tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17216996059404093972024-03-13T15:15:36.237-07:00Just For FunJenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06601366212662192480noreply@blogger.comBlogger129125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1721699605940409397.post-72926476442423333842015-04-10T16:05:00.001-07:002015-04-10T16:05:23.786-07:00There's a pseudoscience born every minute...Because food is such an issue for me with celiac disease and a number of anaphylactic level food allergies, it really gets my dander up when fear mongers like the Food Babe and others get people riled up about things. That's saying a lot for a *mostly* logical person like me.
It's not that I mind getting riled up about things... I just think you should know what you're talking about beforeJenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06601366212662192480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1721699605940409397.post-13044040213079191872015-04-10T10:21:00.000-07:002015-04-10T10:21:33.544-07:00Here Kitty, Kitty!
Cute right? Would you be surprised to know that these little kitties are crocheted using only single crochet? The shape comes from increasing or decreasing the number of stitches in a round.
You can find Nekoyama's free pattern for these beauties HERE.
This is one of the reasons I enjoy making toys. yes, I may have to count my stitches, but I can let muscle memory takeJenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06601366212662192480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1721699605940409397.post-37515842702748457102015-04-02T09:52:00.002-07:002015-04-02T09:53:06.296-07:00Crochet Keeps Me From Unravelling
Over the last few years, my health has become more and more complicated. It's no coincidence that this is also the same period in which my dedication to the art and craft of crochet has taken root.
I often say that crochet keeps me sane, buying yarn is still cheaper than therapy, and lots of other quippy half jokes... but you know... they're true.
Share my fifteen minutes of fame with Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06601366212662192480noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1721699605940409397.post-50060051609336456482014-11-04T17:45:00.000-07:002014-11-04T17:45:00.088-07:00Crochet Hook Roll Tutorial
Yes... we're dragging out the sewing machine again! Ok, I know you are all like me... all of your crochet hooks are stored neatly by size and type and you can always find your scissors... what? Why can't you stop laughing?! :oP
I hear you, I really do. On the go, everything ends up in a pile at the bottom of the most organized project bag you could find... Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06601366212662192480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1721699605940409397.post-7914629742366599262014-09-30T11:23:00.003-07:002014-09-30T11:35:15.893-07:00A Celiac's Day Out
A few months ago I mentioned how frustrating it can be when people don't take celiac disease seriously.
Add other food and pet allergies and it can be downright scary to go out. Just to go *out*.
It's almost impossible to grasp how huge this is. Just to go *out*.
I can't go to the grocery, the bank, the Doctor, anywhere, without the risk of coming across&Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06601366212662192480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1721699605940409397.post-90850759755858529382014-09-25T12:16:00.002-07:002014-09-25T12:16:37.676-07:00Feeling a bit Sassenach!
You know... Sassenach!
I've been enjoying the new Starz series Outlander, based on Diana Gabaldon's book.
To be honest, I got bored with the book. I loved the concept, time travel is one of my favorites. Add magic stone circles, Scottish Highlands and political intrigue and you've got me! Alas, the story wandered a bit too much for me and I found the ending incredibly Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06601366212662192480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1721699605940409397.post-14219482722674204882014-09-05T15:35:00.002-07:002014-09-05T15:36:43.230-07:00Please Hear What I'm Not Saying
Sometimes it's tough to say what we mean and mean what we say. Over the years I've learned to listen to what a person is *not* saying and to try to let that message be louder than what they *are* saying. In large part, because as a teen I heard this poem, and it helped me find a new perspective.
Please Hear What I'm Not Saying
Don't be fooled by me.
Don't be fooled by the face I Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06601366212662192480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1721699605940409397.post-62908985432990607182014-08-21T11:26:00.003-07:002014-08-21T11:26:51.027-07:00Random Act of Art!
Have you ever heard of a yarn bomb?
It is an amazing way for yarn crafters to make people smile in a colorful, creative, artful way. Some of them are really amazing... like the octopus tree or the lacey chain link fence or the mystery knitter at the London Olympics.
These aren't just crafts though... this is art!
I decided when we had a Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06601366212662192480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1721699605940409397.post-4049963481985271312014-08-21T10:52:00.001-07:002014-08-21T10:52:07.313-07:00Third time's the charm Pink Parasol
Sometimes things don't come easy. Sometimes you have to keep at it. Sometimes you have to make adjustments.
