tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31548150761681965812024-02-19T03:48:37.720-05:00KnitSpiffyLivvyLove narrates her adventures in the fiber arts.LivvyLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073959598134976231noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154815076168196581.post-45670818694166241552011-09-07T08:20:00.000-04:002011-09-07T08:20:16.881-04:00Happy Belated Labor DayI know, I know, I'm a little late with this post. Super Sock Sunday on a Tuesday? What am I thinking?! Well I've had a poo-ey week. JB left for his big fishing trip and I had a whole 6 six days of knitting and quilting and studying planned. Things just never work out as planned though. Literally the moment he left, I got sick. I spent a couple days coughing and sneezing before visiting the doctor, who told me that I have bronchitis. Fun. I called off work 2 days in a row and got nothing done all week. JB returned home last night. So much for my productive week. :(<br />
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So since I don't have much to show you, I will simply update you on those Fisherman Socks I sent to Seattle with JB.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5z-017B9wFel_DNpWRIv4rfbpCZtqpt4jnAGIDogalE_KQ41C4a_skusbPwbrNaoiGSz1v2xxy2yxPZlYZLX7-u0vdY_fGoaImzSDyjdV6lbehpvYD9X7n5Aehun52e0Pxd5FyZCe1pVd/s1600/socksonleopard.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5z-017B9wFel_DNpWRIv4rfbpCZtqpt4jnAGIDogalE_KQ41C4a_skusbPwbrNaoiGSz1v2xxy2yxPZlYZLX7-u0vdY_fGoaImzSDyjdV6lbehpvYD9X7n5Aehun52e0Pxd5FyZCe1pVd/s320/socksonleopard.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br />
Here are the completed socks on my new wooden sock blockers! I finished these last week and just haven't gotten around to posting about them. If you'll notice, the one sock has 2 stripes and the other only 1. What's up with that? Well the true, honest answer is that I ran out of light gray yarn. For those of you wondering what the heck the leapord thing in the background is...thats my couch. I was just too lazy to find a better spot for a photo.<br />
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And thats all! Bad Olivia. But I'm siiiiiiiiick. Stop it. But I caaaaaaaaaaaaaan't. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41rpLcKEw4yDBNGpK_KgDHbHowwM-eh0G-mYBr5xwZ6aPME75wCivo5gLAL8n9Ejbrh_FAhAIeO7RHywjQvow8WxPotOB0SVaEK4B_n7UVMcvkrSuOVEFcN-hjC66EMjyX0Foqtg5c61d/s1600/Nookie+in+a+bag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41rpLcKEw4yDBNGpK_KgDHbHowwM-eh0G-mYBr5xwZ6aPME75wCivo5gLAL8n9Ejbrh_FAhAIeO7RHywjQvow8WxPotOB0SVaEK4B_n7UVMcvkrSuOVEFcN-hjC66EMjyX0Foqtg5c61d/s320/Nookie+in+a+bag.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Snookie wants her momma to spare you all her whineyness and go back to homework. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I will do some extra S.S.S. work this week to make up for Sunday! Bye bye!</div>LivvyLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073959598134976231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154815076168196581.post-87845102202637865192011-08-28T21:12:00.000-04:002011-08-28T21:12:36.845-04:00So close!Hi everyone! First of all I just want to say that I hope all my my New England area readers are staying safe during all this awful weather we've been having. If you've battened down the hatches and stockpiled your bottled water and candles it makes for a good time to knit! Always optomistic right? Anyways I thought I should update you guys on my S.S.S. progress. I really have been knitting! I swear it!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmatOKI927hVGdHw0wXEJ5426D3aH3RT0T-ocfoFSD0s58cL6diR_tdfIdxNGzyKtCzk2mJisuW9c2e3Czq63oG17czOmNvFCG06hq3x5VHMIE7FyG-e05-8zPpPdOo8hji9V_lKLAMlg_/s1600/socks2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmatOKI927hVGdHw0wXEJ5426D3aH3RT0T-ocfoFSD0s58cL6diR_tdfIdxNGzyKtCzk2mJisuW9c2e3Czq63oG17czOmNvFCG06hq3x5VHMIE7FyG-e05-8zPpPdOo8hji9V_lKLAMlg_/s400/socks2" width="400" /></a></div><br />
See! I'm almost done with my first pair! I'm kind of on a deadline with these though, since they will be flying across the country with JB next week. The first sock got finished on Tuesday or Wednesday 2 weeks ago and I waited until last Sunday to start the second one. I used every last inch of the yarn divided for the first sock so I'm getting nervous as I get towards the end. I should have exactly enough if my cats didn't secretly rip a chunk off and hide it while I wasn't looking. Simba and Snooks have been known to do that. They also like to chew my skeins in half. I'll be knitting along happily, thinking I have one big ball of yarn and then all of a sudden there is like 3 inches on a piece that was blending into the rest of the ball! Oh no! Who likes to piece together 50 million scraps of the same yarn in just one project? Not me. <br />
I'm going to try and do those blueberry waffle socks next, but I can't guarentee I will love that pattern for my cobblestone varegated yarn. We'll see how that goes. I'm still working on those 2 shawls and my adirondack socks during the week. They are really going much slower than I expected, but will eventually get done. I promise.LivvyLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073959598134976231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154815076168196581.post-31184809025984791992011-08-17T12:14:00.001-04:002011-08-17T12:14:49.286-04:00Sock 1The alpaca socks I began for Super Sock Sunday are coming right along. While JB has been interrupting my "Say Yes To The Dress" addiction with football, I've been diligently knitting these socks. He is flying to Seattle in September for a big fishing trip and I'm knitting like crazy to get these socks done before he leaves. The fruits of my labor are beginning to show. I finished the first of the socks last night. I ran into some difficulties yesterday afternoon though. I got about an inch up the cuff of the sock when I realized I was just not going to have enough yarn to complete my project. I bought the yarn over a year ago in Manhattan at Purl Soho and there was just no way I was ever going to find the same yarn in the right color ever again. One trip to my LYS and I had a solution. its a chunky baby alpaca yarn in a darker almost black gray. I got a little creative and worked the color change in so that I doesn't look like I just ran out of yarn.<br />
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Check out the pre-blocking Fisherman's socks.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4hOTii_JFV_FZNJL_QrWn273Ckn1YIb5p71S0H1JJW5ocVSHOtgbkUlxETKsLTOMCBzvomvDqBHFkjBD1QL1NT1OhAn1msgJ0rvsVLlUhA5rZm1FR_wOwOpMy9qdv37ji7zrG1ko92Sl9/s1600/alpacasocks1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4hOTii_JFV_FZNJL_QrWn273Ckn1YIb5p71S0H1JJW5ocVSHOtgbkUlxETKsLTOMCBzvomvDqBHFkjBD1QL1NT1OhAn1msgJ0rvsVLlUhA5rZm1FR_wOwOpMy9qdv37ji7zrG1ko92Sl9/s400/alpacasocks1" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The new darker yarn worked very well and it looks almost as though I meant to do it all the long! I'm excited to get started on the next one and get these finished! These will be perfect for a chilly romp in the icy mountain streams of Seattle, Washington in September.<br />
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But who can go to the yarn store and only buy 1 skein of yarn? Obviously not me. I found some wonderful yarn that was just screaming to become a part of Super Sock Sundays. And I also found some other yarn that was pretty pretty but I have no plans for it at the moment. It will get used eventually! Since my yarn stash has been severely depleted over the last couple months JB has given me permission to buy a FEW more skeins.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2fQ4vY6AVo9g1-fz4_LqK6hPa0WHB3vQmnC1zb62aJwfJn96lu0z3S8n0dJkuDSxWOrGkB5CeX2AOYIkGfcBECeBgNQ71atQOQDKNTAs20l85uDyAsllDUTGy2yiGynun0DKl8UckRV9Z/s1600/cobblestonewool" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2fQ4vY6AVo9g1-fz4_LqK6hPa0WHB3vQmnC1zb62aJwfJn96lu0z3S8n0dJkuDSxWOrGkB5CeX2AOYIkGfcBECeBgNQ71atQOQDKNTAs20l85uDyAsllDUTGy2yiGynun0DKl8UckRV9Z/s400/cobblestonewool" width="400" /></a></div><br />
This is the Cobblestone sock yarn. Its this gorgeous mix of greens and yellows and oranges. I can't wait to make this into socks next week! You can see Simba peeking out from behind my leopard print couch! Hes been enjoying my pink craft corner just as much as I have.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vXMNNwIkKKYgdi-0eqaDJ3BMj86BQQ_mUSNxtJiZEnTYKBo26lRAVpjAQcxoPCYGhJ2nsXZ6bFwU0bFihcvgxXIbuDHsImhJaIAiPu1TgsORthWa6xW-CNYxiHfnK5L6IHBne1zZ5Yig/s1600/simbacubby" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vXMNNwIkKKYgdi-0eqaDJ3BMj86BQQ_mUSNxtJiZEnTYKBo26lRAVpjAQcxoPCYGhJ2nsXZ6bFwU0bFihcvgxXIbuDHsImhJaIAiPu1TgsORthWa6xW-CNYxiHfnK5L6IHBne1zZ5Yig/s320/simbacubby" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My second last purchase was the Lion Brand Amazing yarn. Its variegated so beautifully but I have no idea what I'm going to make with it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQ58691J08yqydLbN4q115fsxwH4bqKQylX5ICA7tPkW3N5ppmoeX6OGyz-vqLICb9FLJ4yO4IKCe3WsM8qRD0nWHyuIi9fHM2b2Z_b2U6Y8bYFzM0fh21N2eM2CtOdeeML6gH3hTRYqt/s1600/LBamazingyarn" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQ58691J08yqydLbN4q115fsxwH4bqKQylX5ICA7tPkW3N5ppmoeX6OGyz-vqLICb9FLJ4yO4IKCe3WsM8qRD0nWHyuIi9fHM2b2Z_b2U6Y8bYFzM0fh21N2eM2CtOdeeML6gH3hTRYqt/s400/LBamazingyarn" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>On another topic, I've been reading The Yarnarian's blog where she has been on a sewing kick for weeks (months?). Shes made the cutest quilts and doll clothing ever and I'm jealous. Really really jealous. She posted a picture of <a href="http://theyarnarian.blogspot.com/2011/08/my-first-block.html">"The Farmer's Wife Quilt"</a> that she's making, and I just couldn't stand it anymore. I had to make one of my own. I took a trip to a local fabric store and with her picture on my phone and went to picking out fabric of my own.<br />
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And this is what I came back with! Its not exactly the same colors she used, but I think they have the same feel. The white has little silver sparkles embedded in the fabric. The color scheme is subtle and quaint but the sparkles give it a little bit of flare that is reminiscent of me.<br />
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I've only got a few hours today before work, but I'm going to try to piece together a few blocks of this quilt. Maybe I'll just get it all cut out.<br />
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LivvyLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073959598134976231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154815076168196581.post-70439760127997636672011-08-15T16:07:00.002-04:002011-08-17T12:16:22.661-04:00S.S.S. Kick Off! Yesterday was the first day of the 201l Super Sock Sunday KAL! I bet your wondering, "but you did all that work on your craft room yesterday! How could you have done any sock knitting? Glitter paint is time consuming!" Well my friends, you would be right. Glitter paint is indeed time consuming. And my white cubey shelf thing took me and my construction impaired self hours to assemble. However! I did fit some S.S.S. knitting in there! I'm so proud of myself! What excellent time management! <br />
