Category: Crochet and crafting

any items related to crocheting or crafting

A Bit of Zen

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life

It’s Sunday night and I’m headed to my recliner.  It’s been a busy weekend.  Yesterday my middle daughter, her godmother and I went shopping.  I drove, they shopped, I crocheted.  I wouldn’t have minded going into the bookstores they went to but my scooter has been sporadic for operating.

When we got home, I finished the afghan I was working on.  Vicki took pictures for me so I can get the pattern ready for publishing.  I have to think of a name for it.  I’m not happy with any of t

he names I’ve come up with.  After I finished it, she and I talked about the submission guidelines I looked up for a couple of publications.  I made a list so she pulled yarn to see if I could use her yarn to make something to fit the categories which she would like.  We found a couple.  I started one yesterday and am about halfway through with it.  I’m hoping to finish the first steps of it today.  Once I finish it, I’ll snap a few pictures of it and send it to the editor.  If they accept it, it gets sent off to them for photographing and then it comes back to me.

I’ll work up the pattern but until after it’s published, I can’t publish the pattern myself.  I need to look at my list of things to do submissions for poetry and articles as well.  I have a number of them to work through.  Hopefully I can make some good progress.

I have so many projects right now, it’s crazy but at the same time I love it.  I love having a list, working on it, and being able to cross them off my list.  

I’m taking three days off next week.  I know exactly what I want to accomplish while I’m off so I’ll see how things go.  There are two small areas in my office I want to finish in order to start the move to bring the bookshelves into the office.  I have a long list of writing projects I want to work on.  My to do list may seem endless but it isn’t (not quite) but I do have crocheting projects and household projects to deal with as well.

This is going to be a mini break before things go crazy at my day job.  Advising and registration will fill up my time.  I’m hoping this time off will be a decompressing time for me before things wind up too stressful for March and April.

The pics are all from our various trips to the Atlanta Aquarium.  I LOVE going there.  It’s expensive but worth it.  I could watch the fish (and have) for hours.  The movement of the jellyfish (and other fish) are mesmerizing and it makes me feel zen to watch them.  I’m sharing here to share a bit of the zen.  I hope the video works as this is my first time posting a video.

New Crochet Patterns

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life

 I’ve published three new crochet patterns.  A Set of Squares is a hat, infinity scarf and wristers.  Squares done three ways to create a love set including a hat, scarf and wristers.  The large pattern provides warmth in the winter.  Featuring a square repeat, this set provides style.  Easy to make from the soft, large yarn, the pattern is simple but stylish.

Infinitely Luxurious is an infinity scarf.  Luxurious and warm, this scarf is easy to make and beautiful.  Made with soft, luxurious yarn, this infinity scarf will keep you warm through the coldest of winters.

Jute & Cotton Baskets is a set of ten patterns.  A unique technique using jute (or hemp) with crochet cotton to create baskets for any use or occasion.  Ten patterns for different shaped baskets. Combining hemp rope and crochet cotton, these make sturdy and unique baskets for multiple uses from decoration to storage.

For my youngest daughter I’ve been working on a doily.  It’s the first one I’ve designed and I like how it turned out.  Next I’ll have to decide if I want to publish the pattern.

I’ve been busy working on things for the two girls in Georgia.  I’ve got at least three more things to make for them but I think they will all be from a pattern.  I’m also working on a blanket for my middle daughter which I’ll be publishing the pattern for as soon as I’m done.  I’ve got it nearly half done at this point.

