Sister Illnesses has made time stand still.

Since the last day of October, my older sister Nancy has been in Oakville Trafalgar Hospital. She was rushed there the same day as my younger sister Beth celebrated what she called "Radiation Graduation".

Beth had just completed a full week of radiation for her lung and brain Cancers. (We have to wait until mid-January to find out how successful this was). During her cancer journey for the past couple of years, sister Nancy has been going with her to scan appointments if allowed, but always bringing her to her home in Oakville to await results that Beth didn't want to face alone. Her last scan, after several clean ones, led to the treatment. Nancy was by her side the entire time.

As Beth made her way to Oakville to celebrate, Nancy was in the ER department of the hospital, where she has remained ever since. After 6 weeks of scans, MRI, ultrasounds, X-rays and almost daily blood work, there is still no diagnosis for her. Liver disease is expected to be the culprit for the fluid build up around her lungs and abdomen, but there is no clue as to what has caused the liver to fail. No alcohol. Not obesity. Not diabetes. Not hepatitis. A big mystery. This week's doctor - a new one each week in their rotation - is the first one to suspect that it might have something to do with her lymphedema (which she has suffered with for years), so yesterday she had yet another ultrasound, this time on her legs. 

Needless to say this has been a very stressful time. For everyone. And we just keep hoping and waiting for a diagnosis, so there can be a treatment plan.

I have never been so grateful to be a fibre person. My hands have been very busy. And my mind stilled, as I knit, hook and craft the hours away. Beth has done a million jigsaw puzzles and has been staying at Nancy's to look after the cat and make dinners for brother-in-law Bill who spends every day at the hospital. 

Ironically, two of the things I have created are kind of symbolic. For a mug mat exchange, I ended up hooking an angel. Not sure where that came from, but it was a comfort to hook.  

The second piece was a request from a friend when she saw my "yarn painting" of Starry Night. She wanted me to hook a sign in that style that incorporated the saying "I Love You to the Moon and Back". It is a gift for her sister's baby, expected in late December.

Now there are several Christmas ornaments on the frame that I will get finished in the next few days.

I made a bunch of hats, including matching ones for Charlie and his dad. Charlie's is adorable. His dad's was much too big, despite his huge head. 

Everleigh and Jackson got to choose their hats, which they both love. Hers is a pattern called "Ice Princess" and his is "Pokemon Poke Ball"

I knit a little cropped sweater/vest pattern called "Alanis" from yarn that I purchased for another project. The number of mistakes I made while knitting and the resulting "frogging" were a sure sign that my mind wasn't quite on the project. But after lots of stops and starts, it is done and I like it, especially the black and white striped pocket I knit. Despite the hiccups, I would knit this again. Just the right amount of warmth on a cool day. (here's a horrible selfie). 

On my needles now, my 10th Shift cowl. This one is for my sister Nancy, who will need something to keep her skinny self warm over the winter. I used Edition 3 Shoppel  and I love the way the colours moved through it. Nearly done - on the last section, so will be able to deliver it if we get to Oakville this weekend. 

And socks. Lots of socks. I always have a pair on the go which I work on in the car while Rick drives. Sure makes the trips fly by.

Some Christmas finery to be sewn for the "grands" and all these projects will definitely keep me busy till Christmas. No Barbados this winter. With all of this health craziness in the family, and in the COVID world at large, it is not the year to go. 

In case I don't get back here before Christmas arrives, have a wonderful holiday. Stay safe. Stay healthy. 

Operation September and October

Today I had my post-op check up for my first cataract surgery. The procedure was yesterday morning, surprising me in so many ways. It was virtually painless. It was visually interesting - like a plasma screen with geometric shapes going through - I guess that is the micro close up of the laser doing it's thing. And the rest of the day was not as uncomfortable as I thought it would be. A little gritty - lots of eye drops - and my first night's sleep with my eye guard and my CPAP. Seriously, I looked like something from The Borg.

Eye #2 is not until December, so I will be completely recovered from this one and enjoying much brighter, sharper vision. (I sound like a HD TV commercial.)

