Happy July 4th!

Happy Independence Day to all my followers and visitors. Our great country needs all of us to become involved in order to not lose the life we know and love.

May you have a Blessed and SAFE day today!

Great Give-Away has Arrived!

EDIT---Winner has been drawn. Thanks to all those who entered!! I will be having another Give-away soon, so be sure and watch for it!!

OK…the Great Giveaway is here!! A $40.00 gift card is up for grabs to one lucky person. All you have to do is—

1-Visit my Etsy shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/carolscrafts4u (click on the link to the left)
2-Post a remark on either the content of the shop OR the layout, or BOTH.

To earn EXTRA entries, make a separate comment for each one you do

~Blog about the giveaway and leave a link in the comment
~Follow my blog and make a comment letting me know you are a new follower
~Make a post on Facebook with a link about the giveaway and let me know you did

To earn FIVE extra entries, make a purchase from my Etsy shop and leave a comment telling me what you purchased.

That's all there is to it!

The comments posted in the next 2 weeks will qualify to win. The winning poster will be drawn in a random drawing (random.org) held on July 15.

At least one of your posts must give feedback on my Etsy shop, it can be positive or negative. If you see something you do not like or you think I should change, TELL ME!

The winner will receive a gift card from CSN that can be used at any one of over 200 stores. It will be mailed directly to you, so please make sure I have your email address and I will contact the winner to get their mailing address.

Good luck to all and I look forward to reading your comments!

Watch for the giveaway soon!

We all want lots of things right? I was contacted recently by the coolest place. They are called CSN. They have about 200 stores and you can find absolutely everything you could ever dream of in their websites. Seriously, they have an entire section just for shoes! Over 7000 pair. I am in heaven. They carry everything from baby supplies to furniture, and every kitchen gadget you can think of. I found a cool bed that I LOVE. And they offer Free shipping and hassle free returns. We all can use a little less hassle in our lives, right?

In order to make my readers more aware of CSN and the fantastic merchandise they carry, I will be doing a giveaway of a $40 gift card redeemable toward any purchase in their stores in the next week or so. Check back for updates and how to enter!

Free Stuff??

Summer time is here...well according to the calendar anyway. This has been the wettest June on record here in Oregon, and the HIGH for the next 7 days is supposed to be 70. I am not sure I even believe SPRING is here!

Anyway, back to the point of this post. I have been contacted by a national chain of stores wanting me to promote them and do a free giveaway on my blog. From what I have been able to figure out so far, it looks like a cool deal for everyone. I promote them, you get free stuff. Sounds like a win-win to me. So I will keep you up to date on how that is coming along.

In the meantime, I am working on SEVERAL new projects. Making a set of towels/hot-pads/dishcloths for my new DIL, Kessa for her new kitchen. Making a set of place mats with matching coasters for another DIL, Diana. Just finished up 2 squares for the Bakers dozen Swap. also making the Loom-a-long Simple Lace Wrap by Renee Van Hoy. (pattern here) http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/simple-lace-wrap I am using tapestry wool and it is turning out lovely. I will post pictures of all these projects later on.

Finished the CAL

Lion Brand Yarn had a CAL that I mentioned in a previous post. I finally got it finished. Like the hostess for the CAL, I made some modifications to the pattern. I did not want long sleeves, so made them elbow length. I also did not want a hood, so just did a collar. It turned out pretty good....well except I am not skinny enough in the hips for it....so we will see if I keep it or gift it to a skinnier person.

Sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me

Ok, if you are not old enough to remember Rowan & Martin's "Laugh-In", the joke is lost on you (google it) :-)

I have been busy making socks. The first 3 pair are crocheted using different weight yarns, #1 sock yarn for the blue/purple pair and Sassy Stripes #3 for the other 2 pair. The last 2 pair are too thick for shoes but will work great as socks for lounging.

The last pair is a "knooked" pair. (knitted with a crochet hook) Made with Heart & Sole with Aloe #1, I was particularly pleased to do these toe up socks. You fit them as you go.

OH MY!!

Do you ever wonder why you take on so many projects at once??? I do!! Currently on the needles/hooks are...

1-Lion Brand CAL-Beach cover up cardi.
2-First pair of knooked socks (knitting with a hook)
3-3rd pair of crocheted socks
4-current Kris Knits KAL (I am knooking it)
5-crocheted scarf
6-Loom knitting slippers

Oh gosh, makes me tired thinking of it!!

Why do I do so many at once....maybe I get bored??? Most likely. I like to be busy, and some things are more suited for traveling...who knows.....

Catching up

Now that the traveling is done for a bit, well until I fly to Texas on the 29th, it is time for me to get caught up with some of my projects. I finished my second pair of socks...almost done with the 3rd.





