Works in Progress and a book review!

I think this is the next to the last block of my folk art quilt and then of course there's the border which is also appliqued and embroidered.  But this block is done.  Now I have to go get my wools together for the next block.  Sometimes that entails dying some wools to get the colors I want but dying is fun! 

There are only 3 green stitches left on this but "don't ya know" I ran out of that color so I need to go look in  my DMC  "stash" and find some that is close.  i had to do that with the pink too.  Why is it they never include enough or am I just wasteful?  Of course, then I have to wash away the dissolving waste canvas and sew it up into the purse/pencil case it was meant to be.

 

The book I finished is my first one for February but it was a big one, 541 pages to be exact!  I need to read about 5 a month in order to meet my goal of 50 by the end of the year for the GRAND PRIZE that Embarrassment of Riches is giving away.  It's not really about the prize as I have no idea what it is or if I'll win it but more about the challenge and reading only books I already have which I want and need to do without buying more (which to me is so tempting).  Anyway, this book was so fun and interesting to read and I looked forward to it each evening.  It is sort of like a cross between Harry Potter and the Wizard of Oz yet unique in it's own way.  It is written by a husband and illustrated by the wife who are both talented and creative people in their own right before they collaborated on this book.  There's a another one after this one called Under Wildwood which,  of course, I want to get.  I bought this right before Christmas and actually bought it for the illustrations as I want to design my own applique and I thought the illustrations, especially of the birds were very inspiring.  It is on the New York Times Bestseller List and I highly recommend it if you would like an escape but can't afford a vacation! LOL!

I told you it was a biggy!      

I hope you're all enjoying your Tuesday and Happy Valentines Day tomorrow!

Tips for Tuesday or any day for that matter......

I have a bunch of little things to share.  Things that I've tried or used and I'm always thinking..."I need to share this with my blogging friends" but then I forget. Sooooooooo......I thought I would make a weekly Tuesday Tip post where I share little pieces of helpful information or products I like or areas where I am trying to be more frugal.  So here goes for this week's Tuesday Tips!

TIP #1

When Grace came to live with us (our new cat) she came with a very small litter box which I realized was NOT going to work as much of what she deposited ended up on the OTHER side of the litter box...if you get my drift.  So, I went to Wal-Mart and although they had one that was deeper it wasn't really much bigger.  I had a nice one for Patches when she was alive but when she passed I gave all her things to the Friends of Animals organization here in our town.  So, I looked on the internet and found all kinds which ranged in price but none were FREE and there was shipping and handling on top of that.  I've been trying to use what I have and not buy things and to think "outside the box" or in this case "inside the box" so at first I looked for an old plastic tub that I  might have but although it was deep it wasn't very big but then I spied a plastic bin that I had used for paperwork when I moved.  Perfect!  It was deeper but not too deep and gave her plenty of room to turn around.  It WAS free too!  As you can see, she spent no time at all "getting down to business" in her new "bathroom".  LOL!

Yes, it's in the shower area as I don't take showers....I'm a bath person.  I'm going to put up a little curtain to give her some privacy.  I also put a drain plug over the drain so no litter can get into the drain. 

TIP #2 - I'm looking for more natural and organic products to use in my home, to ingest and also to use on my body.  I've used up all my face creams and eye creams and was just about to buy some over the internet when I heard a dermatologist on GMA say that one of the purest things you can use to moisturize is olive oil!  Well PTL!  I had 2 jugs of the stuff! 

I decanted some into a small glass jar I had saved from some previous face cream and I've been using it for about 2 weeks now.  I love it!  I no longer need 2 creams; one for my face and one for my eyes.  I also like the fact I don't have to be so careful not to get it in my eyes.  It is also warmer to place on my face than creams which tend to be cold.  It is MUCH less expensive on a cost per use basis too.  After I apply it I let it soak in a bit and then blot it off with a clean towel. 

No wonder those Mediterranean women have such beautiful complexions.  I wonder if it's too late for me? LOL!
I also have olive oil in a little spray bottle in the kitchen that I decanted from the big jug and I use it for spraying pans/dishes when a recipe calls for that type of spray.  It is much cheaper than buying those cooking sprays and again no chemicals or funny aftertaste.

