I’m not able to say that I have completed my little blue sweater, I don’t know why it is taking so long.  It is going to be really cute I do know that!

Maybe it’s because I have my mind on so many projects I just can’t get one thing done completely. My mind is swirling all the time with possibilities. Gosh, it’s exhausting really.

For example there is this little pattern I can’t tell you how much I love this pattern. It’s great for doll shoes. It is quick and really easy. I guess it takes about hour uninterrupted to make one bootie. The problem is finding a solid hour in the day, but whatever, this is a great pattern.

I promise I will have that sweater done by next week, I will have it done, by hook or by crook.

What are you working on this week??

But, the “storm” is coming. So they say. I can’t seem to get anything done, I am just stuck in the wait mode. Ugh. So very unpleasant.

Why am I so nervous about storms, well, take a look for yourself. This is what happened last February 24th…

Thank God we were all fine. It was not until June 28th that we were able to move back home. Anyway. That night I was just about to get into the shower, you see that tree.. eeeeee – yeah, scary.  I need to take a shower now, but I’m kind of stuck in I’m watching the weatherman mode.

Lord, help me through these storms. I’m just a little scared.

Still working on my little blue sweater. Just the sleeves to go. I am so slow

I just need to bind off and start the sleeves. Maybe tonight?? maybe.

Took a little time to make a cute little mouse: love. So cute. I guess it took part of an afternoon. She is so very cute, if I say so myself! Pattern link here~ Marisol a knitted mouse~

I have some new projects in the que that I want to start on, so many lovely things but these are on my mind right now.

shawl pattern and so are you so cute!

and look at this beautiful sweater, oh my Gnarled Oak Cardigan This is a for sure. Love it.

Reading: my grandma’s books. She gives them to me and I read a little before bed each night. It’s like my nightcap. Slows my mind down for a really good sleep!

What are you working on??

One more..

Orange Clock, originally uploaded by jennbennstar.

~This is our hope. This is the faith with which I return to the South. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all of God’s children will be able to sing with a new meaning, “My country, ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim’s pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring.”

And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!

Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado!

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous peaks of California!

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!

Let freedom ring from every hill and every molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, “Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”~ Martin Luther King

I always remember the story my friend Ms. Joyce told me.  She grew up in  Mississippi. In the country. Her mom kept a huge garden, her dad had livestock. One day Martin Luther King and his people came to their town, to their house. Her mom cooked and prepared a huge meal. One of his people asked her mom if they could stay the night. Of course she said yes, but inside she was terrified. She was scared harm would come to her and her family if people knew they let them stay. After sharing a meal it turned out that Martin Luther King was called away and they had to leave. So, he ended up not staying. It was not to long after he was killed in Memphis.

I am a 3rd generation American. My grandparents came from France, Hungary and England. They were born here in the early 1900′s. I live in the south and though Martin Luther King was before my time, his words are so powerful to me today. I feel his sentiments and his words chill me. I hope each generation that comes behind my children will be free from prejudice and hate. I know hate still exists around and among us and I pray for a day where hate will not and can not exist and poverty will be a distant memory.

This week I am still working on my little blue sweater, see previous post as to what I’ve been doing.. there is only so much time in a day, you know?

I can’t wait to finish this sweater, it is so soft, but I want to share a few other things.

Like this Bunny, it’s a Barbara Prime Patten,the Well Dressed Bunny.  I have made quite a few of these, you can see some more on my my Ravelry page. She is so generous, you can sell them, give them to charity, which is what I did for Bama Bound Quilts. I made the Bunny, Tabby Kitty and the Lamb. These patterns are really, really cute. Anyway, you can find more information on her page. I used a very very soft alpaca, I wish I could remember the brand, it was on sale at Webs. Ugh. It’s not coming to me right now. For the dress, it’s also a Barbara Prime pattern..Girl Monkey Dress. I used Brooklyn Tweed’s new yarn.. Loft. It is so very fine, yet rugged. I love the colors..

Lastly, if you knit for dolls, you might like this. I have made several different ones of this patter, A Simple Shrug Pattern,
it’s also quick and easy. It’s for personal use only and I really like it. Here is my latest, minus the button and unblocked~
I have some pretty pink and green fabric, maybe for a dress and ruffled jeans, or a peasant dress.  I think it will be cute. This is leftover Spud and Chloe Sweater yarn. Love that yarn.  What have you been working on?

For reading, I am on Marry Higgins Clark, Nighttime is my Time a guy named “Owl” is about to do some bad things. Also, re-reading The Art of Simple Food by Alice Waters. I really like this book, I checked it out from the library as many times as was allowed, and I think I incurred a late fee for it, but it was so worth it. I went ahead and purchased it. I have made many recipes from it, pasta noodles, pizza dough, Minestrone (has seasonal versions), potato and leek soup. YUM.