I did my first "pattern with a design" in knooking, It looks remarkably like the picture on the pattern. Knooking is still much slower than crocheting for me, so it will not become my primary craft, but I love that I can have knitted projects without having to work 2 needles! We are starting a sock KAL in knooking so I am looking forward to that...

I am now working on a CAL-Beach top/coverup. The finished project will look something like this....

I just started last night and have the first section of the back done. I am using some mercerized cotton I got from Peaches 'N Cream over a year ago. It was one of those grab bags and I ended up with a LOT of this....figured this was a good project to use it on. There is also a companion piece to this as a hooded pullover, so I may make that also.

Jean's service

From 4 different locations around the US we organized the service. Maybe it went off so well, because we did not try so hard to make it perfect. Minyon did such an amazing job on the pictures & the power point. Don brought music and a contribution from donations by all of Jean's PPCC friends was made to the James Jones foundation, www.LoveJones4kids.com

The excess of the cost of the brick for Jean was donated to this worthy foundation that works with the local homeless shelter and helps underprivileged kids - - just 2 of the causes they support. Because of the generosity of the members, we were able to donate $550 to James and his wife, Tamika.

The Packer organization provided the MVP Sky box overlooking Lambeau field for the service. After the service, attended by PPCC members and 4 of Jean's family, lunch was served in a private room at Curly's pub. Bob Harlan, former president of the Green Bay Packers popped in to say hello and thank us for honoring our friend.

The Packer organization made this an incredibly special way to honor our friend. Jean would have been SO thrilled knowing her friends cared so much and that the Packer organization cared for a single fan.

I have never heard of an NFL organization doing such a thing and it makes me even prouder to call myself a fan of the Green Bay Pacers....not just the team, but the people working there on a daily basis. THANK YOU....Jade & Michelle.

Michael has been busy

He has made me some more hooks. When he has a piece that breaks off, he converts it to a holder and inserts one of my aluminum crochet hooks in it.

**Top to Bottom**

C Hook….I have already tried this out with my sock yarn…..mmm it is NICE.

D Hook…this is a very hard to find size. I currently have 1/2 pair of socks done using this hook and I LOVE it.

G hook using a piece he would have otherwise thrown away

H hook….using a new shape that I have not tried yet.

I hook, using the egg shape handle

M hook…I did not have one this size

S hook I also did not have one this size, so I pretty much have a complete set of hooks now.

I am AMAZED at the way he is able to take a piece of wood and make something so beautiful and functional out of it.

More of Michael's Handiwork

Michael has been a very busy boy this weekend. ****top to bottom****

~Shawl pin – made from Maple

~Size N/10 made from a piece of driftwood picked up on the Oregon Coast. (he thinks it might be Douglas fir) The thumb rest is wonderful

~Size 7 mm - Made out of Maple

~Size G made out of Myrtle wood – this looks funky but if you hold you hook like a knife, it is actually quite comfortable. We saw a similar one posted on a blog, so he thought he would try it.

He has one on the lathe now that he has gotten down to a 3 mm, trying to get it down to a C or 2.75. Cuz that is what I make my socks with! (have one done of my first pair, working on 2nd)

These are so smooth – almost sensual…………I can hardly wait till he gets the little one done to make my next pair of socks.

My Packer friend Jean Spring

My long time friend, Jean Spring passed away this morning at Unity Hospice in Green Bay, WI. Jean was diagnosed in January with terminal brain cancer. She was moved to Unity Hospice the end of January. She was not happy most of the time, but I think it was because of the circumstances. One of the things she wrote to me...

Double-whammies are a bitch!! First I find out that I have cancer, then I find out that it is terminal. On top of that, you can only get into this hospice if you have six months or less, to live. That really SUCKS!!

Even though she was terminal, she was always asking others if they were OK, She was concerned that Michael and I did not have enough time together. She was concerned for me to be careful and not break another ankle. She was worried I did not have the milk to make my latte yesterday morning! Jean was like that, always thinking of others. If she had it, she would give it to you.

Jean lost her job last year and had become homeless. She gave away all of her precious Packer memorabilia and White Sox stuff to her nephew. Everything she owned was in 2 suitcases. She ended up in the shelter in Green Bay, became sick, went to the hospital where they found the cancer through her whole body.

Two weeks ago, several of her PPCC friends were able to visit her --she had SUCH a wonderful time visiting with all of them. I had made my plane reservations for the weekend of April 10-11 to fly back and see her. I waited too long, and I am incredibly sad about that.

but I have decided to make the trip. Many of her friends are going to gather in Green Bay and have a service for her on the weeknd I am there. Some, like me, are flying in from around the United States. Others are driving up from Chicago, Joliet, Milwaukee and others live only a mile from the hospice.

