I can’t believe it’s mid-October already!! In Northern California, the weather is still warm and the air quality has been good which has been a great relief.
This is what I’m working on now:

As you’re probably aware, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. This cause is special to me because I’m a two-time breast cancer survivor.

Despite two occurrences, my story has had a good ending and the main reason for that is early detection. I usually take this moment to get on my soapbox and implore everyone to make sure that they get a mammogram if they haven’t had one in the last year because that’s currently our best defense to be able to fight cancer as early as possible. I usually tell everyone to make sure they tell at least six people to do the same. Notice I said “people” – not only because men have female relatives and friends but also because although rare, men get diagnosed with breast too. I’d then encourage/challenge/ok, strong arm people into doing this by the end of the week.
But we’re in the middle of a pandemic and are about to enter what could prove to be a horrific season so it feels inappropriate to encourage people to navigate Covid to get a mammogram. Yet cancer hasn’t gone on hold because of Covid-19. And you can’t fight cancer if you don’t know you have cancer and the earlier you know about it, the better your odds of fighting it successfully and becoming cancer free. The unfortunate reality is that six months can make a difference in your outcome so this part of your overall health shouldn’t be delayed if at all possible, particularly if you have a family history of breast cancer. Still, do what’s best for you in your situation. If the situation in your local area is such that you can safely receive a mammogram then definitely do it.
If you are wary of the risk of potential Covid -19 exposure in getting a mammogram, then it’s more important than ever to self-examine to make sure your tata’s (or the tata’s of someone you care about) are ok. Self examination isn’t a 100% substitution for a mammogram but it’s the next best thing in the absence of one.
How to do a self-examination video
If you discover anything, call your MD to discuss and make an appointment for next steps.
Wait, how’d I get on this soapbox???

Anyway, I was supposed to be talking about caps. The caps in the photo above are in support of the 3rd Annual Crochet Cancer Challenge which is hosted by crochet blogger SweetPotato3. Donations from this challenge go to cancer patients who are undergoing treatment. During the month of October a different hat pattern will be featured and available on that day for free IF you promise to use the pattern to make a hat to be donated as part of the challenge. Psst!! – Several designers make their patterns available for the whole month so that if you find out in mid-late October you still have several patterns to select from so that you can participate. Yay, it’s not too late to get involved so click here to get started. If you make a hat be sure to hashtag #crochetcancerchallenge so your creations can be seen and maybe even displayed as part of the campaign!

Have you felt the need to create something with your hands this year? I know I sure have and am so glad I had crochet to destress. This year has been crazy. We all need ways to unplug and destress, now more than ever.
But that’s not all….Crafting and DIY projects give you the chance to learn new skills, do something with your hands, beautify your home, do fun projects with your family, and make memorable handmade gifts.
Do you want to spend more time creating? I know I do!!
My friends at Ultimate Bundles have curated a brand new bundle to help. Inside you will find my popular Stash Busting Secrets course, along with a wonderful crochet course from my friend Sigoni at Sigoni Macaroni.
It’s called the Creative Home Projects Bundle. It has resources inside to help you and your family improve your knit and crochet, master beautiful hand lettering, create vinyl crafts with your favorite cutting machine, repaint your cabinets, furniture and walls, make one-of-a-kind jewelry, and so much more!
When you buy the Creative Home Projects Bundle, you’ll get access to:
11 eCourses
30 eBooks
9 workbooks & printable packs
14 tutorials & templates
The creators behind all 64 resources are makers who are passionate about creativity, helping you make your life more beautiful, and teaching you new artistic pursuits!
And best of all, you can get the entire package for just $19.97.
I’ll post again to let you know more about this bundle sale, but for now…
Check out the Creative Home Projects Bundle right here!
You don’t want to miss this one!
All the best,
Lurdys
P.S. If you buy by midnight tonight, you can also get a free subscription box from KiwiCo (value $19.95). They offer a box for every age and interest, so you can choose the box that fits your family best! Check out the bundle and the bonus here.
