Bear and Wolf Carvings

For my birthday in 2019 I treated myself to two painted Bear and Wolf Carvings created by Tony Callaghan a local artist with a booth at the Western Fair Market called "Sidhe Ring". I love the colours, images and mythical stories behind Tony's artwork. I love everything about these two pieces in particular. 

Words Tony painted on the underside of the bear carving:

Ke-na-Kow-nasz

Ursus the great bear, guide and sanction in the vast star filled skies. The shaman charts the dance of the cosmos, his guide an owl of many bright hues. Knowledge, foresights and faith give answers to the shamanic quest.

The Bear Star Singer

Ke-na-Kow-nasz

We hung these carvings above door frames in our front hallway where I see them every time I walk through. The majestic bear is walking away in one direction while the wolf pack is heading in the other direction with the young wolf looking back nervously to ensure the bear is not following. At least that's the story I like to tell with the placement of these two carvings.

If you ever get a chance to visit the Western Fair Market in London, Ontario, be sure to stop by the Sidhe Ring upstairs to chat with Tony. His stories and good cheer are bound to make your day a little bit brighter.

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Itty Bitty Crochet Kitty

One of the first things we did when I retired in July of 2021 was drive to Boulder, Colorado. We had not been to visit our grandchildren in almost two years due to COVID travel restrictions and ongoing border closures. 

In July of 2021 the Canada/US border was still closed to non-essential travel. We hoped to get through because we were visiting our daughter who was pregnant with her fourth and in need of help with the other three while her husband was working. Luckily our reason for travel worked with sympathetic US border guards. I remember it was such a huge relief that I cried tears of joy when they let us go.

Our drive to Boulder was uneventful, but our reunion with our grandchildren was awesome. We are always happy to see them and they us. This visit was different though. After more than a year of COVID restrictions including on-line schooling, limited activities and very little socializing, they were super excited to spend time with us. Our week together flew by and we enjoyed every minute of it. 

Our granddaughter was sad to see us leave this time. She gave me a note the night before we left with a picture of a kitten she had drawn. She wanted me to crochet a kitten and she wanted it to be little like her drawing. 

I didn't follow a pattern for this one ... just crocheted parts to match the drawing and sewed them together to make an Itty Bitty Crochet Kitty. Check out the photos below. Although it's a little bigger than her drawing, I think I nailed it!

 

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Crochet Baby Elephant and Blanket

When I heard our niece was expecting a baby in April of 2021, I was excited. Baby gifts are my absolute favourite things to crochet. As soon as I finished the sweater for our daughter, I started on a baby blanket and elephant ... such fun.

I was happy to finish this elephant on the very day our niece's son was born - April 23, 2021.

I took a few photos to show you this Crochet Baby Elephant and Blanket. I especially love the last photo showing our niece's baby posed with his gift. This photo was a perfect birthday gift for me!

I picked a new-to-me pattern called "Crochet Modern Moss Stitch Blanket" by Daisy Farm Crafts. I used worsted weight 100% acrylic yarn in white and arctic (blue) Craft Smart Value yarn to make this blanket. With a 6 mm hook plus a starting chain of 150 and a two row border, the baby blanket measured 40"x53".

I made the baby elephant in arctic (blue) to match the blanket with a bit of contrasting red on its frilly white bonnet. If you'd like to make one too, you can find the free pattern here.

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Crocheting Sweaters

My next crochet challenge back in March of 2021 involved making a sweater for my daughter. I searched online for an easy and free crochet sweater pattern that looked comfy and wearable. I think I found the perfect one. It's called Bead Stitch Pullover by blogger Wan at KNITCROADDICT.

I love my first "practice" sweater made using yarn from my stash. I actually made a mistake working the bead stitch, but loved how it looked so carried on to produce a fun colourful version of the bead stitch pullover that suits my style perfectly.

Once I finished my colourful sweater, I made a trip to Michaels Craft Store to buy enough yarn to make a sweater for our daughter. I bought five balls of Lion Brand Heartland Yarn in a colour called "Carlsbad Caverns". This time I worked the bead stitch pattern properly making the sweater with one extra pattern repeat on the sleeves. Overall, I like how it turned out. 

I really love the colour and softness of this crochet sweater. The sleeves are perhaps a little long. I'm not really sure how it fits though because our daughter announced she was pregnant with baby #4 soon after I finished. Oh well, no worries she may wear it eventually. And if not, at least I enjoyed doing something productive to take my mind off COVID.

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Crochet Granny Sweater

In March of 2021 a year into COVID with ongoing travel restrictions and gym closures, I was looking for a new crochet challenge. I love crochet toys, blankets, mandalas and such but had never considered crocheting sweaters. 

