My Wool Crazy Block

My spring retreat group is doing a round robin of wool crazy quilt blocks. Completely of wool makes for a great block. (It is just laying on the fabric for the photo op.) This can be made into pincushions or mats. Here is the book that started the whole wool crazy mania. It is a really good book with alot of details.

We are working in groups of 4 and the final reveal will be at the May retreat. Cannot wait to see it when the other 3 ladies are have worked their magic! My starter applique is the spool of button posies. So I guess you would say I have a primitive theme. Hopefully we will do this 3 times this year, I want a winter and spring one also! You can go see Penny, Conni, Michelle, Laura, Peggy, Vickie and Robin to see their blocks as they get them posted. I am in the group with Michelle, Conni and Laura.
I am one of those crazy people who goes outside and bangs on pots and pans at midnight on New Year's Eve as the ball drops. Rethinking it this year. It is storming with rain and thunder!!! Guess I will save the banging to do in the ears of all those I call to wish a Happy New Year! Well I always do that anyways. It honestly is a wonder anyone answers their phone. I think they must forget from year to year! hahaha Don't be looking at your caller id in a minute.. I am calling YOU next! :))
Happy New Year~Angela

Working away

These are on my Etsy. Have started working towards Farmer's Market and our spring shows.

I had a good report at the eye surgeon yesterday. He was pleased with things and that makes ME pleased. 

Hope everyone is staying warm and snotty nose free. Unfortunately, that last one has hit my family. 

~Angela

Favorites and not so fav

 A treasure from my bestie Michelle in Canada. Stitched and punchneedle.

 Pic of Shayla, that Heather took when she was a wee one. Nativity that was my parent's. I loved it so much as a child, that Mom gave it to me several years ago. The first thing that comes out for the Christmas season. And the last thing to be put away.

 First snow of the season this morning.

Our VERY VERY sad Christmas tree. I awoke at 3:30am to find it laid across the room. Damage included the top is broken off and the stand was trashed. We will try to rig it tonight when Mark comes home. The last year for this poor tree. And it was sooooo pretty.

The kitty that wrecked our tree. Bad Timmy! Don't  be giving me that "Who me? It was Toby." face. I know better. Sigh....kids? What are you to do? But Santa is definitely taking notes. I am just saying!!

My giftie

From sweet Michelle at retreat. I love it! (And borrowed the pic from her blog.) All Civil War repro fabrics. Very yummy! WE love it!

Just what I needed

These ladies were so awesome. Made the retreat just a good, relaxing time. No drama. Just a lot of sewing, crafting, eating and visiting. See that lil' munchkin in the front row? She was the life of our party! The smartest 5 year old I have ever seen. I know many of the ladies really needed this time of refreshing. Plain and simple, I needed a change of scenery. I will share a few more pics soon. Trying to play catch up on my rest a bit more. 

Hope everyone is warm and well.

~Angela

Better times are a'comin'

And they start tomorrow! Cause I am seeing all these friends this week! And having a bit of a virtual retreat with Michelle in Canada too. Fun times.

The long awaited November Quilt Retreat is here! Finally. Old friends and new ones too. Cannot wait to have a fun time. I need it! (And I know everyone else does too!) The past several weeks haven't been great healthwise. I hate lupus. But not gonna dwell on it tonight. Praying my body will play pretty and I can just enjoy my coming week. I plan on building my nest and parking it there. :o) Even taking my sewing machine. Which has not seen the light of day since MAY! Yes you read it here. So we will see what happens. Of course I am taking a huge stash of yarn.
The photo is the name tags I painted for everyone. Giving you a peek cause hopefully the girls are all getting rested for the drive to Indiana tomorrow and not cruisin' the net. The name tags are pretty simple, but they are what they are. Finished!!!! hahaha Which is HUGE! But then they are huge too, 4 1/2-inch long packing tags. I hadn't painted in even longer than I had sewn! Sheesh. Thank God I can crochet I am just telling ya. 

Have a sweet week everyone!

