PTL Thursday [Wisdom]

Proverbs 16:16

Colossians 1:9

Romans 11:33

Revelation 7:12

Finally I'm Crocheting a Christmas Stocking

Since last year, I have wanted to crochet a Christmas Stocking. I even bought some yarn last fall, but it has languished in my stash. So once again, I am browsing patterns for stockings.

Here is a great tutorial for a simple stocking by Crochet Crowd. It includes simplified diagrams for short row heels.

This image courtesy of thecrochetcrowd.com as seen on AllFreeCrochet.

 Here is one called Tree of Light stocking. I'm not much of a cross stitcher, but some of you may be.

From AllFree Crochet, courtesy of MomsLoveOfCrochet

However, this is the one I think I will make. It is from Red Heart, and they have five pages of really clever home decor items for Christmas.

Courtesy of RedHeart.com

Do you have a favorite pattern for stockings? Share the link in the comment section.

Handmade Critters

I'm pleased to introduce you to Cindy Friend. She is the owner of Handmade by Cosmo on Etsy, and she writes a blog. Her Critters come in "Big", "Bitsy", and "Itsy", and they are so sweet.

Cozy Corner Crochets:  What are the names and addresses of your Pages, Blogs, and/or  Shops
Cindy Friend:  Facebook         - www.facebook.com/handmadebycosmo
                         Blog                - handmadebycosmo.wordpress.com
                        Etsy Shop        - www.etsy.com/shop/handmadebycosmo

CCC:  What materials do you work with
CF:   Felt, mostly made from recycled plastic bottles, embroidery thread, buttons, beads, fiber fill,

CCC:  How did you get started and where do you see yourself headed
CF:  I’ve been a seamstress all my life, it seems...clothing, toys, if it could be made with fabric, I could make it.   I love to do hand embroidery, too.  I love the intricate work.  I had been toying with the idea of making some felt animals, then my friend got sick, and I made her a magical unicorn.  She got well, and I learned that I Love making Felt Critters, so that’s what I’m doing now.  

PTL Thursday

Nehemiah 8:10

Psalms 30:5

Acts 13:52

Blogger Is Not My Friend Anymore

August 20-Give a tip for new bloggers.

This must not be my day for blogging. I had written five paragraphs, saved my work, then BLAMMO! Gone.

• Number one tip has now become: DON'T PRESS CTRL-Z WHEN USING BLOGGER.

Normally, in Windows, pressing ctrl-z undoes an action. Apparently, not in Blogger, because when I did that, my entire post was erased. No undo arrow to undo my undo.

I'm going to go cry in a glass of wine and call it a night. Please don't make the same mistake I did.

Homage to My Husband

August 16- 10 things you love about your significant other (or kids or pets).

My husband has wonderful qualities. That's why I married him, of course.

He is: (in no particular order)

1. Steadfast
2. Kind
3. Intelligent
4. Tall
5. Loving
6. Cautious
7. Hard-working
8. Fun
9. Handsome
10. Responsible

Helping me up the hill at Newgrange, Ireland, 2007

Fishing at Cochiti Lake, New Mexico 2009

He made his own beer, 2009

Anniversary cruise to the Caribbean, 2010

Mother's Day at the baseball game, 2011

PTL Thursday

1Chronicles 16:24,25

Psalm 67:3

1Thessalonians 5:16-18

Who Is Responsible For Educating Our Children

August 13- What type of schooling do you currently or plan to do with your children?

You may know by now that my children are grown. However, when they were little I wanted to homeschool. At that time, homeschooling was still illegal in some states, and there was quite a bit of controversy surrounding it.

By the time my first one got to school age, we had made a major move across the country. The job my husband had taken fell through after three months. No one was hiring 40-year-old white males. Wrong age, wrong color, wrong gender. I came to hate affirmative action.

As a consequence, I went to work. My son went to kindergarten at a public school. He was quite gifted in math, though he had trouble reading and spelling. At that time, there was a part-time gifted program, but the child had to read. I wanted to move him up to first grade, but the teachers and principal argued against it, saying he would suffer socially. I caved in. The principal said that it was obvious he had had a lot of exposure to learning environments---whatever that meant---and to keep doing it.

A New Line---Crochet Stitch Markers

I haven't written a post about my business in a while, so I want to update you on a new line that I've introduced. It is stitch markers for crochet.

They are beaded and use a leverback ear wire to attach the marker to the stitch. Once closed, the marker will not fall off.

I've had some difficulty deciding on the pricing. If you look at the design and work I've put into one bead, you'll see that it is just like a beaded earring. People will pay $8 to $15 for a pair of beaded earrings, but I don't think they will pay that much for a pair of stitch markers.

One seller is selling a set of 5 markers for $5. I don't know how she can afford that price. The price range I found was $10 to $12 for a set of 5. This is using the lever back wires and assorted beads. I put more beads on mine than most, so maybe I will use fewer beads to lower my price.

Please visit my Etsy shop, Cozy Corner Crochets, for more information.

Also, please leave me some feedback about the pricing.

Reducing the National Debt

August 12- What's an eco-friendly organization that you could get behind and support?

It's FREE!

Isn't that eco-friendly?

It's always available, in the right amount, at the right temperature, at the right time.
It prevents illnesses, including obesity.
It's a renewable resource. 
It prevents death.

How much more convincing do you need?

The Animals That Share Our Home

August 10- Share a pet that you have or had in the past.

My goodness, do you realize how many pets one can claim in nearly 60 years of living! If you are an animal lover like me, that can add up to a lot. Many of my pets lived long, loving lives, though some got away too quickly for me. Just two years ago we lost two 19-year-old cats. The same year we also lost two old dogs. That was a rough 12 months.

For the past 15 or so years I've kept chickens which all got names. They say if you name something, it becomes your pet. Currently, I have Opal and her chick Pebbles, Rocky, Garnet, and Ruby. There is also Rooster, but he's not a pet, just a nuisance. We also have a duck named Quackenbush.

Garnet checking out Quackenbush's makeshift pond.

While my daughter is away at college,  I take care of her dog Peanut. Peanut has lived with us since she was about 8-weeks old, and she is now about 6-years old. About two years ago we adopted a tuxedo cat that we named Clara Bow. She has the most unusual marking on her face that looks like a white mustache. It took me a little while to get used to it because it was odd looking to me. Now I don't notice it; it's just part of her character. When we got her, she had never been outside. We planned on keeping her that way too, but she was so fascinated by the activity going on outside that we started letting her out in the yard. At first she would just go out and look around, then come back into the house. Now she is a regular "barn cat", as my husband likes to call her.

Clara Bow

Peanut