A Different Granny

Last night I sat down and decided to explore different ways to do a granny square. These are what I came up with. I really like the puff stitch square. What do ya'll think?

My Crafty to Do List- Number 1

The first thing on my craft to do list for the year 2013 was a simple granny square. Now we all know I like to crochet and yet I hadn't learned the granny square! ( YES I know terrible!) So I sat myself down with crochet hook in hand and wool ease yarn. Google'd a granny square pattern and five ( maybe 8) minutes later I had a square going!

My "First" Granny Square 

Green squares for baby blankets

Now that I have the granny square down I am working on patchwork baby blankets. I am going to make several different colored squares- patch them together to create a blanket and viola! I have baby blankets ready for those friends that are expecting and of course for donation. It's something I can do all year long. I really hate posting about my services to others, it feels like a boast ( like making blankets or hats for babies who need them) but if you can crochet, knit, or use a knitting loom, find out if you have a local "Newborns in Need" and see what you can do to get involved. The little blue loom is perfect for making little newborn beanies and they are really simple to make and quick!

Anyway I was  so stoked that I had done one thing from my "Crafty To Do List for 2013" and had to share! It may be something small but with my right hand issues it was amazing! I seriously can't go a day or two without crocheting- I get CRANKY... I have withdrawals. So when I was being gentle with the hand and letting it recover I was going absolutely mad, like a mad hatter ( is that a bad thing? It doesn't sound so bad, I would suddenly possess millinery skills and make fantastic hats! Hmm I may have to add "hat making" to the C.T.D.L.)

I am trying to decide on the next craft to do. I have supplies for embroidery. Perhaps it's time I pull out my left over muslin, buy a small ironing board and start learning something new! 

~Lexxy~

p.s Are there any "crafty" things you are wanting to do this year? Do you have a goal to make something new? 

Head covering 1.0

I have always had this love for head covering, some of you may be familiar with the Jewish Tichel or the Muslim Hijab ( there are others as well, like the Amish and the Mennonites) I am completely obsessed with modesty but in a good way! Hear me out!

Now what is this very syncretic Latter Day Saint thinking? Wearing a head covering when it is not exactly part of my church's belief? Well call it personal revelation. Now I actually started covering my hair while I was still "pagan" I am going to use this term loosely here as I was practicing a different spiritual path and am now melding my previous knowledge with what I learn as I attend the LDS Church ( Now you may understand to extent why my profile says odd LDS lol!) and on a side note I am not typing this so I can be chastised or told I am doing something "wrong" I will boldly state this: at the end of the day no matter the spiritual path you follow- your path is yours alone- what you do is between you and your Deity.

With that said. I had this longing to cover for YEARS! YES! YEARS! And it all came down to one single post a member of a Facebook group I belong to posted on head covering. I was instantly excited to read about this "event" and joined a group of women of a variety of faiths that also felt or already covered their hair for whatever reason ( as the reason or reasons do vary).

I started researching veiling, head covering, and whatever else I could find on the subject. I prayed , I contemplated and something told me to go for it. So of course I did! I have many reasons for covering. I will go into them briefly.

When I thought about my reasons these popped up, I wear my head cover to protect me from surrounding energies. I consider myself an empath, call me crazy but I tend to feel what other's feel, or rather I have a sense of how they are feeling and sometimes this weighs heavily on me. I wear my head cover to represent my love and commitment to my husband- this idea is actually taken from Judaism- women covered their hair after being married. I liked this idea due to the fact that my hands are often swollen and there are times I cannot wear my wedding ring. I wear my head cover because for me I feel less modest without it. I don't care what anyone thinks. I also feel closer to Heavenly Father.

I know there are some people out there family and friends who may not understand fully. Heck I am still coming to my own understanding. Those were my reasons to begin with, but as I continue to cover it changes and grows.  I will save this for another post.

I want to blog more about this- look for more posts and thank you for reading.

~Lexxy~

Me

2013- Here I go!

August to December 2012- In a Nut Shell:

The husband goes to Arizona to "school" to reclass as an Intel Analyst. In the meantime I move/ settle in with the in-laws. I currently live with the Grandma-in-Law. Mom ( in-law) lives next door. We do what we do best! Work and have fun on our small farm. I meet new friends and start going back to the LDS Church. I also attend online classes at AMU ( American Military University) and wait for December to arrive. 

Life has been a whirlwind. We have built chicken coops, a hog pen, worked on farm to get it in working order and so on. Mom broke her arm! My husband and me had a storage unit near by that was broken into. We ended up moving all of our stuff out of there and buying a small cabin storing our belongings in there. 

My hand continued to have issues. Went to specialist for it ( still not sure what the heck is up, they thought it was carpal tunnel- but I have no signs of severe nerve damage). I fly out to Arizona in Dec for Husbands graduation. We visit family and friends. Buy a new truck ( well hubs bought truck before I flew out) and then we left our Arabella ( the Miata) with our cousins. Drove Brutus ( Our Ford F350 Lariat) back to Missouri where we spent Christmas with the hubs family. It was awesome! 

While hubs was here we enjoyed clearing the creek area out- cutting trees for next years firewood and clearing out debris, etc. We also remodeled my bathroom ( to a certain extent- the tub is not replaced) and we painted the laundry room walls and redid the flooring in both my bathroom and the laundry room. 

January 1st to the 7th:

I spend the last few days with the hubs before he flies out to Korea, for a year long hardship tour as they call it. I wasn't excited. January 7th was not an easy day! Not only did the husband leave that day but my new semester began!

On the bright side of things, the first week of the semester is going well and I feel like I am on the right track in completing assignments. My hand is doing "better" I craft just a bit these days, but I do have a "Crafty To Do List" for this new year. Sort of like crafting goals? 

