Oops!

While playing around with some coding, I pushed a button I evidently shouldn’t have and lost everything that I’ve added to my blog after April 23rd of this year. Not good, but it could be worse. I could’ve deleted the whole thing. Eep.

So, yes, I’ve actually posted before today over the past several months. Those posts are just lost somewhere out in cyberspace now. Oh well.

I’m too stinkin’ excited about something else I’ve been working on to let it bother me too much, and sadly, I can’t talk about it here just yet. But I will. When the time comes.

WOW: Creative Park

If you enjoy paper crafts, printing your own cards, and/or scrapbooking and you have an inkjet printer, check out Canon’s Creative Park. It’s a fun site full of projects you can print out and use at home. From greeting cards to envelopes and stationery to 3-D paper crafts to calendars, there’s a lot here to explore and print. There’s also a digital photo gallery where you can download quality photos to use. Even if you own a bubble jet printer, there’s a link for crafty ideas using one of those, too.

Enjoy!

Meme: Which Jane Austen gentleman is for you?

What Jane Austen gentleman is for you?

Mr. Darcy. Pride and Prejudice’s FitzWilliam Darcy is aloof, but he feels deeply. If he loves you, he’s made up his mind for good, though you may not have noticed that that’s how he feels. He is, of course, rather too convinced of his own worth and tends towards snobbery, but he has a good heart and will marry you despite what his relations might think.
Take this quiz!

Quizilla |
Join

| Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code

For the Love of Aprons

I just ran across this site when a blog in my reader mentioned it:

The Apronista

I love aprons, and I love giveaways. This blog is hosting one and the prize is a really cute “Flirty Apron”. Check it out: Flirty Apron Giveaway .

Now to go add this blog to my reader so I can keep up with it.

Spam

I don’t like it when it comes in a can, and I certainly don’t like it when it comes in the form of comments on my blog. It’s an annoyance, like a bug crawling across the floor; just when you’ve smushed it, out comes another one. I have to wonder what the purpose of it is. Do the links left behind really get any attention when they are left in places they just don’t belong?

Akismet has caught 1,021 spam for you since you first installed it.
You have no spam currently in the queue. Must be your lucky day.

Lucky day? Hardly. There’s currently no spam in my queue because I just deleted them all. And 1,021 spam? My real comments are only about a third or so of that, currently sitting at 311.

It would seem that spam bots and those who control them have just way too much time on their hands. I guess if I wanted to look on a more positive side: At least all of this spamming isn’t clogging up my arteries or filling up the landfills!

A Successful Afternoon

This afternoon marked the first ever meeting of TopC, the new crochet group I’m starting for the area. Just a handful of people showed up–five to be exact, including myself–but I really think we covered alot of ground as to things we’d like for this group to be about. One thing’s for certain: We all agree that we should do charity crochet for the area. Community seemed to be an interest to all those who attended. We also agreed to meet twice a month on the first and third Sundays.

I’m pretty sure this will grow in time. I know that there were five others who were no-shows, but who could blame them since the weather was totally gorgeous today. I also know of several others who expressed interest in a group such as this but just couldn’t make it today because of prior plans to be out of town.

I must say I’m pretty excited about it.  It’s nice to see that others are as excited about crochet as I am–and if not that much, then at least enough to want to help a group such as this get off the ground. It’s going to be more than just a crochet ‘n chat group, which is the best part. It’ll take time, I know, for it to really get going, but today was a very big successful step in the right direction.

Is there such a thing as too much crochet?

Hi, my name is Tracie, and I’m a crochet-a-holic. I just recently noticed that I have a crochet problem, er…addiction…er…obsession…er, um…well, okay, I have a lot of crochet on my hands. Literally.

Let me explain.

