We Were On A Break!

Yes, once again in our on again off again relationship, 5 A.M. and I took a little break!  (Scared ya', didn't I?)  It wasn't like we actually broke up.  I just decided to see other times of the morning... like 7 and 8... ok, and in a couple weak moments, 9... but that is over now.  5 and me are back and better than ever!  Well, back anyway.  Skinny Pilates Lady seemed happy to see me.  She didn't say so, but I think she was.  I'm pretty sure, though, that Super Skinny Pilates Lady was secretly laughing every time I had to do a "level one move."  The lady in level one, with the walker and the oxygen, she was just happy to have company.

Ok, so enough of that.  See what happens when I wake up that early!  I get delusional! 

Really, though, I have been very busy lately.  My life has been a blur of hospitals (not me, my Mom) and doctor's offices (this time, me... and my daughter... and my Mom).  Everyone is doing pretty well now, though.  God is good and I love the (sometimes crazy) life He has given me!

I have found one good thing about hospital waiting rooms.  They give you plenty of knitting time!  I finally finished the giant tote bag!  I lined it and everything.  Not bragging, just really pleased with the way it turned out!

It is, of course, for sale on Etsy... http://www.etsy.com/listing/96051452/knitted-tote-bag-beach-bag-crafting-bag

Here are some pics of it...

Here it is!  Wooden handles and everything!



Here's the lining!  I hand-sewed it.  Don't be too impressed, I was just to lazy to figure out my sewing machine!  :P

 I am currently working on a baby sized Easter hat.  I thought that was a good plan, but then I realized Easter is like, 2 weeks away.  So, maybe someone will buy it next Easter!  :P 

I Took A Shower In My Own House Today!

Aren't you happy for me?! 

We have a shower!  We don't have a whole wall around it yet and for some reason on the new shower handle hot seems to mean cold and cold seems to mean hot, but it doesn't leak and it is actually in my house.  So, I am thrilled! 

Well, with all this construction going on, I haven't had much time to knit.  :(  One of my items was, however, featured in another treasury!  Here is the link: http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTc4MDMwODh8MjIzMzE2NTM3OQ/some-of-my-favorites-1?index=1

My Snowflake Pattern Purse is the item that was featured and the treasury was made by Meagan of Ears To You 2 .

So, I will try to get back to normal life (and hopefully my knitting) and you go check out these links! 

I Get A Shower Today!

Ok, that sounds bad.  I promise, I get a shower pretty much every day, but today I get a new shower!  :)  I will be losing the bathtub, which is a little sad, but we hardly ever use it.  I mean, if it was one of those huge round bathtubs that you can practically swim laps in, I would be sad.  This is just an old tub with rust holes that likes to spew hot water into the basement every time you try to take a shower.  We have to turn the water off to the shower when we aren't using it, then go to the basement, turn on the water (which starts shooting hot water all over you), then run upstairs to take a shower.  I have actually thought about just standing in the basement to try to get clean while the water was on.  It would probably be easier than running back and forth!

So, today we get a new shower.  I am really not a plumbing person.  So, I cannot begin to explain how that's going to happen exactly.  I assume with a lot of banging around, some spewing water and possibly a few choice words coming from the area of the bathroom.  Oh, by the way, did I mention my husband and his father (who is a carpenter) are doing the job.  Yeah, lots of family bonding going on in our house, today! 

In other news, I was featured on two more treasuries! 

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTAxMTMwNjZ8MjIxMDc5OTU5Nw/crafty-sahm-list-2?index=1
This one was made by Jessica at WhimsicalMonkey and features shops from the Crafty SAHM's team.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTEwNDk1NTZ8MjEwNzA3MTcxMQ/clearance-anyone?index=1
This one is by ChicRetro and features all clearance items.

Thanks to both of you! 

Go check out all the great items in both treasuries and these ladies' shops!

Everything Sounds Better With A British Accent...Well, Almost

So, as you may know by now, I am pretty into British things... T.V. shows, movies, books, you name it.  You may have even read about my recent experiment with British pilates!  :)  So, it may be no suprise that I have recently gotten hooked on what I guess is one of the most popular British T.V. shows, ever... Doctor Who. 

