What a disaster that had to happen at the end of the year...
My feeling for the victims of the earthquake and tsunami and their families is hard to explain with words. We can help. Let's do that.

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I know it is already new year in Japan so "Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu" to all of you in Japan! *bows* m(_ _)m

I am so grateful that I gained my health back this year and that my family reunited. I just have to say this..... I have the very best husband! Sometimes I think I must have done something really good to deserve this man. LOL
In Oct. 2002, our son and I went to Japan, and I was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He came to Japan in Dec. and commuted to my hospital room everyday for a month. Then he came back to the US alone and worked and worked without his son and wife around. During that time, I was going through chemo, radiation, blood stem cell transplantation, and recovery in Japan, and he either e-mailed me or called me EVERY SINGLE DAY for A YEAR AND A HALF! Finally in June this year, he flew to Japan to pick up me and our son, and now we are back in the States reunited...
My husband makes me laugh whenever I need to, and he is a great, great father. Let me just share with you a cute thing he did just recently. ;D On Christmas eve, he helped our son write a letter to Santa and shot it with a skyrocket! :D It is just one of many cool things he does. (*^_^*)
I just hope next year, I am not going to be a pain for him again.

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I foresee this coming new year will start out exciting and fun for me!
I am joining the thread crochetalong (temporary link) which start around Jan. 7th..... AND..... the Hello Kitty Knitalong!


The knitalong will include sweater, hat, mittens, legwarmers and a handbag which Oslofia designs and you can see some of them at her blog. After checking out her HK projects, you might have figured that some of them are crocheted! ;D I will probably make just some of all the things, but she said that's OK! Yiiipppiieee! I can't wait. (*^^*)

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I wish all of you and your family a HAPPY NEW YEAR! (^^)/~

Getting relaxed

I hope everyone had a wonderful, happy Christmas! Mine was good with all the food, people, and presents, although I missed my family in Japan a bit. All of my side of family is in Japan, and usually it doesn't bother me much, but especially during holiday season, it hits me a bit. I miss crocheting with Mom and my sister with my son and my little nephew running around in the house. LOL

Well, the Christmas is over, and I feel like I'm finally getting some rest. I've been sick with a cold, and bad migraine hit me last night, but I feel better today. I haven't been able to pick up a crochet hook since I made the wheat doily so not much crocheting news, but I sure have plans for some thread projects! (^^) Actually I have so many patterns I like, I don't know which one to start! Hehe.

Oh and one of the presents Hubby gave me was a....SEWING MACHINE! Yaaayyyy!!! I want to make a crochet hook case and a knitting circular needle case with it! But don't worry friends, sewing cannot take over my passion for crocheting or this blog. ;D

Added ---
Just one more thing I forgot to mention. (^^) It's not crochet related, but yesterday we put away our Christmas tree, and my 4-yr-old son went to pieces. (-_-) He cried and sobbed for about an hour saying "I want Christmas!" hugging the tree box! I felt so bad, I even thought about putting the tree back. Today he is OK. Thank God... I guess we are going to leave the lights outside a bit longer. (^^)

"The Wheat and Grape Doily"

Pattern Source : "The Wheat and Grape Doily" on Celt's Vintage Crochet.
Thread I used : Aunt Lydia Classic Crochet Art. 154   Size 10.
Color : 661 Frosty Green.

This is a big doily that is 26 inches in diameter so it's more like a table center. I did lots of double trebles on this doily. The pattern has some errors and some confusing parts so I can't recommend it to beginner crocheter. (-_-;)

Holiday Projects

Hiya. :D I bet you all were thinking, "Where in the world did Chie go???". LOL
Well, I am through making Christmas gifts, mailed out the ones that had to be mailed, and I only have some wrapping left. (^_^) We put up our Christmas tree, put outside lights and house decorations too.

Here are some of the things I made.

   
The beret pattern is from Coat's & Clark's booklet called "Accessorize!", which I got from my local WM. It has crochet and knitting patterns ONLY for Red Heart's Light & Lofty yarn. I used P hook instead of suggested N hook. It's probably just me, but I can't use this yarn with smaller hooks than P. (^^; The mini scarf is made with repeating HDC row and DC row.

I used Toe-Up Crochet Socks pattern to make the mini stocking ornament. The yarn is Lion Brand's Chenille Think & Quick in Scarlet 113 and white Fun Fur. I'd like to thank wonderful Sharon to make this ornament possible. *bows*

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Now it's time for me to plan Christmas meal! It's always a bit frustrating because I am not so familiar with traditional American holiday dishes. You see, sushi or tempura for Christmas is just so... improper (or not?)! LOL This year, I am planning on making lots of sweets, and I am definitely making this, this, and this! Yummy, yummy... (=^_^=) Cara is a talented knitter & crocheter who uses both yarn and thread!

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I am very excited about upcoming Crochetville thread crochet CAL(temporary link) which is going to start around Jan. 7th 2005! In fact, I'm too excited I couldn't help but to start making a doily with this pattern from Celt's Vintage Crochet, and it is almost finished. To be honest, I cannot recommend this pattern to beginner crocheters just because there are some errors on the pattern, and the doily on the picture cannot be accomplished just by following the pattern. (-_-;) There is an error on the 1st row so it's confusing at the very beginning. But with some experience of making doilies, the error shouldn't be hard to correct. Celt's Vintage Crochet has tons of BEAUTIFUL thread crochet patterns, and I love it!
Hopefully next time, I will be able to post a picture of my finished doily. (^_-)*

Getting ready for the holiday

Finished -
So far, I have made 5 scarves, 2 pairs of socks, 3 ornaments, 1 dishcloth, and 2 hats! I am going to post pictures of them probably... next week. (^_-)*

Future project -
I so want to make a doily for myself. Pattern is already picked out, and I got thread for it, too. (^_^) I can't wait to start on it.

In progress -
I've been trying to knit a vest for Hubby, but I ripped it twice already, and I have to start all over again for the third time. (>_<) Oh, and another dog sweater is also in progress...

Yes, I have been crocheting and knitting madly, but I'm not tired of it. LOL I can feel that my eyes are getting tired though... They get really dry and painful sometimes, and I just can't keep looking at the monitor too long without having a headache. As long as I keep my eyedrops and massager (Hubby bought me last week. Isn't he wonderful? Hehe.) very closely, I am fine. (^_^)