The new Circle of Crafters Crinoline Doily is finished. I have each girl holding a miniature doily between. Once I started adding the doilies it reminded me of a crochet-a-long and am thinking about adding that to the title - Hmmmmm Circle of Crafters Crochet-a-Long Crinoline Doily…. a little long - but what better month than March!
The pineapple tablecloth (draped over our antique four-poster in the guest bedroom), was one I made from one of my vintage magazines - eons ago! Actually our son was in 8th grade and he’s now 36. For some reason the cloth seems to be in better shape than the one I made 13 years ago… maybe the quality of thread? I’m not sure, but this was a lot of work. On one of the latter rnds of pineapples I noticed as I was getting ready to close the tip, I had made a mistake and didn’t work enough trc at the base of one pineapple. I frogged what I figure was an easy week’s worth of work. I was NOT a happy camper. I made this tablecloth for another one of my mom’s Christmases. I have no idea what happened to the other tablecloths I made.
Because I don’t have a round table anymore, I just draped it over the post of the bed. I need to get a quilt rack and drape some of my larger projects over it!
I made this tablecloth for my mom around 13 years ago. It was from either a Magic Crochet or Decorative Crochet Magazine. Unfortunately the last 2 rnds of the charting for the symbol crochet for this project was messed up and I ended up designing my own border. For awhile it’ll grace my antique breakfast table but I’m really afraid it might fall apart when I try laundering it. Easy does it!
I haven’t blogged in probably two months now and find it hard to resume - as if nothing ever happened. So many of you are aware that my mom passed on January 30th after collapsing at home the first week of January. After a hospitalization where she was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and pneumonia, she was released to a nursing care facility to gain strength and heal more before coming home. Because of the pneumonia, the doctors put her in a drug induced coma which we felt accelerated her illness with Alzheimer’s. Although she was never diagnosed; it was apparent over the last year that what she had wasn’t merely senility. In addition to this she also suffered from severe cases of shingles, Edema and emphazema (sp).
Once mom was released from the nursing care facility I went up to help dad in caring for her and do a “spring cleaning.” The first couple of days mom’s recuperation was wonderful - she seemed in high spirits and was able to walk somewhat. By the third day her appetite fell away, on the 4th day she was almost in a coma-like stance, and three days later she passed. During that time I watched her struggle to breathe and will never forget her fight to live for as long as I live. I have a high respect for those in the profession of caring for our seniors. It’s been more than just a tough 2010 so far; it’s been heart wrenching. I lost more than a mom, I lost my best friend.
To help myself through the grieving process I designed a doily to include mom’s favorite stitches and I felt a need for creating a piece that involved my entire self - it’s hard to explain, but I wanted the doily perfect. I’d like to think that throughout the process of designing mom was watching over my shoulder cheering me on, once again being my most ardent fan and admirer. I’ll miss that very much. I will no longer have her in my corner wishing the very best for me; it’s not often that others wish you the very best that life can bring. In a get rich, cut throat world, all too often others don’t care about your hurts, your wounds, but enjoy and relish seeing you fall. If push comes to shove, I hope I never have that mentality.
I see designing as everyone having their own expertise, style, and distinction. I see designing as a talent given by God. As such, there is room for everyone to create, enjoy, and thrive. It also means that one’s designs are of no less consequence due to what they design; it means they’re simply different. I personally enjoy the bible verse Philippians 2:3) Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
All too often I wear my heart on my sleeve and when life throws rotten apples; I’m more vulnerable than ever. It makes standing up and brushing the dust off myself that much harder. But I’m trying… I’ve picked up my hook and started with an idea for a doily in memory of mom and now I’m working on yet another doily.
What I’ve learned is that I want to reach out to whoever is hurting and not let vanity and puffery keep me from being human. I’d like to think I can reach out and touch someone regardless if I care for that individual. I don’t have to like someone to feel empathy and I don’t have to like a person to express my care, and hope I never get to a point I turn my back when they’re hurting most.
