Monthly Make 2012!

The Felt Fairy is hosting this years rounds of A Make A Month!  Hop on over to see what it is all about, see what everyone is doing for their monthly makes and sign up too!

Birchbark - I say GORGEOUS Slippers!

I think these have to be the prettiest crochet slippers I have ever seen and the construction looks to be quite simple in nature.  Birchbark Slippers pattern and tutorial from Mr. Micawbers Recipe for Happiness (how kewl is that blog name!)

It was a cold and windy....

day!  All day, sun up to sun down. Sooooo, I opted to spend my quiet Saturday knitting and oh did I ever!  I got caught up on my traveling socks that came in and am quite happy with their progress.
This first one is Diana's traveler, the green band is my addition to the socks.  I used the Teepees pattern and KBC Grasshopper.

The next one is Jenn's traveler.  I added the pink/red/pink band.  I used a basic basketweave pattern and KnitPicks Palette in Petal and KBC Sweet Ruby.

What will I do on this fabulous Sunday that is still cold and windy, well Fat Sunday of course and more knitting!  Fat Sunday agenda is Roast Pork Tenderloins with Roasted Carrot, Parsnip, Potato and Warm Apple and Savoy Cabbage Slaw.

And going to try my hand at a loaf of beer bread, recipe courtesy of KBC Wendy, to go with it:

Easy Beer Bread
Combine:
3c sifted all purpose or bread flour
1T Baking Powder
4T Sugar
1 tsp salt
1 -12oz can or bottle of beer (room temperature)
Stir it all together and transfer to a greased loaf pan. Bake at 375 F for 45-ish minutes. That’s all there is to it!

Pinterest!

Oh no, I found Pinterest,,,,,everyone told me to go sign up and join the fun,,,,,,,,held off as long as I could and then wham! I got it.  First thing I find, this adorable raglan style Peggy Sue sweater!  Oh I could be in so much trouble with Pinterest! LOL

Sockupied!

I finally did it.  Downloaded my first Sockupied e-mag and I LOVE IT!  So can't wait to try out the sock patterns and very kewlio techniques in the mag. 

"Change" - 2012 Word of the Year

It has taken me almost a month now to decide what my word of 2012 will be and I finally decided on "Change!" and I absolutely love this image because it is pretty much what I tell myself on a daily basis.

Technically my life started changing, for the better, last July when I decided that in order to survive I had to leave the job I was doing and find something more meaningful to me.  Well with that, all aspects of my life started changing.
I have opted to start smelling the flowers more, seeing everything and everyone for what they are, and enjoying all aspects of my life.
Right now, the biggest change (and most fun) is the learning curve I'm on going from working with IT systems in a manufacturing environment to those in a financial environment.  I guess if I'm going to take a leap it might as well be a drastic one hey! LOL  It also helps that I went from 70 hours a week and solely responsible to 40 hours a week working with a team.  Makes the outlook on the work life a whole lot more fun.
The other two big changes so far is my daughter moving out on her own, which is good for both of us, and adopting a new 4 legged creature into the household.  So far both are settling quite nicely.
I'm excited to see what changes the rest of 2012 bring for me!  So now, I'm off to make yet more changes to this crazy but fun life of mine!

Yet more knitting going on!

I finished clue 2 of the KBC Lucky Charms KAL on both socks and am so, so loving this pattern.  Works up super fast!

I've turned into a "hand sock" a.k.a. fingerless mitt designing junkie.  Here's another set I'm working on with a Wave Rib pattern on the back of the hand.  Love these buggers!

Pixie, Pixie, Pixie,,,,,,,!

I absolutely love everything Pixie, just makes me smile.  I've got a few new baby's coming this year so I'm thinking they are going to have to have a couple of these hats!  Isn't it just adorable! Stella Pixie Hat from Etsy blog.

Deep V-Neck Sweater!

I am so in love with this sweater that I just may make it the first I try where I have to actually "construct" the sweater parts!  From The Purl Bee, Deep V-Neck Sweater pattern.

Lucky Charm Clue 2!

Got the right sock done for the Lucky Charms knit-a-long with Knitters Brewing Company!  So love how this pattern is working up.
Some puppy love!  Yup, Coco love,,,,how can I not love that face and those eyes when he looks up at me like that! LOL

mmmmmmmm, more leftover possibilities!

I don't crochet a lot but there are some patterns that just jump out at me, especially when I'm on a mission to use up my left over sock yarn (and it still seems to be growing in astronomical proportions!)  I really like the looks of these wrist warmers,,,,or maybe it's all the colors that are getting me.  Either way, yup, they can use up some leftover stuff for sure!  Pattern at PurlBee!

