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Back to the place that I love
After going over a year without my gym membership, I felt like a bear waking from a long hibernation and rolling out of my cave to remember movement again when my daughter and I went back yesterday. At home, I do have a place for yoga and a walking mat, but it’s not the same as officially venturing out for a public swim or workout. Besides, I’ve always been a waterbaby and love a good swim! I had cancelled my membership because it’s now an hour drive for me, but I didn’t find anything closer to me that compared. My favorite thing about this place is that they have several…
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“Buttercups” Oil Pastel Drawing
Having taken no art classes since elementary school, and now that I’m finding more time for oil pastels, I decided it’s time to take some lessons which is why I included them in my wish list. I couldn’t really find any oil pastel classes near me, so I picked some online courses and started Botanical Drawing With Oil Pastels For Beginners today. The class is short and sweet, and focuses on “naïve” minimalist drawings. We started with simple, pretty buttercups, which made for an enjoyable exercise because I always love drawing flowers, and it was nice to hear ideas for a few different drawing techniques. Lately, I like to smooth…
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“Rain on the Window” Oil Pastel Drawing
Weeklies
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“Lilacs” Oil Pastel Drawing
My daughter and I went to see the new Nosferatu this week and I was so taken by the atmosphere and colors that I did this lilac oil pastel featuring some of those beautiful greys, lavenders, whites, and cornflower blues. Weeklies
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A Crochet Woodland Fox
Here is one of the sweet woodland fox squares for my Woodland Wonders blanket that I’ve been working on this week, designed by the wonderfully talented Coastal Crochet. I had to put my projects down for a while with holiday business and allergies, but hopefully I’ll get back into the swing of things now. Weeklies This week’s Spanish film is for cultural appreciation rather than language learning, as this stunning visual documentary of indigenous people of Mexico is wordless.
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“Horses” Oil Pastel Drawing
Weeklies
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Happy 2025
Happy New Year! Normally I like to celebrate New Year’s Day with a nature hike or walk, but this year I had a cold, so I just relaxed at home. It did give me time to think on the year ahead, crochet, and immerse myself in a lot of Spanish language films and television shows for my Spanish language learning (and enjoyment, of course). I also bought a premium Duolingo subscription for language lessons, as a gift to myself. I’ve started a new blanket for 2025, with a bright and festive row with colorful popcorns to celebrate the new year, a white row for a fresh new year and with…
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Mini Christmas Tree Bauble Ornament Crochet Pattern
Last week I shared a free pattern for Christmas Tree Bauble Ornaments and today I have a pattern for mini bauble ornaments with a slightly different style from last week’s. They have cupcake-like shapes, or even acorns (this is giving ideas for acorn ornaments) or spinning tops. Once you stuff them with Poly-Fil, you have more control over how you shape them, too. Colors (using Impeccable® Solid Yarn by Loops & Threads®) Mini Bauble Ornament Pattern Using Rich Orchid, 4ch, ss to first st to join and make a ring.
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A California Halloween
Almost every year I go to California to visit family, however I had never been there at Halloween, until this year. During my visit, I got to see my sisters and nieces and enjoy lots of great food, shopping, and fun, including seeing my niece and her fiancé perform in Haunted Hollywood, don our bug costumes at a truck or treat at the school where my sister teaches, and celebrate my other niece’s birthday at Disneyland during Halloween week! I have to admit that I love the original Disney park in all its California glory! It was really cool seeing it decorated for Halloween, and especially experiencing the Nightmare Before…
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Free Crochet Pattern: Christmas Tree Bauble Ornaments
I’m happy to say that this week I completed my first item on My Curiouser and Curiouser List, making my own crochet Christmas ornaments. I experimented with a few colors I had on hand for a blue and white “Snowballs” theme and a “Peach Tree” theme. I am really loving the colors in the peach tree themed ornament best, and now want to crochet something else with these colors sometime. A note about the pattern: I made the popcorn stitches using four double crochet stitches for each. Popcorn stitches are traditionally made with three to five double crochet stitches. Christmas Tree Baubles Colors (using Impeccable® Solid Yarn by Loops &…
