My week in photos

You can see what I'm up to during the week on Instagram (as long as you don't mind a cute baby or dog or cat thrown in there occasionally.)

 

I finished the words on my Hypnotoad cross stitch.

  

I started the "black work" I decided to do last minute as well. Not convinced I like the color scheme so far.

 

I really, really finished my sweater, for reals. That's it blocking.

 

You can't really tell here, but it is FRUMPY. My groodness, so much frump! I'm hoping it will shrink a bit with blocking, but I'm not holding my breath. :/

 

I'm in the process of getting some new items ready for my shop... I'm kinda excited for it! I hope people like them as much as me!

 

I made some brooches! I have some fine tuning, but I'm hoping to have them in the shop by next friday. :)

What have you done this week?

Random WIPs

 This week Ive been working on catching up on some things I've fallen behind on (hello thank you cards for my shower that was back in OCTOBER!!!) And this is my long stretch of birthdays, so I've been churning out presents. So far I've been pretty smart about it, making sure I'm not biting off more than I can chew as it was. I've picked things that are quick, easy, don't require much mental thought and can be done while nursing. She does demand my attention when she is awake these days and tries to 'help' when I work in front of her. So here are some snip-its of what I've been working on this week:

 

I made a pair of socks for my brother's birthday. He really likes the socks I make him, so I try to get him a pair at least once a year. I based it off of Thuja, which is a go-to sock pattern for me. I used a grass stitch instead of the seed stitch rib.

I also made a shawl for my madre. It's more of a kercheif (as the pattern suggests) but she loves it just the same. The color(s) are right up her ally too.

I'm sure you've seen these shirts on Pinterest, it says: "I'm sorry for what I said when I was hungry." It's kinda like a family motto. We all need one.

 

And I'm still working on Hypnotoad. It never ends! I keep making design changes so, that probably has something to do with it too. I'm thinking of adding some black work in the neon colors to imitate the wavy-grooviness in some of his pictures. What do you think? Anything you're working on?

A Scarf for Whit

I have been pretty much exclusively making presents for my friends and family  for nearly a decade now. My skills have vastly improved since my beginnings crocheting scarves for all my fitness in high school. That being said, I know that my taste and choices for gifts aren't always on par with the recipients. It's a game of chance making instead of buying, there are no returns or exchanges and there's the added knowledge that the gifted spent hours if not days weeks or months salving away on your gift. It's intimidating. And I know I get it wrong a lot. There are a few people I have no problems finding things to make for- my brother and husband wears holes in the socks I make for them. My mom has her scarves on. Seasonal rotation. I've given up on my dad, but he's impossible to shop for too so that's a wash. Then there are my friends. I know I'm always a color or pattern choice away from something they will love or put on that fake smile and say/ "wow, how neat!" (You know you've done it too)

We'll, I think I nailed it this time. I decided to ask what Peoria wanted this year (not the first, but I usually get: "oh you know what I like." (No I don't, I wouldn't be asking if I did!) and this particular birthday girl said "I want something like a scarf or hat so I can wear your art!" Well, I made her a hat before but I will admit that 'art' is not an adjective that applies to it. And so I decided against what I initially was going to make her (which I now may make for myself because I like weird nerdy things) and did as asked, and I think I nailed it!

And I'm glad I did because I love the pattern and yarn so much I may make one for all my other friends too! I picked a stitch from my stitch book (which I almost changed because it's been a rather warm winter and I was afraid it wouldn't get much use) and I am in love with the effect! It almost looks like cables, but it's only knit and purl stitches. And it was So. Easy. I mean really easy. I could knit in the dark! (Which was nice since a little someone won't go to bed if it's not dark) and it took me less than an hour a night for roughly a week. Which is how long I had to get it done, since I started knitting it so late.

And that yarn! It's nothing fancy, Simply Soft in Harlyquin I bought at Michael's. But let me tell you, it's so soft and cozy and that COLOR! I fell in love when I saw it and knew I would make something out of it. And since it's acrylic I can be sure that of she tosses it in the wash and dryer it will not be ruined! And I have to say, I think I hit the 'art' part on the mark!

