Say it with Chocolate and Strawberries

Thinking of buying the one you love some chocolate covered strawberries for Valentines (or any special day).
Stop!
Pop over to Mango & Tomato and make some yourself.
The recipe and procedure is easy.
It'll save you money and last
Nothing says love like something you make yourself.

So, don't buy the gift, make them for your Love.

And The Greatest of These is Love

Happy Valentines Day
Love is patient
love is kind.
It does not envy
It does not boast
It is not proud.
It does not dishonor others
It is not self-seeking
It is not easily angered
It keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Valentine Inspiration

How is your Valentine’s Day plans coming? Are you feeling overwhelmed or underwhelmed by the media? It just bugs me that the media spends so much time focusing on this holiday. Are we really in special relationships just because a BF or DH buys us jewelry at Jared’s or Kay Jewelers? Is your relationship insignificant just because your BF or DH does not celebrate the day along with Hallmark, Jared’s or Kay Jewelers?

I’m doing a One Little Word study this year. This is my second year doing the study. There are several churches around the country doing this type of study. One church has been doing the One Word Study for five years. The idea is that you pick a word and you study what the world thinks the word means and you study what the Bible says about the word.

So, why am I telling you this? Last year my word was Transform. My scripture:
Do not conform to the trappings of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind – Romans 12:2

I adjusted the scripture a little. The Bible does not use the word trappings but I really think that often the world traps us. Like with Valentine’s Day. We’re made to feel inadequate because we don’t have a BF or a DH or if we have a BF or a DH he’s not good enough because he isn’t buying us flashy expensive things.

So, my advice to you: Do not conform to this world and get bogged down and stressed out about Valentine’s Day. Do something for someone else. Take the focus off yourself and onto something or someone else. Go help out at a women’s shelter or soup kitchen. Make valentine’s for your friends. There are so many easy inspirational ideas on the Internet. Here are just a few Valentine’s Inspirations that are easy to make.

Crocheted Valentines - cute ways to send your friends a valentine card. These remind me of the ones we used to make and pass out in first grade.
Valentine Pins – make one of her tiny hearts, buy craft pins, glue them to the back and distribute accordingly OR make several stitch them together an stuff with cotton filling to make sachets.
Valentine Hearts - these foam hearts would make great decorations.
Gift Tags - a nice accessory for your gift or just a cute item to give away to a friend.
Heart Pins - make a few small ones, add craft pins and distribute to friends.
Sweet Heart Garland - these make great hearts for garland, bunting or pot holders.
Granny Hearts - these make great hearts for garland, bunting or coasters. Who can be sad when you have your morning coffee sitting on a heart coaster?

So, go now, there’s plenty of time to whip up any of the above ideas and share them with people around you. Transform yourself for this holiday and don’t let it suck you in.
This year my word is Trust. My scripture:
In God I will Trust. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Psalm 56:11
(I’ll be blogging more about this in a few days)

Ta Dah! January is Over

January is over, but I've been so busy with my Valentine's Project and the Crochet a Rainbow project that I haven't had a chance to take pics. I am participating in the Ravelry Block a Month Mystery Crochet A Long project.

So, here are my squares. The group has 1000 members. I've seen snippets of people's squares around the Internet. We were given 2 squares as options to make. I made several of all of them.

12-inch Square = Maggie's Square - I made 4.

6-inch square = Flower Button Granny - I made 10 of these. Got a little carried away. It was a really easy square.

filler square = Enough Love to Go Around - I made 2. This was a really cantankerous square, but in the end, it came out looking pretty darned good.

Aren't they pretty?
Would you like a sneak peak at my ideas for assembly?
I will probably change my mind 12 times in the next 12 months, but for now, I have three ideas. Let me know what you think.

I can't decide whether I like the one above
or below
the best

I don't like the one below. It was a passing idea, but just doens't thrill me.

Ta Dah! Hooking for a Cause

I've finished another project. 
This one is based on the Basic Granny Square pattern that I posted recently. 
I have been Hooking for a Cause for the past two weekends.

I have made 20 granny squares.
They will be winging their way to Queensland, Australia tomorrow.
Wonder how much it'll cost.
This will be interesting trip to the Post Office Tomorrow.

Almost enough there for an lapghan.
Aren't they pretty. I made them using yarn from my Stash. The sad thing - I still have PLENTY of yarn left over. So, who knows. May be I'll make a bunch of grannies for myself and make an impromptu throw.