Knit-Whit

Hello!

2011-04-20T09:33:00.004-05:00

I've been thinking about my knitting blog lately and how I've tossed it aside for quite a while. I don't want to get rid of it, where would all the info go if I did??
I tend to keep my Ravelry page up do date so if you're not following me there already, come on over. My name there is smileshiner72. The website is such a good resource for all things knitting.
I have been knitting a lot lately and I even have some finished objects.
I'll try to get some posted here in the next few weeks.
If you're still reading this blog, comment so I know there are people still out there! Thanks!
This is one of my recent favorites. A monkey I knit for my cousins new baby Crosby John.
Project Details:
Pattern: Jelly Bums Monkey by Raynor Gellatly
Yarn: Plymouth Encore & Lamb's Pride Worsted
Color: 599 (brown) & M-115 (natural)
Needles: US 3 dpn
Started: March 12, 2011
Finished: March 17, 2011
Modifications: I knit the monkey in the round instead of flat w/ seaming
Knit for: Crosby John - born March 17th, 2011
Gifted with a monkey blanket too

Block-A-Thon

2010-11-23T22:26:00.011-06:00

Tis the season to knit for others! Specifically for Warm Up America!. Together we can help Potter Craft with this great knitting event they've put together to knit afghans for people in need. They've published 2 blocks from Nicky Epstein's book Knitting Block by Block for you to use when knitting your donated block, The Happy Heart Cord block and the Chucka Chain block. All the details are found on the link above. Deadline for sending in your block is December 2nd. Did I mention there are prizes involved?
....off to knit my block....

Whoops

2010-11-10T19:35:00.001-06:00

I knit this cool pair of socks for Socktoberfest using the mystery pattern by Through the Loops. This pair of socks were going to be my State Fair entry for 2011!! I thought for sure I would have enough Jitterbug yarn to complete the project but, surprise! I ran out. At least my Frankenstein foot is hidden inside of a shoe if I dare wear these outside the house. Aren't these the saddest socks you've ever seen? Nuts.

Knitted Wild Animals

2010-11-08T21:34:00.004-06:00

There are 15 super cute wild animal patterns in this book Knitted Wild Animals by Sarah Keen. The patterns range from the well known elephant, giraffe and zebra to the more obscure wild animals like the warthog, moose and the giant panda. There are many photos of each toy throughout the book plus plenty of general knitting instructions and finishing tips. If you have a child in your life, this book is a must have. Heck, lets knit some toys for the holidays!

October is for Friends

2010-10-03T22:28:00.004-05:00

A long time blog friend is celebrating her birthday and her blog anniversary this month. Head on over to her place and enter to win some super cool prizes!

And in the mean time, LOOK! I've been knitting, I've found my friends again...needles & yarn. I actually started 4 new projects in the last 2 weeks. Soon I'll have finished object photos!

Reasons I Love my nook

2010-09-25T14:01:00.000-05:00

* I can read and eat at the same time, no book to hold, no pages to turn!
* I get free goodies, like Godiva chocolates when I visit Barnes & Noble
* I can look up words I don't understand
* I can check my email!
* It's smaller than a book, I can easily tote it around
nook, where have you been all my life??!

Nom

2010-08-04T22:00:00.001-05:00

These French Macarons are like no other. Heaven in a box.

Knitting Mochimochi

2010-06-21T21:56:00.004-05:00

I've been a big fan of amigurumi for a long time but I don't really know how to crochet so this knitting amigurumi book is right up my alley. Hey...I just noticed there's a slipper on the front of this book too!

There's so many (20 exactly) cute patterns in this book I just don't know where to start, the Petite Pencil? Human Beans? Grouchy Couch? TV Guy? Love Muff? Feet Eaters? Pigs with Wigs? Yes, definitely Pigs with Wigs and when I get around to finishing it there are plenty of instructions with photos for that too. I love giving handmade baby gifts but I get so bored with hats and booties so I love knitting toys. This is a great resource for those 'out-there' types of gifts for all ages.
This book will definitely be staying on my knitting bookshelf.
Order yours today...it's released on June 29th! If you can't wait there is a free pattern available for the baby gators if you click here.
Check out the Mochimochi Land blog too!

The Week of Book Reviews

2010-06-20T21:51:00.003-05:00

I've been given a task to review a few new knitting books & they've been sitting on my coffee table long enough so I'm going to knock them out this week.

First on the list is One Ball Knits - Gifts. It's the 3rd in what appears to be a series, the 1st was Accessories and the 2nd was purses. I don't own either of the first two books even though I'm usually a fan of one skein / ball / hank pattern books. Buying one skein of yarn is usually a habit of mine because I want the yarn right now without a long term plan. So I now have quite a collection of 'one skeins'.

Unfortunately this book was a little underwhelming for me. The first 37 pages were full of good basic knitting information if you need this type of help and considering knitting a gift with one skein of yarn is somewhat beginner I think the basic information in the book is well placed. Moving along, there are 20 patterns in the book. My favorite pattern? Toasty Toes Slippers, the slippers that are featured on the front of the book. Other patterns include: a pillow cover, place mats & napkin rings, baby blocks, gloves, socks & a felted laptop back just to name a few.

I definitely think this book is worth checking out, it just all depends on what floats your boat whether or not you think this book is worth your while. I think next time I'm at the bookstore I'll check out the 1st two books in the series to see if they suit me a little better.

Grandma's Iris

2010-05-27T22:21:00.002-05:00

Back in 2003 when my grandmother passed away my mom went to her house before it was sold and dug up a bunch of her flowers and somehow I ended up with quite a few iris'. Over the years they've really taken off and each spring I get more and more blooms. This year when they bloomed I was really excited about this purple one, it reminds me of grandma.

