tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23589051628393179662024-03-19T07:45:37.343-05:00Crochet Queen: Royal RamblingsThe Queen is passionate about crochet and she is always looking for ways to "hook" her readers into reading about her weekly ramblings and about how crochet and her life are inextricably 'linked".CrochetQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919768072384261544noreply@blogger.comBlogger375125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358905162839317966.post-88986160871165658392024-03-14T16:04:00.000-05:002024-03-14T16:04:27.666-05:00 National Women's History (Herstory) Month ~ March 2024<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfnT7nnyYyeVs8VSc75uvGqUm2YI1bXQMrtTdZCSG6-fFpIl01xPeCQb5QdqgIDPhYP3LOiMkINAqLlDJcL4QD2VvQt2a8slkf7htJKXDOoqGUc8JpdbaOVnchMvcEjDXwbK94NRXK5WmLBZAAwlKLGxTErN2SSHmefLLrNS9xxFLkQcbPxmcYhXqVX1hR/s1080/FB_IMG_1709481603442.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1080" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfnT7nnyYyeVs8VSc75uvGqUm2YI1bXQMrtTdZCSG6-fFpIl01xPeCQb5QdqgIDPhYP3LOiMkINAqLlDJcL4QD2VvQt2a8slkf7htJKXDOoqGUc8JpdbaOVnchMvcEjDXwbK94NRXK5WmLBZAAwlKLGxTErN2SSHmefLLrNS9xxFLkQcbPxmcYhXqVX1hR/s320/FB_IMG_1709481603442.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>During this profoundly important month of celebrating women, I'm going to tell you my story; I hope you will tell me yours here where it is safe and remains anonymous, if you wish.</p><p>I grew up in a blue-collar family in a small-ish town in Indiana. I wanted to be a nurse but had expectations of studying at a hospital nursing program. It was just happenstance that I graduated from the Baccalaureate program at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana in 1970</p><p>Married before graduating, Alan and I wanted to join the Peace Corps. My first plane ride ever was when we went to Los Angeles for our Peace Corps interview! My world started to expand from there!</p><p>With little more than six month's hospital experience, I began to run an out-patient clinic in our Honduran village of Las Vegas de Santa Barbara. It is there that I learned a new language, worked with humans who looked different than me, and experienced a culture and level of poverty that I could not have previously imagined.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEsvtJ3lwFbmRL7cePmq1tppUlUiqpEFyO0yizIg7sibm7XHO89RlNtWXnHemNAN-IVDCS7COkGdOml_jYHxqUkR8Jws1YYP0iC9ooZCMGMreeUHvHEYjSn83pMQJBEN9XnMQpaROMkST7-j4TXGWTTEfnRMXphJeln4qEL7Ivlh0FUc5Ai3F5PdaClNp_/s1444/Dedication-New-Clinic12-31-1971A.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="955" data-original-width="1444" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEsvtJ3lwFbmRL7cePmq1tppUlUiqpEFyO0yizIg7sibm7XHO89RlNtWXnHemNAN-IVDCS7COkGdOml_jYHxqUkR8Jws1YYP0iC9ooZCMGMreeUHvHEYjSn83pMQJBEN9XnMQpaROMkST7-j4TXGWTTEfnRMXphJeln4qEL7Ivlh0FUc5Ai3F5PdaClNp_/s320/Dedication-New-Clinic12-31-1971A.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Dedication of my clinic</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxcPITezhg_Fq_HcQ7q_xEuQlnAdlrSGXxzs9jcESfQYFmtVkqoV1oKn9o_jq-QSPZ58AQ_awfdMVZlgNMEV-ta_AP4NmJ1K7bkzhEcYHgALdPs3DSPXbRSoD9lxcoDnWDmsSkCN6-E-Yn399uyCg44lFgq6P3NdfLS4zBa8H-uFZ5mFNtP8g_4vAmEJg/s1490/NursesAidePachina.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1014" data-original-width="1490" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxcPITezhg_Fq_HcQ7q_xEuQlnAdlrSGXxzs9jcESfQYFmtVkqoV1oKn9o_jq-QSPZ58AQ_awfdMVZlgNMEV-ta_AP4NmJ1K7bkzhEcYHgALdPs3DSPXbRSoD9lxcoDnWDmsSkCN6-E-Yn399uyCg44lFgq6P3NdfLS4zBa8H-uFZ5mFNtP8g_4vAmEJg/s320/NursesAidePachina.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>My Nurse's Aide, Pachina, and Me. </b><b>I learned so much from her; and will never forget her!</b></p><p style="text-align: left;">During my two years of volunteer service (1971-73), I was oblivious to protests and political upheaval in the US. I learned about the feminist movement only because my sister-in-law sent me a copy of <i>Ms. Magazine!</i></p><p style="text-align: left;">Upon returning home, we began our re-entry by seeking jobs. I landed a job working for the Illinois Migrant Council as a Public Health Nurse with migrant apple pickers. My resume with "Spanish language skills" acquired in Honduras was an asset! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicbSmD6gW3cqTYiQSdnuplbPeJ2FnWD0KAwF9vZxBXzz24TPRMQFgJIrc89JqpnCGbBz7qk-MeDqX3kDFqtMMW9L-_sCeF_dN5V5j_56crI5UFUEI8p9f-VaBt8qTOrEaJ2mZh3TBbZkPEyahItWgSxUuNFJThWuRp5ZJ3l6AQ2qjqOS4BpwUdhN6KLML4/s960/FB_IMG_1706026755264.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="769" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicbSmD6gW3cqTYiQSdnuplbPeJ2FnWD0KAwF9vZxBXzz24TPRMQFgJIrc89JqpnCGbBz7qk-MeDqX3kDFqtMMW9L-_sCeF_dN5V5j_56crI5UFUEI8p9f-VaBt8qTOrEaJ2mZh3TBbZkPEyahItWgSxUuNFJThWuRp5ZJ3l6AQ2qjqOS4BpwUdhN6KLML4/s320/FB_IMG_1706026755264.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">My husband's job led us next to Massillon, Ohio. There I answered an ad for a nurse at a Planned Parenthood clinic. Once hired, I was sent to train as a Family Planning Nurse Practitioner!</p><p style="text-align: left;">I worked, for the first time, with a group of strong women dedicated to serving the health care needs of women without prejudice. The seeds of strong feminist views were being sewn in my world. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4yj7nbM4RJhixYZluujdk9HyNLv6zjrR297ij4VQVivnJ-U-7iidSsAnY3fPooyOHYZU00LCEXiHt2GEcfv9OmpDOI6nZ8u2WycKKi32_elUMIl42gEQea-swAKrmo8RpTGw2QvEKLIbyFLGyVIIlMQSpRI7BtCjdDfZAZd4GFL5LjB8ArLELRetAGXH/s672/FB_IMG_1710095485125.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="469" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4yj7nbM4RJhixYZluujdk9HyNLv6zjrR297ij4VQVivnJ-U-7iidSsAnY3fPooyOHYZU00LCEXiHt2GEcfv9OmpDOI6nZ8u2WycKKi32_elUMIl42gEQea-swAKrmo8RpTGw2QvEKLIbyFLGyVIIlMQSpRI7BtCjdDfZAZd4GFL5LjB8ArLELRetAGXH/s320/FB_IMG_1710095485125.jpg" width="223" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">Support groups that met in women's homes were evolving at the time. I attended some, but was saddened to hear stories of defeat: abuse, verbal or physical; estrangement; lack of housing and education; low wages; lack of skills; inequality in the workplace! In these groups, espousing feminism as a solution to these problems was begi nning to become a movement. Fortunately, I didn't experience those wrongs; but by particpating I began to FEEL that equality should be the right of all women in all aspects of their lives!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbC0WPW-bDREbnhRbjkWoLy_hUHVJzw4-rHGN_bEcU2pem42Laze37ZtAFPSKvcjttNsJVp0FQO1fW8_gsNj6FrqUxJJ0aLDb_GfqPHwPTsFr_5H9Xg14PaAWN4jzgwSMMLlQ74r1my-4M_0Bk6ipkf1DU9Qq3r5q0tcMunvUIQG6bcqRAXAWrNXvLn6AH/s1072/FB_IMG_1709481347366.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="805" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbC0WPW-bDREbnhRbjkWoLy_hUHVJzw4-rHGN_bEcU2pem42Laze37ZtAFPSKvcjttNsJVp0FQO1fW8_gsNj6FrqUxJJ0aLDb_GfqPHwPTsFr_5H9Xg14PaAWN4jzgwSMMLlQ74r1my-4M_0Bk6ipkf1DU9Qq3r5q0tcMunvUIQG6bcqRAXAWrNXvLn6AH/s320/FB_IMG_1709481347366.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">Moving often due to steps in my husband's career, Planned Parenthood had become the place I wanted work after my first experience. I left a little piece of my heart in each place we lived; but I sought the commaraderie of like-minded women at those clinics whenever possible. If there was no job opening, I volunteered.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I am a proud alumni of many Planned parenthood facilities from Akron, Ohio to Quito, Ecuador and many in-between. I make no apologies for my beliefs that every women has the right to control, along with her doctor, what happens to her body! I believe Government interference in those very personal and sometimes painful decisions is ABSOLUTELY WRONG!</p><p style="text-align: left;">No one loves or enjoys an abortion! It is one of the many options in the life-long path that is women's health care. It MUST remain safe and legal; the repercussions of denying that right is devastating for women the world over. By the way, clinics I worked in did not offer abortions; I never assisted with one.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I have spoken my truth this Women's History Month; and my thoughts have been a long time coming.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I accept that you may have a difference of opinion and that I don't have to agree with you. Likewise I accept your opinions that may differ from mine. I welcome your comments here and "strive for civil conversation." (www.braverangels.org) Please don't judge me; I don't judge you. We all come from life experiences that shape us. Let's leave the judging to our wiser and gentler higher powers!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZewAbjUXmyCdPUco-1TFiVdiAcGo9U5jkdmEQ0wUULvsfhebgwtk7ZefG_ghV49egROSpqNuGPRCqk2GmTP_4rvQrJPbFl1k5qNGkvsw0dgEm2UetD7yVBBASuEWOEdRV2Wg2oug64ON8lRTq2DXmcBACADV31fYpScrGdlgtKJEYWTBl0hnO5E_f2-Z/s720/FB_IMG_1709139586410.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="720" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZewAbjUXmyCdPUco-1TFiVdiAcGo9U5jkdmEQ0wUULvsfhebgwtk7ZefG_ghV49egROSpqNuGPRCqk2GmTP_4rvQrJPbFl1k5qNGkvsw0dgEm2UetD7yVBBASuEWOEdRV2Wg2oug64ON8lRTq2DXmcBACADV31fYpScrGdlgtKJEYWTBl0hnO5E_f2-Z/s320/FB_IMG_1709139586410.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">I will leave you with a partial book list suggested for Women's History Month by librarians at my local branch. I am confident that you, too, can research your own choices at home.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Allen, Jennie. "Untangle Your Emotions: Naming What You Feel and Knowing What to Do About It."</p><p style="text-align: left;">Conley, Chip. "Learning to Love Midlife: 12 Reasons Why Life gets Better with Age."</p><p style="text-align: left;">Durrani, Pashtana. "Last to Eat, Last to Learn: My Life in Afghanistan Fighting to Educate Women."</p><p style="text-align: left;">Moore, Kate. "The Woman They Could Not Silence: one woman, her incredible fight for freedom, and the men who tried to make her disappear."**</p><p style="text-align: left;">Ponasse, Julie. "Our Last Innocent Moment."</p><p style="text-align: left;">** I am only 4 chapters into this "historical non-fiction set in the 1890s, based on careful research about how mental health can be used as a weapon. In the end, this book is about power. Who weilds it. Who owns it. And the methods they use. And above all, it is about fighting back."</p><p style="text-align: left;">160 years later, it is not overly surprising that we are still fighting back!</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>CrochetQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919768072384261544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358905162839317966.post-78921463687241344712024-02-27T09:38:00.000-06:002024-02-27T09:38:17.044-06:00The Fine Art of Kelly Limrick<p> <span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Exquire </i>Magazine: article by Xin Xuan published February 15, 2025 </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"New artwork KellyLim embodies LouisXIII (Cognac) perspective of time's progression."</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnbE8wWtxDDS3gaV6sNGXC-SkWJJ_lC4CJ5LUp-JIu7KvB9wTC1EvA51Z0zh9Haq1HKoOeyQ8aVk4Dt5eXms9FHbwxDjpCNqGn5q2r5FThqUFuEL4CVVPVT6GQDMDyzo7E2ZSi0e_WTpP9pJBBKOcHj9UacBUKXk94JeBM5EDiwoufeickhgB-_VGOH4Jt/s750/kllylmrck_100_thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnbE8wWtxDDS3gaV6sNGXC-SkWJJ_lC4CJ5LUp-JIu7KvB9wTC1EvA51Z0zh9Haq1HKoOeyQ8aVk4Dt5eXms9FHbwxDjpCNqGn5q2r5FThqUFuEL4CVVPVT6GQDMDyzo7E2ZSi0e_WTpP9pJBBKOcHj9UacBUKXk94JeBM5EDiwoufeickhgB-_VGOH4Jt/s320/kllylmrck_100_thumb.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Read the whole article at https://esquiresg.com/check-out-the-louis-xiii-cognac-x-kelly-limerick-artwork/</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">See much more of Kelly's amazing art at <a href="http://www.kllylmrck.com">www.kllylmrck.com</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>CrochetQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919768072384261544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358905162839317966.post-21677757709530952342024-02-23T15:13:00.001-06:002024-02-23T15:13:45.955-06:00What's In Store in 2024?<p><span style="font-size: medium;">I don't make New Years Resolutions anymore; my experience is that big ideas/goals get lost in everyday life leading to disappointment. Instead, I just live one day at a time, making sure to be grateful for each day I am given.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">That being said, I woke up to 2024 knowing that we have a huge electoral process facing us!! I decided that it is high time that I ramp up my efforts to exercise my civic duty. I've made minimal efforts in the past; going door to door in my nighborhood to encourage my neighbors to vote; making phone calls to get out the vote; but this time is different!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSzJL-b8uqDX4HW45wb66pIE2_UMR8IfkE-4INMypn8hpp4ef_qITx4-Bjb-SDhMw8424wekpIjdTxnTxWQXlLn9vjGys8D-2uuWaf1R7UdYToWJ5bYJJipxTBbyNP7xSpc6HzGg_Tk-TWnowGGt-Wsij-qx4K75JIjen2oISmTzoDKlG59AQlYOO_Ll3r/s704/FB_IMG_1706395373707.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="704" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSzJL-b8uqDX4HW45wb66pIE2_UMR8IfkE-4INMypn8hpp4ef_qITx4-Bjb-SDhMw8424wekpIjdTxnTxWQXlLn9vjGys8D-2uuWaf1R7UdYToWJ5bYJJipxTBbyNP7xSpc6HzGg_Tk-TWnowGGt-Wsij-qx4K75JIjen2oISmTzoDKlG59AQlYOO_Ll3r/s320/FB_IMG_1706395373707.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>A friend on Facebook must follow a very large amount of sites; and I am enjoying the Memes she is posting daily. So I began sharing them on </span><a href=" https://www.facebook.com/gwen.blakleykinsler.3/">Facebook</a><span>. Shortly I realized I was "preaching to the choir." So I opened up my page to the public in general hoping to reach more people with different outlooks on life than me. I have so far only focused on the themes of "kindness" and "acceptance" of opinions that differ from mine.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC9YVexZFxpkDEeNQIt2Q1CNC_g6Kh4LkaIucV8T89VR-JYxBwzggnON5jhUpbtCxJN8RXN1k9ObR0SQnYNhCNu2H-xP1WQXZXOD_INJAiEdp-6YH2kN6J7KcCK7NCxYY1UJurZfjPsBLnhTvysyl6dFK8-4BDhuTY_wFNxZYGWMX0lz74J3jKYU-svn-L/s1024/FB_IMG_1706455895541.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC9YVexZFxpkDEeNQIt2Q1CNC_g6Kh4LkaIucV8T89VR-JYxBwzggnON5jhUpbtCxJN8RXN1k9ObR0SQnYNhCNu2H-xP1WQXZXOD_INJAiEdp-6YH2kN6J7KcCK7NCxYY1UJurZfjPsBLnhTvysyl6dFK8-4BDhuTY_wFNxZYGWMX0lz74J3jKYU-svn-L/s320/FB_IMG_1706455895541.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Belonging to the group <a href="http://www.BraverAngels.org" target="_blank">Braver Angels</a> has given me a new way of thinking about conflict and how we can learn to avoid devisiveness by listening to divergent thoughts. "I can believe that a viewpoint is completely wrong without believing that everyone who holds it is ill-motivated." I have come to believe that we are who we are because of life experiences that have effected our thinking. From a young age or any age along the continum of growth we have developed into persons guided by external forces and less often by efforts to understand our own deepest inner selves.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmkWiC7F1iIDUe0_aUX3LUVgztpq7Zw9Wz9MycG_lefzH1mmbhTSaCTYlbXL3iCnvWLiZRu-Ukrh4I0SoWmjIHE437WK5cBgVffTjGz4N9vOt7ADVDp47wuN06_Cb62KPARs3ooLRCR0k3uUTpYCZMacsjr4Q4TXH7ZVq1b_M4QYC2dUjWPgAUAVXUMWSx/s960/FB_IMG_1706281502032.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="688" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmkWiC7F1iIDUe0_aUX3LUVgztpq7Zw9Wz9MycG_lefzH1mmbhTSaCTYlbXL3iCnvWLiZRu-Ukrh4I0SoWmjIHE437WK5cBgVffTjGz4N9vOt7ADVDp47wuN06_Cb62KPARs3ooLRCR0k3uUTpYCZMacsjr4Q4TXH7ZVq1b_M4QYC2dUjWPgAUAVXUMWSx/s320/FB_IMG_1706281502032.jpg" width="229" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We live in a world full of anxiety-producing stimulus in the form of social media; vast numbers of news outlets all with differing focuses; and bloggers like me who are free to talk about whatever we want. Please do not be dismayed and let your self fall into apathy about the power of your vote. Make the effort to research things you hear that don't seem valid. My most disheartening experience while encouraging my neighbors to vote in 2020, was one who said, "Why bother? It won't make a difference." It WILL make a difference if we all get on board and do our parts as citizens of OUR great country!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXLhZ_ENcFMfEQPeFFxAGSxK-tOSvI1RZTIrcr4qu5CjZhPL2S3HYafYzuj3uqrk9vAJv4Fb5k46XsbTXcH_ZQjMIv54frHYhM6T2qmlXpQTYHGFjiicI0YrUiqiMtGXrAePhXLpe7UmLEJR3KwyKh2-lbPMhcsaTrh4mDRCG4zwlxJVSSWap3ll-tdvVe/s1124/FB_IMG_1706026902393.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1124" data-original-width="899" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXLhZ_ENcFMfEQPeFFxAGSxK-tOSvI1RZTIrcr4qu5CjZhPL2S3HYafYzuj3uqrk9vAJv4Fb5k46XsbTXcH_ZQjMIv54frHYhM6T2qmlXpQTYHGFjiicI0YrUiqiMtGXrAePhXLpe7UmLEJR3KwyKh2-lbPMhcsaTrh4mDRCG4zwlxJVSSWap3ll-tdvVe/s320/FB_IMG_1706026902393.jpg" width="256" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #111d22; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B";">"The self-evident truth that "all men are created equal; endowed by their creator with the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" remains the powerful philosophical and moral foundation of a successful foreign policy no less than it is the foundation of the American republic itself. Yet, as we are seeing today, the advance of freedom and democracy is not a straight path, but one that also sustains setbacks. Americans have kept their Republic and built it to be strong, but it will only remain so under constant vigilance." from: </span><a href="https://www.heritage.org/political-process/commentary/the-american-experiment" style="font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B";" target="_blank">The American Experiment</a></span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #111d22; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B"; line-height: 1.875; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem;"><span style="font-size: medium;">All of this weighs heavily upon me; and I hope I am not dragging you, my readers, down; but instead have given you a boost of energy to go forth and do your part to save our Democracy this November with your <a href="https://www.usa.gov/register-to-vote">VOTE</a>!! </span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #111d22; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B"; line-height: 1.875; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I remind myself often that it is always okay to laugh in order to not cry. I must admit that I enjoy sarcasm, but am working on avoiding its " thinly veiled attempt to disguise anger." Please indulge me; I hope this next Meme brings you a laugh!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheq4iyp09FaiiUdMhpn9rSs3ii176ugz2xviz0tjRS2WjhzeD7PfcsSjHp_k9DD8zFQq-SDf-SeVmK2a45ffd-GQuyGQvhLDksswg41EaBuTArSfdWDHwDCjMcyjkAxjZOsJFus_6jzxd0Vm54Bxbro35bPdOXf4oVR3mwKS9T2eZXdHmNLeD7pVT-c9cl/s1177/FB_IMG_1706297673806.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1177" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheq4iyp09FaiiUdMhpn9rSs3ii176ugz2xviz0tjRS2WjhzeD7PfcsSjHp_k9DD8zFQq-SDf-SeVmK2a45ffd-GQuyGQvhLDksswg41EaBuTArSfdWDHwDCjMcyjkAxjZOsJFus_6jzxd0Vm54Bxbro35bPdOXf4oVR3mwKS9T2eZXdHmNLeD7pVT-c9cl/s320/FB_IMG_1706297673806.jpg" width="294" /></a></div><br /><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #111d22; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B"; line-height: 1.875; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I readily admit I have stepped out of my comfort zone with today's blog! The need to express myself has been growing inside me for some time. I fervently hope that you can accept me for who I am. I do not expect you, dear readers, to always agree with me. I accept that you may have beliefs that differ from mine. We can accept our differences without having to compromise our own beliefs; and hopefully it will lead to a relationship that can begin to heal wounds and devisiveness.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #111d22; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B"; line-height: 1.875; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I am still hopeful that we can come to understand the importance of maintaining this beautiful and powerful democracy that we Americans enjoy and sometimes take for granted. It is up to us, the VOTERS, to get to know those who hope to lead us in 2025. So, research their backgrounds, look at the facts and GET OUT TO VOTE. Falling into apathy is defeat and your vote counts!</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #111d22; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B"; line-height: 1.875; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSlQnlZFNuoLR4BWnZiDjHTvAB2ZPqad4Sxh0JIY6TXw0r-U99F4WUUMN4AaXqPcHJgFlaYp4l0OtD8iuH_jwfmxmCyQLW0fmemcOYywFt0GJeueORtWa4OAin-jbEyQpVqENo3basa_JR_eBl2vYZaGNzBhWQ1XAw9nLKjKBjKhCR_RDPUydHEQE8Tc0C/s1080/FB_IMG_1705160440858.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1078" data-original-width="1080" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSlQnlZFNuoLR4BWnZiDjHTvAB2ZPqad4Sxh0JIY6TXw0r-U99F4WUUMN4AaXqPcHJgFlaYp4l0OtD8iuH_jwfmxmCyQLW0fmemcOYywFt0GJeueORtWa4OAin-jbEyQpVqENo3basa_JR_eBl2vYZaGNzBhWQ1XAw9nLKjKBjKhCR_RDPUydHEQE8Tc0C/s320/FB_IMG_1705160440858.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span><br /></span><p></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #111d22; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.875; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem;"><br /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #111d22; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.875; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem;"><br /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #111d22; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.875; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem;"><br /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #111d22; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.875; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem;"><br /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #111d22; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.875; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem;"><br /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #111d22; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.875; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem;"><br /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #111d22; font-family: "Gotham A", "Gotham B"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.875; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem;"><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>This year we have an opportunity to save the experiement that is Democracy or watch it go up in flames.</p>CrochetQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919768072384261544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358905162839317966.post-48828517756706478412023-05-02T10:34:00.003-05:002023-05-02T10:34:23.462-05:00Weekend Get-Away<p> I always like a road trip whether it is to a small Indiana town for ice cream; or like my latest one across the border to Versailles, OH. My long-time dear friend, Sherry, lost her husband about a year ago. She has done all manor of things since, such as selling the house; moving into a patio home in Mansfield, OH; etc. She was ready to see something new.</p><p>Coincidentally, I had heard on the radio while driving about the Inn at Versailles. It is a stately hotel with a five-star restaurant, "The Silas" named after the town founder. It sounded like the perfect location in between where we both live!</p><p>We actually met first in Dayton at the Art Institute and viewed an exhibit about the art of Taos, New Mexico ~ "New Beginnings: An American Story of Romantics & Modernists in the West."</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXGIpGelO9Jt6hmlWThr9hgz845aEjtbl0s9qIRT4NSupu48qZ0AAudh1BGbAuBTmBcvTxlj3drP_fCz8q1jgiUGpq-VHEcJm2qOuFZ4jPaaTWXtQ5GTOTYAMRyw1cPgPSaYPT-qkyjxTOH9eqSCE5eGs_jQ5GlO1KfJm1szAq-lgaR737-YprE5lQEA/s980/Bakos-Telaya-Peak-1-980x731.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="980" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXGIpGelO9Jt6hmlWThr9hgz845aEjtbl0s9qIRT4NSupu48qZ0AAudh1BGbAuBTmBcvTxlj3drP_fCz8q1jgiUGpq-VHEcJm2qOuFZ4jPaaTWXtQ5GTOTYAMRyw1cPgPSaYPT-qkyjxTOH9eqSCE5eGs_jQ5GlO1KfJm1szAq-lgaR737-YprE5lQEA/s320/Bakos-Telaya-Peak-1-980x731.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Bacos Telaya Peak</b></div></b><p>After checking into the beautiful Inn, </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2D2EoWGi0cVdutpULQ6GEouXODLo93w_rLdPyuY37n0Ry83Tfccx6W6_HJsKvWLv8iuK1FflbswjSXFvr4vIRu0-zXBDV7DUUfUq9kn1vYZ3qzgeR9iUtT0jIiwSMFG_sb3t75uUL8NbUsyS_CVYI_d-eCiWRtdCmrI9dS1Fxa8wx7K_ynnHcC7B1w/s1008/imagejpeg_0(4).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1008" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2D2EoWGi0cVdutpULQ6GEouXODLo93w_rLdPyuY37n0Ry83Tfccx6W6_HJsKvWLv8iuK1FflbswjSXFvr4vIRu0-zXBDV7DUUfUq9kn1vYZ3qzgeR9iUtT0jIiwSMFG_sb3t75uUL8NbUsyS_CVYI_d-eCiWRtdCmrI9dS1Fxa8wx7K_ynnHcC7B1w/s320/imagejpeg_0(4).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCSotf5dyl1y3jptzN3gRsGPYggB_ejX7fufFVPflbf79gDN6D6T9sttBkwn6eRLjZMeQgvCse3uNuVuzu7ecNcII7ZvZW9Qve8VPEkisdqi4MfTsBRGYKefFsEoBkPmXqvNzbmItQVb4jUzxkdls05k9bstJBdKwAEKfcVqZGe7JJHt175f7nm6r-KQ/s4624/20230423_095936.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCSotf5dyl1y3jptzN3gRsGPYggB_ejX7fufFVPflbf79gDN6D6T9sttBkwn6eRLjZMeQgvCse3uNuVuzu7ecNcII7ZvZW9Qve8VPEkisdqi4MfTsBRGYKefFsEoBkPmXqvNzbmItQVb4jUzxkdls05k9bstJBdKwAEKfcVqZGe7JJHt175f7nm6r-KQ/s320/20230423_095936.