Yarnjeannie's Crochet Cache

I want to tell you about someone very special.  I didn't know her extremely well, and I only met her a few times.  She is my daughter-in-law's beloved aunt, and she passed away on October 1, 2013. Suzanne was  diagnosed with breast cancer almost 7 years ago.  She faced round after round of chemotherapy (18 in all, I understand) and numerous radiation sessions as well.  I only met her a few years ago, after her diagnosis.  Her determination to beat the cancer was impressive.  The people around her supported her and she was something different to each person.  She was a warrior, even though she didn't belong to any branch of the military.  She was a teacher, without a degree in education.  She was a hero, but she didn't belong to a fire or police department.  She was determined that she would beat the cancer, not the other way around.  She astounded doctors with her strength and resilience. I am one of the people she taught, ...

And I almost missed it. I have not been keeping up with my crocheting lately, with all of the upheaval at work. So realizing that the fair was just around the corner, I made a mad dash for my spare room to go through this year's crocheted items. Some I was holding to send to a NICU. I entered a round ripple blanket, a cup cozy (my own design, the diver down flag), a hat, a ruffled scarf, and a crocheted doll. I am happy to say that I received 2 ribbons this year. A first place for a blonde haired doll and a third place ribbon for a crocheted hat. Pictures to follow.  I have my hands full at this time. I signed up for another online course and hope to be employed long enough to finish the class and get reimbursed through work for my tuition. I am taking a course called Introduction to Psychology. I've started reading the textbook and it's interesting. Not like the business class I took last time - B-O-R-I-N-G!  My poor little dog isn't leaving my side. He...

I've been doing a lot of reading lately.  I am hooked on author L.L. Bartlett.  I've read the Jeff Resnick mystery series, starting with Murder On The Mind (all written by Ms. Bartlett).  I recommend them if you are a mystery lover like me. I am going into my second month working on the assembly line, after being displaced from my job as an HR Coordinator.  I was told, when I returned to work from disability, that the department is being "restructured" and my job no longer existed.  However, there is somebody sitting in my chair and doing my job every day in my former cubicle.  Hmmmm... But my days lately are good - I'm feeling strong and standing up for myself.  I may have more to say later but at this point I can't divulge any more info. Life is good...

This is my best friend. He is always at my side. He knows when I'm sad and need a little extra attention. He loves me unconditionally. No, let me qualify that. He is my best 4-legged friend. My husband fills all the qualifications above too.

I haven't blogged in forever.  I've had some trouble with dizziness and other problems.  Found out what the cause is - happy because I was starting to think I was nuts.  My crocheting fell by the wayside because I took a tumble that pulled the muscles in my chest and kept me from using my arms for several weeks. Hope to be recovered very soon. Aren't these shoes a hoot?  I wish something like this was real - I'd buy them just for the novelty of it! My grandson is growing so much! I can't believe he is 4 already. He makes me smile! He is very into the Nintendo DS and playing Mario Bros. He went to the park the other day with his grandfather, and told me that "Pop Pop was Mario, and he was Luigi". So cute! I hope to have some new projects on the hook in the near future. Will get back to updating on a regular basis. Hope all of you are well and happy!!

The owner of a dive shop asked me if I could make a cup cozy with the diver down flag logo on it. After a couple of tries, I came up with this.  If she likes it, she may put them up for sale in  her dive shop.

I hope that everyone is celebrating with loved ones today. I have been asked to design something and I've been working on it very hard.  To do it in tapestry crochet wasn't giving me the results I had in mind, and working it on a diagonal wasn't doing it either.  I'm going to have to give the project more thought. I put together some sea friends this weekend.  I have ideas for more.  Doing them on the fly without a pattern.

and listed in my Etsy shop:

Dolls!  I love making dolls.  Unfortunately, I have no granddaughters or I would be showering them with dolls!