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For the first gameday sock I'm doing sort of an original pattern. Sort of. Its more of a mash up between several different patterns in order to meet the needs of the wearer. JB is going on a fishing trip to Seattle, WA in about 2 weeks and has been begging for a pair of fishing socks for months. I'm using a natural gray shade of baby alpaca chunky yarn by Cascade Yarns in a toe up sock pattern. JB wants to wear these under his waders and needed a thick, warm sock. When I showed him patterns he noticed that most did not have a flat or unpatterned toe that came up far enough on the sock. Apparently his boots have a seam or something across the foot about 2.5 inches back from the toe that would make ribbing or a raised pattern there uncomfortable.<br />
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You can find my pattern here. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.docstoc.com/docs/90167601/Fisherman-Socks-Pattern">Fisherman Socks Pattern</a></span><br />
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</script>LivvyLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073959598134976231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154815076168196581.post-10009013695331951992011-08-14T21:15:00.000-04:002011-08-14T21:15:36.876-04:00My Completed Craft Room!Today was the first full day off I've had in a while and I seriously took advantage of it! I FINISHED, 100% completed, totally done my craft room!<br />
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I painted the walls Hollyhock Pink by Martha Stewart and then used her Pink Luster sparkle paint on top. Now a corner of my house is bright and happy, sparkle pink! I'm so excited and I love it to pieces!<br />
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Its done! Yay! I can't wait to start classes now! I'm gonna be able to sit at my cool ironing board desk and do my homework or work on my quilt or do my scrapbooking! I like to knit while I'm all cozied up on the couch, but everything else is meant for deskwork!<br />
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LivvyLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073959598134976231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154815076168196581.post-32480348079363810602011-08-07T09:08:00.000-04:002011-08-08T09:11:36.527-04:00Super Sock Sunday 2011 Another football season is rolling around and my Sunday's will soon be filled with football parties and game day potlucks at friend's houses. I've never been a huge fan of football, but JB is and we tend to do lots of entertaining this time of year. I can get into the spirit of it all pretty easily but it helps if I've got some knitting to get excited about too. For the last 2 years socks have been the perfect game day project. They are small and easy to carry, only need about 1 ball of yarn, and don't require a lot of counting and complicated pattern stitches. Start a few top down socks on small circs and you're well on your way to participating in Super Sock Sunday! The rules are simple. You can knit along with me or choose your own pattern. Super Sock Sunday 2011 will start August 14th and continue every Sunday through the end of the football season at the conclusion of the Super Bowl. Usually I knit Sunday nights with out fail because JB always has the game on, but if the Steelers play during the week JB and I and often a few friends are cheering them on (and knitting up the heel flap of my latest sock). Its quite a productive way to keep yourself busy. Cheer on your team and add some warm, fuzzy socks to your drawer. <br />
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Here is my queue for Super Sock Sunday 2011. There is no particular time line for finishing each project. Just get as many as you can done before the Super Bowl. I try to stay away from a lot of colorwork with my selections so I don't have to drag around too many balls of yarn with me.<br />
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<div align="center">1. Blueberry Waffle Socks</div><div align="center">By: Sandy Turner</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img class="photo_image" id="photo_image_10425056" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4066/4210895156_95a6fcb48e_z.jpg" /></div><div align="center">You can find the pattern for free <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20080324044632/http://www.knitlist.com/98gift/blueberrysocks.htm">here</a>. It is also available from Ravelry.</div><div align="center">I knit these socks every year and they are always my favorite. This year they are at the top of the list.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">2. Hello Sunshine Socks</div><div align="center">By: Faili</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img class="photo_image" height="267" id="photo_image_11277500" src="http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/Failli/27340713/DSC_0036_medium2.JPG" width="400" /></div><div align="center">The free pattern is available <a href="https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0Bw_ZBNVTM7tYNDYwZjlmMWYtZThjNC00OTMzLTkxYjUtNGFkNTkwZTBhOGYx&hl=en&pli=1">here.</a> </div><div align="center">These are another easy to knit sock that comes out really cute.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">3. Mr. Pitt's Socks</div><div align="center">By: Kaitlyn Wong</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img class="photo_image" id="photo_image_15729907" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5253/5442661285_2f02602cd0_z.jpg" /></div><div align="center">The pattern can be found <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090428202144/http://www.greatwhitewong.com/sassystitchess/patterns/mr-pitts-socks/">here.</a></div><div align="center">These are great guy socks. JB will love them and maybe even not pester me about knitting instead of watching the game while I make these.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">4. Little Arrow Socks</div><div align="center">By: Susan Brugger<br />
</div><div align="center"><img class="photo_image" height="354" id="photo_image_7154768" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3555/3669240978_78ba2c397c_z.jpg" width="400" /></div><div align="center">You can grab the pattern <a href="http://www.sheepishhandknits.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/LITTLE_ARROW_SOCKS.186134126.pdf">here</a> fore free.</div><div align="left">Thats a pretty good start! I'm gonna try and wrap up both of my shawls this month too! Its time to finish some of these projects!</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Send me a comment if you want to knit along with me! You will be entered into all the August giveaways!</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">-LivvyLove!</div><div align="center"></div>LivvyLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073959598134976231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154815076168196581.post-37723109598786580332011-08-06T10:00:00.001-04:002011-08-06T12:33:30.220-04:00"Dear Knits" Needle EnvelopeSince I got my sewing machine in December I havn't posted much about it. The last needle roll up I made was getting a little tattered and didn't even come close to holding all my needles. It's time for a new one. With this new design I had some things to consider. I needed something sturdy that I can tote around with me me. I use more circular needles and DPNs than anything else, the last organizer was really only meant for straight needles. I have a few favorite needles that get used all the time so I don't really need to bring all my needles with me all the time. My least favorite thing about the wrap I made last time were the pockets. You would get all your needles snuggled in with the wrap laying flat and then when you rolled it up, you had to do it just right or the taller needles would flop out the side. This time, I decided a wrap just wasn't for me. This is what I came up with.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I call it the "Dear Knits" Needle Envelope. Its a prototype and I think I'll make a more quality version this weekend, but I am very happy with the design. For this one I played around with different seam allowances and styles, a little bit of decorative stitching and some different quilting ideas.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4d10P1VmJ6FGUSPh8nghmgWcullaOpiBsnXF4mreeHUaLpLDLWLYJTzIPsh0fIj-TtRL7Q0bT7kqMmDkrjyXcg1hZl_LuSwS6YfHaCNMs0UBGbqsmN34LiAy8OTd8Bs5Z6yh4mOJK5FS/s1600/NeedleHolder2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4d10P1VmJ6FGUSPh8nghmgWcullaOpiBsnXF4mreeHUaLpLDLWLYJTzIPsh0fIj-TtRL7Q0bT7kqMmDkrjyXcg1hZl_LuSwS6YfHaCNMs0UBGbqsmN34LiAy8OTd8Bs5Z6yh4mOJK5FS/s320/NeedleHolder2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The "envelope" will close securely with velcro in the finished version. The button is pureley decorative, sewn on with some fancy silver thread. <br />
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Here is the envelope unfolded. There are 8 pockets for DPNs, and 4 pockets for circular needles. Some changes I will be making include the height of the pockets. They should be deep enough so that you cannot see the average DPN sticking over the top. The back circular needle pockets are shorter than the front ones so that you can easily store and find smaller lengths (8-16 inch).<br />
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</div>The whole envelope is padded with extra stiff batting and all the seams (with the exception of the decorative edging) are double stitched for durability. This design seems to be really sturdy. The way I have been carrying it around is to close it up and fold it in half. I think I may put snaps on the back to accommodate that. The finished product will also have the Knit Spiffy logo on the little ribbon tag at the top. They should be up on etsy some time next week.<br />
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</div>LivvyLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073959598134976231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154815076168196581.post-46982302926366308942011-08-05T11:56:00.000-04:002011-08-05T11:56:29.138-04:00Catch UpSo it's been a little while since I last updated everyone on my projects. I thought today would be a wonderful time to do just that!<br />
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We'll start with the Knitting Like Crazy Knit Along Shawl. I started it what seems like forever ago and am nearing the finish line! I literally have like 15 rows to go. With all that's been going on this summer all of my projects have been coming along at a snails pace. Wednesday I got stopped halfway through a row (this basically killed me) so now the whole thing is in a jumbled mess. Its not REALLY a mess but i sure looks like one. At least I had time to mark where on the pattern I stopped. The whole shawl looks really tiny on the needles but I've been playing around with the fabric as I've been making it and found it to be very stretchy. I think once I get it blocked it will more than double it's current size. I can't wait to finish it. I haven't decided if I'll keep it or give it away yet but I'm super looking forward to freeing up those wonderful Signature Needle Arts circs and starting another lacey shawl. They are TONS of fun to knit.<br />