Jean had friends all over the world. Bruce in England, Nate in Australia, and so many others, all made through the Packers Partners Club Of Champions, the official fan club of the Green Bay Packers. Even though we did not get to see each other more than once or twice a year, we have become family. Jean valued her friends in the PPCC and loved to have them visit. I was able to have a nice conversation with her last week via phone. I am so glad I picked up the phone and dialed her number.

While I am incredibly sad that I did not get to see Jean one last time, I am grateful that she is no longer in pain and is at peace.

Michael's new hobby

I have been asking Michael for some time to make me different things - scarf pins, crochet hooks, etc - so he finally bought himself a nice lathe. These are the FIRST things he made.....most all in one day!! The brown shape on the left actually has a solid ring around one of the pieces...he made it all in one piece. I would love to see the grand-kids figure that one out! :-)

The second one was just working to see how small he could make a piece and how thin....

The third one can be used for a candle holder and can stand on either end. The far right is a "goblet" with a lid! It is awesome!! The last one in front is a small "dish" that I can use to put my earrings in or paperclips.....he used a small scrap he had to see how just using the chuck would work.

All of these are made out of just scrap pieces of wood. The light color ones are actually out of birch from a tree our neighbor cut down. The wood is still so wet, it was "raining" on him as he was working on the pieces.

I can hardly wait to see what he makes when he gets good wood. i will post more pictures as he makes more projects.

And here is his first crochet hook! It is SO smooth!!!

David & Kessa maried on Pi.....

My step-son David married his lovely fiancee, Kessa, on Sunday 3-14. The reception was at 1:59. About 100 guests crowded into the barn at the Roadhouse Inn to wish the newlyweds well. They spent their wedding night in Beaverton and Michael took them to the airport the next day for a trip to Barbados. We look forward to spending time with our new DIL. Pictures to follow.

Some more fun stuff

My creative juices have been flowing lately. I have even infected my hubby. I saw a pattern using "plarn". Plarn is made by cutting grocery bags into strips, hooking them together and then crocheting them into whatever. My first project is a tote bag.

Here is the link to the website where I got the pattern...............

http://www.kaylaksthriftyways.com/?p=557

While you are there, check out her other thrifty suggestions!

Michael got into the fray when I asked if he could make me some shawl pins....you know, the kind that will hold your shawl in place so it is not constantly falling off your shoulders. I showed him a couple of pictures...he disappeared into his shop along with 2 of the grandsons and they emerged with these....................


aren't they cool!!

The last project for right now is my first ever pair of slippers. A friend had made a pair of these, so I looked for the pattern, found it and whipped 'em out.....I will be making more of these to add to my etsy shop.

My NEW online business at ETSY!!

So I decided that having all this "stuff" sitting around was not doing anyone any good. So I started an Etsy shop. (the link can be found just above my photo on the left) Doubt if I will get rich at it, but the whole goal is to get rid of some of these projects. And if people want to order stuff, well that is OK too!!

I will keep you up to date on how it goes!!

Abigail Mae Williams-Grandbaby #14

Abby arrived in this world on Jan. 14, 2010 at 4# 8 oz. She was doing quite well, but was admitted to the hospital with RSV last week. She is slowly being weaned off the vent. John & Melissa are with her as much as possible. She is eating well, and they are hoping the next 24 hours she does well, so the vent can come off completely.

Etsy?

I have so many crocheted items...I love to make stuff, but I don't always use it. I thought I might set up an online store, Etsy probably. Everyone I have talked to likes the site and said it is relatively easy to use. And it might give me some "pocket change". The least it would do would be clear out some of my piles of unused items that I have made.

The Death of my Sister

My heart is heavy today. On Thanksgiving Day, my sister chose to end her life. She had battled leukemia and other cancers since 1994. For some reason she decided it was time to go. We are left with so many unanswered questions......why now? what triggered the final resolve? We had been making plans to do things the next weekend, she made me a QUICHE!! What happened?????

We knew so little of her pain and her inner struggles. I pray that she is at peace now...no more pain no more struggles, no more fighting with family. But regardless of the disagreements we had, she was my sister and I loved her. I will miss her antics and most of all her.

Broken Ankle Update

I got my "boot" off last week and am now using an ankle brace. The guy who fitted me with the brace said I could expect swelling for up to a year!! My left buttock is still numb and will be addressed by the physical therapist. I have my first physical therapy appointment next week. I have discovered another interesting phenomenon. I have permanent "hair stubble" on my left leg! It is the most bizarre thing. The hair "pores" remain raised like a little rash. Not sure if that will go away or not.

I am finding this break is very unlike my previous one 4 years ago. I will be having lingering after affects of this for quite some time. Makes me even more angry at the BOD and the member who alleged I did this on purpose. If I was a litigious person, I would be looking for an attorney!!