Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign

 October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and my wish is to donate $500.00 to the Canadian Cancer Society by making as much PINK Handwarmers as I need to crochet.

My ads are on Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter and Pinterest.

I will dedicate as much time as I can to promote a PINK item from my shop to support Breast Cancer Awareness.

 Let me tell you a true story:

When I first got diagnosed with RPS Sarcoma, 8 years ago.  Carlos worked with a guy and when Carlos told him about me, he told Carlos to come over on Friday and hang out with my wife and I. We not knowing at the time that his wife had been battling breast cancer for a couple years.  She greeted me with the biggest hug and kiss and I immediately felt that I had known her forever.  Over the course of the next six months we met with this wonderful couple and a few other occasions and no matter how sick she felt you would never know it because she was always bubbly and hugging and kissing and had the biggest smile ever for us. She told us she was in remission and was getting ready to have reconstructive surgery due to her double mastectomy. We got the call on a Monday to say she had passed away.  Apparently she was not feeling well the Sunday morning when she got up and had a scheduled CT-scan at the hospital and decided to go early with her family tagging along.  She felt so sick in the hospital waiting to be called for her appointment, When he asked that a doctor come out and look after her. The doctor had her wheeled into the ER.  After almost an hour the doctor came out to tell him and their two young girls that she did not make it.  You see I am not sure when her cancer came back and how bad it was but I know that is what ended her life. I want you to realize that SHE is the one that made me feel that I will live another day and that no matter how bad you think you have it that there is always someone who need your help! Her bright smile and loving arms was just what I needed when I saw her and she made me feel that nothing was impossible and that things will surely get better. (I did not use my friends names to protect their privacy but they know who they are)

I believe that with the love of God and my family and friends I have survived to walk in the land of the living for many more years. And when I work hard to contribute to a cause I truly believe in it's because of HER that I know I can do it!

Please share this with all your loved ones, I am looking forward to making as much handwarmers as I need to make to reach my goal.

Link to Women Handwarners: https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/164923111/women-crochet-handwarmers-breast-cancer?ref=shop_home_active

Link to Child/Girls Handwarmers: https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/164923171/child-crochet-handwarmers-breast-cancer?ref=shop_home_active

Lady Dylana is everywhere:

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My recent journey...

I am really terrible at blogging and I would start writing something and then never compete it.  What a year it's been for me so far.  I celebrated a milestone birthday. Yes I turned 50!!!!!

Thank GOD for wonderful gifts.  God gave me the gift of needlework.  I have been doing this work for the last 45 years of my life.  I am at that time in my life when beside the love of God and my family and friends and this gift there is nothing else that is keeping me alive right now.

Please take sometime to ready my story below and to comment. I would really appreciate it.

Back in March I knew from my surgeon that I would need additional surgery to fix a problem that have been plaguing me since I had cancer 8 years ago, I really had my doubts, first of all I was no spring chicken, getting older meant a longer time to heal that was bothering me quite a bit.  I said this much to my surgeon and family doctor when I saw them a week prior to my surgery.

On May 24 I had the surgery and was doing well I thought and would have bounced back sooner rather than later.  I had my first follow-up with the surgeon a month later and I was on track to return to work in mid-August. On July 2 I started to get cold sweats and my stomach started aching. In about a couple hours I started throwing up and could not seem to stop.  My daughter Gillian rushed me to emergency when she saw the place where I had surgery bulged out to at least 3 inches.  I was going through excruciating pain and really saw my life flashed in front of my eyes.  The pain was horrible and I was ready and willing to meet my maker. I definitely knew that in heaven there would be no pain and suffering.  After rolling around on a bed outside of the emergency area for what seems like an eternity, my son Amir finally went into the emergency room area and said "I want someone to see my Mom right now as she is crying and in a lot of pain and in all my life I have never seen her like this". They told him to get a wheelchair and bring me in and I might have some luck in seeing a doctor sooner.  A nurse came to my rescue and started morphine drips in order to alleviate the pain but that was not helping at all.  She then ordered an x-ray and CT Scan and the pain was so unbearable I could not even remember how I managed to do these things. Just when I thought things could not get much worse she came in to put a tube down my nose to me stomach and as it was explained to me to stop me from vomiting and empty the contents of my stomach into a bag that was attached.  arghhhh!!!! The surgeon finally showed up about six hours later to let me know on no uncertain terms that I would need surgery to save my life. At this time all I was thinking was "how soon can you go this"? he said if all the swelling did not go down by the following day he would do surgery before evening.  Well the swelling did not go down and on July 3 he performed surgery.  I just past the two month mark for both surgeries and I am a bit frustrated as I am still in pain and I just want to be able to do some simple things that I am not able to do as yet.  I do a little more each and and do know that God is good all the time and does not give me more than I can handle and I am here to live another day with all the earthwalkers. I am sharing this story as I want to let you understand that there is nothing we can do to please GOD, he does what he does through his GRACE for us and all we need to do is have FAITH.