I haven't watched the older ones, yet, just the new version (starting with the 9th Doctor).  They have it available instantly on Netflix!  Have I mentioned how much I love Netflix?  It helps geeks like me find all kinds of obscure shows and movies to torture my family with!

Also, I have figured out that everything sounds better with a British accent!  Well, almost anything.  I can't quite imagine John Wayne with a British accent...

"Care for a spot of tea, pilgrim?"  Just doesn't work.  Some things are truly American and I love them, too! 

Anyway, in honor of Doctor Who, I decided to make a treasury on Etsy!  Here it is...

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTY3NDA0NTV8MjIxMzM2NjI3Nw/call-the-doctor

On the knitting front, I have been working on another Shamrock item and then I guess I will need to start knitting for Easter.  Hmmm... any ideas on what kind of knitted items would be good for spring?

Did Alexander the Great Do Pilates?

So, this morning Skinny Pilates Lady told me that I feel great and I am ready to go conquer the world!

Yay me!  I didn't know I wanted to conquer the world.  I also didn't know that pilates could make that happen.

I am just picturing Alexander the Great (because I'm a homeschooling mom and everything is a history lesson) doing pilates with his soldiers...

"Come on, men!  Keep those abs engaged!  Check in with your body.  Is it still there?  Do you have your swords and your war elephants?  Ok, lets go conquer the world!  But first, a nice soothing stretch... ok, now let's go conquer the world!"

Ok, enough with the pilates induced hallucinations, back to the world of knitting...

I have channelled my inner Irishwoman in an attempt to sell something on Etsy for St. Patrick's Day.  It was supposed to be a coffee cozy, but it was a little small.  So, now it is a cell phone/gadget cozy!  :) 

You can find it here.

Have a great day, do some pilates and go conquer the world (it's what Alexander would have done)! 

Noah's Wife and Another Treasury...

So, first off, I'd like to thank Nermin from EarFlapHats for including my Kindle cover in this treasury!

Also, I have been thinking a bit about what life was really like for the people in the Bible.  We have heard so much about the great things they did, but we forget that they were real people.

For example, has your husband ever spent FOREVER on a building project?  Imagine if you were Noah's wife...

Wife: So, Noah, remind me again what you are doing.
Noah: Building an ark, dear.
Wife: And, what is that, exactly?
Noah:It's a big boat, dear.
Wife: Boat... OK.  And, why are we building a boat?
Noah: Remember, Dear, God told me to build it.
Wife: Oh, that's right, God told you to build a boat.  You do realize we don't live anywhere near water, don't you?
Noah: I told you, DEAR, it is going to rain.  A LOT!
Wife: OK, Noah, whatever you say (starts to walk away)
Noah: Oh, and dear...
Wife: Yes, Noah.
Noah: How do you feel about pets?
Wife: PETS?!

:)

Lost? I'm Not Lost!

So, haven't had much time to blog in the last couple days.  I had to go to Columbus yesterday (which is about 2 hours north of here) and on the way back I got on wrong exit and started heading north again!  I knew when it said "north to Cleveland" I was going in the wrong direction!

Like I said, though, I wasn't lost.  I knew exactly where I was, I just knew I wasn't supposed to be there!  I did get a very senic view of Downtown Columbus, though.  Oh, well.

So, this morning I found out one of my items was featured on the Blog "Crafty Saints"!

Thank you so much to the blog's author, Julie.  Here is a link to her Etsy shop, Collar Topia.

Maybe I will sell lots of stuff on Etsy so I can buy myself a GPS!  :P 

 

Guest posts, slippers, and another treasury!

Ok, so first off go read my church's blog, http://www.lakesideworship.com/.  I was a "guest-blogger" today.  That's not why you should go read it.  It is a great blog!  I just wanted to share it. 

So, back to knitting.  I made slippers!  The most comfortable stinkin' slippers, ever!  (Ok, not actually "stinkin'", I hope).  Anyway, here they are...

