Knit Re-boot

I decided the drop stitch scarf was not a good first knit project. I chose too fine a yarn & too small needles (sock weight on size 6). Plus the lovely effect of multiple drop stitches made it impossible for me to maintain tension. So I put that project aside.

As I now know, I need a project that lets me practice the basic garter stitch - row after row of knit stitch. But that sounds boring, not lovely or satisfying (while necessary).

Enter the "Baktus Scarf." A super simple garter stitch scarf with the design element of adding a stitch every 4 rows - so I cast on 4 stitches - then go back and forth adding one stitch every four rows resulting in a gradual triangle. Then I'll get to a mid-point and start decreasing one stitch every four rows back to the ending 4 stitches. A lovely triangle - hopefully with no holes or other obvious boo-boos.
And I chose a bulky weight yarn and size 11 needles to make progress at more than a slow snail's pace.

After one night (and various DVR TV shows), I have knit over 11" of Baktus. I'm pleased with my progress, the pattern, and especially the yarn - Lion Brand Tweed Stripes in a pretty blue-purple-green gradation. Pic is scarf so far.

And I haven't forgotten that tomorrow will start in an ordinary way - just New Years Eve SIX years ago.

Slow going

Knitting progress is much slower than crochet. My best guess is that I have about three hours of solid knitting time invested in my Drop Stitch Scarf. For this:

looking forward

I don't like the idea of resolutions. They're just MADE to be broken! While I think it's a great idea to set January 1 as the first day of a non-smoking life, or of a healthier diet, etc -- most resolutions are too vague to be effective. And they don't take into account that Life Happens. Things interrupt. Events disrupt plans.

I'm staying away from resolutions. I like making "goals" instead. For 2011, my goal was to run a mile without stopping. I did that. And it took me until November to do it (twice). Why November? Because I realized the year was ending and I hadn't reached my goal. So I did it. And I don't feel all that obligated to do it again. Maybe. Eh. Depends on how I feel.

So far, I have two goals for 2012. First, I'd like to become a competent knitter. To that end, I have a "how to knit" DVD that I've watched (with lots of REPLAY and PAUSE) with yarn and needles in hand. Now I've "cast on" (that's knitting lingo for "started") a pretty scarf called "Easy Drop Stitch Scarf." So far, I've completed about ten rows, and it's going well.

Second, I think I want to log 500 miles in 2012. Walking, running, swimming. Doesn't matter to me. 500 miles in a year is 9.62 miles a week. Easy-peasy, I say knowing how things like to turn and bite me in the ass. Over the xmas 4-day weekend, I walked over 12 miles, so it seems like a realistic and do-able goal.

These are both attainable goals which will require some effort on my part - but nothing at all like the effort it takes to quit smoking! No one will be injured in my knitting or walking (but when I quit smoking - it was dangerous to be in my general vicinity!).

I hope to check in here and keep myself accountable and updated on my progress. Surely, photos will follow in due course, but here is a photo of the scarf as made by someone who knows what they're doing!

Knit practice

One of my goals for 2012 is to become a proficient knitter. I love crochet and the things crochet can become. However there are some things that knit stitches and knit fabric can do that crochet can't. Knit fabric - stockinette stitch - is the familiar stitch we see on every sweater - commercial or handmade. You can't get that with crochet. So anyway - I want to expand my crafting repertoire to include knitting.

I was gifted a "How to Knit" DVD which I've spent a while watching this afternoon. I am somewhat familiar with knitting - having tried to learn several times in the past.

After time spent being a good pupil (using REPLAY many times), here is my first swatch (using VC yarn & size 10 needles). Garter stitch - stockinette stitch - 2x2 ribbing - and bind-off. Yay me! Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks? Woof!

What to Do?

I'm feeling unsettled. All my crochet efforts came to a crashing crescendo with my Xmas efforts. I finished a book ("Port Mortuary") Xmas eve so I could pass it on to Ashley that night. I watched the last episode of last years "Dexter" whi le crocheting furiously before Xmas.

No book. No DVD series. No crochet project deadline. Nothing at all on my To Do list. It's been months since there was no project to complete. Unsettled.

I still have yarn (stash, we call it). I was gifted three new books, and have chosen the next to read. Three non-series DVDs have arrived (Netflix sent me an extra for Xmas!). So it's not lack of materials unsettling me.

