eco friendly women's care products

I am making my own pads. Why not, I make just about everything else. (Recycled)
Many Moons has a pattern on their site to do just that. Or you can order pads from them.
I have made a few, but I am still tweaking it. Read the directions CAREFULLY!

New Orleans Lakefront Lighthouse-

New Orleans Lakefront Lighthouse-

I'm hoping ya'll will take a sec, (and it only takes a sec) to help out. Our lighthouse on Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans was destroyed by Katrina. Built in the 1890s, the lighthouse has been a lakefront landmark for years, guiding boats in and out of the Orleans Marina and the Municipal Yacht Harbor. Some of the original materials were salvaged and they're trying to rebuild it but of course it takes money the city doesn't have right now.

There is a company that restores lighthouses and has a contest going on right now to donate new windows and doors for a lighthouse in need of restoration, and the Canal lighthouse is on the list! PLEASE help out and vote for New Orleans !! Thanks ya'll!

www.jeld-wen.com/lighthouse

To see more about our light house check here

http://www.saveourlake.org/lighthouse.htm

List of gratitude

Sometimes I feel like this blog has become a "bitch-fest" please forgive me. I don't always feel this way. Life has been challenging lately.
I guess I should post more on the things that make me happy, or make a gratitude list.

I am grateful for.....

God
My Husband
My children
My Mother
My Mother in Law(now passed)
My grandmother
My Mimi
My Bestemama
My Aunts... all 5 of them
and the rest of my family
a place to live
food to eat
money to survive
money to splurge
money to save
money to pay bills
money to .....whatever
a comfortable bed
a sweet dog
a sweet bird
a computer
a recliner
knitting needles
crochet hooks
donated yarn
knowledge
skill
paitence
that my husband has a job
that I can school my children
that my children are safe
that I still have my health
that my family still has their health
that my MIL is no longer suffering
a flea comb
flea medicine
school materials
electricity
gas
water
a bathroom sink that is unclogged
cable
computer
internet
that my identity is still intact...I pray
that my body can still function
that I still have all of my faculties
my earings
my wedding ring
that my husband still wants me
that I still want my husband
that my husband has quite a few years off of drugs(5ish)
that we had places to go when Katrina demolished our city.
that we had food to eat
that we didn't lose anyone
that we didn't lose our home
that I still have my hair
for the grays-I have earned them
for the wrinkles-aging gracefully(I HOPE)
that my children are good kids
that I even had children
that they are boys
my stepdaughter
that she is still alive
that she didn't do me in...
that she is an adult
my step dad-Bigfoot
my extended family
my father in law
my sister in law
her family
all of my brothers and sisters
my friends
wanda
her family
that I have people who give me clothes
that I have a church
that I have my faith
that I have hope
that I have love
that I have comfort
that I have relief
that I have strength
that I have peace
that I have knowledge
that I have wisdom
that I have discernment
that I have energy
that I have health
that I have God
that I have Jesus
that I have life
that I was able to give life
that I am able to see and know those lives
that I am able to love those around me
that I can forgive, many times over
that I can be forgiven
that I can dream
that I have all of my senses
that I know love
that someone loves me
that I am able to make things for people who have less
that I don't live in a third world country
that I can be proud to be an American
for our soldiers
for those who have fought/given life/limb/sanity for my freedom
God blesses America
God blesses me and my family

This is a long gratitude list...I could continue, but I think I could be here all night.
Thank you, God- for everything.
Your daughter

Pic's from my life

This is Maggie, she is totally freaked out by the camera.
She had the shakes for 15 minutes. I think it is the flash that spooked her.
"What is that contraption that you are pointing at me? Are you coming to steal my soul?"






A doll and clothes for someone for Christmas.

Slippers made with donated yarn from Lou/CCNG and donators from across the United States.

Free wool yarn!

Wow, I have been blessed sooo much today.
One of the ladies of our needlework guild gifted me with yarn! A LOT of yarn. All of it wool.
I have been seeing the new trend (felting) and I kept thinking, I would never spend that much money on a good quality yarn, just to felt it! But surprise I have wool yarn coming out of my ears.....
I have 400- 1 oz. balls of drab olive fingering yarn, any suggestions on a free pattern?
I would love to try socks but I have only tried 2 needle socks that have to be seamed. They work up easily, but the seams are limiting and aggrivating. Any suggestions on which socks work best(toe up or cuff down)?

Craft-tastic!!!

Yesterday, I decided to make some shorts for my son. He is outgrowing everything so quickly. I have a really good pattern for shorts, with a zipper but I didn't have the back panel-don't know where it went to!
Then I remembered when the boys were wee ones, I had a very simple pattern that makes a left and right panel. I have figured out how to do this after much forgotten experience. The really exciting part is that I made these shorts-pattern free, out of a 2XL t-shirt........
Let me explain, I hate to throw out anything. My Mom brought over some clothes for this season, slightly used, still wearable. No shorts! So I made them out of some of the T-shirts.
--Lay the t-shirt flat, You have to have a front crotch and a back crotch. Starting with cutting under one sleeve make a narrow J cut(front), removing the sleeve. Do the same on the other sleeve only make a much deeper J cut(back), removing the other sleeve. Making sure that the length of the legs match with the cut for the crotch.(bottom half of the t is the legs. Cut across the top removing the neck and shoulders of the T-shirt.Cut evenly along the sides of the Tshirt making a right and a left leg. Matching right sides together, sew a seam matching front crotch, then sew a seam matching back crotch- you will then have a tube. Match up the seam for the front and back crotches and sew the leg seams,if you save the original hem of the t-shirt you will not have to hem the legs.
Add elastic in the top, in what ever manner suits you, and Ta-Da!!
You will have a pair of shorts that my son calls Craft-tastic!!!!
If this dosen't make sense to you.. try it, you will see!