TIP #3
I love liquid soap and have been a fan for years as I was so tired of the mess in soap dishes and on sinks.  But I was also looking for a pure face and body wash and even the ones that stated they were natural and ph balanced etc. had lists of unpronounceable ingredients on their packaging.  There are many organic options too but again many are very pricey but I found that Dr. Bonner's castile soap was about as pure as I was going to get in an affordable soap for my face and body. 

I hated to think of all the mess again with bars of soap and they run $3-$4 per bar I think.  I got 2 bars, tea tree oil for my face and lavender for the bath and body.  Again, on a cost per use basis this is so inexpensive!  They smell wonderful as they use pure essential oils and tea tree is not only anti-microbial but has a scent that is so refreshing in the morning...I love it!  Almost like Rosemary.  As for the soap mess, there just isn't any because these soaps are so pure and I can tell they are going to last a long time so well worth the money up front.  Here's a picture of the face soap in my soap dish after 2 weeks.....no mess in the bottom of the dish!  I also stick the wrappers in my drawers for their scent.

So, there you go.....my Tuesday Tips.  Please let me know if you like this post and want to see more of them.  BTW....we have snow warnings out!  Yippee!!!!  I've got a full larder and plenty of fire wood so I'm looking forward to it.  But I do keep praying for all those who have met with tragedy and destruction from other storms.  I'm a weather geek....watching the Weather Channel like some people watch soap operas.  I guess I'm just fascinated by Mother Nature but I never want anyone to get hurt or suffer loss of any kind.  Have a great Tuesday!

YOP Update

ATTENTION:  Would "Thinking Out Loud" please send me her email address?  She was the winner of my giveaway last week but she left no email and she evidently has no blog so I have no way of getting a hold of her to tell her she won!  If anyone knows her or sees her out there in Blogland please tell her.  If I don't hear from her by next week I will draw another name.  I kept all the names in the same box I drew hers from, just in case.  No more entries will be accepted.

I haven't gotten much done YOP-wise as I've been struck with "Spring Cleaning" fever....and Spring has come to the Ozarks...I'm pretty sure of it.  The robins have been here for about 2 weeks unless they never left but the true sign of Spring to me are skunks.  I've smelled them and seen a couple dead ones on the road.  That's always been my sure-fire sign of Spring!  Skunks hibernate so when they come out you know Winter is over.  But I did work on a couple things........... 
The turquoise sock is my first one done with a size 9 (it was supposed to be a size 5) needle, Magic Loop style.  The yellow is the first of my second pair, also Magic Loop but with a size 5 needle but with a shorter cord.  The first sock was knitted with a 40" cord.  I thought I was having a problem with my markers but discovered the shorter cord I used was pulling the stitches at "bridge" of the 2 needles.  I noticed I did not have that problem with the first sock where I used the longer cord.  Notice the bottom of the sock and difference between the stitches. I am becoming a knitting "detective"!  Ta Da!

Here's a closer picture of the "problem"....

But the second sock will be knit with these new needles I got from Jimmy Bean's Wool   They're Knitter's Pride needles and you can buy the cord and the needles separately.  The black circles are "stops" which allow you to leave your knitting on the cord and use the needles for a different project or vice-versa if it's just a pair of socks.  See how the cord lies flat and doesn't curl?  My "curling" cord caused me more problems for a new knitter....if you're a novice to knitting on a cord make sure you get a flat "non-curling" cord!

I also picked up some more cotton yarn at Wally World to knit or crochet washcloths.  I was even able to get some red, white and green for Christmas which I grabbed although the picture makes it look more like orange than red..  Can one really start too early making things for Christmas?

 I did work a teeny bit on my cross stitch which I need to finish.

  Hopefully, this week I will get more cleaning done and needlework as there will be no running back and forth to the veterinarian and no giving pills twice a day to Nitty.  For those of you who asked about my sweet girl, thank you so much!  I am thrilled to report that she is doing fabulous!  She has canned and dry Hill's Science diet now, she's taken all her antibiotics and she has stopped itching and licking.  The smell has disappeared and the shedding of "hunks" of hair has stopped!  I don't know who's happier.....her or me! LOL!  She's happy and frisky and back to her old self again....I am so grateful!
Have a great week...Downton Abbey is on tonight and Doc Martin right before so I will catch up with all of your posts tomorrow.  I LOVE Sunday nights! 

