A Year of Projects Week 4

It's hard to believe we're already going into Week 4.  So far it's been good for me.  I've completed more since July 1, than I did in the last three months.

Today is the last day for Tour de Fleece.  I'm very happy with what I was able to do during this time.  This week I plied two yarns and filled two bobbins with singles.  I've got a bobbin on the wheel still, but it's unlikely I will get to finish it today.  I need to recalculate the yardage of the two new yarns as I misplaced the paper that has that info.

Crochet seems to have been my craft of choice last week.  I added a little bit to my Campfire Cardigan and started a new project.  It's the Lion Brand Crochet Openwork Shawl.  My husband and I have a dinner in a few weeks and I need something for the air conditioning.  This jumped out at me when I was shopping at Michaels.  It's the first time I'm using Lion Brand's Shawl in a Ball and I'm really enjoying it. I think the colors will be great against my black dress.

Well, I'm off to check out what everyone else has been up to this past week.  Enjoy your week!

 

Year of Projects Week 3

Week 3 and I'm already making changes.  The July KAL was not holding my interest so I've decided to swap it out for the Campfire Cardigan.  It's been a while since I've done a crochet project, I forget how much quicker I am at crocheting than knitting.  My daughter and I went stash diving on Saturday and picked out some yarn I had in my closet.  I'm using  Vanna's Choice by Lion Brand.  I'm hoping to only have to buy a skein or two to complete this project. Babygirl was very excited to help pick out yarn for this project.  Here's what she drew when I asked for her help with colors:

Here's what we picked out of my stash:

I started this on Sunday at my crochet guild meeting.  It currently looks like this:

The CGOA had a Chapter Challenge recently.  They challenged chapters to crochet 7x9 rectangles for Warm UP America.  My chapter participated and crocheted a lot of rectangles.  Since I wasn't able to participate in the crocheting of rectangles, I picked up a bunch of rectangles to sew together on Sunday.  Once we sew them all together the blankets will be donated locally. So, I've added a new project to my list.


This week was a productive week!  The Textured Shawl is finished.  Ends have been woven in and she's ready to wear!

Lots of spinning for the Tour de Fleece this week.  I filled all my bobbins with singles so it's time to ply.  Another Into the Whirled fiber club spun and an unknown green wool.  The Into the Whirled was the May 2017 'Merlin's Beard'. It's 4 oz of Merino.

Year of Projects Week 2

It's been a productive week. Starting at the top of my goals list with the Textured Shawl.  I've got 10 rows left.  I'm hoping to finish it this week.

ELF cap KAL: my knitting group is doing this as a KAL.  Five of us are participating.  We each took a skein of yarn from stash for this project. We've been switching yarns monthly.  On Friday I received my final yarn for the last section. I'd like to work on this this week and finish it ASAP.

Tour de Fleece:  I've spent the most time spinning this week. Ive been working with into the whirled fibers as I'm in a monthly fiber club with them.  Here's what I've spun this week:

Experiencing some technical difficulties with these photos....hopefully it'll be resolved soon!

A Year of Projects 2017-2018: Third Times a Charm???

Let's hope this goes better than last year.   I keep saying it, but I've really got to get my stash under control!  It's gotten to the point where I'm overwhelmed by it.  In January I got a new spinning wheel so now I've really started adding fiber as well.  Something has to give, lol.

I'm going to keep my goals short term, I work better that way.  As long as I can get some stash used up, I'll be happy.  I'll start here by posting quarterly goals.

I'm currently participating in a summer cal/kal in a stash busting group I'm in.  The goal is to complete 13 projects in 15 weeks.  It started in May, but I just joined in last week.  I'll be happy completing anything.  I've also signed up for the Tour de Fleece.  So for the month of July the goal is to spin everyday. (I believe there are 2 days of rest.).

Here's my list of goals:
1. Textured Triangle Shawl
2. Continue ELF Cap KAL
3. Finish blue/brown socks
4. Spin everyday in July
5. Crocheted Shawl
6. 2 Water bottle holders
7. July KAL
8. Evergreen Tunic
9. Finish one UFO (tbd)
10. Baby washcloths
11. Open
12. Open

A Year of Projects 2016-2017: Week 1: Giving it another shot

Some local (and not so local) yarn shops have put together a Yarn Cruise this summer.  This is the second year they are doing it.  A group of friends and I have decided to participate.  We've purchased our bags and passports and have visited two shops already.  (Babygirl and I are going to visit shop #3 later today.)  The yarn cruise excitement has led to me spending some time in the craft room realizing how much I miss my knitting/crocheting.  In addition I've decided if I don't start knitting/crocheting my stash I'm going to have a big problem soon ;). The "office" has been overtaken by yarn and patterns.  I really need to get a handle on it as I may be needing the office to function as an office in the near future, lol.