Book Review

2010-04-02T21:37:00.003-05:00

Recently released in paperback, the Mason-Dixon Knitting book is still one of my favorites but at a more affordable price than the hardcover version. One of my go-to dish cloth patterns came from this book, the ballband dishcloth I think I've knit about 423 of those things. There are so many patterns through out this book but scattered in between those patterns are tip, tricks, stories, jokes and tons of great photos. Kay Gardiner and Ann Shayne are long time bloggers who met online and came together in a collaborative effort know as Mason-Dixon Knitting, how can it get any better than that? They have a great wit about them and are very talented knitters. The patterns in the book range anywhere from dishcloths to curtains, nightgowns to shawls, seat cushions to towels, blankets to rugs and everything in between for beginners and the more seasoned knitter. If you don't already own this book it is definitely a good one to pick up. It's more than just a knitting pattern book, it's entertainment.

Hi! I'm 12!

2010-02-08T09:00:00.000-06:00

Hi everyone! Today is my 12th birthday!! Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to meeee.....

Purse Lottery

2010-02-05T21:44:00.006-06:00

Recently I hit the jackpot in the purse lottery.
My friend Splatgirl helped me bring an idea to a reality by using some of my deployed brothers camouflage pants in a purse for my mom. She also made this clutch for me, the backside of it consists of a cargo pocket from the pants making it twice as useful!
THEN...she had this little orange beauty waiting around for a forever owner so I took it off her hands too :) If you would like one of her gorgeous handbags visit her etsy shop.
I'm SO lucky to have a good friend who makes well designed hand crafted handbags!

Candy Hat

2010-02-02T22:14:00.002-06:00

Project Details:
Pattern: Candy Hat - on the label of the yarn
Yarn: Artful Yarns Candy
Color: 9361
Needles: Size 5 16" bamboo circular + birch DPN's
Started: January 23, 2010
Finished: January 25, 2010
Modifications: I added the "Marley Top" as written by Susan B. Anderson in Itty-Bitty Hats
Knit for: My friend April's anticipated baby boy

3 Years in the Making

2010-01-30T16:27:00.005-06:00

Last night I met some friends for a night of food, wine and knitting but since I'm not working on anything substantial on the knitting front I was stumped as to what to bring to work on. Splatgirl suggested I bring the Wobbly Tote I've been working on forever and a day so I agreed, dug it out of the corner of my craft room and dragged it along. One of the things that kept me from finishing the bag long ago is I knit the 2 sides at different gauges. This is because I knit the two sides about a year or two apart and apparently the second time around I had some aggression to work out and I held the yarn much tighter than I had the first time. I figured since the 2 sides had equal amount of rows and stitches I'd just seam it stitch for stitch and it should work itself out.

It was a nice relaxing evening with lots of food and conversation plus I managed to almost finish seaming the totebag. A quick few minutes this morning and the job was complete. The tote bag took 4 trips in a hot / cold wash and now it's drying. It shrunk a lot as seen on the ruler I placed in the photo. Apparently in 2007 I needed a tote bag but in 2010 I really don't so I'm not sure what to do with it now but I'm happy that it's finished...what else can I dig up?

Project Details:
Pattern: Wobbly Tote by Leigh Radford in Interweave Knits Spring 2006
Yarn: Cascade 220
Color: 2433, 7805, 9477, 9446, 9421
Needles: Size 13
Started: January 2007
Finished: January 30, 2010
Knit for: ?
Ravelry Link

In Like a Lion

2010-01-25T23:00:00.003-06:00

Project Details:
Pattern: Grrr by Alice Bell - Knitty Summer 2007 (non-Ravelry link)
Yarn: Lion Brand Cotton-Ease
Color: 186 Maize
Needles: Size 5 aluminum straights
Started: December 26, 2009
Finished: January 23, 2010
Knit for: My friend April's anticipated baby boy

What I'm Up To

2010-01-24T15:01:00.002-06:00

Lately I've been catching up with some friends but when I'm at home I'm re-reading The Lovely Bones. I saw the movie on preview night and enjoyed it but not as much as I remember enjoying the book so I thought I'd dig it out and read it again. I received the Sony Reader for Christmas but I'm really struggling with it since I like to have a real book in my hands. Plus I have SO many books around the house that I have been meaning to read, probably a whole lifetime worth. I'm knitting a baby hat for a friends upcoming baby boy and I'm catching up on podcasts...oh how I love podcasts. And I'm hoping for a Vikings win this afternoon. What have you been up to?

Christmas Knitting #2

2010-01-10T19:52:00.002-06:00

My second project for Christmas was the mistletoe ornament I ran across one day on Ravelry. Mine didn't turn out exactly as pictured, my leaves resemble something I'm not too proud of instead of a nice wide leaf. I may try these again.

Project Details:
Pattern: Mistletoe ornament by Lindsey Lee (non-Ravelry link)
Yarn: Brown Sheep Nature Spun Worsted
Color: 144W Limestone
Needles: Size 7 birch DPN's
Started: December 12, 2009
Finished: December 21, 2009
Knit for: Me, I also gave one to my parents and saved the rest for 2010 Christmas

Christmas Knitting #1

2010-01-04T21:43:00.004-06:00

I didn't do too much knitting for Christmas in '09 but vow to more, and earlier in the year for 2010!
Project number one is a wee felted tote bag.

Project Details:
Pattern: My go-to felted bag for a gift, a handout I received years ago at a LYS - for the Knit for a Cure MN campaign
Yarn: Brown Sheep Nature Spun & Araucania Nature Wool
Color: 144W Limestone & 43 respectively
Needles: Size 11 24" circular
Started: November 15, 2009
Finished: November 21, 2009
Knit for: Anita - I tucked some good organic chocolate inside for a fun Christmas gift!

