Update

Just a few things I want to catch up on...

The next square in our current CAL is due to be posted tomorrow but I will be a little late getting it posted. I have the design worked out in my head but I don't have it worked up or the pattern written just yet. The main thing holding me back is a MAJOR deadline on Monday that will take me the entire weekend to finish up, so I will be able to post the pattern early next week... until then I'll give you a hint: "Gold"

I've gotten a few emails recently asking for permission to use my butterfly patterns (here and here) for church fundraisers. I just wanted to let you all know that I absolutely LOVE when my patterns are used for charity. It is fine if you are donating the finished item (NOT the pattern) to be sold at a local sale or auction that benefits a worthy charity. You may leave me a comment to let me know how your charity drive went, but it is not necessary.

I've also gotten a couple of comments asking about the status of the Mum's The Word square from the Calendar 'Ghan 2009 CAL. I was thinking about doing something else with it, but didn't realize the pattern's popularity. I still may do a variation on the pattern sometime in the future, but I will leave the square pattern up when/if I do. So I will be putting the pattern back up shortly for your crocheting enjoyment.

That's it for now... thank you for hanging in there with me! I have some exciting new things happening behind the scenes. More will be revealed later in the year... I've said too much already! ;)

Death and Taxes

Ask anyone in the US what April 15th means and they will tell you without hesitation, that's "Tax Day". Doesn't matter if they owe money or are due a refund, it's ingrained in them to know what that little square on the calendar means. Even when the "big day" is moved forward due to a holiday or weekend, it is still the date that even those who can't keep track of birthdays and anniversaries will remember with certainty.

The only other sure thing in life, according to Benjamin Franklin, is death. This is why I thought it kind of funny, in an odd sort of way, several years ago when my mother passed away on April 15th. She and I weren't really close so the date usually goes by without thought of anything other than the anticipation of how I will spend my refund check. This year however, proved to be different.

Phil and I married young at ages 17 and 18. Much too young to be married really, but we thought we were beyond our years with wisdom. The marriage only lasted 5 years; 3 1/2 of which were spent separated. During the 18 miserable months that we were together, the only thing good to happen were our 2 daughters.

I haven't given him more than a passing thought over the last 25 years, so why is it now I feel such a sense of mourning for him?



April and Phil Moreland ~ March 6, 1983


Philip Henry Moreland
January 24, 1964 - April 15, 2011

A New CAL!

Melissa over at Hooked on Handmade will be hosting a month long Crochet Along during the month of May. She will be featuring a different square pattern for each day of the month and invites everyone to join her. Unfortunately I will not be able to join in due to time constraints and current deadlines, but I will be peeking in from time to time to see everyone's awesome work!

P.S. Check out the pattern for the 7th. :)

Knitting & Crochet Blog Week: Day Seven

Day seven: 3rd April. Your knitting and crochet time.
Write about your typical crafting time. When it is that you are likely to craft – alone or in more social environments, when watching TV or whilst taking bus journeys. What items do you like to surround yourself with whilst you twirl your hook like a majorette’s baton or work those needles like a skilled set of samurai swords. Do you always have snacks to hand, or are you a strictly ‘no crumbs near my yarn!’ kind of knitter.

My crochet/crafting time really has no rhyme or reason. With a 3 year old in the house, it's nearly impossible to find a decent block of uninterrupted crochet time. I do try to sneak in a little here and there during the day, but between Ben, cooking, housework (which I can never seem to keep up with!), and other miscellaneous distractions, my daytime schedule is pretty much spoken for.

I am a tad more successful finding some quiet time in the evenings after Cyndi gets home. When I can finally settle in for some quality hookin' time my list of requirements is short. First and foremost, I must have a cold drink nearby. Sometimes it's water or Coke, but usually it's iced green tea with lemon. The only other thing I need is something to listen to.

In an ideal world it would be my favorite radio station, DC101. (I have yet to find a decent radio station anywhere other than the Delmarva area.) I prefer radio because, for me, the television is visually distracting. I've never been able to "get" people that can just "listen" to the TV. I guess I'm a visual person through and through.

