Rayen

When I decided to clone a shop window display cardigan I had no idea it would become such a fun project. I just wanted something rather mindless to work on during the holidays that served as physical therapy for but didn't stress my right hand. I started on the project with just that state of mind. It was fun picking out the yarn for it from my stash, and then finding the right pattern, and challenging myself to get it done before the end of the year. I don't often make garments on a whim, so the novelty of working on something I could wear (right away, too) added extra joy. I am not very fast at doing anything anymore, but I am still pretty speedy at crochet. While I've been working on the cardi I've also been watching videos from young crochet business makers and what they're dealing with on YouTube. I really admire these youngsters for trying to make a living doing what they love. I am one of the very few who was able to do that with my drea...

The yarn lot I bid on at the last minute just arrived, and I got an exotic vibe just opening the box. Someone was a collector of fun fibers for sure -- and I love the medieval-looking copper basket. Here are the eighteen skeins came with the basket, and most are unused and still have labels. The majority are wool but some are synthetics and a few are very exotic. The basket itself isn't ancient, of course, but just made to look like it is (the green patina is actually paint.) It's still charming, and I will definitely put it to good use. As I suspected, the yarn is very rare and pricey. I looked up info on what had labels, and nearly everything was discontinued and now being sold for exorbitant prices. These two skeins alone are worth $21.50. This skein of Tahki Chinchilla imported from France is a mohair blend that I've never before seen -- about $10.00 a ball. I added up prices on everything that was tagged or had labels, and added $5.00 pe...

Unstoppable is one of my favorite movies of all time, thanks to Denzel Washington, Chris Pine and Rosario Dawson, a wonderfully simple plot, and almost nonstop action laced with the perfect amount of character depth and development in a film format. The premise: Based on true events, the movie depicts what happens when a slacker railroad employee makes a series of mistakes that turns a train into a speeding, unmanned runaway missile of molten phenol and diesel fuel. The unlikely saviors are Frank Barnes (played beautifully by Denzel), a 28-year veteran railroader being forced to retire with half-benefits, and Will Colson (Chris's best role to date, I think), a newly-hired rookie having family problems due to jealousy over his pretty young wife. These two start out not liking each other, but are forced to set that aside in order to chase and catch the runaway before it derails and destroys a highly populated area. This is a very blue-collar workplace sort of story that shows...

It's funny how things stay with you as a maker. Back in September we were walking around Winter Garden when I saw this boutique display window. The little color block crochet cardi caught my eye, mainly because it looked pretty simple. Given that it was simply granny stitch I also thought I could make one myself. At the time I was working my white and abalone V-stitched throw, so I filed away the pic and the idea. I thought about that cardi in the window a month later when I finished a thrifted granny stitch ripple baby blanket that I thrifted. And again while I was working on a granny stitch ripple throw of my own. I would have tried to make it, only I had two quilting projects waiting in the wings and I really needed to make them first. Then my holiday bad luck struck and I badly sprained a finger, pretty much wiping out any chance of working on my two quilting projects for the next month. I can still crochet, however. I went on my paint program and worked...

Yes, the happiest day of the year has finally arrived. Much as I love Christmas, December 26th is the day on the calendar that is farthest away from the next visit by Santa. I can breathe a sigh of relief and not think about all that good luck, good times and good cheer that I love so much for a whole 365 days, starting today. Okay, the sarcasm is mean, I admit. Before you judge, you should really read some of the holiday hell stories on my blog. They are not for the faint of heart . I think I will celebrate by taking my guy out for lunch. Our neighbors gave us a Culvers gift card, and I do love their shrimp. :) Image by Rosy / Bad Homburg / Germany from Pixabay

May your Christmas be merry, bright, and incident free!