Currently, top 10 favorite things...

1) Ahh...the smell of fresh cut grass! One of the things I love about Spring

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2) Sweet tea - I have always enjoyed McD's $1 sweet tea, but it just can't compare to the south's sweet tea. Any restaurant in Charlotte carries it and although I don't drink soda, sweet tea is my weakness!

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3) My organized yarn - you have heard me talk about this multiple times before on this blog...I have always wanted to be able to organize my yarn and make it look lovely sitting up on the shelves (just waiting to be used)! :) Well, I have made that happen folks...

 

4) This wine cellar...

5) My new yoga studio and the classes I have been able to take the past few weeks, which have been focused on Baptiste Power Vinyasa yoga!

6) My pups! That's Harley on the left and Rider on the right, participating in their favorite activity..."sun doggin'"

7) New haircut - I frequently get bored with my hair, always needing to change it up (cut it, color it, layer it, etc.). And today was no different...went to my stylist and said to cut it short! I need a change! :) So it is now the shortest it's ever been and I am loving it!!

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8) the LOFT...it has been a year or so now since I was introduced to shopping at Ann Taylor LOFT, but I can without a doubt say that I am now obsessed with their clothes and styles!

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9) Current book I'm reading - it's really good so far!

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10) Lounging poolside - getting some sun, listening to my iPod, reading and relaxing!

Day 7: My knitting and crochet time

Write about your typical crafting time. When it is that you are likely to craft – alone or in more social environments, when watching TV or whilst taking bus journeys. What items do you like to surround yourself with whilst you twirl your hook like a majorette’s baton or work those needles like a skilled set of samurai swords. Do you always have snacks at hand, or are you a strictly ‘no crumbs near my yarn!’ kind of knitter.

Well, I will start off by saying that I don't typically get to knit everyday...although I'd like to. A big reason why I knit is because for me, it is often a stress reliever. Knowing that, it makes sense that after a long day, I would want to knit when I get home or before bedtime. But sometimes if, for example, I'm working on a pattern that takes a bit of brain power, I am just too tired to work on it and opt for some TV time instead. :) With that being said, here are some answers to today's posting topics...

• I do enjoy knitting alone (like I said, to relieve some stress)...but I also enjoy social knitting as well. When I lived in Monterey, I belonged to a knitting/crocheting circle and we met at various restaurants around town. It was something I always looked forward to, because we would get together and talk about all kinds of things...what was going on in our lives, or swoon over the Sunshine Yarns update that week. :) I loved it! And now that I'm in Charlotte, I have also started going to a knitting group everyday Sunday, put on by a LYS closeby. For me right now, it's a great chance to get out of my apt. and meet new people, while getting to practice my hobby and learn new things!
• I...
• DO take my yarn on travel trips (whether in the car, as a passenger of course, or flying)
• DO knit while in line for a *special* midnight movie premier (Jenn...you know I'm talking about Eclipse here!)
• DON'T knit while in line for the grocery store...I have read about how people do this, but honestly, I'm never in line for that long. I feel as though I would no more get my knitting out and ready, and it'd be my turn to check-out.
• Other things I will do while knitting:
• Talk on the phone
• Watch TV
• Watch a movie I've seen a million times, because then I really don't have to pay attention :P
•  Things I will consider having around me when I knit:
• Wine :)
• Big cup of tea

*Well, hope you enjoyed my Knitting & Crochet Blog Week! :) Tune in next year!!

Day 6: Something to aspire to

Is there a pattern or skill that you don’t yet feel ready to tackle but which you hope to (or think you can only dream of) tackling in the future, near or distant? Is there a skill or project that makes your mind boggle at the sheer time, dedication and mastery of the craft? Maybe the skill or pattern is one that you don’t even personally want to make but can stand back and admire those that do. Maybe it is something you think you will never be bothered to actually make bu can admire the result of those that have.

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Day 5: And now for something completely different!

This is an experimental blogging day to try and push your creativity in blogging to the same level that you perhaps push your creativity in the items you create. There are no rules of a topic to blog about but this post should look at a different way to present content on your blog.

Knitting Projects Over the Years...





Day 4: Where are they now?

Write about the fate of a past knitting project. Whether it be something that you crocheted or knitted for yourself or to give to another person. An item that lives with you or something which you sent off to charity.


There are a lot of different aspects to look at when looking back at a knitting project and it can make for interesting blogging, as much of the time we blog about items recently completed, new and freshly completed. It is not so often that we look back at what has happened to these items after they have been around for a while.


How has one of your past knits lived up to wear. Maybe an item has become lost. Maybe you spent weeks knitting your giant-footed dad a pair of socks in bright pink and green stripes which he then ‘lost’. If you have knit items to donate to a good cause, you could reflect on the way in which you hope that item is still doing good for it’s owner or the cause it was made to support.

