Challah Cover

My Dearest DD,

On Friday evenings at sundown we welcome the Sabbath by lighting candles, drinking wine, eating challah, and reciting special prayers. I crocheted this challah cover many years ago when your mother was still a young girl. I used filet crochet thread and a steel size 5 filet crochet needle. I call this style "positive" because the letters are solid and the background is open. The Hebrew word is Shabbot and is read from right to left.

I no longer use this challah cover, but keep it in my curio with the other Shabbot elements. This cover will go with your mother when she is ready for it, and then to you my darling.

With all of my heart, Goodie

Pink Mittens for Eden

My Dearest DD,

I have completed your pink mittens and you will get them just in time for Chanukah! I hope you enjoy them my darling.

With all of my heart, Goodie

Recycled Oven Mit

I find it difficult to throw away anything that still has some life left in it. I suppose that means Big Daddy is safe!

Before...

 These actually don't look as bad in the photo as they really are stained and scorched.

After...

 Big Daddy likes to use these and thinks I am just so smart for covering them.

Scrubbing Octopus

My Dearest DD,

This is a towashi pattern that I modified from Chicken Betty's pattern a little to suit my wants and desires. I wants clean dishes and I desires my fangers unharmed in the process!

When your Pop Pop saw this beauty sit'n so perky next to the kitchen sink, he named it the Octopus. It has 12 sections and comes nearer to resembling a star fish or a sand dollar in my opinion, but he named it and the name stuck. 

The link to Chicken Betty's pattern is at the bottom of the page.

 No more little steel fibers in my fangers...

 I can scrub like the Dickens and the steel wool will not destroy my nails.

http://chickenbetty.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/2-sided-spiral-tawashi-pattern.pdf

With all of my heart, Goodie

Toe Wash Hee

My Dearest DD,

There are many styles of towashi on the web, this is my favorite.  The link to the pattern is at the bottom of the page.  

 A real fanger saver!

http://trametes1971.blogspot.com/2009/03/bilderkurs-tawashi.html

With all of my heart, Goodie

Dish Rags

My Dearest DD,

   

I use the scraps (left-over yarn from other projects) to hook up quick projects like these dishrags. I prefer my dishrags to store bought ones. They last longer, clean very well, and I MADE THEM!

With all of my heart, Goodie

Shabbat Shalom

My Dearest DD,

I am excited about teaching you more about the holy days. I have begun working on your siddur. 

I just finished a new hand-washing rag and towel trim that we use during the Friday evening worship.

It is very difficult to see the stitches in these photos. The towel is white and the trim is blue (the colors of Israel). I used a size k knitting needle and a steel size 6 filet crochet needle to create this broomstick lace.

Soon, you will be using these items yourself my darling.

With all of my heart, Goodie

Mizrah

My Dearest DD,

You will recognize the mizrah in the photo as the very same one that has been placed on Goodie's east wall in Enid and now in Temple. Mizrah (Hebrew: "east") is the direction to be faced during prayer. It is our custom to hang an ornament to help each member of the family to remember to pray and to face east while praying.

The mizrah in my living room was crocheted when your mother was expecting you and will someday be yours for your very own home. I used a size 8 steel filet crochet needle and beige filet thread. The style is what I call negative which only means that the letters are open and the background is solid. 

Hebrew words are read from right to left. This word is Shalom. Shalom is what I pray for my family.

This mizrah was carved by your Pop Pop and is one of my special treasures.

With all of my heart, Goodie

Name Doily - PHILLIPS

My Dearest DD,

For many years I was able to earn extra money by crocheting name doilies. I started out making them for gifts because I could afford to purchase the threads much more easily than I could to purchase a gift. My next name doily project is to make one for you, your Charles, and SpidarMan (Xander).

This is one (Phillips) that I made for my mother...

With all of my heart, Goodie

Ballerina Purse for Eden

My Dearest DD,

I just finished sewing in the lining of the ballerina purse that I crocheted just for you. I saw a sewn ballerina purse that was much larger for an adult and decided you had to have one too. I will get it in the mail as soon as I complete your Charles' blue bunny.

 

 This is the front of the purse, Uncle Kody is holding it up so that I can get a good picture of it for you.

The tool is layered using white, pink and purple 

 Even the lining is pink! 

I used a bandana with little dancers on it to line your purse... close up view >

I hope you enjoy your ballerina purse my Darling.

With all of my heart, Goodie

Eden Purse

My Dearest DD,

You are my passionate pink girlie girl and although the name of the yarn is Rose, it made me think of my darling. 

I rarely follow a pattern. Most of the time I just make it up as I go, or reproduce something I have seen in a photo, or have dreamed about (yes, I do dream about designs for clothes, purses, jewelry, and organizing). Eden began when I saw the yarn while shopping for materials intended for my next project. I started with a size 19 knitting needle and a size H crochet needle to create a grid of (10) broomstick lace scallops (chain 51, groups of 5 loops, 5 sc in each scallop).

 The purse is not lined yet. I have not been so struck by any fabric yet. I may wait until you come to visit and let you pick out the appropriate fabric.

With all of my heart, Goodie

Megen David Motif

My Dearest DD,

I am working on Magen David motifs for the kitchen window toppers. I am constructing each of the motifs with you in mind and some day when you have your own kitchen, these will be yours.

With all of my heart, Goodie

Charlie's Blue Bunny

My Dearest DD,

I have started a blue bunny for your Charles. I have not decided on how to finish the face yet, but I do not think button eyes are in order.  I miss you, Charlie and Mommy so much.

With all of my heart, Goodie

Purple Promise Purse

My Dearest DD,

Just as you are my pink girlie girl, your mother is my purple princess. The purse I am working on I have dedicated to her as she has been my most ferocious cheerleader. The purse is constructed from reclaimed yarn that I began making while sitting in my car waiting for your Uncle Steven to get out of driver's ed class. I almost finished the sweater but stopped because I was disappointed that I had made it so large. Oh, the sweater would have fit me alright. I hid the sweater and started working very hard to lose weight. I did too, a whopping 150 pounds. Your mother was my inspiration and my champion. When I get discouraged she always threatens to dig up old photos to remind me of what I was and what I can do.

 I believe that this is also the same color of purple that you call "Grandma Purple".

 

  

 I still need to line the purse. I hope to have it completed before your visit.

With all of my heart, Goodie

Hound's Tooth Purse

I picked up several bandana's at Hobby Lobby to use for lining some of my purses and used a black and white polka-dot bandana to line this purse. All I have left to do with this one is to add a zipper.

 

 

I will pick up zippers for several of my purses soon.