Teaching Crochet in Austin TX

It seems that I will begin teaching introduction to crochet within the next few days. This will be a great opportunity to raise money for my son's therapies.

I will be teaching various places around town and I am getting pretty excited.

Up Too Late...

conjuring ideas of how to honestly raise money for my sweet Seth's therapies. 

The amount needed increases every day with every question. I refuse to feel as though it is unreachable. I refuse to feel defeated. Sometimes, I want to cry out of sheer relief that I know it isn't about me. Other days, I tell my emotions that the only way to see GOD is to talk to Seth and Will... not to retreat... not to be alone. 

LOVE is here. 

TRUST is here. 

GUIDANCE is here. 

Prayer oozes from my heart.

But if I say, "I will not mention HIS Word or speak any more in HIS Name," HIS word is in my heart like a fire. It's like a fire shut up in my bones! I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot!
Jeremiah 20:9

I Feel a Master Cleanse Coming On

It's been a while, but my body only lets me go for a day or two and I am just done. The first time I did it, I went 9 days. The second time was 4 days. By the 3rd time, I was only able to go a full day. Well, it's been 2 years since the last so I am hopeful I can go 3 days because it just feels SO GOOD. Fortunately, you know you go until your body is clean. Once it's clean, your body tells you to "get some food"!
I haven't been eating much meat these last few months, but nitrous oxide and other "dental treatment".... Frankly, my pancreas and liver need a break. I've been suffering from allergies this season and I know that means my body is in overload.
I think I'll get the ingredients tonight. But, what's my husband gonna eat? hehe

Free Pom-Pom Beanie Crochet Pattern when you join my Facebook Page

This hat is an over-sized beanie with a large overlapping brim. This hat was inspired by a sweet friend. It is very easy to make. Like Simply Collectible on Facebook and message me your email address for this free crochet pattern.

Commissioned Recreations and Crochet Patterns

In order to fund Seth's therapies, I've had to be creative- no pun intended, I assure you. I've tried many avenues and this is what has worked so far. I've been recreating lovable characters that have touched our hearts over the years. They are not licensed products. I've been selling my original amigurumi patterns online and have made extra critters during the pattern proofing process. There are so many ways to modify a pattern as crochet is extremely flexible.

Hello Kitty inspired Amigurumi

 She is such a classic amongst young girls and women alike. Hello Kitty represents so many different things to different people that I had to reproduce her.

I call her Teeny Kitty because she is not stocky like Hello Kitty and stands only 4 inches tall. I make a Teeny Cheerleader Kitty that stands 3-3/4  inches doing the splits. Perhaps tomorrow I can post her or you can go to my Facebook page.

This Kitty Amigurumi Pattern is sent out with modifications for all skirt designs and even a cape for a Teeny Superhero Kitty. Oh, no, I haven't added the cape yet, but will.

This is Teeny Ballerina

And now, back to work on a commissioned Pom-Pom Beanie. I will definitely get pictures of that and post the pattern. I am working on an Amigurumi Alien, but can't figure out where to start the head so I am walking away from it for a day or so.

Work, Work, Work

My sweet Seth. He is such a joy! 

It seems we are getting closer and closer to getting him in to Capitol School. These are low-ratio classrooms taught by Speech Pathologists. Seth exhibits classic Asperger's symptoms and he is so ready for school. We visited Capitol School back in October and he has consistently asked about them, specifically. They are such a caring, compassionate group of people that really care about their families.

We haven't had Seth diagnosed because it costs hundreds of dollars and we are more concerned with getting his education underway. In 2 to 3 weeks, we are attending an evaluation for Occupational Therapy and Speech- almost $500. Yikes! That is just the evaluation. The sessions are $110/hr for an average of 2 hours a week. It is required that he be evaluated for services in order to be fully accepted in to Capitol School. (They are not tolerant of outbursts.)

So, today, I plug away. Work, work, work. Yes, I am home with Seth and there isn't a single place I would rather be! I am working on a crochet pattern for an alien today which he said needed to be red. We drew it out on paper and he just smiled! I sell my patterns on Etsy and make amigurumi critters and custom items. The patterns for the original items are posted for sale with pictures of the finished items. I typically make a second or third item to proof the pattern and place it for sale. 

Every penny, from the sales, goes to pay for Seth's therapies and school. I need a lot of pennies.

Here we go!

How exciting is this! I don't know what this will turn into, but I want very much to document what I am doing for Seth. He will be 5 yrs old in April and is getting a little bored with me. He requires so much stimulation that Will (my husband) and I cannot keep up.

I thought I would continue to homeschool, but once he turned 3 and was sounding out words when he thought we weren't in the room, we knew we were in trouble. You see, Seth didn't start "speaking" until he was 3 & 1/2 yrs old. Not to us, anyway. We are pretty certain he is on the autism spectrum as all his evaluations have come up pointing in that direction- no biggie. (We haven't seen the neurologist because we are more concerned with getting him in school first.) My husband and I are self-diagnosed Asperger's and we believe Seth is also. Fortunately, we enjoy the same things- music, physics, puzzles, hiking, low-lighting, quiet surroundings and plenty of time to "contemplate".

Seth is perfect!

The only thing is... he is almost reading at a 2nd grade level and can recite just about anything about the solar system. Not to mention, children make him nervous. They used to make me nervous, too. HAHaHa! Nonetheless, public school is not an option.

Seth needs extremely special attention. I am doing what I can to ensure he gets that. I feel like we are running out of time, but this is all GOD's timing.

Will works full-time and I am retired working part-time weekends to help out. I'm retired from working in Theatre and Film for over 17 yrs. Suffice it to say, for 4 yrs or so, I didn't have a creative outlet. Once Seth was born, I had to stop singing for a very short time- or so I thought, a very short time. (Will and I met in the studio and... well... life started happening.)

I had to find something to do and picked up crocheting again about 2 yrs ago. (When I was 6 or 7, I was taught to knit and crochet by my grandmother. For an aspie, this is perfect!) It brought me a little sanity when I felt that everything was spiraling out of control. The demands of a baby/toddler coupled with the lack of outlets and the extreme tantrums, spelled disaster. I felt myself further and further from my faith and didn't know anything but what was directly in front of me. Until... crochet.

Once I started to create, I felt the freedom I needed to ask questions again and look to the light. I had a desire to grow- not just survive.

So here I am. Seeking growth and freedom, not for me- for my family. At this moment, I am at the very center of it all- an advocate for my family. This is not about me. (I think it's easier that way.)