I also did something I usually don't do- I added a crochet border.  I think that if I had used a rib or other border on it it wouldn't have turned out so nice. It adds a bit of fancyness without taking away from the beautiful simplicity of the stitch!(at least I think so) I think I'm going to try and turn this into a pattern (I have a few knots I want to do that to) and see how that goes!

What do you think? Anything turn out surprisingly good/easy/beautiful for you? 

My week of lame

(i know it's Tuesday... I totally forgot to hit publish instead of save Sunday! whoops! so just pretend its Sunday still :)

What did I do this week? I finished the catio my dad made/provided supplied for my birthday while he hung out with the kiddo. (I promise photos once the weather provides some nice light :)

 I had planned on being done with a friends birthday present, but I got a case of mom brain and did it totally wrong!! So frustrating, as it was the roughest (or so I thought) part of the project. I'd been done too, except I'm doing handles instead of dowels and adding some other fun things to the design. What is it you ask? Well, when it's done I'll show you! :) (for fear the recipient might stumble across this page, but who am I kidding really? Kenna, your the only consistent one reading this thang)

I also started another birthday present this week that I will hopefully get done in time ( these birthdays are on the 30th and 31st btw). This one is knitting, so it's been a bit easier squeezing in a stitch or two while nursing or when she naps (which has been a battle this week, let me tell you. Apparently there is no better bed than mom) but still. What do you think of the colors?

Oh! And one more thing to round out this random post, I finally got around to taking photos of the gloves I made my mom for her birthday last year! I plan on releasing the pattern soon (my first one!!!) and if it goes well you may see more of my designs in the future… A girl can dream though! :p

 

ps: I sold 3 things!!! So excited about that! So it will push those presents back a bit, because money makers take precedent!

Hope you had a wonderful week!! :)

WIPs

It's been a rough week of the little lady not taking naps unless she is on me… so I haven't gotten a ton done like is like too. But here is an update on some things I'm working on:

Paper piecing for my sewing machine cover:

 

The running joke with my good pal Robin is that I cant start a new-to-me craft like a normal person who picks a pattern and follows directions.  I don't tip-toe, I run full speed into it by making my own patterns and ignoring any and all directions! Lucky for me it usually isn't a total disaster (usually). This is definitely wasn't one of my disasters! I am pretty proud of myself. While I cannot claim these as my own ideas/patterns, I didn't use the patterns available and drafted my own instead! I used Pinterest to gather ideas and use what others had done to make it myself! (I used this, this, this and this as my inspiration/spring board for my own patterns) There has been a bit of hand sewing involved due to my lack of forethought in some instances, but overall I'm pretty pleased! I can't wait to get it all put together and sewn up for I can leave my new sewing machine out full time!

Mystery Sock KAL:

 

So I kinda messed this one up. I didn't switch to the smaller needles like the pattern says 

because they're being used on another project and I'm too lazy to make notes to remember what I'm using) So I haven't decided if I like them enough to rip it and re-knit it to the cuff and do them properly, knit the second sock the same and deal with it or just frog it all together and use the yarn for a different pattern (because I LOVE this yarn color! Glorious!!!) So we'll see what ends up happening.

And something I'm working out that will eventually make it into my shop:

Can you guess what it is? :)

Scarf Update

I finally caught up! In case your wondering, I started my scarf several weeks after the date I decided to use as my starting point. I also had to go get some yarn which pushed me back even more, but here she is:

The needle shows where February starts. What do you think? Accomplishing anything these days?

Project 365

Have you heard of this? Me either. Not until after I started my temperature scarf. What I like about this is that if I fall behind its easy to play catch up. It's only 2 rows a day over 30 stitches, so I takes all of 5 min! Go me! :) 

Anyway, with Project365 you basically commit to doing something everyday for a year, hence the 365. Most people decide the start theirs in the 1st of the year or sometime in January (at least from what I gather skeezing about on Instagram using the #project365 hash tag and Pinterest project 365) and take photos or do something photo related. I decided to start mine with my wee one's birthday.

