Tag: joy

  • A refuge in fabric

    A refuge in fabric

    I have a confession: I hide in my sewing/craft room. Sometimes this is to decompress after a stressful day at work, while other times it’s to avoid the news story of the day. Still other times it’s to distract myself when I’m worried about someone I care about. Recently, I was there for a hybrid…

  • Joy, accessible

    Joy, accessible

    Of late, I’ve been thinking about the definition of living well. Our culture seems to have perpetuated an idea about what makes a good life. That idea is, in my opinion, distorted. It wasn’t always this way and I have to admit, a lot of the false narratives promoted are communicated on mediums that I…

  • My Emotional Support Chicken (ESC)

    My Emotional Support Chicken (ESC)

    I’ve officially joined in the ESC craze, and finished my first hen. “Fluffy Freda” – pictured above – helped me learn the pattern, think about how I might want to adjust the pattern, and perhaps most importantly; fall in love with these chickens! My interest in the many benefits of knitting and crocheting have taught…

  • For no particular reason

    For no particular reason

    Sometimes I get into a funk and wonder why I’m spending time and energy making things that don’t seem to have a specific purpose. I also sometimes get down on myself about the mountain of yarn, yards of fabric or tubs of supplies. I know I’m not alone in having an occasional moment of despair…

  • In the bag

    In the bag

    I finally finished my red, white, and blue cotton bag for small shopping trips. I made it with Lily Sugar ‘n Cream yarn and using the Yarnspirations free pattern for their Mesh Bag. It’s perfect for quick trips to the store (I take it to the drug store when I’m picking up vitamins, etc.) I had previously…

  • Bottle slings (holders)

    Bottle slings (holders)

    I’ve been a bit obsessed with this pattern – especially when it’s made in a cotton yarn. For this (green) version, I started with a smaller base (30 sts), still using the H hook. I have a pink one also in progress, but in Big Twist yarn that I’m making with a G hook (pictured…

  • Gifts of love

    Gifts of love

    I decided to make a family member, who loves flamingoes, a poolside bag as part of her birthday gift ensemble this year. I used cotton canvas from Joann’s and lined it with Novelty Cotton fabric (also from Joann’s). The pattern is Simplicity 9308 and it went together quickly (it’s not the first one I’ve made with this…

  • Change is inevitable. Yarn helps.

    Change is inevitable. Yarn helps.

    The past year has marked a significant SHIFT in my life. It wasn’t the birth or death of anyone close, but it was the end of an era, so to speak.  Last year in June, my oldest grandchild got his driver’s license, and suddenly, I was freed from being on call as my daughter’s backup…

  • An essence of immortality

    An essence of immortality

    My time spent with yarn and hook or needles is usually contemplative. Sometimes I’m deep into the Netflix series I’m binging, while at other times, I am lost in memories and thought. As I spend more time with retirement advisors and financial analysts to plan my exit from “the grind“, I have also been thinking…

  • Comfort in stitching

    Like most crocheters and knitters, I always have several projects in progress. I’ve found over the years that various moods or states of mind will align better with some projects than others. For those stressful times where there’s a lot of chaos or uncertainty, nothing beats a basic knitted piece like the wrap pictured above.…