Projects on To-Do List, Christmas Tote

In addition to the charity crafting, I've got a little To-Do crafts project list always in the works, plus that Christmas Tote I began this year.

On the To-Do list, I promised some special bookmarks for a friend soon as the supplies arrive, and promised a special apron for another friend soon as those supplies arrive, and a special ripple couch afghan for another friend (those supplies are already here)...

The Christmas Tote has some things in it, by the way, but I need to get back onto that - it took a back seat for a while. Time to get going, gently, on it, again.

The good thing about crafting, no matter what type you do, is that you can move from one project to another as you wish, depending on your mood, your available time, and other things... I love that...

Faith Items and Christmas Tote Updates

Those of us who do hand crafted projects can't seem to help filling in moments here and there with things on our to-do lists. Rarely does a day go by without my working at least a little on one of the charity crafting projects.

This year, for the first time in decades, I actually began working a bit each day on items to toss into a tote for token (that simply means cheap and inexpensive - LOL) year-end gifts. Even though I can't always get in my hour a day, I am managing at least 5 out of 7 days. 

And then last week, I even began another new habit, leaving Sunday crafts strictly for faith-based items. The faith-based items are typically my plastic canvas satin ribbon crosses, pocket crosses, little crocheted shell stitch crosses, and items like that. I'm including a few typical photos of those.

Last Sunday I finished a dozen plastic canvas satin ribbon crosses and just in time. I only had them spread over 4 colors, and had tossed 4 into my purse. During the week, on two separate grocery store trips, I gave away 1 each, so today I refilled my purse with the 2 missing colors. But today, I also cut the shapes for 33 more, and cut blanks for another 30, plus made 2 crocheted shell crosses. I love having these little things made and ready for times I run into someone who feels good with a reminder of how the Good Lord really does love us.

Plus, the week before last, I worked on a scarf for an order for a neighbor, and some slippers for some other folks whose original ones had worn out. This week I'm doing another pair on order for a friend who wants a pair for a loved one.

I felt a little guilty because I'm not getting much else done except for food prep along the way. But then a thank you letter came for our group from a local VA facility expressing gratitude for our November distribution of lap covers and walker organizers. That's when I feel time and accomplishments are relative...

Rolling along...

New Year Resolution Update and Sunday Resolution

So excited to report that I'm on track on my resolution to do an hour a day on projects for my 2020 Christmas Tote stash. I'm still up to date on it. There were 2 days, not consecutive, where I couldn't get to it, but I caught up. That's one reason I kept it simple, just an hour. Less than that isn't enough but more than that might not be workable.

Meanwhile I've always tried to keep Sunday as His day. Along the way, I've tried to do my "faith-based" projects on Sunday as well, a sort of tie-in. Things like angels, crosses, etc. Well, today I got into that for real. Spent any craft time on my plastic canvas crosses. Already had some forms/shapes cut, and ribbon pieces cut, so it was easy to weave a full dozen of them. Was so happy to plop 4 of them into my purse. I love having them at the ready for times I run into someone at a store, a waiting room, wherever.

Making new habits might be a thing this year. That would amaze me at this point in my life! But it would also make me very happy, and who knows, maybe I'd even become more organized and less cluttered.

Rolling along...

Second Day on Christmas 2020 Tote Activity

Although I won't finish an item a day (see my resolution here), I did work the second day in a row, for my 1-1/2 hours. I will revert to one hour next week after I make up for the lost first few days when I procrastinated.

Those who know me in recent years know that I typically make "treat bags" and hand them out in our senior mobile home community. They are usually gift bags with a combo of snacks/treats and handmade items. I have no kids or grandkids and I've known some of these folks for 20 years or so. 

Anyhow, I used to make 16 or so of each item for holidays (Christmas, Easter, Valentine, July 4, Thanksgiving, etc.) but am down to 12 or so now. Still, it means I need to pick simpler projects but nice ones. 

There are at least half a dozen things lurking in my mind that I've wanted to make in the past few years but I never got around to them. Methinks that THIS year, it might be different. Even if I only make 1 or 2 of these wanna-do items, I will be so happy... None of them is complicated but there is time involved.

