Monday Motivation: Conquer the Moment

Minnie doesn't cuddle. She doesn't. Like ever. So when she hopped up on my lap while I waited for her to eat her dinner... I took the time to enjoy the moment. She might stand next to me for a few minutes per day to let me pet her, but it is extremely rare for her to sit down and sitting on me is really odd. 

I think success and productivity is in the moments. It's what you do with the spare moments that determine whether or not the day is productive. If you have 20 minutes do you think, "I can't get anything accomplished in 20 minutes" and so just spend it mindlessly? Or do you think "I have 20 minutes! I can get a start on ... a blog post, a sketch, a list, a few more rows of stitching..."? 

I also believe that using the spare moments to breathe and pray is still productive. 

On a totally unrelated note... I imagine that saucers were invented to go under hot drinks to prevent spilling. If you are like me... you might need a super saucer (aka vegetable serving bowl) to prevent disaster. This helps make sure I don't spend my spare moments trying to clean hot chocolate off the couch.

How will you conquer your moments today?

Surrounded by Chic Sheep

Have you heard of Marly Bird's new yarn with Red Heart? It's Chic Sheep and it's 100% superwash Merino WOOL.

Did you read that correctly? Yes, Red Heart is making WOOL with Marly Bird. For real.

And, I had the awesome pleasure of making one of the very first crochet patterns with it! Before it even had a name and a label. (Totally one of the best parts of being a crochet designer!)

It's $9.99 for 186 yards and comes in 24 colors. That's a huge color range for a new yarn. That's how sure they are that you are going to love it and want it in every color. It's 100% merino wool, 4 worsted weight, and machine washable. Shop for it here.

It doesn't look like my free crochet pattern using Chic Sheep is out just yet. Check back with me next week and hopefully I will be able to reveal it!

The Cozy Hygge Wrap Revealed! Free Crochet Pattern!

Thanks to Red Heart my Cozy Hygge Wrap Crochet Pattern is FREE! Get your pattern HERE.

By the way, does anyone know what "Hygge" means? LOL

When I designed it, I intended for the other side to be the "front" because I liked the surface ribs for texture. Either I tagged it wrong or they liked the back better! Which side do you prefer?

I thought it looked rather architectural. 

The yarn is Red Heart Soft Essentials in Biscuit which is a bulky yarn and super quick to work with.

Crocus Mandala Vest Revealed!

I have to admit, the Crocus Mandala Vest pattern was fun!

It's just one giant motif.  Continuous stitching with no sewing or joining. You can get the pattern for free on Premier's website. While you are there, choose from the various colors of Serenity Garden yarn needed to stitch it. 

Fit check while in progress. 

Problem Solved!

When you have just one skein of a yarn, what do you do? Do you have a go-to plan or strategy to solve the problem of the lonely skein?

If you Give a Mom a Quarter...

If you give a mom a quarter,
She goes to put it in the vacation piggy bank,
On the way to the piggy bank she spots a full trash can,
On the way to empty the trash can,
She sees some dirty laundry,
While gathering all the dirty laundry,
She pulls sheets off a bed,
While changing the sheets,
She spots a dirty glass on a bedside table,
While taking the dishes to the kitchen,
She runs the dishwasher,
While running the dishwasher,
She hears the mail carrier,
While she goes to check the mail,
She carries in the empty trash cans,
While she opens the mail,
She sits to the computer to pay bills,
When the phone rings,
That a child is sick and needs to be picked up...

And guaranteed, someone will ask, 'What did you do today?'

LOL At the end of the day she wonders why she 'didn't get anything done...'.

:)  Thinking of all you parents out there fighting the same fight!

Motivation Monday: When 'Better Than Nothing' is Not Enough

Whether it's work or relationships or spiritual life or fitness & health, is there any part of your life that has been just 'good enough'?  

Is it time to push past 'Better than nothing'? 

When 'Better than nothing' (in fitness, in health, in relationships, in work) is NO LONGER GOOD ENOUGH. It's time to push past the plateau and create something more. 

