OH MY GAWD, WHAT A HOLIDAY!

Photo Album and Knit & Crochet Photos updated!

I'm going to try and squeeze a whole lotta holiday into a small post. I spent most of the day today trying to straighten out the mess I made with opening and deleting a bunch of e-mail and etsy accounts, adding and swapping e-mail addresses on other accounts I have tied with my e-mails, just to get an etsy username that will work for me. I dunno why they can't figure out some way for you to either change your name or delete and register again with the same e-mail account. Ugh. But, I think I have everything straightened out now. But, I also spent a lot of time labeling and captioning my photos on my flickr.com accounts. It's getting late, I'm getting tired. So, maybe we'll have a picture book story post! Yay!!!


Polly's bedspread. It's finally done!!! We gave it to her December 27, 2008. She says this is something she will pass down in her family. I'm SO honored!


"Room for rent."
Stu once said that the bedspread was getting so big that we'd have to charge it rent. Now that it's usual space behind the door is empty, it's weird.


The Peanut got her Peanut for Christmas. Pattern published on Ravelry and you can find the free pattern here.


We got Danika a Playskool Busy Ball Popper toy for Christmas, she loved it... for a little bit anyway. She eventually expressed that she'd had enough.

I have video of her opening a gift and playing with the one we got her, but Blogger won't load them, just chews them up and spits them out AND squishes all my post code into one lump, grrr. I'll try to post them again later.

You can also see more pictures of Danika opening gifts and playing starting here. (Photo browser to the right after the jump.)


The candies I crocheted went on our Christmas tree. Mom saw them when they visited and said I needed to make some for her tree now, haha.


I made this in secret for Ryn for Christmas. I was up until after midnight into Christmas morning to finish it!


I did an overlapping back so the pillow cover can be easily removed for washing without having to put in buttons or zippers. The k2, p2 ribbing helps the edges lie flat and gives it a cute touch.

I told her I can wash it to help it lie flatter and tighten up a bit, but she doesn't want me to take it back now, haha.


Ryn requested a pink and blue bookscarf. So, she got one today, only took me two days.

I gotta tell ya, (Miss Polly, I love you and loved making that bedspread for you, but) now that I'm done with the bedspread... I feel like I have my super speedy crafting powers back. I feel like I'm zooming through projects and getting so much done. It feels really good.


Man I've done a ton of baking since my last post! (Clickable for larger view.)

(L to R) Baked apples with brown sugar glaze just because. Cinnamon rolls baked Christmas morning (I took a shortcut with frozen dinner roll dough, definitely recommend it if your pressed for time, they're still delicious!), a pumpkin roll for Dad (he did us a huge favor), Gingerbread cookies (this is the second try, the first dough was unmanagably sticky, even after adding a ton of flour, this recipe still needs some tweaking though, needs to be sweeter. My royal icing turned out perfect though!), Stu and Ryn got their own special gingerbread cookies.


We had a great time at my office Christmas dinner! Complete with butter balls...




Christy crocheted this blanket/wrap for her daughter. She was so excited she showed everyone in the office, it was so cute!


I know you've already seen the ornaments, but you just gotta see the whole tree... complete with teddy bear topper, which Stu found on my computer desk. See, the candies and what was in the tote with the tree were the only things that went on the tree. We had all voted that it was too cold to get the rest of the tree decorations from the storage closet outside. But, I think it turned out pretty beatiful!


I ended up with Jazz tickets from the white elephant gift exchange at my office. I stole them on the last steal!!!


Our Christmas morning present opening starts here. (Photo browser to the right after the jump.)


My Dad made me this ring for Christmas.


...and we got dumped on Christmas day night! This is what we woke up to the day after.


Stu got a World of Warcraft boardgame with his Christmas money and Ryn and I hope to learn... sounds complicated, hope it's not too hard for me.

Well, it's the last day of Christmas vacation and it's past my bedtime. This small post turned into a monster and I hope you enjoyed it. =)

Now Playing:
Roseanne - Stressed to Kill

!@#$%&* GINGERBREAD!!!

I hate it.

Tried to make SOFT gingerbread men cookies tonight. It no worky. After adding A-LA-HOT of flour to dough ball, it still stuck to everything... oh, yeah, I hate molasses too. So, managed to get two men and a disc outta well floured tiny baby ball, cooked for minimum time, was good. Getting tired, gave up for the night, started too late anyway. Shared cookie with daughter, gave fiance a cookie (who expressed pleasure in cookie) and disc cookie sat to test if was a rock when cooled. Put rest of dough in fridge, gathered things to go knit. Daughter asked if there was more cookies, I said no. Felt inclined to finish job since I did okay with test cookies and there was much communication of desire for more cookies. Remembered tip in recipe review and floured wax paper, seemed okay, until I wanted little gingerbread men to walk from wax paper to cookie sheet... stuck again, all of it!

