Why I Left That Facebook Group

I recently joined two Facebook groups....and have left one of them....

1.  No crochet was allowed...this gave me pause when I joined, but it should have been a red flag...

2.  You could not disagree with posts....they said this was to keep the "negativity" away...however since products were mentioned, some of us felt it would be good to know if some people had not liked that product and why...you know...be an informed consumer....

3.  The group was linked to the owner's business....and after awhile, it seemed as if that was all it was.....and there was an appropriate sad story to go along...and requests to purchase...I did purchase once and the product was very nice...but it got to be too much...

4.  Other group members could advertise their products on one specific day....but it seemed as if the admin could advertise whenever she felt like it.....

5.  There were a 1001 posts every day...it was blowing up my feed....and most of the times I just scrolled through and didn't read....enough is enough....and I hate when people ask a question, but didn't read through the feed...and it was already asked....and answered....

The people all seemed very nice....but I just never felt a connection....

and the last straw....they deleted one of my posts....now I maybe had posted 5 times.....and this post was nothing negative....it was about a knitwear designer....but because it did not fit into their narrow frame of what could be posted...it was deleted.....this knitwear designer just announced she is dying...of cancer....they said it could be moved to the off topic area....no one reads the off topic area...and before I could move it...they deleted it...


Next will be a purge of my Instagram....some people I follow are just advertisement after advertisement...or giveaway...follow me and these 5 other people (because it's a group giveaway)...and then repost and tag many friends...yadda, yadda....enough.....

Stitch Along - Week 17

Hello my lovely friends.....it's been one of those weeks....my bestest of friends and my most "knit/crochet" worthy friend lost her father last Wednesday....she lost her mother about three years ago...so on Tuesday I was at his funeral.....this is my last picture of him...

That is Mr. Green and the leprechaun (can you tell the difference?)....he would come and tell stories to our classes every year...he would have been 90 in May...hundreds of people showed up for his wake...and the people were still telling stories and singing songs when we left from the repast....it truly was an Irish wake....and he was a wonderful man....and raised an amazing daughter that I am blessed to call my friend....

and I get home to a message that my student teacher has the flu and will be out until Monday.....I actually have to teach today!  This was her last "takeover" week.....

Reading: Four: A Divergent Collection and Ready Player One.  Four is on my nook and I read it when I wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep...Ready Player One is in actual book form....and is very lengthy....

Projects:  Still working on my Far Side of the Moon socks....I'm at the heel...I did a short row heel, so I need to sit down and look at my notes and figure out what I did on the first one....
Also still working on my Hawk Baktus...it's a getting there....

There are so many others....but I've been doing well on stamping down the "cast on all the things" feelings....I need to finish at least two more items before I start something new....hear that????

hmmm...but I was asked to make a monkey...I adore monkey making....Wilkey, #2, #3, #4 and #5
and some monkey head keychains and a baby monkey hat....so a new monkey may be in the process next week...who knows????

And how about you?  Is there something you have made over and over???

Please link up ....and link back from your blog...thanks!

 

Love Your Blog: Gratitude

I'm a day late with this...but funnily enough this quote came across my Facebook feed this morning...

and it sums it up for me nicely.....I blog because it's a way for me to keep track of what has gone on in my life....the things I want to remember...I blog, as a place to put the many pictures I take (well now there is Instagram)....I blog to be part of a community of like-minded individuals....and my blog may not be the most popular....(I can't get past the 97 mark).....but the friends that I have made and the relationships that have been cultivated are enough.....I am grateful for them....so here is me saying thank you to all of the wonderful people I have met.....thank you for becoming a part of my life, although we may never actually meet in "real life," I am grateful that you are in my life....

Pictures of a Friday Finish

So last week I mentioned I had test-knit a hat, but I didn't share pictures, as I wasn't sure if I could yet...so the test knit was for Renee Anne of Confessions of a Yarn Addict

My Hubs took the pictures...and well...see for yourself...

Then I told him to do a close up...

So then I took a couple without it on my head...

So there you have, Stitch's Rock Collection Hat....Super stretchy pattern!  But it was an easy one to remember and I wore the hat the entire next day...so comfy too....

I'm joining in here and possibly here and here, when the links go live...