I also have health and fitness goals. Right now my current goal is to lose 80 pounds ( perhaps more?).  I am making a motivation document with motivations to remind of what I can do this year. My biggest obstacle will be going primal-ish while staying with the gma-in-law, who doesn't eat that way. I am going to plan out meals for sure and try to prepare my meals for the week. I swear I need my own fridge lol! Hmm not a bad idea, but where the heck would I put it in my small room! 

Another goal to add to my list is to rock at school. I want at least a B average but I am shooting for A's. just gotta work hard. I also thought about reopening my Etsy shop- but we will see. I am not sure how I feel about it right now. Just need more time. Along with this I want to blog more. I feel so out of touch with people these days. I am hoping I can blog about crafts, losing weight, and life in general ( or whatever else tickles my fancy). Stay in touch with family and friends better. Enjoy life even though the husband is gone and make this year a year to improve me.

So 2013 here we are, I am ready for you ( I think). I got things to accomplish and a year to do it. 

Ready- Set-Go!!!

~Lexxy~

p.s this is not the whole of the whole of goals I want to accomplish or things I want to do this year, just my random/ perhaps incoherent thoughts as I get ready for bed. 

Time Off From Crafting

I am taking some time off from crafting for my Etsy shop and crafting in general ( as well as blog writing, even though it has been sparse with moving, etc) I am having some real issues with my right hand and I rarely type as much as I used to. Taking it easy on my hand and blog posts here will be fewer than I would like but the hand needs to heal.

I am completely moved and settled into my new home for the new 18 months. Enjoying my time spent with my husbands mom and grandma. I am also enjoying the country life and wish I had the homestead I dream of already!!!

Concentrating on school is also my top priority. Hopefully my hand will be alright when typing up research papers. I wear a brace daily for 20 minutes here and there. I wear it while sleeping as well. We are thinking ( my mom and I) that I could possibly have carpal tunnel. I am working on getting my Tricare switched from my old region to the new ( and also switching to Standard- which allows me to choose my doctors versus Prime- military doctors).

Anyway that is the update on Vorpahl life. I would type more but the right hand is screaming at me!!!

~Lexxy~

The Insanity Begins!

Well here I am! Long time no see! I have exactly a week and a half left before we move! ( or should have that week 1/2, we have had one hell of a time with our PCS!) The hubs is busy as can be daily with clearing and trying to push paperwork through as swift as possible.. Crossing my fingers and hoping for the best!

This weekend we are going to break down the bed set and take down the heavier pieces of furniture down to the garage. I asked Jim to see if our friend Patrick can come and help. With my lower back injury I am afraid I won't be as much help as I would like to be! Hoping for the best on moving day though.

I need to make some tutorials! ALAS moving just gets in the way of things! I was thinking some simple tuts on half double crochet, and double crochet to start out with... We will see how the week goes though. Fall semester is starting the day we are suppose to be leaving too! I am trying to keep calm and prepare myself for school. Got to get into the mindset- prepare myself for school work. It is going to be very different from art school.

I am excited though! Environmental Science! I will learn so much and be able to come up with great ideas for sustainability! I wish I had more to type but I am going to work on a few of my writing projects and get this house clean. I am thinking today will be a good day to empty out the guest bathroom- you know, take down the shower curtain, clean out cabinets, etc.

Ciao!

Lexxy

`

PCS Prep 1.5

It has been awhile since I wrote a recent blog post. Things are chugging along nicely for the move. I went through my closet and filled up two garbage bags with clothes, shoes, and purses; which were then delivered to Goodwill. I packed a box of clothing I cannot fit into yet ( along with my winter clothes of course- no need for those either). I need to get back into the office to finish up the rest of the packing that needs to be done.

Jimmy's initial orders are for Korea- one year- hardship tour, with our home base as Fort Carson. Since he will be going to school to re-class/ change his job; I will be staying with his grandma. Of course I did some much needed thinking before deciding.( Never jump blindly right? lol) I know it sounds almost bad...it is not though. I am just a worry-wort and needed to find my usual "comforts" like an organic grocery store, meet up groups I could possibly attend, What pet stores are in the area, where the nearest vet is, and so on.

I also talked to Nan ( love her!!!) and that helped my crazy anxiety! It is wonder that I have made it this far as an army wife *wink* I have agoraphobia- severe anxiety and prefer to stay in my comfort zone (aka home). I love my husband of course so I manage to deal( this is good though- it forces me to deal with uncomfortable situations and so far it has been a good therapy for me-surprising I know); I might go a little bat shit crazy for a few weeks but hey! At least I can say the crazy evens outs.. hehehe!

Anyway! I am still without a good working camera but I do have some new listings in my Etsy shop. Here  are a few  below:

 jewelry-set-water-goddess

Since links do not provide pictures here is the latest jewelry set made by me

necklace-tribal-green

I cannot wait to get settled in when we move here soon. This way I can work on tutorials for the blog and other creations for the Etsy shop. I am looking forward to a good "vacation" from the shop.. While I am 'away' I will be working on a lot of things to add to listings- more stuff and varied. 

I will also be starting a new semester at a new school! THANK GOODNESS! Don't get me wrong- art school is definitely fun and interesting ( hard work too) but I wasn't happy. I have a really good feeling about this upcoming semester. 

As you can see I am pretty busy working on impending move, making a few items for the shop, getting ready for the fall semester and of course trying to spend every minute I can with the hubs. Well! That is it! A quick little update into the life of Lexxy! Not terribly exciting, but not totally boring... right?

~Lexxy~