Defeat the Winter Doldrums Topic #2

Well, here is my next weekly topic from my "Defeat the Winter Doldrums" swap that goes in February. Please speak up and tell me your sad sad stories of people who didn't appreciate your hard work!

There are many people who ADORE receiving hand-knit or crochet items; but there are just as many who have no appreciation whatever of how much love, work, and time goes into a hand-made item. Share a story of a hand-made gift you gave to someone and how it worked out - good, bad, or ugly!

I have spent hours and hours working on baby gifts and send them out to the new owners, only to have no mention of my gift or a 'thanks'. Do you understand how much time it takes? Planning, buying the supplies, debating on colors, patterns, etc. along with all the actual hours of work that goes in!! I guess not. I know a little bit of knitting is self serving... we all love to hear how pretty our stuff is...even if it's for charity, we all like to be praised! I guess I just want some recognition that I worked hard. I agonize over my gifts... the right color, pattern, yarn etc. Sometimes I wonder if I should just not care and then my feelings won't be so hurt... but I know I can't do that, that isn't my nature! argh!

One woman (sorry if you read these, not trying to steal your thunder) told a story of making dozens of dishcloths and taking them to family at a picnic(I think) and people just grabbed them like they had nothing at home to wash dishes with. She said as she left, one person was using the brand new dishcloth to check the oil on their car and wipe oil off the dipstick and off their hands!! Appalling!! Anyway, I haven't had anything quite that bad(that I know of). What are your stories??

Doldrums swap Question...

This is the topic of the week on my Doldrums Exchange Swap!!! Please comment...


Weekly Topic: Dishrag. Dishcloth. Face cloth. I've seen folks get all fired up in forums when someone refers to their knit or crochet creation as a dishrag, as that's somehow offensive to them! When you're working on yours, what do you call them? Also, is there a difference between a dishrag and a dishcloth? How bout a facecloth? Are they all really the same thing?

I call them dishcloths, unless they are for a face or spa set... then it's a face cloth... ultimately they are all the same darn thing!! If I make them for babies I use Cottontots... Seems softer! That's all I have to say about that... oh and it is DAMN cold in Michigan!!! Stay warm, safe and healthy!!

Video's from home...

So I'm gonna try to post some video's... not sure how they will work out. The first is of my 2nd cousin, Devin, takin' a digger onto the floor... but he never cried... we all laughed at him!!




This is one of him blowing raspberries on the window of the waiting room... He was a great distraction while we waited for my mom to get out of surgery(who is doing fabulously, I spoke with her again tonight!! Thanks again for the prayers everyone)



And the last is a little flashback to my college career and what I spent many hours watching... good old SCSU HOCKEY!!! OH YEA!!! Dad scored tickets and Dad, Kim, Pete and I went to the game. We were down 2-0 with about 14 minutes left in the 3rd and came back to score 3 goals to beat UND Fighting Sioux 3-2. My voice was hoarse, but it was so fun to see it again!!



Thats all I have... which is plenty for one night. I had a trip tonight that cancelled 100 miles from the airport and we had to come back. So now we sit, "hot Crew", just waiting for a trip to go out. Have a good night!!

Katie O

in the winter dumps? Heres a swap!

In the winter dumps? I'm gonna do the following swap to shake the icky winterness:

http://dishclothexchange.blogspot.com/

1. Do you knit, crochet, or do both?
Knit primarily, trying to learn crochet

2. What types of needles do you enjoy using for making dishcloths?
size 7 knitpick interchangables

3. What types of cotton do you enjoy using for making dishcloths? Is there any that you've been wanting to try?

peaches n cream, sugar n cream, cotton tots

4. What color(s) are your kitchen and bath decorated in (if any)?

no scheme in kitchen, bathrooms are burgundy and the other is yellow(lots of ducks)

5. What are your favorite colors for yarns? Least favorite?

Am learning to love wool! never used it before just a week ago. Love cotton. Prolly my least sought after right now is acrylic. I have so much acrylic i don't need more!

6. Do you like Winter, or do you count the days until it ends?

I wanna move back to Arizona... so yea, i'm ready for it to go away.

7. What's your favorite way to brighten your day when you're down in the dumps?

knit and go to tanning bed(not good for me, but once a week helps me deal with the cloudiness of michigan)

8. What is your favorite treat to indulge in when your down in the dumps?

I love sushi... brightens my day(but it's expensive!!) My favorite thing to have it I can afford it!

9. Do you drink coffee? Tea? Cocoa?

coffee mostly and I love cocoa!!

10. If you could take a vacation starting tomorrow and go anywhere for one week and money were no object, where would you go and what would you do?

New Zealand... do it all!!!

11. Do you have any allergies or aversions your pal should be aware of?

NOPE!

Pray please....

Today is my mom's surgery on her neck... I finished my mom's prayer shawl and gave it to her... she cried and I cried and I know she will protected. I prayed for everyone while I made that bad boy... the doctors, nurses, anestesiologist(can't spell that one), people driving past her on the road, the person who has graciously donated the bones and their family that is grieving over the loss of that person(they are putting bones from a cadaver in her neck), for her recovery, etc. I think I got everyone. But I also put out many prayers for anything or anyone I might have missed. Please say a little shout out for her... She'll need it... Love, Katie

Happy New Year!!

2007 was an interesting year and I'm ready to move onto 2008. I am starting the year off with some drama... My mom had cancer the end of last year and kicked it's ASS and is in remission. I know the battle with Cancer is life long, but she's doing great with that. She is now battling a ruptured disk in her back. Tomorrow she needs spinal fusion surgury to fuse the c5 and c6 veretbrates together. She is in so much pain, it is very hard for me to see. She is such a tough cookie!!! But she will be out of work and recovering for almost 10 weeks. The stressor is that she only has 5 weeks of sick pay through work. I am very worried(as previously posted). But the Lord has a way of figuring things out somehow. I'm not as dedicated to him as some of you, but he has always been there for me... even if my faith is shaken. Now I need him to be with my mom during surgery and recovery... She is strong, but He will make her stronger. Please say a little prayer tomorrow at 1 pm Central time, to give the doctor's the strength to do the surgery well... Thanks!!

My friend started a new contest this month!!! Here is the website:

http://gimpykatk.blogspot.com

She is doing weekly prizes this time and has riddles, photos, cartoons, polls, and all kinds of fun stuff... go over and visit and tell her I sent ya!!! It really is fun to read her blog and see everyone's posts. I got my gift from when I won a part of her contest... it was AWESOME!!! Got a plastic scrubbie that she crocheted a flower around... it is so cool. I still have to take a picture and put it on here... but it is awesome!! THanks, AK!!!