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Welcome

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Make yourself at home. Put your feet up. Grab your favorite beverage and prepare to enjoy the reads.
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Saturday

Vintage Crochet Pattern Links For Laurie


Vintage Crochet
1930’s
1940’s
1950’s
1960’s
Dates Unknown













































































































































































































































































Thursday

My Celebrity Collage

I think this is hysterically funny! I don't even know who these celebrities are that I am supposed to resemble. Do you?





You can also get your own Celebrity collage, here.

Monday

New Treatment For Varicose Veins Uses Crochet Hooks

New Treatment For Varicose Veins Uses Crochet Hooks

ScienceDaily (2007-10-22) -- UCLA's chief of vascular surgery picks up size 7 crochet hooks from a fabric store -- not to make sweaters or scarves but to use in a new technique he has developed to treat varicose veins. Early results of the new outpatient procedure, called Light-Assisted Stab Phlebectomy, or LASP are encouraging. Over 250 patients at UCLA have undergone the procedure, designed to remove branch varicose veins in the thighs, calves, and ankles.

Sunday

Allergic to Pine Trees?

I'm so excited! I just got some new crochet jewelry from Laurie. I have been experimenting on photographing them. I want to show them off!

However, my photo talents seem to be limited. It's quite difficult to photograph jewelry, I am learning. I have these creative ideas, but am disappointed in the results. The whole picture doesn't stay in focus. So, I took the focused parts of the pictures and cropped them. And you are looking at the first results.



This necklace is like a Christmas present to me, so I hung it on my pine tree that is growing outside in my front yard. Suddenly, that tree stood up proud and embraced the idea of wearing this lovely decoration, and posed for me. But, maybe the necklace is allergic to pine trees. Or maybe it was just camera shy.

Saturday

Green Apple Necklace

Laurie has been producing crocheted items for more than 30 years. To look at her, you would never know she is a grandmother. She still has a few young ones of her own at home and yet, still finds time to put her inspired ideas into reality. Aren't her kids adorable. They look a little mischievous. How she can get any work done? It's a wonder to me. This woman is committed to her craft.


Something catches her eye and triggers her imagination, and suddenly she has another piece of art jewelry ready to rest upon someone's pretty neck.

Just take a look at this piece below. I think she calls it Green Apple. It does look luscious, doesn't it? The detail of the crochet design shows her craftsmanship, or would it be crafts-woman-ship? This piece is so feminine, without being frilly. And the natural theme to it, the leaves combined with green and gold, no wonder she likes to call it Green Apple. I'm sorry she already sold this one, as I sure would like to have it. Well, she takes special orders, so I guess I better let her know.

Young and old, alike seem to be attracted to her work. Men are impressed with the intricacy of her designs. In fact one gentleman ordered jewelry sets for his wife and daughter for a family holiday. The sets included necklace, bracelet and earrings. For the daughter, there was also an anklet.


Did I tell you these are all her own designs, which she has copyrighted? Oops, I forgot. Didn't I? Yes, I'm pushing it, aren't I?

Did I tell you that in the past she has crafted fun-to-wear skirts and shirts, exquisite christening gowns, and would you believe, even crochet swimwear (mostly bikinis). I kid you not! They were all hot items at the boutiques in her area of Southern California. She has been quite diverse in creating wearable art. Wouldn't you say?

I have seen her working on a gothic piece that was purchased by a lovely young orange-haired woman. It was designed in black Marcasite and went well with her style. Laurie is quite diverse in her creativity.

Tuesday

Grape Harvest Festival Crochet Jewelry

I just heard from Laurie today. How exciting this is going to be! She tells me that she will be presenting her handmade crochet jewelry for sale at the Rancho Cucamonga Grape Harvest Festival on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, September 28, 29 & 30!!! I wish I could be there.

Laurie is so talented. I'm so proud of her! The first time I ever saw her hand crocheted jewelry, I was so surprised. I had never seen anything like it before. Oh, I know what you're thinking, but this is NOT your granny's kind of crochet. Laurie's crochet jewelry is ART you can wear on your neck or wrist or... well you get the picture.

This lovely piece is such simplicity of design. You know what's really nice about this too? My sister could wear it without a problem. She is allergic to all jewelry, except pure gold. With no metal on this, it's perfect for those with nickel allergies. Laurie made this on for me. I get so many compliments on it when I wear it. It reminds me of midnight. The dark glass beads have a shimmer to them like black pearls, and the crystals remind me of moonstones. I love it!

It is interesting to know that Laurie started to crochet when she was just a little girl. She took to it naturally and has been doing it ever since. I remember when she was in her teens, and her talent in crochet brought her attention not only among her friends, but with their parents too. Soon her crochet talent soared. She taught herself how to make all kinds of decorative items, and as the years have gone by she developed her own personal style of creative art jewelry. Laurie's unique style expresses her motto perfectly... "Fierce, Feminine, Fun!"

Monday

Crochet Jewelry Art


You can go just about anywhere and pick up an ordinary piece of jewelry but you cannot find this type of jewelry art anywhere. My daughter, Laurie, takes exotic threads and beads (and just about anything) and creates her one of a kind masterpieces. Never are two the same. She has a vision and a passion for her crochet jewelry art. She can take anyone's old jewelry and magically weave it into a necklace or bracelet so that you can have your grandmother's vintage cameo pin in a new setting and wear it, bringing it back to life again.

Laurie uses linen, rayon, silk, polyester and other types of threads to work her beads into. She chooses those beads right from the source... glass, crystal, semi-precious stones, buttons.... you name it.

Sunday

Defining Meanderings


Meandering along the misty shore, my mind wanders, my body leading.






