GROW YOUR BLOG

 Hi! I'm Terry. Welcome! 

First, I would like to thank Vicki from 2 Bags Full for hosting this annual "Grow Your Blog" party. Thank you, Vicki! 

I am most happily married to Gary. I am the very proud mother of Meredith, Rick, Shannon, and Tracy. My children are 26 years old. Yes, all four of them. They are quadruplets. Here's a picture when they were babies. 

 

I also have a furry baby named Dory. 

I am an elementary school special education teacher. I was blessed to be able to stay home with my children for the first 8 years, then I returned to work - part time at first, but full time since they were 14. I am looking forward to retiring. I dream of baking cookies and doing crafts with my grandchildren (none yet, but I'm dreaming) and having lots of time to devote to my other passions.

I love to teach, read, write (in the form of journaling and blogging), take long walks with my girl friend Denise, care for and decorate my home, spend time with my family and friends, craft, knit, crochet, and needle felt. 

I named my blog "Sharing Divine Inspiration" because every morning I have my first cup of coffee with God. I express my gratitude, read a devotional or two, and listen. I listen for Divine Guidance and Inspiration. I then go about my day following that Guidance and Inspiration. I blog to share with you what I am Divinely Inspired to do.

I choose not to blog about my job, however I may occasionally share a good child's book or website.  I sometimes blog about my home and family. I always blog about my creative passion.

My creative passion is hand making felt fabric, then needle felting a design on it, then making pictures, pillows, and handbags with it. Here are a few photos of my projects: 

Above is a pillow I made for my sister. I hand knit-felted, also known as fulling, the green fabric then needle felted the design. Green is her favorite color, and she has a granddaughter named Daisy. 

This was my give away for Vicki's first Grow Your Blog party. I made this using the same procedure as above, then matted and framed it. I used cookie cutters to help me with the house and the heart. The stars are buttons. 

To make the bag above I hand knit, holding two strands together, the bag in two pieces, front and back. Then I crocheted it together and felted it. The bumps on the sides were by accident - I think they were the result of crocheting. I needle felted the design, and attached the handles. I still need to line this bag, then it will be done. I've been making this for myself, so it keeps getting put on the back burner. I am planning to use this as my knitting bag. 

Thank you so much for visiting my blog. I am designing a prize for a visitor from this wonderful party. I don't know exactly what it will be yet, but I can tell you that it will be felted. Just leave a comment on this post, and you are automatically entered. I will announce the winner on February 15 as Vicki requested. 

I am looking forward to curling up in my favorite green chair, with a hot cup of coffee, my iPad, my cat Dory, and visiting your blog. 

With gratitude,

Terry

The Lemonade Toy Project - Calling Knitters, Crocheters, Sewers

The Lemonade Toy Project

Formerly known as The Lemonade Blanket Project

My Inspiration

click on the image above to go to alexslemonade.org

Have you heard about Alexandra "Alex" Scott? She was a 4 year old girl determined to find a cure for childhood cancers. 

Alex was a little girl with cancer. She decided that she was going to hold a lemonade stand to raise money to make better medicine to help all children. Alex and the Amazing Lemonade Stand  is a picture book written by Alex's parents telling her story. 

click on the above image to go to amazon.com 

I am an elementary school teacher and an avid knitter. In the winter of 2012, inspired by Alex's story, my fifth grade students held a fundraiser for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation called "Collect Coins for Cancer." My students raised $4,865.00 for the foundation. During the time of our fundraiser I asked my contact person if anyone was knitting blankets for the children who were impacted by childhood cancer. The answer I received was, "No." That is when I decided to begin "The Lemonade Blanket Project." The Lemonade Blanket Project collected handmade blankets for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation to be distributed to children who have been impacted by childhood cancer. More than 75 blankets were provided through the kindness, love, and generosity of knitters, crocheters, sewers, and quilters. Joyfully, the foundation has informed me that all of the children they serve have received a blanket, and they have extras for any future child who may need one.

Every year, in December, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation holds a Heroes' Dinner for the children. I thought that this year we could provide a hand knitted, crocheted or sewn stuffed toy for each child. 

If you are interested in helping please knit, crochet or sew a stuffed toy for a child. Any color is fine. Please no buttons or other materials that could be a choking hazard. Kindly use hypoallergenic polyfill, and please make the toy huggable, not huge.

Completed stuffed toys can be sent to:

The Lemonade Blanket Project

133 Kiel Ave.

Kinnelon, NJ 0740

Thank you!
Terry                                        

Vogue Knitting Live

Saturday, January 22 was a cold and blustery day in New York City. Taking place at the Javits Center was the motorcycle and boat show. Taking place at the Hilton New York was Vogue Knitting Live! On this cold windy morning, my sister-in-law, Doreen, her friend, Amelia, and I drove to Port Imperial to take the ferry over to New York City. The ferry was packed with lots of men and a few women going to the boat and motorcycle show, and lots of women and a few men going to Vogue Knitting Live. Once off the ferry we took the bus up to 52nd street and walked the few blocks to the New York Hilton. Upon entering the Hilton we quickly realized that we were in knitting heaven. Vogue Knitting Live took up three, (or was it four?) floors of the hotel. There were two floors called The Marketplace, where you could purchase everything ever made for knitting and crocheting. There was amazing yarn by the miles. The rooms were filled with the most talented knitters and crocheters in the U.S. Inspiration was everywhere! I easily could have spent thousand of dollars on the patterns, books, yarn, and other materials, but I carefully walked through the two floors of marketplace booths and then made my purchases. I purchased an autographed book titled Cowlgirls by Cathy Carron. I was blessed to have some time to talk with Cathy and we quickly discovered that we were both moms to beautiful daughters whom we love to knit for. Cathy's book is filled with cowls to knit for my girls. I also purchased a pattern book titled Huggable Friends 1. This book is filled with patterns to make adorable huggable boy and girl dolls. My niece is expecting boy-girl twins in June and these dolls would make the perfect gift. At the same booth I bought the coloring book of huggable dolls. I thought perhaps I could use the pictures in the book as patterns for needle felted dolls. My final purchase was the gorgeous knitting bag that is in the photo on this post. I did not get the name of the talented woman who made this amazing bag, but I believe you can find some on Etsy. They are each one of a kind, but each and every one is beautiful. There were also lots of classes to take and lectures to attend. We chose to just go this year and get a good idea for what is was all about. Next year, though, I plan to sign up for those. As soon as Vogue announces the dates for next year I will be marking them in my calendar. If you live on the west coast Vogue Knitting Live is coming to you in April. Check out http://www.vogueknittinglive.com/. It is one event you do not want to miss if you are a knitter or crocheter.

I must also mention that we had a delicious lunch at The New York Marketplace. This was on the ground floor of the hotel. Both the service and the food was outstanding. I will certainly be returning to eat there, even if there isn't a knitting event taking place.