Chocolate-y Goodness

I whipped up some cookies this afternoon so we would have a little snack while watching the Academy Awards. The cookies aren't as good as Lara's but they'll do. I followed the recipe off the chocolate chip bag and added butterscotch chips and toasted almonds. They are crispy and gooey all at the same time.

Pincushion 2000-2005

Back in the year 2000, Mary and I took a class at Zandy's Yarn Etc. to make this antique inspired pincushion. The piece is named 'Pincushion in Time' and was published in the magazine PieceWork, July/August 2000 issue as the winner of a pincushion contest. The designer is from Minnesota which makes it even more interesting for me.

Here is the bottom of the pincushion with the sampler that contains proof of when I began the pincushion, the year 2000 is stitched on the bottom row.

This inside flap is the part I needed to finish after all these years. I had the entire base put together and a little bit of the peacock stitched and then it sat for almost 5 years! At crafty CHIX Thursday night I stitched a bit on the peacock and then yesterday I finished it up and attached the top to the base. I can't believe it took me this long to pick it up and finish it, and it really only took me a few hours to get it done. The needlework is stitched on linen and the pieces are held together with silk ribbon, it was a fun project and I am pleased to finally have it completed!

Mary, I know you're laughing right about now but I want to see your pincushion on your blog soon!

This Movie WILL Sweep the Oscars

In my amateur movie review nutshell this movie kicks ass. Excellent cinematography, acting and screenplay. Hilary Swank, Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman each gave Oscar winning performances. The film is reminiscent of Shawshank Redemption (my favorite film of all time) due to Morgan Freeman as the narrator. I don't want to give too much away so run -don't walk- to the theater and see this film! I hadn't planned on watching The Oscars this Sunday but now I'll be glued to the TV.

Crafting Hangover

Thanks to Lara for another fun night at Crafty CHIX and for the clever title for today's post. We started the night with a scrumptious dinner of pulled pork bbq sandwiches topped with coleslaw accompanied by jo-jo potatoes. YUM, how did Lara know what my favorite meal was? Our treatie was these yummy molasses cookies. You can read more about them on Splatgirl Creates. I wish I had one to munch on right about now.

Lara is working like a mad knitter on her color on colour scarf from Scarf Style. It's an interesting pattern and there's SO many colors! Donna was working on jewelry and completed a really pretty necklace made with gemstones. Unfortunately I didn't capture a photo of her project this time.

Susan was casting on for a petite felted bag. She's going to start over when she gets some shorter circular needles. I think this will be her first felted project, she'll be hooked!

And of course I'm not going to show what I'm working on for 2 reasons.
1) It's almost done and I'd rather show a finished photo.
2) Shock value of the finished photo for a certain someone (who may or may not know who they are).

Today was an early day because I picked my parents up at 6AM (ouch) to taxi to the airport. They are heading to Hawaii for 18 days! Tonight I need to take a cat nap, do a little crafting and possibly go see Million Dollar Baby.

**Update: My Craft CHIX project for this week. Pincushion in Time.

Crafty CHIX

This evening I'm headed over to Lara's house for the bi-weekly Crafty CHIX get together. I saw a sneak peak of our menu on her blog and I can't wait, I want to leave right now! I will be working on a secret knitting project (soon to be revealed) and maybe a non-knitting project or two. It looks like there's more snow in the forcast AND I have those new DVD's to watch so I'm sure I'll be a knitting fool this weekend. I'll leave you with a photo of Casey's snout and a little yarn in the background...

Warning: No Knitting Content Ahead

Casey was a bit sleepy this morning. I love when his snout gets all kitty-wompus.


