Wedding things!

I wasn't able to show you these until now...







Actually I didn't have them finished until the night before the wedding.






Nothing like a little procrastination!






I had an old friend (I met her in 7th grade) of mine wedding to go to on Saturday. I made her some Christmas ornaments as part of her gift. I hope that every year at Christmas she thinks of her wedding day with fond memories! ( She and the wedding were beautiful)







I also knit her a little something... I found it on ravelry and couldn't help myself!





Here is the front view













And here is the back view:

Its the Frecklegirl Thong! She and her Maid of Honor(another friend of mine) loved it!

It was super easy, only 2 nights of knitting!



Her wedding colors were pink and green....






like these tulips!

Day 111(April 20th)
We went over on Sunday for a brunch at her parents house, sadly I missed seeing her and the groom(I had to teach Sunday school for the 2s & 3s department at church) but her mom sent me home with these, aren't they beautiful?!

SOCK WARS

I copied this from the sock wars site, its part of the official rules! It is comming up and I'm super excited for it. MAY 9th is when the war begins!

---------------------------------------------------------------------
SOCK WARS III : THE RULES (last updated 14.2.08)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
>> WHAT IS SOCK WARS?<<
Sock Wars is the original and bloodiest extreme knitting tournament.
If you are brave enough sign up to do battle you will be emailed a
top secret assassination dossier on 9th May 2008. This file contains
the details of your target and an exclusive, never-been-publishedbefore
knitting pattern with which to assassinate them.
To kill your target you must knit them the pair of socks in the
pattern (your weapon) and mail it to them. Once your target receives
your parcel they are dead and must post their death on the “fallen
comrades” section of the sockwars site.
They must also immediately send you details of their intended target
(who becomes your next person to assassinate) along with their
unfinished knitting (which becomes your new weapon).
All the while this is going on, someone has been assigned you as
their target…
Prepare to live in fear… Kill or be killed!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
>> SIGNUPS <<
Signups are done via the membership application on the website. You
are now a blood hungry warrior.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
>> THE RULES OF SOCK WARS <<
1. The first rule of Sock Wars is: You must talk about Sock Wars.
2. The second rule of Sock Wars is: You MUST talk about Sock Wars.
3. Two socks to a fight.
4. One fight at a time.
5. No shirts, no shoes, just socks
6. Fights will go on as long as they have to.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
>> SOCK WARS: AT-A-GLANCE SUMMARY <<
1. Get dossier
2. Knit like billy-o
3. Mail socks to your target – live in fear of your mailman
4. Receive socks? Bang, you’re dead!
5. Post your death on Sock Wars site
6. Mail socks-in-progress back to your killer
7. Your killer knits to kill your original target
…and on and on until only one supreme warrior remains
---------------------------------------------------------------------


Sounds like fun?!

Come and join!

http://sockwarsiii.memberlodge.org/

Lookie Lookie!

It came!!!!!! My Vera Bradley tote came!



Now I know I was told it was going to be sent to me, but when it would come was a whole different ball game! So today when I herd something at the door, I thought it was Joe coming home from work. Then he didn't come in. So I went to investigate! I found this!




Ok so I really didn't take the picture then, I went back and staged it after I opened it!(shh don't tell)






I L-O-V-E it! isn't it pretty?!


its actually a lot bigger than I imagined...!









And look what came with it... Some YARN, sock yarn to be exact! My favorite kind of yarn :O)
Love the colorway too! Its Vesper Sock Yarn a 100% superwash merino, in the Venus In Furs colourway, 387yds.




I feel so special when opening yarny goodness gifts. Thank you so much Nachaele! the Top 10 stash project KAL was fun and kept me on track! I've never won anything here in blogland so this was extra special! Oh and a big thanks to Leanne who donated yarn to all the winners of the KAL!

So guess what I just packed up my knitting in?!


The Vera Bradley tote bag, its Thursday and that equals knitting night! Yea!!! I love going knitting and now I have a beautiful bag to tote all my stuff in!




Today was spent doing laundry(washing, folding and putting away the 5 baskets of folded laundry from earlier this week), picking up around the house and making bread.




I've decided that I am no longer going to pay for a loaf of bread from the store, just to come home and eat preservative filled food. I make it at work and I have no excuse to not make it here at home. So we had a baking lesson, the kids helped a bit, but I did the majority of it. I am a bit of a perfectionist.... But as they learn I'm sure I'll let them help out more!





I am using the recipe that we use at work, but with some variations. I put more whole wheat flour in it and I added some ground flax seed. When I get to the store I'm going to buy some cracked wheat and put that into the next batch. I want to make it healthy and good! I'm not sure if its good yet, it is still proofing....





