Slippers for Valla

In 2010, while in Ukraine, I made slippers for a sweet old lady at an adult mental institution. He name was Valla. A couple months later I blogged about it here. This is what I shared:

Most of the time we ministered in an adult handicapped home. We were at the facility most of the time but we also took them to outings to the beach a couple of times. We also go to visit the teen dorms, new mother dorms, baby orphanage, and children’s handicapped facility. There are only about 15 ladies at the adult handicapped home, and 300 men. One of these ladies is named Valla. From what I heard after, she had talked to almost everyone on our team (through a translator) and it just happened to be me who she talked to when she said she needed new slippers, because the ones she was wearing were getting old and had holes in them. I told her I would make some new ones and bring them to her next time I saw her. So I was able to go back to our apartment that night and crochet her a pair of slippers. I brought them to her the next day, and she loved them and kept saying how beautiful they were. It was so special to me that I was able to see what my hobby could do in the life of one of the lost and forgotten of Ukraine. I hope they fit her as she didn’t try them on as she was saving them for winter.

That was 2.5 years ago. Assuming she was wearing them all winter (or year) long, they would have been long worn out by now. When I heard that the mom of the kids I am staying with was going to that institution while she was in Ukraine, I knew I had to make Valla new slippers and send them with Stephanie. (She is in the same city I was, and I was at also the orphanage their new little guy is at.)

Here is Sasha (a sweet guy with Ds I also met at the institution, Valla, and Stephanie (the mom). It sounds like she really liked them... Stephanie said: Valla got her slippers today. She wouldn't let go of my hand. The boy in the photo has a toothache. His face is even swollen. Pray for these lovely people please.

It breaks my heart. They have nothing, and no hope. I can't be in there in person to minister to them and show them the love of Jesus, but I am soo blessed to be able to show Valla and others that they are loved in this small way and keep their feet warm.

"Preach the gospel always, when necessary use words." - St. Francis of Assisi 

He likes my hat.

For those of you who don't follow my other blog... I am back in KS with the family I was with in December. I'm back because their mama had to go back and bring home their new brother for good!!! This little man is one of the little ones I'm taking care of.

He likes my hat. He was smiling like crazy kept putting it back on when he would take it off. Love him!

So, not that it hasn't been, but forgive me if my blogging is a bit sparse in the next few weeks. I am getting lots of crocheting done for some reason (I can't figure it out!), but not much worth blogging about or anything DONE enough to blog about. :)

But.. one of the other little ones found my camera yesterday, and so here is a rarely seen picture of a work in progress. ;)

If you want, you can follow along on my other blog - What it Means to Love.

Little Lion

A friend of ours asked me to make a lion hat for her little one's lion themed birthday. It was fun to make and a pain to make at the same time, but she really liked it, and he is absolutely ADORABLE in it, so it was worth it.

Love this little man!! Can't believe he is one already!!

Only for you, Dax

I promised myself I would never again take custom orders for Angry Bird hats. I had to break that promise when I was asked to make one for Dax.

Only for you Daxy. Only for you.

Smile!

Smile, because Jesus loves you!

And I'm smiling because this order is done! :)

Finished Saturday: Hats for Steve and Sam

About the only thing that comes to mind right now that I finished by myself this week without any part of it done by Rachel (she did part of the pumpkin hat) are these two hats for Steve and Shad Clanton. Maybe I should post stuff she and I worked on together anyways because she isn't posting FF herself?? Hmm.... And I should really start calling it Finished for the Clanton's, not Finished Friday!

Made the pattern up for both.. very simple, nothing fancy. The challenge getting them close enough the my guess of the right size, which it is a problem with beanies like this and why I usually don't make them.

Me posing with Steve's on... I told Steve he was lucky he even got it , because I did NOT want to take it off to send it, I loved it so much!

