Chocolate on my face...

I'm the kid with the telltale sign of getting into the candy; yeah, that's right, I have chocolate ALL over my face!  My fingers too!  Hmm, and apparently got some on my top too.  There's no where for me to hide, no where for me to run!  My only hope for redemption is to claim that I didn't know better, that the temptation is/was too great for me to handle!  (I am so weak!!)   I know what you're thinking.  You're thinking, "Oh, dear God!  Dee's done it again!  She was set loose and bought more yarn!!  Lord have mercy when her hubby finds out!"

           Sigh.

I'm sorry. 

The "chocolate" was just too good!  I couldn't say no, could I?  At least let me present MY side of the story and then let me be judged upon my chocolate guilt ...

The story goes like this:  After teaching yesterday in Stamford, I took my two kids to the Maritime Aquarium to see the rare albino alligator and other fun exhibits they have.  Afterwards we took a little stroll down some of the nearby streets in Norwalk, CT.  Well, after walking this way and that, we "happened" upon the bead shop that many have raved about to me.  (Yes, guilty!  We didn't "happen" upon it -- I knew all along that it was there!  There for the exploring!  Forgive me!)

My experience at the bead shop wasn't something so "rave-able."  No one greeted me, or my children; no one asked if we "needed help."  (I was on the hunt for some very specific items and their help would have been much appreciated.)  After strolling around the store for over an hour I headed to the front to make my purchase. Granted the store did have other customers, I just want to note that I found it odd that all the help was behind the counter the entire time, and that it took over five minutes of standing there to finally get one of them to acknowledge me standing there, and it took another five minutes to be rung up.  I didn't feel welcomed, I certainly did not receive any help, and had I not found two items I was specifically looking for I would have left without making ANY purchase!  Sorry folks.  When I shop at a store, I want to be greeted.  I want to be acknowledged that my cash is just as green as my neighbors and with my various acquisition syndromes, I want to feel that I can build a relationship -- build a "knowing" that the staff will help obtain my various goals.  But if I'm made to feel "second or third class" then there's a good chance I won't be returning.  This is how I feel about the bead shop in Norwalk.  It's a shame too, because it's much closer than the bead shop I like in Massachusetts.  (If you have shopped at the bead store I'm referencing and have had a better experience, please let me know!)

Oh, I see.  I got off track.  I'm supposed to be telling you my side of the story of how I got into the chocolate and that it wasn't my fault.  Got it!  OK then,  ... well, two of the items I picked up at this bead shop are what I call "focal beads" ... they are very large beads that I intend to use in creating two necklaces -- two crocheted necklaces!  So of course I had to visit the "candy shop" and get me some (oh dear, I'm going to say it, aren't I?)   y       a         r          nnnnnnnnnn.

                Chocolate is so gooddd...  Oh, I felt such a rush!

I placed my two large beads on the counter and asked for help at A Stitch in Time in Bethel.  Patty was a delight in helping me pick out various colors and textures.  And, the beauty of this store is that they're not just a yarn shop -- they also carry supplies for needlepoint and cross-stitching.  So this of course
   b  r  o  a  d  e  n  e  d   the possibilities ...

                It took two hours to decide. 

Patty laughed, and even cheered when I made my final selections ... which surprisingly wasn't yarn at all!  It was tiny hanks of thread that I purchased!  (Oh, please cheer now as I have not quite crossed that line of breaking that fiber diet!)  Yeah, baby!!  Thread!!  Whoohoo!!

So, says the one with chocolate guilt, now I can look at the "chocolate" and I can enjoy it too!  (Thank goodness for loop holes!!!)  Check out the colors: white chocolate, milk chocolate, dark chocolate ... Mmmmm mmmm!  The fibers are 50% silk, 50% wool ... (insert that sound Homer Simpson makes when he thinks about food here -- actually if you click on the link, they have it perfectly on their intro page!  dooph!)

Fabulous Crocheted Ponchos: New Styles, New Looks, New Yarns

 
Is this exciting or what?!?  I know I am totally stoked!!

