Crochet in an airport

I knew I had a 4 hour long wait for my plane to fly home after my dad's funeral so I brought along some yarn, stuffing and tools. Here's some of the items I crochet during my trip and wait.

This is the gold heart that I made for my dad to take with him to the afterlife. I wrote a little note and put it into the heart before I closed it up. We had a nice Buddhist ceremony and he was cremated. He is now at peace and I hope will be happier in his next life.

<3<3<3<3<3<3 Onto more happier stories....<3<3<3<3<3

While waiting for the plane, a lady named Sunny sat next to me. We chatted it up because she saw me crocheting. She told that during her breast cancer surgery recovery she tried to crochet but couldn't get into it. She is doing well and will get reconstructive surgery soon. She was flying home after her daughter's graduation from military boot camp. Her husband is a Navy man and she has another daughter in the Air Force. A true military family. :) 

We started talking about books. She was reading Bared to You by Sylvia Day. It is a better written and less raunchy version of Fifty Shades of Grey. We both had read the Fifty Shades series and this book too. Our taste in books were very close so we exchanged book ideas. :)

Then she told me the sweetest story about how she met her amazing husband. He is her second husband and the father of this daughter who is in the Navy now like her dad. Sunny's oldest daughter, the one in the Air Force and from the first husband, secretly signed her onto eHarmony. Sunny was wondering why her daughter kept asking her weird questions and taking a lot of pictures. After the emails started coming in, she confronted her daughter. Sunny decided to just do it for fun. Apparently her daughter kept the site pretty updated. And it was her daughter who picked the man who would become Sunny's love. 

He knew before her that they were going to get married. He told her after 7 mo of talk and dates that she was going to marry him. She wasn't so sure. hehe They have been married for over 20 years now. :) 

It really was fate because her mom had brought out some baby pictures. He recognized a little boy in one because it was him! Sunny was 9yo and her husband was 7yo. She even remembered how he tried to kiss her then and she had to bop him over the head with a flashlight. hehe Apparently he remembered the pain and she had marked him as hers all those years ago. :) They are very happily married. :)

I decided to give her this little guy for the amazing story and for being a breast cancer survivor. I hope she gives crochet another try. :)

I didn't have darker yarn so I made him/her have red lips to kiss you with. :) If you want to make one of your own, here is the free pattern.

This is the bottom flower part. The pattern is a little confusing but it was easy to stitch up. :)

I hope she likes him/her. :) Thanks for the company Sunny!!

After she left on her plane, I crochet this little heart.

I gave it to his guy I sat next to and chatted with during my flight home.

He might look crazy but he was really nice. :) He is Roman Abrego, a famous tattoo artist going home from a convention. He told me his life story and let me ask whatever questions popped into my mind. He is a real artist and his work is amazing. You guys should check him out. :) 

That was it....I didn't really have the time or energy for anything else. :) I always pack a little too much or I would not pack enough. :) And I always have something to do for if I get bored. hehe I also had my mom's iPad and my Kindle with me too. hehe

I love you Dad

I have un-happy news. My dad passed away today. 

I was able to make sure he knew I loved him before he went.

That is the best I could do for him. I believe he is in a better place and not suffering.

He had ESRD and had to go to dialysis, which he hated. I don't think he felt loved living with his 5th ex-wife and their son. I am hoping now he has found some peace.

We were never really close but I do have some happy memories of him. He used to open Chinese restaurants up and down Alabama. He was the China King. That was the last restaurant I helped him with. I remember being the cashier when I was in 5th grade. I was also a hostess. I loved working there and got paid $20 a night, which was great. I loved munching on fortune cookies and his yummy Egg Drop Soup and Hot and Sour Soup. I never found another place that made it as good as he did. He also had a great sweet and sour sauce which I dipped fried wontons in. I was able to get his Hot and Sour soup recipe a few years back. I will be looking for that again to frame it so I will never lose it.

Some of the regulars would want me to sit with them and talk. My dad would walk out in his chef uniform and ask if I was bothering the customers. :) Of course, they said no, but it was a great conversation starter. 