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This picture does the shawl no justice. The Color is off and it just looks messy. I really debated just not putting it up, but I wanted you to see that I have actually made a little teeny bit of progress! Besides, you'll get to see the whole thing when it is done in all of its green lacey splendor.<br />
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Well what about the Vernal Equinox shawl, you ask. We haven't seen that in a while! Well it seems like whenever I sit down to knit 15 minuets goes by and something comes up. For example, last night, I had just pulled out my needles and the VE shawl and two rows were knit, I was just beginning the 3rd and Simba threw up all over the kitchen floor (gross.) :( so knitting went away and I got to cleaning. Then after I cleaned up the kitchen JB got home and was groaning about dinner. Dinner made and then I thought I would have the rest of the evening to work on this shawl. That fantasy was quickly interrupted with a phone call from my mother, and then an e-mail from my best friend and then packing my lunch for the next day. Before I knew it, midnight had rolled around. Lately it seems I've been getting most of my knitting done at work. Probably because its heavily air conditioned there (almost chilly actually!) and working with yarn is pleasant. At home, our little air conditioner could run all day long and there is no guarantee it will be any cooler inside than it is out. In fact some days its actually hotter in the house than it is outside! The VE shawl is shaping up to be a large project. Its gotten to the point that I can no longer keep it in my purse all day long, dragging it from place to place. The VE shawl as of the middle of July has been banished to the strictly at home knitting pile. Because of this I don't have it with me to take a picture of it now. I'll make an effort to post an update for it this weekend.<br />
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Lets have a chat about my yarn stash. If you recall a few months ago I posted in regards to the reprimand JB gave me over my yarn. "You are forbidden from bringing another inch of yarn home until you have used most of what you have!" And I promised I wouldn't buy any more until I used up a good portion of my stash. So, as promised I have been knitting away all summer with yarn from the pile. I made a whole pile of dishcloths which used up all but 2 of my Sugar n' Cream balls. I'm more than half way done with the VE shawl (There were 4 skeins of yellow for that, I'm on the 3rd now). I'm so close to finishing the Knitting Like Crazy KAL shawl that I can taste it! Those 2 skeins of lace baby alpaca are just about gone. I have also started crocheting that giant granny square baby blanket which has knocked out 3 skeins of Lion Brand's classic cotton. And last but not least, a crocheted lap top cover which I finished months ago but still haven't found the right button for. Some day I'll find it and post pictures. With all of that, a big portion of my stash has been eradicated. I was so proud of myself for sticking to it when suddenly.....disaster struck. I got the sock bug and I found a pattern I just couldn't live with out. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjynfI90o_jG31Ee82IbtcWxecWoL0YyteZFcZ3Wnxf6iUZA5m4W_utcD61o_Bpp8aCoyDS6sr8Cpxn8MWDjl9YsoKrtiV7SlD4zjWIlLzpVLcNOA7rBtQ0b0QsKTNDFjH_btluNzbT9tHR/s1600/SN0122_project_medium2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjynfI90o_jG31Ee82IbtcWxecWoL0YyteZFcZ3Wnxf6iUZA5m4W_utcD61o_Bpp8aCoyDS6sr8Cpxn8MWDjl9YsoKrtiV7SlD4zjWIlLzpVLcNOA7rBtQ0b0QsKTNDFjH_btluNzbT9tHR/s320/SN0122_project_medium2.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
Stitch Nation's Adirondack Slipper Sock. They are beautifully knit and have a leather sole at the bottom sewn on. I can just picture myself wearing these to class on an October morning with some heavy tights and a big soft hoody. Right then and there I knew these were meant to be mine. So, since I couldn't help myself I went to A.C. Moore (where I had a coupon for $10 off a purchase!) and bought the supplies. 4 skeins of Stitch Nation's Full o' Sheep in Passionfruit, Thyme, Clementine, and Aquamarine. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVM4fow4UuJ9EmAk2oPRZAkbLyeN7RHpUI8h9jUnH7K_D7IUo4Wtdvv7PQoqCuVGRyZ8UBC79-HW6Qr_s5AWi6Y-GFn3DK6yOvfNAiXhWu_8Kn_W7n3I6KkGS0sZBCRf56YPUw37l3qoJX/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVM4fow4UuJ9EmAk2oPRZAkbLyeN7RHpUI8h9jUnH7K_D7IUo4Wtdvv7PQoqCuVGRyZ8UBC79-HW6Qr_s5AWi6Y-GFn3DK6yOvfNAiXhWu_8Kn_W7n3I6KkGS0sZBCRf56YPUw37l3qoJX/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Note that that pattern actually called for Hazelnut (a darker green than I used for the cuff) but A.C. Moore was out of the color. So I substituted! I figured I would just use Thyme for the cuff and substitute the Thyme in the pattern with Aquamarine. There isn't a whole lot of it used anyways! While I was knitting the ribbed cuff I was happy with my decision. However....<br />
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In the midst of moping about because of this color situation my focus drifted to another on going project. Re-doing my craft room! I'm not sure "re-do" is the right word for it. I really didn't have a craft room before (and frankly the word room is an exaggeration too. Its more like a corner.) just a pile of craft stuff in my sunroom and supplies all over the house. Several weeks ago I resolved to make an official craft space in my sunroom with a desk and shelves and the whole deal. I was able to justify this to JB by explaining that it would double as an area to do my school work and I would get all my crafty stuff off the floor. Since then I have cleaned the sunroom top to bottom and rounded up all my crafty stuff and began the search for the perfect storage pieces. Up to yesterday I had found a chair. Its a cute chair! I painted it white and reupholstered the seat with some pretty fabric. The whole thing cost me under $10. Yesterday however I stumbled across the perfect desk. I wanted something unconventional and unique, but also sturdy, cheap, and functional. An antique wood ironing board actually found me at the thrift store yesterday. It was hanging folded up on the wall and I was about to walk right past it. As I was passing the stars aligned and the universe sang and this ironing board opened up and bumped me in the head. I pulled it off the wall, stood it up and fell in love. Its made out of natural oak, no stain or paint to be found.<br />
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<strong>Me:</strong> "What a perfect desk you will make!" <br />
<strong>Ironing Board:</strong> "Why thank you, you can take me home now."<br />
<strong>Shop Keeper:</strong> $10 please.<br />
<strong>Me:</strong> "Woot!"<br />
<strong>Ironing Board:</strong> "I will also fit in your tiny car."<br />
<strong>Shop Keeper:</strong> "Thank you!"<br />
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So maybe I exaggerated that a little. The ironing board really did speak to me, metaphorically though. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8i4sJ7jVtnUDr4y8Z9wvYIIFdjVMSMdaijTgobRIhVLPTaPbo8YZanZmJ6Yz_iZhMUVcOKSrQUW43AI9fUWE3Rgz8TJTsi73MhgZTQiMICq-_51TkzRhw1MGE9h-SiN2lHAsUh9_P8Tg3/s1600/IMG_6955-499x339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8i4sJ7jVtnUDr4y8Z9wvYIIFdjVMSMdaijTgobRIhVLPTaPbo8YZanZmJ6Yz_iZhMUVcOKSrQUW43AI9fUWE3Rgz8TJTsi73MhgZTQiMICq-_51TkzRhw1MGE9h-SiN2lHAsUh9_P8Tg3/s320/IMG_6955-499x339.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Note: I did not take this picture. But this is exactly what my ironing board looks like)</span></div><br />
I'm thinking about painting the legs white, but I haven't committed to the decision yet. It's still in my car right now, I dawdled around all yesterday evening and just haven't gotten around to putting it up. My next mission will be to find a shelving unit with cubbies or something similar. The room is a disaster right now, so I won't post anything until I'm done with it.<br />
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I'm crazy excited about this ironing board. I can't seem to find any store that carries the Hazelnut color in Full o' Sheep and I'm nearing the end of my stash busting journey. It's been a good week.LivvyLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073959598134976231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154815076168196581.post-41537513045814016762011-07-10T12:50:00.001-04:002011-07-10T12:53:53.252-04:00Tour De Fleece Its day 8 of the Tour De Fleece and the teams are well on their way to spinning through their fiber piles. This year I'm spinning for the Lantern Rouge team. Its the team for people that are too lazy/busy/tired to spin everyday. I fit in here well. I've been preoccupied with lots of other things so my spinning has been coming along slowly.<br />
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When I was first learning to spin, this video helped a lot. Megan from theartofmegan.com gives a pretty good demonstration of spinning with a drop spindle, and sprinkles her video with some really good tips. This is a great video to start with for anyone interested in learning to spin.<br />
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3 years ago when I first fell in love with spinning I found, what I thought would be my perfect drop spindle on etsy. Jumping ahead to today, I still love my little stained glass spindle, but am ready for an upgrade. This time I'm looking for something a little bigger and a little heavier. I have found that I prefer to spin lace weight threads during the summer (and most of the tour) but as the days grow cooler my yarns get bulkier and my tiny spindle is quickly overwhelmed. Etsy is a great place to find some really unique and reasonably priced tools and is usually the first place I look for new toys.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5ABn_S95W8T5oJoNYogthFqaTcbuyCBv4RvkTQA5A3DSJDJhKKl7rbZoSs7f6B3TnPnpV4YGNr94h3P2mfp-Az1sNiPiBca_4RlHfYtQJbQFs9g8GCnQ5cFvNxhsTHjRgIcWy15epzrq/s1600/IMG_0166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5ABn_S95W8T5oJoNYogthFqaTcbuyCBv4RvkTQA5A3DSJDJhKKl7rbZoSs7f6B3TnPnpV4YGNr94h3P2mfp-Az1sNiPiBca_4RlHfYtQJbQFs9g8GCnQ5cFvNxhsTHjRgIcWy15epzrq/s320/IMG_0166.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>This is what I've got on tap for the rest of the tour. The two colored braids are both 100% merino and the white one is bamboo top. I had so much fun spinning bamboo top during last years tour I bought another 8 oz.<br />
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Some tips for spinning bamboo top:<br />
<ul><li> Lay a blanket or towel down in the area where you sit while you spin. The fibers get all over everything really fast and it takes several round of vigorous vacuuming to get rid of it all. Its much easier to just have a towel over you lap. When your done just scoop up what you can by running your hands over the fabric and toss the towel in the wash. Just make sure not to put anything important in the machine with it. You'll have bamboo fibers all over your clothes forever.</li>
<li> Use a thinner strand of fiber than you would for most other fibers. Bamboo top is very dense and you may find that even after its been drafted a couple times, your yarn is still too thick. </li>
