Pull Tab Crochet

Recycling is always good, making something useful and sometimes, even beautiful out of an object that would have been thrown away otherwise. . .It is wonderful when you can combine creativity with recicling.
Pull Tab Crochet is one of those unique combinations.
Yes, I'm talking about the pull tabs in soda cans and other cans. You can crochet with them and create a large variety of items, such as doilies, placemats, belts , dog collars and leashes, coasters, tote bags and even clothing!
If you have never heard of Pull Tab Crochet, let me give you a basic start.
I will give you one of the simplest of patterns and try to illustrate it step by step.
Once you get the idea, your creativity and the amount of pull tabs you can get your hands on are your only limitation!
This is my own pattern for a simple flower coaster
Materials: Scraps of crochet thread #10 crochet thread, at least 6 soda can pull tabs, crochet hook size 1.

Instructions:
With scrap size 10 cotton thread of your choice and hook No.1, Ch 6, slip st to form ring. Ch2, then inside ring make 23 hdc. Ch2. Turn.1 Hdc in same space as ch2, 2 hdc in each space all around until you reach the last 6 sts, make1 hd in each. Fasten off.












Take 1 of the pull tabs and with two threads held together, begin to sc on the side of the upper portion of the lower ring of the tab. Continuing straight up, edging the upper ring of the tab. Go all around until you meet the beginning level on the other side of the tab. Fasten off.

Repeat with all pull tabs.











You can test to see how your flower will look.














Now take the centre you had made and with the front facing, lay a crocheted pull tab on top, aligning with the upper edge, sc through the back loop of the pull tab and both loops of the centre round with two threads held togehter, 3 times (3 sc). Slip st on next 3 st, then attach the next crocheted pull tab as before, rep. across.You can leave it as is and fasten off or you can do a row of shells all around on the lower portion of the rings.
As you can see, you join them with the silver portion around the centre of the flower or facing outward or viceversa.
This flower could be used for anything, a coaster, a fridgie. . .You can do many variations of this simple pattern. Now, what I have given you could very well be the start of something. If you continue crocheting, you can make the front of a purse. How about a sturdy market bag or a tote to carry your crochet in? It is all up to your imagination!

Enjoy yourself!

"Once I thought to find on earth
Love, perfect and complete.
Now I know it carries wounds
In its hands and feet."
--Anna Hempstead Branch






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Rendezvous in Space

A Little Bit of my Weaving

I would like to share a bit of my weaving.




I became interested in card weaving years ago but didn't start on it till last year when I researched it more, obtained some patterns and built my own loom with three pieces of 2x4s a few screws and a few braces to wrap the fibers around. Got an artist's drawing pad (they have a heavy very resilient weight of paper), made my cards following instructions from a book and started. All I really had to buy was the thread, I used mostly ·3 crochet thread because it is thicker and the pattern shows more, and a shuttle to wrap the threads and togo in and out of my rows as I turned the cards which swing from their own threads in "clothesline-style" arrangement in the loom. I have thought about buying a heddle so that I could make scarfs, but honestly, I haven't had the time nor the money, so for now, it is narrow stuff.

Here are some of my efforts.












These could be used as handles for crocheted totes, they could become belts or even dog leashes!











Hope you like them.

_____________________


It's He Who Plods Along

It isn't those who start the race
That see the victor's flag.
It isn't those who surge ahead,
And then begin to lag.
It isn't he who brags the most
Of what he'll do or dare,
Nor even those who look the best,
When runners you compare.

No, friend, the winner in the race,
Is he who plods along;
That sets a pace and never flags,

No matter what goes wrong.

Though other men may surge ahead,
He knows naught of defeat.
But plodding steadily, he finds
That victory is sweet.

So, we are runners in life's race,
And each can surely win.
But if we fall, we must get up,
And start right in again.
It isn't he who starts so well
That wins the victor's cup,
But he who labors on and on,
And never will give up.


Warren Wilson, 1969.








It is no disgrace to stumble or fall, but to remain down.


If you feel a little down sometimes and would like a meaningful lift, not just empty words, visit this site, it has inspired many!

http://www.frontiernet.net/~rexfam/kingfam1_001.htm


Take care and let creativity keep rolling!

Running in the Rain. . .

My aunt sent me this true story and I thought it was so beautiful I wanted to share it.

The Rain

A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in Target. She must have
been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence.
It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout.
We all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the Target.

We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day.
I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world.
Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.

The little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in "Mom let's run through the rain," she said.
"What?" Mom asked.

"Lets run through the rain!" She repeated.

"No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit," Mom replied.

This young child waited about another minute and repeated: "Mom, let's run through the rain,"

"We'll get soaked if we do," Mom said.

"No, we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning," the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm.

This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?

"Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, 'If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!"

The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain.
We all stood silently.
No one came or left in the next few minutes.

Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say.
Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said.
But this was a moment of affirmat ion in a young child's life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.

"Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If GOD let's us get wet, well maybe we just needed washing," Mom said.

Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles.
They held their shopping bags over their heads just in case.
They got soaked.
But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars.

And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.

Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health But no one can ever take away your precious memories...So, don't forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories everyday. To everything there is a season and a time to every p urpose under heaven.
I HOPE YOU STILL TAKE THE TIME TO RUN THROUGH THE RAIN.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them.
Take the time to live!!!

God can help you though anything. A friend of mine whose little baby girl was born a very short time ago is going into remission of a cancer that could have killed him, he has clung to God all the way through. . .Don't have regrets remember to express your love to those who love you and your kindnessto those who dont. . Keep in touch with your friends, you never know when you'll need each other -- and don't forget to run in the rain!

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Amazing Wonders of Creation

I also want to share some work in progress.
Hand embroidered crochet. Cross stitch over crochet lattice.

Is Your Little Hut on Fire?

When Your Hut's On Fire. . ."

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him.
Every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect himself from the elements, and to store his few possessions.
One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to fund his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up towards the sky. He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost.
He was stunned with disbelief, grief and anger.
He cried out, "God! How could you do this to me?" Early the next day, he was awakened
by the sound of a ship approaching the island! It had come to rescue him!"
How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers.
"We saw your smoke signal,! they replied.
Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground, it may just
be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God.




I've been doing beading crochet lately and enjoying it more than in the past. Choose a size of bead that will be "comfortable" for your thread size, or the bead will droop downward and sort of dance in the thread, a good size bead for crochet ·10 is Size 6, also size "E" beads.
I have been using some of those and they are easier to thread than the tiny Delicas.


A free recipe you might enjoy:


Vegan Oat Burgers

2 1/2 cups boiling vegetable broth (your recipe)
1 tsp. sweet paprika powder
2 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. Italian Seasoning
1 bsp. chicken-style seasoning
1 cup pulverized sunflower seeds
3 cups quick oats
Salt to taste
1 stalk celery chopped
1 Tbsp. fresh parsley, minced

Take a little bit of the broth and process the celery and the parsley until smooth in a blender or food processor.
Pour the rest of the boiling broth over the quick oats and the seasonings. Add the blended parsley and celery, let is all soak until the oars are soft, mix well. Form burgers and brown on both sides in a barely oiled skillet.
Yield depends on size of burgers.

Take care!

















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Alone in The Crowd