Halloween and knitting

I just love Halloween. Not to be scared, not for blood and gore, but for all of the lovely warm colors. Leaves, jack-o-lanterns, children's costumes and of course, candy corn. This year I have been treated or rather tricked by mother nature who decided to costume New England in white. Not a ghost costume mind you, but a blanket of snow two feet deep. Enough to plow! Enough to shovel, and enough to take down trees and power lines for hundreds of thousands. We in the Berkshires were spared much of the damage. Most of our leaves had fallen and so our friends and family less than 20 miles away are in the dark and it's cold. Tried to drive to family today only to be detoured and turned back at every possible access. I finally returned home and will try again tomorrow. In the meantime I knit. My fun project this Halloween season is a little tiny witch's hat. Knitted and felted and then embellished with needle felting, this little hat sits perkily on the top of a wine bottle. I have the pattern here to share. I hope you will enjoy making and gifting them as much as I did.

Witch’s Hat
Wine bottle topper

Materials: Black 100% wool. (not superwash).
Size 10 DPN’s
One stitch marker
Crochet hook or yarn needle for weaving in ends
Needle felting foam and needle,
Scraps of needle felting wool in your choice of colors
This little witch’s hat wine bottle topper is fast and easy to make. Once felted you can add little embellishments with needle felting scraps, beads or embroidery. Wonderful for a hostess gift of wine or for a bazaar craft table to make a couple of $. Please let people know that terryg shared this with you. Thanks. Happy Haunting.
CO 4 stitches.
I-cord one row,
I-cord next row and increase as follows: K1, kfb, across (6 stitches)
I-cord one more row.
Begin to I cord next row and place stitches onto total of 3 dpns. (2 stitches per needle).
Now you will work in rounds.
K two rounds

Next round: K1, kfb around for 9 stitches
K two rounds

K2, kfb around, (12 stitches)
K five rounds

K3 Kfb around (15 sts)
K two rounds

K4, Kfb around ( 18 sts)
K one round

K5, Kfb around (21 sts)
K one round

K3, Kfb around to last stitch, K1, (26 sts)
K one round

K4, Kfb around to last stitch, K1 (30 sts)
K one round, Purl one round, K one round, Bind off in Purl.

Weave in ends, felt and embellish as you wish. I needle felted the band and bow.

climate change

Now I truly cannot understand folks declaring that climate change does not exist. Here we are, in the beginning of June and we have seen tornadoes pretty much all over the place. Missouri, Alabama, even Massachusetts. Record heat even here in New England and last night there were thunderstorms most of the night.
Perhaps climate change means more than one thing. The climate, as in our weather, is just one type of change. Climate in the middle east. Demands for change just another climate "of" change. Hm. Politics in the US have become obstructionist in a time when cooperation is vital. We have a president of incredible humanity and intelligence and the "opposition" obstructs even as their own supporters object to their actions.
I feel ashamed of these politicians who waste our time and treasure because they can't get past the "differences". Their veiled racism shame all of us. Get over your idiocy and get back to work.
All people want their social security. All people want medicare. You have pandered to the rich for long enough. Do the right thing for a change. Even many of the "rich" tell you that they would gladly pay their fair share and still you won't listen.
We need to stop wasting our time on the Sarah Palin's, Michelle Bachman's and Mark Sanfords of the world. Ms. Palin shouldn't be president as she actually QUIT her job as governor. She needs to be ignored and not followed. She's only in it for the money, the money, the money. She is making the press her dupes.
Americans of every political party used to take care of one another. Now some would hold hostage the funds for victims of floods and tornadoes to get what they want. What is that about? What has happened to our humanity?
You who would care more for oil company tax breaks than the health and welfare of your constituents are embarrassments. Your mothers would be ashamed of you.
I confess, I escape in my beads and yarns and try to work with good thoughts and prayers that would turn the hearts and minds of these narrow minded people. As I sit here and watch the evidence of climate change of all kinds I look for hope.

