http://bonne131313.blogspot.com/

REDIRECT LINK TO BLOG

Switching to New Address

I'm switching my email addy over to a Gmail address, so in order to properly log into my blog, I've had to transfer my blog linked to my MSN addy over to a new blog address. Details!! argghhh.....
anyway, my Blog Address will have 1 more "13" in the title:


http://bonne131313.blogspot.com/

Hopefully I'll get busy posting more regularly, due to popular demand....lol

FB

I'm finding it infinitely easier to stay in touch with friends on Facebook , so have let my blog wane I'm afraid. Join me on FB, my username is Bonne Campbell if you aren't already a friend over there. :)
http://www.facebook.com

Free Sewing Patterns

I've been searching around for a fleece sock pattern and happened upon this site:
http://www.angelfire.com/planet/mcshelpsite/sewingstuff/freepatterns.html/#adultclothes Lots of sewing patterns for a variety of items

By the way, this is the sock pattern that made the most sense to me:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Socks/

This one is similar and gives some dimensions: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf36786850.tip.html
The dimensions I came up with that work best for me (sz 9-10) is~
Vamp: 6"x 15-16" round corners on toe end narrowing it
Sole: 6"x 10-11" round all corners
Heel: 6"x8" round the corners on heel end where it meets the sole

You can further tailor these pieces as desired~look at "Rachel's" 1st comment/pictures on the Instructables site. It takes cutting out a basic pattern and adjusting it here and there for your foot. These are my pattern pieces.


Here's another pattern/template variation: http://www.ehow.com/way_5312089_homemade-fleece-socks.html

Merry Halloween!!!

Eddy playing the spirit board


Jessica's (Hectichousehold) daughter, Carmen, sent me a kit last year to make a wool purse. I didn't get to the purse, but instead used the yarn to fashion this crocheted hat. I love how it self-stripes. "Thanks Carmen!" :)
Kelley, (Braidenstone's Parlour) made me the awesome turquoise necklace and my sister gave me the cashmere blend sweater recently. I'm just wrapped up with good energies.

Swearing In

My son had his swearing-in ceremony on Friday. Officially working for the Greeley PD now.

this one was made with a dk wt. lavender yarn & "Sensations, Angel Hair" novelty yarn (Joann's)

Witchy Hat

Witchy Hats~WIP

It's "Witchy Hats" time again.....I'm starting on a Fall-themed one here in crochet. Once it gets big enough to fit on my head I'll make a floppy brim~stay tuned....
I start with a chain 3-make into a ring-sc twice in each stitch for a round-then alternate with working each round even/doing * increases* as for regular flat circular crochet to give it a conical shape. I used a "J" hook with 2 strands of worsted wt yarns~thick enough for it to hold it's shape and not flop over too much. Once it's large enough for your skull start the brim:
round1: 2sc, 1 in each stitch 5 times, repeat
round2: work even
round3: 2sc, 1 in each stitch 6 times, repeat
round4: work even
round5: 2sc, 1 in each stitch 7 times, repeat
round6: work even
round7: 2sc, 1 in each stitch 8 times, repeat
round 8: work even
round 9: slip stitch all stitches

*increases for flat circle*-
round 1 - 2 sc in stitch , 1 sc , repeat
round 2- 2 sc in stitch, 1 sc, 1sc, repeat
round 3- 2 sc in stitch, 1 sc, 1 sc, 1sc, repeat
continue increasing the 1sc in subsequent rounds-if it gets wavy, work 1 round even , no increases. It it cups, in needs more stitches.

Kids Making Quilts

What an awesome project!! Kids put such great energy into things they make~this was the ideal project for them to donate their efforts to, IMO.

Donating Yarn (and Fabric and sewing machines!)

I saw this article in an eastern Colorado paper I subscribe to, and my stepson works at the prison, so I decided to rustle up some yarn I could easily spare to donate to their program. The inmates crochet & knit for local hospitals and nursing homes~worthy cause. Something you may want to ck into in your own community~keeps people busy with good things. I contacted the unit mgr about other things they needed, and they are thinking of getting into doing quilting, but needed to get supplies. I got busy and cleaned out my fabric drawers and loaded up a spare sewing machine. My neighbor gave me another sewing machine to donate as well.