In a round about way, this leads me back to  A Year Of Projects. I've done it in the past and felt I got more knitting/crocheting done while following along.  It also allows me to see what other crafters are doing out there.

                                          

I'm going to keep my goals short term as to help me focus.  I tend to want to start all.the.things, and finish none.  Hopefully by keeping focus I can get some things finished!

Short term focus for July:
1. Surprise knitting.  A gift for someone which can't be shared on the Internet right now.  It's almost done, pictures will be posted by the end of the month.
2. A River Runs Through It  - I'm doing this as a KAL with two friends from the Yarn Cruise.
3. One currently undecided UFO

Long term goals:
1. Use yarn from the stash!!
2. Get stash and pattern books organized

Things I'd like to make this year:
1. A sweater for me (maybe Antler)
2. A sweater for  Babygirl (maybe Antler)
3. A pair of socks
4. A sweater with the yarn from Ireland

A Year of Projects 2015-2016 Week 2

My first update and I'm already making changes to my list, lol.  I've decided not to participate in the Picnic Basket CAL afterall.  I think I'm going to replace it with my Celtic Cables Craftsy Class.  The yarn for that is already in my stash and summer vacation seems like a good time to start the class.

There was not much knitting/crocheting this week.  I managed to add a few rows to both my projects but that's about it.  Summer vacation has been busier than expected.  It should let up a bit after this week.

This week's photos:
Hitchhiker

Wrapped in Warmth

 I was able to get through my UFOs basket and picked two projects to complete this quarter.  There's no pattern for the orange project.  It's going to be a bag, I'm just making it up as I go along.  When it was started the goal was to use up the Orange yarn.

The next UFO up is the Stolen Moments wrap.  The yarn is Fishermans Wool by Lion Brand.  I dyed the yarn with Kool Aid a few years ago.

 

 

 

This week's goal is to spend at least 20 minutes a day knitting or crocheting.  It's the only way I'm ever going to get any of these projects finished.

 



 

A Year Of Projects 2015-2016

I'm trying to make more of an effort to spend some time knitting and/or crocheting.  A few years ago I participated in A Year of Projects for a while.  It really kept me on track and focused on what projects I was working on.  I'm hoping it will do the same this round.  My list is going to be short, at this point I'd just like to finish a project :).  I'm thinking along the lines of quarterly goals so I can focus on finishing, rather than starting a million (more) projects.

Year of Projects list:
1.  Hitchhiker - this one is a WIP.
2.  summer-flies- still need to decide on yarn for this one.
3. CAL starting July 6: Picnic Basket Shawl I'll finalize my yarn choice for this tonight.
4. Wrapped in Warmth- Yarn chosen from stash.
5. A pair of socks using the two at a time method (new technique for me).
6. Pick two UFOs to finish this summer

I will add more as I think of them/finish projects.

Current projects:

Hitchhiker
Started: June 1, 2015
Finished:
Yarn: Purgatory Falls Alpaca Farm (Mass. Sheep and Wool 2015)
          425 yards 70% Alpaca/20% Merino/10% Nylon
           Robins Egg
            Etsy Shop
Needles: size 2

Wrapped In Warmth
Started: July 5, 2015
Finished:
Yarn: Red Heart Designer Sport in Berry
Hook: CGOA conference hook.  I think it's an I, will have to double check.

Melissa & Doug Terrific Twenty List and Giveaway

I'm so excited!!!  Melissa and Doug have just released their 2012 Terrific Twenty Holiday Toys List.  Just in time for me to begin my holiday shopping.  A few things from the list have made it on to *my* shopping list!  First, the new tie-dye swirl trunki  really caught my eye.  Babygirl got the Rubi trunki last year, but I'm seriously considering adding the pink swirl to her collection!  We often use her Trunki when we go to visit Grandma and Grandpa, but she also uses it to put toys in and pull them around the house.