<li> Break up your fiber into short lengths. I find that, unlike merino or other wools, bamboo top will break easily and get tangled. Shorter lengths of fiber have been very helpful in preventing this.</li>
</ul>When your done spinning, bamboo top will give you a beautiful, silky yarn that is very very strong. The finished product plies easily and dyes very well. When you do dye it, just keep in mind the density of your strand. For me, my bamboo yarn is usually pretty heavy so I allow some extra time for the yarn to soak up the color. Give bamboo some extra time to dry too. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhoZXlCyJl4d97tj5GFQWM-oKbpzBbehpAw1W7vaCfyr4Fi3zP08Nz1JibKgjOmW17GdaEzCnSEKbdZY8x8p3ArWIRwuaIStKfya5bNwkH34GQHmdw4M5CkEf1oJjFWS2KL4zM7vjcNqF/s1600/IMG_0169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhoZXlCyJl4d97tj5GFQWM-oKbpzBbehpAw1W7vaCfyr4Fi3zP08Nz1JibKgjOmW17GdaEzCnSEKbdZY8x8p3ArWIRwuaIStKfya5bNwkH34GQHmdw4M5CkEf1oJjFWS2KL4zM7vjcNqF/s320/IMG_0169.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Merino is usually pretty easy to spin. I'm sure most of you have spun merino at some point and as you know, its typically very manageable and takes color very well.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaRw8ddifjhISdG_6-Ux5ZwYRqkfO6kIlQOOkF4p_7GQ74_GP4oo56e_LyCm3d4uisj8bKLR9uv8zI8anzbvUzZhGJWTuI8bFEADqXUdmi9zM1zLZdHLUGNtqCU_vrtVOkWOhgc5Tp_GRm/s1600/IMG_0168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaRw8ddifjhISdG_6-Ux5ZwYRqkfO6kIlQOOkF4p_7GQ74_GP4oo56e_LyCm3d4uisj8bKLR9uv8zI8anzbvUzZhGJWTuI8bFEADqXUdmi9zM1zLZdHLUGNtqCU_vrtVOkWOhgc5Tp_GRm/s320/IMG_0168.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
Both of these colored braids were etsy finds. I think I talked about them in an earlier post. I love the coloring in both of them. I can't wait to really get into spinning these. I think I'll do an official spinning tutorial sometime in the coming week.LivvyLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073959598134976231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154815076168196581.post-19221452348739462862011-07-08T16:51:00.000-04:002011-07-08T16:51:25.847-04:00Back to work!I know its been a while since I posted, but I promise I've been busy. I had lots of family visit over the holiday and got to spend some serious time with them all. I guess we'll start with the 4th of July and go backwards.<br />
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My 4th of July crafts were these beautiful spray painted candle holders. I saw them on Martha Stewart's website and just fell in love with them.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-sqwKuk9snOgmjnQ_BkRCb_2A4sPMsDqziRLL7EwCIzbPRzOZeQnvin9m8SoL_v6GZ7mhzBa7UziL-bScMrNGnruI8Gi5oKBmkNdWRQSwkkgo36pZVOUBLvbdLO5bU0vB03rsRNlJLMRW/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-sqwKuk9snOgmjnQ_BkRCb_2A4sPMsDqziRLL7EwCIzbPRzOZeQnvin9m8SoL_v6GZ7mhzBa7UziL-bScMrNGnruI8Gi5oKBmkNdWRQSwkkgo36pZVOUBLvbdLO5bU0vB03rsRNlJLMRW/s400/photo.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>I took a quick trip to Wal Mart and picked up some clear mason jars, flat red exterior spray paint and some star stickers. JB thought I was crazy, but I trust Martha to hook me up with some ingenious holiday crafts.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDK4ji0qo6VuTU5K_wUxHpBciMtelBX3ShdJkXvbj9BRH9wlJ40BAPn9vRJPicYYQ-nWGEN403zmOUL0olNmwIIX4Ci2wGl1VuoHPTGhNgHO26Hv0L2UGIKJeYYHerkWh87foIN5Yq8ynF/s1600/photo%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDK4ji0qo6VuTU5K_wUxHpBciMtelBX3ShdJkXvbj9BRH9wlJ40BAPn9vRJPicYYQ-nWGEN403zmOUL0olNmwIIX4Ci2wGl1VuoHPTGhNgHO26Hv0L2UGIKJeYYHerkWh87foIN5Yq8ynF/s400/photo%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>I stuck the star stickers on the jars in a random arrangement. I found out later that the best results came from the stars I gave a little extra attention and made sure they were stuck down really really well.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEintwlSeJ7wW4P3VoDvRHEL1MCKC7IUfM-hnOeQyVUTLRRmo2f_iaZwWPMHietp0jJn1kCt-660eTLdhVV4p_S7epdAVHkiqlcIGXEZmXXpVWyXWAcDQMLje1UF3EHelxJhQzp9P-LGxTV6/s1600/photo%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEintwlSeJ7wW4P3VoDvRHEL1MCKC7IUfM-hnOeQyVUTLRRmo2f_iaZwWPMHietp0jJn1kCt-660eTLdhVV4p_S7epdAVHkiqlcIGXEZmXXpVWyXWAcDQMLje1UF3EHelxJhQzp9P-LGxTV6/s400/photo%25284%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Here are all my little jars lined up. I kept the the lids on them because I really liked the look of the clear jar tops. After spray painting I found that the clear top and the red body of the jar blended together really well.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbqjl4BIUcwar0rnQOF-mIQkkJTJT7oEUVJ8IMdZPVBzh4xL2ifpKL23BCcv3wWjFPTZXQkK3QHXujbAxn891hrs5lO3QcIoX9Qb_Y4w_gwp8mFxQFP-dv2Vv-8u1O5s08MR7FtYFm2MnP/s1600/photo%25285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbqjl4BIUcwar0rnQOF-mIQkkJTJT7oEUVJ8IMdZPVBzh4xL2ifpKL23BCcv3wWjFPTZXQkK3QHXujbAxn891hrs5lO3QcIoX9Qb_Y4w_gwp8mFxQFP-dv2Vv-8u1O5s08MR7FtYFm2MnP/s400/photo%25285%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Here are the jars after their little makeover. At this point I was very excited! I couldn't wait to peel off the stars and see the finished project. Unfortunately I got very distracted right about here and found this pretty plant on my patio that I felt NEEDED to be replanted into a nicer pot.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFlaHMyE2nC1WlX15Fr9eeeLOMncpXt3ORmr6GAobc1v7moVMtepV5P5QWY6Y63A-hyNE7N7ExVdGDZJOde37xrmQmsXqeqJAPexwucG6JTbd7xT3NQyyOrZ1kNteLHz8qFqIqRX0IauiP/s1600/photo%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFlaHMyE2nC1WlX15Fr9eeeLOMncpXt3ORmr6GAobc1v7moVMtepV5P5QWY6Y63A-hyNE7N7ExVdGDZJOde37xrmQmsXqeqJAPexwucG6JTbd7xT3NQyyOrZ1kNteLHz8qFqIqRX0IauiP/s400/photo%25283%2529.JPG" width="298" /></a></div><br />
Aren't the lilies pretty!? They look so nice on my patio. I put them on the table I have out there so I can see them from the sun room inside. So, hours passed and suddenly my house was cleaned and my computer was organized and I even got a little bit of knitting in. The 4th of July candle holders were forgotten about. But suddenly, as the sun was going down, "OH MY GOSH! I GOTTA GO GET THE CANDLE HOLDERS!" and I ran outside, gathered them up, and brought them into the house, only to be distracted by something else. Boo. The next day I finally got my act together and peeled off all the stars and added the vanilla scented tea lights to each of them. I brought them all to my mom's house for her 4th of July party. She used them to line her deck and they ended up looking beautiful at night!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_tLMGYHZDU2F_77EAxRiqyY-VQzEYLUnN4vw11_D_XmT2qPtRbfnRrJkE_ICksi_T44if8D8crOVNgVMc8GVaM33TGlc-lS014UMmngRJuXSIgiE5AMCPXSHVpApYLVXvhB0ndGTzQq7d/s1600/IMG_3070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_tLMGYHZDU2F_77EAxRiqyY-VQzEYLUnN4vw11_D_XmT2qPtRbfnRrJkE_ICksi_T44if8D8crOVNgVMc8GVaM33TGlc-lS014UMmngRJuXSIgiE5AMCPXSHVpApYLVXvhB0ndGTzQq7d/s320/IMG_3070.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-cNRvRR5PAtR_m20wEkCyUnr4BAnKtF6dnjiR432G4_JUxp5e09CNyQpY70As8Mp_TWVbKff1Xos3R0IhyphenhyphenzS0AmfuUem5EwUy0Nm_4vVUGnRAO8OENz9j54KRuUcFSuAowlV8V04k7fDB/s1600/photo%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-cNRvRR5PAtR_m20wEkCyUnr4BAnKtF6dnjiR432G4_JUxp5e09CNyQpY70As8Mp_TWVbKff1Xos3R0IhyphenhyphenzS0AmfuUem5EwUy0Nm_4vVUGnRAO8OENz9j54KRuUcFSuAowlV8V04k7fDB/s320/photo%25286%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The finished product!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">This was a super fun and super easy project. Really you could adapt this to just about any holiday. I used a few of them to stuff with small goodies and use as gifts for JB's mom and one for the hostess of another party we were invited to. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Along with my candle holders I also made these cute little party favors out of card stock and tissue paper.</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYDutgbid39KyRMpvAf9CosSY0QovwyUnzOgkL1lhNbCqXds9p-JpuT8YdXq6vAyda_Z3xhQBgIHXXkH_A_UMUa3SJYE5RwPJYoKvufftJURC28VL-rUkkpUut6RyH94I6W5-pFK4-9oR9/s1600/photo%25287%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYDutgbid39KyRMpvAf9CosSY0QovwyUnzOgkL1lhNbCqXds9p-JpuT8YdXq6vAyda_Z3xhQBgIHXXkH_A_UMUa3SJYE5RwPJYoKvufftJURC28VL-rUkkpUut6RyH94I6W5-pFK4-9oR9/s400/photo%25287%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>They are little rockets filled with candy! The little ones loved these things! I used a potato stamp carved into a star shape to decorate the card stock. Potato stamps are so much fun! I havn't used them since I was little, but man are they smart! I was going to buy a star stamp and it was like $10! I just could not bring myself to spend $10 on a piece of rubber shaped like a star.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3gHxv-HhaduOvu2T11F4PVpycy-s6HmPRgXHALzaDDSDmjtbY3We4tGDcohH0aRuJ08DwM9uDbSXkm7vUS-pK9noOnm2p6g2wPLhL-qKm5Ms7nO0RGeu_NH8rpzfCly3FfOKDZTeVsdp/s1600/photo%25288%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3gHxv-HhaduOvu2T11F4PVpycy-s6HmPRgXHALzaDDSDmjtbY3We4tGDcohH0aRuJ08DwM9uDbSXkm7vUS-pK9noOnm2p6g2wPLhL-qKm5Ms7nO0RGeu_NH8rpzfCly3FfOKDZTeVsdp/s320/photo%25288%2529.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br />
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These little rocket party favors were so easy and made a big impression. You just cut a piece of cardstock, glue a strip of white paper to the bottom, glue a rectangle of tissue paper to the bottom edge of the white strip, then roll up and glue it together. The top is made of a circle of paper with a small notch cut from the edge to the middle and then the two sides are overlapped creating a cone shape. I used hot glue to attach the top to the body of the rocket. After the top was on, I filled the rocket with candy and tied the tissue paper with some pretty blue ribbon.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHYvQv3wbrTnnDwpR6cE4JLA3QAsLr9LB68NGe6-Z7d4H3e5DpLyrmIiLGIcLt64iTN5hxv3pNfjtl2OqBSFEm7gyc8Ks_uubaTWFQR178BSDgeFF-MFKDRjG4-u0p5ZbWMtgfqXDG7LZg/s1600/photo%25289%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHYvQv3wbrTnnDwpR6cE4JLA3QAsLr9LB68NGe6-Z7d4H3e5DpLyrmIiLGIcLt64iTN5hxv3pNfjtl2OqBSFEm7gyc8Ks_uubaTWFQR178BSDgeFF-MFKDRjG4-u0p5ZbWMtgfqXDG7LZg/s320/photo%25289%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