The book on the right, Fabulous Crocheted Ponchos: New Styles, New Looks, New Yarns, is now listed on the Barnes & Noble website which means that it won't be much longer until I receive my copy -- that's because one of my eye-catching ponchos will be in it (I'm sure their photo will show off the peacock colors much better than my photo on the left) !

Now, speaking of ponchos -- have you heard the latest buzz?  Martha is looking for you.

Yes, all of you who have crocheted the poncho she wore on the day she was released ... she's looking for you to appear on her show.  If you'd like more details, then click here and read the newsletter from Lion Brand with the details and the online form to request tickets for that show.  Yep, I put in a request for tickets to go ... wish me luck!  :)

Let's Play Ball!!!

Hey, don't get used to this two entries in a day stuff -- This is a bonus.  And, judging by the rumbling thunder clouds, it's going to be a quick journal entry too!  ((memo to self: get the candles out as soon as this entry is done!))

The other day I mentioned that we should have "Crochet Baseball Cards" (minus the baseball theme).  I'm delighted that Michelle over there at her blog, Luv 2 Crochet, took me up on the challenge!  Michelle:  That's awesome!!  I love it!!

Now here's mine:

How I made it:  I took a picture of my son and I together (yea, it's a recent one -- from my birthday in February); I omitted him, added the basket of yarn; added the crochet background.  Left it to do some crocheting.  Came back and copied the image, then put some color onto it, added text for the back ground.  Went and did some more crocheting.  Came back and realised I forgot to save it, counted my lucky stars, and here you have it.  Question is, am I happy with it or should I tinker some more?  Go ahead and let me know what you think. 

And, I made a banner too for the "blog explosion" site I have a link to in the "about me section":

    So, naturally, I'm currious.  Who else is playing [yarn] ball?

Here's who is playing along (give them a visit & check out their cards!):
* Luv 2 Crochet Blog
* Crochet Mama

Lacy Chemo Cap for AOLer; Pattern Included

My hook has just been flying for the past several days ... finishing up WIPs faster than one grabs all the yarn in a sales bin!  Oh, I wish I was finishing them that fast!!  Heh heh heh   ... But I have been finishing up quite a few and I'm really delighted about that because this means I can turn my thoughts to those in need and crochet items up like the chemo hats pictured below. 

Yes, those are hats I crocheted for an individual in the AOL community that is in need -- they're fresh off the hook and ready to go!  (**You-know-who: please email me with your address and I'll ship them out ASAP!!**) 

The light colored one is very light & airy.  It really lets the fiber "breathe" and is just beautiful in person.  The other is a thicker hat (pattern is on my website). Would you like to try the lacy one? (that's the light colored one in the photo; click onto the image to see it larger)  If so here's my pattern, please note the copyright, thanks. 

Lacy Chemo Cap
1 Ball of Berroco's "Quest"
1 Size "N" crochet hook
1 Tapestry needle



Chain 4, join with a sl st.  Note that there is no turning involved with this pattern!
Rnd 1: Ch 1, *sc, ch 2, 2 dc, repeat from * 2 more times, join with a sl st.
Rnd 2: Ch 1,  (sc, ch 2, 2 dc) twice in each of the ch-2 spaces around, join with a sl st.
Rnd 3: Ch 1, *(sc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 sp, (sc, ch 2, 2 dc) twice in next ch-2 sp, repeat from * around, join with a sl st.
Rnd 4:  Ch 1, *(sc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 sp and in next, (sc, ch 2, 2 dc) twice in next ch-2 sp, repeat from * around, join with a sl st.
Rnd 5-9:  Ch 1, (sc, ch 2, 2 dc) around in each ch-2 sp, join with a slip st.
Rnd 10: Ch 1, (sc, ch 1, sc) in each ch-2 sp around; End off.

Copyright © 2005, Dee Stanziano  ~  Pattern is for personal/charity  use only.

 

Ah, Zusammen!!

