CROCHETED CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS

Hello dear reader,
I have posted photos of some of the christmas tree ornaments I have made using the same pattern for all of the "bulbs".  I used different yarns and threads.  I used worsted weight yarn with a gold crochet thread.  They came out heavier but I liked the weight and they hold up to the decorations.  I also used double strand of #10 thread.  These were a little smaller but still great.  I found som sequins in the shape of snowflakes and the greeting "Merry Christmas" in sequin material.  The others I used scrapbooking brads in different sizes, shapes and colors.
The candy cane ornaments were the ones I described in an earlier post.  They are from a current magazine.  They are just double crochet in a long string. I used white glue and water for stiffening and dried them on aluminum foil.  I love them and they are just adorable.
I did manage to make one snowflake out of #5 thread and It came out so cute.  I am not a big fan of making doilies and snowflakes,  I love the look of them but I don't enjoy crocheting them as nuch as I enjoy working with yarn.


The christmas trees are finally decorated and photos made.  I used garland on one but not the other.  I got sick and tired of burning my fingers on the hot glue so I didn't put garland on the second one.  I think that they look adorable anyways.  I had the cutest little vintage wooden ornaments and also some resin ones.  On one I glued some little wrapped packages onto the base of the tree.  One is for me and the other is for my niece and the kids.  I know that they will enjoy them.  Send me photos if you make one of my trees.  I would love to see what you have done.

PHOTOS OF THINGS I HAVE MADE

Hello dear reader,
I have posted the photos of my butterfly pins that I crocheted.  I think they came out just adorable.  I love them all.  Each one has its own personality and won't they look lovely on a dress or coat?  The original pattern was from a blog I came across. I will try to post the link.  She made them with single strand of #10 thread but I found that they were too tiny.  I used double strand #10 thread and they came out just perfect.
I also improved upon the pattern by slip stitching all around the edges of the butterfly to make it a solid piece.  I had trouble with the craft wire that I had on hand because one was too thick and it would not go thru the hole in my bead and the other was on the thin side and the ends didnt curl as nicely as I would have liked.  When I go to the craft store again I will pick up some appropriate sized wire.  I believe a 22 or 23 gauge wire is probably the best size.   They are so quick and easy to make.

Holiday Games - Online community and dress up games for girls

Holiday Games - Online community and dress up games for girls

CHRISTMAS IS COMING THE GOOSE IS GETTING FAT!

YES Dear Reader - Christmas is coming whether or not you are ready for it.  Is anyone ever really ready for Christmas???  I know that I am not.  I love Christmas, the spirit of the season,
the excitement on children's faces, Santa bringing gifts, wonderful meals and desserts, the lights, the trees, the joy.....
The stress, the anxiety, the lack of time, the lack of money, how will I get it all done?  Where will the money for gifts come from?  How will we pay our bills, the mortgage, the rent?  These are realities of the season.  For many there will be leaner times this year.  For those of you who are fortunate to still have their jobs, maybe it won't be too difficult.  Leaner but you will still have a Christmas.  For those who are jobless,
the tasks will be much harder.  How can we face all our adult obligations and still keep the meaning of Christmas in our hearts and our homes.  We as a society put much importance on gift giving.  All you ever hear is "I want...".  Maybe this year will be a good time to think of others.  The families who are not so fortunate to have a big Christmas.  I know that in my heart I wish I could just chuck it all away.  The gift giving,
the hype, the commercialism of the holiday.  The real reason for the season - peace, joy, HOPE that the world will continue because of one solitary man's birth.  Love, this is the secret!
We need  to show more love.  To each other, to our kids, our spouses, our classmates, our workmates, our friends, our families, to strangers, to ourselves!  We have the wonderful gift of free spirit.  This means that we can choose how we want to live each day.  I choose to live in love, not fear.  Fear is the antichrist.  Fear is the root of all evil.  Fear will grow and grow and grow until it becomes all powerful in our lives if we let it.  If we choose it.  But we do not have to choose fear.
We can choose love.  Love is the most powerful thing in the universe.  Love is strength, power, freedom, joy, contentment, happiness.  Only love has the power to cancel out fear.  Only you can choose which you want to live in.  Do you choose fear or do you choose love?  Everyday when I open my eyes and get out of bed, I choose to live my life in Love and not fear.  Sometimes I need to make a conscious effert to choose love.  Sometimes I need to say it out loud.  I have it printed on a piece of paper and taped to my bathroom mirror just in case I forget.  And when I say those words either out loud or inside my head, I feel the power that those words contain.  A power that comes deep inside your soul to make you remember.  Love, all we need is love.  Love is what gives me strength.  Love is what gives me hope.  Love is what brings me happiness.  Love is what makes me want to help others.  Love is what makes me want to give back or pay it forward.  Love is what gives me serenity.  Love is what makes the sun shine brighter.  Love is what makes life worthwhile.
It matters not what your faith or beliefs are.  It matters not where you live or how you worship.  Love is light.  Fear is darkness.  Just these few simple words - I choose to live today in love, not fear!  Life changing, soul changing.  Let us remember that Christmas is the season for love ever lasting.
The kids will still want their presents, your spouse will still want the roast beef and christmas cookies by the dozen and you will still get frazzled.  But love will make it easier, less overwhelming, strengthen you.  Love will make it all right.
So tomorrow morning when you awaken, make a conscious effort to choose to live your life in love, not fear and see where it takes you.   You will be amazed.  You will witness miracles!  And so dear reader, on this day after Thanksgiving, I wish you all love!  I love you!
Peace and Joy
Your friend Annette