What has encouraged me are the many wonderful customers and subscribers to the Crochet Corner who have reached out with heart touching stories, prayers, support and understanding. I can’t thank you enouh - but just the same a big heart felt thank you to each of you. The simplest note to the longest story have touched me in a way I never thought possible and have helped bring about a healing I contribute to the love of my fellow-women!
Let’s pick up our hooks! 
Our new decorator pillow is available. Worked up in worsted weight yarn it features two holidays; Valentine’s and St. Patrick’s but also combines two needle arts - crochet and cross stitch! Featured on one side are dainty hearts and a big shamrock on the other.
I received some bad news a bit ago. My mom is in the hospital with pnuemonia. My dad didn’t know what else was wrong but will call again when he knows more. My mom’s mental health as declined considerably just since Thanksgiving. She fell this morning and he called the ambulance but until he talks with the doctors, he won’t know what else is going on.
I wished I lived closer - and to think I might have a cold. I’m still unsure if it’s a cold or sinus problems, but I hate to take the chance to see her if I do have a cold. What timing! I’m very upset right now because I’m so worried about both. My dad is 85 and he couldn’t pick up my mom this morning to help her. And she only weighs about 100 pounds having lost a lot of weight. He could use the help and she could use the company and I’m so far away.
if you believe in prayer, please pray for them both. I planned to write today but was going to fill in on yesterday and today’s events which now seem pointless.
I’d like to share another photo - 
Thank you Jewel; she used our Rose Seeded Lace Pillow and appliqued the Spring Bride Crinoline Girl Doily to the face. It turned out so cute!
I worked last night on the new pillow and have one side almost completed . It’s simple as can be but what I plan is to embellish this pillow on both sides. One side will be for Valentines and the other for St. Paddy’s. If you prefer one or the other, that would work just fine too. I just hope what I envision works out. The ruffle will be worked into a sc base that joins the front to the back. Then working one ruffle in the front loop to match the Valentine side and the other ruffle in the back lp of the sc base for the St. Patrick’s Day side.
Today I’ve been puny again. Just not up to myself and ended up postponing my orthodontist appt for Thursday morning instead. As the day progresses I am feeling better and plan to watch a little Food Network - I love the afternoon shows while I crochet on the vintage doily which I started over earlier this morning, in pink thread - Cebelia. So far I love the results.
In talking with my best friend and tester, Vicki, on the phone yesterday afternoon we felt this vintage doily would work best in pink- hence the reason I’m reworking it. I realized I’m quickly closing in on deadlines. If only I could get out of this slump I’m in. I love designing but admit, the deadlines are playing havoc with my sense of peace and need for rest.
Tonight we’re having leftovers! I have some leftover turkey from our post-Thanksgiving meal and I plan to make turkey almondine (sp). It’s so good! And I still have fresh cranberries (not so fresh but frozen) I’ll cook up to go with it and have the fruit, nut and rice casserole from a couple of nights ago.
If I could just embrace time rather than fight with it, I think I’ll have conquered some real “time” issues! I guess getting up later than I planned for a Monday is not a good start. I have however commited myself to spending time with Wii fit to get back in shape. I spent an hour on it today and that put me in a pinch for time. Monday’s I clean and I’m off to a very slow/late start. The first Monday of the month means extra detailed cleaning that I don’t do the rest of the month - I’m glad I did a lot of cleaning on Saturday while putting away Christmas decorations! LOL
I have to share a couple of wonderful photos submitted; I’ve been slack in that dept. Here’s the first:
Jewel writes: “The cushion is your seeded lace pillow. I have added the flower fairy to it and wanted to share. I am really enjoying making these cushions and adding doilies to them. I used fabric fusion to add the thread work to the yarn work and am pleased with the results.”
And another!
Kristen writes: “I purchased your Pineapple Cascade Angel pattern last month, and I wanted to share with you how much I enjoyed stitching it! My family loves it. I will definitely treasure this angel. Thanks for writing such a great, easy to follow pattern.”