JB and I went to 2 different Independence day parties. Both went spectacularly and all my little goodies were received extremely well. The second party doubled as a birthday party for my 2 year old cousin and my 5 year old cousin. We had 2 pinatas, and 2 cakes and twice the fun of a regular party. My dad picked up tons of fireworks, we didn't even have time to use all of them! I bet we'll have fireworks left over for a month! The bulldog in the picture is named Sam, he was my buddy the whole evening. How cute is he?!LivvyLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073959598134976231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154815076168196581.post-38763058258571801892011-06-14T14:07:00.000-04:002011-06-14T14:07:59.766-04:00Mystery Shawl KAL progress...little progress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3EmsYE8IhPo1qzxngNlW2rU-xgJuI6Wf-xFyHt2-mWDyED5C4i7i4u5MknakU4UFKiBeaHSRcKKbfxf3LaJ9EZWI8Me-4dN31dIhQVlHF8jhs6Fp9w2bUicwSjuqEqNRGPYCayXnwGMBy/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3EmsYE8IhPo1qzxngNlW2rU-xgJuI6Wf-xFyHt2-mWDyED5C4i7i4u5MknakU4UFKiBeaHSRcKKbfxf3LaJ9EZWI8Me-4dN31dIhQVlHF8jhs6Fp9w2bUicwSjuqEqNRGPYCayXnwGMBy/s320/photo.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div>Clue #2 is complete! 2 down, 2 to go! I was convinced I did something wrong for like an hour. I was thinking..."How could this be right? The heart pattern is on an angle not straigth across! How could I have messed this up! Its a shawl for goodness sakes!" Turns out I'm a huge dork and just forgot about all the increases I have been doing. Duh.LivvyLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073959598134976231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154815076168196581.post-12479384859028605692011-06-13T23:57:00.000-04:002011-06-13T23:57:45.315-04:00Clue #1 Mystery Shawl CompleteClue #1 of Knitting Like Crazy's Mystery Shawl is complete! I know, I know, it's a little late...but I've been busy! Lots of projects, long days at work, school and homework, all keep me from knitting in a timely manner. I'm trying my best though! The kitties and I are diligently working through our yarn stash and I am proud to say that I haven't bought a single skein of yarn for knitting since summer began! I did buy one ball of white string for another craft project...so it doesn't count. Jen's mystery shawl from her blog is beautiful. I'm using some lace weight baby alpaca (by Cascade Yarns of course. My favorite!) instead of the fingering weight recommended. I knit it very loosely with size 4 needles (I even used my new Signature Needle Arts needles) so the finished product will be very light and airy. This yarn is so soft and such a pretty summer timey green it should make a beautiful shawl. I'm very excited about this project and It's knitting up quickly. When I was just beginning this shawl I think I cast on and ripped out the first few rows 5 or 6 times because I just wasn't getting the right gauge. Finally I settled on what feel is an acceptable gauge and went with it. Jen has a beautiful pattern here. I love it!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6hHXNRPFpg_RVv3lBz3yEFwBXEPokYtXkYLMZDg67JbFA1FSkwtRc2P8Y465cqvNEQhzkRb1aOd3lxqgqE3Q87UfjK2tous3gOTxyg5DU533ZPVRYnxQ1s12YXGK9_fBcX_AeuL5f83S/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6hHXNRPFpg_RVv3lBz3yEFwBXEPokYtXkYLMZDg67JbFA1FSkwtRc2P8Y465cqvNEQhzkRb1aOd3lxqgqE3Q87UfjK2tous3gOTxyg5DU533ZPVRYnxQ1s12YXGK9_fBcX_AeuL5f83S/s400/photo.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I came back from the kitchen to find Snookie curled up under my shawl! What a sweety! I just love my babies! I guess she thought the baby alpaca made a nice blanket. She is the expert on comfy things to sleep on so I'll take her word for it. </div>LivvyLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073959598134976231noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154815076168196581.post-34906866079314644452011-05-26T14:46:00.000-04:002011-05-26T14:46:15.183-04:00THEY CAME!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWves2gd0gROAezRnLPwn2hwJYi0pXT9g9hj2-Mic7NFMn4y-5G_0hYBNXqbF1SLiNnKJNDPJNgtnUOpfYhI_CyP3GFkm_kSWki6IaxLYW-cpFues3oY3yiWHWCAsFtfylit8itjDO16TY/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWves2gd0gROAezRnLPwn2hwJYi0pXT9g9hj2-Mic7NFMn4y-5G_0hYBNXqbF1SLiNnKJNDPJNgtnUOpfYhI_CyP3GFkm_kSWki6IaxLYW-cpFues3oY3yiWHWCAsFtfylit8itjDO16TY/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>My new needles came! I'm so excited! I love them! Size 4 (3.5), 5inch needles with stiletto tips. I have been thinking about getting them for like a year now and I finally decided to just do it! Aren't they pretty? The size 4s come in this gorgeous deep purple color. They arrived just in time too! As I was working on the Knitting Like Crazy Mystery Shawl my other circulars broke!<br />
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If you ever need some seriously cheap needles quickly, knittingneedles.com can totally hook you up. However...the circs don't last very long and the plastic tubing used in the circulars breaks easily. A full set of all sizes is very cheap and would make a great gift for a knitting newbie, but for more advanced knitters a higher quality product is invaluable. Hence my Signature Needle Arts needles! These things are made out of aircraft grade aluminum! Can you say heavy duty (at least I think air planes are heavy duty)?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv6au_6hVM7bhUnxtuFs6cPEN61Fci_HIPzCV95dg9SnjhQ5OkVoepUHJUU5z-hUyLIO4SkZngX2jLNAyv4m0HUKXfuKDNiogw_ZWFC3T09bMpymJcueVakg4n9v8s9hRXWfaUH4ybCCX5/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv6au_6hVM7bhUnxtuFs6cPEN61Fci_HIPzCV95dg9SnjhQ5OkVoepUHJUU5z-hUyLIO4SkZngX2jLNAyv4m0HUKXfuKDNiogw_ZWFC3T09bMpymJcueVakg4n9v8s9hRXWfaUH4ybCCX5/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> I've made some progress on my Vernal Equinox Surprise Shawl. I'm in the middle of clue 5 right now. The project is temporarily paused while I search the house for more stitch markers. I know I have a whole pile of them somewhere! I'm just not sure where.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>This pattern is just gorgeous and I am really enjoying it. Each row is a little different and each clue is a whole different pattern. It keeps you on your toes. I am slowly but surely working through my yarn stash! I'm sure you noticed the quilters mat in the first couple pictures. JB's mom bought it for me for my birthday along with a rotary cutter. I've been playing around with some quilting techniques for the past few days. This time I'm using my sewing machine for all the piecing and it's turning out to be harder that I expected.<br />
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I had this great idea for a pretty quilt, but I honestly think I may have been a little too ambitious. Getting all those seams lined up right is actually very difficult! A while back when I was doing some hand quilting, the piecing was the easy part! All the decorative stitching was the hardest thing about it! It looks like it may be just the opposite with machine stitching!<br />
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You can see a few of the difficulties I have been having matching up the seams. My sewing machine doesn't have a quilting foot (I've been looking for one) so piecing may be even harder than usual...however...I am determined to master this!LivvyLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073959598134976231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154815076168196581.post-50644827176050364082011-05-09T20:50:00.001-04:002011-05-10T11:00:45.952-04:00It looks yummy!As you know May has been dedicated to crocheting! I am on a journey to learn to crochet and add it to my crafting repertoire. I found this great blanket pattern that I've had in my queue for at least a year but never got to it because it was a crochet pattern. I just wasn't confident enough to attempt a blanket with such shaky crochet skills. Well after a few of these squares I'm feeling good, feeling a little ambitious and I found some perfect colors in my stash. I'm jumping into this project (along with all the other stuff I'm diving into) feet first and starting this blanket! Its a simple pattern and its coming together quickly!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8dpuckGRXN0Nm1vGlRl8IBp5cHqSLIKjjZJ2DSYPSlENR4l_QEMkJoCiKBRxsy6PukEJLZqXI1JcC-V9ffzyUB890NLk6icWWIIoCJHRKR40ZPAybdgI3mYRR6M8MSGKmYiSoTr_hqmI/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8dpuckGRXN0Nm1vGlRl8IBp5cHqSLIKjjZJ2DSYPSlENR4l_QEMkJoCiKBRxsy6PukEJLZqXI1JcC-V9ffzyUB890NLk6icWWIIoCJHRKR40ZPAybdgI3mYRR6M8MSGKmYiSoTr_hqmI/s400/photo.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lion Brand - LB Collection</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Cotton Bamboo</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">52% Cotton 48% Bamboo</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">245 Yds ( 224 Meters)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>Colors</strong>: #102 Cherry Blossom (Dye Lot 64587),</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> #098 Magnolia (Dye Lot 63990),</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> #126 Chocolate Dahlia (Dye Lot 63990)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The <a href="http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/90296AD.html?noImages=">pattern</a> I'm using is by Lion Brand, but it's a very simple design that I'm sure can be found in many other places. I saw a blanket crocheted in this pattern while I was at the Lion Brand Studio in Manhattan last year and just fell in love. I bought these cute colors not really knowing what to do with them and only now managed to put the two together. I only bought 1 skein of each color so I'm not sure how big this project can be. Maybe if I run out I'll see about looking for more of this yarn online. I really love this yarn. It feels really nice in your hands and is easy to work with. The only qualm I have is that it splits easily, but thats sort of expected from cotton and bamboo.</div><br />
Here are the beginnings of my crocheted blanket! This morning's work yielded some excellent results! The colors are super cute. In fact I'd even go so far as to say they are "delicous". It looks like something you could eat. Maybe like saltwater taffy or something? I'm excited to continue working on it, but I have to get caught up on those squares! <br />
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To Do List:<br />
<ul><li>7 Squares for Square-A-Day-in-May</li>
<li>Finish next clue of the Vernal Equinox Surprise Shawl</li>
<li>Crocheted blanket</li>
<li>Knitting Like Crazy's Mystery Shawl KAL</li>
<li>Secret Project!</li>
<li>Prep for the Tour De Fleece!</li>
</ul>This year I've got lots of great roving for the TDF. I'm still waiting on a few packages. When they come in I'll take pictures.<br />
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Lots of stuff is planned for this summer. The secret project is pretty big and as the summer progresses and the project comes together I'll let you all in on it. I vow to get through at least HALF of my yarn stash this summer. It really needs to be trimmed down and JB won't let me buy anymore until I use up some of the stuff I have. I'm excited to buy some great new stuff for fall so I gotta get through all these summer and spring colors first. Happy summer everyone!LivvyLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073959598134976231noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154815076168196581.post-70595697105751449732011-05-09T17:12:00.000-04:002011-05-09T17:12:12.251-04:00Birthday! Hooray!Happy birthday to me! Yesterday was my 21st birthday. I had lots of fun with my parents and JB and my aunt. We all went out for drinks (I did not last very long). I bought myself the new white iphone as a present. Coolest thing ever. I just don't know how people lived before technology. Anyways, we'll get back to the important stuff. The squares! Last week was crazy and I'll admit I'm way behind on my Square-A-Day-in-May project. I'm working on the 3rd square now, Maggie's square, and I'm having a really tough time. My crochet skills have made serious progress and my technique is improving but I still struggling with some of the more complex stitches. The Xdc in Maggie's square is driving me crazy. It just won't work like it's supposed to!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDp62IhyphenhyphenW35Ugqfv3asowCkWTBmNSZYjD7mUDoKiZjT8A6ptNAcyICVpGg7ZvOepjIn0q0wAwyqbmiGLitrByHGeoADC7mwnQTgGPa77WphShNx9HuTi30oY1E5wEyVRHCy-7hw0biaQrz/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDp62IhyphenhyphenW35Ugqfv3asowCkWTBmNSZYjD7mUDoKiZjT8A6ptNAcyICVpGg7ZvOepjIn0q0wAwyqbmiGLitrByHGeoADC7mwnQTgGPa77WphShNx9HuTi30oY1E5wEyVRHCy-7hw0biaQrz/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
