more stuff

I made another coffee cup cozy for my etsy...however, alana came over and it matched her purse perfectly, so I gave it to her! here's a pic for good measure anyway..I'm currently making another for my shop!

I love the red contrast stitch on the black and white background...

bohemian fall colours bag

I started a crocheted bag a few days ago. Once it's finished I'm planning on selling it in my etsy shop! It's really coming along..it should be finished in a few days...of course, I'll have to line it, and I've never done that before..not to mention I'd have to do it by hand because I'm sans sewing machine at the moment! It should be fine though....as for the lining fabric, there's a small second hand shop in the basement of hospice that has a decent craft section...they sell vintage fabric for $1.00 a yard. If you can get over going into hospice (which I don't have a problem with because the money benefits the place) then there are a ton of great finds! Anywho, here's a pic of what i've got done!

(that's not white, it's tan..the other colors are green, camo, and brown)

etsy stuff!!

So, I started my etsy shop (finally!). Last night I worked on a couple cozies to put in it (I could have done more, but I was feeling lazy and watching reruns of star trek the next generation!!) Tonight, I'm going to make animal print coffee cozies! I think those will sell better than the fun summer colours! Anyhow, here they are!

I know it's not much, but at least it's something in my shop! I'm thinking of taking the earrings I made and put up in the coffee shop and putting them in my etsy!

new things

Before I left for Annual training, I stopped at the Yarn store in ER and picked up a few fun finds. The Buttons are military inspired by vogue, and the yarn is patons silk bamboo in orchid. I bought the yarn to swatch for a short sleeve deep v sweater. It's incredibly soft and I can't wait to start on it.

So, my annual training was kind of crappy this year. We stayed in DIRTY barraks in sleezy Grayling. Now, if I were just spending my time on the field it would be one thing. But, we're in the band. Part of our job is to look our best. How can we do that when we're living in filth? Anyway, the beggining of the second week I got a call from my mom saying my great grandmother was sent to hospice. My command ended up being really cool and releasing me, so my squad leader drove me home for the night so I could see her one last time. She ended up dying on Wednsday morning at 3 A. M.
So, I had a crappy AT. I get home and find a package on my kitchen counter filled with goodies from Wales. It didn't fix my broken heart, but it lift my spirits significantly. Inside were the buttons I ordered (although, I only remember ordering one set...I think the second set were a gift.), and the vintage Rudiments of Music book.

And, SUPRISE!! Birthday gifts from Wondra! Thank you so much! My cats really liked the i.d. yarn. It was apparant when I went up to my attic and it was unraveled all across the floor. Not to worry though! It took me about three hours, but I was able to untangle it and wind it back up into a ball....I almost killed my cats....Ok...so, I googled british military buttons, and I found the two small silver ones. Don't know if you know this Wondra, but the buttons you sent me are almost three hundred years old. No, not almost, ARE!! And they are beatiful..mabey I'll make a doll and use them for eyes, just like in coraline...j/k...I do think I'll use them in my Mrs. Lovett costume though. Anyway, THANK YOU for my presents!!

I bought some more yarn to make more shrugs..I'll be making them in multiple sizes and putting them in my etsy shop. The yarn I picked up is a nice forest green...should fit the falling leaves motif. I'll be starting on a size small tonight. Anyway, I've talked and talked tonight! I'll be back soon!!

grrr

I woke up this morning to my circular shrug-in-progress on the floor and the ball of yarn destroyed...GGGGRRRR!!!! I'll be rewinding the ball in about five seconds....

I started a new shrug today. The pattern is called "circular shrug", from Ravelry.com. Thank you Julia Allen for outlining such a cute piece of clothing using any yarn with any size needle. For mine, I chose to knit it in Patons Divine in white on size US 11 needles. The project is going quite fast, and hopefully I'll have it done by the end of the week. I started the project in hopes that I'll have something to knit to help pass the time on annual training, but I think I'll be done by then, or at least shortly into it! I think I'll bring some cotton yarn and a crochet hook and make a shopping bag, and mabey some washcloths..I want to do so many projects! Right now my knitting ADD mind is going "pack a bunch of different yarn and needles so you won't get bored!!" I think I'll limit myself to the washcloths and bag...MABEY I'll bring a skein to make another strug.