They came from a book called, "Knitting Pretty" (yes, I actually followed a pattern this time)!  I know it looks like they are made from two different colored yarns, but the yarn is variegated and I haven't mastered the art of (or even attempted) making both slippers have the same pattern.  If you know a trick for that please let me know!

Oh, and of course, I am selling these on Etsy.  Well, not the ones on my feet, I like them too much, so I'm going to keep them!  I will make more, though.  I can make most sizes and colors.  I'm just not sure if I like having pictures of my ankles floating around in cyber-space for all the world to see.  :/  Oh, well.  The slippers are awesome!

Let's see... one more thing.  Another one of my items was featured in an Etsy treasury!  http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTI0MDY2NDR8MjA0MzA4NTU3NA/my-love-for-knitting?index=1

Here is the item that was featured... http://www.etsy.com/listing/91636680/knitted-kindle-cover-with-hand?ref=tre-2043085574-15

And here is the shop of the girl who made the treasury... http://www.etsy.com/shop/StaceyLeighDesigns, her name is Stacey, by the way.

Go check them all out!





Yes Sir, Yes Sir, One Bag Fulled!

Yeah, I know, it is supposed to be 3 bags... and they are supposed to be "full", not "fulled"... and it's actually more of a pouch than a bag... give me a break, its hard to be clever when you have a cold!

The pouch really is "fulled", though.  That's the technical term for what most knitters call "felting".  I guess real felting involves needles and a bunch of other things that just sound like too much work.  So, I "fulled" my little pouch.

Here is the before pic...

See how you can see the stitches fairly well and it was also very floppy and soft (which isn't usually a bad thing with knitted objects).  By the way, I forgot to mention, this is wool.  Fulling doesn't work on acrylic.  So, then I put it in hot water and swished it around for a while.  A long while, actually!  Apparently you can also do this with a washing machine.  Just imagine what happens to your wool sweaters when you wash them in hot water...  My Mom had a wool sweater once when I was 12.  My Dad washed it.   Then, I had a wool sweater just my size.  Enough said. 

I wonder what happens when sheep get too hot?  Anyway, back to my story...

Here is what it looked like after "felting" or "fulling"...

In case you can't see the difference, here are some close-ups...



Before





After

Much fuzzier and thicker.  It also keeps it's shape better.  I sewed a button on it.  By the way, the button and the yarn have a very special story, but you will have to go see the pouch on Etsy to read that!  http://www.etsy.com/listing/91883242/felted-wool-pouch-with-vintage-handmade

And here is the final picture of the little bag "fulled"!

 



http://www.etsy.com/listing/91883242/felted-wool-pouch-with-vintage-handmade

I Like Big Books...

So, something you may not know about me is that I love books.  I mean I REALLY  love books!  I mean, I think it should be a law that every adult that can read English should be able to tell you what Edward's (Rochester, not Cullen) secret was, who Colonel Brandon was (because, let's face it, he was way more interesting than Edward Ferrars) and what exactly a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of.  But, that's just me.  Be thankful I'm not the President!  :)
So, in honor of all of the other crazy book lovers out there, I have found a few awesome links (from Etsy, of course).




http://www.etsy.com/listing/69003826/i-like-big-books-cotton-pillow-cover



http://www.etsy.com/listing/72085375/mr-darcy-i-love-you-most-ardently-pride

Love this bookmark!



http://www.etsy.com/listing/88454243/a-book-commits-suicide-aluminum-bookmark


And this shop has knitted accessories made with literary themes.  Knitting and books!  I have found my home!  



http://www.etsy.com/listing/70817428/lace-fingerless-gloves-mrs-eltons-day

Go check them out, then go read a book!  You never know, I might actually become President!  :P 

Short Post, New Item

I can't type much today...Migraine...Enough said.

I have a new item on Etsy for you to checkout, though.  Free Shipping till Valentine's Day with the coupon code (which you will find when you click on the link ).  Knitted Kindle Cover with Hand Embroidered Heart
Buy it for your sweetheart (or yourself)!



http://www.etsy.com/listing/91636680/knitted-kindle-cover-with-hand

Have a nice weekend!
                                                  

That Which Doesn't Kill You...