Last month was spent looking after Rick and his recovery from the loss of Mr. Toe. For anyone who doesn't know, Rick had undiagnosed Gout, which caused big lesions on many of his toes, and by the time someone figured it out, it was impossible to save the second toe on his right foot. Not a life-or-death procedure, to be sure, but unpleasant and not an easy recovery since there is no weight bearing allowed, and a bone has been severed, so that healing takes much longer than just the flesh wound. 

He is up and around now, still tender under the foot where the toe came off, but able to drive and put shoes on again which is amazing.

During his recovery, we watched a lot of baseball, and I didn't hook much because I wanted to keep him company during his 24/7 incarceration on the sofa in the family room. But I did knit, so some things got done. I made my 8th Shift cowl for a friend who had just lost her mom. The colour ways were chosen to give an "impression" of leopard print, which I think was achieved. 

I mailed it to her with a funny note, and enclosed this picture of me modelling it. Not because I didn't think she could figure out how to wear it, but it just seemed to need a visual in the card. 

With that completed, I got back to my second Shifty sweater, on which I am now doing the hem ribbing. The colour way for it is another story.  Although I do not consider myself a big "green" person, in the colour sense that is, I did order a pair of custom running shoes from a company called "Cariuma". They are/will be a gift from my mother-in-law. I bought them with her birthday money. Visit their site to read their story - I was pretty impressed and can't wait for the shoes to arrive. Here's a link to the shoes I ordered https://cariuma.com/products/oca-low-green-canvas-sneaker-women

When I look back over this COVID time, I realize I have done a lot of "Shift" projects - somehow the slip stitch seems to feel kind of like time does at the moment. You know it is passing, but it's all kind of blur. What day is it? What's the date? It just slips along, just like the slip stitch. 

While I am confessing about all the Shift work, here is another project recently completed. It's an interpretation of the Night Shift shawl. I had so much DK yarn left over from other projects, I decided to use it all in this version. Kind of like a box of crayons - will go with everything - or nothing except my drawer full of black t-shirts and my jean jacket. Since I am not always a shawl person, this can be a giant cowl as well. 

I put a black and white tassel on the skinny end, and it all seems to come together somehow.  Here's a scary selfie of what I mean. 

I cannot guarantee that this will be the end of my Shift knitting. I mean I haven't made a single hat yet. lol.

There is one little hooked piece that came off the frame this month, due to a deadline. This is my favourite photo from our week at the rental cottage, which I hooked as an anniversary gift for our daughter and son-in-law. It is called "The Little Yellow Kayak" and is the first in a series of 8 x 10 photos of their family, interpreted in wool. So much fun to capture a moment in time. This is all hooked in Briggs & Little Heritage yarn, except for the skin tones. 

Will get back to hooking after my next check up on the 20th. One of the things you aren't supposed to do for a while after cataract surgery is bend at the waist. Since I am always looking for something on a shelf, or picking up something I have dropped, I will just take a break for a bit. 

Thanks for checking in. 

August is my month!

August is a special month for me. My wedding anniversary is on the first of August. My son's birthday is on the 4th, and my birthday is on the 21st. So there is lots to celebrate.

Since all the baby and grand kid stuff is done and delivered, August is all about me. Catching up on the things that have been percolating in my mind. And I have been pretty prolific so far, with a bit of a head start at the end of July.

On my frame is a small mat for the front door. We have an amazing Oriental rug in the entry way, and when we bought this house, I found a little half moon mat that was quiet enough and the right size. It has not worn especially well, is looking very tattered, and I had no success finding something that could co-exist in the space. So, I decided to design something.

Here are a couple of pictures of motifs in the Oriental rug, which served as the launching pad for my design.  We have collected a few beautiful rugs over the years, and this one has a distinctly different palette.  It is our only one without red in it.

I pulled a couple of ideas from the motifs and I happened to have some of the colours that I needed in my Briggs and Little yarn stash. So, I designed a simple geometric that will "play nicely" with the bigger beauty.

Today, I reached the half-way point, so decided I could share. Hooking with yarn - Heritage yarn from Briggs and Little - is like hooking with a 3 or 4 cut of wool cloth. So, not exactly speedy. And the work seems very similar to hooking the one and only Oriental I have hooked before now.  I've been trying to do two hours every day to get it moving along. 