He really had a great mind for the restaurant business. Every one of them that I can remember, all became big hits. He knew what real good customer service was and taught me. He also made really good food at affordable prices. He would buy left over McDonald toys to give out to the kids. The customers loved him.

He always had fish in his restaurants. I remember a shrimp that kept getting out and a dragon fish that mysteriously passed away the same night as my Guinea pig across town at home.

He would take me to theme parks. I think I have gone to almost all of them. But my favorite memory was us in Sam's Club. He pushed me around on the flat bed. Whenever he got something for the restaurant, I would use it to make myself a little fort. It was a happy day. :)

He loved going to Red Lobster for Sunday brunch and that was his last meal.  

I hope he is finally at peace and happy.

I love you Dad!! Now and always.

Sending G Jr., the Jellyfish, to His New Home :)

I had made this Jellyfish Ami and was thinking about different cute ways I could send him to my friend, G. :) This is what I came up with. :)

First I went to Michael's Arts and Crafts to go buy me a take-out-box. I was looking for the frosted white one but they only had the solid white one or this clear one (I put the bag inside so you could see the box more clearly). They had a bunch of other cute colors but this is for a guy and I wanted the jellyfish to be the star. 

While walking around, I picked up these stickers and a panda notepad that was definitely not on my list. :p It was pretty affordable. The most expensive thing was the 3D stickers. The box and the panda notepad were just $1 each and I had a 20% off coupon. :)

Next, I took some blue tissue paper from my stash. This one is for winter with the snow flakes on it but because of what I did with it, it really didn't matter. :) I shredded the tissue paper and used it for "water" and for packing material by putting some around G Jr to make him comfortable.

G Jr is so darn cute!! in his little transport box!! But that's not the end...

I added an address label to the inside just in case something happened to the one on the outside. "From Amanda's Hands....To Geoffrey's Heart".

G Jr. looks so excited to be going on this trip to his new home. :)

I am including some snacks. My fav is Shrimp Chips but I haven't tasted them in a while because they are so bad. :) Looks like G Jr. couldn't wait to get his tentacles on them. I hope they last the trip. :)

I cut up a clear plastic bag to wrap around the outside to protect the 3D stickers. Then I taped up the opening and added my address label. The light blue part is for the postage.

Now, he's ready to go to his new home. :) If this works, I really want to try sending other items I craft through the mail, not in "proper" boxes. I've been reading posts of people sending Easter eggs and flip flops through the mail. I think that would be so much fun!!

UPDATE: Failed, the post office didn't allow me to send it as is. They made me put it into another box because they said that the wire would get caught in the machinery and that the box can easily come apart. ugh! Well, that did not work. I guess if I had wrapped the whole thing up in shrink wrap, they might have let me. Well, lesson learned.

Have a creative weekend! :)

Flat Spiral Crystal Bracelet

Summer Bday gift part 2

My friend, Summer's birthday gift started with the Crystal Flower Bracelet, but it looked too lonely in the gift box so I had to make something else for her. :) Since nothing came to mind, I went back to an old stand by. I love the RAW and flat spiral stitches. :)

I didn't like how just the pearls in the middle looked so I decided to just to turn it into a sample piece and try out alternating crystals ini the center. Then I liked the look of them together and continued until I finished the bracelet. I like the look of the ends being a little different but still symmetrical. :) What do you guys think? :)

Materials:

13mm lobster clasp 

6mm Swarovski Crystal Pearls in light blue

4mm Swarovski Crystal Pearls in cream

6mm Bicone Swarovski Crystals in aqua

8lb Fireline 

Seed bead SGB co 15-457G size15 bronze

Seed bead size 11 19A Toho blue

To finish it off, I made her a birthday card. She collects buttons so I used them to make bundles of "balloons". :) I also included a bag of buttons from my collection to add to hers. :) I tied the gift box with the rainbow string I used for the string on the button balloons as well. 