Can't wait to get this first dozen or so of the beginning projects done so I can tackle one or two of the more time-consuming ones early enough in the year so that it won't be yet another Christmas when I regret waiting until the last minute.

Rolling along...

First Item Placed in Christmas 2020 Tote!

I can't believe I did it. I cleared a tote and declared it my Christmas 2020 Tote. As I stated in yesterday's post (linkhere), I meant to do an hour a day, every day, this year, on projects to toss in there so I would have a gift-stash for Christmas 2020. 

Because I procrastinated and didn't start until today, I'd already lost 3 hours (Jan 1st, 2nd, 3rd) so I broke that into 6 half-hours and planned to do six days at 1-1/2 hrs. and just revert to the one hour daily.

Last evening, I had already placed the tote plus a sack of supplies most likely to be used in the first projects, in a special spot. That made it very easy for me to start this morning. Did my hour and a half. I purposely chose a crochet project I can do easily and finished the first one in that time frame and plopped it into that tote.

I have begun! Never even got THIS far before - that is very encouraging!

Rolling along...

My Christmas 2020 Tote

I made a joke online about how I was resolving, yet again, even as I do year after year, to begin this year on the first day by spending an hour a day on items to toss into a tote for this year's Christmas. I really want a bunch of stuff made and ready. And along the line, I would also toss in other "on the spur of the moment token gifts."

My friends and I laughed and laughed about that. They understand. 

But this year, I am surprising myself by actually beginning!

At the moment, I haven't spent even one minute on this project/resolution. BUT an hour ago, I took stock of myself and supplies that are out in the open and easy to grab. I pushed some things over near the tote I want to clear out, empty, first thing in the morning. And I plopped a grocery bag with the supplies I want to begin with.

True, tomorrow will be the 4th and I've already lost an hour for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. But rather than stress over it, I want to have fun with it. So, I'll just do 1-1/2 hrs. for a few days until I catch up to just an hour.

I've decided to use up the Christmas materials that are staring at me first. Those are the ones that are laughing at me. They knew full well that if I had not caressed their supple bodies by the 15th of December, I would not be touching them before Christmas. Well, I am going to have the last laugh! Those are ones that will be dealt with first.

I've decided on an easy project to work with them, something so routine for me that I can slide into this routine effortlessly. And it will be crochet for now because that's the easiest for me. More complicated projects will come in a month or so but long before the Fall.

Do you all believe me? I'm trying to do that myself... I really do think this time I've got a chance.

Rolling along...

Two Days of Productive Crafting - Loved it

I always try to keep at least half a dozen of my "plastic canvas satin ribbon" crosses in my purse and that spot was bare. I finally found and dug out the last of my whole sheets of plastic canvas. These are all colored sheets, not clear, so they will look even nicer than usual.

When I make these crosses, I do it assembly-line-style in a way. I take a template I've saved, a rectangle without the cross shape yet cut and I use that to know where to make my cut for the "blanks." I cut strips from all of the sheets. Then I take the strips and cut those down further into the cross-shape-blanks. And then, last, I finally cut out the shapes.

I had quite a few sheets. Sunday I started. I did manage to cut all of them into strips. And I did manage to cut 51 blanks - I'll start with just those. I've already cut 3 of them into the cross shapes. I still have ribbon-lengths which I've pre-cut for the weaving, maybe enough for the first dozen or so crosses.

I'll work on them off and on but once I've begun, it's easier to grab them at odd moments and do a few at a time. I love how these look. I've seen patterns around and most of them have smooth edges but the first one I received, back in 1996, had the jagged edges. I like those. It reminded me of his suffering and worked in this context.

Then, today, I finished a pair of crocheted slippers... I have several on my to-do list and will fit those in off and on. The ones in the photo are from my old Etsy shop days, not the ones I just finished.

Rolling along...

So Grateful for Crafting to Relieve Current Stress

After visiting my long-time friend at her home while she is in hospice status, I sort of "froze in place" when I got home. She was already in a state where she is totally unresponsive and seemingly unaware.

After a while, I looked around, picked up my hook, and dove into some partly-finished projects.

