Pictures of Quilling & Knitting

A rather unimaginative title, but I'm tired and can't think of anything better. I finished the Mary Jane socks for my cousin - they are so cute!! ~And so is my cousin!I finally finished a square for Warm Up America. I used one of the patterns from the website. In order to get my gauge sort of right I had to drop down to a size 7 needle. I ended up with a 9" x 7" square, instead of 7" x 9" but that shouldn't be to much of a problem since there's no right or wrong side to it. I used seed stitch. For the next one, I think I'll drop down 2 sizes.
Last but not least, the quilling. As I mentioned in a previous post, this is for some friends who are getting married. If you think the bunny ear flowers are different colors, you are correct. Two were from the previous one I did, and two were recently made. I'm planning on using white for the rest of them, since the ivory doesn't contrast as nicely. The heart will have cord glued around it to hide the cardboard. Mom helped me choose some when we were at JoAnns the other day, and we noticed that although silver is supposedly 'in', there was at least twice as much gold cord as silver. The picture on the right is of the one I made a while back for some friends who got married.









My current crafting 'to do' list will probably keep me busy through the end of June.
For a wedding shower on the 7'th, I'm making a set of padded hangers. They will be his and hers themed: one will look like a tux, and the other a wedding gown.
For a shower on the 21'st (I'm not entirely sure I'll go, so this project will be semi-optional) I'm thinking another set of hangers, or maybe some coasters.
For the wedding on the 28'th, the quilled picture above.

Circle of Friends Award

My Mom passed this award on to me a while ago, and I finally got around to posting it!

I am going to pass it to my sister, Grace, who takes amazing pictures, and my wonderful friend, Sarah, who sparked my interest in Civil War history, and makes gorgeous period clothing.

Thanks for the award, Mom.
~Sarah

Altered Notebook

I've been intending to write a post for a while, but good intentions don't get you anywhere unless you act on them. I made the 'altered notebook' (as opposed to an altered book) below for a friend who's leaving the area. I covered the notebook with postcard scrapbook paper, and added some definition stickers, and some 'stamps'. The stamps are from a sheet of paper and are embossed a little. The top pictures are front and back and the bottom ones are inside front and back.

























I tatted this bookmark for another friend who has left the area. The pattern is from 'The Big Book of Tatting'. Unfortunately, it is out of print.
I'm currently focusing on two projects; a quilled picture for some friends who are getting married, and the Mary Jane Socks from the May issue of Creative Knitting. Pictures coming soon. :)
~Sarah

Awareness Ribbon for May

May is National Fibromyalgia Education and Awareness Month. Fibromyalgia is a chronic illness. My mother and grandmother have it, and possibly my sister. Several of my friends have it, also.
I copied the following definition from this site.
Fibromyalgia (FM) — Sometimes called fibrositis, Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder that causes pain and stiffness throughout the tissues that support and move the bones and joints. Pain and localized tender points occur in the muscles, particularly those that support the neck, spine, shoulders and hips. Diagnosis of Fibromyalgia involves widespread pain lasting more than three months, tenderness in at least 11 of 18 tender point sites, fatigue and sleep disturbances.

Fibromyalgia is difficult for doctors to diagnose because the physical symptoms are not obvious, and there is no test that can be used to diagnose it either. One of my friends told me that her doctor tested her for everything he could think of with any similar symptoms before diagnosing her. Fibromyalgia is also difficult to diagnose because every person is affected to a different extent. Some people are treated and aren't bothered by it very much, while others have less success and try numerous treatments and medications before finding one that makes the pain tolerable.

Fibromyalgia Network News is an excellent resource and you can subscribe to a very informative newsletter.

*edited to add the following information from my Mom:
"Something your quote didn't mention are the sleep disturbances that fibromyalgia causes. For most people, pain is their biggest complaint, but, as you know, sleep is a big problem for me.

I still find it interesting that the term "fibrositis" is still being used by some, because "itis" means "inflammation", and there is no inflammation present in fibromyalgia."*
~Sarah

Etsy Shop Open

In case you missed it, my Etsy shop is now open. Some more pictures of items in my shop:

Two sets of stitch markers. After using these, you will never want to use plastic markers again! I'm completely hooked on these beaded markers, and use them almost exclusively.

A pair of Rosewood hair sticks with beaded dangles. The sticks are about 7 1/2" long, and the dangles are 1 1/4". The beads are all Swarovskis.

~Sarah