Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Sobering thought on texting while driving

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I happened upon this rather graphic video of how an accident can happen while a person uses their cellphone while driving. It only takes a few seconds for disaster to strike . This video was made as a public message in the UK, but honestly, it applies to anyone anywhere in the world.


Instead of just showing the accident, it continues on to show the EMT response. It is graphic, no holds barred and I think long overdue.

I know this is a sobering thought with Easter just around the corner but I feel it is an important message when I see so many people using their cellphones while driving despite the new laws that have been passed. Some think they are smart by leaving the cellphone on their lap while texting friends, coworkers and family. But after watching this video, people should think twice about even looking at their cellphone while driving. The thing should be turned off, that's what voicemail and email is for.

For more information, this is the site with the public service announcement.

Monday, March 22, 2010

Oops what a goof!

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Back in January, I had mentioned that I'd post pictures of a horse purse I'd made for my wee sil's birthday. Well, I forgot! but I do have the pictures. So here they are.


And here they all are. The horse does stand on her feet, it was just easier to set it atop a big candle so I could just turn her and take photos without having to rearrange the mane every time. The saddle is held closed with a silver cabochon button and opens on each side to reveal a hiding spot for special things. What six year old girly girl wouldn't want her very own horse!
I stuffed the inside cavity with tons of hair baubles and cute clips since she has very long hair. She'll likely use some on her new friend too.

Friday, March 19, 2010

Franklin from Chicago

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As one lady put it, get out your pushpins for the latest pinup boy of the yarn world!

Lucky him, looks like he got a big delivery of yarn. Send some my way please!


If you want to read more about Franklin, visit his blog, The Panopticon for his latest yarny adventures.

What do you listen to at 3 am?

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This is what I listen to at 3 am while crocheting on my pillow. For some of you, this will make no sense, for others, it will bring back memories of years gone by. For me, it brought me back to my time in college. Pink Floyd, Queen and David Bowie were it, well ok, Supertramp was in there, so was Slade, and can't forget Dire Straits with Mark Knopfler, the man would could make his guitar cry, scream, beg for mercy and please don't stop. But the song that cinched it for me was Comfortably Numb, actually make that the entire album The Wall by Pink Floyd transported me to nirvana.

Below is a rendition of Comfortably Numb with David Gilmour making his guitar plead, cry, scream and beg for him not to stop. Amazing finger work... oh and David wasn't so bad himself. Enjoy...

March News updates

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Well, well, well, I am the proud aunty of twin boys! On March 6th, my brother and his wife doubled their family LOL

The boys came a bit early, but still doing great. Olivier was born first and weighs in just a bit over 5 lbs and Alexi followed coming in at just under 5 lbs. Pretty gosh darn awesome for twins. I've been busy knitting up wee caps and sockies to keep those itty bitty toes warm. 

The caps are my own design which will be published on Ravelry soon. It is in the test knitting stage at the moment. Here is a sneak peek at the hat!

The socks are a simple pattern called Jelly Bean Baby Socks that I found on the Spud & Chloe blog. You can also connect via Ravelry for the pattern. I absolutely adore Susan Anderson's patterns. I've been lucky enough to get a couple of her books and they are amongst my most favorite. Always at hand by my side of the couch.

Also crocheted a few bibs to catch those burps and other unpleasant things that babies tend to do. Doesn't matter though, we still love them, burps and all. The bibs are my own design. With the birth of these wee ones, I was reminded of how frustrating it was to find proper bibs when my kids were newborns, so I designed a bib that suits what I wanted out of a bib and still have it look nice and easy to wash and dry. Socks and bib photos will come soon.

I don't have any photos of the boys yet, but as soon as I get some, I will gladly show them off :) Should be interesting to see which side of the gene pool dominated for these wee babies.