YARD SALE DIVA!!!

Hello my dear readers!

 One of my passions is to find old ugly or not so ugly things and redo or remake them into

beautiful accessories for my home.  I have to admit that I am the Queen of the yard sales!

It is an excitement that cannot be duplicated.  It ignites a fire in my blood.  When I am driving on the weekend and I see a yard sale the adrenaline starts to pump, my hands get sweaty and my heart beats out of my chest.  Reality ceases to exist for me and I turn into

Yardsale Super Diva!!  I park the car and get out in a trance.  My eyes immediately turn into xray vision and I scan the area with the ability of a high powered microscope!  I immediately zone into the area that my radar detects.  Quickly I go over to the spot and pick up my treasure!  I clutch it in my hot little hands and then zone in on the next treasure.  Is the price right?  Do I need to haggle with the owner?  Is it too heavy to lug around while I search for the next item?  I locate the owner of the sale and quickly negotiate a place to lay my purchases while I shop.  I keep one eye on my treasure trove of finds while searching for another bargain.  If a stray shopper gets too close to my pile I shout out "Sorry - those are MINE!"  and glare at her with the look of death!  She quietly slinks away not wanting to get into it with a crazed woman.  She knows the dangers that lurk there!  Now there are times when I go to a sale and do not find one object to buy.  I cannot even begin to relate to you what this does to my psyche.  It is total and utter devastation!  I immediately drop into the black hole of deep depression and this can only be relieved by finding a new sale.  Or you drop into a sale where they really have junk - things that should be tossed into a dumpster and they have prices that are near to telephone numbers!  Then the annoyance rears its ugly head and I have all I can do not to shout out obscenities.  I really want to tell them "what! are you all crazy?  You have prices on this totally worthless junk that would single handedly relieve the gross national debt!"  "Get a life!  No one is going to pay those astronomical prices for this crap!!!!"

There!  That relieves my frustrations!  Now in New England and especially in Connecticut, we refer to yard sales as "Tag Sales".  I am going tagging!  And the cycle begins anew.  My daughter who is now 21 was only 2 weeks old when I took her to her first tag sale.  I would lift the carrier out of the carseat and find a nice shady spot to sit her while I perused the sale.  If there was not a shady spot I would put the sunshield up on the carrier and lug her around.  I rarely had to buy her new clothes in stores.  I found almost everything I needed and wanted at the sales.  I saved thousands of dollars while she was growing up.  I am very picky and only bought baby items from homes that were pristine and stylish.  I loved buying toys at sales too.  My daughter wanted for nothing.

I found fabulous items of great expense for pennies.  She was dressed like a little princess with clothes bougtht at the most expensive baby botiques.  People were envious of how she looked!  Could never figure out how I did it!  My little secret known to only a few elite ones.  And the items I found for my home!  Antiques, period furniture, waterford crystal, lenox china, sterling silver etc. etc. etc. etc.  Did I ever tell you that I have a photographic memory?  I only need to look at an object and I can tell you when I bought it, where I bought it and how much I paid for it.  And I can remember 20 years later!  My husband says that I am messed up!  He can't remember what he had for breakfast.  His favorite line is "how in hell can you remember that???"  I just smile, shrug my shoulders and say 

"I just do". 

