Saint Theresa’s Prayer

I was reading through Kathi Lipp's blog today, and she has this posted on December 31, 2009.  It was just what I needed, of course  -- funny how the Lord brings you just what you need, exactly when you need it, if you'll only open your eyes/ears/heart to it! :-)  I printed it out and hung it next to my monitor, where I'll see it every day.

 

Saint Theresa's Prayer

May today there be peace within.

May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.

May you be confident knowing you are a child of God.

Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.

.It is there for each and every one of us.

Ravelympics

Hi everyone! I just came across the Ravelympics group over on ravelry.com, where fingers will be flying during the winter olympics starting in 30 days – anyone want to get a Team KAS together, so we can join hands (and hooks and needles) around the world making squares while watching the olympics? :-) I've posted this to the KAS group on ravelry, and the KAS forums as well.

Mini KAS Square Ornament - Free Pattern

Mini KAS Square Ornament - Free Pattern

(pattern only, tutorial below)

US size 8 knitting needles

US size G crochet hook

Worsted weight yarn (used Red Heart Super Saver, it holds its shape well)

Cast on 10

Row 1 through 4:  Knit

Row 5:  K2, P6, K2

Row 6:  Knit

Row 7:  K2, P6, K2

Row 8:  Knit

Row 9:  K2, P6, K2

Row 10:  Knit

Row 11:  K2, P6, K2

Row 12 through 15:  Knit

Row 16: Bind off but leave last loop on the needle.  Slip loop from needle to crochet hook.

Chain 21.

Form a loop with the chain, and slip stitch into the base of the chain to close the loop. 

Finish off, cut yarn, weave in ends.

Enjoy!

***Mini KAS Square Ornament TUTORIAL***


US size 8 knitting needles
US size G crochet hook
Worsted weight yarn (used Red Heart Super Saver, it holds its shape well)

Cast on 10

Row 1 through 4: Knit

Row 5: K2, P6, K2
Row 6: Knit
Row 7: K2, P6, K2
Row 8: Knit
Row 9: K2, P6, K2
Row 10: Knit
Row 11: K2, P6, K2

Row 12 through 15: Knit

Bind off but leave last loop on needle.

 

Slip loop from needle to crochet hook.

Chain 21.
Form a loop with the chain, and slip stitch into the base of the chain to close the loop.

Finish off, cut yarn, weave in ends.

Enjoy!

http://knit-a-square.com  to help surround AIDS orphans in southern Africa with love!

My Ravelry bunnies

I'm excited that Ravelry featured a photo of some amigurumi I made, a bunny wedding cake topper that I did for a friend's wedding this summer. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/amigurumi-bunny-wedding-cake-topper Mine's at the top, by rondaletts. Had to share :-)

Our Square Circle has begun!

Well, we started our Square Circle club at the elementary school a few weeks ago, and even though our second meeting was snowed out, the kids are doing great.  We have 13 that signed up, and we are teaching them to crochet first.  A few are struggling a bit, and they just may be our instinctual knitters. :-)  So happy that they'll be making squares to send to Knit A Square, and helping to make a difference, one square at a time. 

 

If you haven't checked it out yet, please do -- http://www.knit-a-square.com

 

Have a lovely weekend, wherever you are! :-)

Balloon Festival

We got up this morning at o-dark-thirty and picked up M.'s boyfriend to go to the Colorado Balloon Festival. They hold it every Labor Day weekend, and we try to go every year. It was a nice, brisk morning, about 53 degrees, and the skies were crystal clear and the winds were nowhere to be seen -- perfect weather for a balloon launch! Of course, right after the first wave, both K. and S. had to go to the bathroom, and since there were no portapotties to be found (thanks City budget cuts!), we headed off to the car, and made our way home. Just as well, Kari was waiting for us patiently in her crate. It was a nice morning - here are a few of the pics, I'll load them up on our shutterfly family site.

I know I take the same pictures of the same balloons every year, but they're just so amazingly colorful and beautiful, I just can't help myself! :-)

KNIT A SQUARE for AIDS orphans in South Africa!!!

There are an estimated 1.4 million orphans in South Africa, many of them as a result of losing their parents to HIV AIDS. The number is growing - over 500 children a day become orphans. This is a terrible and mostly unrecognised human tragedy.

Knit-a-square.com has been recently set up to ask the knitters and crocheters of the world to send an 8 x 8" (20 x 20cm) square or more to specified charities in South Africa, and soon Zimbabwe, where they will be made up into blankets for these children.

The orphans live in terrible poverty. They need love, shelter, food, education and warmth. Many charities are working hard to provide the first four. The knitters and crocheters of the world can provide the last.

For more information on Knit-a-Square, check out the Official Site www.knit-a-square.com

 

Japanese Amigurumi Books

Ok so have I told you that I am absolutely smitten with Japanese amigurumi patterns?! I had first bought Amigurumi Collection 6 from Saucy Louise in Okinawa, and as a birthday present to myself, I've bought five more (Dad's birthday money helped to fund my latest shipment!). The diagrams are easy enough to follow, once you understand the Japanese writing -- had to google that one, lol. I would love to have a translation of all the step-by-step instructions that go along with. I was looking at Japanese dictionaries at Borders yesterday, and they are quite thick and pricey, maybe next time...

So far, I've made a ladybug, dinosaur, and squirrel from #6, and K. wanted a purple chihuahua out of Ami Ami Dogs 2, so I finished that one last week.

The legs are jointed, so the pup can stand, sit, or lie down, and K. just loves that.

The squirrel is our dog Kari's. :-)

My goal is to make one of everything in each of the Japanese books, we'll see if I can pull that one off, Julie/Julia Project-style! In between everything else I've got going, of course...

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!