It is so rewarding to be able to relieve stress with craft projects. I was able to tuck in ends and finish off 3 almost-finished pairs of fingerless gloves and one ribbed hat, for the local homeless.

I might not have done much else today, but between the visit and the projects, I felt better when I came back to the PC to check emails and to post.

Rolling along...

Restful Day But Productive As Well

I try to keep Sunday at rest for the most part but I did manage a few little things which made me happy. Made 1/2 gallon of milk for the fridge and  made 3 days' worth of coffee.

A few days ago, I realized my personal stash of "faith items" was down to almost zero. I try to keep several types of crosses and/or angels in my purse and in my stash at home. I love to pass them out when someone needs a lift. The crosses, I make 2 kinds of plastic canvas ones (one with satin ribbon and one is a "pocket" cross) and several crochet types. And I make at least 2 kinds of wee angels.

This morning, I finally found my working container for the pocket crosses. I love those (see photo of earlier ones I've made) and the verse that is printed and folded into the pocket in each. Jane first began making these, I just printed the poems the way we found them online. Then I began making them as well. But it always bothered me that such a beautiful verse gave no credit the writer. Eventually, after many searches, I found the author's name and now all the verses I print have the author's name as well.

Anyhow, I made half a dozen of those today. For me, they work up very quickly. I had found the plastic canvas forms I'd cut quite a while back, so now I only need to add the yarn trim. It's also a great way for me to use up very small amounts of yarn.

Other than that, it was a nice quiet day - we all need some of those along the way. We never know when we'll hit a bump on life's road so we need to appreciate the smooth times. Boring, some might call them, but I call them blessed!

Rolling along...

July 4th Fun Bags in the Making

Over the years, I grew into the habit of giving out little treat bags to about a dozen folks in our senior mobile home park. 

Depending on what I've got, what I've decided on,  and how late it took me to decide (sigh), it can vary as to who I can give these to. In the past it was often to the Office staff, our newsletter delivery team, our charity crafting team, and a few neighbors.

For some odd reason, I fell away from it and miss doing that. So I ended up putting on my thinking cap and decided to at least do it for this coming July 4th. I won't let the cat out of the bag too early. I am not sure how many I can finish and I don't want some folks expecting something I might not be able to deliver. But I promise to let you know what I ended up doing.

Back in 2016, my notes say I dropped off a crocheted white star coaster, a handmade laminated bookmark, some printed puzzles/quizzes from the internet, mini-food-kabobs... things like that.

On the best of those years, I often ended up putting together 12 to 15 bags and enjoyed it immensely. The number has dropped a bit over the years - folks move, folks pass away...and other things happen in real life.

Anyhow, I've been having fun today working on some crocheted items and I hope they turn out the way I plan them...can't wait to share a pic or two next week.

Rolling along...

Crafting Projects to Start the Year Off...

Starting the year off with a few projects on tap.

Today I began a baby blanket and will add a hoodie sweater. Hope to finish it by month-end.

I also finished a few catnip mousies and hope to mail 2 plus some catnip fishies on Friday.

A friend wants some of my plastic canvas plastic ribbon crosses and I will be working on those for quite a while.

And I promised another friend to finish up some hanging towels I made from towels she loved but wasn't using because they weren't convenient.

So, you can bet between these projects, and my normal charity crafting, and the things I really do want to start making to create a stash for year-end gifts, I will be happily staying out of trouble.

Maybe ...

Building a Stash of Gifts - Not!

Every year, at this time, when I'm frantically putting together some hand-made token gifts for my local friends, I promise myself that THIS time, when New Year's Day rolls around, I will begin to build a stash of ready-to-go little token gifts. 

I promise myself - EVERY year... maybe one of these years, I will really manage to do that - ah, well - it's in my heart - now I must make it get to my hands! 

Purely Personal Beaded Pens

My Pen - still lovely after 8 years!

I found these beautiful beaded pens years ago when I was still selling on Etsy. That Etsy vendor family (mother and daughter), and I, quickly became dear cyber friends. We’ve sent each other surprise gifts. We’ve bought from each other. And we’ve prayed for each other.