Stitch Along - Week 16

Not much has changed for me since last week....so I'm going to throw the post up and visit everyone's else's works in progress....

Have a great week!

Love Your Library

I have not really kept up with this one....and I was expecting a prompt for April, but there didn't seem to be one....

The other day, I was watching some tv and thinking about this...I recently cleaned up the area next to my bed....and have a little craft area...so I decided to make sure all of those books and magazines were in my Ravelry library....

So, yea, now all of these magazines are in my Rav library..there were only a few I didn't have in there...

And yes, now all of these books are in my Rav library.....

And all the ones that were laying on top are in my library (except the People)...but I did not actually go through the basket to make sure all of those are...another day....and this does not include the 4+ shelves of books and magazines in the spare/computer/yarn room....the + is for the pile I know is buried under some yarn.....in addition, I have 3+ binders of patterns....ENOUGH!  I actually looked at magazines and books on Sunday...and decided I have enough....no more buying until I make some more out of what I have.....but I did get a free pattern with some yarn I bought on Saturday...sigh...

Love Your Blog: Ugly

This week's prompt is Ugly....and I'm sure many people will blog about ugly projects....I had two topics I thought about...but thinking about them, both topics could be merged into one....I decided to blog about how sometimes people online can be "ugly" to each other....

I love my online communities and relationships....but sometimes you come across some really ugly behavior....

I was recently reading a new blog (to me) and the first comment was a nasty, racist comment that had nothing to do with the post....I was shocked...and I was shocked that the author of the blog let it remain...that tells me that the owner of the blog had probably not read her comments (she may have not done it yet....and honestly I've forgotten which blog it was, so I can't go back and check to see if it's been deleted)...and the comment was anonymous....

* I always read my comments...and if  I think it needs a reply, I will in some manner (blogger is not easy for letting us comment back)...and the whole anonymous aspect allows people to be trolls and nasty....

I was also recently reading a fairly popular blog, and the author had to make a caveat at the end, that no, she would not share the pattern, as it was a paid pattern....she had been receiving emails asking her to share a recent pattern....seriously?

* That is copyright infringement and people spend a lot of time writing patterns!  It also includes lots of ***shudder*** math!  it's why I have never written a pattern for some of the things I've made, although I've been asked....

Kathy Merrick, a designer, got all kinds of flack when her Babette Blanket was released...go ahead, google Babette blanket, I'll wait.....(or here)  People were all kinds of upset with her for not giving them special privileges/help/etc...I've met Kathy...she is a wonderful person, and she did try to help people, but I know she stayed away from Ravelry for quite a while because of the flack....

* And no matter how wonderful Ravelry is, it also has sometimes descended into chaos over something someone said/did/perceived was done to them.....and "entitled" behavior makes me crazy!!!

And I've had or heard about some ugly stuff that has happened between knitters and crocheters....sometimes knitters can be downright condescending about crochet....and can be really nasty about it....I have crocheted much longer than I have knit...and I see benefits of both...I make a lot of amigurmis....and I prefer crocheted ones...as the fabric is sturdier...

I've actually been to yarn shops where they have no crochet on display and are pretty dismissive to you, as a crocheter....there are some beautiful crocheted things out there....the Babette Blanket, for one!  Although...eek! Motifs!

Some of my favorites, I have made in crochet.....

And a Kathy Merrick design....

 and Wil-key, he is mine, but I've made this pattern now 4 times!

I'm always disappointed when I see the "ugly" happen, because for the most part, yarny people are a wonderful, inclusive group

* And this was demonstrated recently by Crafts from the Cwtch...she is hosting a Knit Along, when several people commented that they would like to join, but did not knit...she turned it into a Make Along.....

.....As the sign in my classroom says....Because Nice Matters...we should all try to be nice to each other...

YOP: Week 15

Good morning!  So I've been on Spring Break all week...and my busiest days are these last three!  Today I'll be heading to Rhode Island for the day...one of the wonderful things about living in New England is the close proximity to many states...seriously...I can visit 3 different ones on day trips..and several others over a weekend...I've driven around our country, it's not so easy to do in other regions...
Yesterday we went to two different Record stores, as it was Record Store Day...the Hubs used to own an independent record store....he bought some classics...Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and Bill Withers....although we did not buy any vinyl.... I bought things to add to my growing geek collection in front of my computer...and some yarn...we ended up at a little strip mall that had a yarn store, a record store and a used book store...plus a great deli/restaurant!  It was a good day!

