CLBMX - November Bookmark Received

Friday's mail brought this wonderful box from my partner Enid for November's round of the CLBMX.  It was a real surprise to receive a box of goodies when I was only expecting a bookmark.  But Enid sent a 2010 calendar, two China Oolong tea bags, a blue post-it note pad, chapstick, recipe cards, a Sudoku puzzle book, and a lovely letter with clip-art of some of my favorite things (butterfly, rainbow, ladybug, green frog...)  And of course the bookmark was GORGEOUS!  I love the burgandy color and the pattern...it looks like a strip of flowers!  What a wonderful surprise - thank you, Enid!

CROCHETED BOOKMARK RECEIVED

Yesterday I received a beautiful burgandy bookmark from Peggy through the Crochet List Bookmark Exchange. The picture doesn't do it justice as the thread is just so soft to the touch and lovely to look at. It's the perfect marker to lay between the pages of a book to mark my place. Thank you again, Peggy!

GRACIE ROSE IS HERE

Our beautiful baby girl arrived on October 4, 2009. It has been a long while since I've posted but I'd wanted to announce our baby and share pictures. So here she is, Gracie Rose Cardell.

b. Oct. 4, 2009, 8 lbs. 15 oz.

A tired momma but wide-awake baby! October 5, 2009

A close up of Gracie, October 22, 2009

A darling profile of Gracie, October 22, 2009

Gracie, October 22, 2009

FREE PATTERNS @ INTERWEAVE PRESS

Interweave Press is offering 7 complimentary eBooks with 42 FREE projects! There are knitting, beading, and quilting patterns. Click here to get your free patterns. I've downloaded the Baby Knitting Patterns since that seems to be the theme in my life presently. :)

Homeschooling about ISRAEL

Hi, everyone! I have been missing "blogging", although I've had lots to talk about. I just haven't made it online to write. However, I won't try to catch up. Instead I have a request from my international friends, especially any in Israel.

My girls and I are currently learning about Israel for our Geography studies. They have an outline "map" of Israel, but this is merely a black and white outline of the state (by the way, would we call Israel a "state" or a "country"?) and I've had the children place a mark where the capital of Jerusalem would be. However, I'd like a better map of Israel and am having difficulty finding one.

Does anyone have any suggestions of book titles that I might look for regarding Israel (non-fiction) or children's stories with settings in Israel or any aspect of life in Israel (fiction). My girls are ages 7 and 10, so any reading suggestions for that age group would be so appreciated. I have searched my own library for titles but have been unsuccessful in finding much. So does anyone have any suggestions of books that might be fun for my children to read?

Also, I would just LOVE to show my children what a real shekel looks like, something they can hold and feel for themselves. Can anyone send a sample of Israeli currency?

I would also like to ask if anyone has a sample of Israeli stamps, used or new, that they could send to my girls. Did I read that Israeli stamps actually have "Israel" written in the 3 languages spoken, Hebrew, Arabic, and English? This book I read is from 1987, 21 years ago, so I don't know if some of the information is still accurate today. But I do know that a few stamps to include in their notebooks would make studying even more fun for them, I'm sure.

Can anyone help us learn more about Israel in these ways or perhaps some other way you might think of? Any websites that you think might be helpful for us to refer to? Drop me a comment here or email me by clicking on the mailbox in the right column if you have any ideas or can help us in this study of Israel. Thank you in advance. I know that there are fellow knitters and crocheters out there in Israel, and I hope to hear from someone soon.

I think I need an Israeli penpal...

Bookmark, Again!

Today's mail brought a lovely package from Sue P. for the Crochet List Bookmark Exchange.



I just LOVE that heart bookmark she crocheted! Isn't it beautiful?! Sue also enclosed some candy hearts, a package of mint-y hot chocolate, a flowered planner book, and two pattern books. The yarn puppy on the cover of that one booklet is too cute. I can't wait to make that!

Here's a close-up of Sue's beautiful bookmark.



Thank you, Sue!

I've made a bookmark for Sue, also, but I'll post a picture later as I don't want to ruin any surprise. But be ready! I'll post soon!

