Patterns...

This cute little guys I came across on Pinterest that lead to a pattern in French. I really enjoy Pinterest with the exception of a lot of patterns being in foreign languages or directed to some advertisement or another site that has nothing to do with the image. Today that's my big pet peeve, it seems. Clicking and opening a page with not one darn thing to do with the image. What is up with that..it's like calling on the phone in this day and age...so many prompts to listen too...pick one...and then they go to another. Feels like the world is full of automated voices. Help, someone just please answer the phone, are ya hearing me? Dang it those things drive me nuts...who's got time to listen to all that, I mean really, it's so darn frustrating. Can you tell, as I am laughing, thinking, wow, I think I hit a nerve. One of my own, well heck, it is annoying.

So, yes I manage to spend hours turning this into an English pattern, with lots of time involved. Now I just have to try the pattern and write it properly hoping it comes out fine. Oh, why do I feel like this is going to be a task. Well, at best I hope not. 

I am still working the Rivelyn Pattern by The Velvet Acorn it has been ripped out started over more times than I care to count. I am using Cascade 220 Superwash, so love this yarn, and in black changed my mind on the color from the last post about my progress. Black is sure one color this gal's eyes has trouble knitting or crocheting. But, I march forward...with hook in hand... as soon as they are complete...and there is that word complete...arg....so many patterns so little time. Oh, and once I get this pattern right...I will post the translation...only because it's a free pattern.

Thank you for popping by...have a beautiful day.

Project Knit Time

First I have to say, it is so beautiful out today I believe our best Winter yet...warm, no snow, sun is shinning it's 50 some degrees. We have been blessed and warmer days are on way. The only problem it makes for wanting to start yard work and it's just a bit too early. Walks are really nice and I should be out taking one...yup after this post...off I go!!

In the meantime, this is what's on the needles. It's called Cool Wool I just adore this and as much as crocheting is fun knitting is my passion. Can not say how much I love it thankfully right now I have no outstanding patterns on needles. Gee, what a relief. Isn't this just too darn cute...she just makes this pattern say buy me, make me...I only wish cooking did that to me...not. I'm at the point where heck with cooking, just popping a frozen in the microwave...Oh shame on me, I know, I know a frozen dinner. Hey, they have come a long way since the sixties. Foil tray, foil cover, fold back the corner, bake, is this really food, and portion there was none, okay barely. We've come a long way baby!

       Yes, so far along we can translate languages on the Internet, well sort of anyway. I found this pattern, actually its all over Pinterest only it's entirely in French...that's right French. Now, I did live there for a year, however, never did conquer the language...the male and female thing when it comes to words. English is so much easier it be should Universal..did I just print that..okay, don't loose it...I just don't seem to pick up foreign languages easily. So I did manage to translate took a few days and lots of erasing, I did, figure it out. Now I just need to try it. The pattern is free and if all goes well I will post an English version...Yippy! They are just way too too cute.

Then I found this pattern, that's right pattern...it was not free...it's actually 41 U.S. dollars that's right. Now I know our money is very different from Ukraine money, still, this was expensive so for now I opted out. All one has to do is email her and she will email the pattern once payment is received through Paypal...darn it anyway, I hope I saved it to the computer. I will let you know in another post. 

Last but not least I also found this one...how cute is this!! Crocheting toys is not my thing even though this is adorable I am opting to make it into a fabric pattern with a few changes. When hopefully this year...when it comes to fabric, well, let's just say it will take time. Who knows, depends on what's on the needles and if I need a break. 

Sitting here looking out the window its so nice again to see the sun and blue sky, so longing for the green grass, trees to bloom. Oh spring, how I love you and long or you to arrive. In the meantime while I wait the winter out...thank you all for popping in...such dear friends from all over the World. 

Have a Blessed and Gorgeous day!

Summer Knitting Project...