Tried a new stripe technique - white sc, black sc, white dc, black sc, and white sc, instead of what I did for the other two hats - a round of dc in the contrasting color, a row of dc in the main color, and a row or dc in the contrasting color. It was meant to be more like his coat (see below), and I really how it turned out!

So did they like them?? Umm... judging from this pic, and the fact their mom asked me already if they were machine washable already (they only got them yesterday), because they aren't taking them off - I would guess yes! :)

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If you would like to join me in this Finished Friday quest to finish projects... please blog about your project(s) you have finished the past week on Friday's, and come back here and leave a comment with your blog link. If this is successful, in the future I might set up a linky list you can join. Projects do not have to be projects you procrastinated on, they can be anything, sewing/crocheting/knitting or any other fiber art, and they need to be FINISHED! :)

Bloggers currently blogging FF frequently with me are: 
Brianna - http://briannascreativecrochet.com/

Can't wait to see your projects!

My Little Pumpkin Munchkin!

I just finished a pumpkin hat for an order! And I'm very grateful to my little pumpkin munchkin for modeling it for me! :)

Is he not the cutest!?! Love him!

The pattern I based it off of can be found here @ nothing's creative anymore. (I never follow any pattern exactly, and the fact I followed this one as close as I did without making major alterations is a huge compliment! ;)) 

It was very easy to make (not saying it was super quick, but it didn't take forever!), and very easy to adjust the pattern to the right size.

Happy October!

Finished Friday - Hats Galore

I skipped last week, because, frankly, I didn't have anything done! I had a ton of projects ALMOST done, so I have a lot of HATS to share this week with you! :)

Preemie Baby Bluebird Hats for twin baby girls in the NICU. :)

I can't take all the credit for these - Rachel and I made them together! :)

Angry Bird Hat for an order that's long overdue... Rachel also helped me make the facial features on this one, and mom sewed the eyes on (I have yet to figure out the blanket stitch!)!

Side-view

Hat's for the Clanton "twins"!

Sam and Sarah - Love these two!! So adorable! They were born half a world apart, to different biological parents (Sarah is adopted), but look how much they look alike!

Sarah's Hat

Sam's Hat

Yvonne (the "twins" mommy) shared this adorable picture of her and Sarah!

I also finally got these two Angry Bird Hats done.... and again, I can't take all the credit as Rachel did most of the facial parts, and actually she did the main parts done as well.... I just sewed them together. (Which is the reason why I HATE making these - sewing them together!)

And a bluebird hat that was for an order until they changed their mind on sizes. ;)

I also have a football have almost done.. it's missing the stitches, and am working on several other hats, but you'll have to wait until next week to see those! :)

It's hat season! Happy Friday!

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If you would like to join me in this Finished Friday quest to get rid of all the half finished projects we all have... please blog about your project(s) you have finished the past week on Friday's, and come back here and leave a comment with your blog link. If this is successful, in the future I might set up a linky list you can join. Projects do not have to be projects you procrastinated on, they can be anything, sewing/crocheting/knitting or any other fiber art, and they need to be FINISHED! :)

Bloggers currently blogging FF frequently with me are: 
Brianna - http://briannascreativecrochet.com/

Can't wait to see your projects!

Finished Friday - Slippers (again)

Well, I'm home form NY (as of yesterday!)!! I didn't get too much done at the airport/on the plane, when I wasn't too tried to crochet or read I was reading this book, it's SOO good! (Thanks Summer!!) So anyways, all I got done this week was another pair of slippers.

Last time they were for Yvonne, this time they are for Steve, Yvonne's son, and Selah's big brother. I forgot to take a picture before I sent them... thankfully Yvonne sent me one. So now I have a picture to blog! :)

His feet are quite large, so I was a challenge getting them big enough and still keeping them the right proportions, but it looks like they fit! :)


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If you would like to join me in this Finished Friday quest to get rid of all the half finished projects we all have... please blog about your project(s) you have finished the past week on Friday's, and come back here and leave a comment with your blog link. If this is successful, in the future I might set up a linky list you can join. Projects do not have to be projects you procrastinated on, they can be anything, sewing/crocheting/knitting or any other fiber art, and they need to be FINISHED! :)

Bloggers currently blogging FF frequently with me are: 
Brianna - http://briannascreativecrochet.com/

Can't wait to see your projects!

