Count Down Begins!

No, not Christmas... not yet.  A big craft show that I signed up a year ago to participate in and am frankly frightened that it is only eleven days away.  This is one of those shows that draws hundreds or thousands of people.  Some years they buy.  Some years they look.  I was doing so well the first half of the year creating items to sell.  Then summer hit with vacation and I must have fallen asleep along the way.  Now it feels like no matter how hard I work, I won't have enough product to sell or variety or the stuff people want to buy.  And it feels like an investment in this show of $75 for this table.  I need to at least sell that and a bit more to make sitting for a day worth while. 

And my nephew Kyle told me that we are all experiencing "hurricane brain".  Since losing a week or more of power and adding to that shock and depression for all the losses so many people suffered in our state and neighboring New York.  Lives, homes, cars, all of it and an extensive amount of recovery needed to rebuild.  Knowing it will never be the same again. 

Back to the show... both of my sisters have tables too.  Ruth is by far probably the most prepared for this.  Janet works too much overtime to feel prepared for it.  And I am in the middle.   Always seem to be (I am the middle child after all). 

I have done a handful of shows over the years.  I don't feel like I know what I am doing yet.  Any advice?  I would love to hear some!


Oh, and in eleven days I will begin the next countdown to Christmas!!!


Peace to you and yours,

Carol

Hurricane Sandy

Well, after 8 days without, our electricity came back on last night.  We had no lights and no heat, but our gas hot water heater provided us with lovely hot showers and water to wash in.  And I was able to cook on our gas stovetop. So, all in all, it was not a terrible experience for us.  Our home was not damaged, unlike so many others during the storm. So much of the Jersey shore and Long Island are so horribly devastated.  School here was closed for an entire week. My nieces' schools on Long Island will not open until next week because the damage was so severe.

Thankfully, my family was all together and safe and happy, just a bit cold at times.  I actually enjoyed the peaceful silence of a house without a furnace running and without TV! And the stars at night!  Wow! Other than when we are camping in the woods, we never get to experience true darkness.  How bright the moon and stars appeared!

Now New Jersey is being hit with a snow storm.  It is night time now and I can't wait to see the yard in the morning light.  All family members are off the road, safely home or at school.  I pray for those who must still travel tonight because the roads are bad.  And I pray for the many thousands who still have no electricity or means to keep warm.

Here's hoping you are safe and warm,

Cynthia

The "frankenstorm"

Cynthia and I are both without power in New Jersey.  I feel lucky compared to some parts of this state.  Our shore line took extensive damage.  This storm affected some communities horribly and others it barely touched.  My daughter Jocelyn is in New York City without power on the eleventh floor.  My daughter Emily is in Boston and her apartment roof began leaking tremendously coming in through their lights. I thought she would suffer the least!

 Trees and power lines are down all over.  I am operating from my husband's wireless until my computer battery dies. 

I hope all of you affected by hurricane Sandy are fairing well and getting through the clean up.  My prayers go out for healing of community and lives post Sandy. 

Be well.

Peace,
Carol

Finish it Friday!!!

Hello.  My name is mitten.  I am lovely and gray and I was made for a beautiful young lady named Eva.  But I have not been able to warm Eva's graceful hands because somebody lost me and never sewed my loose ends in. 

Hi.  My name is blanket.  I have many lovely colors and have had my picture taken for this blog many times.  I am a gift intended for a delightful young man named Daniel.  Sadly, I still need a few more rows before my maker is finished with me.  And I need all those ends sewn in.  I hope to keep my young man warm someday soon.

Hey there!  I am a blanket, purples and greens.  In a cold dark basement waiting for the other half of me to be finished for that new living room sofa, that is no longer a new sofa, for when Jocelyn and Emily watch TV and need extra warmth.  Oh why have I been forgotten?

Goo Goo Gaa Gaa.  I am a baby dress.  I can't adorn that sweet baby girl Olivia until someone adds my sleeves!

Well, hello!  I bet I am close to being done.  I am an exciting multicolored pillow.  I am ready to go to college with Olivia!  Finish me!  Finish me!!

Look at me!  Look at me!  I am a sweater for Emily.  I was finished.  And then determined to be too big so I need some of me to be pulled out and re-fitted.  I am in a dark box with my pattern waiting for discovery and those diet taking steps that will make Emily chic.

Move over all you crocheted projects.  I am a painting.  The one that started this whole creativity blog thing and I am not done either!  Look back to the first beginning posts and you will find me.  Unfinished.  Seems it is what we all have in common.  We shouldn't knock these two ladies too much.  They have finished many projects as well.  But come on now, 

                                    FINISH ME TOO!!!


With love from,
      All of your U.F.O.s

Baby items are so much fun to make!

I have finished two of the gifts I need to make. I third is in progress (I will photograph later).
The first is the sweater I made for one-year-old David.

The second is a shower gift for a friend having a baby girl.  This is the first baby dress I have ever made.  I am so happy with the result!

 Makes a full circle!

So two gifts down, four to go.  Then I must start thinking about Christmas gifts!!!

Peace,
Carol

One more thing...

I am loving all the inspiring baby items people are posting on our "baby love" link party!

Addiction

I am learning just how addictive Pinterest is and I am hooked!  I sit down to see what has found it's way from and to me and hours later I am still marveling at the crochet talent out there.  It all started when Cynthia and I were wondering if anybody ever looked at this blog (or rather retired TwoLuLa with the broken friends gadget) and she noticed that googling us, a photo of my crayon blanket had been "pinned" on Pinterest.  What?  What is this Pinterest? Where did that photo go?  Then Cynthia said she became a member on Pinterest and I was more intrigued.  So last week, I logged into Pinterest. Now I find that people around the globe are following me.  How awesome is that?  Now if they would visit TwoLuLa2.blogspot.com I think Cynthia and I would be on cloud nine.

Peace,
Carol

PS.  Cynthia, on your last post about unfinished projects, I did not mean to make you feel bad and for that I am sorry (unless it urges you to finish Daniel's blanket).  I know how easy it is to drop something and start something new then forget about the dropped something.  I have an afghan for myself half finished in my basement and more that I have long since forgotten about.  The one thing I adore about you is your excitement to try new crochet projects.  As long as something gets finished along the way - and you have done this in with a tea cosy, mug cosy, wool-eater table topper, several baby blankets, and more - so forgive my careless comment that made you feel bad.  Just enjoy the power of the hook and create.  After all, this is why we started this blog - to encourage our creativity!