tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82308226176506187322024-03-05T06:45:33.415-08:00Nana Knits and JamsEllen Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198727947322137599noreply@blogger.comBlogger347125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8230822617650618732.post-50952016327540880512014-07-30T09:49:00.000-07:002014-07-30T09:49:28.045-07:00Setting Off<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I almost did it at the close of December 2013. Five years seemed an opportune time to stop, an appropriate anniversary to draw to a close this ongoing narrative. I began writing in this space as a teacher and one who needed a place to step out of her classroom for musing about other aspects of life and identity. I began this space to catalogue my knitting, to consider what I created in my kitchen, and to ponder life and family a bit. So for a nickel of years, I did that, and it has served well my hopes of providing time for reflection and a place to preserve some family stories.<br />
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One of my professors once said he believed that each teacher has a few intrinsic themes guiding her life, and she fundamentally teaches from those themes. I found truth in that, not only in my teaching life but in my overall life as well. In this blog, I have written on and around the themes coursing through me. The stories captured here pretty well represent the flow and flavor of my life and my days. I am content with their tales.<br />
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This past spring at my daughter's art show opening, someone asked her how she knew when a painting was done. "That is a good question," she responded and then proceeded to describe how she comes to that point when she just knows it is finished. For almost a month, I have not settled into this space to add anything....that itself is telling.<br />
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I still knit, I still sew, I still putter in my kitchen, I still walk about and notice and think about the bigger story and what it all means, but the urges that drew me here have shifted, and this volume has reached its conclusion. New stories whisper to be written as new paths unfold to be explored, but for reasons not entirely clear, this shall no longer be the canvas I use; this painting is finally finished.Ellen Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198727947322137599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8230822617650618732.post-88489558953357869622014-07-01T04:59:00.001-07:002014-07-01T11:18:37.449-07:00Summertime<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Few things seem more like summer than licking dripping popsicles. Rosie sure seems to enjoy this one! I cannot believe it is July 1 already, and summer is truly in full swing. The temperature is hovering in the 80's now, weather reports describe the daily dew point, and most green things have budded and now bloom, My freezer is filling with frozen strawberries and blueberries, and some of the empty jars on my caning shelf now contain jams. This morning, I go off in search of the elusive sour cherry to make a few batches of yummy cherry pie filling. My body feels more toned and tanned, the effect of outside work and play. Nice. All of it.<br />
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We had some family visit last week-Lissa and Lydia and Rob and Rosie. Lydia and Rosie became fast and good buddies--second cousins becoming friends.<br />
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This week, Jim and I prepare for our family beach week, a yearly tradition begun over three decades ago. I've been playing with a family quilt to share with the Campbell clan. I am pleased how it is coming together. <br />
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The blocks were fashioned from pants and shirts donated by several members of the family. I continued the emerging color scheme with stash scraps and backed it with a piece of striped duck purchased two weeks ago at a fabric sale organized by a friend for the benefit of the Salvation Army in York. The quilt was entirely pieced and made with old clothes and scraps cut into strings, except for the backing fabric which cost me a buck. My grandmother and great-grandmother would be so proud of me making a quilt in such an old timey way.<br />
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I savor this change of seasons, the changing light and palette, the temperature fluctuations, the pace of vacation, and the presence of family. Happy summer, y'all!Ellen Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198727947322137599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8230822617650618732.post-2136918960494883822014-06-18T13:43:00.000-07:002014-06-18T13:43:13.108-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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He did each single thing.</div>
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as if he did nothing else.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">-Charles Dickens</span></div>
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This quote popped into my life the other day, via a Facebook link to a blog--a twenty-first century connection to 19th century wisdom. Funny, I never really considered that a Victorian writer would struggle with our contemporary malaise of multitasking and fragmented urgency. Perhaps it's simply a common human struggle, this seeking focused presence.</div>
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Living each moment, really seeing and breathing it in as it occurs, is not always easy, but I do try. There is no reason in retirement to ever be harried or hurried. I really <i>do</i> have the time to take it more slowly. I have time to enjoy the hulling and tasting of the sweet, succulent strawberry, and I have time to enjoy each step in making the jam. I have time to embrace the setting of my house in order (a better word for housework)--the physical demands of it and the soft satisfaction of living in a space well kempt. I have time to love the warmth of the summer sun and notice the movement of my shoulders while I push the mower and the pull the weeds. I have time to enjoy the evening bike ride on the paths that wander through our sweet town. And I have time enjoy the luxury of a crossword puzzle over the breakfast table.</div>
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My yoga teacher quietly yet firmly pulls me back and pushes me forward each week as she leads us in breathing deeply and stretching further and that practice helps in centering. My quiet time in the morning, the early part of the day spent nestled in my chair with coffee, newspaper, computer and bible begin the day in peace (although I ought to abstain from the computer more often!). In the evening, at the closing of the day, my knitting, the comfort of the repetition of hand wisdom and the book by my bed lull me into quieter places and soul spaces from daily life. </div>
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It is a good goal--to be present every moment, to do each thing, one at a time, not fretting about what was nor worrying about what shall be.</div>
Ellen Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198727947322137599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8230822617650618732.post-69113887978032154652014-06-07T04:57:00.001-07:002014-06-07T04:57:12.533-07:00The Prosaic Dishcloth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The sophistication of the form of the word belies its
meaning: prosaic--a three syllable word meaning ordinary, everyday, commonplace,
run-of-the-mill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The etymology reveals prosaic comes from the Latin <i>prosa</i> meaning prose or the opposite of poetry.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Prosaic is how I categorize my knitting of
late.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> While I knit dishcloths from time to time (great car knitting!), </span>about once a year, I come under a spell of dishcloth knitting, picking up ball after ball of the <a href="https://www.fabric.com/knitting-crochet-yarn-shop-by-fiber-content-100-cotton-yarn-lily-sugar-39-n-cream-yarn.aspx">simplest cotton yarn</a> and