Continuing the Walk

Ketring Lake


Old Schoolhouse


Pumpkin Patch
Sheep
1860's farmstead


1890's farmstead



The Littleton Historical Musuem is a short walk from our house, so we frequent it often, though not as often as when the boys were young. Fun place to walk through, as it has both 1860's and 1890's farmsteads on it with the original buildings from Colorado farms.

Meet the Neighbors

a



Red and I went for a mid-day walk through the park a couple blks from our house and veered off the path to check out a berry bush. Well, we inadvertently flushed out a coyote den. The pair went opposite directions but circled back to it so we figured they must have some kids in there too. If you click on the pics you can see them near the path or off in the distance in the center of the pic~they're pretty well camo'd to the dry grasses

Faces of Halloween

Halloween's a'coming

This is one of my favorite Halloween hangings~Jessica @ Hectichousehold sent it to me last year. She does the cutest unique little quilts. http://www.flickr.com/photos/hectichousehold/sets/72157613332200192/

This was an important holiday in the old days & is in our DNA from ancestral times, when we were much more tied to the changing seasons and raising our own sustenance.

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Samhain Lore (October 31st)

Samhain, (pronounced SOW-in, SAH-vin, or SAM-hayne) means "End of Summer", and is the third and final Harvest. The dark winter half of the year commences on this Sabbat.

It is generally celebrated on October 31st, but some traditions prefer November 1st. It is one of the two "spirit-nights" each year, the other being Beltane. It is a magical interval when the mundane laws of time and space are temporarily suspended, and the Thin Veil between the worlds is lifted. Communicating with ancestors and departed loved ones is easy at this time, for they journey through this world on their way to the Summerlands. It is a time to study the Dark Mysteries and honor the Dark Mother and the Dark Father, symbolized by the Crone and her aged Consort.

Originally the "Feast of the Dead" was celebrated in Celtic countries by leaving food offerings on altars and doorsteps for the "wandering dead". Today a lot of practitioners still carry out that tradition. Single candles were lit and left in a window to help guide the spirits of ancestors and loved ones home. Extra chairs were set to the table and around the hearth for the unseen guest. Apples were buried along roadsides and paths for spirits who were lost or had no descendants to provide for them. Turnips were hollowed out and carved to look like protective spirits, for this was a night of magic and chaos. The Wee Folke became very active, pulling pranks on unsuspecting humans. Traveling after dark was was not advised. People dressed in white (like ghosts), wore disguises made of straw, or dressed as the opposite gender in order to fool the Nature spirits.

This was the time that the cattle and other livestock were slaughtered for eating in the ensuing winter months. Any crops still in the field on Samhain were considered taboo, and left as offerings to the Nature spirits. Bonfires were built, (originally called bone-fires, for after feasting, the bones were thrown in the fire as offerings for healthy and plentiful livestock in the New Year) and stones were marked with peoples names. Then they were thrown into the fire, to be retrieved in the morning. The condition of the retrieved stone foretold of that person's fortune in the coming year. Hearth fires were also lit from the village bonfire to ensure unity, and the ashes were spread over the harvested fields to protect and bless the land.

Various other names for this Greater Sabbat are Third Harvest, Samana, Day of the Dead, Old Hallowmas (Scottish/Celtic), Vigil of Saman, Shadowfest (Strega), and Samhuinn. Also known as All Hallow's Eve, (that day actually falls on November 7th), and Martinmas (that is celebrated November 11th), Samhain is now generally considered the Witch's New Year.

Symbolism of Samhain:
Third Harvest, the Dark Mysteries, Rebirth through Death.

Symbols of Samhain:
Gourds, Apples, Black Cats, Jack-O-Lanterns, Besoms.

Herbs of Samhain:
Mugwort, Allspice, Broom, Catnip, Deadly Nightshade, Mandrake, Oak leaves, Sage and Straw.

Foods of Samhain:
Turnips, Apples, Gourds, Nuts, Mulled Wines, Beef, Pork, Poultry.

Incense of Samhain:
Heliotrope, Mint, Nutmeg.

Colors of Samhain:
Black, Orange, White, Silver, Gold.

Stones of Samhain:
All Black Stones, preferably jet or obsidian.

Contest Winner!

I won Kim's contest at http://www.dreamitcrafts.blogspot.com/
Ck out her oneofakind goodies :)

When will they Stop?