I have had my lavender and white beaded pen for about 8 years now. And it shows absolutely no sign of wear! These folks sell the pens in your choice of colors. Think: favorite colors, team colors, school colors, patriotic colors, holiday colors! The order also includes 10 refills.

The pens come either plain at the top, like mine, or with charms attached! The charms make it very easy to truly personalize the pen for a gift. Buyers can choose bead colors and then choose initial charms or others. I really like the idea of the initial charms. It makes it harder for your pen to “walk away” from you or “disappear."

I’m a bit paranoid about my own pen. I never take it out of the house! I’m so afraid it will go away. For me, it’s a wonderful “girly” treasure.

Browsing their Facebook photos, I saw beaded pens with charms for breast cancer, snowflakes and more. But I love, love, love mine. One reason is that I am old school and grew up with pens with fat barrels. This pen, because of the beading, just loves to be held in my hand.

I cannot imagine the patience and time it takes to make one of these.

They also make absolutely beautiful beaded earrings - snowflakes and so many more.

Here is a link to their Etsy shop (Etsy) and one to their Facebook (Facebook) page.

This is one to save for when you need something for someone who is really hard to buy for, or for when you just need to treat yourself!

Update on the Octopus Cat Toys $10 Each

I finished the 5 on order for my neighbor - have 2 others to do. 

I’ve decided on $10 each for the price. I insist on cotton worsted rather than acrylic, for yarn. I also use pompoms instead of fiberfill (too easy for cats to pull it loose) or styrofoam (shreds too easily). 

The photo is of the ones I just finished. I have other variegated colors at home but when someone wants a specific color, I must drive 10 miles to get that yarn...

I do so enjoy making these and they do come out cute...

Octopus Cat Toy Orders - Starting Them This Weekend

Last Christmas season, I played with a “jellyfish cat toy” crochet pattern. I used cotton worsted because I feel cotton is better around pets and babies in case they suck on it. Anyhow, it is really cute. Must post a photo of the one Silkie loves, this week. I made 2 others for a friend with 2 cats.

She wants 5 by Thanksgiving. She’ll ship 4 abroad and 1 is for her sis who saw the ones I made.

I found some great variegated balls of Sugar and Cream on sale at Michael’s early this week, so I’ll start these, and probably finish them, this weekend. We had a time agreeing on the stuffing. I like pom-poms or batting because they are soft and they help the shape. My friend would like styrofoam balls because she felt the cats couldn’t pull those out. But we both agreed the styrofoam could break apart and be ingested later. We compromised on the pom-poms (I buy a bag full of them) or even batting, so long as I toss the catnip in at the end, and then sew the hole completely shut.

I love how these turn out so I can’t wait to do them and then show you all one or two...

Finally Packed/Documented Baby Charity Items

Yesterday I surprised myself by getting the finished baby items (jackets, caps, blankies, etc.) all sorted, packed, and documented. I then lugged those big bags out and down the few steps and shoved them into the trunk. That’s one way to make sure I get rid of them this coming week.

We really love making these things. Usually, it’s hats and baby jackets and blankets. Here are a few photos...

I’ll share the item count a little later. I am just so happy I finally got

them packed.

In fact, it left two small spaces inside the larger back closet, on the ground, each about the side of a double wide shoe box, and which Silkie quickly discovered while I was packing. She has now informed me that I need to open those closet doors during the day so she can do her hiding and make me search for her. Fun and games...

Working With Super Bulky Yarn

When we work on scarves for the local homeless, we try to stick to 8” to 10” wide, and about 48” long. That seems to be a good length for possible wrapping back around the neck and to the front at least once, or up over the head and down over the ears in strong winds, yet not be awkward when toting everything you’ve got in a cart or duffle.

These past few days, I’ve been cutting my charity crafting yarn stash by using the heaviest weight first. I’ve been on a roll with crocheting with super bulky weight (#6).

For this weight and these scarves, I use an N hook and make these a scant 8” across. The super bulky needs a simple stitch, usually a double crochet which is loose. If I make these too wide, or too complicated, they get extremely heavy and bulky and not as good out there on the street for manipulation several ways.