fashioning a pile of domestic tools, most likely destined as hostess gifts or stocking stuffers. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I knit a couple from this durable, classic <a href="http://www.canadianliving.com/crafts/knitting/knit_a_ballband_dishcloth.php">ballband pattern</a>, titled thus because the pattern traditionally was found printed inside the band wrapped to secure the ball of yarn.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQuAMEJaGDqRbqZtQqJDqLRBsqUOPy_HveSfMJCx-c9GMupY4ctJQHLFYNm3ATb65ASWmIZCbCSkVupFyBP3O6rfExvn1kbAGd6AzEyF_7ovYZcA2y8iKPQZZh08k4c5fgTc6A0We4a5I/s1600/ballband.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQuAMEJaGDqRbqZtQqJDqLRBsqUOPy_HveSfMJCx-c9GMupY4ctJQHLFYNm3ATb65ASWmIZCbCSkVupFyBP3O6rfExvn1kbAGd6AzEyF_7ovYZcA2y8iKPQZZh08k4c5fgTc6A0We4a5I/s1600/ballband.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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And speaking of classic patterns, there is nothing more classic than this <a href="http://www.groupepp.com/dishbout/kpatterns/grfavorite.html">grandmother's favorite </a>pattern, the pattern I made over and over and over again when I first started knitting. I think it still good practice for new, practicing knitters.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnso-A8TJVT5XWyNYNuViRUbXBwJ5j_7FbOg5ao45ITXgyFZE4Qfeidl0esqwkdvQMjLEaotP1hrpI0sTXOKLPtcHmTtnXWQNqlTdR41OI72-LL_irn5nGXn-qD9FvHo1z8zeWknx5XY8/s1600/granny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnso-A8TJVT5XWyNYNuViRUbXBwJ5j_7FbOg5ao45ITXgyFZE4Qfeidl0esqwkdvQMjLEaotP1hrpI0sTXOKLPtcHmTtnXWQNqlTdR41OI72-LL_irn5nGXn-qD9FvHo1z8zeWknx5XY8/s1600/granny.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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Less well know patterns but two more favorites are <a href="http://thriftyknitter.com/?p=55">this</a> pattern, an old one from the Thrifty Knitter which is a modified version of the ballband pattern above<br />
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and <a href="http://homespunliving.blogspot.com/2007/11/waffle-knit-dishcloth-pattern.html">this</a> one, a Waffle Knit dishcloth from Homespun Living where there are patterns other great dishcloths too.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBqWHlKgUQLSIpg8ShcOyEnHXjcOmeAKSi5xk1CDecKlt7hDoYWl1z4ABVlwJdiGYJlk714nDseMgaNNWHcyjNsN5hxtPpRykoAT_DR4DzFYLfrKzYzUes70qtQvkL4RweyPPCe9VEJ8/s1600/woven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBqWHlKgUQLSIpg8ShcOyEnHXjcOmeAKSi5xk1CDecKlt7hDoYWl1z4ABVlwJdiGYJlk714nDseMgaNNWHcyjNsN5hxtPpRykoAT_DR4DzFYLfrKzYzUes70qtQvkL4RweyPPCe9VEJ8/s1600/woven.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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I am not certain what fuels my urge to immerse myself in making these little squares for the kitchen sink. Maybe because they are so quick to knit, such easy gratification. Maybe because they are light on the hands and in the lap, or maybe it is because every so often I like to revisit the roots of my knitting life. I have many knitter friends who get their kicks from working through elaborate sweaters and complicated shawls filled with cables and lacework patterns. I, on the other hand, always gravitate toward basic lines and simple variations of knit and purl with maybe a few tucks of interest here and there. I wonder sometimes if that means I am simply a prosaic knitter, basically mundane or humdrum, lacking imagination...lacking poetry. Then I think about my favorite poets who look deeply into the ordinary to find the extraordinary. Jane Kenyon wrote a simple poem about a clothespin, a meditation where she suggests that pinning clean sheets on the line with a "gray-brown wooden clothes pin" is better than moaning about your life. Maybe that is what I knit dishcloths, my own simple retreat from the moans of life. And perhaps that is actually more poetic than it may appear.<br />
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<br />Ellen Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198727947322137599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8230822617650618732.post-12471474129396267302014-06-01T16:50:00.003-07:002014-06-02T12:47:36.430-07:00A Little Milestone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It was the first time. The first time Rosemary and Nana took a road trip from her house to ours, just the two of us. It was also the first time Rosemary spent an overnight at Nana's and Grandad's by herself. A great time was certainly had by all.<br />
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We walked to the park and went sliding...over..and over...and over.<br />
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We colored, cooked, rode a tricycle, met the neighbors, read, slept, and ate. Simple things. Fun things, both inside and out. </div>
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It feels like a big deal, this first solo step a little farther away from home without Mama and Daddy. This little bit of independence adds another chapter to the story we write with our sweet, little girl.</div>
Ellen Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198727947322137599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8230822617650618732.post-927143286853428922014-05-26T13:33:00.002-07:002014-05-26T13:33:48.656-07:00Memorial Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy Memorial Day! May your remembering be bright, breezy, and as colorful as this beautiful Monday. It never ceases to stir me to see the new flag placed by a veteran next to my father's grave and as I look out over the cemetery to see others flying, marking other graves of those who also served. I am proud of you, Dad, for this and for so many other reasons. And I still miss you...every, every day.Ellen Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198727947322137599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8230822617650618732.post-68190333353006739852014-05-22T05:40:00.000-07:002014-05-22T05:40:30.407-07:00Buttons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Spring cleaning the attic unearthed a box of old jars that once sat on shelves lining a back wall of our old country home kitchen, from a time that now seems another life. Not quite done looking at this luminescent blue Mason jar (dated 1848), I filled it with some yard sale vintage buttons and perched it on the window sill next to my sewing machine. I really do love buttons, and this jar adds to an ever-growing stash. Lately, I have been attaching vintage buttons to my knitting, like these white ones that went on <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tiny-tea-leaves-cardi">this</a> lovely little baby sweater, I made for a silent auction at church</div>
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The quirky, big, bright, unique ones have landed on a stack of button headbands I have been knitting for Christmas giving. I bought some discounted Plymouth yarn (Sin City and Europa Tweed) and used a free online pattern to knit my way through the yarn and my button tins and jars.<br />
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The pattern is pretty simple: <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">You simply cast on 64 stitches, choose to knit in a k2 p2 rib or seed stitch, knit in the round for 3 inches and bind off. The little band that goes around the head band is a 5 inch strip of 8 stitches (garter or seed stitch) which you secure around the head band to crimp it a bit.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">I used a 10.5, 16 inch circular needle.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">And then the fun continues--you secure the band with a button!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">And oh my, I have such wonderful ones to choose from! </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I just read that one way to tie a quilt for binding is to attach a button. Well, that certainly seems like a good idea to me.</span><br />
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Ellen Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198727947322137599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8230822617650618732.post-4086154210896939182014-05-12T14:07:00.002-07:002014-05-12T14:24:32.432-07:00A Disappearing 9-Patch Holiday Quilt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The quilts our sewing group sew for Lutheran World Relief are constructed within a few prescribed perimeters--they must be 60 X 80" and not contain any materials that suggest either religious or patriotic messages. Our group interprets that to mean no fabric with Christmas or Fourth of July type images or design. We do, however, get donated fabric that is clearly Christmas and other holiday themed and most recently, some kind parishioner even cut 11" squares (which we delight to receive) out of fabrics that while lovely were definitely Christmas and patriotic.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWMTejRiKJ-DMr7AIQNViWaxLTfcT-ZlRyapuNIJkGIO-mHWxwLod5J4-r-4RtZ0YjlNwMyZMqCpVFW-9om4DGtz6LtkFNUSvg3dNsyu98TN6bz0W6xwa_pI64AU0N6Qabuv0jQz_LOXI/s1600/9squares2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWMTejRiKJ-DMr7AIQNViWaxLTfcT-ZlRyapuNIJkGIO-mHWxwLod5J4-r-4RtZ0YjlNwMyZMqCpVFW-9om4DGtz6LtkFNUSvg3dNsyu98TN6bz0W6xwa_pI64AU0N6Qabuv0jQz_LOXI/s1600/9squares2.jpg" height="182" width="200" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYNTKqFYoQ1htDBwQhfxc-WSMmQFtd7-lNO8edx0NA4HuA7pWMO4hXUXP8Y9tc6x200Qe4F-925EjYXdt1AtVJwDhmJtZA_sB1odWyr9TnXzf2K1fd_-De9lvIerWEzq358fL_l5iuOE/s1600/9squares+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYNTKqFYoQ1htDBwQhfxc-WSMmQFtd7-lNO8edx0NA4HuA7pWMO4hXUXP8Y9tc6x200Qe4F-925EjYXdt1AtVJwDhmJtZA_sB1odWyr9TnXzf2K1fd_-De9lvIerWEzq358fL_l5iuOE/s1600/9squares+3.jpg" height="175" width="200" /></a></div>
