Resolution Addendum

A short blog tonight. My sweet husband is home and it has been a busy day. However, I need to make an addendum to my resolutions. After looking at my WIP’s, I have decided that when my current projects are off the needles, I will only knit things (in 2008) from a pattern. I have been knitting way too many scarves.

We will see how this goes, but I am anticipating a lot of frogging. Does anyone have the name of a simple lace shawl or caplet pattern?

WIP Wednesday

Things are finally getting back to normal after the holidays. School has not yet begun. But, otherwise we are back on track. This morning I tried to make some homemade play dough for the older one. (Have I mentioned I am NOT a baker?) I had all of the ingredients except for the cream of tarter. (How important can this little teaspoon be?) Apparently, very important. It was all sticky and gooey…..luckily I had some store bought play-doh to substitute. Adam had a great time and I was sure to buy some cream of tarter at the store.


Tonight, Wednesday night, is my favorite evening of the week. It is knitting night. I have one group at the church at 6pm and then I go straight to Sauced for Stitch ‘n Bitch. Hopefully all of the regulars will be there tonight…..Erin, Amy, Susan, Doris, Courtney…..and maybe some new faces.

WIP Wednesday:
Today I am working on three knitting projects.

The first is a simple scarf for my MIL’s birthday next week. She is a big Oklahoma State fan, so I am doing it in Cowboy orange.

I am still working on the scarf for my sister’s boyfriend. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can…….I am really pleased with how it is turning out, but I really do not like knitting with this cheap yarn.

Finally, I started this scarf for myself…..hoping to get it finished by New Year’s. Obviously, that did not happen. I found this yarn at Windsor-Button in Boston….I really like it.

Happy New Connections

OU Scarf
Originally uploaded by UpNAdam

It is my first blog of this great new year. I am so excited.......I have already been mentioned on another blog, Sew, Mama Sew.......and it is an awesome blog. I made this scarf for my sister's boyfriend, Joel. He is just precious and a proud member of the Pride of Oklahoma, he plays the Tuba.  His scarf was not finished on Christmas, but I gave it to him anyway....on the needles. He loved it. Right now Joel is in Arizona at the Fiesta Bowl....... Boomer Sooner!

The BIG Announcement and a Giveaway X 2

I do not usually make new year resolutions, but this year I decided to make an exception. Knitting, crafting, and blogging has been so therapeutic for me in 2007. So, to keep the momentum going I am going to blog everyday in 2008.

This year promises to be full of new projects, new skills, and new challenges.

So, here is the deal. I am going to blog and blog and blog. And to keep this going, I need lots of support. I will commit to giving away two gifts. One to the person who leaves me my 100th comment. Then I will put all of the names leading up to the 100th comment in a hat, pull one out and send them a gift. (If you comment more than once, you will be put in the drawing more than once.)

Yea!!!!! I am so excited.

Happy New Year!

A Beautiful Day

I woke up on Christmas Day to this. It was beautiful. My oldest son has always been infatuated with the moon. We sing about it, read about it, talk about it, and spot it if at all possible. When I woke on Christmas morning, the moon was the first thing I saw when I looked out the window. It made my day and reminded me of the simple gifts of Christmas.

So, you can imagine how I felt review Christmas Day pictures and seeing this.

I can’t believe I reacted so strongly to a new camera, but I was sooooooo excited. I have loved photography for most of my life. But, since I had children, it has taken on a new life. I think it helps me feel like I am saving a piece of my children at every stage, every memory, every new discovery. I especially love digital. I take hundreds of pictures of the boys with the full intent to only keep the great ones. However, when I review the pictures, I treat them like holy words. I can’t delete them and most of the time I can’t even alter them in any way.

Needless to say, I love my boys, I love my Christmas, and I feel so blessed to have such a bright outlook on Christmas. What a Gift.

HOMEmade FOR THE HOLIDAYS

HOMEmade FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Originally uploaded by UpNAdam

What a year! A year ago December 15, I decided to quit my day job and stay home with my two little guys. It has taken a little getting used to, but it has been worth it. One thing I knew I needed to survive and flourish was something to learn, create, improve upon, etc……you get the idea. So, in preparation for my year I asked Santa for a sewing machine, and ipod and I learned to knit. WOW! My life is forever changed……..for the better. I have created things I never dreamed I could create. I have discovered things about myself that I never knew…..I really am creative and I can do things that not everyone else can do. It has served as an outlet and has proved to be the best therapy EVER!

Last spring I set a goal for myself. I was going to make a majority of the Christmas gifts I gave this year. At first, I was going to supplement the homemade with something purchased. But, as the year progressed, I really felt like that cheapened what I was doing. The things I made, by hand, were valuable…..what a concept.

Test Runs:
Alpaca Knit Scarf for my sister’s birthday
Prayer Shawl for my mother’s birthday
Travel Art Book for a friend’s son

And (drum roll please), here is my Christmas list:
Photo Montage for brother-in-law
Ruffle Scarf (Alpaca) for my sister
Photo Montage for my dad
Prayer Shawl for both of my grandmothers
Knitting Project bag, notions bag and needle case for my sister-in-law
Scarf for my sister’s boyfriend
Photo Calendar for Husband’s Grandmother, Mother and Aunt

Yes, that is right, a total of 13 homemade gifts from August through Christmas. Pretty good for someone who has never made a homemade gift….and actually gave it to the recipient.

The biggest surprise! This was the BEST Christmas ever. I have never been so excited to give these gifts. They all went to great people that I dearly love.

As usual, I am obsessed. I am already planning my homemade gifts for next year. Working up to 100%. We’ll see.

A Special Thanks to a few of Those Who Inspired Me:

Amy at Creative Mom Podcast

Aunt Linda

Brenda Dane at Cast On

My eldest son who remarked about a halloween project, "Mama made Halloween."  Precious.

Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! Happy New Year!

A HUGE Announcement to be made December 31st.  GET EXCITED!

I didn't need a quiz to know this.......

What Kind of Knitter Are You?

You appear to be a Knitting Guru. You love knitting and do it all the time. While finishing a piece is the plan, you still love the process, and can't imagine a day going by without giving some time to your yarn. Packing for vacation involves leaving ample space for the stash and supplies. It can be hard to tell where the yarn ends and you begin.http://marniemaclean.com Take this quiz! Quizilla | Join | Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code