Notes: I think Brown Sheep Nature Spun is one of my favorite felting yarns, I also like Patons Classic Wool.

2009 Wrapped Up

2010-01-01T09:04:00.002-06:00

Looking back at the knitting I completeed in 2009.

Pretty slim, lots of miniature knitting, only a few notable projects. My goal in 2010 is to get more unfinished items off the needles and get through a bit of my stashed yarn. Happy Knitting in 2010!!

Yellow

2009-12-23T18:58:00.001-06:00

A better photo of the tree lit at dawn.

Tie a Yellow Ribbon

2009-12-20T15:49:00.001-06:00

The yellow ribbon & lights I put around my oak tree today which will remain lit until my brother returns from deployment. Please keep him and all the US soldiers in your thoughts this holiday season.

Tis the Season for Stripes

2009-12-08T20:37:00.002-06:00

I finished up the stripey scarf and even wore it to the Holidazzle Parade on Saturday night. It kept me nice and warm as we waited an hour in the cold for the parade to start. The nice thing about the scarf is it matches nearly every outfit I have.

Project Details:
Pattern: Noro Striped Scarf by Jared Flood
Yarn: Noro Kureyon
Color: 185 & 154
Needles: Size 7 Birch
Started: November 1, 2009
Finished: November 29, 2009
Knit for: Me!
Raveled here

We're in the midst of the 1st snowstorm of the year! Yipee! I'll try to post some snow photos later this week for those of you in warm climates.

1 Year

2009-12-06T14:43:00.003-06:00

It was one year ago that I returned home from a quick trip to Tucson to find a Boxer in our house as a temporary place before she found a permanent home. She began as a quiet, starving for love, timid dog and has since turned into a loving, full of personality, playful companion. We love you Flea Bee Girl.

Casey is really taking a liking to her recently too :)

I Love Stripes

2009-11-16T20:20:00.005-06:00

I've been busy knitting a fun stripey scarf which has ended up to be a nice project to work on during TV shows and lunch breaks. Not 100% sure if this will be a gift or something for myself. As far as Noro goes, I've been pretty happy with the yarn so far. Very few twigs or weird things and the colors are meshing pretty well I think.

Happpppy Halloweeeeen!!!

2009-10-31T17:08:00.002-05:00

Even though they don't look all that thrilled, the dogs wish everyone a safe & happy halloween!

You can see Flea's t-shirt here.

Stocking Re-Created

2009-10-22T21:03:00.004-05:00

I just finished the Christmas stocking I started back in August for a friends nephew. The original knitter of the Christmas stocking was a tricky knitter, she gave me a run for my money as I re-created her masterpiece.

I did everything as exact as I could right down to the braided hanger.

Here it is laying next to the original. I hope Nick enjoys the stocking for many years to come!

Project Details:
Pattern: Taken from original stocking
Yarn: Plymouth Encore Worsted
Color: 0146 - Natural, 1386 - Red, 054 - Green
Needles: Size 8 Birch DPN's
Started: August 22, 2009
Finished: October 20, 2009
Knit for: Nick

Reasons I Love Fall

2009-10-18T12:00:00.002-05:00

* Pumpkins, squash, apples, gourds
* Autumn leaves
* Football on Sundays with finger foods and warm blankets
* Chilly nights
* Cleaning up the gardens

Casey was Sick But Now He's on the Mend

2009-09-11T21:06:00.005-05:00

Back on July 10th late in the night Casey gave us a scare that landed him in the ER for 24 hours. His stomach twisted, a common medical condition among Weimaraners. Since I knew it was something that could happen at any time I was aware of the signs and we got him to the doctor as soon as we could. A very scary night but he's been recovering nicely, pretty much back to himself except he weighs a few pounds less.
This photo was taken the day after he retured from the pet hospital. Even though it's been 2 months, we can still see where he's been shaved. Apparently his hair is very slow growing.

Confessions of a Fair Goer Part 2

2009-09-07T10:36:00.001-05:00

Finally on my 3rd trip to the fair, during the last 1/2 hour of the visit I picked up some Tom Thumb mini donuts! They were all I had hoped for...

Pickle Overload

2009-09-01T19:20:00.003-05:00

This has been my summer of canning. Remember back in July I made freezer jam? I have had several complements on it so jam will be on my list again for 2010. Recently I got my hands on a couple of old school pickle recipes and found some really good looking pickling cucumbers at the Farmer's Market so naturally I made pickles! The jar on the left are dill and the jar on the right are sweet. I have several quarts and numerous pints of dill and 11 pints of sweet. Mmmmm, it's going to be a good winter!

Confessions of a Fair goer

2009-08-31T21:20:00.003-05:00

With just the slightest push from Splatgirl, I'm going to confess what unhealthy, deep fried but oh so good food I've been eating at the MN State Fair this year. You see, I am in love with the MN State Fair. I would go there all 10 days if I could and you better believe I would eat most everything in sight. And then pay for it all year long before I did it again. As it stands I already need to work out 8x more than I already do just to work off the 2 days of eating / fair going that I have under my belt. Splatgirl & I are going again this week so watch for more food confessions...

Confession #1 which I'm sure turns Splatgirls stomach...the fish taco. Tilapia with cabbage, a mango salsa and another sauce or two wrapped in a flour tortilla. Delicious but I think I remember it being a bit better last year.

Confession #2 is the jumbo fresh lemonade from the cheese on a stick booth across from the corn roast stand, just the right ratio of sweet / sour / ice. It makes my mouth water just thinking about it.

