tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9248923968272307012024-03-05T19:14:46.990+02:00Bag of ChocolatesHey, someone already took the box.AmyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491367062875954080noreply@blogger.comBlogger489125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924892396827230701.post-38730907865802528982017-01-26T16:09:00.000+02:002017-01-26T16:09:01.540+02:00Daily Sketches<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have started making my To Do doodles in the new sketchbook I bought. It's a Canson XL Watercolor wirebound pad, size A4 (which is slightly narrower and longer than 8.5 x 11"). Since today is an auspicious day, I decided this would be a great first day. I have more space now, so I am going to add something at the bottom of the page - a quote, some notes about the day, and probably some more doodles - under my To Dos.<br />
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This system is working out great for me. I am eager to get my housework and other chores done, so I can have the fun of coloring in the doodles. Much more fun than crossing things off a list. And the thought of not finishing a page before the day is over really keeps me motivated. I still have one very important task to complete today, but I'm waiting until it's a more civilized hour on the West Coast.<br />
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I wonder what tomorrow will look like?AmyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491367062875954080noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924892396827230701.post-54790669072801850122017-01-24T15:45:00.000+02:002017-01-24T15:45:21.118+02:00To Do<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Belated happy new year wishes! I've been distracted with my watercolor attempts, trying to figure out what I enjoy doing the most and practicing that. As you might have guessed, I am also doing some sketching. The other day I hit upon the idea of sketching the next day's to do list. Fun, and motivating, because I can only color in each sketch once I've completed (or at least started) that task. So if you'll excuse me, I've got some sweeping to do...</div>
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<br />AmyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491367062875954080noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924892396827230701.post-32267048655797961202016-12-30T20:14:00.001+02:002016-12-30T20:14:39.657+02:00Chanukah Socks 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Many times since I first learned to knit socks in 2006, I have given my girls knitted socks for Chanukah. Not every year, but usually. Now that Meital is in the army, she rarely gets a chance to wear handknit socks, but Liat is always eager for another pair to add to her collection. But this year I was busy finishing up that big blanket for our nephew, and making hats and fingerless mitts for the teens in our city. Suddenly, it dawned on me that I could paint a silly little picture of a pair of socks, and give that to Liat instead. So I did.<br />
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And when she unwrapped it, she laughed and laughed. I'm happy.AmyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491367062875954080noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924892396827230701.post-25765134259543532922016-12-28T18:51:00.001+02:002016-12-28T18:51:17.919+02:00Watercolor Pencils<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In trying to learn to paint with watercolors, I've been watching a lot of YouTube videos. A great one by The Frugal Crafter reminded me that I have plenty of watercolor pencils that I rarely use. Time to change that.<br />
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First I got out the pencils from the back of the cabinet, and took them all out of the big jar they were in. I remembered how, after buying a set in a lovely tin, I bought more colors in open stock and so had to find a new place to store them, so that they would all be in one place. Hence, the jar. But it wasn't very easy to see what colors I had, or to find what I wanted, and sometimes I worried that if the pencil dropped end first into the jar too hard, the lead inside might break. After some trial and error, I eventually remembered the tops to a couple of square tins that had once been filled with candy and given to my mother in law. She had given me the tins, which I used - without the lids - to store doubled-ended markers. Luckily, the lids had survived the recent purges of unused craft supplies. I glued some fun foam in the lids and now I have my pencils arranged so that I can easily find the colors I want. Plus, I made a color chart so I can see what each color looks like when activated with water.<br />
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And today, I actually started a small painting! With me, sometimes the organizing and arranging happens but the art doesn't. Does that happen to you, too?AmyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491367062875954080noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924892396827230701.post-81515000895930132632016-12-20T13:51:00.001+02:002016-12-20T14:50:54.814+02:00LabelsBack in the days when I spent a lot of time each day on Facebook and Instagram, I sought out people and organizations to follow that would enrich my "feed" with inspiration. Artists of all kinds, people who cared about kindness... in short, positive, upbeat news items. All I can think of now is the saying, "be careful what you wish for."<br />
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One account I started following on Instagram belonged to the mother of a young girl who had decided she wanted to perform a specific number (I don't remember now what it was) of Acts of Kindness, in memory of her grandmother. Beautiful, uplifting, inspirational. But the longer I followed the account, the more uncomfortable I became with the almost daily recitation of activities. It all began to feel a little bit forced, a little too self-aware. And then the day came when, included on the list, was the time this little girl's act of kindness was... helping her father with something.<br />
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Seriously? <i>Seriously?</i><br />
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I've spoken <a href="http://amysamin.blogspot.co.il/2015/02/lady-bountiful-syndrome.html" target="_blank">before</a> about some of the problems I have with words like "charity." It seems like in today's selfie-driven world, Acts of Kindness and Random Acts of Kindness (always capitalized, naturally), are the trendy labels. It often feels to me like it's more about the label than the action. Maybe I'm just a dinosaur, a relic from long ago, but I get the impression that the emphasis has shifted from the emotion behind the action, to the label and to the person performing the action. And of course, to the accompanying photo op.<br />