BOOKMARKS!

Hmmm...is it "bookmarks" or "bookmarkERs"? I can see either word used, but which word do you use to describe an item that keeps your place in a book?

I'm a member of a Yahoo Group called Crochet List. I've been a member of it since 1996, I think, or thereabouts. Wow - that's a long time. Within the group, there are exchanges that members can join and one of my long-time favorites is the Bookmark Exchange. I've made a lot of bookmarks over the years and have received a good many, too. I always love to see what kind of bookmark will land in my mailbox each month. Even after all these years, I rarely receive a bookmark just like a previous one. Of course, there have been times that I've received bookmarks made from the same pattern, but everyone lends their own color and style even to those so that each one is still a unique bookmark. It's a really great exchange and if any of you are interested in joining reading more about it, check it out here. I have been reminded, however, that one has to be a member of Crochet List to join any of CL's exchanges, such as this Bookmark Exchange. If you enjoy crocheting and aren't already a member of CL, be sure to read more about it here. It's a great community.

January's exchange found this lovely creation from Joan P. in my mailbox, along with some extra goodies, a pink fuzzy pencil and a sheet of ladybug stickers, along with a sweet note. (Thank you again, Joan!) When I first saw the turquoise bookmark, I thought the style reminded me of a "Sampler", a piece incorporating various stitches like the traditional cross-stitch "Samplers". However, Joan has a cuter name for it and that is "Doodle". She just made it up as she went, like a doodle! Isn't that cute? It turned out very pretty and unique. I can tell you that I won't get another one like this from another exchanger...this is all Joan's creation!


Joan was the partner to whom I was assigned to send, and after reading that one of her favorite colors is yellow, I made a bookmark from one of my favorite patterns and in yellow thread. I'd love to share the pattern link with you all, but unfortunately I cannot find it online anymore. It was from the magazine "Fast and Fun Crochet", the Spring 2002 issue, but I understand from my searching on the internet that the magazine's last issue was the Fall 2002 issue. Thankfully, I had printed out a paper copy of the pattern back when it was easily available online. It really is one of my favorite bookmarks. So much so that I made another one at the end of January!



With bookmarks on the mind, here is a collage of bookmarks I've made over the years. Not all of them, of course, but some that were lucky enough to get their picture taken before I mailed them off. (Hover your cursor over the picture to read about the picture. Also click on it for a closer look.)




And here is a collage of some bookmarks sent to me through the years.



I hope you enjoyed that Bookmark Extravaganza! I did. It brought back fond memories pulling together pictures of past exchanges. And through the photo journey I realized that Joan P. and I have swapped several times over the years. Did you notice that YELLOW Butterfly bookmark up there? Yep, that was one I crocheted for her. Her color preferences haven't changed I see.

For this month's exchange I've been paired with a lady I've not exchanged with ever before! Won't that be a sweet treat! Get ready Sue P.!

Looking for Crocheted or Knitted Teacup Patterns

Do you know of any online sources for teacup patterns, whether crocheted or knitted? ANY yarn project with a teacup theme. I need some party "favors" for a group of ladies and I was thinking of teacup and saucers candy/nut dishes, but am open to dishcloth patterns, potholder patterns, or anything in a teacup theme. Perhaps you know of a pattern or website? Please leave a comment and post any link(s) of teacup themed patterns that you know of to knit or crochet, in thread or yarn.

I have searched the internet for awhile now and really am disappointed that I'm not finding an assortment of ideas. Most specifically, I've been looking for a doily that features a 3-D teacup in the center, and smaller 3-D teacups encircling the larger one. I have seen that pattern before and now can't find it.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Please post a link today!

The "Jolly Postman" Stories

Have you ever read the "Jolly Postman" children's books? I discovered them through Swap-bot last year because I read about a swap where envelope books would be created to mimic the "Jolly Postman" books. I went to Amazon.com to see what these books looked like and eventually requested them from my library's Interlibrary loan system. Very cute concept is all I can say! You have to look at these books!