Rolled up dough, wax paper and all, shoved in trash, done.

...until next time... hopefully can fix boo boo in previous attempt.

Estimated Time Wasted: 2.25 to 3 hours

Little Miss Peanut - Free Crochet Pattern

Little Miss Peanut is the perfect cuddly plushie for you or a loved one. She’ll always lift you spirits because she’s never without a smile to share!


(Little Miss Peanut was designed for my baby niece Danika, who we call Peanut.)

Materials:

G hook
Worsted weight yarn (tan, whatever color you want for the bow, brown or black)
Yarn needle
Fiberfill stuffing

[Note: Bow can be used as bow tie placed on the neck area for a boy peanut.]


Body:

(Make 2)

With tan, ch 4.

Row 1 – 2 sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in the next ch, 2 sc in last ch, ch 1, turn. (5 sc)

Row 2 – 2 sc in first sc, 3 sc, 2 sc in last sc, ch 1, turn. (7 sc)

Row 3 – 2 sc in first sc, 5 sc, 2 sc in last sc, ch 1, turn. (9 sc)

Row 4 – 2 sc in first sc, 7 sc, 2 sc in last sc, ch1, turn. (11 sc)

Row 5 – 2 sc in first sc, 9 sc, 2 sc in last sc, ch 1, turn. (13 sc)

Row 6 – 2 sc in first sc, 11 sc, 2 sc in last sc, ch 1, turn. (15 sc)

Rows 7-15 – sc in each sc, ch 1, turn. (15 sc)

Row 16 – sc 2 tog, sc 11, sc 2 tog, ch 1, turn. (13 sc)

Row 17-18 – sc in each sc, ch 1, turn. (13 sc)

Row 19 – sc 2 tog, sc 9, sc 2 tog, ch 1, turn. (11 sc)

Row 20 – sc in each sc, ch 1, turn. (11 sc)

Row 21 – sc 2 tog, sc 7, sc 2 tog, ch 1, turn. (9 sc)

Row 22 – 2 sc in first sc, 7 sc, 2 sc in last sc, ch 1, turn. (11 sc)

Row 23 – sc in each sc, ch 1, turn. (11 sc)

Row 24 – 2 sc in first sc, 9 sc, 2 sc in last sc, ch 1, turn. (13 sc)

Row 25 – sc in each sc, ch 1, turn. (13 sc)

Row 26 – 2 sc in first sc, 11 sc, 2 sc in last sc, ch 1, turn. (15 sc)

Row 27-29 – sc in each sc, ch 1, turn. (15 sc)

Row 30 – sc 2 tog, 11 sc, sc 2 tog, ch 1, turn. (13 sc)

Row 31 – sc 2 tog, 9 sc, sc 2 tog, ch 1, turn. (11 sc)

Row 32 – sc 2 tog, 7 sc, sc 2 tog, ch 1, turn. (9 sc)

Row 33 – sc 2 tog, 5 sc, sc 2 tog, ch 1, turn. (7 sc)

Row 34 – sc 2 tog, 3 sc, sc 2 tog, ch 1, turn. (5 sc)

Row 35 – sc 2 tog, 1 sc, sc 2 tog, ch 1, turn. (2 sc)

Row 36 – sc 3 remaining sc’s tog, finish off.


Bow:

With bow color, ch 6.

[Note: Starting at fourth chain from hook, you will be crocheting 3 dc’s tog. When finished with this step, you should have the ch 3 that counts as the first dc, then the 3 dc’s crocheted together.]

Yo, insert hook in 4th ch from hook

[Yo, pull up a loop] twice (2 loops on hook)

Yo, insert hook in next ch

[Yo, pull up a loop] twice (3 loops on hook)

Yo, insert hook in next ch

[Yo, pull up a loop] twice (4 loops on hook)

Yo, pull through all 4 loops (3 dc tog complete)

Ch 5

3 dc in 4th chain from hook, finish off.


Center of Bow Wrap:

With bow color, ch 6

Row 1 – sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each of 4 remaining chs, finish off.


Wrap tie around the middle of the bow and sew the ends of tie together, overlapping if necessary.

Securely sew bow to head for a girl, to the neck area for a boy.

With brown or black, stitch on face and peanut texture detail.

[Note: Holding the two body pieces exactly matched up as you crochet helps to keep them even with each other. This way you can see the matching stitches and sc them together.]

Sc the two body pieces together, leaving a small opening for stuffing. Stuff lightly, it’s supposed to be fairly flat.

Finish sewing pieces together, finish off.

Weave in any loose ends.


Enjoy your peanut or give her (or him) to a loved one! ♥

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!

Well kids, not much of a post here. Just wanted to apologize for not posting for a while and also let you know that I probably won't be able to post a good, juicy entry until after the Christmas holiday.

