Songs I love #4

This composition from Thomas Newman always makes me think and also leaves me a little sad, missing people I love. But it also helps me deal with those losses.

The first time I heard this music was in the movie Phenomenon with John Travolta. This score is part of a scene where he looks to the trees with the wind blowing through the branches and leaves. I've always loved the sound of wind in the trees and this song brings back this cherished memory from living in the countryside away from the hussle and bustle of the city streets.

Cheer up song #3

Whoever said you only like music from your own generation was full of crap!

Case in point, me. I love music, yes, I was a teenager during the Disco era, but that's not the only kind of music I enjoy listening to. Today, with youtube, people have taken the creative process of making music to a new level. Browsing through youtube, you find gems along the way.

Like the above track from a composer who will likely never be published except on YouTube. Digitalpiece has 9 creations on YouTube which are download-able. Bonus for us! Well worth looking up this artist or even adding him to your favorites since I'm sure he will be publishing more gems along the way.

This song isn't so much about cheering up but more about thinking through things and giving you hope for the future. At least this is how it makes me feel.

Enjoy!

Top down Raglan Sweater KAL

I joined the Spud and Chloe Top Down Raglan sweater KAL last week. This is how far I've gotten on the sweater for one of my nephews.

All I need to do now is add a moss stitch hem and then it's on to the arms!
I'm really enjoying the creative process for this sweater. Great first time sweater for someone who's always wanted to knit one but was afraid to.

I've also cast on for the Baby Professor vest (Ravelry link). I'm using some gorgeous mossy green yarn that was gifted by my daughter. It's a quick knit and I love how the moss stitch gives it a whole new texture. I'll definitely be casting on for #2 since I have tiny twin nephews to knit for! Progress photos to be added soon.

Favorite song #2

This is another one that I like to play when I need cheering up. It's a very cute song with a nice video attached.

An Award!?!? 0_o

Well gooolly!

I have received an award from Alex at Pinkfeatherparadise thank you ! I love her blog and crochet, shop finds,  adventures with her darling children, the ups and downs of being a Mom, wife and friend.

now I have to do 3 things...

1. Thank the award giver...... Done!
2. Tell you 7 interesting things about myself.... Ugh!
3. Give the award to 15 fellow blogger's..... Hmm.... let's see! 

7 count 'em 7 interesting things about me! Hrmm.. do they have to be interesting?

1. Ten years ago, I took a leap of faith and agreed to meet a man in person whom I'd met on the internet. I picked him up at the airport after a 6 hour flight on his end and a 7 hour drive on mine. We've never been apart since and he's the jewel in my world, the cream in my coffee, the cherry on my cheesecake... you get the drift :)
2. I seriously dislike ignorance in people. 
3. I refuse to let fibromyalgia run my life!
4. I'm my own worst critic.
5. I'm ambidextrous. I knit left-handed and crochet right-handed. Freak? Yes!
6. I always dreamt of becoming an artist, but life had other ideas, so I express my art through knitting and crochet designs.
7. I'm terrified of publishing my own patterns, see #4.... 
8. I'm a chocaholic. Only thing that stops me from gorging on it is diabetes LOL

Now to list those I deem worthy of this award :)

Attic24

Lucy always brings a smile to my lips anytime I drop by to catch up on the goings on in that lovely victorian home. I love her bold color choices, the projects she lovingly puts together to make her home a warm pleasant cozy place. It always feels like the door is open and you're welcome to walk in and sit for a while with a cup of tea by your side.

SmoothFox Original Crochet

Donna is an exceptional crochet square designer and crocheter. I love to test her new patterns and there's always something new and shared stories to read about.

Otterwise

Diana inspires me. She also has fibro and I gather courage from her posts. Her blog is about so many things, there's never any time to get bored over there. So go on over and visit for a bit with Diana :)

Samm

This lady doesn't have a blog. I wish she did. She is an amazing friend, a soulsister, someone I can talk with that accepts me as I am, warts and all. Someone I share so much with that I don't know what I did before we were thrown together by fate.

Karen

My darling daughter whom I adore. She is also my bestest baby girl, my friend and my daughter all rolled into one. I am always amazed at how much she manages considering the health issues she has to contend with to function every day. Yes, I am proud of her and if she had a blog, it would be at the top of my list to read every day.