Not to long ago I showed a project I started recently. It's my summer project, the only one I am working on, and making a point to finish. I absolutely refuse to pick up something else until this one is done. This gal needs more self discipline and plans to make a point to finish what I start before taking on another.

I started it due to the weather, which has been kind of odd off and on which thankfully hasn't damaged any of the veggies in the garden. It's been so cool some days I could feel fall settling in saying it was time to knit. 

I am not one to knit throughout the year, I find it most soothing during the fall to spring season. Usually in the spring and summer I garden, the veggies and the lavender which is growing nicely. 

Being warm blooded it's hard to work the yarn in the warm season, at least for me. So I guess one could say I am a seasonal gal when it comes to the hook and needles. The blanket I am working on is done with Lion Brands Thick and Quick although it's not going as quickly as I thought, even working on it daily. I do know I am enjoying the process, love the colors that match my living room and will keep me warm in the winter months. For those who are curious it's a simple garter stitch that offers a soothing rhythm. On #13 circular needles I did a cast on of 190 stitches working back and forth. The plan... simply knit charcoal stripes throughout. 

Thank you for stopping in to read, have a lovely day and enjoy August 1st hardly seems possible fall is not far off.

Crochet, Knitting Patterns and Other Goodies

Hello dear readers, it nice of you to stop by...

I've been sewing pillow cases here and there, making different lengths of ruffled edges, this is the latest which is 14" long. All done with french seams, I am a bit excited as I thought of something really cool and redesigned the pillow case. I haven't had the chance to work on it yet, due to a bit of an accident I had earlier this week where my nose nearly broke, my eyes are black and blue, nose is swollen, and let's just say this girl is in a bit of pain. 

I've also been experimenting with the camera taking photographs on different settings, etc.

Let's just say with a painful face, neck and head, the photographing isn't going that well either.  I seem to be enjoying the low light and lying on the couch.

Looking at my latest addition to the family, 4 Betta fish, 3 males and a female. I love the ambiance of these tanks I found on Ebay all battery operated. The fourth Betta is without a light in the middle, see the glass vase? He's waiting for his new tank. With the snow consuming the winter along with the cold air I felt I needed a vacation by the ocean. Okay well sorta...

The tank also has a setting for moon light which I love I can sit at night with the lights out and enjoy the blue moon light in the back ground which is soothing. I've also been trolling the net, finding odd things...

Like, what this girl did with an over sized tee shirt is amazing. One tee shirt equals a cute little dress!

Who would have thought...

Then I stumbled on to these gloves on Ravelry. Aren't they the cutest? Flip your hands up you can tell your sweetie "I Love You" I have to make a pair of these!

Although I am not a fan of crocheted bags, this one just caught my attention over at Sarah London's website. There is a pattern for this cute bag if you pop over.

Then this was my all time favorite especially for Valentine's Day. A DIY project so simple anyone can do this...go ahead and give it a whirl made out of a candy heart box...it looks so beautiful doesn't it? 

There you have it what this gal's been up to...mostly resting until the nose heals. I thought about crocheting or knitting but there is so much I need to finish, so much I want to start, and when that happens, what's a gal to do, nothing.

A Knitted Project and My Baby...

 

It's hard to believe that any day now, my baby, is having her first baby. Out of all boy's, she is my only girl. There are so many memories running through my mind this week. So much so, everything I seem to create, has been ripped out and redone over and over...

As I look at this silhouette I see so much more than one could find in a color image. It's what I adore about black and white, your eyes just focus on expression. In just this image, I see a mother's love for a baby, waiting to arrive, someone she's carried for 9 months, who she hasn't even meant, she is head over heels in love with...amazing isn't it!

 

 

Despite the fact my baby is having a baby, I am head over heals, it's so different then when it's your daughter in law. It's a connection like none I've had with my son's, and one I am so very grateful to be experiencing. I literally feel the blood line of the women in my family history carrying on...and yet at the same time, can with all my heart, relate to those who can not carry one of there own. Bless you, for choosing to adopt, for those children, whom for whatever reason, there parents have to let go, are just as blessed to have you, love them with all your heart...love any child with everything you have, for they make the most sense in this life, out of so many things that don't. They are the true beauty of any innocence in human form. Soak in that innocence, nurture it, watch it change, grow and guide it with every ounce of love you have within you. For they are the closest thing, the purest thing to an angel on this earth, that you will ever find.

