elkamade

[elkamade]

Mini Pouch by Agnes Chow

Free Crochet Pattern Here (May need to make an account)

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Simple Star of David 6 Point Star by See Love Share

Free Crochet Pattern Here

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Good tidings to you on this Soaky Sunday

[elkamade]

I designed a new shawl, y’all! This one’s called the Skylines Shawl, and it’s inspired by the architecture of the big city. And the best part is: it’s free!

You can find it on Ravelry and Payhip.

[elkamade]

The Vines and Leaves Cowl/Wrap is knit in the most delicious Catskill Merino yarn -- the Super Bulky merino. It's a single ply yarn that is so soft and squishy and warm, but light. Really, it's like wearing a hug. I designed the Vines and Leaves Cowl/Wrap specifically for this yarn because I wanted to have this yarn close to me -- to be able to look at it and to feel it's warmth and softness. The Vines and Leaves Cowl/Wrap is knit on US size 15/10mm needles. This makes it pretty quick to knit up! The pattern is available on Ravelry and Etsy. And, please feel free to reach out if you want to use a different yarn and want to make sure it will work. Hand knit Vines and Leaves Cowl/Wrap are also available for purchase on Etsy and www.elkamade.com.

I'm not a fan of being photographed. It's awkward. I feel like my smile is too big or it's fake looking and then I worry there's something on my teeth or I look washed out because I never wear make up -- just a lot to think about. But, I also believe in representation because real people are all colors and sizes and ages. Which means there should be gray-haired, make-up-free, mixed heritage latinx peeps like me out there! So here I am, trying to look like a serious human. It didn't last.

[elkamade]

The Vines and Leaves Cowl/Wrap

This is the smile of relief and hope.  It has been a very hard time. Covid-19, the US elections, and having to be apart to keep each other safe has really taken its toll on us. We are so happy that Biden and Harris were elected to office in the US.  It made the socially-distanced visit with family extra restoring.  We were able to just relax and smile. 💙 The Vines and Leaves Cowl/Wrap  is a quick-knit and makes a great, cozy holiday gift. It's knit using super-bulky yarn on US size 15/10mm needles. The pattern is available on Ravelry and Etsy. Hand knit Vines and Leaves Cowl/Wrap are also available for purchase on Etsy and here. This one is knit using lovely, super chunky @catskillmerino yarn - locally produced using earth-friendly dyes. It is so soft and warm, it's the closest you'll come to wearing a hug. Wouldn't it be good to be able to give someone a hand-knit hug?

[elkamade]

All the Love You Write -- a spooky book review 👻.

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All The Love You Write is a YA novel with a ghostly twist! You should give it a read if you're in the mood for a spooky romance. The thing about Driver's stories is that they NEVER go as you're expecting.

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Mark is head over heels for Bethany, his brilliant girlfriend. Mark thinks Bethany is way out of his league and that makes him insecure. He's dwelling on how to keep her interested in him as he wanders into his first class. It is extremely overcrowded and he ends up stuck in the back of the classroom seated at an old, cluttered desk. As he's trying to find space to write, he finds the corner of the desk is deeply etched in beautiful cursive letters -- Eileen is written with a heart around it.  He tries to recreate the writing multiple times and only succeeds when he writes it on his forearm in sharpie.  He notes that it comes out perfectly and almost seems to glow on his arm. After that Mark goes back to thinking about Bethany and texts, "thinkn of u."  Shortly afterwards, he finds a piece of paper jutting out of the desk and is surprised to find it is in the exact same cursive as the etched "Eileen" on his desk.  More confusing, the paper has a short note that seems to be addressing his text message.  The message admonishes, "What kind of note was that?  Does it even make sense?  You can't even spell, let alone romance a girl.  Try again."

Now, I've read all the Potter books, so I know you should be deeply distrustful of anonymous messages giving you unsolicited advice. (Taking this moment to express my dismay about Rowling's hostility towards trans women.  It's horrible that such a great series is tainted by it's author's prejudice and hatred.) I guess Mark didn't read the book because he starts following the beautifully-written advice. Good idea? Bad idea? You're going to have to read the book to find out.

