My Corner of the world

Tragic year - death of a child

2008-11-08T02:46:00.012-07:00

It has been almost a year since I have blogged. I have had a very tragic year and have just not felt like doing it.

On May 10th, 2008 I was at work and received a call from the Central Utah Correctional Facility. My son Travis had attempted to hang himself and had been taken to the hospital in Gunnison, UT. I spoke to the doctor on call and he informed me that Travis's organs were failing and that they had intubated him. Being an EMT before, I wanted to cut through the crap and just find out what his chances were. They weren't good. Travis was at that moment being life flighted to University of Utah Medical Center.

My husband and I called the landlord to tell him that we were going to have to use the rent money to get to Salt Lake City and why. He was very gracious and told us to do what we needed to do. Then came a harder part. Telling my other son that his brother might not make it.

I can honestly say that was the longest drive that I have ever been in, with the least amount of talking that I can remember ever.

When we arrived, we were escorted to his room in ICU. He was on life support and we were told it was hopeless.

I know that he knew we were there. His monitor numbers would go up when we talked to him like he was still in there even though the doctors told us his brain was dead. I have to believe he knew we were there, for my own sanity. Travis had guards outside his door and after the hospital staff changed his bedding and checked on him, I realized that he was shackled to the bed.

I went completely ballastic! The guards informed me that they had an officer shot by an inmate last year and the shackles were a precaution. I not so politely told them that he hadn't brought his gun with him and that we were going to have to make a decision to turn off the machines shortly. I also told them that I didn't care if the governor had to be bothered in his church services with his mother, but that my son was not going to die a prisoner.

They took the shackles off finally after having to get a supervisor to the hospital.

Thirty minutes after that the numbers on the monitor started, one at a time, going to zero. I believe in my heart that he was waiting for me to set him free so that he could go. He died at 8:40 a.m. May 11, 2008, Mother's Day morning.

The agony that I have felt these last few months cannot be described.

One good thing that came out of all of this, his father, whom I had not been civil with in many years, stepped up and was there for me, financially and emotionally. He and his wife were there for me when I needed them. I also got to meet Travis's little brother on his father's side.

Travis hated this town that I live in. It caused him nothing but trouble. I took his ashes home to where my dad is buried and buried Travis beside him. No matter where I go, Travis will always be home.

On this day I am approaching the 6 month mark of his death on the 11th of November. It hurts every day. But I am making it... somewhat.

Travis.... I miss you son. I love you and always will. After all the things you have had to go through in your lifetime, things that would have been helped if the state had allowed us to instead of stealing 6 years from us in your early teen years when it might have mattered, you are finally free.

~Raven

2007-12-16T14:35:00.000-07:00

I AM A PUBLISHED AUTHOR!!!!! Ok is only an article for a loom knitting magazine. But it is the only loom knitting e-zine that I am aware of and it is of course the best! You can look at my article here found at Loom Knitters Circle e-zine.

Isela Phelps and Denise Layman are the editors and publishers of this wonderful e-zine that brings loom knitting to the forefront of the crafting world. Both of these women are published authors who have brought an old craft of loom knitting back to the public and gave it a nice fresh face. Through Isela's videos for crafting on the loom, many people including myself have learned not only how to loom knit, but also how to convert regular knitting patterns, read charts, and do many wonderful stitches that would not have been possible otherwise. Denise is a complete whiz at being the editor of Loom Knitting Circle! She has a very fresh blog at Knit Chat called Knitting Without Needles . Through her talents, this magazine has 4 seasons of articles and patterns for new loomers and old ones as well. Together they have modernized the loom knitting craft! No more just hats and scarves! Thanks to these women and many, many contributors with wonderful patterns to try, the possibilities are endless!

Ladies, thank you from the bottom of my writer's heart! I am hoping to do another article for the spring edition, if time and thought patterns permit!

So to all of you who want to write something, or try something, hold your breath, jump right in! You will never know until you give it a shot.
Til next time! Happy Holidays to you and yours, and happy looming as well!