If I should get finished early enough today with housework, I hope to work on the vintage doily. If not, it’ll be my evening indulgence. I’m anxious to start another doily design simply because I love doilies. Add texture, special stitches, vibrant colors and it takes on a life of its own. But first, I must commit and finish designs I’ve already started and planned for the January 15th newsletter.
After having the pork last night - a keeper recipe - I’m going to use the leftovers and make barbecued pork sandwiches tonight with coleslaw. Don’t you just love coleslaw mix? Sometimes I add just a tiny bit of minced onion to bring out the flavors and then make up a dressing by eyeballing things. It probably never tastes the exact same twice but as long as it tastes good, I don’t care!
Just before taking down all the Christmas decorations, I managed to write down the instructions for the newest Christmas stocking that will be available next year. If I don’t take the time to write down instructions for those designs I work up first, I tend to forget how I designed the item! Before the pattern is made available however, it’ll be tested to ensure accuracy.
On the same day, I believe this was Friday, New Year’s Day, I also took time to write up the instructions for the miniature crinoline; Miss Love. I still however, need to work in the ends and get her blocked.
I love to crochet but have to admit, if the project I’m designing has lots of little pieces and ends, I tend to get lazy and then procrastinate. Before I know it, I find myself pushed against impending deadlines. More procrastination leads to more stress - a never ending vicious cycle that’s so hard to pull myself out of. I seem to be doing this now with Miss Love. I still need to work up the flower and leaves for her basket and that’s where I’m at a stand still. The process is easy enough; it’s just doing it! Maybe one of my New Year resolutions should be; “just do it!” And you always feel so good once you’ve done a chore you’ve put off!
Today I hope to not only finish Miss Love and get her blocked, but start working once again on a vintage doily I’m revising. It’s a cute design and I can’t wait to see the finished doily - it’s just doing it! Sound familiar? LOL
In my attempt this year to save some money for vacation - and I so need a vacation, I plan to cook more meals at home. I do fine for a period but find that something happens like a bump in the road and I stall out. Or I plan to fix a meal and find that for some reason it’s like Miss Love - there’s some aspect of the meal preparation I don’t care for so I decide we’ll eat fast food and have this meal “tomorrow night.” Only when tomorrow night comes, I’m still in a holding pattern and the only way to break it is fix a different, easier meal.
For New Year’s Day we fixed Bison. I never had bison before - ever! I came across a wonderful looking prime rib roast in one of my old Cooking Light magazines. Once I got out my beef from the freezer, I noticed it was bison. We prepared it according to the recipe in the magazine and it turned out nicely but it’s not a keeper. I found the bison a little tougher than beef but I’m not sure if it was my cooking, the recipe, or if bison really is tougher than beef. I’m sure some people from the northern part of the US are laughing at me. LOL Maybe you can set me straight? Is it tougher?
Tonight I plan on having a pork roast, Apricot Glazed Pork Roast - again, using another issue of one of my old Cooking Light magazines. It’s a simple recipe (YES!), but what I liked about it is it provides other recipes using the leftover pork. How wonderful is that! I probably will only have enough for one other recipe since we cut our pork in half - for just the two of us. I think a rice dish would work nicely with this roast and decided on an old recipe I got from a friend/neighbor while we were stationed in Fallon, Nevada. It’s called Fruit, Nut, and Rice Casserole. I have no idea where she got the recipe. Broccoli will go well with the meal, plus I have broccoli in the fridge. Because it’s Sunday, I’ll finish off the meal with corn muffins - and I like to freeze the remaining muffins for other meals!
Christmas Village
Be it the kid in us (hubby and I), but we have gotten into the Christmas village pieces and have collected a few recently. This year we decided to put our village pieces and train set under the Christmas tree. You can’t see much with this picture but it gives you an idea of how it looks. Because we no longer exchange gifts, this sure dresses the tree!
Allie May
Merry Christmas!