Don't Waste Water, We Need It - Perspective of a Brownie

A Brownie in the US Girl Scouts created this website.

Don't Waste Water We Need It!

She completed the Wow! Wonders of Water Journey portion of her Brownie Program.

Please visit and leave her a comment.

How long should this scarf be?

Hi everyone!

So far, this scarf is approx. 10"x68" (25.5cm x 173cm)- how long should I make it???

(I put blue paper under it to show the lace pattern.)

Please leave a comment with your suggestions! 

 

How close am I to being finished??

 

I look forward to hearing from you!!

The Great Ride - 30 Years

I am participating in Great Ride 'n' Stride in Oxford County to support the mission of the Canadian Cancer Society.

This is my 30th year taking part!

 

Last year I learned London would no longer be hosting this event, so I'm heading to Thamesford this year! Thamesford is where the Great Ride originated! So it feels right to be there for my 30th year.

The money raised from this event helps fund leading-edge cancer research that is improving cancer treatments, preventing cancer and saving lives; provide reliable and up-to-date information on cancer, risk reduction and treatment; offer vital community-based support services for people living with cancer and their families; and advocate for healthy public policies.

The weather doesn't look like it's going to cooperate though - calling for, ugh, snow!  And I'm recuperating from a terrible cold, so I may have to postpone my ride and complete it next weekend.  I will be completing a 20km ride this year.  Years ago the London ride was 20km and when the route was moved from the streets to the bike paths, it was reduced to 10km; later it was reduced to 5kms when it was moved to Springbank Park - I was thrilled to discover that Thamesford still has a 20km route so whether I ride on Sunday or next weekend, that's what I'll be tackling this year!!

Hope it's good weather!!

Great Ride - my 30th!

I am participating in Great Ride 'n' Stride in Oxford County to support the mission of the Canadian Cancer Society.

This is my 30th year taking part!

Last year I learned London would no longer be hosting this event, so I'm heading to Thamesford this year! Thamesford is where the Great Ride originated! So it feels right to be there for my 30th year.

The money raised from this event helps fund leading-edge cancer research that is improving cancer treatments, preventing cancer and saving lives; provide reliable and up-to-date information on cancer, risk reduction and treatment; offer vital community-based support services for people living with cancer and their families; and advocate for healthy public policies.

Please pledge me and help me reach my fundraising goal!
Click the BLUE "SUPPORT ANNE" and complete your pledge now.
Every pledge takes us one step further in the fight against cancer. Online pledging is secure and it saves the Canadian Cancer Society money by reducing administrative costs.

Thanks for your support!

8:30 Mar.26 - Earth Hour

Saturday March 26 at 8:30 p.m.

Turn off your lights for Earth Hour.

Let's be good to our earth.

Flowers for Spring

Flowers for Spring

I was inspired when I found The Sisterhood of the Flower group on facebook ...

... and then found the tutorial at Dawn's blog - though we've changed it up a bit and instead of making a fabric-covered button we make a tiny yoyo and a button. 

Oh, and use dental floss - it's so much stronger!

They are rather addictive and fun so I'll enjoy them now and then as a break from knitting and crochet! 

I don't think I'll be making them for my etsy shop but they're still a fun little thing to work on every now and then.

Aw, my Poor Magnolia!!!

Darn those critters!

I think it might have been bunnies.

The snow melted and look at my Magnolia!!!

I am not so sure it will survive this. 

I'm so bummed.

I'm not much of a gardener so when I have a beautiful plant/bush/tree, I really treasure it. 

And we'd never had to do anything to protect our Magnolia before so finding that something had chewed all round the trunk is pretty sad.

Here are some blooms to remember .. and hope for a miracle that the Magnolia survives.

 

Thankfully I do have my photos ... I have more available in my etsy shop ~ ennadoolf ~ to keep my flowers year 'round.

Spring Ahead!

Ack!  We're going to lose an hour's sleep tonight! 

At least it means Spring is on its way!

So, before you go to bed, or as soon as you get up - remember to set your clocks ahead!!

Tips When Visiting the Dominican Republic

I received these recently and thought I'd share. If you have any tips you'd like to share, please leave a comment!

And if you've travelled to the Dominican and are wishing you were back on vacation, you need one of my Caribbean Memories dishcloths to remind you of your vacation while back at home!

TIPS:

Bring pen in carry-on to fill out customs/tourist info on the plane

 

All visitors Must get a Mandatory $10 US cash only Tourist Card Upon Arrival.

All visitors Must pay $20 US per person when leaving the Dominican Republic.

Make a couple of photocopies of the identification page of your passport. Leave one photocopy at home and take one with you, but keep it in an separate place to your passport.

The resort will keep a copy of your hotel confirmation (attached to your e-ticket, so be sure to print a copy for them)

Take a travel mug with stainless steel inside & lid - this will keep your drinks extra cold and also keep sand and bugs out of it.

Pack a swim suit and flip flops in your carry on. When you arrive at the resort your room may not be ready.

Clothes pins to hang your swim suit.

Watch as your luggage is put on your bus, get on the bus and relax and see the countryside on the way to your resort and watch to be sure your luggage is taken off the bus!

Men be sure to bring one pair slacks for a la carte restaurants

Bring $1 US dollar bills for tips (such as for maids, person who fills the fridge in your room, bartenders, waiters, bell hops etc.)

US funds widely accepted at hotel or when out shopping. If you are planning any souvenirs US dollars are accepted by everyone

There is lots of food at the resort. There is always a restaurant open somewhere and usually room service but if you crave snacks like potato chips, etc. you may want to bring some along.