More loomed stuff

2007-12-01T20:37:00.000-07:00

Well tomorrow never came... thankfully though Thanksgiving came and went, uneventfully. Had a nice time at family dinner even though, my spirits just weren't in it this year. Maybe Christmas will be better.....
On to other things....
I have been slowly working on the squares for the San Diego Wildfire Blanket Project. I feel that I am extremely slow for some reason at times... but I am cranking them out. I added them to the slide show above so should see them soon.
I just love my KISS Loom! Mine is getting broken in properly with this square project, that is for certain! What a joy to work with! I finally said, Self, yeah you with the bewildered look on your face... It is just a loom not a lion on a leash! And so my first KISS won't be my last KISS!
So making squares, fitting in Holidays, pushing my 16 year old through high school because his brain is in stall mode at the moment, things are pretty hectic around here!

Until next time, take care, be safe, and find something in your day that you enjoy.... then DO IT!

2007-10-30T19:43:00.000-06:00

Well I realized today that I hadn't even looked to see if my blog was still here until today. Wow! Over a month since I made a peep!

I am starting another charity project. Doing 8x8 squares for blankets for the San Diego Wildfire Blankets Project, organized by GeorgeAnne Smith. They are a small group of people who want to make a difference in the terrible fires that have plagued the San Diego area. To date, GeorgeAnne told me that there were 1588 homes and business lost. So if these squares will help give them some comfort then I am all in. The world needs more people like GeorgeAnne Smith. People who think of the loss of others and try to lend a comforting hand. If you can help out with this efforts go over to GeorgeAnne's site and read the requirements. Any pattern, any color no wool blends unless instructions are provided for their washing care, any style. She is a wonderful person who is trying to make a dent into a very bad situation. Come on guys!!! Dig out those knitting needles, crochet hooks, looms etc., and get to it!!!
On another note, tomorrow is Halloween!!! YAY! My absolutely most favorite of all holidays!
I will be posting again tomorrow!

Til then.... take care of yourselves

2007-09-18T21:42:00.000-06:00

Ok...Ok!!! I admit it! My nerdism showed today! Yes sometimes I am quite a nerd... other times I hide it better. Today after cruising the net for a bit I discovered more things to catch attention at Blogthings_quizzes. Well they must have really caught my attention since I spent all day looking at them....
Nerdette here figured what the heck... might as well since I wasn't busy at work blah, blah, blah... So I did. 6 hours into it I realized that I might want to save a few of them. So today my blog entails some of the Blogthings that fit me. I might do this more if I ever get through the entire list over there.

Number 1: This one is me! Without a doubt this one is all me!
You Are Trinity

"Touch me and that hand will never touch anything again."
What Superheroine Are You?
Number 2: I found it funny that I only like cinnamon jelly beans and the white ones whatever they are and here this blogthing is saying I am one... always wanted to be a jelly bean! Life's live long goal! Cute as heck though and partially true.
You Are a Cinnamon Jelly Bean

Sassy and bold, your behavior is often shocking - even to those who know you well. And while you're too hot to handle, people still are addicted to you.
What Flavor Jelly Bean Are You?

Number 3: This one added a bit of adventure for me... long dead adventure but still....
In a Past Life...

You Were: A Gorgeous Spice Trader.

Where You Lived: India.

How You Died: Killed in Battle.
Who Were You In a Past Life?

Number 4: This one was so Zen, or Jung, or Spock, or Dr. Ruth that I almost needed to run right out and get my chamomille tea! Ha! Is mostly fitting though.
What Your Soul Really Looks Like

You are a wanderer. You constantly long for a new adventure, challenge, or eve a completely different life.

You are not a very grounded person. You prefer dreams to reality. For you, it's all about possibilities.

You believe that people see you for how you are, not how you look. But deep down, you know that's not exactly true.

Your near future is calm, relaxing, and pretty much what you want. And it's something you've been anticipating for a while now.

For you, love is all about caring and comfort. You couldn't fall in love with someone you didn't trust.
Inside the Room of Your Soul

And finally Number 5: This is my favorite!
You Are a Blueberry Margarita

Honestly, there's no one quite like you. And believe it or not, most people think that's a bad thing!
You're open, wild, friendly, wacky, and tons of fun. You have a big personality... and a big heart.
What Flavor Margarita Are You?