Recipe as promised!

This is the lemon cake I made yesterday and promised I would give you the recipe today.  The cake above was Nigella Lawson's Lemon-Syrup Loaf cake.  The pound cake style lemon cake is very popular in England and I originally found a recipe by Lucy over at Attic24  about a year ago or so and it sounded so yummy.   I went to the trouble and time of converting it from metric equivalents and baked it. I was over the moon about it......it was SO delicious!  Well, I've been cleaning my bookshelves and moving all my cookbooks into the kitchen and ran across my Nigella cookbook, How To Be A Domestic Goddess.  Alright,  stop laughing, I know I'm a far cry from her in looks and cooking skills but a girl can try!  Anyway, I "assumed" Nigella's recipe would be better as she's a professional and would have THE BEST recipe for English Lemon Cake........WRONG!  When I bit into it last night it was dry and not anything like Lucy's cake!  I was disappointed to say the least!  Mind you, it's not awful and if I had never made Lucy's recipe 
I would probably think it was quite tasty as it's definitely got the lemon going on.   But Lucy's cake was moist and fell apart with as she would say..."lemony goodness"!  So, I will not be buying anymore cookbooks as I have discovered that most of my "bestest" recipes ever are from regular people cooking in their own kitchens for their own families!  I will not bother giving you the Nigella recipe at all.....here's Lucy's recipe and I know you'll love it! 

The American version of the famous English Lemon Drizzle Cake
________________________________________
I used my Kitchenaid stand mixer for mixing this up.  It makes one loaf pan that I lined with parchment paper.  I baked it for 30 minutes or until done at 350 degrees.
1/2 C butter (really soft)  (1 stick)
3/4 C self-rising flour
1 tsp baking powder
the rind of one lemon grated (I use a micro plane and just the yellow skin...the white is bitter)
1/2 C superfine sugar
2 eggs
3-6 T milk

After whipping the butter, I added everything else and whipped it for no more than 3 minutes and much less really.  I wanted it incorporated well but also whipped it to get the eggs nice and fluffy. I poured it into my loaf pan and baked it for 30 minutes although it said 30-40 mine looked great at 30.  I had previously mixed up the syrup to pour on top which is merely the juice of 1 lemon mixed with 1/2 C superfine or granulated for the "frosting".  I looked at so many recipes and not a one of them were the same! LOL!
I used the superfine also for my frosting.  I just mixed it with a fork in a small bowl and poured it directly over the cake after it came out of the oven while it was still hot.  Some recipes I looked at later said you should poke holes in the top before pouring the frosting mixture on top but I didn't do that but I might next time.  You then let it cool and I took it out later and sliced it like pound cake

I have posted this in the past but now that I have my RECIPE page at the top of the blog they will be handier for you and for me.  BTW, Nigella's recipe was a lot more involved too.....go figure!
Have a great Friday night!
P.S.  And yes, I do poke holes in the cake when it comes out of the oven and pour the frosting slowly onto the top.  I then let it cool completely in the pan then take it out and leave the parchment paper on it and store it in an airtight container.  YUMMO!  I must have needed my vitamin C yesterday because I had orange chicken for supper and lemon cake with a cup of orange spice tea last night! LOL!

KAL Update

I was off again today to pick up more Hill Science Diet dog food that came in for my sick Nitty girl.  I was going to go tomorrow until they informed me they would be closed!  So, here I am at the last minute updating.....

 

This is the first sock of my second pair and going along well.  The gusset is done and I just have a few more inches of knitting to do before the toe...I have BIG feet!  I did want to ask if any of you have stitch markers that you recommend?  I have tried several but if I'm not careful they leave a space in my knitting.  Is that true of all markers and do I just have to be more careful or are there some that don't do that?  

 

I also had to make a lemon cake as my sweet tooth has been aching like crazy!  So, tonight I'll be cuddled up in bed with my knitting, a rainy night, some orange spice tea, some lemon cake and Grey's Anatomy!  OH!!!!  Major progress.....I've been able to knit and watch the telly!  I am SO HAPPY!

I'll post the recipe tomorrow, I finally found my Nigella Lawson cookbook....PTL!  This is my favorite cake with tea....so scrumptious!  It's an English staple but now it's a staple in my house in AR! LOL!