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A while ago, I saw this pattern, <a href="http://justquilty.com/2013/02/disappearing-nine-patch-quilt-pattern/">A Disappearing 9-Patch </a>technique that seemed like an easy-to-do, fun thing to try; hese patches presented the perfect time to experiment. Since we can't use this quilt for Lutheran World Relief and since we are asked each Fall to give a Silent Auction item for the CROP Walk Silent Auction, using these squares for a quilt top for that purpose seemed like a good use of that fabric and my time. So here it is...<br />
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The patches above (and more--a total of 5 group of 9 or 45 squares) were sewn together.<br />
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Then, each large square of 9 patches is cut in the middle, both ways (see above link for a good description of that) and arranged in any way you like. This is a great method and quick way to make a different pattern from groupings of patches!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYN0GQl7u0_uTaa4_EMRY9SazvQvBsyNryFcLhiTztZUx1qtEUml3xF_UC4Bn4_xUwPBBWCaYJcyn20EPbMekBsmApU-XMFchwK1bkMySwKpxzNM9tzj80v4WBSjiVUgQL6TM1up7tMII/s1600/disappearing+9+patch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYN0GQl7u0_uTaa4_EMRY9SazvQvBsyNryFcLhiTztZUx1qtEUml3xF_UC4Bn4_xUwPBBWCaYJcyn20EPbMekBsmApU-XMFchwK1bkMySwKpxzNM9tzj80v4WBSjiVUgQL6TM1up7tMII/s1600/disappearing+9+patch.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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I may just have to make another one now for us or someone else.Ellen Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198727947322137599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8230822617650618732.post-7655021837521875522014-05-10T04:34:00.000-07:002014-05-10T07:33:40.801-07:00May<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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May brings flowers of varied hue, fresh green grass, and outdoor fun of all kinds.<br />
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After the winter just passed, this Spring and this May seem especially beautiful and especially welcome. It has been a Nana intensive spell for me. We spent almost a week in NC caring for our grandsons, while their mother and father took a well deserved break for some couple time on the West coast. Both Jim and I have renewed appreciation for the juggling act and stamina required to raise children. We managed to hold down the fort (although not always with energy or aplomb), making memories for us all; our boys are magnificent.<br />
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Yesterday, I made the trek to spend a day with our magical granddaughter, which made it a three for three grandchild week, truly a rare treat (why can't we just all live in the same town the way it is supposed to be!). We did a lot of drawing, one of her favorite pastimes of late.<br />
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This weekend is graduation day here at Penn State, and our town bustles and bursts. Tomorrow, of course, is Mother's Day. Rarely does a day go by, that I don't think of and miss my mother. During times like last week, when I am immersed in my role as Nana, I recall Mom at the same time in her life (and my Grandma Herman) and wish for a conversation about those days when she was doing what I am doing now. A different lens offers one a different perspective.<br />
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Today, I am off to a baby shower celebrating a new mom-to-be. Life begins anew in more ways than one this May.<br />
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Happy May! Happy Mother's Day!</div>
Ellen Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198727947322137599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8230822617650618732.post-53452011801817439812014-04-26T13:24:00.001-07:002014-04-26T13:24:49.122-07:00That Nasty Nemesis<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I dyed a big pink streak in my hair this week, a pretty randy gesture for this 60-something Nana. Dying my hair is new for me (just never started) and dying it pink is really quite afar from my style and comfort zone. Younger friends call it "hip" or "punk," neither adjectives generally ascribed to me nor desired by me. But following a fashion or trend is not the reason I did it. </div>
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A friend from church, a fellow teacher, a mother to two teenaged girls, and a strong beautiful woman is waging war against a rather virulent form of breast cancer. I know a little bit about that nemesis who once visited me uninvited. I was fortunate in that fight, the treatment was clear, defined, and successful. Her battle may not be as easy, I fear. She began five months of chemotherapy last week. She shaved her head this week to beat cancer to that punch; I admire that.</div>
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Her daughters streaked their hair and invited a few of us to do the same. So I did, without hesitation. The pink still jolts me a bit, and choosing what color to wear challenges me, but Mardi comes to mind every time I look in the mirror, and the comments this pink swoosh invite allow me to build awareness for this dreadful disease.</div>
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In addition to hair dye, I employed tools much more comfortable to me--my knitting needles. I know the changes in body temperatures and fatigue that cancer treatment can wrought and a light, cotton summer shawl seemed in order for Mardi. I used Cynthia's <a href="http://reallyclearinstructions.blogspot.com/2012/09/make-million.html">Make a Million Shawl</a> pattern, the easy garter stitch version, and picked out <a href="http://www.yarn.com/webs-knitting-crochet-yarns-knit-one-crochet-too/webs-knitting-yarns-knit-one-crochet-too-ty-dy/?gclid=CJLfmO79_r0CFUoV7Aod4AgA_A">this</a> yummy yarn at <a href="http://www.stitchyourartout.com/">her</a> yarn store in Pine Grove Mills. I delivered it this morning with my love and prayer for strength, comfort, and healing.</div>
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Mardi, her hair shorn but her eyes and smile as bright as ever, looked beautiful, her shoulders wrapped in it. In those seemingly impossible situations when we stand by so helplessly, even small gestures matter...I know they do.Ellen Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198727947322137599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8230822617650618732.post-51515157211266110992014-04-20T14:41:00.003-07:002014-04-20T14:41:59.947-07:00Happy Easter!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Ellen Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198727947322137599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8230822617650618732.post-49727275306840167982014-04-17T04:54:00.000-07:002014-04-17T04:54:01.689-07:00Holy Week Hope<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Holy Week, that solemn reflective walk toward Easter, is upon us, and the church calendar is filled with services from Palm Sunday to Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Yesterday, our church held a Holy Week service of different ilk--<i>Spirituals, Prophecies, and Songs: A Celebration of Hope</i>. Our amazing musical director organized and directed an ecumenical concert of choirs, bells, dance, and instrument, giving voice to hope-giving, life-affirming songs born of the suffering of our African American brothers and sisters. It was a spirit-moving evening unlike any I have attended during Easter week. After it was over, someone, who knows her fair share of sorrow, exclaimed, "I am now ready for Easter!" <br />
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">As part of this orchestration of music and dance, our sewing group was asked to coordinate a quilt exhibit. Legend and lore has it that abolitionists employed symbols as code sewn into quilts to help signal safe passage on the underground railroad, thus the connection between spirituals and quilts. Our group was pleased to include the visual art of quilting into the this celebration. </span><br />