Here at Baby Is Boss! we love Melissa and Doug! Babygirl's toybin is already filled with so many wonderful Melissa and Doug toys and puzzles. Babygirl loves the toys because they are fun, while I love the fact that they are educational and high quality.  In addition to the Trunki, Santa's eyeing the bella butterfly tea set for Babygirl.  And possibly the switch and spin magnetic gears toy.  Seriously I just love Melissa and Doug!  This mailbox is just too cute!  From my own childhood, fashionplates like these kept me busy for hours!

The wonderful people at Melissa and Doug are giving away toys from the 2012 Terrific Twenty Holiday Toys list   over on the Melissa and Doug Facebook page. Head on over and check it out! In addition to the giveaway on their facebook page, Melissa and Doug are allowing me to give away one item from the list to a reader!!!  I'll be giving away the Switch and Spin Magnetic Gears Board.   Be sure to enter on the Rafflecopter below.

After you enter here, be sure to stop by my friend Nancy's blog Stuff Mom Loves and enter there as well!  Good Luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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I was given a toy and offered one to giveaway to a reader for participating in this campaign.  All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
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Wordless Wednesday

Boo At the Zoo!

 

I will not look at you.  I will just try to pick up this pumpkin!

Wordless Wednesday

From our recent trip to NYC @The Children's Zoo in Central Park

WIP Wednesday

Wip Wednesdays:

WIP Wednesdays with Tami's Amis:

I've got two projects I'm currently working on.  The first is a sweater I'm hoping to wear to NYS Sheep and Wool.  I've got just about a month to get it finished!  I've added a few rows since Sunday and am about to bindoff the left side.


The next is my travel project.  This pair of socks lives in the car.  Every so often I add a row, usually while I am waiting for the boys I watch to get out of school.  These should be done soon.

YOP: Sunday Update

 Yay! A Year of Projects update...on a Sunday!  Between being sick and then going on vacation I've been slacking.  Now it's crunch time.  New York Sheep and Wool is just a little over a month away.  I'm still hoping to wear my sweater.  Yes, I'm aware that means I have to *finish* my sweater.  Time to kick it in high gear.

Currently it looks like this:

I do think that if I really focus I will be able to get this done.  

I've also got a pair of socks on the needles as my car project.  Every now and then I can add a few rows while waiting for the boys I watch to get out of school.  It shouldn't be much longer until these become FO's.

We're back from vacation!

Back home and slowly recovering from four funfilled days in New York City!  Hubby's on vacation so in addition to hanging out in NYC for a few days we've been doing lots of running around.  We had a blast in Manhattan!  I've got a few posts planned out in my head, I've just got to grab some time to sit down and write them.  In the meantime here are some shots from NYC:

                                                     view from our hotel the first night

petting the sheep at the zoo

Disney store

Once a Month Cooking: The September Edition

This month is all about breakfasts.  This week I started watching two boys a few days a week before school.  Knowing that I am not a morning person, I had to do something to help make our mornings easier.  All summer Babygirl and I have been getting up around 7 and enjoying a leisurely morning routine.  That ends this week!

I need 12 breakfasts for work days.  My goal was to have 20 prepared.  That way I'd have Mondays through Fridays covered in case something comes up.

Here's what I made for this month:

           
                 *Baked Oatmeal (Cinnamon and Peach) Muffins - I've got enough for
                   September and October.  Babygirl started eating these a few months
                   ago.  Every time I make them I add different fruit.

                *Mini Zuchini Muffins:  I've got 6 breakfast servings.  When I made this recipe I
                  doubled it and also made bread to freeze.

                *Pancakes and Sausage.  So easy: First I cooked the sausage, then put it
                  in woopie pie pans and poured pancake batter over it.  Baked it 12 minutes. 
                 (I've got 6  servings)

Then rest of the days will be filled in with frozen waffles (Thank you Shop Rite for the recent sale!  Pairing the sale with my coupons I was able to get waffles for 49 cents a box :) ), cereal or oatmeal.

A Year of Projects and Wips Wednesday Update

It's been a while since I posted for A Year of Projects and Wips Wednesday.  This viral thing really knocked me on my butt.  Still not 100%, but I think it's mostly allergies at this point.  Allergies this early for me, does not bode well for the season.  Hopefully the allergy meds will kick in soon!

On to the fun stuff:

and a little bit of cheating here, also:

I didn't start knitting/crocheting again until Friday night.  A friend hosted a small knit night at her house.  I took my sweater with me.  I added a few rows to the left front, which is almost done now:

The plan is to wear this to Sheep and Wool the weekend of October 20/21.  Guess who needs to get her butt in gear!?!