Finished Friday - Slippers

Again, not a project that I have been putting off for a long time, but never the less, it's done! And get this!! The ends are woven in unlike most of my FF post where they are just tucked under!! LOL

I haven't made slippers in a long time! I almost forgot how!! :) These slippers are for Yvonne, Selah's mommy. Clanton's are from Flordia, so being in upstate NY as it's getting colder is a little hard for them to adjust too. Plus Yvonne says they keep it really cold in Selah's room to keep her a good temp.


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If you would like to join me in this Finished Friday quest to get rid of all the half finished projects we all have... please blog about your project(s) you have finished the past week on Friday's, and come back here and leave a comment with your blog link. If this is successful, in the future I might set up a linky list you can join. Projects do not have to be projects you procrastinated on, they can be anything, sewing/crocheting/knitting or any other fiber art, and they need to be FINISHED! :)

Bloggers currently blogging FF frequently with me are: 
Brianna - http://briannascreativecrochet.com/

Can't wait to see your projects!

Finished Friday - Lyla's Hat

I mentioned I was in NY for a couple weeks last Finished Friday, but didn't really explain why. I am here helping to provide childcare for an adopting family as Mama goes back to get baby Lyla. I've been blogging about my time here on my other blog, but there's something I want to share with you craft related! :)

Yesterday Lyla had her "Gotcha" day, which means her mama got her out of the orphanage forever!!! They'll be home in about a week, after they finish up all the paperwork and get her passport and stuff, but look what she got to wear for her gotcha day!!!!

Along with that adorable outfit, a hat I got to make!! :) Summer was looking at a hat that was similar at the store the day before she left, but it wasn't the right size. I told her I would make one (thank goodness I happened to bring along the right colors for another project!!), and was able to customize the colors and size a little bit more, as well as adding the heart. :)

The hot glue I used to glue on the heart got a little messy, but otherwise I'm really happy with how it turned out! :)

I've been too busy loving on the babies here to do anything else!!
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If you would like to join me in this Finished Friday quest to get rid of all the half finished projects we all have... please blog about your project(s) you have finished the past week on Friday's, and come back here and leave a comment with your blog link. If this is successful, in the future I might set up a linky list you can join. Projects do not have to be projects you procrastinated on, they can be anything, sewing/crocheting/knitting or any other fiber art, and they need to be FINISHED! :)

Bloggers currently blogging FF frequently with me are: 
Brianna - http://briannascreativecrochet.com/

Can't wait to see your projects!

Finished Friday - A Hat and more Starfish

I skipped last Friday's Finished Friday for two reasons - because I was gone, and also because I didn't have anything done to blog about! I've been in sort of a crocheting funk since fair, I have to sit down and make myself crochet, which I haven't been finding time for.

However, I crocheted basically all day yesterday, and I did a lot (compared to normal these days) today. Reason being, yesterday morning I left for the airport, and didn't arrive here in NY until 12 hrs later. (You can read more about my trip here on my other blog.) Between going to and from the airport, flights, and layovers, it provides for a lot of crocheting time when I don't have another choice of activity! :)

Soo here's what I got done in the past 48 hrs!

- A hat for sweet baby A!

It's missing the flower....

- And 4 rainbow starfish! (You can read more about the starfish dishcloths in my two previous posts!)

Yes, I know there's only 3 here... one is not pictured. ;)


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If you would like to join me in this Finished Friday quest to get rid of all the half finished projects we all have... please blog about your project(s) you have finished the past week on Friday's, and come back here and leave a comment with your blog link. If this is successful, in the future I might set up a linky list you can join. Projects do not have to be projects you procrastinated on, they can be anything, sewing/crocheting/knitting or any other fiber art, and they need to be FINISHED! :)

Bloggers currently blogging FF frequently with me are: 
Brianna - http://briannascreativecrochet.com/

Can't wait to see your projects!