Christmas in .... August

2009-08-29T19:47:00.002-05:00

I started doing a little knitting recently, I can't even believe it. I've been asked to re-create a Christmas stocking for the youngest of a bunch of cousins who never got his because their grandmother passed away before his was completed. I'm hoping the family will be pleased with how it's turning out.

Summer Jam

2009-07-24T16:54:00.000-05:00

This morning I went berry picking so guess what I'll be doing tonight??

I'm Back...

2009-06-07T21:17:00.003-05:00

The giant project we've been working on for the past 2 months is nearly complete. We remodeled our kitchen, completely. All we need is a microwave and some paint touch up here and there. On the left is the before photo, one wall of original 1950's cabinets on a crazy stone wall. The refrigerator used to be plopped between 2 openings in the wall, it is now against what used to be the stone wall. The photo of the after doesn't show that at all. We have a pantry in the place where the fridge used to live. We added tile to the floor, plenty more lighting and new appliances. We couldn't be happier with the finished result. Hopefully I'll be able to hop onto a crafty train one of these days.

Oh My

2009-05-10T22:53:00.002-05:00

I am still here! We've been busy with a giant project but I hope to be back to a normal routine very soon.
The puppies say hello!!

Pink Sheldon

2009-02-24T21:43:00.005-06:00

My little pink turtle has been living in a Ziploc bag for some time now, I started knitting her in February of last year. In my quest to finish up some long overdue projects she was brought out into the fresh air for a little bit of TLC and she came to life on Sunday!

Pattern: Sheldon by Ruth Homrighaus
Yarn: Knit Picks Shine Sport
Color: 6555 - Blush, 6564 - cherry
Needles: Size 3 aluminum DPN's, Size 4 aluminum straight needles, Size D crochet hook
Started: February 2, 2008
Finished: February 22, 2009
Knit for: Me!
Thoughts on the project: I love this yarn! The finishing of the turtle is a bit putsy but now that I look back, it was well worth it. 2nd Sheldon I've knit, 1st one here.

...what should I work on next??

February Finished Socks

2009-02-19T19:54:00.002-06:00

I'm on track to knit 12 pairs of socks this year!! Even though I cheated, this pair was started early in 2008.

Pattern: Basic Stockinette Socks
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock
Color: 401 Neon
Needles: Size 1 birch DPN's
Started: March 20, 2008
Finished: February 16, 2009
Knit for: Me!

Whirly

2009-02-15T18:44:00.002-06:00

I recently saw these whirlygiggle quilts popping up all over the internet and knew I wanted to make one. I have oodles (three) of co-workers due with babies this month so I was presented with an opportunity to make a whirlygiggle quilt (or 3 but I only made one). My friend Erin found out she was having a boy (she's in labor right now!) so I naturally went for all boy colors. I REALLY like this quilt a lot. It was a little fussy since the pieces have to be cut out using a template but it did go quicker than I expected. I can't wait to present this quilt to little Liam!

Sock on My Back

2009-02-11T19:52:00.004-06:00

My goal for 2009 is to finish a pair of socks each month and they must all be knit out of my stash. In January I finished this pair and I plan to finish this pinky striped pair in February. I started knitting these socks way back in March of 2008. It's about time I think about finishing them don't you think?

On an unrelated note, isn't LOST just rockin' the boob tube this season??

Flea Has a Birthday Too

2009-02-10T07:21:00.000-06:00

When we got Flea back in December she didn't come with any information but we kept hoping the papers would turn up. Yesterday we finally got some info on little Flea Bee Girl, her pedigree papers state that her birthday is April 16th of 2002 so this spring she'll be 7 years old! More parties!!

Dog Biscuits

2009-02-09T09:17:00.007-06:00

Sure! I'll share the dog biscuit recipe, it's not an original of mine. I found it on the www but I can't remember where so I'll list it here.

Pumpkin Cookies
1 1/2 C whole wheat flour
1 C canned pumpkin
1T brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
4 T Crisco
1 egg
1/2 C buttermilk

Mix dry ingredients, cut in the Crisco. Beat egg with buttermilk & pumpkin and then add to dry ingredients. Stir until a soft dough forms. Drop on cookie sheet and bake for 12-15 min at 400º.
Let cool & serve.
I forgot to add the brown sugar but the dogs still like them, they're not too picky.

My Boy is 11 Today!

2009-02-08T20:00:00.006-06:00

Today we celebrated Casey's 11th birthday. We started out baking some dog biscuits for the neighborhood dogs.

Packaged them up really nice.

Opened presents.
And then headed outside for a walk. I think Casey enjoyed his day :)

31st

2009-01-31T21:21:00.003-06:00

Whew! Has it really been a month since I posted last?? I'll make a point to post at least twice in Feb :) I have managed a few finished projects in January despite my crazy busy schedule at work and lots of social activities.

Pattern: Basic 3 x 1 rib
Yarn: Koigu KPPPM
Color: P103
Needles: Size 2 birch DPN's
Started: November 9, 2008
Finished: January 11 , 2009
Knit for: Anita

And the other projects I've finished this month...

Finished Objects 2008

2008-12-30T21:45:00.002-06:00

I didn't knit a ton this year but what I did knit I had a lot of fun doing. The wee socks are a hoot, the Soctoberfest Mystery Sock was a blast and Casey's birthday hat is just crazy. And a toy turtle? What is better? Hopefully 2009 will bring even more happiness from my needles.

Happy Holidays! / Puppy Madness!

2008-12-28T16:28:00.004-06:00

I've been neglecting my blog lately and for that I apologize. I must have needed a break. This holiday break has been very laid back, I was sick to begin with so now I've just been relaxing, catching up on things and spending time with the puppies. Yes, I said puppies.

