Raspberry Wrap with Slit

This is one of the projects I am working on.  I originally did it in one color, Red Heart's Raspberry, and ran out of that yarn.  I could only find the Red Heart Light Raspberry at our local yarn stores, so I frogged the pattern and decided to make the pattern in wide stripes.  I like that the section with the slits is still all one  color.  Our cat, Oreo, likes it, too.



Sign Language

Two AEDM friends, Kristin Dudish and Paula from Created 2B Creative, inspired my art this weekend, and since my camera is working again, I can post my creation today.

Kristin drew a sketch of a hand showing the sign for "I love you."  It showed the hand from the angle of the person that would see it.  And then Paula showed an piece of art she drew that I thought of as a visual illusion piece.  I was of the back of the hand.  So, I combined the two ideas, and this is the result.

I want to thank them both for their inspiration.  Have you been inspired by other's art?

Newborn Bonnet

I had a small ball of Baby Clouds in Rainbow Print left over from a blanket I made awhile ago.  I crocheted a small hood with a cute little tassel on top, making up the pattern as I went along.  It will keep a little one warm this winter.

Linked to :  Magical Monday Blog Hop

Shell Bracelet

Inspired by some lovely pieces of jewelry by African women in the H.O.W.? project, I made a bracelet of shells  that I crocheted together.  The shells were in a collection of wooden beads and shells I got a few years ago, and have the tops of them removed to expose the swirling interior.  The bracelet is comfortable on my wrist, and is wide enough to slip over my hand.

Bulletin Board Idea

I  found directions for drawing a pilgrim ship at Activity Village.  It is for kids, but being minimally skilled as an artist, I thought I would try.  It came out a lot better than I expected.

Then I went to Piknik, and added the text and rounded edges.  I think it would look great for a bulletin board in my speech therapy room.

Sunset Progression

Linked to Magical Monday Blog Hop

Dog Sweater

Reading that Shih Tsus were not bred as outside dogs, and may need a sweater when walking, I decided to crochet a sweater for Pipsqueak.

I thought she looked adorable, but the kids were saying I was silly for putting clothes on a dog.  She seemed nervous when I had it on her, too.

Maybe we will leave it on the toy dog that my daughter had, before we got Pippi.  At least there won't be any complaints.   :)

Ambiguous Autumn

Green to red, then yellow, pink and brown.

Heat to cool, then warm to cold.

Tank tops to sweatshirts to warm winter coats.

Autumn brings changes for my mind and body

To which I must adjust.

Painted Tree

I am experimenting with the Paint program that is a part of the Windows Photo Gallery.  I worked with this tree last year, but I am learning about colors and shading as I go.  I feel like this is intuitive painting, instead of a realistic scene, and I am having fun with it.

Beaded Earrings

These earrings were inspired by a pair of earrings I kept seeing in an ad on Facebook.  They look nothing like the earrings there, which were red and looked like lucite or plastic, but the shape is the same.  The easiest part was stringing the beads.  It took me several hours to figure out how to create the pattern, but once I got it looking like I wanted, the second one went really fast.

Country Home Crochet Shawl

My prayer shawl is complete.  I really like how the colors combined  together.  Part of the prayer I say when I begin to crochet is "May this shawl bring joy to the wearer, and peace to the crafter," and I know that every time I pick up my hook and yarn I am pleased with my progress.

The Beginning of Recovery

Recovery is a place I have visited before.
But this time,  the hospital was my first stop.
In the Mental Health Unit on the second floor,
Riverside Medical Center, Kankakee.
No cell phone, no pop, no clothes with cords.
Keeping me and the other patients safe.
Jumping right into group therapy,
I talked (and cried) a lot.
I thought the faster I participated,
The faster I could get back to work.
My neurologist, on consult, told me
To stop shooting up Rebif
As the known side effects
Of suicide ideation
May have contributed to my dis-ease.
Wanting clarification of my brain's status,
Dr. S ordered an MRI of the brain.
I announced  as I was wheeled out the door,
"I'm going to get my head examined!"
It was decided I should have images of
Cervical, Thoracic and Lumbar spine as well,
And after an hour, I was halfway done.
I would complete the testing the next day.
I swallowed the increased dose of my antidepressant
Before 10:00 when we were sent to our rooms.
I would have read my book until I fell asleep,
But my roommate wanted to fall asleep earlier.
Day one done.
Light's out.

Pipsqueak

Hopping in the leaves

Now I'm free from my leash!

Roar!

Art Every Day Month

My Front Yard

The Great Pumpkin on Halloween Night

Indian Summer 2011

Prayer Shawl

I love a bargain!  We have a store in our area called Big Lots, and they carry clearance items that have not sold in other stores, as well as large quantity items.  They have yarn there on which I can get a great deal.  I recently purchased three skeins of yarn in coordinating colors that were a total of one pound for about seven dollars. I started this prayer shawl on Saturday night, and finished this evening. It worked up pretty quick with thick yarn and a large hook.  It is supposed to be for someone who needs to feel surrounded with prayers, as we pray for comfort, strength and healing for a person while we create the shawls.  My daughter asked me if she could have it.  We'll see... :) 

Chemo Sweater

My 19 year old neice has recurrent brain cancer.  She has fought this for four years.  She had some good news recently when the MRI showed that there had been no tumor growth for a year!  Almost two years ago, after the news of the first recurrence, her parents got this cute little puppy, and she pronounced it was good chemo, and his name stuck.

We were at Kelly's house for Thanksgiving this year, and she saw me making a scarf for my daughter.  She asked if I was making a sweater for Chemo.  So, before we left this morning, I made this sweater for him.  We all thought it was adorable, especially on him!  When I called Chemo a pretty boy, Kelly said to the puppy, "Yeah, you're pretty, but your Mom is ugly."  I told her, "Kelly,  I think you are beautiful!  Your bright blue eyes...and you are so strong!"  She smiled a little smile, and said "Thank you, I try..."  The poem I wrote on Thanksgiving day was about/for her.

Ocean Waves Afghan and Scarf

I finished up the afghan before we left for my sister-in-law's house for Thanksgiving.  I brought my leftover yarn with me, and made a scarf for my daughter.  I wanted to take a picture of my daughter with it on, and this is how she posed. :)

I think she likes it.  She just doesn't like to have her picture taken.

Sunset on the Prairie

I snapped these pictures on the way home from school yesterday.

And then I decided I had to do something more with the one in the middle.

But I kinda like both, after all.

Green Glass Bead Vine

Another necklace with thread and beads.  It is supposed to get colder this week, so maybe I won't get so warm trying to finish a lapghan I am working on.  I have been more interested in short, quick projects lately, but I really don't have that much to do on the afghan, either.

A Scared Young Tom

Just in time for Thanksgiving!  In speech therapy, not only do I correct speech sound errors, I also work with my students to understand the subtleties of language.  One of these is IDIOMS.   This idiom has always been a favorite of mine for this time of year.  This illustration will help me talk about what this idiom really means.

So, I combined creativity with work today!

How do you use your creativity at work?