I am excited to get it done and in position, now that it is "there already" in my mind. I questioned whether or not this was a good use of time to hook a mat that will have wet/messy shoes placed on it and decided that it is. My other mat that is hooked with wool yarn has been in front of my kitchen sink for over 10 years now. And it has worn incredibly well. A true work horse, which I have spot cleaned, but have also put in the gentle cycle in my washing machine.

On my needles, I am knitting a second "Stripes" sweater by Andrea Mowry. This is, in essence, a freebie since the major yarn in it is a Noro yarn that I have had for years and years, and was previously in a shawl that I NEVER wore. I added a couple of variegated skeins in the same hues and it is ready for sleeves. I am debating short versus longer. I like short sleeved sweaters, since they aren't too hot and you always have the option of putting something underneath to warm them up. 

I am going to have to block this like crazy, and hopefully it will grow a bit. 

I love knitting from my stash, especially when the yardage is in my favour, or I just have to add a ball or two.

On to the sewing projects. I decided to make myself another batch of masks, since I firmly believe that they will be with us for a long time yet. Others may disagree, but I will be masking whenever I feel the need. And I will have one in every coat pocket, stored in the car, and one in my purse - just to make sure.

This style of mask is definitely the best for me and my glasses.  I have tried so many other versions, but this one definitely keeps me fog free. And this array, all from fabric remnants in my stash, lets me have a couple in the wash and still lots in the drawer ready to go. 

The beige seersucker one in the upper left is made from a Timberland shirt of my husbands that had a small tear under the pocket. That shirt will be at least 4 masks - and he gets two of them. 

By the time September comes, and I get around to my next post, hopefully the rug will be done, the sweater will have sleeves and there may be some other progress to share. 

The summer is flying by, as they always do. By the time my birthday rolls around, it's time to think about heading back to school. No matter how old I am, I still get the urge to buy a new pencil case and things to put in it.

Enjoy the rest of the summer. I know I will. 

Jumping Jupiter, It's July!!

How can life be so busy when you're in COVID! Well, if you have several fibre addictions, are expecting a third grandchild, and have two others that you need to make things for as well, it's been BUSY!!

Baby Charlie is arriving any day now, to his brand spanking new parents. Since Charles was the name of both great grandfathers, there was little doubt that he would be a Charles. And the "wish list" for the nursery of hand-made goodies was long and wonderful.

A third crazy squares quilt top was pieced out of the leftovers from his cousins' quilts that are on their beds here. It is currently at the quilters and may not be delivered before he is. But it may also stay here with to add to the "cousins' quilt" collection.

A baby 'nest' was next on the list. And since 4 years ago when I made one for Everleigh, this was a much easier project. There are so many DIY videos and tutorials now that the project was a walk in the park. I think for Evvie's, I had to figure out dimensions and steps on my own. Not this time!!! I made a couple of removable pads that will be easier to wash than the entire nest.

The nursery theme is "woodland creatures" and I found an adorable pattern on Ravelry that called out to all of us. The little critters were so much fun to knit, and the mobile was easy to assemble. It is now hanging above the crib. 

I had decided to hook him a name sign for his nursery, and rather than putting the woodland critters in the design, I hooked them separately to hang below. This way, when he outgrows his nursery and decides he loves dinosaurs or super heroes, I can hook a set of those. I attached a strip of velcro along the bottom of the sign and each of the little critters hangs from a strip with a dot of velcro at the end.  Two benefits to this plan: the critters can be rearranged whenever. Also, if a chubby little hand should tug on a critter, it will release without pulling down the entire arrangement.

These critters were fun to hook. And I did them first. The sign is actually punched, with the same Briggs & Little yarn that was used in the background of the animals. (I rearranged the line up several times for this photo, and see now that they aren't quite evenly spaced, but maybe moving them around and rearranging them will be part of the ongoing charm.)

During production of the sign and the mobile, two things happened. Our grandson came for a couple of weeks to get some help with Zoom school while Dad when on a fishing trip, took a tumble and badly sprained his ankle. Mom was working full time on Zoom and looking after Evvie and Dad, so it was just easy for everyone to have him be here. He was quite a fan of all the "makings" for his cousin. In fact, he so fell in love with the hedgehog in the mobile that he wanted his own. I sidetracked him by showing him a picture of a knit Baby Yoda. It was love at first sight, and as soon as he was off the needles, he was a constant companion.