My family took to making lists of things they wanted or needed and gave them to me.

They were always amazed when I would call them and tell them to come and pick up their items.  I would make lists of items for myself too.  Usually  I would find the objects within 2 weeks.  The only time I would buy toys in the toy store was for birthdays, Christmas and special rewards.  And of course for other kids.  But if I found a toy that was unopened and still in excellant condition I would buy it and put it in my gift box and then I would select the appropriate gift from there.  I never gave used gifts.  I don't even like to regift items.  I just give them away if I don't like them.  But when someone give me a gift and they put time and energy into choosing it for me, I will keep it for the spirit of love with which it was gifted to me.  If it was really hideous I would hide it in a closet and only take it out when the person came to visit. 

Now I took great pride in keeping my daughters thing in great condition. Toys were all kept with their appropriate pieces and instructions.  Clothing was free from stains and tears.  If it was worn out it got tossed.  And I would then have an annual yard sale to sell all her outgrown clothing and toys.  People would beg me to let them come over before the sale to buy things.  Mothers would stalk me in the supermarket wanting to know what I had for sale.  Women would try to outbid each other at my yard sales.  It was that good!!!  Smart women know a bargain when they see one.  And I can tell that you are ALL very smart women!  And maybe a few guys.  My husband Randy loved to brag to other people about the great finds that his wife bought at a yard sale.  And he even enjoyed going to them with me.  But if truth be known - I preferred to go without him.  I can thank God that his job has him working every saturday!

And now the creme de la creme!  I was fortunate enough to go to a sale at a Catholic Nuns home.  Volunteers ran the sale.  I purchased 3 trash bags of yarn for approximately 20.00.  The was tons of yarn in thos bags.  All in like new condition.  But sad to say that most of the yarn was wool.  Why sad do you say?  Well.....I am allergic to wool and can only use synthetic or cotton fibers.  But I  sorted all the yarn by brand and color and bagged it up.  Then I listed it all on eBay at auction.  Most of the yarn was vintage.  And big lots with enough to make lots of sweaters etc.  All the yarn sold and it netted me over 300.00!!   YaHoo!  Hows that for a profit???  I never dreamed that women went crazy for vintage wool yarn.  I am a crocheter and not a knitter and maybe that is the difference.

And then what do I do in the winter months when there are no yard sales?  Well, I seriously thought of moving to Florida for this reason but my husband would not hear of it.  So I dilegently go to thrift stores and consignment shops.  Now thats another chapter...................for another post!

Peace and Joy!

Annette

Hit Counter

Hello to my dear readers!  I have been soooooo lazy these past few days.  We all need to have lazy days and just do nothing.  I am trying to convert my closet from summer to winter clothes but the problem is that I don't remember where my winter clothes are. And why you ask, did I not label the bins with the winter clothes in them??  Well, I did not want to marr the outside of the bins with writing and make them look tacky ! Its tough to be getting older.  They say that the mind is the first to go......its just that I can not remember which bins they are in and I only have about 50 bins in my overcrowded basement.  By the way - speaking of my basement - I don't know about you all but I need to wear combat gear just to go downstairs.  You take your life in your hands truly!!  One time we lost my husband down there and he didn't come up for 3 days.  We were going to send down the National Guard!  LOL!  Don't mind me - I just think I am funny but my daughter tells me that no one else thinks I am funny! 

I have been making these crocheted candy canes.  They are in the christmas issue of crochet magazine.  They are the easiest things ever to make.  Using thread you chain a length that you want, double crochet to the end and finish off.  You make one white and one red or one red and one green.  Then you make a solution of white glue and water, dip the strips into the mix and then twist the two together.  I lay them out on a piece of aluminum foil so they won't stick.  Let them dry and Voila! cute candy canes for you tree.  Now why did't I think that one up??  You can crochet a jillion strips in about an hour.  Imagine how many you can make in a day!  Why we would just have a house filled to overflowing with candy canes!

