Owl Backpack

I am so excited about this new pattern! I was actually inspired while walking through Target (who isn't inspired there???). I saw a leather backpack that looked like an owl. I thought that would be the cutest crocheted item, and then I remembered that crocodile stitch I wanted to try...sure looks a lot like feathers! Thus, the owly backpack was born.

I must say that the crocodile stitch is a cinch once you get the hang of it, but it does take some getting used to. There are loads of videos around that offer help too! Thank goodness for the Internet!

I also included instructions on how to make this into a satchel rather than just the backpack option.

Lastly, my daughter sure loves HER backpack as you can tell from the pics :). I think it's a hit!

You can buy this pattern in Ravelry or my Etsy shop.

Rosie's Cozies Tips and Ways to Help

I had mentioned that I would write a post about some tips I received from a wonderful woman at Helen DeVos Children's hospital regarding the hats donated. She was very honest, which I was thankful for. I want to be sure that all the work done on these hats is used! Each of you who have donated put in so much time that I want to make sure it is being put to good use!

So, here are the tips:
1. Use a soft yarn. Sometimes the Sugar 'n' Cream yarn gets a little rough. I also think Red Heart is too rough, unless it's the soft stuff. I suggest Bernat Satin, I Love This Yarn, Red Heart Soft, or any of the baby yarns out there.

2. MUST HAVE STRETCH. The hats need to have stretch to be sure they fit the babies well, but don't hurt their little heads by being to tight. The stretch also helps them stay on their heads. Anyone with suggestions on who to be sure there is more stretch? My only thought is maybe using a larger hook?

3. Preemie sizes are very much needed still! However, there is a need for sizes for babies in the 6-8lb range or so. Not all babies in the NICU are preemies. Some babies come there full term, and they need little hats too.

4. If you would rather not make hats, they also accept bereavement blankets. These should be white. I found this online for measurements:

Preemie Small 12 by 12 inches to 18 by 18 inches

Preemie Medium 20 by 20 inches to 22 by 22 inches

Preemie Large 22 by 22 inches to 24 by 24 inches

Full-Term 26 by 26 inches to 28 by 28 inches



Lastly, I have been debating on posting this or not, and have finally decided to go ahead with it. Many people want to help with Rosie's Cozies in some way, but aren't crocheters or knitters. I don't need any yarn donations, as my stash is insanely huge and the hats take very little yarn.

Right now the biggest cost I have for the project is the UPS box I want to rent. It is $134 for every 6 months. I forget how much it is per year. Paul and I are more than willing to cover this cost, and we will gladly do so regardless. Rosie's Cozies is important to me and $134 is a small fee to pay to keep it going. However, I know that people want to help. People have asked me how THEY can contribute to Rosie's Cozies. This is definitely an area where non-crocheters can help out. The UPS box will be an on-going expense. Again, I want to reinforce that Paul and I are more than willing to cover this cost, but I wanted to give others the opportunity to help with the project that really feel called in some way to support Rosie's Cozies.

If you are interested in helping with this expense click on the "Donate" button on the right sidebar. If I receive an abundance of donations, I will take the overflow to Helen DeVos as a donation.

If you don't feel called to donate financially, prayer is always needed! Prayers that hats keep coming in, and especially prayers for the families and little lives in the NICUs. I know people are blessed through this project.

(On a side note- Megan and Ryan, you are not allowed to donate!) :-) That is all.

Rosie's Cozies Drop-Off

Have you ever been part of something that was bigger than you had imagined it would be? That took a life of it's own? That was without a doubt the hand of God at work? This entire project for Rosie has been so humbling and amazingly eye-opening at the same time. I know God works, but I really feel like I am part of something God-breathed and directed.

Last week I had the privilege of dropping off the hats so many of you have lovingly created and sent to me. I met with Rosie's parents, Megan and Ryan, at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital. This was the first time they were able to see our huge pile of hats, as well as their first visit back to the NICU since their sweet Rosie passed.