Back on December 6th, Kyle rescued a Boxer from a friend of a friend from heading to the dog pound. We had good intentions of being a transition home for her until someone could take her full time. Kyle fell in love with her in .05 seconds, it took me about 3 seconds and Casey warmed up to her in about 10 minutes (give or take a few days). They still aren't cuddle buddies or anything but each day they surprise us.
Her name is Flea (the name is growing on me) and she's somewhere in the 5 year old range. She is very well behaved and loves attention.

We did some dog sitting for our neighbor the week of the 15th. Shadow is a 1 year old Boston Terrier and the sweetest little cuddle bug. He wasn't too fond of the little santa suit I put him in though.
So other than all of this there hasn't been much going on here. Happy Holidays to you!

Patriotic

2008-12-14T21:00:00.000-06:00

My most recent finished quilt. Previously seen in the photos with Casey, who couldn't keep his paws off!

Project: Snapshots from Happy Hour by Atkinson Designs
Made for: a friend who retired from the Air Force
Started: October 2008
Finished: December 2008

Six Things

2008-12-09T22:42:00.007-06:00

Guinifer tagged me for the six things meme so here it goes ~

These are the rules:

1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random, arbitrary things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.
5. Let each person know they've been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

1. I drive a pickup and I love it!
2. I hate the smell of smoked oysters
3. I don't like blinking Christmas lights
4. My favorite color changes almost daily
5. I am addicted to Diet Coke
6. I think I may like MN winters better than I like the summers (let's see if this is still true in Feb or March!)

I'm tagging NorCalMrs, Valkryie Knit This, Kym, Deb, pjbknit, and Sandy - she's well on her way to blogging every day this year!

Casey, Stay Off the Quilt! Part 7

2008-12-06T10:38:00.001-06:00

He just cannot resist being right on top of my projects!

Casey, Stay Off the Quilt! Part 6

2008-12-05T10:37:00.001-06:00

Casey, Stay Off the Quilt! Part 5

2008-12-04T10:35:00.001-06:00

Casey, Stay Off the Quilt! Part 4

2008-12-03T10:33:00.000-06:00

Casey, Stay Off the Quilt! Part 3

2008-12-02T10:32:00.000-06:00

Casey, Stay Off the Quilt! Part 2

2008-12-01T10:30:00.000-06:00

Casey, Stay Off the Quilt! Part 1

2008-11-30T10:28:00.003-06:00

Socktoberfest Completed

2008-11-14T22:30:00.003-06:00

It's been 14 days since Socktoberfest has been over but I haven't shared my project with you yet!

Pattern: Through the Loops Socktoberfest Mystery KAL
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock
Color: Purple Iris
Needles: Size 2 Birch & Rosewood DPN's (knit both at once)
Started: October 4, 2008
Finished: November 7 , 2008
Knit for: Me!

Thank a Veteran Today

2008-11-11T07:10:00.001-06:00

Etsy Love

2008-11-08T23:35:00.002-06:00

I'm loving this Scrabble charm from HomeStudio.etsy.com , a perfect gift for the hard to buy for person on your holiday list this season. Remember...buy handmade.

I Never Thought I'd See This Day Again

2008-11-03T21:08:00.002-06:00

Week 4 Prize!

2008-11-02T22:19:00.002-06:00

The final winner in my blog birthday giveaway is Deb! You've won my most favorite knitting accessory, a Chibi darning needle set. I hope you don't have one yet. And of course you'll be getting a matching pack of Orbit gum.
Thank you all for being so generous with your comments this last month, it's been fun!

HaPpY HaLLoWeEn!

2008-10-31T19:07:00.000-05:00

From Casey

2008-10-30T08:33:00.003-05:00

Hy everione! my mommy wanted mee to tell you that you have onlee until midnight on hallow-een to enter her blog burthday give away. i hope even when the blog burthday is over you still give lots-o comments beecuz she told me she likes them. xo casey blue

In the Sewing Room

2008-10-27T20:11:00.002-05:00

This weekend I spent a lot of time sewing, I finished up some little projects and worked on some larger ones. It actually snowed yesterday so I didn't feel bad spending the day indoors. This pencil pouch is for my niece who asked for eraseable colored pencils for her birthday, I had to give her a little more than that. This is the first time I've sewn a zipper into anything and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be...it's even lined!

And I figured Casey needed a new Halloween collar so I whipped this one up. The bats glow in the dark too!

Who Wants a Set of 2 Knit Eyeballs??

2008-10-25T10:13:00.005-05:00

Pattern: Gruesome Knitted Eyeballs by Mary Jane, Midge & Mink
Yarns: Panda Silk (black), Shetland Spindrift (blue & green), Mandarin Petit (white)
Needles: Size 2 1/2 Bamboo DPN
Started: October 11, 2008
Finished: October 24, 2008
Knit for: Me & one of my lucky readers!

Just yell if you want to get into the drawing for 2 green eyeballs...

Casey Blue

2008-10-23T19:56:00.003-05:00

I think I caught Casey mid-yawn here but it certainly looks like he's screaming or just plain fed up with my antics.

Only 1 week to go in the blog-birthday giveaway! All you have to do is comment to be entered in the drawing.

Week 3 Prize!

2008-10-22T19:58:00.003-05:00

This weeks prize is a pair of my favorite scissors and of course, a pack of Orbit gum. This particular flavor is my most favorite bubble mint! The winner of this weeks prize is Emma! Congratulations Emma! It looks like you need sock scraps for your sock yarn scrap blanket. I'll send a scrap or 2 along with your prize.