Who knew Yoda was a "wearable".  Obviously, Jackson did. 

Now, what to make for his sister was the question. He knew Gram wouldn't make for one and not the other. So the search began. Lots of options, but none quite as perfect as Misha, the Ballerina Monkey!! Complete with detachable tutu, headband, ballerina sweater and leotard. 

Personally, I feel her tutu is a bit too-too long, so I may do a shorter version and give them both to Evvie. A monkey ballerina can never have too many outfits! When I showed Evvie the pattern picture, she was most excited about the removable headband, which I fear will be lost immediately, unless I stitch it on. I will convince her it can be either a necklace or a headband.

The other amazing thing that happened was that Jackson asked to learn to do punch needle. I was more than happy to oblige, so we drew a little sketch on a piece of backing and I showed him the steps. He was happily punching his way along, when I noticed that he was changing hands: he would go left to right with one hand, and right to left with the other. And he wasn't even aware he was doing it. 

In the middle of all of this, there was a One Sock KAL at my LYS, so I jumped in. As a result, I discovered the most amazing sock yarn ever!! It is called Amble (made by The Fibre Company) and feels like butter. Soft but sturdy, it has some nylon content which will hopefully help keep my hubby from wearing through under his heel. Happily, The Fibre Company also figured out a process to create "washable wool" without a ton of chemicals and processing. Even the nylon is recycled. So your sock leaves a "tiny footprint".  And although I have a memorized sock pattern that I have knit for decades, the One Sock pattern by Kate Atherly has two things to love: a reinforced under heel (which is where my fellow wears his out every time) and NO Kitchener stitch! First pair done and dusted. Two more skeins of Amble which will may become Christmas gift socks. 

Oh yeah, nearly forgot I decided to give myself a crochet challenge and am making a duster cardigan. I am a self-taught crochet rookie, but thanks to YouTube, I found videos for all the new stitches - even for a leftie.  My yarn is black tweed flecked with lots of colours. Should go with everything.

So, that's what I've been up to. And why I have been away so long. I always say I'll try to post more frequently, but life gets in the way. And I'm just fine with that!!!

March Marched Right Past

Not sure how I missed a blog post last month, but I did. And now it is mid-April. The "showers" have arrived. Grass and trees are very happy, but it puts a damper (pun intended) on my daily walking. Despite best efforts, I have come to realize that I am a "fair weather walker". 

Lots of stuff going on in the studio. I hooked a little version of my Jeanius Bag (with a little proddy) for my front door, for the "shoulder season" - and I put some proddy flowers  on stems in my front entry planter.

It's been a busy time with lots of Zoom teaching. The OHCG is hosting its first ever "Virtual Annual" and I am delivering 4 workshops. I am loving Zoom teaching for many reasons: the no-travel part is great. No loading things into the car - and having everything I need right there with me in the studio. Everyone in the comfort of their own homes - no masks!! 

I think the students enjoy meeting and spending time with one another.  And I share any "lesson in the moment" just as I would in an in-person class. One 2-session Jeanius Bag class done, as well as the first Hooking in the Age of Technology. Two more Tech classes to go. Then it's off to the Virtual School in Nova Scotia to deliver the Jeanius Bag workshop again.

Speaking of Jeanius Bags, the students who have joined me in this class are creating so many wonderful bags, and everyone is giving me permission to share. So here are a few to be dazzled by:

The first two were hooked by Karen in a workshop in February. 

The next two are hot off the frame from the OHCG Virtual Annual Workshop - which just had the second session today. Andrea just took the idea and ran with it. BTW, she wove the strap to match this first bag. 

Here's her second one. Love that braided strap. It makes the hooked design SING.

Based on what I have seen from these students, I will have lots more bragging to do in the next while.

So much fun to see what everyone comes up with. No two are alike, that's for sure - students OR bags. 

Happy Sweaters. Snappy "Jeanius" Bags.

I am a knitter. I have a wardrobe full of hand-knit sweaters and I love them all. For me, store bought sweaters come and go, but sweaters that I knit stay forever.  