I got the bobble head Daryl Dixon, a mini Iron Man and Black Widow and Spock...already had a Michonne and walker, a gnome, a Stargate Jaffa, and Ewok and the green thing to the side is a Glurt, a Lego Mixel.....I have another Mixel to build that looks like a dragon....

So onto the projects...I finished another one this week...a test knit for a blogger friend....which I totally kept forgetting to do.  It's an easy pattern and super stretchy!  I'll keep the hat for myself, as it fits and the Hubs deemed it cute...(he's not a particular fan of hats!)

2015 Completed Projects:
White mittens - 1/10/15
Quick Crochet Cowl - 1/12/15
Stripes Cowl - 1/22/15
Frosty, the Snowman - 1/24/15
Head Wrap - 1/24/15
H's Everyday Socks 2/7/2015
Stepping Stones 2/17/15
Ita's Shawl 2/18/15
Speckled Eggs 4/11/15
Stitch's Rock Collection Hat 4/16/15

I have been itching to crochet...and I think I'm going to work on a fingerless gloves kit I have from A Hundred Ravens...

WIPS: Crochet:
Mission Falls Poncho: (Started 2006)
Round Ripple: (Started 2006 (?) Aiden)
Around the World Afghan: (April 2010): about ¼ done
Betty Shrug: I don’t know how long I’ve been working on this, but it only has an arm and a border to go.

Sunrise Sunset Afghan: this has been hibernating awhile, 6 squares done.

Tis the Season (11/10/13)
Tabard Tunic (NW Diss 2/1/14)

 I have spent this week working on my Hawk Baktus....it's got a couple more hours, then it'll be done...and my Far Side of the Moon socks....my sock kick is starting to peter out....sigh...and I have at least two more second socks to make!

 Knit:
Learn to Knit Afghan: (started 2010): 3 squares done
Light in Shadows (1/14/14)
Garter Path (6/1/14) 

Turtleneck Capelet #2 (8/12/14)
Willow Fields (9/6/14)  

Shark in the Woods (11/27/14)
Olivia Owl (12/14/14)
Hawk Baktus  (1/19/15)

Bedrock (2/23/15)

Socks:
Kai-Mei: (April 2012)
Faces in Wallpaper (Sept 2013)
Adele Socks (April 2013)
Johnny's Socks (Jan 2013)

Irish Tea (Feb 2015)
Those Socks (2/27/15)   
Scarves/Shawls:
Splashy Flowers: (May 2011)

Larry Stashbuster Scarf (2012)
 

Bags:
Beach Bag: (started May 2010)  Just needs lining sewn in

 

KAL/CAL:  
Fire and Blood (5/4/14)
Outlander MKAL (8/8/14) 
Zuzu's Petals (1/1/15)
Downton Abbey (1/4/15)
Far Side of the Moon (1/16/15)

Misc: Sunflower: (August 2012) Need a back and to felt  

Projects in Mind - I have the pattern and the yarn  - this list is remaining about the same...I could add a ton to it...but I'm not going to at the moment...I think when I move one of these projects to the WIP category, I will add another project to this list...I like seeing it all laid out..and it is not overwhelming to me..because it's my list and I can follow it or not!

Gifts/Charity: 
Owl for Rose

Hats for friend's babies (ongoing)

Hats for students (ongoing)
Kimberly Skye's tunic

garter for Caitlin
Two Elsa doll/blanket things

Sweaters:
Test Pattern Sweater
Car Coat
Cowl Vest
 
Shawls/Scarves/Cowls 
Rockefeller
Wholehearted
West End Scarf 
Gathering Leaves
Alhambra
Petal Edge Scarf
Filippi Scarf 
Firefly Scarf 
Fraxinus 
Danube Cowl
Simple City
Fire and Ice
Multnomah
Leylines 
Holden Shawlette
Daybreak
Trellis Shawl
Bedford Springs Shawl   
 