I'm not going to lie, I was nervous. I made a phone call to my mom and my sister on the way to the hospital asking for prayers and some encouragement. Why was I nervous? For one, I felt like I was going to be intruding on an emotional moment for Megan and Ryan. This was the first time they returned to the hospital, and I didn't know if there was really a place for me at such an event. I feel honored and blessed that they allowed me to be a part of that and welcomed me to join them.

Second, I have never been to a NICU before. I didn't know what to expect. I have never seen a premature baby, let alone one that was born sooooo early. I was worried I wasn't going to keep it together and if I would be able to handle seeing those sweet little babies fighting so hard to live.

Third, I was worried about the reaction of the hats. Stupid? Yes. I think I wanted so bad to bring something that Megan and Ryan could be proud of. How do you really make something great enough to honor the life of someone's child? I know Megan and Ryan would never be disappointed in what we have done, but I just wanted them to know that there will never be enough done to honor their daughter and their story, as well as the stories of the families with children at Helen DeVos.

Meanwhile, God I'm sure was laughing at me. I can just imagine that He was thinking, "my child, I have done this good work through you, and I will be faithful to complete it."

I met Megan and Ryan in the parking ramp and we headed on up. There is a bridge from the ramp to the hospital. They commented on the familiarity of "that walk." We checked in and headed on up. We were met with their Family Support worker, Amy, who was one amazing woman. She had been in their shoes 12 years previous, and now works at Helen DeVos to help families who are there now.

I was so excited that the entire walk unto the NICU people commented on the hats. The hats that YOU made. Everyone loved them and could not get over how cute they were. Nurses were stopping in to pick out a hat for their little patients and even a mother was there to look through them. Megan put it so perfectly. She mentioned that they couldn't put clothes on Rose, so her "outfit" was her hats. This is all those babies have and their families have to give their little ones a little more character and personality.

Amy brought me on a tour of the NICU, where I was able to see a tiny glimpse into the lives of the families with babies there. I saw the room where Rosie stayed and met her doctor. Just seeing the environment and people involved made me feel even more excited about Rosie's Cozies. It made things more real and the project even more meaningful than it already was.

One tidbit of info not mentioned yet is that Megan is pregnant. She made a comment that hit me hard. Megan told Rosie's doctor that she felt her pregnancy was a blessing from their Rose. Had Rose not passed away, Megan and Ryan would not have this pregnancy they have now. So true.

At the end of our visit I got into my car and the song "Blessings" by Laura Story was on the radio. This is a song so powerful and so perfect for that moment. I was thinking of Megan's words about her current pregnancy while I listened to the lyrics "What if your blessings come through raindrops, what if your healing comes through tears..." I sobbed. I cried for Megan and Ryan's tears, but for the joy of this new blessing. This new blessing could really only come through the raindrops and tears at the loss of sweet Rose. God always has a plan, despite the struggle and pain it is to get there.

Overall, my visit to Helen DeVos with Megan and Ryan was so humbling. Their story is one of may of the families who pray, who plead, who beg for the lives of their child. I am humbled by their strength and their faith.

The hats donated were a huge hit and were beyond appreciated. I am so thankful for those of you who have donated and so graciously and selflessly given to this project. Please know that they are a blessing to those families and even the nurses get so excited for such adorable hats to place on their little babies.

I hope to continue collecting hats for this project and will post soon about some info about what type of yarn and stitch is best. I will post soon of my new PO Box address so you can keep sending hats. Those at Helen DeVos made it very clear that there can never be too many hats.

Thank you, Megan and Ryan, for letting me be a part of your first visit.

Thank you to each of you who have donated hats to honor Rose.

Thank you to those who have prayed for this project and donated to it's cause.

Thank you Helen DeVos Children's Hospital for all you do for those sweet lives and their families.

Thank you to sweet Rose for her life and her legacy.

Most importantly, thank you, Lord, for your goodness. Thank you for your grace. Thank you for blessing Rosie's Cozies, and please continue to bless this project.