These are the things I kept telling myself while working on this parasol. It took my almost two months to get it done. I know! Me! Here's why.
I found this amazing vintage umbrella with a pink Lucite handle and just *had* to use it. But the ribsJenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06601366212662192480noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1721699605940409397.post-54346701192170234062014-04-22T10:07:00.001-07:002014-04-22T10:10:45.163-07:00A Steampunk Parasol
My friend Steampunk Addie has some great adventures! I made a vortex of time parasol for her a while back... but it's not big enough for her Momma or Sister to share.
So... I used this Steampunk Parasol pattern from Ira Rott to make a slightly larger one.
The pattern has a great chart and is easy to follow. I used almost an entire ball of Curio size 10 crochet thread in blackJenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06601366212662192480noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1721699605940409397.post-13242939553129881982014-04-09T08:57:00.004-07:002014-04-09T09:09:17.187-07:00You Must Be a Weasley!
Harry Potter fans know that being a Weasley means ginger hair and second hand robes... but is also means the kind of warm family craziness that comes from being around people you love.
In particular, Molly Weasley takes charge in an "it's ok to be who we are" sort of way, never apologizing for the second hand robes, even when Ginny's jumper was last seen on the cat.
I've been a bit Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06601366212662192480noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1721699605940409397.post-47407614983877962462014-03-12T10:41:00.004-07:002014-03-12T10:43:31.941-07:00You Look Mahhvelous, Liebster!
Woohoo! My friend Steampunk Addie has nominated me for the Liebster Award! It's a way for bloggers to share the love and link together.
She tells me that Liebster means sweetheart, darling, or beloved in German. Well, I think you're pretty sweet too my friend. So much so that the only blog I would have to nominate is, well, yours. Ha! (Dear readers, if you Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06601366212662192480noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1721699605940409397.post-75913972419973469892014-03-11T13:45:00.001-07:002014-03-11T14:01:34.764-07:00Celiac disease is no joke...
If I hear another person say celiac disease is a wheat allergy or "gluten free" is a fad diet I may scream. Ok, maybe internally (again), but if you talk about this subject around me and I *do* scream... well.. you'll know why.
I have a lot of trouble with food allergies, if was originally a plant or an animal, I am allergic to it. I have "I can get away with this once in a while" Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06601366212662192480noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1721699605940409397.post-35049003713026430792014-03-07T10:09:00.000-07:002014-03-07T10:09:00.463-07:00The Purple Flower Parasol
I am having so much fun with these parasols!
This one was a challenge for two reasons, the frame I wanted to use has 10 ribs (most of the vintage frames I bought online have 8), and my friend Swati, The Purple Flower, gets migraines so this one needed to be a bit more opaque.
Why does the number of ribs matter? Only that my "everything must match" frame of mind thinks Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06601366212662192480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1721699605940409397.post-10674013019536499982014-03-04T20:13:00.000-07:002014-03-07T10:09:11.300-07:00Always Wear SunscreenRemember that "song" from Baz Luhrman Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)? The one based on an essay written by Mary Schmich? You know...
Well... I have problems with sunscreen. All the other ingredients they throw in there to make it smell nice or feel creamier. I have to rely on physical sunblocks... my BareMinerals, glasses, hats, and now these amazing sun shields!
Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06601366212662192480noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1721699605940409397.post-85026070401032280372014-03-04T19:36:00.000-07:002014-03-04T19:36:45.897-07:00Time flies when you're having fun!
Apparently, when I said "I'll be back" I meant "in a really really long time".
2013 was a tough year for me medically speaking. Soon after posting about my TARDIL last May, summer came upon me with a vengeance. There was quite a list of issues in 2013, but with the exception of a couple of enforced breaks I was still able to crochet.
Here's a parade of my favorites, Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06601366212662192480noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1721699605940409397.post-43791609418058451392014-03-04T16:26:00.001-07:002014-03-11T11:32:19.792-07:00The World Needs More Love Letters
I am so excited to find MLL… I’ve been preparing for it for some
time now and just realize it.