It's the knowledge that once I choose yarn & pattern, once I read Page One - I'm off in To Do land again - something to finish.

I'm savoring the lack of a task for a day or two - but I'm itching to undertake a new project - to see where hook & yarn will take me - to see where my books will lead. I think I'll go pore over patterns for a while - choices need to be made.

Gifts made with love (and yarn & crochet hook)

Here are the four afghans made and given with much love this Xmas: Sherry's 12patch, Beverly's Iris, the Buckner's Babette, and Mom & Dad's Hexaghan. I enjoy thinking about the recipient(s) as I transform the yarn into handcrafted works of art. When Elisha grows up, maybe no one will still crochet - it'll all be computerized somehow. And maybe he will remember his Grammy with warm, comforting thoughts. I truly enjoy my hobby, my craft, my artistic expression through color & pattern choices. I don't know what 2012 will bring - but I'll face it with hook & yarn by my side.

Un-Grinch-ifying

For the past forever since we lost Anna, I've felt very much the Grinch. Only there was no frame-breaking heart-growing for me. I stayed mean and broken and sad and wished the calendar would fly straight from Thanksgiving to Mid-March. No holiday to remind me what I was missing. No anniversary of the loss that forever changed our lives.

However. I think perhaps my heart is less broken now. It's not bursting out of it's x-ray frame, but I imagine a heart taped back together - missing a few pieces that are gone forever, struggling to endure.
It's hard to say where the tape and bandaid came from. Part is the joy in my heart in seeing my Jessica happily married to James. I do so want her happiness in life. And Elisha is a happy boy too - James has made their family more complete. Part is the contentment I've found in my relationship with Chuck. We've been together nearly three years, but something inside me changed when we got married. I've surrendered some of the burden of responsibility I've felt FOR EVERYTHING. And letting go of that has lightened my heart, I suppose. I still have times when my guilt and shame and sadness and anger and hopelessness return to visit me, but it's not so bad (Better living through chemicals helps). I've grown very accustomed to the weight of all that.

I wish I had more memories. Many of my memories of my babies is shuffled and confused - I know ONE of them did that - or said that - but I don't remember which. I wish I had more memories to cover myself up with. Good memories. But most of what I have left are the memories of my teenager Anna. So - if you're reading this, and you have little ones - GO NOW! Make a memory. Sit on the sofa and hold them - smell them - feel their hair and their skin. Make as many memories as you can. In years to come, no matter how they leave you - your memories will be all you have. Go. Now.

That's CLIFTON to you!

New name. New-feeling life. It feels like I've broken through some wall into "Married." Kinda like when I was a child, and we'd be driving the hours long drive for our beach vacation. When I'd see the big sign saying, "Welcome to North Carolina!" I thought something should be different - then much later we'd come to the big sign "Welcome to South Carolina!" I felt we were breaking through an invisible barrier of statehoods.

And now I've broken the invisible barrier into "Clifton." It does feel different. I'm saying, "Hi, this is Jennifer Bryant... uh, Clifton." I spent a day changing my name via City Hall, Social Security, DMV, bank and gym - two name changes submitted at work (payroll and actual work/email). What a headache!

Our honeymoon was lovely. Wonderful. Perfect weather & sunshine. More buffets and food than would fit in a month of Weight Watchers points (gained 8 pounds!). We've made it a whole week now! Still glad to be married. So far, so good!

Counting down single days

I get married in less than a week. Yippee! I am excited. Although Chuck & I have been together nearly three years, "Married" is different from "Dating" or "Living Together." Married carries responsibilities - and a new name for me.

It will definitely take some getting used to being a "Clifton." Who? Me? I've been a Bryant longer than I was a Dowdy (my maiden name). For me, it has no attachments to my first husband - other than it's the name of my children. So I'm switching to "Clifton." Chuck has a hilarious time with all kinds of special privileges "because I'm a Clifton!" He says that his dad used to make up rules like "We can pass this slowpoke, because we're Cliftons!" I'm looking forward to all those imaginary perks with my initiation into the Clifton clan next Tuesday. Don't be surprised if you see my little white Honda whizzing along passing everyone (as usual) - my official excuse next week will be "Because I'm a Clifton!"