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LhRP16qMTNft-CdUS_HtIV1gkWJdM2eqZPnnYJPjKcm0B2wS5bzpPLG4vffydvWicZTrafqzWPWtxPsKDJCGbN6Eb0sHPqiJsV7p6dR6g0w-uvr8el-ehOfKBiLBHImONj4JKB7bEyWwTk9VdXfyVaTN3kU6xeGn3-m_OYRG6RDbo_ZBSp25WTNW8g/s4000/20230423_100303.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LhRP16qMTNft-CdUS_HtIV1gkWJdM2eqZPnnYJPjKcm0B2wS5bzpPLG4vffydvWicZTrafqzWPWtxPsKDJCGbN6Eb0sHPqiJsV7p6dR6g0w-uvr8el-ehOfKBiLBHImONj4JKB7bEyWwTk9VdXfyVaTN3kU6xeGn3-m_OYRG6RDbo_ZBSp25WTNW8g/s320/20230423_100303.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4FN_-KLart7G35bKOT68MwsAjpFLB6MCYP4CRKyX35FUzbteLdWOBPrnr9nj1mNb7fPgpcI8nTuuGetsdnkE13agXrQHh2zA0RIFESOr2OEQSJrTJZQd6lnDpGQ68uGSmIqQ2KK_S9RWaYA9_6X4RPHLzI3Nm_rv3FUuW42Lq2wWDBm_HaUdd_wWmA/s4624/20230423_100035.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4FN_-KLart7G35bKOT68MwsAjpFLB6MCYP4CRKyX35FUzbteLdWOBPrnr9nj1mNb7fPgpcI8nTuuGetsdnkE13agXrQHh2zA0RIFESOr2OEQSJrTJZQd6lnDpGQ68uGSmIqQ2KK_S9RWaYA9_6X4RPHLzI3Nm_rv3FUuW42Lq2wWDBm_HaUdd_wWmA/s320/20230423_100035.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><b>Lobby</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">we wandered around Main Street to visit the small shops. It didn't take long to realize that this small town of 2500 is having a difficult time bringing in business to sustain them! Many had limited hours with others simply closed to business or for sale. </span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTliB1hD414ljvFbvw0MSaSErGbIx7QSYsND_1W0o7PSL8UXZdxZgaUIhHbOckREMgWb_PwU9b3MHKGKgGEh2d9wVjo6LCcnHUbhKSi0cdWvvQMymB8hJzUoef8__M4kb4dMACTlzdGy6FrciqpBtym1yB_YoZc4ucJyYrBchqzUw3kCajwk6oA6v-Q/s4624/20230423_100156.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTliB1hD414ljvFbvw0MSaSErGbIx7QSYsND_1W0o7PSL8UXZdxZgaUIhHbOckREMgWb_PwU9b3MHKGKgGEh2d9wVjo6LCcnHUbhKSi0cdWvvQMymB8hJzUoef8__M4kb4dMACTlzdGy6FrciqpBtym1yB_YoZc4ucJyYrBchqzUw3kCajwk6oA6v-Q/s320/20230423_100156.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>City Hall Plaza</b></div><p></p><p>No worries! We knew there was a local winery, so we decided to check it out when the concierge told us it was just minutes away. The website said reservations were required, but we went without one. Turns out the winery was closed to a party of 53 who had been on a "booze bus" all day and were shortly returning to have dinner. The hostess graciously offered that we could buy a "cash and carry" bottle or glass of wine and sit in the 3rd floor loft for as long as we wanted. Perfect! Sherry and I had a lot of catching up to do. From 3-5 PM we enjoyed each others company; updates on family, friends; and just life in general.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSnpUzV09WcMIqiQVx1DKUw_I3p_oPxC9efgwpgiQOtkygvemO9EAP9VIuwjCr7dfCd5MXCofXHze22aUKl5on4yuC2N4nGqKJhQ9ErrD-7T58LTLsfS07J_isepRzMSkQJtLAEKpnK5E8Iw2iDHlpSQgKT-KVt-0OkjyNv-7vuv6qBHTiiyBrLlhV4w/s868/Versailles.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="868" data-original-width="814" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSnpUzV09WcMIqiQVx1DKUw_I3p_oPxC9efgwpgiQOtkygvemO9EAP9VIuwjCr7dfCd5MXCofXHze22aUKl5on4yuC2N4nGqKJhQ9ErrD-7T58LTLsfS07J_isepRzMSkQJtLAEKpnK5E8Iw2iDHlpSQgKT-KVt-0OkjyNv-7vuv6qBHTiiyBrLlhV4w/s320/Versailles.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">We saw the arrival of the bus about then; and they did walk in on two feet! From there the ambiance became very loud and it was time for us to return to the hotel and freshen up for dinner. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdGtXP3slJs4G21CWKZX2cW9Z4ulkXfT4LVALPDquKaHhid-d_A_S1y8uzOa9HlFVdlNbPTLPLB8rPq_FirKbuz5_oQD994QSlBguysOp3yAVOjp-JQ_0xsiciFTsPlFNxaxxCI_R7hU0nyH3UpCdxecI9bodmq6ubGxocsapCSzmcJGkWAtdzt1BTLQ/s4624/20230423_100124.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdGtXP3slJs4G21CWKZX2cW9Z4ulkXfT4LVALPDquKaHhid-d_A_S1y8uzOa9HlFVdlNbPTLPLB8rPq_FirKbuz5_oQD994QSlBguysOp3yAVOjp-JQ_0xsiciFTsPlFNxaxxCI_R7hU0nyH3UpCdxecI9bodmq6ubGxocsapCSzmcJGkWAtdzt1BTLQ/s320/20230423_100124.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVmu_jqMIAMlySUa4O14jI6fgnOhy-7hc7O4aJHM5MDKzH0No3TADngdPkLt-iRbEJj87DM1sU4SHWMnKX5IuB0rwyzb_cgNlZ7DcLW4IZCCF3yIfE1GC25EUmnrqqD_WEzK52mw4vAUmqXjc_ZH61bWezHqYZF2m-skCw97gVVMjEYWeZ0RORXVJTw/s4624/20230423_100115.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVmu_jqMIAMlySUa4O14jI6fgnOhy-7hc7O4aJHM5MDKzH0No3TADngdPkLt-iRbEJj87DM1sU4SHWMnKX5IuB0rwyzb_cgNlZ7DcLW4IZCCF3yIfE1GC25EUmnrqqD_WEzK52mw4vAUmqXjc_ZH61bWezHqYZF2m-skCw97gVVMjEYWeZ0RORXVJTw/s320/20230423_100115.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz0I1_h4G7T8UvFCTgkmQnEVf7lNjxmzST3mGZ_Nt1QJBAeF47RmKL32gfXy-9vFU0q_YDwFrVkqEGaG_jAPdxIGtTMpK0Jkv5ps1RjY61qvbC3VkDdU2TUmiC-hoZj-KiarD60767ML-HcBvSwcCwuzH9oZNC5QYEMpVcVlPkACEGZnbNePnsGKyRUQ/s1024/imagejpeg_0(3).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="986" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz0I1_h4G7T8UvFCTgkmQnEVf7lNjxmzST3mGZ_Nt1QJBAeF47RmKL32gfXy-9vFU0q_YDwFrVkqEGaG_jAPdxIGtTMpK0Jkv5ps1RjY61qvbC3VkDdU2TUmiC-hoZj-KiarD60767ML-HcBvSwcCwuzH9oZNC5QYEMpVcVlPkACEGZnbNePnsGKyRUQ/s320/imagejpeg_0(3).jpg" width="308" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBhh7Q4WRlLmVJFgUPpMoHu6UeBt38nP_f2U8MjbeNOU27td-AX6uvPZaREy-T2YnyCOvPVHHEvll5HTDinDbd8v9iFr7HZ1Wg0OQ4i--bfrc9O8JjS5RNqAkYHEUHJlB1AOryMJrtzDJOtRlld4GlAVwG37JRuo0Ok3WGL_eXFic7LGd9n13x0-psSw/s1024/imagejpeg_1(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBhh7Q4WRlLmVJFgUPpMoHu6UeBt38nP_f2U8MjbeNOU27td-AX6uvPZaREy-T2YnyCOvPVHHEvll5HTDinDbd8v9iFr7HZ1Wg0OQ4i--bfrc9O8JjS5RNqAkYHEUHJlB1AOryMJrtzDJOtRlld4GlAVwG37JRuo0Ok3WGL_eXFic7LGd9n13x0-psSw/s320/imagejpeg_1(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Silas Restaurant</b></div><div><br /></div>Sherry's sister and brother-in-law live in a small town nearby; and they joined us for dinner. They have lived in the area for 15 years and know the history of the town. It turns out that the whole town and surrounding acres are owned by the Mid-Mark Corporation., a huge and prosperous company. It doesn't matter if there is thriving business on Main Street because the corporation takes care of everything and brings company executives from all over the world to wine and dine at the hotel.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzIMWHj4hfhwT_1SWcHgs5XoiadUyHpBowYsflwwSbQzWj9WsLcIyAPikykd3d0AX1o3-XmuKhNhELTgRS9eaonUKOdpwkdK6QC2leNpH-1LMr77SnPGFPoPtxboC9iY7Q1pvvwCTmtaqULWn8i10BzjfUwSdeMNBlnV7DwKnjQObniv0JOhmBzeAvGg/s1008/imagejpeg_0(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1008" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzIMWHj4hfhwT_1SWcHgs5XoiadUyHpBowYsflwwSbQzWj9WsLcIyAPikykd3d0AX1o3-XmuKhNhELTgRS9eaonUKOdpwkdK6QC2leNpH-1LMr77SnPGFPoPtxboC9iY7Q1pvvwCTmtaqULWn8i10BzjfUwSdeMNBlnV7DwKnjQObniv0JOhmBzeAvGg/s320/imagejpeg_0(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAXdE885tNHqQSoutdDy1XWTjc5-1BHWukhjbTQgS_F80iSvUtiHmF_ndUxIxNuzCS7Qy7hM8hP_UuCHUPuhMhIyLvV4C2dW_QNn30Xa_bkPxMTmD4Ak3oodoR5E4mRT4y1XlMHuXPAhsQ2U4BUNwH1_3p9GkZLLWKvO4Jef36cmrLXO-xTLIyadwPXA/s1024/imagejpeg_1(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="1024" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAXdE885tNHqQSoutdDy1XWTjc5-1BHWukhjbTQgS_F80iSvUtiHmF_ndUxIxNuzCS7Qy7hM8hP_UuCHUPuhMhIyLvV4C2dW_QNn30Xa_bkPxMTmD4Ak3oodoR5E4mRT4y1XlMHuXPAhsQ2U4BUNwH1_3p9GkZLLWKvO4Jef36cmrLXO-xTLIyadwPXA/s320/imagejpeg_1(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wagyu short ribs served on a "bone". We weren't sure if it was real or not!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sherry and I rounded out our weekend, on the recommendation of her siter, with a jaunt to a nursery nearby. It was an amazing place with a great selection of every plant imaginable; and so early in the season compared to Indiana.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTaP6KVdhJF-vajV8omuFko6uL7MszkuT_RwY6PUZDaBG906NgiOctAcOxmNOFlwCgSCfUGCaAU0F7dVcKY-EdtQ4pYOnXLVPYoAYyL7lPY5mwJsQHoe4THSuzvXTdpU0jeWXfcYTtqYBoyav_tDaAAEOIWLGK23dPPtwkE2ncYrlcGLlXc7ro1rw2VQ/s4624/20230430_105705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTaP6KVdhJF-vajV8omuFko6uL7MszkuT_RwY6PUZDaBG906NgiOctAcOxmNOFlwCgSCfUGCaAU0F7dVcKY-EdtQ4pYOnXLVPYoAYyL7lPY5mwJsQHoe4THSuzvXTdpU0jeWXfcYTtqYBoyav_tDaAAEOIWLGK23dPPtwkE2ncYrlcGLlXc7ro1rw2VQ/s320/20230430_105705.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Rhubarb and Lavender which I have wanted to add to my perennial collection</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCiZ6lKS40GEyl0-_30LtUojzVGUV7__fwYetpJ-KtKGhLYJB24xb7wigVI2dA_Dkf3KSDKEzQu_iFxbsmAbqtLEDylFIQm-LWMgKwymcsCMLozZJFW-gavVTCVd88xcadeJMANZ6bznkCHAMBS45dBlPF68axEMazxk6w-CTJjhwJyXckUXh8wLOKtA/s4624/20230430_105831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCiZ6lKS40GEyl0-_30LtUojzVGUV7__fwYetpJ-KtKGhLYJB24xb7wigVI2dA_Dkf3KSDKEzQu_iFxbsmAbqtLEDylFIQm-LWMgKwymcsCMLozZJFW-gavVTCVd88xcadeJMANZ6bznkCHAMBS45dBlPF68axEMazxk6w-CTJjhwJyXckUXh8wLOKtA/s320/20230430_105831.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>I planted the pansies right away; and they are, indeed, thriving!</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">All in all, it was a great weekend. Thanks, Sherry!</div>CrochetQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919768072384261544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358905162839317966.post-75589354469607430632023-04-10T14:05:00.004-05:002023-04-11T09:34:10.745-05:00My First Road Scholar (Prev. Elder Hostel) Trip<p> "Signature City: St. Petersburg, FL March 19-24, 2023</p><p>My dear friend, Deb, had told me for years how much she loves St. Pete for its art: ceramics and glass. She spent 4 months there for several consecutive years. I was longing to go myself, but didn't plan ahead a year in advance to go this February. Then, along came the Road Scholar (formerly "Elder Hostel") catalog loaded with options.</p><p>Arrival in St. Pete was uneventful and I had most of the day to walk around, explore and get lunch before we could register at 4 PM. I got a little turned around, but people I asked on the street were friendly and helpful. I started to understand the unusual grid of streets there!</p><p>I opted to book a "solo" room at the Hyatt Place Downtown; our designated hotel which is included in the trip total. Many women with us were traveling solo too; and I felt very comfortable in our friendly group.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I had a flash of wisdom before leaving and pinned my "crochet" brooch on my name badge as a conversation starter. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzSSGXPRT3UA9g34K36D5NAc938KDPenKN3lu3rEdiX9UTzeq0ms372BKbHrqG45JoINTi1OErEVN-4vPDivtytbbhewVyNTBvDkRzMguGI73rmwC5ucSvIZaOcoaUtDyAeOcdoWCxEkfJxhp7HsPmzYPFowWRgBsgVFwFJB8eyS-ol8BFgOTC2yk9VA/s2930/20230409_095759~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="2930" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzSSGXPRT3UA9g34K36D5NAc938KDPenKN3lu3rEdiX9UTzeq0ms372BKbHrqG45JoINTi1OErEVN-4vPDivtytbbhewVyNTBvDkRzMguGI73rmwC5ucSvIZaOcoaUtDyAeOcdoWCxEkfJxhp7HsPmzYPFowWRgBsgVFwFJB8eyS-ol8BFgOTC2yk9VA/s320/20230409_095759~2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>At 5PM when I registered, our leader, Carolyn, was the first to notice it, and happened to be an enthusiastic crocheter! I was soon referenced as the "crochet lady" after wearing the only crocheted shawl that I brought.!</p><p>At six pm, the whole group met and we began to know each other with introductions. At our welcome dinner, I randomly sat with 3 others and it became obvious very quickly that this is a group of savvy travelers. The record of number of trips taken was an amazing 26 by one lady! </p><p>I highly recommend this tour group for anyone over 55. The days were full of interesting things to see with adequate time to catch your breath in-between and at lunch. I plan on booking another trip with them sometime soon!</p><p>Our days were packed with bus and boat tours; museums and galleries with reasonable breaks; breakfast, lunch and dinner provided most days. Midweek we had the afternoon and evening free to re-group as we wished. Anyone can walk through a museum or gallery and enjoy what is there; but on this tour I learned the value of expert speakers and docents who thoroughly understand each piece on display. I would not have chosen to go to the historic Albert Whitted Airport for lunch or on a tour of St Pete murals with an actual mural artist! Speakers at both places had valuable historic information that added so much to what I actually saw and understood.</p><p><b>Day 1:</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggF_u8_z-69SJVQEompplJuwyiYk3Jn56Br1wChhDrtvq1OExVpGXuLPAJXLeMm-rdUC-Pa_a2q6g4tBI4wsLopr8r_QzQfLwZGnmHc_SPV2bmiDkBtJqb8MuI1-6iDpU7kysS7sdDpfIhqq0ST-iRBh6vHOLavuC1JErh0UmH83svSstLt4aLfVsEog/s4000/20230320_142238.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggF_u8_z-69SJVQEompplJuwyiYk3Jn56Br1wChhDrtvq1OExVpGXuLPAJXLeMm-rdUC-Pa_a2q6g4tBI4wsLopr8r_QzQfLwZGnmHc_SPV2bmiDkBtJqb8MuI1-6iDpU7kysS7sdDpfIhqq0ST-iRBh6vHOLavuC1JErh0UmH83svSstLt4aLfVsEog/s320/20230320_142238.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Eco-Tour Vessel: Specimen collecting in Tampa Bay</div><div style="text-align: center;">Many dolphins played near our boat!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggEPiZQLWvUyYBSs74oSFGf6I--QJE03L5IPvZRKoMrKNZe4S_8_Js_9alGCGlnzhjCPGK9a4Yo8KACGAmYSAh0u40bvIlNxxS3FgIsP7QCMg7XsC_fKEEJZYFBBLedT4Tk3LdvFPV3epL9JxQ1SRll2loc5PxE1E0i4wFCaoICWVQ0I2RLJz-D4dogg/s4624/20230320_163224.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggEPiZQLWvUyYBSs74oSFGf6I--QJE03L5IPvZRKoMrKNZe4S_8_Js_9alGCGlnzhjCPGK9a4Yo8KACGAmYSAh0u40bvIlNxxS3FgIsP7QCMg7XsC_fKEEJZYFBBLedT4Tk3LdvFPV3epL9JxQ1SRll2loc5PxE1E0i4wFCaoICWVQ0I2RLJz-D4dogg/s320/20230320_163224.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">St. Pete Museum of History</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A collection of hundreds of baseballs donated to the museum</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Day 2:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT4jIdfWZEcd3DnK1ApiIgDbkqIugpurjqgMO7m2m8Scyqr0gJLgTAvGLlC2yx6vAHxQmd6vW71b_xHMyF1PLwpHt-9pNyDl2aqP7ZDP1LHEUBxUV0Yi6QxfVMDW6QTs7rBO2QYfMUNWRkWf09-PjM4h2NZ83Udbvgcyi8WoomaISuPwX3H_haggqewA/s4624/20230320_131146.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT4jIdfWZEcd3DnK1ApiIgDbkqIugpurjqgMO7m2m8Scyqr0gJLgTAvGLlC2yx6vAHxQmd6vW71b_xHMyF1PLwpHt-9pNyDl2aqP7ZDP1LHEUBxUV0Yi6QxfVMDW6QTs7rBO2QYfMUNWRkWf09-PjM4h2NZ83Udbvgcyi8WoomaISuPwX3H_haggqewA/s320/20230320_131146.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our brilliant sky!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58mnLNwwYhyh4nl7fBKBs3Pwv2CgMY6ucyEIic9Q0CatDXqFhb9skWqpic7dHhaY0ZwBhhmibCqWBIgTwJkys8-hRkFkQBryFt5fwuytOii-kOf7rHWWKQ_xkS0L97jVp1l-OmDQKd5WqPdcms_saQW8B8hQWnjXveE7tOXK_fNsSZZQyf4QtBI1qvQ/s4624/20230321_101621.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58mnLNwwYhyh4nl7fBKBs3Pwv2CgMY6ucyEIic9Q0CatDXqFhb9skWqpic7dHhaY0ZwBhhmibCqWBIgTwJkys8-hRkFkQBryFt5fwuytOii-kOf7rHWWKQ_xkS0L97jVp1l-OmDQKd5WqPdcms_saQW8B8hQWnjXveE7tOXK_fNsSZZQyf4QtBI1qvQ/s320/20230321_101621.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1EJL2Q6P92es1_FsVZbSwhGb5T6Rq1rebckeJpVVgLZ8eq9wNYUQB2SOAzHUn-lxu20m2NrNi4b8lAjqVGKC7oyFysFJciHDkeHx9z7rWVhwF5yjcKGkQCzzRf-Rf1drCXcCyc3gpp63gH5BM6ZNpMGogYvuSEUcxjJH_NIhihZb1HFcI_1ytIAz_g/s4624/20230321_102001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1EJL2Q6P92es1_FsVZbSwhGb5T6Rq1rebckeJpVVgLZ8eq9wNYUQB2SOAzHUn-lxu20m2NrNi4b8lAjqVGKC7oyFysFJciHDkeHx9z7rWVhwF5yjcKGkQCzzRf-Rf1drCXcCyc3gpp63gH5BM6ZNpMGogYvuSEUcxjJH_NIhihZb1HFcI_1ytIAz_g/s320/20230321_102001.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyN5J2TFdxSTCTF4PTQmhar3KEY6Vbt4NyNms43nN08dxzzRt2Fggd0XuY4I_WManBVH3qHsDIPMJE5PTy_aBdG-EVajdvgFRRpBxRKOaFJjeTF6pzhten8b-B-IcBku8J7XGOiZKBr1D5l3xgEzvSr1YExGX-dmBmWiJhrr0jXbfIfj7KyVSNT5kkpw/s4624/20230321_102925.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyN5J2TFdxSTCTF4PTQmhar3KEY6Vbt4NyNms43nN08dxzzRt2Fggd0XuY4I_WManBVH3qHsDIPMJE5PTy_aBdG-EVajdvgFRRpBxRKOaFJjeTF6pzhten8b-B-IcBku8J7XGOiZKBr1D5l3xgEzvSr1YExGX-dmBmWiJhrr0jXbfIfj7KyVSNT5kkpw/s320/20230321_102925.jpg" width="240" /></a></div></div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span style="text-align: center;">Muralist Tour </span></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>St Pete plans for murals and pays the artists who are chosen </span></blockquote><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ut7-MPIdbCfrYKg-O9YXHL851q34D6464WXYkMTqqQP_gpyDP_6Yu6Z67xyrKvJRPT7HToscPxJYTRtiFTx4bnBRgce7jEZwE3N8XQSbmRVz98LJnY5BZA4n7Ly9KYYDG5t1-6cRShdsz7OvrMLttRQ5n5RS7e5QT1595bROeMgOWW8cJDivt9s5Hg/s4624/20230321_131247.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ut7-MPIdbCfrYKg-O9YXHL851q34D6464WXYkMTqqQP_gpyDP_6Yu6Z67xyrKvJRPT7HToscPxJYTRtiFTx4bnBRgce7jEZwE3N8XQSbmRVz98LJnY5BZA4n7Ly9KYYDG5t1-6cRShdsz7OvrMLttRQ5n5RS7e5QT1595bROeMgOWW8cJDivt9s5Hg/s320/20230321_131247.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYaGWL_Q5TyVyte32KiOZJc96iSXexk7Yo8tnjX-PXMc8CT5IQ41w-CavrcXV0GdVxX5_XJ_eJLfENHR9flgr9t-QPKVnshvNXOdc7A8BxfRL43NhEa-7cdRzkrmeuR-agDEfiio4_v5OWXFhuzL-uKjy62DokMophc3dLq8PBzBamhEBza2hJfdGTXw/s4624/20230321_115809.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYaGWL_Q5TyVyte32KiOZJc96iSXexk7Yo8tnjX-PXMc8CT5IQ41w-CavrcXV0GdVxX5_XJ_eJLfENHR9flgr9t-QPKVnshvNXOdc7A8BxfRL43NhEa-7cdRzkrmeuR-agDEfiio4_v5OWXFhuzL-uKjy62DokMophc3dLq8PBzBamhEBza2hJfdGTXw/s320/20230321_115809.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">Albert Whitted </span></span></span><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">Airport-First commercial airport</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">View from Hangar Lounge where we had lunch</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRDl3jcWtUjQDYzJEN03Flw2I7YsXsIL7OKkE-Ljj0WoZtBtTJZXOyDNtkLGSzCut1Tp7OfzcBM_jgaWdo8BXUHBjGJ7SaKZJeYm5aBEKgvlctMFo_GTHAZJOah8dLABEky8HPf9lBsFONe8_F318KrK9yWC8_5gwgJPND16bzcjnjE-hpXj5qXxvO3A/s4624/20230321_133358.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRDl3jcWtUjQDYzJEN03Flw2I7YsXsIL7OKkE-Ljj0WoZtBtTJZXOyDNtkLGSzCut1Tp7OfzcBM_jgaWdo8BXUHBjGJ7SaKZJeYm5aBEKgvlctMFo_GTHAZJOah8dLABEky8HPf9lBsFONe8_F318KrK9yWC8_5gwgJPND16bzcjnjE-hpXj5qXxvO3A/s320/20230321_133358.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTieNoPNyaPg6CcoWjuAwbxsoD9AZpp33u1N_DhaKoRsdGFrIvnsocd_yI4mzVJbSJU_wp6P6G5uUHqnHzQDWqsWBcH2lfbGoQHOUdpg7xXs-_5hmyTcq50p3XATaYzIV0B3fOodr8sCNLobU6Q2RQGTqePsaYsgZaVsXyWrPM02f25-9d_JnrE4vdQ/s4624/20230321_133409.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTieNoPNyaPg6CcoWjuAwbxsoD9AZpp33u1N_DhaKoRsdGFrIvnsocd_yI4mzVJbSJU_wp6P6G5uUHqnHzQDWqsWBcH2lfbGoQHOUdpg7xXs-_5hmyTcq50p3XATaYzIV0B3fOodr8sCNLobU6Q2RQGTqePsaYsgZaVsXyWrPM02f25-9d_JnrE4vdQ/s320/20230321_133409.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPv6ugInZR3C-yvd7SIPb910k7vMNegdUoHfHr3lVr83sAEaqd-6sMq5Wgm-uugpMkjiPuDZbiPVGDacWUOuKNX6yQ93JZTlWLX7GKSh0Oyj4WgCh_ve0D_OKorujXHu5UqsfDwsehnIFqXYrFa5yb6yjNxo_CSWR9Zqp9Rh5Tum0ohzMHd54vWpFbNg/s4624/20230321_133301.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPv6ugInZR3C-yvd7SIPb910k7vMNegdUoHfHr3lVr83sAEaqd-6sMq5Wgm-uugpMkjiPuDZbiPVGDacWUOuKNX6yQ93JZTlWLX7GKSh0Oyj4WgCh_ve0D_OKorujXHu5UqsfDwsehnIFqXYrFa5yb6yjNxo_CSWR9Zqp9Rh5Tum0ohzMHd54vWpFbNg/s320/20230321_133301.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>View from the Dali museum<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7SLMX-yLxwWfu5zbLacy3uFu6ZQQcfSddd2qQpHR4SOh9EbfG1Bg7L-U-JCwGQfzUL9cB1WsDS1Ht2z5WwUSSSA0PHa0RwcoCDi0210xZt67sIFmkuRBGFA3wwnEEBOLGHdOya8go16Q5BMuO7ZQ5Ot6YoNd8UtVTrXQu7w0f7faq6SuGZ_qfYhFVw/s4624/20230321_135515.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7SLMX-yLxwWfu5zbLacy3uFu6ZQQcfSddd2qQpHR4SOh9EbfG1Bg7L-U-JCwGQfzUL9cB1WsDS1Ht2z5WwUSSSA0PHa0RwcoCDi0210xZt67sIFmkuRBGFA3wwnEEBOLGHdOya8go16Q5BMuO7ZQ5Ot6YoNd8UtVTrXQu7w0f7faq6SuGZ_qfYhFVw/s320/20230321_135515.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>I quickly learned the value of docents in a museum dedicated to such a complicated artist!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLRru2nFDf74db9B7wV7NpL0HcPP1PAu2ydUXUBFp8rpwjH1qNoCI8ajuJTleAKm_3MibkXe9vb_4XI3e1oJCWevAeCVhXgM6xFF5EPO6k1AWGzG7SBA1XKCTemjjVxO_chhPRNa4Vjpq9J5gPcoMy71Pga6beDVhQT23CyF3RP6pmh8CNy4SbFtfAgQ/s4624/20230321_134551.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLRru2nFDf74db9B7wV7NpL0HcPP1PAu2ydUXUBFp8rpwjH1qNoCI8ajuJTleAKm_3MibkXe9vb_4XI3e1oJCWevAeCVhXgM6xFF5EPO6k1AWGzG7SBA1XKCTemjjVxO_chhPRNa4Vjpq9J5gPcoMy71Pga6beDVhQT23CyF3RP6pmh8CNy4SbFtfAgQ/s320/20230321_134551.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Salvadore Dali' Museum</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggFiwmLBSIl3uFrCI7R30uucEcx2NYor1Oh82PiCeVNtKNqhVk701nhRCYn1Pqh0_GcafCP_BRxbsZ1VIK83jyK04IZbt7oiYgzdYKU50D241O69HGEWqizfL6MxQBTq72jcV5h-QuByxYptWNeIYnRF2mJXoXw8tSCHXTyGZNtdAEb6KcsQSRJr6DUA/s4624/20230322_114228.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggFiwmLBSIl3uFrCI7R30uucEcx2NYor1Oh82PiCeVNtKNqhVk701nhRCYn1Pqh0_GcafCP_BRxbsZ1VIK83jyK04IZbt7oiYgzdYKU50D241O69HGEWqizfL6MxQBTq72jcV5h-QuByxYptWNeIYnRF2mJXoXw8tSCHXTyGZNtdAEb6KcsQSRJr6DUA/s320/20230322_114228.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_--2pGoXgPPxWHiozQbnYjd2crEM3Dl85nXmjc3y99dg5rOmwj3Q7SWi61hAWVMkzEmxb05NuwI0tu1RNqR2If8yIu6jmLSQRdlgoa5ybGjeMcai52ZWuFfPX6mjfDWvZg_M1GC86uCZqxfhSZduGmwe3qGJ5mXFZvWLeNVpSAoAsiJnQaPV20JvNzQ/s4624/20230322_120635.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_--2pGoXgPPxWHiozQbnYjd2crEM3Dl85nXmjc3y99dg5rOmwj3Q7SWi61hAWVMkzEmxb05NuwI0tu1RNqR2If8yIu6jmLSQRdlgoa5ybGjeMcai52ZWuFfPX6mjfDWvZg_M1GC86uCZqxfhSZduGmwe3qGJ5mXFZvWLeNVpSAoAsiJnQaPV20JvNzQ/s320/20230322_120635.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgGlX7_4l2g1qF85PuKNMqDryR2QWIyTnEGAwL4PC9VS6IjzINo3UjxADsWPBXIX7tDoaP9pkXra2zQ5iUvK4f3S7oVuVkH1FlYNxfENoTjGg8BmU2jb3ddWef3Vxd8gBxvOnpqtBhVV-kkAAasBT4skbXkeQyZYILTwr0AN06slODCAAoRAAcdaRUwQ/s4624/20230322_121448.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgGlX7_4l2g1qF85PuKNMqDryR2QWIyTnEGAwL4PC9VS6IjzINo3UjxADsWPBXIX7tDoaP9pkXra2zQ5iUvK4f3S7oVuVkH1FlYNxfENoTjGg8BmU2jb3ddWef3Vxd8gBxvOnpqtBhVV-kkAAasBT4skbXkeQyZYILTwr0AN06slODCAAoRAAcdaRUwQ/s320/20230322_121448.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDmH44WAguEPYMZ5ppSNAnsGQoAQJotKltzpHT7yAILLE6feTToeVoNB7lc_PBd9mCzECeVZpz_0bEOSfSl06XPiyVsxtJa16EFHiQggClI1uKKVNzxUJJBneY1VJQTHsSS7tZjuzxqKbvJVaM8UnRBv8NcjrQbxd7A65kiJpJKU8n87CQPwnmrqWXw/s4624/20230322_115246.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDmH44WAguEPYMZ5ppSNAnsGQoAQJotKltzpHT7yAILLE6feTToeVoNB7lc_PBd9mCzECeVZpz_0bEOSfSl06XPiyVsxtJa16EFHiQggClI1uKKVNzxUJJBneY1VJQTHsSS7tZjuzxqKbvJVaM8UnRBv8NcjrQbxd7A65kiJpJKU8n87CQPwnmrqWXw/s320/20230322_115246.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYE1ycmWvlqlFziy2nziv2yNz9lwmjnRT78_6JiJ3P4HNnVKcBmLyyg_8b6PuvWfHLzHZH9qqLA_lWeodXcoRVP5Hs_QAHHPSMA51T6gMlFJOf__LOUbPcijEbU94p_ape1DvNvYcHRJmXkpWP3ifD85tuPfBVkxXEP0v89S2x5aHzGedrtfTA5oozsQ/s4624/20230322_115004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYE1ycmWvlqlFziy2nziv2yNz9lwmjnRT78_6JiJ3P4HNnVKcBmLyyg_8b6PuvWfHLzHZH9qqLA_lWeodXcoRVP5Hs_QAHHPSMA51T6gMlFJOf__LOUbPcijEbU94p_ape1DvNvYcHRJmXkpWP3ifD85tuPfBVkxXEP0v89S2x5aHzGedrtfTA5oozsQ/s320/20230322_115004.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">Collection of Raymond James</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxk5bE8doO3DytcU5nwJP4I00s2BkOAlWex-6tc_-mBMFtpNM1ofHb4Aqlbs-cfcLselU-CvfUgn8Qb7pDHtjGnO98wwwaFNi6RSIco1Kb1P_3zw7WxIuqu2wOWR3XVqautp62NGyOTzXiXagjalEvjeCMnFXHIOJRaXxBSzbLgoGb64naWyJc0ukWsw/s4624/20230322_145054.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxk5bE8doO3DytcU5nwJP4I00s2BkOAlWex-6tc_-mBMFtpNM1ofHb4Aqlbs-cfcLselU-CvfUgn8Qb7pDHtjGnO98wwwaFNi6RSIco1Kb1P_3zw7WxIuqu2wOWR3XVqautp62NGyOTzXiXagjalEvjeCMnFXHIOJRaXxBSzbLgoGb64naWyJc0ukWsw/s320/20230322_145054.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">Florida Craftsmen House</span></div><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">On our f</span></span>ree afternoon, new friend Margarete and I took a trolly to the Florida Artisan House, which is also a fantastic historic bungalow. We thoroughly enjoyed seeing all the art and found treasures to buy!</div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgME3KVbLH98OEEhWXhmH_5Adt1Pm_EqbvEbbLp2DS2PD2n-IWN4zmZI3Kz_spDWwU2MNJMpDqiY94FQ_rCcVT7D2qg1MtbbyqYz9FEOywv3FMGB7uwYxFCVKlJrEa4yJcNfNww_H7IBcHSpEax2n2zb9r3MimM5v-Uh0d87Wd70XjbDWeaQioh-pj58A/s4624/20230322_165121.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgME3KVbLH98OEEhWXhmH_5Adt1Pm_EqbvEbbLp2DS2PD2n-IWN4zmZI3Kz_spDWwU2MNJMpDqiY94FQ_rCcVT7D2qg1MtbbyqYz9FEOywv3FMGB7uwYxFCVKlJrEa4yJcNfNww_H7IBcHSpEax2n2zb9r3MimM5v-Uh0d87Wd70XjbDWeaQioh-pj58A/s320/20230322_165121.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">St. Pete Pier</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Later, Margarete and I continued to the St. Pete Pier where we had dinner and enjoyed the 360 degree views!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC8vskMjzb-IymAm37HPmWDlf_iGzTw1-pvanQuL-bcmiLtkHBTWp_gXMrtspXaJEwdu0z1uoMmaY6XtHKej6RX1PQKJ0R7_sgqMN_zheqJUt4sE_nndGIsZyHeHcQcuZSMJvAPjk8Bxw6HsvjibDV_rWLETnKVTvv72PoiFe2mWdsS21xVh1dov0OOw/s4624/20230322_182010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC8vskMjzb-IymAm37HPmWDlf_iGzTw1-pvanQuL-bcmiLtkHBTWp_gXMrtspXaJEwdu0z1uoMmaY6XtHKej6RX1PQKJ0R7_sgqMN_zheqJUt4sE_nndGIsZyHeHcQcuZSMJvAPjk8Bxw6HsvjibDV_rWLETnKVTvv72PoiFe2mWdsS21xVh1dov0OOw/s320/20230322_182010.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Pelicans patiently waiting for a fisherwoman's catch!<br /><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe1iQHY3oTSofCVzBxp4FJbL1UWBquGpBVbuOMNDVlBya8JWQCQNLr9kHBE27DIW9pluN4OQRv6q1LEKFd95aXxvCKvDYTVZuJI3LN_CHa37AAvu4NlhnWz2ZrtRnESoS4slCBpHhTHHZptUvROTA8s3iUOZi9OJG-6D7-M_6zp34pwahd0-n3UL9MFQ/s4000/20230323_095059.