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We put out a call for quilts that held family history and story. The response was enthusiastic, over 50 quilts spanning the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries were promised for our display. Yesterday, we spent hours of aesthetic and tactile joy, arranging these fabric artifacts on quilt stands around our church, their stories clothes-pinned to their tops.</div>
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The artistry and craftwomanship was amazing! Beautiful embroidery and appliqué</div>
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as well as incredible piecing and hand stitching.</div>
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The stories told by these family heirlooms and artifacts were truly touching:<br />
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a granddaughter's year in Germany...</div>
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a son's struggle with MS and a friend's battle with breast cancer...<br />
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a quilt with historical significance for our parish, made by the wife of Dr. John Harkins, a former pastor who served Grace Lutheran for 38 years, from 1918 until 1956. </div>
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Our sewing group displayed our in-process collection of two dozen quilts we are making for Lutheran World Relief, coverings destined for people in need wherever that need may exist or arise.</div>
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In times of sorrow, art (in whatever form it might take--music, song, dance, painting or fabric) has the power to transport and transform, recasting toil and strife into strength, hope and faith. In the midst of our Easter journey this week, it is good to pause, listen and look in reaffirmation of where ultimately our hope and future lie.Ellen Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198727947322137599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8230822617650618732.post-36545759722536564692014-04-12T04:45:00.002-07:002014-04-12T04:47:51.073-07:00Cataloging This and That<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Even though I have been focused on variety of other endeavors lately (traveling to Nicaragua, going to Baltimore, helping organize a quilt show at church), I still have been knitting. Last month, I finished this sweater for my daughter, in lieu of her birthday socks. She requested a sweater like the one I made for her son, so I made one, using my one of favorite go-to <a href="http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/311-Cottage-Creations-Tunic-Sweater-for-the-Family">patterns</a> and my favorite go-to <a href="http://www.jimmybeanswool.com/knitting/yarn/Berroco/Comfort.asp">yarns</a>. Once again, I realized why I don't knit many adult-sized sweaters; it takes a lot of knitting to make bigger sweaters, especially this design, an oversized comfy sweater/sweatshirt. One thing I enjoyed in making this was fastening on these buttons, lifted from my mother's sewing box. I wrapped it up for Barbara in a swarth of fabric designed by her high school friend <a href="http://www.jaymccarrollonline.com/">Jay McCarroll</a>. </div>
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This week, I finished a pair of socks for a soon-to-be birthday boy. Goodness..can't believe my baby boy will be 35 next week. This <a href="http://www.jimmybeanswool.com/knitting/yarn/Adriafil/KnitCol.asp?specPCVID=54137&advSourceID=9&gclid=COCny-qw2L0CFS1eOgod_i4AcQ">yarn</a> was sure fun!<br />
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And if I really want to be complete with the accounting my current creative output, I probably should mention that right before Nicaragua I pieced together a little scrappy quilt for my husband to look at while I was gone. It was really fun to just sew a bunch of leftover strings together to make this little lap quilt for our television room--so many project and people memories in the strips of fabrics. I really like the back on this one, pieced from yellow ticking, a muslin remnant and some cool stripey material. </div>
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This week I ordered some yarn on sale, with visions of Christmas in my head. Our sewing group tied up some of our Lutheran World Relief quilts in preparation for a big quilt display and concert next week at our church (I am sure that will be the topic of my post next week). </div>
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Spring is here...finally. Green is rising from the brown winter ground, birds are singing more joyously, outdoor occupations resume, and it seems a collected sign of relief and exhalation of joy resounds. Thursday night, Jim fired up the grilled and chicken, and then after supper, we pulled out our bicycles, pedaling through campus for an evening ride. We saw the most beautiful sunset. Oh yes....Spring and all her pleasures!</div>
Ellen Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198727947322137599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8230822617650618732.post-87600551664083299122014-04-05T15:38:00.009-07:002014-04-05T16:07:14.289-07:00World Without End<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Our daughter is a painter. Have I mentioned that before? And have I mentioned how proud (and blessed) we are to have this gentle, accomplished, and grace-filled woman in our lives? As an artist who creates images exploring context within the seeming chaos swirling amid the technological and media-driven life of the 21st century, Barbara seeks to find and explore "idiosyncratic order amidst disorder." Exactly how <i>do</i> we make meaning out of chaos?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Last night her solo show opened at <a href="http://schulmanproject.com/">The Schulman Project </a> a neat little gallery in north Baltimore, situated in the middle of a charming (in "Charm City") street, lined with shops, restaurants, and galleries. It was this neighborhood's "First Friday," and it was a soft April evening, perfect for strolling down the avenue. A steady stream of people--invitees, friends, and casual passers-by, walked in and circled throughout the gallery, making for a warm night of art and conversation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Our family converged on the city....family reunions, rarer than we'd like, are sweet, indeed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The name of Barbara's show is "World Without End." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> An allusion to a doxology, a liturgical hymn of praise, "world without end" is the title of this show comprising Barbara's paintings. Word nerd that I am, I was curious about the etymology of the word "doxology":</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: x-small; line-height: 15px;">mid 17th cent.: via medieval Latin from Greek <i>doxologia</i>, from <i>doxa</i> ‘appearance, glory’ (from <i>dokein</i> ‘seem’) + <i>-logia</i> (see </span><a href="https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=define+-logy&sa=X&ei=xXJAU8mjCqbgsATjm4CwCQ&ved=0CCwQgCswAA" style="background-color: white; color: #660099; cursor: pointer; font-size: small; line-height: 15px; text-decoration: none;">-logy</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: x-small; line-height: 15px;">).</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: x-small; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span></span>
When teaching young writers, I frequently purported that the title chosen to name a writing is worth pondering, just as their parents thought long and hard about bestowing on them the names they carry. The juxtaposition of my daughter's contemporary and abstract paintings and images, her colorful and joyful considerations of life in the 21st century, to a doxology, a phrase with deep ecclesiastical and liturgical roots, is pleasing and oh-so-very right; her work and her life are, especially to her father and to me, a certain and sweet hymn of praise.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">
<i style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">.</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><i>.. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.</i></span></span></div>
<br />Ellen Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198727947322137599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8230822617650618732.post-73353405433331313242014-03-29T07:31:00.000-07:002014-03-29T07:35:05.834-07:00Spring Haiku<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Searching for flowers</div>