I 'll catch up with you all tomorrow as now I have to go make some supper!  Have a great evening!

EBR 2013 - January Books

Well, where did that month go?  It's February already and I guess I must have been asleep at the wheel so I'm late with this post.  From now on I'll be posting books read and reviews monthly at the end of the  month to accommodate the Embarrassment of Riches group that I joined.  I'm going for the Platinum award which means 50 books in 2013 (books which I already own to go through book stash) which is approximately 4.166666666 books per month.  It looks like I'm ahead of the game so far! LOL!

 1.  Leaving Home - Garrison Keillor  (fiction or embellished non-fiction?)
     Great book especially if you're familiar with his radio broadcasts about Minnesota.  It had me laughing out loud!  Basically, each chapter is a reading from his radio show about Lake Woebegone, his (fictional?) hometown in Minnesota and the people who live there.  Garrison can make you cry and make you laugh and sometimes simultaneously!
 2.  Bet Your Bottom Dollar - Karen Gillespie (fiction)
      I received this book from Kim over at Camp and Cottage Living awhile ago and it was a funny and enjoyable read.  It's the first in a series I think and I may be on the look out for more.  It tells the story of a group of close knit friends and employees who work at a Dollar Store (independently owned) when a big chain Dollar Store is threatening to move into the area and put them out of business.  It takes place in a small Southern town and there's some intrigue, romance and genuine friendship that goes on.  It's a heartwarming read and the plot was really interesting and unusual for a change.

3.  The Glad Season - Paula Elizabeth Sitts  (fiction)
     Story about a parent-less boy growing up in the wilds of British Columbia with his Grandmother.  I loved this book and every child should have this type of childhood!  Lots of nature, wildlife, self-sufficiency and a true look into the hard work, love and interdependency we need to revisit.  This boy had no time for drugs and there were no gangs to join.  Very well written too.
4.  Finding Grace - Donna Van Liere (non-fiction)
     What a great attitude towards life and hard times this woman has.  Very well written and it is true bolster to the spirit.  If you want to feel good about yourself, your life and faith you should read this book!

5.  Wapiti Wilderness - Margaret and Olaus Murie (non-fiction)

Okay, I saved the best for last.  Hands down this is the best "nature" book I've ever read.  I gave a pretty extensive review in a past post which I don't want to redo here but the Muries, Olaus and his brother Adolph were famous biologists back in the early 1900's.  They've both written numerous books on nature and the studies they did for the U.S. Department of Wildlife Management.  This particular book is the best one so far as it is written jointly with Olaus's wife, Margaret.  It tells not only of Olaus's work studying the elk (Wapiti) in and around Jackson Hole, Wyoming but also includes Margaret's life with the children and the outings they took as the family of a field biologist.  Those children had the life!  It also tells much of the early history of those who settled that area along with it's growth over the years they lived there.  Olaus's beautiful line drawings are included and several photos of the family and their residences over the years they lived there, which were many. I loved this book!

6.  Life of Pi - Yann Martel (fiction) 

This was a good book and so good they made a movie out of it but I haven't seen the movie and after reading the book I will not see the movie.  The story was interesting and unusual but the violence and carnage was not something I bargained for and it always amazes me what goes on in the mind of people who can write that type of thing.  I love animals and I understand nature itself is violent but let's not make it up.  It almost made me sick to my stomach it was so graphic and albeit I have an abundance of empathy in my system and people tell me "it's only fiction" but it frightens me about the type of people who make it up in their heads...what kind of thoughts are those?  But then I have never seemed to "go with the flow" of society regarding what's popular or "in" so if you are a "normal" person you'll probably like it but me.....not so much.  I live in the old days of polite literature where the graphic scenes regarding anything were left to the imagination: to me that took much more talent. 

BTW...this was the last new book I bought around Christmas time.  It's not been easy but I am really enjoying reading these books "I've been meaning to read"!  Thank you EBR! 

And the winner is????????????????????

Thinkin' Out Loud!   You won!  I apologize as I looked at my last Monday's post it said I would pick the winner on Monday but of course in my head I thought drawing after midnight on Monday and post on Tuesday....oh boy!  I think I need a "keeper" as in zoo!
Anyway, please contact me with your address so I can mail this to you and let me know on this post when you do as I don't always check my email.  Thank you all for entering!