[elkamade]

2020 has really been some year. I started the year with a raging ear infection (no joke - I was diagnosed on 12/31/19). I should have taken it as foreshadowing. I'm hoping the year ends better than it started. My level of stress and anxiety has been exceptionally high.  Being in NYC, the former epicenter of the pandemic, was stress-inducing for all of us here.  Most of my anxiety stemmed from worrying that I could get my mom sick.  My worrying was almost too much and often panic-inducing.  Last year, my word for the year was Seguimos (we keep going).  I used that word almost as much as I used my word for 2020 to focus myself.  We just had to take the situation day-by-day and do our best to not get sick or get anyone else sick.  My word for 2020 is "risa".  This means laughter in Spanish.  This year has definitely NOT been amusing.  There were so many reasons for tears.  My ironic word choice, however, was actually not a bad selection.  I decided that when I could choose between getting angry or upset and laughing, I'd chose laughter.  So, while things outside our home have been awful, at least our family is closer than ever and our friends are more appreciated.  I have to credit risa with my mom.  Despite all the changes Alzheimer's is creating for her, she mostly stays positive and seeks laughter.  By the way, do you like my sweater?  I bought the delicious, soft @blueskyfibers yarn for it in 2009, I think.  I didn't work on it until 2016 and I didn't finish it until this year!  It's the Butterfly Pullover by Mel Clark @kerfuffla .  It's in the book Knit 2 Together by Mel Clark and Tracy Ullman. #risa #laughter #handknitting #butterfly #pullover #handknit #woollove #yarnlove #alpaca #alzheimerscaregiver #grayhair #wildhairdontcare #bipocknitters #bipocknitter #comfycozy #handknitpattern #alzheimers #sweaterweather #findjoy #selfcare https://www.instagram.com/p/CFew1GSH80U/?igshid=3y7e7x4hxsob

[elkamade]

Van Gogh Shrug by Emma Wilkinson

Free Crochet Pattern Here

[elkamade]

today is the day of awareness for missing and murdered indigenous women and girls

some statistics from CSVANW:

4 out of 5 native women are affected by violence today

the U.S. department of justice found that American Indian women face murder rates at more than 10 times the national average

84.3 percent of native women experience violence and 56 percent experience sexual violence in their life time

homicide is the 3rd leading cause of death amoung 10-24 year old indigenous women and girls, and the fifth leading cause of death for indigenous women age 25-34

in 2016 5,712 cases of MMIWG were reported but only 116 were logged in the department of justice database

donate to sovereign bodies

[elkamade]

Hi! I'm participating in the #VirtualArtisansMarket hosted by @shineonmakers this Sunday, May 3 (swipe for the details). The Virtual Market begins at 9 am and ends at 6pm -- all done from home! ‼️NOTE: The Virtual Market begins in Australian 9am. This means it starts at 7pm in US EST. ‼️ I'll follow the schedule until midnight US EST and then resume again at 8am US EST. Follow the #virtualartisansmarket to find the IG shops involved and please also check out my stories to see some of the amazing vendors and their products. #virtualmarket #artisansmarket #onlinemarket #shopsmall #shopsmallbusiness #mothersday #mothersdaygifts #shineon #knittingpatterndesigner #oneofakind #oneofakindjewelry #smallbusiness #knitting #crochet #ecofriendly #sustainablefashion #slowfashion #independentfashion #artisanmade #ecofriendly #melts #merino #supportsmallbusiness #etsysellers #oneofakindpieces #handmadegifts #handmade #uniquehairaccessories #hairaccessories https://www.instagram.com/p/B_ld0bvnZ5R/?igshid=1y1z6kgjwtgjq

[elkamade]

Here’s a picture of my cat no one asked for.

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Hari is the mango we all need. 🥭✨

MY PLAN TO GET US THE HEALTHCARE WE DESERVE.

[elkamade]

Credit: @ThinkAnneThink

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[elkamade]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

“Right now is a great time to sharpen the little skills, Fine-tune the little habits, and find joy in the little things.” [x]

[elkamade]

Multiple!

NaKniCroMo Photo Challenge - Day 19 - One project at a time or several?

Do you typically focus on one project or do you jump around?