Spring means daffodils. Photo: K. Thomas

Whatever the reason, I do love spring. And today, it has arrived, at least for most of us. My condolences to my Australian friends, who are facing the Autumn season instead.

Now, if I can just keep fighting the urge to write a very bad poem like, “Ode to a Daffodil” or “Sonnet to a Robin,” we’ll all be happy. Why does spring fill me with the desire to write a sentimental, over sweet poem anyway?

Related posts:

1. Happy Veterans Day
2. Merry “Knit”mas and a happy “stitcherly” year…
3. Spring Is Coming – Wooden Letter Mixed Media Fun

You’ll find great tips, tricks and how-tos, along with inspiring links and interesting arts & craft news for the week.

• Beading Arts
  Cyndi worked out a pattern for a simple but pretty floral seed bead chain!
• Creative Dreamer
  It’s a month of give-aways over on my blog…and I’m half way through. Come see what’s going on and toss your name in the hat!!!
• Did you art your mission statement this year?
  Katelyn finally got her yearly mixed media mission statement done and is hanging it right in front of her desk so she stays inspired to follow it.
• Gadabout Media DIY
  Turn a fabric remnant into a pretty and stylish fringed scarf in an afternoon.
• Home and Garden Cafe
  An easy to make paper mache egg Easter table centerpiece.
• The Artful Crafter
  Looking for canning jar art ideas and supplies? Let Eileen help you out with resources and tips.
• Tottie Talks Crafts
  Doodling is so much more than mindless twiddling with a pencil- it can be the source of all kinds of design inspiration.

Happy crafting!

image: C Findlay-Harder

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1. Artsy Bloggers Round-Up
2. Artsy Bloggers Round-Up
3. Artsy Bloggers Round-Up

DuWop Venom Rocks
$10 at Sephora.com

You can get this trio of DuWop Venom minis in Garnet, Pink Quartz, and Amethyst for a limited time. (I love the Garnet – a berry with golden sparkle). These are lip plumping glosses, a new favorite product type of mine. If you’ve never tried a lip plumper before, this is the perfect time to try. The colors included in this kit range from subtle to sexy.

Skinprep FX Mini Nourishing Foundation Primer & Anti-Aging Serum
$8 at Sephora.com

The best way to get a smooth, even application of foundation/base is to apply a primer first. A primer smooths the surface of the skin, allowing you to have a fresh canvas to apply your makeup on.  This one, by Cover FX helps to reduce skin inflammation. It’s oil-free, fragrance-free, and it won’t clog your pores.

Image credit: Sephora.com

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Rituals are powerful tools to help you establish boundaries in your everyday life.  If you have a routine in the morning, you aren’t so apt to be late or lose things on your way out the door.   These familiar patterns, from how you get dressed to how you worship or honor your spiritual being, assert a modicum of control over an otherwise bewildering, unpredictable life.

Rituals can also help heal old wounds and give you strength for trying times.  After the jump, a personal story and some recommendations on how to survive the rough spots with peace and humor.

Many of you know me as the Solomother.  For three years, I wrote about single mothers and the lives they lead, the challenges they face, and the joys they receive.  In fact, Everyday Rituals was inspired by my interactions with all those wonderful mothers out there.  If you are new to the saga, the simple facts are that, in October 2006, I flew home to the U.S. from the Middle East with four suitcases, $400, and a small son who would turn four in six months.  No home, no job, no winter clothes.  Over these past years, my son and, my family and my tribe have nurtured new rituals, and I cherish the love and support and sheer, unmitigated pillow-fight joy of our moments together.

But the ex is coming to town, after a two-year absence.  This churns up so many old feelings of hurt, anger, disbelief; it makes me feel helpless and disappointed all over again.  Our daily life will be turned upside down, and no matter how carefully he tries to respect the life we lead here, I will be miserable, and angry, and bewildered  by his presence.  He will blow into town like a long-lost uncle who always has some fantabulous treasure in his pockets, and I will once again be the rule-keeper, the naysayer, the not fun one.