I hope you like it! 

So tired.......exhausted really.....

Evidently too much excitement in one weekend for me!  But it was a fun one and I have plenty of time to catch up if I ever will.  I have finished 2 books now but cannot for the life of me find the jackets to them!  I swear I have leprechauns in this house and they are constantly hiding things on me!  Then it will suddenly appear where I had looked a hundred times before.....hmph!

But I did cook a great recipe which I've made before but don't think I've shared with you.  It is from this cookbook....... 

She is a nutritionist and believes that you shouldn't have to give up the foods you love in order to cut back on calories or eat healthier.  Sounded good to me!  I think I remember hearing someone in her family got diabetes too and she started "converting" their favorite recipes which were all of sudden totally "off-limits". 
I cook from this book a lot and at first I tried it using my regular ingredients and then I would use her recipe with her substitutions and I noticed no difference really so why eat the extra calories if it tastes the same?
I highly recommend this cookbook and she has one just for desserts too which I want to get.  She has a website www.marlenekoch.com 
 I like my recipes to meet certain criteria to make the cut to my "favs".  I like them to be 1) inexpensive to make, 2) no exotic ingredients that I would have to send away for, 3) taste great,  4) be fairly healthy and 5) easy to make.
This recipe fits ALL those criteria and is comfort food at it's best!  Here's the recipe and I hope you like it as much as I do.

Rigatoni, White Beans, and Sausage

--------------------------------------

Makes 6 servings

8 ounces rigatoni pasta (wheat would be great if you can get it but I can't around here)
2 C reduced sodium chicken broth
3 garlic cloves, minced
3/4 lb turkey kielbasa sausage, sliced thin
1 tsp dried oregano
1 Tblsp olive oil
1 (14 oz) can white cannellini beans ( I had to use Northern as no cannellini's around here!)
1 (14 oz) can no-salt added diced tomatoes, well drained (whoops...I forgot that part..drained I mean...I didn't notice a difference)
6 ounces (6 cups....the size of those Dole bags) fresh baby spinach leaves
6 Tblsp grated parmesan cheese for garnish when serving
freshly cracked black pepper (whoops...forgot that too but it still tasted great!)

1.  Cook the pasta, according to the directions on the package, in a large pot.  Drain and set aside.
2.  Pour the chicken broth and garlic into the same pot.  Place over medium-high heat and bring to a simmer.
     Add the sausage, oregano, and olive oil.  Stir well.
3.  Stir in the beans, tomatoes, and cooked pasta to the pot.  Place the spinach on top of the mixture.  Cover with a lid and turn off the heat.  Allow to steam for about 1 minute, just until the spinach has begun to wilt.  Stir mixture.
4.  Serve with a heaping tablespoon of Parmesan cheese on top and season with black pepper.

 

Enjoy!  BTW, Marlene includes all nutritional information at the bottom of each recipe in her book if you need more details.

P.S.  Don't forget,  this is the last day to enter my drawing for which the winner will be posted tomorrow.  Leave a comment that you want to be entered and if you want to see what you're receiving just check last Monday's post.

YOP Update

I have been "out and about" since Friday but part of it was a fun fiber experience!  The other part was my poor Nitty who has a severe (we think) food allergy which required vet, shot, anitbiotics (2 big capsules twice a day), Hill's Science Diet food (which costs an arm and a leg....mine!) and future vet visits/bills to monitor it all.  There goes my yarn budget but I would pay anything to have my Nitty girl feeling better....so that was Friday.  Saturday, my friend Sue and I went to a new shop in her new Jeep!  Sweet!  The Jeep and the shop.  There was a woman giving spinning lessons with a drop spindle so we both signed up and stayed for 2 hours.  Sue already spins with a wheel so she did better with the drop spindle than I did but I'm still trying!
We went to the instructor's house this morning, Penny at Big Rock Farm, not too far from here and her husband made the 2 drop spindles you see and gave Sue and I each one as a gift!  He makes them and more!  2 of the nicest and most talented people you'd ever want to meet!  Her husband also repairs and refurbishes old spinning wheels and that's why we were there... to take one of Sue's wheels.  I spotted 2 old refurbished wheels that were really cool!  One was a Norwegian and the other Tyrolean, I think.   Both were old and so cool looking and worked perfectly!  I'm partial to old things....hmmm....wonder why that is! Ha! Ha!  Maybe it hits close to home! 

