"No matter how terrified you may be, own your fear and take that leap anyway because whether you land on your feet or on your butt, the journey is well worth it."
-- Laurie Laliberte
"If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough."
-- Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage."
-- Anais Nin

Saturday, April 30, 2011

A Sendoff to National Poetry Month

Earlier this month I shared with you some very intimate poems that I love and have loved for years. I don't consider my own poetry very good. You see, my poetry is simply a by-product of my passion for writing. I use it as a way to get words on paper and begin my writing process. I had an instructor in college (different one this time) who told me one of the best cures he knew for writer's block was to just write anything, freewrite. I took that advice to heart and it's helped me through more blocks than I can count. Most of the time I write unintelligible trash; other times I end up with a poem. Rarely, I find one of those poems has some merit and is worth developing further. I offer two of those poems to close the celebration.

My Kitchen Window
by Laurie Laliberte

   If I stand right here
   I can see out my kitchen window.
   Through the dining room,
   Beyond the butler's pantry
   I look out my kitchen window.
   I see just the branches
   Of that old oak out back
   Full of leaves
   Turned bright green
   By the summer sun.
   The leaves turn.
   They change color
   First yellow,
   Now orange,
   Now red,
   Now brown.
   The air gains a chill.
   One lonely brown leaf
   Hangs
   From a grey branch.
   The branches quake
   In the nor'easter's wind.
   Snow changes to rain,
   Rain to sun,
   And that old oak
   Explodes
   With yellow green buds.
   A robin sings
   Hidden
   By the leaves
   Turned bright green
   By the summer sun.


Altar
by Laurie Laliberte

   My father's chair
   Sits empty
   Its surface worn with thirty years of use
   Headphones hung with care
   After a life lost
   Ella, Nat, and Billie mourn him
   As I have for many frenzied years
   My eyes meet his
   Every time I pass a mirror

Much love to all my readers.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Two in One Month?! (free crochet pattern)

This one is quick and easy and was simply a labor of love. Well, okay, each of my patterns is a labor of love, but this one never would have come to be if not for a request by Melissa, Tweep Extraordinaire. You can thank her via twitter @Coppertop97. I present to you. . .



Plain & Simple Dish Cloth/Wash Cloth
by Laurie Laliberte
Big Girl Jewelry & More


All instructions use American terminology and standard abbreviations

Supplies needed:
about 1 oz. or 1/2 ball of worsted weight cotton yarn
size I-9 (5.5 mm) crochet hook
smaller hook or yarn needle for weaving in ends
stitch marker or length of scrap yarn (optional)

ch28

Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, [ch1, sk next ch, sc in next ch] across, turn (27 sts)

Row 2: ch1, sc in 1st sc, [sc in ch1 sp, ch1, sk next sc] across, sc in last 2 sts, turn (27 sts)

Row 3: ch1, sc in 1st sc, [ch1, sk next sc, sc in ch1 sp] across, ending with sc in last sc, turn (27 sts)

Rows 4-27: rep Rows 2-3 ending with a Row 3, turn

Finishing Round

ch1, sc in each st around working 3sc at each corner, join w/sl st in 1st sc, fo, weave in ends

Guide for optional hanging loop

Choose where you would like to place the hanging loop. You can place it anywhere you want. Most common placement would be in a corner.

As you work the Finishing Round, stop between 2 stitches, ch10, join w/sl st to last sc worked, sl st in each ch of the ch10, join again w/sl st, continue working sc where you left off.

I would love to see your finished project! Please send me photos so I may post them on my blog.

Your feedback is more than welcome. Feel free to email me with photos or any questions regarding this pattern at BigGirlJewelry@yahoo.com.

I have personally tested this pattern extensively, but human error is what it is. If you find a mistake in the pattern please let me know immediately.

About my work:

Any pattern I design and post is my property. Please do not duplicate my patterns for any reason especially to sell. Instead, please link to my blog (http://biggirljewelry.blogspot.com/) or to the pattern page when referencing one of my patterns.

You are more than welcome to offer finished products made from my patterns for sale. I see no reason why you should not profit from your hard work. However, I'd really appreciate it if you gave me credit for the design; please reference my blog or the pattern page.
If you do make any of my patterns I'd love to see your finished items; please feel free to email pictures to me.