I've decided to talk about 2 projects or knitted objects and where they are now. One is a scarf that I knitted for myself and have gotten quite a bit of wear out of. The other scarf is one that I knit for a good cause...

(1) Dipped Infinity Scarf (pattern by Laura Chau)

I stumbled upon this pattern because Dani over at Sunshine Yarns (you do realize my obsession by now, right?!) started dyeing yarn for these kits. She has created various color schemes and sold the yarn, along with the pattern, as a kit. I ended up buying the Secret Garden color scheme and I just love the way the colors blend together. The pattern was very easy to master and a quick knit!

I have worn this scarf many a time (although for some reason, I don't have any pics of me wearing it)...it really goes great with a lot of different outfits and it keeps my neck SO warm! Here are some pics of the scarf, which definitely showcase the amazing colors:

What do you think? Aren't the colors gorgeous?! I imagine I will continue to get lots of use out of this one!

(2) Red Heart HeartScarves (designed by Treva McCain)

"HeartScarves provides handmade red scarves to members of our WomenHeart Support Networks and to women undergoing cardiac procedures. The red scarves offer comfort; support and encouragement for any woman with heart disease and become a part of her healing journey. For every kit purchased Red Heart will donate $3 to WomenHeart." ~ Red Heart website

I bought this kit last Spring, knit it up and sent it off with a hand-written note. I really hope it found its way to a woman undergoing cardiac issues and provided some comfort and support to her through the difficult time.  

Day 3: Tidy mind, tidy stitches

How do you keep your yarn wrangling organized? It seems like an easy to answer question at first, but in fact organisation exists on many levels. Maybe you are truly not organized at all, in which case I am personally daring you to try and photograph your stash in whatever locations you can find the individual skeins. However, if you are organized, blog about an aspect of that organisation process, whether that be a particularly neat and tidy knitting bag, a decorative display of your crochet hooks, your organized stash or your project and stash pages on Ravelry.

Unfotunately this post is going to be an epic fail!! :( So, you can see the topic for Day 3 above (and I even checked out the "wildcard" topic to see if I could go with that one instead...but no)...and unfortunately I'm not going to be able to show you how I keep my yarn/knitting organized. Since I just recently moved, I only got to take SOME of my yarn (yes, you can all gasp now), therefore it is literally all in one storage bin. And it's really not even worth showing. The rest of my stash IS coming to me soon though, via the hubby!

I have great plans (someday down the road) of having a fiber room...yes, a whole room dedicated to my yarn, knitting and crafting supplies! I can't wait!!! And I'm hoping to at least get to the point here in my new apt. where I can dedicate an area of the bedroom to my stash (all in neat little bins...maybe, sorted by color)! :) Doesn't it sound lovely?? Like this...

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Haha...okay, so my stash isn't that big, but OMG, it's awesome, isn't it?!

Whenever I do get organized, I'll make sure to re-do this post and showcase it all!

Day 2: Skill + 1UP

Look back over your last year of projects and compare where you are in terms of skill and knowledge of your craft to this time last year. Have you learned any new skills or forms of knitting/crochet (can you crochet cable stitches now where you didn’t even know such things existed last year? Have you recently put a foot in the tiled world of entrelac? Had you even picked up a pair of needles or crochet hook this time last year?

Well, I wouldn't say that I have really increased my skill level(s) much since this time last year. Unfortunately, I've just been moving all over the place this past year, so there was a lot of time in which I haven't been knitting (I know, crazy huh?!). I will note a few things:

• This time last year, I had just begun to learn to crochet...and although I still prefer to knit, I did crochet a few projects and learned a handful of stitches, before I left Monterey. Why you ask before Monterey, well one of my good friends there is an avid crocheter, so I had a go-to person that I could ask a million questions to. :) Thanks Jenn! Pics of a few crochet projects:

Turtle that was given as a baby gift:

Another baby blanket:

• I typically have "single sock syndrome" which means that I have no problem finishing 1 sock, but that second sock always gets me. I get done with the first one and just can't seem to find the motivation to start (let alone, finish) that darn, 2nd sock! ;) So, I learned how to knit socks 2-at-a-time over the past year...but to no surprise, I haven't come anywhere close to finishing the pair! Hehe...

I will say though, that I enjoy this method and I believe that once I pick this project up again, that I will successfully complete 2 socks at the same time and jump for joy! :P (P.S. The socks above are knit with Sunshine Yarn, and for all of you Twilight fans, the colorway is called: Edward's Volvo!! It's so lovely)

Honestly...that's all I got! I know, I feel like a slacker...but I have high hopes for this next year, in terms of learning more skills and gaining knowledge on my craft(s)!! :P Here's a list of things I want to learn:

• Double-knitting
• Intarsia
• Socks - toe up!
• Mastering the...SWEATER!
• Fair isle

***Wish me Luck!***



Day 1: A Tale of Two Yarns

Topic: Part of any fibre enthusiast’s hobby is an appreciation of yarn. Choose two yarns that you have either used, are in your stash or which you yearn after and capture what it is you love or loathe about them.