I made a trip to Targ#t this afternoon and I feel like I hit the jackpot! First, I LOVED the show Wonderfalls until it was yanked off the air! I saw the DVD on the rack and almost had a fit. The DVD contains all 13 episodes 9 of which have never been aired! I took a chance and bought I *heart* Huckabees since I've never seen it but how can you go wrong with Lily Tomlin, Marc Wahlberg, Dustin Hoffman, Jude Law? Second, I found giant Peeps, who knew? These may get gifted or Casey might have a couple of new babies. Then, I found the coolest stationery on clearance! I picked up notecards, tags and seals all for mere pennies...well almost. When I got home I realized the company who distributes the stationery is in a local town, Stillwater.

I *Heart* Sleep

You may remember a pillowcase I made a while back, well here's another one. They are SO super easy to make, super cozy and soft, and the fabric choices at quilting shops are abundant. The pattern I use is copyrighted so I can't share it but Mariko [aka Supereggplant] has a pillowcase 101 tutorial on her blog on how to make a pillowcase complete with a French seam!
Again, I have folded this in quarters so it's larger than it appears.

Have I ever mentioned I love pink?

Snow? YES!!!!

It's a snowy day here in Minnesota! We've gotten a few inches and it's still coming down and is supposed to continue for about 4 more hours. It's refreshing to see some snow because it's been such a dry, blah winter. Casey & I went out earlier today to do a little shoveling and play time, he loves running around in the new snow but he hates if he gets snow thrown at him. He's such a wimp.


Here he is shaking off the 2 flakes that landed on him.


Click on the photo and you can see all his wrinkles!!

I've Been Busy

This scrapbook is one of the gifts I've been busy working on. It was given to my niece Megan who turned 11 earlier this week. I had tons of fun making this and I know she'll treasure it for many years.

Good Times

Here are the 3 Hayden hats I knit for Christmas gifts this past year. The models/recipients are my Uncle Roger, my mom, and my dad. Roger's is Harley D*vidson colors because he rides one, my mom's is also HD colors (at her request) because she rides on the back of my dad's and wanted a "when I take my helmet off hat", and my dad's is camouflage for hunting. I need to teach him to put it on with the seam in the rear. Doesn't it look like they've been out in the ice fishing house a little too long? Or maybe had a few too many brewskis?
;-) Good times.

I Think I Have The Stomach Flu

I feel blah. I'm home sick from work with a 100º fever and have barely enough energy to type this. I hung out with a couple of friends last night while wrapped in a blanket up to my neck. Needless to say I barely knit anything. Hopefully I'll feel a little better by tomorrow morning so I can work my 1/2 day before the weekend. I think Casey likes having me home, he's rang his bell about a dozen times today. May you all stay healthy...

*YAY for Warm iPods*

I finally sat down and knit a cozy for my iPod mini! I knit it Saturday night while watching Napoleon Dynamite, so funny! I want to watch the movie over and over again, sweet. I used Cascade 220 because it came in the pinks that I wanted and it's my favorite felting yarn.

The finished product after 2 trips in a hot wash and 1 cold rinse:

I'm keeping the flap down with one piece of pink velcro, since the yarn is fuzzy you only need the loop side of the velcro. There isn't room for my earbuds in the cozy because my main objective was to have a safe, scratch-free, bump-free place for the iPod during transit. Objective met.

And my free pattern for the felted iPod mini cozy:

Yarn: Cascade 220 100% Wool
Needles: Size 11 DPN
Gauge: 3 sts / 1"
Color A: #9478
Color B: #7805

CO 12 sts with color A
K 8 rows in stockinette st, ending with a K row
CO 12 more sts using the backwards loop CO
Divide sts among 3 needles
Join in the round & K for 8 rows continuing in St st
Switch to Color B
K 2 rows
Switch to Color A
K 2 rows
Switch to Color B
K 8 rows (my iPod sticks out about 1/4" from the cozy although the flap covers it, you could add 2-3 rows so it fits down inside the cozy)
Adjust sts onto 2 needles making sure the original 12 sts are on one needle and the additional 12 sts on the other needle (this is to ensure the cozy is shaped like an envelope and not twisted)
BO using 3 needle bind off
Felt using favorite method

Enjoy your new cozy!!! Send me photos if you make one!!