My pepper plants are positioned along the southside of the garage, and for some reason the radiant heat has thwarted any freezing that the rest of the garden has suffered. So I'm chopping away the peppers that we picked a few days ago, b/4 I pick the rest . Some of the plants reached almost 5 ft tall this year!

Bryn in the Paper

Bryn's (my son) photo in this week's 9/24 Burlington Record, Burlington, Colorado.
He's doing his FTO training there now.

Mabon and the wind down of Summer

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Mabon
Autumn Equinox, 2nd Harvest, September 21st

Mabon, (pronounced MAY-bun, MAY-bone, MAH-boon, or MAH-bawn) is the Autumn Equinox. The Autumn Equinox divides the day and night equally, and we all take a moment to pay our respects to the impending dark. We also give thanks to the waning sunlight, as we store our harvest of this year's crops. The Druids call this celebration, Mea'n Fo'mhair, and honor the The Green Man, the God of the Forest, by offering libations to trees. Offerings of ciders, wines, herbs and fertilizer are appropriate at this time. Wiccans celebrate the aging Goddess as she passes from Mother to Crone, and her consort the God as he prepares for death and re-birth.

Various other names for this Lesser Wiccan Sabbat are The Second Harvest Festival, Wine Harvest, Feast of Avalon, Equinozio di Autunno (Strega), Alben Elfed (Caledonii), or Cornucopia. The Teutonic name, Winter Finding, spans a period of time from the Sabbat to Oct. 15th, Winter's Night, which is the Norse New Year.

At this festival it is appropriate to wear all of your finery and dine and celebrate in a lavish setting. It is the drawing to and of family as we prepare for the winding down of the year at Samhain. It is a time to finish old business as we ready for a period of rest, relaxation, and reflection.

Symbolism of Mabon:
Second Harvest, the Mysteries, Equality and Balance.

Symbols of Mabon:
wine, gourds, pine cones, acorns, grains, corn, apples, pomegranates, vines such as ivy, dried seeds, and horns of plenty.

Herbs of Maybon:
Acorn, benzoin, ferns, grains, honeysuckle, marigold, milkweed, myrrh, passionflower, rose, sage, solomon's seal, tobacco, thistle, and vegetables.

Foods of Mabon:
Breads, nuts, apples, pomegranates, and vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, and onions.

Incense of Mabon:
Autumn Blend-benzoin, myrrh, and sage.

Colors of Mabon:
Red, orange, russet, maroon, brown, and gold.

Stones of Mabon:
Sapphire, lapis lazuli, and yellow agates.

Activities of Mabon:
Making wine, gathering dried herbs, plants, seeds and seed pods, walking in the woods, scattering offerings in harvested fields, offering libations to trees, adorning burial sites with leaves, acorns, and pine cones to honor those who have passed over.

Spellworkings of Mabon:
Protection, prosperity, security, and self-confidence. Also those of harmony and balance.

Deities of Mabon:
Goddesses-Modron, Morgan, Epona, Persephone, Pamona and the Muses. Gods-Mabon, Thoth, Thor, Hermes, and The Green Man.

Mabon is considered a time of the Mysteries. It is a time to honor Aging Deities and the Spirit World. Considered a time of balance, it is when we stop and relax and enjoy the fruits of our personal harvests, whether they be from toiling in our gardens, working at our jobs, raising our families, or just coping with the hussle-bussle of everyday life. May your Mabon be memorable, and your hearts and spirits be filled to overflowing!

Halloween Quilt

Yesterday I pulled open my "Halloween Fabric" drawer and decided it was time for these prints to be used ....and fast! I cut out and randomly arranged the blocks yesterday and stitched them together today into a quilt top. I plan to back it and bat it with some berber fleece that's just taking up room, then tie it off. More than likely I'll send it out to Eastern CO. The prints aren't too "kidsy"(lots of skeletons), so I think maybe he'll tolerate it. (Thanks Trish, for sending many of the fabrics I used!! ) I cut the blocks large (10") so the project would go quickly, as Fall is fast approaching and I don't want this to turn into a Christmas project.

Here's the finished quilt:
and I couldn't resist making a flannel pillowcase edged with fabric with tiny devils (another Trishie fab!)