We Wuz Robbed!

October 25, 2011. The day that strangers went through my house looking for stuff they could steal to sell. Ick. They went through my clothes drawers, pulled mattresses off the box springs, and I'm sure they got pissed off I had very little worth stealing. The Wii and WiiFit where I started exercising before I was brave enough to walk outside. The PlayStation given to me by Ramona after we lost Anna so I could take my mind off my problems. Two sets of wedding rings & engagement rings from other husbands. My digital camera and iPod Touch - which I haven't used much since I got my snazzy iPhone. Chuck's bicycle (but not mine). His air compressor. My nifty OTT crafting light that he just got me for my birthday (not even a month ago!).

When I got home from work, the two screen doors on the porch were wide open, and the house door was open too. I went in - noticed the door jamb hanging by a sliver. I figured Chuck had gotten off work early, was in the middle of some fix-up project (as he always is). I called him, and after several tries he finally convinced me it wasn't a prank - then I noticed our change basket was missing from the coffee table. I called 911. The most amazing thing is how well anti-anxiety meds work when you take them. I remained calm while talking to the police officer, as I kept discovering things that were missing. Relieved my TV and computer were still okay. Glad I'd had my precious iPhone with me at work.

After the police were gone, I decided I had to have Mexican food, so off to San Marcos we went. I managed to avoid the Points of a margarita, but overdid it on nacho chips. All in all, I'm still calm. We now think a neighbor may have seen the 3 guys who did the stealing in a gray Camry. I'm pretty sure I'll never see my things again. But I still have my pictures, my books, my yarn. I'm okay. I just KNEW things were going too well for me lately!

Date Set - Countdown begins!

With all the wedding bells in the air when Jes and James married, Chuck & I decided to tie the knot in November. This November. First things first - we got hotel reservations for Thanksgiving weekend to honeymoon! We went back and forth, over and over trying to get someone to make the ceremony legal - which is all I care about. Quick. Legal. Over - let's celebrate! We started with the date 11-11-11 - pretty neat date, but couldn't get an officiant. I didn't want a church wedding (seems silly to me to have my third wedding in a church) - and ministers want you to do the pre-marital counseling - which I'm sure is a valid and good thing to do - but not for me. I don't get along with church anyway. We switched the date to 11-22-11, and I arranged for one of the Court Magistrates to come to our house and marry us at 5:30 that day. Witnesses will be few, close family. Quick. Legal.

Wednesday we visited James and bought two nice wedding bands. Today, we're going to the Clerk's Office to get the official marriage license. We don't have to take an eye exam or pass a written test - just show ID and pay the fee.

Am I nervous? Sure. Am I sure? Mostly. I find myself unable to trust or believe in anything or anyone as completely and fully as I was capable of in my youth. Too many broken dreams and promises, too many heartaches and heartbreaks, too many tears. I do remember the day I married my first husband. It was a golden August day. I remember looking up at him, with the sun shining all around him in a golden halo and knowing for sure and certain that it was the right thing. And it was. The right thing for me that day at that time of my life when all I wanted to do was be a grown up - free and on our own and in love. What it really meant was getting a job and working fifty weeks a year - then we grew up and grew different, and I'd prefer never speak to him again. We did have two gorgeous, wonderful daughters who remain the best thing I've ever done. They gave me the brightest hours - the darkest hours.

So here I go again. Trying to trust. Trying to believe. I know if I fall, he will catch me.

So long, CGOA

Sadly, this was the last day of the Crochet Guild of America Fall Conference in Greensboro. I can honestly and enthusiastically say that I enjoyed every minute of my time there! The people, the yarn, the shopping, the lovely handwork all around, the opportunities to learn and make my work better & easier - and everyone was happy to be there!

Today was my morning class with knit & crochet rock star, Lily Chin. She was adorable in a crochet mini dress! The class was "Crochet Tips & Techniques" and that is exactly what her three hours were jam packed with.

My class yesterday was a technique, then two hours to practice that one thing in a few different ways. Today, Lily was a non-stop fountain of ways to make our crafty lives easier & faster & better. There were ideas for starting & ending & everything in between. Fantastic!

Naturally I had to return to the market floor after class to snag several recommended items. This kind of shopping is my idea of fun.