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Several years ago, in the course of an on-line conversation with my elderly friend Miriam in New Jersey (not a knitter), I learned that she did not own a winter hat. I immediately selected a pattern, grabbed the ball of yarn that screamed "pick me!" and made Miriam a hat. I didn't really think about it, and I certainly didn't consider it an act of kindness, much less an Act of Kindness. I'm a knitter, my friend needed a hat. End of story. (And to make it a really great story, Miriam later told me that the color I picked was her very favorite. Moral: listen when your yarn talks to you...).<br />
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All of this came back to my mind yesterday when I read in one of the charitable knitting groups on <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/" target="_blank">Ravelry</a> that someone had made something for a co-worker. To me, that isn't charity. And it's not an act of kindness. It's being a good person. I wonder what has happened to our world, that some people think that doing something nice for someone they know, someone they presumably care about, is suddenly label worthy. Yes, it feels good to help others, and yes, it also feels good to be recognized for doing so. But if that has become our motivation - recognition, appreciation, compliments - then how "charitable" or "kind" are we actually being? Are we doing these things because we want to help others, or because we want others to realize how kind, how generous, we are?<br />
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I struggle with this myself. Of course it's fun when people tell you how great you are. But is that my only motivation? I have mostly stopped posting on social media about the things I do, with the exception of Ravelry, which is where I keep track of the things I make. In that charitable knitting group, we share what we've made and who it's for, and everyone gives each other a lot of support, encouragement, and appreciation. It's a great community, and people are lovely there. And I think most, if not all, of the people there do what they do because it brings them joy to help others. But sometimes I feel a little weird making an announcement to the group that I've done this, or that. It feels a bit self-aggrandizing to me. (Note: I don't feel that way about other people's posts, just my own).<br />
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Because to me, it shouldn't be about the label, or even about the action itself. To me, it should be about the emotion. Because the world doesn't need more labels, or more selfies. It needs more caring.AmyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491367062875954080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924892396827230701.post-54874956862930721722016-12-19T16:36:00.002+02:002016-12-19T16:37:04.436+02:00It's a Wrap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Or a blanket, actually.<br />
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Seven weeks, fourteen plus skeins of yarn, two crochet hooks, and lots (and lots) of ends woven in. Michael said he wanted dark colors, with an accent color (visualize hands weaving through the air) wandering through. Well, hopefully my wobbly attempts at surface chain stitching will be wandering enough. Now to get the blanket to his parents' house in Jerusalem and wait for him to come home for a weekend. Not sure when that will be, medical school is keeping him pretty busy down south in Beersheva. Hopefully he will come soon, because winter is finally here and I'm sure a warm blanket would come in handy about now.AmyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491367062875954080noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924892396827230701.post-83473739330324936742016-12-17T08:27:00.001+02:002016-12-17T08:27:51.821+02:00Made My Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The other day I got a text message that made my day. </div>
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Six weeks prior, I had donated a bunch of hats, cowls, and fingerless mitts to an organization that serves at-risk youth in my city (the photo only shows a small sample). The coordinator, Oren, even came to my house to pick up the stuff, which is almost unheard of. He is a very sweet guy, who showed me the van they use to drive to a different neighborhood each night. The van is outfitted with a small table and a couple of benches, plus a stack of plastic stools, games, everything needed for making coffee and tea, and - for this time of year - blankets. He explained that the teens they meet are very hesitant to accept help, including gifts. He told me they would probably wear the things I made while they hung out with Oren and his volunteers, but would leave them behind when they left. He explained that the teens he sees do have a place to sleep at night, though it's not what you and I would call "home." </div>
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A week later Oren sent me a bunch of photos of the teens wearing the things I had made. Is there anything better than getting pictures of the gifts you made being enjoyed? I asked Oren what else I could make for them, more mitts perhaps since I didn't get a chance to make many pairs. He replied, thank you so much but what we have will last us for quite a while. I confess I felt a bit sad, because I wanted to think the teens would keep the hats and things, and enjoy them every day - not just once a week when Oren came back to their neighborhood. And, selfishly perhaps, I wanted the pleasure of making more things for them. Certainly I had not been able to make enough that every teen Oren sees would get something.</div>
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Then the other day, Oren texted to tell me that the teens loved what I had made so much that the things were all gone, and would it be possible for me to make more. Wow. Of course it's possible! </div>
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I don't think I can describe how happy it makes me to know that these teens felt able to accept a gift, to feel that they deserve to have a hat of their own. I hope they can feel the love that went into each stitch, and know that they are lovable just as they are.</div>
<br />AmyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491367062875954080noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924892396827230701.post-29841812080379442062016-12-12T18:57:00.001+02:002016-12-12T18:57:43.326+02:00Thankful<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have made a conscious effort this year to remember things I am thankful for at the end of each day. Some days this is super easy, but some days it can be very, very hard to do.</div>
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One thing I am very thankful for is the wonderful group of women in England and America who have given a new home to my neglected cross stitching stash. It has made me so happy to pack up the patterns and kits, write a quick note, and send them off.</div>