Busy Weekend

2008-10-20T10:15:00.002-05:00

Our entire weekend consisted of trimming our trees, burning what we trimmed off the trees and helping our neighbor trim his trees. It was a perfect weekend weather wise so we couldn't have timed it any better. I even snuck in some knitting while tending to the fire yesterday!

Old Knits - Revisited

2008-10-17T16:50:00.003-05:00

Let's face it, most things we knit are for cooler weather. I miss my hand knits over the summer and look forward to pulling things out as winter approaches. My favorite projects to get to know again are my big red mittens (Ravelry link). They're not to practical for fine motor skills since they're felted and quite thick but boy are they warm!

What items are you looking forward to getting unpacked for the winter?

I saw gas for $2.49 / gallon today, I never thought I'd see the day when gas would be < $2.50 / gallon again. Let's hope it stays this way.

Dishrag Tag

2008-10-16T23:08:00.001-05:00

I received my teams dishrag tag box today!
All these goodies were stuffed inside the tiny box. I get to keep everything and in return I knit the official dishrag tag dishcoth with the yarn given and send it along with some more goodies to the next person. Luckily tonight is my weekly sit in front of the TV night so I had no problem getting the dishcloth finished. It's ready for the mail in the morning!

Week 2 Prizes!!

2008-10-15T18:01:00.002-05:00

I am feeling especially nice this week so I decided to give away 2 prizes! The 1st prize, a dishcloth, dpn holders / point protectors and a pair of my handmade stitch markers all in a little case goes to tahra.
And the 2nd prize, the Frankenstein Washcloth + Orbit gum goes to Valkryie Knit This.
Please email me your addresses (email button on sidebar) and I'll get your prizes sent out asap! Congratulations, and remember there's 2 more weeks of prizes.

AHEDE Topic of the Week #5

2008-10-14T18:19:00.004-05:00

I missed a few of the All Hallow's Eve Dishcloth Exchange Topics but I'm back on track.
This weeks topic :
If you could go anywhere at all to enjoy a wonderful fall vacation - where would you go and why?

I think I'd probably have to pick somewhere in the Northwest US such as Oregon, Washington or Idaho. I've never been out that direction and from what I've seen in photos it's a lot like Minnesota (with mountains) which I love in the Fall. I can't get enough of all the colors.

My dishcloth pal received her package this week and loved it.

Another prize will be given away tomorrow, get your comments in now!

Patchwork Barn

2008-10-11T21:16:00.000-05:00

Definitely a thrifty way to finish off your barn.

Fun on Friday

2008-10-10T20:42:00.002-05:00

Cutting apart fabric only to sew it back together again :)

Casey loves to stare out the window at squirrels while I hang out in the craft room. It was a lovely day so we didn't spend all day indoors.

Looking Ahead

2008-10-09T07:47:00.002-05:00

After the work day today I'm looking forward to a 3 day weekend which will be spent mostly at the sewing machine. I'll toss a little knitting in there too.

Week 1 Prize!

2008-10-08T08:25:00.000-05:00

This is the prize for week one of my 4 week blog birthday contest. It's a wee sock knit from Crown Mountain Farm Sock Hop in the Great Balls of Fire color plus a pack of my favorite gum, Orbit. Sangria Fresca just because the package matches the wee sock.
The winner of this weeks prize is - Kym! Email me with your address and I'll get it sent out...my email button is on my sidebar.
Don't worry, you still have plenty of time to play! Who knows what the prize will be next week...

Handmade is Where it's at!

2008-10-06T08:56:00.002-05:00

It's getting to be the holiday season and I think we all know what that means. Get yourself on over to etsy and buy some handmade goods. I recently updated my shop with quite a variety of goods & supplies. Splatgirl is always listing fabulous things and some of my favorites are Fawnfredrickson, allysonhill and HomeStudio. Who are your favorite etsy sellers?

Monster Mash

2008-10-04T15:11:00.004-05:00

I just love Halloween so I was tickled when I found the pattern for this Frankenstein's Monster Cloth. Unfortunately this weekend I've come down with a cold so I've been lounging around catching up on TiVo'd shows and knitting a bit too. Today I started a mystery socktoberfest knitalong on Ravelry and I may pick up a UFO or 2.

Charitable Quilting

2008-10-02T20:43:00.003-05:00

One of my local quilt shops gathers baby doll quilts for donation over the holidays. This summer I picked up a few fat quarters and just recently sat down to make the baby doll quilt. I'll be dropping this off in the next couple weeks and feel pretty darn good about it.

Four!

2008-10-01T07:21:00.000-05:00

I cannot believe that it's already October! One of the fun things October brings is my blog-birthday, four years in 2008!

To celebrate my 4th blog-birthday I'll be giving away a prize each week for 4 weeks. Prizes are undetermined at this point and may be anything from something I made to a favorite of mine and anything in between. All you have to do is comment. Each time I post and you comment, that puts you into the drawing for the week. If I post once in a week, you have one chance. If I happen to post 24 times in one week you may have up to 24 chances (note : this is highly unlikley). Easy peasy.
Weeks consist of :
Oct 1 -7
Oct 8 - 14
Oct 15 - 21
Oct 22 - 31
Midnight - Midnight CST

Ready....GO!!!

Wobbly Casey

2008-09-28T21:43:00.002-05:00

I've been on the verge of finishing up my wobbly tote bag this weekend. When I pulled the 1st side of the bag out from hibernation I couldn't resist placing it onto Casey like a coat. He didn't seem to mind. I have a couple of questions about the construction of the bag, have any of you made this project?

The Things I Make My Dog Do...

2008-09-27T10:51:00.002-05:00

Recently I knit Casey a party hat...