So in your internet travels when you are feeling bored and nerdy... go check out the Blogthings_quizzes to find your very own blog thing! Who knows you might even find out what all your friends have been saying about you all these years.... if not you will get a good laugh or two. I had a blast today going through all of those zany things.
One I didn't add said that my theme song is Comfortably Numb so I think I am going to leave on that note and find where that is so that I can dive off into it!
Take care of you! Til next time...

Just one more thing.......

2007-08-25T13:39:00.000-06:00

Oh my Gosh!!!!

My husband gets a sort of promotion and like a good wife I offer to help with the paperwork! Where was my head... never mind I know the answer to that one.

What a mound of paperwork! Everyday paperwork, not just one or two things. All day things! Paper for miles.

Then of course, someone calls, or comes by... "I need you do do something for me... (Just one more thing to add to my list of stuff to do.)So I help them out and the phone rings.... Just one more thing for a different person! By the end of the day I have not had a chance to clean my house and have talked to almost all of the employees that are under my husband. OH MY GOSH!!!!!

I decide to go outside to clear my head and get some fresh air and sunshine... but JUST ONE MORE THING!!!!!! Someone seems me sitting peacefully out there and just has to stop and say "I have been meaning to call you I have something that you can help me with.... ARRRRRRGHHHHHHHH!!!! Just one more thing...... So I smile and politely pencil them in to my ever growing schedule of daily things to do.

I must find that tattoo artist who works in only inks that the needy see but are totally invisible to me and kick his hiney for tattooing "Sucker" on my forehead. "Here, fix this", "Here, taste this, "Here, move this," BLAH BLAH BLAH... and the list keeps adding on to itself!

Back to my list...... I only have..... Just one more thing...........

Milford Flat Fire update

2007-07-15T11:22:00.000-06:00

This photo belongs to KUTV.com as taken from the air over the Milford Flat Fire earlier this week.
363,052 acres so far....That is the latest numbers on our Milford Flat Fire.
I realized that I had no clue what an acre was and definitely had no concept of what that amount of acreage was. Check out the link above and you will see why I was totally blown away at the amount of actual land that these numbers meant. To see it drawn out geographically is more of a massive thing than just hearing about it.
We have firefighters from all over the country helping to fight this monster fire. Sunday of last week we had smoke and hot ashes falling on our town and on us if we were outside. Visibility was very bad at the time. By Monday, it had cleared up some.
Last Saturday, a prescribed burn on the Greenville Bench, went out of control also. It is in the same vicinity of the east side of our fire just on the other side of the interstate. Yesterday it had consumed and additional 14,600 acres within the same county. What a mess! The Greenville Bench fire has 236 firefighters and should hopefully be contained today.
They are shooting for Tuesday on the Milford Flat Fire with the 564 Type 1 firefighters that are fighting this enormous blaze. They plan to turn it over to the Type 2 firefighters sometime today or tomorrow hopefully.

Our fire at the moment is roughly in 85% containment. Lots of farmers lost their feed for their cattle, horses, etc. FEMA is helping out with the costs of the fire, but I think that the farmers and ranchers are going to need some serious help to survive after this. It is also so sad for the animals who make their homes on the mountains and in the surrounding area. Some were most likely able to flee, many were not so lucky.

2007-07-11T12:21:00.000-06:00

This is my latest loomed scarf. It is a Cable/Seed pattern for the looms by Graciela_Worth .
I would have to say that this is one of the more complicated loom patterns that I have used. It was so much fun to learn though!
Wow! Look at me go, I can do cables with some seeds on the side!
The result turned out pretty darn good I think.

Graciela uses a knitting board for her pattern, but I loomed this in the round on the Knifty Knitter red hat loom. I love the way the scarves turn out on this, but I long for a finer gauge loom to get a more closely knitted result.
~Sigh~
Someday I will get a few more looms to add to my "only Knifty Knitter" sets.

Please go visit Graciela at her site. She is an amazing person with fresh, new ideas every week and she always has some wonderful advice for the novice loomer.

Okay, okay.... I know I am supposed to be doing scarves for Threads of Compassion, but this little number has a special home.... my Mom.

My mom is a terrific lady who through frazzled nerves (that part was me) and all the white hair she has (also mostly me...), is 81 and still very active even though she is in pain a lot.