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Hidden under Winter's brown</div>
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Spring explodes purple.</div>
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<br />Ellen Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198727947322137599noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8230822617650618732.post-42812887908654468442014-03-17T15:39:00.002-07:002014-03-18T01:51:49.530-07:00Nicaragua<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Seated comfortably in the cushy, corner chair,
I allow my thoughts to drift back over these past eight days in Nicaragua, a most beautiful
land of an open and gracious people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What struck me every day during our bus rides through the mountains of Jinotega was the utter glory
of this uniquely, unspoiled land. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mountains,
valleys, lakes, fields, woods, small villages, sporadic clusters of hut-homes,
winding roads, and free-roaming dogs, chickens, and livestock merely shift places on the
unfolding canvas of this exquisite county. I tried to take photographs, and I
do have some, but most often I turned off the camera, allowing the lens of my
eyes to absorb all that passed before me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">While the countryside created the setting of
the story, the work of our trip, taking medical care to the rural
communities without easy access to health care, supplied the characters, the
dialogue, the conflicts, and the themes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The people of Nicaragua, striking with warm skins, dark eyes and thick, lustrous hair, are a proud people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They lined up each clinic day dressed in their Sunday finest, patiently
waiting for a turn to speak with a doctor about their headaches, joint paints,
gastritis, fungus, difficulties breathing, sleeping, eating, etc. etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They rattled off multiple names--three and
four primary names and two or three last names.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Castro. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hernandez</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, Viagra, </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Rodríguez</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">, Lopez, </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gutierrez</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> were names I wrote over and over again the day I helped register men, women, children and
infants for our clinic.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Life is hard for
the people of this coffee-growing region.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhlYMNK66Ulkm13pXQ3exR8KP_6PUcbNUTZ-J2q6VgwFbkw42REZ3MvHdOctZct6mVefwZ3gQPDt2bSr-auiqONL-PKdQ7qx4uNSCb83_DdZ1Fodwj9Do-uCOYMFGy1caGS2diSV2BDXI/s1600/my+shawl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhlYMNK66Ulkm13pXQ3exR8KP_6PUcbNUTZ-J2q6VgwFbkw42REZ3MvHdOctZct6mVefwZ3gQPDt2bSr-auiqONL-PKdQ7qx4uNSCb83_DdZ1Fodwj9Do-uCOYMFGy1caGS2diSV2BDXI/s1600/my+shawl.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-size: x-small;">(For the first time, I was able to give a prayer shawl I knit to someone who needed it. This beautiful woman lost her sister, just last week. Together as two women, we hugged, prayed, concurrently in Spanish and English, and cried.)</span> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Basically, the people live outdoors, with cooking pits, beautiful arbors and small
courtyards arranged for practical use and seating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Clothes hang in neat lines strung near to the homes (very small by our overgrown standards), cobbled
together from an assortment of metal, concrete, sundry pieces of wood, doors,
windows, and almost always with a satellite dish affixed to the roof.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(These flats are for drying coffee beans.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is more foot traffic on the rural roads
than motorized traffic, which was almost entirely busses and the occasional
motorcycle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Men ride horses over the
fields for work or for travel and in the village, they ride bicycles, often
carrying one or more passengers, balanced on handle bars, seat bar, or
back fender.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Women walk, frequently
carrying infants or small children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">And
then there were the children...the children, the ones who most captured and
captivated my heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My responsibility at the
clinic was to operate the “arts and crafts” table, a place where patients could
park their children while they waited to be seen and were seen by the medical
professionals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All ages sat or stood, huddled around the table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The woman who gathered the
supplies packed lots of coloring books, some scratch-off forms that yielded
bright colors under a stylus, and stickers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I brought rainbow looms, bands, and a compartmentalized container to
organize an inviting array of colors. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It became very clear, very quickly that the
children were quite accomplished at coloring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When I mentioned this to the director of the orphanage, she told me that
the children spend a lot of time coloring at school and it is source of pride
for them and for their families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Would
they make pictures with blank paper and crayons,” I asked her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It's not likely,” she replied, explaining that following rules it is also how they
learn, by rote memorization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As an
educator that shallow pedagogy deeply saddens me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is no wonder that only 6% of the country’s
high school graduating class passed the college entrance exam (which by the way
was a national scandal this year), with most of those students attending private schools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The school day is
broken into shifts, with the younger students going in the morning, beginning early and ending by noon and the upper levels attending in the afternoon, and
finishing around 5:00.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>School days
are frequently cut short or canceled at the discretion of the teachers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is easy to learn to color well between
the lines, but it takes higher forms of concentrated brainwork to put ideas together, to
abstract concepts, to imagine, and to create.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">It
pleased me to teach the children, both young and older, to “rainbow loom.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I soon managed to paste together some simple Spanish words and phrases and with demonstrations, hand-over-hand if needed,
guided instruction, gestures, nods, smiles, and lots of "Si", "muy bien", and "que bonita", I managed to teach a simple
craft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was their job to add the art—to
pick the colors, make the patterns, determine the design, the length, and the recipient.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> When all the looms were in use, we worked on fingers or used the styluses we had on had. No looming wannabe was turned away or left empty-armed. Soon our team's youth joined in and there was laughter, noise, and friendship freely flying around the table. </span></span></div>
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create something of use and beauty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am
already planning and thinking of ideas for next year….and there will be, for me, a
next year in Nicaragua. Esta bien. Muy bien.</span></div>
