Covid Project: Crochet

No one expected that we would still be wearing masks, socially distancing and ordering groceries from the internet almost a year and a half later, but so we are. The situation is lamentable indeed, especially for single moms juggling jobs and in-home schooling and for widows and widowers unable to meet with friends. So we have become couch potatoes, computer-dependent, and telephone haunters. I became a Netflix and You tube dependent. I was feeling frustrated and guilty as I watched my neighbours riding bikes, taking hikes and generally being creative. I had to accomplish something.

I first ordered a kalimba for myself, hoping that I could learn to play it. I learned to play the first line of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” and the scales, but the music book I ordered was such small print and so confusing, I lost heart. I haven’t given it up, just put it aside for a time. Next I got out my yarn and began knitting, but there are only so many scarves and afghans a person needs. Besides, my knitting skills seemed to have regressed from lack of practice. I decided rather to teach myself to crochet.

My first efforts were funny little abstract shapes that ended up in my dish cloth pile. They make very good scrubbers. I discovered that all of my attempts to make a square ended up curling upwards. Finally, I decided to go with the flow and make something round. That is when I discovered that I could crochet a fair tam or beret. When I described my dilemma to a friend, she said that she knew my problem and as soon as we are able to congregate she will show me the secret of a crochet square. In the meantime, my family members may all get berets for Christmas.

Adirondack Chair in a Bottle etc.

This is a craft that I did for Father’s Day – an Adirondack chair in a bottle to remind someone of pleasant summer days at the beach or cottage.

2019 Adorondak chair in a bottleBack of adorondak chair in a bottle

I really enjoyed making this.  I used popsicle sticks which I hot-glued together to

make my version of an Adirondack chair.  I placed decorative sand, tiny shells and

a piece of felt to represent a towel in a wide-mouthed bottle.  I then place the chair

on top.  I taped the top with decorative tape after gluing the top in place.  What I

liked more than the tape was the rope cord-wrapped top one of the other crafters

did as it looked more nautical. This was one of the crafts that our church craft group

made for the local senior’s extended care establishment.

Here are more of the crafts we made:

2019 crafts for Father's Day

 

Trinket Box for Mother’s Day

I do love the dollar stores where I get most of my craft supplies. Our church craft club plans to make Mother’s Day gifts for the Seniors at our local manor.  I completed three crafts for examples of what we are going to make.  Here are the results:

  1. A felt-lined wooden trinket box with decoupaged flowers from a paper napkin on the top and sides.
  2. Three felt flower brooches with safety pin backs.
  3. Cupcake wrapper flowers in a lace embellished glass jar.

Decoupaged top of trinket box for mother's DayTrinket box for Mother's Day

felt lining of Trinket box for Mothers Day.jpg

felt flower brooches for Mothers Day

Cupcake wrapper flowers for Mothers Day

What’s the Buzz?

This is the spring pattern I designed for material to make a pillow and two tea towels. It was  fun to draw, easily sewn, and is a cheery addition to my kitchen.  It is just the reminder of coming garden flowers that I need in April.  I drew the black on white design, scanned it and filled in the colour in Photo Shop.  Then I uploaded it to Spoonflower.  Now the tea towel hangs in my kitchen and the pillow is on our couch.

What's the Buzz?#edit

Christmas Crafts

Once again our church elves have been busy making ornaments and decorations for the seniors in our local residence.  Here are a few of the ones I did as examples to inspire my handy and talented helpers.  I apologize for the darkness of the photos.

Snowy-Xmas-tree-on-car-in-a-bottle.jpg

Our version of a snow globe thanks to Pinterest.

Angel from a paper role

Here is an angel from a cardboard tube, some tulle and tinsel.

Santa from a paper role

Santa Clause has a cherry nose and a fluffy white beard.  He is also made from a cardboard tube, some felt and glitter.

I made these examples but our eager elves go above and beyond.  It is always a surprise how much a person can do with some glue and scissors.  It gives our seniors so much pleasure and we spend an enjoyable afternoon crafting.

Chess Pillow for My Grandson

chess game pattern

My grandson’s most recent passion is chess.  He reads about it, plays it on the computer and will challenge anyone nearby to play.  I decided that I would make him something chess-related for his birthday so I designed this pattern for Spoonflower.  I changed the grey scale for his favourite colours of blue and green.

Chess pillow blue and white side

One side is blue and white.

.Chess pillow green and white side

The flip-side is green and white.

Harvest Tea Invitation and Envelope

At our church we host a tea for the ladies of the church and their friends twice a year (Spring and Autumn).  We all have lost loved ones, family or friends and these teas give us a chance to spend a pleasant afternoon being served tea and special baking treats and sharing our experiences.  We set small folding tables up that seat four and decorate them with seasonal decorations.  We use real china cups and saucers and share a short meditation and encouraging words.  We all enjoy our tea and conversation.  This is the invitation and envelope that I made for our next event.

Harvest Tea invitation and envelope

Invitation to Tea

Our church is having a special tea in two weeks time.   Here is an example of one of the invitations and envelopes I made for the event.

Invitation and envelope for Butterfly Tea

Our teas are an opportunity for women to gather, share their experiences and offer each other support.  It is also a time when the women of our church and their neighbours to be treated to some special elegant attention and consideration.  It is our chance to show them God’s love by serving them with tea, refreshments and listening hearts.

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