Shell Stitch Beanie Video Tutorial

I have the best fans. Greatest. When I mentioned needing a video to help explain my shell stitch beanie pattern Laura Muzinic from Midnight Stitches volunteered to help me out. How could I refuse??

Laura has so graciously recorded herself making my shell stitch beanie and explaining my pattern fabulously! Hopefully, this video helps clear up some confusion that some are having with the pattern. Please check out the video below if you are running into some problems.



Oh, and please head to Laura's Facebook page and give her some love and check out her Etsy shop! She wins fan of the year in my book!

Adorable Pillow Covers

I am in the process of redoing the decor in my main living area. I tend to change something and then let it sit there for five years until my sister, Jill (aka decorating on a budget guru), stops by and starts rearranging things. A couple of weeks ago the hubsters told me that for HIS birthday, he wanted me to spend money redecorating the house with Jill's help. Nicest man ever? Yup. Jill was equally excited.

Jill is the queen of decorating things on a budget. I quickly found a rug on Craigslist and she found some adorable curtain panels on clearance at Target that I ordered. My budget was quickly dwindling from these two purchases, and I had yet to get pillow covers and things for my shelves. As I began to think about how to save money I thought "could I crochet pillow covers?". Yessiree.

I went onto Ravelry and searched and found this pattern.. It was tough to find the right pattern that wasn't going to be too old fashioned looking, and would update my house rather than date it. This pattern was also free, which is ALWAYS a plus.

The pattern was fairly easy to follow. It ended up being smaller than my pillows, so I just added a few more granny square rows around until I felt it was the right size. I used Red Heart Soft and was happy with the bold colors and bit of shine to the yarn.

I am so please with how it turned out! I have one more to make, but wanted to share my first finished project. Again, I am not a photographer, so forgive my poor camera skills.

Free Time?

I want to apologize for being so absent lately. I know, I know....I just had a baby. However, lately I post pictures of babies, rather than my recent projects. I leave Facebook statuses about motherhood, not crocheting. I know this is my life (and I really honestly love it), but I do miss sitting down at night with a skein yarn, a crochet hook in hand and whipping out some projects.

Yes, I have fit some crochet in here and there, but not to the extent I had. I miss it. I know that my current role as mother of two is much more important and demanding than that of crocheter and I gladly take on the new responsibilities, however crocheting is also part of my identity. Crocheting is my hobby. My passion too.

So, those of you out there who know how to fit it in amidst the poopy diapers, playing with puzzles, wiping noses, rocking a sleeping newborn, episodes of Wonder Pets, and laughing at the conversations of a toddler PLEASE give me the secret.

In the meantime, I'll keep loving on these crazy girls of mine!

ABC's of Me

A: Anxiety. I hate to start with this one, but "A" comes first :). I am not diagnosed with anything, but I think since completing my degree in counseling I have a much better idea of my own mental health. I for sure have specific things that cause me anxiety....where I feel out of control and freak out a bit. This includes packing for trips, being late anywhere, and sometimes the mess in my house completely overwhelms me. Nothing to debilitating, but something I am much more aware of! Xanax has been my friend here and there!

B: Betsy. My name is just Betsy. Not Elizabeth. I get this question a ton!

C: Cricket. Yes, I have a sister named Cricket. People always give me an odd look when I talk about her if they didn't know and then I have to explain. Her real name is Krista, but when she was born she was little and had big eyes, so the nurses and my dad started to call her Cricket. It has stuck ever since! Her business cards even said Cricket on them.

D: Dutch. In more ways than one! Although I am Dutch as far as blood, I am also cheap. Most things I am more than fine with the off brand and I don't usually like to spend large sums of money at once. When I do, it usually comes along with that anxiety I mentioned before.

E: Evelyn. My newest daughter. She is my 11-11-11 baby. We joke that she is such a good baby now because she was so naughty in the womb. I had morning sickness the entire pregnancy, awful heartburn, and then she surprised us by being breech resulting in an emergency c-section. Good thing she is so cute or she would have been grounded when she came out!