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It can be tough sorting through long-held possessions and making the decision to, shall we say, deacquisition. It's easier when you know where to take these no-longer needed items, even if it's only to the recycling bin. Tossing them in the trash is the worst. But when you know they are going somewhere where they will be appreciated, it's a terrific feeling. </div>
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Imagining these gals looking at the patterns and the accompanying photos, then starting to create, is almost as good as making them myself, as I had once intended to do (and, to be honest, many of them I did make). Today I learned that the first package has arrived. And I feel very thankful.</div>
AmyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491367062875954080noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924892396827230701.post-87586976687698795922016-12-11T13:25:00.001+02:002016-12-11T13:25:47.803+02:00Creativity and Snobbery<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I promised myself a while ago that one day I would give watercolor painting a try. Like many others creative people, I have experimented with lots of different outlets over the years: cross stitching, needlepoint, rubber stamping, scrapbooking, collage, mixed media, sewing, bead making, quilting... and more I have forgotten to include. I didn't even include knitting and crocheting, because those are things I still do every day.<br />
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I finally decided to stop just thinking about trying watercolors. Stop just reading blogs and articles, stop just watching videos on YouTube, and actually sit down and give it a real try. It's easy to spend a lot of time observing but not actually doing. After a while, you start to feel like those other people out there know absolutely how it should be done. The "right" way. Then the doubts creep in, and you start to feel frozen... but what if I can't do it the way they do? I don't have the "right" paper, the "right" paints, the "right" brushes. I don't have a background in fine art, don't have an art degree, don't have a former career in graphics, and so on.<br />
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I have a million questions, but I realized the best way to answer them is to just try, and see what works for me. It's funny, though - if you look at comments on YouTube, most people ask about equipment brands, not about techniques or inspiration. I guess I'm not surprised to find that the world of watercolor is just as full of snobs as the world of knitting.<br />
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Some knitters are very proud of the fact that they will only knit with the finest wool, silk, cotton, whatever. They boast about being "yarn snobs." If that's what makes them happy, good for them. It would be nice, though, if they kept their judgmental comments to themselves. The knitters I hang out with on the knitting/crocheting community Ravelry are not yarn snobs. Like me, they are perfectly happy knitting with 100% acrylic, or acrylic blends. Those yarns are more affordable, and garments and blankets made from them are easy to care for. Sure, knitting with nice quality wool is a pleasure, but I have a lot of fun knitting with my humble acrylic yarn, too. And for me, that's what it's about - having fun.<br />
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Right now, I don't have the top of the line artist grade paints. I don't own any sable brushes. I don't paint on the handmade, cotton paper the "real" artists use. If I get to the point that I use up all of my economy grade paint and inexpensive paper and feel motivated to keep painting, I might look into buying something that is a little better quality and give that a try. But I'm in no rush, because - guess what? I'm having fun.AmyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491367062875954080noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924892396827230701.post-84894932386239995372016-12-09T11:46:00.001+02:002016-12-09T11:46:50.854+02:00Good Thing I Love Him<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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First of all, please believe me that the colors in this blanket are not really this ugly. The olive green is not quite so yellow, for one thing.</div>
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Anyway.... there comes a time for me in every large project where I just want to call in the house elves to get the thing done. I don't usually mind sewing blocks together and weaving in ends, but this is getting old. The good news is I am halfway done! Actually, I've done five rows of six blocks, and have only four rows to go. So yay, me.</div>
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Large projects like this mean fewer finishes to share. But I'm hoping a progress report will give me the push to finish this blanket and get it to our nephew, who is studying medicine at Ben Gurion University. It gets pretty chilly in the desert during the winter, you know.</div>
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Onward!</div>
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<br />AmyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491367062875954080noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924892396827230701.post-35741125995597303932016-12-06T14:06:00.002+02:002016-12-06T14:06:44.961+02:00What I Chose<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When my parents moved out of the home they had lived in for nearly 40 years, they naturally had a serious accumulation of stuff. I was offered many things, but since I have been trying to get rid of a lot of my own stuff, there wasn't much that I truly wanted. But I wanted this blanket.<br />
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My mother has always been more of a dabbler in needlework, and many of her projects (needlepoint in particular) have never been finished. But she made this blanket, in afghan stitch, out of 100% wool. It weighs a ton. It would be special enough because she made it, but added to that is the fact that my grandmother, Blanche, and I helped. We each did the cross stitch embroidery on one panel, and my mother added our initials.<br />
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So when I was offered my choice to things to take back home with me, I chose this blanket. Three generations of handwork. And love.AmyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491367062875954080noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924892396827230701.post-1390662412284053952016-12-04T21:46:00.000+02:002016-12-11T16:40:07.155+02:00Cross Stitch Destash 4Just a few last charts looking for a home. Skater chart has been colored in. Thanks for looking.<br />
<b>Note: Humboldt Coast has been claimed</b>.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3phlRJQTGE/WELUMAz1m-I/AAAAAAAADi4/rymShYZ_fXczG75m6h8d0aWzRHcCgeu4QCPcB/s1600/60e3c10d-424b-449d-a427-e39fb312e6e0" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3phlRJQTGE/WELUMAz1m-I/AAAAAAAADi4/rymShYZ_fXczG75m6h8d0aWzRHcCgeu4QCPcB/s320/60e3c10d-424b-449d-a427-e39fb312e6e0" width="248" /></a></div>