Basically "The Jolly Postman", by Allan and Janet Ahlberg, is a book about a postman traveling through a fairytale kingdom to deliver mail to various storybook characters (i.e. Little Red Riding Hood, The Three Bears, Humpty Dumpty, etc.) Each page features part of the postman's story with the facing page being the "mail" that the postman is delivering. The facing page is actually an envelope addressed to "Mr. and Mrs. Bear", for instance, from Goldilocks. Inside this envelope is a letter which Goldilocks has written. She apologizes for her disrupting presence in their house and invites Baby Bear to her party. The pages continue in this manner, following the travels of the jolly postman as he delivers mail to storybook characters.

Besides "The Jolly Postman", there is also "The Jolly Christmas Postman" and the "The Pocket Postman". I have not bought "The Pocket Postman" yet, but I'm sure it is just as delightful as the other two.

The swap over at Swap-bot seemed like such a wonderful idea, so I joined it back in October and following are the pictures of the envelope book I had made for my partner in New Zealand for the "Book of Letters & Envelope Goodies Swap".

This is the "cover" of my book. Lime green and orange were two colors mentioned as being favorites of my partner, so I used them.

This is the first envelope of my book, which mimics an actual piece of mail, addressed to Dallas in New Zealand with my return address. For privacy purposes, I did edit out the address in my pictures. However, the envelopes in her book were fully addressed as any letter would appear. I added a real unused stamp and though this picture doesn't show it, I also had my post office put an actual cancellation mark on the stamps, the postmark indicating our town of Metter.

In my book, each envelope had a "theme", this first one being about me and my town here in the USA. Inside the envelope, I included a handwritten note on a lacey notecard and a postcard of Guido Gardens, an inspirational garden, which though located in our small southern town, is visited by travelers worldwide.

This envelope was about "family" and I included stickers of a cat and a fish to represent the pets that my partner has in her "family" besides her real children. The back of the envelope includes three heart embellishments, one reading "boy" and one "girl" (the middle one reading "love") to represent the two children she has.

Inside this envelope, again I wrote a handwritten note about family and included some quotes on vellum paper which my partner could use in her paper and scrapbooking crafts. (Oh, and ignore that date stamp on my photo. Not only is it unsightly, but it is grotesquely misdated! Chalk it up to a new digital camera.)

This envelope represented her love of knitting, including an actual USA stamp featuring knitting. Last year's Christmas stamps featured images of traditional Norwegian sweaters and knitted Christmas stockings. You can find these stamps for sale at USPS.com. There is also a press release about the United States Postal Service staging a knit-in! You can find it here. Who would have imagined our postal service staging a "knit-in".

Inside this envelope I included an older knitting pattern book, a blank notecard for my swap partner's use featuring a girl knitting on the front, and then another knitting notecard on which I wrote a personal note.

This envelope represented the "girly-girl" side of her. I just used pinks and flowers and her lime green color again.

Inside this envelope I included some colorful heart stickers because she likes "hearts", a small note, another vellum quote about laughter this time, and a smiley face pin, which I pinned to the envelope flap.

This envelope is the last in the "book". I began this book with a note and postcard about where I live. This ending envelope is about where my swap partner Dallas lives...New Zealand. I found some pretty New Zealand stamps in my used stamp collection and affixed them to the front of the envelope. The butterflies on this final envelope represent a nearby butterfly haven in New Zealand (that piece of information compliments of an internet search about the town she lives in).

Inside, I slipped a "goodbye" note and a postcard from my postcard collection of a New Zealand bird. This postcard had an older New Zealand stamp on it and an actual letter someone once wrote to a loved one. (Again, disregard that date stamp. I did not travel through time while creating this book, I promise.)

This is a photograph of the inside back cover on which I affixed a heart-in-an-envelope embellishment and a "Made Especially for you by" sticker with my name and date on it. Hopefully, my partner will enjoy this enough to keep it for a long while and later on she can look back on it and remember my name and when I created this just for her.


This is the back of my entire book.