For the first time in a decade, I am home this winter instead of in my winter place in Barbados. I wear one of my sweaters virtually every day. They keep me cozy, make me happy, and I like to think they are happy to be worn again.

Here is a pic of what is in the wardrobe, which truly demonstrates my lack of "need" for any more sweaters. That said, hand-knit sweaters are as much about the journey as the destination. The therapy of making a new sweater is much better than retail therapy would ever be. And the pattern selection is unbelievable. 

Two days ago, I was wearing this one that I knit in 2008, December 10th to be exact. That's right, this sweater is a "teenager".  (This is the picture I posted on my blog that day.)

During COVID, I have knit 8 sweaters, 3 hats, 4 pairs of socks and a 2 baby blankets. And like most knitters I know, I still a stash that promises many more. 

Here is the latest sweater off the needles. It is called "Stripes" and is a fun pattern by Andrea Mowry. The bright colours were a perfect choice for a winter knit and watching the colours change kept me knitting, so it was quick as well. (Wow, the pose hasn't changed much, has it?)

 My COVID time is split between knitting, sewing and rug hooking. I break my days among projects, so there is always something waiting for me. I have also started teaching rug hooking workshops on Zoom. I started in the fall and have now done several, including my "Jeanius" Bags which are enjoying a resurgence in popularity.

It is the perfect two-session workshop and students have registered from all over North America. It is as much fun to do on Zoom as it was "in person" many years ago. For me, the best part is seeing the finished bags, which are as different as the students who create them.

The best part for a teacher of any class or workshop is seeing the finished projects. And being able to share them is the icing on the cake. Here are the first ones that were finished by the latest group:

A fabulous geometric with a full-length flap. 

Perfect lining and a hidden phone pocket. 

Two smaller flaps that are fastened with buttons. 

I look forward to seeing - and sharing - more, as I receive them from my awesome students!

Every class gives new insight into the class and I am learning some new flap finishing ideas from the questions students ask. I will do a few new samples for the upcoming classes in April and May. 

Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks!! And who says you can't have fun in a long, cold Ontario winter. 

GROUNDHOG DAY - EVERY DAY!

It's always been funny to me that Groundhog Day is an actual thing - sort of.  If you believe that 3 "rodents" can predict spring. Once I saw the movie "Groundhog Day", the importance of the rodents was greatly diminished. And Groundhog Day took on a whole new meaning. 

As we approach a full year of pandemic living, I have started referring to time as "Groundhog Day: Not the Movie". Here are a couple of my favourite Groundhog memes:

That said, since retirement there has always been a sort of rhythm to my days. But before COVID it was at my preference, not the pandemic's control. So now, the rhythm is sometimes a bit suffocating.

Thank heavens for technology! In particular Zoom and FaceTime. Without them, I wouldn't see my friends or family. And thanks to them I do, on a regular basis. Probably even more often than before this whole odyssey began.

And I wouldn't have been able to teach without Zoom! If you had told me a year ago that I would be teaching workshops and classes on Zoom - and loving it - I would have told you to give your head a shake. But there you go. As my friend Lisa would say, COVID isn't just "thorns". There are a few "roses" in there too. 

My Jeanius Bags are enjoying a resurgence in popularity, and today I will be teaching the first session of my third workshop on Zoom. It was always one of my favourite things to teach and works perfectly on Zoom.

I am teaching it again at the Virtual Annual of the OHCG in April. And in May with the Rug Hooking Guild of Nova Scotia's Virtual Rug School. Instead of rug hookers giving up and waiting for this to be over, teachers and students alike are embracing the Zoom. 

Add to that my Hooking in the Age of Technology, which I am teaching 3 times at the Virtual Annual, and you can see that my dance card is filling up quickly. 

Because I enjoy this so much, and because I think there will be a lot more Zoom teaching time, I am looking at other workshops to see how they could be adapted. I think in the future, virtual teaching will still have a place, even when schools and "in person" teaching are safe again. 

What are the benefits to Zoom teaching? Not having to go anywhere. Not having to load the car. Not having to unpack and repack your classroom at the other end. And students can come from anywhere. East Coast, West Coast, all across the US and even England. We may look like the opening of The Brady Bunch, but we actually do get to know one another a bit. And we all have fun!!

