Pouches, Potholders and Pincushions

Oh! I like the way that sounds. And, I like the way that these turned out. I think I'll make several more for my friends at work. I found the pattern here, courtesy of Heather Bailey. I really love her website, you should visit!

More on potholders and pouches very soon. Very soon. I promise.

Cheers!
~Lee

Remember when

I started these?




They're finally done! They're a lot of fun to make, but those zippers are a bugger. It should snow more often, I'm catching up!

It doesn't snow in Seattle!

This beautiful tree was once, much taller. We didn't hear a thing! And this is before the major, icky stuff that rumored to be rolling in tonight and tomorrow. Saoirse is convinced that Universe has sent this gift just for her; so that she'd feel at home. Shall I repeat to you my response to her?

Being snowed in does have it's advantages. I did finish this:



Can you see the dragonfly? Lest I give the impression that I just whipped this one out, let me tell you that I lost count (haha!)of how many times I frogged it to begin again. You'd think that at my age, counting never higher than 39 wouldn't be such a chore. I managed two of these, for Fran, who collects dragonflies. I bought the soap from this wonderful Etsy shop. Her package was beautifully wrapped, arrived quickly and the soap smells so heavenly that Fran will be lucky if it makes it into her stocking. She also included the most delicious samples. I hope you drop by and visit her shop.

If the snow continues, I should be able to show you two Zune pouches knit from the most beautiful, sensual, cotton yarn I've ever felt. These two, I have also frogged more than a dozen times, but I don't mind because it's such much fun to hold this yarn and feel the pouch takes form. There are also a dozen magnets which Saoirse put together from odds and ends of my supplies. She's mimicing the ATCs which I've shared with her and they are really adorable. Oh, and not to forget, I think the dreamcatcher project ran its course at about 20 or so.

We made fudge and we're baking tonight. The tree is decked out. You know, I've lived alone for awhile and I kept thinking that my grandsons might not be so thrilled with my tiny little tree. Unable to hold Christmas back until my budget was ready to spring for a "real" tree, we pulled out my special tree. I was thinking that it would look nice in a corner after the "real" tree appeared. From the looks of it, I think Cash isn't at all disappointed with our tiny sprite of a tree. And, it's a good thing because it doesn't look like we're going anywhere soon!



Merry Christmas to everyone - I hope you are all warm and safe. There is truly much to be grateful ~Lee

Good Journey, Bob

I have received news this morning that a wonderful man, someone I consider a role model has passed from us.

Bob Landman, of Indianapolis, owned Good Earth for as long as I can remember. And, Good Earth has been as much a part of my life as any church or organization in which I have participated. I started shopping at Good Earth when I was 20. Bob's little store has seen all of my children through their births and the scrapes and bruises of childhood. When I divorced, Bob was there in a quiet and friendly way. When I was broke, Bob made sure that my family had the necessities. Bob was able to dialoge about herbs, and though he had an opinion, he was always respectful of the conclusions drawn by others. I cannot recall a time when I spoke with him that he did not have a smile, or a kind glance. And, he was rarely without a joke, or an impromptu silly song.

I remember once, when Bob explained to me how he derived the proper retail price, he explained exactly how he put the concept of the "mark-up" into practice and I know it was quite different, and much less, than other retailers. I believe Bob was fair and honest with his employees, as evidenced by the fact that several of them have been with Bob since the very early days. I call Bob, and many of these employees, my friends, my community. Bob supported local midwives and their clients. And, over the years, my adult children have been nourished by not only the wholesome goods that Bob provided, but have also grown into this community of friends.

At a time when larger retailers have been popular, Bob remained a neighborhood shop. With integrity, creativity, some really hard work, and a whole lot of fun Bob succeeded in a difficult business. I will miss him. When I go back to visit Indy, Good Earth is always one of the first places that I stop, and I return to Seattle with bags full of little treats. But more, I carry the memory of this friend and all that he has given me.

Good Journey, Bob. We will all miss you.

What's up in the world!?!?!

Has the world passed through some cosmic energy field and found itself in some new and unfamiliar territory?

I have a friend at work, he is normally calm and rational. He is definitely not prone to flights of New Age babble as some might say that I may be. He sees a very practical world. He spoke with me the other day and explained that he woke up feeling great and had planned his day. Mid-morning he was overcome with such an intense feeling of sorrow that he scoured the Internet looking for news of some cataclysm. In the last few days, he's not the only person that's mentioned similar feelings.