Wayfarer Home and other news

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life, Writing

Wayfarer Home is now available on Amazon and Smashwords.  This is the next installment of Adara and Decker’s story.  Here is a brief synopsis of the story:

Building a new society, Adara struggles with all the responsibilities on her shoulders.  An uncomfortable ship, seven months pregnant and a saboteur create an intolerable situation.  Teamwork and drawing on all resources, including the children, helps get all the tasks done and sets a precedent on how they move forward as they travel to their new home.
I’m excited for this to be published.  I love the new step the story has taken and am excited for the next book.  Wayfarer War is next and should be out in March or April.  
In addition to publishing this, I’ve been crocheting a lot.  I don’t know if the crochet did it but I’ve on the bench when it comes to crocheting right now.  I’ve been working on thread projects which have always been tough for me and two days ago I realized my middle finger on my right hand (the one that holds the teeny tiny hook) has swollen.  I can’t get my ring on it and it hurts to bend it.  This means crocheting is on hold.  I’m annoyed with this because I have several projects I’m trying to get done for my daughters.
On the plus side, I’ve made my first doily with no pattern.  I really enjoyed working it up.  I’ve always thought doing this would be a numbers thing but I’m going on purely design rather than numbers.  I won’t be publishing this one – maybe.  It’s gorgeous but I haven’t written down any of the rounds.  
I do have two new patterns I am working on to publish.  I hope to get those ready soon, maybe a week or two.  One is a lovely warm winter scarf and one is a hat, scarf, wristers set.  Next will be a blanket which I’m working on – or was until my hand became an issue.  I’ll rest it but it is going to be hard.  Yesterday Vicki was knitting and I was just sitting there.  I found myself very impatient and annoyed and realized it was because I couldn’t crochet.   

Crafting Escape

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life, Writing

It was a good weekend.  Friday I left work to go to the doctor with Vicki.  We were forceful about her needing a different antibiotic.  She has a sinus infection – the first antibiotic didn’t help.  Our ENT said this happens a lot.  So we got the second antibiotic and it worked.

After the doctor’s office, we went to Joann’s to spend my gift card.  I got yarn to make a blanket for my mom as she particularly liked one of the ones I made while she was in the hospital.  I’ll work on it this week I think.  We spent quite a bit of time wandering the yarn aisles.  It was a nice escape.  By the end of the trip, I spent my gift card and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Saturday was errand running and then we watched the Die Hard movies.  While watching I crocheted.  It was nice to sit down and not think about anything but a mindless movie and crocheting. 

Of course I paid bills this weekend and checked on sales for my books.  The fun thing was Friday night Stephanie called for some crocheting advice and we chatted with her while the three of us (Vicki was with me) crafted.  Even though we were in different states we crafted together and chatted.  It was fun.

There were the inevitable chores which had to be done.  Vicki and I worked on prep for food this week.  She made apple crisp and I made garbage soup.  The nice thing – Sunday I spent the whole day in my jammies.  We watched the Lethal Weapon series while we crafted.

A couple of editors sent me books to review.  I’ve gotten eight to ten from them.  I’ve read and reviewed three.  I read one last night.  It was a beginner book for Wicca.  I’ll be writing the review today I hope.  I started a second one on tarot.  I’m hoping to whittle these down and get them off my to do list relatively quickly. 

I didn’t get to publishing but I’m hoping to do that next weekend.  There will hopefully be fewer things going on. 

For a pay weekend, it was pretty calm and mostly relaxing.  I needed a relaxing weekend with a bit of me and crafting time.  It’s nice to escape into the yarn and the pattern without thinking about anything else.  Hopefully it has refilled my energies so I can face another week of handling mom’s stuff and life in general.

Crocheting for Sanity (or as close as I can get to sanity)

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life

I’ve finished a scarf for one gift.  Last night I worked on the edging for a fleece blanket for the mother of a friend.  Vicki told me her favorite scarf was ratty so I told her to hit her stash to find yarn for another one.  I started that last night.

At work, I meet up once a week to crochet with a co-worker.  This week I’m working on a cloth to put in the door of a refrigerator under the ice / water in the door.  Water collects there and I was asked if I could create something to fit in there to soak it up.  I’ll be working on that today during our weekly session. 