......

i love my cats...i love my cats...

hmmmm

i want to invent a robot that mows the lawn...one who can stand the 90 degree heat!

ALMOST....THERE....

this was the most rewarding project i have ever completed...mabey because i didn't use a pattern and figured it out on my own...not quite finished yet, all i need to do is put a few rows of ribbing on the sleeves and weave in the ends. i have some really pretty shiny tan beads i might but in various spots...not sure it'll be worth the work though...i think it's just fine without them. and now a few pics...(please excuse my hair...i just finished my run prior to the pics..)

from the back....jankey photo...had to take it backwards...but, i'll have someone take a real pic from behind once i'm totally finished and glammed up!

from the front....i wasn't sure how it would turn out...but i'm pleased with the results!

first things first....

a teaser of my shrug..almost done!

i was unpacking and found this guy....his hair is falling out, so i need to fix him with something else...don't know yet though, but as soon as i see something it'll hit me!

a few bubble magnets..

speaks for itself....

and audrey two...my venus fly trap....isn't it a contradiction to have a plant that eats meat? mother nature strikes back...take THAT!

new house

so, i moved into my new house a few weeks ago...i've just been lazy and haven't uploaded any new pics, so, HERE THEY ARE!! tadaaa....

Bathroom...decided to go with spa colours...

kitchen...i think i'm going to paint it yellow....there is a TON of storage space and counter space...haven't baked any cupcakes yet though!

living room...done with this room for now...i'm happy with it...even if the curtains are a little old lady-ish!!

uber creative...

Last night I think there was a muse lying in bed with me. Sounds kinky, I know. But, all of last night, all I could think about was creating new and exciting sweaters. I drew out about five designs. Now, all I have to do is figure out the patterns and submit them to various (paying) sites. Mamma needs high speed internet!
I'm almost finished with the back of the bed jacket. It's not very far, but at least it's an accomplishment. Only five more sections to go! I figured with the amount of time I acctually knit, it'll be a section or so a week. I'm going to do the arms at the same time so they're even with each other. I may even do the front two pannels the same way.
I know I'll have a ton more time to knit in a few weeks. Tommarrow I'm going with my mother to look at a house for rent. I've seen the outside, but I don't think I need to see the inside to make up my mind. I've already done so. So, all I'm waiting for is for the construction crew to finish renovations. When I'm living on my own I won't have anyone to talk to except my cats, no cable, no digital converter, so I'll be able to knit a LOT!
One of my mothers co-workers is selling a brand new reclining couch for $75. SWEET! Now I'll be able to have company over!
So, I promise I'll get pics of my knitting and the house up soon. Mabey I'll throw in a couple of my cats, because I know everyone is just DYING to see how they're doing!
Just one more thought....I'm browsing patterns on ravelry and I came across a couple from the new issue of Vogue knitting....I'll have to pick that issue up...there are some really cute peices!

Have you ever been so excited about something that you feel like you're about to faint? That happened to me today. Before I go on, let me tell you events leading up to this moment. For the last two weeks or so, I've been searching for a new appartment. I work at a coffee shop, which is the hub of town, and have been asking regular customers or customers that I know have property whether they or anybody they know has property for rent. I got a few leads, but they all ended in miserable disappointment. For example, I know one customer owns the building next to our shop and HAD an appartment available, but had just signed a lease with a new tennant the day before. Everywhere I turned I would come up short. About a week ago, I asked a girl that works in the shop next to mine if she knew of anybody trying to find a renter. She said that the family of the elderly gentleman next to her house was trying to find someone. I was thinking that I would never be able to afford a house with a nice yard and a garage. But, on a whim, I called the landlord. We are now at the moment that I almost fainted. Upon telling me about all the repairs and the acre of land the house sits on, the landlord told me the rent. The WHOLE property is almost two hundred dollars LESS than what I was looking for. What repairs you ask? I'll tell you. There is a new roof, a new toilet and bathtub, new carpet, new drywall, and a few landscape repairs. Apparantly the water drained towards the house and caused black mold in the basement, but both the mold and the water drainage issues have been resolved.
My mother and I drove past the house today. Acctually we drove by about three times. I'm afraid that the people working on the house thought that we were two psychos because we drove by really slow and staired. I don't care though. It's a cute little white house with room for a vegetable garden and flowers under the windows. And it's within walking distance of work.
The best part about this whole thing is that it's a two bedroom house, so I'll be able to have a proper craft room!
I don't sound too excited, do I??
My mother is going with me on Saturday to view the house, but it's just a technicality. I just want to picture what it looks like inside so I can decorate in my head!