Please visit one of my shops to see some of the amazing work I have done this year.

www.etsy.com/shop/dylanadesigns
http://knitcrochetartist.storenvy.com

Thanks!!!!

September Issue 2011

We are saying goodbye to the lazy, crazy, hazy days of summer... Fall is fast approaching and so we are all thinking Back to School and warmth.  Why not check out Dylana Designs and buy yourself a custom hand knit/crochet design or better yet you can curl up in front of the fireplace and make something special from the beautiful array of yarns and patterns on The Joy of Knitting

Recaping some of my New listings in my Etsy shops Dylana Designs and The Joy of Knitting.

Dylana Designs




Men's Knit Crochet Hat n Scarf in Tweed

  



 


 





 




Rainbow Yoga Mat Bag




 





Spiderweb Brooch



 











  





 The Joy of Knitting

 

Rejuvenation Wool in Olive



Rejuvenation Wool in Charcoal





Rejuvenation Wool in Cocoa



Hey I took a SUMMER break...

With the summer months being so short here in Toronto, I always spend the time walking about outdoors, which includes visiting tons of festivals, hanging out down by the lake and soaking up rays poolside.  I took a holiday from blogging and sending out e-blasts.  In September I will be fully back in business.

I have been busy coming up with new designs and writing new patterns for the upcoming season.  I am preparing to start knitting and crochet workshops by mid-September and participating in a few open houses and shows.  I have been fortunate to be featured in two blogs this summer.

The Dad Project

http://www.thedadproject.com/?p=2005

and

Natural Glam Diva

http://naturalglamdiva.blogspot.com/2011/08/she-takes-crotcheting-to-new-level.html#links

See you all soon!

Why I L.O.V.E. my business...

For the first time since starting my business I decided last year to really take a good look at my business for what is was and is. I went full throttle into it with my eyes wide open. I had to put into perspective exactly where I wanted my business to be three to five years down the road. While it's no walk in the park I must admit that I am totally enjoying this journey. I would love to share a few things I learned along the way with you:

1. Be a joyful business owner and have fun running your business. You are everything to your business, the manager, assistant, accountant, shipper, etc. Don't stress about the small stuff with every new day there will be new challenges so roll with the punches.

2. Listen to your clients! (don't take them for granted)

3. Try everything once! (sometimes the same things that you think will not work surprise you; always be ready to reinvent your business again and again)

4. Listen, listen, listen to advice from other people even those who do not have a business; remember they are looking at your business from a consumer standpoint.

5. Be true to yourself and your product/service. Meaning stick to good ethics and your vision, mission and policies when it comes to doing business, people will respect you more.

6. The most effective marketing for my business is talking to everyone and anyone about what I do.  It has gotten me so much sales and referrals sometimes I cannot keep up.

I always remind myself that I was creative and artistic before I turned my passion into a business and when things are not going perfectly or sales are slow.  I come back to homebase, sit down, relax and start a project and I fall in love all over again...

Our Great Canadian Weather!!!!

I guess it's old age but I am so sick and tired of the cold, rain and lack of sun. To top this all off I have been suffering the worst allergies ever in 10 years. I need to really talk about out great Canadian weather. Indeed it's been wearing me thin this year. Now don't get me wrong I love the seasons and Fall is my favourite by far. Fall just seems to me like a shedding of old skin, then Winter comes along so we can wrap that tender new skin in warmth, only to thaw out to the new life of Spring, then when Summer rolls around we are ready to find new friends, new adventures and just about anything new and exciting that this life have to offer. In my home country of Belize we like to say that there are two seasons. Heat and Rain. It is totally different from this Canadian climate. While I love them both differently at times when I am in Belize I long for the changes the Canadian climate have to offer and when I am in Canada especially at this time of the year I cannot wait to feel that hot sun on my face.

So for now I will just sit back and relax and wait for our great Canadian Summer which I hope will get here sooner rather then later.

To get everyone in a summer mood, check out my Summerwear  http://www.etsy.com/shop/dylanadesigns?section_id=7848428 and Accessories http://www.etsy.com/shop/dylanadesigns?section_id=7919985

One Love for everything Roots Rasta

Roots Rasta Drawstring Bag

Roots Rasta Halter

The Rasta colours are my very favourite to knit and crochet.  I make everything and anything from these colours.  If you are not familiar here is a brief meaning of what the colours stands for:


Black - Africa
Red - Blood
Gold/Yellow - All the treasures of the World that we desire
Green - Earth

Roots Rasta Yoga Mat Bag

Roots Rasta Headbanz

Roots Rasta Earrings

Roots Rasta Slouchy

Go to my Etsy shop www.etsy.com/shop/dylanadesigns to see more Roots Rasta designs. If you do not see something you like you can order at any time.