Happy Belated Birthday Summer!!! :)

Just a quick aside about my buttons. I saw this set of drawers next to a dumpster one day and decided to go rifling through the drawers. What I found was a drawer full of buttons! Score! I happily took them home, sorted, and bagged them. They really do come in handy. hehe You know you are a real crafter when...you are happy to find a big bag of buttons that someone else didn't want. hehe I have had them for years and still haven't been able to use them all. :)

Crystal Flower Bracelet

My friend, Summer's Birthday just passed and I am a terrible friend for just starting to make her present. :p I finally broke through the craft block because of this beautiful pattern. :) I was looking for something to do with roses because I saw her beautiful wedding gown's skirt was filled with roses and pearl details. She may be a wild child and a free spirit but she is truly a traditional/antique romantic at heart. :)

Materials:

Size 12 beading needle

4mm Swarvoski Crystals in Rosaline, Tanzanite, and Light Sapphire

San Gabriel Bead Co: S/L Silver Size 11 J11-001-Miyuki Seed Beads

San Gabriel Bead Co: Silver Lined Silver Size 15 15-001-Miyuki Seed Beads

Swarvoski Crystal Pears in White Size 8

Fireline Crystal 6lb weight
Findings: wire guards, heart lobster clasp, spring jump rings and closed jump rings, chain, eye pin

Pattern:
Russian spiral, Hogarth Crystal Curve
Designed by Wendy Lueder
from Bead and Button Mag. April 2012 Issue 108

Jellyfish Amigurumi

One of my friends tried to raise jellyfish but failed twice. So, I decided to make him one that wouldn't be fragile and would love him forever. :)

This was my inspiration. All About Ami posted about making a jellyfish. Luckily, my friend, Rachel, bought me the book that the pattern was in as a gift, Amigurumi Toy Box by Ana Paula Rimoli. :) As usual though, I couldn't stick to the original pattern and had to change it up a little. :)


Here is my little jellyfish friend, G Jr. :)

I plan on packing him in a white frosted plastic take out box with some water and sea monkeys to munch on during his trip. :) Update: Want to see how I actually packaged him up? Check this post out. :)


I hope my friend, G, likes his new pet. :)


Materials:
Caron Simply Soft Yarn in Soft Blue
Crochet Hook size 3.75mm
12mm size safety eyes
Black embroidery floss
Nylon line for the hanger

My changes to the original pattern:
I deleted rows 16-18 in his body to make him less like a cone.
I also made his wave skirt a little more bubbly. :)

WOW Long time...

I am sorry guys...I have been really in a crafter's block this month. And this post is not about crafting either...hehe I don't usually talk about my life but I am going to share this time a little. :) 

Warning: Lots of pics...a very long post...sorry :)

I was able to take a trip down to Mobile, Alabama. I haven't been there in 15 years!! It was great and a little strange to be back seeing all these people grown up. I left when I was in High School. No one changed one bit. hehe

I had a stop over at Charlotte, NC and they had rocking chars in the airport! Now, I knew I was in the South! :) hehe

We flew to Atlanta, Georgia. I was sad that I was not able to see Georgia at all. I was there on some personal family business.

Comfort Suites had a waffle maker and I had to take pics of my perfectly made waffles. I think they are so cute!!.

Since I had some time and haven't been there in 15 yrs, we drove the 5 hrs to Mobile, Alabama! My first night, we went to Biloxi, Mississippi for the seafood buffet in one of the casinos. Sadly, we did not win any money. :p But there were this really cute Panda penny slots. I couldn't sneak in a shot. :p

The next day I met up with the friend I have known the longest, Rachel from The Wondering Bunny. That was surreal because I usually see her when she comes to Cali and I drive but this time she drove and we were in Al. hehe I got to meet her friends Kristina and Bonnie. We originally were going to eat at the Waffle House because I remember it from my childhood but I saw this and was like Yes, that! hehe

My favorite thing their is their Sweet Tea, Lemonaid, and Chicken and Dumplings. Yum!!

We went to Hobby Lobby just to check it out. I think I might like it a little better than Michaels..shhh...I wish we had one in Cali.