new new years resolution

so, i've been thinking...maybe my resolve to knit a new sweater every month was a BIT much...i'm only bringing this up because the sweater i'm making for my mom is taking FOREVER!!! plus school is about to start and i'm still working full time....SO, i've decided to resolve to knit one project at a time, start to finish....i'll try to work up my speed though..i've got a ton of projects lined up....
but, i'm still going to do the sweater i had lined up for january next.
i found my camera...it was at the bottom of a laundry basket that i piled a bunch of sweaters and jackets on...they were clean! i swear! but i'm just lazy and haven't put them away yet...anyway, i'll post soon, but i don't have time right now....

new years resolutions

a few new years resolutions:


1) quit smoking


2) get off my weight flag


3) knit (and finish) a new project every month





for my first knitting project i want to do something lacey and sexy. it'll probably be white, because instead of fighting the never ending snow this season, i've accepted the fact that i'm stuck in siberia (well, michigan, but it's similar). i will be a snow vixen, the ice queen. so, something white, possibly with silver beads because i like the snow that shimmers like glitter.

I was thinking this...but in white with beading in the collar and cuffs. sexy....the pattern is from Knitting Lingerie Style by Joan McGowan-Micheal

i hope it's not to ambitious...it'll be my second sweater (the first one is febuary lady sweater for my mom)

brrr....

it's.......snowing.....

mmmm....brains!

so, i haven't gotten very far on my novel....only 633 words, but i let rachel read it and she likes it...i'm starting to wonder if i'll ever finish a book! i had inspiration and worked on it for about an hour the other night, but that's it! i just can't get into it! oh well...i'll finish it someday!

anyway..wondra, i had a dream i visited you and you were pregnant! weird...youre not are you? lol!! j/k! anyway, i'll be back soon!

drew

one more day!

first, i want to say happy birthday wondra!!

next, i figured out what i want to write about (last night, while i was drifting off to sleep). ruined my sleep of course. but, at least i'm not freaking out as much. i'm going to write about a woman who gets abducted by her stalker and taken to a remote location....don't know what to classify the story as though...don't really care, i'll figure that out later.

anyway, my sweater is coming along....i haven't worked on it tonight, but i did count the stitches. i gave up on knitting tonight though because i was one stitch off...didn't feel like dealing with it tonight.

tommarrow is halloween (it's already halloween in wales though!). my mom and i are going to watch a seven hour live ghost hunter show..i'll work on the sweater then...i should be able to get a big chunk done in seven hours...i really want to work on other things, but i'm determined to acctually finish this project before i start another one....i can overcome my knitters a.d.d!!!

nanowrimo

it's almost here! national novel writing month! i can't wait, but i'm dreading it! i still have no idea what i'm writing about. but, hey, i'll just start writing and we'll see what comes of it. anywho, i've gotta go. love you!

dont really have much to say. just wanted to post to let everyone know i'm still alive! i'm making progress with my sweater....i've almost gotten to the lace part (it's worked top down and the collar and chest area are garter stitch). i've even finished all three button holes...i think i've got four more increase rows (eight rows total). i can't wait to get to the lace part, it's very easy (i've already made a swatch!!! i couldn't help it!) this is my first sweater (well, first one that will be finished any how...i've started another one but, i'd get the front and back done and put it down for a few months and loose my place) i've taken detailed notes on this one so i don't think i'll be in danger of loosing my place, plus i'm obsessed with counting the stitches every row (obsessed or paranoid? i think the later).
wondra, i really want to come over and see you! i had a dream last night that i met the love of my life in london! mabey it was prince william! yeah...
anyway, i've got to turn in! i'm VERY tired!
mabey tommarrow i'll sew my costume! or mabey it will never get done cause i'm lazy, plus i have no idea how to use a sewing machine!
anyway, good night