So I sadly end my weekend of geek love. I enjoyed it all, and my brain is brimming with new ideas (much like my yarn basket is brimming with new stash). Now I have two days of vacation from work to play with yarn, practice new techniques, and celebrate the grand holiday that is my birthday! What a great weekend!!

CGOA Day Two

I drove back down to Greensboro (again in pouring rain) this morning. I reviewed the shopping floor. I got my book "Crochet Border" autographed by the author, Edie Eckman. Next was a meet-up for Ravelry users where I saw Drew Emborsky, the Crochet Dude. I sat beside a lady from England & met a lady from Australia! Crochet rocks!

Then it was time for my class - the PULAD method of working two-color designs without cutting yarn. Neat! We made samples.

I swear the road home from Greensboro is twice as long as the road there! Tomorrow is my last day - morning class.

CGOA Day one

I took the day off work to go to the Crochet Guild of America's Fall Conference at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro NC today. My plans were made months ago when I signed up for two classes. I've never seen a CGOA event this close to me.

Today was my day to shop & look around and gawk and revel in a world where I'm not the solitary crocheter - where Ravelry is well-known, where other people love this stuff as much as me!

Without a timeline, I drove through pouring rain to the KCC, arriving around 10:30. I registered & got my goodie bag (yarn in a jumbo totebag from Lion Brand. Then I headed to the conference shopping floor. I was not disappointed! As I walked into the hall, the first thing I saw was a rack of free shopping bags! I turned toward a wall of crocheted items - candidates for "peoples choice" award. And there was Doris Chan who I've seen on several tv shows. I shopped around the room systematically (of course). I bought an ergonomic crochet hook I've seen advertised, but not available at Hobby Lobby. I was like a kid in Santa's toybox. I fondled lots of yarn. I lusted over high-priced yarns. I signed up for mailing lists. I saw Edie Eckman who wrote three of my favorite crochet books. I bought a keyring crochet hook, and decided $32 was too much for cool earrings. I smiled at my fellow shoppers. While taking a break to rehydrate (very important while drooling over yarn), I saw a sign announcing a Knit & Crochet Fashion Show starting in an hour. So I went back to the yarn and books and patterns and crafty ideas for more touchy-feely fun.

With about 15 minutes to spare, I snagged a front row seat at the Show. I talked to the lady next to me about other shows she's been to and we found we have our Sunday class together The show started and much ooohing and aaaahing followed. I loved it. I then went and ordered 4 skeins of one of the featured yarns from the show. And I bought a DVD of the Mosaic Crochet technique which I've heard good things about - and it's by the woman who'll be teaching one of my classes.

Feeling tired, I made a final lap around, still resisted the earrings and headed out. Still grinning ear to ear. The rain had stopped, which I took as a sign I should have a late lunch at Moe's!

Once home, I emptied my goodie bags and spread out my loot like a kid after Halloween. Four tote bags, a NantucketBagg, two new hooks, 4 skeins yarn ordered & 2 in hand, keyring hook, CGOA pin & bag, a DVD, and a pile of pamphlets & handouts & free patterns & adverts for future shows.

Tomorrow promises to be equally thrilling.

Still Loving September

For those of you who've been reading over the past five years, you will know I've survived some very dark days. On most of those days (and through the long long dark nights), the only thing tethering me to life was my refusal to add "Mother" to Jessica's list of losses. I couldn't think of anything else to make life worth continuing.

I am absolutely 100% glad that I was alive Saturday to be a part of JBB2.

The wedding was a wonderful, sweet, perfectly lovely event. Everyone was celebrating the love evident between Jessica and James and Elisha. The three of them together just seem so natural that they just have to go together. I got to play with the girls at manicures and pedicures and fancy hair and airbrush makeup. Mimosas and O'Kellys at the hair salon. Laughing together.

The ceremony and their vows were especially sweet. I managed not to "ugly cry," but to keep my sniffles to a minimum. I know there will be ups and downs for the newlyweds in the future; however, my deepest desire is that they will be able to remember their joy, their commitment, their passion and true devotion of that day. There were many witnesses to their special day and all of us saw the love they each have for the other. Congratulations and my wish for a lifetime of love for the new Buckner family.

September Love

I love September. Always have.