I got the heel flap and the heel turn done on the first of my 2nd pair of socks and boy is it easier with a cord that doesn't twist!  Heaven!  Very Pink (the tutorial I'm using) has broken the sock into 6 steps: 1) the cuff, 2) the heel, 3) turning the heel, 4) the gusset, 5) toe shaping, and 6) closing the toe (Kitchener Stitch).  So, I am on step 4, getting ready to do the gusset.  Below is the heel turn  on the RS(right side)

  and the heel turn on the WS (wrong side).

My Blackberry Salad throw is so fun to do and it's coming along......it's twice that wide....I have it folded over.

 

 And....my new needles came in the mail from Jimmy Bean's Wool!!!!!!  No, no yarn...I know...I wanted some but it's a good thing I held back since the vet bill put a serious crimp in my yarn fetish!  Yes, those are DPN's...I am wanting to learn to knit socks using them also.  I love a challenge and I want to determine which method I prefer...Magic Loop (circular) or DPNs.  The Knitter's Pride circulars are nice since you can buy the cord (non-curling) and the needles separately in whatever length of cord and needle size you want and I thought they were reasonable priced.  I'll let you know how I like them or maybe you have them and can tell me! 

I hope you all are enjoying your weekend and I know for me....Sunday's are "fiber fun"!  Tonight is the Superbowl AND Doc Martin and Downton Abbey.......I think I'll be switching channels LOTS tonight!
TTYL!!!  It may take me awhile to catch up with you all this week but I'll be stopping by to see what you've all been up to and don't forget to sign up for my drawing....I'll be picking the winner after midnight tomorrow and announcing on Tuesday! 

Thursday KAL

 This is my first week posting as I was just finding out about it last week.  I am a novice sock knitter although I have knit one pair so far and I'm starting on the second with the same pattern.  I used the wrong needle on the first pair! LOL! In fact that yarn you're seeing is so dirty from being frogged a ZILLION times that I'm surprised it hasn't just disintegrated!  For my usual followers this picture probably looks familiar from the other day when I cast on but actually that ribbing is longer than it was.  Now that I know the KAL update is Thursdays, I will wait to post my sock knitting until then.

 

For my first pair of socks I used Very Pink's Magic Loop sock instructions with video's to go with them.  It worked really well since I knew nothing about socks and was scared to death of DPNs!  The one thing about frogging is that I learned LOTS doing it again and again and again!

 

I put all my patterns in plastic sleeves and then in a binder.  I take them out when I use them but the plastic really saves them after I drag them around for a month or so.  I got some at Wal-Mart and some at Dollar General.  They have 3 holes for putting in a notebook which you can't see from my picture.

My plans since my first pair are to remake another pair like my first to reinforce what I learned.  Then we'll see but I would like to learn to use DPN's and Very Pink has another tutorial for that which I will definitely use!  Her patterns are $8.00 but well worth it for a novice like me.  I follow Susan Anderson's blog and she's on Ravelry too.  She's a knitting designer and does lots of socks in her spare time.  I want to try her sock pattern as everyone seems to like it.....including Susan!

I would also like to try toe-up at some point.............

and then these I'm saving for some special yarn when I get really good at socks.....I hope that happens sometime in this lifetime.

 

Excuse the blotches....I have no idea where they came from.....it looks like ghosts got in the way!

I know a lot of knitters have made these socks and they always look so pretty and so comfortable.

So, there's my list to learn new techniques and venture into new pattern territory...hopefully without frogging too many times!  Have a great week! 

 

WIP Wednesday....(works in progress)!

Oh, I have plenty of these!  I've tried to work on something in each area but I have so many areas that it doesn't seem like I get much done and I'll be adding another one.....sewing some clothes for myself since I can't seem to get anything to fit well anymore.  Here's what I have this week...........

1) Crochet - some of you may have seen this already so I apologize if it's getting monotonous! LOL!  But I have a made a little progress since Sunday.  This is my Blackberry Salad blanket/throw.