My mom doesn't live in Utah, but in Mississippi, where she was married to my Dad a grand 49 years before he passed away in 1995, and still lives in the house she raised me in, the one my Dad built. She is a true old fashioned, God fearing, hospitable at all times, Southern Belle.

Up until recently, she had a 3 day a week job, even though she has Crohn's Disease and a few other health issues.

So mom, you see, I still can't crochet or knit,: (, but look what I made for you!

Wonder if she has a place on the fridge for it!

This is the first hand craft I have ever made for her so I hope she likes it.

No, Mom really I made it! No, I didn't pay to have it made!

Will update our fire situation next post!

Take care of you!

Milford Flat Fire

2007-07-08T11:04:00.000-06:00

This fire started with a lightening strike on Friday and in the last two days it is now completely out of control. It has jumped the interstate 30 miles from here and closed down a section of the interstate that goes for about 100 miles. It went eastward up and over the mountains that are pictured here and northward into more mountains. So far they are saying it has consumed over 280,000 acres in a 250 square mile radius. The winds have been very high and have moved it really fast.

The picture of the road was taken about 5 miles from the first picture and only about 20 minutes apart. This is a wall of smoke moving northward towards a geo-thermal power plant that ships steam to California. This train track is further down the road closer to the fire. At this time it was just getting it's legs.

This picture was taken from my neighbors lawn facing north east at 1 A.M. with my cell phone. This fire is a good twenty miles away from where I was standing at the time and this was the most unreal thing that I have ever seen. It had a 30 mph wind going west to east at the time that was pushing it along. The orange clouds were well over 500 feet into the air and probably as far as you could see was just glowing.. so were the clouds at 1 A.M.
After this picture this fire had begun it's travel over the mountain ranges and proceeded to jump the interstate where they had to close it down because of the smoke that was so black and so thick that no one could see where they were going.

Please go take a look at the news footage in this link of the Milford_Flat_Fire.We have been glued to out T.V.'s trying to get updates. This footage isn't enhanced in any way but is actually a bit under played for the complete monstrosity of this fire.

Take care all... will keep you posted.

Fourth of July in small town Utah

2007-07-07T19:27:00.000-06:00

I know, I know, it isn't the 4th of July... I am a few days late but, I am always late with something. It seems to be my goal in life.... to be late for my own funeral I would imagine. Figured I would share some of my small town 4th of July fireworks pictures with you all... I was way impressed with my cell phone since these pics were taken with it. Totally awesome I think, but then I am a bit prejudiced toward my own work, usually I don't like it at all, but these are great!!!

Earlier in the day, they had some food, games for the kids, a dunking tank, and some other little things to do. Plus the parade... Our parades are a bit different than most places. They consist of four wheelers, ambulances, sheriff's trucks, golf carts, and floats, the cheerleaders being pulled down the street behind a truck in little Red Flyer wagons, and some ladies doing the Macarana. They were actually well coordinated, way more than I would have been... then they get up and dance for a minute, sit again in the wagon and off they go! My son, pictured at the bottom, had a water fight but he cheated a bit... he dumped the whole bucket on his friend as she was trying to do it to him first... they were both totally soaked.

Today and yesterday we have had wildfires that have completely closed off the interstate about 30 miles away and the fire has taken, from what the news said earlier, over 140,000 acres. It is rampaging to the east of here now, at the moment the threat is not as bad as it was last night when it started at about 4 miles from my house. Unfortunately for the firefighters working on this monster, the wind is not helping... it was going yesterday at over 30 mph, now is about 10 mph.

Take care, will post more things this week on our wildfire with some pictures that I need to fix some before posting them.

2007-06-17T12:28:00.001-06:00

This is one of the blankets that was made by the loving knitters surrounding Virginia Tech. Recently I sent squares to the Mosaic Yarn Shop to be sewn into blankets for the families of the shootings at Virginia Tech on April 16th. The squares were to be sent until the end of May. They had needed 2000 squares, but instead they received over 6100 squares!
They received squares from all 50 states and 18 countries around the world.
What an amazing show of love and support for Virginia Tech. I cannot believe how many people responded to this call for squares in Hokie colors. I, for one, have been honored to have been a small part of the Hokie Healing Project! I see at least 4 squares of mine in the blanket on the right side.

