Bracelets!!!! Craft Hope Project 12.

I am happy to say that the lovely Jade of Craft Hope has announced Project 12! Bracelets for Russian orphans. Imagine the thousands of bracelets we can make together. It seems like such a small thing. Heck, my three year old’s will help me make a few this week. However, it is so much bigger then many of us can see. Many of these orphans feel as though they are worthless ~ as though no one cares about them. Something as simple as a handmade bracelet can change that. They will know that somewhere out there in the world is a person who cares enough about them to make this special gift. To experience the kindness of a stranger, some who will get nothing in return, can bring these children the hope they need. So I ask all of you to find at least the time to make one bracelet, though more is great. Do something to make the world a kinder place.

I stumbled upon this website after reading about Project 12. I will be making as many bracelets as I can between now and the deadline in June. I will do my best to post pictures of every bracelet I make, with links to the patterns used for (or that inspired) each one.

If you sit still long enough…

I will build a box around you.

Daddy’s Little Girl!

No, I’m not talking about the twins. I’m talking about me! After doing many responsible adult~type things with our tax return, I went to Home Depot and had a bit of a shopping spree. Power tools!! My daddy always taught me the importance of having the right tool for the job. Well, I had designed a great portable bed for Pennsic (our big Medieval vacation in August) but I didn’t have the right tools. Glad I have Thor now. No way all these goodies would have fit in the old car.

The big box is hand-me-downs for the girls, but the rest is from my shopping spree. Now my car smells like a wood shop. It makes me happy.

Limp Bound Journal

This Saturday I will be teaching a class on Medieval Limp Binding. There are many wonderful tutorials online, some with all the history and sources for all the supplies. Here I will simply post a bit about how to actually do the binding. Please note that I am not using the proper supplies for this journal to be true to period, or even archival. The purpose of this free tutorial is simply to learn the steps of how to do the binding. I will be using this as my class handout, so it will make more sense to those who are in the class or who just need a reminder. If there is not enough explanation here for you, you may want to find a more in depth tutorial.

I start with the pages. As you can see, my pages are 5 3/4″ by 3 3/4″.

Plugging Away

That’s me. Just working on finishing various half done crafts around the place. I just ran around and took a few snaps to show you all in blogland what I’ve been up to lately.

Last week I broke my rule about no new projects aside from holiday gifts or Craft Hope until I finish all the partially finished projects. There was a good reason, though: I kept loosing pencils. So I took a paper towel roll, a page from a board book the girls had torn up (I always keep old board books that are not in good enough shape to pass on, they come in handy for crafts,) some scrapbook paper, and glue, and I created this little guy.

Rather nifty, isn’t he? And it really only took me the course of one program I was watching with the hubby.

Here we go, a project I had found in my closet.

Craft Hope #10 Snaps

OK, better late then never! For Project #10 of Craft Hope, I made scarves and small spa bags for the ladies and children at the local safe house.

The safe house is where these brave woman can go, with their children if they have any, to escape from abusive relationships and transition into a new life. I imagine Christmas must be a very lonely time for them, so I did what I could to warm it up a bit.

Doug’s Birthday and Janice’s Quilt

Saturday was Doug’s birthday. Unfortunately I awoke in the middle of the night rather sick, so I ended up missing most of the day. We had planned to go to a Medieval event on Long Island that afternoon; I told him to take the girls and go without me. Being a good husband and father, he took many pictures.

The event had a tavern theme, which, in this group at least, did not mean drink yourself silly. It was set up with tavern games of old ~ and some of new ~ tavern food, and of course…

…a bar brawl!

Fun Ideas for Hope!

So the next Craft Hope project (#10) has been announced. We are each basically using the Craft Hope book or the past projects as inspiration to do something to make the Holidays brighter for those who need it. I have been thinking for a while that I want to find the nearest shelter for woman and children who are escaping abusive relationships and do something nice for them. So this gives me an excuse! I made a call to my towns child help number and they are going to give me a call back with a place that could use some Holiday love. I have been inspired by a few projects in the book. I don’t really have the money to buy any supplies right now, but I have tons of scrap linen, batting scraps from quilts, and lots o’ stuffing. So I am going to makes some scarves inspired by the patchwork scarf project on page 41. I will also make some cute little soft blocks and balls from Amy Butler’s project on page 73. Lastly I still have a bunch of that cute frog print flannel that I’ve had forever, so I may make some bibs with that.

I have a cute idea for decorating the scarves.

Want a hint?

Stitching Away

Really, I am. I am working on finishing up a very special project. I’ll share later.

I Promise.

I am also smushing in some of my latest obsession ~ BOOK MAKING!!!

I made a bunch for Pennsic.

Craft Hope Project 9 ~ ConKerr Cancer

I have finished up the pillowcases for Craft Hope Project 9. All the pillowcases are being donated to pediatric cancer patients. This way each child will have something special to make them feel a little more comfortable and loved.

This pillowcase is made from the strips I had left after making the solid cases.