Got cats?

We sure do!!!!

Please spay or neuter your pets!!!!

I just sat outside in my enclosed backyard (privacy fence) and counted 6 cats. SIX! And none of them mine! Crazy!! And two of them are with child!!! Eeek. 

Sorry, but I just had to vent a sec.

Catching up

Photos of some of my Farmer's Market wares. Wool felted bags and cozies. Wool pins. Only 2 Saturday's left of market. I am going to miss it greatly. The people are wonderful and the sales have been great. 

Then I had to share the newest pics of Miss Jaidyn. My great-niece will be 3 in December. Such a joy to our family.

Here is an update on my health for all those sweet ladies who have asked. I have just finished up 3 weeks of treatments, will be off 5 and then back on for 4. Another MRI and then we will see what is what. The surgery is on hold for the present. My September MRI showed the tumor had shrunk from treatments this summer down to what it was in December. Which was a God thing! If it will stay this size, the dr feels it is better to maintain it with periodic treatments rather than do surgery. With my other health issues, it would be safer and easier on my overall health. I am having problems with my blood so have been having transfusions to help that. Right now I am trying to rest a lot. That is a huge thing. 

The cooler, no humidity weather is making me happy. Feeling more crafty than I have in months. Have been doing some needle felting. AND Penny and I have signed up to vendor at two wool fiber shows in spring 2011. Yaya us. Gotta keep making our little girl plans. I will be hostessing a quilt retreat next month. Very excited about that. I rest a lot at these and it is such good energy there. Love being with my friends.

Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the autumn.

~Angela

What in the world am I doing

Never thought this would be what I was crocheting. Oh well. Cuppycake anyone? :o)

Simple Cookies

1 dry white or yellow cake mix
1 stick of melted butter
2 eggs
chocolate chips or other bits of yummy (I used a mix of peanut butter and choc in the ones shown.)

Mix together the melted butter and eggs. Add the dry cake mix. Stir in the chips. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 10 minutes (oven temps will vary). I used parchment paper. You do not want the cookies to brown. Remove from the baking sheet immediately to cool. This recipe made 3 dozen cookies using my small 1-inch cookie scoop. They do spread while baking. I placed 12 on a baking sheet with ample space.

Health update: I have an extensive MRI from the waist up tomorrow. See the neurosurgeon next Monday. 

Wait

"Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
Isaiah 40:31

The Time Keeper

This the greatest organizer. The Time Keeper is a datebook with space for notes, pockets, tear off grocery lists, calendar and much more. I know it will help me in the coming year. I have already written dates in it for 2011. Encourage you to check out their site. The price is very reasonable, especially if you compare it to similar items at book stores. I was blessed to have this one gifted to me.

God is able

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 3:20-21).

Hand painted yarn

Here is a pair of small wool soakers I made from Penny's hand painted yarn. I love how it worked up. She will be listing her hand dyed and painted yarns on Etsy soon. This skein made me think of a froggy playing in a pond.

More pics here at my Etsy shop.

Health update, because some of your sweet ladies have asked. The new meds I have been taking once a week, stink. That crazy pill knocks me on my hiney and I do not even know my name for about 3 days/daze. The good news is I do not have to take it this week. Having a blood transfusion with platelets on Wednesday, so off the nasty medicine for a week. Sad when I am looking forward to this procedure which makes my head pound like a jackhammer. BUT at least I still know who I am. Trade offs work for me. I am easy like that. :o)

Do you swag?

 Swag Bucks is rocking my world! I am serious!!! It is a search engine that gives you points. You then redeem your points for "stuff". I am redeeming mine for Amazon gift cards. For every 450 points, I get a $5 gift card. It is all electronic. And with the super saver deal on Amazon, spend $25 (on Amazon items) and get free shipping, it has alllllllllll been free! Just for downloading a search engine and using it to look up stuff. Easypeasy! It is the same search engine as Google. This isn't a gimmick or a scam. But the best thing going!!! If you want to try it out, I have a box at the end of my blog, you just type in what you wanna look for and there you go. You got it. 

