Flowers and Beads

Just little poseys I made in between my much larger projects, plus a couple more Bookmark Necklaces.  They are so easy, I just may have to make a couple of both for each gift!

Crochet Flip Flop Redo

Granny Triangle Flip Flop DIY

After I saw Scotti's crochet Granny Triangle Flip Flops, I was interested in redoing some flip flops that my son had broken earlier this summer.  Of course, I wasn't going to do anything fancy for a guy, but I used her idea to start.

I used two strands of acrylic worsted weight yarn, in black and royal blue, and attached the yarn with a slip stitch to one side, through the hole.  Then I chained a length equal to the size of the former straps, in this case, a chain of 36.  Next, I attached the yarn with another slip stitch to the other side, and did single crochets up through the first 17 chains, 3 sc in the middle chain, and then single crocheted each stitch to the other end and fastened it off.   To attach the loop that was crocheted to the top of the flip flop, I cut two strands of yarn about 4 inches long, threaded them through the bottom of the three middle sc's and tied the two sides together with half-square knots, making a  base for the part that goes between the toes.  Finally, I threaded all four strands of yarn though the hole at the top, and made a double knot, tucking in the edges as Scotti did.  I liked how they turned out.  They were comfortable, and I couldn't feel the knots through the sole.  I had to take a picture of them on my feet, so that you could see the straps better.  The pretty flowers are on my toenails,  not my son's! : )

Update:  The slip stitches I made on the sides wore through really fast.  So, I made knots in the ends after I poked them through.  I may have to use some superglue to hold them, since I don't have a hot glue gun.  I will just have to make sure they are completly dry before my son wears them again.

Bookmark Necklace

I have been making a lot of afghans and prayer shawls lately, that take a lot of time.  I wanted something quick and easy to do for a break.

I had seen a pattern for a bracelet with a loop at one end, and beads or a charm on the other end. I decided I wanted to try a necklace.

 I had also seen a pattern for an elastic bookmark, where the elastic was made into a loop that you could put around the page of a book, and it wouldn't fall off.  Then I decided I would make one thing for two purposes, and this is the result!

Can you tell I like pink?  :)

Choices

“Beauty at the finish,” I said.

At the time I was in a good place.

I was able to accept my situation

As temporary, then,

But today is different.

I know why I hurt,

But I don’t know how long.

Yet, I never know how long the pain will last.

 The thought is no different than any other day.

Today, I am choosing to wallow in my pity.

 I can, however, choose to think differently.

“Adaptability curve,” she said.

We have to adjust to

 Anything life throws at us.

We have to work at it.

 We must reconcile our feelings with our situations.

If we don’t try to fight,

We have chosen to be miserable.

I have to choose every day.

I choose to claim my power and fight.

“Beauty at the finish,” I say.