Wow, it has been months...

I have been amazingly busy for months and months. I am going to be busy for months and months to come. I keep thinking I am going to catch up any day now but ............no, not going to happen!

The dog needs a haircut, my home needs a really good cleaning, as usual lot of laundry (which for the life of me I cannot figure out how 2 people and a dog that doesn't wear clothing can accumulate so much of), a stack of sewing for others, and the list goes on. I don't know where I got the idea that being over 50 was going to be relaxed and calm - it is like being on a rollercoaster 24/7! But at least I'm not bored!

My husband bought me a new set of cookware, red and cooper in color. It is very pretty but I hope he doesn't think it will make me cook any better. I doubt there is anything that will do that. They are so pretty I didn't want to put them in the cabinet! Maybe they are making me want to cook just a little bit. But don't worry, I think I can refrain, for the most part!

For Thanksgiving dinner I am going to try my hand at a new cornbread dressing recipe that was demonstrated by my friend from church, Sherri. It was the best I have ever tasted. And I finally found my wonderful chocolate pie recipe that has been lost for about 10 years, in a cookbook, of all places. Yeah, I know, if I used the cookbook more I would have found it sooner. Another friend from church, Darla, gave me a recipe for her yummy pumpkin pie and I think I will try it also, it was also very delicious. That will probably be the last time I do any major cooking until Christmas eve.

In the meantime, This week I start working on a 4x4 foot canvas painting for the National Veteran's Wheelchair Games. My deadline for finishing is January 1. (I work well under pressure!) This will be an addition to the previous 6 panels I painted in 2004. You can see them at http://www.rosevinedesign.com/MURALS/nvwgmurals.htm, if you are interested.

Encourage our Youth

Check here for the blog of a couple of young ladies I know who are working hard to support a good cause. Even if you aren't in the marketing vacinity for their goodies (and I know from personal experience they are goodies) go on over and leave a message about their project. Give some encouragement!

By the way, you can also make donations directly to their cause with Paypal by going to Psalm 67's website at www.psalm67missions.net, logging in and clicking on the donate button.

Where Was I???

I don't know where I was when this picture was taken but if I had been there I am sure there would have been a lot of screeching going on about babies on roofs........

Featured!

Angelica Schaaf, Editor of Handmade News published by artfire.com, has graciously included me in a feature article. Please take a look at the article here, and be sure to browse through the publication, it has lots of interesting featured artists, techniques, tips and many other fun things!

Sweet as Sugar Candy

Ok, so I guess I have to admit that grandmotheritis has really got a hold on me. Sorry, but I just can't resist, I have to show her off. Olivia Grace will be 2 years old this week and she is as sweet as sugar candy!

Knittting Mode

Olivia needs new sweaters. I know, it is in the 90's in St. Louis right now but Olivia's mom knows that sometimes it takes Grammy a while to get things made so she was very smart and asked me early! Two have been ordered, bright orange and white. I have the yarn, I have two patterns that are acceptable and I am a little burned out with beading at the moment so the knitting mode has begun. I can't do power knitting for long because it affects my neck, my shoulder and eventually my whole upper body if I don't lay it down fairly often. I am sure it has something to do with my posture, the chair, etc. but I know it is mostly due to restriction of movement in my neck from a surgery about 8 years ago. So, well, I adapt. The orange cardigan is coming along nicely, so far. I am even remembering to include the button holes that I usually forget because I am moving along so quickly!

Most of the knitting on this particular sweater pattern is repetitive, you knit or purl along until a marker comes up and then do a different stitch at the marker. So, it doesn't take a lot of thought, other than clicking the row counter when you get to the end of a row. It is easy to watch tv, or listen to cds or even talk to someone while you are knitting in this fashion. The orange sweater is knit from the neck to the underarm, in one piece, and then the arms are put on a holder and the body of the sweater is continued to the bottom in one continuous piece. Then the each sleeve is finished in the round. There are no seams to finish. It is an easy, quick pattern that looks very nice and is comfortable. It is plain and very functional, a good play sweater that can be worn until it just can't be put on anymore because it has been outgrown.