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<b>Rose Garden has been claimed.</b></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ipePj7sI7P0/WEEHTvKs8kI/AAAAAAAADhk/U1rtL2O4rGoiXxakDrEZEHMWiLA0bg1xACPcB/s1600/c21724f5-0026-432f-b8da-64cde49674ec" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ipePj7sI7P0/WEEHTvKs8kI/AAAAAAAADhk/U1rtL2O4rGoiXxakDrEZEHMWiLA0bg1xACPcB/s320/c21724f5-0026-432f-b8da-64cde49674ec" width="256" /></a></div>
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<br />AmyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491367062875954080noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924892396827230701.post-67484730397903546752016-12-03T14:53:00.001+02:002016-12-06T11:45:35.178+02:00Cross Stitch Destash 3<b>All of these charts have been claimed!</b><br />
More things, charts this time, that need a new home.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dw-LAH_bD00/WEEHT4RkbFI/AAAAAAAADh8/B_bDV6bWlaQKv2fc6V74dGq6TyZJ5HoAwCPcB/s1600/dbf54e92-5ceb-4cd2-9c50-ee93d10848f9" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dw-LAH_bD00/WEEHT4RkbFI/AAAAAAAADh8/B_bDV6bWlaQKv2fc6V74dGq6TyZJ5HoAwCPcB/s320/dbf54e92-5ceb-4cd2-9c50-ee93d10848f9" width="244" /></a></div>
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Cute little chart. The cat has been colored in with a highlighter marker on the chart.<br />
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Another fun stitching project.</div>
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Love this sweet chart, given to me by a wonderful friend, who also included the floss called for. Sadly, I never got around to making this.</div>
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Please let me know if any of these catch your interest!</div>
AmyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491367062875954080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924892396827230701.post-59552557387356087822016-12-02T07:26:00.000+02:002016-12-02T07:26:54.392+02:00Cross Stitch Destash 2Here is something else that needs to go. Free to a good home.<div>
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This kit was given to me by a friend years ago. She actually started stitching it, but didn't get very far at all. The floss is already sorted into the organizer that came with the kit. If you are interested, I can post more photos. I believe if you tap (or click) on this photo it will enlarge so you can see better.</div>
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AmyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491367062875954080noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924892396827230701.post-72839165142914140092016-12-01T08:27:00.001+02:002016-12-06T11:46:33.496+02:00Cross Stitch DestashLike most crafters, I have tried many things over the years. First, my grandmother taught me to knit when I was a kid. Then I picked up needlepoint, and from there counted cross stitch.<br />
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But as I get older, my eyesight enjoys certain hobbies less and less. Unfortunately, counted cross stitch is becoming too difficult for me to manage. A magnifying lamp purchased years ago is not helpful, because every time I take a stitch, I bump into it, and then it wobbles for several seconds. </div>
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So I am beginning a destash of my collection of kits and patterns. Free to a good home. Above is a little plastic canvas kit complete with floss. Not sure anyone but me still uses a desktop computer, but it could easily be attached to something else, like a bulletin board.</div>
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This is a sweet little kit. Open but unused. <b>This has been claimed</b>.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZovFCA8QAkg/WD6CzpV4QHI/AAAAAAAADgY/hU-e4Om7Ohcav4iojlOJmltIy3T_TiS-gCPcB/s1600/390d8c57-e21f-445c-823c-d0962680c88d" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZovFCA8QAkg/WD6CzpV4QHI/AAAAAAAADgY/hU-e4Om7Ohcav4iojlOJmltIy3T_TiS-gCPcB/s320/390d8c57-e21f-445c-823c-d0962680c88d" width="242" /></a></div>
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Another cute kit, opened but unused. The fabric has become separated from the kit though.</div>
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<b>This has been claimed.</b></div>
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If you're interested in any of these, please email me or, if you're on Ravelry, send me a pm. I will be posting more items soon.</div>
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AmyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491367062875954080noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924892396827230701.post-87794213057843859132016-11-29T17:20:00.000+02:002016-11-29T17:20:42.305+02:00Make it ColorfulAbout a year ago, Liat bought one of those plain, standard IKEA tv tables. Her roommate at the time absolutely didn't want white, so Liat reluctantly purchased the black version. Like me, Liat loves bright, cheerful colors. But at the time, there was the possibility that the roommate would one day buy the table from her, so being a good sport, she went along.<br />
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This fall, Liat moved into her own apartment. One of the first things she asked me to do was to somehow perk up the sliding doors of the cabinet front of the table. It didn't take me long to come up with an idea I was sure she would love.<br />
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Using the inserts from videos and dvds and some Mod Podge, I decorated the sliding doors with Disney collages. In the end, I used images from 28 different movies. I also used a paper punch in the shape of a Mickey Mouse silhouette to make 36 hidden Mickeys that are scattered throughout the two collages. A couple of them were coated with glow in the dark paint, because sometimes I just can't help myself.<br />
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She loves it!</div>
<br />AmyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491367062875954080noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924892396827230701.post-40676312170796229482016-11-28T16:25:00.000+02:002016-11-28T16:25:08.077+02:00On Little Cat FeetFog<br />
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The fog comes<br />
on little cat feet.<br />
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It sits looking<br />
over harbor and city<br />
on silent haunches<br />
and then moves on.<br />
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Carl Sandburg<br />
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A dear friend (who I met back in the days of my Yahoo 360 blog) asked me recently if I was blogging again. Of course that put the idea back in my head, and here I am. I have wandered away, and then returned, to this blog quite a few times over the years. I always wonder if I should make a big deal out of coming back, apologizing for the hiatus, or just casually pick back up again.<br />