I have someone contacting me through my blog asking for the pattern for a doll I crocheted (L'il Buster).  I have informed her where she can purchase the pattern (from Kathleen Early- easily found on the web) and kindly declined to provide her with a copy.  Her e-mails come through in Spanish and she says she has the pattern but it's blurry.  I asked her if she has a photocopy of the pattern and if so, that isn't permissible.  I also told her I will not provide her with another photocopy.  I keep getting comments from her and I've had to mark her latest as spam, in order to stop the conversation in its tracks.  I will not - ever - provide anyone with a copy of a pattern used to make any of the items I show on my blog.  I purchased the pattern and others can do the same.  I respect the copyrights of others. If you see something on my blog that you like - thank you for your kind comments.  But please don't ask me to provide you with the p...

Okay, no one needed scarves...LOL!  My giveaway went nowhere.  I will probably donate them somewhere. My latest project on my hook is a doll I just finished.  Next is a dog for my grandson.  Here are photos of the doll.  She is 18 inches tall.  I love crocheting dolls.  I will probably send one or two to the hospital.

I am offering a spring scarf to two lucky winners.  In order to take a chance on winning one of these scarves, just comment on this post stating you would like to take part in the contest.  On February 28, I will pull the names of 2 of the commenters, and the first winner will take the multi-colored scarf and the second name will take the pink.  Or, I may offer the first name pulled to choose the color they want, and the second name pulled will receive the remaining scarf.  On 2/28, I will announce the names - check back to see if your name appears.  If so, I will contact you, or if I'm not able to reach you, you may contact me through my blog.  If you have any questions, please let me know. Here are photos of the scarves:

Here are the photos of some of the baby blankets I completed and my grandson's angry bird hat.  I've been having a blast crocheting.  I've missed it terribly.  I currently have two more blankets almost ready.  1 purple and white and 1 blue and white.

I am enjoying my crochet time - haven't been able to do this in a long time.  I've finished 4 infant blankets.  2 of those are meant for a friend who had premature twins.  The little girls are doing fine so far.  I also made 2 sets of hats for them as well. For the NICU, I have 2 blankets finished, along with a hat.  Pictures to follow.

10 days out and I've lost 8 pounds.  I don't go back to see the doctor for another 4 weeks now.  Incisions are all healing nicely.  I will be out of work for at least 6 weeks.  It will all be a  matter of getting used to eating again.  At this point, I am on a full liquid diet and trying to get 60 grams of protein in each day, along with 64 oz of water/fluid.  It's not easy. I've been spending my off time crocheting.  I currently have 2 preemie hats and am working on the second preemie blanket for a friend who had 2 baby girls very early.  The babies are doing well, and I hope that they continue to improve day by day.  The second afghan should be finished tomorrow, at which time I will wash them all and pack them up for shipment.  Photos to follow.  I don't have my camera handy and my cell phone doesn't take good photos, or I would take a couple of pics now.

I've just gotten out of the hospital.  I had a gastric bypass done.  10 years ago I had a lapband put in in an effort to help control my weight.  I did quite well with it until my depression took on a life of its own working for "the boss from hell".  The lapband led to problems with acid reflux and GERD and possible Barrett's Esophagus. After consulting with a gastrointestinal specialist for all these years, he decided that since medications weren't helping me anymore, perhaps I should consult another bariatric surgeon to have the band removed. The wonderful bariatric surgeon was able to not only get approval to remove the band, but to convert my surgery to a bypass. Now begins a new life again - one in which I picture myself healthier and able to spend constructive time with my grandson (and future grandchildren). Wish me luck!

This is a video of my grandson "reading" this charming book.  I bought the book for him for Christmas - I'd never heard of it before, but it's become one of his favorites.  What a great idea!  The book has a simple rhyme and the windows that open let him know what the next line will be! I'd love to be able to write a children's book one day! Justin Reading

I've made myself a promise to crochet more this year.  It calms me and makes me feel better about myself - I love taking a skein of yarn and turning it into something useful or pretty, or both! I've already started with a hat for my daughter-in-law and I'm making a second just like it.  I'll post a photo when it's finished.