After my admitting that my yarn acquisition is out of control and stating that I'm on a yarn diet, I did it.

Yes, I already confessed to my sweet hubby, and he fully forgave me.

                             Will you?

I came home with four more pounds of yarn -- of zusammen! 

Listen, I didn't buy it.

           No, no, no!  I didn't steal it either!  

It was a donation from the yarn supplier Caron!  (Thank you Caron!!)  The yarn will be used to crochet up items that will be donated to area charities my group supports.  So, since I didn't buy the yarn -- and because it's for a good cause, did I break my diet?  Can you forgive me???

                 Oh good!  Thank you!!!  :)

Now, what's this with the zusammen?  Well (looks around slyly) I figure for those that are having real problems explaining that they purchased more yarn for their ever growing stashes, that perhaps we could call the yarn what it is, only in a different language!  What do you think?  Do you think we can get away with it? Zusammen is German for yarn!  ((grins))

Oh, oh, let's try it out:

       "I'll be right back to finish cooking dinner, honey!  I ran out of some juntos and I forgot the local store has it on sale!"  (*Juntos is spanish for yarn)

     "My doctor appointment went fine, dear.  The doctor did put me on some supplements like Insieme.  No nothing serious, just a preventive measure to keep me happy."  (*Insieme is Italian for yarn.)

     "Do you have plans for today, sweetie?  No?  All right then, perhaps you'd be interested in a day of golf while I head out.  I have a project needing some ensemble-ment and I need to talk to an experienced sales person about it..."  (*ensemble is French for yarn.)

 

Hey, ya know, this just might work!  (wink wink)

A Plea from Dee's Husband

      Dear Journal Readers:

       Please do not let my wife's confession of "it's been six weeks
       since my last yarn purchase for myself" fool you.   Note the key
       word, "myself," that she inserted into her confession.   If you're
       going to help her, if you're going to be that intervention group that
       helps her with this, it needs to read, "it's been six weeks since my
       last yarn purchase [period].

       Please, for the love of humanity, for a place for me to be able to
       store my clothing, and regain the use of my car trunk, help her!

       Yours truly,
        Dee's Husband

Fortunately for me, he's a really great guy who really doesn't have a problem with my yarn addiction.  Today's journal entries were done light-heartedly and for fun.  He loves me for me, and accepts that my addiction could be worse ... I could be addicted to patterns, hooks, and notions too ...  (should we tell him? Heh heh heh)

The Pains of Dieting

I think saying it out loud helps confirm the deal.  Writing it down, or in this case, typing it, helps cement it.  It becomes a record, something to refer to should the memory decide to go on vacation or look the other way.

I've already admitted to myself that I am on a diet, so I'm here today to admit it too.  If I clarify that statement a bit more, I'm actually on two diets:  1. for my weight  and 2. for my ever accumulating fiber.  I'm thinking of tracking my weight in my new journal, Dee, Off_Topic, so that leaves discussing my fiber diet here as it is crochet related.

First, let me stand up and make my confession:
     "Hi, my name is Dee, and I'm a fiberholic.  It's been six weeks since my last yarn purchase for myself.  I hope with your support you can help me taper down my addiction so I can at least walk around my house without tripping over a 90-gallon tote."

There, I did it!  That felt great!!  :)

My goal is to use up a lot of what I have in my stash.  I really need the space (hey, my kids are telling me they need the space back in their room as they have no place to store their toys!), and if I really want us to be able to afford a larger house, well, we'll have to bank all that money I'd normally spend on yarn.

You'll help me if I get weak, won't you?  You won't tempt me by telling me of great yarn sales you found, or ebay auctions you've won.  You won't tell me how luscious the latest yarn looks, feels, and works up.  You won't tell me how the color goes so well with my eyes.

Oh!  The pains of dieting!  I'm shaking.  I have this incredible drive, this thirst, to go out and buy more yarn.  What does a fiberholic have to do to get more fiber around here?  Raise her own sheep?  ... well now, maybe that's not a bad idea...