore unshod. Would love to see your rendition should you decide to make one.

Farm Animal Nursery Quilt - FINISHED!!!

Finally finished with the Farm Animal Nursery Quilt.

I'll be posting pictures of all the blocks on my Etsy site later today if you'd like to see them close-up.

The embroidery took longer than I anticipated. Not sure the exact amount of hours spent on this quilt from start to finish, but it's more than 40. Perhaps I'm just really s-l-o-w. lol

On Point Nine Patch

It's funny how a simple thing like a nine-patch quilt block when turned on it's point can look so very, very different.







As long as you find and cut according to the straight of grain, squares are so easy to work with. There's no worrying about stretching (like those dreaded triangles). No set-in seams to fiddle with. No curves to pin or sew along. Just simple, straightforward sewing.

I used the rotary cutting and strip piecing methods found in the Quilting Bible to put this quilt together. I found it to be a lot quicker than traditional methods. The finished size is 33" x 52" -- a good size for either a crib or lap quilt.

Turned out rather pretty.

Amazing Service!!!

Farm Animal Nursery Quilt - Continued...

On Friday I ordered the Farm Animal Nursery Quilt block pattern from Jack Dempsey Needle Art so I could "fix" and finish the quilt. It arrived at the Post Office today via First Class Mail. This is a picture of the wall quilt I ordered at the same time.










It came with six free embroidery blocks and a little note that read:
 

JACK DEMPSEY NEEDLE ART MENTORING PROGRAM

In order to cultivate, educate and engage a 

whole new generation of embroidery

 enthusiasts, we are sending you a free sample

 to share your passion for embroidery with a

friend, family member, scout troop or anyone

 else you think would enjoy embroidering as 

much as you do.

www.jdneedleart.com

Isn't that nice? What a great way to give back! I'm thinking of speaking with my local librarian about holding an embroidery class. What do you think?

Now it's time for me to get busy and embroider that last block so I can finish the quilt.

In the meantime, here's a photo of the free blocks.

Market SNAFU

Farm Animal Nursery Quilt - Part Three
OR Good News/Bad News

All nine blocks have been embroidered now.

There was a block that can be personalized in the set. It's where you put the baby's name, date of birth and weight - if you're making it for someone special.  Because this quilt isn't for someone in particular I decided to put a line from a nursery song that I felt was appropriate regardless of whether it's politically correct or not.

The text was easy enough to make. I used the Block Letter Guide included with the kit as a template for the letters. I drew three horizontal lines on a piece of typing paper then creased the paper in half vertically. To center the text I used what my old typing teacher taught: count the letters and spaces and divide that number in two. If it's an uneven number, center the middle letter on the crease. Once all the letters were traced onto each line, I placed the template under the block and, using a pencil, very lightly traced the letters onto the block. Easy as pie!

Next, I cut the sashing to go between and around the blocks and sewed them together as per the instructions. I had to take out one of the seams and re-sew it because instead of two right-sides together I had put a right and wrong side together. Not really a big deal, because it could be fixed and all I lost was a little time.

The SNAFU came after I had pinned the last block on the strips together to sew. (You sew the short sashing to the blocks, then sew the blocks together, then sew the strips to first the inner then the outer sashing). As I pinned it to the inner sashing I noticed that I had neglected to cut the extra fabric off the block. Can you guess what happened? YUP. I cut the sewing line instead of the cutting line. UGH!!!

All nine embroidered blocks are shown below sitting willy-nilly on the background fabric.



Here's the good news: cutting this one block on the sewing line didn't ruin the quilt, it just delayed the completion.

I went online to Jack Dempsey Needle Art and ordered a new kit. Which, by the way, was on SALE! Their shipping and prices were so reasonable that I ordered a cross-stitch sampler too. Can't wait for them to arrive!

Home from Market

Farm Animal Nursery Quilt - Part Two.

Step one of this embroidered quilt was to embroider the nine broadcloth blocks.
I'm using both the outline stitch and the running stitch. You can use whatever stitches you're comfortable with.





One of the reasons I purchased this kit was because I believed it would be easier than creating a traditional quilt. While it may be easier (and quicker) than a hand-pieced or machine-pieced quilt, I had forgotten how long it takes to embroider properly. When I say properly what I mean is the back of the piece should look as neat as the front of the piece. That's the way I was taught.

The picture above shows both the front and back of the "bunny" block from the kit. I think it looks good. What do you think?

To market, to market to buy a fat quarter...

Farm Animal Nursery Quilt - Part One

These Farm Animal Quilt Blocks were purchased from Mary Jo's Cloth Store in Gastonia, NC while on a day-trip with my mother and daughter. We spent hours browsing the shop and came away with some beautiful fabric. They have an incredible selection of all types of fabric and notions at great affordable prices. If you happen to stop by there check out their reproduction fabrics.


Mary Jo's had several patterns of stamped embroidery blocks. I liked the Farm Animals best. The pattern itself was made in the USA by Jack Dempsey Needle Art in St. Louis, MO. Here is a link to their other patterns they offer: Jack Dempsey 9" Nursery Quilt Squares Inexpensive. Made in USA. Both good selling/buying points.

The pattern instructions told the size of material to use for the front and backing. It also noted additional materials needed to complete the project were batting, a hoop, needle and floss.

It took a while to decide which "check" fabric to use for the sashing and backing. After rubbing the fabric between my fingers and looking closely at the thickness I chose this wonderful woven red check cotton fabric. Isn't it funny how you can just feel quality fabric? I guess that's why it's referred to as the "hand" of the fabric.

I didn't need to purchase the other "additional materials" so after a nice lunch at Red Lobster, we headed home.

Here is a picture of the kit I chose.

It comes with pre-printed cotton/poly broadcloth blocks, a Block Letter Guide (to use if you want to personalize the quilt) and instructions on how to assemble the quilt. Other materials and notions need to be purchased separately. The notions and fabric requirements are shown on the back of the pattern - just like on sewing patterns (Butterick, Simplicity, etc.).

I already had the notions needed. The woven check I chose is shown below.

Isn't it lovely?

It takes a while to embroider the blocks and that's the first step.

For now I'll just have a spot of tea and reflect on my next post.

Have a great day, y'all!

Brought to you in part by....

So here I am listening to http://www.youtube.com and looking out my kitchen window at the sunshine reflecting off the snow. The same sunshine that came out from behind the clouds as I was bringing in the last armload of cherry for the day.




After a week straight of snow, snow and more snow, the sunshine was blindingly bright. My first thought was "Where did I leave my sunglasses". The second random thought was I wonder what the Eskimo Indians did to protect their eyes from the light? [answer HERE]
As the sun brightens the day, I sit here reflecting on my circumstances. Who would have known that I would be unemployed for a year? I don't know of anyone else unemployed for that length of time that doesn't feel defeated. And that's definitely what I'm feeling right now. Hundreds of job applications, all those interviews, all the follow-up phone calls and letters. Still no job.

But the sun is shining and it's the first day of Spring so I'm determined to make the best of this day that I've been given.

All my life people have been telling me that I have a way with words. Friends and family have told me that they can "see" what I'm telling them about in my letters and emails.

"The secret's in the sauce - or so I'm told" says a character from one of my favorite movies. [Fried Green Tomatoes] Here's my opportunity to "give y'all a taste of my sauce". I'll serve it up. You let me know what you do and don't like.

This blog is brought to you in part by:
The Need to Create
I-R-Unemployed N NotLikin'It
Family Members
Facebook Friends
Too Much Time On My Hands <-- for those of you who are listening to this in your head right now. It'll make ya wanna get up and DANCE!