Making It Happen!

Hey Emilie!!
Look at my new scarf!!!

Isn't it lovely??

I've decided that EVERY day I'm going to take time to work on some knitting, crocheting, quilting, and/or sewing project.  Since making and completing those preemie hats, I've already established a little routine for myself.  No, it's not habit...yet!  I figure if I can keep the kitchen clean, feed people and animals, keep a cleared path to/from the doorway daily I should be able to craft each day too! :D

I still have a good bit of this yarn left, so I'm planning to make a matching hat.  Will share photos of that when it's done.

I hope that you're taking time for your craft as well!  LOVE YOU!!

Project(s) & Life Update!

Dear Emilie,

I just have to share with you some of the things I've been doing since the last time.  Surprisingly, when I step away from the computer I get soooo much more done.  (Go figure!)  As I shared previously, I was asked to knit a preemie hat for charity.  Well, I want to make two--and I've done that.  Then I decided that I'd make one for each of the full-term babies I was blessed to have. 

The first pattern didn't work for me so after frogging it and restarting (using a compilation of two other patterns) I was able to complete it.  I think it's nice.  It does sort-of look like a "first."

The second one I simply did what I do--knitt my ear.  LOL!  I think it's adorable!!

I'm not working on my third, which is a nice deep blue.  My hope is to have it done by the weekend so I can ship them all off on Monday.

During this time I've learned to crochet.  And let me tell you...I whipped out a scarf in less than four hours.  Crocheting is definitely faster.  Not sure if I really like the look of it (I do so love the look of knitting), but I am open to learning it more and making things for others--again, because it so quick! :D

I must say that I'm feeling very proud of myself for trying new things!  I used 4-5 needles on the preemie hats so now I'm ready to try a pair of socks.  This has definitely satisfied my need to create and give.  It's also made my crave out time each day for this--which I've wanted to do for some time.  I think this is a habit I want to make--so between sorting and packing and reading and cooking and cleaning and homeschooling and running errands and laughing....you'll find me either knitting or crocheting. :D

Oh, on my "break" last week, I found a yarn store.  Em, it was so good to be in that space!!  It was almost as nice as Knitch (the one we went to to knit in the ATL).  You can read more here (and see photos).  I thought about that commercial you shared with me...touch, touch, touch, touch, feeeeeeel!.  Yeah, I was doing a lot of feeling! LOL!  And I stumble upon another great little shop called Just Be.  This really spoke to me.  There were hand made items from local and national artists who inspire, encourage and share simply beauty with someone like me. :D  I'm looking forward to visiting again and getting a few of those pretty things.  (Perhaps we should plan a date there!?!)

We are definitely moving forward with "the BIG move" plans scheduled for mid-June.  Yesterday I got through most of the stuff in the office--turned storage room.  It's still in 'storage' mode but all the trash, junk and things to be donated OUT.  Melvin said that I'm welcome to back everything else up--which, I probably will.  However, I'm now thinking, if it can be packed up now, do we really need it--ever?  So, perhaps I'll have another conversation with him.  lol.  I've gotten two boxes of books together to donate.  Realizing that I don't have to HAVE every book.  We need to better utilize our library systems--this will definitely free up some space in my house and in my life!


I miss you.  We must get together soon!  What things are on your needles these days?

~leslie

Knitting for a Cause

Dear Emilie,

I just wanted to invite you to join me in knitting a hat for a preemie boy or a girl.  One of my dear friends, Laverne, invited me to join her in doing that this month.  I really want to do two, but am committing to one since, well, you know how my life flows over here. :D  I also know that you can whip one out in no time (perhaps the big girl over there can make one too).  You can read here to find out the particulars.  I know you've done this before, but this is my first time.  I mean, I knit because, but haven't done it for a cause! LOL!

Either way, just wanted to let you know what else I'm doing!  I'll definitely share photos when they're done (see, I'm speaking of more than one already!)

Have a great day!!

Knitting Lessons

Dear Emilie,

Yesterday I started the first of several knitting lessons I'll be giving over the next six weeks.  Take a moment to read this before reading on.  (I'll wait.  I'll even hum a little music for you. lol) ;-)

Well, let me begin by saying I made it through...and I think we are heading in the right direction.  I've ended up with three students in addition to my oldest.  The first lesson, which included her and her friend, didn't go as planned.  But I somewhat expected that.  That's why I'm thankful I'm flexible. (smile) The little girl immediately started pulling, very randomly, at her skein of yarn before I could stop her.  So, after I showed them different sized needles, different types of yarn, she (and her mother--mainly) spent the rest of our time untangling her yarn.  I had my daughter roll her skein into a ball and let this experience be the lesson for today!  We will learn on cast-on at our lesson next week.

