A Hard Week

I don't have any crafty new things to show off this week. I do have another rug started. I have been reading daily, a habit that is as necessary to me as breathing. This hard week did have one very bright spot in it. I met up with a friend for breakfast and we chatted for hours. 

Beyond that I have talked nearly every day to my mother. These calls have been emotionally draining. The aftermath of them have been disturbing my sleep patterns and I end this week incredibly tired. 

My mother, at 85, is going through some changes with more to come. She is distressed by all the details she doesn't understand. I have spent hours giving reassurances that things are alright and she is overthinking details that aren't worth the bother to no avail. My other siblings have been doing the same. Some of them live close enough to be there physically more often than I can. They are all carrying the same emotional load that I am. The conversations start again the next day with the same rants over and over and over again. I have never felt so powerless and useless in my life. 

I don't want to put more about this here today. I just can't. I want to hear some happiness in her voice and be able to sleep instead of being unable to shut off the swirling thoughts on how to fix something that may very well be impossible to fix.

Photo by Ross Findon on Unsplash

Change is incredibly hard for some and especially for my mother. My hope is that when I face the changes that come with age in my own life I can face them with grace.

I leave this post today hoping to feel better when I post again next Friday.
Back with more again soon. Take care and stay cozy!

Finished and Happy!

First you make a pile of strips like these.

Then you turn the strips into yarn like this.

Finally grab your biggest crochet hook and finish up with something useful like this.

It is so pleasing to have this rug done! My original plan with this fabric yarn was to make tote bags. As I experimented I found the resulting fabric too thick for what I wanted. I decided to make a rug instead and it was a great choice. What I crocheted here is nice and thick and feels so good to stand on. Stirring steel cut oats for 30 minutes won't be such a chore from now on. I have grand plans to  make 3 more of these now. On will go in front of the sink, another where I stand and do chopping when cooking and the last in front of the refrigerator.

For the strips I am using old shirts mostly. I choose ones that are stained or show too much wear to go to a thrift store. I start with removing buttons and saving those and then take apart the shirt and cutting one inch strips. Other sources in the future will come as I go through my fabric stash. I am sure I have scraps from projects that will be usable as well as that occasional "why on earth did I buy this" piece of yardage.

Since discovering that this project produces a thick sturdy fabric after the rugs I may try making some bowls or baskets out of  the fabric yarn I make. Of course I will make note of these thing right here on the blog when they happen.

Projects like these rugs and the envisioned bowls all fit the intentions expressed in one of my favorite sayings. You have probably heard it yourself. "Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without." That's me, using is up.

Back with more again soon. Take care and stay cozy!

Friday Funny

Funny Book Hangover Definition Book Lover Postcard
by kat_parrella

I have been checking out postcards on Zazzle this week. I am a Zazzle affiliate and have fun window shopping for things to share. Earlier this week I tweeted some travel themed postcards and today the theme was humor. So far nobody has used my link to make a purchase but the eternal optimist that I am knows my day will come.

Most of the time I share links on Twitter but today I found one and said that's so me and I want to save the idea here on the blog. I do have to clear my head before starting a new story. What about you?

Back with more again soon. Take care and stay cozy!

Rag Twine Rug Progress

Last week I blogged about making yarn from fabric scraps and old clothes. In that post I mentioned wanting yo use the yarn for a tote bag. Well, Gemini that I am, I changed my mind.

I tracked down the largest hook I have which I think is a Q. I got started on a rug to go in front of my refridgerator.  I am loving all the colors and the nice thick fabric this is turning out to be. I chained 26 and am doing single crochet rows of 25 stitches.

I need to cut more 1 inch strips and do some more 2 ply spinning. The rug is between 1/3 to 1/2 done. You'll get to see it here on the blog when it is finished.

Back with more again soon. Take care and stay cozy!

ETA Happy Valentine's Day!

Making Fabric Twine

Quite some time ago I came across and article about making fabric twine or yarn from fabric scraps or old clothes. I just had to try it and so I got started. I could be a hoarder but I keep old clothes that I know are too used to go to thrift shops. I have made rag rugs with these materials but haven't ever tried spinning twine.

If this sounds interesting to you check out the same article on My Poppet Makes blog. The article is filled with tips and pictures to make it so easy to understand the process. One thing I will warn you about is that this process can take a toll on your hands and fingers. I seem to be okay with about an hour or so a day.

After setting this project aside for awhile I started again this week and love seeing the twine I have made grow. I have a soft spot in my heart for scrappy things whether in quilts or yarny projects. I plan on crocheting the twine I make into some large tote bags. I think it would make a really cute shopping bag since more and more cities are banning single use plastic bags.

Check out what I have so far.

Back with more again soon. Take care and stay cozy!

A Birthday in My Family

Today my youngest sister turns 60. I am hoping that she enjoys her 60's as much as I have been. I saw a headline the other day that said 70 is the new 40 and that would make your 60's the same as 30's right? You know what that works for me. I feel as good or better than I ever have. I am truly wishing the same for her.

Happy birthday Sis!

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

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New Year Calendars on Zazzle

We are only a few days into the new year. Have you gotten a new calendar yet? Today I will share some that I found on Zazzle. You can see the search I did by clicking on this link. Please note that I am a Zazzle associate. This means that if you make a purchase using links in this post I can get a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Now about those calendars that I found, see if any of them would be right for you. If not then take a look for yourself because my search turned up 126000 results and I can't share them all.

Succulents 2020 Calendar by Debra Lee Baldwin

by DebraLeeBaldwin

Vintage 1955 Kitchens - Classic 1950's Decor Calendar

by kmcs_designs

Bird Photography by Tom Spine, 2020 Calendar

by TomSpinePhoto

Highland Cows - 12 Months of Highland Cattle - Calendar

by kmcs_designs

Olympic National Park 2020 Wall Calendar

by Rlatson47

12 step sobriety slogans calendar 2020

by kate929

Alpaca Calendar 2020

by WalnutCreekAlpacas

Back with more again soon. Take care and stay cozy!