Amigurumi, crochet, My Life

Meet PINK, the Floral Beach Turtle: A Coastal Cutie Now My Etsy Shop

KarenPopeWrites

There’s something magical about creating a piece that feels like it carries a little story with it — and today, I’m thrilled to introduce a new addition to my collection: the PINK, Floral Beach Turtle, now available in my Etsy store.

This sweet amigurumi turtle has quickly become one of my favorite designs. Its soft, plush body is crocheted with velvety acrylic yarn, giving it that gentle, squeezable texture collectors love. The shell is decorated with tiny cotton‑yarn flowers in pastel shades, each one stitched by hand to create a soft, whimsical bloom pattern. And tucked among those flowers are delicate pearls, securely glued in place to add a touch of ocean‑treasure sparkle.

Inspired by beach days, gentle waves, and the joy of finding beauty in small details, this turtle feels like a little coastal companion — perfect for display shelves, curio cabinets, or anywhere you want a bit of seaside charm.

🌸 Made for Collectors

While this turtle looks adorable in photos, it’s even sweeter in person. Because of the pearl embellishments, it’s designed specifically for collectors and display, not for small children. Each piece is crafted with care, making it a lovely addition to any amigurumi collection or beach‑themed décor.

🐢 Why I Love This Piece

There’s something about the combination of textures — the plush body, the crisp cotton flowers, the glossy pearls — that makes this turtle feel extra special. It’s gentle, beachy, and full of personality. Every stitch is a little reminder of why handmade art matters. I love her face, which is loaded with personality.

🛒 Now Available on Etsy

If you’d like to bring this coastal cutie home, you can find it in my Etsy shop under the title:

“Floral Beach Turtle – Hand‑Crocheted Amigurumi with Pearls and Pastel Blooms”

I can’t wait for you to meet this little treasure.

crochet, My Life

Introductions

KarenPopeWrites

The first thing I want to introduce is Kathy’s Corner coming to my Etsy page tomorrow very soon. Kathy is a prolific crocheter and knitter, and she has crocheted a very practical handbag that is the perfect size–8″ tall, 7″ wide, with a 10″ handle. This bag comes in 10 different colors and can be yours for just $25 .Crocheted pink handbag

The second introduction is Pink, The Sea Turtle, which was crocheted by me.

This adorable turtle is 9″ long and 12″ wide. She is soft and cuddly and a perfect companion to lie next to you on your bed while reading a book or napping. She will be available in my Etsy shop very soon.

500 Words, Blog Entries, Opinion, Uncategorized

WordPress, Meet Me in the Parking Lot: A Snark‑Filled Chronicle of Fits, Starts, and Formatting Nonsense

KarenPopeWrites

I think it’s time we all admit something: WordPress is not a blogging platform. WordPress is a chaotic neutral entity that wakes up every morning and chooses violence. And lately, it has chosen me as its favorite target.

Luminous tangled threads of blue and orange transitioning into glowing cursive text against a dark background
Swirling luminous threads intertwine to create radiant, poetic text in a dark space

Every time I try to write a post for It’s Obviously Crochet (my other blog site), I enter the editor with hope — foolish, naïve hope — thinking, “Maybe today the template will behave.” And WordPress responds, “Lol no,” and immediately throws a formatting tantrum. Paragraphs wander off like they’re late for brunch. Images teleport to the wrong block. Headings inflate to three times their size like they’re trying to assert dominance. And the spacing? WordPress sprinkles random blank gaps like it’s seasoning a casserole.

This isn’t frustration. This is a full‑blown feud.

The fits and starts are relentless. I’ll get a few sentences in, feeling productive, and suddenly WordPress decides it’s time for a spontaneous redesign. Blocks jump around like they’re doing parkour. A mysterious line appears out of nowhere, as if WordPress is underlining its own bad attitude. I fix one thing, and WordPress breaks three more, just to keep the power dynamic clear.