This is the Amethyst square, the first square of may. I think I made 4 attempts before this one. I'm still not totally happy with it, but I have learned a lot.Wanna know a secret? Don't tell anyone. I forgot the last row on one side. I tied off too soon. >< Maybe I will come back to this one later.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgST5QnH5Y6mOT5x2_eLL_7s9FVPKvYZeUyNGR1A2H2kiIZdlBknd-UXbJwNAm2BMYB4q6iBJMNIO2X1hwr6O-OIg7IACPyol5tc9v850W45kch1II4LJnRHR4XPP0BgGuADtckxOkisGYq/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgST5QnH5Y6mOT5x2_eLL_7s9FVPKvYZeUyNGR1A2H2kiIZdlBknd-UXbJwNAm2BMYB4q6iBJMNIO2X1hwr6O-OIg7IACPyol5tc9v850W45kch1II4LJnRHR4XPP0BgGuADtckxOkisGYq/s400/photo.JPG" width="298" /></a> </div><br />
Square 2, "Kata". I found this square to be much easier! By this pattern I was comfortable with the hdc and was establishing some good tension habits. The picture came out a little fuzzy but it was taken while dodging cats. They loved this yarn and can't get enough of this fabric.<br />
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2 down, 7 to go. I plan on playing some serious catch up this week.LivvyLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073959598134976231noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154815076168196581.post-23078903593564118672011-04-27T16:30:00.029-04:002011-04-27T21:19:06.567-04:00A-Square-A-Day-In-MayThe "Yarnarian" is one of my favorite blogs. She always has something wonderful going on! The yarns she dyes are breathtaking and I long to someday be a blogger of her caliber! Anyways, while I was checking out her blog this morning I stumbled across a group she is supporting called A-Square-A-Day in-May.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibv2qbHVDN8SHpK5fFGIBhET7cn9xyfBJd63bPjjSRmSGls6tHY9bBpsxaUX8ANSB8RBPGMf5Tn-g-jrUiP94-ygglRSY-N7TNoSyjx9UrTpKtwdTOYIV_VdqqFkxUvdM9poYHYyV23JbE/s1600/asquarebutton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibv2qbHVDN8SHpK5fFGIBhET7cn9xyfBJd63bPjjSRmSGls6tHY9bBpsxaUX8ANSB8RBPGMf5Tn-g-jrUiP94-ygglRSY-N7TNoSyjx9UrTpKtwdTOYIV_VdqqFkxUvdM9poYHYyV23JbE/s1600/asquarebutton.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The idea is to crochet 1 granny square a day for the entire month of may. It sounds like fun and will give me chance to brush up on my crocheting skills (anybody that has read my earlier posts will know that crocheting and I do not have a good history.)<br />
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I have a TON of scrap yarn laying around the house. This will be a good use for it all. I found this mini stash in a box in my closet! These are all leftovers from projects over the years. I will admit that I may have misrepresented the size of this stash in the photo. There was probably 6 times the depicted amount, I was embarrassed to show it all. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifs_BN5dTXPMJrPV1UKYsMVZvofrj_Vyant9Xj5evhiGKzhHmfl5YJpHew6XLBi-02_5otQciT1_Q-GJd7TttMj6-kNDjW19YcE80yQdUXHM-ee3sPKO3zNGd3ND39GM8rBmyVoQ1xSeLk/s1600/Photo0413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifs_BN5dTXPMJrPV1UKYsMVZvofrj_Vyant9Xj5evhiGKzhHmfl5YJpHew6XLBi-02_5otQciT1_Q-GJd7TttMj6-kNDjW19YcE80yQdUXHM-ee3sPKO3zNGd3ND39GM8rBmyVoQ1xSeLk/s400/Photo0413.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
After digging through my many piles of yarn in search for some good scrap, JB came home. He took one look around and literally forbade me from bringing home anymore of it. "You are forbidden from bringing another piece of yarn into this house until at least some of it is gone". Sadly, this is actually a reasonable request.<br />
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So, I am ready for May! Lets get some serious knitting done so I can clear out my yarn stash and buy some more! Do I have a problem?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbRBnysWrHC34frotWH8vdRSRVSoKipuYxA8Hz2a2gqW97kyIOimlOGBc8b3mJ5BySI-kZFEd-jFib03cbiYvMC3gZFPmJ1ULN-klFSZLioOP3Spid80wK6__YDnP01m8GYObEralLA0dP/s1600/Photo0420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbRBnysWrHC34frotWH8vdRSRVSoKipuYxA8Hz2a2gqW97kyIOimlOGBc8b3mJ5BySI-kZFEd-jFib03cbiYvMC3gZFPmJ1ULN-klFSZLioOP3Spid80wK6__YDnP01m8GYObEralLA0dP/s320/Photo0420.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Simba doesn't think so.</div>LivvyLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073959598134976231noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154815076168196581.post-89922588357567563812011-04-26T10:01:00.001-04:002011-04-26T10:01:50.721-04:00Easter Eggs Belong in Macaroni SaladHappy Easter Everyone!<br />
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I colored eggs the other day to help JB and I get into the Easter spirit. JB apparently is not a fan of egg coloring. He participated long enough to remove the eggs from the stove while I was cleaning the bathroom and then wanted nothing to do with the whole process after that. I bought these "egg" cups from Wal-Mart for the dye, they turned out the be the most genius Easter invention ever. They were $.99 and came with 5 different colored plastic egg shaped containers with lines for water and vinegar. You just filled the cup with water up to the water line, then add vinegar until the liquid reaches the vinegar line. Drop in the dye tablet, dunk the egg and TaaaDaa! Colored eggs, no mess and you can throw out the plastic cups when your done. Clean up was so easy!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrs10orGQEJD-ZckMyIfBPC6qsCizy_1F0RhtrmCD52n_EsPdN-NFKmBwtvUO6SA8ZBa3T0drDxo-6ejOok_je7U1QKk-bhQzD8EKxPAE4gVFhJH5SMBY6chhfg6l4eVMzfnxSicP4v-L/s1600/Photo0399.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrs10orGQEJD-ZckMyIfBPC6qsCizy_1F0RhtrmCD52n_EsPdN-NFKmBwtvUO6SA8ZBa3T0drDxo-6ejOok_je7U1QKk-bhQzD8EKxPAE4gVFhJH5SMBY6chhfg6l4eVMzfnxSicP4v-L/s400/Photo0399.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
This morning while I was prepping for Easter Dinner, these poor eggs met their match. My pretty little eggs were sacrificed to the macaroni salad. At least they went to good use. Yum! JB loves macaroni salad although he will no doubt have something to say about the dyed egg pieces in it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiwr1jWTNPXqVpvwVyirITVknq0RDCVT-hmd70V48aiPl_r9on_DRd6HkQm_VjLgtP0v7gSBO2GANuKJHVVJCOpSJwvyyBSEJViy2NkGJW-63KbR9gROdIRNtkRVarGvNd83NrVAwHko0C/s1600/Photo0400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiwr1jWTNPXqVpvwVyirITVknq0RDCVT-hmd70V48aiPl_r9on_DRd6HkQm_VjLgtP0v7gSBO2GANuKJHVVJCOpSJwvyyBSEJViy2NkGJW-63KbR9gROdIRNtkRVarGvNd83NrVAwHko0C/s400/Photo0400.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: small;"> All the eggs in a row, right before they became part of the macaroni salad! The green one and the yellow one on the end became deviled eggs.</span></div><br />
Since JB and I have had to work all weekend and I've got class tomorrow morning, we couldn't make it out to see family for Easter dinner this year. I decided to make a nice dinner here anyways. I'm making a roasted chicken (its in the oven now! Smells delicious!) with lots of seasonings, covered in a little beer and some apple juice and stuffed with russet potatoes, celery, garlic, and carrots. This is the first whole chicken I have ever made (or even seen in person for that matter). I'm very proud of myself. Also on the menu we have home made mashed potatoes from scratch, green bean casserole, macaroni salad, deviled eggs, corn, a tossed salad with home made Italian dressing, baked dinner rolls, strawberry short cake with "made-from-scratch" whipped cream and a caramel apple pie (I definitely bought that pie). Top that all off with the mimosas we've been sipping all morning and we've got an Easter Celebration for sure! We will certainly have left overs for a few days. Cooking it all was fun though!<br />
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While the chicken is cooking and I'm in between baking dishes, I think I will start spinning that gorgeous merino I just bought. I'm still waiting on a second bag of fiber, hopefully it will come soon.<br />
I bought this beautiful roving from Woolamina's Etsy store! I will certainly be shopping there again soon!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Aren't the colors just to "dye" for (lol)!? Its just beautiful and I'm so excited to start working with it! I have no idea what to make with the yarn once I spin it. Any suggestions? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's the last week of classes and then straight into finals. I've been running around like crazy trying to get everything done so forgive me if I am lazy with my posts. Easter was a nice little break from all that work but now I've got to get right back to it! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Happy Easter and Good Luck on finals to all my collegiate readers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>LivvyLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073959598134976231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154815076168196581.post-83428652627947107242011-04-22T22:08:00.000-04:002011-04-22T22:08:44.520-04:00Easter Sunday Prep & Earth Day!Its been a long winter and from the looks of it, it doesn't seem to be ending anytime soon. In mid April, just two days away from Easter, its snowing here. And not just a little snow, its full on, get-the-snow-tires-out, put-the-winter-coat-on, don't-forget-your-boots snowing.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cjTocUsdzFSDh93nr-uQjGLn-lMVOjJsfcjMSgmtHMYuu21E4aevZVelb8TqncAEtB3RNluqJOspwDqjI9AEr3YHWATgRwvmKUVOGcBdUMH_Zagr1lZzH-ZmbNM0HGqAsCTXyn3SSOnq/s1600/Photo0377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cjTocUsdzFSDh93nr-uQjGLn-lMVOjJsfcjMSgmtHMYuu21E4aevZVelb8TqncAEtB3RNluqJOspwDqjI9AEr3YHWATgRwvmKUVOGcBdUMH_Zagr1lZzH-ZmbNM0HGqAsCTXyn3SSOnq/s400/Photo0377.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This picture does no justice to the amount of snow coming down. Mother nature is punishing us on Earth Day for being bad environmentalists. We are going to be burried in snow by Easter Sunday whether we like it or not. The snow hasn't stopped the summer knitting bug. Earlier this week I was compelled to visit my LYS and found some of the cutest yarns of the season!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ella Rae's Phoenix yarns caught my eye right away. Its a 100% cotton yarn that was sitting, nestled away amongst all the other spring time yarns. The second I laid eyes on it I knew it would be mine and it would make a fabulous shawl. I loved the Light Yellow, it was so springtimey pretty that I knew I'd have to find a light and lacey shawl pattern.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx4_kCHOy8rzOQ2VSQ2rFq90br7_5U_vGIrmj5pjfmGN-Rv91kz73-QtaZnW0s-dNHXMB60tIK5rVrEoODNdpWav20eo4OdS8GtlQxVcjT276yhwOPkdSSgjvALhfIZX970WWLjlijL8Eh/s1600/Photo0381.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx4_kCHOy8rzOQ2VSQ2rFq90br7_5U_vGIrmj5pjfmGN-Rv91kz73-QtaZnW0s-dNHXMB60tIK5rVrEoODNdpWav20eo4OdS8GtlQxVcjT276yhwOPkdSSgjvALhfIZX970WWLjlijL8Eh/s320/Photo0381.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