Hats and Mitts
Hermione Hearts Ron
Nehalm Hat
Felicity
Stellar
Cabled Headband
Fetching  
Cayunga Hat and Mitts set
Preposterous
Ruffled hat and mitts
Evergreen Gloves
Sheepy Cuffs
Twisted Rib Mitts and Hat
 
Socks:
Memento Mori
Rubus
Siren Socks
Savory Lace Socks
Autumn Flame

Firebird
Rescue Me, Chin Boy and Show Me the Stars
Twin peaks
 
Bags:
Sarape Shopper
Pleated Purse
Circular Felted Bag

Stitch Along Wednesday - Week 15

The Let's Work A Bit on Everything edition......well not everything...but I did put some effort into a few things this week...

Light in Shadows....I added another two stripes....I am now on to the outer sections...and short rows...eek...

I adore the stitch markers on this....recycled china chips...

Then there is Dark Side of the Moon...second sock...

This yarn just feels good.....

My hawk Baktus is on the decrease, so I should finsih this one this week too...

And I have started my Owligan...over and over and over again!  I kept messing up the ribbing...

I kept finding that a skipped a purl stitch...so I'd have k2, p2, k2, p1, k2, p2,...gah!

I'm still not sure the first two rows are correct, but I'm just going with it now....as I have to do the opposite stitch on the WS and I don't think i did on one row....

Have you ever had something so simple, that you just couldn't get and kept messing up?

I'm off to see Cinderella with my 3 year old niece today....toodles...

Love Your Blog - Beginnings

So the prompt this week is Beginnings....and she prompted us to look at the beginnings of our blog and how we may have changed...

I first started blogging in October of 2007...and in 2007-2008, I had a total of 37 posts....so I wasn't a very regular poster...my highest year posting was 2010 with 249 posts....

I started blogging as a crochet journal.   I've never been able to keep a journal in real life, but I've always taken pictures...so I thought blogging would be a great way to journal those pictures....and a way to keep track of what I crocheted....

Back then, I was also adamant I was not going to learn to knit...I felt like crochet got a raw deal.....and I was going to be true to it....and it seemed to me that a lot of crocheters left it after learning to knit.....well then I got sucked in by socks....and now the majority of my creative posts are about knitting....I still crochet and still have WIP projects....according to Ravelry, I have 13 crochet WIPs...mostly afghans, blankets...I have 19 knit WIPs.....but 7 of them are socks.....I am starting on my first knit sweater....but maybe should finish the crochet sweater I have going...

I just have the sleeves and a belted trim to do.....

I also have joined tons of linkups...so I could discover new blogs and hopefully have new people discover mine....

I have also used my blog to keep track of my travels....although many of my earlier pictures have been deleted...there was an issue...if you click on the "picture" it will take you to it....but I love looking back at those pictures and reading what was going on that day....and I'm bummed when I think of something and it was BIWB...Before I Was Blogging....so I don't have a post to refer back to...

my earliest trip I blogged about...November 2008..a trip into NYC....and a personal yarn crawl I had...I blogged about my entire summer road trip out to Wyoming with my nephew in 2013...what a fantastic trip and I love reading back on it.....

and even the Hubs will tell me to take a picture....so I can put it on my blog...

I am not blogging as a career, or to make money, or sell things (patterns/yarns/etc)...I blog mainly for myself....as a journal of my life....which is why I chose to put Life in the title of my blog...but secondary is connecting with people...as I mentioned in my last post...I loved having penpals...and blogging is like an updated version of that....

and we all grow and evolve throughout life, as should our blogs....

Year of Projects: Week 14

Good Sunday morning!  I am on Spring Break...finally...I thought the last week of school would never end!

Yesterday I caught up on some television shows and finished my Speckled Eggs socks...and started the second of my Far Side of the Moon sock....

It's been awhile since I finished something, so I'm really happy about that...I hope to have a few things to show on Friday....

2015 Completed Projects:
White mittens - 1/10/15
Quick Crochet Cowl - 1/12/15
Stripes Cowl - 1/22/15
Frosty, the Snowman - 1/24/15
Head Wrap - 1/24/15
H's Everyday Socks 2/7/2015
Stepping Stones 2/17/15
Ita's Shawl 2/18/15
Speckled Eggs 4/11/15


I have not worked on any crochet in quite awhile....I really need to get back and complete something...