At this point, I’m convinced WordPress has a personality — and not a charming one. More like the personality of a gremlin that’s been fed after midnight and given access to CSS. It doesn’t listen. It doesn’t cooperate. It doesn’t care about my artistic vision. It just wants to watch me suffer while it rearranges my layout like it’s redecorating a dollhouse.

And honestly? I’m about ready to fight this template in the parking lot.

I’m talking full dramatic showdown. Me, armed with caffeine and righteous fury. WordPress, armed with whatever dark magic it uses to randomly center text I explicitly left‑aligned. I’ll square up. It’ll glitch. I’ll threaten to switch platforms. It’ll crash. We’ll both walk away changed.

But here’s the snarky truth: I keep coming back. Because I’m stubborn. Because I love my blog. Because I refuse to let a misbehaving template defeat me. And because apparently I enjoy emotional combat with software.

Creativity comes in fits and starts — and so does WordPress functionality. Some days it behaves. Other days it acts like it’s possessed by the spirit of a chaotic dungeon master who rolled a natural 1 on “cooperate with user.”

Still, I’ll keep wrestling with it. I’ll keep dragging blocks back where they belong. I’ll keep deleting phantom spaces. I’ll keep muttering at the screen like a crocheter on the brink.

Because at the end of the day, I want to share my work — even if WordPress insists on making it a heroic quest.

Uncategorized

Introducing Galadriel– The Lady of Lórien in Crochet

KarenPopeWrites
Crocheted Galadriel standing in Lorien

Step into Middle‑earth with my newest creation — Galadriel, the Lady of Light. Hand‑crocheted with care and shimmering detail, she brings the grace and wisdom of Lothlórien to life in yarn form. Her flowing cream hair, silver crown, and soft white gown capture the ethereal beauty of Tolkien’s beloved queen.

Her long cream‑colored hair cascades beneath a shimmering silver crown, and her elegant white gown is tied with a glittering belt that catches the light just like her wisdom and grace.

Each stitch is lovingly crafted to capture her gentle strength and ethereal beauty.

Perfect for Tolkien fans, fantasy collectors, or anyone who loves a touch of magic in their home — this Galadriel brings warmth, wonder, and a little sparkle of Elven light wherever she stands.
Handmade with soft acrylic yarn and silver accent thread.

Each stitch tells a story — of patience, artistry, and a touch of magic. Whether you’re a collector, a fantasy fan, or simply love handmade treasures, Galadriel is ready to bring a little light to your home.

✨ Available now in my Etsy shop — where yarn meets legend. ✨

Blog Entries, My Life, Opinion, Writing

Home

KarenPopeWrites

How does one define HOME?

Home is where you feel at peace. Home is where you can relax, kick your shoes off, and put your feet on the coffee table. Home is where you can eat in the living room with the plate resting on your chest. Home is where you can wear your pajamas all day or dress up in your nicest clothes just because you feel like it.

Home is where you want to be when you feel out-of-sorts or sick. It is a place to heal, to regroup, to recover.

Home is where you can play your music and watch your shows. You can cook your own food or have it delivered. Home is your sanctuary.

Home is where you hang your hat. It is where the heart is. It is where we feel the best.

My home. What is your concept of home?

My Life

Long Overdue Update

KarenPopeWrites

I have been out of the loop for a while. To recap since my last entry: First, I had Covid wich lasted forever. They call it LONG COVID. 

Second, I was have severe problems with my right hip. I had to have a hip replacement, but to do so, I had to loose some weight so the doctor would no worry so much about infections.

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Third, my primary care doctor prescribed Ozempic to help me to loose enough weight for the surgery. It made me very ill. I was nauseated most of the time and threw up anytime I did consume anything beyond saltinecrackers and ginger ale. Fun times. But, it is easy to lose weight when you can’t eat anything. After four months, I stopped taking Ozempic.