Here is what 12/13-12/31 looks like:

Darn!!

Sorry, I couldn't help myself. This is a post about darning. My husband has what he refers to as "acid feet" and so socks I make him don't last long. I will need to start taking preventative measures on future projects, but that's a different post.

So you can see the problem with this pair, not only did he manage to wear a sizable hole in it but also managed to unravel the toe somewhat.

As you can see I just used some crochet hooks to fix the runs, that was super easy.

As for the actual hole I used this tutorial to mend the hole. Seeing as I have no egg/ mushroom to aid me, I improvised and used a baby bottle with a cap on.

Unlike the run on the toe, the hole looks ugly, like super ugly. But since this is on the underside of the sock where it will be unseen when worn, I don't care. Honestly, I'm pretty happy with how it turned out! These suckers have been sitting in my 'to fix' box for a year or so now, so the hubs is pretty stoked to have them back. As well as the other 2 pairs I plan on fixing.

I have added emptying my fix-it box to my goals for this spring, since it's something I tend to avoid with a passion. I'm not sure I've ever actually fixed anything that's made it I'm there for more than a week… whoops! :)

I know, I'm terrible. How are you with mending garments instead of tossing them?

Progress this week

It seems as though the 3rd trimester lazies have gotten a hold of me… my work time has been cut in half and I still can't seem to get anything done around my house!! I have managed to get a little knitting and stitching in:

My socks are coming along, and I think I've finally figured out how to hold my yarn so that it isn't tangled and hard to deal with!

I have finished the fun part of my clock (though I still need to fix 6 o'clock Links hair, not a fan of the pink!) The numbers are next and then to add the hardware! I'm very excited about this! What do you think?

Socks!

Yup, started a pair of socks. I don't know about you, but I love making socks, they're my favorite knit by far! And these suckers are going to keep me busy:

You can't really tell yet, but they are going to be a chevron print! That's right, I'm working on my fair isle technique, and while I am better at it than last time, I am still not what I would call proficient. But they are so fun! 

Do you have a go-to project you like to do?

Hey!

Guess what I did? I technically finished my sweater!! Neat huh?

Except for what you say? That button band is making the sweater all cinchy where it shouldn't? Yup, pretty much. So I ripped the whole band out and than I remembered, I was going to add a little length once I finished the sleeves, so I undid that edge and will continue the rib a little farther and try a swing at that band again. And believe me, there was no amount of blocking that would fix that problem. It is an easy fix and she will be done before I know it!

What have you been working on? :)

Knitin

I've finally gone out and got some yarn to match some lovely knit picks gloss in guava I bought with my sweater yarn (because I needed a few more things to qualify for free shipping... and I'd rather my money be spent on yarn than that!) But before I do anything, I have to wind it up into a ball. Which I've never done on anything but remnants, but I did some pokey-poking around the interwebs and found this!

 

I can totally do that! And so I did. And it took awhile. But it's my first, and with that comes a level of perfection I'm not likely to see in future wound yarn balls made by me:

I'm very happy with the way it turned out. Although, I did try to make it center pull but somewhere in the process I lost that end.... oh well. All long as it isn't a loop of doom threatening to tangle I'm cool.

 

I'm pairing the lovely guava up with some cool grey I found whilst poking around the yarn section at Michael's. It's Loops & Thread sock yarn, stupid soft and only $2.99 for 600+ yd or something ridiculous! I'm am super excited to get started on these suckas! (and these too!)

What are you working on?

Sleeves are done!

And I've already started on the hood (finally!) she's starting to come together! But it's Santa Ana season over here and it's been stupid hot… we've been hosing Watson down a few nights a week in order to cool him off and I finally went out and replaced our broken fan, so it's been hard to sit down and power through like I want too. Still, I'm managing to get a few rows done in the morning before I head off to work to melt!

Hope you're getting work done on your projects too! (And getting some cooler weather unlike us!)