And finally, this is my book closed and ready for presentation. I created a tag for my book title and called my book of envelopes...."The Dallas Letters". I wrapped my book in ribbon with a tie closure so that the book would remain closed for display, strung the title tag on it, and shipped it off to Dallas in New Zealand.

She loved it, btw. :)


And I loved that swap!

After my 6 year old daughter saw the book I'd created, looking at all the goodies in the envelope, she wanted me to make her one. I haven't made THAT one yet, but I definitely want to make one just with her and her personality in mind. :)

Now if you're still reading and interested to see what I received from my partner for this same exchange, below are pictures of her book. I can't tell you how much I just adored what she created. She made this not having seen the "Postman" books and though it wasn't exactly like the books, the idea was still grasped, and I love this book she created. I could tell that she took a lot of time and made this creation JUST FOR ME! The butterflies, dragonflies, beads, yarn, purples and pinks...I could go on, but the list would be long. She really made a beautiful effort to tailor this book to represent me and I just love it. Even months later, I still take this book out and look at it, touching all the textures and loving all the colors and details. She is "caresalot" over at Swap-bot, and I think her name represents her well.

Without further ado, here is her beautiful creation.

This is the book cover, titled what else but "Karla". :)




When I opened the book, I was greeted by a green frog man) beads, buttons, yarn clippings in royal blue and pink (two of my favorite colors, dragonflies and the first two lines to a poem..."Karla runs and Karla plays. Karla's crafting all her days..."

The next pages feature butterflies and hearts everywhere! The envelopes held little tuck-ins of scrapbooking embellishments, stickers, charms and buttons. And the next two lines of the poem..."Butterflies flit and soon take flight. Karla watches into the night..." Oh yeah, I'm a night owl and can often be found up late at night!

And the last pages are full of flowers and more pink and purple hues. The embellishments are awesome on these final pages. And the poem is complete with these final lines..."Flowers bloom and flowers grow. Karla loves them all, you know!"

This book was just awesome! Not to be missed is the cute little silver ladybug bead she strung onto the binding...I love ladybugs! This whole creation was perfect. I really enjoyed receiving this swap.

Thank you again, caresalot! I really can't tell you how much I have enjoyed this book, but I hope this post helps to express my delight at your handiwork! :)

KNOCK KNOCK! (who's there?)

IT'S ME!

In my last post it was the month of May and I was asking where April went. Well, here it is November, almost December!, and 6 months have passed since I last wrote here. Even as I write that it's been 6 months, I am surprised because it seems like so much longer than only 6 months since I have posted on my blog. But then 6 months is a long time, isn't it? It's been a long hard summer and our financial crisis, the entire mess really, was really getting to me. To us. I always have known there is an end to the proverbial "tunnel", and that there is light at the end of it, and that everyday we really are getting closer to the end of the tunnel even when it seems like it will never end. However, I'm sure many who go through their own personal "tunnels" reach a point when they feel they just can't take another step forward and they just stop trying to move forward because they don't see how it's making a difference. I was reaching that point. Major depression.

To keep this brief, however, many of you who were aware of our situation, my husband speaking up against corruption in the prison, and the subsequent hardship we have endured as a result, would be happy to hear that there has been some relief to our financial situation. His Social Security Disability insurance began last month and now we will be receiving a monthly income. This is a major relief to us as you might imagine. I have had a small part-time job since May or June, but it is small and it is part-time because I am needed at home as much as I can be, for my husband and for our children. Our children are still homeschooled and contrary to what others may have felt we "should have done", (others who have not walked in our shoes and experienced "our" life, nor had to make decisions based on our circumstances, nor understood how easily a seemingly "obvious" solution in one direction would adversely affect our life in another, and therefore did not understand why we did not handle our situation in the way they felt we should have), we traveled the road we had to travel and we made it work. And having traveled that road, though I am not eager to get back on it, I know that we are stronger for it, and we have learned more about ourselves and our own character than had we not traveled that road.

