The Hope Project

This was my entry in an art show that was held recently in our community. It was called The Hope Project, and the proceeds from the show benefited the ministry I direct.

I covered a square canvas with brown fabric for the background, and the crocheting was done in size three crochet thread. The pattern is from Jan Eaton's 200 Crochet Blocks—with a slight modification.

This is an edited version of the original post. 7-21-11

WIP Wednesday: Autumnal Afghan

After nearly four years in hibernation, I pulled this afghan back out to work on while watching the occasional weekend DVD. Sunday night, it was Robin Hood.

I am anticipating it taking all fall and winter to finish. :-)

Update 7-21-11: I ended up giving this project to one of my crochet students. The large hook and stiff yarn hurt my hands too much to continue working on it!

Autumn Inspiration Board

I updated my inspiration board last week with the subtle autumn hues that I love so much.

A Couple of Things to Share

First, the card I made for a wise friend's birthday...

In addition, I finally finished the granny square afghan I have been working on for some time. I am pleased with how it turned out. I originally planned to keep it for myself, but I decided to give it to a friend who needs encouragement.

We are headed to the mountains this weekend to enjoy the autumn weather and the change of seasons. I'm planning my travel stitching projects...

My Stitching Chair: A Poem

I long to sit in my stitching chair
To spend peaceful hours sitting there
Meditating alone with needle and thread
As anxious thoughts are expunged from my head.
As I pass my chair on the way out the door
To my daily calling that must come before
The sitting and stitching that I so adore,
I look at my chair
Thankful it's there
Waiting for me and my burdens to bear.

Katy Sammons
May 22, 2010

Stickin' with Stitchin'

I've decided that during this busy season in my life, there is no time to practice and to develop skills that I do not already posses (i.e. drawing, painting, etc.)—at least not in my very limited leisure hours! Therefore, during my free moments in the car or on the sofa while watching a Friday evening movie, I'm going to focus on what I know best, the needle arts. I am pretty confident in my crochet, knitting, and embroidery skills, and I can easily pick up and put down those projects as my schedule permits.

I started a new embroidery project recently. I am stitching a pair of dishtowels for my MIL for her birthday. I found a great set of chicken transfers at a craft store during a recent trip to Washington state (for work!), which are in keeping with the theme of her country kitchen.

I also scored a good deal last week on Ebay on size 12 Valdani perle cotton. I'm stitiching the rooster in size 8 DMC perle cotton, which is comparable to the size 12 Valdani, and I really like it, so I decided to invest in some more threads. I love the subtle colors of the "Muddy Monet" collection.

Little Glimpses...

... of creativity.

And lots of thinking about my hobbies and interests and how to fit them into my new schedule.

(Granny square throw Raveled here.)

A Stitch Here and There

Well, I did have an FO very soon after my last post some weeks ago, I just didn't post it! (I did upload photos to Flickr, however.) And even worse, I have yet to deliver the baby afghan to its recipient!

I'm still attempting to adjust to this new phase in my life. It's not easy for me. Women who work from 8 to 5 everyday, do the laundry, keep the house in some semblance of order, and have time for their families and their hobbies...you are cut from different cloth than I am! I'm trudging along, keeping my head above water. I haven't given up my creative interests, I just haven't been very successful at working them into my new schedule. Hope springs eternal!

Still Here...And Crocheting

Regardless of appearances to the contrary, I haven't dropped off of the face of the earth. I am behind on commenting and responding and all manner of online activity. Please forgive me if I haven't gotten back to you. I've worked about thirty hours a week for the past two weeks, and while it is going very well, it is going to take some time for me to adjust to my new schedule. I fall into bed every night exhausted and able to read only a few pages before falling asleep.

I haven't been doing much crafting, but I did finish up last night teaching another session of crochet classes, and I am slowly but surely weaving in the ends on the baby afghan I have been working on for months. My big goal for the weekend is to get that project checked off my list.

I realized a while back that I had never shared with you one of my favorite things, my Lexi Barnes crochet hook case. I bought it using a MasterCard gift card I got for my birthday a couple of years ago, and I have never regretted the purchase. It holds all of my hooks, even the largest ones, as well as a pair of small scissors, darning needles, stitch markers, etc. If you are a serious crocheter and like to be well-organized, it is worth it!

With many hopes of having an FO to post here next week...

New Year, New Venture

Sorry it's taken so long for the big reveal. Things didn't quite go according to plan, but that has worked out for the best. So what's the big news, the life change, the announcement?

After more than nine years as a stay-at-home mom (with some part-time work thrown in here and there), I am going back to work full time! I have been hired as the executive director of a brand new ministry to women in crisis. Our building is currently being renovated, and we are preparing to open in the Spring. In the meantime, I have much to learn and much to do. I've set up a temporary office in my dining room until the building is finished. I have to write procedures, create a database, raise funds, attend conferences and training... The list goes on.

I wasn't looking to go back to work. I had settled in at home content to keep house (Well, I do the laundry regularly and cook sometimes!), to pursue my creative interests, and to volunteer at church and school. However, over the course of the several months that it took for this development to come to fruition, it has become very clear that I didn't choose the job; it was chosen for me, and that is a great comfort as I contemplate the coming changes around here. I can be confident that I will be equipped to handle what is come.

I don't know how my hobbies will be affected. I certainly won't have as much "free time." But like most people I've talked to about it, the more free time I have, the less likely I am to use it well. My husband thinks I will enjoy my creative pursuits even more because they will be something I do for fun and relaxation rather than with professional ambitions in mind. I hope he is right.