Well since blogger took so long to be able to upload pictures, the bread is baked and out of the oven... Its hot so I'm not sure if it tastes good... but if it tastes anything like it smells, its going to be yummy!

Mmm mmm good I'll leave you with that!

argh!

I have this big long post all written up but blogger won't upload any pictures.... I'll be back soon with a very fun and cool post!

survey & contest in 1

Please go HERE and help a homeschooling mom teach her kids (graphs and percentages)!

Which do you prefer:

to spin
to knit
to crochet
to weave
or other

?

Go and enter!

some nest totes

Elisa's nest tote... I started this one on friday morning and I couldn't help myself. I just kept knitting... and it was done last night! I love this one, mainly because it is pinkish. I'm going to use it as my purse/bag this spring and summer! Love it! I just clip my keys on by the top (can you see the blue part?!) and throw the rest of my things inside!


I knit this one in the round, by using Judy's magic cast on and then knitting it form the bottom up. I think I co 83 sts and placed a marker at the beginning of my round. Seriously, it went super fast that way, and no seaming!!! I also only wanted one handle(with double the strength) so I twisted the second one around the first before I kitchenered it. I really like this bag and I'm happy it turned out!

I used Omega Sinfonia, a mercerized cotton. I like how it has a bit of a sheen to it too! US# 8, for the body and US#5 for the handles.





I also made one (last week) with a flat bottom.I posted more about this one on the KAL. so go check it out if you want... Its not too late to join!!!






How about a picture a day update?!





Day 103(April 12th)
Its been quite a while since I've had a food picture... What we have here is some mostly homemade tomato sauce.

Brown some venison sausage, add lots of garlic, let that brown, add two cans of plain old diced tomatoes(mostly blended, we like a few chunks in our sauce). Let that simmer until thick and add your choice of pasta, tonight was spaghetti!







Day 102 (April 11th)

I finished my tote for the KAL this morning! I love it! I did a flat bottomed version of the bag, and had about 20 extra sts than the pattern called for, making it quite big! Lots of cereal fit inside and I'm sure I could have put more in.









Day 101 (April 10th)

This morning Leah and Chloe were rocking together, so I quick grabbed my camera and took a few. This is the best one.

I think I might have to save this one and show it to them when they are teenagers and can't stand each other (just because one wants to wear the same shoes, or clothes...and the other wants nothing to do with her younger sister, then 10 years down the line they will be the best of friends again just like in this picture).

New wall hanging

Do you remember this picture?! It was my Day 17(January 17th)...


Well I remember it, Diane AKA Studio D liked it so much and because it has a special meaning to me she offered to print up a B&W version on canvas for me. I, personally am to lazy, I have way too much going on to even think of doing that(or rather getting around to it). But I'm so glad she did! She had it sent out to me and I had it with in a weeks time. So in all reality I've had it for at least 2 months... I told you I'm lazy...

About a month ago I took it in to Michael's and wanted to know how much it would cost me to have it stretched over a frame... with a discount it would have been $80... Yeah right. So I just bought a plain canvas that was already stretched on a wooden frame and laid the picture right over it and stapled it on. It tool me all of 7 minutes. Now ask me, why did it take me 2 months to do this?! Oh well the point is that its finished now and on my wall!





So the lighting is horrible today, its been raining on and off and dreary all day long. That equals not so great of a picture of a picture hanging on my wall. But I'm so happy I finally did it that I'm blogging about it anyways! So here is another view... see it wraps around the frame, I just love it! I think i want to get some pictures of the kids and stretch them like this to hang up. I've lived in this house for almost 4 years and barely have anything on the walls... I just haven't gotten around to it. Like I said before,I'm lazy, and I'd rather be knitting.



In fiberious news I went out to Brigitte's (my friend/LYS's owner/fiber enabler) and she helped me dye some merino roving to match the the color of my handspun Mr Greenjeans! I just love dying yarn... If that was a good way to make money I'd quit my job and do that for a living. Its so much fun! Maybe someday when the kids are older... who knows anything is possible!





So anyways, it came out pretty close to the color I need it to be... I think in the end I'll have to knit the sleeves and dye the whole sweater so it all matches... But I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

I then had to let the roving dry for a day or two. I put it on an old baby gate (that I use after I wash all of my handknit socks) its the perfect hand knits drying rack and I thought it would be perfect for the roving, and it was! Yes, I wear all of my socks a good amount of times and then when I can't possibly wear them all one more time I wash them (all) and strategically place them on the baby gate to dry. It's my system, and it works for me!

I was able to start spinning it a bit... a few nights ago, but haven't had the time to work on it since. my progress:

It felt really good to get my wheel out again! Its been quite a while since I'v last spun, I think it was last October. Bad, bad spinner, how dare you neglect you wheel for that long. I will never ever do that again. I will make it a habit of bringing it out at least once a month, I promise!