Again, you gotta try this!!! I mean seriously, who doesn't like FREE~!?!

My mini dresses

These lil' darlings are 4-inches tall and from crochet thread. I need to make several more for my tree.

Thank YOU everyone for buying the dress dishcloths and baby hats on Etsy. If you missed out on the red/white dresses, I have more added in now. And a retro green and pink set.

Hope you are staying coooooooooool!

Through The Fire-amazing song

Working up dishcloths

in cheery red and white. (These are a bit larger than my previous ones and a different flower.) I love these lil' dresses.

I have added a couple sets to my Etsy shop. Still working on goodies for Farmer's Market as I can. Have started a new medicine that has knocked me on my hiney. It is like chemo without the "bathroom issues". Lovely....On the up side, my family is all coming over tomorrow evening for a visit. That always makes me happy. :o) Hope your weekend is sweet too.

God is in control

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” -Jeremiah 29:11-13

A lil bit of Saturday Market love

Sweet Baby Viola! Isn't she just a doll baby in her Angie hat. As I was making it, I knew it would be a pressie for her. Her momma loves pink and brown. Such the sunniest of babies.

We had a really nice day. It was sooooo cool. Loved the low humidity and sweet breeze. :o)

Just laying around, taking things easy.

Yep. That is how we roll at my house. Total slackards.

Here is the "skinny" on my doctor's appointment and what is going on with my brain tumor surgery. The doctor said my lungs were not in a good place for this magnitude of surgery. (I still have the pleurisy.) I would have to stay on a vent after the surgery, which would NOT be a good thing. So, I go have another MRI, more in depth, in September and see him the next week. We will go from there. BUT I have told them I have a quilt retreat I am hosting in early November. A girl has priorities you know. I honestly thought this would be over and I would be on the healing  process side of things now. I am trying to be good and rest more and stress less. The last is not happening too well. Life you know has a way of rearing it's ugly head. The doctor also dropped some news on me I did not know. He thought probably someone else had told me. I have arterial nerve damage to one of the 3 main brain nerves. Said it was old damage. And then there is the pill I am now taking once a week to try to reduce the swelling of brain capillaries. Forty dollars, yes $40 for one pill after insurance. Whatever.

So stop on by and we will take a break with Timmy and Toby and bask in the sunshine and talk about future plans and what we are wanting to create. And maybe I will share my chocolate stash with you. :o)

Crocheting and Chickens and Surgery...oh MY!

More baby hats. Lots more. They have been selling well for me at Farmer's Market. I have several listed now in my Etsy store also.

Miss Jaidy loves the chickies! She wanted to catch them all and gives them lots of pets. Her expressions were so cute. And then Penny is THE chicken whisper.

And now the not so fun part of the post. I see the neurosurgeon on Wednesday in Indy. It is a pre-surgery consult, so should know the date of my surgery that day. This has been a long time coming. I have had this brain tumor or more than one, for about 10 years. Technology is now allowing the removal. I just want it. Over. With. Now to get my lungs to play pretty with everything and we should be a go. I still have pleurisy (and one cracked rib) and they want that to be healed before surgery. I would appreciate your prayers in all this. As always, God is why I am still fighting a good fight and not pushing up daisies.

Hope you are in a cool shady place today. Enjoying life and your loved ones.

ps: And a big thank you shout out to those who donated to my starting a Project Linus chapter! I will have this done before surgery.

Asking for your help

I am wanting to start a local chapter of Project Linus. There is not one in our area and there is a great need for snuggly blankies for children and teens. Project Linus only accepts new chapter applications once a year, in August. And there is a application fee of $100. I have spoken to them about this. There is no "scholarships" or other assistance available. The monies go towards a variety of expenses and so on. I am asking for donations towards this amount if it touches your heart to do so. This is a wonderful opportunity for blankets to go into the hands of children in need. I thought with the backing of the Project Linus name, it would make more impact in my community when it comes to donating the blankets. Hope this makes sense to you. I have had this on my heart to do for sometime. I have saved up a portion of the funds needed, but with my health expenses, well honestly, I just can not come up with it all. If you feel led to donate anything towards this, I can accept PayPal.