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe1iQHY3oTSofCVzBxp4FJbL1UWBquGpBVbuOMNDVlBya8JWQCQNLr9kHBE27DIW9pluN4OQRv6q1LEKFd95aXxvCKvDYTVZuJI3LN_CHa37AAvu4NlhnWz2ZrtRnESoS4slCBpHhTHHZptUvROTA8s3iUOZi9OJG-6D7-M_6zp34pwahd0-n3UL9MFQ/s320/20230323_095059.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR350w-1Y391d4jUUHtpNnUPYRop9LmKuK8_6VaesEB_698nZXxm874dZP_B-cPtEjPg49yEDUqRGJnazI954CG_VucJs-GQqtwWMWd_hcrhDCF26JJcUaW2ZFOrEbsSYoSbhJw7M5-Hfl4t0GQXV4YOrb_dK2bOIGWy59EP4tFRTWQ34I99elvS-ylA/s4000/20230323_095347.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR350w-1Y391d4jUUHtpNnUPYRop9LmKuK8_6VaesEB_698nZXxm874dZP_B-cPtEjPg49yEDUqRGJnazI954CG_VucJs-GQqtwWMWd_hcrhDCF26JJcUaW2ZFOrEbsSYoSbhJw7M5-Hfl4t0GQXV4YOrb_dK2bOIGWy59EP4tFRTWQ34I99elvS-ylA/s320/20230323_095347.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7VumRfVZsSLW5a1tG_fYnASLRiY9lRYlBMopnLDsY7_87QdVfFcdHJGQlTnYns4SBFbwwQ_6lyVZ5-jX5x5y0BgbljgsITadWI896EhfS2UoY5zwEnW1HxRdCQ9ZBfg6O0HALmjU-Ocdj69HlfTvUVBrcUWAXQmNdMdJ6OPyFZQr2OIUonR4rcjmqA/s4624/20230323_111711.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7VumRfVZsSLW5a1tG_fYnASLRiY9lRYlBMopnLDsY7_87QdVfFcdHJGQlTnYns4SBFbwwQ_6lyVZ5-jX5x5y0BgbljgsITadWI896EhfS2UoY5zwEnW1HxRdCQ9ZBfg6O0HALmjU-Ocdj69HlfTvUVBrcUWAXQmNdMdJ6OPyFZQr2OIUonR4rcjmqA/s320/20230323_111711.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">Weddings are held here</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjclSdHNXrrRjZCSIIxpufb8NOBs0cIReJaWhDTd7GSi9ZqJ3HcI2hIwSaJiXwYbpriGEFxAMxdXblNJqfk7dmJ6GrxcosGdhmsYVTZt9otsh6tYbd8TU2E7vG6KuOIb2Wg1mif43vhzHX0_SvTAP9_9qyExSti7RgFMzONjwSNfTo8H8g7VAB3dALoAA/s4624/20230323_102002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjclSdHNXrrRjZCSIIxpufb8NOBs0cIReJaWhDTd7GSi9ZqJ3HcI2hIwSaJiXwYbpriGEFxAMxdXblNJqfk7dmJ6GrxcosGdhmsYVTZt9otsh6tYbd8TU2E7vG6KuOIb2Wg1mif43vhzHX0_SvTAP9_9qyExSti7RgFMzONjwSNfTo8H8g7VAB3dALoAA/s320/20230323_102002.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9l8nAGq14qJKYoR7WVJgCIJGV6-1GMDZhy_mnegs670VIqxXdx7v6NFKaY2nummy0sP8KvI2VZBht0GlzcKNdKbT0SYqKehIsXcbbfPJfD14q3EvRrhFqU4npezcOseXp8hNVf8M6bH2FOOw2AnqQLbT02gdFKAeX5XmnFQRfsAQfnzCQXV23LQz0g/s4624/20230323_105047.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9l8nAGq14qJKYoR7WVJgCIJGV6-1GMDZhy_mnegs670VIqxXdx7v6NFKaY2nummy0sP8KvI2VZBht0GlzcKNdKbT0SYqKehIsXcbbfPJfD14q3EvRrhFqU4npezcOseXp8hNVf8M6bH2FOOw2AnqQLbT02gdFKAeX5XmnFQRfsAQfnzCQXV23LQz0g/s320/20230323_105047.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7ydsJWfeV6W3SqfwWVJtflBBZswAjFfpTnDTP_CMXLNHAss_4S8f0ixPswGnwdIgaDzpdd-JSdc3NwCD2FBJdsvFWwnxJpGpwwik_tlRqDEFPTyqtvqQwWKNgL32TtgsmXcTjCrqqwc-L8EthFL84AvJv9_6xY7utCDwaiFMLVA1jCId20YgqstkAA/s4624/20230323_104002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7ydsJWfeV6W3SqfwWVJtflBBZswAjFfpTnDTP_CMXLNHAss_4S8f0ixPswGnwdIgaDzpdd-JSdc3NwCD2FBJdsvFWwnxJpGpwwik_tlRqDEFPTyqtvqQwWKNgL32TtgsmXcTjCrqqwc-L8EthFL84AvJv9_6xY7utCDwaiFMLVA1jCId20YgqstkAA/s320/20230323_104002.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sunken Gardens</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Formerly owned & created by a private family; now owned by the city of St. Pete</div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnopT6EB0sEcsHy569QvwkW1B7rHGsGZxtmnEYBUfeEOWw9BRlf0FTBGuMCxVD9zBqDah8_lYvAvprQcmSfz1Pwt8ScvDb7jqJeAdxLunyMSkuId5Wxey_Z4o7SDbxtWD_Ls-DUYwgSISEfXQaXLTZgixMHH3a8GL7Q5S0h4TXQV-TROX5EIQf6yLU9g/s4624/20230323_135214.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnopT6EB0sEcsHy569QvwkW1B7rHGsGZxtmnEYBUfeEOWw9BRlf0FTBGuMCxVD9zBqDah8_lYvAvprQcmSfz1Pwt8ScvDb7jqJeAdxLunyMSkuId5Wxey_Z4o7SDbxtWD_Ls-DUYwgSISEfXQaXLTZgixMHH3a8GL7Q5S0h4TXQV-TROX5EIQf6yLU9g/s320/20230323_135214.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoE2uRow1A_I_7i8jugQ6kYDY6l4tYoMC4qtPcBo_WBN7eW5Xn6hGLXD-lPoYz8fE5UON2DLGK88TfB4IJJgSkp2eVMF42XzuKRIbq4s486BYJNHF_1Z9q_Qw3bKMm-hYOrlL2AlC89q60vNmlAUZKxV7BNwirImocxcfxZl2Qytc4hzZOc5p1VI_KLw/s4624/20230323_135812.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoE2uRow1A_I_7i8jugQ6kYDY6l4tYoMC4qtPcBo_WBN7eW5Xn6hGLXD-lPoYz8fE5UON2DLGK88TfB4IJJgSkp2eVMF42XzuKRIbq4s486BYJNHF_1Z9q_Qw3bKMm-hYOrlL2AlC89q60vNmlAUZKxV7BNwirImocxcfxZl2Qytc4hzZOc5p1VI_KLw/s320/20230323_135812.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguryHyRf870gKZAkYerllvYRw_NS-K6tTs7MMAq9FQjaMK_Z0ZvBJZmkBHKQVKvkYUZ0GIaQi0TyaUy_BEPNz7gfhnbBdpXe-m5RIyCkEp7tzzQ6RgOJHSkKLAEw1_Bz2ZhEyp4ZMZ2SEPHu5Jr78Qyz_fs5cB8rBTFWy5ckRZwrD9PEnPLdJjPESKyA/s4624/20230323_135053.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguryHyRf870gKZAkYerllvYRw_NS-K6tTs7MMAq9FQjaMK_Z0ZvBJZmkBHKQVKvkYUZ0GIaQi0TyaUy_BEPNz7gfhnbBdpXe-m5RIyCkEp7tzzQ6RgOJHSkKLAEw1_Bz2ZhEyp4ZMZ2SEPHu5Jr78Qyz_fs5cB8rBTFWy5ckRZwrD9PEnPLdJjPESKyA/s320/20230323_135053.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijEChdCQ71XUtIRQRhGzCgpfFA4uK5vrARtknWWewvwfUsDLmGKvJ8wP5xGzbruIpHEMm8PuezhX6iELgBcEApldo3gktQVVJidV11ixkdVZB59NLsPaoLCTG1x6Os3fSS_TmdFqb5zvQ5hz7vQFL_pRcKqzbkJxBWKAxuyVLLHobXwf_eJo-1ZDZJfw/s4624/20230323_134711.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijEChdCQ71XUtIRQRhGzCgpfFA4uK5vrARtknWWewvwfUsDLmGKvJ8wP5xGzbruIpHEMm8PuezhX6iELgBcEApldo3gktQVVJidV11ixkdVZB59NLsPaoLCTG1x6Os3fSS_TmdFqb5zvQ5hz7vQFL_pRcKqzbkJxBWKAxuyVLLHobXwf_eJo-1ZDZJfw/s320/20230323_134711.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Imagine Museum of Glass</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Don't touch anything but the floor" said the docent!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9CNBWOCJXPP6-Brb9MhNxLAtkd7474XqDoNbIMnEyPKxfvzjVZ1JzTfIeJvXGJmLNBFVCeLKB0sqSNZBf9kS8s39eyu3vppkuMXJW3ZKv3RnItDFdpEP6lOh6-TW9IY-O4qxnaFa6Owr69mWoTCOALQ7xazFqR38q-cISyUi1NZ-KOwKbb4yeIOI6w/s4624/20230323_151310.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9CNBWOCJXPP6-Brb9MhNxLAtkd7474XqDoNbIMnEyPKxfvzjVZ1JzTfIeJvXGJmLNBFVCeLKB0sqSNZBf9kS8s39eyu3vppkuMXJW3ZKv3RnItDFdpEP6lOh6-TW9IY-O4qxnaFa6Owr69mWoTCOALQ7xazFqR38q-cISyUi1NZ-KOwKbb4yeIOI6w/s320/20230323_151310.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFeAKs49e7KFICm5ZPYGevw1jvfD4VQDwhCHTLtq7osyoQWClI7Nt-1pN3cYJatrFxDXPi5VAKh8w51jLdBTc7QNyIxyAk6uPYgj6lmDarF9sDLDMKfRE3x42KSQFQhMv0EUDnj_vCKyDYb86e9hVxYNDAi1HLSSRbwxl5a2CCQ7U0QF1XQFfjCbCKRg/s4624/20230323_151437.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFeAKs49e7KFICm5ZPYGevw1jvfD4VQDwhCHTLtq7osyoQWClI7Nt-1pN3cYJatrFxDXPi5VAKh8w51jLdBTc7QNyIxyAk6uPYgj6lmDarF9sDLDMKfRE3x42KSQFQhMv0EUDnj_vCKyDYb86e9hVxYNDAi1HLSSRbwxl5a2CCQ7U0QF1XQFfjCbCKRg/s320/20230323_151437.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Glass-Blowing Demo </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilwsCbw1ub8cjnM05Fk_gNsPOk2BKY8ealQisEp5d9lmpWIUl3uSv7jwDOrvoAigquW6Hu9P91pRqHIqf0PC82bbyCWhc5xlHHq7zVrEH-Q_B3zpzigN6i3cbbQqet2APqFWI_M41QDT8ZIn5Ny_WRXLtSKBIpvERrWi_aI0MezGXGOAU1UQflb0XVKQ/s4624/20230323_154751.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilwsCbw1ub8cjnM05Fk_gNsPOk2BKY8ealQisEp5d9lmpWIUl3uSv7jwDOrvoAigquW6Hu9P91pRqHIqf0PC82bbyCWhc5xlHHq7zVrEH-Q_B3zpzigN6i3cbbQqet2APqFWI_M41QDT8ZIn5Ny_WRXLtSKBIpvERrWi_aI0MezGXGOAU1UQflb0XVKQ/s320/20230323_154751.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYuIWobgO7yioVEO00vAr0Nc6pFUYg7226UxxEh7C1gXO0s4UJhJdkFrWtZNttOcGtDMy2sfd3EJv0oQBdwD7lY-GdJr7RE-iLOrw4zaf5HT412a6BSz6DAztgKFqN-_WUTv-uxmNvYVZRJGpP1JGwjpYFGZpn4eb24HetrVnOtoeRgqO8yYAmg-lQuQ/s4624/20230323_155009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYuIWobgO7yioVEO00vAr0Nc6pFUYg7226UxxEh7C1gXO0s4UJhJdkFrWtZNttOcGtDMy2sfd3EJv0oQBdwD7lY-GdJr7RE-iLOrw4zaf5HT412a6BSz6DAztgKFqN-_WUTv-uxmNvYVZRJGpP1JGwjpYFGZpn4eb24HetrVnOtoeRgqO8yYAmg-lQuQ/s320/20230323_155009.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjv1AzNi2w6cHTZYeb6zlmsrZZNgclNpia8gxVLeDH6gbYr-07UY3aZ7wJQnwKz2EixGRL6UzImbpyL-nmYUOH5RIIeW521vgMoeoEgUCeZwIhELTomg8e0W-eQ2Hw_2thA5nmsM1zNAM95WZolcE2Z6COq9Nqj7OyToG6ClPL2SCTe8L9HqAMF8HHBQ/s4000/20230323_155252.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjv1AzNi2w6cHTZYeb6zlmsrZZNgclNpia8gxVLeDH6gbYr-07UY3aZ7wJQnwKz2EixGRL6UzImbpyL-nmYUOH5RIIeW521vgMoeoEgUCeZwIhELTomg8e0W-eQ2Hw_2thA5nmsM1zNAM95WZolcE2Z6COq9Nqj7OyToG6ClPL2SCTe8L9HqAMF8HHBQ/s320/20230323_155252.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29WqibCGcMAcgmLYProN4jZjl286U1yJZN7bsWrKCY7lplLRutsO_X6T-wAtDrhNdOb3XukOhHDhHypd16n_K-JVaR45cpGkotvQLatkHYh0BBlHnsYt0LsDJZRXn_lMWjjmdLO-DXj4LBxbkWuao_50-mtyTl3bQ1GpheiGJwRS3iSCfdwpnT5eZ2A/s4624/20230323_154634.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29WqibCGcMAcgmLYProN4jZjl286U1yJZN7bsWrKCY7lplLRutsO_X6T-wAtDrhNdOb3XukOhHDhHypd16n_K-JVaR45cpGkotvQLatkHYh0BBlHnsYt0LsDJZRXn_lMWjjmdLO-DXj4LBxbkWuao_50-mtyTl3bQ1GpheiGJwRS3iSCfdwpnT5eZ2A/s320/20230323_154634.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="text-align: center;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Chihuly Collection</span><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;">At an early morning gathering on the 6th day, we said goodbye to many new friends, hoping to see each other again on another Roads Scholar tour!</span></div>CrochetQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919768072384261544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358905162839317966.post-5706504878118732212023-04-06T15:55:00.001-05:002023-04-09T08:30:10.183-05:00Catch Up: Crochet Art on Exhibit<p> Since March of 2022, I have been on a roll, having had my crochet art accepted in exhibits simultaneously in two galleries and consecutively for 3 cycles at another gallery.</p><p>#crochetkween<span> </span><span> </span><span> #ignitestudio<span> </span><span> </span><span> #nickelplatearts</span></span></p><p>Here's a review:</p><p><b>Feb.25-April 28, 2023 Ignite Studio "The 700 Collection" (Signifies the stacks in the Dewey Decimal System which contain Art & Craft books)</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBGOeMot9X_JnmXq4L1wH8fU8tFFBjI0sl42RHYLf7Uc2bdxuAYu15bjT71WdZcgA1mcPno4Z4Frezf5ACljCN8Ev-cpn72bgS0VlLamGhEj75OS6B3xCYgu_52J-x2i2sZGIn3rs0i73Fpz8s7SqnX9ZBbcmWIXrBArt45TiqVP9Un3OECC0EZ3k09g/s552/1995HeartrockSMALLHotel.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="414" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBGOeMot9X_JnmXq4L1wH8fU8tFFBjI0sl42RHYLf7Uc2bdxuAYu15bjT71WdZcgA1mcPno4Z4Frezf5ACljCN8Ev-cpn72bgS0VlLamGhEj75OS6B3xCYgu_52J-x2i2sZGIn3rs0i73Fpz8s7SqnX9ZBbcmWIXrBArt45TiqVP9Un3OECC0EZ3k09g/s320/1995HeartrockSMALLHotel.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Heartrock Hotel</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9cHLcR3MWhQhPfZF4k6azfm0f93x5NwlLvZGPykuSsIgEKYVzN-LnmHkKTatnPgc5mEniTywBay9EC7Ph0vtIbRJqRU8PAew27PHz9nqaWN4i8zosf2wJO-maNEN2Lbag6jIfdIi0Hs7DNsF9nWlLqgGzDu_gIUGJ8YT0vQEan5NIOwfe4sTErG4utA/s4110/HeartrockExhibit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4110" data-original-width="3233" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9cHLcR3MWhQhPfZF4k6azfm0f93x5NwlLvZGPykuSsIgEKYVzN-LnmHkKTatnPgc5mEniTywBay9EC7Ph0vtIbRJqRU8PAew27PHz9nqaWN4i8zosf2wJO-maNEN2Lbag6jIfdIi0Hs7DNsF9nWlLqgGzDu_gIUGJ8YT0vQEan5NIOwfe4sTErG4utA/s320/HeartrockExhibit.jpg" width="252" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSw7Y1rf-iXdkyWjAmLDI1adEAYIDUO9GOE8tOKq1WxUcbL9S23kXFAUPK7Wpq3cnSDO2CrCTJQpAWsBJ6pQpI5U4EhLynfTRL5WxngPjMJrcBviv6DgHDa-lOYAcGbuEc-ga2WPMmyBxtheTqaOkqQuh1FYnKWdWohiXPZouBSc44IK8614pjRFiDFw/s2665/3rdPrizeHeartrock.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2665" data-original-width="2651" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSw7Y1rf-iXdkyWjAmLDI1adEAYIDUO9GOE8tOKq1WxUcbL9S23kXFAUPK7Wpq3cnSDO2CrCTJQpAWsBJ6pQpI5U4EhLynfTRL5WxngPjMJrcBviv6DgHDa-lOYAcGbuEc-ga2WPMmyBxtheTqaOkqQuh1FYnKWdWohiXPZouBSc44IK8614pjRFiDFw/s320/3rdPrizeHeartrock.jpg" width="318" /></a></div><br /><div>I was really nice to have my family in attendance when I was awarded the Third Prize at the Artists' Reception!</div><div><p></p><p><b>December 2022 Nickelplate Gallery "Gifted"</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXWttkWFJz8QZ3C4p-wu2VAfzwL0ubb5s1anSMRMuWl4atL7aQB8uJ07S_i-1mxAl1k3V2k_QrA-FVmyDFMfvzPf_F8W6pZAPQ5JXoWRZVoqYQ_eHmPI7dF-YZ7vHmcxl7uJkGn2eB3TXIKl0HJzWxrM0hVBcdKHbN0CtmyoAxBqX-l5EDbh5oF_JNg/s640/PoppyWireFlower.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="640" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXWttkWFJz8QZ3C4p-wu2VAfzwL0ubb5s1anSMRMuWl4atL7aQB8uJ07S_i-1mxAl1k3V2k_QrA-FVmyDFMfvzPf_F8W6pZAPQ5JXoWRZVoqYQ_eHmPI7dF-YZ7vHmcxl7uJkGn2eB3TXIKl0HJzWxrM0hVBcdKHbN0CtmyoAxBqX-l5EDbh5oF_JNg/s320/PoppyWireFlower.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b><div style="text-align: center;">Wire Crochet "Poppy Brooch"</div></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAyi9K0H7AZd0ssd_Kief4673lYsQi2yD10pTAb1tfbmqqGqzHXsB16vLXclTVbNmYtGjtcrB1kM-iuPk1ayXr5jYFYC2RTbqYQqwfNDUPzzf6F7rLzdWUFrggHUwdaWyhvns2W8M1voo5R5ow3XLvjo1Xn0tipShVVN9ii0I1add-7eHzPJSdvAvXA/s4032/20180125_135559_001%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAyi9K0H7AZd0ssd_Kief4673lYsQi2yD10pTAb1tfbmqqGqzHXsB16vLXclTVbNmYtGjtcrB1kM-iuPk1ayXr5jYFYC2RTbqYQqwfNDUPzzf6F7rLzdWUFrggHUwdaWyhvns2W8M1voo5R5ow3XLvjo1Xn0tipShVVN9ii0I1add-7eHzPJSdvAvXA/s320/20180125_135559_001%20(1).jpg" width="240" /></a></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Brooch</b></div></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFyGOsXN8aWnbDoBIKG3iOPH_hGRmqiw66i6sRoJTj6nTOT5cw3atepw9hfsIWVSVagu0pWeXNJX6l1fc4MPUCnp2XT0ddcWPPc1eXwNhS5qGziqoBOPPHWiHXnxF-fVb8Ql63qFFZz32QLMX7CvQBOefyehx3T5LEKKIFySNqPAbxZu5jjnrjcXAaQ/s3791/20180405_103954%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3791" data-original-width="2844" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFyGOsXN8aWnbDoBIKG3iOPH_hGRmqiw66i6sRoJTj6nTOT5cw3atepw9hfsIWVSVagu0pWeXNJX6l1fc4MPUCnp2XT0ddcWPPc1eXwNhS5qGziqoBOPPHWiHXnxF-fVb8Ql63qFFZz32QLMX7CvQBOefyehx3T5LEKKIFySNqPAbxZu5jjnrjcXAaQ/s320/20180405_103954%20(2).jpg" width="240" /></a></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Brooch</b></div></b><p><b>November 26, 2022-January 13, 2023 Ignite Studio "Interiors"</b></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6qlrC2rf-C4vRljR7pa7TPRR5J6y0E4WktgcFyfg_TkZ8Hq0hBCFjf2qrnUjXJBny2XFNXQjmWv8-8JCPJX9TFeC3HdEnrXFg3wI5wS-RhJP3KEWR8diYUHrN6kRZw0xIRAd_G5FOMdeJSgoylgMDXJ3amEKmHkDPgMcgYBVOhvtN1VYutHCS4Qe3Eg/s800/jpeg-imag.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="599" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6qlrC2rf-C4vRljR7pa7TPRR5J6y0E4WktgcFyfg_TkZ8Hq0hBCFjf2qrnUjXJBny2XFNXQjmWv8-8JCPJX9TFeC3HdEnrXFg3wI5wS-RhJP3KEWR8diYUHrN6kRZw0xIRAd_G5FOMdeJSgoylgMDXJ3amEKmHkDPgMcgYBVOhvtN1VYutHCS4Qe3Eg/s320/jpeg-imag.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrOB8Tse3jE49sIhlXyx-aP3A--Y-QiEMDLaKYKmcgDZw81wpgWVKdAYVzTTg-RXkM6NSnG5OK7G4hUQJZQucwfxFexvcDTG6FweQSnIgNgW04WYNyEwGeMlvzYbISqWfCKFJRNYf_hh5m6CBcYC6UU7c3OgOaENy8-OlMc75Yf3Ls789zkEsLAZ0SUQ/s757/Tranformation-GriefandArt-AProcess-MixedMediaCrochetMontage-15x11x7inches-NFS-BACK.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="757" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrOB8Tse3jE49sIhlXyx-aP3A--Y-QiEMDLaKYKmcgDZw81wpgWVKdAYVzTTg-RXkM6NSnG5OK7G4hUQJZQucwfxFexvcDTG6FweQSnIgNgW04WYNyEwGeMlvzYbISqWfCKFJRNYf_hh5m6CBcYC6UU7c3OgOaENy8-OlMc75Yf3Ls789zkEsLAZ0SUQ/s320/Tranformation-GriefandArt-AProcess-MixedMediaCrochetMontage-15x11x7inches-NFS-BACK.jpg" width="320" /></b></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">"Transformation: The Intersection of Art & Grief-A Process." L-Front; R-Back</p><p><b>October 2022 Nickelplate Gallery "Wrapped in Autumn"</b></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgODoBao0CnpwCSKQVhUSosZRf-J8wIQIHWRsHpPT10IfluucO1QoUreOVe18JkerOWmsUHCo_1dvyFlmMabEs0wF5r0_XVTMa_4q5OSJoRdec_8j-9O1LxlgB_iAzxQn_gyPWkI6fgnPIgVcxnwXeejEKLo0EsIPZ2sXAcnrUUpcFX4fjuQi6SlpuAqA/s2557/AutumnSurroundsMe-Cowl.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2557" data-original-width="1759" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgODoBao0CnpwCSKQVhUSosZRf-J8wIQIHWRsHpPT10IfluucO1QoUreOVe18JkerOWmsUHCo_1dvyFlmMabEs0wF5r0_XVTMa_4q5OSJoRdec_8j-9O1LxlgB_iAzxQn_gyPWkI6fgnPIgVcxnwXeejEKLo0EsIPZ2sXAcnrUUpcFX4fjuQi6SlpuAqA/s320/AutumnSurroundsMe-Cowl.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Autumn is Here</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZe1g-QUtIlQNa0SLptlGKpLA0bEX9_3KeWfboRYIEKK1Qmb389SVAWSIQXfaEilHyynuuVxTabo7Uw4TSXjgjpv6Bx08CFguLUO4T7XJoWzHzVL7SXRIRr4oSKZ-J-x7lrpj6Jhd0bxXxSzzhGSGtHB67ZVvPOvI5os0kODXH2huZnQJMUU3hJYoSjw/s1964/Almost%20AutumnShawl%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1964" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZe1g-QUtIlQNa0SLptlGKpLA0bEX9_3KeWfboRYIEKK1Qmb389SVAWSIQXfaEilHyynuuVxTabo7Uw4TSXjgjpv6Bx08CFguLUO4T7XJoWzHzVL7SXRIRr4oSKZ-J-x7lrpj6Jhd0bxXxSzzhGSGtHB67ZVvPOvI5os0kODXH2huZnQJMUU3hJYoSjw/s320/Almost%20AutumnShawl%20(2).jpg" width="293" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Autumn Surrounds Me</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXhmcgBk1B9W3vCKako2Ek1d3TYafatV4ufYL-Q__6U2117B7T7S2KSznsMt9jh4CE3cY8W9t4Ff1N826sxOzLbeObzhLu4o0ZpwKO3hcQOfd2Oqd8789nBhOl2UvsQkApq0Gy9k17Jatonrj-tzh2LMM3yp9bFwwemDm7bvn6PD5PtoVc9s_U38X8g/s2116/Almost%20AutumnShawl%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2116" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXhmcgBk1B9W3vCKako2Ek1d3TYafatV4ufYL-Q__6U2117B7T7S2KSznsMt9jh4CE3cY8W9t4Ff1N826sxOzLbeObzhLu4o0ZpwKO3hcQOfd2Oqd8789nBhOl2UvsQkApq0Gy9k17Jatonrj-tzh2LMM3yp9bFwwemDm7bvn6PD5PtoVc9s_U38X8g/s320/Almost%20AutumnShawl%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Almost Autumn</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzrpc7mlH5wV1TXINkKTo-ZDsNS8qJyXHKQ1WuAOrz5cfKPLphJtv62MiCgtC4oZ4bNUPDF8wqmxw9ELhkDxJ7f-wNBB8doB59NcScw-oZdDYNaQcXWSrHMj7iIPmTcnpvsmyeXXIFmRjDSNMta37X18kIgu3nbqhhzCHk99f9zlOvr2k7HvIlgTQvTg/s2046/SunsetSkyScarf.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2046" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzrpc7mlH5wV1TXINkKTo-ZDsNS8qJyXHKQ1WuAOrz5cfKPLphJtv62MiCgtC4oZ4bNUPDF8wqmxw9ELhkDxJ7f-wNBB8doB59NcScw-oZdDYNaQcXWSrHMj7iIPmTcnpvsmyeXXIFmRjDSNMta37X18kIgu3nbqhhzCHk99f9zlOvr2k7HvIlgTQvTg/s320/SunsetSkyScarf.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Sunset Sky<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMwoOfEiyjswe8vSCHguHYhyBC-Ftxq7wwkxPBx3K3c-X3juL4HGKa7TW2pZ5dTCCE5ON7CSeHFPH4RbAKYn6cLdie3G8adDpMu1-Xt8RE2OxkHQOBjerc9s6WhEsAQSGuzrrJ7RrUet4mzs6STzrA340y1W61f0NOfgicH3MSKC9m0MbbZKhKZ_9yA/s3169/Untitled%20Cowl.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3169" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMwoOfEiyjswe8vSCHguHYhyBC-Ftxq7wwkxPBx3K3c-X3juL4HGKa7TW2pZ5dTCCE5ON7CSeHFPH4RbAKYn6cLdie3G8adDpMu1-Xt8RE2OxkHQOBjerc9s6WhEsAQSGuzrrJ7RrUet4mzs6STzrA340y1W61f0NOfgicH3MSKC9m0MbbZKhKZ_9yA/s320/Untitled%20Cowl.jpg" width="182" /></a></div>Untitled<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6p8LrgwNYZWK-wmGj02R6SIB0MmfasM6YTgcbN_wvRnlcCRb8dPqnRO5qFvuYX1LTSZP6wj5OjmSQtmwpzPUieqX1JsEzCzjvCANTeMslm6lQp0_SV6deaDvjI1f2NZzPtGm5BUdT38kSwzwOJUeRasBP3hu69CiuX_EiuKCPgJ275tdl4qPv93gI8g/s3183/TwoSeasons-Cowl.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3183" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6p8LrgwNYZWK-wmGj02R6SIB0MmfasM6YTgcbN_wvRnlcCRb8dPqnRO5qFvuYX1LTSZP6wj5OjmSQtmwpzPUieqX1JsEzCzjvCANTeMslm6lQp0_SV6deaDvjI1f2NZzPtGm5BUdT38kSwzwOJUeRasBP3hu69CiuX_EiuKCPgJ275tdl4qPv93gI8g/s320/TwoSeasons-Cowl.jpg" width="181" /></a></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Two Seasons Cowl</b></div></b><p><b>September 3-November 4, 2022 Ignite Studio "Pattern"</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijyTzU-n3TfKepD7sQLkQKz4qwisOEsIgS_1QPqF9dODICa5DnbExH0e2QliGMCbvEEB98LzQPdjefGXpvCNwVB5cFkTf6HDXcBxir_nglLRs1SiLAFN6yWwOrp1GhgkmW3-wdKZMg-TVpesAPrmQiaZbH3RmXv2qHQ9Y1QvuCoC9xdcXiYLOC76N2yg/s3591/2022ArtNouveauFramed.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3591" data-original-width="3214" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijyTzU-n3TfKepD7sQLkQKz4qwisOEsIgS_1QPqF9dODICa5DnbExH0e2QliGMCbvEEB98LzQPdjefGXpvCNwVB5cFkTf6HDXcBxir_nglLRs1SiLAFN6yWwOrp1GhgkmW3-wdKZMg-TVpesAPrmQiaZbH3RmXv2qHQ9Y1QvuCoC9xdcXiYLOC76N2yg/s320/2022ArtNouveauFramed.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>"Art Nouveau"</b></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHI6JSVk_-SaKwETptNomVQ6zwQjlIpg1vU2uJ4GUZupEG028zrRBK684oEwQpCGwMQ3Y8p0UbO42qXv31plyHx_XiBGOUyaOGscntlGK9_BYkw5x14F3a-Wi5P_fUsp08xLdKhZwa3mJwfsOz7kgNusVNFNwgWv6RNPggbG6en_y0HTImmYKqibJzbQ/s3487/2022Studyof%20OrangeColorB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1891" data-original-width="3487" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHI6JSVk_-SaKwETptNomVQ6zwQjlIpg1vU2uJ4GUZupEG028zrRBK684oEwQpCGwMQ3Y8p0UbO42qXv31plyHx_XiBGOUyaOGscntlGK9_BYkw5x14F3a-Wi5P_fUsp08xLdKhZwa3mJwfsOz7kgNusVNFNwgWv6RNPggbG6en_y0HTImmYKqibJzbQ/s320/2022Studyof%20OrangeColorB.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>"Study of Orange"</b></div><p></p><p><b>September 2-24, 2022 Nickel Plate Gallery "Members' Show"</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXP-_DBGr6bafj6bV5Xl9hIr3izDkgEeN2s_af_lA5BHqZeo4idtdY3Odji5XIGUzr1YcavX2awqG7CJQx78nOh_enRcB3zICn2S_STLBqZFa4tHP4NOWuFwYWv4P6W1k1LLyFlSoqBNbl-OHaM_AjNGbfYATbF-PcudCfS76Q3F-IH7RfTFU9S2qDg/s4618/MiMilagroNickelplate.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4618" data-original-width="3464" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXP-_DBGr6bafj6bV5Xl9hIr3izDkgEeN2s_af_lA5BHqZeo4idtdY3Odji5XIGUzr1YcavX2awqG7CJQx78nOh_enRcB3zICn2S_STLBqZFa4tHP4NOWuFwYWv4P6W1k1LLyFlSoqBNbl-OHaM_AjNGbfYATbF-PcudCfS76Q3F-IH7RfTFU9S2qDg/s320/MiMilagroNickelplate.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Mi Milagro</b></div></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9OnGoXeLPtbgGikCf4ivUfRachrd2ysxPbRPj3smULiziGC1HIh98azpJ0ccgAboDQD6c3Dmny4mR0S5KkDFlgeGMit4f7LoeoK-4Q8FiOIMcGeQ3FdFHtpHJ_LPY0dsGFdH5y68ClEa3AmXy9w6xWcB5k1bnbBtXFOI_4LkcLhb-qGu5j3QEuFBEA/s4032/PopofSpringNecklace.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9OnGoXeLPtbgGikCf4ivUfRachrd2ysxPbRPj3smULiziGC1HIh98azpJ0ccgAboDQD6c3Dmny4mR0S5KkDFlgeGMit4f7LoeoK-4Q8FiOIMcGeQ3FdFHtpHJ_LPY0dsGFdH5y68ClEa3AmXy9w6xWcB5k1bnbBtXFOI_4LkcLhb-qGu5j3QEuFBEA/s320/PopofSpringNecklace.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Finery of Spring</b></div></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKrENI96GjIMGu9n3xQSRePL2eHMPbl4QUpRc84NEgHjsQqpH-hFqT430CQTfxQr2GV6r_jcLeWwoy1dbbK56Wl8u4l7-YKn_baoCH-Z7pwYGrSiS4FS1uzUhDnGa5ayJ1SARsfkLEF3VoOK-Pp6wccLvMiXfFpfDVBpKZy2j-ZJgaG8jRxf91OsKQQ/s4091/VibrantFiestaNickelplate.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4091" data-original-width="3101" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKrENI96GjIMGu9n3xQSRePL2eHMPbl4QUpRc84NEgHjsQqpH-hFqT430CQTfxQr2GV6r_jcLeWwoy1dbbK56Wl8u4l7-YKn_baoCH-Z7pwYGrSiS4FS1uzUhDnGa5ayJ1SARsfkLEF3VoOK-Pp6wccLvMiXfFpfDVBpKZy2j-ZJgaG8jRxf91OsKQQ/s320/VibrantFiestaNickelplate.jpg" width="243" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Vibrant Fiesta</b></div><p><b><span> </span>April 2022 Nickelplate Arts Gallery "Keep America Beautiful" </b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio7YLMjcLPY0RfWed8olrGJbdkSyeHcxrorNC5o5a1_Gwb7RI-2ajR-5-9oZX4B8dpWYFrYiqgvPK-1fuA4SLULY7QoYYAcdecEtNW1nxwJYkygij1CbOlxwID0TUw53hqhtp7or8q4qVsXUWvfy5zUxUDhErkFjudNkAc6I6Hssx_wHyQOY3SfNovIA/s3360/0913MuchImprovedMixedMedia.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3112" data-original-width="3360" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio7YLMjcLPY0RfWed8olrGJbdkSyeHcxrorNC5o5a1_Gwb7RI-2ajR-5-9oZX4B8dpWYFrYiqgvPK-1fuA4SLULY7QoYYAcdecEtNW1nxwJYkygij1CbOlxwID0TUw53hqhtp7or8q4qVsXUWvfy5zUxUDhErkFjudNkAc6I6Hssx_wHyQOY3SfNovIA/s320/0913MuchImprovedMixedMedia.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Much Improved</b></div></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIbju4y1IN9NLeEn5DiUdNYDATSz1z8wFDs2CejlV3erC26zcBpJYca-BF8A70gz-IMh8nZz_8yks4sr5yG7qXBe5rOyc0HGOV722bsLz_oDh6_JTkjvJ459e4RIsmmKDHkJyY72ZN8EtXjkYEOoHzC-5tNLKIi2K2ku2jur7yJyyVnhhCgEj2InpqjQ/s500/TreeHeadband.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIbju4y1IN9NLeEn5DiUdNYDATSz1z8wFDs2CejlV3erC26zcBpJYca-BF8A70gz-IMh8nZz_8yks4sr5yG7qXBe5rOyc0HGOV722bsLz_oDh6_JTkjvJ459e4RIsmmKDHkJyY72ZN8EtXjkYEOoHzC-5tNLKIi2K2ku2jur7yJyyVnhhCgEj2InpqjQ/s320/TreeHeadband.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Twig Headband</b></div></b><b><br /></b><p></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />CrochetQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919768072384261544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358905162839317966.post-28559952644227175582022-09-06T14:57:00.002-05:002022-09-25T09:51:17.403-05:00Catching Up with Bonnie Meltzer, Artist Extraordinaire <p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Longtime Portland Oregon artist, Bonnie Meltzer, uses artmaking as a form of activism. With several degrees in art. Bonnie has been an independent artist since 1971! </span><span>Those of you familiar with Bonnie and her art know that she "creates crochet and fabric artworks about timely issues that use textiles as a metaphor."</span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtENJH8K_28N78192pmS7_6qAtwD8e9jze7BVpjHTFzFh2IrfVauyeLHVoxpUDD_Z-Xg3NsjxJbGvzBNKDyacAaxd1LB3mjQe20IquRfNlfPyo0bG8i_Xxmv37Xs-rAimPFSBQnJt7pamOuqtn08mSky1BXczn79pVH4AN6KBabhjfEyoRUlGSfiUjOw/s789/2022ExquiteBonnie.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="526" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtENJH8K_28N78192pmS7_6qAtwD8e9jze7BVpjHTFzFh2IrfVauyeLHVoxpUDD_Z-Xg3NsjxJbGvzBNKDyacAaxd1LB3mjQe20IquRfNlfPyo0bG8i_Xxmv37Xs-rAimPFSBQnJt7pamOuqtn08mSky1BXczn79pVH4AN6KBabhjfEyoRUlGSfiUjOw/s320/2022ExquiteBonnie.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Bonnie Meltzer</b></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Her current work is no exception! Entitled <i>Exquisite Gorge II, </i>this exhibit is currently at the Maryhill Museum in Goldendale Washington overlooking the Columbia River. Hurry: it ends September 10, 2022! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><i>Exquisite Gorge II</i> is a freestanding sculpture by eleven fiber artists and is joined together to make a portrait of the river. "</span><span face="Georgia, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">The installation consists of crocheted, fabricated, and collaged representations of wind turbines and pylons towering over the river, lined by tumbleweed. The towers command visual attention, directing our focus to power lines feeding our incessant demand for electricity.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.9rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It is surely </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">no coincidence that electric power and art have often been metaphorically entwined. Most of us cannot claim to fully understand art and electricity’s unpredictable ways, their danger, their ability to illuminate and, yes, to electrify. Clearly they are about transformation, but the details remain a mystery to most." </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Friderike Heuer, Oregon Arts Watch</b> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxvoBQEuce9i7ibRx0evNEA-qpHvmyf5A8XZuJz4i9Mzx-27FMFDnIi4ldvIyDNb4F7WfmpDWe82d4Zn_SMks7wf_xobJi6ixVN97ojLqrmtxcbrxGiCckNl3lcCIQzY604Y5cs4GPiLAHVdqh2V-nfo_WXTu7RaLjlqxiYN2ktGWeUaHDZC-zooGXA/s720/2022ExquisiteGorge2-4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="513" data-original-width="720" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxvoBQEuce9i7ibRx0evNEA-qpHvmyf5A8XZuJz4i9Mzx-27FMFDnIi4ldvIyDNb4F7WfmpDWe82d4Zn_SMks7wf_xobJi6ixVN97ojLqrmtxcbrxGiCckNl3lcCIQzY604Y5cs4GPiLAHVdqh2V-nfo_WXTu7RaLjlqxiYN2ktGWeUaHDZC-zooGXA/s320/2022ExquisiteGorge2-4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>The artists</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOtBA5s9dbI3Yf65W0noRpvfuJ1UJZHg00Tyi_U_yvAPNOJRk75ZhggBTUfICAZ0hE46VXsgLBamceOq5328WPJqBtqHjCab23_ETSSCQW3uMlWugAi9XM-D3X7V5XVukJddW8ylmlIrzxjXuwtg4FEp3jWQhxoMXhCx1dQzISXFRlhOWh6ZTClxqLCQ/s827/2022Exquisite7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="827" data-original-width="526" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOtBA5s9dbI3Yf65W0noRpvfuJ1UJZHg00Tyi_U_yvAPNOJRk75ZhggBTUfICAZ0hE46VXsgLBamceOq5328WPJqBtqHjCab23_ETSSCQW3uMlWugAi9XM-D3X7V5XVukJddW8ylmlIrzxjXuwtg4FEp3jWQhxoMXhCx1dQzISXFRlhOWh6ZTClxqLCQ/s320/2022Exquisite7.jpg" width="204" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJeoZlrXyqH1wasmaHGN_7HSlx7SZaZDwB1yqbVSefWjjQN1TRt-RrfoNT_YZaKVFAOMH7eZvYH8FkFPuH9_Q7O_HUVftlnWhbC7KYNirbuz_t6Pqv9SgfOvcdsvAKfh_pTV8ZSN_cxeDYK7LMhT75rnQjHiTccmCQnueO1uE5PQuHq4Q8B3SgmkNHTw/s2048/2022ExquisiteGorge2-3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1604" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJeoZlrXyqH1wasmaHGN_7HSlx7SZaZDwB1yqbVSefWjjQN1TRt-RrfoNT_YZaKVFAOMH7eZvYH8FkFPuH9_Q7O_HUVftlnWhbC7KYNirbuz_t6Pqv9SgfOvcdsvAKfh_pTV8ZSN_cxeDYK7LMhT75rnQjHiTccmCQnueO1uE5PQuHq4Q8B3SgmkNHTw/s320/2022ExquisiteGorge2-3.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha31Xe2lmeFOrjoH-_oc3BhtymnVUgclHSw-SLyG6kLxhYOJqzesZnT6d2EcgGrZ414z7lsGRrk0B1LhDWwwq2W49yqaQOWI75BcLe2FCupEAVxNtfTDXWq78L21Kkln_D5Ful5febCL32wB0DiT7fZ8tMf4bndX6m60gG-eR78hj3FpuqAKwJ6doesw/s2048/2022ExquisiteGorge%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1587" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha31Xe2lmeFOrjoH-_oc3BhtymnVUgclHSw-SLyG6kLxhYOJqzesZnT6d2EcgGrZ414z7lsGRrk0B1LhDWwwq2W49yqaQOWI75BcLe2FCupEAVxNtfTDXWq78L21Kkln_D5Ful5febCL32wB0DiT7fZ8tMf4bndX6m60gG-eR78hj3FpuqAKwJ6doesw/s320/2022ExquisiteGorge%202.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">#exquisitegorgeII</div><div style="text-align: left;">#bonniemeltzer</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Another monumental artistic endeavor, originating from Bonnie's heart, <b><i>Tikkun Olam-Mending the Social Fabric,</i></b> ran from November 2021 through January 2022 at the Jewish Museum & Center for Holocaust Education in Portland. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQAf-krAwo_hpoOMuD-xGOwr_8zoEqBQjP5k_wrSxSg6z67s4dNKUQbLmnVPWx2lOi8z4YbYBu6Dgyv_toDxy7F9Fs_2RsE4PAMOiGbWXLqumI_9tme6zPbbm0SewU-RBGPy0RWaaC0dzmlKB7d6buMhk7K6lYghA2BiBF_BoCi3u5xv5RI3etg4zaXw/s586/2022TickaOlam-3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="586" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQAf-krAwo_hpoOMuD-xGOwr_8zoEqBQjP5k_wrSxSg6z67s4dNKUQbLmnVPWx2lOi8z4YbYBu6Dgyv_toDxy7F9Fs_2RsE4PAMOiGbWXLqumI_9tme6zPbbm0SewU-RBGPy0RWaaC0dzmlKB7d6buMhk7K6lYghA2BiBF_BoCi3u5xv5RI3etg4zaXw/s320/2022TickaOlam-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b>Tikkun Olam: Mending the Social Fabric</b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The Jewish term for "mending" is so appropriate for this interactive exhibition which embodies the Jewish principal-Tikkun Olam-"repair the world."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgARq4M02DNsY79XPG0M9GDPCpV6unU8uVViXBR1B8nqrUxahoKbWsPtPDosAQHiawDXRwdlh7zDcYDXlfVOjDtQoZ5wxAaDHG5YvAZkrZnSQiNcJK-A7aa6hpFj8FvFU8QPvnFumrb8MEFiShS-X7cV1rsnEi6KMGa1H3o0DV-G4MxAqtPMVkkn7Mj2Q/s960/2021MendingtheSocialFabric.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="960" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgARq4M02DNsY79XPG0M9GDPCpV6unU8uVViXBR1B8nqrUxahoKbWsPtPDosAQHiawDXRwdlh7zDcYDXlfVOjDtQoZ5wxAaDHG5YvAZkrZnSQiNcJK-A7aa6hpFj8FvFU8QPvnFumrb8MEFiShS-X7cV1rsnEi6KMGa1H3o0DV-G4MxAqtPMVkkn7Mj2Q/s320/2021MendingtheSocialFabric.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b>The exhibit finalized</b><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">For months and months, Bonnie collected handkerchiefs with deep sentimental value to the contributors and swatches of fabric from all corners of the world. She taught sewing workshops; and when the difficulty of threading a needle became evident, she prepared them for her volunteers!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlQRNnV-Y7huQq6Saratbu-7DwlQsg-Nc3zUx22K90r2AappPWgmfaAPM1iNr5Nx44OwhVindY1t0JdmAXhMhIkqndvrGfubpHuaSpLkP1S15-B6BjWwiUzqNth-2qZSUE9TdH8oiIx74eHXSLyRc_xDNS0P9CnXrU96BFr8dLdv0k10fkMFBA1BoQ1Q/s600/TickaOlam.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="600" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlQRNnV-Y7huQq6Saratbu-7DwlQsg-Nc3zUx22K90r2AappPWgmfaAPM1iNr5Nx44OwhVindY1t0JdmAXhMhIkqndvrGfubpHuaSpLkP1S15-B6BjWwiUzqNth-2qZSUE9TdH8oiIx74eHXSLyRc_xDNS0P9CnXrU96BFr8dLdv0k10fkMFBA1BoQ1Q/s320/TickaOlam.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Embroidered handkerchiefs and embroidery within hoops</b></div></b> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c3135; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">"Central to this site-specific exhibition is a large-scale vintage parachute encircled with text-embroidered handkerchiefs; phrases and quotes like “Unweave Racism Now” speak to Meltzer’s primary themes. On the wall behind the parachute are textiles from across the globe. This interactive exhibition embodies the Jewish principle of <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Tikkun Olam</em>, meaning “repair the world.” The parachute, a metaphor for safety, features rips and tears that are meant to be repaired by visitors who join the artist to mend the damage over the course of the show.</span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c3135; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">As the artist states, “The very act of gathering together as a community to sew on a giant parachute will help mend the isolation and pain so many have felt in the last year.” Meltzer embraces action, hope and healing in this timely art piece." </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><b>Preview Sept/Oct 2022</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c3135; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY8vvCBfyoyl5e9ecyyq_qFWCOb17XyMzGXV7pkqytdaVUwaxvD1eOmaNPUjYxEq31jg9vAZlOVKDodhVXWAJp4U-q49ZzpollC5n5TVSD1EmKmTduk9rmyfxVo9KRAKrlJ_aTF8EN_I9NwVHjlp7iK8TSlL92yd38DuBahBLB2pypcsQr5KjmzN4lEg/s535/parachuteHandkerchiefs.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="348" data-original-width="535" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY8vvCBfyoyl5e9ecyyq_qFWCOb17XyMzGXV7pkqytdaVUwaxvD1eOmaNPUjYxEq31jg9vAZlOVKDodhVXWAJp4U-q49ZzpollC5n5TVSD1EmKmTduk9rmyfxVo9KRAKrlJ_aTF8EN_I9NwVHjlp7iK8TSlL92yd38DuBahBLB2pypcsQr5KjmzN4lEg/s320/parachuteHandkerchiefs.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Parachute & Handkerchiefs</b></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxLmweWoASYtnWLaeYJ9N2TeCGGuBWkZR7u5R3dV7iwgsJGi0ZpVmc7noAXhU-RelFW54A1PazQAmU0G7bPDiOpAxPt65Vh-n9M5Wv2x5kRaxzQxNQ_fCycCGYmZbdsbRSARHDzRV1PME6CIXB-zX9IxLqvo5VYMVCr44_8fQiXptICd8Y85zG7kccg/s600/2022TikkanOlam2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxLmweWoASYtnWLaeYJ9N2TeCGGuBWkZR7u5R3dV7iwgsJGi0ZpVmc7noAXhU-RelFW54A1PazQAmU0G7bPDiOpAxPt65Vh-n9M5Wv2x5kRaxzQxNQ_fCycCGYmZbdsbRSARHDzRV1PME6CIXB-zX9IxLqvo5VYMVCr44_8fQiXptICd8Y85zG7kccg/s320/2022TikkanOlam2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">#mendingthesocialfabricexhibit</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This photo that Bonnie sent to me inspired me to write this blog about here work:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdWFtArvFf_MvkKIyD7p3XKdpzzTCpLS5yCrTTjoyDuEayo0f3eWs9I9tKMEa3M1KHl8BTXVkIlk3Q9nqPMeonrEDFanpmuKD6CnikXczIizfBw8zvuPvnVVVvi6xpAdlJbU-GQsgMuqU0tE0eC5PGppigbQeWQtTFbsjz0brqEhoMIRMUEd_fmwXCDg/s200/SCISSORS.SM%20PINCUSHION_9817.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="200" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdWFtArvFf_MvkKIyD7p3XKdpzzTCpLS5yCrTTjoyDuEayo0f3eWs9I9tKMEa3M1KHl8BTXVkIlk3Q9nqPMeonrEDFanpmuKD6CnikXczIizfBw8zvuPvnVVVvi6xpAdlJbU-GQsgMuqU0tE0eC5PGppigbQeWQtTFbsjz0brqEhoMIRMUEd_fmwXCDg/s1600/SCISSORS.SM%20PINCUSHION_9817.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Bonnie's talented hands doing embroidery work on Tikkan Olam and a bead-crochet bracelet I made for her years ago. She told me she "wore the bracelet every day of the progress of the exhibit. Such an honor for me!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">To enjoy more of Bonnie's awesome and life-long creations of art: the whimsy, the messages, the inspiration; visit her on Facebook or her <a href="http://www.bonniemeltzer.com">website</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">#crochetkween</div><div style="text-align: left;">#gocgoa</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><b><br /></b></div>CrochetQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919768072384261544noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358905162839317966.post-84770441657109762102022-09-01T11:17:00.003-05:002022-09-01T11:17:58.739-05:00"Tracing Evolution of Hand Crochet in Xinzhuang"<p>A most interesting <a href="https://www.shine.cn/feature/district/2208239544/">article</a> on the evolution of crochet as an "intangible cultural heritage" by Yang Yang in the publication called "Shine."</p><p><br /></p><p>"In 1992, the new Minhang District appeared in Shanghai. The Intangible Cultural Heritage Center tracing the origins of crochet as a Shanghai 'intangible culture'".</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEUuaYBTOsVPFO2yLpKwh9YmhVXMtirIQn5i_xM4wr54d05QpczVy5P0mahrkJ93YwEgnNQsJCrV1n1z6CRrBYTFzS9xhrYMm6Lbvts0Dhr_W21JVe9d4Vzjp_YdEaFMvoSq9n19F4PchUwyu6JWLFUTvEY-qmRLUVZ5ZZ-h9faRWsCvKztnBlVcj22g/s940/SunYingdiWaterLillies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="940" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEUuaYBTOsVPFO2yLpKwh9YmhVXMtirIQn5i_xM4wr54d05QpczVy5P0mahrkJ93YwEgnNQsJCrV1n1z6CRrBYTFzS9xhrYMm6Lbvts0Dhr_W21JVe9d4Vzjp_YdEaFMvoSq9n19F4PchUwyu6JWLFUTvEY-qmRLUVZ5ZZ-h9faRWsCvKztnBlVcj22g/s320/SunYingdiWaterLillies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sun Yingdi: <b><i>Waterlillies, </i>a nod to Claud Monet's painting</b></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hrmXo0kLRG15iuNX7-mPqsqEPmagqLjWll7HgTCSJHtGITdgr74xK_i1NXQE5e6KyWy0nSmfR4AsQ-jFYC7XqxkfkqVkE7Fz7dgOkb8hrfupvo5vxS8dDUi58NplYkBAdmqpFFyF8CUocLB4E38yloZmNic-UXIYS59TKC_FL5gw4UjSNkiUjGPg1A/s1483/LinHuauCross-OverCreations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1483" data-original-width="940" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hrmXo0kLRG15iuNX7-mPqsqEPmagqLjWll7HgTCSJHtGITdgr74xK_i1NXQE5e6KyWy0nSmfR4AsQ-jFYC7XqxkfkqVkE7Fz7dgOkb8hrfupvo5vxS8dDUi58NplYkBAdmqpFFyF8CUocLB4E38yloZmNic-UXIYS59TKC_FL5gw4UjSNkiUjGPg1A/s320/LinHuauCross-OverCreations.jpg" width="203" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Lin Huau:<i> Crossover Creations </i>merges Xinzhuang crochet and Tibetan garments</b></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>CrochetQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919768072384261544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358905162839317966.post-12418927306306842492022-08-26T10:34:00.006-05:002022-08-31T09:14:08.723-05:00It's the Simple Things...<p>Yesterday, in the car on the way to my granddaughter's volleyball game after school, my son-in-law made my day! Normally pretty buttoned up and thinking thoughts far from my orbit, my daughter reminded him to tell me about his recent Board meeting. Are you getting curious yet?</p><p>He is the newly appointed Treasurer at his kids' school and shared that he was very surprised to see another board member crocheting during the meeting! This is not something he commonly sees in the many board meetings he attends, but it was more surprising in this instance because she is a high-ranking attorney in her day job.</p><p>I quickly assured him that this is perfectly normal for any male or female who is passionate about crochet; and I am one who always has my traveling crochet bag with me for just these kinds of activities! . only wish I had been there to meet her!</p><p>Apologies to my readers for having been out of sight for so long. More recently in May I had knee-replacement surgery; and although I am doing well, it has slowed me down for now. </p><p>Then there was <i>Covid-19, 20 2</i>1, or whatever!! It seems like it will never end. I took it seriously and was in isolation for months and months. I did get a lot of crocheting done during those years of uncertainty: I worked on and received my Certificate as a <b><a href="https://bit.ly/3ApWNB5">Master of Fundamentals of Crochet</a></b> from CGOA in May 2021. Once my to-Do list was done, I moved into a more creative phase, focusing on my freeform crochet skills and artistic endeavors.</p><p>Since moving here in 2015, I have exhibited my creations many times at the <a href="https://nickelplatearts.org/event/first-friday-at-nickel-plate-arts-9/" target="_blank">Nickelplate Arts</a> Center Gallery of which I am a member. Between September 2 through September 24th, I will have three pieces in the Members Show:</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg09urNgt1beoddD3qHFTBxTQC6nJl_rjNyjNGTnrKeDLISIbN-C1LkKTXlhGtuKkgvrSrkj_m3LCFTvMNHA6TIzHc5i3haQ1VOc9vm2sOcUW2bY5AzvxYFpuitNu44wamqM4YePu-OTQ5JtAoj8BlLlsZoNbBgwDc4MR_lVb36vIu99aCVuzHAFR5AWA/s3320/Finery%20of%20SpringNickelplate.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3320" data-original-width="2935" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg09urNgt1beoddD3qHFTBxTQC6nJl_rjNyjNGTnrKeDLISIbN-C1LkKTXlhGtuKkgvrSrkj_m3LCFTvMNHA6TIzHc5i3haQ1VOc9vm2sOcUW2bY5AzvxYFpuitNu44wamqM4YePu-OTQ5JtAoj8BlLlsZoNbBgwDc4MR_lVb36vIu99aCVuzHAFR5AWA/s320/Finery%20of%20SpringNickelplate.jpg" width="283" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b> <i>Finery of Spring</i> Necklace</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6A2m5CHKNYuENU3w6iYyk9zrdMHPR2TKg8k64GitK00SbyDPJs2w2DylV8wEfzmVfuWaWcPiLi2u4lgMb03nBIF0peIQoDGwYQ1NlPsVK4ZoPjHaoa9av_I1ZfRumAFiX9ayd_-7mYClIxX2oVVJZhCTkWHnVZGBhvJFgee07FbaEdiWrZSzgjUVB6A/s4618/MiMilagroNickelplate.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4618" data-original-width="3464" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6A2m5CHKNYuENU3w6iYyk9zrdMHPR2TKg8k64GitK00SbyDPJs2w2DylV8wEfzmVfuWaWcPiLi2u4lgMb03nBIF0peIQoDGwYQ1NlPsVK4ZoPjHaoa9av_I1ZfRumAFiX9ayd_-7mYClIxX2oVVJZhCTkWHnVZGBhvJFgee07FbaEdiWrZSzgjUVB6A/s320/MiMilagroNickelplate.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Mi Milagro </i>Necklace</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehIDNAvN__uzeDQ9ZlS5RDwBYZXFyBVIqNytIfe-gm37fmZ-ZRLOqtKlvGnW256GZ_XSAqTxaGyIoE3uWKbMB9sum5T53KdaWbWh31PF-JjJWTipw63LXDL_DXp84d4wrcbWoykW5pkroEXmaM8JUpJ83_X544MJMxQU08h0v8hJWtBjyS7djSthuvw/s4091/VibrantFiestaNickelplate.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4091" data-original-width="3101" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehIDNAvN__uzeDQ9ZlS5RDwBYZXFyBVIqNytIfe-gm37fmZ-ZRLOqtKlvGnW256GZ_XSAqTxaGyIoE3uWKbMB9sum5T53KdaWbWh31PF-JjJWTipw63LXDL_DXp84d4wrcbWoykW5pkroEXmaM8JUpJ83_X544MJMxQU08h0v8hJWtBjyS7djSthuvw/s320/VibrantFiestaNickelplate.jpg" width="243" /></a></div><br /><b><i>Vibrant Fiesta</i> Necklace</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>I was also juried into an exhibit, <i>Pattern,</i> at Ignite Studio, a Makers Space in our library. The exhibit runs from September 3 until November 4th with an Artists' Reception on September 8th from 6:00-7:00 PM. </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>I am particularly happy to be showing these new pieces of my freeform art crochet:</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2CxUvKB2atqqh6zCigyZfxHVFZPlBo8uqliMiMnvsYctU1XlFrWNsK2SxPHrL0iG1ZeGO1P5Th3AwOywqFrW7c6zxDDTWoTteQvJPsJzfyabVnx6u9AbVY45FJhpGBhLOEmmTniIdxt6IF3hz2oB1-DV4-F_sdngNUXNKnbB-On7RnMEsjkmXgBgSpQ/s3356/2022StudyofPurple.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2820" data-original-width="3356" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2CxUvKB2atqqh6zCigyZfxHVFZPlBo8uqliMiMnvsYctU1XlFrWNsK2SxPHrL0iG1ZeGO1P5Th3AwOywqFrW7c6zxDDTWoTteQvJPsJzfyabVnx6u9AbVY45FJhpGBhLOEmmTniIdxt6IF3hz2oB1-DV4-F_sdngNUXNKnbB-On7RnMEsjkmXgBgSpQ/s320/2022StudyofPurple.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b><br /></b><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Study of Purple</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Wao4OTXq22bQmjd5enhNAE4Bg7TgWDeBLYtT7_UtDR9Kgr5rZmJzum1JRKWINSDGgQdd5Ipu6TVhRfehrIl3wNvElsJftb1tb1paUaa5ftGnitFdFmr1kfEeGiUMAux50rpTZsAyAzTbkRywtk1L9RG_gXuje4j5UKQJLGYEaCqvg0mmtgOWisj3Hg/s3591/2022ArtNouveauFramed.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3591" data-original-width="3214" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Wao4OTXq22bQmjd5enhNAE4Bg7TgWDeBLYtT7_UtDR9Kgr5rZmJzum1JRKWINSDGgQdd5Ipu6TVhRfehrIl3wNvElsJftb1tb1paUaa5ftGnitFdFmr1kfEeGiUMAux50rpTZsAyAzTbkRywtk1L9RG_gXuje4j5UKQJLGYEaCqvg0mmtgOWisj3Hg/s320/2022ArtNouveauFramed.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><br /><i><b>Art Nouveau</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;">So there you have it! Crocheting has always been therapeutic for me and never more so than during those lonely months of this pandemic and the ongoing recovery of my knee! My best remedy to "Covid loneliness" was this guy who I adopted during that time.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtG6FRJFMHggyBTC4j6Q6O2niMAzT-0XUP2MJpVsAb54SWpyey58pH_ZtqpFW3pJ0Dn1PyAVCMM_dwTpTxwjGtDd4Vwihf7AWfW58tEOhvsWggFgL0UVhU3z76v0PtNXyrJhbEROMF8VScoRrAAkAfA8ffBKmADKzjx4pcaJN9nbbNEQM6mGVVwEVklg/s3796/20220808FosterAnniv.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3796" data-original-width="2343" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtG6FRJFMHggyBTC4j6Q6O2niMAzT-0XUP2MJpVsAb54SWpyey58pH_ZtqpFW3pJ0Dn1PyAVCMM_dwTpTxwjGtDd4Vwihf7AWfW58tEOhvsWggFgL0UVhU3z76v0PtNXyrJhbEROMF8VScoRrAAkAfA8ffBKmADKzjx4pcaJN9nbbNEQM6mGVVwEVklg/s320/20220808FosterAnniv.jpg" width="198" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>August 8, 2020, Uncle Bobby found his forever home!</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>I was disappointed this year to not be able to attend the Annual <a href="https://www.crochet.org/page/CL22Home" target="_blank"><i>Chain Link</i> Conference</a> in New Orleans, but uncertain air flights, lots of walking, busy class schedules and late nights was just bad timing for me in 2022. Those that were in attendance did a wonderful job of sharing their enthusiasm the whole weekend to those of us at home. I truly look forward to meeting up with old friends and making new ones in 2023! Until then, Hooks 'n Happiness wherever, whenever, and always!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>#yesCGOA</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>#CGOA</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>#goCGOA</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><p></p>CrochetQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919768072384261544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358905162839317966.post-53772778024366896682022-02-06T11:13:00.001-06:002022-02-06T13:30:18.628-06:00Nancy Hutson Art on Display<p> Nancy Grace Hutson, is a self-taught artist who pursues her artistic vision by combining her love of crochet with her drawings on archival paper.</p><p>Not only will her artwork be on display at Sow's Ear in Verona, Wisconsin now through February 27, but she will also teach a workshop on her method of "free-style" crochet.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjl2RCdlmf_mFjwMOsOv_VYbbkFzz08Bzil-X3cQRsHURDcEGNfBFQNV6wNZebikJljcVgLhW874kl1yrZlapmqPofeqifZtQjMIMhdna371Ijc2LL34spx9bw53iHpzXuLnjdoZ6Wshjibtl6i0O_lF_iEDUrF81-9lcR-yaxIaAJIshidCqaa0G96Gg=s358" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="337" data-original-width="358" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjl2RCdlmf_mFjwMOsOv_VYbbkFzz08Bzil-X3cQRsHURDcEGNfBFQNV6wNZebikJljcVgLhW874kl1yrZlapmqPofeqifZtQjMIMhdna371Ijc2LL34spx9bw53iHpzXuLnjdoZ6Wshjibtl6i0O_lF_iEDUrF81-9lcR-yaxIaAJIshidCqaa0G96Gg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Sundrops</i> courtesy of Sow's Ear</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhG2lY13vCPePWccPThR2lKDjcerv__QQjMS-2A4lHMcdAHwb3RJ6C5pLW65XuivvLAGK2t_ZzpIP_uoxnh11cAQWRdi6ROOh_O5TlBtjPQkmJ7fKJOv8V3s5nbdeXbPhsPS0tMmZ0dykiUwgE_lupVd_eXDLuN-WVjTSM0qAfrzdvIEVQScuHwcjOh_Q=s881" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="881" data-original-width="843" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhG2lY13vCPePWccPThR2lKDjcerv__QQjMS-2A4lHMcdAHwb3RJ6C5pLW65XuivvLAGK2t_ZzpIP_uoxnh11cAQWRdi6ROOh_O5TlBtjPQkmJ7fKJOv8V3s5nbdeXbPhsPS0tMmZ0dykiUwgE_lupVd_eXDLuN-WVjTSM0qAfrzdvIEVQScuHwcjOh_Q=s320" width="306" /></a></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Sundrops</i>: close-up</span></b></div></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></p>Nancy's "themes for her crochet wall hangings are nature-based: a flowing river, clouds in the sky, the sun through trees. Even her abstract pieces – her vision of sun drops falling onto a lake, and the wild sky colors behind a three-dimensional tree branch – come out of playing with natural images.</span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDxKLxW26XVUbuC_qfH3w7h8btx7ziVCw2sD2agEaA0eDQBKFDAAWpDZD3ybbHqXCOcA5fm8tXg3eJQz3Bp08XS1MxhRqPEWOfQf6ml3gjYLrle3UFD3vuI7AwrUTL3MteIYZwd-d_TlEv7iFJ7l4vLaYHBBbOD0dkPJJA0HqMXtOrRcU9DS6p18spWQ=s1969" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1313" data-original-width="1969" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDxKLxW26XVUbuC_qfH3w7h8btx7ziVCw2sD2agEaA0eDQBKFDAAWpDZD3ybbHqXCOcA5fm8tXg3eJQz3Bp08XS1MxhRqPEWOfQf6ml3gjYLrle3UFD3vuI7AwrUTL3MteIYZwd-d_TlEv7iFJ7l4vLaYHBBbOD0dkPJJA0HqMXtOrRcU9DS6p18spWQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mixed Media; crochet over wire for 3-D effect, courtesy Hutson</span></b></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Hutson is also displaying a few of her drawings, which she says are “colorful, rhythmic, and playful.” Also displayed is the coming together of her drawing and crochet media, with a drawing framed in creative crochet shapes."</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRm_73mQYx5jjD53nmPCC8sUa-tSluB9p7zUDDQhEakqAEuZwlvvgB2vFar3HnROt1UVYqDUgyhPj7B8sAoUjGBlwHGe6sCAnA2hhv1rE2z2KnHlPnK7SE43wz6ANPOPb4K4ZWZKawHdOhFKMo2jzYQsN6QBpdXZ7hVDQbimGCuDmvkOnhwSMD8PT5dA=s1656" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1656" data-original-width="1238" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRm_73mQYx5jjD53nmPCC8sUa-tSluB9p7zUDDQhEakqAEuZwlvvgB2vFar3HnROt1UVYqDUgyhPj7B8sAoUjGBlwHGe6sCAnA2hhv1rE2z2KnHlPnK7SE43wz6ANPOPb4K4ZWZKawHdOhFKMo2jzYQsN6QBpdXZ7hVDQbimGCuDmvkOnhwSMD8PT5dA=s320" width="239" /></a></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Flambeau Tree: watercolor pens on archival paper</span></b></div></b><span style="text-align: justify;">The Sows Ear is located at 125 S. Main Street, Verona, Wisconsin (near Madison); and is open Sunday through Saturday, 7-5 PM, yarn only Friday 5-7 PM.</span><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Text provided by VeronaPress.com</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></p>CrochetQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919768072384261544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358905162839317966.post-34246777781606822942021-10-14T19:06:00.002-05:002021-10-14T19:11:32.860-05:00Wild Webs Opens Tomorrow in Manassas, Virginia<p>Freeform crochet artist, Karen Ballard shares that a sampling of her freeform crochet, beading and weaving will be featured at the ARTFactory exhibit, <i>Wild Webs</i>, in Manassas starting October 15 and running through December 4, 2021. Also featured is the U.S. premiere of <i>50 Years of Flower Power </i>Prudence Mapstone's Freeform collaborative crochet and knit art.</p><p>"Freeform art is unrestrained by patterns, techniques, materials, shapes or colors. Over 200 artists representing 24 countries collaborated on the 35 x 5 foot piece that commemorates 50 years since the term <i>flower power</i> was coined in Berkeley, California, and used as a passive resistance slogan for non-violent protest against the Vietnam war. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkC1Pw2HkGqAhk3wnse_0uE4fXhxtN_EjqBwRGHomxnWs287IcgXd7aU5ktYd5d-y6EeZ0cPnQrpMKK6vYq2W4qj3NgjpcaD0bhQ2HyPDxCNO6CVdCMrVEoLP8-i-hMVjO3Oiphyphenhyphen11myi_/s750/2021FlowerPower50.