I love to crochet, but......

Good Morning Everyone ~ 

I had a crafting epiphany over the weekend.  I love to crochet, knit, cross stitch and all the things that are fun to do.  But my hand, thumb, wrist, and elbow begin to hurt and swell.  So needless to say I have countless of started crafts that take forever for me to finish.  I suffer from carpal tunnel in my hand and elbow that eventually ends up as tendinitis in my shoulder.  All started many, many years ago in my dental assisting days.  

I have been crocheting for years dollies, blankets, slippers...etc.  I was so frustrated that I could not finish a lot of my Christmas gifts this year because of how bad my hand and elbow would start to hurt after a while.  So I looked online and you can buy crochet hooks that have bigger handles and comfort fits but the problem is that they were not big enough to relieve the stress in my hand and I had a collection of needle anyway and did not want to put out the cost of $6. and over for new on some of the products.  So I started storming and I realized I still have tons of polymer clay that I use every now and then.  

This was my crafting epiphany.  I got out my polymer clay and started working with it and rolling it into a tube, then pressing it flat.  Took one of my many crochet needles and placed it where I wanted the cushion to be.  Now you ask, "you cover up the size of the needle," you say.  Yes, you do but I wrote the size down and made an imprint in the clay after sizing it in my hand.  Now sizing depends on how thick or thin you want it.  I like bulky, it relieves that stress on my hand.  The really neat thing about this is that you can adjust the size and you can bake it in your oven at manufactures directions.  Let it cool and TADA! 

I did over 10 crochet needles and this is some of them 

now don't forget to put indention of where your fingers will go or make grip marks.  I chose not to.  And as you can see on one of them I have #1 indented in it so I know what size it is (as noted above, you will cover that part of your needle up.) 

I hope you enjoyed this little tidbit.  I hope this may help my fellow crafters.  

Here are some of the products I used to make these and they can be found at any crafting supply place.  The crocheting needles are samples of what i was looking into.  

To host or not to host a home party!

Have you ever been asked to host a party!  Well I have several times over the years.  Your first reaction is "Oh crap, what do I say; Oh I would love to, but I'm so busy with the kids and we have to go here and there and we have a sudden family get together."  Well I have used I think all of the excuses.  I know it sounds horrible, but I have had such bad luck hosting these parties.

Recently I have been asked to host a party and I also have volunteered, like a good friend, for a good friend.  I had a Scentsy party, which I will say again, was not a big turn out for the amount of people I invited.  Let me tell you this party was well worth it.  All together we had five people including me.  If you have never held a Scentsy party you are crazy not to.  

Now let me tell you what Scentsy is.  Scentsy is a brand of wickless candles.  Here is the website, http://scentsy.net/.  They have the cutest candle warmers and I strongly recommend them if you have small children, pets and crazy pets.  I have a tendency to forget I have lite a candle and leave it burning while I'm gone.  Boy oh boy, has that put me in the hot seat with my husband.  So when you come over I usually have notes posted on the front, back and garage door to remind me THERE IS SOMETHING  BURNING! So this was exciting news when I discovered it through a friend.  

I don't know about you but I love when I walk in someplace and the smell is absolutely delightful, with this being said I keep a clean house so clean you could not tell I have pets until one springs on you.  It was absolutely fun to have my friend over and show her Scentsy collection off.  We looked like a bunch of junkies getting a hit off of scented wax.  Nothing like walking into a Scentsy party with everyone having a container attached to their nose.  It was the best time ever.  I did however had a very hard time deciding what I wanted out of the many that was brought to test the smell to.  I did settle on a warmer for my husband (really for the house, but it looked and sounded better with the Marine logo on it) and settled with a pack of six scents that was very cost effective!  Now saying that, I do want to let you know I do not sit on a gold mine.  We live pay check to pay check just like everyone else.  After thinking all of us were setting our goals on a Scentsy warmer guess what else was introduced to us, Yes, ladies they have a line of body perfumes, soaps, sprays and lotions.  Holy crapy!  So now I have a wish list started for Christmas, birthday, Valentines Day, Mothers Day.  Not only do they have that they have hanging room fresheners, travel tins and most IMPORTANT Velata chocolate fondue warmers! http://www.scentofawarmer.com/blog/2012/05/01/velata-chocolate-fondue-warmers-available-now/ Yes that is what I said.  OH MY GOSH, even better the chocolate is Belgium chocolate.  

My consultant Agena https://agena.velata.us/Velata/Home; https://agena.scentsy.us/Scentsy/Home (check her out) suggested that I have some snacks available to try out this wonderful chocolate.  Well I had some fruit and best of all graham crackers, marshmallows to have smores.  I think that was the best part was eating the smores.  Agena brought over milk chocolate and I'm not a big fan of milk chocolate as I am of dark chocolate.  Well let me tell you, that was the best milk chocolate I have had in a long time, so sorry for you Hershey, Ghirardelli and Lindt you were out beat by Velata.  I like the little package it came in it is pretty handy.  You warm it up in the microwave and pour it into you ready warmed fondue warmer.  Neat thing is that this package has a nozzle on it you can recap and save again for later so you only need to put out what your going to eat.  Well as self centered as I become when it comes to chocolate (I have hidy holes everywhere) I will warm it up and quickly make a journey to the garage or bathroom and drink it right out of the packet.  LOL Pretty sad, huh!

If you think things are sounding good now just wait!  Agena contacted me after my wonderful party and said they are opening a line of purses, wallets, note books, makeup bags, jewelry, scarfs, etc... https://agena.graceadele.us/GraceAdele/Buy.  WHAT! are you kidding me.  I have not yet had a party for this yet but I soon will. 

So don't be to hasty to say NO to helping a friend out.  I have also have had numerous parties for another friend of mine Jill who does Beauty Control and I will say this line of makeup and face and body care is one of my favorites to and affordable.  If you have not had a SCENTSY party you really need to call or contact my friend.  She is amazing and made the whole process absolutely fun.  

The gang at my party.  I also had a silent party too that allowed others to order from a catalog.