Voltage the same as North America so no adaptor necessary

Bringing a floatie for the pool might be fun - and you can leave it behind for others to enjoy after you leave.

There are lots of activities at all resorts to keep you busy, but if you like, bring a book or magazine - or your knitting!  :)

My First Official Crochet Project

 My first official crochet project!

This is my first “real” project after learning to crochet a few weeks ago.

Since I need to make 2, I thought I’d work on both at the same time just to make sure they turn out the same.

I am using the recommended hook size and some yarn from my stash that is just a worsted weight or so. I wanted to see the size I would make with these since my gauge is not very good, etc.

For my first project, it’s not too bad. I know it is full of mistakes but I just kept going as I’m not good enough yet to recognize errors or fix them. I did not use a contrasting colour for the loop to minimize anyone noticing the errors. :) hehe

For the next pair I will go to a smaller hook and/or a lighter weight of yarn to make the smaller pair that I was asked to make.

Here is the pattern for these Mary Jane Slippers.

I really enjoyed this pattern and have switched to a smaller hook - 4.5 mm - and a smaller yarn and have started the next pair ... one at a time this time!

Visit me on Ravelry to watch my progress.

I may also post updates on my facebook page.

Vintage Barbie RED KNIT DRESS

Forget the LBD (little black dress)

... its time for the RKD! 

The Red Knit Dress!!

This is my original Barbie - an early 1966 American Girl Barbie.


The butt markings on the American Girl Barbies differ and because mine has both raised and indented markings she is an early 1966.

She was nice enough to agree to model this dress I received many many years ago ... probably shortly after I received her!

And then I found this pattern book!  and it has the instructions for making this Red Knit Dress!!

I was very excited because I knew I could use photos of my Barbie in her Red Knit Dress in the listing when I sell this booklet in my Etsy shop, Vintage And Such.

Do you still have a toy from your childhood?  Leave a comment and tell me what it is!

For this or other vintage patterns, visit my Vintage And Such shop - your place for vintage military, housewares, collectibles and treasures.

Thinking Day 2011

February 22nd

Thinking Day for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts worldwide.

To all my sisters in Guiding,

Happy Thinking Day

the above photo was taken at Casa Loma and shows the Girl Guide display

Tutorial - Sewing a headband

I made some of these headbands for my Etsy shop ennadoolf.

My friend Maria chose some fabrics for me to make some more so I thought I'd document the process as a tutorial.

Here goes!

Sewing a Headband

Supplies Needed: fabric (approx. 4"x20" or 10cm x 52cm) and a hair elastic.

I cut my piece of fabric approximately 4 inches wide by 20 inches long. That is approximately 10 cm wide by 52 cm long.

Fold in half lengthwise with right sides together.

Sew along the long edge (see photo) with about a 1/4 inch (1 cm) seam allowance.

Now we are going to turn the fabric right side out.

You can do this however you like - this is how I did it.

Take a piece of string - a shoe lace works great - and tie a loop at each end.

Add a safety pin to each end.

Pin one safety pin to the edge of your fabric - in the seam allowance - about 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the end.

Take the other safety pin at the other end and insert it into the fabric.

Pull that safety pin through the tube to the other opening.

Now keep pulling that safety pin through.  The end of the fabric where the safety pin is pinned ... guide it so that it begins to turn into the inside so that it is being pulled through.

See photos to see how this is happening ... and keep pulling until your item is right side out!

It's much simpler to do than it is to describe!  :)  Just trust me on that one!

Now you want to add your hair elastic.

Place the elastic at the end and fold the fabric over it. 

Pin it in place with a safety pin. Now fold the other end of the fabric over it, being careful not to twist the fabric. Pin it in place with a safety pin. 

Try on the headband.  Adjust your folds for the perfect fit prior to sewing.  I didn't do these pinning steps - so my batch of headbands were too small for Maria.   * oops. *  

Don't make my mistake.  That is why there is no photo for this step.  :)

Now, sew the ends. 

I simply zig-zagged each end that was folded over.  

See photos.

And there you go! 

A beautiful fabric headband!

If you think I missed a step, or if you have questions, please leave a comment.

In my "too-small-for-Maria" headbands, I cut them 19" long so that's why I've adjusted to 20" for this tutorial.

I have to admit, too, that the dollar store elastics had better stretch then the name-brand ones that cost more and actually snapped when they were stretched.

Learn to Crochet - Check

Yes, the first of my New Year's Resolutions can be checked off.

Thankfully my New Year's resolution wasn't to become proficient at crochet! but just to learn it.  :)  And I did that.

I do plan to practice and try a pattern other than a dishcloth so that I can try the Single Crochet and Double Crochet as well as be able to follow a pattern.  I did start a small piece and I know I made some mistakes so I'd like to be able to learn how to identify what I've crocheted so I know how many Double Crochets I've completed.

And so I have lots to learn!

Here you can see the first piece where I learned how to get started and the sc (single crochet) and dc (double crochet) and hdc (half double crochet) so that we could try a pattern for a "Mile a Minute" afghan sampler.

Next we started a dishcloth out of cotton and I think I got the hang of that. I did a few rows and then started my afghan sampler.  No photos of either of those, sorry.  :)  Maybe next time.

Thanks so much to the Crochet Club of London for this workshop!  I know I have a friend who'd love to attend if you hold another, and I know Maureen has a friend who'd love to come too!  Please, book another Learn To Crochet workshop date!

Wednesday Wonder - Waiting Song

Waiting Song

Theresa Sokyrka

Another one of my favourite songs by this wonderful artist.