I received a great puffy today!  It came via FedEx.  It was from India.  There was an absolutely beautiful avocado green scarf crocheted in a fine yarn and a beautiful granny square motif.  Very fancy and delicate.  I just love it.  Such beautiful work.  There was also a lovely floral placemat and napkin in cloth, a rust color with flowers.  A cute charm bracelet, jeweled pen, wooden coaster that you can use for a candle or bottle of wine,
and I love everything.  The only problem is that the person sending it to me put no communication of any kind in the package.  No name, no name of the exchange and not the name of the group.  And I belong to about 12 different crochet groups on Yahoo.  I am signed up for at least 5 groups.  This might be a secret santa or christmas exchange.  I am not assigned to anyone in India. Now I will have to write to all the groups I am signed up with to try to find the sender.  Ladies, keep this in mind when you are sending out a puffy for a group exchange.  You must at least put the name of the group inside the package and your name if it is not a secret exchange.  I send out a little letter with all my personal info in it so my partner gets to know me a little.  I just really love to read about my partners!  Its so nice to make new friends from all over the country and the world. I always say that there are no such thing as strangers - just friends that we have not met yet.  I  believe this with my whole heart.  We are all from the same family.  We all come from the Creator (whom ever you believe this to be) and we are all connected each and every one of us.  Ok, ok, you admit that there are some people that you do not ever want to be related to!  But just the same, we are all one family.  And as for the differences of opinion or beliefs,  there are no right or wrong beliefs.  We are all entitled to our individual beliefs and the next person is not wrong - their beliefs are just another belief.
No better or worse than our own belief.  If we could all view the world thru this concept then there would never be any more wars.  Imagine! Can you just imagine what it would be like?  No, I guess you can't.  In so many ways, humans are so backwards and uncivilized.  Any thoughts out there about this subject?  Send me an email, I just love thought provoking discussions.  They make your brain come alive.

I was sent a cute email from my cousin Johnny (on my father's side).  We had not seen each other since we were about 10 years old.  His mom and dad got divorced and we lost touch with them.  But I loved to play with him and he is just 2 years older than me.
It was soooooo special to find him again.  Anyways, he keeps sending me emails of jokes or funny things and this one I will share with you.  Its entitled "Things my Mother taught me" and it is adorable.

1.. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A  JOB WELL DONE

"If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."

2. My mother taught me RELIGION

"You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL

"If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"

4. My mother taught me LOGIC

"Because I said so, that's why." 

5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC. 

"If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."

6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT

"Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident.."

7.  My mother taught me IRONY 

"Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."

8.  My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS

"Shut your mouth and eat your supper."

9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISTS

"Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.

"You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."

11.  My mother taught me about WEATHER

"This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."

12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY

"If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"

13  My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE

"I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION

"Stop acting like your father!"

15.My mother taught me about ENVY

"There are millions of less fortunate children in this world

who don't have wonderful parents  like you do."

16.. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION

"Just wait until we get home.."

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING .

"You are going to get it when you get home!"

18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE

"If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way."

19. My mother taught me ESP.

"Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"

20.  My mother taught me HUMOR

"When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me.."

21. My  mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT .

"If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

22. My mother taught me GENETICS.  "You're just like your father.."

23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS.

"Shut that door behind you.  Do you think you were born in a barn?"

24. My mother taught me WISDOM*.  "When you get to be my age, you'll understand..."

And my favorite:

25. My mother taught me about JUSTICE

"One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out  just like you!!