When I get to the white sweater it will be totally a different story. The white sweater is made in several separate pieces and has a complicated pattern. Each piece will have to be seamed together when it is finished. The whole sweater is patterned in a sort of lace effect, very pretty and girlie looking. It will require a lot of attention and I don't doubt that I will make some mistakes along the way. It will take a lot longer to accomplish a finished sweater using this pattern but it will be a beautiful sweater and one that could become an heirloom but will probably be worn for less strenuous activities - we always save the pretty things for more special occasions - and therefore won't get as much wear.

As I was knitting and thinking about this it occurred to me that the orange sweater would be more likely to become an old favorite. It will be worn more often and Olivia will become used to it keeping her warm as she plays. If she wears it often enough and long enough it will even start to conform to her body and begin to keep her even warmer and be more comfortable. She will start to look for it when she is cold or needs to feel cuddly and it will seem like an old friend who gives comfort in its own way.

On the other hand, the beautiful white sweater will likely not be worn as much, possibly just to church on Sunday. It will function in basically the same way, to keep Olivia warm, but will probably not ever become as precious to Olivia as the plain orange sweater in which she can play and be herself. With the white sweater, Olivia will probably hear from her mom and grammy "Don't get your sweater dirty!" because the white yarn will easily become dingy with wear whereas the orange sweater is meant to be played and lived in. To compare the beauty of the two would cause the white sweater to win every time but the comfort and security factor will likely put the orange sweater on top.

To me the orange sweater is like having a loving God watching over me. The white sweater, while being the more beautiful on the outside, is to me like the world. The world is a beautiful thing on the outside, there is glamour, money, shiny toys, happy seeming lives, but it lacks the security, warmth and comfort of God. We can fool people into thinking we are happy and content without God's grace but our existence often fades quickly and becomes dingy, like the white sweater. I want the orange sweater! The one that is warm, comfy and that I can wear everyday, no matter what I am doing, and not be afraid when I roll around on the ground or stand on my head. It will protect me and keep me warm and that is where I want to be.

Well, back to the sweaters. I expect the orange to be done in less than two weeks. Hopefully the white will be done by fall! I will post pictures at some point.

Still a baby to me!

She will be 2 years old in July. She is seldom sits still. She is learning to speak Spanish along with her English. She loves to "run, run, run". She is very maternal with all her babies but she doesn't want any of them to wear clothes. She loves her "gramfadder". She loves to sing and dance around to the music on our cell phones. She is strong headed but soft hearted and is fairly obedient, for a 2 year old. Her grammy loves her very much. She is Olivia Grace.

Green Envy Design

These bracelets really caught my eye this morning. They are from the etsy shop of Green Envy Design which is owned by Gabrielle Elisabeth Neijman, better known as Esther! Esther also has beaded jewelry at Green Envy Design but I am going to show some of her wrapped bracelets. Esther is a member of EBW Team at etsy. Please visit her shop to see the other items she has created! By the way, she is from Holland!

Kaskaad - Beautiful Beads, Simple Designs

Owner of the etsy shop Kaskaad and creator of lovely jewelry items, Ainsely seems to me to be what some people in Missouri might call "a card". Here is an excerpt from her bio on her classy looking blog:

"I make jewellery. Or, at least I try. Sometimes there just isn’t the time, sometimes I’m just lazy. It’s certainly not for a lack of supplies. My goal is to create that special design, get a line going, and sell it to some of the local businesses (salons, clothing shops, etc.). I live in a town north of Toronto and have no desire to try and make it big in the city. I like my town and I’d love to make a name for myself here. It’ll take time and patience, but hey, I’m not going anywhere."

Doesn't that just make you want to meet her and see what comes out of her creativity? It does me. I have actually only become acquainted with Ainsely through Artisan Beader's, an etsy street team I joined early this year.

Ainsely's design style, as shown here, does not compare to my design style. Hers are simple, classy, feminine and sometimes delicate. Mine are complicated, artsy, bold and large. I love her style! I can't seem to create in a similar fashion, whatever I do always comes out large and detailed. Visit Ainsely's shop on etsy, see her photos on flickr, and don't miss her blog! Oh yeah, Ainsely loves to twitter!

Now if I could only cut back on the beads, or the size, or the fringe, or something.....................