To see your work in something that has become such a grand scale, worldwide project to help heal Virginia Tech, tends to give me goosebumps! But if you don't believe me, go over to the Mosaic Yarn Shop and look for yourself at the amount of people who turned out to help seam these squares together yesterday! Just follow the link above.

Take care of you and yours! Til next post!

P.S. Gina, Belinda, and Debbie of Mosaic, I borrowed the picture from your blog and if you don't want it here let me know... it will be gone the same day! No problem at all...

A Very Special Thank you

2007-06-15T19:55:00.000-06:00

I thought that I had finished posting for today, but I had a surprise in my email that definitely requires a second post today.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Karen Gielen, who co-moderates with me at Looming Angels Yahoo group, for designing the beautiful banner that graces the top of the page here on my blog.

Karen, this is truly a beautiful piece of graphic artwork! I deeply appreciate the time that you put into it. Especially considering that you don't have a lot of time to spare lately. This banner is exactly the shining statement that I wanted for my blog.
I will cherish it always! Karen is Creative KJ's Corner in my favorite blogs section in the sidebar.....

Go pay her a visit.

Again Karen.... Love you muchly girlfriend! You totally rock!

2007-06-15T12:48:00.000-06:00

This is Bugsy....

This is Bugsy with his toy, Jaws....

This is Bugsy after you throw Jaws for him....

Bugsy is a Cairn Terrier with a bit of Westie mixed in..... Bugsy is a complete SPAZ!!!!!!

He is so danged cute it is hard not to throw whichever toy he has chosen for the day of romping around at Grandma's yard. (It is fenced in and we live on a very busy street, so we walk down the block to Grandma's yard to run him a bit...our yard is open right next to the street and it is a total weed forest, with some dirt showing for decoration!)

And Bugsy is a petter. He pets you, you do NOT pet him. One day I expect the animal control lady to come up to my house and tell me that our neighbors have reported animal abuse.... yes that is right..... when he pets you, he is so anxious to see you that he yelps like someone is killing him... which almost makes you want to when he does it at midnight while we are sitting out on the porch enjoying the summer breeze, if there is one. When you live in the Clothes Dryer of the world, you take a cool breeze whenever one falls upon you. Then the yelping starts, like we are beating him.... in actuality, we are only forcing love on him by petting him. Heaven forbid the thought!!

Bugsy is just over a year old and he is like the last picture above, from the time he gets up until we put him in the kennel at night, running the Bugsy 500 around the couch, under my computer chair, through the kitchen, behind my cedar chest, smacking his head on the wood stove, to the front door, and back again to do it all over again.

I had always thought before getting this cute little spastic bundle of hair that I was odd... well, I am still odd, but this little guy is way out there. I can give him a cottage cheese cup and he will run it around the house non stop, losing it under the couch, digging it out again, and everywhere until you can't even tell that it used to be a plastic cup. If only he could move the weeds in the yard after he digs them and all the grass up, on to the garbage can, then he could be used as a shovel... one day he may end up finding China under there after all!

OK I guess I have to go now.... just wanted to share my dog with you all. Unfortunately today, my Dishwasher/Lawnmower/Floor Mop/Bathroom Cleaner is spending the night with a cousin so..... ~Sigh~..... I guess I will have to get my butt up out of this chair and attempt to find my counters in my kitchen... they were there when we put the dishes on them, but they seem to have disappeared.... somewhere under there......

Til next time....... Take care of you!

2007-06-14T14:08:00.000-06:00

I am not sure if I have ever mentioned what I do for a living. I am a subcontracted transporter for railroad crews. I have done this job for about 10 years now, will be 10 in July.

I have not written in my blog for a period of about a month now. Something happened at work with one of my co-workers (A conductor on a freight train). He was working on his job, and was ran over by a train car on June 1st. He is alive, thankfully, but unfortunately he had to have his leg above the knee removed on one leg and above the ankle on the other. The trauma of the whole thing is just to horrible to even imagine.