The lesson I gave to the High Schooler went a bit more smoothly.  He was able to pick it up so that at the end of our hour and half session he'd learned to cast-on and the knit stitch.  He was so proud of himself.  He quietly asked me if my husband knew how to knit.  When I said no, he said, "Good. I'll know something he doesn't know."  [A little background: my husband has taken this student 'under his wing' for the past two years. He admires my dh greatly!]

While instructing the High Schooler, I got another student. One of the teacher asked if she could send her daughter over and I agreed.  Now this little princess (middle-school age I'm guessing) was a knitter in a former life.  She picked it up in about ten minutes.  I was blown away.  Now, she definitely has to practice it and learn about tension, but she can knit.

I gave them both the homework of practicing the knit stitch.  They each are going to be making a scarf.  Depending upon how much progress they've made and how things are looking we may move to the purl stitch.  I'll play that one by ear.

So, as you can see, things went really well for my first of many knitting lessons.  Perhaps after these sessions (and a few more) I'll offer my skills at a local Michael's.  We'll see.  Just thankful for some more possibilities!

P.S.

I did knit quite a bit over the weekend! I made 2 hats, and finished a scarf in seed stitch. I was amazed at how much I could get done when someone else is doing all the cooking and cleaning! I took pictures and I will send/post them soon.

Much love!

Knit Two Together

Dear Leslie, and Family,

As you know, this weekend we (my husband of 15 years) and I had the privilege to attend a marriage retreat. Even though we have attended one before, somehow, this time, I did not know what to expect. My Love and I have been living apart during the week for nearly 3 years now (he is home every weekend, and naturally, during that time there has been the week here or there, that he is either here, or I am there! LOL). So, going in to the weekend, I was tired. Emotionally and physically. And marriagely (yeah, I just made that word up).

Ephesians 5: 21, 22 "For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery..."

A great mystery indeed.

The time at the marriage retreat was so refreshing for me. I encourage every husband and wife to MAKE the time to go (and I am willing to come babysit when you do!) We attended the one in South Atlantic Conference. It is always wonderful. There were 189 other Africian-American couples there, married from 6 months to 50+ years. The love, sharing, encouragment---having other couples surround us and pray for us, our marriage--it all touched me so deeply.


I have struggled, at times, to see God's design for marriage from the beginning. I know His plan was perfect. Some days I wonder what happened! But, it was good to be reminded at the retreat how difficult these years can be at times, years 4-25 or so. So much of life happens---career building, childbearing and rearing, running to everything, and that couple time is often put on eternal hold. After all, these things are important, right? Well, I am learning I have to make, well, demand time for just US---and I see my Love doing likewise. We must tell other things no, so that we can have time for just the two of us.

So, in our away time together this weekend, he helped me roll my yarn into balls---and I, in turn, helped him with his balls. (Yeah, OOC, huh?) We laughed, we talked, we shared---some things we seldom get to do in our real world time, because there is always some child, dog, or church situation requiring our attention.

Most importantly, I had time to humbly thank the Lord for giving me the gift of my husband. And I reflected on God's plan for our marriage, and how He is continually weaving the two of us into one.

Who knew God was a knitter!

Sewing Olympics

Dear Emilie,

As you know, the Olympics started on Friday and with that the race for gold!  I was reading on Alex's blog about the Sewing Olympics.  I thought is was a cool idea.  I've been reading about different Knitting Olympic Challenges as well on a couple other blogs.  The idea is to create/complete a project during the two weeks of the Olympic Games.

I can't say that I'm participating, but then again, it might be nice to try something.  If I do, I'm leaning towards the Sewing [crafting] Olympic Challenge as there is plenty for me to choose from with regards to completing projects around here.  It's left up to me what my "events" will be.  (Now that I'm thinking about it, I should have started a "Clean-up-your-house" Olympic Challenge, as that's really what I need to be doing here!)

I simply wanted to share this with you.  Perhaps you'll want to participate or make plans to do this for the next Olympics (I hear this is a regular thing).

I hope you had a great weekend!