Shutting it Down

I am shutting this blog down. I have realized that after a year (almost) of posting some of my favorite things, that the blog reading world just isn't interested in what I do. I have had some very favorable comments from some loyal readers, and I appreciate those and say "thank you" from the bottom of my heart. But, there aren't enough readers to make this blog worth my while. And, while I think what I do is super cool, obviously, the rest (with the exception of a couple) think what I do crafty-wise is not worth looking at.
It's been fun and a good exercise for me. But, now I will have more time to devote to my other blog over at Moment by Moment. If I do happen to create something worth showing, I will post it there.
Thanks, and still go create something!
JE

Handiwork

Here is a collage of the prayer
shawls that I have made since
my last posting. The black one
and the red one were made using
a yarn with a metalic thread, tho
it doesn't show well. The white one
was made for a Children's Pastor and
I added the charms of children around
the world along the fringed borders.

Hat Time is Drawing Near

I know it's hot out there right now, but before too long, cooler weather will be upon us. It will be time to get back into the hat making mode once more. Last year, there were four of us who made over 50 hats for kids at a local residential facility for trouble teens. We called ourselves, Warm Hats for Cold Heads, or something like that.
I looked at the stash of hats we didn't give out, and there are only two. WT said he had either 7 or 9 made, so we need to gear up. Knifty Knitter products from ProvoCraft make this an easy pasttime. I just have to put the crochet hook down long enough to make some hats. I think this year I will try some simple skull caps, more like a watch cap, instead of the long ones I made last year.

Go! Create Something.
JE

As I See It...For A Friend

I have a friend to whom I am giving this prayer shawl. She's about 10 years older than me. She has a congenital heart problem, yet she is active, and quite a lovely lady. She and her husband both sing in our church choir, and work steadily in our church. They winter in Florida, where they are active in church music. My friend is has a beautiful voice, has recorded a CD, and has had many leading singing roles in our community theater productions.
I was talking to her the other day and felt she needed cheering. Her husband was having trouble with his eyes, she wasn't feeling top notch, and was frustrated by a volunteer job she had undertaken for the summer.
Jo, this one's for you. May it bring you hours of feeling the Touch of the Master's Hand.

Peace,
JE

Go! Create Something!

As I see It Prayer Shawl

I finally finished this prayer shawl this morning. It is Honeydew green with spruce green strips at the edges. I crocheted flowers, centers and leaves, then assembled them and attached them to the spruce green edges.
A lot of stitches, but a lot of prayers to go with them.
This shawl goes out to a friend of Prof's that has special needs children, and children entrusted to her for foster care. What better recipient of our prayers and shawl.

Go! Create Something,
JE

Other Creations in the Works

I have been making Paper Bag Books. Here's a couple I have been working on. One is done, and ready to be mailed to my friends who are expecting their first baby. The other one is for "Remi," the new arrival of some teacher friends. These are fun to create, and a good way to use up scrap and those 40 for a$1.00 lunch bags.





I have also been getting a jump start on seasonal cards. I even have one Christmas card made, along with a seasonal Autumn one. Go! Create Something
JE

I Haven't Been Sitting Idle

I really haven't been sitting idle. I have been jumping from craft to craft lately. Since learning to crochet last winter, I have been very busy crocheting prayer shawls. I have a dear, sweet cousin who is a double mastectomy cancer survivor. She has recently had both ankles replaced, too. She is a fighter and I thought she could use a prayer shawl after all she's been through. She lives in southern California, so this southwestern design just seem to fill the bill for her.










The next prayer shawl shown here is a work in progress. My sister-in-law has a friend that needs our prayers, and is going through a lot of illness with her husband. Sis asked me to create a shawl to give her for Christmas. I call this my "Tree of Life" shawl. It isn't finished yet. All the components are here, just not attached to the lattice work shawl.













This shawl is another work in progress for a friend of Prof's. When it is finished, it will have either the yellow flowers or white ones on the dark green stripes near the ends, with either fringe or tassels attached.










Also in progress is this baby blanket for a special couple who are expecting their first child. I haven't been told if it is a boy or girl, so I chose the softest, palest yellow yarn in the store. This pattern is intricate (for me) and requires the most concentration, and there are 139 of those little patterns in each row,so it's taking me a while.

The Red Hat

Okay, I have been curious about crocheting every since my mom spent winters crocheting an afghan that I don't think she ever finished. I have watched my friend Curley crochet for years, and she does it so easily. Of course she's been at it since age 9, so even though she's LOTS younger, she has been doing needlework for , let's just say, quite a while.
I went on line, watched some YouTube tutorial videos, printed off some instructions from different websites, along with some cool patterns. Though it took me several trial and error starts, I did end up making this hat. And yes, I even made the flower and leaf. Curley put the scalloped edge around the bottom, or brim, then taught me how to do it. I should be able to manage that after some more practice. Pretty cool, huh? (It only took 3 calls to the Curley Crochet Hot-line!!!)
Before long, it will be warm and I will be out and about and not staying in doing the crafty stuff. I hope I don't forget how. Of course, I can always call Curley and beg for help.

Co! Create Something!
JE

Prayer Shawl

My church has a prayer shawl ministry. I made this to donate to them. I did the base of the shawl on a loom, then I hand wove the ribbons in a basket-weave pattern through the open loops in the base. As you know, when making a prayer shawl, one is to begin and end in a prayer for the receiver of the shawl. I don't know who will receive this shawl, so a prayer was said for any individual who may need and get this one. I must say that this was quite an undertaking, taking many hours of hand weaving, some of those moments were probably spent no too prayerfully. I don't think I will do this pattern again.

Go! Create something,
JE

Hats!

If you're wondering where I have been lately, Here's a sampling of what I have been doing, among getting ready for, and celebrating the holidays. These hats were all created on products in the Knifty Knitter line by Provo Craft. I haven't been making cards because I had to take down my cardmaking table and put everything away to make room for a Christmas tree. Soon, that will be packed away and cardmaking will once again commence!
Go! Create Something!
JE