Ok ladies,  how many times have you said one of these things to your own kids?  I can admit that I have probably said them all.  After all, I am my mothers daughter.  My mothers favorite saying was "My only prayer is that someday you will have a daughter and she will do to you what you do to me only worse".  And although my kid was a handfull at times, I can truthfully admit that she was no wheres near as much of a brat as her mother was.  Do I owe this to my excellant parenting skills or just plain luck?  My bet is with the luck!  I have to admit my kid is pretty special. I am truly blessed.  God did good by me when he gave her to me.  I had a very difficult pregnancy with many serious complications right up until she was delivered.  I would pray to God that I didn't mind the bad pregnancy but the very least he could do was to make her pretty.  He held up his end of the bargain!  When my daughter was in 8th grade at St. Marys School in Branford CT, they were assigned an essay about what person in their lives would be nominated for sainthood.  It could be anyone they wanted as long as they were special and desered it.  My daughter came home with her paper that received an A+ on it.  I asked her who she chose and she handed me the paper and said "You"!  Well, that was a moment in my life that I will never ever forget. It was a gift of the greatest magnitude.  It was the angels in heaven singing "Halleulha!"  It was tears streaming down my cheeks!  It was a feeling of love that I have never before known!  My kid, my kid thinks I should be a saint?  OMG!!  This must be a dream right?  I'm gonna wake up any moment now righT?  Can you just imagine??  Well, I am blessed, truly blessed.  I will try to dig it up and print it here for you all to read.  But be warned, do not read it without a box of tissues next to you cause it is a tear jerker!

Well, dear reader, I think that I have taken enough of your precious time for today.  I will say goodbye for now.  Thanks for dropping by and reading my blog.  You all have a blessed day now!!

Hugs,

Annette

I AM SOOOOO EXCITED!!!!  I have 5 (yes count em 5) lovely ladies who have comitted to follow my ramblings.  I am so honored.  Thank you thank you thank you lovely ladies!
I hope you enjoy my ramblings.  I have posted my first two patterns but I do not have a photo of the change purse because I gave it away before I remembered to photo it. 
And that, dear readers, is because I suffer from SFB Syndrome.  My husband suffers from this the most.  As a matter of fact, the poor man is quite afflicted with the disease. As far as I know there is no known cure for it.  I only have infrequent and sporadic attacks and they only come on when I am extremely tired.  He, poor man, has them 24 hours a day. And I do try to overlook the attacks and just mentally chastise him and not verbally let on that I know that they are occurring.  Now that I have gotten you all worried and feeling sorry for the poor man, I guess I will have to tell you what SFB syndrome actually is.  So..........here goes.......... it is S_ _ t for brains syndrome!!  And to say the least he also suffers from recular octosis.  This is an affliction that affects men only.  He has it and my beloved Daddy also had a very bad case of it.  In simple terms it means his eyes are up his ..........(you know where)!!  Now my mother would diagnose this several times a day with my dad.  Example:  My dad would be looking for something to eat in the refrigerator. He would yell out "Bet - where is the genoa salami?"  My mother would reply "Its in the fridge"  and my dad would go to the fridge, open the door, peer in with his eyes closed and say "where?? I dont see it - come in here and find the damn thing for me".  And my little Italian mother who is 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide would answer in a sweet shrilling voice
 "If it was up your ass you would know where it was"  "Open your eyes and look"!!!  And my handsome Italian father who was 6 feet tall and all brawny muscle would open his eyes and look but keep his mouth shut.  My mother may have been little but she was mighty and a darn good diagnostician.  My husband does the exact same thing but I do not have to answer like my mother (after all, I am NOT my mother).  I simply reply "well honey, if  you cant find it then we must be out"  trying hard to swallow my laugh!  Ok well now where was I??? Oh yes, we were talking about my 5 followers.  Now ladies, as you can see, I am easily distracted off the beaten path so to speak.  Are you sure you still want to be my followers???  Well bless your hearts! thats all I can say.  And I do not have a photo of the decorated Christmas tree because I have not yet decorated it.  And How do I know that it is so cute with decorations?  Well, I have one made and stored with my Christmas decorations and if you think that I am going to go and riffle thru my 59 boxes of Christmas decorations to find it and its not even thanksgiving yet well all I can say to that is guess again!!  So dear readers, you will just have to wait till I get a round tuit. But I promise that the waiting will be worth it.