My ex will arrive in a week.  I must take care now to create my own boundaries, and boundaries for my son, so that I can face these 10 days with calm and poise.  And, being me, I’ve got a combination of strategies, talismans, and charms to keep me centered.  I hope they will amuse and move you to find what keeps you centered when the whirlwinds in your life descend:

• Stick to the routine. We will do as we have always done, with mornings and spring camp and dinner at 6:00.
• Take better care of  yourself. I’m suffering from vertigo, and must be careful to rest, hydrate, and listen very closely to my own body.  In the past, I’ve left the stresses of a bad job and a demanding life as a single mother drain me of all resources.  Now?  I am finally putting myself on my list of priorities.  I’m important.
• Move. Exercise. After a long, cold winter, the dogwoods and cherry trees are exploding with colors, and the gardens are pushing up crocus and daffodils and tender shoots all over the place.  Walk. Move. Get some spring air in your lungs and let spring revitalize you.
• Eat well. Don’t let added stresses cause you–or give you the excuse–to binge on junk food, skip meals, overeat, or not eat at all.  Return to organized meals, everyone around the table, with conversation and connection.
• Reaffirm your worth and value. Traumatic events wear away at self-confidence and esteem.  Take a quiet moment at the end of the day to share with your loved ones some positive quality you admire or appreciate in them.  Ask them to say something they like about themselves.  And you, yes you, should do this too.
• Get organized and clear-headed. In the evenings, sit down and review what you have accomplished during the day, and think about what tomorrow look s like.  Make some notes, plan out a rough schedule, and go to sleep knowing you’re ready for another day.

But the most important thing is to listen to your heart, and know that whatever you are going through right now, it will pass.  Keep your head and stay true to yourself.

Related posts:

1. The importance of ritual in everyday life
2. Spring rituals
3. March is for flying kites

I bought it as a “mixed fiber” bolt end – it’s only about 14 inches wide and 44 inches long.  It feels like a rayon or acetate blend and I love the flowers and burnout detailing.
It’s one of those little pieces of fabric that tends to accumulate in stashes – I bought it because it was pretty, not because I had a plan for it – oops!   It’s too small for a tank top or camisole and too lightweight for a purse.
I think it would make a pretty scarf – but it’s a just a little short for my taste.  I think a fringe would finish off the ends nicely – but I don’t really want to have to go out and buy a pre-made fringe.

What’s a fiber-aholic to do?

Go diving for yarn of course!

I pulled these out of my stash and quite like the effect. They pull out the accent colors from the fabric, but I don’t think they’ll overwhelm the delicate print and fabric.

Time to start fringing!

I’m showing you the quick ‘n dirty way to create a fringe – I’ll explain a second method at the end of the post.  To begin, you need to figure out how long you want your fringe to be.  I’m going with a big, long one, so I’m wrapping my yarn around the long side of a standard shoe box lid.  You could use a book, a piece of sturdy cardboard… Just combine the yarn you want to use and start wrapping away.

How many times you ask?  Well… the short answer is – it depends!
Each full wrap (all the way around the lid, once) makes one hank of fringe.  You could measure and figure out how many fringes you want per inch or you could do what I’m doing and just wrap until it looks good.

Now you need to cut one end of the yarn wrap – very slowly and carefully, making sure to hold onto the strands.  They’ll spring out and land everywhere otherwise!
I love how the cut yarn looks on the fabric already:

Now we need to get our yarn attached to our scarf (which has been finished off with a simple rolled hem on all four edges).
Using very sharp scissors, poke a small hole in the very edge of the scarf – just big enough to squeeze your crochet hook into:

Now take one hank of yarn (I’m using a blend of five yarns, so one strand of each color equals one hank for me) and fold it in half.  Place the folded end on the crochet hook, like this:

Gently pull it through the fabric and use the crochet hook to grab the loose ends of the yarn:

Now pull the loose ends of the yarn through the loop and pull gently to close the loop.  It should look like this:

Don’t pull it too tightly, or you’ll deform the bottom edge of the shawl.
I’ve decided to add an extra knot for a little extra security.  It’s just a simple knot, but you could add beads or charms to it as well:

Now keep on fringing!  It took me under an hour to tie the fringe on the top and bottom of my 15″ wide scarf.
If you want to be a little more organized and neater when you’re making your fringe, cut a piece of cardboard – as wide as you want your fringe.  Cut little notches into the top and bottom of the cardboard – approximately every 1/4″.  Wrap your yarn onto the cardboard, catching the yarn in the notches.  It will make it easier to keep everything from springing everywhere after you cut the yarn.
Now that the fringe is all tied, we need to trim it so that the ends are nice and even.  I prefer to drape the scarf over a surface like a door and trim the fringe free-hand.  Now if you’d prefer to not do that, you can lay the fringe flat onto a cutting mat and use a rotary cutter & ruler to make sure it’s even.
I have to admit that I don’t get too fussy about the ends being perfectly even – but you can be as accurate as you’d like.
Here’s the finished scarf, with me wearing it – in my somewhat dirty bathroom mirror:

image: © C Findlay-Harder

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2. Tutorial: Snowman Charm Bracelet – Part Three
3. Artsy Bloggers Round-Up

Each craft has its own set of short forms (abbreviations) and its own unique way of conveying the steps to creating a thing of beauty.  Often patterns are written in what seems like another language.  However, if you take things step-by-step, reading a pattern is a breeze.  Following are some easy pointers to get you going.

