Scary thoughts

I'll be making a list, checking it twice -- running around, making sure I don't forget something tomorrow, because that wouldn't be nice!  I need to finish my daughter's veil (sew on one more ribbon) ... so this means I'll need to drag out my travel ott light as my floor lamp's bulb blew.  (I did order a replacement through Joanns.com; they offered free priorty shipping and the bulbs were on sale.)  Plus I want to sew the label onto my bag ... that shouldn't take much time; I'll call that my "reward" if I get all my work done today.

I want to thank everyone for emailing and letting me know where I can find teddy bear tights.  I mentioned yesterday that I was going to be on the lookout for matching tights and said I'd go into it further at a later time.  But, with so many thinking that I want to put tights onto the bear, I think I should explain this now.  The reason I'm looking for tights that match the fiber I'm using to crochet up the bears is for when it comes time to stuff them.  I want to cut the tights up and use them as liners between the chinchilla and the stuffing fiber which is normally white (sometimes you can find it in black).

Doing this will help "color" the white stuffing in case any wants to show through, and it will also help keep the stuffing from squishing out from excessive hugging and washing.  So I'm on the lookout for teal and fushia colored tights for this purpose.

Now, the title of today's entry is just a tiny bit about what I have to do today, but it's more so about this ebay auction for an 1800s crocheted bedspread.  I don't know what the time limit is that ebay lets auctions be viewed (even after they're over), so be sure to check it out as soon as you can.  I can't see myself ever bidding/auctioning off such an item with such a scary history, but then again, perhaps some of you, my readers, would.  Let me know your thoughts.

"CrochetWithDee" selected as Editor's Pick

Hi Dee,
I am pleased to announce your Journal, CrochetWithDee, has been selected as one of our 'Editor's Weekly Picks.' It will be featured at http://pc.channel.aol.com/journals starting today, and remain there until next Friday.

Congratulations and happy Journaling!

Thanks,
Joe
Journals Editor

What a complete surprise!!  Thank you Joe!!!  J

Soft Whispers, Cont.

Yesterday afternoon was the big rehearsal for the "big day."  Since they were short by one boy they opted to have my daughter lead the procession, calling her Princess.  Normally she's on the shy side, but this she liked. 

Earlier in the day I took some black fabric and created a liner.  I added the snap closure, then I ran the two pieces together through the sewing machine along the top of the liner. (This was quite risky to do, but I liked the end results!)  As the children practiced, I worked on my Soft Whispers bag by carefully whip stitching the liner and the bag together at the top, careful to hide the sewing machine stitches. Then I sewed on the button.  It's nearly done; just need to add "my label."

When my husband came home from work, he was amazed with it, calling it one of my "signature pieces."  I plan on writing down the pattern just as soon as I have a bit of free time.  What I can say about the pattern is that I liked the results of using two strands of the Plymouth "Whisper" together ... there are areas that are a bit darker, and areas that are a bit lighter.  I think it adds to the character to the bag. 

I also had time at the Church yesterday to start on one of the Comfort Teddy Bears.  I've decided to use Lion Brand's pattern with Chinchilla.  I'm using an "I" hook, and all I can say at this point in the project, is that if you cannot crochet by feel yet, do not attempt this.  You'll go blind!  Keeping track of your stitch counts is an absolute MUST ... but, if you're up for a challenge, then go for it.   

In working up the first 11 rows, I find that this intensely soft fiber will be great for giving feelings of comfort when "Mommy, I love you" and "Mommy, I miss you" are softly whispered into the teddy bear ears; and of course, will be perfect for hugging.  Yes, I think in going with the chinchilla instead of chinelle was the right choice.  I'll be on the hunt for matching tights -- I'll go into detail on why at a later time.  :)

Petting Soft Whispers

I feel as though I've been running a marathon; almost as though I've been planning a wedding. But I haven't. I've been busy taking care of many details for my daughter's upcoming Communion! After this upcoming Sunday I can get back to my regular schedule of chaos! {{grins}} But until then, I need to stay focused on all that needs to be tended to.

What this all means is that I've been under a bit of stress and needed something to take the edge off. What better than to start another crochet project, right? I can hear your thoughts processing this and screaming, "Oh, no she didn't!!" 

But, yes! That's exactly what I did! I took on ANOTHER crochet project!!