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Ellen Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198727947322137599noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8230822617650618732.post-75462393715132382862014-03-04T05:55:00.000-08:002014-03-04T05:55:06.468-08:00Marching Orders<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In less than a week, I leave March here in Pennsylvania (current temperature 7 degrees) to fly south to Jinotega, Nicaragua (current temperature 62 degrees). My packing this week assumes form The piles of things accumulating in the closet now fill a carry-on bag or a small daypack to hook around my waist. Two pairs of pants, one pair of capris, two long-sleeved t-shirts, five short-sleeved t-shirts, a pair of flip-flops, sandals, Keens, pajamas, light jacket, bathing suit, a hat, underwear, toiletries, a book (and book light), ear plugs, journal, bible, pens, and a few more incidentals. I have been told to pack lightly; I hope I am.<br />
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Our team already packed, spending a Saturday morning seeking the most efficient and effective way to squeeze medicines, medical supplies, prayer shawls, and donations for the orphanage into a fleet of large suitcases not exceeding 50 lbs. <br />
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We are ready, and I think I am as well. My dear sister-in-law (a seasoned world traveler) sent me bandanas, soap that serves as shampoo and conditioner, a sleeping mask, money belt, along with her welcomed counsel. My sweet friends held a luncheon to send me off, showering me with love and donations for the orphanage (can you tell we are all retired teachers?!). It all is such an encouragement, as I freely admit a sense of nervousness at flying off to places and experiences very unknown to me.<br />
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But this whole thing is really not about me. It is simply a response to two questions--Can you go? Will you help? Thus I go, part of a team commissioned to bring medical help to a country where such help is in severely limited supply. I go to help by summoning whatever talents I possess to be of use: to my team, to the people in the mountains of Nicaragua, and to the children and staff of the orphanage where we shall stay. I go to listen, to watch, to learn, to work, and above all to love. <br />
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p.s. As part of my team, I will be the official "blogger." You can follow our trip by accessing our team blog found <a href="http://glcmedicalmission2014.blogspot.com/">here</a>.Ellen Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198727947322137599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8230822617650618732.post-50786815829116116142014-02-24T15:17:00.003-08:002014-02-24T15:17:35.819-08:00A Simple, Scrappy, String Quilt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last week, Jim and I escaped the grip of winter here in Pennsylvania, traveling south to spend a few days with our daughter and her boys. Experimenting with including fabric into her paintings, Barbara has been talking often about sewing, so Santa surprised her with a sewing machine. Since decades have passed since she sat in Mrs. Schude's FCS class in middle school, and it seemed a sewing refresher and supervised sewing machine practice might be called for. Hence, my excuse for the trip. Jim's excuse was to be the long-distance driver, shopper when we got there (he loves doing that!), my trip buddy, and, of course, Grandad.<br />
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We arrived bearing a bin filled with fabric scraps, sewing supplies, and my mother's trusty Singer Featherweight. I had planned to practice by piecing a tote bag, but Barbara said, "let's make a quilt!" After a quick introduction to a rotary cutter and mat, we set about cutting fabric into to strips.<br />
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Followed by stacking and sewing the strips together,</div>
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which we then cut into 12 inch widths, and arranged into five columns to make the quilt top.</div>
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We backed it with a table cloth Barbara had on hand, layered and trimmed the batting and backing...</div>
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turned the binding, mitered the corners, and stitched it in place.</div>
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Then we pinned all the layers, knotted them together with grey crochet thread</div>
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and voila'! </div>
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An easy, colorful first quilt pieced and sewn together by this mother and her daughter in just two days! It was really fun spending time creating and sewing with my daughter. We decided to find ways to continue this collaboration, even though three states divide us. </div>
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Both boys both tried it out and pronounced it good. It certainly is...</div>
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Ellen Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198727947322137599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8230822617650618732.post-85353085256241264962014-02-14T12:36:00.000-08:002014-02-14T12:36:15.179-08:00Red<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In honor of Valentines Day and in preparation for sewing with my daughter next week, I cut some strings of red...<br />
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...sewed them together, trimmed them into a rectangle...<br />
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made some handles and a pocket,<br />
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and now I have a new knitting bag! Ellen Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198727947322137599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8230822617650618732.post-19949504545258751332014-02-12T14:22:00.000-08:002014-02-12T14:22:33.541-08:00A Simple, Flannel Baby Blanket<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4MdfoEuh3Tw8pS2z1fx9coVy-D6r2ulT85475HzjIpvJDMtOLskM8cBh5qNpaAjPUTRRJgTy51U8r8iWRparRqwdGC_bxEHvZD8X6kFcHQqIpG1bdSlqPmgKuEuUtFCvo92qOOMh0bjM/s1600/bag&blanket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4MdfoEuh3Tw8pS2z1fx9coVy-D6r2ulT85475HzjIpvJDMtOLskM8cBh5qNpaAjPUTRRJgTy51U8r8iWRparRqwdGC_bxEHvZD8X6kFcHQqIpG1bdSlqPmgKuEuUtFCvo92qOOMh0bjM/s1600/bag&blanket.jpg" height="400" width="316" /></a></div>
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I now have an alternate go-to baby gift. We were discussing baby showers at Curves recently, and I mentioned that my go-to gift is a bedtime book bag, books and my fav baby sweater (Lillie's Little Sweater). Terri, our fearless leader, said her go-to was a gift bag with two handmade flannel blankets and a bottle of champagne for the parents. Then she proceeded to tell us how to make these simple blankets. Terri's simple directions as told to me across the exercise machines:<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Simple Flannel Swaddling Blanket<o:p></o:p></div>
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1 ¼ yards flannel ("good" flannel, she stressed. And I found some at a nearby quilting store.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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1 ¼ yards complimentary flannel<o:p></o:p></div>
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matching thread<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Prewash flannel to make certain that it shrinks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cut both pieces of flannel to roughly a one
yard piece, making certain the width and length match in both pieces.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmWXHhouquf3Sp4Ehg7t9UZp-RNwQI2OD28M2naLkYDMgi30V4GShPBHABVaVxUf2XNReJZtclZo8tJSxrYyQjrkxVi7-aQc6Vk9H8UjdhZJ6xFjRCUKhiYyO0QQ0HwdMAS70XPJ202HU/s1600/cutting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmWXHhouquf3Sp4Ehg7t9UZp-RNwQI2OD28M2naLkYDMgi30V4GShPBHABVaVxUf2XNReJZtclZo8tJSxrYyQjrkxVi7-aQc6Vk9H8UjdhZJ6xFjRCUKhiYyO0QQ0HwdMAS70XPJ202HU/s1600/cutting.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pin right sides together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sew right sides, using 5/8 inch seam, leaving
about 5 to 6 inches unsewn to allow for turning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clip corners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBOaX0T6WqU_p2qhLqgK_GIC1axLDJMl2a9aIqFaHijtYACE_f6hWBbg7NbFFBxSznHRJn18JoRvggDJsNf4G5qh1YpcKvhOOHsXBPa9DzmusC0vCvtTJKBQ4oEOy_lk4yg7hChhUVFyA/s1600/trim+edges.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBOaX0T6WqU_p2qhLqgK_GIC1axLDJMl2a9aIqFaHijtYACE_f6hWBbg7NbFFBxSznHRJn18JoRvggDJsNf4G5qh1YpcKvhOOHsXBPa9DzmusC0vCvtTJKBQ4oEOy_lk4yg7hChhUVFyA/s1600/trim+edges.jpg" height="320" width="318" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Turn blanket inside out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Making