Instead of radio, it's usually the TV until everyone else goes to bed for the night. This is when I can finally get some "me time" to use how I please. Sometimes I watch a movie, but usually I crochet. Below are a couple of pictures from my favorite hooking spot, the couch.

My Cup O' Hooks

And the bookcase where I keep my WIPs

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Knitting & Crochet Blog Week: Day Six

Day six: 2nd April. Something to aspire to.
Is there a pattern or skill that you don’t yet feel ready to tackle but which you hope to (or think you can only dream of) tackling in the future, near or distant? Is there a skill or project that makes your mind boggle at the sheer time, dedication and mastery of the craft? Maybe the skill or pattern is one that you don’t even personally want to make but can stand back and admire those that do. Maybe it is something you think you will never be bothered to actually make but can admire the result of those that have.

For decades my dream has been to be an accomplished crochet/knit/craft designer. With over 70 free patterns on my blog so far, and just as many waiting in the wings to be published here and in various other venues, I suppose I could say I've made that dream come true. And in a sense I suppose I have with the free patterns alone.

On Day Four I talked about the negative side of gift giving. I wanted to take the time here to say that not all of my gifts have been thusly abandoned. I enjoy crocheting and crafting very much and want the recipients of my efforts to love my work just as much as I enjoyed creating them. So I was pleased to discover that my (ex) sister-in-law still loves and uses the afghan I made for her almost 20 years ago.

And an old friend of mine still has the baby blanket I made her son as well as the ceramic planter, including the ORIGINAL plant, that I gave her when her daughter was born. (How she kept that plant alive after all this time just amazes me!) It's good to know that not all of my gifts have fallen by the wayside. I hope my crochet designs can stand the test of time as well as these few gifts.


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Knitting & Crochet Blog Week: Day Five

Day Five: 1st April. And now for something completely different

After my last post (sorry, I didn't mean for the anger to come through so harshly) I thought I'd try to lighten the mood a little.

I'm not really a fan of British humor, but still, I can't help but hear John Cleese's voice in my mind when I read today's prompt. And I can't help but think of one of my favorite movies (The Wedding Singer) when I see this video. Hope you enjoy!


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Knitting & Crochet Blog Week: Day Four

Day Four: 31st March. Where are they now?
Whatever happened to your __________? Write about the fate of a past knitting craft project. Whether it be something that you crocheted or knitted for yourself or to give to another person. An item that lives with you or something which you sent off to charity.

I've crafted many, MANY gifts over the years. This includes knitting, crochet, cross stitch, quilting, beading... you name it. For whatever reason most of them have never been seen again. I admit some of those gifts may have missed their mark due to poor planning or mis-interpreted enthusiasm on my part, but I always try to put a lot of thought and effort behind my crafted gifts. I truly enjoy sharing my love of crafting with those around me.

Sadly, several years ago I decided that I would no longer be giving hand crafted gifts to friends and family members. That is with the exception of my children who, (I think... I hope... at least this is what they tell me,) appreciate my thought, time, and effort. They make specific requests and are honest with me about what they like and don't like. I don't gift anything that hasn't been discussed and planned with them ahead of time, whether they know it or not. I can be sneaky that way. hehe

Others are not as enthused as my children though, even when they specifically ask for something. Several years ago my grandmother asked for an afghan I had made. It was already finished. She knew exactly what it looked like. I felt pretty darn confident (and rightfully so, in my opinion) in knowing that she would like it. She displayed it on the back of her couch for all of about 3 months, then it disappeared. When I asked her what happened to it, she said, "Oh, that old thing? I gave it to Goodwill."

OLD??? I was furious! But I got over it. A few years later she saw a pillow I was working on. She raved about it. It was so pretty. She wanted one. I gave it to her. It sat in the gift bag in the corner of her bedroom behind the door for well over a year, then one day it was gone. I never got the nerve to ask, but I knew...

When I started thinking of all the gifts I had ever given, and never saw again, I can't help but wonder if they met the same fate. I love Goodwill. I shop there often and have picked up some awesome deals. I donate to them quite regularly old clothes; household items and the like. But it was never my intention to craft for them.

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