WIPS: Crochet:
Mission Falls Poncho: (Started 2006)
Round Ripple: (Started 2006 (?) Aiden)
Around the World Afghan: (April 2010): about ¼ done
Betty Shrug: I don’t know how long I’ve been working on this, but it only has an arm and a border to go.

Sunrise Sunset Afghan: this has been hibernating awhile, 6 squares done.

Tis the Season (11/10/13)
Tabard Tunic (NW Diss 2/1/14)

 Knit:
Learn to Knit Afghan: (started 2010): 3 squares done
Light in Shadows (1/14/14)
Garter Path (6/1/14) 

Turtleneck Capelet #2 (8/12/14)
Willow Fields (9/6/14)  

Shark in the Woods (11/27/14)
Olivia Owl (12/14/14)
Hawk Baktus  (1/19/15)

Bedrock (2/23/15)

Socks:
Kai-Mei: (April 2012)
Faces in Wallpaper (Sept 2013)
Adele Socks (April 2013)
Johnny's Socks (Jan 2013)

Irish Tea (Feb 2015)
Those Socks (2/27/15)
Speckled Eggs (3/2/15)
 
Scarves/Shawls:
Splashy Flowers: (May 2011)

Larry Stashbuster Scarf (2012)
 

Bags:
Beach Bag: (started May 2010)  Just needs lining sewn in

 

Since Outlander has started up again, I may work on this shawl....but we'll see....

KAL/CAL:  
Fire and Blood (5/4/14)
Outlander MKAL (8/8/14) 
Zuzu's Petals (1/1/15)
Downton Abbey (1/4/15)
Far Side of the Moon (1/16/15)

Misc: Sunflower: (August 2012) Need a back and to felt  

Projects in Mind - I have the pattern and the yarn  - this list is remaining about the same...I could add a ton to it...but I'm not going to at the moment...I think when I move one of these projects to the WIP category, I will add another project to this list...I like seeing it all laid out..and it is not overwhelming to me..because it's my list and I can follow it or not!

Gifts/Charity: 
Owl for Rose

Hats for friend's babies (ongoing)

Hats for students (ongoing)
Kimberly Skye's tunic

garter for Caitlin
Two Elsa doll/blanket things

Sweaters:
Test Pattern Sweater
Car Coat
Cowl Vest
 
Shawls/Scarves/Cowls 
Rockefeller
Wholehearted
West End Scarf 
Gathering Leaves
Alhambra
Petal Edge Scarf
Filippi Scarf 
Firefly Scarf 
Fraxinus 
Danube Cowl
Simple City
Fire and Ice
Multnomah
Leylines 
Holden Shawlette
Daybreak
Trellis Shawl
Bedford Springs Shawl   
 
Hats and Mitts
Hermione Hearts Ron
Nehalm Hat
Felicity
Stellar
Cabled Headband
Fetching  
Cayunga Hat and Mitts set
Preposterous
Ruffled hat and mitts
Evergreen Gloves
Sheepy Cuffs
Twisted Rib Mitts and Hat
 
Socks:
Memento Mori
Rubus
Siren Socks
Savory Lace Socks
Autumn Flame

Firebird
Rescue Me, Chin Boy and Show Me the Stars
Twin peaks
 
Bags:
Sarape Shopper
Pleated Purse
Circular Felted Bag

Stash Enhancement Saturday - the Kit Edition

So you know those two new groups I've mentioned on Facebook..Addicted to Sock Knitting and Addicted to Indie Dyers...yeah well..they have not been good for my pocketbook...here's the latest..

April Showers Kit from Addicted to Sock Knitting.  This is the last kit she is going to do for awhile...

Lovely yarn - Cloudy with a Chance of Rainbows from Manic Pixie Dream Yarn.  A keychain, wool wash, lotion, some minis, a wristband and a huge bag!

The yarn closer up....

Then I got a kit from Knitmona/Otterly Adorable Knits - I Love Dorks

Knitmona did the yarn, Otterly Adorable Knits did the bag, and the Stitch Stache did the stitch markers...

Want to cast on immediately!!!!! 

