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

Ef...

I forgot to update on the Scrappy Tuesdays afghan last post... so here it is...


Again, as in week 2, it was getting too late to finish that last motif, I was getting really tired and was up an hour and a half past my bedtime. So, one and 9/10 squares, haha.

Thank you and goodnight!

C is for Cakies!

Photo Album and Knit & Crochet Photos updated.

Well, Ryn made her first cookies!


She made confetti cake mix cookies for a project in her speech class. She did really good! ♥ She started calling the cake mix cookies "cakies". It's starting to catch on in our house.


This is Stu's moth pet on one of his online games... I wanna say World of Warcraft, but I'm not certain. He named it Amber, after me! Isn't she pretty?!


My cousin Peachy (Raechel) is knitting this scarf. It's so perfect and beautiful. I'm so proud of her! ♥


I made this out of cardboard so I can watch video on my MP3 while knitting/crocheting.


Mom, Ryn and I went shopping for wedding flowers. We got the flowers for my bouquet, Ryn's and Christy's. I still need a few black roses though, the Walmart by my mom's didn't have any.

I tackled my first meatloaf tonight...


The photos in this collage were taken by Ryn. ♥




I made a colby cheese meatloaf and it turned out great, except...


Lesson learned... don't do cheese stuffed meatloaf in a cake pan. Next time, I'll see to it that the cheese has no escape route to melt flat and burn.


So this is Stu, doing programming for school! He's using those programs that you always see in animation extras on your DVD's. Ya know, the ones where it just looks like a wire frame of the object and it can be moved and manipulated. It's rad!!!


This is the "dude" he made.

And last but not least...

Ryn is now in the Honors Society! Congrats Ryn!


In needlework news...

I only have one square left for Polly's bedspread!


Now Playing:
Roseanne - Becky, Beds & Boys

Finger Sweater (Crochet Version) - Free Crochet Pattern

I made this at the request of a crocheter on Ravelry who saw my originial (knit) finger sweater and asked for a crochet version pattern.


Pattern is for size 9 finger, but can be easily adjusted for your finger and yarn. Just size by loosely wrapping the foundation chain around your finger before proceeding and adjust accordingly.

Materials:
worsted weight yarn (I used Red Heart Super Saver in Wedgewood.)
G hook

ch 12

Row 1 - Without twisting chain, sc in first ch of foundation chain (mark first st in row if it helps you), (1 sc in each ch) 10 times.

Work in continuous rounds now and throughout.

Row 2 - sc 11.

Row 3-5 - Repeat row 2.

Finish off, weave in ends.

Loading... 72% Complete

Photo Album and Knit & Crochet Photos updated!

Ryn and I had a Mommy/Daughter sleepover last Saturday. I even packed an overnight bag, came to the door and we stayed in her room all night, just like a real sleepover. We knit, watched Friends and Roseanne. Then we had apples and peanut butter and fell asleep watching Corpse Bride. I should've gotten pictures. We plan on doing it once a month now, so I'm sure I'll get pictures soon. I had a lot of fun!

I wrote another pattern and published it on Ravelry...


You can find the story of the design, the pattern and more pictures here.


I didn't do any motifs for my Scrappy Tuesdays blanket during week 3 & 4 due to Halloween planning and events. I finished two motifs this week. It's so ugly it's cute. I ♥ it!


I bought this shirt for Danika, I couldn't resist. My dad just about fell out of his chair laughing when he saw it... he could hardly breathe, he was laughing so hard.


Just a little twisty hair bun fun.


Ryn learned to bind off today! Doesn't her knitting look great? I'm proud of her! ♥


Stu is doing a lot more design stuff on the computer for school now. He just recently made a simple scene of trees and wood piles from pictures of textures that he took of things close up in our house. It's awesome! I'm so proud of him too! ♥

Now Playing:
Roseanne - Boo

Gobble Coaster - Free Crochet Pattern

I designed this for my 7 month old niece, Danika.

I discovered when I took Danika into the room I stay in while at my parents’, the only thing to I had to offer her to play with was a very plain, crocheted cotton coaster… she loved it!

The size and thickness of coasters make it easy for her to grasp and manipulate them. I made this one just for her. It’s bright colors and interesting shape should be quite stimulating for her little brain.