tooth ache and sweater

Other than dealing with another tooth ache I am in the process of making a knit in one piece sweater. This I hope to be for charity.
I still have a bit of tweaking to do, but I will try to post it when I am done.
Life is busy but I still work in the garden when I can.
The boys and I will be taking the next few days off of school.
We all need a break, it is Easter weekend after all.
Jesus is the reason for the season.

Locks of Love

Since Hurricane Katrina I have been growing my hair.
My Mother-in-law has the dreaded "C".
Last go round I shaved my head, she was offended.
This go round I decided I would grow it and send it (10") to Locks of Love.
Well tonight, after finally catching my Mom in law in the same room,
I asked her to do the honors. I don't think she was offended this time.
I now have the hair cut from hell, but my hubby helped to straighten it out.
I have to wait a few days since it is the weekend-That is a bummer!
If you have 10 or more inches of hair that you would like to donate check them out.
Locks of love.

Gracious Parcels project

In my net surfing of blogs I have come across a wonderful site. This is one to check out. Make 7" squares for the Gracious Parcels project for Habitat for Humanity.

C.H. Donations Update!

I thought I should update people on the Children's Hospital donation project. Their cup runneth o'er. So just send them blankets for now.
Ronald McDonald house is still taking items, mostly older children items. But I imagine they also need blankets.
If you are still looking for an outlet for all of your creations try calling hospitals in your area.

Children's hospital contact information

In my efforts to get Children's hospital of New Orleans to post information about donations of Knitted or Crochet baby items, I have been somewhat unsuccessful. Here is the address

Children's Hospital
200 Henry Clay Avenue
New Orleans, Louisiana 70118
(504) 899-9511
info@chnola.org (Development Department)

They need preemie blankets 15x15 or larger.
Baby caps and other accesories are also accepted.
They will accept only Baby "soft" items. No items made out of wool, as this is too scratchy for the preemies.
Washed without fabric softener.
I like to store these in ziploc bags, it is easier to keep sets together.
Someone informed me that some preemies heads are really no bigger than your fist, just to give you an idea.
I would suggest that you send these items directly to Children's Hospital. As I do not want anyone to feel they were screwed in another "Katrina Scam".
Thank you all for everything that you are willing to do for Our New Orleans Babies.

If sending something to the hospitals (they all need help with baby items) in New Orleans seems too difficult. Try making things for hospitals in your area.
Bless you all.

Hat donations

I have contacted our Children's Hospital Development Department @ (504)896-9375.
They do indeed need baby items donated. They ask that they be items made only with soft yarn, baby yarn, or soft material. I asked them to send me an email pertaining to this, as soon as I recieve this I will post it on my blog for all to see. It may take a few days. I didn't catch the lady's name, but she was very nice, and she assured me that they always need donations. So ladies and gents craft away.
Some of the items that I have made may not be soft enough so I will have to donate them to the Ronald McDonald house down the street. Yes they take donations too.

Caps for Babies

Most preemies have a larger head than you would think. start with an 8"around and 4-5" tall.
for full term babies it can be up to 11"-12" or in my son's case 13". Bev's country cottage website has lots of great charity ideas and information. You may have to google it though.
The smaller preemie blankets starting at about 20" are also needed. These whip up faster than you may think. Just make sure that the pattern doesn't have too many open spaces.
As a friend suggested " Why not have a "drive" and donate to a hospital in your area!" That sounds like a capital idea. Bless you all.

My idea for Christmas

Before I took the kids out of public school, I joined CCNG-Crescent City Needlework Guild. This group held meetings on Mondays at Longe Vue House and Gardens. One of the projects that we worked on happened to be baby caps and blankets.
Some of these have found their way to our Children's Hospital here in New Orleans. When I was informed that CH had not had a delivery of caps since before the big bad K, I was shocked.
Well that had me decided that I had to help more. Instead of making things for Christmas gifts, I decided to give out stockings with a note letting people know that a baby cap was being donated in their honor. These will be donated before Monday 2007 I hope. I will keep on making caps and some blankets until my gifts are fulfilled. I probably won't stop there.
I have scoured the internet for patterns. Mostly I just go with my own creation. Some are knit and some are crochet. But all are very quick and cute. I even tried to get my boys to help with a knit machine. That thing needs to go in the garbage. I guess I will have to try the old fashion way and teach them how to do it manually. Why not?A man can knit and crochet too. Some chicks dig this.
Any way, this was the plan this Christmas. I am sorry if someone was disappointed with my choice. But do you really need another scarf, blanket, potholder or slippers?