If you are not interested in making your own pieces, I occasionally offer finished items in my shops on Etsy and Bonanzle. I also welcome special orders, so email me and let's work together.

BigGirlJewelry@yahoo.com


Happy Crocheting!

Sunday, April 17, 2011

More for National Poetry Month

My instructor for English 102 during my very short stint at UMass Boston had a teaching style that I found very frustrating. There was nothing wrong with it, but it was not a style that motivated me. I was 24 years old and knew enough to know that I didn't know everything. I really wanted a writing teacher who would tell me what I didn't already know, who would tell me where I went wrong, not where I went right. I had a feeling this woman was so intelligent that she was in danger of crossing that fine line that supposedly separated genius from insanity. More than once I found myself rolling my eyes in her class because she was so good at delivering praise. I didn't need praise; I knew I was a good writer. I needed a tough as nails instructor who was going to push me to do my best work. This is only one of the many reasons I chose not to continue with my education, but it was a big one. However, she taught me one thing that I will never forget; she taught me this philosophy (if you can call it that): "The greatest gift one may bestow upon oneself is to memorize a favorite poem or two so that you have that gift with you wherever you go, forever." Well, Clara Kozol, here are two such poems that I carry because they are favorites and a third simply because I can't forget it.

The first is my favorite poem by my favorite poet. I do apologize as I posted it earlier this month, but it's so special to me and reminds me of someone I love dearly. So please, forgive the duplication:

The Shirt

BY JANE KENYON
   The shirt touches his neck
   and smooths over his back.
   It slides down his sides.
   It even goes down below his belt—
   down into his pants.
   Lucky shirt.

The next is my favorite Shakespearean sonnet (yes, I believe I've read them all) and speaks to the real beauty in
all of us rather than the physical beauty that so easily blinds us:


My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun (Sonnet 130)
by William Shakespeare

   My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;
Coral is far more red than her lips' red;
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.
I have seen roses damasked, red and white,
But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
And in some perfumes is there more delight
Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.
I love to hear her speak, yet well I know
That music hath a far more pleasing sound;
I grant I never saw a goddess go;
My mistress when she walks treads on the ground.
     And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare
     As any she belied with false compare.

Finally I offer a quote that I often get wrong, but can't completely forget because of its quick tempo and bawdy nature:

   "I like to have a martini,
   Two at the very most.
   After three I'm under the table,
   After four I'm under my host."
     -- Dorothy Parker

I'll have one last post later this month to close out the celebration. Thank you for joining me.


Sunday, April 10, 2011

In Honor of National Poetry Month I Present. . .

. . .two of my favorite poems by one of my favorite poets. I found out about and began reading the poetry of Jane Kenyon many years ago when she was honored posthumously in an article I read about National Poetry Month. I would like to share with you two of her poems.

The first was written by Ms. Kenyon when she knew she was terminal (leukemia). She spent her last days editing her final book. This is the Title poem from that book:



Otherwise
by Jane Kenyon
©2005 by the Estate of Jane Kenyon

I got out of bed
on two strong legs.
It might have been
otherwise. I ate
cereal, sweet
milk, ripe, flawless
peach. It might
have been otherwise.
I took the dog uphill
to the birchwood.
All morning I did
the work I love.
At noon I lay down
with my mate. It might
have been otherwise.
We ate dinner together
at a table with silver
candlesticks. It might
have been otherwise.
I slept in a bed
in a room with paintings
on the walls, and
planned another day
just like this day.
But one day, I know,
it will be otherwise.
The second was written in honor of her husband, poet Donald Hall. I'll write more on this one later this month because it ties into a story I've been wanting to tell about the poetry I love. For now, here is my favorite Jane Kenyon poem:

The Shirt

BY JANE KENYON
©2005 by the Estate of Jane Kenyon

          The shirt touches his neck
          and smooths over his back.
          It slides down his sides.
          It even goes down below his belt—
          down into his pants.
          Lucky shirt.

Please feel free to share your own favorites in the comments. I would love to read them.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Way Out of Character, but

Somebody is trying to get in touch with me regarding my blog but I suspect my replies are being sent to her spam folder because I've gotten another email from her wondering why I haven't replied, so I'm using the blog itself as a last resort.