Do you remember that song? I used to like Hole. Don’t laugh.

I am up to my eyeballs in doll.  My favorite new hobby is making dolls, this is a newer hobby to me, but I really love making these dolls. My favorite parts are embroidering the face and then making the hair. Love it.  It takes wool, interlock, and yarn and magically a little girl appears. It’s so cool and the funny thing is that no doll ever looks like one I made before. They are like children as in that each one is a different, with a different personality.

Making a doll takes much patience.  Sometimes you must stop and walk away.  It’s only later that you see everything is just fine.

Now, I am onto wardrobe planning I have a little sweater on to keep her decent.  Oh the possibilities are just endless…

I’m excited again to join Jenny again for her  Yarn Along. So fun looking at all of the projects.  This week I read The Shop on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber I loved this one. I love to read about knitting and there is plenty in this book! On my nightstand you will also find this Remembering Adelia: Quilts Inspired by her Diary.

As far knitting, I’m done with the little yellow vest. It’s cute. Too big.. I should have gone a few needle size’s. I knew that, but didn’t do it. Ugh. Cotton is not my favorite yarn. Too stretchy. I love the pattern, it is so quick and easy. I will try again in wool.

This week I am working on this Acadia pattern I love it so far. So cute!I am using a wool bamboo yarn. It’s so soft.

Can’t wait to see all the other projects!

Happy New Year’s~, originally uploaded by jennbennstar.

If it’s New Year’s day you will find this on my plate. Every year without fail. It’s just what you do.  Black eye pea’s, cornbread, greens and cabbage. Yum.

Filed under: cooking, home, Life, Memphis Tagged: New Years day tradition's, southern traditions. ]]> http://jennbenn.wordpress.com/2012/01/01/happy-new-years/feed/ 0 jennbenn http://jennbenn.wordpress.com/2012/01/01/handmade-2011/ http://jennbenn.wordpress.com/2012/01/01/handmade-2011/#comments Sun, 01 Jan 2012 04:46:22 +0000 jennbenn http://jennbenn.wordpress.com/?p=2266 Continue reading »

Handmade 2011, originally uploaded by jennbennstar.

 

~Goodbye 2011~

Good bye 2011. I am happy to say goodbye.  Not the worst year by any means yet not the best either. I am so thankful for my health, my family, my job, and the abundance of choices I have here in this country.  I am thankful to be moving forward into the new year. I want to spend a little bit of each day working on finding and expressing my true self.  I want to honor my past and in the same breath lay the bad parts down and walk away. I don’t want to hold onto the “yucky” parts anymore.  I will treasure my happy memories and work hard to make many more.  I will work on having empathy and compassion for those who need it most.  I want to be a better person and to be able to offer help when I can. I want to give freely what I can and expect nothing in return.  I want to stay in my happy place. Peace be with you and Happy New Year!

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Ginny’s Yarn Along.  I have been enjoying her blog for quite some time now.. I love to knit, I love to read each night before bed. Actually I get all my books from my grandmother, she will be 99 in March.  Whatever she gets, she passes to me, and vice versa.  We have done this for years. We used to go the library every other week, her legs got tired and it became to much, but we still read.  She always said she loves to loose herself in a book, a book will take you anywhere you want to go. She is so right.

This week, let’s see, I am reading Debbie Macomber, 6 Rainer Drive.    It’s snippets of many people’s lives that all live in a single community. It seems as if everyone is working towards a happy ending. Who doesn’t love that?

This week my project is this lovely little doll sweater vest from Blue Skies Dragonflies.  I am using an organic cotton it seems to match some  fabric I want to use for a doll dress. I think of daffodils when I look at this yarn and fabric. . I know it is still Christmas, but my thoughts seem to be creeping towards Spring.   Just a little bit. Winter in the south settles upon us in January. The long months are ahead (January & February.)  So, thoughts of spring keep me happy.

I made a new project bag, pattern is from Jenni In Color Order Oh my, love this pattern. She has a smaller size on her blog that’s free, and then she made a pattern for multiple sizes and a recipe for a custom size bag. I love this bag, so clever.  *not the best picture* but trust me, it’s cute!

 

My little friend, always near by.

Filed under: knitting, yarn along Tagged: doll sweater, doll vest, yarn along ]]> http://jennbenn.wordpress.com/2011/12/28/joining-in/feed/ 1 jennbenn DSC_0053 DSC_0054 DSC_0056 DSC_0049