I wish I had his determination. He says he will walk again with the aid of prosthetics. I truly believe he will. He is a conductor on the Union Pacific Railroad, the Mayor of the neighboring small town, a firefighter, etc. He has many, many friends, probably more than even he realized. So many want to help out, but what to do?

So in his honor, I am organizing a blood drive. We are combining his town and ours which are only about 13 miles apart, in a combined effort to feel that we have helped out in some small way. Hopefully he doesn't need any more blood, but hospitals are so extremely in crisis for blood, that they will be able to use it no matter who it goes to. And it is the only thing that he requested that I could do for him.... tell everyone to give blood. I will write how many pints we managed to do afterwards, sometime in July is the date so far.

On that note, keep in mind all the hospitals in the country. When you can if you are physically able, donate blood. People need it badly at this time. Lots of hospitals are critical on their blood supplies. What if you needed it? What would happen if they ran out? Keep that in mind and donate when you can.

2007-05-18T09:29:00.001-06:00

These are some of the squares that I have done so far for Virginia Tech's Hokie-Healing drive. Wanted to say a warm Utah hello to Virginia Tech and to Belinda and Gina at the yarn shop, if they happen to visit my little site.

Belinda and Gina were so pleasant about the questions I called them with. It was so wonderful to hear the excitement in their voices when I told them where I was and that my Yahoo loom knitting groups and I wanted to help them out. I am totally in awe at the beauty of the squares that they have received so far! Go take a peek! Mine seem rather plain in comparison, but I know that as long as they are done in the spirit of love and charity they will find a someone who will appreciate their place in the blanket they receive.

I am still looming as quickly as I can possibly do it. I am doing it at work, in bed, in the car, in the bathroom (well not so much there LOL), EVERYWHERE! I think people think I have completely lost my mind, not that many people doubted that before.

The pictures shown with single squares are the front and back of the same square. I used a baby hat pattern from my friend Dusty found here called the Pearly Pink pattern. I just love some of the techniques used by so many people, so I have started to incorporate them in to my flat panel projects and also my other projects.

Ok need to get back to my squares! Hurry, Hurry, deadline is coming fast!

2007-05-17T17:59:00.000-06:00

This little guy spent a few hours on Mother's day with me at my desk. Since I had to work, finding him perched so softly on the window sill was a nice little gift. After capturing the first picture my husband thought that maybe if placed on my desk that he could be coaxed to open up more. Don't tell my husband I said this, but he was.... right. This little guy has so many patterns and distinct colors that it was a pleasure to take his photo.

Butterflies and moths are so delicate but to me they are all artwork. Each one is so individual and there are no two alike. I am adding him to my blog to remind me to find beauty in everything, especially something small. Sometimes I feel that I need a verbal reminder of that, and other times I tend to find beauty in things that others don't see. Windmills, dead trees, a wooden or split rail fence line, field watering things while they are watering individually plowed rows, are just an example of things I take pictures of. I love capturing beauty where I can get a picture. I am sure some wouldn't think that my pictures show beauty, but then again I took them and I saw the beauty.

I will be posting some of my photos as my blog progessses. Here and there. Dotting my blog with small tidbits of my idea of art and beauty.

2007-05-11T08:59:00.000-06:00

This is my first scarf for one of the three charities that I am currently working on. I will be adding pictures of works for the other two charities as I get them done with information on the charity also. I did this as a flat panel, but I did it on my red round Knifty Knitter loom. It seems easier now that I have done this to use the round loom for this.

This charity, Threads of Compassion, found here , means a lot to me. They give out scarves to domestic violence victims and sexual assault victims as a comfort item.

At LoomingAngels we were asked to pick a charity to add to the list. Prior to this, I have been participating in charities for people who have cancer, or babies, who do need the things that I loom knit. But when I found Threads of Compassion, I knew this charity was mine forever. This one hits a personal note. I was one of the people who suffered from domestic violence in two of the relationships I have had and also sexual assault from a father-in-law in one of these relationships. It has taken me years to be able to come out with this information in a public way like this. But it happens to millions of people every year. It needs a light thrown on it to allow people to understand they are not alone, and that there are people out there who can help them through it.

I am in hopes that we can make many, many scarves for these victims. It is a time in their lives when they need as much comfort and love as they can get. Being a former victim, I understand how something so simple as a scarf could let them know that they are cared for and loved.