I am planning on telling you lots of stories from my Italian family and I hope that you will enjoy them.  Boy do I have some hysterical relatives.  Just their names will crack you up.  On my mothers side she has 5 sisters.  Each one has a special nick name.  The first is Julia.  She is the oldest. I think she is adopted because out of all my family SHE is the only one that has remained skinny all her life.  It just can not be our genes!  Impossible!
And besides we all hate her because she is skinny. But her nick name is Coogie.  Where in Gods name did that name come from??? I haven't got a clue.  We call her Coog or the coog for short.  She is kind of kookie - has the energy of a barking chiwawa dog!  Runs around in circles barking her head off.  The second aunt is Edith.  She was a very sweet and quiet lady.  We called her Deedee.  Not such a strange name.  She was the first girl to cross over.  My third aunt is Dora.  She is the prettiest of all the girls.  And the biggest pain in the butt.  We call her Dodo - you know - like the dodo bird.  She really lived up to her name.  My fourth aunt is Rita.  She is the youngest and the coolest.  She is the only one to have more than 2 kids.  She had four.  She is the only one in the family to have a formal education.  She went to college and became a teacher.  Then she and her family packed up and moved to Florida.  The only normal one and she up and moves to Florida.  Like a rat deserting a sinking ship!  And the only one that didnt marry an Italian.  We call her Tootsie or Toot for short.  My fifth aunt I saved for last.  Her name was America pronounced am-er-i-ca!  Her middle name was Gaetanina (which is Georgina).  She is my very favorite.  She earned a place in the family hall of fame.  She would come over my house after work every week to have tea with me.  And she would proceed to tell me all the family dirt.  And boy, could she tell it.  She left nothing to the imagination.  And I never recorded it or wrote it down.  Boy, all the people I could have blackmailed!!  She was the queen of dishing dirt.  A female Jerry Springer and funny too!  I adored her and was heart broken when she crossed over from breast cancer.  She made the best damned meatballs and sauce in the entire universe.  And I hope my meatballs and sauce do her proud!  Oh yea, we called her Popie.  She got that name because one time she had a hat that looked like the Pope's hat.  So someone said "hey look! she has the pope's hat on"
and they started to call her the pope.  So popie just came naturally.  And then there is my mother.  Her real name is Elena Livia.  But when she started school the teacher called her Helen.  So Helen it was.  BUT - my aunt tootsie would call her by some slang italian name pronounced cee-a-nail.  Only God knows how it really is spelled!  I don't even know what it means.  So from that name it was shortened to "the nail"  or just plain "nail" and thats what they call her to this day.  Of course I call her ma!  Well that's it dear readers.  That's all I have for today.  Thanks be to God.  Go - the blog has ended!  Until next time...Peace and Joy!

CHRISTMAS TREE WALL HANGING

WALL HANGING CHRISTMAS TREE BY ANNETTE MCKITRICK 2009

PLEASE NOTE*  THIS PATTERN HAS NOT BEEN TESTED

HOOK SIZE H, I, OR J   DEPENDING UPON THE YARN USED. 

 STITCH USED THROUGHOUT IS 3 DC IN SPACE BETWEEN GROUPS TO MAKE A SHELL

THIS WORKS WELL IN #4 YARN OR BULKY YARN. I USED SPORT WEIGHT BUT USED TWO STRANDS HELD TOGETHER, WHICH WORKED OUT NICELY.
APPROXIMATELY 1-2 OUNCES OF YARN IN GREEN AND SMALL AMOUNT OF RED OR BROWN FOR BOTTOM OF TREE (STAND)

1. CHAIN 4 3 DC IN FIRST CHAIN – CH 4 TURN

2. 3 DC IN 3RD CHAIN FROM HOOK (YOU WILL BEGIN EVERY ROW WITH THIS. INCREASING ONE GROUP IN BEGINNING AND ONE ON END OF ROW) CH 1 SHELL IN TURNING CH AT END OF ROW. CH 4 TURN

3. SHELL IN 4TH CH FROM HOOK CH I, SHELL BETWEEN 2 SHELLS OF PREVIOUS ROW, SHELL IN TURNING CHAIN, CH 4 TURN

4. CONTINUE TO WORK IN PATTERN UNTIL TREE IS AS LARGE AS YOU DESIRE. DO NOT FASTEN OFF. SLIP STITCH EVENLY AROUND TREE – WHEN YOU GET TO THE FIRST SHELL CHAIN 15 (OR MORE) TO MAKE THE HANGER, CONTINUE TO SS DOWN THE NEXT SIDE. FINISH OFF GREEN YARN.