I've got lots of shopping, crafting, baking and wrapping to do!

(If you really need a Yarn Pixie fix, I won't fault you for going through my archives. *wink* Down there, towards the bottom of the right panel...)

HAVE A WONDERFUL AND SAFE HOLIDAY!

♥ Amber

Little Big Planet!!!

Photo Album and Knit & Crochet Photos updated!

Okay, so, first thing's first... Little Big Planet!!!




Stu and I played it for the first time tonight! I was really drawn to it because I noticed characters in the ads and commercials were knit, but it's a lot funner than that!

(DISCLAIMER: LOTS OF VIDEO GAME PICTURES WILL FOLLOW. THE POSTER OF THIS BLOG CANNOT BE HELD LIABLE FOR POSSIBLE BOREDOM DUE TO TOO MANY PICTURES OR SUGAR SHOCK, BECAUSE THEY'RE SO CUTE.)


Okay, here's the birth of Stu and I's sack people, cute huh? Mine's knitted!!! How appropriate!


We got some new clothes.


Okay, this is some weird tick-tock thing that's supposed to be a queen or something. You can take pics if you have a webcam made for Playstation3 and post them on some spaces in the game. So, we put Stu's face on the queen's head and yes, he has my (clothed) boobs. =D


Bunny ears!!! My sack girl got bunny ears (and later a bunny tail!)... and rainbow hair... I accidentally stamped myself with a rainbow shoe sticker, but the result has proved very pleasing!


Stu's sack person is a denim, Shakespearean, geek. Isn't he adorable?!?!


(clickable for larger view)
Here is Stu and I's pod. It's like a little home made outta cardboard and see through plastic for windows. We decorated it ourselves! There's my sack person sitting on the floor with the bunny ears and Stu's is hiding behind a flower to the right. Haha.

In other news...


I finally got a picture of Stu wearing the hat I made for him. He loves this hat!


I got a picture of Danika with the Christmas tree coaster I designed for her this month. Published on Ravelry. Free pattern can be found here.


We made a gingerbread house for family night this last week. Pictures start here (photo browser to the right).

In needlework news...

I know I already posted about this, but you have to see what a monster it really is...


(Polly's bedspread) Almost done! Just closing up intersections and maybe a border! There is actually a full size, high back couch and half a small living room under there! HUGE! I'm excited!

Now Playing:
Fly on the Wall by t.A.T.u.

P.S. Man, am I addicted to t.A.T.u. music right now. And holy cow, it sticks in your head hard! Stu says it's psychological and that's it's been proven that songs get stuck in your head when they are 1) repetitive b) provide no closure, however that might be done. For example, just cutting off or just being repetitive, therefore not moving forward in a thought process to provide that closure. So, your brain keeps "playing" the song, looking for that closure.

I can see these qualities in many of t.A.T.u.'s songs.

What do you think?

What day is it?

Photo Album and Knit & Crochet Photos updated!

First and foremost... Let's hear it for four day holiday weekends that make you forget what day it is! HIP-HIP-HOORAY!!!

Published another pattern on Ravelry!


Holiday Cheer Coaster
Free pattern here!


I've also gotten more candies made for the garland or ornaments. I'm up to 12 now!


Scrappy Tuesdays, Week 8. Washed that motif that my niece spit up on last week and attached it along with another I made. =P

And now for our Thankgiving wrap up...

"Okay, honey, we've been trying to get a nice picture for several minutes. Let's make this a good one... Okay, yeah, this is a pretty good one, I'm smiling and you..."


"HONEY!" Leave it to the love of my life to make me have to take yet another picture of us. Haha, love you, babe! ♥

Stu's loaded baked potato salad was a hit and so was my pumpkin roll. Dad said that we should both make out dishes each Thanksgiving now. He even asked us to leave at least one more helping of each for him. Thanks for the compliments, Dad.

For more Thanksgiving pics, start here, use the browser to the right by clicking the right picture in it.


I made crepes for brunch today! I like to call them creepees.


Some pan flippin' action for ya! (Please forgive how I look, I just woke up, haha.)

It was a really nice week, despite getting sick on Thanksgiving day and battling it over my holiday weekend. Oh well, I'd rather be sick while watching movies and crocheting or knitting instead of having to work while I feel like pew.

Stu's been pluggin' away at his blog. Check it out! Even if you aren't a gamer, the humor he adds makes it entertaining for those who are game-impaired. I enjoy reading it. Come to the Kow-side...

Hope you all had a great holiday!

Now Playing:
Natalie Merchant - Kind & Generous

Holiday Cheer Coaster - Free Crochet Pattern

The perfect accessory to hold your cup of holiday cheer!

Size: 4.5" wide (at widest point) x 6" tall

Materials:

H hook

Worsted weight yarn in green, brown, yellow and whatever color(s) you would like for garland, bows or lights.