• For starters, when there’s an occasion that needs a gift, I automatically think yarn & hook. Mother’s Day gifts are covered–or at least started–but I have a few birthdays coming up to gift for and an expecting friend to make things for. Not to mention all of the charity crochet I’d like to do but haven’t yet.
• There was a need for a crochet guild in my area, so I’m starting one.
• I’m taking a course to be a professional instructor. With that comes volunteer teaching, which I’m working on a schedule for. I’m also making plans for classes after I’m certified.
• I have a rolling yarn case to take to events and teaching sessions.
• My bookshelf overfloweths with crochet books and magazines.
• I want to learn to sew better, but I’m too happily swamped in crochet to put forth the effort.
• I have a craft fair to craft for, and of course, I’m thinking of crochet projects that would sell.
• In my stash, I have yarn that was bought for specific projects that are still waiting to be started.
• Most days, I would gladly give up cooking suppers for the family to crochet.
• I haven’t baked cookies yet this year!
• Then today, I called a local retirement center to see if there was a need for crochet instruction in their events. Yep. There was. So I’m going to commit myself to two hours a week teaching and chatting about crochet with them. (Another post to come about how that unfolded.)

So I ask again: Is there such a thing as too much crochet?

I think not.

BTT: Vocabulary

I’ve always wondered what other people do when they come across a word/phrase that they’ve never heard before. I mean, do they jot it down on paper so they can look it up later, or do they stop reading to look it up on the dictionary/google it or do they just continue reading and forget about the word?

It all depends on the book. If I’m totally engrossed in it, I won’t take the time to stop to get the definition; I’ll just make a mental note and look it up later. Sometimes, if I want a quick answer, I’ll ask my husband what something means, because honestly, he’s much better at definitions than I am (although I am the better speller). There are times I’ve stopped reading to look a word up, but it usually depends on how badly I need to know the definition for the book to make sense or how slow of a read for me it is.

Teaching Crochet

I had the opportunity yesterday to help teach crochet at a workshop hosted by the library. My friend, Lissa, was in charge of the class and had asked me awhile back if I’d like to help. She had a table set up for me to put some of my crocheted items on display, which was cool. Then we just went around to the different people and taught them a few at a time.

The first class, which was in the afternoon, only had a handful of people so it was pretty easy to get around and talk to everyone. A couple of women already knew how to crochet and were just there for the fellowship. The evening class had about twenty people, which proved to be a task even for two people, but we managed just fine. I taught one how to do a granny square. She could knit but was just learning to crochet; she seemed to catch on quickly. But I think she just wanted to jump right in to a project without really learning the basics, which just might prove to be a challenge for her. Still, I was happy to help her with the square. I also helped a mom and her pre-teen daughter. We had a good time talking and learning. And I helped another with a baby blanket she was wanting to make. I overheard her talking to the woman beside her: “Let’s just ask the expert.” Me. An expert. I was beaming, although I’m by no means an expert…yet. Still, it was good to be able to share my skills and knowledge.

This is the first time I’ve ever tried to teach someone else to crochet, and it was actually fun. I realized that I was probably not the norm with my rolling yarn tote and all the yarn I have at home, but hey, we all have to be obsessed with something, right? I was able to discuss my plans for the newly starting crochet chapter in the area, as well as strike up some interest for them to take some classes from me to further what they were learning and to help me achieve my student teaching goals for the teaching course I’m taking. I figure about a third weren’t interested in much anything beyond that one attempt at crochet, and about two thirds was interested in the group and/or classes. All in all, that’s not too bad, and now, at least I have something to work from in order to get all of my teaching hours in and get this crochet group up and off the ground.

I’m really glad I was able to help with this. It gave me a chance to meet other women who, if they didn’t already have an admiration for crochet, wanted it, and it helped get interest in the group and lessons. I was so in my realm, and I have to say it felt pretty darn good.

Yay for crochet!

WOW: Free Kraft Magazine

Once again I’m a day late, but better late than never, right? My Word Out Wednesday topic is the free Food & Family Magazine offered by Kraft Foods. Just for signing up on their site, you can get the magazine sent to your mailbox with a zero cost to you, and it’s always full of ideas for the kitchen. Of course, they promote their products, but they’re easily substituted. I’ve been getting this magazine for several years, and I’ve made several of their recipes over time. I’m not disappointed with it, and for the price, it’s really not a bad food magazine.