I had a box of granny squares sitting in my craft closet from an unfinished afghan. It was a kit I bought way back in 2012. I remember crocheting all those colourful squares. It was fun. I loved crocheting granny squares. I even loved laying out those squares on our dining room table arranging and rearranging until I was happy with the overall look. I was excited to be nearing the end of my afghan journey. All was going well until I left it out overnight and our cat puked all over those lovely squares. Ugh!!

I had to wash a bunch of those squares then pack up the rest to host a family dinner. It wasn't the worst but for some reason, even years later I still didn't feel the urge to make that afghan. 

I looked at that box of crochet squares and decided to challenge myself to make a Crochet Granny Sweater. Challenge accepted!!

Without a pattern, I joined the squares approximating the shape of a sweater. At first it was too wide so I removed an extra row of squares down both sides. To make it fit I added a few rows of double crochet down the sides and under the arms. Amazingly it worked out well enough to wear in public. 

I wore it to work. I love that my boss bought me a matching cupcake to applaud my efforts. He was so generous and fun.

Of course I also made a matching sweater for our sweet Sadie.

For the crocheters out there, the pattern for the squares is from Crochet Bumble Berry Pie Afghan by Michael Sellick from The Crochet Crowd. For the record, I selected a different colourway called Calypso but the yarn has since been discontinued.

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Brown Family Treasure

When I was a young child, I lived with my grandparents Norman and Marian Brown on their farm near Petrolia. I remember they had an old style wooden telephone hanging on the wall painted to match their kitchen. My cousin Trudy remembers removing layers of paint restoring the phone to its original wooden finish. It's a novelty antique décor piece in her home. 

My parents acquired the same style phone from a neighbour for their basement family room in Lucan. I remember it suited their barnboard and brick walls (barnboards and bricks from my grandparents' farm). I rediscovered this phone when my Mom was clearing her basement shelves in London a few years ago. 

I love all things "old" especially with happy memories attached. Tony Callaghan a local artist with a booth at the Western Fair Market called "Sidhe Ring" transformed my Uncle Bill's old high chair to tell the Tale of Thomas Orphan. I asked if he could do something similar with this old wooden telephone to commemorate the Brown family name. 

I provided basic information to Tony mentioning my grandparents' farming background plus my love of owls and whimsical faeries. I love what he did with this telephone and ringer box. 

Tony painted the following words on the outside ledge:

BROWN

"Earthy stock, of the land, farmer and family people from over the pond came and in their luggage and trappings the wee folk Browneys: House and hearth fey, polish, scrub, clean and douse to keep a building beautiful and helping full."

Tony painted the words below on the inside of the phone which hinges open to reveal little hidden drawers and shelves to store tiny treasures and oracle cards.

* * *

"this comunicator crosses oceans, universes, realms long forgotten. It is tied to ancestors and kin folk. When times are hard lift the ear talker ask the questions of those across the land of mystery and close your eyes. They will reply with common sense. Take a card from the faery oracle it will aid deciphering messages. The tawney brown owl is the sigil of the BROWN FAMILY."

This Brown Family Treasure has been hanging in our front hallway for a couple years now. I love everything about it!

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Back to Blogging?

I'd like to explain why my blog has been neglected for almost two years now. I lost my blog writing mojo due to a combination of covid-restriction-induced malaise plus a major life change. Don't worry, it was a good change.

I retired in July of 2021 from an office job where I sat at a desk all day. After so many years of sitting, I decided to change things up exploring other interests. I took a break from both crocheting and blogging which eventually morphed into a long hiatus.

My husband and I have been catching up with projects in and around our house, traveling, biking, hiking, rock climbing and relaxing. I love retirement for the freedom it provides. 

Retirement rocks!!!

This fall, I gradually started crocheting again. I joined a weekly knitting and crochet group at a local library with a friend making simple crochet dishcloths while I chat with like-minded people. It's fun and inspires me to create more at home on my own. 

Creating Caroline's photobook was a total joy. The idea had been bubbling up in my mind for months just waiting for the right time. This week was the week. I spent Monday and Tuesday searching through my daughter's shared photos, selecting and downloading what I wanted for the story. On Wednesday, I sat down with my laptop and didn't get up for ten hours straight (except to go to the bathroom and let the dog out) until the book was done.

Wow! I never sit like that these days!! Like I said, writing that book was a joy and I loved every minute of getting my creative mind flowing. That book inspired me to make a post. I also have a few projects to share. Some are old and some are new. 

Am I back to blogging? Christmas is a busy time of year plus we have exciting travel plans for January and February. I am inspired but also realistic. In retirement, I am much easier on myself so no promises. I choose to be happy and see where it leads.

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