Pyromaniac gone soft

The other day, I was looking for a cool (as in cold) place to walk and get away from the sweltering heat. After about, oh, maybe 3 seconds, I decided to head out to Michael's. Not because I would have an opportunity to find something on clearance, but because I was pretty sure that they would have a decent A/C temperature going on. There I am, walking along, and I see a cute little jewelry box made of wood. My mind immediately starts racing and I think to myself: nice! I could burn some designs on these and sell them! So, of course, I go look at the woodburning pens. I see the basic one "For Beginners", pretty good. Then I see, the one next to it: good for wood, leather, ceramic...possibilities are endless! Oh, ooh, oooh!!! I want! I can do lots of things with this one! So I go look at leather. I am transported back to a day when I bought a cool, leather hair clip, engraved with my name on it. I have no idea what happened to it, but hey! I could make one myself now! So I get the pen, a piece of leather and a couple wood frames and hurry home to try out my new craft: woodburning (and leather too!) It took a little practice, it felt kind of weird to hold the thick pen that could burn me if I held it too close to the tip. Finally, my practice words start coming out more evenly. What a sense of accomplishment! I feel like I can do anything! Now I can add engraved leather to my beaded keychains. Now I can carve a name on the small wooden charm. Now everywhere I go, I am looking for designs or patterns that I can try to carve into the wood or leather. Now, I am a woodburner.

And then came the beads...

After many months of watching me crochet, my husband, ever on the lookout for (as he puts it) "artsy/crafty" activities for his flamboyant wifey, brought home a book from the library sale: Beadwork. Ok. Hmmm. Interesting. I'm an accountant, I absolutely love counting. I love patterns ~ as in repetitive situations. I love colorful, shiny, glittery, crystal-magic things. So my adoring man found something that had all I loved in one fine craft. I immediately went to the nearest Michael's and walked those two sacred bead isles; back and forth, over and over again. I saw many beautiful beads. I stared longingly at the strands, calling out to me: "DesertChick, DesertChick! Take me! Choose me!!" I envisioned myself, sitting crosslegged in the corner of my favorite coffee shop, surrounded by my creations. I was a Beader.... nah.. .sounds awful. Anyway, I did not get the beads that time. I let the book sit on my nightstand for weeks. Then, one day, after a meeting for a fundraiser that I am going to participate in, as I walked back to my car, thinking... what, oh what can I do to raise funds?! I don't like to walk a lot, it's too hot to bake, and so on and so forth... the greatest idea came to mind!! LIGHT BULB ABOVE MY HEAD: I would go get some beads and make keychains!! Yeah for me! I went, I got, I made. Ahhhh! This time, to the peaceful, relaxing sounds of Reiki music. Talk about R E L A X I N G!! Which brings me to the purpose of this post. Readers, Friends, People of the World... I am selling my beaded keychains to raise funds for the Cancer Resource Center of the Desert's www.facebook.com/crcdinc 2011 Boot Out Cancer Campout. $5.00 US Dlls for keychains, and $8.00 US Dlls for keychains with personalized leather charm (ahhh, my next post!). Please help me raise funds to support a great organization that provides excellent services to the people of the Imperial Valley. All donations are tax-deductible. So check out the keychains http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2266720111463.2132837.1352367143&l=e1d001a18e&type=1 and let me know if you are interested in buying one. They are made using hemp, glass and wood beads, colored synthetic feathers, and leather.

It all started with a hook and some yarn...

So, for not being one to sit still more than 15 min at a time, waiting in line to cross from Mexicali to Calexico, was really taking its toll... I mean, those of us who were born in a border town, expecting to wait a good 45min to an hour is a given, but when the border crossing started to take an average of 2-2 1/2 hours... yeah.. try it. Go sit in your car, with the windows rolled up (I'll explain THAT later) and do nothing but fiddle with your stereo for 2 hrs.
Having spent time mastering the art of making myself into a pretzel (it's kind of fun) by alternating one leg and then another up on the dashboard ( I'm a size 20 W ) just so I can "stretch" my weary leg/back muscles, I was ready for my next challenge: DO something while I waited. Enter a hook and a yarn. I stopped at my favorite "pass-the-time-and-spend-money" store, the ever popular Walmart and purchased a Size J hook and some red yarn. I was going to crochet my mornings away!! Now, it was around September, so if you're familiar with the term "Hot-as-Hell" that accurately describes what the weather was like. Who in their right mind would think of crocheting a cap and scarf for a winter far, far, away, I have no idea. But, being the one-elevian I am, I decided, what the heck! And so, to the sounds of my Dollar Tree Holiday Music cd, I began to crochet... and crochet... and crochet...
6 scarves, 4 caps, 2 headbands and an unfinished afghan later (not to mention the multi-colored skeins I kept getting at Wal's) I was finally ready to learn a new stitch. I was ready to learn, THE ART OF CROCHET. The FABULOUS Crochet Geek, Mrs. Teresa Richardson, and her awesome youtube videos took me from a beginner crochet geek to what I am today: A seasoned crocheter, proud owner of an alphabet of hooks and a rainbow assortment of semi-used yarn . I have crocheted easter eggs, baskets, cell phone holders, chili bottle hat/ponchos, flowers, etc etc... (you can see my favorites here - the basket is in my daughter's room, so , you will have to wait) http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1981952232444.2115414.1352367143&l=555f7620c9&type=1 What did all my friends (and unsuspecting acquaintances) receive for Christmas? You guessed it: a crocheted item. Lovingly made whilst I waited to enter into the Land of the Free. I believe I will be an important part of the comeback of the long lost art of Crochet. Someone asked, "Crochet: Art or Craft??" One-elevian that I am... I say to you: BOTH.