The photo shoot didn't go so well. This isn't really the pose I had in mind for the project I'm doing so we'll have to try again. He only keeps the hat on for about 3 seconds before pulling it off with his paw, which is cute in and of itself.
If you've been reading my blog since the beginning you may remember the original doggie party hat.
If you're on Ravelry you can see the details here.

1st Day of Autumn / AHEDE Topic of the Week #2

2008-09-22T23:17:00.002-05:00

Wow how time flies. Today is the 1st day of Autumn, it seems as though Summer just began last week. I can tell Autumn is in the air by the subtle change in the color of the leaves, squirrels scurrying around gathering acorns and the cool nights. My favorite part of this season is the fresh orchard apples, there's just nothing like them. Happy Autumn!

Typical Saturday

2008-09-20T22:22:00.002-05:00

After participating in a 5K early this morning, my day consisted of what you see here. A combination of sugar, knitting, decorating for Halloween, outdoor clean up / switch from Summer to Fall and I did manage to sneak in 2 short bike rides / errands! All in all a fairly productive day I may say.

AHEDE Topic of the Week #1

2008-09-16T22:01:00.005-05:00

One of the requirements of joining the All Hallows Eve Dishcloth Exchange is to participate in weekly topics. This week consists of checking out other participants blogs and posting their links along with a little something about them.
It's always fun to see new blogs so here it goes:

This summer Wendy entered stuff into her County Fair, just like I did!

Michelle & I are on the same Dish Rag Tag team, the Gold Medal Knitters.

Barb lives in the same state as I do and she went to one of my favorite places this summer, the MN State Fair!

I picked up a couple pots of mums todaay, Fall is in the air! This is a variety of the Hardy mum, developed by the University of MN.

Happy 40th Bday Bro.

2008-09-15T08:53:00.002-05:00

You look like a monkey & you smell like one too.

Rain Out

2008-09-14T20:50:00.002-05:00

There was a bit of lazy-ing around today mostly due to rain and partly due to a weekend away with friends. I have a short week coming up at work and then a few days off!! I can't wait.

All Hallows Eve Dishcloth Exchange Questionnaire

2008-09-11T21:51:00.004-05:00

Knotting Yarn
1. Do you knit or crochet? I knit only, I tried crochet years ago but it never stuck. For how long? since December 2002

2. What sort of needles or hooks do you enjoy using the most? I'll use just about anything but I favor birch needles. Are there some you've been dying to try out and haven't? Not that I can think of.

3. What kind of projects do you most enjoy? Socks, dishcloths, felted items: slippers, bags Small things you can take with you, or big complex ones that are just gorgeous when they're done? Small, portable projects.

4. List one pattern for a dishcloth that you love to make, or just tell us about one you've made or received that you loved. My favorite is a variety of the ball band dishcloth from Mason-Dixon Knitting, I make it a little bit smaller than the original pattern.

5. What are your 'must have' notions? Darning needles in a Chibi, scissors. Are there any notions you need or can never have enough of? I like fun stitch markers but I probably have a lifetimes supply. Any that might make you cry if you owned more? No.

Petting Yarn
6. What are your favorite yarns to work with? I love wool, of course! Any you hate or are allergic to? I'm not a huge fan of plasticky novelty stuff.

7. What colors do you like to use in projects? I tend to gravitate towards bright colors. Any we'd never catch on your needles? Probably not.

8. Any cottons you'd like to try you can't find by you, or just haven't gotten around to getting? I don't know..??..

Halloween, Fall, and General Stuff
9. Do you like to use bar soap or shower gel more? Bar soap What kinds of scents do you love? Fresh smells, vanilla, fruit What kind do you hate? Rose, Gardenia, etc...strong floral scents.

10. What's more 'Halloweeny' - Ghosts, Pumpkins, or Witches? Pumpkins, but I like them all.

11. What's your favorite Treat to get? Peanut M & M's Sweet or Salty? Either / Both Anything you're allergic to or just hate? Nope

12. What was your favorite Halloween Costume as a kid? A bear costume that my brother originally wore in a 3 Little Bears play As an adult?? I don't dress up anymore!

13. Are you on Ravelry? Yes What's your ID? smileshiner72

The Mojo Might Be Back

2008-09-08T09:47:00.002-05:00

A couple of years ago my mom mentioned that she always wished she had a summer birthday so I started celebrating her 1/2 birthday which falls in July. This year I promised her a stow-away bag but it took my until now to finish it! For some reason the handles gave me a bunch of trouble this time around but last night I sat down to finish it once and for all. I quickly realized that I had the bag inside out which at one point does make a difference. Ten minutes later, it was finished and now my mom can use it.

Pattern: Stow-Away Shopping Bag by Oat Couture
Yarn: Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece
Color: CW-730 Raging Purple (from the stash!)
Needles: Size 15-24" Bamboo Circular
Started: June 12, 2008
Finished: September 7, 2008
Knit for: My mom's 1/2 birthday - 2008

Scorecard

2008-09-06T21:54:00.003-05:00

As promised, here is my scorecard from the socks I entered at the state fair this year. My total score was 93.5 and the remarks made by the judge read: "lovely work! watch join at top. lots of competition in this lot this year."
The points given were as follows:
Beauty & Character 10
Color 10
Design - Structural & Decorative 10
Condition of Article 20
Materials Used 10
Workmanship 33.5

This year I'll be working on my cast on & the way I join it and hopefully in 2009 I'll take home a ribbon!
Congratulations to all the winners at the fair this year, it's a tough competition and there were many fabulous items entered.

Autumn

2008-09-04T21:19:00.004-05:00

I've been observing a few signs of Fall this week: the changing colors of the sedum flowers (below), squirrels busily collecting acorns from around the yard, slight change in leaf colors from a bright and dark green to a yellow-green, a drastic drop in temperature - high 80's on Monday, low 60's since then - and kids on the school bus. Ahhh, Fall is just a few weeks away.