Susan B. Anderson

I've always loved Susan's blog right from the first time I stumbled onto it. Her children are adorable, especially TC. She reminds me so much of my own daughter at that age. I love Susan's posts, a mix of home, events and knitting. She is a down to earth lady who knows how to balance life between being a designer, a Mom and a wife. 

Elizabeth Cat

This lady loves colour in all it's forms. I first learned of her blog when I discovered the African flower group on Flicker. It's always a breath of fresh air to drop by and read up on what she's been doing. She always inspires me when I'm running low on imagination.

Aussie Maria

I love her blog, she makes me laugh. I love reading about what goes on down under. I love the versatility she uses in creating lovely patterns and lately her gorgeous blanket for her daughter. 

Big Girl

As her profile says "Life has one beginning and one end; the rest is just a whole lot of middle. What are you doing with the middle?" And that's the part I love reading about.

Gemma Knits

I always enjoy Gemma's blog. So many things to read about, her life, crochet, knitting, adventures with the kids, niece and nephews.

Ceciphus

Ceci is one of these ladies who lets her imagination roam and then she creates the most amazing objects using her crochet and some floss. I absolutely love seeing what projects she's working on and also reading her version of the world around her. She expresses what  I think and has no qualms about it either :)

Ok, so I didn't hit 15. But the blogs and people I have named above are at the absolute top of my list of blogs to read (if they have one) each day. Congratulations to all of you. The award is well earned :)

Cheer up! Favorite song #1

When I'm looking for an instant cheer up, this is the song I turn to. The line drawings are so cute and always manage to put a smile on my face when I watch it. Hope you like it too!

Sweaters and squares and life oh my!

My niece sent me this clip she found on Vimeo. After listening to it, it reminded me that I am not alone, that I have someone who stands by me through thick and thin, through the good times and the bad, through sickness and health. That person is my darling husband. Despite his own health issues, he is there for me when I hurt too much that I can't even walk a simple block. 

Stand by Me from theRedPillRadio on Vimeo.

It also reminded me that I have a friend, a very special friend who also stands by me, who accepts me as I am. She is also by my side through thick and thin, giving me the support that I need. 

And all this reminds me that I cannot go through life thinking that I can do it alone, that I must be strong for others and forget about my pain. There are days that, yes, I can put my pain aside and be there for friends and family and then there are days that the pain is too much, that I try and bury it by keeping myself busy, but it comes through anyway. It feels like a beast with huge teeth gnawing at my nerves and muscles... and that's when I turn to knitting and crochet to keep me sane.

When the doctor told me that I have fibromyalgia, I didn't realise just how much it would hurt as it develops. I do hope it reaches a plateau sooner than later since it is already affecting what I can and cannot do. Between the fibro pain and the neuropathic pain I'd rather go with the neuropathic pain. This fibro pain is something that totally cuts my breath when it hits. I can feel it building and building when I try to keep going despite the fact that I'm hurting and then it just clamps down and I find myself unable to take another step and struggling for breath.

I've been volunteering as a test crocheter for a lovely designer, SmoothFox, and have enjoyed the process quite a bit. I've tested several squares and a beautiful blanket for her and look forward to testing more. I still have to take photos of the most recent test squares but I do have a photo of this lovely square that I completed a couple of weeks ago for her.

Neapolitan Ice Cream Square 12x12

As I keep testing other squares for her I will eventually have enough to assemble a lovely blanket of beautiful original squares.

I decided to participate in a sweater KAL with Spud & Chloe. I had never done a raglan type sweater before and I thought, why not join in, this way I get to learn how to do a raglan sweater and have immediate help and support if I run into a snag. So far it's going fantastically well. I love the top down construction of the sweater and the fact that it is seamless means no bulky side and underarm seams like other sweaters constructed separately. 

Raglan sweater so far

This one I am knitting for my 11 year old nephew. I decided to go with nice chunky stripes in navy blue and white. It's a great pattern and to have online support for questions and help is fantastic. You can see everyone's progress on Ravelry.

I have other projects that are almost done that I will post photos of in my next post.