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Lately I have been trying to fly under the radar, reducing my presence on social media sites especially. But I miss blogging, the writing and the sharing of it. And perhaps not surprisingly, when I don't blog, I don't read other people's blogs, either.<br />
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So here I am, creeping back, for another go at this. Let's see what happens this time around.AmyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491367062875954080noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924892396827230701.post-390081509219892942016-02-05T12:30:00.001+02:002016-02-05T12:33:01.815+02:00Stash Busting<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbq3A8sEn4C20lEbB8rS-8JV7tOwXE1AAdKdAqL-J-f_TNhgMVt23kr5RcoebFN6fx2oLDmOUxbaCuMV_twIrpDMCubB4k2vD8aunE7e8WBWWRBypbB9xbfOBkBFK8tto2c9hwp3sM29c/s640/blogger-image--311929013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbq3A8sEn4C20lEbB8rS-8JV7tOwXE1AAdKdAqL-J-f_TNhgMVt23kr5RcoebFN6fx2oLDmOUxbaCuMV_twIrpDMCubB4k2vD8aunE7e8WBWWRBypbB9xbfOBkBFK8tto2c9hwp3sM29c/s640/blogger-image--311929013.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">After being on Ravelry (an on-line community for knitters, crocheters, spinners, and weavers) for over five years, I finally took advantage of the Stash feature in December of 2014. I took out my entire stash of yarn and photographed it, uploading the photos and information about the yarn (including where it was stored) to Ravelry. What an enormous help that has turned out to be. Now I know exactly what I have (and where it's hiding!). I also browse through my stash photos whenever I feel tempted by pretty, new yarns. Looking through what I already have reminds me to appreciate - and use - what I already own.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">For the past thirteen months, I have made a concerted effort to knit up my stash. Not just the new skeins that I just had to have (way back when) and still haven't gotten to, but also all of the partial skeins, bits and bobs left over from other projects. I didn't get around to updating my entire stash library last December, but now as I go I post updated photos. It's so rewarding to see my stock of yarns dwindling down. I truly think I could knit only with the yarn I already have for at least five more years before I even got close to being "out of yarn". </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I am so glad to have gotten out of the (very common) mindset of "have to have it". I felt that way about the yarn I already have, and I still haven't used most of that. Why would I want to keep adding more and more? I am trying to simplify and declutter the rest of my house, and my yarn stash definitely needs the same attention. I have knitted and crocheted up a fair amount of stash yarn in the last thirteen months. I have given some yarn away, and I have even (gasp!) thrown out some horribly scratchy yarn that was given to me years ago with the best of intentions by a lovely knitter. I am continuing in 2016 to happily put into service the beautiful yarn I already own. If I find I don't have something suitable for a specific project, I will buy more yarn. But mostly, I am thinking of projects to make that will use what I already have, and enjoying every moment.</div>AmyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491367062875954080noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924892396827230701.post-7828885347196771952016-01-24T14:20:00.001+02:002016-01-24T14:20:59.381+02:00Get Out of Jail Free<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf1sn_9mhqJlNMqd8VpE2GXpC6ITIidXxYYZj7pie28q6C45DW5r8hV08-Su5fYEbRjE90seCZeqXHWSTqEcaYrWcIsSIk3x-wh49rwr5qTc0uCj2hvso6ifo-Y9o_VFEDcvXbgpTcOy0/s640/blogger-image--1914715312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf1sn_9mhqJlNMqd8VpE2GXpC6ITIidXxYYZj7pie28q6C45DW5r8hV08-Su5fYEbRjE90seCZeqXHWSTqEcaYrWcIsSIk3x-wh49rwr5qTc0uCj2hvso6ifo-Y9o_VFEDcvXbgpTcOy0/s640/blogger-image--1914715312.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Many years ago, my husband received this game as a going away present after working for an organization for five years. He was insulted, to say the least. After letting this game take up space in our home for over twenty years, I was all set to throw the pieces into the recycling, when I had one of those "I'm havng a thought here, Barbossa" moments. (Still in love with Captain Jack Sparrow, can't be helped).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJEEEGslidA0XLfPxhClR3ebJZ9ghMlC2UoBh6KQjgZxAHxuDuYToHVIy0ZWWec7vK4dLA45BQHrIkJjYZMqnjOwrcLM8_OSIsl36DeUgNNd-AqS0WhuWUy0CRzKbkZ43D8_TL6J3vxo/s640/blogger-image--159415273.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJEEEGslidA0XLfPxhClR3ebJZ9ghMlC2UoBh6KQjgZxAHxuDuYToHVIy0ZWWec7vK4dLA45BQHrIkJjYZMqnjOwrcLM8_OSIsl36DeUgNNd-AqS0WhuWUy0CRzKbkZ43D8_TL6J3vxo/s640/blogger-image--159415273.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A thin coat of gesso applied with a card. That's better already.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC5FlroJ6oV_EG4l84gAS6wbFtlp6GeaWZq6Lhyphenhyphen_rQzjBM2p27luJls-AEXRLUeVwdFgBzsOJc-QrVmWv9LNGMf9dJTmxDrH3cSgguFR1EWRYPCKIfCmahTyeqgrf2gwZ9HRMdLbnP6WE/s640/blogger-image--1458188015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC5FlroJ6oV_EG4l84gAS6wbFtlp6GeaWZq6Lhyphenhyphen_rQzjBM2p27luJls-AEXRLUeVwdFgBzsOJc-QrVmWv9LNGMf9dJTmxDrH3cSgguFR1EWRYPCKIfCmahTyeqgrf2gwZ9HRMdLbnP6WE/s640/blogger-image--1458188015.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Might as well stick with the theme. The printed pages were the game instructions.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgge3Dd9mA93vlVYWb-0uxKcPnzO67AJgBRlGpoG0kKwhdcxyzAbz6kxkFXDPsUsBk-3ygRTVKsbx7mDJ5_cDH7rwKJ-oRn1ZYHzVsIRD2ekbV-Uyqet7UNqBfmgDgAJnmpNqtpLuzRQss/s640/blogger-image--1343384943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgge3Dd9mA93vlVYWb-0uxKcPnzO67AJgBRlGpoG0kKwhdcxyzAbz6kxkFXDPsUsBk-3ygRTVKsbx7mDJ5_cDH7rwKJ-oRn1ZYHzVsIRD2ekbV-Uyqet7UNqBfmgDgAJnmpNqtpLuzRQss/s640/blogger-image--1343384943.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Whoa! Just a little too bright, maybe? Actually, by this point I had already painted, gessoed over, and repainted the background. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVKv-8FYnFpoZVQuSO6ZWGk60GMApaTw-rivaiEFh7Ax718GyunniKmyhXMv04m7A1lyXmNE1DpCSta9dalLxCRTorYTshIe_1EGMSn-ywHaXAmET9eBjN_ZIOXvoyjBQ0Bq9FSPddc7Q/s640/blogger-image--1766686679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVKv-8FYnFpoZVQuSO6ZWGk60GMApaTw-rivaiEFh7Ax718GyunniKmyhXMv04m7A1lyXmNE1DpCSta9dalLxCRTorYTshIe_1EGMSn-ywHaXAmET9eBjN_ZIOXvoyjBQ0Bq9FSPddc7Q/s640/blogger-image--1766686679.