So, the old saying goes, "That which doesn't kill you makes you stronger."  Well, I survived another pilates workout and I didn't kill Skinny Pilates Lady (I know she's just on the T.V.), so I guess we are both stronger this morning!

I wonder what it says about, "that which makes your legs feel like they are going to fall off"?  I'm going to go with "makes you stronger".  This has to be doing something!

So, I finished the sad orange furry thing that never became a hat!



 For sale on Etsy, by the way!  http://www.etsy.com/listing/91182988/orange-and-white-furry-headwarmer-cowl

Now I am on to another orange thing that WILL become a hat (I have 2 big skeins of this yarn, I could make a hat for an elephant)!   

I don't know why I have been knitting so much orange stuff lately.  I know this hat is more for fall.  Of course, where I live, you can't tell what season it is.  There was ice everywhere two days ago, now it is getting ready to thunderstorm! 

Speaking of which, I should probably get off this computer!  Bye!

I Fell Off The Wagon...

...The getting up at 5 A.M. wagon, that is. 

I just fell a little, I got up at 10 till 7.  Oh well, at least I'm trying.

I have a funny story about that old saying, though.  One time we were eating with my husband's family.  My husband's family own a farm and we live in a very Appalachian/rural part of Ohio.  All of us except my husband's sister and her family.  She grew up on the farm, but they now live a lot closer to the city.  Which is great, by the way.  When we visit, we pass like 5 malls within 10 miles and a Bass Pro the size of DisneyLand!  My town has a Wal-Mart... really... that's about all.  Yeah, I know, you can tell I'm from the country because the giant Bass Pro was the only store I actually bothered to mention!

So, back to my story.  We were eating with my huband's family and my husband says something about trying to eat healthier or trying to quit doing something, and then he says "but, I fell off the wagon."  My brother-in-law looked really concerned for a minute, then he looks at me (I guess to see if I was laughing about it).  Then he said, "Oh, I was worried for a minute.  You never know down there, when he said he 'fell off the wagon', I thought he actually, 'fell of the wagon'!  I was going to ask if he got hurt!"

I guess that's why country people should be careful with the farm references.  I wonder what everone thought when I told them my in-laws "bought the farm"!

Also, another of my Etsy items was featured in a treasury!  My Floppy Brimmed Baby Hat  was featured in the CAPS Team in Purple Treasury.  This treasury was made by Stephanie at Inspired Greetings and Designs.   Check it out!

Useful Stuff, Funny Stuff And A Big Thank You!

So, I will stop complaining about waking up at 5 A.M.  I think I complain too much anyway.  So, today I will try to focus on some things I actually like (you know like NOT waking up at 5 A.M.  Oops, sorry). 

So you don't know this about me (considering I just started this blog, you don't really know anything about me yet), but I love to can food.  That's right, old school, Mason Jars, rows and rows of green beans in the pantry, the whole bit.  When I see something using Mason Jars, it always grabs my attention.  So, When I saw this   http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/1214820/list/Get-Organized--Easy-DIY-Mason-Jar-Storage, I knew it was something I had to check out!

They found it on a blog that I just happen to follow called http://postroadvintage.com/.  She is a fellow Etsy seller and does some pretty awesome things with Mason Jars.  Go, check it out!

I also found this bit of humor on Etsy last night... http://www.etsy.com/listing/55599416/unattended-children-will-be-given. 

This is also from another Etsy seller, Got Mojo?  http://www.etsy.com/shop/gotmojo?ref=seller_info

Ok, I'm almost done, I just wanted to say thank you to Heather at http://www.etsy.com/shop/EverythingPrecious. 

She featured my "I Heart Valentine's Day Coffee Cup Cozy" in this Treasury on Etsy http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTY4ODU5OTB8MTc5MTMyNzUwNw/i-heart-valentines-day?index=0 . 

So, I think that is all for today!  Go check out these great links!