October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

A couple of years ago I designed this scarf for my sister-in-law, who was diagnosed with breast cancer. (She just passed her 5 year mark - yay!) I've made the pattern is available for free download from my Ravelry shop for you to  make for someone special.

download now

MATERIALS REQUIRED:

Approximately 6 oz. of worsted weight yarn
Size F crochet hook (metric size 3.75; English size 8)

APPROXIMATE FINISHED SIZE: 5" wide by 55" long

Snow in Texas in August...

I must be unconsciously dreaming of cold weather since the heat this summer in Texas has been beyond oppressive. How else to explain my current obsession with making hats? This one is made with bits and pieces of novelty yarns left over from a recent reorganization of my vast and mysterious yarn stash.

When Aliens Attack

My mom is big into conspiracy theories, including alien abductions and the like. A old skein of neon green yarn and a lazy afternoon produced something she can wear to her MUFON meetings...

Brother, can you spare a dime?

This is my crafty country cousin, Georgia, working on a quilt in bed. Why in bed? Because she broke her leg and had to have extensive orthopedic surgery and won't be back on her feet for awhile. And along with that surgery came huge bills for the surgeon, hospital and rehab. And like so many of us self-employed she can't afford health insurance. A huge garage sale is planned for April 9 in Rockdale, Texas, to help raise money for her medical bills. But if you won't be in the area that day please consider making a small donation using the paypal donate button below. Thank you so much.

Thrifting Tip #3 - Ball O' Yarn

I only add this one because I figure you're a fiber person if you're reading this blog. If not, I'm sure you know someone who knits or crochets, right?

While you're out junking, keep an eye open for bags of yarn. That's how my local thrift stores package the yarn donations they get from overly ambitious crafters who planned to make a king size afghan but somehow never found the time (been there, done that).

It also helps to look at buying yarn this way as a personal challenge - what do I 'see' in the yarn just waiting to be created? A hat? A scarf? Not to compare myself to Michelangelo and a block of marble or anything, but you get the picture.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Thrifting Rules to Live By #2 - Church Bazaars Rock!

I've decided the best place to find hidden treasure is at a big church yard sale. It's a lot of driving around to hit more than one garage sale on a Saturday morning. And the thrift stores are on to the potential value of their stuff and lately seem to overprice accordingly. Or maybe it is just this rough economy - more people are shopping at thrift stores these days. Anyway, I went to a church yard sale this morning and scored: $10 bought a Dale of Norway sweater (not my size but perfect for making back my $10 on Ebay), a set of 6 linen embroidered place mats with matching linen runner, two large bright cotton mexican blankets, a round vintage Christmas print tablecloth (complete with cotton fringe edging), a cute 50s chalk mama fish plaque and her two babies, and a lovely Limoges teacup and saucer (perfect for mom, the Anglophile). And the icing on the cake? My donation was for a good cause - the new Summit Autism Academy of Austin.