As a nerdy kid who lived 20 minutes away from school, I never saw most school friends over the summer. I liked school, love school supplies (notice that's still present tense!), and socialized at school. September meant school starting up again. Never a fan of hot-hot temperatures, September means cooler weather. My birthday is September 27th - and I have always loved my birthday.

I started this September off with FOUR days off in a row. I added a Friday vacation day off before Labor Day weekend. C went away to his caving/camping trip, so I had the house all to myself. Nothing to do but watch movies and crochet, get my walk in every day in the morning before it started sweltering. So that's exactly what I did. I made lots of progress on my three ongoing projects. I really like having the three projects going at the same time. That way, when I get a section done on one, I move to a different project.

One day I spent a while with E. He is a mostly agreeable, hilarious companion. He had an idea for me to make a video of him playing his videogame to post on YouTube. I don't have a video camera, I told him. He answered that we should go to the Dollar Store and get one. So I tried to explain that things like video cameras and flatscreen TVs and computers aren't at the Dollar Store. He thought we should try anyway! ... We like going to movies together, and he said he's like to see "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" again - so we went. I told E that I don't like scary movies since they give me bad dreams. Sitting and waiting for the movie to begin, he told me, "Grammy, if you get too scared, you can put your head on my shoulder." {SO SWEET!!!} Then, during a scary part of the movie, I did lay my head his skinny little shoulder - and he patted my arm. Such a tender, sweet, funny, wonderful boy.

And of course, there is the Wedding this Saturday! My beautiful Jessica marrying her James, with E walking her down the aisle. She has done a fabulous job organizing and planning and preparing for the Grand Event. I truly hope it will all go smoothly and that they all have only joy and happiness for ever and ever.

Irene's in the neighborhood

This is how the sky looked as I drove home from work around noon today. We're on the outer bands of the clouds of Irene as she batters the coast. The clouds are thick and dark, and moving SO fast. I just hope she brings us some rain - several days of steady rain.

My crochet week plan was disrupted by my inability to make a decision this week. I was so disheartened by my WW experience (staff meetings, surprise weigh-ins, driving time, etc) that I was on the verge of quitting completely. So I backed off the highly-charged emotional topic and decided to give myself another day to consider (as counseled by friends to do). That night, I was asked to cover a meeting as a Leader (which is what I really want to do). Just like that.
*poof* My attitude was completely different. Being the Leader at the meeting is very different from being the Receptionist (which I've been doing for nearly a year - but that meeting is about an hour's drive away). SO! I prepared and did the meeting - felt great about it. Don't know where that leaves me, other than, I'm not ready to quit - JUST YET!

I'm sure it's shocking to those of you who know me well to find out that I have an APP on my iPhone to schedule and track all my crochet projects - when step 1 of project B needs to be completed, etc etc etc. Go figure. This week, instead of happy little smiley faces reassuring me I'm on schedule for xmas deadlines --- I have angry little exclamation marks. "Item Past Due!" Yeah - I know. I'll get right on that. And I will - I have a FOUR DAY WEEKEND coming up next weekend. HOOOOOO-RAY!!! C will be away from Thursday til Monday - so I don't know who will be doing the cooking and cleaning around here! I will be busily crocheting away.
{For any other nerd-heads out there, if you have to keep track of multiple tasks on multiple projects - the APP is called "Complete" and it's $1.99. I ABSO-F***ING-LUTELY LOVE IT}

Stay high and dry, my friends. Or pick one or the other. Just don't drive.

Note to Self: Take your meds

As the title says: Note to Self: Self, Take your damn meds. So if you know or love or tolerate or try to understand someone on anti-depressants, this is for you too. If Self runs out of her meds - because the bottle is getting empty - maybe she can make it 3 or 4 days between a pill - make `em last longer... or when Self runs out of pills, she says, "Oh yeah - don't forget to refill the scrip!" and then forgets to refill - then calls in the refill, but forgets to pick it up... or when Self decides she's tired of letting some damn chemicals run her life and keep her from her feelings... That's when it's okay to say, "TAKE YOUR DAMN CHILL PILL!"