 And....

although it's been a long two year struggle for my daughter, she never gave up. She has an ovarian condition that causes the eggs to turn into cyst which makes it very hard to have a baby and often impossible. Many as she did, use fertility drugs to encourage a proper ovulation if they are lucky. But, through a lot of tears and determination (Okay if any men are reading pay attention...or just hang in there I hear ya, this is women talk) two miscarriages later, a little boy named William, is about to arrive. It's doesn't get anymore beautiful then that....or does it?

 

 

Well maybe, okay let's face it, I think not! I started this project Sunday night and just finished it last night. I am learning to knit continental ( is that what they call it) which I love, and learning from a terrific lady named, Cat Bordhi. I have learned so many wonderful tips and tricks from this lovely lady, who shares everything. I am currently knitting by holding my yarn in my left hand and pulling underneath through the loops, instead of in my right hand, taking it around the needle. I can't tell you how fast knitting goes with this method. Here is one of her video's that helped me with this pattern by Sean Riley on Raverly. I just loved it!

 

 

For me, the hardest thing about knitting is working with stripes, all those different colors, yet what I hate the most, is weaving in those dreaded ends. Do You? Even crochet projects, weaving in ends seems to be something I have read, nearly everyone who works yarn hates. Despite the ends, I really enjoyed knitting this Cocoon project.  I searched and searched for anyone to teach me a way to weave in those darn ends, and came up with the same thing...there is no right or wrong way. From the Purl Bee to Susan b. Anderson, to so many other sites, there weren't many answers.

Yet... I still knitted stripes, gave it my best... and that's all we can do.

 

 

And now it's in the blocking stage, and although it's mostly acrylic, for me, blocking really doesn't make sense with this type of yarn. But, I do it anyway on my little table top ironing board. I have yet to buy a blocking board, only because this year I seemed to be knitting more and liking it a whole heck of a lot! The learning is so accelerating, so challenging, and although the end result isn't always what I hope for...I still carry on..because I am in love with those needles and so adore working with yarn. I look forward to this years winter weather and say bring it on...because this gal is going to be doing a lot of knitting!

 

 

And before I close this post...here they are...my babies...who are now 27 to 33 and I can hardly believe it! All married with families of there own, enjoying there own journey's and reminding me everyday of my own with them.

Say hello to....Aaron William (left) a computer tech for a large corporation, Dannon Mae (middle) my yogurt girl, Lol, yup, named after the yogurt, is a radiographer, and my oldest, Adam Michael (right) who too, is a computer tech for another large corporation. I am a proud mother, more so because I am so very grateful, and so very blessed that they have been in my life.

 

Every doctor told me not to have anymore children, after having kidney failure while 6 months pregnant with my oldest, Adam. Every doctor on my case said, abort him, and my every response was no....I challenged them, and they figured out a way to get him to full term. Another story...I defied all odds and had more. Even despite major kidney surgery when Adam was just 5 months old.

I am still standing in so many ways, and that's what life is about, we keep standing when life hits us the hardest, we get up, we take it, learn from it, and move on...because nothing will hit you harder than life and nothing can hit back harder than you. Its how we learn, it's how we grow, life teaches us everything about who we are.... and when you realize your journey, all those trials no matter how tough, are meant just for you, they build character, they teach us exactly who we are meant to be...you will keep standing through it all... you will become a much happier person for it!

Just listen when those trials come, they will teach you everything, you need to know, about yourself.

 

And with all that said....have a wonderful day...and as always... keep those hands creating...and keep listening to your life trials!

Thank you so very much for popping in and reading my blog.