Learning something new

For the past 12 years or so I have wanted to learn how to bead on a loom. I have never done such a thing before. About 9 years ago my Aunt gave me a bead loom. I could not figure out how to start it myself with just the instructions. I often am a visual learner. So for me trying too just read directions was not helping me.

My lovely neighbor uses a loom and knows how to do it so I asked her if she would show me how. She kindly agreed and we had a lovely visit over an iced mocha and some beads. I sat and watched her thread the loom, which honestly still looks a bit daunting and I will have her sit and watch me the next time I do it (which will likely be in the next day or so.) so that I can be sure that I got it right. I started my first project late in the afternoon, around 3pm. I took a break around dinner time and started back up a little after 9pm by midnight I was finished with the whole thing.

So without further ado here are some pictures of my latest creation.

The finished product will be sewn to a piece of leather and then I will use it to pull my hair up. As it sits now it measures 1inch wide by 3 3/4" long.

I am totally in love with this new craft and am looking forward to seeing what other lovely things I can create with this new medium.

I did not imagine that I could create something so quickly after learning it. I have to wait until this evening until my neighbor gets home to take it off the loom because I have no idea how to do that and do not want to mess up my beautiful work, but I am itching to start something else!

What new things have YOU learned lately?

The Scarf

I was going to post the pictures of the scarf in the blog from yesterday, but then I decided that it would be easier to just post the pictures here.

The pattern is my own creation and I am going to share it here. It is a simple pattern that I think even a beginner could do.

Here are the photos of the scarf.

 This is taken with just the natural light and you can see the little twist in the material

This is taken with the flash and you can see the actual color of the scarf, it turns out better with the flash. 

This was taken with me holding the scarf up against the blue of the wall. It is more for visual interest.

Crystal's Textured Scarf

J hook

Double Crochet = DC

Modified Crossed Double Crochet = MCDC

Chain 17 and DC in the 3rd chain from hook and across.

chain 2 (I find this makes the sides more even and tight) turn

DC in next 3 stitches, MCDC ( for a MCDC you skip one stitch DC chain one then go behind the DC already made back into the skipped stitch making a crossed stitch) DC in next 3 stitches MCDC, DC in remaining stitches including the top of the chain 2 space at the end. Chain 2 turn and repeat. 

including the first chain you will have a pattern that is 4 DC (chain2 counts as DC) a MCDC, 3 DC, CDC and 4 more DC.
I simply repeat the pattern until it is as long as I want the scarf to be.

I have also made this scarf and added fringe to the bottoms for more detail.  

*note* A traditional Crossed Double Crochet is done in the same manner only instead of going behind the first double crochet you go over it to create an X with the stitches. I have a lovely Scarf pattern that uses this stitch and then front posts to create a cabled look. That will be the one I work on next.

Feed back is always welcomed. My blog is set to allow anyone to comment so even if you are not a follower you can comment on my blog.

Enjoy and have a wonderful day!

A special gift

So yesterday I finished a scarf for my husband.

This isn't just any scarf! No its a lovely scarf made from natural fibers that I got last year on our special alone trip to Fort Bragg California.

I loved working with this fiber and it felt so luxurious to be working with natural fibers. I happen to be one of the rare few who are allergic to wool, or the things it is treated with. I have yet to be able to determine that exactly. I do have a reaction to whatever wool I touch, but I can pet a sheep with no reaction what-so-ever. So the question remains is it the wool or is it whatever people do to treat the wool?

Now my real problem is WHEN to give it to him. I had intended to have it finished before last winter but an injury to my hand didn't allow me to crochet at all for about 7 months and even now I can not do so for very long without severe pain. So I got this together and did it all over several days while he was at work. He is the easiest person for me to make things for now that he is working again. Trying to make things for my kids is rather difficult since they are all home all the time.  His birthday is already passed, as is our Anniversary. I don't want to wait until Christmas because I want him to be able to wear it when it gets cold at work.

I will take pictures of this lovely scarf and then post them to this blog. I can't take them now because hubby is still home and I don't want him to see the scarf yet. The pattern is completely my own. I created the pattern last fall and then replicated it for this scarf.

I am so excited with how it turned out and I want it to be a special gift but soon. Any thoughts?

When is lying ok?

Most of you will likely answer, never.

However tonight I was told by someone that basically the truth wasn't important only the intent behind the lie was.

Huh?

I work hard to guide my children in truth. The truth sometimes hurts but lies hurt more. They hurt the people who are involved, they hurt the people who hear them and they hurt those who they are about.

We are a social networking society. But do we not all have some small part in keeping the truth out there? Reposting things on Facebook (or any social networking site) when they are not factual should not be looked at as acceptable. They are still lies.

Example: Someone close to me posted this
"**R.I.P.**Justin Allen 23, Brett Linley 29, Matthew Weikert 29, Justus Bartett 27, Dave Santos 21, Jesse Reed 26, Matthew Johnson 21, Zachary Fisher 24, Brandon King 23, Christopher Goeke 23, and Sheldon Tate 27....Are all Marines that gave their lives this week for you. There is no media for them... not even a mention of their names. Honor THEM by posting this"

The truth is that all of these Service Men died in combat, over a year ago. Not all of them were Marines. In fact only a few of them were. More of them were in the Army and were Soldiers. It is a lie to claim they were Marines when they were not, and it is dishonorable to their chosen branch of service as well as to them to claim otherwise. It is not honoring them or their service to post such things. I agree our typical media in the United States is shamefully full of celebrities and sports stars. Most people are severely lacking in ability to comprehend our government or the current financial climate of this country, I believe because they are so wrapped up in those Celebrity lives.

If you want to truly honor Service Men & Women, (and I do mean all people in some form of service to us, Police, Fire, and ALL branches of the armed forces) do so with integrity and truth.

You can look up information for yourself simply and easily. It takes less then 10 minutes to verify facts. You do not need to propagate lies in order to honor those that have fallen in service to us. Yet so many people blindly follow what the other person has posted without checking facts for themselves.

*Stepping off my soap box now*

Spread truth, not lies. Spread Love not lies, Spread tolerance, not hate/lies.