My Babies!

WOW, did the bottom finally fall out of the temps and boy do the animals know it.  As I type this the weather channel is reporting 8 degrees with it bottoming out at 3 degrees for the low!
Ruby is currently in her "smell the air at the door and turn and run" mode.  She really, really dislikes the cold.  See her here trying to blend into the blankie so I won't make her go outside! LOL

Then it really dawns on you how cold it is when Medusa allows Sadie to snuggle on the chair with her!

Coco on the other hand, he's just happy that he has puppy beds all over the house (not including every piece of furniture) that he can snuggle up in no matter which room I'm in!

 And I just couldn't resist snapping this one of Dusie doing her Garfield impersonation to get Krissy to pet her and/or pick her up and snuggle her!  She's such a ham bone!

MUST makes!

Found two patterns that I have to make AND they go together!  Fell in love with both of them.  Might even have to splurge and get some cashmere yarn to do them in!  YUMMY!  Art Deco Scarf and Caps from The Tucker site!

A step beyond fabric covered....

Is this not the kewlest "book bag" you've ever seen!  I so have to make one, check out the tutorial at Mollie Makes!

Let the "Lucky Charm" Begin!

Friday the 13th the first KBC KAL of 2012 began!  Lucky Charms is the sock name and so far it's looking pretty darned good!  Clue one is complete, the toe of the right sock!  WOOT WOOT!  I'm using KBC IndiGoGo sock yarn!  Love it!

Both toes done!  WOOT WOOT!

Stick to your bones....Fat Sunday!

Until this past Friday, we have had a relatively mild winter.  Some people like it, some people (like me) don't.  The up and down of temperatures and humidity levels absolutely drive my sinuses and joints bonkers.  I want it cold all the time or warm all the time, no bouncy bouncy!  Example, last Wednesday I could walk around with just a sweater on in the high 50s, by Friday it was blizzard conditions!  Doh!  I got my wish and I hope it sticks, I have snow on the ground and the temps are below freezing.  Sadie is loving it too, doesn't she just look so blissful here all ready to make snow angels!

Another reason I like winter,,,,,,,stick to your bones food can go in the oven and fill up our tummies!
Fat Sunday started off with a hot out of the oven loaf of Banana, Craisin, Walnut bread!  YUMMO! Use your favorite banana nut bread recipe and throw in craisins to add a little zing!

Tried out Rachael Ray's Autumn Beef Stew with Apple, Onion, and Roasted Garlic yesterday!  Big, big hit!  Will definitely keep this one in the recipe book!

More knitting!

Of course!  I found a few "new to me" techniques that I will be adding to my vast repertoire of knitting techniques.  I just like how clean they make the stitches.
For some reason I've been doing a lot of socks with a W&T (wrap and turn) heel turn.  Has never been one of my favorite techniques as it never seemed to provide and nice flat and clean seam.  I tried out Cat Bordhi's concealing W&T and really like it a lot!  Here are a couple of videos for it.





Same with binding off, I like a stretchy bind off, especially for cuffs of socks and mittens but most use a lot of yarn to get the stretch, end up bulky, and look as if I crocheted the bind off. Not this one from Stephen West.

A Grown Up Kind of Pretty!

So can't wait for Joshilyn's latest book, A Grown Up Kind of Pretty,  to hit my Freddie Fire, January 25th is what Amazon tells me!  Yeah me!  If you haven't read any of Joshilyn's books I say "huh, you've been missing out!"

Fabric Bracelets!

I am thinking that 2012 is going to be finding ways to use up all the "leftovers" I have accumulated over the years,,,yarn, fabric, paper, etc.  Check out this loverly pattern from Pat Sloan on fabric bracelets!  I can see a lot of these in my future for sure!

Traveling Socks Update!

I got my first set of toes in the mail on Tuesday and got so excited to get them going that of course, I did!  I used the Catnip pattern in a modified form and a single rib to finish off my section!  Super happy with it.

Share your Heart!

Lookie what started yesterday!!!!!  So excited to participate in this online class with Pat Sloan!  It's going to be a bunch of fun for sure!  You still have time to join in the fun, hop on over to the Patchwork Posse and join in!

Relearning a craft!

I am relearning an old craft, yup cross stitch!  I have a certain enabler friend that I just can't help but follow, she signed on so I said,,,,mmmm, think I'll sign on too!  So I did! LOL Doing the 2012 Dessert of the Month club at The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery!  First up, The Champagne Truffle!  Now to go and find the cross stitch supplies since mine went away many years ago!