Anyone can donate scarves to this charity at any time of the year. If you feel that this is something that you would like to donate to, go to the website at the top of this post and read the requirements. They accept scarves all the time and are always in need because the victims keep adding up. In today's world, it is nice to know that in your darkest hour, there are people who might have survived the same thing who are holding your hand in the form of what they have made for you.

2007-04-28T00:46:00.000-06:00

These are the last of my stuff for the Crafting Angels Project which ended April 26.
I find doing these charities has helped me to have pride in myself where it has been lacking for many years. I find myself not watching T.V. but just listening to it, being able to zone out people at work when the room is very loud. My looming is all I think about when I am doing it.

I am very proud of these items. I tried several different patterns with this charity drive, venturing out of my comfort zone and was able to learn several new techniques. Several of these patterns are from my dear friend Dusty. She does designer baby hats and they are so much fun to make. Go visit her website here.

You might be surprised what all you can do with your loom. Thank you Dusty for all that you do and all that you help us to be through your insight.

After the next set of charities, I am hoping to get some of my poetry on here. I have been so busy with the strange things that are my life, and trying to escape them with looming for charities, that I haven't had time to get anything added. Hopefully soon I will also have a few patterns for the looms of my own to add here for anyone who is interested in learning.

Will be posting tomorrow or Sunday with my new round of things I am doing.

Take care of you, dear reader! Til next time.....

2007-04-20T14:46:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was unfortunately my birthday. More unfortunate is the fact that I turned 40!!!!!!!

So I lost myself in my charity project so that I could just forget about it. And just look at how that worked out! I managed to produce these little gems for the charity that I am currently working on! These hats are patterns of a dear friend of mine, so I wasn't too sure how they would turn out but they turned out totally awesome! Woo Hoo Me!!!!

I absolutely love doing these charity events. Loom knitting is the best way to zone out the world that I have ever found that is legal and doesn't mess with your brain. But I think the best thing is that as soon as people ask you what it is you are doing and you tell them whichever charity you are working on at the moment, their callous attitude just disappears! Ok gotta get back to my loom. Deadline is approaching fast!

2007-04-15T12:55:00.000-06:00

Ok now that my Trace Adkins fix is satisfied, (for a minute anyway... hehehe) moving along. This is the latest in my loom knitting projects. A newborn hat and bootie/sock set. I had so many problems with the booties but after many frogged efforts I jumped over it and finally got it right I think. I am actually quite pleased with how these turned out. I have a friend who is writing out my pattern for me so at some point I might be able to add them here in some form. These are for the Crafting Angels charity event that is being done at Looming Angels, my yahoo loom knitting group. I will be adding more of these in the next few days since the deadline is on the 26th. Hurry Hurry! Loom faster! LOL I love doing these events. The next one I will explain after it gets started, because it means a lot to me, if they actually choose my charity. Til next time!

2007-04-15T12:27:00.000-06:00

Well I made it back from the Trace Adkins concert, although I would have preferred to just tag along! What a concert! What a man! I was about 15 rows back from the stage so I didn't miss a thing! Unfortunately my husband's cell phone doesn't take the greatest pictures so the ones I have from the concert are just way too fuzzy ~GRRRRR! If you haven't ever had the opportunity to see Trace Adkins in concert, buy a ticket and go! You will definately see one of the better shows you have ever been to! Thank you Trace for, well, enlightening my dreams! LOL! Here are the pics that did turn out sorta! If only I had been sneakier and had gotten my digital camera in! Oh well I definately will next time! (Actually husband was way sneakier than I was as he snagged a banner for me. Said only place it couldn't go was over the bed! Yea, that is what he thinks.... )