Yarn needle to weave in ends and to sew



Tree Body:

With green ch 19.

Row 1 - sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across to end, ch 1, turn.

Row 2 - sc first 2 sc tog, sc to last 2 sc, sc last 2 sc tog, ch 1, turn.

Row 3 through 18 - Repeat rows 1 and 2, crocheting in every stitch on odd numbered rows and sc 2 tog on each end of even rows.

Border - Ch 1, sc evenly around tree edge, ss to first sc, finish off, weave in ends.


Trunk:

Holding the tree body upside down, find the middle 12 stitches of the bottom and mark each side of them.

Row 1 - (still holding tree body upside down) w/ brown, attach to the first of the 12 center stitches w/ sc, sc to end of center stitches where end marker is, ch 1, turn.

Row 2 - sc in each stitch across, ch 1, turn.

Row 3 & 4 - Repeat row 2.

Finish off, weave in ends.


Star:

With yellow, ch 1, turn chain.

Round 1 - 5 sc in first ch.

Round 2 - (ss, sc, ss) in the first sc, repeat for the remaining 4 scs, finish off.

Sew star to top of tree.


Garland, bows, lights:

For the garland, I just top stitched however I thought looked right, back and forth across the tree. It took me a couple tries. Do what looks good to you. (I chose to do garland because it seemed the safest for my baby niece, which is who I design my coasters for. She loves to play with them.)

For bows, I suggest hooking a short piece of yarn through the tree body so that the two ends are in front, then tying them in a knot and trimming it up. You could even unravel the yarn ends to give them a fuller look.

For lights, I suggest hooking a short piece of yarn through the tree body so that one end is in the front and one in the back, then tie a tight knot (or knot the same piece several times) on either side and trim up the ends.

I have a feeling...

I suspect this is going to be a long post. So, please enjoy! I know I enjoyed writing it for you. =)

Photo Album and Knit & Crochet Photos updated!


Here's week 7 on the Scrappy Tuesdays afghan. I would have had one more motif, but I let my baby niece play with it and she spit up on it. So, I'll need to wash it. I need to make her more coasters so I'm not offering her my projects while she visits me. >.<
I’m all over the place with this. I keep trying to make motifs and a layout that is asthetically pleasing, but that just makes things harder (and take longer). I think I’ll just start doing it random, paying no attention to what colors are where or if there are too many of a color or certain yarn in one area.


It fits! I made this hat on a Knifty Knitter loom for Danika shortly after she was born and it was SO big. Well, it fits now. But, I'm sure she's growing out of it as this picture is being taken.


Another project! Ugh, I have GOT to stop starting new projects before I finish others! I'm crocheting at least one candy per day to make Christmas tree garland or ornaments. They are really cute though, huh?!

And the big news is...


The last square was attached to Polly's bedspread tonight! The only thing left now is closing up the intersections at the corners of the squares and trimming yarn ends up!

Today's special treat... I made my first pumpkin roll for Thanksgiving at my parents'!


First, we beat the eggs.


Then, add the pumpkin and dry ingredients.


Spread it in the pan. It's really thin, I hope it turns out okay.


Then we dust a cotton kitchen towel (no nubbies!) with powdered sugar.

By the way ladies, if you want a new set of kitchen towels, just tell your man that you need this certain kind of towel for a roll cake. But, really make the cake, so he believes you. (Haha, just kidding, honey... I love you!)


Then we roll the hot cake in the towel and let it cool on a cooling rack. I don't have a cooling rack, so I use an upside down cake pan.

I was afaid it was gonna be too tiny, it was so skinny!


Mixing the cream cheese filling. Mmm, yes, after spreading the filling, I cleaned out this bowl with a spoon. This filling is SO yummy!


Unroll the cooled cake, spread the filling and rooooooooooll back up! It's so pretty for my first roll cake, isn't it?

Looks like it's not too skinny after all. It's also pretty long too!

I had the cut the ends off for it to fit in the only airtight container I had that would work.

Oh and remember that new set of kitchen towels? Just count on loosing one. The one you use to roll and cool the cake will get stained by the pumpkin, haha.


Here's my little cake roll, dusted with powdered sugar and in it's container, all ready to go to Mom and Dad's!


I knew Stu and myself wouldn't mind my cutting off the ends... it meant we got to do a taste test! It's so good!

And last but not least...
They're making my turkey!


A lady who came across my turkey coaster pattern was great enough to send me this picture of her finished coasters and told me how much of a hit they are, "My kids have confiscated these. I can’t even use one for my drink! They are 3 and 5, and they have been playing with the turkeys in their play kitchen." How exciting! Thanks for sharing, Keri!

Another kind lady who commented on my coaster pattern mentions it in her blog here and posted pictures of her finished coasters here.

It just makes me so happy...

Now Playing:
Roseanne - Home-Ec