Catching Up!

Oh what a way to start out the year, SUPER busy at work and no time to myself so this weekend I took it!  It was my first weekend of solitude in almost a month and I cherished it.  Knitted, napped, read, watched movies and series (the entire season of Dexter!).  Enjoyed my animules and actually got to spend one on one time with my daughter, that I haven't done since Thanksgiving!  YIKES!
I test knitted a new pattern for a friend of mine, love it!

Got a pair of leftover sock yarn mitts done, I used the leg pattern from the test knit socks for the top of the mitts and I love it there too!

And of course had to feed the kiddo on Sunday so I made one of her favorites, Hobo Pockets with chicken, rice, artichoke heart, asparagus, and tomatoes.  Love the versatility and ease of this recipe!

To Be Read in 2012!

The Lace Reader Brunonia Barry

Neil White mysteries

Unleashed (Wolf Spring Chronicles) Debbie Viquie
Love in a Nutshell Janet Evanovich and Dorien Kelly 

The Drake Chronicles Alyxandra Harvey

Blood Red Road Moira Young

The Left Hand of Darkness Ursula K Le Guin

The Most Dangerous Thing Laura Lippman

The Bowers Files Steven James
The Pawn, The Rook, The Knight, The Bishop, The Queen

Skin Trade Laurell K Hamilton (Reading Now)
Shine Shine Shine Lydia Netzer (Summer Choice Read)

After Obsession Carrie Jones

Cold Kiss Amy Garvey

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer Michelle Hodkin

Summer Rental Mary Kay Andrews

11/22/63 - Stephen King

Hit List Laurell K Hamilton

Racing in the Rain Garth Stein

The Devil All the Time Donald Ray Pollock

Seaside Knitters Mysterie Series by Sally Goldenbaum
A Holiday Yarn (Book 4)
The Wedding Shawl (Book 5)

Living with the Dead series Jesse Petersen

Witches Anonymous Misty Evans

The Life You've Imagined Kristina Riggle

Things We Didn't Say Kristina Riggle

Split Second Catherine Coulter

2030 Albert Brooks

Spider Web Earlene Fowler

Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters Ben H Winters

Skin Trade Laurell K Hamilton

Dark Ones Series Katie MacAlister

Midnight Breed Series Lara Adrian
Kiss of Crimson

Crunch Time Diane Mott Davidson

Flavia De Luce series Alan Bradley
(The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie)

The Tale of Halcyon Crane Wendy Webb

Wicked Lovely Series Melissa Marr

The Things that Keep Us Here Carla Buckley

Viking Series II (Time Traveler series) - Sandra Hill

Sergeant Kella and Sister Conchita series Graeme Kent
Devil-Devil

Pictures of You Caroline Leavitt

13 to Life Shannon Delany

Jane Yellowrock Series by Faith Hunter

Her Fearful Symmetry Audrey Niffenegger

American Rose Karen Abbott

Here, Home, Hope Kaira Rouda

Room Emma Donoghue

Jen Lancaster - light reads

Sh*t My Dad Says Justin Halpern

Absolute Power David Baldacci

Shades of Milk and Honey Mary Robinette Kowal

The Hunger Games Series Suzanne Collins

Full Dark, No Stars Stephen King

Fresh-Baked Mystery series Livia Washburn

The Lost Symbol Dan Brown

In the Woods, The Likeness, Faithful Place Tana French

Love Finds You in Sugarcreek Ohio Serena B Williams

An Object of Beauty Steve Martin

Shia Waynest vampire series Jess Haines

The Distant Hour Kate Morton

The Boyfriend of the Month Club Maria Geraci

The Cackleberry Club Mysteries Laura Childs

The Orchard Series Sheila Connolly

Real Mermaids Don't Wear Toe Rings Helene Booudreau

I'd Know You Anywhere Laura Lippman

Our Tragic Universe Scarlett Thomas

Still Missing Chevy Stevens

The Sweet By and By Todd Johnson

Shifter series Rachel Vincent

Mistwood Leah Cypess
Whisper Phoebe Kitanidis
Jeri Smith Ready
Shade
Shift
The One I Want Allison Winn Scotch
Blockade Billy Stephen King
Frankenstein series Dean Koontz

Isles and Rizzoli series Tess Gerritsen
The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare
City of Ashes
City of Glass
City of Fallen Angels
City of Lost Souls
City of Heavenly Fire

Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon
The Fiery Cross - Diana Gabaldon - Book 5
A Breath of Snow and Ashes - Diana Gabaldon - Book 6
An Echo in the Bone - Diana Gabaldon - Book 7

Diane Chamberlain
The Lies We Told
Summers Child
Breaking the Silence

Black Sheep Knitting Mysteries by Anne Canadeo
While My Pretty One Knits
Knit, Purl, Die
A Stitch Before Dying

Aurora Teagarden Series by Charlaine Harris
A Bone to Pick - Book 2
Three Bedrooms, One Corpse - Book 3
The Julius House - Book 4
Dead Over Heels - Book 5
A Fool and His Honey - Book 6
Last Scene Alive - Book 7
Poppy Done to Death - Book 8

Read in 2011!