Boil it down to what is essential. What do you want to work on? What one step can you take today to get you out of 'good enough'? 

Am I talking in circles or do you know exactly what I'm talking about? If this resonates with you, it's your sign to make progress today and this week. 

We can do it! (As I reach for a stitch dictionary and a hook...)

I Love Yarn Day! Saturday Oct 14

Tomorrow! Get ready for I Love Yarn Day! Read about some activities and inspiration HERE.

Crochet Edgings!

Crochet Edgings for a Perfect Finish is now available!

Crochet Edgings is my 7th online class with Annie's. I hope you love it. It's very fun. I hope that it excites and inspires you to have fun with your edgings and not just think of them as an after thought.

Look for it here on the Annie's website with my other 6 online classes. Is the market saturated by Ellen teaching crochet yet? LOL Thanks for your continued support!

Here are the cats during class development...

Motivation Monday! BEE Awesome.

I'm sure you can relate. Life has been crazy busy here in Go Crochet Land. I'll try to pace it out so I don't over-share all in one post.

First... Motivation Monday.

I ran my #12 Half Marathon this weekend. I find this pretty hilarious because I never liked to run as a kid. I kinda hated running. Soccer practice, running laps around the field to warm up was the worst part of soccer. It seemed so pointless. Looking back I think I hated it because I thought it had to be an all-out sprint. (And it was, I guess). But if I had just relaxed into it and didn't push so hard I would have enjoyed it more. (Is there a life lesson here?)

I ran the Queen Bee with my BRF Lisa. It was her 28th Half Marathon, my 12th. Yes, that is a spoon in my shirt...

You see, it's like this...In the finish chute, they have all sorts of goodies and I had no place to put them. Applesauce, granola bars, water, bananas, chocolate milk, they handed us sunflowers. I just couldn't hold it all.. so I put my spoon for my applesauce in my shirt and then forgot about it...

I drank the chocolate milk and the water, of course. In the finish party area, they gave out BOTTLES OF WINE... and mimosas. I'm not a big drinker but I took my free bottle of wine anyway and gave it away ;)

The medal is a wine stopper! My friends were like, 'Why would I need one of those? Who stops drinking in the middle of a bottle?' LOL. It's such a wine-centered-culture we are in these days.

Anyway, I'd rather eat my calories than drink them.

Back to my point... I hated running as a kid. But when you have a buddy to run with and you get to talking, suddenly the miles fly by and you forget you are running (mostly). There is no need to be competitive or sprint, it's ok to relax into it and let it be or let it BEE!  haha. I crack myself up.

I never thought I would be a runner. The idea of running had me like, "uh, NO!". But it's amazing what happens when you just do something (anything) and you rest a day and the next time you do it again but add two more minutes. And you do this for a month or six weeks and suddenly you look back and say, "Wow, even in a month I have made some progress".

You don't have to run. I know it's not for everyone for lots of reasons. But if you start something, you have to keep with it a little bit to give yourself the joy of looking back and seeing the progress.

How will you be awesome today?

Welcome!

Welcome to any new visitors in addition to my returning friends!

I have to say Thank you to Brenda Bourg for the interview in the new issue of the Talking Crochet Newsletter.

What you can expect to find at Go Crochet...

MOTIVATION!  I work hard and I hope it's contagious! All I ask is that you consider making a decision (any decision) today that helps you be closer to happy. Fitness, crochet, love, whatever.

CROCHET!  Most of the content is crochet because that's my passion! When I can reveal new stuff (and there is always something new in the works...) I love sharing it here.

COACHING!  I have two types of coaching available. If you want to become a successful crochet professional, either designer, teacher, tech editor, contract stitcher, etc, I can prompt you toward your goals! It's a great way to stay accountable to yourself and make it happen!  Email me at Ellen @ GoCrochet.com for rates. You get the benefit of my 14+ years of crochet industry experience!

LIFE Coaching! Because Crochet Career Coaching is taking off so well and I know there are many of you who want the accountability and motivation to reach personal goals, I am qualified to help you there too!  Email me at Ellen @ GoCrochet.com for availability!

How will you be awesome today?