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Adding marks. I used a stencil, the edge of a credit card, bubble wrap, the oval plastic piece that comes in a stick deodorant, and the circle is the extra handle from a cooking pot (long story). The solid white rectangles were made with a sponge, and the open small, white squares and rectangles were made with the bottoms of a house and a hotel from the game.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOq83ZesqjjZXTfZrkjD14Yezc1av2BsTTLdr6TNyqvUUerSe4iJTjUABtAmGc1BhVJ-hbWQzufUuVUBgFV99Ox5wwkyIowME4PJJBU1tqMqoQurmZgQM51F_r9VLecoDdnblYvPS0PfY/s640/blogger-image-779756778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOq83ZesqjjZXTfZrkjD14Yezc1av2BsTTLdr6TNyqvUUerSe4iJTjUABtAmGc1BhVJ-hbWQzufUuVUBgFV99Ox5wwkyIowME4PJJBU1tqMqoQurmZgQM51F_r9VLecoDdnblYvPS0PfY/s640/blogger-image-779756778.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I waned to use lots of elements from the game. The tree was painted in black acrylic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprtqVvbUOitK-pRWB_8t1MVEP81qjQpThNhJZN66BP9PWr0JSojLQIoVSy__PCLpyhXnHzr52N9v6TERpSI5dcbZLmxt1Og7_MOSLNlz-jY1jmwvHNROnN8sGAD8chBA9vv2_k72Onn0/s640/blogger-image-1757364746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprtqVvbUOitK-pRWB_8t1MVEP81qjQpThNhJZN66BP9PWr0JSojLQIoVSy__PCLpyhXnHzr52N9v6TERpSI5dcbZLmxt1Og7_MOSLNlz-jY1jmwvHNROnN8sGAD8chBA9vv2_k72Onn0/s640/blogger-image-1757364746.jpg"></a></div>Adding details. I stamped a swirly line over the property cards using Staz On ink, used the Community Chest cards (enhanced with paint) for the windows and doors. Tree was accented with a Posca pen and a water-based Sharpie poster pen. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzzBXyLGkI4eIxLskzZCvSqeadsliVS3NX1dQ-BIPhSCUUKv5Il2OmA8Ll5oztjDRPaVzmKGcAHi0jstZ6iBkZPxzICxzuP7DWBq2U-b1eNne2l69V21wtzvaIPa8hUdb0tACL1xdDVfI/s640/blogger-image--968882686.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzzBXyLGkI4eIxLskzZCvSqeadsliVS3NX1dQ-BIPhSCUUKv5Il2OmA8Ll5oztjDRPaVzmKGcAHi0jstZ6iBkZPxzICxzuP7DWBq2U-b1eNne2l69V21wtzvaIPa8hUdb0tACL1xdDVfI/s640/blogger-image--968882686.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I smudged white paint around the houses and upwards to soften some of the brightness of the sky and to create the illusion of fog. I added shading to the houses with colored pencils, did outlining with various pens, and covered the windows with Glossy Accents to make them shine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfQMru1iD9TgQ5eX0CD-ETbLf7uavb59FdWK_LNZKPLBTJpECZguHYORpsiPyrTmlht3XtL4tZHEQBfJlYthwakbnwqOezYmc9g8AuXr5mh4DjaVmTag14RpAufhqqDYwzktkapNeXR5k/s640/blogger-image-235441186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfQMru1iD9TgQ5eX0CD-ETbLf7uavb59FdWK_LNZKPLBTJpECZguHYORpsiPyrTmlht3XtL4tZHEQBfJlYthwakbnwqOezYmc9g8AuXr5mh4DjaVmTag14RpAufhqqDYwzktkapNeXR5k/s640/blogger-image-235441186.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The back.</div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>AmyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491367062875954080noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924892396827230701.post-77041191958250747612016-01-08T14:23:00.001+02:002016-01-08T14:23:04.868+02:00Repurposed Boxes<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetVsPanzOliQxF_4YkYl-iUX4FwtkJ4df6reHlz1gDU7x52cMjbSlaqMN9yBR179gdTrkdFNAv8JJWSsab1GtS4JIFmDnoaLF6Pl97-jjUeAxwKxyVVOWF3f-iv4nAFbZ8kpcqHpC4qg/s640/blogger-image--1244311871.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetVsPanzOliQxF_4YkYl-iUX4FwtkJ4df6reHlz1gDU7x52cMjbSlaqMN9yBR179gdTrkdFNAv8JJWSsab1GtS4JIFmDnoaLF6Pl97-jjUeAxwKxyVVOWF3f-iv4nAFbZ8kpcqHpC4qg/s640/blogger-image--1244311871.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We recently bought a bunch of thermal shirts, and I thought the boxes they came in would make great drawers for storing crafting supplies. I covered the top and sides with recycled, painted printer paper, and gave it a coat of Mod Podge. I painted the front of the drawer, too. I may end up decorating the box more, but for now I like it as it is. I need to decide if I am going to glue all the boxes together in a stack or not.</div>AmyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491367062875954080noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924892396827230701.post-60749865452592231292015-02-20T11:06:00.001+02:002015-02-20T11:06:38.391+02:00Lady Bountiful Syndrome"Luckily, the homeless shelters will take everything..."<div> <i>a knitter on Instagram</i></div><div><i><br></i></div><div>A knitter posted a picture on Instagram today of a hat that had turned out too small for her, then added the above comment. </div><div><br></div><div>Seriously? </div><div><br></div><div>Unfortunately, I see suggestions of this kind of attitude all the time. On the one hand, many people very kindly put a lot of time and effort into making things for people in need, and that's wonderful. On the other hand, quite a few of those people make no bones of the fact that they are using their, shall we say, <i>less desirable</i> yarns to do so. Often, combining odd balls of yarn left over from other projects with no thought for aesthetics. Of course, not for nothing do they say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so maybe I should just shut up about that.</div><div><br></div><div>But here's the thing. I have noticed a dichotomy between knitted and crocheted items destined for cancer wards and old age homes, and those being sent to, for example, homeless shelters. Anyone might end up in either of the first two places, after all. But homeless shelters? Well, that's a whole different ball of wax. Or so these folks seem to think.</div><div><br></div><div>I don't even know if the people (like the knitter quoted above) even realize the implications behind what they are saying. I see it all the time. "Oh, they are / should be so grateful for anything they get."</div><div><br></div><div>This kind of attitude really pisses me off. I mean, REALLY pisses me off. I call it Lady Bountiful Syndrome (Lady Bountiful was a character in an 18th century play called The Beaux' Strategem, by George Farquhar. The term has come to be used to describe "an over-patronising woman, showing off her wealth by acts of overwhelming generosity"). I tend to use the term to describe people who take great pride in their "gracious assistance to poor unfortunates" (I put that in quotation marks because it seems to me that is exactly how they think of their actions, deep in their hearts).</div><div><br></div><div>Of course, not all people who knit, crochet, sew, or whatever for others think or feel that way! But I have to wonder if there isn't some sort of unconscious discrimination going on. People who are ill, or elderly, are somehow "better" than people who don't have a place to live. Every now and again, like today, I see something that makes me believe that, sadly, many people really do think that way (whether they realize it or not).