Finished a few this week. Might be down to the plain ol’ bulky by the weekend...will post some pics this weekend if I remember to take them.

Had to bring some balls/skeins into the living room and haul out my cheap little food scale - it’s the best I’ve found for quick weighing my partial skeins/balls. Whatever works, right?

Yarn Stash Issues and Possible Solution

My yarn stash is all over this archaeological dig I call my home. I really must get it organized and under control. The only thing I do know for sure is which yarn is mine and which yarn is yarn donated for the charity projects. But both stashes are spread all over in here.

I did take one positive approach about a week ago. I decided that it made sense to begin using up the charity yarn by bulk. I figure if I use up the bulky and super bulky first (scarves for the homeless), the piles would noticeably dwindle and I could slowly deal with the rest.

My only problem is that because it is not corralled by weight, I have to search bags for matching weights. So, if I pick up some super bulky and begin a scarf but it’s not enough for a long enough scarf, I must root through a few bags looking for another ball/skein of the same weight.

My goal for the end of this year is to at least have it all into two groups: mine and theirs. And then have those groups in groups: fingering, sport, worsted, etc., etc., etc.

We shall see how that works out...

Vintage Knitting Sweater Pattern Wheels - A Question

Any of my knitting friends remember those cardboard sweater wheels for knitting from 1969? 

On one 12” square, with a spinning center, it gave patterns for sizes 6 mos to 48 (both men and women), for cardigan, round and v-neck styles, all long sleeve, and for yarn weights of fingering, sport and worsted, and in choices of set-in sleeves or raglan sleeves - 360 patterns in all, on just a square foot of cardboard, easy to stash in a project bag. And each one comes in its own plastic slip-bag for protection.

Back in the day, they only cost a couple of dollars. Now they are 1-year shy of 50 years old.

Well, I found the two Jane and I had back in the day. And I planned on putting them out there for sale before I closed my Etsy shop. Now I hope to maybe list them on Facebook.

The Question:

How much should I charge for them? I have seen these, believe it or not, just last week on eBay, etc., for between $35 and $75! Yes, I realize they are “vintage” and when you tack that onto a description, anything goes, price-wise. But as much as I need funds, there’s no way I can justify that.

So, my knitting friends, even though you wouldn’t need either of these nowadays, what do you think I could/should ask? The shipping will be tricky - they weigh nothing, but I’d want them in something sturdy so they wouldn’t bend. I’ll be pricing that this coming week.

I stopped using them when I stopped knitting, but Jane used them a few times. They look just about new and not faded and still easy to read.

Oh, folks should know that everything is made in pieces - you’d have to love the challenge of  “piecing together” a sweater to use one of these!

Can’t wait to hear what you think.

Putting a Little of the Spiritual into Commercial Lent/Easter - DIYs

Nobody loves marshmallow peeps and ducks and even gummy jelly beans more than I do. However, Lent and Easter is not all about candy in an Easter basket, nor is it about toys. Somewhere along the way, most of us really want to include something spiritual.

Through the years, I’ve slowly accumulated a lot of Lent and Easter DIY ideas. I gathered them all onto one Pinterest board.

For those of you who want to make sure the little ones in your life get the meaning of this season, take a look at all the great ideas,here, at this link.

Now, you have to understand - a lot of these ideas are for kids and church groups, but I pinned things that I, myself, would really like to make and would find interesting and fun to make.

I am not sure whether you can view them if you are not a Pinterest member. I must find out about that.

What type of DIYs are there? Everything from food and snack ideas to craft-y but easy projects. Most are easily adaptable to tucking into Easter baskets.

What I love most about Pinterest is that it is like a visual-bookmark system. It is so easy to scroll through the photos and decide which links to click on.

Some pins include dozens of ideas at one URL.

There are several places which show how to make things like crosses and the Christian ichthus (fish) symbol and more, with Palm Sunday palm.

Enjoy the satisfaction and fulfillment of really participating in the coming Lenten and Easter season.

Sweet Lord Jesus, you suffered so much for us all those years ago. Help me to remember why you went through all that pain. Help me to focus this Lenten season on your love and sacrifice.