certain edges match, pin together unsewn edges left for turning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Top stitch, using a 3/8 inch seam
allowance.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZjD-glokHTG5ZrugUiWNrPjUDS-MbUS0EW-6ioA0mxufaanf5ONGNYgYDn2NXLoytRfLY6EKDX4bOTIhveJxf1vIKwskjqlqxiDE5VO9Te1biQmwqQQkcbTVMfYKEZOoeTkzsQytzAM/s1600/stitiching.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZjD-glokHTG5ZrugUiWNrPjUDS-MbUS0EW-6ioA0mxufaanf5ONGNYgYDn2NXLoytRfLY6EKDX4bOTIhveJxf1vIKwskjqlqxiDE5VO9Te1biQmwqQQkcbTVMfYKEZOoeTkzsQytzAM/s1600/stitiching.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Press lightly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Voila'! These really are wonderful blankets for mamas and their wee ones.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOTnp7asPNnvtp1C86kvvlBs2fPRvz5cuJFeVl3FJ32-eSYxGqG5E6KXmrGhIxs1jSvBgv-elSf5A2v8o0IROL-CRtbrLGKJMYZkVK76rDUWgVCrF1hTnpTikoPb2OODojKX3k49vBHIA/s1600/stacked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOTnp7asPNnvtp1C86kvvlBs2fPRvz5cuJFeVl3FJ32-eSYxGqG5E6KXmrGhIxs1jSvBgv-elSf5A2v8o0IROL-CRtbrLGKJMYZkVK76rDUWgVCrF1hTnpTikoPb2OODojKX3k49vBHIA/s1600/stacked.jpg" height="197" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxlVY8bYt4zvykU-m19wEVTv_hJSV4ES_VsOnBt4U3a2B2VJE4J02EPlTNuJsTHKqrUd_-FQ3EQeK5wx_wVAKT2WK0jfJOoubmlrT8Tf7LBrtYuiIP3pWygWV_tmHGkuy2c-ciEphQ30/s1600/blue+plaid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxlVY8bYt4zvykU-m19wEVTv_hJSV4ES_VsOnBt4U3a2B2VJE4J02EPlTNuJsTHKqrUd_-FQ3EQeK5wx_wVAKT2WK0jfJOoubmlrT8Tf7LBrtYuiIP3pWygWV_tmHGkuy2c-ciEphQ30/s1600/blue+plaid.jpg" height="281" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXDpF68sU76e1JuvkJriZiT-9zAu7SjWS164-RFhjOtHu_s9DI2uWftLka934erzjo6Lq3l_dFxRGpFiWAYsHMPRXVRQfLcjXFRPsrIhpVvqDKvHRM4HGgGvTiVEtlTQI6bijXIP5m8mY/s1600/paisley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXDpF68sU76e1JuvkJriZiT-9zAu7SjWS164-RFhjOtHu_s9DI2uWftLka934erzjo6Lq3l_dFxRGpFiWAYsHMPRXVRQfLcjXFRPsrIhpVvqDKvHRM4HGgGvTiVEtlTQI6bijXIP5m8mY/s1600/paisley.jpg" height="319" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
Ellen Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198727947322137599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8230822617650618732.post-9956534345340828072014-02-05T05:40:00.000-08:002014-02-08T18:43:54.549-08:00Another Quilt Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUSv0D1THnf4Zu0z0hEKN82J3ZXL_wFPTfynijfcOejpfueTMYxFhxl6HrF9_MDj8oTloE2Ko_KN5t9TH-Tasl6NLsgKr_qyNErl9WNYPZC0tMdmA9kkFBLSdMgreD-YgfidAxCoNd_c/s1600/rack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUSv0D1THnf4Zu0z0hEKN82J3ZXL_wFPTfynijfcOejpfueTMYxFhxl6HrF9_MDj8oTloE2Ko_KN5t9TH-Tasl6NLsgKr_qyNErl9WNYPZC0tMdmA9kkFBLSdMgreD-YgfidAxCoNd_c/s1600/rack.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The phone rang Saturday morning just as I was dashing out the door. My friend Mary answered my hello by continuing, "We are downsizing and I have a few things I thought you might like." My interest piqued as she listed what she had set aside. "I have a small stack of quilting books, sort of coffee table books, would you like them?" <br />
<br />
Oh yes, of course I would. Rarely do I refuse books from friends. <br />
<br />
"And, I have an old quilt top, I bought at an auction, fifteen years ago, I think. It needs quilted and finished. Would you like that as well?"<br />
<br />
Most definitely a big yes on that one! I love old quilts, fascinated by the fabrics, the designs, the work<i>wo</i>manship, and whatever stories the quilt may tell.<br />
<br />
I was not disappointed. The quilt top is glorious. Mary was right--it was unfinished but only nearly so. The quilter had finished piecing the top, some by hand and some by machine, as far as I can tell. She had laid it out on batting and placed a goodly sized square of muslin underneath as backing. It only needed to be secured by quilting or tying and then bound.<br />
<br />
Since the fabrics seemed a bit fragile to me, I decided to tie it, rather than risk tearing it by machine quilting it. And besides, I didn't want to detract in anyway from the majesty of the top...I figured the less I intrude, the more the quilter's artistry shines.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0CdQ4tHP4RIuTRyqKqdjmsnmJtCJvA4j1XZXtYIAYxA7Ng49Z1DNV_sR3NLsvA9eOeoHS0UD8lNryN6X-tkG4OB9j66kLtjxkF1ykMubJ4DH2z8qg4XPa8z5NC1pOLHFcw1LLF4Hbiww/s1600/Lily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0CdQ4tHP4RIuTRyqKqdjmsnmJtCJvA4j1XZXtYIAYxA7Ng49Z1DNV_sR3NLsvA9eOeoHS0UD8lNryN6X-tkG4OB9j66kLtjxkF1ykMubJ4DH2z8qg4XPa8z5NC1pOLHFcw1LLF4Hbiww/s1600/Lily.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSAQiz0yeHniVRCShuwIhGFzyC3Pl67m5EBUVsXZXxtxSHyPVnu8b6H8LYKRnAZkx6S0Z0yCqUgoKy_g4_5Kyqa4tA04pA329mD6q4RtR989FZsegR7GlmXdo3tS3xUJcSZlDfU2hz_jM/s1600/patches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSAQiz0yeHniVRCShuwIhGFzyC3Pl67m5EBUVsXZXxtxSHyPVnu8b6H8LYKRnAZkx6S0Z0yCqUgoKy_g4_5Kyqa4tA04pA329mD6q4RtR989FZsegR7GlmXdo3tS3xUJcSZlDfU2hz_jM/s1600/patches.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Using some high quality, fine wool yarn, I tied the squares at the corners. Delighting in the fact that not all corners matched, I celebrated the homespun honesty of this quilt. As I tied the quilt, I examined each square, marveling at the fabrics and wondering when exactly these fabrics lived. I am thinking maybe the 1950's. There seem to be a lot of shirt fabrics, contrasted with small prints. The red is exquisite, isn't it? And the block pattern? So simple but so effective.<br />
<br />
The quilter left just enough backing so that I could simply trim the batting, trim ever-so-slightly the backing and turn it to the front, mitering the corners. Basically, the only things I added were the understated yarn at the corners and the thread used to stitch the binding. While I now possess this quilt, it really still belongs to its maker.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgauDOIXMQkFHNSDEhc9-gXiJaHFSJEa5-IZ8UP0JBx9aEE5GDsg2T7gzV7AZWVLcUiNbHQ0xs7euJjK_5ECrFPqdkYc_BU5XODMW_NNqzshtV0SOm3axfQjltDb5fOPvgPrWJygRcwM7U/s1600/pnning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgauDOIXMQkFHNSDEhc9-gXiJaHFSJEa5-IZ8UP0JBx9aEE5GDsg2T7gzV7AZWVLcUiNbHQ0xs7euJjK_5ECrFPqdkYc_BU5XODMW_NNqzshtV0SOm3axfQjltDb5fOPvgPrWJygRcwM7U/s1600/pnning.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7LLBpl8Zm6mQ0J59ywXwydCPj4-WrqH84CvK5zqZ5b_18MhDuCNUHk-BofFoI8b3QvAAIEOYdknWBRO2lLgjRvBQ4PK-IaOQld1MjperdbGZxVE1OF9G1aLZV3A_QccWF-Mymj4j89zM/s1600/binding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7LLBpl8Zm6mQ0J59ywXwydCPj4-WrqH84CvK5zqZ5b_18MhDuCNUHk-BofFoI8b3QvAAIEOYdknWBRO2lLgjRvBQ4PK-IaOQld1MjperdbGZxVE1OF9G1aLZV3A_QccWF-Mymj4j89zM/s1600/binding.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
I cherish this quilt and am honored by the gifting of it. I loved working on this coverlet, thoroughly enchanted by to become part of the history of this art and part of the "herstory" of this one particularly beautiful quilt. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpkwkx5b2y5KFcLmG5fbKreyvNHty3U1OLi8RupiH_EAmGSSHfKFxzEXIx_Yii1RXcCD1DRXu77cMNrXNioBrxfUsrvN74YKn81xitP4jfswYa7RjuI5GW-BQjdAAFw9gN6z2BsdXsGM/s1600/finished%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpkwkx5b2y5KFcLmG5fbKreyvNHty3U1OLi8RupiH_EAmGSSHfKFxzEXIx_Yii1RXcCD1DRXu77cMNrXNioBrxfUsrvN74YKn81xitP4jfswYa7RjuI5GW-BQjdAAFw9gN6z2BsdXsGM/s1600/finished%2521.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Ellen Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198727947322137599noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8230822617650618732.post-51768293995869576862014-01-30T05:21:00.000-08:002014-01-30T05:23:06.313-08:00Nicaragua Bound<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKv9Po77dBwjREMDpmTTdsXE2u2_1Ncxe8VXbXBsNwXTZDHrrUjKnDNVhXS5oGBL9Sq9XM4ZVRs46cFy0MUliQAe2z0wZb4jiPkyP70xWrkwPq-xBrBJM_0IUKkE6eLkX6hcKq0GOp3A/s1600/Tshirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKv9Po77dBwjREMDpmTTdsXE2u2_1Ncxe8VXbXBsNwXTZDHrrUjKnDNVhXS5oGBL9Sq9XM4ZVRs46cFy0MUliQAe2z0wZb4jiPkyP70xWrkwPq-xBrBJM_0IUKkE6eLkX6hcKq0GOp3A/s1600/Tshirt.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKGiETeX01LHW1Q_eZMUc4HRSDJxsp3XqsJPJc_HqjVES_vDEi-WI_vDGPHZqcHcV1dzuERPTlxzSmwg9yZGzTo2cyEejS5AHF3g8eyANwMhpQOmCI8DVwxKx15yjdgN0oh75FPq6OEew/s1600/backof+tshirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKGiETeX01LHW1Q_eZMUc4HRSDJxsp3XqsJPJc_HqjVES_vDEi-WI_vDGPHZqcHcV1dzuERPTlxzSmwg9yZGzTo2cyEejS5AHF3g8eyANwMhpQOmCI8DVwxKx15yjdgN0oh75FPq6OEew/s1600/backof+tshirt.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