</div><div><br></div><div>In a way, I think it is somewhat connected to whether one thinks of crafting for people in need to be charity, or not. Charity is a word that is used all the time, mostly with the best of intentions. I believe it has different connotations to different people, though. To me, it sounds a little condescending. In Hebrew, the word usually translated as "charity" - tzedaka - actually means righteousness or justice. In other words, doing the right thing. I tend to think of the knitted objects I send to various organizations not as charity, but as community knitting, because I am making things for people who are part of the community of the world, just as I am.</div><div><br></div><div>Your thoughts?</div>AmyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491367062875954080noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924892396827230701.post-84248426449555081502015-01-10T17:21:00.001+02:002015-01-10T17:21:15.625+02:00If Hats Could Heal<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzmKMgIzAb_XuCeLLS01-6c_2CFY1D3vM-cmM_tUq4rjEl6g6t_TqB4UWr9SR-dCd-iILSYKkOPGkaCKbt1cXPxZGbV1BvjrZ7qN-4pRCGukMukY6KBMxb4IhSzaUTKN1DThsSR_emrU/s640/blogger-image-344329761.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzmKMgIzAb_XuCeLLS01-6c_2CFY1D3vM-cmM_tUq4rjEl6g6t_TqB4UWr9SR-dCd-iILSYKkOPGkaCKbt1cXPxZGbV1BvjrZ7qN-4pRCGukMukY6KBMxb4IhSzaUTKN1DThsSR_emrU/s640/blogger-image-344329761.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">On Thursday night I had the opporunity to meet a young man whose basketball skills I have admired and respected for several years. He is such a lovely person, I can't tell you how lucky I feel to have gotten the chance to get to know him a little. Avi and I are hoping to invite him (and his wife and baby daughter) over for a meal, soon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sadly, his wife and daughter are currently in the US visiting her mother, who has cancer. The family is trying to raise money for all of her treatments and care, and there is a fundraising site with information. Since I was aware of the situation, I spoke with the young man about it, and he told me how hard it was for his wife to see her mother losing her hair (due to the chemotherapy treatments). Of course, I immediately offered to make a hat. And here it is.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The yarn is super soft, and I hope the hat will feel warm and soothing. I only wish I could do more.</div>AmyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491367062875954080noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924892396827230701.post-84306778850321374722015-01-05T11:32:00.001+02:002015-01-05T11:32:30.943+02:00First Finish<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie81jOJzuWzzCIV2-WJ2g0s31e2IkcVkX8rWNXME2AKFpnivKFffnizMyFug55iVuT0DQ_8g4x5x12saJAByYWCHvFDjojnSgMMNLIhYEhyphenhyphenPDK6Vhew2v4eAKFmPaATnYKXAlCVXbxgXw/s640/blogger-image--1316679085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie81jOJzuWzzCIV2-WJ2g0s31e2IkcVkX8rWNXME2AKFpnivKFffnizMyFug55iVuT0DQ_8g4x5x12saJAByYWCHvFDjojnSgMMNLIhYEhyphenhyphenPDK6Vhew2v4eAKFmPaATnYKXAlCVXbxgXw/s640/blogger-image--1316679085.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I am very excited about my first finished project for 2015 for a couple of reasons. First, it is part of my 50 States Project, and will soon be on its way to West Virginia. Second, it was the oldest project I still had on the needles, started almost three years (!!) ago in February of 2012. For some reason, after knitting the front, back and most of one sleeve, I just put this project aside and pretty much forgot about it. It took just about two hours to finish it. So silly.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Since I have given so much thought lately to the things I do and don't enjoy knitting, I will probably focus on hats for my project from now on. Hats go so quickly and don't need much yarn, and look fabulous with stripes or colorwork, which will be great for all of the leftovers I've got. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Except I think I want to make at least one scarf for the Red Scarf Project. Just no more sweaters for a while. Even when they are tiny, garter stitch sweaters, they seem more daunting to me. But who could be daunted by a simple hat?</div>AmyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491367062875954080noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924892396827230701.post-67710095221637877472015-01-01T11:54:00.001+02:002015-01-01T11:54:09.506+02:00Simplify<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQBV9s5zv8d6mMZLxVeLLeDXSeClGNxPqWFEue11-Llz8niMQ3szAYclVjElDRT-W8uSQ-OATCVVzSPdhy6j0gkD1R2vVkwS1e_NcnM7Z4OgXc212av7kMCSSuu-JdsBda27xQsicBLyk/s640/blogger-image--783519272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQBV9s5zv8d6mMZLxVeLLeDXSeClGNxPqWFEue11-Llz8niMQ3szAYclVjElDRT-W8uSQ-OATCVVzSPdhy6j0gkD1R2vVkwS1e_NcnM7Z4OgXc212av7kMCSSuu-JdsBda27xQsicBLyk/s640/blogger-image--783519272.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Happy 2015! I never got around to posting a roundup of all of my completed knitting and crocheting projects (and there were even some sewing projects!) of 2014. Or, for that matter, of my paper crafting projects. Rather than spend time making collages of all of the photos of finished items, I will just say that in 2014 I knit or crocheted 11 toys, 8 pairs of socks, 5 blankets, 4 squares that will be added to others and sewn into a blanket (not by me), 3 pairs of fingerless mitts, 2 hats, 1 scrap of icord that I wear as a bracelet, and 1 shawl (no partridges or pear trees, though). I sewed 5 toys (I think it was five, eep), one Kindle cover, and one patchwork quilt top (sadly, still not made into a quilt yet). No clue how many cards I made, a lot. At least by my standards.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The photo above shows the knitting projects that are still in progress as we begin the new year. The green blob will be a sweater for me one day. I started it a couple of years ago, and of course it always gets moved to the back burner as I find things I want to make for others. The pastel colored baby sweater is meant to go to an organization in Appalachia (possibly Kentucky, I don't recall at the moment. I started this tiny thing years ago, and I really must get it done! It only needs a sleeve and a half, for goodness' sake!). The gray sock for a friend was started on December 25, 2014 and will be finished in short order. The lavender item will be a bathrobe for Liat. It was also started late in December. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">But of course I plan to start something new today, it seems only right to begin a new project with the start of a new year. It will be a pair of pink socks for Meital. I am also working on a new stamping project for my friend Kristy of Hopeful Threads. I will share more about that soon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Appearances to the contrary, considering I am talking about having five knitting projects going on at one time, I have decided that the theme for this year is going to be Simplify. By that I mean decluttering my home and my head. Getting rid of the things I don't use or need, or that don't make me happy (yesterday's post also talked about this). It will also include cutting back on the number of people I follow on social media, especially those whose posts are mostly aimed at selling something. More power to them, but I prefer to see posts by people who simply enjoy what they do and like to share it, without regard for financial remuneration.