My hooking and knitting and mask making continue as well, so I am not lying on the sofa, and not binge watching too much Netflix. The mask making has seriously put a dent in my fabric stash, and I need to figure out what I will use for men's masks, since most of my remaining fabric is decidedly female. 

I just knit a pair of socks for each of the grandkids and made them each a Valentine's Day necklace. Little people socks go very quickly, but I know they will also be outgrown very quickly. I take comfort in thinking that J's socks may last long enough for E to inherit them.  Hopefully Canada Post will get the there before the 14th.

The "Stool Pigeons" are progressing nicely, and I love how happy I feel when I work on this piece. It's only the second mat I have hooked in yarn, and it's not the fastest piece, but I love it. Once the top was done, I realized that the birds were the most fun part of the design, so I have added them to the 4 side panels as well.  Here is a progress shot.

With many Groundhog Days ahead, I don't feel pressure to get things done. I just enjoy the doing and am very grateful to have all these fibre addictions to keep me busy. 

Hope you are all getting some projects done during this time. They sure keep me sane. 

Stay safe. 

Will 2021 be the Year of the Do-Over?

For me so far, January has been filled with do-overs. But they have been good ones. And I am glad that I did them.

First up, my knitting do-over:  "THIRD TIME'S THE CHARM."

Years ago, I bought this gorgeous wool.  It is Madeline Tosh Vintage and the colourway is Thunderstorm. It was love at first sight, but it wasn't the right pattern until third try. 

The first project was a Norah Gaughan pattern called Anhinga.  And I loved the look of this pattern. When you look at this picture, WHICH IS NOT ME, it looks like the perfect pattern for this yarn.  Not exactly sure what the problem was, but I think the yarn was a bit too thick and it didn't drape well. I just never wore it. 

But I still LOVED the yarn, so I found another pattern that looked absolutely perfect. Another designer I love - Thea Coleman - had this fantastic cardigan pattern called "Dark and Stormy". I did a gauge swatch and enjoyed all the cable work. (Note: this image is NOT my sweater.)

When it was finished, it just didn't fit me properly. It was wide through the body and I didn't like the way the front edges of the cardigan sat - one seemed a bit shorter than the other. Probably, I didn't pick up the stitches correctly. I was going to just ravel back the collar and front bands, but as I got into that, I realized that I mostly didn't wear it because it was too warm. 

So, another day spent frogging all that good knitting, and on to the next pattern. 

Today is the first day I have put it on since I finished. And I love it!!

This is Stillhouse Vest by Thea Coleman.  Another wonderful cable design, but in a sleeveless vest that was quick to knit and is NOT too warm. This picture IS my vest - you can tell because I am the worst selfie taker ever!!

Because this pattern asked for an even heavier yarn, I went up a needle size until I got gauge and then set off using this wonderful yarn for the third time. Because I cheated on the needle size, it is nice and lofty - and definitely not too hot. So I think it will get a lot of wear. (And I have enough left over to do a hat and maybe some mitts.)

A younger me would have given up and hidden that yarn away somewhere. But the old, wise me knew that this much-loved yarn needed to be made into a much-loved project.  I am so happy I persevered.

Now, for the hooking do-over. 'WHERE PUNCH GOT PUNCHED OUT."

My first hooking project for 2021 is an Ikea stool cover, a project offered by Cindi Gay on her website. I registered for this course close to two years ago, and have been mulling over a design since then. I finally came up with an idea, which I decided to hook with Briggs and Little yarn and punch needle. I have punched a couple of things in the past and figured this would go more quickly.

As I got into it, I wasn't happy with the loop side of the hooking. The pattern was fuzzy, the lines indistinct and despite grooming and trimming, I wasn't feeling the love. 

Time to bite the bullet and pull out several hours worth of punching and start over. Amazing how fast it comes out compared to going in.

But again, the right decision was made. I started re-hooking - with the yarn - with a hook, and immediately fell in love with it.

I am enjoying this project so much more now that I made the tough do-over decision. I will keep updating progress. 

Hopefully the entire year will not be a do-over of 2020. Hopefully the vaccines will get into everyone's arms before the end of it. And hopefully, we can see and hug our loved ones, before this year is over.