In a little over a month, I will pack my brand new passport to go on a brand new adventure. In the middle of March, I will join about a dozen other people from my church and few other churches to fly South to Central America and travel to the mountains of Nicaragua.<br />
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In Nicaragua, we will be setting up mobile health clinics, bringing medical care to the rural areas of of this very poor country. <br />
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I am excited to be going, in fact, honored to be going, but truth be told, I am a bit apprehensive about going. The most out-of-country I have traveled is to the Caribbean and to Canada, neither of which required a passport to visit. Even though I have heard plenty of stories from former short term mission trip participants and have seen many photographs, I fully anticipate that pictures and accounts only partially prepare one for such a journey.</div>
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Not a trained medical practitioner, I will be serving in a support role on this trip. My job will be working with the children while their parents seek medical care, as well, as helping with the preparation logistics for the clinics (counting and baging vitamins and pills, packing supplies, etc.). <br />
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Our housing for the week is an orphanage high in the mountains of Jinotega. Typically, the team takes items requested by the children's home and art/craft supplies to work with the children during our non-clinic time. I am learning how to "rainbow loom," so I might take this current elementary school craze to the children of Nicaragua. I made my first bracelet yesterday! I predict that in short time, the children there will quickly surpass my ability and creativity.<br />
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And so I continue to prepare, practicing some very basic Spanish, reading a up a little on the country, and questioning friends who have previously gone. As the times draws nearer with each passing day, I seek trust for the calling, faith for the journey, and peace for my heart.Ellen Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198727947322137599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8230822617650618732.post-74312995710182473122014-01-22T13:58:00.000-08:002014-01-22T15:47:13.178-08:00A Purse for Rosie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Rosie and her Daddy are coming this weekend to join us for a church spaghetti dinner, benefiting our mission trip to Nicaragua. Her mama has an acting gig, so it is just daddy/daughter time this trip. The last time I saw Rosie she was smitten with my purse, taking things out and lugging it behind her. When I was thinking of her coming, it occurred to me how easy it would be to stitch up a little bag for this little lady. I Googled "toddler purse" and discovered <a href="http://www.gettingcrafty.com/tutorial-toddler-purse/">this</a> great tutorial.<br />
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Digging through my scrap box, I found two fabrics that would work nicely; I proceeded to cut and sew. Basically, I followed the directions and dimensions from the tutorial with a few modifications. Since I didn't have any fusible interfacing, I added heft with cotton batting, machine quilting it a little to the outside fabric. </div>
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After I quilted it, I trimmed it to the desired size (9 x 12 in.), added a pocket with rickrack to the front, and stitched up handles with the same fabric as the outside of the bag. The inside is lined with the pocket pink fabric.<br />
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It was quick, easy, and pretty cute, I think. This little beanie baby friend fits perfectly inside. I can't wait to see our little granddaughter holding this!<br />
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Ellen Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198727947322137599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8230822617650618732.post-49884942538087224692014-01-16T19:15:00.001-08:002014-01-29T04:06:40.062-08:00Blue<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today's sky showcased a light-blue yonder, a gift given smack dab in the middle of this often drab, dark, cold month. Blue skies brighten any day. I have never really considered myself a "blue" person color wise, even though I treasure the sapphire necklace I so often wear (a 50th birthday gift from my father). However, presently blue seems to be the color du jour. Currently my television-knitting is a <a href="http://www.imperialyarn.com/shop/kits/rustic-shawl">Rustic Shawl</a> with some delightful <a href="http://www.imperialyarn.com/shop/yarns/tracie-too">wool</a> from Oregon; "Denim Dusk" blue is the color.</div>
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Tuesday at sewing group, I gathered a stack of blues from our donated fabric and spent the morning cutting patches for an all blue quilt, tying up a kit for one complete quilt by morning's end. There are 48, 11-inch squares in this bundle…enough to make one 60 x 80 inch quilt for <a href="http://wr.org/getinvolved/quilts">Lutheran World Relief.</a><br />
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Yesterday, here at home, I continued cutting and piecing blues (with some added pink) to make another mission quilt. I plan to stitch this top together myself. </div>
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Next month there are two baby showers to attend, and both babies are boys. Even though, I typically rebel against gender knitting blue for boys and pink for girls, the two colors of <a href="http://www.jimmybeanswool.com/knitting/yarn/Berroco/Comfort.asp?gclid=CLWhv_Pcg7wCFStnOgodi2oAvg">yarn</a> consistently catching my eye at the yarn store were these two shades of blue: "Crypto Crystalline" and "Dutch Teal."</div>
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The next mission quilt project in my sewing queue is border this unfinished quilt top. And the primary color is…</div>
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I guess I've got the blues, shaped in soft, warm, comforting forms.</div>
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Last year at this time, I resolved to add more color and texture to my life. Over the span of 2013, I took a color class, bought a color wheel, read up a little on color theory, and just started playing with color from the clothing I pulled from the closet to the fabrics I selected for sewing. I enjoy the movement of learning new things that shift the lens through which I consider the world. A lingering eye, a studied gaze, a curious examination of hue and texture combine in new and different ways add vibrancy and layered richness to the textile of my days. </div>
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p.s. Blue top finished!</div>
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Ellen Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198727947322137599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8230822617650618732.post-10712216991310821142014-01-07T16:45:00.000-08:002014-01-10T08:29:39.314-08:00Oh January<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We are in the midst of a Polar Vortex, a state of weather I never knew existed until this the winter of 2014. Of course, I also didn't know about a derecho until that happened, was it, last year? I thought after living for over 60 years, there really couldn't be anything new under the sun, but apparently Mother Nature has yet to finish my weather schooling. At any rate, it <i>is</i> very very cold here in Central Pennsylvania. So I suppose it is just the right time to wrap up this little hooded sweater I finished last week and deliver it to Roscoe's Grandma's house tomorrow. Still knitting <a href="http://cottagecreationspatterns.com/">Cottage Creations</a> patterns, Patty's grandbaby boy will wear <a href="http://cottagecreationspatterns.com/Sweaters/Lillies-Little-Sweater.php">this</a> one, and in addition, I am almost finished with another T<a href="http://cottagecreationspatterns.com/Sweaters/Tunic-Sweater-Family.php">unic Sweater</a> for Jamie, using the same yarn, a Red Heart yarn (vanilla swirl) that I picked up super cheap before Christmas at Ollies. (Sometimes, it is okay not to be such a yarn snob.)<br />
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The buttons are three buttons I mismatched from my button tins--I confess, I do kinda love buttons. So…button up your own sweater or pull one over your head, but whatever you do, please stay warm! <br />
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<br />Ellen Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10198727947322137599noreply@blogger.com0