Everything is fine, just fine

I sent my mom a card right after I moved to St. Louis (that was nearly a decade ago). I had had a bad day and had called my mother in tears, sobbing uncontrollably and needed to re-assure here that i was indeed fine, she was a worrier. I was 23. The card had a little girl on it. All it said was "I'm fine, just fine, really, I'm fine".
For the years after that, anytime one of us would break down into tears on the phone, we would end with that statement. That way we knew that we were going to be fine, that we were just having a rough time for now.
She even said it to me a couple weeks before she passed away.She said that to me the last time this week, last year. I thought I would keep hearing it for the reast of my life, at least for a long time. I never imagined that would be the last time she said it. We laughed then and said I love you and said Goodbye. I only talked to her a few times after that, as her health declined and she never said it again. February 24th will mark the one year anniversary of her death and I often find myself thinking I'm fine, just fine.

Look at me, I can follow directions!!!

I got this design from here:http://whipup.net/2007/09/18/cigarette-case-needle-holder/ Thank You!!!!!

Since I haven't smoked for a long long time, and this was a gift from my very best friend, I figured I would do something useful with it. It turned out to be exactly what I wanted:) Enjoy! Since Chicago is now non-smoking everywhere, maybe more people should jump on the craft bandwagon!!!

Sewing for Charity....

Hello, I'm trying to start donating clothes to a charity that sends them to third world countries (I have to get the exact name of it. I'm doing this along with a lady from my church who has been doing it for years:). They sew dresses and book bags and pants and that sort of thing. I don't have a lot of money to spend on fabric, so I'm trying to find someone with a large stash or knowledge of places that will donate. I'm willing to pick up anywhere in Chicago or the surrounding areas! Thanks everyone:) I'll post pics once I get my first article done. I should get the patterns later this week. I can't wait!!!!

my first wallet

This is my very first hand made wallet. it turned out pretty well, but the zipper is funky, thestitching around it at least. It was also my first zipper, so I'm OK with that:) I got a sewing machine for Christmas. I love it. I have so many projects planned in my mind right now!

I totally forgot to mention that I got the pattern off craftster. Here's the link and thank you babyangel!!!!:

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=212483.0

Pink and green?????

I made this for my mother in law last night. I was telling her about Michael's Monster and she decided I should make a Christmas Tree ornament. Then she started talking about how cute it would be to have monsters take over the Christmas tree. So here you have it:) She's in love with the pinks and greens of this Christmas. I know the green is off, but it's as close as I could find:( He's got a snowflake on his belly:)

My hand is killing me today (from all the hand stitching) but I think it will be worth it!

For those of you who are paying attention (which I'm sure most of you are), Christmas Eve marks 10 months since Mom died. It's also a very big marker for me personally. Christmas eve marks a year since I saw my Mom alive. When I left the hospital in Columbus, I had no clue if I would ever see her or talk to her again. She had taken a big turn for the worse, and the doctors didn't know. Well, I ended up talking to her numerous times after that (Thank you God!!!), and she did get better after that, but then she got worse and passed away on February 24th 2007. I remember sitting in the airport, needing to get home after being gone for two weeks (sitting in the ICU with my Mom in sedation next to me, and in my Mom and Dad's living room with my Father in a completely different type of Sedation) and wondering if I would ever see her again. I didn't for the life of me know the answer. I miss her more than words could ever possibly express.

Christmas Present Crafts

These are some monsters and a gnome I made for Christmas presents. I like the Blue one with the star the best! He's for Michael, and I love him!!!He was so much fun to make!

My lovely scarf!

I finished my scarf!!!!Just in time for the first snow:) I'm so excited to be able to show it off. I finally learned to use stitch holders at the end of the turning chain, so it looks much nicer than the first one I tried and unraveled. I will be making one for Michael and Geoff (if he wants one). This weekend my Mother in Law will be teaching me to make hats, so I'll have a hat to match! Pray for a safe trip for us, it will be a snowy slushy mess by the time we get out of here, so we'll need it!

Turkey Day

Thursday is turkey day. I can't wait for all the food and family! I'm taking my crochet and knitting stuff down to St. Louis so my MIL can help me learn to crochet on the round and maybe help me knit that way too!. I want to make a hat, and since she makes hat for babies in the hospital, she will be able to help me with this.
When I see Christina in December, she'll be able to help me too! What I really need is for all my Sisters to live with me so I can use all of their talents!!! Christina for her sewing and crochet, Theresa for her scrap booking, Alison for her willingness to try anything and to help other people. I also need my Mother in Law here, she knows how to do EVERYTHING!!!
I'm almost finished with my crochet scarf, It looks pretty good. I learned I need to use a stitch marker when turning rows. That way I end up with a straight line instead of a trapezoid looking thing!I'll take pics when I finish, probably won't be until after the little Holiday we're taking though. I won't have access to a computer while in St. Louis, but I'll take lots of pictures of the action:)
I'm using the ProvoCraft Ergonomic handles Crochet hook set and it works wonderfully! When I used the regular hooks, my hands got very stiff and swollen very quickly. With these hooks, that doesn't happen as quickly, so if anyone is thinking about them, get them. Most craft stores have them now and you can get a 50% off coupon and then they're only about 10 bucks, and totally worth it. I just wish they made other hook sizes for them.....Here's the link: http://www.provocraft.com/products/detail.php?cl=knifty%20knitter&scl=needlecrafts&cat=&item=21-0246

Sick again, knitting again, travelling again

So, Michael is sick, again. It seems he's been sick for the past three months and I might just go crazy because of it. My normally independent little boy turns into a clingy, emotional(well he IS two) little boy whenever he runs a fever or gets a boo boo. These boo boos are bad. He's got blisters in his mouth and on his hands and on his feet. It's called hand, foot and mouth disease. No, it's not the same as hoof and mouth disease (mad cow). It's highly contagious and he probably got it from swimming lessons, so we've been pretty much quarantined this week. I've run a few errands, but haven't had contact with other people all week long (I did go to scrap booking on Tuesday, so I guess that's something). More importantly is that he hasn't eaten all week. I suppose if I had jelly bean sized blisters on my tongue, I wouldn't have much of a desire to eat either! Things are looking up though, yesterday he ate five bananas, a couple of cheese sticks, two bowls of applesauce and some Mac and Cheese. That's the most he's eaten since Saturday. So keep praying, hopefully we won't be going to the doctor again anytime soon:)

I knitted another washcloth. This one turned out very well. It's just a red washcloth with a Christmas Stocking Pattern, but it's very nice. I might keep this one for myself:) I also got the Stitch n Bitch book from the Library, I think I'm putting it on my Christmas List. I can't wait till I get better, I don't think I'll get faster, but I will get better! The picture doesn't show the stocking very well, but I'm sure you can see it a little:)

For those of you who are wondering, I will be doing Thanksgiving in St. Louis this year. Most of the the family will be there (Minus two SILs and one BIL, who will be missed). It will be an eating, gabbing, love extravaganza. I'm very excited about it. Once again, I am so very blessed to have a set of in laws that I actually get excited to see! I think everyone should try it.

I cut my hair again, soooooooooooo short. It's so much easier and I don't think I will ever go back. I don't like my long hair, I have to do to much to it. So I took that ten inches and shipped it off to some organization to make a wig out of it. Now I've got about an inch of hair all over my head. Everyone should try this once too!