Fun with Giggles Yarn

Debi at DIy's Hooks and Yarns sent me a skein of Giggles Yarn by Sullivan.  Well, actually not an entire skein.  You see the Giggly fun  started with Pat at Hooks and Books.  Pat had the fun idea of knitting a 6 in by 6 in dishcloth with the Giggles.  Then she had a drawing and sent the remaining yarn to Debi.  Debi, in turn, crocheted her own dishcloth and had a drawing to pass the yarn to another blogger. The winner of that drawing was. . . . . . . . me!

So now its my turn.  I have decided to practice my knitting.  

My friend Liz helped me to remember how to cast on stitches. But I'm afraid I was a bit careless with how many stitches I cast on.  My 6 inch wide dishcloth is now about 7 1/2 inches wide.  I could rip it out and begin again.  Or I could make a rectangular dishcloth thats about 71/2 by 5.  What to do. . . . . . what to do. . . . . . .

For those that know me, the answer is pretty clear - rrrrippppppp! It will bother me to no end  that I messed up the size. But I will giggle as I rip - promise!  And  I do want to try and have enough Giggles left to pass on to someone else. I'll have my own drawing when my dishcloth is done.

 Would you like to get in on the giggly fun?  Just post a comment and let me know.

I'll show my completed dishcloth when its done.  These photos were taken at dusk so I don't think the colors are quite as bright as they truly are.

Flea Market Treasures

Carol and I love to go to the flea market and hunt for treasures.  This is one of my finds from yesterday.  I found it folded up on a table, fell in love with the colors and pattern and  bought it for $6.  I can't help but imagine the hours of work and love that went into this.  The yarn is fairly fine and the stitches are small. Someone must have been so very proud of this.  Who did they make it for?  How did it come to be on a dirty flea market table selling for $6?

 The are a few spots of damage like the one above. I am hoping I can fix them.

Happy treasure hunting to all!

Cynthia

Easter Crafts

This Bavarian crochet Easter basket has become a snuggly home for two yummy chocolate easter bunnies. I don't know how long they can continue to safely hide out!  The basket was really quite easy to make, especially after using an almost identical stitch on my Wool-Eater blanket these past weeks.

 

Looks like one bunny is bravely venturing out. Though her sister is still quite unsure.

I  collect milk glass. Dear Mother   Hen here is one of my favorite pieces.

Oh dear, where are the bunnies? Hopped their way to safety, or someone's delicious treat?

Looks like Mother  Hen is worried too.

I also have a collection of pottery from Portugal in greens, pinks and yellow.  I love to take them out in the spring, especially for Easter morning.

Any sign of them yet Mother Hen? 

Easter blessings to all,
Cynthia

Granny's Progress

I have completed a few more squares for my granny blanket and trimmed each of the completed squares in a round of black.  After deciding on the general color palette (see  Inspirations) and buying lots of yarn (on sale, on sale) I had wanted to be completely random in choosing what colors to combine for each square.  Just reach into the yarn basket and use whatever I grabbed first! Well, my engineering/mathematical side is having a little trouble with this plan.  I do thoroughly enjoy playing with color and seeing how various combinations turn out. But sometimes its a bit hard to just let go and be completely random!

Easter Sunday

He is Risen!

Wishing all a joyous Easter!

Cynthia

Holy Week

O Sacred Head, Now Wounded


O sacred head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down,
Now scornfully surrounded with thorns, thine only crown;
O sacred Head, what glory, what bliss till now was thine!
Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call thee mine.


How pale thou art with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn;
How does thy face now languish, which once was bright as morn!
Thy grief and bitter passion were all for sinners' gain;
Mine, mine was the transgression, but thine the deadly pain.


What language shall I borrow to thank thee dearest friend,
for this thy dying sorrow, thy pity without end?
Oh, make me thine forever, and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to thee.


Lord, be my consolation; shield me when I must die;
Remind me of thy passion when my last hour draws nigh.
These eyes, new faith receiving, from thee shall never move;
For all who die believing die safely in thy love.


Text: Paul Gerhardt, 1607-1676, based on Arnulf of Louvain




We are preparing for the joyous celebration of Easter.  Over the years I have come to realize that the joy of Easter morning is so much more pronounced and meaningful after the somber journey through Holy Week. Last night Carol and I and our families attended a very somber, moving Good Friday service at our church.  The service reflects on the words of Jesus as he died on the cross.  O Sacred Head, Now Wounded is one of the several hymns we sing.  It speaks volumes to me and I wanted to share it with you.


Cynthia

Easter Basket - Work in Progress

I am hard at work trying to help out the Easter Bunny by making some crocheted Easter baskets for him (her?) to fill. This is my first basket.  It still needs to be blocked a bit, but I thought I'd show it as it is now.

After eating all the Easter goodies, I thought my girls could use the baskets in their rooms to store lotions,  jewelry, or whatever they wish.








 The pattern came from the book "Learn to do Bavarian Crochet" by Jenny King. The basket came together quite easily, especially since I have been using an almost identical stitch pattern for my Wool-Eater blanket.

It is such a beautiful day here!  With the door to my deck open I can feel the breeze blowing and hear the birds calling to each other. I am yearning to get out in the garden, but I am in the middle of some spring cleaning and furniture rearranging - you know, the kind of job which looks worse before it gets better. I am definitely in the "looking worse" stage!