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I also want to use up as much of my yarn stash as I can, and the plan is to knit much of it into hats, and possibly scarves, for my 50 states project. I have gotten rather lax about that, concentrating instead on making multiple things for the same few organizations. I still want to do what I can for them, but I also want to reach my goal and it won't happen just by thinking about it. As my husband is fond of saying, Dream big, but don't forget to wake up and start working on your dreams! I would also love to make 12 pairs of socks this year, one pair per month. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Liat and I are planning to do the 2015 Reading Challenge. You may have seen mention of it around the Internet. It is basically a list of 50 challenges to read various kinds of books. One challenge is to read a trilogy, so it works out to 52 books for the year. We probably won't read that many (espcially since she is a busy college student) but may, instead, find books that meet more than one challenge - for example, a book written by a woman and a book that is set in your hometown... It's an interesting list of challenges and should be a lot of fun.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Another challenge I have set for myself for this year is to try watercolor painting. I tend not to think of myself as artistic, so it will be a stretch for me to try making art that doesn't involve rubber stamps. But to go along with that (and, by the way, I don't plan to go out and buy a whole bunch of new supplies for that, except watercolor paper, as needed), I need to think seriously about my other interests, ones that are usually neglected, like cross stitching, scrapbooking, and sewing. I want to do all of them, but realistically speaking, I never get to them. It's time to face facts, and deacquisition some (all) of the stash I have for each of those hobbies. I have my tried-and-true hobbies that I work on actively, and the others are mostly just wishful thinking at this point. If I end up enjoying the watercoloring, I will make what I create into cards, so that kind of dovetails into my stamping/cardmaking hobby.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I think that's all more than enough to be going on with, don't you?? Should make for a fun and interesting year. I hope your 2015 is a wonderful one!</div>AmyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491367062875954080noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924892396827230701.post-90034666581760897612014-12-31T13:10:00.001+02:002014-12-31T13:10:18.303+02:00Taming the Want Monster<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKxkLZcWa0MB0ipNNcVwvlDuirvArLS_ztey62hzDu1Oet6gZKU_iZbn8kSpIiE9pcPNaPDfayOEIrmS_O9rV4thjgCe1ovxyvDkyTIkn7BKylagPhapxtGZQfzM-NgiZAKvAoZd6j0-Y/s640/blogger-image--1841441604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKxkLZcWa0MB0ipNNcVwvlDuirvArLS_ztey62hzDu1Oet6gZKU_iZbn8kSpIiE9pcPNaPDfayOEIrmS_O9rV4thjgCe1ovxyvDkyTIkn7BKylagPhapxtGZQfzM-NgiZAKvAoZd6j0-Y/s640/blogger-image--1841441604.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">"I have enough yarn...said no knitter ever."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">"If someone tells you that you have too much yarn, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">"The one who dies with the most yarn wins."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Many have you have probably seen things like this all over the Internet (substitute the key word of your choice: books, glitter, etc.). We are flooded with messages like this, right along with all of the reposts and shares for giveaways, contests, and sales. It is so easy to get sucked in, to - quite literally - buy into this "gotta have it" mentality. It reminds me of a book I used to read to my girls, The Berenstain Bears Get the Gimmies. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">When did this relentless pursuit of MORE start filling our lives? Probably it was always there, a natural part of human nature. But when it is out there in your face on all the social media sites, it really becomes overwhelming. Or at least, it does to me. I have been battling the want monster for a long time. Like with anything you practice regularly, it has been getting easier.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">But I still have a way to go. In recent weeks I went through my yarn stash and uploaded it to Ravelry, a website for knitters, crocheters, spinners, and weavers. I was shocked when I clicked the "magic" button and discovered exactly how many miles - yes, miles - of yarn I have sitting in my house. The photo above, by the way, is only of all of the sock yarn left over from already-completed projects. I also have a whole heck of a lot of brand new skeins of yarn, and not just for socks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">But since the want monster still slips the chain now and then, on Christmas Day I found some really pretty sock yarn on sale and ordered three skeins. I was very happy and excited about getting them. Then yesterday, I got an email saying one of the colors, the one I liked the most, natually, was out of stock and had been discontinued by the yarn company. I was so outraged and disappointed! You'd think I had just been told that there was no more yarn anywhere in the world! That's when it hit me. The want monster was completely in charge again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">There is nothing all that special about that skein of yarn that warrants such an extreme reaction. What business do I have getting so unreasonably upset about something like this? Don't I already have more than enough sock yarn to knit socks, wrist warmers and hats for a whole year? Sock yarn that I just absolutely had to have, way back when? If I'm not happy with what I already have, why am I basing my happiness now on what I just bought? What is with this relentless pursuit of MORE? That path only leads to dissatisfaction and emptiness.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So I am pledging to myself to strive for LESS. Less stuff, less clutter, less outside pressure. I am "unliking", "unfollowing", and unsubscribing right and left, to free myself from the constant pressure to buy the latest thing. I am working to clear out the stuff in my house that doesn't make me happy, that I don't use, or haven't worn in more than a year. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My word for 2015 is Simplify. I am really looking forward to it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div>AmyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491367062875954080noreply@blogger.com2