Finished Friday - Starfish and a Lilypad - and a Prayer Request

If you would like to join me in this Finished Friday quest to get rid of all the half finished projects we all have... please blog about your project(s) you have finished the past week on Friday's, and come back here and leave a comment with your blog link. If this is successful, in the future I might set up a linky list you can join. Projects do not have to be projects you procrastinated on, they can be anything, sewing/crocheting/knitting or any other fiber art, and they need to be FINISHED! :)

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Compared to all I got done last week, this week's Finished Friday is a little pathetic, but it's better than nothing, right?

This week I made several more of these Starfish....

And one Starfish in a different color....

I used Sugar'n'Cream self striping cotton... not too happy with how it striped out, but it'll take forever to get it so it's perfect! :)

And this Lilypad!

I had made this lilypad dishcloth quite awhile ago, but finished it up to the last 5 stitches for some reason, then it ripped out some more being stored. When I found it looking for something else, I pulled it out and finished it so I would have something that I've been procrastinating on for Finished Friday. :)

You can buy the blue, green, and white starfish, and the lilypad here and here if you would like, and 100% of the sale will go to help Lilly find a family!

I have also listed many more items on our blog, and are listing many more daily, so go check it out with the new dropdown menu (that I spent hours on) under "SHOP" over at our blog "Handiwork for Lilly". :)

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Also can I ask you to pray for this sweet princess???

Her name is Selah, and she has been in a terrible accident and nearly drowned. She is fighting for her life, and really NEEDS PRAYERS!!! You can read more and read updates over at my other blog.

Finished Friday - A Bag, a Skirt, Dishcloths, a Frog, a Bluebird, a Bag, and a Starfish

If you would like to join me in this Finished Friday quest to get rid of all the half finished projects we all have... please blog about your project(s) you have finished the past week on Friday's, and come back here and leave a comment with your blog link. If this is successful, in the future I might set up a linky list you can join. Projects do not have to be projects you procrastinated on, they can be anything, sewing/crocheting/knitting or any other fiber art, and they need to be FINISHED! :)

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This post is everything that I got done for Fair after my last Finished Friday! :) So in other words, you've seen all these pictures, except the last one.

And my newest project came as an inspiration from the newest "craze" in the Reece's Rainbow orphan advocating community - A starfish dishcloth. In rainbow colors. The Rainbow Starfish Dishcloth. My only brilliant idea of the century. ;)

I've kept it a secret from all but one person outside my family, until the big reveal... which happened today over at Handiwork for Lilly, where the first starfish went up for sale. These are a specialty item, only for a limited time, so go get yours today (more being listed soon!).

If you haven't heard the story of the starfish, here is is -

A young girl was walking along a beach upon which thousands of starfish had been washed up during a terrible storm. When she came to each starfish, she would pick it up, and throw it back into the ocean. People watched her with amusement.

She had been doing this for some time when a man approached her and said, "Little girl, why are you doing this? Look at this beach! You can't save all these starfish. You can't begin to make a difference!"

The girl seemed crushed, suddenly deflated. But after a few moments, she bent down, picked up another starfish, and hurled it as far as she could into the ocean. Then she looked up at the man and replied,

"Well, I made a difference to that one!"

The old man looked at the girl inquisitively and thought about what she had done and said. Inspired, he joined the little girl in throwing starfish back into the sea. Soon others joined, and all the starfish were saved.

The same goes in the world of orphan advocating. There are 147 million orphans. It's impossible for one person to save them all, but we can all make a different to one. And little by little it will add up!

And buying a dishcloth (or any other item) from my other blog - a starfish or not, will make a difference to a little starfish, that little starfish being Miss Lilly, who is still waiting for a forever family to make a difference for her.