If you have quilts, afghans or children's panels you would like to donate, let me know and I will send you my mailing address. Please know I put a lot of prayer and thought into this before I sought donations. This is not for my personal gain. I promise.

Thank you so much for your consideration of this. (I have never used this format before, if you have problems with the button, please let me know.)

How to lanolize wool soakers

Crocheting for babies has always been a great love of mine. Now I am crocheting lanolized wool soakers. These are diaper covers that help keep the baby dry by wicking the moisture away from the cloth diaper. You can use these with disposable also. The wool has a natural antibacterial property that neutralizes the urine. Cannot do too much for good ole poo though. :o) There are several styles to use: diaper covers (without legs), shorties (with just a bit of a leg), longies (full leg coverage) and sleep sacks. The sleep sack is perfect for newborn and small babies that do not move a lot. Makes for an easy sleeepytime diaper change with the open end. 

Here are pics of a couple of my wool soakers listed on Etsy.

I sell my soakers, lanolized and ready to wear. This is what keeps them waterproof. Here is simple tutorial on how I do mine.

 I use liquid lanolin, a small jar and a teaspoon. This is my soaker sleep sack. I mix 1/2 teaspoon of the liquid lanolin to hot water in the jar. (The hot water helps melt the lanolin. This is the only time you will use anything hot). This is per soaker. If I was doing 2 soakers, I would add 1 teaspoon. Then shake like crazy. Then shake some more. You want the lanolin to evenly disperse and be a creamy milk color.

Fill the sink with tepid water. Not cold, but definitely not warm. You do not want your soaker to felt or full in water that is too warm. Add your jar of mixed lanolin. Use your hand to mix it throughout the water evenly. 

Place your soaker into the water. Gently push the soaker under water until it stay. Let soak 5 minutes and turn over. Let soak another 5 minutes. Turn the soaker inside out and let soak 5-10 more minutes.

Gently fold the soaker into fourths and squeeze the excess water out. Place the soaker onto a dry large bath towel. Roll the towel and gently squeeze.

Remove the soaker from the towel and place somewhere safe to drip dry. You do NOT machine dry your wool soakers. It will compress the fibers and shrink them up. Drying time depends on many factors: weight and twist of yarn and humidity are the top ones that come to mind. Right now with the hot and humid Indiana weather we are having, I am thinking it might take 3 days. Eeek!
I hope this helps those who had questions about relanolizing their soakers. We need more babies in our family! I am so ready to be a grammy!!!! :o)

Goings on

The farmer's market that Penny and I vendor at, had a wedding. It was so sweet. The young people had met at the market last year while their parents were vendoring. Love blossomed. And they had their wedding on the town lawn, after market on Saturday. All the market vendors and customers were cordially invited.

A sign someone made and set up.

The musicians.

The happy couple walking under an arch of garden implements for the processional. :o) The guests were instructed to bring a canning jar for flower bouquets to hold and their garden implements for the arch.

This lil sweetie is wearing one of my cotton crocheted hat. Her parents are vendors and she is the highlight of my day on Saturdays. Love my baby holding time.

Another lil dolly has one of my children's hats. Look at that natural curly red hair. She is pure sunshine. Love watching her and listening to her talk. Someone asked her this past Saturday where she got that pretty red hair. Her reply? Jesus. :o))))) Her mom said she hadn't ever said that before. Being only 4, you never know what she will say.

I have reopened my Etsy store. Have been working on wool soakers for cloth diaper babies. Although, they are also great for disposables. Wool allows the body to stay at an even temperature, so helps with diaper rashes. I am lanolizing them, so they will be absorbent yet will not easily leak. Making baby and children items gives me great pleasure.

Hope you had a love Independence Day.