Happy 11th Birthday Megan!

Have a great day! I miss you tons! Love, Aunt Carrie XOXO

Happy Valentine's Day!

I purchased beads last week to make this pretty Valentine's present for myself. It's made with Swarovski crystals and sterling silver findings. The initial charm was given to me by Lara and I was waiting just for the perfect piece to put it on, this was it. I tried it out tonight and it looked so pretty with my pink hoodie ;-)


Kyle, will you be my Valentine?

Book Thongs

Yesterday I made these 'book thongs' for my book club friends. I'll give them out at the next book club meeting in March. I put a martini charm on one end and eyeglasses on the other. I wanted to use a book charm but couldn't find one so reading glasses will have to do. Below is a photo of a thong being used in the new book club book A Mighty Heart.


Here they are close-up, I used furnace glass for the main bead on each end and I even learned a new knot!


Can anyone think of a better name besides book thong? I'm not sure I like it.

Friends Rock!

Last night I met with a few friends for a little bead shopping, dinner, and knitting. We had a fun time and a few laughs too. We settled in for some knitting at Barnes & N*ble, grabbed some beverages at Starbuc!s and were munching on a few homemade cookies when one of the employees strolled by, stopped to look, and exclaimed with his arms held out "Now this is refreshing! A knitting circle!". He proceeded to walk away and we had a few chuckles. Look at those perfect Valentine's cookies! I already ate the two smallest cookies and believe me, they were just as pretty as the ones that remain. My friend Lara is the best cook I know! Thanks Lara!


I promise, promise, promise I will have a few finished surprises to show by Sunday. Meanwhile, have a great weekend!

New Hat Here I Come

Remember a few weeks back when my mailbox was full of yarn? Well, this luscious yarn was in there too! I purchased it from a fellow blogger who spins and sells her yarn online in her store, hello yarn. I am almost certain I'll knit this into a hat but for now I just like to look at it. No promises on when this will be knit.

When I'm in a lazy funk on the weekends and I don't want to fix my hair, I like to throw my Noro Kureyon hat on but it gets a tad itchy so I'd like another option. Plus I need another color choice.

Yes, I'm going to load up on photos and start to put a little substance into my blog soon.

Cool stuff today: New Google Maps
My reality show soapbox: I am elated about Jerry still in the running on The Bachelorette, SO HOT!
Amazing Race 6, I REALLY wish Kris & Jon would have won but I'm looking forward to AR7.

Happy 7th Birthday My Sweet Boy

I can't believe my Casey Blue is seven years old today! Time sure flys.

Motorcycles, Parties and Nerds

We had a busy weekend which started out with dinner at Red Robin with mom & dad on Friday night. Saturday we ventured over to the Minneapolis Convention Center for the International Motorcycle Show. Since I'm not in the market of buying a new motorcycle or any gear this year I basically trailed behind Kyle while he looked at things. We ran into a bunch of people we know so that was fun. Last night we went to a housewarming party for our friends Joe & Amy. They are two people who are always fun to be around so the party was a blast. Today I worked on a gift and watched the Super Bowl, now it's time for bed. I hope everyone else had a fun weekend!
I'm not a nerd, are you?

We Gave Kids Their Smiles

Yesterday was the American Dental Association's national campaign of Give Kids A Smile. The office I work for participated this year and it was a huge success! We donated our time and facility to help over 50 children with their dental needs. Many of the supplies and even our lunch was donated by our suppliers and local businesses. Our newest Doctor to the practice, Dr. Melstrom, worked her tail off to organize the day and she did an awesome job. I was exhausted last night but I wouldn't have done it any different.

Dr. Melstrom & me

YUM

Chantico

It's February?

I can't believe it's already February, where has January gone? I'm making headway on my gift project and working on another secret gift I can't show quite yet. One of these days I need to start working on something for me so I can show photos. What's everyone else working on?
Casey wants to know...

I'm so glad Jen chose Jerry again last night on The Bachelorette. He.must.win.