I’m hoping the weekend will be busy with crafting.  I need to clear off some of the projects on my sofa.  There are a ton of them.  Some of them need prep work and some need finishing.  If nothing else, I’ll pop in DVDs and watching those while I crochet.  I’m binge watching Designated Survivor.  I have one more disc to watch to finish the first season.  Then I’ll determine whether I’m interested in the second season which I’m hoping is all on On Demand.  If not, I may have to wait for it to come out on DVD and get from the library. 

It’s been a stressful week.  Monday is Mom’s day – I go to the nursing home to visit with her and do anything she needs me to do.  Tuesday this week we met with the county person for aging to talk about the programs.  I also got grumpy with one of her doctor’s offices about scheduling.  The end result – I’m pretty sure that doctor’s office doesn’t like me but mom’s appointments got moved to a city half the distance from her location.  My sister Aimee and I are doing funeral planning today – no mom is not dying but we are being proactive about the process.  Plus for the county programs she has to have fewer assets and funds.  Long term the county programs will help her more so better to spend down her accounts. 

I also need to find time to read some books.  I have four or five books which I need to read and review.  People have sent them to me so I feel obligated to get them read.  I’m working on a tough one where it is a bunch of essays.  The authors use a lot of big words to say nothing.  It’s disappointing – at least so far.  I’ll continue to work my way through it.  The nice part about the essays is it gives me short goals to get through the book faster.  But it’s a large book – 300 + pages I think.  My goal is to set the book next to me.  Then I can read an essay or two between crocheting.  I’ll see how this works.  I’m hoping the other books are better and more interesting. 

Crafting as Therapy

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting

Saturday I had a plan which changed.  My plan was to get a bunch of book work done.  When I was playing one of my games, I got several hours of free play.  So instead of being responsible, I played on my phone until my middle daughter and a friend showed up to go craft shopping. 

I was reluctant – yes, I know but true.  I felt like I had too much to do to wander a craft store or two.  I went and in the first store we were wandering.  I got some Christmas stuff to decorate my mom’s room in the nursing home.  I also found a Christmas present for my oldest daughter. 

At one point, I was by myself in the yarn aisle.  I texted my youngest daughter and she said it was dangerous.  I was good and didn’t buy any yarn in that store. 

In the second store, I wandered off to the yarn aisle by myself again.  I found the colors and type of yarn I was looking for. 

In both stores, I was able to get a lot of great deals.  The Christmas stuff was half off and I had a coupon for 40% off the other item.  At the second store, I had a 50% off coupon for one item and then a 20% off coupon.  By the time I was done, I saved more than I spent.  In the second store, I got three skeins of yarn and with my coupons, the third skein was free. 

The rest of the day was spent crafting, cutting out fabric, prepping projects and crocheting.  I spent most of Sunday (after doing the responsible stuff) crocheting and watching tv.  After all the drama and stress with dealing with my mom’s health issues, it was nice to hibernate in my house and do something which de-stresses me.

I finished one project for a Christmas gift and worked on more prep stuff for other gifts.  I’m happy with my progress on the projects even as my living room is a bit crowded with projects.  I really needed a crafting weekend to help reduce the stress. 

Days Fly By

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life, Writing

It’s only October and my life is speeding up.  My weekends are full and busy.  I need a vacation but won’t be getting any for the rest of the year. 

We’ve been working on the house.  By we – I mean, Ken and Vicki with some outside help occasionally.  Vicki’s rooms are painted and I think she’s got them organized the way she wants them.  Our bathroom has been painted and reorganized.  Our bedroom has begun the process of deep cleaning, painting, and reorganizing. 

On my couch, I have a dozen (maybe more) crochet projects which are in different stages of completion.  The problem – I’m writing.  I counted this morning and have completed eight manuscripts.  Some have been published.  Some are in the editing stage.  Some I’m working on covers and other components.  I need to make gifts for faculty and student workers.  My crochet list is never ending. 

This weekend is busy.  Vicki’s going to a book sale event at the state fairgrounds.  It’s a pay week so we’re going to have all this running around to do.  I’ve got to pay bills.  Grocery shopping needs to be done.  There are other errands which need to be done. 