I hope to make more themed coasters for her in the future. ♥



Materials:

Worsted weight yarn (I used Caron Wintuk in Christmas Red, Nutmeg, Jonquil and TLC Essentials in Falling Leaves.)
H hook
yarn needle to weave in ends


Body:

Rnd 1 - With brown, ch 4, join with ss to first ch to form a ring, ch 3, 11 dc in ring, join to 3rd ch in beg ch 3. (12 sts)

Rnd 2 - ch 3, dc in same st, (2 dc in ea st) 11 times. (24 sts)

Rnd 3 - ch 3 dc in same st, (2 dc in ea st) 23 times. (48 sts) Finish off.


Feathers:

Row 1 - (RS) With feather color, attach to body with 1 sc, 18 sc (19 total sc including sc used to attach yarn), turn.

Row 2 - ss in 1st st, (sk 2 sts, 7 dc in next st, sk 2 sts, ss in next st) 3 times, turn.

Row 3 - sc in 1st st, (hdc, sk next st, 7 dc in next st, sk next st, hdc, sk next st)2 times, hdc, 7 dc in next st, sk next st hdc, sc, ss to the ss, finish off.


Head:

Row 1 - (RS) With brown, (RS) attach with sc 3 sts to the left of feathers, 3 sc (4 total sc including the sc used to join yarn), ch 1, turn.

Row 2 - 4 sc, ch 1, turn.

Row 3 - 2 sc in 1st sc, 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, ch 1, turn.

Row 4 - 6 sc, ch 1, turn.

Row 5 - sc 2 tog, 2 sc, sc 2 tog, ch 1, turn.

Row 6 - (sc 2 tog) 2 times, finish off.


Beak:

Row 1 - (RS) With yellow, attach with sc to head, sc once more (2 sc total), ch 1, turn.

Row 2 - sc 2 tog, finish off.


Wattle:

*top stitch - insert hook where specified, pull up a loop through piece and the loop on hook.

(RS) With red, top st in same st on the head that you did the first beak st in, which will be the top of the beak. Then top st in the same st you did the 2nd beak stitch in, ch 2, finish off.


Feet:

(RS) Attach yellow with a ss to body (4 sts from bottom of feathers), ch 4, 3 sc in 2nd ch from hook, ss in same st, finish off.

Repeat for second leg, 2 sts over (left of first leg).

Now THIS is Halloween!!!

Photo Album and Knit & Crochet Photos Updated!

Halloween at Work(Thursday)


The bag of jelly beans! I won most creative costume at work!


Ashley and Danika came to visit me at lunch.


This is what was left of my taco soup. It was a hit!

Trunk or Treat at The Christmas Box House(Thursday night)


Me and my Jelly Bean Jalopy


Ashley, Danika and Me.
This picture was just before we left and Danika had had enough. It was getting late, she was tired, been around a lot of people and action all day and had six immunization shots that day. What a trooper! This was the only picture I got of Danika in her elephant costume and it's not even a good one. I'll have to see if any of my co-workers got a better picture.

Unfortunately, Stu and Ryn couldn't make it to this function, considering that we live one city over from where I work. I couldn't have gotten home and gotten back in time. =( So, I took Ashley and Danika.

Halloween Night


I knit, watched The Nightmare Before Christmas and had some chocolate raspberry coffee. Then Stu came in and finished watching the movie with me and I (barely) fell asleep on the floor. It was fun!

Today's Breakfast Menu


I made a Dutch Puff Pancake.
Stu and Ryn love it... and so do I! I used to make these in high school but had forgetten all about them. I stumbled across a youtube.com video of someone making one and thought, "Hey, I gotta start making these again!"

In Needlework News...


Okay, so, too many of the women I know keep having babies, I can’t keep up with blankets. So, I'm knitting booties.
This is gonna have to be the go to (quick) gift that I keep stocked for short notice or random baby gifts. Blankets will be for those I’m really close to. I'll get this pair done this weekend and then finish up the squares for Polly's bedspread. I only have five squares left!

I hope you all had a safe and happy Halloween!♥

Now Playing:
Roseanne - Little Sister