Operation Gratitude

Operation Gratitude 

Listening to podcasts by creative people inspires me. My favorite craft-related podcasts are hosted by Martine (iMake), Marly (Yarn Thing), Kelly (Shorty’s Sutures), Jen (Down Cellar Studio), Benjamin (Fiber Hooligan), and Colleen (DC UnRaveled). 

Links to my faves:

iMake podcast

Yarn Thing podcast

Shorty's Sutures podcast

Down Cellar Studio podcast

Fiberhooligan podcast

DC UnRaveled podcast

Kelly talked about making scarves for Operation Gratitude in several podcast episodes (her husband served in the military). You can send them your handmade scarves and hats to be included in care packages sent to our military. So far I've made two scarves and one hat! Thanks to Kelly for the inspiration, and thanks to Kelly's husband for his service!!

Here you see the first scarf and the first hat I've ever made. I have already made a second scarf and plan to keep crocheting more (I've stashed plenty of yarn)! 

Handmade scarves and hats are just some of the many goodies that are included in the care packages.

Check the website with information about the many ways you can support our military:

Operation Gratitude

Listen to the Shorty's Sutures episode mentioning OG:

archived episode 20

archived episode 21

Shawl progress!

Only one more week of school and then I'll have summer vacation! Woohoo!! I plan to do lots of crafty stuff, starting with completing this shawl I started last month. It's an easy pattern but, unlike Granny Squares, it's not something you can just pick up and work on. So starting next week, I will be able to block some big chunks of time and really make some progress. 

The pattern is called "Sweet Pea Shawl" designed by Amie Hirtes. 

I found it in my favorite crochet book by Debbie Stoller:

Stitch 'N Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker 

This will be my summer mantra!!

Cheers!

Tuesday April 30th is a big day in my home country, The Netherlands!

Our Queen Beatrix will abdicate and her eldest son, Prince Willem-Alexander, will succeed her as the new monarch of the Netherlands. The investiture will occur at the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam on 30 April 2013.

Our Queen Beatrix will abdicate and her eldest son, Prince Willem-Alexander, will succeed her as the new monarch of the Netherlands. The investiture will occur at the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam on 30 April 2013.
Queen Beatrix abdicates not because she feels the work has become too strenuous but rather because she believes that the country should be led by a new generation.

Once Willem Alexander will be installed on 30 April, he will be the first male monarch in the Netherlands since 1890. Contrary to his predecessors, who called themselves Willem I, Willem II and Willem III, he will be called King Willem-Alexander. His spouse Maxima will be Queen Maxima and both will be addressed with the formal title ‘Majesty’.

Source:

http://www.holland.com/us/tourism/interests/the-dutch-royal-family.htm

From far away I send love and cheers 
to my family and friends in the Netherlands!!

My first shawl!

It's still a work in progress (ok, so I've only completed the first row...), but I am excited! 

I started to crochet a year ago and have really made mostly Granny Squares. 

I've tried some other things, but haven't yet been able to get very far with any pattern. 

The first row is 20 shells. It took a few days!! 

I'm just starting on the second row. 

This pattern is called Sweet Pea Shawl and is designed by Amie Hirtes, 

found in the book Stitch 'n Bitch: The Happy Hooker by Debbie Stoller.

Newest family member!

Meet Harley!

He has a very fuzzy coat!

Awww, so sweet!!

Lofty Space

My daughter, who had moved back home after graduating college, moved into her own apartment. Yay! She found a beautiful place close to work in the big city and she’s very excited. To ease my heartache (*fake crying*), I poured my energy into fixing up our loft space to make it my craft space. My sweet hubs and son helped, and even sweet daughter pitched in too! 

I almost forgot these three little helpers...

       

Boots, Roper, 

and Curi!

Here's where the heavy lifting was needed: 

I found this gorgeous wall-unit on Craigslist.

It's the perfect place to organize all the crafty stuff!

My comfy seat is right by the window, 

ready for many happy crafty times!!

Making a difference!

The "Mall-ternative" gift fair was a great success and I want to thank all the shoppers who bought Scrabble ornaments! I sold out (woohoo) and happily took the donation to My Friend’s House last Tuesday. It warms my heart to know so many kind and generous people!!

I want to thank Tara (volunteer coordinator at MFH) for helping with the ornaments and then coming to church and buying them, too! Thanks also to my mom and my sister for helping to jazz up the ornaments with ribbons and bells! And a special thanks to a great colleague who came by to shop!!!

After school I met with kids from my community service club. I started the club this year because I wanted to help our middle school students make a difference! The first project we started involved recycling: collecting can tabs! Today we decided on our next project: collecting “Pennies for Patients” for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I will keep you updated on our progress!