Read the gauge information: Gauge is unique to knitting and crocheting.  Understanding gauge is key to reaching a satisfying end.  Gauge is “stitches per inch.”  Every pattern stitch, every yarn, and sometimes every colour will knit to a different gauge.  Several things can affect gauge.  For instance, the needle (size and type are important – don’t switch from aluminum needles to wooden needle mid-project as the gauge will be different), the type and colour of a yarn can produce different gauge results, and even weather can often adjust the gauge at which you are knitting.  Gauge can often change depending on the affecting factors.  It is highly recommended that each project begin with a gauge swatch.  An easy tutorial on creating a gauge swatch can be found here.

Understand all the abbreviations in the pattern: Each pattern normally has a glossary.  At the very least, every pattern will provide you with the resources to understanding the abbreviations used within the instructions.  The glossary or reference will lead you through the meaning of each abbreviation.  For instance, you might come across something that looks like this:  *K2 tog, yo* repeat from *to *.  What does this mean?  You would look to glossary to figure out what each abbreviation stands for:  Knit two together then place yarn over needle and repeat from * to * until you reach the end of the row.  It is worth committing to memory some commonly used abbreviations:

• cc – contrasting color; if you’re working with several colors, you might see cc1, cc2, etc.
• m1 – make one stitch; used to make an increase
• mc – main color
• rs – right side; the side of the garment that people will see
• sl – slip a stitch
• St st – stockinette stitch; you knit one row, purl the next row, and repeat (or, if you are knitting in the round, knit every round)
• k2tog – knit two together; in other words, put your working needle through two stitches instead of one, and knit them together as though they were one stitch, making a decrease
• ws – wrong side; the side of the garment that is not intended to be seen
• yo – yarn over; used to make an increase with a lacy hole

Focus on one stitch at a time: It is easy to read the entire row and get a little overwhelmed by the amount of actions within that line and the often confusing jargon that conveys those actions to you.  Take it one stitch at a time.  Accomplishing each stitch individually allows you to stay focused and makes each row a lot more manageable.  If that row contains a pattern repeat then you can also break it down into sections.  Say each repeat is set of 10 stitches and you have 100 stitches on your needles.  To create a more manageable set of actions, place a stitch marker every 10 stitches.  In this way, you can easily track where you are and should you make a mistake you only have to deal with that specific set of 10 stitches.

With this set of easy tips, you will soon be on your way to mastering the language and art of patterns in whichever craft you choose.  The key is taking small bites and moving through each phase one step at a time.

Happy Stitching.

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2. It is all up to you … pattern conversion demystified:
3. Free Cross Stitch Patterns for Valentine’s Day

Paaz is so 1987, isn’t it?

Some years, growing up, I had to dye eggs at three different houses: my grandparents’, my aunt’s and my own.  There was something satisfying about watching the dye from the store-bought kit fizzle in the drinking glasses.  I’d use white crayons to scribble designs on the eggs and let them steep in the dye for as long as possible, turning them when the liquid didn’t quite cover them, waiting for the deepest color I could get.  The red was never red, and the purple showed up blue spots, but they were pretty, and shined up with a dab of cooking oil, they nested happily in Easter baskets for my younger cousins.  We were big fans of hard-boiled eggs: there were quite a few rainbow-colored egg salads in the days that followed.

Today?  We’re the DIY parents, the organically-obsessed parents, the scientific parents. We’re the parents who want to do it the hard way and have a darned good time doing it, too.  No simple store-bought kits for us!  No uncertain dyes!

Green is the new… well… green.

Lo and behold, organic dyes for your Easter eggs.  If anyone knows the original source, please shoot me an e-mail. I found this on a list serv and no credit was given.

Organic Easter Egg Dyes

Purple: Mix 1 cup of purple grape juice and ½ teaspoon vinegar. Soak cooled eggs in the dye for ½ hour. (Or use 1 cup frozen grape juice concentrate and 1 teaspoon vinegar).

Pink: Soak hard-boiled eggs in cranberry juice or the juice from canned or pickled beets until desired color is reached.

Red: Boil 4 cups of red onion skins and 2 tablespoons vinegar in a quart of water for 30 minutes. Cool to room temperature. Strain
mixture and dye eggs.