I have a few things on my plate this month, so who knows If I'll have time to spin it all.

*april socks~ SAM5KAL
*tote~ ENTKAL
*a few little items~ for a gift
*start a baby blanket~for a gift

the first 3 items need to be finished in April, and I'm sure I'm missing something, its late and my brain is fried at this time of night.

With that I'll leave you all, have a wonderful weekend!

Day 97-100

Day 100 (April 9th)

I think its finally coming...

The kids and I were outside playing for a bit today. It still isn't too warm, but hey, there is no snow to speak of!

Do you see Gabe's rocket ship?!










Day 99 (April 8th)
Just a shot from work, some sheet pans. My Monday through Wednesday morning routine.











Day 98 (April 7th)

Today was a bit warm so we seized the day and took a walk. We ended up walking along the riverfront, on the boardwalk! Don't those clouds almost look fake?!












Day97 (April 6th)

Some of out flowers are starting to bloom! I love these grape hyacinths. They aren't in full bloom yet but it is so nice to see some color around the flower bed!

a contest

I just entered a contest to try my luck again! For a $25 gift certificate to the loopy ewe~! Who wouldn't want to win that?!

Go check it out! HERE(Modest purls)!

then come back for more naturally knitty goodness!

April goodness

Ok so I've been a bit absent lately... I have just been so busy with nothing and everything all at the same time. I haven't been knitting much, but I did manage to finish my socks on the 31st!




So here they are the Project Stats:









Start Date: March 1st
End Date: March 31st
Yarn: Cider Moon, peas and carrots
Pattern: Aquaphobia Socks (ravelry link)
Needles: US#2, (2 socks on 2 circulars)
Recipient: Me!




Now that that's out of the way I can tell you about a prize I won!!! Do you remember me knitting on things for the Top 10 stash project KAL?! Well it was over at the end of March and I was picked to win a Vera Bradley Tote Bag!!!!! I even get to pick which pattern I want! I'm so excited, I've never won anything in blogland before, this is so cool! I'm so thankful that Nachaele started that KAL. It was a big help in knitting from my stash, and finishing up some UFO's. I almost finished everything on my list (its on my sidebar) The only things I didn't finish were, Mr greenjeans(I need to buy and dye more roving), a wallaby, and weave in the ends to my mom's zip-up hoody. Not too shabby!




Also to start off April I picked out some yarn from my stash to knit the tote bag for the KAL. If you haven't yet, you should go and check it out, and sign up!

I'm hosting a KAL!

Join us in April as we knit a elisa’s nest tote together!

In the month of April knit this re-usable tote and have a chance to win a prize! Post pictures, ask questions, and share your knitting experience!

Who wouldn't want a chance to win yarn, a flicker Pro Account, or Moo Cards or a Blog Re-design!!!

Come and check out the Elisa’s Nest Tote KAL, join up and have fun! Its a great item to knit while getting ready for all the nice weather that is to come! Just think of all the things you could carry in it; yarn, fruit, veggies, books, yarn, snacks, bottles of water, yarn, or anything else you can think of…. Enjoy this tote time and time again, its earth friendly!

e-mail: guotski4(at)yahoo(dot)com
or
message me on ravelry: naturallyknitty
with the following info:

in the subject please put- Join Tote KAL
your name- as you would like on the side bar
your blog address- to be linked to on the side bar
your e-mail address- so I can send you an invite!

Fun Fun Fun! I can't wait to start!

When there is no knitting content...

Blog about your kids. That is my fall back plan.

Day 82 (March 22nd)

Leah decided to dress herself while she should have been
sleeping.... she came down the stairs looking like this!

It reminded me of that friends episode where Joey put on all of Chandlers clothes.

Please don't look at the mess behind her... called my life;O) Actually its not really that bad, I've been keeping up with things.

I need to go through the kids toys, but I don't even know where to start. They have so many, and I want to weed them out. Toys are always all over the place and sometimes I don't even think they play with them. They just dump and dump and play with one or two things. They do clean up with some encouragement but I'm just sick of the mass of it all. Anyone have any tips on how to get started?! We'd like to put our house up for sale and upgrade a bit(all 3 are in the same room), so I'd like to clear out now, rather than when it is for sale. I'm always a last minute type of person, as you can tell with my SAM5 kal, but I'd like to at least try and change.

Its been a while...

Two weeks to be exact. I'm in a blogging funk i guess you could say. I just don't have much to blog about.

I could tell you all about the sickness that has been lumming around me and my family for what seems like months... The flu, colds, strep throat, sinus infections.... I and most of my family have had all of these, within the last month or so. ugh!


Where are you spring?!

that's my question. I'm sick of being sick and being couped up in the house, and so are the kids.






