Heeere's Harley

Every time I get online I think I really should make an entry into one or both of my blogs. Do I? Not usually. I tell myself I ran out of time, but really I haven't. It's a case of pure laziness on my part. Which tends to also be the cause of most of my should-haves-but-didn't-get-to-its. So here I am getting to it.

I have more than enough time this weekend, which became a three day weekend when Grandma woke up with a seizure Thursday morning. My mother lately seems to be on the edge of a nervous breakdown, and given the last year she can hardly be blamed, so I stepped up and stayed home. Poor Grandma had four seizures by the end of the day and is right now sitting in the recliner (where she has been since after the first attack when she actually seemed to recover quickly) talking to people only she can see. I am hoping that she will be a little closer to recovery tomorrow, at least enough that she knows where she is and can walk (with our help) to the bathroom.

Anyway, I stayed up for 24 hours straight yesterday and it wasn't a complete sit around wasting time or dozing day. I crocheted. I am working on a teddy bear for Mother's day, but at one point I decided I wanted to make something quick and gratifying. Most of my projects have been large and slow to make since my hands don't let me crochet for long periods of time with out stopping often. So I made Harley.


Harley is the last bit of one ball of yarn and a furry yarn for hair. I think he's cute and I love the hair. He started out round on the bottom but is actually four sided (hence his cone head look). I needed a little instant gratification this weekend.

I am also playing with my digital camera. It's not a very good one, but I am trying to get it to take good pictures, at least until I can afford something better. My phone takes good ones, but they don't do well at a larger size. Here's what I've managed, I think they are good.


This is a picture from my Mom's eight foot rosebush. Its a little out of focus, but I think that is because of the breeze that day.


The Hydrangeas will be blooming soon and here is the proof. Ours blooms somewhere between green and lavender, although last year there seemed to be more purple.

I had one other picutre, but it didn't quite turn out the way I wanted. The wind moved the branches and I lost the image I really wanted, which was of the flowers framed by other flowers. I don't know if that makes sense, but it didn't work this time. I can try again now that I've cleared the pictures from my camera (no memory card).

Well, I guess that's it for now. I am hoping Grandma will go to sleep soon, but she says ahe's not tired and I suspect she'll start trying to get up out the chair. Maybe I'll sleep tonight. Wish me luck.

Hatin' on the Hook

I just don't get it. I don't understand why some knitters have such a passionate hate for crocheting. Okay, so you don't enjoy the craft but what is up with the animosity?

I receive Knitting Daily a newsletter by Interweave Press. They give tips and patterns for mostly knitting but also for crochet. Well, for one issue Kim Werker, the editor of Interweave Crochet wrote about crochet. The way some knitters reacted to an article about crochet you would have thought Kim was writing in favor of rape or something. It was mean and hateful and frankly rather childish. They were offended and angry that Knitting Daily would dare include crochet in its contents. Never mind this is a free newsletter and is basically meant to be an advertisement for all things Interweave Press, they were downright pissed off the the "C" word was even mentioned.

Okay, so you don't like a craft, so what. I don't particularly like knitting but I don't hate it, it is just not my thing. I am not going to demonize it or anyone who mentions it around me. I guess its part of a spoiled brat attitude to think that if you don't like something you should never have to hear about it or see it and if you do its okay to throw a temper tantrum.

I really have to stop reading the comment sections of blogs and articles. This is the second time I have written about the comment section. I constantly find myself disappointed in the intelligence levels of so many people who feel the need to leave comments. I realize not every knitter is a foolish as those I am speaking of, but its never the rational people who leave an impression.

Back on the Hook

I am back to crocheting again, not as much as I used to because my hands are hurting, but its something. I am working on a notepad cover out of Patons SWS that I am going to felt. Every once in a while I see an artists set that consists of a blank paper notepad, colored pencils, in a fabric cover of some sort. I am jealous and wonder why they don't make those kinds of goodies for writers? So I am making my own. It is striping nicely in colors that remind me of the ocean. I will probably line it as well. And since I rearranged my storage and can get to my yarn/fabric stash, I won't have to buy anything. I am hoping that two skeins of yarn will be enough because, much to my disappointment, I don't have enough money to buy more. I also hope I get more cash soon, I only have five 18-gallon tubs of yarn to last me in the meantime.

I am also working on designing a square for a contest that Red Heart and Crochet Today! magazine are having. I am having some issues with it so far. Including having to scrap my first idea because I can't do a gauge swatch to save my life. I went through the trouble of doing one, calculated sts per row and how many rows to get the size block I wanted. I was going to do a picture block, but when I started crocheting the block it was a good two inches too long! I decided to crochet another swatch right on top of the long piece and guess what? The short swatch is the same as the first one I did. So, evidently I crochet differently for a short piece than I do for a larger piece. I knew I hated doing swatches.

Anyway, I am doing a different block now. I've hit a few snags there, but I'm still at it.

I am also doing charity stuff again for preemie babies. I've finished a few pairs of booties and a hat and they are tragically adorable. So tiny. Even smaller than I thought they would be because the pattern I am working from is for the tiniest of the tiny.

I would like to introduce you to Toria, my best friend's daughter and my favorite five year old. Don't worry those are washable markers, but you should have seen the looks we got at the bookstore as Toria 'painted' her face. Sorry about the picture quality, I used my phone to take the picture.

Isn't she adorable? She doesn't always look like that, but I can't get any other pictures to upload today. Maybe next time. Until then,

Blessings
Agate

Hellooo! Is anyone still out there?

It's been awhile hasn't it? A lot happened since May. I got a new job, that I commute to. My Dad died during one very dramatic and painful Sunday in June. Then in October, not only to help my mom pay bills, but so Grandma wouldn't have to live alone anymore, she and I moved in with Mom and Erica, my sister. It's a three bedroom house. I sleep in the living room. But we are dealing with it all and seem to be adjusting.

I haven't done much of anything the past 7 months, except work. Not a lot of writing or crafting, though I manage to get a little in. I don't even get to see people very much, people as in friends, rather than acquaintances. But i am trying to get back in the groove.

I am writing in short bursts, carrying notepaper folded in my pocket during work hours, scribbling bits during breaks. Its not as much as I was doing before last June, but I'll get there.

ANd I found another charity to craft for. It's called The Preemie Project, I really liked making the preemie hats for Save the Children on 06' so I thought I would do it again. If nothing else, it may keep me from wallowing in my own grief and do something for someone with more immediate problems.

So I am back and plan on once again chronicling my life, whether or not anyone is around to read it.

Blessings to all,
Agate