Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Brucemore Bluebells for December (Stashdown A-Z)

For December's project I'm sort of cheating.  The pattern name is Tread Softly, a KAL hosted by Mandyzmoon, but I am going by my project's name which was inspired by the woodland theme of the KAL and a photo I took at Brucemore, a mansion in Cedar Rapids which was donated to the people of CR by the last owner.

Stash Down A-Z

I joined a new group in October on Ravelry.  Created by Bungalow312, this group is dedicated to working through our stash and our Ravelry queues.  Yes, we have admitted that we need to do something about it, one letter at a time.  Starting with A in November 2011 we will work through the alphabet finishing at least one project a month.

I am very proud of my November finished project:  The 10 year Aran Cardi.  I started spinning the yarn for this project about 10 years ago from a friend's Corriedale sheep wool which she combed for me.  I began the designing and knitting about 4 years ago, then it "rested" for a while before I began seriously knitting on it as part of another Ravelry group dedicated to finishing projects.  I love the pewter polar bear buttons which I used on a sweater in College and am now recylcing here.


Link to my Ravelry project page to find out more. ARAN CARDI
(you do have to be a Ravelry member to check it out)

Especially for You - written October 10, 2011

For the past several years, the beginning of October signifies a Sunday morning walk with thousands of other people.  Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids runs the Especially for You race and walk to supply mammograms and other services to local women who would not be able to afford them.

For years I've walked as part of a team, but last year I walked with my mom alone and didn't see anyone I knew.  Which for me was just as well.  It was an emotional day since I had recently been diagnosed with breast cancer.

It was great this year to be part of a team again.  This time from my shop with 26 others.  This was also my first time to be part of the survivors' photo.  It is alternately horrible and wonderful to be part of that large group.  A little over a year ago I didn't know how large this group was, I really knew very little about cancer.  I've learned so much.  For example, it is not an insurmountable monolith.  There are not only different cancers there are different breast cancers and I am thankful for the dedicated doctors we have in Cedar Rapids who work with so many to fight this disease in all it's forms.

This year we part of a group 16,000 strong.  It feels good to not have to stand and walk alone.