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="750" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkC1Pw2HkGqAhk3wnse_0uE4fXhxtN_EjqBwRGHomxnWs287IcgXd7aU5ktYd5d-y6EeZ0cPnQrpMKK6vYq2W4qj3NgjpcaD0bhQ2HyPDxCNO6CVdCMrVEoLP8-i-hMVjO3Oiphyphenhyphen11myi_/s320/2021FlowerPower50.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fifty Years of Flower Power</span></b></p><p>Ballard is an author, textile and bead artist who has lived in Northern Virginia most of her life. She is the 2020 Crochet Guild of America <i>Hall of Fame</i> recipient. Mapstone was born in Sydney Australia and currently lives in Brisbane.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJ71oEZ53QQx2Wg1pT4wnjzBlmWnDpj1RA8ZtIrQgtOji9Q-RpMTY_th06OXaO84-6Zs-yxJWOR2JbP_JS6j0DiFe-l8uDNZptujQmPksTGWG-Rg7fbynX2Zl9qiHjp-x5NsV7QnbFsHU/s600/Karen-K-C-Ballard-47-nc-necklace-600x555-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="600" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJ71oEZ53QQx2Wg1pT4wnjzBlmWnDpj1RA8ZtIrQgtOji9Q-RpMTY_th06OXaO84-6Zs-yxJWOR2JbP_JS6j0DiFe-l8uDNZptujQmPksTGWG-Rg7fbynX2Zl9qiHjp-x5NsV7QnbFsHU/s320/Karen-K-C-Ballard-47-nc-necklace-600x555-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Karen Ballard: NC Necklace</b></div></span><p>Coincidentally, an article in the <i>Wall Street Journal</i> (8/28/21) by Jacob Gallagher is titled <i>Crochet: No Longer Quite So Square</i>. "Crochet epitomizes down-home comfort; and at the same time conjures the 60s when young people traipsed around in shawls and tops fabricated from multi-colored yarns, This past summer showed fashions with flowy fabric in vibrant oranges, purples and greens that wouldn't have looked out of place in the Haight in 1969!</p><p>'Customers are definitely always seeking an element of nostalgia said Madeline Sensible at <i>Lisa Says Gah.</i> It's the idea of getting something that's vintage, but also re-worked for now.'</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy9HNPCnm6kDbYjdfxOnNKAiA8Ky1V_BIOc5wdj8KFkS5q032fFB6CbFzN-8U-q-M6usqshmq6BgZbWSmTmvC_bPD-SELbOQuddA9FJfW33cpLGAyNwKxpLCD3DH7kJ_YELBTenCVvT-VR/s2048/21WSJCrochetNotSquare+%25282%2529.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1578" data-original-width="2048" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy9HNPCnm6kDbYjdfxOnNKAiA8Ky1V_BIOc5wdj8KFkS5q032fFB6CbFzN-8U-q-M6usqshmq6BgZbWSmTmvC_bPD-SELbOQuddA9FJfW33cpLGAyNwKxpLCD3DH7kJ_YELBTenCVvT-VR/s320/21WSJCrochetNotSquare+%25282%2529.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Illustration by Sean McCabe</b></span></div><p>'Some fans have even take to crocheting themselves,' says Ellen Dixon, 23. She referred to crochet as <i>slow fashion</i>, a painstaking process that represents a deliberate alternative to faddish, low-quality <i>fast fashion</i>.'"</p><p>The gallery is located at 9419 Battle St. Manassas and is open Mon.-Sat. from 10-5.</p>CrochetQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919768072384261544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358905162839317966.post-79310337215924755742021-08-24T17:36:00.001-05:002021-08-25T10:12:41.555-05:00Finding Peace Part II<p> <b><i>Healing Through Art </i>by Cheryl Chojnacki; Daily Herald; September 28, 2008</b></p><div>"The Awakenings Project won a Celebration Recovery award in 2006 for Outstanding Contribution to Recovery by a Non-Profit Organization. The project plays a vital role in the well-being of many who struggle with mental health issues. Through Awakenings, some are discovering, for the first time, that mental illness has an upside.<br /><br />Virginia Goldrick, at the Eckert Center for Mental Health in Elgin, Illinois explains, "Some people see mental illness as a burden, as limitation. But it can also open your eyes to many things-not just to human suffering, but also to the depth of human spirit.<br /><br />In her 1993 book <i>Touched with Fire: Manic-Depressive Illness and the Artistic Temperament</i>, Dr. Kay Jamison builds the case that mental illness often goes hand-in-hand with artistic ability-citing Lord Byron, Robert Schumann, Vincent van Gogh as examples.<br /><br />The initial idea was to investigate Kay Jamison's claims of the artistic characteristic of great artists. Her initial research was very important to all of us because it showed that mental illness could be seen in a positive light. We give (participants) a sense that their work in art has a positive dimension, and it also provides a social dimension. The fact that we've been going for ten years now indicates that there's something of merit."<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #292929;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwJXAVmsn33Od7YuYczDM6Z9hCCnXlx5Ac_NeHus4IhLFrlQYPlkoit8egNR4OORuLrcw5OVXuXcOiaS_S2nVuQ49mP1j6qyrxQsvk2Jtznj7xmp83uuHsDe342h-0Gqv2lNbPEJG_sfY/s1146/FindingPeace3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1146" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwJXAVmsn33Od7YuYczDM6Z9hCCnXlx5Ac_NeHus4IhLFrlQYPlkoit8egNR4OORuLrcw5OVXuXcOiaS_S2nVuQ49mP1j6qyrxQsvk2Jtznj7xmp83uuHsDe342h-0Gqv2lNbPEJG_sfY/s320/FindingPeace3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: bold;"><i>The Brain</i> by Peter Austin, was purchased by Chicago School of Professional Psychology</span></div><span style="letter-spacing: -0.063px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><b><i>Knitting and Crochet Offer Long-term Health Benefits</i>; PRLog.org; August 17, 2009</b></div><br />"New studies show that repetitive needlework provides a number of invaluable health benefits. Stress exacerbates most medical conditions. In our increasingly stressful lives, Doctors are advising patients to manage stress as part of overall health. <br /><br /><div>Many argue that the repetitive movements of needlework activate the same areas in the brain as meditation and yoga. Knitting and crochet have a calming effect overall which can help manage anxiety. Additionally, the repetitive movements have been shown to help manage disruptive behavior and ADHD in children."</div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b><i>A Day in Women's History Month</i> by Claudette Ortiz: Las Cruces Sun News.com, April 8, 2010</b><br /><br /></div><div>Three sisters crochet together and are aiming to create a scarf. "Through their laughter, they seem to not have a care in the world. Calling the evolving scarf "rustic" instead of "textured" a helping hand is needed from one sister to another due to the elder's debilitating stroke.<br /><br />All the sisters are the sort who refuse to give up; maybe even when they should, the middle sister thinks, looking at the scarf. Stress seems to run away from things like released endorphins, shared politics and strange-looking scarves."<br /><br /><b><i>Peace Begins with You</i>; Yarn Manufacturers' News; 2016</b><br /><br />Christina Campbell's premise in her patterns, "If exercise makes someone feel less stressed, maybe encouraging peace was the answer." <i>Knit Your Peace</i> provided patterns downloadable on <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/knit-your-peace">Ravelry</a> and knitandcrochet.com<br /><br />Proceeds from the pattern sales go to Peace it Forward in order to support the projects of international organizations. "I'm sincerely trying to build peace in our community and nation," says Campbell." So many people are looking for a glimmer of hope, and with this you get the pattern, you get the knitting. Through the blog posts you realize it's your choice to choose peace, which puts you back into being responsive to what's happening in the world instead of being reactive."</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKdnETjst36W1O44G0W0bn3Nf0O3mNOgHl_XYE1NUwK5Sjc3M2xGCjGwFsbZqW78mc3L9DKqxpJMSUGg3S2L2ND-eV-LwPanvAt6YhO58rxUJI3ZyTEfgK4dso6vbla2X99kAz13iOL57/s743/FindingPeace4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="671" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKdnETjst36W1O44G0W0bn3Nf0O3mNOgHl_XYE1NUwK5Sjc3M2xGCjGwFsbZqW78mc3L9DKqxpJMSUGg3S2L2ND-eV-LwPanvAt6YhO58rxUJI3ZyTEfgK4dso6vbla2X99kAz13iOL57/s320/FindingPeace4.jpg" width="289" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: bold;">Project Peace</span></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Ask an Expert - Five Ways to Find Peace by Staying Present in 2021</i> by </b></div><div><b>David Schramm; Utah State University Today; May 10, 2021</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"It is easy to get caught up in the events of the past or the future. However, doing so only brings worry and causes you to miss out on the present. On the other hand, mindfulness – or focusing on the present moment – leads to better health, lower anxiety and greater resilience to stress. Learning to incorporate the concept of “flow” is one of several ways to increase mindfulness.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Have you ever enjoyed an activity so much that you did not feel time passing? This intense absorption and involvement is called <i>flow.</i> In addition, the enjoyment is usually lasting and reinforcing and provides a natural high that is not accompanied by negative feelings.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Finding activities that result in flow is exhilarating. Change things up by trying new things. Our brains crave variety and novelty. The key to finding flow is developing a balance between skills and challenges – finding something you are good at and enjoy, but that still stretches."</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Read Schramm's entire <a href="https://bit.ly/3goNGas">article</a> to learn how to practice activities that help flow come naturally more often.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It's amazing to me that many of the ideas from years ago still apply to achieving peace of mind/peace. Maybe it is time for us to consider the ideas with the hope and prayer that one day real peace will come to our world, one loving being to another. Let's give it a try together, one kind gesture at a time!</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable...but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to <i>be alive </i>is a grand thing." Agatha Christie</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div>CrochetQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919768072384261544noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358905162839317966.post-3199970686192543162021-08-24T17:35:00.001-05:002021-08-24T17:35:44.693-05:00Finding Peace Part I<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm0JOt3wtMZCoasGYFTF6us9dF122lKg7Sh2F-Jbg8hS2Xp0VKS3JZrKHsIzwNmrTLr7PdsleZZ0Vkv8Au1blHLUkxCCA27pi-wVFRyWVwAZa5aJrQ9uLPKcwrNH4TejF_GNMRyoLwI7Yw/s2048/FindingPeace1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1115" data-original-width="2048" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm0JOt3wtMZCoasGYFTF6us9dF122lKg7Sh2F-Jbg8hS2Xp0VKS3JZrKHsIzwNmrTLr7PdsleZZ0Vkv8Au1blHLUkxCCA27pi-wVFRyWVwAZa5aJrQ9uLPKcwrNH4TejF_GNMRyoLwI7Yw/s320/FindingPeace1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Chicago Tribune, 4/9/2003</b></span></div><div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><b><i><div><b><i>Making Peace with Yourself (while the country is at war)</i> by Barbara Brotman; Chicago Tribune, April 9, 2003</b></div></i></b><br />"Between the war and the economy, there is enough anguishing news to turn a concerned person into a despairing one. How do we navigate a worrisome world without being engulfed by it?" <br /><br />Although those words were written in 2003, they are eerily familiar to me today; and, I suppose, to many of you! I have pretty much stopped watching the national news; the enormity of our daily problems leads me to despair as I am unable to solve the world's problems! I'm also done talking about the "mask/no mask" controversy. Just because I am pretty much isolating again and have very little to report when I check in with friends near or far, it doesn't mean I have to fill the void with negativity.<br /><br />Today, we have a seemingly never-ending pandemic thrown into the mix of everyday life. There is plenty we can do to bring happiness to each day instead of incessant worry which can lead to frustration and eventually depression. <br /><br />Many of us already know the very positive attributes associated with crocheting/needlework of any kind. Today's Covid-19 has given me more time to devote to my love of crocheting. It's akin to meditation that lightens the mood and brings relaxation. It's my hope that your choice of needlework, or some other enjoyable activity, has brought you peace of mind. Developing the ability to see differences of thought as learning experiences rather than conflict experiences, will lead you to peace.<br /><br />What do you think? Am I naive to think crochet can lead to world peace? <span><a name='more'></a></span><div>The following are snippets of articles I have saved over the years which I hope will shine a light on ideas for you and lead you to new ways of connecting happiness to peace in the world. <br /><br />As a former Peach Corps Volunteer, I have often thought about the importance of understanding other cultures and other points of view as a pathway to maintaining or restoring peace. Having lived in a third world country was eye-opening and informed my thinking in ever-lasting ways. I can swat burdens off my shoulders; and remind myself that "when the propane tank goes empty during a barbeque with a group of friends, it is just a first-world problem! Life will, indeed, go on!<br /><br />Maybe it is time for us to not only see the suffering of others around the world, but to feel and understand it. Experts in the Brotman article tell us how to stay strong and how they are dong it. <br /><br /><b><i>Making Peace with Yourself </i> by Barbara Brotman; Chicago Tribune, April 9, 2003</b><br /><br /><b>Dr. Nada Stotland</b>, professor psychiatry at Rush Medical College: "It's important to go on living. It's important to remember that it's ok to have fun. It doesn't do our troops or the people of Iraq (Afghanistan?) any good for us to be miserable. I think we are only getting a taste of what millions of people in history, and now, go through every day. It is not good to live your life in a bubble. If we're scared, what does it feel like to be a mother in Kosovo right now? That adds to our humanity." <br /><b>Linda Fagan</b>, receptionist, South Side Chicago: "I just try to stay with my daily routine; and I sit down with my kids. I lost my brother in Vietnam War. You think you are beyond it but it comes back. I crochet-definitely a lot of crocheting. It's a shame we cannot live in harmony. I wish to God we could."<br /><b>Krystal Kolojay</b>, attorney, North Side Chicago: "I go to the dog beach and watch dogs play and sniff butts. They're so carefree. It just takes your mind off the bad things."<div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: left;"><i>An Installation for My Mother</i> by Akiko Kotani, Fiberarts magazine, November/December 2004</b></div></div><div><div><br />Kotani's first installation was in Pittsburgh in 2003, resulting from her mother's practice of "stitching doilies to soothe her nerves; and how they helped her make sense of a sometimes complicated life. To honor her mother by means of an artwork that celebrated her life, she created a work that honored the lives of all women who have sought solace in the work of their hands. Doilies solicited by Akiko came from all over the world along with the stories behind them sharing the belief that creating them had provided a healing experience for their makers.<br /><br />For the exhibition, the many stories were compiled in a prominently displayed and illustrated booklet. The doilies told stories of the joys and travails of previous generations. Many others were painful to read and only heightened the sense of fragility belonging both to the beauty of the doilies and to human life. Still others told of happy memories of the skills being passed from one relative to another; and in the enduring memory of her mother, told how doily making relieved the pressures of everyday life.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha5iEEt4N1e26C7KLre6Quxx9_AzSVXbOfNoHRcHUp-lP3HRZYB39meERXdRu1CzboO3ciPhSSQ8qC9hyphenhyphenzdfZmW4MUrOeue2f_efdk6b4y4vTf063f-PMYdnNhWkDrNELfpmRfwOLMjlYB/s2292/FindingPeace2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="2292" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha5iEEt4N1e26C7KLre6Quxx9_AzSVXbOfNoHRcHUp-lP3HRZYB39meERXdRu1CzboO3ciPhSSQ8qC9hyphenhyphenzdfZmW4MUrOeue2f_efdk6b4y4vTf063f-PMYdnNhWkDrNELfpmRfwOLMjlYB/s320/FindingPeace2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: small;">Stitches That Heal</b></div></div><div><span style="color: #292929;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.063px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><b><i>Helping Out: A Generous Spirit</i> by John H. Sklare; Lifescript.com; June 30, 2006</b><br /><br /><i>Helper's High </i>is a term coined by Arizona State University psychologist Robers Cialdini to describe the euphoria reported by frequent givers in his research. "These good feelings can lower the output of stress hormones. I encourage you to take heed of this new research and find a way to work a moderate dose of helping out into your daily life. As it turns out, helping out is truly health food for the soul."</div><div><br /></div><div><div><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #292929; letter-spacing: -0.063px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Only Thing You Nee</b></span></span></i><b style="background-color: white; color: #292929; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.063px;"><i>d to Know to Achieve Inner Peace in 2021 </i>by Isuru Padmuditha: <a href="https://bit.ly/3y5FYrW">Medium</a>.com; January 1, 2021</b></div><div><b style="background-color: white; color: #292929; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.063px;"><br /></b></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #292929; letter-spacing: -0.063px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Choose good people, choose the right actions because people who would do the same and people that will truly understand you, support you and help you make the world a better place are quite rare."</span></span></div></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #292929; letter-spacing: -0.063px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div>It has been said that "history repeats itself." From history we learn that difficult times have a way of challenging or harming us on a repetitive cycle. Nothing has been more evident during the Covid-19 pandemic than the fact that a few of us, and certainly many of our forebears, have lived through three other pandemics in the Twentieth century: 1918, 1957, and 1968. When we learn to take care of ourselves and to sacrifice a little for the greater good, I hope we will accept our differences while at the same time not letting them lead to conflict.</div><div><br /></div><div>Each day I wake up and decide how I want my day to go (hopefully, well with happiness). At night I do a "spot check" to think how/if I reached my goal. There is no guilt or punishment if I missed the mark. Tomorrow is a new day.</div><div><br /></div><div>By achieving a good relationship with ourselves, our happiness will spread to others, as we are more able to reach out and be kind. Acceptance, acceptance, acceptance: we all are just humans! </div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: left;"><i>All You Can Control in 2021 Is Yourself: Six Simple Ways to Master Inner Peace in the Upcoming Year </i></b><span style="text-align: left;">by</span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><a href="https://bit.ly/3goNGas" style="text-align: left;">Edward Hess</a><span style="text-align: left;">. GoodMenProject.com; January, 2021</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Aleo, serif; font-size: 16px;">"You have choices every day as to how you behave. You have a choice as to how you manage your mind, how you manage your ego, how you manage your emotions, and how you manage your behaviors. These six practices will help you be a better and more effective person if you have the self-discipline and honesty to take ownership of YOU!"</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Aleo, serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div></div></div></div><div>For more helpful coping strategies, read <b><i>Finding Peace Part II</i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><br /></div></div>CrochetQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919768072384261544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358905162839317966.post-9292990342019043022021-07-26T16:01:00.003-05:002021-07-26T16:01:22.218-05:00Covid Art Therapy<span style="font-family: inherit;">I've blogged before about how crochet is good for our health; and lately, I've been seeing lots of references about how many have turned to art endeavors during the Covid-19 pandemic to maintain a healthy outlook. </span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Personally, I used the "free time" I felt I had been given during the pandemic to dig deeper into my artistic abilities, and to enjoy the challenges of pushing myself to create. I even gave water painting a try! Now seems like a good time to re-visit the topic, both by looking back at our realizations that crafting is a healthy activity; and thinking about how we have found that crafting continues to help us cope in healthy ways, post-pandemic.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Christine Boland in <i>Fashion<b>United</b></i> writes: "<span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" style="background-color: white;">Thanks to the pandemic, we've seen a rise in all things handmade, not only in fashion but also in interior design. This has brought about a renewed interest in traditional techniques used for and evolved over centuries by indigenous communities who live close to nature. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTT6pz_rtFNYQrNHqOpcB46iTTF0qJLr2Cu_kzQ6iijrstxTOAxM0y3dmitEKlTY0us-lzJWmlYWyv3EbYyMz5t6VX8Bqv_hStoAvy0qvr0gAzSavfvuLhU5rC4OTRbtkx4EZ93L_2yf3/s1200/FashionUnited.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="745" data-original-width="1200" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTT6pz_rtFNYQrNHqOpcB46iTTF0qJLr2Cu_kzQ6iijrstxTOAxM0y3dmitEKlTY0us-lzJWmlYWyv3EbYyMz5t6VX8Bqv_hStoAvy0qvr0gAzSavfvuLhU5rC4OTRbtkx4EZ93L_2yf3/w259-h161/FashionUnited.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" style="background-color: white;">Not surprisingly, their intricate craftsmanship forms a major inspiration for the SS22 fashion collections. By mixing these artisan techniques and handcrafted creations with high-tech materials, the resulting designs showcase a very modern take on century old textures."</span><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3GnnffvsqpKu1k41o6dahlCq_VZK118fVHPWlM53yOzDNdyHCqzDkY-UzYZy342Htd8QnZEuqQDOLJYrDAOmTM-E3aD6Ky5PuwQK8Y-8nsW2Frkgxp3HzNkfv4HyAbLPeKNcTSeMKeTS/s1023/FashionUnited+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="695" data-original-width="1023" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3GnnffvsqpKu1k41o6dahlCq_VZK118fVHPWlM53yOzDNdyHCqzDkY-UzYZy342Htd8QnZEuqQDOLJYrDAOmTM-E3aD6Ky5PuwQK8Y-8nsW2Frkgxp3HzNkfv4HyAbLPeKNcTSeMKeTS/s320/FashionUnited+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Credit: Pexel & Unsplash</b></span></span></div></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2f2833;">"A mandala is a circular figure representing the universe in Hindu and Buddhist symbolism." Starting August 10, 2021, an Installation, "Crafty Culture: Make a Mandala Project," will open in Princes' Garden in Rushmoor, England. Initiated by the Hampshire Cultural Trust during the pandemic, "The goal was to bring the community together and out of isolation", explains Alana Jones, Community Programme Coordinator at the West End Centre where the mandalas will be displayed. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #2f2833; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #2f2833; font-family: inherit;">"T</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2f2833; font-family: inherit;">he project has given many people a sense of community spirit and improved mental health during lockdown," Jones continues. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2f2833; font-family: inherit;"> "After the past year, we wanted to bring some vibrancy to the town Centre to give people something to smile about and to talk about as well.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2f2833; font-family: inherit;">"</span></div><div><div><span style="color: #2f2833; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">July 19, 2021: <i>In Your Area Community News</i> by Declan Carey</span></div><div><span style="color: #2f2833; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNwthZHE3gQfoT_ob38JoEGxm0dytRSRqw2y30RVsGtHUiJREpHAytpGJ_jYBQ4HSE0g6SvjdoKx0p2NibYkP-g8mnyxn_MHTvJFvh_WUdP3hWn76cU-oNX6pFyk_O-0RAmJKycZIPt5B/s923/Mandala.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="923" data-original-width="759" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNwthZHE3gQfoT_ob38JoEGxm0dytRSRqw2y30RVsGtHUiJREpHAytpGJ_jYBQ4HSE0g6SvjdoKx0p2NibYkP-g8mnyxn_MHTvJFvh_WUdP3hWn76cU-oNX6pFyk_O-0RAmJKycZIPt5B/s320/Mandala.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Mandala</b></div></span><span style="color: #2f2833; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2f2833; font-family: inherit;">Alli Winter, a 17-year-old from Tennessee has battled rare illnesses most of her life. As a child she learned to crochet and has recently gotten into crocheting daily. Thru her Etsy shop, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/hooksNspoonsCo">hooksNspoonsCo</a>, she sells crafty items and takes orders to bring awareness to others about her rare condition.