Ps: if you care, I've been posting my progress on Instagram fairly regularly, so feel free to follow me if you want more updates!! :)

Charleston Tea Progress

I've finally gotten around to working on my sweater… only took to almost my 3rd trimester! (To be fair, work has been particularly challenging this summer, which is normally my busy months anyway!

The body is done! 

Here you can see the detail on the back. I'm not entirely convinced that its as long as I want it to be, and is possibly to wide as well. Unfortunately, as it is my first sweater, I'm not comfortable making adjustments until the sleeves are done, at which point I should have a better idea of what I'm looking for.

What do you think? I'm pretty happy so far, but I tend to get sick of big projects after a while, does this happen to you?

June Up-date: Resolutions!!!

Updates!
 (PST! Don't forget I would love to hear from you about your own goals (resolution or not) and your progress as well, so that we can help each other stick to it!)
So here it is, my list of things I want to accomplish this year and how I am going about it. Here is how I'm doing so far:

• Knit a sweater

Soooo...... I'm trying. I really am. But I am into that part of a project where you just can't stand it any more! The rows take forever!! (no not really, but with my attention span lately it seems like it...) I am getting a bit in here and there, I just cant seem to sit down and plow through it like I was when I started. 

• Get this blog consistent traffic

HA! This seems like a joke to me now.... with all the things going on in my life at the moment this blog just isn't a priority. I really want it to be, but alas, I have a lot of wants. I'm not looking at it as giving up just quite yet, but putting it on hold until other things are smoothed out.

• Sell 6 projects on Esty or elsewhere  DONE!

Yay! And I managed another sale! And with what little effort I've put in it makes me happy that the store is doing fine without my constant supervision. (Although it would probably do better if I ever introduced the new items I keep promising myself I will make...)

• Learn to cross stitch

Sooo.... that stitch-a-long turned out to be uninteresting. Boo. Not to despair! That friend I mentioned last month is still trying to wine and dine me into her fold. So we shall see.

• Buy a car

Instead we're going to play musical chairs with my parents. The chairs being the drivers seat in our cars. And no, we don't know how it's going to play out yet because the music hasn't started.

• Help patrons in Spanish

FAIL. I haven't touched it in months.... but now that I am back in a predominantly Spanish speaking area again (did I mention I got quasi-promoted?) I have a renewed sense of urgency in this department.

• Schedule my time effectively 

Hilarious! I wish I could laugh in my face when I wrote that in February!

• Get back in "working order"

Not in my future. We can't even seem to keep on our dishes let alone in 'working order.' Alas, this has been relegated to me 'wants' list.

Not so impressive. It seems the year is catching up to me... I haven't given up on any of them yet, I'm going to call it 'prioritizing' that way it sounds like I'm being efficient. :)

How are you doing on your goals? Are you 'prioritizing' like me?

New Years Resolutions- May update!

Updates!
 (PST! Don't forget I would love to hear from you about your own goals (resolution or not) and your progress as well, so that we can help each other stick to it!)
So here it is, my list of things I want to accomplish this year and how I am going about it. Here is how I'm doing so far:

• Knit a sweater

I'm into the shaping portion of my sweater, and while I've had a difficult time lately knitting it (or knitting in general for that matter) I am having a great time knitting it! I really like the way it is coming out. I cannot wait to wear it!

• Get this blog consistent traffic

Last post I told you that I opened a Facebook page, twitter account, flickr specific to my blog and informed you of my personal Pinterest and Instagram accounts. And since then I have decided that it was too much to fast, I don't know what I'm doing. I don't even like twitter. :/ So I am stepping back, and while Pinterest and Instagram will be updated still (since they are personal not necessarily related to the blog or shop)

• Sell 6 projects on Esty or elsewhere  DONE!

I did it! But to be fair, looking back, that wasn't much of a goal. I haven't yet decided what to replace this goal with, seeing as I don't have a great grasp of what is a realistic yet challenging goal to reach for, I will need some time to think about it.

• Learn to cross stitch

A friend of mine who cross stitches has plans to drag me into a stitch-a-long with her, so whenever that happens (I think it's in June) I will begin to conquer this resolution!

