FREE Arm Knitting Class

Join ME at the  Avon Michaels (or check your local Michaels store) on Monday, October 26th from 6:30-8:30 for a FREE Arm Knitting Class.  You'll need to provide your own yarn but there is no charge for the class.
The pictured sample is made from Lion Brand Vanna's Choice with Dusty Blue, Grey Marble ad Charcoal Grey.  You can choose a comparable yarn and the colors of your choice.

Each Michaels store is offering FREE classes in each of the creative disciplines - yarn, floral, jewelry, art, paper.  Check the online class schedule or in your local store.

Stitch It Forward

Saturday, October 17th was I Love Yarn Day!  People were encouraged to #StitchItForward and teach someone to  knit or crochet.  

There was also a movement to Yarn Bomb Facebook with images of hand knit and crochet items along with encouraging people to share why they knit or crochet.  

I spent part of Thursday and Friday teaching my 6 year old granddaughter how to crochet.  She's old enough now to take it serious.  I taught her the chain stitch and she made 2 necklaces and 1 bracelet.  

My 6 year old granddaughter's first completed crochet project.
 A necklace for me!

She left my house with her own supply bag, crochet hook and I let her "shop" from my vast supply of yarn.   She's already asked me to teach her how to make all of the things that she's seen me make. I told her she needs to learn more stitches. I told her she can learn a new stitch every week but she has to practice.  

 She said it was like magic! I was so happy to see her excited and am proud to know that someday,  when she's asked who taught her how to crochet (she wants me to teach her to knit too) that she'll say her grandmother :)

~Denise

Feeling blessed and alive at 55!

I am extremely blessed to be at a position in my life where I spend my time doing things that truly mean a lot to me.  It was a year ago this month that I took that giant leap to focus on what makes me happy. 

My days include spending time with my grandchildren, crocheting, knitting, walking, volunteering, reading, teaching, taking naps, making new friends and just being happy!

This was a weekend of firsts for me.  My first time walking in back to back 5ks, my first time doing a trail race, my first time being part of a team for a race.  

 

The view along the Geat Pumpkin Race 5k. Oct. 11. 

   

These are the pumpkin hats that I crocheted for my team members. 

In addition to the 5k I walked on the 11th of Oct., I also walked in one on the 10th to benefit my granddaughter's school district. 

  For Saturday's 5k, I placed in my age group!  

To finish the hats in time for the race, I took a break from other projects so this week I'll be back to crocheting hearts for The Peyton Heart Project.  For October the hearts will be orange in honor of Bully Prevention Month.  

Other upcoming projects include a mermaid blanket for my granddaughter, a bear for a daughter, booties for a customer and maybe another piece for an art show. 

 And anything else that my grandchildren ask for :)

I hope that you're getting to do what makes you happy!

~Denise

It's THAT time of the year...

Some like fall because of the changing leaf colors, or the fact that EVERYTHING comes in pumpkin flavor.  Me, I look forward to knitting and crocheting new things for the cooler season.

I finally finished the crocheted puppies my grandchildren asked for back in the summer.

16 legs, 8 ears, 4 muzzles, 4 tails, 4 bodies, 4 heads

4 finished puppies

I knit and crochet year round but it's this time of year when I get orders for items that will keep people warm.  Hats are the most popular.  I am walking in an upcoming 5k Pumpkin Run and will be crocheting pumpkin hats for my team members.

My grandchildren have put in their hat orders.  I make them at least 2 each every year.  I will make a hat for my great niece and 4 great nephews.  I also have a customer waiting for 3 hats and a daugther who has asked for a teddy bear.

I've spent a lot of time recently walking (over 50 miles a week) and crocheting hearts for the Peyton Heart Project.  I've combined the two by scattering hearts while out on my walks.

I passed these out at the recent Mustached Turtle Dash to benefit the Peace Learning Center.

I will crochet orange ones in recognition of bully prevention month. 

Fall breaks are coming up,  so the 4 school districts that I'm involved with will be off for 1-2 weeks, but not at the same time.  I hope to use some of this time to do a lot of walking, crocheting and knitting.

The last thing that I want is to get behind on my to-do lists.
~Denise