</span></div><div><span style="color: #2f2833; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">July 14, 2021: WFTS Tampa Bay: by KMTV staff</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #2f2833;"><br /></span>Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, a Bollywood actress, has a diploma in Applied Arts, however her colors and brushes laid forgotten in a box until she discovered them during the lockdown. "Botanical art became a way of life for me over the next six months and I had the patience to sit and create for hours. I wanted to go back to the process of creating without any deadlines or rules,” she shares.<br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />"The stress of the ongoing pandemic can be released through patterns, colours and textures. 'It’s like yoga… meditation. Art therapy has become an important part of the human ecosystem. What you cannot say, you write, paint, cook or crochet.' She has started an art journal, a page a day. 'It will be nice to look back on this journey, which helped me reclaim an important part of myself that I had lost in the flurry of work and responsibilities during trying times,'” she exults."</span></div><div><div><span>From:</span> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Roshmila Bhattacharyya,</span> <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Free Press Journal</span></i></div></div><div><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6tD9UaNW2dI1xNZ6jiXkrTeYIdqBthtgxqCYiuqG43U1HcM-PBMuQo4JjS7eKmLjbLSr0WnOxSR9ihk5tJgemvkSP_5wWtWwoBW7dPKb2ZBZQ96jIWf6zg9eoDfukCTCLIECSjDxeVyR/s725/Aswiny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="725" data-original-width="520" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6tD9UaNW2dI1xNZ6jiXkrTeYIdqBthtgxqCYiuqG43U1HcM-PBMuQo4JjS7eKmLjbLSr0WnOxSR9ihk5tJgemvkSP_5wWtWwoBW7dPKb2ZBZQ96jIWf6zg9eoDfukCTCLIECSjDxeVyR/s320/Aswiny.jpg" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YQQcOkbYdytEEesaNf3UfEeU-7WM-nvnTbzWWscXzRlII0O4mg1upaXtCgTtbj5hdvrC4fa7nhr31fTEunuxKU4h5JVEsLPJldi9vp9sslbtPoMc8E8ofOCmKdeqEtSZsH2xvTMb3zwZ/s299/Aswyni.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YQQcOkbYdytEEesaNf3UfEeU-7WM-nvnTbzWWscXzRlII0O4mg1upaXtCgTtbj5hdvrC4fa7nhr31fTEunuxKU4h5JVEsLPJldi9vp9sslbtPoMc8E8ofOCmKdeqEtSZsH2xvTMb3zwZ/s0/Aswyni.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Young designers Crandall Duffy, Gui Rosa, ISA BOULDER, Natalia Fedner and Sydney Pimbley are taking crochet from lockdown hobby to club essential.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">From: <i>i-D</i>, "Crochet Became the Summer of 21's Sexiest Trend"</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEcEt8CN26oPz6CG7gkKxuXaDt6gf4jA2CBNZB0uG-V-5kEywHW9oaFcAqn6IQ908enDwmv4fMFuHY9N5JHJ0V8jFCjvNIzVujwVxigDpgYCo_vE0iGzi8c4Du6nQfTQu6JefLRqyu_Rzo/s275/CrandallDuffybluegreensquidcopy_220x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEcEt8CN26oPz6CG7gkKxuXaDt6gf4jA2CBNZB0uG-V-5kEywHW9oaFcAqn6IQ908enDwmv4fMFuHY9N5JHJ0V8jFCjvNIzVujwVxigDpgYCo_vE0iGzi8c4Du6nQfTQu6JefLRqyu_Rzo/s0/CrandallDuffybluegreensquidcopy_220x.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: inherit;">BlueGreen Squid</b></div></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_g6UQPxSlBMvIS5EcinMORNiqSP2fpN9S0vZ2s5NHiAAuqXdTfKk3Yv9KR5EtkKGRb3-3WXYgmDtV_4vvU-8mRLHw3ruB5XFn8pjUynyx-h7GaWRofB6zsduVGhEzcauLxz3HnH4nsWOu/s1570/CrandallDuffy2.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1570" data-original-width="1050" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_g6UQPxSlBMvIS5EcinMORNiqSP2fpN9S0vZ2s5NHiAAuqXdTfKk3Yv9KR5EtkKGRb3-3WXYgmDtV_4vvU-8mRLHw3ruB5XFn8pjUynyx-h7GaWRofB6zsduVGhEzcauLxz3HnH4nsWOu/s320/CrandallDuffy2.webp" /></a></div><b style="font-family: inherit;">Crandall Duffy</b></div></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Credit: Heidi Stanton</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />"A Quiet Yarn": More from past healthful crochet stories. "According to the Craft Yarn Council, the number of women under 45 who know how to crochet or knit doubled between 1996 and 2002, climbing from 9 to 18%. The most-cited motivation: Relaxation and stress relief!"</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">"The crafts "require a subliminal concentration that is very soothing. You are doing something with your hands, feeling the tactile pleasure of yarn, and at the same time talking." says Susan Mischer, owner of Knit Cafe in L. A. "Even if you don't know anyone in the room, you feel connected!"</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">From <i>Natural Health</i></span><br /><br />What has been helpful to you during the last year and a half during the pandemic. Have you found ways that keep you grounded and happy?<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><br /></div></div>CrochetQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919768072384261544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358905162839317966.post-38961814241081132582021-06-18T12:35:00.002-05:002021-06-18T12:35:50.089-05:00Tania Rich, Crochet Activist<p>June is Pride Month; and Tania Rich has been busy crocheting hours and hours to enhance the atmosphere at the NEON District of Norfolk, Virginia. Her love of crochet got her involved in public art projects that highlight women and the LBGTQ Community. She wanted to add a little more love and color to the <a href="http://neonnfk.com/public-art/love-across-the-usa">NEON District</a> near where she lives. Due to lack of trees-lined streets, she lent her creativity to the light poles.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheiQc_3pUGMlThS14mOHksJjxJgWmUeom-Y6tpDZvF1ILXi77Kg376vtZEJXOCnymW6BsZvWPWWRXnRwdyF9pd6QTf1E5O8Nzf3uSH-3wBZFyIR8UET41jkMY3w-CHQPWwjfD8FmU5Sqhf/s500/21-LoveAcrossUSA2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheiQc_3pUGMlThS14mOHksJjxJgWmUeom-Y6tpDZvF1ILXi77Kg376vtZEJXOCnymW6BsZvWPWWRXnRwdyF9pd6QTf1E5O8Nzf3uSH-3wBZFyIR8UET41jkMY3w-CHQPWwjfD8FmU5Sqhf/s320/21-LoveAcrossUSA2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZcqXJsOSqNhXOuuBuIRa4jAOAaB5iQmDjRlzuQ7EcMy3W_Dzgty9bS-TQ8-jJkyXaqOm6bvniuXTqdIDGc-w2glepWKU2sdZk5MMon4D2D_-5JvLPIuf3iAgGYHnbqci8VmJ1xJVZxC8/s500/21LoveAcrossUSA1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZcqXJsOSqNhXOuuBuIRa4jAOAaB5iQmDjRlzuQ7EcMy3W_Dzgty9bS-TQ8-jJkyXaqOm6bvniuXTqdIDGc-w2glepWKU2sdZk5MMon4D2D_-5JvLPIuf3iAgGYHnbqci8VmJ1xJVZxC8/s320/21LoveAcrossUSA1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGI5z1X8p5iQCjw95eACfCjPtaByndXnlnR6cuWewddqvgienFUU_2Ij8_OTJz6-0aLp_Aame3KvFjPQ4-vu0ZJuq9QhCdXyd7p5VxApjSB4zyENwGJ4bDOGVOxNmv6Q2q_3eyHCYnqOLV/s500/21LoveAcrossUSA3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGI5z1X8p5iQCjw95eACfCjPtaByndXnlnR6cuWewddqvgienFUU_2Ij8_OTJz6-0aLp_Aame3KvFjPQ4-vu0ZJuq9QhCdXyd7p5VxApjSB4zyENwGJ4bDOGVOxNmv6Q2q_3eyHCYnqOLV/s320/21LoveAcrossUSA3.jpg" /></a></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Neon District, Norfolk, Virginia</span></b></div></b><p>Tania also contributed a 24" x 24" square to a 40 foot mural of Vice President Kamala Harris in Washington, D. C. as a part of <i><a href="http://www.loveacrosstheusa.org">Love Across the USA</a>.</i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVdqgN34DSCisgqizhXqGVeFvadRBHkkuOZhbLfIkNpmjM6DbBsUooKf9Fg0-c84fac0T7eE1ZVtm5ZcdhRa7FzB-kyYt1aVMCJan0bGwtJPCNlRUkK3GpLdJPE1EJ0LtisOaE9DIIcIr7/s400/21-LoveAcrossUSA4TaniaRich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVdqgN34DSCisgqizhXqGVeFvadRBHkkuOZhbLfIkNpmjM6DbBsUooKf9Fg0-c84fac0T7eE1ZVtm5ZcdhRa7FzB-kyYt1aVMCJan0bGwtJPCNlRUkK3GpLdJPE1EJ0LtisOaE9DIIcIr7/s320/21-LoveAcrossUSA4TaniaRich.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tania Rich and her square for the Harris Mural</span></b></div><p></p><p>Led by well-known street artist, London Kaye<i>, Love Across the USA</i> was founded by Olek in 2017. London explains, "We create large, poweful crochet art installations that amplify the voices and visions of women from the past and present that are changing the world. Women are no longer just participants in conversations, we are leading them."</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJl-Z2I5_EwWYAfCZTWNNspcnBZH6PRN2Y15veduUs-WsRZ63qFSt-nc4Alm6V1XF46zlWzzVrPDJELXZMtSo8wcEbXXvLbPaQ_8ApMqAX_jFjeLIHf-8HflnGBq3k1hRXvBKOuUgOqJPj/s500/21LoveAcrossUSA6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="371" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJl-Z2I5_EwWYAfCZTWNNspcnBZH6PRN2Y15veduUs-WsRZ63qFSt-nc4Alm6V1XF46zlWzzVrPDJELXZMtSo8wcEbXXvLbPaQ_8ApMqAX_jFjeLIHf-8HflnGBq3k1hRXvBKOuUgOqJPj/s320/21LoveAcrossUSA6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Learning to crochet: love across the usa</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13RLYf2agc-CaObrIe7p0tf9qCJuWP14uuj2CgFGnR2wqxt2HPJEz7nwkMrSkByKYFO25ihLfa7z51XzSMd96PdNc1oDBDJ0tsrhWgSfMn3hslQ6Hj9usZihyphenhypheneLdc1gOjtMjPuZK-F7w6/s500/21LoveAcrossUSA7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="397" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13RLYf2agc-CaObrIe7p0tf9qCJuWP14uuj2CgFGnR2wqxt2HPJEz7nwkMrSkByKYFO25ihLfa7z51XzSMd96PdNc1oDBDJ0tsrhWgSfMn3hslQ6Hj9usZihyphenhypheneLdc1gOjtMjPuZK-F7w6/s320/21LoveAcrossUSA7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">"This is amazing!"</span></b></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">As I was researching Rich's contributions to the Kamala Harris mural, I saw this photo of Susan Sullivan, a Past President of the Crochet Guild of America (CGOA). Talk about "connection"! #susansullivan</span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpMiy2bxRxnDkz4bT-Wb2N9P_Dyfv-kick0CcSL__f1w91L7vjeNCVZrSCHd6mmfiGPeuh2OaG6qUogBChH6Po0wZcs56Aum4WxKNsBbNMbAPZNajBtqEHA8KhVmVrENvyKgvssTfocec/s300/21LoveAcrossUSA5SSullivan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpMiy2bxRxnDkz4bT-Wb2N9P_Dyfv-kick0CcSL__f1w91L7vjeNCVZrSCHd6mmfiGPeuh2OaG6qUogBChH6Po0wZcs56Aum4WxKNsBbNMbAPZNajBtqEHA8KhVmVrENvyKgvssTfocec/s0/21LoveAcrossUSA5SSullivan.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Susan Sullivan</span></b></div><p>"Tania is committed to being part of projects and events that involve more of community in creating art, learning crochet, and connecting again." Her dedication and promotion of crochet is very much appreciated by this writer!</p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Adapted from "Virginia Beach Woman Crochets Color and Love into Norfolk's NEON District for Pride Month" by Saleen Martin. The Virginian-Pilot, June 14, 2021.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i><br /></i></p></div>CrochetQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919768072384261544noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358905162839317966.post-80912751661930515122021-06-02T10:24:00.003-05:002021-06-02T10:24:41.977-05:00Book Review: Crochet Kaleidoscope by Sandra Eng<p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzi0y3DZHYgSY0WXEQhypJRGZM8xzXvwEYIeAmJbdfOsPSNSzAJhYO8VXlBPGUt0F2zgqFtByusZwkZQDX6SfVVeYfMox487hXOtdxv6efucAuL3tATrIvrVCjsz_IEDx0q2oVNa1nNCUU/s637/2018CrochetKaleidoscope_HiRes_Cover.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="637" data-original-width="483" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzi0y3DZHYgSY0WXEQhypJRGZM8xzXvwEYIeAmJbdfOsPSNSzAJhYO8VXlBPGUt0F2zgqFtByusZwkZQDX6SfVVeYfMox487hXOtdxv6efucAuL3tATrIvrVCjsz_IEDx0q2oVNa1nNCUU/s320/2018CrochetKaleidoscope_HiRes_Cover.webp" /></a></b></div><b><br /><i><br /></i></b><p></p><p><b><i>Crochet Kaleidoscope ~ Shifting Shapes and Shade Across 100 Motifs</i></b> is a fantastic book.by well-known designer Sandra Eng. You may recall my recent post about the <a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/2358905162839317966/8986123071862016668">Violet Protest</a>. I have now finished the five squares I committed to send to this exciting project; and I used Sandra's book as a reference for making each square.</p><p>Along the way, I decided to review the book for you because I enjoyed it so much. Included in the 100 designs are not just run-of-the-mill designs, but unique squares and also chapters on Circles, Hexagons, Triangles and other shapes as well.</p><p>Publshed by FW, Eng says the book was "born out of her love of crochet, color and geometry." Her readers love crochet and color; geometryis a fantastic bonus that contributes to her unique design abilities.</p><p>Karen Manthey, named by Eng as "<i>Technical Editor Extraordinaire</i>, has provided her diagram creation skills for each motif." She has been well-known in the crochet industry for years for her amazing symbol crochet charts. I particularly love to have symbol crochet to follow, as offered here, for possible clarification of written directions.</p><p>Sandra coaches us with tips on how to express our unique selves with "countless potential combinations of colors." In her chapter, Color Me Creative, she guides us through important information to hone our color skills and confidence: "Favorite Colors; Color Theory 101; Pairing Colors; Color Picking Tools; etc." </p><p>Beautifully illustrated and photographed in colorful detail, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=crochet+kaleidoscope&i=stripbooks&ref=nb_sb_noss">Crochet Kaleidoscope</a> is a must for every crocheter's library shelf!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>CrochetQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919768072384261544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358905162839317966.post-49683962020922129912021-04-26T11:01:00.003-05:002021-04-26T11:01:54.721-05:00Yarn Bombing Still Blasting Forth!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-pJLBGH9V3cf1uGT2PRAXhvz4YwOBeFEXhBdh6A_ctoqXJRE_bc3m6iWVUpR3zEqmowrM0LX01UJ5tm65VOZro_XfvwT6balZW-Hj5X7nj7K0hpFwAzseYnhhPKUogAqtflbkGfS8VIn8/s800/ValerieShermanYarnBomb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-pJLBGH9V3cf1uGT2PRAXhvz4YwOBeFEXhBdh6A_ctoqXJRE_bc3m6iWVUpR3zEqmowrM0LX01UJ5tm65VOZro_XfvwT6balZW-Hj5X7nj7K0hpFwAzseYnhhPKUogAqtflbkGfS8VIn8/s320/ValerieShermanYarnBomb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Valerie Sherman, Grant Recipient</span></b></div></b><p>"Granted tne <i>Fiber Art Now Yarn Bombing Grant</i> in early 2021, Valerie Sherman envisions her yarn-bombing installation in the Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago as an opportunity for residents to engage as a community and show their pride. Bronzeville, in South Chicago, is a hitorically black neighborhood that is undergoing a renasissance and gaining recognition for its regrowth and renewal." (Fiber Art Now magazine) She is embarking on a project that will involve other crocheters and knitters for a yarn bombing collaboration; and the grant will help her purchase yarn for he local crafters to make pieces for the installation. It is important that the community feels that this is truly their project," say Sherman. </p><p>When Valerie moved to the South Loop of Chicago in 2018, she began noticing "squiggly" bike racks around her neighborhood. As a crocheter since childhood, she couldn't help but think that crochet could add a touch of "weird" with color to them and to many of the trees she walked by.</p><p>When Covid hit during the last year, she found that as she continued to "bomb" many things, it was a way of connecting with other people while still being restricted in many ways. "My neighbors started noticing my work which I call 'yarn bombing'. Besides beautifying local neighborhoods, my focus has added fostering connections through yarn crafts." she explained in the Winter 2021 issue of <i>Fiber Art Now</i> magazine."</p><p>Valerie has also taught knitting at Chicago's Cook County jail for 5 years. She uses her yarn bombing to raise funds in support of social justice, PRIDE month and Black Lives Matter. Big congratulations,Valerie; and we will look forward to seeing the results of your important collaboration!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_z9YOAZy0k-EwuFBPipvd9rKyDnp-_3jwrzMw_v6_-fh6iMq_t6cWjDb1Hjtp2x5ttxymMGp8m5RfaLL-aM_L_U_nQYlwwgb7LX3r6Z-Cpj3ysE8XDrnBPnGjy_qB_NIkKbBJIPgBPefU/s432/2005BookYarnBomb.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_z9YOAZy0k-EwuFBPipvd9rKyDnp-_3jwrzMw_v6_-fh6iMq_t6cWjDb1Hjtp2x5ttxymMGp8m5RfaLL-aM_L_U_nQYlwwgb7LX3r6Z-Cpj3ysE8XDrnBPnGjy_qB_NIkKbBJIPgBPefU/s320/2005BookYarnBomb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>The book, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Yarn-Bombing-Crochet-Graffiti-Anniversary/dp/155152791X" target="_blank">Yarn Bombing</a>: The Art of Crochet and Knit Graffiti</i>, published in 2009 by Mandy Moore and Leanne Prain tells the story of <a href="https://www.houstonpress.com/arts/catching-up-with-magda-sayeg-aka-knitta-please-6380272" target="_blank">Magda Sayeg</a>, the Mother of Yarn Bombing. The Founder of the renegade knit graffiti crew, <i>Knitta Please</i>, did her first yarnbombing in 2005, when on a slow day at her boutique, she created a yarn cozy for the handle of her shop. The rest is history; and it is beautifully curated in this book with fantastic photos from around the world ranging from the petite to the extreme!</p><p>Many members of the <a href="http://www.crochet.org">Crochet Guild of America</a> also got on board the yarn bombing train early as a way to tout their love of crochet and to create awareness of its versatility. </p><p>Here is some bombing I have done:</p><b><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr-Utjq8Y97wo_PAnU-X2nIejincK80T85cigzDoKbpBpu3hLSPT61NFlaO9zCISf9j6qCrnxiZSJFXTTQaRIbT3NDlHD0qwjhbHvDnSYTdqoCV6XFtS-D_PWj0Bl8TqH2OHVqxM0Oxwhp/s2048/LionbombBef.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr-Utjq8Y97wo_PAnU-X2nIejincK80T85cigzDoKbpBpu3hLSPT61NFlaO9zCISf9j6qCrnxiZSJFXTTQaRIbT3NDlHD0qwjhbHvDnSYTdqoCV6XFtS-D_PWj0Bl8TqH2OHVqxM0Oxwhp/s320/LionbombBef.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5n2bbrLzmvj0D5su0wxFyAfjXodRAkv2bVzPNDYJimIdLh0LjHc89Za5C6lcUlHThNrazxttDIOjCu9wfwljTISeSZD_Vq-5liiV4VoMpESgMYqphaDoV7A5uRyF02RHzsZnj6OMdAKrw/s2048/10BLionBethesdaAft2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5n2bbrLzmvj0D5su0wxFyAfjXodRAkv2bVzPNDYJimIdLh0LjHc89Za5C6lcUlHThNrazxttDIOjCu9wfwljTISeSZD_Vq-5liiV4VoMpESgMYqphaDoV7A5uRyF02RHzsZnj6OMdAKrw/s320/10BLionBethesdaAft2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Before & After: A lion sculpture outside our hotel room, Bethesda, MD, 2014</span></b></div></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtdbWsQcP6Onz3aDq8ZCO9Y_0qM3TdGns_8cuHKP1NdpiN2BjAQjC5V3LOn17iO8LeorirnHip5lNn4jLuvlHkKwMUG3WCgJ6AlYzv0TO47t0i4zbrGm-QECsf5Rsua3k0wRD1sXYduny/s320/ManchesterDog.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtdbWsQcP6Onz3aDq8ZCO9Y_0qM3TdGns_8cuHKP1NdpiN2BjAQjC5V3LOn17iO8LeorirnHip5lNn4jLuvlHkKwMUG3WCgJ6AlYzv0TO47t0i4zbrGm-QECsf5Rsua3k0wRD1sXYduny/s0/ManchesterDog.jpg" /></a></div><span><div style="font-size: small; text-align: center;"><b>Outside CGOA Conference hotel, Manchester, NH</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I've enjoyed blogging about yarn bombing in the past. See more examples: </div><div style="font-size: small; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000ee; font-size: medium; text-align: left; text-decoration-line: underline;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: small; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0000ee; font-size: medium; text-align: left; text-decoration-line: underline;">2008</span></div></span><p><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/2358905162839317966/5071093992651620202" target="_blank">2010</a> </p>CrochetQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919768072384261544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358905162839317966.post-89861230718620166682021-04-11T10:28:00.001-05:002021-04-14T15:33:30.364-05:00Violet Protest<p>Many thanks to Katy (DZKat on Ravelry) for telling me about this art project! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh67sTT0dQXXf7nRYLhXw4DB82C1ZdQ4ukFuhJzUnRTGBayK30MZhIYTJwkhtUycNXsLje7oX4wjV6-H9c6D3siSVlg47XYG8bcRwZet6etj7-les81EOvLG3Nbz8tecIYAm6RwsCeXk5gr/s745/VioletProtest-AnnMorton.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="745" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh67sTT0dQXXf7nRYLhXw4DB82C1ZdQ4ukFuhJzUnRTGBayK30MZhIYTJwkhtUycNXsLje7oX4wjV6-H9c6D3siSVlg47XYG8bcRwZet6etj7-les81EOvLG3Nbz8tecIYAm6RwsCeXk5gr/s320/VioletProtest-AnnMorton.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Ann Morton, the artist behind Violet Protest</b></span></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><p>Violet Project is a public engagement, reaching across 50 states, organized by artist AnnMorton and funded by donations and Phoenix Art Museum. </p><p>I am particularly interested in the art that is inspired by the concept of the Violet Project because I have belonged to <a href="http://www.braverangels.org">Braver Angels</a> for over a year. Through the frequent debates and lectures on controversial subjects, Braver Anels "brings Reds, Blues and Others together to talk, listen and understand." There, I have been learning new ways to achieve civil discourse with people whose views may be opposed to my own whether they be "red" or "blue." So, I am looking forward to getting started on the 5 squares I have committed to Violet Project; and hopefully more as time permits.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Phoenix New Times Robrt L. Pela ; January 20, 2020</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Ann Morton thinks of herself as a contemporary artist who
uses a fiber aesthetic. Her artwork had pretty much always been political. In a screen-printing class, Ann’s teacher descried her work
as <i>subtle</i>. ‘That gave me permission to start really speaking out in my work!’"</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZzZ-7HpJCDwKzCn3n6gy2YKPZ3KgnZdWfsj8Ae_IZl1Ba6T2xpj_sx0o-knk7J-3pFWRtEazjIaK7SlX4x7LXqln87gVoGl2m9K2sOZQRrkxxdcE30qvgFEErnqvAOBwgc8f4nWMh0VE/s800/Violet+Protest-Stacks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="493" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZzZ-7HpJCDwKzCn3n6gy2YKPZ3KgnZdWfsj8Ae_IZl1Ba6T2xpj_sx0o-knk7J-3pFWRtEazjIaK7SlX4x7LXqln87gVoGl2m9K2sOZQRrkxxdcE30qvgFEErnqvAOBwgc8f4nWMh0VE/s320/Violet+Protest-Stacks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Stacks of squares that have been submitted</span></b></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><p> For this project, "makers will create squares in both red and blue, regardless
of their political affiliation," Morton explained. "'The finished piece will be
purple, a blending of red and blue. The finished piece will be purple, a
blending of red and blue. “Fiber work is so meditative, and the makers will be
knitting for hours on them, or sewing for hours on them, and thinking about
what does the blue side stand for, what does the red side want? We’re going to
be putting these squares together, and that bringing together is the intention
imbued into the cloth.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglOmoIUMjMbqj7qLbv-yWat51GtfjqUEUV12N61GKg__dyiuwn5INY2CnULB8uk__Y1EsrWCjRevfiAEmFP-NCzEoJeWHTcrQGuBdTpn07SZSpsdWDSpndJ1lBw6SG5AdNwzi0JQnjwVz9/s550/VioletProtestcomposite-images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="445" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglOmoIUMjMbqj7qLbv-yWat51GtfjqUEUV12N61GKg__dyiuwn5INY2CnULB8uk__Y1EsrWCjRevfiAEmFP-NCzEoJeWHTcrQGuBdTpn07SZSpsdWDSpndJ1lBw6SG5AdNwzi0JQnjwVz9/s320/VioletProtestcomposite-images.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Square Composite</span></b></div><p>I need 26,750 squares,'” she said with a laugh. “I’m