Actually yesterday we got outside and played with some chalk! It was sunny and wonderful.
















then today.... more snow.

yes that is snow covering our lovely chalk drawings. That's it, I draw the line there.


I'm just plain done.



As for knitting I'm working on some socks for my M for march in the sam5 kal. Also I have thousands of ends calling to me to be woven in but I just don't want to. I have no motivation. There is also a surprise project that I can't speak of on this blog... All I can say is that is is for a long time friend who is a fan of this blog.... you people that are on ravelry can go and check it out...


I'll try to have more to say soon... Hopefully I'll be in the mood when I'm healthy.... if that ever happens.

Oh if your interested in the picture a day... go check them out on Flickr.

Day 67 & a FO

Day 67 (March 7th)

This is my new tea pot! I paid under $7 for it. I'm starting a new diet and you are to drink lots of different teas. I've never really drank much tea before so I never had a tea pot... So here it is, in all its cheapness ;o) I figure if i really like tea that much I can buy a nicer one, if i happen to cross that road.



While on my trip two weeks ago I completed a project.


Project stats:

Start Date: February
End Date: February 17th
Yarn: Lion Brand Lion Cotton Print
Needles: US 8, (straits) US 5 (double points)
Pattern: Elisa Nest tote


I made this for my LYS as a sample, it went rather quickly. Hurray for car knitting!

Days 48-66

Wow I was quite behind schedule....







Day 66 (march 6th) The start of my March socks... I need to get going on them!







Day 65 (march 5th) Gabe grabbed a few items to dress up his"kitty". I thought it was really cute!








Day 64 (march 4th) I've finished knitting a sweater I've had in my UFO pile for 2 years... but now I need to "sew in any yarn ends." HA! ANY....there are thousands of them!!! Its going to take me forever....







Day 63 (march 3rd) Today was pajama day at school, he loved it! Afterwards he wanted me to take his picture... this is his cool face. I really don't know where he got it.









Day 62 (march 2nd) This is the inside of the sleeve I knit, I just thought it was interesting, don't mind all those ends, gerrr.






Day 61 (march 1st) I did it! I finished my socks around 10ish pm!








Day 60 (Feb 29th) This is my view for the day.... finishing my socks for the SAM5 KAL. I'm really not sure if I can finish them but I'm going to try! I'm currently decreasing for the gussets and just have to finish the foot and toe..... I think I can, I think I can, I think I can... There is a venison stew in the crock pot for dinner and the kids are eating lunch.... here I go, wish me luck... I'm going to need it!




Day 59 (Feb 28th) I took this fabric home from my grandmas. She already had some squares cut out. I (some day) want to make a quilt with it... I think that is what she had planned with it. Not that it is the prettiest but I like it, and will always think of my grandma when I see it!








Day 58 (Feb 27th) This is the Noro silk garden that I purchased from my sister's LYS(day 55, I think). I plan on making the famous "noro scarf" The two balls on the left are #87, the top right is #8 and the bottom right is #211. I had the hardest time picking colors and hope they go well together in the end.







Day 57 (Feb 26th) This is actually a cool plastic basket that I scored from my grandma, well one of two. After doing mountains of laundry the socks ended up in it.... and so did Chloe. Who needs toys?!








Day 56 (Feb 25th) Just an hour after arriving home on sunday I started to feel sick... I got the flu, just like the rest of the family did. Monday night I realized that I hadn't taken a picture, so this is what I got. My kids feet, while they were curled up next to me on the couch. Shortly afterwards I did some nail trimming :O)







Day 55(Feb 24th) On the way back home... I was able to knit on a few things, one of them being my February Charade socks!










Day 54(Feb 24th) Coffee! These are the coffee mugs I drank out of the second half of the week, my sister got them from Poland.









Day 53(Feb 24th) This was taken after going kitting at my sister (starknits) LYS. Such a cute little shop! Lots of yummy yarn, I came home with some noro, silk garden!








Day 52(Feb 24th) I started the sleeves for my hoody... My goal is to finish this UFO in the next few weeks. I started this over 2 years ago... Its about time I finished it!








Day 51(Feb 24th) My grandma's house, where we stayed for the first half of our trip. This was right before we left on Wednesday







Day 50(Feb 24th) Joe loves old war stuff, so when we saw this he pulled over and went to sit on it. I just had to take a few pictures and told him that I would use it as my picture of the day.







Day 49(Feb 24th) Chloe hit the jack pot at grandma's house. She had fun playing with these and banging them around. What more could a little girl ask for?!









Day 48(Feb 24th) We drove about half way on Saturday and ended up in Ohio in a hotel, the kids thought it was the coolest thing! Gabe kept jumping back and fourth on the beds. I let him go to town because I knew we'd be in the van for another 8 hours that day... It really is the simple things that put a smile on a kids face:O)