Melanie's Thoughts and Musings on Life

 I was realizing that I am coming down to the end of the Crafting Journey- only 7 more weeks to go. A lot can happen in 7 weeks. I was also realizing that it is hard to come up with crafting related content for 26 weeks! This week, I have been working on a doll cradle bag. Unfortunately, the yarn I used, I bought a long time ago. I ran out of that yarn and had to buy another ball, though this time, I could not get the color sequence of the stripes correct. It is a little frustrating, but I did some rewinding and the color will just have to do.  This cradle bag is tedious. First, it said to make the base in moss stitch but to do every row (for 30 rows) be k1, p1- which gives seed stitch. I was informed that sometimes the terms are interchangeable so I continued in seed stitch for the base. Then when I got to the eyelet section, I did as the instructions indicated and my eyelets looked terrible! I decided to do it another way. I have often made the Higher Love hat (by YaYa Loves...

 This week I accomplished a lot of knitting. I started a new shawl it is called Dazzling Daffodils it is made from side to side with a pretty floral border. I am making it in purple and pink, though since it is called Dazzling Daffodils, it was originally meant to be made in yellow. I am really happy with how this shawl is turning out, and for sure I will make another one in yellow once I complete it in purple and pink. I also started on a blanket. It is small, it will likely end up being for a preemie or maybe a carseat blanket- that's my intention, but really the items are donated so I don't know who it will be given to or what it will be used for. I am also finishing a shawl that has been on my needles for a while. It is the most hideous thing I have ever made- but I am hoping someone will love it. I am almost too embarrassed to take credit for it, though it has been a lot of stitching, so maybe I will show you a picture when it is completed! I have lots of ideas for stuff I...

 This week I made lots of progress on my knitting! I looked for patterns for future projects and I started a baby blanket and another shawl. I also finished the hanging dishtowels I was making. I knit 70 rows of a shawl in one night (there were not many stitches- but still)! I am hoping that I have a few items to donate for Craft for YEG in September. I do not donate for every round up because I simply don't knit fast enough to have stuff for every time.  With so many free patterns, I don't often purchase patterns. I love to look on Ravelry just to see what I can see. However, the shawl I am making is a paid pattern but so far seems well worth it- plus I intend to make that pattern more than once.  I am really enjoying working. I have not worked a real job in almost 20 years (I don't count my transcription job as real because I worked from home and made pittance for pay). I love the idea that I can be out in the public interacting with people and finding out what stuff ot...

 Hi there friends! I missed a week- I got sick and busy... but I also forgot!  I have not been knitting a lot lately. I have about three projects on the go, but there were several days within the last two weeks that I did not knit, sometimes I just don't feel like it! I have been looking for a job for a long time, and I finally decided to look outside my preferred field and try something different. I applied for a job at Michaels Craft Store and I got hired! So far I love it. I am a front end ambassador, so I greet all the customers and also supervise the self check out and ring people's stuff through regular check out. It is fun and I really enjoy meeting all the people. I have been warned not to spend my whole check there! I am still enjoying Christmas in July. I have decided already on a theme for my Christmas tree and what stuff I am going to make. I am planning to make some knitted snowflake ornaments as gifts. Remember that crafting encompasses a lot of stuff- I count ma...

 It's finally here! Christmas in July! I love Christmas, but I also love that little bit of Christmas that makes its way into July, the happiness, the joy and excitement and the assurance that Christmas is now less than six months away! I love looking at Christmas crafts. Though, when crafting, it is important to start early- especially if you are knitting or crocheting.  My husband makes Christmas crafts. Quite a few years ago, he made some beautiful items. We went for two weekends at a Christmas farmer's market and he only sold one item. He was angry- and heartbroken. It takes a lot of work to make to make stuff and then for nobody to be interested was heartbreaking. Unfortunately, that lack of interest totally ruined his crafting mojo. It is my hope that if he was approached by someone that perhaps he would craft again- it brings so much joy to him to sell things that he has created. Please feel free to check out his crafting page on Facebook   Craft ninja design ...

Today, it hurt my heart, but I frogged my whole purple and pink shawl. That which I could not salvage went in the garbage because the yarn kept tangling. I was knitting it for a long time. There was lace and I kept coming to the second repeat and my stitch count was off. I frogged the whole lace portion (noticed on the 11th row, which was the first row of the repeat) twice! Finally, I made it past that point, and guess what happened? My stitch count was off again! I tried to knit back but my yarn was getting ratty and my nerves were fraying. The fact that I had to frog so many times reminds me that perseverance is essential. Not just when we are talking about knitting, but in life as well. Keep on- and keep on keeping on.  To everything there is a season and a time (Ecclesisasties 3:1). I did my best to keep on, and to fix but I just couldn't fix it anymore. There is a time to frog and a time to refrain from frogging. It was time to frog and even though my heart and soul ached beca...

 Hi Friends, This week, I was looking into doing a blog to make some money. I did a bit of researching and found out that to do that, you have to post affiliate links or do marketing. I am not interested. Also, it is recommended that if you are going to do a blog, it should be 1500 words or more. I love to write, it is not crafting, though it is artistic self expression, but 1500 words seems like a lot to me. Often when I read food blogs, I feel like they go on and on- and I am only interested in the recipe portion, not the process of how the person ended up making the recipe. That is just my opinion, but perhaps one reason why trying to make money as a blogger isn't my thing. Last weekend, I didn't knit at all on Saturday. My son graduated from highschool. I am so proud of him! I did do some catch up starting Sunday and all through the week.  That pink and purple shawl, I put it down for a while. I decided to get back to it and made some real progress. That is until I got to ...