I Have Hope

I was crocheting while I watched the DNC last night. I was anticipating The Speech. I wanted to hear what this man had to say. I was enthralled and moved to tears. I am so hopeful for our wonderful country. I don't want to debate or convince anyone. I am saying from my couch with crochet hook in hand, I wept. I wept because I felt hope for our nation and our troops. Everyone is entitled to support the party of their choice. That is one of the blessed freedoms we enjoy each and every day in the United States. I have made a choice, my choice. God bless The United States of America!

I am so patriotic right now that I pulled out my flag sweater to wear today!!!

New Project

I have been busy working with a new pattern. Of course I have to put my on spin on it! Here is the work in progress.

I should have it finished and in the shop this weekend. I am calling it my Go Green ~ In the Pink Tote. The different pieces worked up quickly so it may become a favorite pattern (if I can sell it!) I am still considering how to embellish it...I don't know if I like the sample shown with the pattern so I might get creative and do something else. Time will tell. I have crocheted it with 100% cotton yarn. I love working with cotton! I keep trying to pick up other yarns but I always go back to cotton. I love making the cotton sponges and dishcloths. I have about a dozen or so finished and ready for the shop. I may put them in coordinating pairs or a sponge and cloth together.


I will be heading out to the craft stores in search of some buttons. I have bibs that need buttons. There are a number of ladies both at work and church that are expecting and I need to get the bibs complete before the babies begin to arrive! I also want to get some in the shop.


This weekend is also going to be sewing project time!! I think I am ready to try and create some small items. I have found a few ideas online that don't require tons of experience. I figure I will start small and see how I do. If you have any suggestions on easy projects to sew I would appreciate the help. Email me at glorybe1024 @ comcast.net (without the spaces, of course!) There are so many things I want to do...I hope I have enough time this weekend!


Thank goodness we will have a three day weekend!! I am so looking forward to that. I want to get chores etc done by noon on Saturday so that the rest of the time I can spend in my craft room. That means getting up early! I don't mind...I would much rather get the have-to's out of the way then I get to do my want-to's!!!

Tomorrow is Friday! Yippee ~ it seems this week has not moved very quickly. I hope that work will let us out early tomorrow. Usually on three day weekends they let us off around 3pm. It is so nice to get home before the traffic begins to snarl.

Thanks for reading my ramblings....God bless you and yours. Remember to count your blessings today because you are richer than you think! God is good indeed!

My Little Ditty Bag!

http://sassas-etsy-treasury.blogspot.com/

Follow the link to a beautiful treasury that includes my Little Ditty Bag! I was pleased as punch to get the recognition!!! It is incredibly validating for someone to take the time to look at my items and say "I really like that one!" Gives me hope for another sale! God is good indeed! Thank you!

Another Glorious Day!

We are coming down to the last week of the Official Summer Season. This morning there was a coolest to the air that only promises the coming of Autumn ~ personally my favorite time of the year! I can't wait to get out sweaters and turtlenecks! It will be fun to try them on now that I am halfway to my weight loss goal. By December, I would love to be near or at goal. One day at a time, slow and steady!

I have a week off until I am in rehearsals again. Last night went well and I am really getting excited about the show. Thank goodness the dancing is easy. It is great exercise too!

Having the week off from rehearsals gives me tons of crafting time!!! Working full-time and trying to get the shop running and successful doesn't leave much time for anything else. Crafting brings me such enjoyment. Currently I have been making cotton sponges. They are quick to make and I think I will be putting them up in my shop in sets of two or three. I think they will sell better that way.

I am going to sew...yes, I am! I have found a few small and easy projects that I am going to experiment with to see if I can create something worthwhile for my shop. It is so hard to put down the crochet hook because I love it so much! With a three day weekend ahead there will be plenty of time to do both!

Enjoy the blessings this day brings to you and yours! God is good indeed!

Busy, Busy, Busy!

That is how I can sum up my weekend! I must add it was also tons of fun! Let me start with Friday night...I posted more items in my shop. More bracelets =o) Go and take a look! While working in my shop I saw it said "1 sale". Could it be? Did it happen? Oh happy day!!! My first etsy sale!!! Praise the Lord and pass the peanut butter! I now feel validated as a member of etsy! What a wonderful day...my daughter turned 16...I had an item featured in a Treasury...and I made my first sale!!! Talk about motivation to make more items. I have been crocheting up a storm!

On Saturday, I packaged my sale and headed for the post office. It is now on its way to my first customer...here is her shop http://scheri.etsy.com/ I also have a link to the right under "Handmade Links." After the post office, it was off to vocal rehearsal for "The Mystery of Edwin Drood." We were scheduled from 10am to 3pm so I had my lunch packed and I was ready to sing for 5 hours. When our vocal director showed up, she was ill and called rehearsal finished at Noon! Oh! Happy Day!! I was able to get home to help with dinner preparations since my bil and fil were coming over. I was also able to get in some craft time! After dinner, my daughter and I took in a play at another local community theater...Spotlight Players. I loved it, she hated it. Oh well, can't win the all!