Then I ordered some Witch Candy - Cloud Splitter

And got a couple of clubs...first up...Dizzy Color - Sunnydale..Class Protector

This may be one of my absolute favorite colorways ever...and inspired by one of my favorite episodes..

Then  I got the last month of the Boldly Go Where No Color Has Gone Before...4 mini hanks...not sure yet what I'll do with them...and I chose a bucket bag for this go round..

And my Nerd Girl yarn..Random Fandom is Moose and Squirrel (inspired by The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show) - not a fav...probably will offer this one for sale or trade...

Mad Color's next club is Baker Street....I think I'll sign up for that one too...and I know I have one more order coming from Canada.....

Stitch Along Wednesday - Week 14

I am writing this on Tuesday night and I am troubled about something I needed to do today.....

but also, I had something wonderful happen to me to day...the Gifted and Talented teacher came in search of me...he is reading Esperanza Rising with his fourth graders....and crochet is mentioned quite a bit...and it was recommended to him to seek me out....so after spring break, I will be giving a crochet demonstration to his students....while I was talking about it...I mentioned how "passionate" I am about it...and he said, that was fantastic, because he talks to them about finding your passion in something...so I'm pretty excited about this....I am now going to download the book to read...I think I may have a copy somewhere...but I'll just download it, as I have books here, at school, and in a storage locker.....

I have, in the past, taught an afterschool crochet class for third through fifth grade....

In other reading news...I did finish the prequel to The Lunar Chronicles, called Fairest...I didn't think it was as strong as the other books...feeling a bit rushed to me.....all of a sudden, several months or years will have gone by....feeling slightly cheated by it....

Next week is SPRING BREAK.....cannot wait...not going anywhere, but have projects to finish, books to read...and some home repairs to do...plus maybe a few day dates with the HUBS....and since my student teacher is taking over after the break for two weeks...really not much school work....

So still working on socks...almost done with this pair....sorry for the crappy picture..it's almost 11 at night here...

So how about you?  How was your week?  Where you ever required to do something that troubled you?  What is your favorite way to spend vacation time?

and I'm backup at 12:30, so I'll post this....on meds that are making me slightly sick to my stomach...

 

Love Your Blog Challenge

 

So I decided to try this for April....I have not kept up with my blog lately, just doing the bare minimum...so here goes.....the first challenge to explore....

 'Interactions and community'

I wrote about this a bit on my blog a couple of weeks ago...

I'm going to gear this toward my online communities....My first online community was Crochetville....I found many friends on that site...friends that I am still in touch with and have met in real life....

I've actually stayed with three of these lovely ladies at their houses....one outside of Buffalo, NY, one in Pennsylvania, in the woods, against a mountain, and one up in Massachusetts....

And when there was drama, we actually created our own online community....although I have dropped out of that community...I am still friends with them on Facebook...and on Ravelry...my next big online community....

Ravelry is amazing!  I have met SO many people in real life that I became friends with on that site...mostly through fiber shows....Nerd Wars was my community on that site...now that it is defunct, I've floundered a bit...but am trying new groups...

But through Nerd Wars, I met...domesticangel...who I then met up with in Texas...

and I stayed with Ellen in Wyoming...for some reason, I do not have a picture of us together...

but this is her daughter, checking out my camera....

and I've met so many more.....

Fiber Festival of New England

Rhinebeck.....

Just so many incredible people!  And I have now joined a couple of online groups through Facebook...they are knitting groups....but, seriously...they are my people....

and I also joined Instagram...and have become a bit addicted to it.....I have not done the Twitter thing yet...and while I have Reddit and Tumblr accounts...I rarely go on them....

My online communities have become part of my real-life communiteis and are just as important to me....I've been blogging for almost 8 years...and I have made tons of friends through this too...I can't wait to read updates on what is going on in their lives....and again I have made friends...this is Lori...

she is taking a picture of me, taking a picture of her in Grand Central Station....I think I originally met up with her through blogging....but I feel as if I know her so well now....we have met in real life, we have talked on the phone...and though she has moved across the country, I have an open invitation to visit....and she comes back this way frequently.....

So our lives and our communitities and our interactions have changed so drastically with the internet and smartphones....as a person who wrote to 25 foreign penpals and 6 Americna penpals in the 80's...the world is just fantastic now....so open and so many people to meet....