I know I read a lot but I didn't realize that I had read as much as I did in 2011!  I've also got my To Be Read list ready as well for 2012.  So here is what I read and enjoyed all of 2011!

Legwork (Casey Jones Mysteries) Katy Munger (READ 09/2011)

In the Woods Tana French (10/2011)

Torment Lauren Kate (READ 09/2011)

Dark Bites Parts 1 and 3 Robert Ropars (READ 09/2011)

The Keeper prequel to Forbidden Books of Mortals series Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee (READ 09/2011)

The Abandoned (prequel to The Graveyard Queen series) Amanda Stevens (Read 09/2011)

It Looked Different on the Model Laurie Notaro (READ 09/2011)

Bitten Merrill Gemus (READ 09/2011)

Itsy Bitsy - John Ajvide Lindquist (READ 09/2011)

The Strange Case of Finley Jayne (Prequel to The Steampunk Chronicles) - Kady Cross (READ 09/2011)

The Girl in the Steel Corset (Book 1 Steampunk Chronicles) - Kady Cross (READ 10/2011)

The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown (READ 09/2011)

The Help Kathryn Stockett (READ 08/2011)

Dead and Gone - Sookie book 9 Charlaine Harris (READ 08/2011)

Buttoned Holed (Casey Daniels/Kylie Logan) (READ 10/2011)

Who Stole Me pre-release Jon Bloch (Read 8/2011)

Seaside Knitters Mysterie Series by Sally Goldenbaum
Moon Spinners (Book 3) (READ 8/2011)

WVMP Radio Series by Jeri Smith Ready
Let It Bleed - (READING NOW ON LINE AS NOVELLA)

Living with the Dead series Jesse Petersen

Fallen Lauren Kate (READ 8/2011)

See Jane Run Joy Fielding (Read 7/2011)

Charley's Web Joy Fielding (Read 7/2011)

Sunset Bridge Emilie Richards (Read 6/2011)

Serial Blake Crouch (Read 6/2011)

Full Dark, No Stars Stephen King (Read 5/2011)

Backseat Saints Joshilyn Jackson (READ 05/2011)

The Price of Candy (Sandy Reid mysteries book II) Rod Hoisington (read 05/2011)

One Deadly Sister (Sandy Reid mysteries book I) Rod Hoisington (read 5/2011)

Smokin' Seventeen Janet Evanovich (READ 06/2011)

The Peach Keeper Sarah Addison Allen (READ 6/2011)

Patricia Amble Mysteries - Nicole Young
Love Me If You Must (read 4/2011)

A Truth for A Truth Emilie Richards (read 4/2011)

Midnight Breed Series Lara Adrian
Kiss of Midnight (Read 6/2011)
Kiss of Crimson

White Hot Sandra Brown (read 4/2011)

A Darker Dream Amanda Ashley (read 4/2011)

Bite Me Parker Blue (Read 3/2011)

Grave Illusions Lina Gardiner (Read 3/2011)

The Accidental Exorcist Joshua Graham (Read 3/2011)

The Bite of Silence Mary Hughes (Read 2/2011)

Once Bitten Clare Willis (Read 01/2011)

Silent Screams by C.E. Lawrence (Read 01/2011)

How to Knit a Wild Bikini (Read 2/2011)
Unravel Me (Read 2/2011)
Dirty, Sexy Knitting Christie Ridgway (Read 3/2011)

Needles and Pearls (Jo McKenzie book 2) Gil McNeil (READ 3/2011)

Abraham Lincoln - Vampire Hunter Seth Grahame-Smith (READ 5/2011)
Explosive Eighteen Janet Evanovich (READ 12/2011)

The Basement Stephen Leather (12/2011)

American Vampire Jennifer Armintrout (Read 12/2011)

In the Woods Tana French (11/2011)

Mile 81 - Stephen King (READ 12/2011)

Happy New Year!

I wish each and everyone of you the happiest of happiest New Year 2012!