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You are here: Home / Archives for crochet

Crochet, Dystopian, and a Question

February 16, 2023 at 9:07 am by Claudia

Lucy wondering: “What the heck is Valentines Day??” I didn’t pose these two, Lucy’s head was already tilted this way. By the way, I just remembered that Zoe’s dress was originally Lucy’s. That’s what Lucy was dressed in when she arrived here at the cottage.

Hmmm. Maybe Lucy is wondering why Lucy is wearing her dress.

Today: Blythes, if only because that’s what I was working on most of the day yesterday. Actually, I was working on this ↓

That darned hat.

It was the most frustrating day. This yarn is very fine, full of varying thicknesses, and – for me – incredibly hard to crochet with. I’ve been wanting to store the yarn I have in the den, but I had yet to make a hat from this. So that was my project yesterday. It took me at least two hours longer than it would normally. I was cussing up a storm. It stretches too much and, often, attempts to hook the yarn are fruitless. On and on it went. And then, as I was getting close to the end of the pattern, I grabbed Katie to check on the fit and my suspicions that it was much too big were confirmed. It’s the same weight as the other yarns I’ve been using, but as all knitters and crocheters know, that ‘weight’ and gauge can vary. What to do? I did another two rows of decrease and prayed it would work. It did, but just barely.

It’s very pretty yarn and it is part silk/part mohair, so it’s very soft. But it’s a pain in the tush to work with. This little endeavor, which was supposed to go quickly, took up the entire afternoon.

She looks cute, though.

We’ve been watching The Last of Us –  episodes are being released weekly – a dystopian series about what happens after a fungal infection kills the vast majority of the population (it’s excellent) and Station Eleven, a series based on the book written by Emily St. John Mandel, which I raved about on this blog when it was first published. It’s also dystopian; this time it’s the flu that is the culprit. Normally, I don’t watch series based on favorite books, as you know, but several years have passed since I read Station Eleven, and I couldn’t remember the details any longer, so we went for it. Both series are very, very good. Tonight, we’ll watch the final episode of Station Eleven. By the way, both series are on HBO Max, which we get on a monthly basis (can cancel at any time) through Amazon Prime.

The temperature hit 65 degrees yesterday! But it was very windy, as it often is when the weather is unseasonably warm. Today: 60 degrees with a low of 48. Tomorrow, the low plunges down to 22 degrees. Crazy weather! It will get colder next week, with a chance of snow. Earlier, the prediction was for substantial snow fall. Now, it’s been changed to snow showers mostly; maybe some accumulation on one day. But I bet that changes.

Okay. I’ve been thinking about some other way to display my girls, but there are constraints. They have to be in the same place they are now – that little niche in the den. If I buy a narrow cabinet from IKEA, where do I put the music cabinet? I can’t see any other place in the house where that piece will fit. If I find something with deep and tall enough shelves that can fit on top of the cabinet, it has to be just perfect, like the egg cup cubby was perfect. If I install shelves on the wall, then they have to be be deep enough so the girls don’t slide off. Every time we come down the stairs to the den, there’s a bit of vibration and I don’t want it to cause any of these girls to slip and fall.

Any ideas?

Stay safe.

Happy Thursday.

 

Filed Under: Blythe dolls, crochet 26 Comments

Hats

September 13, 2022 at 9:09 am by Claudia

I’m going to make this quick because the server that hosts this blog keeps going down and it’s a pain in the tush. I’m sure they’re working on it, but what the heck?

I had such bad back pain last night when we were going to bed that I couldn’t stop groaning. I think it was due to back spasms. But I kept saying to Don, over and over, “I should never have driven to Rochester.”

I didn’t think I had a choice and I would have lost a chunk of my fee, so I did it. But boy, am I paying for it.

Some recent pics of the girls:

Harper, Wren, Olivia and Bertie.

While watching the events in the UK, I made another hat. Imogen kindly consented to model it.

Another way to wear the hat:

I really love crocheting this little pattern: it’s fairly simple and it’s awfully cute. I have to find more yarn in this weight because I’ve nearly exhausted my color options for this particular yarn.

Crocheting on a small project is very calming and it gives me something to do. No more big projects, thank you very much, they took a toll on my right wrist. This sort of endeavor, however, doesn’t bother me at all.

I zoom coach tomorrow and Friday.

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.

Filed Under: Blythe dolls, crochet, life 27 Comments

Back Home

September 11, 2022 at 9:09 am by Claudia

Good morning!

I’m back home. I’m so glad I do not have to make that trip again! I will say that all four trips to and from Rochester were beautiful. Beautiful scenery and beautiful weather. I’m grateful for that. On the return home, Google Maps sent me on a different route for the last leg of the journey and that helped perk me up. I came home to a big hug from my husband, who was concocting a new recipe for dinner as a welcome home.

I drove directly to the hotel this time as I had a few hours before I needed to be at the theater. This time, my room was smaller but faced the Genessee River, so I had a lovely view. So much nicer than facing the parking lot, like my last visit.

At the last minute, I decided to bring Holly along for the ride because I had also packed some yarn to crochet another hat and I needed a model.

She liked the view, too.

My husband made the most wonderful dinner for me. The cooler worked beautifully, by the way. (I had no idea what was in the containers as they were supposed to be a surprise.) The contents: fried potatoes, thinly sliced, which is one of my favorite Don creations, and a vegetarian stir-fry full of tasty favorites. Oh my goodness! It was so appreciated after the long drive.

I headed to the theater to watch the final Preview. There were so many technical problems earlier in the week. These things happen. So a couple of previews had to be cancelled. I have to say it’s in great shape, despite all the stress earlier in the week. The cast is wonderful. The actress playing Jane did it in Hartford, as well, and she’s such a powerful and heartbreaking Jane. The actor playing Rochester is simply wonderful. They have terrific chemistry. The audience loved it and stood up immediately. I’m glad for the cast, but my side note is that standing ovations are a dime a dozen nowadays. In my earlier years in the theater, they were rare, so their impact was powerful. Now? People just stand up no matter what. Sigh. I’m not saying this cast didn’t deserve the ovation, just that if ovations always happen, they lose their power.

I took notes, talked to Elizabeth (the director) and Fiona (the dramaturg) and then got back to the hotel around 10:45. I called Don to let him know I was safely in the hotel, and took a bath, as my back was very painful after the drive.

The next morning, I finished crocheting the hat. I left a little later than planned because I didn’t want to leave any stitches still on the hook, so I crocheted like a madwoman. Hat? Finished.

I’ll let Holly model it for you (picture taken in the hotel.)

I’ve figured out the kind of yarn I need to use, so this one turned out perfectly.

I left Rochester around 9:40 and arrived home exactly 5 hours later at 2:40.

I regret to say that my back suffered from all the hours in the car, so I was in pain last night and am this morning, as well. It will get better. I have a few days free before I coach again and I’m going to baby it.

Coaching on Jane Eyre  is complete.

I’m happy to be home. It’s raining outside!

I write about 9/11 every year. This year, I’m simply going to acknowledge the date.

Stay safe.

Happy Sunday.

Filed Under: Blythe dolls, coaching, crochet, On The Road 19 Comments

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Welcome!

Welcome!

I live in a little cottage in the country with my husband. It's a sweet place, sheltered by old trees and surrounded by gardens. The inside is full of the things we love. I love to write, I love my camera, I love creating, I love gardening. My decorating style is eclectic; full of vintage and a bit of whimsy.

I've worked in the theater for more years than I can count. I'm currently a voice, speech, dialect and text coach freelancing on Broadway, off Broadway, and in regional theater.

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