We then went to see Brave. That movie is great!!! Pixar really made a beautiful short film called La Luna in the begining of the film. It was so very sweet. :) The movie made me laugh the whole way through until the end when I cried because it was just so touching. There is something at then end of the credits. :) I want to get it when it comes out on DVD.

After the movie, we wanted to talk some more but there were no boba places to grab a snack and drink to talk so Bonnie, who didn't eat with us choose Chick Fa Lay. I had to share a yummy sundae with my friend, Rachel. I love their lemonaid, tea, and fries. hehe

That night, another friend took me out to a hooka bar.

They smoked and said it did nothing to them. It is as bad a cigarettes. The food was good though. :)

The next day, we went to New Orleans!!! It's only a 2 hour drive. OMG....so cool to be there! Our first stop was the French Market.

The Beignets were so yummy! I had to control myself. They are much better than the ones in Downtown Disney. The coffee was good sweetened with powdered sugar even though it was hot and humid. You should get some ice and make Iced coffee. :) This place is really popular. You should get a table and just do table service. The take out line was really long.

Apparently there are these very cute dog sculptures around the town to help raise money for the Humane Society. I want to do something similar but with Pandas! hehe

We took a trolly, a bus, and another trolly around town. It was fun and a lot cooler. It's only $3 for the whole day for both the tolley and the buses so I think you should get a pass to save your feet. :)

The trolley gave us a great tour of St. Charles street aka Garden Walk. At the end of the line is this cute little cafe that my mom's friend goes to every time she is in New Orleans besides Cafe Du Monde and the casino.

I do have to say that the tiramisu was gross. Everything else was yummy. :)

I walked around Riverwalk while the ladies gambled. Note: my mom won $100 at the dollar slots, whohoo!  I was not going to spend my first time in New Orleans in a casino. :) They have this cute display of different local legends. hehe

Burbon street in the safe daylight.

I was here when I was a kid because my dad dragged my mom and little be down this street at night. I just remember being confused as to why my dad wanted to go there and what was in the clubs. hehe

But there is this one street that had a cute pharmacy museum but it was closed. 

And this cute tiny loom store that makes these rugs had 6 cats inside! hehe They are very fluffy kitties too. hehe

The last day there, I met up with the last set of friends. These people I haven't seen in 15 years! It was great getting to know them all over again. Not much has changed but everything had. She has 2 babies and is getting married to her second husband. Wow. hehe

She took me to this cute antique store where her mom has a booth. My friend, Rachel, who loves antiques had never been before even though she lives so close. I bought her the flower pin there. :) Everything was so inexpensive! OMG...antique stores in Cali are so much more expensive.

She had bunnies when I knew her 15 years ago and she still has cute bunnies. The black one came to the fence to get some attention. She also has chickens, 2 dogs, and a kitten. :)

Her mom also has this cute pecan store which she runs out of her home. She also makes the most amazing scented candles.

That reminds me that I was craving boiled peanuts but didn't have time to get some or go back to see my old middle school which apparently has been changed to a Boys and Girls club. I might try to make boiled peanuts at home. I don't know why but I really like it much better than the roasted stuff. :p

My mom's friend's son's pitbull. hehe One of two pitbulls. A friend said that Ireland bans them and actually put a sweet one down because it was illegal to have them. I hope they changed their laws to allow the poor doggies to be deported next time. These pitbulls in Bama are so huge but cute. The black one wanted to be in every picture that we took as a group. hehe

This is what I want every restaurant to say! hehe I am so picky when it comes to my food. My friend Rachel laughs at me about it but her friend Kristina is just like me! hehe My last meal there was with Rachel at this burger joint. It was yummy, and did make everything exactly the way I liked it except that they didn't tell me it was going to be lettuce. :p They have these yummy shakes where you can mix flavors too! I had a hazelnut, irish cream, and chocolate shake which was really good. :)

We drove back to Georgia to finish up the family business. I was sad that I was not able to see the pandas at the zoo but I got a very cute stuffed panda and a keychain at the airport. :)

Hopefully after I unpack, I will be able to do some crafting. :)

Missing you all in Bama!!!