Light Peach to Orange: In a pot, mix 1 cup yellow onion skins, 1 teaspoon vinegar, 1 cup water. Boil mixture for ½ hour, cool to room temperature and strain out onion skins. Add cooled eggs and soak for ½ hour.

Orange: Dissolve 4 tablespoons paprika and 2 tablespoons vinegar in a quart of hot water. Cool to room temperature and dye eggs.

Blue: Put 2-3 tablespoons, chopped red cabbage in heat safe cup. Add boiling water and 1 teaspoon white vinegar. Soak cooled eggs until desired color is reached.

Light Yellow: Boil 4 cups fresh shredded carrots and 2 tablespoons of vinegar in a quart of water. Cool to room temperature. Strain
mixture and dye eggs.

Beige/Brown: Soak eggs in strong brewed coffee that has been cooled to room temperature. Or add 1 tablespoon of instant coffee and ½ teaspoon vinegar to 1 cup of hot water. Cool and dye as usual.

Pale Green: Soak eggs in liquid from canned spinach or boil 4 cups fresh spinach and 2 tablespoons of vinegar in a quart of water. Cool to room temperature, strain, and dye eggs.

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For me the answer is easy because I have young kiddos. I bribe them with new bubble guns and wands, new rain boots for sloshing in muddy puddles, and heading to the local river to feed the countless ducks we have in our town. For older kids though, what can you do?

1. Get them excited by planting an indoor garden now. Use egg cartons (recycle the Easter cartons), fill them with dirt, and plant some of their favorite flower seeds (or even grass seed). When the flowers start to grow and the warm trends continue transfer them carefully to the garden outside. You can even start vegetables this way.

2. Go on a photo scavenger hunt for new spring items. Make a list for them and have them take pictures of nature.

3. Feed the birds by making your own bird feeder. I used to do this as a kid with my grandparents. Take an old corncob, roll it in peanut butter and then roll the peanut butter in bird seed. You can then hang this from a tree branch for the birds. Squirrels love it too.

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I have to say that it was a well written YA book but I had to struggle through it, as I am not too fond of vampires and to be honest, it just didn’t have enough substance for me (but I think I have been out of the YA genre for a while).

On a more emotional level I think the reason I did not like the book that much is because I didn’t like the love story. Oh, I know that everyone has been gushing over this particular love story, comparing it to a modern Romeo and Juliet but I didn’t think it sent young girls a good message, despite the fact that they remained chaste.

What kind of 17-year-old boy protects his “love” so much that he won’t kiss her, touch her, or even sit near her but will hunt down a vampire and travel across the country to save her life? I found him to be overprotective, overbearing, and even controlling; telling her when and how to do things, not allowing her to drive or even travel to a nearby city with her girlfriends because he thinks she needs someone to protect her.

Says “stalker” to me.

These character traits are obviously part of his nature and help to develop the story line but it’s not the message we want sending to teenage girls. Girls need to be independent from their boyfriends and equal in the relationship and I really wish that Bella had been a stronger heroine.

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The Clean & Clear Finishes line utilizes “skin-perfecting minerals” that help to correct skin problems and leave the complexion looking flawless. It consists of three new products:

*Clean & Clear Finishes Pore Perfecting Moisturizer SPF 15 – This oil-free moisturizer is made with minerals. The minerals diffuse light which help the skin to have a smoother-looking appearance.  It contains glycerin, amino acids, and emollients, all found naturally in healthy skin. It’s lightweight and provides protection from both UVA and UVB rays.

*Clean & Clear Finishes Even Tone Cleanser – A foaming cleanser that delivers a deep-down clean. It’s gentle enough for every day use. It’s oil-free and made with “skin calming ingredients.” Gives skin an “even-toned finish.”

*Clean & Clear Finishes Pore Perfecting Cleanser – This one is also gentle enough for every day. It’s oil free, cleans deep down, and really works  to unclog pores.

To learn more about the Start to Finish Prom Beauty Designer Prom Dress Competition, click here. Entrants 18 and older will submit 2 photos – a front and back shot – of each of their dress designs. All work must be original. The contest is currently open (started March 10, 2010) and the deadline for entries is April 9, 2010.

One design winner will win $5000 and see their dress design to come to life. Another girl could win the dress, plus win the prom party of her dreams.

To enter my giveaway and have a chance at  1 of 5 Clean & Clear Finishes product sets, then please leave a comment below. This giveaway is open to US residents only. I will announce the randomly picked winners in one week.

Image credit: Clean & Clear

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