Thrifted Yarn Prayer Shawl

I found this large cone of yarn at a St. Vincent De Paul Shop in Wisconsin, and used it with two strands of white baby weight yarn to crochet this prayer shawl.

Just a thin pink threadlike yarn gives this shawl it's soft color.

I worked this cornflower stitch with a large size hook.

This pattern is from a book by Wanda Bonando, called Crocheting.  It was originally published in Italian in 1978.  I found my copy at a rummage sale, but it is still available on Amazon.  If you love crochet, this book has everything, including a history of needlework that is interesting. This pattern is so great because the sides have a scalloped look...it looks complicated but is so easy. If you are interested in this pattern, let me know.  I hope if you're a crocheter, you'll try this pretty stitch.  I'd love to see what you make with it!  Have a great day!

Target Goes French!

Walking through Target I saw a display of kitchen utensils and with them was a tea towel, that looked like a grain sack.  I don't really have $60 dollars for a real grain sack pillow, but I have a bunch of pillow forms and a stash of Lenda curtains that are linen-like.  I put them together to make this cool pillow.  The towel was $3.99! 

I was very anxious last week, and you can tell by the quantity of work I completed.  The more nervous, the more work.  (The 9/11 anniversary, having a daughter working in Manhattan and a husband flying for business, and I am a worrier...I come from a long line of em!)  I found this pattern on the Lion Brand site, under washcloths.  I'm thinking of making these as gifts for Christmas. 

 I crocheted with regular kitchen cotton, and was pleased with the results.

We attended a small flea market to benefit a local school's music program.  I was drawn to these prints and at 25 cents each I have some art for my office.  The picnic basket was $2 and I cannot pass up that kind of a bargain.

This print is my favorite, reminds me of Sea Fever, a poem by John Masefield...
I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by... 
I'm not sure why I know this poem, but it popped into my head as soon as I saw this print.

                                      

More projects soon.  A crafty outing today at a crafty friend's.  Yeah!

All Worn Out

We went to Kane County for the Flea Market last Sunday. The weather was perfect, I had a little cash and my best junkin buddy by my side... but I was worn out...and not getting into the hunt like I usually am. It was crowded, and if I stopped to look at something in one of the buildings, someone would cluck behind me. You know what I mean...that sound of discontent coming from behind you, when you are not keeping up with some one's pace of flea market walking. (No, it wasn't my husband, he was blazing the trail for me!) I bought the fabric from an outside stall. It was a bargain at $5 for over 5 yards. The enameled soap bowl and flowers came from a vendor with all new items, mostly for fall.  I stopped by to visit Lisa, The Frenchman's Wife, she has the most amazing stuff, and her display,  let's just say,  WOW!  While we were in her booth, someone wanted to buy part of her display!  She is just that good!  We grabbed a few bags of corn on the cob from a farmer on the way out, and called it a day.  The aluminum lazy susan was found by my SIL Elizabeth, at another flea market. I'm starting to acquire all these cool aluminum pieces.  I need to stop as I have a few now. 
                               

Speaking of worn out...This is a butterfly I photographed in early June. Remember, I called him Nemo since he was missing part of his wing  I couldn't find info on the life span of this particular butterfly, but it is not long...from a couple of weeks for most butterflies, to months for the Monarch.  Here at the beginning of September I took this photo...





This guy had a heck of a summer, don't you think?  Tattered and torn, the scales on his wings worn.  It's kinda how I feel after a long summer. It was a fun summer, did so much, went so many cool places.  I'm ready for fall now.  I'm being rejuvenated by the cool weather, and all the joys of autumn in the Midwest.  I'm crafting, crocheting and sewing every day.  I've even completed a project or two.  More about that soon, until then dear friends, have a great weekend.

Remembering 9/11...Praying for Peace...

Gifts

                                                  
Here is my dear daughter, Kristen. She is holding Ponyo.  Ponyo is the star of a Japanese cartoon.  Ponyo is the favorite of our "little bird".  Kris found a pattern on the Internet to crochet Ponyo, and made one little girl very very happy.  Kris' first love is knitting, but she can crochet like crazy cakes, and amazes me with her talent.


                                                      
 Ponyo is a fish that wants to be a little girl.  Kris did a great job capturing Ponyo in a cuddly stuffed toy.  It was a gift that touched the heart of a small person we all love so very much.

Kristen brought me some gifts too. All the way from London. A perfect blue apron, a travel case, a camera case and some rose scented hand cream. Of all the places I wanted Kris to visit in London, she hit the jackpot when she stopped at Cath Kidston. Having never heard of Cath's beautiful designs, Kris is now a fan too. The apron is something I would walk around town in, I love it so much. Who is not cheered by beautiful floral accessories?  Thanks so very much Kris for remembering your Mom

with this embarrassment of riches!

                                      

 Oooooooooo, la te da, I have a thimble with the Queen on it!  Fancy that!

The packaging is lovely, and the fragrance is old timey Rose. 

The best gift of all was the time I got to spend with Kris...I so love that girl! 

Tomorrow is dress like Steve Jobs Day.
From the Facebook page of iphone Life Magazine...

To honor the ongoing legacy of Steve Jobs, we are encouraging everyone to wear jeans and a black t-shirt/mock turtle neck for one day on Friday, September 9th, 2011.

I am a pc girl, but the iphone has changed my life! (Face time with Kris and Doug make the months between visits so much easier, just to name one example.) Tomorrow, if I can find one in my closet...I will wear a black turtle neck in tribute to Mr. Jobs, and say a little prayer for him too.

Have a great day my friends. 

An Ode to Summer 2011

While our Internet was down all day yesterday, I made this movie with photos from this summer here "At Home" and all around the countryside.  I tried to post this last night, and had some problems again this morning.  I used some available music that isn't long enough for the amount of photos.  I'm learning and hope you'll enjoy it anyway.  It was a great summer, and like every year, I'm a little melancholy at the beginning of autumn. It's not the warmth I miss, but the light.  Everyday now the days get shorter.

We had a great holiday weekend, with all my kids here for a few cherished hours.  Had a wonderful visit with Kris and Doug, a surprise visit from Jon and Charlotte, just returned from Charlotte's best friend's wedding.  Mike is back to only child status...(only child at home) and things are getting back to normal.  It's a long time till Thanksgiving when we'll all be together again, so my happy and fun memories of this weekend will have to do for a while.

It was a short blog break, but I'm feeling a little rusty.  I'll be back with some cool gifts Kris brought me from London, some Kane County Flea Market finds and some crafty projects.  Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy this beautiful day.