Sometimes it amazes me how you meet people through some rather interesting twists and turns in life. Almost 2 months ago, I was cruising around the various blogs I follow and noticed one mentioned that I hadn't been to yet. The name of the blog is what struck me most, such a cute little name... Pink Feather Paradise. I followed the link and first post I see is of Alex challenging herself to make granny blocks from a book she owns. One of the blocks, named Willow, that she made was incredibly gorgeous. She hadn't mentioned which book these were from so I left her a message asking :) And that was the beginning of a lovely communication between us. Turns out that she has an extra copy of the book 200 Crochet Blocks and she's quite willing to send it to me!!! After a few false starts, the book finally arrived yesterday. It wasn't alone in the envelope. Alex added a couple of balls of some of the yummiest feeling yarn I've felt in a while in pale blue! I'm guessing the book didn't want to be cold on it's long trip across the big pond. This book has joined my favorites pile by the couch. I've paged through it several times now and keep drooling over the gorgeous squares. Take a few minutes and drop by Alex's blog. It's worth the trip :)
 
Alex also challenged me to make one of the squares that she was having problems with. For anyone who has the book, it's the square on page 71 called Granny Stripes. I'm having the same problem as Alex. It's not square! Going to keep trying until I figure it out LOL In the meantime, those failed squares a la rectangle are going to become a seat cushion for the office kitchen chair. The one that's on there now is getting very thin and could do with an extra layer or two of colorful blocks.

In my stash now for at least 2 years have been sitting these 2 balls of brown heather yarn. Mary Maxims Best Value yarn. Every single project I have attempted to make with this yarn has failed miserably. The yarn is for the most part too limp, likes to split, but oh so soft. Today I came across a pattern for a round pillow that for some reason made me think of these 2 forlorn balls of yarn sitting at the bottom of the not so well loved tried and failed yarns tub. I hauled it out once more and set to following the pattern. It's working beautifully! The crochet stitches used in the pattern are making the yarn stay put and still feels incredibly soft! I've finally found something that can be done with this yarn LOL The book is Special Techniques & Stitches in crochet. The pattern is called Slip-ring Aran Pillow on page 10. It looks hard but it absolutely isn't! Just one more bonus to this book.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Sock Monkey Love!

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Looking for tutorials and happened on this Kia commercial. Love the sock Monkey!
Take a look :)

Monday, March 15, 2010

Reinventing your life or what to do when you retire

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I came across this video while checking news updates since we don't have tv reception.

I wish I could do what this lady is doing. I'm sure having a 6 figure salary helped a lot once she stopped working.

If the video doesn't work here, you can see it at this link: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/26411480#35776845

I'm already doing the knitting and/or crochet everywhere I go since it's the only way I will sit patiently while waiting to see a doctor (7 hours), for a bank teller (15 minutes), waiting to get blood work done (3 hours), in line at the grocery store, waiting at the pharmacy (20 minutes), sitting on a transit bus/train (up to 5 hours return trip), and anywhere else a person has to wait to get service, even while on hold! The only thing I haven't mastered yet is knitting while walking. I need to see the ground where I'm stepping and I have to wear magnifying glasses to see what I'm working on. Not a good mix LOL

I have a long way to go yet insofar as producing any kind of pattern or finished work that people would want to buy. I'm only getting my feet wet at this point and have a long road ahead of me.

Kudos to this lady for doing what she's done. If I accomplish even a quarter of what she's done, I'll be happy.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

I Believe...

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I Believe...
Just because two people argue,
it doesn't mean they don't love each other.
And just because they don't argue,
it doesn't mean they do love each other.


I Believe...
We don't have to change friends if
we understand that friends change.


I Believe..
No matter how good a friend is,
they're going to hurt you every once in a while and
you must forgive them for that.


I Believe...
True friendship continues to grow, even over
the longest distance..
The same goes for true love.


I Believe..
You can do something in an instant
that will give you heartache for life.


I Believe...
That it's taking me a long time
to become the person I want to be.


I Believe...
You should always leave loved ones with loving words.
It may be the last time you see them.


I Believe...
You can keep going long after you think you can't.


I Believe...
We are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.


I Believe...
Either you control your attitude or it controls you.


I Believe...
Money is a lousy way of keeping score.


I Believe...
My best friend and I, can do anything, or
nothing and have the best time.


I Believe...
Sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down,
will be the ones to help you
get back up.

I Believe...
Maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had
and what you've learned from them and
less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.


I Believe..
It isn't always enough, to be forgiven by others.
sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.


I Believe...
No matter how bad your heart is broken
the world doesn't stop for your grief.


I Believe...
Our background and circumstances may have
influenced who we are, but.
we are responsible for who we become.


I Believe...
Two people can look at the same
thing and see something totally different.


I Believe...
Your life can be changed in a matter of
hours by people who don't even know you.


I Believe...
Even when you think you have no more to give,
when a friend cries out to you -
you will find the strength to help.

I Believe...
Credentials on the wall do not make you a
decent human being.