Sunday was a crazy day! I had church in the morning...the service was exceptional! I had to sing at an ordination in the afternoon...again it was a wonderful service. Then off to a meeting then rehearsal ~ dance rehearsal! I made it home and fell into bed. I wasn't able to get on the computer at all.

Now, I am at the start of a brand new week and celebrating six months at the best job I have ever had. Blessing are so abundant! God is good, God is good indeed so count your blessings today and everyday...I hope you have a marvelous Monday!

Happy Sweet Sixteen Emily!

My baby girl turns sweet sixteen today! In her honor, I am making my blog pink! My husband is extremely impatient and we had to give her her gift last night. A digital camera ~ in PINK! I had recently purchased one for my mother with Emily's help and she kept looking at the digital camera and commenting on the "pretty pink" ones. She had been using my 3 megapixel old camera that I had handed down to her when I got a new one last year. It took okay pictures but used batteries like they were going out of style (that's why I wanted a new one). She is now extremely happy to have a brand new camera she can call her own! No more hand-me-downs for her.

Tonight she has requested cheese pizza for dinner. So bet it! That means no dishes!!! And more crafting time!!! Jeff bought a small cake for her. Since I have changed to a low carb lifestyle (21 pounds gone for good, thank you very much!) I will not be indulging in cake. The pizza will be enough carbs for the next week and a half. If I eat something off-plan I try and stay away from sugar...I have been sugar free since June 3! We will just spend a quiet night and celebrate at home. Tomorrow I am taking her to a play in Indy. We will probably go to Starbucks first for a frappicino (sf of course!)

Being in a treasury has really gotten me even more excited about etsy and my humble little shop. The bracelet that was picked is one of my favorites. It is so cheerful and bright!


I hope you like it! This was one where I had to talk myself into putting it up for sale instead of keeping it.

Tonight...I am crafting!!! I really want to sew but I might do more bracelets. I have a small purse I want to finish...I just need to get the right ribbon to accent it. So much I want to do just not enough hours in the day!

Remember to count your blessings and you will find you are richer than you think! God is good...God is good indeed!

God bless!
~gloria

I Made A Treasury!!!

What a blessing to find the message "You are in a treasury!"

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=2898

I will add more later...I just am so excited I couldn't wait to share the news!

God bless!

~gloria

Sew What?

Last night I did it! I got out the sewing machine! My father-in-law gave it to me. It used to belong to my husband's mother. She passed before we met. When my son moved out I was able to have my very own craft room. Now I have room for a sewing machine. I have never been thrilled with the thought of sewing but the more I considered it, the more I wanted to learn.

Last night, I looked through the owner's manual. It didn't seem too difficult so I pulled it out of the closet and decided to figure this machine out! I got it plugged in...and turned on! I threaded the machine and I was ready. I took a piece of cloth and put it on the machine and.....well, it wasn't pretty. I knew enough about sewing (barely enough) to know what was happening meant adjustments needed to be made. Hmmm...but what dial do I adjust? I studied the manual and about an hour later...voila! I was able to sew a semi-straight seam!!! Now, to anyone who is an avid seamstress that may not sound like a victory to you but for me, it was fabulous!!! I have more to learn...tons more, but I can sew! Now I need to do some research, find some books (I do have "Sewing for Dummies") and begin with some basics. I mainly want to do some embellished cloth diapers for burp cloths and things like that.

In other news, my daughter, Emily, is turning Sweet 16 tomorrow! I can't believe it! This means in the next year she will be driving! We will probably wait until next Spring for driver's training. By then, I will be ready to go through the process again both emotionally and financially. Right now, my husband takes her around the neighborhood so she can get a feel for being behind the wheel.


This is Emily...she is once again taking her own picture to post on her facebook page! She and her friends are constantly doing this. It just makes me giggle unless she is in the bathroom for way too long! The joys of having a teenage girl! This is the only picture I have on my computer at work. I will have to find some more especially ones that she is smiling!

Well for now...that's about it. I need to get to work. Tonight is rehearsal - more dancing!! It is great exercise, let me tell you.

Take care and don't forget to count your blessings today! God is good...God is good indeed!

~gloria

Just Some Thoughts

Last night I decided I wanted to put down the things I have been crocheting, mostly bibs and washcloths, and make something else. I started digging through some patterns I had accumulated when I first started to learn crochet about 5 years ago for some inspiration. I remember how odd the pattern lingo looked to me and that I thought I would never be able to make something from a pattern.