5. ATTACH RED YARN (OR COLOR OF YOUR CHOICE) TO WIDEST END OF TREE. I DID 25 ROWS OF SHELLS. I ATTACHED RED BETWEEN 10TH AND 11TH SHELL WITH A SS. CHAIN 3 DC IN THE NEXT 11 SLIP STITCHES (A WIDTH OF 5 SHELLS), CH 3 TURN. 6. DC IN EACH DC ACROSS, CH 3 TURN. CONTINUE TO WORK PATTERN FOR 1 MORE ROW FOR A TOTAL OF 3 ROWS OF DC. SLIP STITCH IN EACH ST AROUND RED. FASTEN OFF. WEAVE IN ALL ENDS.

NOW HERE IS THE BEST PART – I DECORATED THE TREE WITH TINY ORNAMENTS AND GARLAND. I USED RICRAC FOR GARLAND AND TINY RESIN ORNAMENTS. USE YOUR IMAGINATION! WHEN I FIRST MADE THIS TREE IN THE 1970’S, I DECORATED IT WITH TINY GLASS BALLS, WHICH I TIED ON WITH RED YARN AND A BOW MADE FROM THE RED YARN. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR FIND A MISTAKE PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO EMAIL ME AT JIGGSIEMAMMA@SBCGLOBAL.NET. THANKS AND ENJOY

MY FIRST PATTERN!

 This is my very first written pattern. Please feel free to use it any way you like but do not post it or claim it as your own. Please link back to this blog. Thank you!

 THIS PATTERN HAS NOT BEEN TESTED EXCEPT BY ME. PLEASE EMAIL ME WITH ANY PROBLEMS. THANK YOU

CHANGE PURSE PATTERN    by Annette McKitrick

SMALL AMOUNT OF WORSTED WEIGHT YARN  (I USED COTTON WW)

SIZE G CROCHET HOOK

BODY:

CHAIN 18

1.  SINGLE CROCHET IN SECOND CH FROM HOOK AND IN EACH CH ACROSS..  CH 2 TURN

.

2.  HDC IN EACH ST TO END.  WORKING AROUND OTHER SIDE OF PIECE, 1 HDC IN SIDE END, HDC IN EACH ST LOOP ACROSS BOTTOM OF WORK, HDC IN SIDE END. Continue to work around - do not close off each row.

3.     CONTINUE TO HDC IN EACH STITCH AROUNG UNTIL PIECE MEASURES  3.5 INCHES

4.      PIECE HAS FORMED CYLINDER. TO FORM THE FLAP,  ON

NEXT ROW, HDC ON ONE SIDE ONLY 17 STITCHES – CH 2 TURN

5.  DEC HDC IN FIRST STITCH, HDC EACH ST TO LAST 2 HDC, DEC HDC, CH 2 TURN  15 STS

6.  HDC IN EACH ST ACROSS, CH 2 TURN  15 STS

7.     DEC HDC IN FIRST ST, HDC IN EACH ST ACROSS, DEC HDC IN LAST 2 ST.  CH 2 TURN  13 ST

8.     REPEAT ROW 7 - 11 STS

9.     TO WORK BUTTON LOOP -SLIP ST IN FIRST 5 STS, CH8, SS INTO 6^TH  ST, SS IN REMAINING STS  -  END WORK.  WEAVE IN ENDS.

10.   FOLD FLAP DOWN,  SEW BUTTON IN APPROPRIATE SPOT

ENJOY!!

Making a Blog

No one ever told me that making a blog was so much work!  This is truly a learning experience.  And I am not a novice at the computer.  I would say that I am an intermediate at computer experience.  A lot of this is just trial and error.  Learning what works and what does not work.  I have scanned my vintage patterns to post now I just have to find a way to get them from microsoft word doc to this blog. 

I recently bought a lot of old sewing supplies on eBay.  In this lot were a bunch of crochet patterns from the 1940's.  They are no longer under copyright so I will post them here.
Keep looking.  I will get them up yet!  In the mean time, I continue my never ending search for different free patterns on the web.  Just when I think I have exhausted the supply of available blogs,  new ones pop up.  And just when I find a new bunch of patterns to print I run out of printer ink!  Isn't that always the way?  I think it is Murphy's Law for computers.
Remember Murphy's Law from the 70's?  They were quite funny.  I remember one - 
"The side to which the buttered bread falls is directly related to the cost of the carpet".
In other word if your carpet is an expensive unreplaceable antique,  the buttered bread will fall face down and ruin it.  If the carpet is an inexpensive washable one the buttered bread will fall face up and not harm it.  Get it?  I still chuckle at this.  Isn't life kind of like this?  Isn't it ironic!
Does anyone remember Sniglets?  Thats where someone would make up a new word and definition about something common that had no word.  The one I remember most is
"lactomangulation"  which is what happens when the paper milk carton you are trying to open decides that it dosen't want to be opened.  Then you get a knife and try to open it with that and mess it all up and end up destroying the pour spout on the carton!  Now
who has not had this happen to them?  Well, now you have a word to describe it.  I remember having books on sniglets.  I am not sure where they originated - for some reason Laugh-in comes to mind.  If you know their source then drop me a line.
Don't forget to tell someone that you love them today.  After all is said and done, Love is the only thing that matters.