I'm not going to name names because I believe in protecting the privacy of my readers and I value what privacy I have (not much these days). If the person in question, or anybody else for that matter, is having trouble receiving my emails, she should add my email address: BigGirlJewelry@yahoo.com to her address book. Most email providers will otherwise filter emails to your spam file. Alternately, I can be reached via facebook: Laurie Laliberte, via twitter: @LaliberteLaurie or via Etsy or Ravelry: LaurieLaliberte.

Thank you all and Happy Crocheting!

P.S.: If anyone here is following me on twitter and has not already done so, please send me a message to let me know who you are so I can make sure you're on my VIP list. I have nearly 3000 followers over there and I want to make sure the most important of them (my customers and my readers) get the proper attention. Thanks!

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Free Crochet Pattern As Promised...Sort of (drum roll please)

Okay kids, I know in my last post I promised you all a free dish cloth pattern by the "end of the week." Well it just so happens that as of this moment my week now officially begins on Monday. . .just so I don't make a liar out of myself.

You know I love you all and value your opinions immensely, so I feel the need to tell you that your input and work with the Big Girl pattern series has forced me to love this design. You see, when I first created the Big Girl Scrubby, I liked it just fine. I was more interested in its functionality than its looks. Your pictures and praise have made me realise what it can be and you will definitely see more of it. My pledge to you is that any pattern bearing that design will be offered for free here on my blog. Now that's not to say it won't be offered elsewhere for a price, just that you'll always have access to it here at no cost. I figure it's an easy gift to give to you in return for teaching me to love, rather than criticize, my own work. So here's my latest gift to you:

Free Big Girl Dish Cloth/Wash Cloth Crochet Pattern:

All instructions use American terminology and standard abbreviations

Supplies needed:
about 1 oz. or 1/2 ball of worsted weight cotton yarn
size I-9 (5.5 mm) crochet hook
smaller hook or yarn needle for weaving in ends
stitch marker or length of scrap yarn (optional)

ch28

Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, [ch1, sk next ch, sc in next ch] across, turn (27 sts)

Row 2: ch1, sc in 1st sc, [sc in ch1 sp, ch1, sk next sc] across, sc in last 2 sc, turn (27 sts)

Row 3: ch1, sc in 1st sc, [ch1, sk next sc, sc in ch1 sp] across, sc in last sc, turn (27 sts)

Rows 4-7: [repeat Rows 2-3] twice

Row 8: ch1, sc in each sc and ch1 sp across, turn (27 sts)

Row 9: ch1, working in back loops only sc in each st across, turn (27 sts)

Row 10: ch1, working in front loops only sc in each st across, turn (27 sts)

Row 11: repeat Row 9

Row 12: ch1, working in front loops only sc in 1st st, [dc in next st, sc in next st] repeat to end, turn (27 sts)

Row 13: ch1, working in back loops only dc in 1st st, [sc in next st, dc in next st] repeat to end, turn (27 sts)

Rows 14-16: repeat Rows 12-13 ending with a Row 12

Row 17: ch1, working in back loops only sc in each st across, turn (27 sts)

Row 18: ch1, working in front loops only sc in each st across, turn (27 sts)

Rows 19-20: repeat Rows 17-18

Row 21: ch1, sc in 1st st, [ch1, sk next st, sc in next st] repeat to end, turn (27 sts)

Rows 22-27: [repeat Rows 2-3] 3 times, turn

do not finish off

Finishing Round:

ch1, sc in each st of each side working 3sc at each corner, join w/sl st in same st as first sc worked, fo, weave in ends

Guide for optional hanging loop:

Choose where you would like to place the hanging loop. You can place it anywhere you want. Most common placement would be in a corner.
As you work the Finishing Round, stop between 2 stitches, ch10, join w/sl st to last sc worked, sl st in each ch of the ch10, join again w/sl st, continue working sc where you left off.

I would love to see your finished project! Please send me photos so I may post them on my blog http://biggirljewelry.blogspot.com/.

Your feedback is more than welcome. Feel free to email me with photos or any questions regarding this pattern at BigGirlJewelry@yahoo.com.

I have personally tested this pattern extensively, but human error is what it is. If you find a mistake in the please let me know immediately. I will make the correction and post it here.

Happy Crocheting!