By Jeeni

12/15/2024

Day 3 - Bill of Rights Day - https://mailchi.mp/0e50c3887290/day-3-bill-of-rights-day I've got an item for that! Two, in fact!

12/14/2024

Just Say Hello Day -

Not much fanfare for December 14th except it is National Monkey Day. I wonder if they have a day for other primates? How about having a National Humans Day! Or better yet, how about a Just Say Hello Day. We could celebrate by greeting everyone we meet with a smile and a friendly “Hello”. It woul...

10/18/2024

Thanks to everyone who participated in my October Harvest Sale
I raised enough money to cover the co-pay for cataract surgery for both eyes. I go in for the first one on Oct. 28th. I wish I could have it done a month ago so I could fully appreciate the spectacular autumn colors New Hampshire is showing off this year.

The sale continues until October 31st - Only items that I’ve already sewn (mostly for craft fairs) are on sale (plus the ever-popular bowl cozies and toasty toes which I will not be able to complete and ship until mid-November) So this is a great time to get a head start on holiday gift buying.

10/18/2024

This One Thing

I’ve been mulling about this for days
how to put all of my gifts into this one poem
that will tsunami the predictable tide of your apathy,
and pierce the seductive lullaby of ignorance.

But at this critical moment
I seem to have been robbed of eloquence.
Words that always slip so easily from my pen
won’t budge one bit.

Self-doubt muzzles me.
Who am I to risk your ire?
Fear of retribution, if evil prevails,
blunts my sword.

I resort to plain letters
knit into plain words
strung together into this plain plea
that you do this one thing -

Vote! for sanity, democracy, honesty, and human decency

To my friends who cry about Harris’ imperfections
choices she’s made you wish she hadn’t,
this is not the time to resent being told yet again
to choose the lesser of two evils.

This is not the time to show ‘em your power
by sitting this one out, or voting for a spoiler.
This is not the time to be so weary of politics,
as to let everyone else worry about it.

Your vote will determine the world our descendants inherit,
their freedom, rights, the planet they will call home,
creative expression, science, philosophy,
all hang in the balance, this time.

There is no perfect candidate.
They will all get some things wrong.
Running for office is an all-consuming, exhausting undertaking
and candidates are flawed human beings.

Vote for the candidate who thinks honesty and kindness matter,
and that humans have the right to make their own choices
about how they live, who they love,
and when, or if, they want children.

the candidate who believes
all human beings deserve a fair shot
at earning a living wage,
and having decent food, housing, and health care.

the candidate who bases important decisions
on the wisdom of experts and scientists
after careful study, research, and rigorous testing,
not an anonymous social media meme.

the candidate who knows that Mother Earth
is going to do whatever it takes
to get us to show her some respect,
(and, “Drill baby, drill” really pi**es her off!)

Vote to stop the candidate who is a menace to humanity
so certain of their immunity
that they brag upfront about taking down
anyone who disagrees.

You have the power to stop the threat they pose
by electing the imperfect candidate
who shares your values, sense of decency,
and love of our system of democracy.

No one is asking you to go off to war,
or pay out thousands of dollars,
or change your way of life,
or make any sacrifices at all!

You just need to do this ONE thing!

I set out to write the most powerful poem I’ve ever written.
In that, I fear, I have failed.
This will probably never get published or win a prize
But I pray it will inspire you to do this one thing…

this ONE thing… this ONE thing…

©2024 Jeeni Criscenzo - Please share with this copyright notice.

05/31/2024

https://mailchi.mp/80f5449e497f/bodacious-and-bold-by-jeeni

05/30/2024

Alas, all good things must end , and my byjeeni 50% off clearance sale on select aprons, bibs, linen towels, and many other items that I made for selling in craft shows, will end tomorrow, May 31st. Your last chance to snag some handmade items for a Father’s Day gift, sustainable picnic stuff of something special for yourself at a terrific price.

04/12/2024

When I think about the gifts my children have given to me, the ones that I will cherish forever are things they made for me. I have a painted wooden block my daughter gave to me when she was in college that was part of a children’s chair she had designed. On one side she wrote, “Mom you are the Greatest!” It’s starting to fade but every time I feel discouraged about life, just holding this block reminds me of my worth.

The oldest gift I have from my daughter is a wooden duck with a clothespin for a bill, that she made at summer camp when she was barely ten. I still use it to hold my receipts each month. Through good times and bad, it has overseen the evidence of my existence. I doubt I would have kept a desk organizer that was purchased this long. That duckie has been carefully tucked into more moving boxes than I care to remember, its priceless value known only to me.

My mom died 44 years ago so I don't remember making gifts for her, but I loved making gifts for my Dad, especially in his last years. He really appreciated the Toasty Toes bed fleece socks, and the linen bib that I call a Table Apron.

There’s still plenty of time for you to make something for Mother’s and Father’s Days that will let the people who cared for you as a child (whether or not they were your actual parents) know how grateful and appreciative you are, by taking the time to make something just for them. You don't need to be an experienced sewist to make these kits - I've made them easy, even for beginners to create something you can give with pride.

Which one would you like to start your sewing journey making? https://byjeeni.com/product-category/by-you/

The Made By Me! kits include pre-cut fabric and notions and the correct needle and thread, along with easy-to-follow instructions. Plus, if you get stuck along the way, you can always give me a call. I'm happy to walk you through it. And if you need some of the tools described in the instructions, consider buying the the Made By Me! Tool Kit that has everything you'll need to make all of the kits, plus my learned-the-hard-way tips on how to use them for the most professional results.

Sewing lessons and kits with patterns, instructions, fabric and notions.

12/12/2023

I know many of my friends create fancy stockings to hang up and stuffed with goodies for Christmas. Here's an alternative. Buy a Toasty Toes Sewing Project Kit and make fleece socks your loved ones will wear all winter long. Hang one, with the other stuffed inside, along with all of the goodies! These are really easy to make - the fabric is already cut and the kit includes the correct needle and thread for the fabric. Choose from ProECO Organic Cotton/Lycra or polyester stretch fleece in 3 sizes. https://byjeeni.com/product/toasty-toes-sewing-project-kit/ Psst - The Produce Bags make great stocking stuffers - And some folks use them for planet-friendly lunch bags.

Give a gift that’s sure to please – comfy fleece bed socks handmade by you. (Hint – you can give them to yourself!) These fleece bed socks have just enough stretch to stay on all night, keeping your feet warm without gripping your toes and ankles. Great way to keep your feet warm while relaxin...

12/07/2023

I admit that I was a bowl cozy snob - but one New Hampshire winter changed all of that! - https://mailchi.mp/4f31072ea53d/the-saga-of-the-bowl-cozy

12/06/2023

New Super-Simple Sewing Kits and a Tool Box Addition - https://mailchi.mp/a194b7978227/jeenis-sewing-circle-a-big-warm-hug-13930338

11/10/2023

https://mailchi.mp/4bf1284513ac/jeenis-sewing-circle-november

10/16/2023

It’s not even that cold yet, but friends and family are already starting to come down with colds and COVID, the flu, and other sorts of winter misery. That calls for a delivery of warm comforting soup that says, I hope you feel better soon.
I like to buy large canning jars from the thrift store, thoroughly wash them, and replace the rubber seal, so I have them on hand to deliver this healing soup to my sick friends (wearing a mask!). Be sure to let the soup cool a bit before pouring it into the jar. Drop it off with a Get Well Soon Gift Pack (Bowl Cozy, Rollup Napkin and Bibbity Apron) from https://byjeeni.com/product/get-well-gift-package/ to start your friend on the road to recovery. Link to recipe in comments.