Other than that I'm crocheting a washcloth for my goddaughter.  She was recently up for a visit and saw Babygirl's washcloths and decided she'd like pink and purple "yarn washcloths" for her birthday.  That's become my travel project as I start babysitting again today.  I'll work on them while I wait for the boys to get out of school.

That's it for me.  I look forward to checking in with the others at A Year of Projects and Tami's Amis Wips Wednesday to see what everyone else is working on this week!

Wordless Wednesday

Thought I'd come back with a nice easy post.  Still not feeling 100%, but I *think* it's all allergies now.

Checking out the "flowers" while apple picking.

Year of Projects: An (un)Update

Just a quick note for anyone stopping by from a Year of Projects.  I've got nuttin'.    Babygirls got strep and I'm down with a viral throat thing.  There has been absolutely no knitting/crocheting this week.  I hope to catch up on reading blogs later in the week.  Babygirl (and in turn mommy too) slept through the night for the first time in a week last night.  So hopefully she's on the mend.

4 Months Until Christmas!

Yup, I went there ;)

 I love Christmas. Normally around June/July I'll start picking up things for Christmas and making my list. I started that to help me with the knit/crochet gifts planning. As this year's theme is "Selfish Crafting" I don't have to worry too much about that. (Selfish knits defined: Due to limited crafting time I've decided only the kids are getting something handknit/crocheted this year. The rest of the year is knitting for Babygirl and I. And no, I'm not being mean excluding hubs, he's not much of a handknits kind of guy. He's set on blankets and hats, when he wants another he'll get it.)

 Anyway...this year is going to be a different kind of Christmas for us. Due to Christmas being in the middle of the week, hubby's work schedule and Babygirl being so young, we've decided we can't go home for Christmas. The decision was not easy, but it's best for our little family at this time. Although I know it's the right decision for us I'm still having a hard time with it. (Being a grown-up sucks sometimes!) This will be the first year I am not home for Christmas. We've had a good run, being away from home for 9 and a half years and only missing one Thanksgiving because of a bad snowstorm. We will be going home during December to celebrate with family, it'll just be a different day. At this point there is talk of some family coming to visit us for Christmas, but it's all very up in the air right now.

 I've decided that regardless of where Christmas is this year, I need some help with the organization part of it. It's no secret that since Babygirl's been born I feel very scatterbrained. Sometimes I find it hard to figure out where to start my big projects. I recently stumbled across  Organized Christmas and am hoping it helps me with Christmas/holiday planning this year. As an added bonus, if I follow the plan my house will get the "deep cleaning" it so desperately needs and we'll be ready for overnight guests! And using the card list, maybe I'll finally get to updating my address book. That way I can stop sending those "Hey, I've got somethign for you...need your address" texts/fb messages.

Sticky Art

Babygirl's playgroup came over for an art project  yesterday.  I'd like to say the lack of pictures is because we were having so much fun that I just forgot to take my camera out.  The reality is not so pretty:  Babygirl was up from 10pm - 3:30am the night before (love teething!), then got up at 7am and my brain was fried.  I took the camera out and left it in plain sight....but did I take any pictures...nope.  The pictures below are all after the fact.

Here's what I call Sticky Art (Step by step directions at the end of the post):

Basically you take clear contact paper and stick "stuff" to it, then back it with a piece of construction paper.

Here's the "stuff" we used: feathers, pom poms, yarn snippets, foam shapes and letters, stickers, ribbon flowers, and construction paper shapes.

Here are Babygirl's Sticky Art Collages:

Step by step directions:
1.  Cut a piece of contact paper a bit larger than your construction paper.
2.  Take the backing off the contact paper and tape the contact paper to your work surface. Sticky side up :)
3. Place your "stuff" on the contact paper, pushing down slightly so it sticks.
4. Once finished you will place the construction paper over the contact paper.  Apply a little pressure so the contact paper sticks to the construction paper.  Smooth out any air pockets that may form as you go.
5.  Since you cut the contact paper larger than the construction paper you will be left with a contact paper edge.  Fold this edge over the construction paper.  At the end you will have some "extra" contact paper in the corners.  You can fold it over and tape it to the back of your art or cut it off.

~Wordless Wednesday ~

Can someone please explain how this happens?  Where are all the mates?!?