The upside to that is, I lost more than enough weight to get a hip replacement. However, I still wasn’t eating very much because of Covid. Remember Covid? It changed the way EVERYTHING tasted. Nothing as tasty or good or kinda good. 

Then, I got a really bad pain on my right side when my liver belongs. After many doctor visits, they determined it was a reaction to one of the drugs I take for arthritis, so no more Methotraxate. But that was after ultrasounds and CT scans which revealed an aneurysm, gall stones, and cysts, To date, all is well.

Photo by Gabriel Porras on Unsplash

Except for the whole Covid thing… After months, I still have a cough. The doctors called it Post Viral Cough Syndrome.

I am finally tossing my sickbed aside and getting back to life. It has been a bad few months, but brighter days are ahead. The sun will always shine if we persevere during the dark times.

Uncategorized

The Time Has Come

KarenPopeWrites

“The time has come, the Walrus said,/to talk of many things” This line of course is from Lewis Carroll’s poem, The Walrus and the Carpenter. So it is.

I have not neglected writing as much as I have neglected this blog. I have polished a couple of novels I wrote several years ago and I have written another one that is a standalone about time travelers.

I set up a Patreon page to advertise my work. On Patreon, you can message me for access to the full novels or you can get a character named after you (or a name of your choice) in a future novel. Also, if you would like an opportunity to read the latest novel, hop on over to Patreon for a chance to be a volunteer.

I have established an account at Royal Road where you can get access to the novels. Check it out and give me a like!

I am currently working on a second novel that will be standalone but with the same time travelers theme.

Blog Entries, My Life

Feels Like Fall

KarenPopeWrites

Today, the weather is cool and breezy. I opened all of the windows in my house to let some fresh air in and ended up closing the one beside my desk because it was a little too chilly, even with my sweater on.

Just yesterday, the temperature was in the low nineties and today, the high will be in the upper sixties. Right now, at 10:00 a.m., it is just 60. I have spent the morning thinking of autumn things: freshly baked apple pie, leaves changing color, cool days, bright sunshine, sweaters, and boots.

When I lived in Florida, someone always said, “Sure we have autumn in Florida. It usually happens on a Thursday.” Virginia has real, honest-to-goodness autumn with fabulous weather, fall colors, falling leaves, and chilly winds. Autumn is the main reason I would never consider moving back to Florida.

A few of last year’s fall photos:

This year, I will get more photos.

Blog Entries, My Life

Why I Didn’t Remarry

KarenPopeWrites

I was separated from my husband in 1987 and we divorced some 4 years later. I had a couple of failed romances after that and one day it occurred to me that I was much happier without being entangled in someone else’s life. The baggage I accumulated on my own was more than sufficient.

One romance failed because I was never able to figure out what made that totally closed-off man happy. I guessed wrong and we parted ways. I used to think if only he had opened his mouth and said what he wanted.

Photo by Yarden on Unsplash

Another failed because I again chose poorly and he was even more childish than my children. I didn’t want to raise a full-grown adult.

Time has taught me happiness is never the result of being with another person. One has to be happy on their own and not depend on another to make it so. Or at least that is the way it has worked out for me.

At my age, the thought of having to go through dating, courtship, marriage, and beyond is daunting and not the least bit appealing. After all, I have been on my own since 1987. Not a bad track record, actually.

Blog Entries, My Life, Writing

From Whence Comes Inspiration?

KarenPopeWrites

I finally know what I am going to write. Well, not really. Just the beginning of an idea is floating around in my brain. I haven’t put a single word to paper, yet.

Photo by Aron Visuals on Unsplash

I got the beginning idea from an Episode of StarTalk with Neil De Grasse Tyson and his faithful sidekick Chuck when they talked about the possibility of time travel and how it would work. Tyson posited that time travel was only possible in 1 year increments, having to do with the rotation of the Earth. The earth had to be in the precise spot for landing as it was when you took off or you could end up in space where the earth was a few days or weeks previously.

Interesting concept, to say the least.

Who knows where this will lead?