Well, the first yarn that I am going to talk about has been mentioned MANY times before on this blog. Anyone that has read my knitting/yarn-themed posts, has read about my obsession with Sunshine Yarns!! This yarn is hand-dyed by the super talented Dani and she sure knows how to dye yarn! She uses luscious base yarn (not sure what kind it is) and combines colors that just scream amazing. She also creates themed colorways, such as for characters in the Twilight series (Alice's Porsche, Esme Island, Jasper), Harry Potter series (Lupin, Slytherin Green), Alice and Wonderland (Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter), etc. It's so fun to see her interpretations of these colorways and I always check back for new items that I can't resist! :)

This is just some of my Sunshine Yarns stash!

The second yarn I'm going to mention is a new yarn that I just started working with...Mirasol Sulka. It's 60% Merino Wool/20% Alpaca/20% Silk and it is so lovely to work with!! I am currently making a cowl out of the book Mirasol Mini Knits that I picked up from a LYS. It's so soft, easy to work with, and comes in an array of beautiful colors...I highly recommend picking up some of this for your next project!

Mirasol Sulka in Snow White

Upcoming: Knitting and Crochet Blog Week!

Stay tuned...

 

Current Obsessions

Anniversary flowers from the hubby (my favorites: roses & lilies)

Amazing book...am loving it so far!

New Alpaca yarn from local yarn shop for a new cowl pattern

New bar stools for the apt. from Target

A new friend in my apt...my owl candle holder (I heart anything owls!)

Yummy Middle Sister Moscato wine (they have cute, cute labels)

Surprise Package

I was super excited when I opened up the mailbox yesterday and found a package from one of my good friends, Jenn, over at Piles of Patterns! She has always been so thoughtful and knew just what I needed:

A thoughtful note, yummy Ghirardelli Peppermint Bark & some of my favorite yarn (this one's called "Sunshine Yams")...isn't it gorgeous?! Very pumpkin-y and fallish :) I can't wait to knit something up with it. 

Thanks so much Jenn! You're the best :)

Time for an Update

Well I figured it was time for an update...things have been a little crazy around my neck of the woods. Hopefully they'll calm down here in a few weeks. So here's what's been going on:

• All of our stuff arrived from the movers...I opted to unpack it (when the military moves you, you can have the movers unpack your boxes for you) so that I could go through everything and put things where I wanted them to go. Here's the aftermath of the unpacking:

It was madness I tell you!!

• My mother came to Omaha again to help me unpack...she was a godsend! She is amazing at cleaning and organizing...she did so many loads of laundry and loads in the dishwasher. Thank you MOM! :) Anyway, we got to explore a little bit more around the greater Omaha area...I took her to Garden Ridge (it's one of her favorite stores). If you don't know or haven't ever been to a GR, it's basically a large decor store (frames, mirrors, pictures, pillows, candles, holiday decor, etc....at REALLY good prices)! Plus, we checked out Texas Road House (Mmmm!) and the Nebraska Brewing Company (the beer was awesome, food was so-so...I'm eager to try it again with the hubby).

• I finished a knitted pair of socks...my first ever FINISHED pair of socks! I have attempted 3 other pairs and have yet to finish any of them...I have the '2nd sock syndrome' and just couldn't seem to get over it. But, the knitting group that I was involved with in Monterey had started a sock-a-long (basically a version of a knit-a-long in which a group of knitters start a project together and vow to finish it in a timely manner). The deadline is at the end of September so I'm proud to say that I finished in plenty of time! :) Here they are start to finish:

 I even used some of my yummy Sunshine Yarns yarn that I've been dyeing to work with...this one is called 'Bella'

• The apartment is coming along very nicely...I know I've promised pictures and they are coming. I just want to surprise the hubby when he gets to Omaha, and since he's a follower of the blog, I don't want him to see anything that might ruin the surprise! ;) But, I promise, I can't wait to show you guys what all I've accomplished with it. It's so much more homier than when I first got here and is really starting to come together.

• Speaking of the husband...he is finally done with his training. He left Monterey 6 months ago for some training and other than seeing him a few days in May...it's been a LONG, LONELY, HARD couple of months. He is done and I will be seeing him in a few days...and I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am to see him and for us to be back together. 

• And, I am happy to report that I've been working out pretty regularly. And it feels great! There's a small fitness center in the clubhouse of our apt. complex, so I've been running on the treadmill, riding the bike and working my arms out a bit. I've also been alternating that with running outside about 1-2 miles. I hate running...but I know I should do it and after awhile, it won't be so hard!

That's about it for now...just mainly working, watching TV (I think DVR is the greatest invention ever...this is my first time having it), and hanging out with the pups. Happy Hump Day!