Then there is the prep for breakfast and lunch this next week.  We’ll have to fit that in.  As is normal, I have this list of things I want to get done but it’s looking like this weekend will be filled to overflowing. 

Instead of stressing about the busy weekend, I’m going to attempt to prioritize things and schedule next weekend.  In a part of my head, there’s the crazed maniac saying but we have (insert list of a dozen or two dozen things to do).  In another part, is the rational person who is saying there isn’t anything earth shattering that has to get done this weekend.  I’ll make a list (of course) and do as much prep as I can so I can be ready to do what I need next weekend which shouldn’t be as busy – I hope. 

On the Back Deck

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life, Writing

It’s a three day weekend!  Yesterday I sat on my back deck and spent time with Vicki, Ken and Beth.  I also sat in the front yard and talked to the same people, my mom and my sister.

Today I’ve had breakfast, made a decision on paint color for the kitchen, and worked on the computer.  There is more work to do on the computer.  I’m hoping my legs last long enough for me to get it all done.

I’ve been plagued with headaches for about three weeks.  It’s annoying and frustrating because there is a lot I want to get done but can’t because my head hurts.  What do I need?  A massage.  Unfortunately the budget is not going to stretch for one of those.

The problem with my being down with a headache, I have all these ideas bouncing around in my head and I cannot accomplish any of them.  Depending on the level of headache, sitting in a dark room with silence is about the only thing I can do.

Unusual for me on a Sunday, I’ve caught up my emails.  I try to take the one day away from all things work like so I can have the downtime my mind needs.  This may be tomorrow as I had a ton of emails to get through.

I’m hoping to get rid of the current headache and either crochet or write after I’m done on the computer.  I’ve got Wayfarer 17 pushing at me as well as a few other projects.  However, I’m looking at my pile of crochet projects and they are pushing on me too.  I need more time to do stuff – someone needs to win the lottery.

Published Crochet Pattern!

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Writing

One of my patterns was published in Pattern Pack Pro through Happily Hooked.  I made a purse from jute and crochet cotton.  I’m thrilled with how it turned out and excited it was published!

With the jute, it’s sturdy and holds its shape.  The issue has other interesting patterns as well.  You can see the pictures of the purses on Ravelry.com.

Next I need to figure out what else I want to crochet and submit to try to get published.  I enjoy this publication.  They put out a good product with the magazine but also the patterns are checked before they’re published.

Mid Week of Vacation

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life

Monday was all about finishing writing Wayfarer 16.  Tuesday was all about organizing stuff.  Today is all about getting book work done.

Yesterday with help from two people, I got my craft room looking like a craft room rather than a storage locker.  I can find things and get to them more easily than before.  Things are labeled and stored appropriately.  I put several boxes of things out for our sale.  I weeded out some yarns (they went into my remnants crock).

Today I made some calls, paid some bills, and worked on the computer.  I updated my spreadsheets.  It doesn’t sound like a lot but it’s time consuming.  I got my sales spreadsheet caught up with the change in the month.  I have to look at the vendors I sell through and see what sales were.  Depending on the vendor depends on the ease of doing this.

When I’m done on the computer, I think I’m going back to reading.  I started the Wayfarer series and am working my way through them so as I edit, I can make sure the flow is right and refresh my memory on characters, story lines and such.

Many things have gotten checked off my todo list and I’m happy with the progress.  I’ve gotten covers made for some of my novels and I’m working on editing.  Fingers crossed I’ll be able to get Wayfarer Convictions out this week.  Then I start the process all over for the next one.

I have all these ideas floating around in my head for crocheting.  I’m hoping to get to some of them this week.  I’ll see how my time goes.  Tomorrow is pay day for me, so more bill paying and computer work but hopefully not as long as today.

I’m taking it one day at a time.  The progress made yesterday is good, though it did clutter up parts of my house as we shifted.  Now we have to make harder decisions about things.