 

 2) Knitting - Since this is my first post on WIP Wednesday, I will show you all my WIP projects (just currently working on in each area....there are lots more lurking in corners and closets! LOL!) and then each week I will only show you if I've made progress on them.  That motivates me to work on them so I can show you!  And of course, looking at all your progress inspires me to work on mine too....it's a "win-win" for everyone!  This is my second pair of socks I just started...this time with the right size needle!  Ha! Ha!   I just realized it called for a size 5 which I thought I was using on the last pair only to discover it was a size 9 needle that I used!  Now, I am making a pair with the size 5 called for and a shorter, less curly circular needle which is going much smoother I must say!  Not much done yet but the fact that it's cast on and down the road a bit on the ribbing is great since I am not a "seasoned" knitter but trying to be!?!?!

3) Cross Stitch and/or Embroidery - This is a Cath Kidson kit that came in a her "Stitch" book.  It uses a plastic waste canvas which since I haven't cross stitched in eons is a bit of a pain for me but I've managed the middle bouquet and now just have 2 little side flowers to do and then it will be sewn up into a little purse...more like a short pencil case in my mind.

4)  Wool and/or Applique -  Oh, how I love this fiber but so pricey but then quality is usually never cheap!  But I am a champagne gal on a beer budget when it comes to fiber.  But thank goodness I have a stash of it from my days up North at the Goodwill Stores.  This is a folk art quilt I've been hand appliqueing and stitching for probably the last year or so.  I also just joined another SAL (stitch along) that is doing another quilt by the same designer.  Thus, I need to get this one done and get hopping on the other one!   Next week  I'll show you all the finished blocks for this one and a picture of the next one in case you want to join up!  It's a side button on the right of my blog so feel free!  The more the merrier!  Meanwhile, I will just share the current block I am stitching on.  It is hand appliqued using the blanket stitch and then depending on the pattern there is hand embroidery done to accent the block.  This one is actually one of the plainest blocks on this particular quilt.  i hand dye and over dye a lot of my wools.

5)  Quilting - I guess the above quilt could be called quilting but I keep my wool projects separate as I also hook wool rugs but that's another day.........another post! LOL!  I haven't quilted much or long but below is my very first quilt that I made in a class for a sampling of blocks and techniques.  It's done and machine quilted (not by me) and all I need to do now is trim off the excess material and bind it.  I will have to get my notes and books out as I can't remember how to do this part and I'm afraid of cutting too much material off. 

I learned a lot in that class and one is to not chose busy background fabric for your blocks!  They said to choose a light fabric but they didn't say much about staying away from busy prints which I adore!  LOL!  Live and learn but I still love it....it's my first.
This is SO fun to be involved in these groups....I've been living under a rock!  LOL!  Now I'm off to see what all of you have been up to!

Drawing!!!! Giveaway!!!! 100 followers!!!!!

I can't believe it!  My first drawing!  I'm excited!  I hope you like what I have to give.  I was going to wrap it all but then I thought....no...I'll be up front and let you know in case you don't want it! LOL!  Anyway, here goes.....please let me know you are entering by leaving a comment and stating you want to enter the drawing.  I will pick the winner next Monday.  If this works out I may have a monthly drawing!  I swear, I'm having fun doing this!  I tried to cover all bases since my followers are a diverse and talented group...a little something for everyone!  Toodles!
Oh!  P.S.  Anyone can enter.....It doesn't matter how near or far.....you all mean so much to me!!!

YOP Update

 I have spent a lot of time this week trying to get a handle on yarn weight, needle size and gauge and also shopping around the internet yarn shops and Ravelry to get just the right needles and supplies in one order....not easy!  I still haven't placed an order but I'm getting there! LOL!
Meanwhile, I worked a bit on my Blackberry Salad blanket/throw....a few more colors since last week.

 

 I also decided to start READING some of the books I have instead of just browsing through them or skimming the parts I need at the moment..........I could definitely stand to learn everything I can about knitting...........SOCKS!  I've met this years YOP for socks....1 pair but I can't stop there!  I've joined  the sock KAL and need to learn more and stay in practice.  Trust me...next year there will LOTS of socks on my YOP list!

I was able to straighten out one of my "curly"cords which I hope will help........I hung it on a hook with the needles attached for a few  months and it seems to have worked!

 

I also have this gorgeous yarn that I have been saving for when I am good at sock knitting.....it may stay in that skein for awhile.....LOL!

I hope you're having a wonderful weekend and relaxing a bit. TTYS!