• Buy a car

We aren't really any closer, however we are slowly but surely saving money for it. Our goal is to try by September or October to apply for a loan. Fingers crossed!

• Help patrons in Spanish

Since the last update I am sad to say that my time on Rosetta has dwindled significantly. Work and life has been getting in the way, so hopefully once all these trainings and moving and such has occurred I will be able to get back to it!

• Schedule my time effectively 

Put on hold for the time being.

• Get back in "working order"

Put on hold for the time being.

So that's how I did last month, not super impressive, but I'm sticking to my big one, mostly. How have you done?

Lazy Sunday

Wip

New Years Resolutions- April Update

Updates!
Here is how I'm doing so far:  (PST! Don't forget I would love to hear from you about your own goals (resolution or not) and your progress as well, so that we can help each other stick to it!) So here it is, my list of things I want to accomplish this year and how I am going about it:

• Knit a sweater

I bought this pattern, bought my yarn (I chose Lilac) 

 

I am almost done with the top shaping! (I know it's not the best photo, but I was halfway through a row when I had to run out the door this morning!)

 

I am so happy with how it's turning out so far! I like the yarn a lot, so soft and it glides on my needled effortlessly! 

 

You may see more sweaters in the future if this is how the whole thing goes, but we will see where I am in a month!

 

I am almost onto the 3rd of 11 skeins of yarn. Never have I ever used so many in one project!

• Get this blog consistent traffic

This is a work in progress. As you know I opened the Facebook page. I've also set up accounts on twitter and flickr,  and I plan on using my personal accounts for Pinterest and Instagram too.I am having a bit of trouble remembering to use some of those places for more than browsing and personal use... but at least I got them started. I'm starting to believe I'm trying to do too much too fast, so I might actually hold off on trying to push those other venues and focus on this here blog and shop. I mean, I haven't even added links over on the side bar yet!

• Sell 6 projects on Esty or elsewhere 

Adding to the 1 sale in January, I have another Shark Towel in the works and I made my first ever Etsy sale last month! Totally stoked! I need to update that store with more stuff, but I've been working on birthdays and such... it's a busy time of year for me! At least I'm killing 2 birds with one stone, some of the presents I'm making are prototypes for items I will eventually sell in my shop!

• Learn to cross stitch

Still working on it. I am no closer than last time.

• Buy a car

We had an interesting turn of events in this vein... and they happened this morning! Turns out my parents might be buy a new car too, making John and I the beneficiaries of their used vehicle. SCORE! We need to hash out the details, but lets just say my parents take good care of their vehicles and do not want any of them out of the family anytime soon...

• Help patrons in Spanish

I've now been using Rosetta Stone for a few weeks and I love it so far! Yes it's expensive, but my mom want halvsies with me (It's a goal for her as well) so it wasn't as bad. And I got it on sale. :) I am having a hard time remember to sign on and do the lessons, but the few i have are helping immensely. Bilinguality, here I come!

• Schedule my time effectively

 Being your own boss? Way harder than it sounds. I'm used to have a defined job description or a supervisor that it is a continuing struggle to keep myself on task and motivated. And I do not supervise myself well. Work in progress.

• Get back in working order

This is in line with scheduling my time effectively, I am not good at being my own boss. Due to some personal stuff I've gone easy on this section, but I feel I am doing better. My goal for this next month is to make sure all dishes are done on time, and when I do laundry it gets put away immediately and not sit in the hamper getting covered in kitty fur. (Someone thinks it's his hammock.)

• Start saving for a home

Another one that has had some interested changes. While we are still not currently looking at homes to buy my dad has agreed to look into some first time home buyer incentives and see if we are a good match for any of them. So who knows? Maybe we will get a house this year, anything can happen!

There is the laundry list of goals for myself... I am actually quite happy with the progress! What do you think? How are your goals coming?

WIP

Look familiar? They are done! Well, mostly. I need to control those strings there.

 

Annnnd a new project too! This is also almost done, and a b-day gift, so the big reveal will be next week after the recipients receives him! Hope she likes it!