I don't know about everybody else. I have only my experience to base this on. For me, what happens when Self doesn't take her meds? Not anxiety - I see that as hanky-twisting, toe-tapping worrying. Depression is always right here, just below the surface (don't push too hard, or it'll push back). For me, it's RAGE. Red-hot, fire-breathing dragon of FURY. Hair-trigger switch. Zero to one-twenty in half a second. I can mope around anyday. No problem. I can usually walk away from whatever makes me angry. But when know-it-all Self runs out of meds, I get murderous. I shouldn't be allowed around people or animals. My language becomes a string of 4-letter words (with one prominent word, used as a noun, verb, adjective, adverb - always with an exclamation point). With tears just beneath the fury. Choking down a sob to holler more cuss words in a blue-stream until I'm hoarse. Until Self runs completely out of energy, and I collapse.

Twice this week. Two days. Hours spent plotting how best to commit crimes, run into idiot drivers, quit my jobs and join the welfare state. If only RAGE burns calories the way it burns my heart (and that of anyone unfortunate enough to find themselves in my path).

And so now, prescription refilled and taken, I am exhausted. I promise to take it again tomorrow too. And the next day too. The hell with what Self tells me to do. If feeling my feelings really just means feeling my hurt and anger, I am better off numb.

TGIFriday

The best thing about noon on Friday is I'm that much closer to 4:00 on Friday! I have little actually PLANNED for this weekend, but I do want to make progress on my crochet projects (only four or five actively being worked on). I have to go to a WW Seminar in Lynchburg Saturday afternoon - but that means I have to go to Lynchburg where there's a Moe's and an A.C.Moore! Mexican food and yarn! YUM!

Some crafters are "process" guided, and some are "product" guided. For some of us, the pleasure is in the calming, mind-clearing repetition of stitches forming themselves into beauty. For others, it's all about the final product, then on to the next. I'd have to say that I'm right in the middle of both. My day is better when I include an hour or so (at least) of crochet. I can focus my mind on the task at hand (literally!). I watch the pattern design develop into a part of a larger part of a still larger item. Most of my WIPs (Works In Progress) are made of many smaller parts joined into sections that join into larger sections and finally join into the finished project. Then there's bordering and backing. But I definitely know how to be satisfied with the final afghan or scarf or whatever. Satisfaction = pleasure = contentment.

I had a rotten day yesterday. My afternoon at work was hair-pulling-frustration, followed by road rage, leading to a meltdown. Luckily I melted down all by myself - no one else got hit by the spatter of my fury. Then I did a strange thing: I changed into my shorts and walking shoes, and I hit the road. Perhaps the first couple of blocks, I was STOMPING more than walking, but then the heat of the day, the audiobook in my ears, the constant "one foot in front of another" took my 3-1/2 mile neighorbood loop and my rage and frustration and anxiety and fizzled it all away. By the time I got back home, all I was concerned with was a cold shower. The walk took the energy of a temper-tantrum (which is how I felt) and released the pressure valve. Best of all, after cooling down, I felt good enough to crochet!

Lovely Day

My first ever non-mentored or observed Weight Watchers meeting as a Leader was Thursday night. I talked too much. I kept the time right - no GSS - but I talked too much. I lectured. Today I did the meeting again and it was GREAT! It was a conversation between friends! I was spot on with the meeting time and the GSS time. Very happy with it. So comfortable with it. YAY!

So after WW, I picked up my favorite dynamic duo, Jes & E, and we headed out to my Mom and Dad's house. From there - we headed to Lynchburg for MOE'S and ACMoore. MY TWO FAVORITE PLACES! (besides Disneyworld - much less expensive and closer than Disney) I had the tofu salad - YUM, then I bought YARN! YIPPEE! It doesn't take much to thrill the hell out of me & today was it. It was great talking and laughing with Jes and my mom and dad - and E was a total comedian! My heart was happy and content.

Now I'm home and have played with the yarn - where to put the new stuff, move around the old stuff, etc. I finished three blocks on the project that will probably be for me. It's a granny square sampler afghan. I'm doing it in pinks and purples with aqua thrown in for fun - and for me, of course, it's a GRAMMY Square Sampler! I'm learning a new technique - well, new-to-me anyway - of joining the squares as they're made. It seemed kinda fiddly to start with, but I think I'm gonna like it.

Things to Make & Do

I love crochet. It brings a smile to my face to create something from yarn and hold it in my hand and be happy with its loveliness. And I love color. Bright colors and dark colors and neon colors and primary colors and jewel tones and earth tones - COLORS!