I must say

It is difficult to decide just what to do next in the spring. I want to sit in the natural light and bead my fingers off. But then a little spring cleaning is most likely in order. Winter was a very long season here in the Berkshire Hills. I am grateful for the lovely day we have had even though the little black flies have emerged and are seeking our skin, so tender from being covered safely all winter.
I have discovered that I am quite addicted to French/Victorian Beaded Flowers. After making the bouquets for my daughter's wedding I have continued the craft and feel that I am improving the skill. My flowers are becoming more professional looking. Less loose spots. Using the correct wire and good quality beads seems to be a key to this little seen art form.
A niece-in-law is looking for some stems to add to her "real" flower bouquet for an August wedding. Tea roses and stephanotis were the order. I researched and even purchased a pattern or two for the stephanotis and then ended up working it out myself in a more palatable way for myself.
Beaded flowers are definitely a "practice makes perfect" thing. I use some patterns but then have found ways to work more comfortably as I go along. This is not a craft for someone who keeps a perfect manicure. Your hands take quite a beating sometimes. The process as well as the finished product is wonderfully satisfying. I will add photos here for people to see. Until then you will just have to take my word for it.

this is the little camera

Polaroid CZA-05300B PoGo Instant Digital Camera

Post Wedding Sunshine and Raindrops

Polaroid CZA-10011B PoGo Instant Mobile Printer (Black)Polaroid Zink media 80 Pack Photo Paper for Polaroid Pogo Cameras and Printers It was all over in a flash, just as I suspected. The wedding day dawned with a lovely sunrise which I viewed on my way to my daughter's apartment for pre-wedding primping. Hair and make-up and maybe a taste of champagne. After rain early in the week, our weather improved every day until our New England first Saturday of Spring brought 70 degrees and sunshine. Someone was smiling down on this little wedding. (thank you Dad). Everything went without a hitch or with a hitch, so to speak. The bride was radiant, (of course) and kept grounded by her maid of honor sister who was the rock for all of us.
Much of this wedding was hand-made, from the dress to the bouquets, to the invitations, place mats/name tags, favors and on and on and on.
As guests arrived at the reception location they found a table spread with Scrapbooking supplies and photos. All sorts of doo-da's for the guest to share thoughts of the bride and groom. I wondered about this; if people would take part in the  exercise and was wonderfully surprised. Everyone seemed to get into the act. What an incredible scrap book they contributed to with thoughts and designs, artwork and photo's.
We had picked up this wonderful little Poloraid Camera on Amazon for a Christmas gift. This little gem takes digital photos that can be stored on an SD card in the camera. And, that was not all. There is this wonderful magic paper cartridge that prints 2" x 3" photos with a sticker backing! The bride had printed out the simple directions and left everything on the table and it was amazing. Everyone  had a wonderful time with this little camera. The bride's aunt was so taken with it, we were afraid she would take it  home with her. The little photo stickers are all over the scrapbook pages and the memory card saved every photo that had been taken. Instead of signing a guest book, the guests left behind a wonderful journal of the very perfect wedding day.

weddings and beads

Here we are about 10 days to wedding! My daughter will be married on the 20th and it has been a wild ride for one and all. A roller coaster of emotions and details. Showers! Hair "do's". Dresses, shoes, music, flowers and on and on and on. But overall a lot of fun. I really enjoyed making bouquets for my daughters to carry. One for the bride and one for the maid. Bead knitted purses were started just after Christmas and one is here for you all to see. I am grateful everyday for the bead crafts I have been able to enjoy and I am so happy that these keepsakes will be part of memories to be made for a long time to come.

lose ends

   The loss of a parent is a deeply personal, yet strangely communal event. Dad passed on August 2nd early in the morning, before the sun rose. My sister, husband and I had the honor of witnessing his journey and I will never forget this unique and graceful experience. Many of the things our society believes about death have finally been put to rest. I will look at the end of life very differently from now on. Less fear and more peace.

Indulge me for a moment if you will. My father was a wonderful, kind man. He had a ready smile and loved his family without reservation. Dad worked hard all his life; played hard and loved greatly.  My mother was the great love of his life and he cared for her and cherished her in a gentle and warm way. His only regret was having to leave her behind. I know that he will watch over all of us and especially Mom. 

Grief is a selfish thing for all of us. We will miss Dad every day and struggle to hold on to the knowledge that he has no more pain. A better place they call it. I hope this is so for he deserved it more than many people I know. I am missing him all the time and have not quite gotten over the fact that I can't pick up the phone and call him or take the dog for a visit. I get weepy more times than I would care to admit and find that my mind wanders often.

I have spent a lot of time with my knitting and stick to simple projects as I find that I have been more easily frustrated. 

Dad got in the right line up there as the afternoon of the day he left us, the sun came out and after many days of rain, we were graced with more than a week of lovely summer weather. Thanks Dad....now about those lottery numbers....

I miss you Dad. Love Missy