Relaxing needlearts

It never ceases to amaze me how much better I feel when I am crocheting. I have been working on learning to knit and I find that even that is very relaxing. The in and out of hook or needles is very Zen-like and when I'm working on a familiar pattern (aka Mama's sweater) I can kind of phase out and drift out in space. During a morning of mourning, I have found comfort in going through motions that are so ingrained by now that I could practically do them in my sleep.
While working on my first knitting project (a preemie body warmer), I ran into directions that I couldn't get to sink in. I turned to my Crochet Partners friends and was cheered and heartened by the many fine artist who responded for my plea for help. I am glad to say that I am now confidently working my way through this pattern and I think I may see the completion of it by the end of next week! I have been able to turn to that same group to help me through my most trying times (even though few know how much of a comfort they have been).
On a happier (and crazier) note, I have recently been going over my list of WIPs and WIMs that need to be done in time for the holidays (or before). I am afraid that I am already behind. An afghan I had thought to have finished by now is barely halfway done. Mama's sweater is almost half done and there are many other items I haven't even started yet. AHHH!!!!!! I think that instead of trying to get things completed before I start anything else, is the wrong angle to take. I think I'm going to start a couple of other things so I'll have something to switch off to when I start to get stalled on one. Wish me luck!!!

Birthday tomorrow

Well, tomorrow's the big day. My baby is going to be 4 years old. I got her party dress done and it is absolutely adorable, even if I do say so myself. I'll get pictures up after the party. I've still got quite a bit to do in the house so it will be up to company. My oldest son has been a super help in getting stuff done. He helps me do whatever I say needs doing and almost never complains. His brother has been very helpful in the babysitting capacity. My 10yo has been great about keeping his sister occupied and out from under foot while making sure she doesn't get in trouble. I must say I have some great kids. I'm kind of excited about the birthday cake too. I got a Bake n' Fill cake pan and am looking forward to trying it out. I'm going to try it tonight so if it's a big flop, I'll have plenty of time to make another one.
Crocheting-wise, I've been picking up after taking a few weeks off. As I promised, I got my mom's sweater panel done and I finally found my patterns so I can resume the Star Wars afghan. I also finally found a pineapple pattern that I like to use for my mother-in-law's tablecloth. It's actually a runner or doily, but it's made in panels. I think if I can just figure out how to make it twice as long, twice as wide and add 2 or 3 extra panels to that double width, that it will be the right size. I'll be starting my yarn shopping next month for yarn for Christmas gifts. I am very excited about it because, of course, I love shopping for yarn.

When life gets in the way

Whew! It's been rather busy and harried. MIL is still in the hospital and the doctor's have given up on saying when she may get to come home. They've given her a 50/50 chance of pulling through this without surgery and a 20/80 chance of making it through surgery, I think of any kind. She has emphasema and has had pneumonia bunches of times, so surgery is not something they like to even talk about. Any way, between trips to the hospital and trying to get my house company-friendly, I've been pretty busy. The kids are thoroughly enjoying their summer vacation. It's even been dry enough to get in the pool a few times. The boys bicker constantly though. Most of the time it doesn't bother me, but there are times when I just have to step in and tell them "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."
I did get the back panel to Mama's sweater done and I finally found my crochet binder with all my Star Wars patterns, so I will be able to finish the square I started and get at least one other one done this week. I recently joind HeartMadeBlessings and am working on 2 squares for that this week. I'm doing a royal blue granny square and a purple square in a pattern as yet undetermined. I'll be putting the final touches on Dorinda's party dress on Friday. I was working on a camo afghan for my son's friend. It's just a big granny square as of right now, but I think I'm going to frog the whole thing and start over. I'll have to look through my patterns, but I'm leaning toward a ripple, even though I really don't like those. I have a hard time keeping count. My sides usually end up going all wonky. Or I might do a panel or MAM style. Well, I'm going to redo that and start on a friendship-shawl for the mother of that same friend.

I'm doing the Snoopy dance!

Man oh man, have I had a pretty good couple of days. I recently submitted the pattern for my Angel Square to the Crochet Partners pattern library and there it is big as life and I am so tickled to have my very first design "official". Now for the happy part. The next morning when I checked my email, there was an email from a lady who is a member of HeartMadeBlessings (an organization that makes squares and afghans for various forms of comfort) (THUD) asking permission to post a link to my square to be used by HMB! Wow! I was so flattered and it made me feel so good to think that some deserving person was going to be warmed by a part of me, so to speak. Now, as if that wasn't excitement enough, I get up this morning, check my email and there is a message from Just Plain Fun crochet club (again THUD) informing me that I was a winner in the May raffle! Can one say WOWEEEEE!!! As I have never won anything in my life (except for ten cents that I won from a bottle cap from Tab soda when I was about 9 yo), I was tickled. I even had the option of receiving it via paypal. So now I have $14.05 in my account that I can use on ebay, which is about the only time I ever use paypal.

Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day! My day is going to be pretty uneventful and blessedly quiet. My son does have a cub scout car wash to go to, but that's all I'm going to have to do today. I'll be surfing the web in search of gift ideas. I'm putting my older son's Star Wars afghan at the top of my priority list and I'm hoping that if I concentrate on finishing what I've already got going that it'll be easier to find gift ideas for everybody else on my list. I'm determined to finish another row of squares for the SW afghan and the back piece of my mom's sweater done by the end of the week.

Crochet Stress Relief

As my poor mother-in-law's hospital stay drags on and on, I have found myself crocheting faster and faster. She was hospitalized two weeks ago for pancreatitis. What we thought was going to be a week to ten days in the hospital is turning into three weeks or more. I have been working on a party dress for my daughter for her birthday next month and what I thought was going to keep me busy for about three weeks, has been finished except for the sleeves and sewing the buttons on. I've done quite a few small projects like angels and butterflies for Angels for Hope, a couple of scrunchies, and a couple of headbands. Keeping my hands busy has helped me immensely in being able to stay calm and be supportive of my husband and my second son (who is the closest to MIL of my 3 kids). I don't know what I would do if it weren't for my hooks and yarn/thread.