F: Forgetful. My husband says I have the memory of an elephant, and in many instances I do. However, when it comes to things I read in emails or if I have to bring something somewhere I just forget.

G: Green. My favorite color. I'm obsessed. The entire main floor of my house is "dill pickle.". I would paint every room green if it didn't look excessive!

H: Huizinga. My maiden name. I still use my emil address I had before I was married: bhuizinga@gmail.com. I figured it was one small way I could hold into my good ol' Dutch maiden name just a bit :)

I: Isabelle. This is my oldest daughter. We call her Belle for short. She is just over 2 and a pile of energy! I really think she is one of the coolest people I know ( and cutest!)

J: Jesus. Yes, He is real and I believe in Him. Thank goodness too, because without Jesus I would be a hot mess.

K: Kalamazoo, MI. My hometown. I lived there all of my life in the same house until I moved to Grand Rapids for college.

L: Loser...as in I lose everything! The joke in college with my roommates was that they knew they would hear "where's my....." "have you seen my..." "I can't find my...." from me on a daily basis. This must go along with the forgetful part of me.

M: Music. I love it! I sing in a group called Alive. It is one of my favorite parts of my week to meet with this group and sing, but to also worship together. I feel so blessed to be part of such an amazing group of people. I also sing at Cornerstone Church. If you live in Grand Rapids you should check it out! (shameless plug)

N: Napper. I am huge napper.....when I get the opportunity. I think that naps in the middle of the day are the best!

O: Opinionated. I have an opinion about most things, and I tend to be very vocal about my opinions. The one thing I shockingly could care less about is politics. I have really no thoughts on most issues, nor do I care to debate them.

P: Paul. My good looking, supportive, hard working hubsters. He is my best friend, even when we really annoy each other :). He is a saint for being with me!

Q: Quick. This is a hard letter, but I can say that I am quick when it comes to crocheting...which I guess I better be, right?

R: Reality TV. I love, love, love reality television. I'm a sucker for Teen Mom, The Real Housewives, Bachelor/Bachelorette, etc.....

S: School Counselor. I am not a school counselor right now, but I just completed my masters degree in May. Someday I will go back to work. The joke is that I am quite the educated stay at home mom.

T: The Cheesecake Factory. Hands down this is my favorite restaurant. Such a huge menu and everything is amazing. I wish Grand Rapids would get one!

U: Unorganized. Terribly. I might organize something one day, but it is inevitably a mess in a week. My mom swears it's part of my A.D.D. (although I'm not officially diagnosed). I like to have my house fairly picked up, but if you one my cupboard and closets you will find a cluttered mess. Out of sight, out if mind, right?

V: Vacation. Who doesn't love vacations? I don't need anything elaborate. I love to camp, or even just a quick weekend away. Michigan makes it easy with all of the lake towns and Chicago so close. As long as I am with my family or just my hubs, I love hanging out doing something different than the every day norm.

W: Wine. I love wine. I have wine almost every night. Oddly enough I have to eat popcorn with my wine. I know it's kind if weird, but I make one amazing bowl of popcorn. So, usually I watch tv, eat popcorn, drink wine, and crochet every night.

X: eXercise Phobic. I couldn't come up with a good word for X, so this is my substitute. I hate to exercise. Too much work. It hurts and then the whole work if the shower, hair, and make up after is just too much work. I wish it was easier to be healthy.

Y: Youngest. I am the youngest if four. I have a brother, Steve, and then my two sisters, Jill and Cricket. We are all two years apart from each other and surprisingly get along very well! We actually truly enjoy each other's company.

Z: Zoo. Paul and I love zoos. It helps that Belle is really into animals right now too. We are hoping to swing by Shedd's Aquarium in Chicago with Belle in the next year. Grand Rapids has a great zoo that is big enough to have some cool animals, but not so big that it takes all day. I love it there!