I think meanderings is a good description of how my mind works, and how my life has occurred.

I googled
Define: Meanderings

and these were the definitions of meandering on the Web:

* meandering(a): of a path e.g.; "meandering streams"; "rambling forest paths"; "the river followed its wandering course"; "a winding country road"
wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

* An instance or period or roaming; winding or rambling
en.wiktionary.org/wiki/meandering

* meander - a bend or curve, as in a stream or river
* meander - weave: to move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular course; "the river winds through the hills"; "the path meanders through the vineyards"; "sometimes, the gout wanders through the entire body"
* meander - ramble: an aimless amble on a winding course
wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

* Meanders - A meander in general is a bend in a sinuous watercourse. A meander is formed when the moving water in a river erodes the outer banks and widens ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meanders

* Meander - In mathematics, a meander or closed meander is a self-avoiding closed curve which intersects a line a number of times. Intuitively, a meander can be viewed as a road crossing a river through a number of bridges.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meander_(mathematics)

* Meander or Maiandros is a river-god in Greek mythology, patron deity of the Meander river (modern Büyük Menderes River) in Caria, southern Asia Minor (modern Turkey). He is one of the sons of Oceanus and Tethys, and is the father of Cyanee, Samia and Kalamos.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meander_(mythology)

* Meander is Carbon Leaf's first album. It was released in 1995 by the band's own label, Constant Ivy Records.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meander_(album)

* Meander - In art and architecture, a meander is a decorative border constructed from a continuous line, shaped into a repeated motif. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meander_(art)

* meander - A winding, crooked, or involved course; as, the meanders of an old river; A tortuous or intricate movement; Fretwork; To wind, turn, or twist; to ...
en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Meander

* Greek Maiandrosz, now Menderes, winding river on the west coast of Asia Minor Vigorous river bend, firstly as a result of the sidling erosion.
twisterrob.uw.hu/peq/eng/szoj.htm

* meander - "with the meanders of the stream" means the survey line follows the twists and turns of the stream.
www.directlinesoftware.com/survey.htm

* following a winding or intricate course
www.windowsintowonderland.org/wolves2/glossary.shtml

* meander - a turn or winding area of a stream
montereybay.noaa.gov/educate/teachercurriculum/glossary.html



Though these definitions describe many kinds of meandering. I thought it interesting that the way the ocean kisses the shore was not a part of the definitions.

Saturday

California Fires

"In response to a friend's email, concerning the California fires and asking if I was okay:

"My" fire happened last month, but because it was only a couple of mountains and all forest and only a few "hunter's cabins" and grew to be larger in size than the city of San Francisco , I guess there was not much news coverage on it. Fortunately, it was on the other side of my little mountain and would have had to jump the freeway to get to me. Staying locked in the house was my best option. Still it played havoc with my asthma, but that is under control now.


My son, being in San Francisco has little to worry about. My daughter is in the Los Angeles area and close to the Lake Arrowhead fire. Three years ago flames were in sight of her street and they were ready to leave when it turned around.

This year she is only being inundated by ash. (Think of a blizzard and you've got the picture.) They are all locked inside their house with the air conditioning OFF in 3 digits temps. Last time they used the air conditioner, the ash ruined the coils, and they had to replace the whole system, so this time they are using the house fans.

I told her to come up here, but now the freeways are closed. The routes they could take around still would make it possible, but I cannot imagine the traffic, and think they are safer at home. Her son, is a Paramedic and I am more worried about him, as he is working the Riverside area which is closer to the other bigger fires, and he is in the midst of rescue efforts. Not too long ago he was gung-ho to be in the military and on the front lines. Well, he got his wish in a way. He's a tough guy with a very big heart. I know he is getting an education the hard way, right now. I will get the real story from him later.


There are fires in the Canyon Country region, where my brother used to live, as well as my parents. I am so glad they are no longer there. My brother is frantic about his old friends and neighbors. Same with my sister, who used to live near the Malibu fires area. You have to realize these fires are NOT just in the uninhabited areas. It is inevitable that neighborhoods get destroyed.

Most people think of California as one big stretched out freeway city, but there is a great deal of wilderness surrounding each city and homes encroach right up the canyons and into the trees. There are those who say "I told you so" about building neighborhoods in areas that should be left to nature. But, I guess if one can afford $$$ million dollar homes up on the side of a mountain, one can afford the insurance and rebuild.

Sorry to sound so cynical. There's a lot of rich neighborhoods which have been destroyed. I cannot help but notice the comparison between Hurricane Katrina and now. Money has power and California money talks to politicians. Swarztenegger was there in the area of the very rich homes on the first day. He has friends in high places (like those homeowners near the fires). Though this is a terrible tragedy, the power that moneyed people have here is obvious. And of course, the ones in the shelters have less than the ones who have gone to stay at Hilton.

I keep wondering about the wildlife. We lost a lot with the fire up here last month. The small critters can't get away. The larger ones run into other regions. Where I live the wildlife relocated itself into farming areas and they keep rescuing cougars and bears. The wild boar are being shot. The coyotes live very well among communities. Wolves are on the fence as there are those who kill on sight, and those who rescue. I don't know what they are going to do in Southern. California.

Well, I suppose one could consider one good thing to have come from all this. The San Diego area is so devastated. There wont be any cover for the illegal immigrants. They wont need an army of immigration officers to watch the border. A single helicopter should be able to handle the job. That should take care of the problem for a long time! And, yes,  I am being a bit sarcastic here.

I dread this winter when the rains begin, as then there will be mudslides galore. It really is very very bad this year. I've lived in So Cal many years and seen the fires come and go.