So I absolutely 100% endorse Adaiha's "Granny-A-Day Project." She has pictures of her squares on her website - and the beauty of the COLOR and the CROCHET make me SMILE! Go - visit - be inspired to make something beautiful today!

More Yarny Fun

I have become obsessed with my crochet projects. I only read on my lunch hour at work - I am crocheting or searching patterns or looking at lovely things on Ravelry.com. All of the Mumsies have been made for Jes' bridesmaids' bouquets. I've got three big projects underway - and they all make me smile! The biggest enabler is the Vannas Choice Fans Group on Ravelry. It is a very active, large group, and I am amazed daily at the items members post. They're the best online community I've ever found, and I've found countless patterns and projects to add to my Queue. There are swaps (usually of 9" or 12" squares) in specified colors to join - I participated in one swap based on Iris colors: purple, green, and white. I was pleased with the squares I made and mailed out all over the country, and now I'm just waiting on the last four squares to be delivered to me - then I'll just join them together for an afghan. While I enjoyed the swap very much, I realized that I didn't like the pressure to make "perfect" squares. So NOW I'm participating in two CAL's - Crochet-A-Longs. There is a set schedule to complete parts or the project to finish by a certain date. It's fun to see how other members in the group put their spin on one pattern - by use of color and techniques. The group also makes "comfortghans" for members going through tough times. For those, members volunteer to make one or two squares (in predetermined colors) and send them to the "joiner" who puts the squares together and sends it to the recipient. I've made two squares for two different comfortghans - one for a lady going through a separation that turned into divorce, and one for a lady who's father was in hospice, but he's now passed away. There is always someone there to answer technical questions - to share a good day, and a bad day. Several of the members have had their patterns published in "Interweave Crochet" or other magazines. Anyway - I'm loving it. I hate going to work, because I could spend that time crocheting!

I have two Weight Watcher meetings to LEAD this week, filling in Thursday night & Saturday morning. Nervous, but not too bad. I like telling myself that if I don't like it, I don't have to keep doing it! I can QUIT!

In the world's biggest headline from this past week: Chuck finally got a job! A full-time, NOT-TEMP job -- with BENEFITS and a pay raise and EVERYTHING! FINALLY! I definitely believe he wouldn't have done it without my bitching and pushing. Yeay me!

I'm off to crochet. of course.

June

I have found renewed love for my crochet since stumbling into a very active Ravelry.com group called "Vanna's Choice Fan Group." They are funny and wise and constantly keeping my interest in crochet at a fever pitch. I've joined a swap - 20 squares in five set colors that I'll make and send out into the world, and 20 different squares will come to me for an afghan. Loving it so far! I've also signed up for the "mysteryghan" - which I've never participated in before. The pattern designer sends out "clues" every week with instructions for a motif. I make the motifs, then wait anxiously for the next clue. For Ms Control Freak, it's freeing to jump off the ledge not knowing what the final project will look like. So far, it's lovely, and I'm very happy with it. I come home from work every day just wanting to get out my yarn and HOOK!

I got through Anna's birthday this week. Five birthdays without her now. Big difference between an 17-year-old and a 23-year-old. What have I missed? What has SHE missed! I feel more and more like only a few of us are remembering her anymore. I know that happens - people have lives that fill up with so much other stuff. I remember her. Constantly. Every day. I know Jes does - and Katie - and Ashley. I just want to scream - DON'T FORGET HER! DON'T FORGET MY ANNA!!! So consider that my screaming for the day.

Chuck has a new job (again) - starts Monday as maintenance guy for two apartment complexes. Fingers crossed he'll last long enough to get me back on my financial feet. Paying real estate taxes and insurance out of pocket every June and December kills me! Where do they expect me to come up with an extra $500?

He is off on an overnight camping trip, so I'm going to get off the computer and get out my yarn and hooks and patterns and have some crochet fun. (yes, I know I'm a geek - proud of it)

MayDay

I'm having a great weekend. What am I doing? NOTHING! HOORAY! No alarm clock! No responsibilities! I've had something to do every day for a long time - even on the cruise, I had to hurry up and get to the buffet! Heaven forbid I'd miss one!