Other friends at work today were pink slipped. Others seem confused and uncomfortable in their own skin. I personally am living through the most intense period of chaos that I have experienced in my life. And! This time, I cannot, no matter how hard I try, find some failing in my own behavior or judgment which accounts for the destruction and negativity outside around me and inside, filling me. I plan the many projects that I would like to create, for minutes I feel eager to begin, then, I stand, prepare and just feel an emptiness and wonder why in the world I am contemplating pincushions and little dollies in the first place.

I'll spare you my New Age babble but for a brief remark that there are those who say, the ones sent to help the planet in her Ascension will feel these things intently, as though there has been a separation from our homeland. I am told that extreme devotion and practice are required. Some days, I can only breathe - and that, just barely. I keep looking for the Light.

Whatever it is, I hope we find our way through it quickly.

Together Again

My sewing room is functional again! Yeah! You can see the corner of the little chair that I re-covered, and the chair in front of my sewing table. I'm still not so wild about all the pink...but I'm hoping it will help to change the energy a little bit. Maybe the world will take on a tinge of roses as the year draws to a close.



I celebrated by finishing up this little pincushion that I'd begun months ago.


It turned out a little bigger than I imagined it would be, and the stuffing could be a little tighter but, I plan to make several more of these for a craft fair at my school next weekend.

We also started on some little dreamcatchers to make as Christmas gifts.



This isn't the best one so far. Dreamcatchers are a fun, little project to make when I want to be in a dreamy mood. I can do the weaving and let my mind wander in almost a meditative state. We used vines growing in my yard - I really like that. I feel as though I'll be giving gifts that carry bits of my heart, and my home with them.

When I finally got my sewing room together I felt this bit of peace and some ease; I felt certain that I'd be looking forward to many nights working and creating. Moments after the room came together, I got notice that my landlord has, at the 11th hour, declined to sign the new agreement which we had so carefully crafted. Once again, I am in a state of not knowing what my future holds. Perhaps the dreamcatchers will work their magic.

I hope all of you are looking forward to a peaceful, fulfilling holy season.

~Lee

News

I keep avoiding this post. Somehow, it doesn't seem quite right to share this information here but it also seems quite right. Some of you read my blog, I think of you as friends. And even though this information is not about sewing, or crafting, spiritual AHA! or even librarianing - I feel like I want to share this event in my life as an explanation for my absence. And, just because I want to. So there.

In late August, I asked my landlord's permission for my daughter, and her two children to come and stay with me. Those posts about her arrival were some of my happiest writing. He agreed and for the two months following her arrival he and his wife visited with her, offered to provide childcare when she achieved full-time work and in every way, affirmed their approval for her living here. Despite all that, last Monday night, he served us with notice to vacate tenancy. The notice said that I had ten days to get my daughter "out" or to surrender the property.

Of course, my daughter and I have been in a state of panic. I don't know about your finances, but mine certainly don't include extra cash laying around to front a move. Especially in ten days! Besides, I like my house! After a storm of emails, my landlord actually said to me that he never had any intention of evicting anyone, and that he does approve of my daughter's living with me. He just thinks that if I pay an extra sum of money each month, "this won't be a big issue."

I feel extorted. I feel threatened. And, I am angry. For several days, my daughter and I went through the emotional journey of being homeless. And, it's still not quite over. Turns out, that our duplex is an illegal duplex, only zoned for a single family unit. During this time, our kitchen sink has been backed up and that turns out to be the result of inadequately installed plumbing. So, while we've been experiencing all this emotional turmoil, we've been bailing water and doing dishes in the bathtub. Then, to make matters worse, our toilet stopped working as well. After hours and hours of attempts, nothing has succeeded and to this day, I have been bailing water for 14 days now.


Of course, this added tension has done nothing to support and strengthen my relationship with my daughter who feels a grave responsibility - she thinks this is all her fault. None of it is her fault, the improper plumbing would have ultimately failed anyway and an in trouble landlord would have turned my direction at some point in time in order to ease his financial burdens. Nevertheless, she and I have been arguing an awful lot and then we have our moments of solidarity and peace which have usually been short-lived as yet another plumbing crisis or new bit of information has come to light.

There may be solutions, some of them very difficult, maybe a few less difficult, but none of them easy. Our City's Code Enforcement department is now involved (they were already investigating another matter) and I'm not really sure how things are going to go from here on out. If he's illegally rented me an apartment, I'm not sure how he can ask for any rent at all, much less any extra rent. At any rate, I'm exhausted and I for sure have not been thinking about pincushions, dottie dolls or even knitting. I hope you'll stick around for the few posts that I manage and I look forward to joining you again soon on a more regular basis. I do read all your blogs, even if I don't comment - that distraction has kept me calm and I do thank you.

~Lee