I truly got inspired! You know the old saying "Everything old is new again?" Well, I have so many ideas of things to create there are not enough hours in a day. Some of the things I will be working on are real stash busters! That is a blessing, isn't it? I am a yarn-a-holic. I can't go into ANY store that sells yarn without getting at least one new skein LOL! Any heaven help me if my favorite yarns are on sale...stash overload for sure. I wonder if there is a 12-step program for people with this addiction...Hi, I am Gloria and I am a yarn-a-holic!

I could never give up this addiction...I love looking in my craft closet and seeing my stash. I bought some cloth shelves that hang from the bar and I have my stash divided into color families. I love looking at it for inspiration. I guess that is why I have this addiction. A certain yarn will catch my eye and I see the possibilities for projects. That sort of sums up why I craft and why I love to create. The endless possibilities!

Today is another blessed day! What a gift each day is for us! Count your blessings and you will be amazed at the abundance you have in your life. I always say that as long as my needs are met, I am rich! Make this a wonderful day!

Praise!

I feel thankful and blessed today! I am humbled by all the blessings God has given to me. With such abundance who could be sad. I have a wonderful husband who is the most giving person I have ever known. Is he perfect? No but he is perfect for me. Are there times when I am tested beyond belief? Yes but through faith comes strength.

I love theater...I think I have said that before here on my blog. I have found some of the greatest people through the community theaters around Indianapolis. These people are awesome. More than willing to give you a helping hand when you need it. Sharing the stage with their talent is an honor! Right now, I am rehearsing for The Mystery of Edwin Drood. The show is really going well. I can't wait until we get it put together with music and costumes. I am truly blessed to be a part of the theater community once again!

I am busy crocheting and crafting whenever I can. I am working hard on getting more items in my shop on etsy.com. I am still waiting for my first sale. It will come...I just need to be patient. I am trying to think of ways of promoting my shop. Any ideas would be welcome!!

God is good...God is good indeed! I am constantly in awe of the path He leads me. Somebody once told me "He will not lead you where He cannot keep you." I am reminded of that truth all the time. There have been times when all seemed rather bleak but through it all there was God. I kept my focus on Him and His plan for me and I have always ended up in a much better place than I ever thought I would.

Things I Like To Do!

I love to craft...especially learning new crafts and techniques. I find out all I can by surfing the web and getting books on the subject. That is how I learned to crochet. Reading and lots and lots of practice. I absolutely love creating items with patterns I find or patterns I make up as I go along. I have actually written down a pattern for a dishcloth that I developed! I have been crocheting for almost 5 years. It is like therapy.

I love theater...especially musical theater. It is fun to go and watch a show and even more fun to be a part of a show. I have directed, worked as stage manager and performed in a number of shows. There is nothing like the thrill of stepping on the boards in front of a live audience. I am extremely lucky because in Indianapolis community theater is plentiful.

I love to sing...especially in the church choir. I find worship music to be inspiring. We have a beautiful and talented congregation and two incredible leaders of the music at our church. It is an honor to sing with everyone. Praising God with music is one of the best experiences ever!

There are a few things I like to do...I hope you enjoyed my entry!

Blessings!!

Getting Busy!

I have gotten a start on etsy.com. I am excited to see that some crafters have added to their favorites. I have been surfing through my fellow INcrowders sites and I love what I see!! I am going to have to redo my photos. That should make my items more appealing. I have tons of ideas on what to do. I am going to work on getting my plan down on paper so I have a reference point to start from. I am still trying to figure everything out. Baby steps I guess.

I went to the Indiana State Fair on Friday and saw some beautiful handmade items. I am tempted to create some entries for next year. I still need to do some research on that. I think it would be fun to enter even if I didn't get a ribbon.

My craft room is coming along. I just need to get my husband's drum set sold so I can get the final phase completed...a nice easy chair in the corner to set and crochet :) I am going to try and get a picture of it in the next couple of days and post it on a couple of websites. If that gets sold I will have the room all to myself!

I did venture out to JoAnne Fabrics on Sunday...I decided I needed to get a few things to experiment with rubber stamping and card making. I spent too much but I think I have the basics to start. I tried a few things on Sunday. I need to get more info and some good tips for beginners.

My darling daughter begins her Sophmore year today...she turns 16 in 11 days...she reminds me of the count down everyday :) We have agreed to wait until she is 17 to drive...first she needs to find a part time job and save some money to help purchase a car and pay car insurance. She is perfectly happy right now with mom playing taxi cab. I can live with that for another year.

Have a wonderful day and don't forget to count your blessings!!

I HAVE A BLOG!

I have no clue what to do from here...but this is a start. I am off to investigate this new technology and hopefully I will be posting here soon!

Have a blessed day!
Gloria