Late Sunday night I grabbed two balls of Plymouth's "Whisper" novelty yarn. It's a pretty nylon fiber with a touch of eyelash that when worked up has a tendency to scream at you, "Pet me! Pet me!" The color I used is called "Neutral" -- it's the dreamy yarn I had picked up last month during the Crochet Partners field trip to WEBs, a huge yarn shop in Massachusetts. By the time I was ready to turn in for the night, I had whipped up three inches with my "J" hook.

On Monday I had volunteer lunch duty in my daughter's class.  So for the first time, I brought in a non-charity project to work on. The kids just loved coming up and touching it. Many had said they had never seen such a yarn, and they were curious as to how my work would turn into a bag. "I think it's going to be a hat, " one child remarked, "because it doesn't have any handles." I advised that the handles would go on last. "I think it's going to be a foot blanket because it's big enough for my feet," another child added. (What an interesting idea; filed it in the back of my brain for future investigation.) I kept making my stitches, and kept answering back that it would be a handbag.

I continued to work on it as I later sat in the parking lot waiting to pick up the kids. We returned home, and later in the evening I went back to working on it. Very late Tuesday evening, the handles were added. And that's what you see here. All I need to do is add a liner and the button and it's done. I hope to use the bag at the Communion; it matches my outfit perfectly.

It wasn't my intent to add another project, but when making the phone calls, finalizing the details and such, each crochet stitch helped relax me and helped me maintain my focus in making sure that this would be a wonderful day for my daughter. And hey, if I overlooked something, or if one of the details fall through, I'll have my bag to pet. It's as soft as a child's warm "I love you" whisper.

Thirteen years!!

The National Vital Statistics Report says that Americans have an overall life expectancy of 77.3 years. Hmmm. There's also a report out that states that Americans have an average of sitting on the couch for 13 of those years. Thirteen years!!

Thirteen years is equivalent to 113,880 hours. I crochet, on average 55 double crochet stitches every three minutes, so let's see ... (punching & crunching some numbers here...) that would mean that I will do some two million stitches during my couch time! Awesome! (2,087,800)

Anyone know what the average amount of projects a crocheter will create in a lifetime? LOL

Hey, if anyone is keeping tabs on Lily Chin's crocheting ... on average she'll do some 3,530,280 stitches! Wow!! I guess it pays to be the World's Fastest Crocheter, like last year where she pumped out some 140 hats for charity!   :)

Of course, thinking like this gives the concept "couch potato" a whole new persepective ... maybe sitting on the couch isn't such a bad thing if you're able to crochet for that time!  LOL 

"... come on sugar let me know ..."

I'm getting back into the swing of things after having my kids home for a week (Spring Vacation), so I'm running a bit behind this morning.

However, it wouldn't be right if I didn't share this little gem that came through one of the online groups I enjoy ...

Remember my Rod Stewart dream?  Well, now you can (for those that are his biggest fans) snuggle up with their own Rod Stewart afghan!!  Yep, click here for the pattern.   

                               "... come on sugar let me know ..."

Oh go ahead and sing the song ... I am!  LOL 

     And no, I do not intend to make the afghan; it's bad enough that I'm singing!  J

Question from Reader: Changes to Journal

Dear Dee, I see you changed your image. It's cute. Why are you standing next to a lion, and what is on your head? Thanks, Debby

Hi Debby,
Thank you for writing me and noticing I've made some changes here on my Journal. I thought that after having the same image up for a year that it was time for a change. I scoured what images I have and thought this one paints the best picture of my personality -- I love to have fun!

That picture was taken last year at the Knit Out and Crochet Too event that was held in New York City. I wore my black poncho which I've written about here in my journal before, and I wore a hat I designed for a contest my local crochet group had. (Since my main PC's crash, many pictures were lost, so I'll have to get busy taking more pictures of the hat.) The hat is entirely crocheted, including the feathered trim going around.   If you look at the picture below, to the right where I'm sitting with an attendee of the event, the feathers on the hat really show!

The lion I am pictured with is the mascot for Lion Brand, the yarn company.

This is what I have left, image wise, of last year's KOC2. (you can see where I lifted my image out of this collage to add it to my journal.) Ah, the KOC2; what a great time that was!

For more information about Knit Out and crochet Too events in your area, visit the Craft Yarn Council of America's website at www.craftyarncouncil.com

So, Debby, you didn't say.  Do you like the change?  :)