Grace Under Foot

At the end of last summer I rescued cotton skirts from Grace's give-away pile, 4 skirts to be exact. I started at the bottom and cut up and around making one continuous strand to crochet. I threw this one on the floor so it could start practicing. It would go from a life of Sunday morning Church...out to lunch and hanging out(or on) with young women, college bound, with hopes and dreams and enough energy to chase them, to a life of utility. To be tread upon, feet wiped on, laid on by critters, egg shells dropped upon...

...and yet there is beauty and grace in the staying put and providing comfort.
This is my first successful oval rug, I recently finished it to gift my friend Barb for her birthday. Barb has graced my life in so many ways I thought it a fitting gift, a little grace under foot...literally and figuratively:)

Rag Rug

This rag rug, like the other one (here) had a direction all it's own. I may have it figured out, I'll keep you posted! The middle is an old green floral sheet that was my favorite. The creamy yellow was another sheet. And the cranberry was a thrifted-wonderfully-worn-soft-cotton table clothe that I paid $1 for.

It sets in front of my chair that is not far from the pellet stove (here). It feels so nice under my feet, I think it's the worn cotton that gives it that comfort feel. It's not perfect, but it has character. I love it!

Prayer Shawl

Sometimes when life is a struggle, it helps if you focus on someone else's struggle. My brother rents from a lady named Loni, (her and her husband were friends of our parents when we were younger) Loni has cancer and is in the last days of her life. I made her a Prayer Shawl, first to spend more time praying for someone other than myself, second to let her know that she is being prayed for.

Yarn balls all lined up to make sure I have enough.

I am finished with the shawl, but not with the prayers.

The inspiration came from here, Barb made me a comfort quilt to lay under while I recover from surgery. Since sewing is painful for me I crocheted the shawl. I have spent so many hours under my comfort quilt. When Randi and Jeremiah's baby boys were born silently, her and I both sat under the comfort quilt, sometimes alone, sometimes together. That kind of comfort is meant to be passed along.

Rag Time

I started this rag rug by following a tutorial, it soon took on a life of its own and I ended up ripping it out and just freelancing (my way of saying I winged it). The problem was that the fabric was too thick and I had cut the strips too wide. The fabric used here was thrifted curtains that cost me $1. The giant hook was my birthday present and it cost $2.49. That's alot of fun for under $5 !!!

Crocheting the rug, working on those PT chin tucks--multi tasking, and hanging by the pellet stove with Otto. I like to think he's guarding my rag ball from the cat, who can reap havoc on anything that can be unwound.

The finished product is 20 x 30 inches.

Thank you !!!

The rug was a gift for Bonice who... (deep breath cuz the list is long) brought Grace home from Wed. night Church ###'s of time's, made a puppy run many hours away, lobbied for said puppy (there are days that one doesn't count), hauled me to many Dr. appointments, asked questions that I forgot to ask of the Dr, re-answered those questions when I would call because a brain on pain can't remember which end is up, went on info seeking missions for me (a shout out here for Gus, Bonices's husband who works in the medical field), brought me food, brought me pillows (if ever you have a back surgery latex pillows are the way to go), brought me pajama's, brought me dvd's to watch, brought me books to read (still challenged in that area-- the brain on pain thing), brought that puppy treats and toys, gave tons of puppy advice, watched very large energetic puppy for 6 days so we could visit Randi's family for Christmas ... you get the idea.

Magic Tree

This is the Magic Tree in Columbia MO. It's a few blocks from Randi's home. It is very pretty

This is the Magic tree inspired hat I crocheted for Elijah while we were Christmas-ing in Missouri. I grabbed a skein of yarn from my project bucket as we walked out the door. It just happens to be as colorful as the tree. I made it there for Elijah so we could do a little bonding, we both enjoyed it. He was so compliant about trying on a half done hat, once he took off on a run but I had enough yarn unwound so I didn't loose any stitches. I told Randi that he doesn't have to wear it. The joy was in the journey!

Monkeying Around

Happy 16th Birthday Daina!!

I made this for my niece. When she was here months ago she made a sock monkey--she has a fine appreciation for anything of the sock monkey nature. I started this pre-surgery, needless to say it has taken me a long time to finish. This was my post-surgery "if I'm not back to normal soon I will go crazy!!" project. It took so much concentration and the first couple times I worked on it my neck swelled up, my kids were freaked out by the sight, I was a hurtin' unit! I paced myself after that, a couple of rows a day and finally I finished it!! Oh yea. that back to normal thing still eludes me--monkeying around in moderation!