September

2008-09-01T14:20:00.007-05:00

Remember my goals from earlier in the summer? I do. And unfortunately I only finished one of the 7 knitting projects pictured. I can't really say I've been too busy to work on anything, I just haven't had the motivation to do so. My nieces came for a long visit at the end of June, I've worked more hours this summer than I have in summers past, I got a new mountain bike, attended the MN State Fair 4 times and in general I've just been out and about.
I'm going to give myself a mulligan and extend my deadline to the official end of summer, September 22. Stay tuned.

Today I finally managed to recover my little ironing board. It was in desperate need of a makeover. Before on the left, dingy dirty green. And after on the right, bright and fresh teal and orange flowers.

The socks I entered at the fair were not winners. I pick them up on Wednesday and I'll let you know what the judges had to say about them.

OK, so what am I looking forward to in September?
* Cooler weather
* My brother's 40th birthday!
* My birthday!
* Apples
* A weekend away at a friends cabin
* Some new TV shows - yes, I love TV
* Leaves changing colors
* My turn in the dish rag tag

Nothing Beats the MN State Fair

2008-08-26T21:50:00.001-05:00

Last Friday I went with a friend to the MN State Fair, the largest and best fair in the USA for those of you not in MN.
I absolutely never play games at the fair but on Friday I had a good feeling about the games and splurged on 8 game tickets. The first game I played was the 'squirt gun at the target' game and I came away with flying colors. Winning that game got me the pink tambourine I'm holding. The pig came from 'have me guess your age game'. The woman guessed my age at 9 years younger than I am. Better than 9 years older :)

Here is a mosaic of the rest of the day, click to see closer and for descriptions. Don't worry...I have plans to go twice more so I'll have plenty more photos to show.

It appears that pigs were my animal of choice.

Pink Overload

2008-08-23T12:34:00.003-05:00

Pedicure #5 - 2008 *That's Hot! Pink O*P*I*

Monkeying Around

2008-08-18T21:19:00.003-05:00

This past weekend Kyle & I took a mini vacation to LaCrosse Wisconsin so he could compete in a mountain bike race. It was a nice relaxing weekend. Saturday morning I just hung out at our 'pit stop' and knit while Kyle was out on the trail. In the afternoon I trekked out onto the trail to check out the riders and ran into this giant monkey. There were a bunch hidden along the trail and if the riders guessed how many were out there they were entered to win a cool prize. Our friend Larry won, lucky Larry.

The State Fair begins this Thursday and I'm headed out there on Friday so I'll be able to find out how I did with the socks I entered. Dish rag tag started last Friday and I'm set to receive the box in early September...I'm excited for that. Otherwise hopefully I'll have a FO sometime in the next week to show off, nothing too exciting though. Have a nice week!

Screened

2008-08-10T12:40:00.005-05:00

Today I brought a pair of socks over to the MN State Fair for entry into the creative activities. I'll let you know what happens, the Fair begins on August 21st.

Summer Colors

2008-08-09T11:28:00.004-05:00

As tempting as it was to keep this wee sock, I did send it off to my August wee sock swap partner. I thought about these socks as I was making them, reminds me of all the colors of summer. These little wee socks are just the right amount of knitting for what has turned out to be quite a busy summer for me.

Pattern: Wee Tiny Sock by Yarn Miracle
Yarn: Koigu KPPPM - scraps
Needles: Size 0 bamboo dpn's
Started: August 7, 2008
Finished: August 8, 2008
Knit for: August Wee Sock Swap Pal (Ravelry swap) - the quarter added for scale is a clue to where the sock was mailed.

Bicycling Built for Two

2008-08-05T22:11:00.004-05:00

We've finally recovered from our weekend away at the mountain bike race. We had a really good time and Kyle rode more laps than he did in last years race which he was happy about. My new bike was a dream on the single track, much better than my rigid grocery getter. I can't wait for next year at 9 mile!

Good Morning

2008-07-31T09:27:00.003-05:00

Just a bit of a catch up post...
Knitting: nothing new happening. Just working on some of the same projects from this post. I've been very good at not adding to my stagnant stash.
Quilting / sewing: I made a baby blanket for a friend to give as a gift. Otherwise not too much.
Summer fun: We're headed to a big mountain bike race this coming weekend, Kyle is competing and I'm cheering. Hopefully it won't be too hot & humid. **I just looked at the forecast and it's supposed to be REALLY nice! Yee Haw.

Casey: As you can see, he's having a great summer!

A New Pushie

2008-07-29T07:26:00.000-05:00

Yesterday Kyle surprised me with a new bike! I LOVE it. It's a pretty green color and it has a super cool Fox shock and Juicy brakes - which apparently in the bike world is a good thing.

Earlier in the day I was going crazy over a 6 month old Weimaraner puppy that one of my patients brought in for me to see so I think he was trying to distract me from wanting a puppy :)

CSA is Fun

2008-07-28T09:14:00.003-05:00

This past Saturday the CSA farm I support had an open house for all the CSA shareholders. I trekked out there with Splatgirl and boy, the people we split our share with. The farm had zucchini bowling and kohlrabi bocce ball set up, we took a tour of the fields on a trailer behind the old tractor, helped weed the peppers and eggplants and ate a potluck lunch. I made deviled eggs but managed to forget them on my way out the door so I've been eating an egg nearly every time I open the fridge. If you would like to see more photos of the farm visit you can go to my Flickr set.

This is a photo of the group weeding the peppers. It went very fast with all the manpower that was there. I'm definitely glad I went and learned more about the farm I get all my delicious vegetables from!