Knitting and Crocheting for Charity

I have been blessed with so much in my lifetime. Sure my family struggles sometimes like everyone else does, but overall, we have so much more than many others do in the world. I'm working on some charity projects, and I'm hoping to encourage others to do so, as well. If everyone gives a little of their time and talent, the world would be a better place. Come on, we all have yarns we bought and didn't end up using, wasting away in our stashes -- they could be used to make preemie blankets for newborns in the NICU in the hospitals, or hats for the needy who will really need them this winter, or simple knit or crochet squares that will be made into blankets to warm the abandoned children in Africa.

I've found Stitches from the Heart and His Hands Ministry thanks to the generous folks at the Lion Brand Yarn website, charity search page. While looking for some knit and crochet hat patterns, I found Knit-A-Square. Coincidence? I think not! God works in mysterious ways. We just need to listen to Him.

Check them out, or Google for other charities that call to you, search your heart, and take the time to make a small difference. Even one person can help change the world! :-)

Waiting impatiently for Julie & Julia!

I'm almost done reading Julie & Julia, the book by Julie Powell that's based on her blog. I'm exhausted in the morning from staying up late in the night pressing on! I admire her guts and tenacity to cook her way through Mastering the Art of French Cooking. It's something I'd never have the nerve to do myself. I thought for a moment about doing something similar with Martha Stewart's Cookies, and then Martha Stewart's Cupcakes came in the mail from The Good Cook and omigosh, there are recipes in there to die for! Maybe I'll get up the nerve someday. We'll definitely have to try some of them out, as M. has to bake every week for the football player she'll be assigned - another one to fatten up this year, lol.

I cannot WAIT for this movie to come out on August 7th! I know it won't be a literal translation from the book and blog, but it will be close. Close enough to smell the eau de potage parmentier wafting from the movie screen.... yum!!! Love you, Julie!

KARI OUR NEW TOY FOX TERRIER!

Our Father's Day gift this year was a 9 month old toy fox terrier named Kari. She's a bundle of energy and very good with our three kiddos.

Yes, I've already started crocheting for her - working on a bed for her crate, as well as a sweater for the chilly mornings. I also have patterns for bones and toys that I want to make for her.

The kids are already planning Halloween costumes, lol!

Cakes for tea time

I saw LionBrandYarn's pattern for frosted donuts a couple of months ago, and knew I had to make some for KJ's tea set. She also wanted me to make a piece of cake, and when I was googling for a pattern, I came across these patterns for mini cake sachets - so I made one, added a bottom, stuffed it, and voila -- a two-tiered pink icing topped cake. Of course, KJ wants all the cakes on the site, so Mom's back to work on those... I'm still looking for a good pattern to crochet a slice of cake, but I might end up giving it a go on my own... Yummy!

Lucy's crochet bags

One of my very favorite blogs to visit is Lucy's at Attic24. I love her love of color, and she has amazing patterns that she has posted for us crochet-aholics. I had to make her crochet bag for myself, and our youngest KJ wanted one in pink and purple (have I told you they are her very favorite colors yet?!), so here are both.

Some schmuzzies are peeking out of KJ's bag, those little devils ;-)

Mew

Our son S. just turned 9 years old, and his gift choice was for Mom to make him Mew. Of course, he wants me to make him EVERY Pokemon, but I asked him to prioritize please! Thanks so much to Biz for sharing her pattern!

Gotta make 'em all!

Hello Kitty!

Here's my first Hello Kitty for little KJ! I love the blog patterns posted by Armina, I'll be making probably every one she has on her blog.

Dinosaur

Made this dinosaur for my little guy S. He was the second pattern I tried from the Amigurumi vol. 6 book I bought online from saucylouise over in Japan, when I bought my Hamanaka Raku Raku hooks. He's larger than I thought he would be, but S. loves him!

Widget

I finished Widget at the end of April, she's more an ami pattern than Wubbzy was. I've started Walden, but have put him on the back burner for some other projects that have come up. My dh laughs at me and mostly rolls his eyes, because I can't seem to just work on one thing at a time, I always seem to have several going at the same time!

Grumpies

A grumpie for my grumpy gal M...

Free pattern at suncatchereyes.com