MAGGIE'S CROCHET OBSESSION

Hello! Welcome to my blog where I can talk about my passion for crochet. Sit, relax, have a cupa and lets enjoy! I am new at designing my own patterns and I would love to hear from you if you have made any of my designs!
I am obsessed about collecting patterns for crochet on the web. I have amassed over 20 binders for patterns. Each binder is a different crochet item. You can never have too many patterns or too much yarn! Now if I could only make my husband Randy understand this.......But alas, he has not got a clue. I never buy yarn when I am with him!

Now I really value honesty in any relationship but my Nonna always taught her daughters and granddaughters this golden rule - "Never tell your husband how much money you have or how much something costs. If you follow this rule you will have a very happy marriage!" And Nonna was married more than 60 years. Nonna was a very smart woman and this advise will be passed down! I always listened to my Nonna who is now very happy in Heaven. I know she would say "you go girl" in her broken english Italian accent.

One thing Nonna always said to me was "Eat, you're too thin" ( say this with the Italian accent) when I was growing up. Boy was she wrong there! Now her advise would be
"Stop eating - you're too chubby"!!!

I grew up in a large Italian family in the New Haven CT area. I think that over 50% of the families were of Italian descent. My mom was one of 10 children - 6 girls and 4 boys.
My dad was the oldest of 14 children. Nine boys and 5 girls. They both came from farm families. My Nonna is my mothers mom. I have a bagillion cousins! We always got together for big family dinners and parties. And the food! Well what can you say about the food that would even attempt to do it justice? What a love affair that was. I miss those days so much. They were so special.

I wish that there was a "way back" machine for humans to use. I would love to go back and visit specific days in my life even if it was just for a few hours. How wonderful would that be? All the loud, boisterous, energetic, argumentative and loving occasions!

Most Italians when excited, talk in a low roar. My husband and I have been married more than 22 years and he still says to me "why are you yelling?" And I keep saying - "How many times do I have to tell you - I AM NOT YELLING I AM JUST TALKING" He is Irish - never will understand an Italian - that is just a cross I must bear. But in spite of his fault he is still my Mr. Wonderful. And besides , my grandparents were hard of hearing. So in order for them to hear us we had to up our voices 40 or 50 decibles so they could hear us. Also, I am a registered nurse who has worked many years with the elderly and they had hearing problems. So you had to talk louder. And my mother is deafer than a box of rocks! You could scream and she would not hear you. So whenever I visit my mother, you have to write down all of the conversation so she can understand you. Of course she answers back with speech but you have to spend hours getting writers cramps just to ask her what she had for dinner!!!

But bless her heart - she is 95 years young. She lives in a nursing home and is the worlds best nursing home patient. She really loves it there and loves being waited on hand and foot! Every Queen Mother must have her court. LOL! And she still rules hers with an Iron hand!! Now she is the "Nonna" and someday I will inherit that title from her. My future grandkids will call me Nonna etc. etc. etc. Ah! such a legacy.

Now wait a minute you say - where is the talk about crochet? Well dear reader, it will come. And come and come and come................. I guarantee you will grow weary of hearing nothing but crochet. And if you believe that - I have some swamp land for sale in Florida!! I love to talk (who does not?) and one sentence runs into another and one thought gives birth to another and yadayadayadayada! There I go again - diarrhea of the mouth! I promise to (NOT) stay on track. I promise I will try to keep my thoughts short and too the point. But then again, I AM Italian. Who knows? I guess we shall just have to wait and see. Hugs to you all.