Snookie really likes this yarn, Simba does too but he wouldn't sit still long enough to have his picture taken. I've had to wrestle it out of their paws a few times...they seem to always know which yarns I'm using and they pick that stuff to drag around the house!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit4oXMypWkq3kL2gEoLucrevYej-TqmZagrdXss7r2uBQZ00cu_RX7SIQBgsZu01SQzoEjA_HjSyegKH5gbv4U0gi_lW_WX76GtQ7e7bRhkDcHZrS324GL8aW4JKLUOgGEsjGmH7CeMqrb/s1600/Photo0384.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit4oXMypWkq3kL2gEoLucrevYej-TqmZagrdXss7r2uBQZ00cu_RX7SIQBgsZu01SQzoEjA_HjSyegKH5gbv4U0gi_lW_WX76GtQ7e7bRhkDcHZrS324GL8aW4JKLUOgGEsjGmH7CeMqrb/s400/Photo0384.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I searched my queue and found a pattern that I saved months ago. I've wanted to knit this one for a while but just couldn't find the right yarn. Ella Rae is the perfect match! The Vernal Equinox Shawl Surprise is a half circle lace shawl. Its knit in "Clues", such a cute idea and makes the knitting easy to break up into different nights. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>There are a few variations on this shawl. The bottom edge can be rounded, scallopedish like in this pictures or it can be batwinged every other inch. I'm thinking I'll probably just round it off that way the shawl won't be so dramatic in design that I can't wear it with certain things.<br />
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I've been so busy with school and work and volunteering for different things that I haven't had much time to knit. I lost a good friend in February. He was fighting in Afghanistan with the Marines. Its been a rough year with a lot going on, and I just haven't been able to knit as much as I would like. I feel a little out of practice, and I can see it a little in my knitting right now. No worries though, it won't take long to bring it back.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeQOhLy1gsvy0KHC7APRIUdYa3zM_YBVSZof-COSRZd-sEtdjXq7NArK_h4NZGU-ivS52Rxsf7pIUOdfh9sKEAZ_KeuHpUPBY4sKuKlvswcEIBE0iH44_OFv5jwFIWOo0wJT230LAcHzNk/s1600/Photo0386.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeQOhLy1gsvy0KHC7APRIUdYa3zM_YBVSZof-COSRZd-sEtdjXq7NArK_h4NZGU-ivS52Rxsf7pIUOdfh9sKEAZ_KeuHpUPBY4sKuKlvswcEIBE0iH44_OFv5jwFIWOo0wJT230LAcHzNk/s320/Photo0386.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I'm just about done with Clue 2. Knitters be warned, make sure you keep an eye on your stitch count. Its very easy to lose track and miss a YO or a PSSO. I don't know what made me think it was a good idea to knit with out stitch markers. I regret it already. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Don't forget, today is Earth Day! Do something earth friendly! I planted seeds for a vegetable garden, what are you going to do for the earth today?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijDMzmp7oMxqTwtoCpiXxaDSMjKYZrQoT-MIFc16IqXX7B37J_VGbiTtdQdPe4xHiW7YcibrQmR7mVOTtgo7ffbShihGbVftM3I9MNY3YJBjne6XTVvby9xtP0tmXSmVG1AIk8WSqKIuRf/s1600/Earthday2011.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijDMzmp7oMxqTwtoCpiXxaDSMjKYZrQoT-MIFc16IqXX7B37J_VGbiTtdQdPe4xHiW7YcibrQmR7mVOTtgo7ffbShihGbVftM3I9MNY3YJBjne6XTVvby9xtP0tmXSmVG1AIk8WSqKIuRf/s320/Earthday2011.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>LivvyLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073959598134976231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154815076168196581.post-10745222162187994122010-11-27T22:00:00.000-05:002010-11-27T22:00:37.232-05:00its...FINISHED I finished the Ellis baby dress on Thursday but have been sooooo busy since then that I haven't had time to post. The dress is beautiful and now I'm onto the rest of my Christmas gifts. I'm so relieved this dress is done, it seemed like the never ending project. But 3 balls of yarn and LOTS of time later this is the result.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7sVIlbUOsqUQTxmj-hNIIG78hfNCZ4Mctfa8wbNdUBlM9TvKAbEDmTS-V_eO5EIbh-dkYMcnHbfgGdCm8GVMLM-osbIRGMiD0zqTj0MFrDvqfWySgV-WoZc2Tim6mg5dx_MxKVMo3TrYF/s1600/Photo0275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7sVIlbUOsqUQTxmj-hNIIG78hfNCZ4Mctfa8wbNdUBlM9TvKAbEDmTS-V_eO5EIbh-dkYMcnHbfgGdCm8GVMLM-osbIRGMiD0zqTj0MFrDvqfWySgV-WoZc2Tim6mg5dx_MxKVMo3TrYF/s320/Photo0275.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>My lovely Build-A-Bear rabbit is modeling the dress. Its really cool and I am very happy with it. I think Shane and his daughter will be too. My mom however, has probably had it with my procrastination. I was supposed to have this dress done FOREVER ago. Uuhg...I've just been so busy!<br />
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I started my Christmas shopping today! After I got out of work I ran around like a crazy person buying little things, checking prices, comparing quality and crossing people off my list. I feel pretty good about today. I stuck to my budget and got some good deals. I can't disclose what exactly I bought yet for fear of prying eyes (yeah you J.B.) but trust me...its good stuff.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXkdxhh9QJQwMlVcmSU6kwJNbdz_PCpLp8U9j0lwNa-_2VanyJPYXRb2t7fu96n5ACP8fsVKpOnRYSbD_8FJW2_WnY-tuNpAfcyc2G928JKV6Ln1EKVKJ2qBSXoAIWN5nmxX3H_GSo1yIh/s1600/Photo0277.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXkdxhh9QJQwMlVcmSU6kwJNbdz_PCpLp8U9j0lwNa-_2VanyJPYXRb2t7fu96n5ACP8fsVKpOnRYSbD_8FJW2_WnY-tuNpAfcyc2G928JKV6Ln1EKVKJ2qBSXoAIWN5nmxX3H_GSo1yIh/s320/Photo0277.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> My BFF is visiting from NYC and she went shopping with me. We found a giant lion face hat thing. Nikki took the liberty of modeling. For some reason Bon-Ton felt this was a Christmas item that belonged in the "home decor" section. Other than being a hat.....I think I'm missing the "Christmassy" attributes of this thing. Its cute tho.<br />
I have SOOOO much to do. School has been out (for Thanksgiving Break) for a week and I have done nothing but work! My house is a flipping disaster area, I haven't done a smidgen of decorating and my poor boyfriend hasn't had a home cooked dinner since (since Thanksgiving actually...but were talking about me making dinner here!) god knows when. I am pretty certain my cats are feeling neglected as well.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDMxHOjqhT_EWr_7w1SHmWmd4w83WydH6CyJq_nw21VsuUVUQ6GVwbceW7EVG7kqGSyqzGT0CqR9L9UguiXc3bqzp5cs7njvbJ6AJLAKRBs8GUlzksqXkzVddg_47wkazTed0pLzp2jTpV/s1600/1107091415A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDMxHOjqhT_EWr_7w1SHmWmd4w83WydH6CyJq_nw21VsuUVUQ6GVwbceW7EVG7kqGSyqzGT0CqR9L9UguiXc3bqzp5cs7njvbJ6AJLAKRBs8GUlzksqXkzVddg_47wkazTed0pLzp2jTpV/s320/1107091415A.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is Simba's neglected face.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">So, with what little time I do have left tonight, I'm going to start cleaning this pig sty of a house.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">-Merry Christmas!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">P.S. OOOOH! We had snow today! I woke up this morning and there was snow on the ground!</div>LivvyLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073959598134976231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154815076168196581.post-18794479763622485872010-11-19T10:34:00.000-05:002010-11-19T10:34:12.775-05:00Learn To Crochet....or at least try.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I'm so glad it's Friday...not only is it Friday but its the last day of classes before Thanksgiving break! And! It's my 2 year anniversary with J.B. I want to see the new Harry Potter movie. Woohoo! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyways, since I ran out of yarn for my Ellis dress I made a trip to the store yesterday (only to find, YET AGAIN, they did not have the same kind of yarn I had been using) and picked up some needles. Here is the loot. 1 set of 16" size 7 (4.5mm) needles and 1 set of 24" size 7 needles. Both by Clover. I like clover, they meld reasonable price and quality well. They aren't my favorite needles I've ever held, but they are good for the prices.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidb7PHWnX44g_TLqvDH5thwN8yjtSHLyVXj3_NlG8FlohB9zQ04V9xGfU9wZ8mBEPYThILcfFoqdRyJaM-UvDsbP-qhRjU1qMsxrqCBLRTKP9oNQSC9zGOVun8m2o7oeBYsDX0DvksppzN/s1600/Photo0272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidb7PHWnX44g_TLqvDH5thwN8yjtSHLyVXj3_NlG8FlohB9zQ04V9xGfU9wZ8mBEPYThILcfFoqdRyJaM-UvDsbP-qhRjU1qMsxrqCBLRTKP9oNQSC9zGOVun8m2o7oeBYsDX0DvksppzN/s320/Photo0272.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And since I worked some ungodly hours yesterday evening, I had a friend of mine (Kendra) come visit me. She is a life long crocheter and I can't work with a hook to save my life. So we decided to trade crafts. I taught her how to knit (she did quite well if I do say so) and she TRIED to teach me how to crochet. Let me tell you that knitting is MUCH, MUCH easier. After several attempts at random things I finally came up with this....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiEPzWGmnxYjPOE6DY9vmFIgOnbNQHkH3EFFmhECaD8BH-UIA5QS4ADF5wgkSIAPlnruz_hlr4ln7T9usGQ2_ffNTy84mBK5stMvtXEMqXBTAYvyEQ2qszh0KXaFh0JGXQUT-dMDgx80zx/s1600/Photo0271.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiEPzWGmnxYjPOE6DY9vmFIgOnbNQHkH3EFFmhECaD8BH-UIA5QS4ADF5wgkSIAPlnruz_hlr4ln7T9usGQ2_ffNTy84mBK5stMvtXEMqXBTAYvyEQ2qszh0KXaFh0JGXQUT-dMDgx80zx/s320/Photo0271.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As far as I know...the pattern she had me doing was single crochet (SC) 5 loops, then skip 2 loops then SC 5 more loops then in the 6th loop sc 3 times (in the same loop!) and well...repeat. I think it looks like a crown. Now that I have some grasp on the craft, I might just try to expand upon it. Over the break (in between working like a mad women and studying for finals of course) I might even attempt to crochet a real thing. Something with a name, and maybe (if i'm feeling very adventurous) a use! Like a doiley or a dishcloth! Kendra was able to complete a knitted dish cloth yesterday (even if there were a couple shakey rows lol) and she was very proud! I was impressed with her. She was working on the most adorable crocheted baby blanket ever and I could kick myself, but I forgot to take a picture of it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> So tonight (hopefully after Harry Potter!) I will be making another trip to another craft store in search of more yarn. I vow to have this Ellis dress completed by Sunday. I also need to get a good start on my christmas gift projects and finish that toe up sock (I have one already done).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8XqG8xXL05bM5mlJE0SfZ8IFCYOO5TKdEPOFKQFX_1VSZbLdz9SwLRJmGOcSbkAn5j7AcK3KgV1ulbjJd5HJeNxXDj5w6HchxN8WpbHQ3h65wSbDTOOCQiXOdHSZ3iTxrLpfRuBIZKDH/s1600/Photo0254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8XqG8xXL05bM5mlJE0SfZ8IFCYOO5TKdEPOFKQFX_1VSZbLdz9SwLRJmGOcSbkAn5j7AcK3KgV1ulbjJd5HJeNxXDj5w6HchxN8WpbHQ3h65wSbDTOOCQiXOdHSZ3iTxrLpfRuBIZKDH/s1600/Photo0254.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Simba and Snookie hugging! I <3 my sweet little babies!