estimating 4,000 to 5,000 people will be involved.'”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/arts/ann-morton-phoenix-fiber-art-violet-protest-11432051">Link </a>to full article.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Violet Protest is a public effort to send 50 hand-made textile squares to each and every member of Congress in support of these core American values:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"> • Respect for the other • Citizenship • Compromise<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">• Country over party and corporate influence<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">• Courage • Candor • Compassion • Creativity<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Whether we weave, knit, crochet, quilt, or embroider all 26,750 of these squares — through this social action, and from every corner of America; we as makers of all political persuasions, believe we can employ our willing spirit and our talents to contribute to healing divisions that threaten our country.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGropoBIrJ18M_tqzXAHnHzmkvF7leeDGqHF5aLuC4gNRTwHMAKnwNj43bep0A1Lr0BgAlt9vOYjKnHFxRcUSZqiwBtW-8jPu-fogek9LdhIt0V0VNaASaXVPi4Qz3CdFbu-U69OOLCAzo/s800/VioletProtest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGropoBIrJ18M_tqzXAHnHzmkvF7leeDGqHF5aLuC4gNRTwHMAKnwNj43bep0A1Lr0BgAlt9vOYjKnHFxRcUSZqiwBtW-8jPu-fogek9LdhIt0V0VNaASaXVPi4Qz3CdFbu-U69OOLCAzo/s320/VioletProtest.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">On display at Phoenix Art Museum until September</span></b></div> <p></p><p class="MsoNormal">This collection of textile squares is being displayed first at Phoenix Art Museum, until September 2021, before they are sent to the new 117th Congress by late 2021.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6JGpmmZ-PFm9ry6x4DD2dggq4GPhZYqxpc1DMp_z7eNDRd2y7PdN6-ZlLQ9WImr2CPbJEC-6mADq9HZcMEDLM6jLmx2TAZuDwXk0fUNB5A918pTQIxnH-rc42DkVnxzT-MtY3sbqnsoxr/s800/VioletProtestmorton-vp-us-with-wall-031121-lr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6JGpmmZ-PFm9ry6x4DD2dggq4GPhZYqxpc1DMp_z7eNDRd2y7PdN6-ZlLQ9WImr2CPbJEC-6mADq9HZcMEDLM6jLmx2TAZuDwXk0fUNB5A918pTQIxnH-rc42DkVnxzT-MtY3sbqnsoxr/s320/VioletProtestmorton-vp-us-with-wall-031121-lr.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Phoenix Art Museum</span></b></div><p class="MsoNormal">Focused on the values we hold dear as Americans, rather than any political beliefs, the color violet symbolizes the literal combination of red and blue, long held as symbols of our nation's differing ideologies. Our common goal is to send a physical message of friendly protest through this colossal visual expression to demonstrate that if we as citizens are willing to come together, so then must our elected officials.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVrr8VOGoB2DBhierqWUrAvFnIhqCDS8LuT-xN7Tlda9jXYctHHjVHnerF3C7z-ZknlmXboGMRUNFb2WPvyz_OZpAnTFhNbwWUGGSUJ8sXZk-ZBnFdJvf13J5KhQQ-uxxgSX62qGhTEK-J/s800/VioletProtestmorton-sotw-partial-wall-031121-lr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVrr8VOGoB2DBhierqWUrAvFnIhqCDS8LuT-xN7Tlda9jXYctHHjVHnerF3C7z-ZknlmXboGMRUNFb2WPvyz_OZpAnTFhNbwWUGGSUJ8sXZk-ZBnFdJvf13J5KhQQ-uxxgSX62qGhTEK-J/s320/VioletProtestmorton-sotw-partial-wall-031121-lr.jpg" width="320" /></span></b></a></div><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Phoenix Art Museum</span></b><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">To <a href="https://www.violetprotest.com/volunteer.html">volunteer</a> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Deadline to submit squares</b>: August 1, 2021<o:p></o:p></p><p><br /></p>CrochetQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919768072384261544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358905162839317966.post-32360908309875544282021-01-06T15:13:00.000-06:002021-01-06T15:13:05.093-06:00In Honor of and Gratitude to My Dear Friend: B.J. Licko-Keel<p>For many years, B. J. has sent me a lovely and meaningful Christmas gift. After receiving this year's gorgeous installment to the collection, I got to thinking... My usual thank-you note just does not suffice after all these years; I have to do more. Because I love to blog, why not share my love for B.J. here!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9dTPvkuGriZuUzuQQYA2Y6fFVISodNTVGSPDcAhRDajkpl1vHXlEHEPxHjxEIbMk3yxPB1g8NR6WDYZXWc_Bxcsm0KFeE44n9ojK8eyqZX67sdZXzE4EHzVwBSR_560mrQ67-_PD_caE/s2048/BJ1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1490" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9dTPvkuGriZuUzuQQYA2Y6fFVISodNTVGSPDcAhRDajkpl1vHXlEHEPxHjxEIbMk3yxPB1g8NR6WDYZXWc_Bxcsm0KFeE44n9ojK8eyqZX67sdZXzE4EHzVwBSR_560mrQ67-_PD_caE/s320/BJ1.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>2020 Knitted Hat</b></span></div><p>We've known each other for 26 years, and met at the first Crochet Guild of America (CGOA) conference in Chicago. The friendship has endured all these years because of our common passion for thread crochet, bead crochet, crochet in general, and our love of working together for CGOA.</p><p>Academically, BJ earned degrees in psychology from the U of Illinois, Chicago and photography from Columbia College. When we met, she had just retired as a financial officer and production manager at the ABA Press (the official publishing company of the American Bar Association) in the area of publications. </p><p>One year I was the lucky recipient of "Taste of the ABA," a cookbook whose production she oversaw as Project Coordinator, Design and Production. I go to the cookbook often to find interesting recipes. As a matter of fact, it is on my kitchen counter right now waiting until I can get out to buy some eggs! Pennsylvania Apple Bread is calling to me.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBdjbIRsEJ_BGoPtiy-DacIOsM1o_QpLbAMB9eT-geXbXYUF7MwMQiHibUg8I47NwqaJWINICI-VWHajm3hQlbPcwNhfRaz4got3EL-zTmh9KLh7GvoUtv3GnjhAkZde5BSx889OZRmRN0/s2048/BJ8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1674" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBdjbIRsEJ_BGoPtiy-DacIOsM1o_QpLbAMB9eT-geXbXYUF7MwMQiHibUg8I47NwqaJWINICI-VWHajm3hQlbPcwNhfRaz4got3EL-zTmh9KLh7GvoUtv3GnjhAkZde5BSx889OZRmRN0/s320/BJ8.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Taste of the ABA</b></div></span><p>The precision with which BJ produced this wonderful cookbook follows through to her crochet and knitting. She is consummately professional, not only in her technical skills, but also as a teacher and designer. </p><p>For many, many years BJ has brought new crocheters and knitters into the world through teaching at varied and diverse venues such as Michaels, local adult and continuing education programs and her local yarn shop, "Sheep's Clothing." She brings credentials to these classes as a Certified Craft Yarn Council Teacher.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi38Nga3JpjfAUvS_oQ3_p7ZKca879Yim-defDypFBoILff6agQXVJYzsiJHyKiszfQdF6RmUHm51UnHA8i5CzP6zsZRxY2hqNTgJVRGUqbyiOBv0yX1UP2gdXBnjjrlwAX3Bgljp4fLSK/s1421/BJ14Michaels2000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1088" data-original-width="1421" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi38Nga3JpjfAUvS_oQ3_p7ZKca879Yim-defDypFBoILff6agQXVJYzsiJHyKiszfQdF6RmUHm51UnHA8i5CzP6zsZRxY2hqNTgJVRGUqbyiOBv0yX1UP2gdXBnjjrlwAX3Bgljp4fLSK/s320/BJ14Michaels2000.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: small;">2000 ~ B.J. and I at her local Michaels promoting crochet.</b></div><p>While exhibiting at a Trade Show to promote CGOA, B.J. and began to see the light at the end of the tunnel for our dream to publish a book together on our common interest: miser's purses. "Magical Misers Purses ~ Crochet Purses with Victorian Inspiration" was published in 1999 by DMC Corporation. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ebtBZZMYVDr4KVkwwHSc5TD1PD4d3i6-UFVR2sAPqjGGPmOEGBE3AJU9CuFzYeAVGpSUVeIxbbojKcOlxoVgcy-Wrqp8Udjes-APqMXlPuU92aj6ETOHLdQFyE5vn_XuLqD9XayjOh4m/s2048/BJ8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ebtBZZMYVDr4KVkwwHSc5TD1PD4d3i6-UFVR2sAPqjGGPmOEGBE3AJU9CuFzYeAVGpSUVeIxbbojKcOlxoVgcy-Wrqp8Udjes-APqMXlPuU92aj6ETOHLdQFyE5vn_XuLqD9XayjOh4m/s320/BJ8.jpg" /></a></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Magical Miser's Purses</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></b></div></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY3ArThr3X1RjMMTS5rHidssrx5qPMTZ7LYezTrWLjwBvSVHUlyOwX5UsN8y3qnSXfLPSoANUFGCkuMrbxnV7oyt8EcKgo2jCWoH8KNsXXh0NG5mG5uFytHET5jqp3Q80KbPr_3q9wDYDe/s2048/BJ11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1363" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY3ArThr3X1RjMMTS5rHidssrx5qPMTZ7LYezTrWLjwBvSVHUlyOwX5UsN8y3qnSXfLPSoANUFGCkuMrbxnV7oyt8EcKgo2jCWoH8KNsXXh0NG5mG5uFytHET5jqp3Q80KbPr_3q9wDYDe/s320/BJ11.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>This is most-likely one of the very early miser purses B.J. recreated from an antique find. It is made of boucle yarn and has a little bead inset on the flap.</p><p>Together, we very much enjoyed the research and discovery of the history of these purses and the inspiration we both had to create our own set of these small gems. B.J.'s determination to have flawless instructions for the complicated designs in the book was evident in its popularity! While working out designs for the little purses that included beads, we expanded our skills to other projects with beads. It is an interest to this day for both of us.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj8exEU6fRXm9xvh8oUXqgFbOQkwOzY24p7Xa2nvzZbYl5bNf0NG12kvrYSZrgR87Bl3Tf7Sda5eU16QnC0AnqgDz_2Rtkr5rcGAr9ePEnarQAZ70355Jq9sTokTNL8RL8F0RMNs_QIKLq/s2048/BJ6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1913" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj8exEU6fRXm9xvh8oUXqgFbOQkwOzY24p7Xa2nvzZbYl5bNf0NG12kvrYSZrgR87Bl3Tf7Sda5eU16QnC0AnqgDz_2Rtkr5rcGAr9ePEnarQAZ70355Jq9sTokTNL8RL8F0RMNs_QIKLq/s320/BJ6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Brooch: B.J.s Bullions and Beads Are the Best!</b></span></div><p>B. J. was taught to crochet by her mother using fine thread and a steel hook to make a edging on a linen handkerchief. I am sure that her Eastern European heritage contributed to the precision she brings to her needlework. Pride in her culture has kept B.J. interested in creating an on-going compilation of vintage-style edgings which she hopes to publish soon.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg57Br3y8Oqc4Zah6f9bnqATNTcax1cFwcaNqxyzSJdCX_3Wr4cEVkKB__CRhKWCfz536pCkABMVhH37CVHgQaRNUDKDQJkLZwMFOBrUlEa-2R4NSCjkMfUrBNggkPMDAhJhyw8Z5Z2lFtQ/s690/BJ9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="690" data-original-width="518" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg57Br3y8Oqc4Zah6f9bnqATNTcax1cFwcaNqxyzSJdCX_3Wr4cEVkKB__CRhKWCfz536pCkABMVhH37CVHgQaRNUDKDQJkLZwMFOBrUlEa-2R4NSCjkMfUrBNggkPMDAhJhyw8Z5Z2lFtQ/s320/BJ9.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b> Handkerchief Gifts from Separate Years</b></div></span><p>Even as a seasoned needlework teacher, BJ has always been eager to supplement her knowledge. Over many years she has participated in annual classes offered by the CGOA, both in crochet and knitting. In order to achieve professional status, she attended many Professional seminars offered at CGOA conferences and is certified to teach by the Craft Yarn Council. While serving on the Education Committee of CGOA, she was certified as a Master of Thread Crochet and consequently served as a reviewer of student portfolios.</p><p>When my husband was ill, B.J. kindly knit him a comfort shawl. Her generosity at this very difficult time brought warmth to my heart and to Alan as well. Kindness may be the adjective everyone thinks of first to describe B.J. I know it is my word for her!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFRCt2eP5fnhFylf35x36c5yAe6vrQL3GgWUOX8teoJvOjbagAu9FSpLnnIZkvH_TRRWTM1ZZRq2HfwsXnU8msJkERVT0p3OtG1Lt3KMVd8tonyGU66oYmNG4SyAElaaqfb8Uq8EM9Kyl/s2048/BJ3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1710" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFRCt2eP5fnhFylf35x36c5yAe6vrQL3GgWUOX8teoJvOjbagAu9FSpLnnIZkvH_TRRWTM1ZZRq2HfwsXnU8msJkERVT0p3OtG1Lt3KMVd8tonyGU66oYmNG4SyAElaaqfb8Uq8EM9Kyl/s320/BJ3.jpg" /></a></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">2013 ~ Comfort Shawl for Alan</span></b></div></b><p>I was the recipient of this beautiful shawl another year. She has a knack for choosing colors I love! It is beautiful and adds a "pop" when worn over a winter coat!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipK_W0kLTJ4VpoKVazipvdWb7V2HZMbxnEuU3ihfESrNkOk4s9_1be4HsQpy_WGs74QNF0-3nwe7R9605Hl30gc93kRrg3nv39SwelhSMkuZF2zGrYUXaLAPFzizTimcbMkt4Qk1-uDxXr/s2048/BJ4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1797" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipK_W0kLTJ4VpoKVazipvdWb7V2HZMbxnEuU3ihfESrNkOk4s9_1be4HsQpy_WGs74QNF0-3nwe7R9605Hl30gc93kRrg3nv39SwelhSMkuZF2zGrYUXaLAPFzizTimcbMkt4Qk1-uDxXr/s320/BJ4.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>2008 ~ My Shawl, Noro Yarns</b></div></span><p>Again, B.J.'s bullions are amazing and impressive. I still struggle to make them evenly and she uses fine thread to perfection!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqAlJxs4O8eq4IN0uqeNv-UFW0-fNdtQoozIALTUhK6gm7VVccYLNVZsDvyf4nhDR2uQ_N-tZFuDh-9bCOkyykxKG7N8UyM_ycjqfJLbgZ-Na8jFp98IJxTPekQUXb9Rz-3Ykjf2RK_fss/s2048/BJ5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1567" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqAlJxs4O8eq4IN0uqeNv-UFW0-fNdtQoozIALTUhK6gm7VVccYLNVZsDvyf4nhDR2uQ_N-tZFuDh-9bCOkyykxKG7N8UyM_ycjqfJLbgZ-Na8jFp98IJxTPekQUXb9Rz-3Ykjf2RK_fss/s320/BJ5.jpg" /></a></div><span><div style="font-size: small; text-align: center;"><b>2018-Bullion Heart Ornament</b></div><div style="font-size: small; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: small; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHRIZCizP2NozR7gbdI_nGEhLtTNoABu-hRFu9x7Cos8Not3B7FYIRMPMyxbrooAAq9WVgHYWXjxM9Nrl95mb-IJztewwUuCoRf8BZDL-LGRoPrgQ981xcS-BJ_zWLhZnsmTXrRK38bRq/s2048/BJ2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1836" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHRIZCizP2NozR7gbdI_nGEhLtTNoABu-hRFu9x7Cos8Not3B7FYIRMPMyxbrooAAq9WVgHYWXjxM9Nrl95mb-IJztewwUuCoRf8BZDL-LGRoPrgQ981xcS-BJ_zWLhZnsmTXrRK38bRq/s320/BJ2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b style="font-size: small;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>2019-Cozy Wool Scarf</b></div></b><div style="font-size: small; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div>As you can see by this array of gifts, no yarn bulky or fine, intimidates B.J.! She is as comfortable with color as she is with design.</div><div style="font-size: small; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: small; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQUYcT8dQRtlZdqQyDkpalrjtjWXoi_gW2fiD2PyyIu2U8WFiczcgl-zLRADNhVZbwGylLt9gLJwASpkn1A7powxYAy6iCxM4J3SYEwtqYyauJ3rUIMyCKIQNgzzgTg207hhnl8NOywbS/s2048/BJ13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1960" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQUYcT8dQRtlZdqQyDkpalrjtjWXoi_gW2fiD2PyyIu2U8WFiczcgl-zLRADNhVZbwGylLt9gLJwASpkn1A7powxYAy6iCxM4J3SYEwtqYyauJ3rUIMyCKIQNgzzgTg207hhnl8NOywbS/s320/BJ13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b style="font-size: small;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Bookmark</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj6TSze_k_WCzijxQgsO2sWMJeDuXadBrCsQa6YIIXc6FRlTWNSE4cYbwoyBpZM8KpxdF9WNdTnozrqmdTgJOuFBX5UQj6O6nFBV6iLZm5qyqZUA0WGLQmdoS3JExEzu4w-He8ccbUTIE8/s2048/BJ12.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1421" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj6TSze_k_WCzijxQgsO2sWMJeDuXadBrCsQa6YIIXc6FRlTWNSE4cYbwoyBpZM8KpxdF9WNdTnozrqmdTgJOuFBX5UQj6O6nFBV6iLZm5qyqZUA0WGLQmdoS3JExEzu4w-He8ccbUTIE8/s320/BJ12.jpg" /></a></div>Bookmark<br /><b><br /></b></div></b><div style="text-align: left;">Reading during the long days of Covid-19 has been a pleasure that has kept me occupied and entertained. These fantastic bookmarks are a constant reminder of her creativity!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">B.J., this has been a trip down memory lane and I enjoyed re-visiting all these gits, as well as documenting them here. Most are put to good use in the various areas of my home, but if any that I have not included here turn up, I will add them. Know that you are thought of as not only an amazing talent, but also as a wonderful friend. Best Wishes to you in 2021! </div></div></span><p><br /></p>CrochetQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919768072384261544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358905162839317966.post-23410569221832248062020-12-14T16:08:00.019-06:002021-01-02T14:20:32.774-06:00Gratitude<p>I am grateful :</p><p>-for my health. I have stayed Covid-free all these months by following the science: mask or double mask, glove, isolation. #IwearbecauseIcare</p><p>-that the new vaccine that is being administered today. I will wait patiently for those most in need to get theirs.</p><p>-for my Covid pup, Bobby, who is so cute even when he is naughty!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9dJfafmqjgzgxp1CSONaku_iOgT5XBdlOMNI-IicnDVvUM9fMDuZTnGAPvy22YLOfZ3Ji9Sn8ze3gx4atjJPKMqm6QSR4AZx97ZCKnnrHCgxRdwezn_IgZZAwM1Zd_ZqndDYbhw5ECGye/s2048/naughty.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1339" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9dJfafmqjgzgxp1CSONaku_iOgT5XBdlOMNI-IicnDVvUM9fMDuZTnGAPvy22YLOfZ3Ji9Sn8ze3gx4atjJPKMqm6QSR4AZx97ZCKnnrHCgxRdwezn_IgZZAwM1Zd_ZqndDYbhw5ECGye/s320/naughty.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Naughty</b></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbnIQ0lpV0o0XOl7mpJHoz0o5baIIJLCEp6NLntbKdn3ChI-1S9kRYZ4a-xcwh0lOKLJmvislY98I7y7l9dUDCnVQ-7h4I6R-eEbBW-dSe6sNNCFEfhebvPqjTCp441arvzLODKo1UJJiG/s2048/20200926_153557.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbnIQ0lpV0o0XOl7mpJHoz0o5baIIJLCEp6NLntbKdn3ChI-1S9kRYZ4a-xcwh0lOKLJmvislY98I7y7l9dUDCnVQ-7h4I6R-eEbBW-dSe6sNNCFEfhebvPqjTCp441arvzLODKo1UJJiG/s320/20200926_153557.jpg" /></a></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Nice</span></b></div></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">-that my older daughter & family could spend this month in Florida, even though I miss them a lot!</span></div><p>-for Zoom so I can keep in touch.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEEqBPDMCiIce1xY6vQ9FF61WTdQMSz6xUheTbdMSV1FRVmSoIQsky8nkx1MazvbZ7O4DORw0_vcezis0yxDP1Msxy-Hhcr7trH3tQGrcTnOVz-lsQcGlQCVrV8dDuP6CysFWyEgLqHiEk/s2048/ZoomCookies.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1848" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEEqBPDMCiIce1xY6vQ9FF61WTdQMSz6xUheTbdMSV1FRVmSoIQsky8nkx1MazvbZ7O4DORw0_vcezis0yxDP1Msxy-Hhcr7trH3tQGrcTnOVz-lsQcGlQCVrV8dDuP6CysFWyEgLqHiEk/s320/ZoomCookies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: small;">Zoom cookie-baking</b></div><p></p><p>-that "Darth" (Vader), the fish I am pet-sitting, is still swimming after 3 weeks!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xjYTka8nR0auV1Wd_0lGMtgTUHgS8rDjUyMBG4RCE96nxpZFviM2R_Q3gfpUM8IvYrzE4ThDuOipJ1umR9V3373v6VHO8WvHbDaJoZTfMLA5hHBYzoN8pyRyY3BROr67GpN9rNRaZT7o/s2048/2020DarthVader.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xjYTka8nR0auV1Wd_0lGMtgTUHgS8rDjUyMBG4RCE96nxpZFviM2R_Q3gfpUM8IvYrzE4ThDuOipJ1umR9V3373v6VHO8WvHbDaJoZTfMLA5hHBYzoN8pyRyY3BROr67GpN9rNRaZT7o/s320/2020DarthVader.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">-that my younger daughter lives nearby too. We are a small happy family!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">-that I found mincemeat, after searching 4 stores, for my annual fruitcake gifts! Walmart came through for me, and again today, with rum extract to use for eggnog fudge! Thanks Google!</span></div><p style="text-align: justify;">-that our Indianapolis weather has not been so bad. I am still taking daily walks; and it is even better when the sun is shining! </p><p>-for my fireplace that gives that cozy feeling of warmth during the holidays.</p><p>-that I have a creative outlet ~ crochet ~ and a love of reading to keep me busy during isolation. I also have a "family" of crochet friends online in my Ravelry group, Cro-Kween Designs as well as on my two other Facebook pages. We've been meeting to chat monthly on Zoom.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOIwMsKpB8N3M3qSevfhnLtqU8_NqhiIJ87xmnLLQkejfUq3IVs_RAoDeyxG2_YHXccvAFBaTRFVLPzICnmLf4jOLkwxqCTjNV9gEGvQnna1Fmcr-KKNiGGQ18sOpJmRz_nnRx0hirb8T_/s2048/ZoomScreenShot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOIwMsKpB8N3M3qSevfhnLtqU8_NqhiIJ87xmnLLQkejfUq3IVs_RAoDeyxG2_YHXccvAFBaTRFVLPzICnmLf4jOLkwxqCTjNV9gEGvQnna1Fmcr-KKNiGGQ18sOpJmRz_nnRx0hirb8T_/s320/ZoomScreenShot.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>The "Courtesans" at Cro-Kween Designs</b></span></div><p>-that I could go, double-masked and gloved, to see an art exhibit: "Black Artists Matter" at the Indy Art Center. I was the only patron there at the time and felt safe.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ocl3hyphenhyphenc8Ix4_ICzBXrXbkZuuz5YtcoZ3Bra_IEk5Boa3a3K9hA4xNCEk9g6zySIQEb0WXt4psmqZdReXk4cOz5WJ2T0wNMQ_gncc4SZVZjyUM2ygQQdAxjRA6sZ-6zUOpDEkjkA59sjV/s2048/BLM4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ocl3hyphenhyphenc8Ix4_ICzBXrXbkZuuz5YtcoZ3Bra_IEk5Boa3a3K9hA4xNCEk9g6zySIQEb0WXt4psmqZdReXk4cOz5WJ2T0wNMQ_gncc4SZVZjyUM2ygQQdAxjRA6sZ-6zUOpDEkjkA59sjV/s320/BLM4.jpg" /></b></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>#Black Lives Matter</b></span></div><div><br /></div>The eighteen artists in the exhibit bonded while working on this streetscape, "Black Lives Matter," in Indianapolis. They were offered the exhibit to showcase their collective talents.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh62n5I_ilQAOltuT7edDQHHGmcs_Ofplo_2wYxAXmhOY8NgiZHCWY6uCir4BvGs8R8qy-dvVC0_7-lQ7ubUgprl1MbUXrB33l3G-fsjete8394F53I2qkAjXfISVQLEWVFZoD2JQvyIB9_/s2048/BLM5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh62n5I_ilQAOltuT7edDQHHGmcs_Ofplo_2wYxAXmhOY8NgiZHCWY6uCir4BvGs8R8qy-dvVC0_7-lQ7ubUgprl1MbUXrB33l3G-fsjete8394F53I2qkAjXfISVQLEWVFZoD2JQvyIB9_/s320/BLM5.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfm4NYHpKvbA_ysH3TQQDskCaXcxa4s42pVxZg-UTprYnvFtSaM-7C3XM-jU-wZVVCq4PLOwh1zpKcHQfYv6VOuOT7R1gKvAsGLkOUe8DjpmOYVWd072bAi-7yAymlT7FPmtnagHBKNQYY/s2048/BLM1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfm4NYHpKvbA_ysH3TQQDskCaXcxa4s42pVxZg-UTprYnvFtSaM-7C3XM-jU-wZVVCq4PLOwh1zpKcHQfYv6VOuOT7R1gKvAsGLkOUe8DjpmOYVWd072bAi-7yAymlT7FPmtnagHBKNQYY/s320/BLM1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0KN0S_csjo7fmy8o-DPGIDQx47lx6LfvkG5CGqLpsypr-s6kporCsvm_H1BXzWADk6CJFc4k0BIMDMaAAntoxkA0lnIE7g9P3UrQqPk8_FZgMOa_Z-i2V3V5L6wAg1sF5j0NHife6rPKq/s2048/BLM2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0KN0S_csjo7fmy8o-DPGIDQx47lx6LfvkG5CGqLpsypr-s6kporCsvm_H1BXzWADk6CJFc4k0BIMDMaAAntoxkA0lnIE7g9P3UrQqPk8_FZgMOa_Z-i2V3V5L6wAg1sF5j0NHife6rPKq/s320/BLM2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fj_0LDBGV6l2o2cGgwhxXUP0DYAc8pVcbGhf0IgHbkuIBlF3FJu9f-pDdH3QDj-pB6Uyi6CDrR-qkzkYiLHXygNvQ_uX-i36aI_osw_PlhRB09G29t0yQyB3gbAg1LLhF321eIIJWy7X/s2048/BLM3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fj_0LDBGV6l2o2cGgwhxXUP0DYAc8pVcbGhf0IgHbkuIBlF3FJu9f-pDdH3QDj-pB6Uyi6CDrR-qkzkYiLHXygNvQ_uX-i36aI_osw_PlhRB09G29t0yQyB3gbAg1LLhF321eIIJWy7X/s320/BLM3.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;">-that I have fond memories in my heart of the loving and exciting life Alan and I led for 48 years! I know he is resting in peace!</p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9YqX7s3XQJPAvy0WyPKV-o01Ge82VcUnhPFDG1ZJ9KGepUhXnAEy1-y1pH90itg6U23y2VKTAeld0O7lAank-X1ltTkX6wDnn1o2J_7CoTiiM0ug7lKj2CLks3w-75tVa7zZjPLv5Vo-/s730/2007A%2526G40th+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9YqX7s3XQJPAvy0WyPKV-o01Ge82VcUnhPFDG1ZJ9KGepUhXnAEy1-y1pH90itg6U23y2VKTAeld0O7lAank-X1ltTkX6wDnn1o2J_7CoTiiM0ug7lKj2CLks3w-75tVa7zZjPLv5Vo-/s320/2007A%2526G40th+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fortieth Anniversary</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">And finally...</p><p style="text-align: left;">-that I am striving to make the most of each day and to be happy. After all, tomorrow may not come!</p></div><br /><p><br /></p></div>CrochetQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919768072384261544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358905162839317966.post-44507010983136007012020-10-11T13:09:00.000-05:002020-10-11T13:09:14.821-05:00RIP, Ruth Bader Ginsburg: I'll Forever be Obsessed!<p> Some of you may remember my friend from Boston, Sue, who doesn't crochet but comes to CGOA conferences with her sister to hang out with me! She called me recently to share a fantastic story. Her cousin, Sarah, who established M.M. LaFleur, received a request from RBG herself to make a jabot in the style of company's upscale designs! <span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.75rem; margin: 0px 0px 1.75rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3f40; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span></span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDPq925dctFsBGYkCHRhXVwYNJ7sKaCio12EFxEZRqLUROjodkAgK3zgEz3DyswWqIMsLc4xlQRzF2TxvImgqciFYNg6oxluoHP8vCxuMWiBr6QrbhE8tSh_BGgpCApaGT91LDlO77YIad/s1024/LaFleurFounder-SarahMiyako.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDPq925dctFsBGYkCHRhXVwYNJ7sKaCio12EFxEZRqLUROjodkAgK3zgEz3DyswWqIMsLc4xlQRzF2TxvImgqciFYNg6oxluoHP8vCxuMWiBr6QrbhE8tSh_BGgpCApaGT91LDlO77YIad/s320/LaFleurFounder-SarahMiyako.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3e3f40;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sarah LaFleur, CEO & Miyako Nakamura, Co-Founder</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3f40; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3f40; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">"M.M.LaFleur is built on a core belief: </span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3f40; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">When women succeed in the workplace, the world becomes a better place.</em></span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3f40; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </em></span>Founder & CEO Sarah LaFleur was once your typical woman in finance whose closet was packed with </span><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3f40; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">blah</em><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3f40; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">-feeling pantsuits. Back then, she dreamed of a more practical, inspired wardrobe for herself and all professional women.</span></div></span><p></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3f40; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.75rem; margin: 0px 0px 1.75rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">She teamed up with Co-founders Narie Foster and Miyako Nakamura, and they launched M.M.LaFleur in 2011. Their goal: to help women harness the power of self-presentation, and to rethink the shopping process altogether. Not only do we design our own collection, but we integrate personal styling into the MM experience. We know you have #BetterThingsToDo than worry about what to wear, so our mission is </span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">to take the work out of dressing for work."</em></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3f40; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.75rem; margin: 0px 0px 1.75rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0lzoL29FkAPmZN4hWKQmF9k-jPsC_2dIu7Hexh_fd6JjYDNCBfH3rEdw5RR9S-gNEq6SZR4av0MiVlpz9wLWWKCJEssD0e7s7vL2l4hjzVe8vE0zFg0Q4Lqr0iTnTbtuLr2hPOAymnRl/s600/LaFleurJabot.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0lzoL29FkAPmZN4hWKQmF9k-jPsC_2dIu7Hexh_fd6JjYDNCBfH3rEdw5RR9S-gNEq6SZR4av0MiVlpz9wLWWKCJEssD0e7s7vL2l4hjzVe8vE0zFg0Q4Lqr0iTnTbtuLr2hPOAymnRl/s320/LaFleurJabot.webp" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Representative of the tailoring for which MM LaFleur is Known </span></span></span></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Genath, serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.75rem; margin: 0px 0px 1.75rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Miyuko: "I wanted to make sure that our collar was representative of the tailoring that we do at M.M., and I landed on the construction of a men’s shirt collar.