So I'm at least doing nothing structured. I took a long walk this morning when the sun finally came out - so that's my "activity points" for the day. I'm doing laundry and hanging it on my new clothesline. I've signed up to do a swap on Ravelry.com (the most wonderful crochet & knitting website ever!) - so I'm planning which 9" square patterns I want to use.

I worked on my Moorish Mosaic afghan yesterday. LOVELY! While taking the picture, I realized that one of my octagons was really a ?(what's the word for nine-agon). The brown one. So I had to take out all the brown and redo it. much better! It just makes me smile - even though all the motifs aren't exactly the same size, that will work out when I put it together.




Jes has commissioned me to try and come up with her bridal bouquet out of crochet. Here's one I tried - called "Mumsy." I think a bunch of these together would make a very nice, fluffy bouquet. Suggestions welcome. In addition to her bouquet, she's looking for crafty, relatively inexpensive, DIY ideas for table centerpieces. Also, suggestions welcome. Ramona and Cindy are also on the "Crafty Ideas Committee."


I am going to Raleigh this coming weekend (Friday through Sunday) for Weight Watchers "Basic Leader Skills" training where I will learn to be a WW Leader. I've been a WW Receptionist since last fall, and I enjoy it. It does help keep me on track and accountable - so I won't let my weight creep back up. I look forward to being a Leader. Fingers crossed all goes well.

I have to take a "Before" picture to the training. D'ya think this is TOO before? I think I was a very cute kindergartner - back in the days before color film (much less digital).



This is the picture I'm using. It's not very good - I pretty much avoided the camera then. Didn't want to be photographed. Somehow, being overweight is much worse when you look at a picture of yourself. You can kinda lie to the mirror, but a photo in hand is hard to explain away.




SO! That's my May update. I am very glad to have a weekend to crochet and catch up on shows on my DVR. Here's hoping next weekend goes smoothly - then the next weekend is a THREE-DAY WEEKEND! HOORAY!!!! I'm planning another NOTHING weekend. Do I know how to live-it-up, or WHAT!

It's been a while

It has been a long while since I've been here at my blog. Wonder why? I had nothing to say? nothing to do? nothing going on? Hmmm... nothing's changed - I still got nothing! Okay - except for going on the 3G Cruise over Easter. 3G = 3 Generations of Bryant/Shelton - 3 gramma's, 3 moms and 3 grandsons. I'm so looking forward to it! I love being with the Sheltons - and of course, I adore my Jes and Elisha most especially of all!

Then, there's Jes & James' wedding in September. I just want love and joy and lifetimes of happiness for all three of them. {Insert happy sighs while visions of lovebirds tweets around}

My lovelife is fine. Nothing groundbreaking - no crises. That's a good thing! Chuck has a job now (yippee!!) PLUS he's rebuilding my carport for me. The realization came to me today that he does what he says he'll do. Now THAT is groundbreaking! ... work is work. I'm also working as a receptionist at Weight Watchers & I will go in May to "Leader School" to be a meeting leader. I like how since it's my "second" job, there's much less stress about it. If I like it, fine! If I don't, eh... I have kept my 35 pounds lost last year off over 12 months now. Yay me!

My main reason for being here now is that I am going to start a major crochet project. (Yeah, I know - how exciting.) Well! For me - it IS exciting. I remember seeing the pattern several years ago and thinking, "Ugh! That's waaayyy too much work for me!" And now, I think I can do it. I am going to give it a shot anyway. It's not that the pattern is difficult - it's that the layout is highly unusual and different. It's called the "Babette." I bought the yarn (over 17 colors) today.

Here's the link to find more info about this pattern from Interweave Press:

http://www.interweavestore.com/Crochet/Patterns/Babette-Blanket.html

and what their picture looks like (I chose different colors):

I've also started another challenging crochet project. In this one "Moorish Mosaic" afghan, the pattern is kinda difficult - but it's the same pattern for all the octagons (24, i think). The beauty comes from different rows done with different yarns. So far, it's lovely!

I think the decision to start the Babette came when I realized I had finished up a major project. I did 30 squares in purples and greens out of cotton yarn. I've been accumulating squares (each a different pattern) for about two years. Then I saw - "Hey! I've got 27 squares! Might as well finish up 3 more and put them all together!" So I did. It makes me happy.