</div>LivvyLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073959598134976231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154815076168196581.post-62699507757422435172010-11-18T15:15:00.000-05:002010-11-18T15:15:38.690-05:00P...For Problem<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCE00UtfcoZq0hgq7vv92rAq5BUrLYfiSxQ8wZDFqgdWs7vWRx3-V4iYJsDUhjDcBr7w9WiYkfBHk5f5q3X_8nzRX0KQCcpSW0ULxoYlHzVjABByf8lSl2oIfLAuUJEFUxbS8_oNDxbsAD/s1600/Photo0270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCE00UtfcoZq0hgq7vv92rAq5BUrLYfiSxQ8wZDFqgdWs7vWRx3-V4iYJsDUhjDcBr7w9WiYkfBHk5f5q3X_8nzRX0KQCcpSW0ULxoYlHzVjABByf8lSl2oIfLAuUJEFUxbS8_oNDxbsAD/s320/Photo0270.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The Ellis dress was coming along nicely EXCEPT for the problem. Can you spot the problem? I CAN! It's that sad, sorry little excuse for a ball of yarn over there on the left. Thats all I have left. This means a 3rd trip to the store. Wow...this is the never ending dress.LivvyLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073959598134976231noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154815076168196581.post-26366700644924700942010-11-18T12:20:00.000-05:002010-11-18T12:20:15.865-05:00Christmas Giveaway<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5WDJh7NywXI/TOQohl1lmYI/AAAAAAAAB_U/KivDyMYxHFY/s1600/g8.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540597999130220930" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5WDJh7NywXI/TOQohl1lmYI/AAAAAAAAB_U/KivDyMYxHFY/s400/g8.jpg" style="height: 291px; width: 400px;" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Kelly at <a href="http://vintagelifestyle.blogspot.com/2010/11/christmas-giveaway-time.html">Vintage Lifestyle</a> is doing a christmas giveaway!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Shes got some lovely little gifts to give and I'm super excited about my entry! Her website is great and very creative...check it out!</div>LivvyLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073959598134976231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154815076168196581.post-52225575153484691182010-11-15T23:32:00.000-05:002010-11-15T23:32:23.139-05:00Cookies, Socks and Skirts. Last night I made the trip home and visited my mom for the evening. I havn't seen the family in what feels like forever so it was a nice change of pace. We baked cookies (lots of cookies) and I was able to bring a few home to JB. The pecan tarts are my favorite followed closely by my mother's famous Winter White Fudge. Soooo delicious. We also made M&M's choclate chip cookies, sugar cookies (complete with "stained glass" sugar windows), chocolate no-bakes and peppermint bark. I know its barely halfway through November but we got into the Christmas baking spirit early. Its about time to start decorating too! Soo excited. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjAD6Mad1IUrErCfO4dHtYYPytlQvbw0cZiQuobWP1W6e_92jhJ7T5177CMfp_gtY7JsMmVgLa9vQ3_mBND9vhVgj0UOGCOjvTQrr51_XHGXdRyXc1gd2bRw5wcSeysM0bYtkjeIY-Aqfw/s1600/Photo0257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjAD6Mad1IUrErCfO4dHtYYPytlQvbw0cZiQuobWP1W6e_92jhJ7T5177CMfp_gtY7JsMmVgLa9vQ3_mBND9vhVgj0UOGCOjvTQrr51_XHGXdRyXc1gd2bRw5wcSeysM0bYtkjeIY-Aqfw/s320/Photo0257.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
Its a little late, but I forgot to post this picture earlier. Since were on the baking topic, my younger cousins (2 and 4 years old) and I decorated cupcakes for halloween! <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqG0W9bRznDcEBziP0Y05o9L9wPJ0ETOV1r1ihkQL4tIBhOreMskcinp4n5SBIxXGqu-QASS0-GmaJzkliV_JpZLLDdmksSHgd28FkGawvEK55YoXQuA_KS1dJe7CzVC4mltKk6qitRAMQ/s1600/74569_1652658046289_1532165655_31607304_5039207_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqG0W9bRznDcEBziP0Y05o9L9wPJ0ETOV1r1ihkQL4tIBhOreMskcinp4n5SBIxXGqu-QASS0-GmaJzkliV_JpZLLDdmksSHgd28FkGawvEK55YoXQuA_KS1dJe7CzVC4mltKk6qitRAMQ/s320/74569_1652658046289_1532165655_31607304_5039207_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I've got a whole list of projects lined up to decorate my house with. Speaking of projects, even though I had a busy weekend I did get a little bit of knitting done.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSs-MziojKwaJOYr5qS6f3EGP8HbTETEfvqOs0rgLpx7WycVsm_gr8C50wRPdrWBaGvbJQF9Sg1nl1OzLiG-7CtYxxeHguJJjokLi5OI2UbBiXF727_5B6InUoapQNS1p0al4PqwaN2oO/s1600/Photo0255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSs-MziojKwaJOYr5qS6f3EGP8HbTETEfvqOs0rgLpx7WycVsm_gr8C50wRPdrWBaGvbJQF9Sg1nl1OzLiG-7CtYxxeHguJJjokLi5OI2UbBiXF727_5B6InUoapQNS1p0al4PqwaN2oO/s320/Photo0255.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've got a good start on my Toe-Up socks. I'll post the pattern when I'm done (still working out a few kinks). The tangled mess of yarn in the picture can be fully attributed to Snookie and Simba. They some how always know which yarn I'm using and tearing it apart. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also obtained the yarn for 1 of my top secret projects. Its gorgeous, but last night my babies managed to throw it all over the house too. Brats. No worries though, I rescued it before too much damage had been done.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Some serious progress has been made on this baby dress. After the whole frogging saga I was beginning to doubt I woul ever get this thing made. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVuiJEjxjgCW1Gs0yCVEsmwNBWM6n9rnmuT7TZGf5-sgXGji07h2dOUbxzLoSJkKxQuwwLevPgZhW2VEX3S6Cel9otAhcMxQ8K1_i_Kgn2y9lJDyXuNb1zHS2Z3Sv7bOAkxbqQrYUfLI3j/s1600/Photo0256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVuiJEjxjgCW1Gs0yCVEsmwNBWM6n9rnmuT7TZGf5-sgXGji07h2dOUbxzLoSJkKxQuwwLevPgZhW2VEX3S6Cel9otAhcMxQ8K1_i_Kgn2y9lJDyXuNb1zHS2Z3Sv7bOAkxbqQrYUfLI3j/s320/Photo0256.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="left">It's actually shaping up rather nicely. I've got several modifications in mind for the top and am getting excited about this project after all. I had to pick up an extra ball of this yarn since I was sure I would run out (I don't know how much I lost to all the frogging) and almost had a panic attack when it was no where to be found at the LYS. I checked T.J. Max and they had a similar yarn in the same the color. I'm sure once it's knitted up it no one will be the wiser!</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">On a totally different note...I recieved a big research grant from my school! I will be presenting at the undergraduate research conference in April! This is a pretty big thing for me and I'm super excited. I think this deserves a little celebration!</div>LivvyLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073959598134976231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154815076168196581.post-11919675971632908782010-11-12T23:58:00.000-05:002010-11-12T23:58:31.999-05:00From The Queue FridaySince it is Friday and I do HAVE to get something accomplished on this baby dress I am just giving up and going with this pattern I've had in my queue for months.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeFgSP-nmJMByNvXNSYGXCO2wMJQPdShbY_OL9ynQ-nnGVZ0zfXrkpK4eaMVsAB-kqkNLPm1ZyX5RLN2aaM0AnbZCWql-jcwtyQWxC1j7vCBNOIqAsLs5nx62wSPaN_Zj_IST_sJLFmU1b/s1600/1706604420_766a2274d6_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeFgSP-nmJMByNvXNSYGXCO2wMJQPdShbY_OL9ynQ-nnGVZ0zfXrkpK4eaMVsAB-kqkNLPm1ZyX5RLN2aaM0AnbZCWql-jcwtyQWxC1j7vCBNOIqAsLs5nx62wSPaN_Zj_IST_sJLFmU1b/s320/1706604420_766a2274d6_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><h2><span style="font-size: small;">Ellis dress/ Ellin mekko<br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">By: Jaana </span></span></h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">It will hopefully turn out to be a quick knit since, after 6 attempts, I really cannot put much more time into this tiny project! I've got a decent start on this (seeing as though I only started it about 2 hours ago). With any luck I'll get to about the half way point tomorrow and be well on my way to finishing it by Monday!</span></span></h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Of course my camera is dead and my phone is refusing to send pictures at the moment, so the likelihood of this Friday post actually being posted on Friday is looking slim.</span></span></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8ViEk74td-dklg6Zh-HiL_sOf56sbIKp-2dtIS4FnmfZgvkbkhwOPjg18gFhifDL80WEPNn6Dk2zPpRo-uZlH1527Pk9WRVwVDvSgBTBAl5wEojXzu5jlEblQRWCz9zTZJ60XAEKNGpc/s1600/Photo0252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8ViEk74td-dklg6Zh-HiL_sOf56sbIKp-2dtIS4FnmfZgvkbkhwOPjg18gFhifDL80WEPNn6Dk2zPpRo-uZlH1527Pk9WRVwVDvSgBTBAl5wEojXzu5jlEblQRWCz9zTZJ60XAEKNGpc/s320/Photo0252.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Sorry for the crummy pic. It shows almost nothing, but is actually showing up rather nicely. I couldn't even tell you what kind of yarn I'm using. I bought it so long ago that it has slipped my mind. Its nothing fancy though. I picked it up at T.J. Max for pretty cheap. I'll probably have to but another ball to finish this. I'll post something nicer in the morning when I've got more "natural lighting".</span></span></h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Happy Friday</span></span></h2></div>LivvyLovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073959598134976231noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154815076168196581.post-83156476832417966002010-11-12T14:14:00.002-05:002010-11-12T14:15:19.418-05:00Baby Dress Take....5,000 This baby dress has been a nightmare. A LITERAL night mare. First I couldn't find a pattern I liked, then I found a pattern, started it, hated, frogged. Found another pattern, started, hated, frogged. Then I decided to just wing it, was going along nicely, broke my ONLY pair of size 7 circs, while I was at the store buying new ones, my cats unraveled nearly the entire project. So attempt number 4 picked ANOTHER pattern, didn't really care for it but kept knitting anyways only to finish the entire dress and find that it was TOO small for the now 6 month old baby. Again...frogged. JUST began attempt number 5 with a pattern I thought I would like got like 3 inches in and found that i had twisted the stitches around the needles. -_-' uuugh. Frogged. This one I actually didn't feel too bad about because as I was knitting I really didn't like the way the yarn (SAME YARN THROUGH THIS WHOLE THING TOO!) was showing the pattern.<br />
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So this is where I am right now.....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSKjKZ61aDYewuxv6CRaK65Vx5bmdwX51re4TmNqldiW_xcNddNgbQQIyVTKMTnndWnWKWzTPKqCQP1zBA_hwBxqQLojAnuEE1fwle4q4y8yYvfSgIGyPTiT0DyXPEFafeCIAjW__l2XM/s1600/Photo0251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSKjKZ61aDYewuxv6CRaK65Vx5bmdwX51re4TmNqldiW_xcNddNgbQQIyVTKMTnndWnWKWzTPKqCQP1zBA_hwBxqQLojAnuEE1fwle4q4y8yYvfSgIGyPTiT0DyXPEFafeCIAjW__l2XM/s320/Photo0251.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(My cats, during their unravelling party, ripped the yarn in half...thus the 2 balls.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">So for my 6th attempt I think I'm going to do a custom pattern. Just as soon as I can get over the tragic loss of all that time put into this dress I'll write a brand spanking new pattern. 6th time is the charm! (Hopefully)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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