Stitch 'n Dish

Tag: handmade gifts

  • More gifts of love

    More gifts of love

    Back in 2015, I wrote a blog post on my other site about my Christmas memories from childhood. In that post I shared that I remember few, if any, specific toys or gifts, but that I do remember the room full of people that loved me and my sister, and the warmth of my grandparents’…

  • Fiber fright fun

    Fiber fright fun

    Over the last few years, I’ve found a lot of joy in Halloween fiber arts! This year I not only found crochet patterns, like this Candy Corn stuffie by Okie Girl Bling ‘n Things, but I went all out and made my costume and a little bag to carry as a themed purse.  I made the…

  • Love, recycled

    Love, recycled

    When I see a handmade afghan or quilt in a thrift store or yard/garage sale, I am always curious about its history. I recently found matching twin sized blankets at the local thrift shop – one of them pictured below. The photo was taken hastily and does not reflect the neatness of the rows and…

  • Life’s true meaning

    Life’s true meaning

    I hit one of those milestone birthdays last year, and it impacted me in a way no other birthday had up to that point. It was not the fact that I was now 2 generations older than the “kids” in the family, nor was it the issue of being an older female in a culture…

  • Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival: my review

    Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival: my review

    I’m still trying to figure out how it’s already nearly the middle of October, as it feels that the end of the 2024 Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival (August 23 – 25, 2024) was just a week or so ago! I have been thinking about that festival, along with many related topics. As it pertains to the festival,…

  • Healing through giving

    Healing through giving

    When I was but a kid and rock music was a never-ending stream of talent, Supertramp released the song featured in the video above. I can still sing it from memory. I was driving, pondering life and yarn (a typical daydream for me) and this song came on my Sirius radio station. It made me…

  • My Emotional Support Chicken (ESC)

    My Emotional Support Chicken (ESC)

    I’ve officially joined in the ESC craze, and finished my first hen. “Fluffy Freda” – pictured above – helped me learn the pattern, think about how I might want to adjust the pattern, and perhaps most importantly; fall in love with these chickens! My interest in the many benefits of knitting and crocheting have taught…

  • Some favorite sites

    Some favorite sites

    I have been thinking about the MANY sites that are out there for fiber artists that provide patterns, tips, tricks and more and wanted to highlight some of the ones I have found in my travels. NOTE: this is NOT to suggest that I know it ALL about great sites – there are MANY out…

  • Quick and cute

    Quick and cute

    As I finished my most recent sunglasses pouch, I was still needing some “yarn therapy” so I picked up some pink, cotton yarn and was about to make ANOTHER glasses pouch when I got inspired to free hand something. I decided to make a small holder for folded paper money or ID to tuck into…

  • A sense of satisfaction

    A sense of satisfaction

    There’s something satisfying about finishing a project. It’s like an affirmation that we have our act together and on some weeks, I need that more than I care to admit!! I’ve referenced the many benefits of knitting and crocheting in previous blog posts, but tonight I want to highlight the positive benefits to our state…