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Genath, serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.75rem; margin: 0px 0px 1.75rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">For the design, I used three ivory-colored jacquards to symbolize the familial layers that underpinned Justice Ginsburg’s life. The top layer was a textured jacquard that represented the Justice herself; below was a polka-dotted jacquard that resembled a man’s tie, which represented her husband Marty; and beneath, two layers of floral jacquard represented their children, who were blossoming under them. We felt that the collar articulated how a strong familial bond can help a woman achieve greatness at work."</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3f40; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.75rem; margin: 0px 0px 1.75rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnyt_isA5Y89AcBHE5NsVDe0dPu2u88JFNjhOC6NHyVBlyJSMjsv7JMelmAk-idjcQcTI9PVZDSnijNIehGOERmlPJ-W3zgaBiyXoaBr9llFXavM7O9K4b-M5zjSyrX7ompaG3s6H2jipy/s600/LaFleurJabotEmbroidery.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnyt_isA5Y89AcBHE5NsVDe0dPu2u88JFNjhOC6NHyVBlyJSMjsv7JMelmAk-idjcQcTI9PVZDSnijNIehGOERmlPJ-W3zgaBiyXoaBr9llFXavM7O9K4b-M5zjSyrX7ompaG3s6H2jipy/s320/LaFleurJabotEmbroidery.webp" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Quote from Marty Gi</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">nsburg, Ruth's husband and partner: "I have been supportive of my wife since the beginning of time; and she has been supportive of me. It's not sacrifice, it's family."</span></b></span></span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNzv6aplfXaChl-jTwdzMcqABtqznPQEGiA1xSNdPbSlWPmbrSVSH7Q-AksBBzf7NInsr3YAX_uHcxN_NWyvAnzSOB0Hv78o0eiwo_7NyIODPxHGi8fB7M4kNUeLe8WU9NRuPQgMJLcnBj/s1000/LaFleurFitting.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNzv6aplfXaChl-jTwdzMcqABtqznPQEGiA1xSNdPbSlWPmbrSVSH7Q-AksBBzf7NInsr3YAX_uHcxN_NWyvAnzSOB0Hv78o0eiwo_7NyIODPxHGi8fB7M4kNUeLe8WU9NRuPQgMJLcnBj/s320/LaFleurFitting.webp" /></a></div><span><div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Miyako fitting Justice Ginsburg-October 2020</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>To learn more about <a href="https://bit.ly/34MUacH">M.M. LaFleur</a> and its story.<br /><p><br /></p>CrochetQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919768072384261544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358905162839317966.post-46218392008953000742020-09-18T15:11:00.002-05:002020-09-19T11:39:51.064-05:00Register and VOTE!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5wkKZw3vOYoMtZ1wIS41Rbz3UWmxvkQnX_KXux8SkkPlgcw-eSVex7fY9fkuHRDlPrXiwxp_gOXKH72f9KW8ngqGDCRHrJcdUVOacyhRh-hfilDrLT77dzwi7qitphEMlimxwVOgYvBF/s360/registertovoteforweb+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5wkKZw3vOYoMtZ1wIS41Rbz3UWmxvkQnX_KXux8SkkPlgcw-eSVex7fY9fkuHRDlPrXiwxp_gOXKH72f9KW8ngqGDCRHrJcdUVOacyhRh-hfilDrLT77dzwi7qitphEMlimxwVOgYvBF/s320/registertovoteforweb+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Used</span><span style="font-size: small;"> with permission ~</span></b></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Suzann Thompson: <i>What to Do in a Democracy</i>; quilting, fabric, crocheted doilies</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Every citizen is a voter! NOW is the time to register to vote, if you haven't already, for the 2020 election! You can find everything you need to know about registering and voting requirements in any state, absentee ballots, early voting dates, election dates and deadlines, ballot return options and more at the <a href="usvotefoundation.org">Us Vote Foundation</a>.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuFMHGCmizHFyepbbZZKnrJALZ0wzAgOINJaBooQRnrzfKxJodmYur74Z2_H7yW4_xkdEW8AHxPVApKhW5tdhqd0LeuBYMJ4eNK5sHSSjOSd0iiDbzaNT4PWQSb6AQkmHl25FbpDQuVfGn/s2048/Registertovoteinthewild.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuFMHGCmizHFyepbbZZKnrJALZ0wzAgOINJaBooQRnrzfKxJodmYur74Z2_H7yW4_xkdEW8AHxPVApKhW5tdhqd0LeuBYMJ4eNK5sHSSjOSd0iiDbzaNT4PWQSb6AQkmHl25FbpDQuVfGn/s320/Registertovoteinthewild.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>2019:</b> <b>Suzann and friends registering voters at a festival "in the wild" in Texas</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Suzann Thompson is a prolific crochet and quilt artist who combines the two in her mixed-media quilts. Until the Covid-19 pandemic hit, she was exhibiting "<a href="https://bit.ly/3hKSOE1" target="_blank">Celebrate Doilies</a>" throughout her home state of Texas. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Since the 2008 election season, I have become a more involved voter. Now, more than ever, I have been very concerned that every citizen who wants to vote have a chance to do so and exercise their right as a US citizen. Recently I was honored with the opportunity to help the League of Women Voters by translating <b><i>Election Essentials</i></b> and <b><i>VOTE411: Election Information You Need</i></b> from English to Spanish. With so much time spent in isolation these past months, it felt good to be able to work at home to provide these important guides for hispanic voters.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Founded in 1920 by Carrie Chapman Catt, <a href="lwv.org">The League of Women Voters</a> has been a "non-partisan, activist, grassroots organization, for 100 years, that believes voters should play a critical role in democracy." Because of the deep divide in which our country finds itself, I have been doing a lot of thinking and studying as to how I can do my small part to bridge that divide. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWZVrvzTby59oAAe3R5IGfUJ60eSGU4y7fs_8iG6mnWRW5hpbd9FQ7zb-XQRm7k9wk-7w5BQK5zfiacFGicUSi5ujaB52sE6jvvo09hDtEn3LqrnIDA2_RSSnfQ2IG6Cyg81UX-VLZXQ8/s480/VoteSnowflakes+Create+Avalanches+for+web.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWZVrvzTby59oAAe3R5IGfUJ60eSGU4y7fs_8iG6mnWRW5hpbd9FQ7zb-XQRm7k9wk-7w5BQK5zfiacFGicUSi5ujaB52sE6jvvo09hDtEn3LqrnIDA2_RSSnfQ2IG6Cyg81UX-VLZXQ8/s320/VoteSnowflakes+Create+Avalanches+for+web.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Suzann Thompson: "Snowflakes Create Avalanches," quilting, crochet snowflakes</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I know that introspection is difficult for many, and that I have no power to change others' deep-held beliefs. What I can do is engage in conversation with others whose views oppose mine. I can listen kindly and realize that they are entitled to believe as they wish. We all come to our beliefs mostly due to our own private experiences. I also have a right to speak up and express my beliefs without fear. Who knows, we might learn from each other, or at the least gain empathy for the experiences that brought our opponents to their beliefs!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Tell me your stories and your beliefs. I want to be informed. Please promise me you will be sure to vote. I know I will!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Many thanks to <a href="https://www.textilefusion.com" target="_blank">Suzann Thompson</a> for her generosity in sharing the photographs that inspired me to write this blog!</div>CrochetQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919768072384261544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358905162839317966.post-20983436496301782222020-08-31T13:34:00.000-05:002020-08-31T13:34:08.077-05:00Covid Pup!<p>They say that "having expectations only brings disappointment." I lean toward being a "glass half full" type of person, but in this instance, my expectation about taking my girls to Normandy France in 2021 has been put on hold. I won't say that I am devastated because I have hope that we will be able to go some time in the future. I'd say I am more embarrassed with our country's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, leading us to the worst numbers in the world; and currently we are banned from traveling to Europe!</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p>I have wanted to go to Normandy for the longest time to see where my heroic father landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day and SURVIVED! It would be an important history lesson for my family and for me, as well!</p><p>What does this have to do with a "Covid-Pup"? My family has always had and enjoyed dogs as pets. Our last one, Gizmo, died several years ago; and my current expectation was that when I am old and sitting mostly in a rocking chair, I will get another pup!</p><p>Then the Covid-10 Corona virus came along and re-configured all our lives! I've been staying safe and have remained healthy throughout; and for that I am very grateful. However, much as I enjoy being a homebody without guilt, passing my days with crochet, blogging and reading, There have been some lonely times. I began to see that this virus and our need to isolate as much as possible is going to be with us for a long time; and thoughts of a cute rescue pup kept creepy into my head!</p><p>My daughter, Bethany, is a dog-person of the ultimate kind; and she fosters dogs from Tails & Trail Rescue. It was only logical for me to start there; and I thought starting as a foster mom would be a good first step.</p><p>As I was waiting to be accepted for fostering, I saw "Buster" on their website and he appealed to me even though he is young and a male. Mind you, I already had a female name, "Lacy," picked out for my future dog! Would you have expected anything less than a crochet-related name?</p><p>I texted quickly and told the rescue I wanted to meet Buster. I brought Beth along to keep me from caving in too easily. She, however, was already in love with him before the foster mom was able to meet us!. Life is all about compromises, right? Buster turned out to be right in many ways: he is small and only 12 pounds, a Chihuahua/Terrier mix. He name didn't suit me, and he is now known as "Bobby."</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMnQboym-cfQdQsf3uYzOZ-qXFqM9jDCmv1tfhxRnm775PRw4K4_HzkpqfouR5AHCeWaY_HISE9xBSiXgfg7dbnkhKTJ67cD6gXD7EH_KMCgVRNoSRtOuOq2O2fM6Y_NQrodQxqTyllJvG/s1920/Resized_20200808_165756.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMnQboym-cfQdQsf3uYzOZ-qXFqM9jDCmv1tfhxRnm775PRw4K4_HzkpqfouR5AHCeWaY_HISE9xBSiXgfg7dbnkhKTJ67cD6gXD7EH_KMCgVRNoSRtOuOq2O2fM6Y_NQrodQxqTyllJvG/w181-h320/Resized_20200808_165756.jpeg" title="Me & Bobby McGee" width="181" /></a></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><b>Me and Bobby McGee</b></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwBguhRAASs7rcqvcGrwhFXuP2LstYmzVPrv35fFH9eVlEv1x9Uw6ycOBqUvePYL1DTBpSmjtUH7d6GPWP4oFAlcGecbrdlfVkKTk1ps2tDppGySyGof1t05mZbn_7jNvSrKw5IC6hkGU/s2048/20200808_190210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwBguhRAASs7rcqvcGrwhFXuP2LstYmzVPrv35fFH9eVlEv1x9Uw6ycOBqUvePYL1DTBpSmjtUH7d6GPWP4oFAlcGecbrdlfVkKTk1ps2tDppGySyGof1t05mZbn_7jNvSrKw5IC6hkGU/w180-h320/20200808_190210.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><br />Dangerously Close to Yarn!<br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtEPNs2x7_fmSZ0gbe_t8mb4XpqGgcjYv9ub3U-DrN4dTcAx_SeEyBvL7a0ax_-K0Mdh1SoWFZUxxUu_eCEkPpySVoN7ZBcwxgyjft_2GdsPOkPgxXSGUOnUx2XvzQ0y1-5Nnp8ngx6HGQ/s2048/20200809_121624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtEPNs2x7_fmSZ0gbe_t8mb4XpqGgcjYv9ub3U-DrN4dTcAx_SeEyBvL7a0ax_-K0Mdh1SoWFZUxxUu_eCEkPpySVoN7ZBcwxgyjft_2GdsPOkPgxXSGUOnUx2XvzQ0y1-5Nnp8ngx6HGQ/w180-h320/20200809_121624.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Bobby Found His Safe Spot!</b></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1p5DrJIRgHgwebqsvjnY1gIyYpXSB9Gm-5_Q5rAteBOCrnI2sHKfRJwuR1K0yl-YKJgRpkzkk-bcbWzYg_xyg5SZquJ-ftqalV1YxRu9Olq7RHYOQuxuF-ewBBK93DkBaaPzQXsznDYSM/s2048/20200808_182551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1p5DrJIRgHgwebqsvjnY1gIyYpXSB9Gm-5_Q5rAteBOCrnI2sHKfRJwuR1K0yl-YKJgRpkzkk-bcbWzYg_xyg5SZquJ-ftqalV1YxRu9Olq7RHYOQuxuF-ewBBK93DkBaaPzQXsznDYSM/w180-h320/20200808_182551.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><b>Learning to Walk on Leash</b></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcJ6sTIbaKSmKT0SCPCoOpcG4ckHnt-3PPpxlmWhHw0dkfxrN6rQpnB7FsfnUtOqE2xy7PiOsp0x-0mO3UDugFUeF7ZbpY1C9sOH3g5p4uwV_FMLh-ap-DsOFNSV4iiPxL4XJKXAng-Kx/s2048/20200808_185744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcJ6sTIbaKSmKT0SCPCoOpcG4ckHnt-3PPpxlmWhHw0dkfxrN6rQpnB7FsfnUtOqE2xy7PiOsp0x-0mO3UDugFUeF7ZbpY1C9sOH3g5p4uwV_FMLh-ap-DsOFNSV4iiPxL4XJKXAng-Kx/w180-h320/20200808_185744.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><b>"Kong Calm"</b></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4tChBoQEfp-wGEQCI9PdHaj4mVdUSFKRUCOM5EtgpBaLA5LwIemamc9bk_Wi5Fc7v7DV9wRYrc5iIVXF5WowPC-twN5seyKFjiEkjVQN1ohehFRX1n3bYuR21uIci0msxfdgbYlQCovh/s2048/20200809_173305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4tChBoQEfp-wGEQCI9PdHaj4mVdUSFKRUCOM5EtgpBaLA5LwIemamc9bk_Wi5Fc7v7DV9wRYrc5iIVXF5WowPC-twN5seyKFjiEkjVQN1ohehFRX1n3bYuR21uIci0msxfdgbYlQCovh/w180-h320/20200809_173305.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><b>Too Cute!</b></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuARssnpkdN4CppgVeqIfcRI347UCUr_NVPCBA1yz6lwY-UmjZKBrDBcvatQpiFfIm4Xe8JPjnByuFeeXJkSFVBcYN9WmFuVwlwqNIjZjO9bfr-iapEv_K5mqbtMWIQvmHKCESYkGeAxdc/s2016/Resized_20200815_111917.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1134" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuARssnpkdN4CppgVeqIfcRI347UCUr_NVPCBA1yz6lwY-UmjZKBrDBcvatQpiFfIm4Xe8JPjnByuFeeXJkSFVBcYN9WmFuVwlwqNIjZjO9bfr-iapEv_K5mqbtMWIQvmHKCESYkGeAxdc/w180-h320/Resized_20200815_111917.jpeg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQx6VR0An6Ik32d9NQCcLFm9hLJ_-fFUCIFjkbPej6Y4uR48LbTNraY3s4iR6IQ5rxlzJMy_kWeZhAosrrdGFMGe2s_0zFps-CrHoD5wb1-OuIQqQ2WI748v9sRTVw5aJY7M_XunUn94bA/s2016/Resized_20200815_111927%25282%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1134" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQx6VR0An6Ik32d9NQCcLFm9hLJ_-fFUCIFjkbPej6Y4uR48LbTNraY3s4iR6IQ5rxlzJMy_kWeZhAosrrdGFMGe2s_0zFps-CrHoD5wb1-OuIQqQ2WI748v9sRTVw5aJY7M_XunUn94bA/w180-h320/Resized_20200815_111927%25282%2529.jpeg" width="180" /></a></div><div><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><b>Wow, yarn is a Cool Toy!</b></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdbStRn0W1xF_2aL2GqfcWkmc-91-LeWBRLCVhQWCvTHZqn-yqF1KlT4QzvWeiPtY9IfYOMeRkVpl0LNn08QBSYKUZUnbTl2vt5XcAWe_ddpqaMCmfYIsg7R7V5hZRKNL-M0J9rhRVfaU/s2048/20200818_090708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdbStRn0W1xF_2aL2GqfcWkmc-91-LeWBRLCVhQWCvTHZqn-yqF1KlT4QzvWeiPtY9IfYOMeRkVpl0LNn08QBSYKUZUnbTl2vt5XcAWe_ddpqaMCmfYIsg7R7V5hZRKNL-M0J9rhRVfaU/w180-h320/20200818_090708.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><p> </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><b>Maybe She Won't Notice Me!</b></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><p>My grandchildren, Chloe & Jack, are over the moon for Bobby! They can't have a dog due to their father's allergies. It will work out fine and I (Bobby) will probably have more special visits from than ever before! Maybe I'll have some pictures soon of them with Bobby. He's so wiggly and love's seeing them, I haven't gotten any yet!</p><p>Stay tuned...</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>CrochetQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919768072384261544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358905162839317966.post-21491345608160822552020-08-21T12:30:00.007-05:002020-08-22T10:39:56.161-05:00I Have Some Good News!<p> I've worked hard during this Covid-19 pandemic to keeping a positive attitude as well as being ever vigilant about staying safe and about being kind to others by wearing my mask. So far it is working; and I am proud to say I have remained healthy, while being of a certain age that puts me in the high risk category.</p><p>Today is another good day! Several months ago I learned that the United States Postal Service (USPS) was planning the release of a new forever stamp to recognize Ruth Asawa posthumously. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiADEacCjuxsmVHXtzPf5eHiIxxXkRNi7_8-ASObB6S1mSOTUhggKoX2W0OLKqCRpn_mlRnlnyihNZdyywabsdR2VrWSDw_sFP-9Hm-StgwbgB-c_Ke0kEFE76oVErX01HpWuXp1j8S-PEz/s494/2-Exploring+the+Heart+of+It.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="494" data-original-width="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiADEacCjuxsmVHXtzPf5eHiIxxXkRNi7_8-ASObB6S1mSOTUhggKoX2W0OLKqCRpn_mlRnlnyihNZdyywabsdR2VrWSDw_sFP-9Hm-StgwbgB-c_Ke0kEFE76oVErX01HpWuXp1j8S-PEz/d/2-Exploring+the+Heart+of+It.jpg" title="Ruth asawa at work" /></a></div><p>I was so, so excited, as I always am, when crochet gets the recognition it deserves! The slight glitch was yet to be announced the date of release! I've checked regularly with the USPS since then. This week, with the postal service controversy on my mind, I decided to do my part and order stamps online. Boy, was I surprised and thrilled: Ruth's stamp was just <a href="https://www.facebook.com/USPS/videos/595516847702133/">released</a> on August 13!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBcH4qqFjpHgEYGdFgEElCKaqujCVPt7pr8LOmMdYnX5oq-UMPkXfaj3ipr0smcRKGFUcTzgD2EcuCaxB8fI7DaMcqeR_BPV0PSxEKPRQg7lU7D41pgL5Lxr-HLMIKLfp7eQ_LzNeiIao/s1000/2020ForeverStamp-1536x982-1-e1585952218463.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="617" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBcH4qqFjpHgEYGdFgEElCKaqujCVPt7pr8LOmMdYnX5oq-UMPkXfaj3ipr0smcRKGFUcTzgD2EcuCaxB8fI7DaMcqeR_BPV0PSxEKPRQg7lU7D41pgL5Lxr-HLMIKLfp7eQ_LzNeiIao/s640/2020ForeverStamp-1536x982-1-e1585952218463.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>So, today is the day! I ordered 3 sheets of the stamps that honor Ruth's legacy. It feels good to give my business to USPS, as well as to have the thrill of enjoying Ruth's beautiful art each time I lick a stamp!</p><p>I know there have been stamps dedicated to quilting in the past. Are you aware of any other handcrafts that have been so honored?</p><p>Celebrate crochet and support the USPS in just a few easy clicks at USPS.gov. Together we can ensure the efficiency of this time-honored service to our citizens so that our votes will be counted! Stay safe and register to vote by mail!</p><p><br /></p>CrochetQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919768072384261544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358905162839317966.post-7345578037260384682020-07-11T14:08:00.002-05:002020-07-11T14:08:57.084-05:00"Covid Crochet" ~ Threads of Compassion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNSJ5fLm6vatBtqGJtY0YdkHSqD-UkTWFm_hZ09GRo0qs7a2i-xYBgEDYNOiPDxbTIyu_s7b6Stc4B3Q3wKGVnsuU3v3u16kQfuDAFu_N1MD92E4tKjHCR1UDGnnr7LuerINm-2vkqnPb/s1600/INDonorShawl%25239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNSJ5fLm6vatBtqGJtY0YdkHSqD-UkTWFm_hZ09GRo0qs7a2i-xYBgEDYNOiPDxbTIyu_s7b6Stc4B3Q3wKGVnsuU3v3u16kQfuDAFu_N1MD92E4tKjHCR1UDGnnr7LuerINm-2vkqnPb/s320/INDonorShawl%25239.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Charity Shawl</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My husband, Alan, died 4 years ago on July 1, 2016 from a rare brain disease called Corticobasal Degeneration. He was in a research study at Mayo Clinic in Cooperation with his doctor at Rush, Chicago. Consequently, he decided to donate his brain to the research upon his death. I think of him as a courageous hero!<br />
<br />
The Chief of Pathology at Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida, worked closely with the local pathologist to preserve his brain within twenty-four hours of his death. Participating with Mayo made Alan's courageous donation helped me see it less as a sacrifice and more like hope that the many fine doctors working for a cure to this dreadful disease will have success sooner because of many patients' contributions.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIl1K8Erluut5AizL_i6pWwJSA282GWqGHcEP4QgyvJSN4LZC9mxliPzvlJdN3j73NlmTIbX2A1vQfTh03x6luDsWXPt3V17iTz0eBS2YXf810Xl399Wa4cZHwFjZztueQD4CXsa-BpgHj/s1600/INDIANA-DONOR-Network.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="582" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIl1K8Erluut5AizL_i6pWwJSA282GWqGHcEP4QgyvJSN4LZC9mxliPzvlJdN3j73NlmTIbX2A1vQfTh03x6luDsWXPt3V17iTz0eBS2YXf810Xl399Wa4cZHwFjZztueQD4CXsa-BpgHj/s320/INDIANA-DONOR-Network.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>"Saving lives through organ & tissue donation"</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After his death, I heard about the Indiana Donor Network (IDN) through my CGOA Guild chapter. Bonnie, who lost her son, volunteers there and told me about the program. IDN provides shawls to comfort grieving families who have lost, and in-turn, given so someone else could live. Bernat <i>Yarnspirations</i> and patterns are provided to volunteers who make the shawls, either crocheted or knitted.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMtno9eJGerDvn-by2wCJ0D9XJHrV-A6-jark5twd50M83E8DLX9-UBH4kHeQGhYlnN4EGcMAwOfguVK4rMw71z15EFxtyAWsEatvtzAquYpnO9swoTv5Bw50CRTzAZd_dIln6ax5rOU5/s1600/CharityShawl%25231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMtno9eJGerDvn-by2wCJ0D9XJHrV-A6-jark5twd50M83E8DLX9-UBH4kHeQGhYlnN4EGcMAwOfguVK4rMw71z15EFxtyAWsEatvtzAquYpnO9swoTv5Bw50CRTzAZd_dIln6ax5rOU5/s320/CharityShawl%25231.jpg" width="194" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The first IDN shawl I made in 2017</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />When I first started making the shawls in 2017, I made my long-list of "To-Do" projects a priority rather than the shawls. I worked on theshawls weekly, though, with my crochet friends at <i>Panera </i>where we are generously given the time to sit & stitch; while waiting on doctors' appointments; or sometimes in-between projects. When Covid hit, I realized that I have nothing but time; so I have focused more time on the shawls, and have made 7 since February.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBPnyUvca3xHfqM9bItPOWJRbtMV6uB4XcDRhIvBOKqkyhzsrtXY1L9eQv3nVFe-hvAJfV5a48QlZ7K_Hk0b3oclRsgUmqS0EgXPRIkBPiwV69fg81iLaDm9XwqKZY2V9M45QlDwB3Fhv4/s1600/20200706_102636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBPnyUvca3xHfqM9bItPOWJRbtMV6uB4XcDRhIvBOKqkyhzsrtXY1L9eQv3nVFe-hvAJfV5a48QlZ7K_Hk0b3oclRsgUmqS0EgXPRIkBPiwV69fg81iLaDm9XwqKZY2V9M45QlDwB3Fhv4/s320/20200706_102636.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Charity Shawl #24</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQrtliaJWlRb06_HevMj1yC0ewJrk6l54lTkdTPbT5IhHOt7FoxpvwMCXFUDcUJygqqQvbMa4WijaqAJL8PkQUpuArBwOC3gvro5P24QPkWAFs3_VHFS5mT9nGqPb9ZGKYdFDfclXSIov/s1600/CharityShawl%252323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQrtliaJWlRb06_HevMj1yC0ewJrk6l54lTkdTPbT5IhHOt7FoxpvwMCXFUDcUJygqqQvbMa4WijaqAJL8PkQUpuArBwOC3gvro5P24QPkWAFs3_VHFS5mT9nGqPb9ZGKYdFDfclXSIov/s320/CharityShawl%252323.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Charity Shawl #23</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyuVQ4D9TOLhj11tS5LReGAnSBTUmCm-SRRQi01q67MfuWPmbFP23DuWet_nYARrumGdHhue1UsupZIp81rWHSO8qDl7k819Fn9igRKHjA9wDp8tEB5-qa5toFVjGPVYLKQ6Tl0P-IegP7/s1600/CharityShawl%252322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyuVQ4D9TOLhj11tS5LReGAnSBTUmCm-SRRQi01q67MfuWPmbFP23DuWet_nYARrumGdHhue1UsupZIp81rWHSO8qDl7k819Fn9igRKHjA9wDp8tEB5-qa5toFVjGPVYLKQ6Tl0P-IegP7/s320/CharityShawl%252322.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Charity Shawl #22</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7NvEgald92oNmlq2NhyphenhyphenQpE-aj_zDfFLiTtbCyc-UMZRVM3Dba031jMttadWwn4IBmd59t1r8CIRJ4yU0d7t8HAeTuyfbctHpRW6TC7OrNAjcChVuyqSxGxcvHWdqkPkCKdUEJidCwacwD/s1600/CharityShawl%252321Scraps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7NvEgald92oNmlq2NhyphenhyphenQpE-aj_zDfFLiTtbCyc-UMZRVM3Dba031jMttadWwn4IBmd59t1r8CIRJ4yU0d7t8HAeTuyfbctHpRW6TC7OrNAjcChVuyqSxGxcvHWdqkPkCKdUEJidCwacwD/s320/CharityShawl%252321Scraps.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Charity Scrap Shawl #21</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvoCbRW1QWTcyzcZiLk95Pn8_w5jnXMlOLzjldS09yEVJ4J2nwRQVR0LBe2qfGlhLKIjuk5NplX9-9AkMMEGn7uzHIAZWYGtIck0GrFM5uBzFc1Bw6nnSIOf6YgEUZhEmSoDgu69VRn2C/s1600/CharityShawl%252320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvoCbRW1QWTcyzcZiLk95Pn8_w5jnXMlOLzjldS09yEVJ4J2nwRQVR0LBe2qfGlhLKIjuk5NplX9-9AkMMEGn7uzHIAZWYGtIck0GrFM5uBzFc1Bw6nnSIOf6YgEUZhEmSoDgu69VRn2C/s320/CharityShawl%252320.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Charity Shawl #20</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwLuOVM7jArw2F70Hxcy2oZpIqS9zI6z9LovTBHk3r5YeoLQiR0mYh8OEUDtKGbuIAfgzsD1JnhoOZJtf97I61Frbn4Ii2xevmqpUKqEVruDdIvwdLrTvU36hAI7-BQAfYyl0gWK_oJEl/s1600/CharityShawl%252319-03-CornerToCorner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwLuOVM7jArw2F70Hxcy2oZpIqS9zI6z9LovTBHk3r5YeoLQiR0mYh8OEUDtKGbuIAfgzsD1JnhoOZJtf97I61Frbn4Ii2xevmqpUKqEVruDdIvwdLrTvU36hAI7-BQAfYyl0gWK_oJEl/s320/CharityShawl%252319-03-CornerToCorner.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Corner-to-Corner Charity Shawl # 19-done with CupCake yarn</span></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKCw9s087RxIbnuGGUhuIhtrUtIaqugc1KKHVLRSvBVgajQwYO2KiHQDfKxhk_AOoKq4BtsHbIVY5Znqusre7igH0EJ5CktYbEb5NX4tyGcGvlvaMJ5QlpjBR1EXsPrrgYEYYekRFKAdw/s1600/CharityShawl%252317Variegated.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKCw9s087RxIbnuGGUhuIhtrUtIaqugc1KKHVLRSvBVgajQwYO2KiHQDfKxhk_AOoKq4BtsHbIVY5Znqusre7igH0EJ5CktYbEb5NX4tyGcGvlvaMJ5QlpjBR1EXsPrrgYEYYekRFKAdw/s320/CharityShawl%252317Variegated.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Charity Shawl #18</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Click if you would like to donate for a <a href="https://bit.ly/2W9tOOt">cure</a> or crochet for a <a href="mailto:aftercare@INDonorNetwork.org">cause</a>. Please be safe and be kind to others: wear you mask everywhere!CrochetQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919768072384261544noreply@blogger.com1