2007-04-07T09:51:00.000-06:00

I finally got a picture of the three other preemie hats that I have been working on. This week has been so hectic that I haven't had a chance to even catch my breath until yesterday. So here is how I did my loom knitted hats.
The blue and green one on the top left is a garter stitch for a few rows to make the cuff. After that it is knit one purl one row alternated all the way to the top. Before I added the white, it is a garter stitch again then all the white is knit stitched and I used the drawstring method that I mentioned in my prior post.
The green and white one on the top right I call Garters and Purls. It is just that. I gartered and purled alternated for 3 rows each, finishing the hat with a length of 5.5 inches and drawstringed the top.
The bottom green and white is mostly knit stitched. I did 9 knit stitched rows and then turned up the bottom onto the loom for the cuff. It really turned out well, giving me ideas as to many items I could make with that tight of a cuff for sleeves on something at a later date maybe, after I am not such a novice. Anyway after the turn up, I garter stitched one row of white, when I added the green I also garter stitched that, Then I knit stitched the rest of the hat and drawstringed the top. I have found that I really love experimenting with new things I can do on my looms. To see the effect of each effort is very rewarding.

But this Friday... oh ho This Friday the 13th, I am going to see Trace Adkins in concert. Don't get me started on what I think about that man or I will have to get a wheel barrow to carry my tongue around. Yes my husband is well aware of my fascination with Mr. Adkins! Til next time. (If I don't attach to his tour bus and become a speed bump that is!)

2007-03-30T18:38:00.000-06:00

I am so totally proud of this! This is my first ever preemie hat. I made this pattern using basic looming stitches mostly. Most of the time I have found that people prefer gathered method tops, but I find this to be much better for this type of hat. Here is the top of the hat:

I did this hat using a garter stitch, a knit stitch, and a purl stitch. I did this on the blue Knifty Knitter loom (KK). The closure is not mine though. I used a drawstring method created by Brenda Myers for her easter egg pattern. You can find instructions for that closure at http://loomlady.blogspot.com/ plus tons of other stuff to try. I will be adding more of these hats soon. I am participating in another charity event for my Yahoo knitting group, Looming Angels.

Loom knitting is a very old art form that is making a huge comeback. Every day I find new patterns to do on the looms. Also regular needle knitting can be converted to the looms. I have not ventured into that territory yet since I am still quite new to loom knitting.

People ask me why I choose to loom knit when I could do all kinds of other needlecrafts. Obviously they don't understand my ineptitude at all other needlecrafts. I am totally a needle knitting dummy. I am also a crochet dummy! But with loom knitting I find that I am very proud of my work and that I work very hard at it. I hope it shows.

See you around the loom next row.

2007-03-29T12:10:00.000-06:00

I finally finished my chemo hats for Bev's Chemo Hat Relay. These are the final seven. The patchwork one on the right is totally my design, but I haven't had time to write a pattern up yet. Hopefully when I can find the right people to help me I will put it in pdf format on here.

This has been a truly long week. My son's friend was killed in a car accident where the truck he was driving rolled on Saturday March 23rd. Hopefully his family knows how many people truly loved their son. He was a very quiet boy but he was so polite and friendly. He was in and out of my home over the 7 years we have known him quite a lot. He knew he was always welcome here. It has been very difficult to deal with the lack of him, since he is usually here at least once a week or so. They buried him Tuesday. Brian was 17. We miss you and will always remember you Brian!

I have been chosen as moderator of one of my Yahoo knitting groups, Looming Angels. It is geared to do charity work only. I am so honored and I hope that I am able to do the position justice. Check the sidebar and if you have a desire to help people and are able to do loom knitting, please join us. We would love to have you.

2007-03-13T22:53:00.000-06:00

Just more Chemo Hats!

I just wanted to say to any of my yahoo group, LoomKnittingNewbies, who are participating in this drive and happen in to read this that I have learned so much from you all. I am very proud of the work that I have done, and wish that I had more time to do many more hats. As the deadline fast approaches, I look at the number of hats that have been made by all the members of this group and am blown away by the love and caring that is pouring out to make these hats for people who we have never met who are in a horrible period of their lives. I am truly honored to be helping with this endeavor and I hope to participate in future events for people in need when I can.

Beautiful day in Small Town Utah today! Finally some warmth! Hope it lasts.... winter is definitely for the snow birds who enjoy it. I am not one of those. I am a transplant from Southwest Mississippi and I was not prepared for this type of weather when I came to this town 12 years ago. I feel when it is snowing as if I am in a snow globe with someone shaking it. It was very good to sit outside after work today and just enjoy the day, without needing a jacket!