As a teen, I was involved in a group where we wrote letters of
love and encouragement during retreat weekends. At the end of each
retreat, people told me how much they appreciated my letters and that it gave
them the encouragement they needed at just the right time. Later onJenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06601366212662192480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1721699605940409397.post-37975242186798138222013-05-14T14:27:00.001-07:002014-01-10T13:57:18.937-07:00Time And Relative Dimension In Lace
Irish lace is an incredible crochet technique for joining individual motifs with chain "mesh" to make one fabric.
This example is one I found online but there are many others... collars, bags, even jackets and dresses, especially wedding dresses.
Each of the motifs is made first, they are arranged in a pleasing pattern and connected by the mesh into a work of art. I Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06601366212662192480noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1721699605940409397.post-67138743942047234392013-05-02T09:34:00.001-07:002013-05-02T09:35:18.306-07:00Wibbley-wobbley, timey-wimey stuff
My son-in-law Andrew does some amazing drawings! he also does portraits and will have a booth at the upcoming Phoenix Comicon.
So, I have been crafting away on geeky things like The Hobbit inspired dwarf gloves, kid sized super hero gloves, some characters, and some wibbley-wobbley, timey-wimey stuff...
like this tote. It may seem like an ordinary bag to you... Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06601366212662192480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1721699605940409397.post-23885245632689071152013-04-11T12:12:00.001-07:002013-04-11T12:12:40.047-07:00March of the EntwivesLord of the Rings fans will recognize Ents like Treebeard, but movie watchers may not know about the Entwives.
This fantastic design by Michelle DuNaier might be something the Entwives would wear on their march through the forest to find new fields for planting...
Another project using Wolle's Yarn Creations color changing cotton, and I must say to dramatic effect with this pattern!
IJenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06601366212662192480noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1721699605940409397.post-29909886198928030602013-04-01T13:54:00.002-07:002013-04-01T13:55:23.807-07:00April Fools!
Well, we've done it... no foolin'. My daughter Amanda has partnered with me to offer some of my projects on Etsy.
Right now we have a few cool (literally and figuratively) shawls, made from cotton or sugar cane yarn. Trust me, I'm in Arizona, I know cool. :oP
In fact, I wore my love knot sugar cane shawl yesterday... it was so nice! Nothing shades you better than Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06601366212662192480noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1721699605940409397.post-87115076035826291562013-03-05T08:25:00.001-07:002013-03-05T08:25:18.263-07:00It's full of stars!
Nebulas are full of baby stars, and this shawl is no different!
My second shawl with Wolle's Yarn Creations Color Changing Cotton (say that 5 times fast!) is also my This Is Not An Astronomy OWL project.
I used 1,164 yards of yarn and 800 beads... but still ran short and had to skip a few rows of edging per the pattern. I'll just have to make another some day!
 Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06601366212662192480noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1721699605940409397.post-13049344498625308672013-02-12T10:05:00.002-07:002013-02-12T10:05:58.051-07:00Arizona Sunrise
Sunrises are different here in Arizona. They say its the dust in the air that reflects off the swamp gas from Venus, yadda yadda yadda. All I know is that we have rainbows in a clear sky.
When a friend of mine mentioned that my latest shawl reminded her of Arizona skies, I had to agree. Here is my Arizona sunrise!
It's 1,065 yards of specially made cotton fingering Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06601366212662192480noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1721699605940409397.post-76617555935389438922013-02-06T10:09:00.001-07:002013-02-06T10:10:26.085-07:00What a busy week... month... winter?
I am shocked that I haven't been updating my weekly projects since before the holidays. I've still been crocheting away, but it seems all the doctor appts and physical therapy have wreaked havoc on my schedule. I've been working on improving the range of motion in my feet and ankles so that I can walk for longer periods of time. Along with the Dyna-Splint in the photo here, itJenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06601366212662192480noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1721699605940409397.post-13423123409529087472013-02-06T09:20:00.003-07:002013-02-06T09:20:56.495-07:00"The Hobbit" Inspired Gloves
I enjoyed The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey very much... especially when I saw that there were fantastic fiber pieces!
In particular, I am a fan of fingerless gloves, and I saw oh so many different kinds. Even better, most of them looked easily done in crochet. So, I set out to figure out a few... Gandalf, Bombur, Ori and Oin. I haven't been able to get a good look at Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06601366212662192480noreply@blogger.com4