We did not travel this road alone, and though some people truly don't understand what I mean when I say the Lord walked with us, and the Lord took care of us, and the Lord provided for our every need, I know there are those of you who know what I mean. While I don't necessarily want to walk again the 2 year old road we just turned off, I know that I was closer to my Maker while on that path, than before that part of the road came up in our lives. Some of you will understand what I am saying. And I know there are some who will say that I am just using my faith as a "crutch". Call it whatever one wants to call it, but I know that I get through life better with God directing my steps than when I'm trying to do it by myself, even if that means I'm hobbling along on a crutch. Oh, I'm not saying that I take every step the good Lord knows I should take. I am always trying to do it my way at some point or another. But I do notice that when I let the Lord direct my steps, my path is much easier, my burden much lighter.

There are always going to be those on the side of the road telling me to go down this road or that road, or telling me I'm doing it wrong by traveling this particular road or that one. Sometimes these non-supporters can be my own family. None of us ever please everyone all of the time, however, and we all have ideas about how someone should handle this situation or that situation in their lives. But I would hope we can all remember that unless we're walking closely next to that someone, our perceptions of what they should do in any given situation is merely an opinion and a lot of times is not even worthy to be breathed because we cannot possibly know all the nuances of any crisis a person is going through. Again, unless we're walking really close next to the person in crisis, expressing our opinions about their situation will tend to be hurtful rather than helpful.

Please let me give you an example from my personal life. When my husband no longer had a job, he no longer had medical insurance or coverage. We currently have a Workman's Compensation claim that after 2 years is STILL being fought by the State of Georgia. Our family received insurance through our state's Medicaid program, and though myself and my children did/do not have any medical issues, my husband did and still does, and he NEEDED the Medicaid coverage.

I know that several onlookers into our situation felt like I should get a full-time job, but what my onlookers don't understand is that that would have put my family in a Catch-22 of sorts. First of all, if I made any substantial income, my family would NOT qualify for the Medicaid program any longer. I would have had to have a job that had an EXCELLENT insurance program that would pay for my husband's substantial medical needs. We were also accepting food assistance from our local county's office. My having a full-time job would end that program for my family. So I would have to secure a job that had an excellent insurance program, and which alone (because my husband could not work) provided enough income that would pay all our grocery needs for a family of 5 AND extra medical costs that insurance wouldn't cover AND pay our monthly bills. To secure a job with even a possibility (not a certainty) of that sort of money would take me at least an hour's drive one way (2 hrs driving per day). Oh, did I mention the soaring gas prices pursuing an adequate income would incur? And the costs to maintain and repair our car's extra time on the road? This does not include the serious consideration we would have to give to taking our children out of a homeschool situation and putting them in our public school. Some think that's an easy decision, and maybe up next to all the other financial considerations we had, it might have been one of the easier decisions. However, another consideration my family had to consider was the fact that my husband needed someone with him during the day for a long while after this fiasco started with his job. My husband's mental and physical health declined greatly after he made public the mess with the prison corruption.

Even writing all this down, trying to relay some of the considerations my husband and I had to think upon, I feel I cannot express very well the fact that the "answer" to our financial crisis was not as simple as putting the children in school and my getting a job. After weighing all the pros and cons to that "simple" solution, it wasn't a simple solution at all, and it would serve to complicate our situation on all fronts! With much prayer and crying out to God during the past two years, I eventually felt certain and at peace that our solution was to "Be still..." No, it wasn't easy to "be still"! It goes against everything I've been taught from society, family and friends. Everyone says "do this, do that, do something"! But "everyone" does not know me or my future the way my Creator does, so I knew Who I ultimately must turn my ear towards. And though we were unsure almost daily where the money for our next bills would come from, we knew that it would arrive. God used people (family, friends and strangers!) to help us through the past two years. "Be still and know that I am God." Yes, we understood and saw some amazing things when we were "still".

Thank you to all who offered prayers and support in any form during the past two years. You made a difference.

I hope to post again a little more frequently here on my blog. I have been working on a scarflet and it is finished except for two buttons I wanted to add. I will share a picture of it soon.

I have missed my readers and I have missed reading your blogs. I'm happy to be back and look forward to catching up on all that has been going on with you all!