Hi everyone!!! We are moving to craftyncer or Cats Crafty Corner.
Both these links take you to the same place, so just remove type pad from your URL for me and you have it.
Hugs!!! Namaste!!!
July 17, 2010
June 23, 2010
Dye, Lace and Fabrics
It has been so hot out I don't even want to venture out to the pool. I will though, I stopped to the library and picked up Death by Cashmere by Sally Goldenbaum and a couple of mags.
Yesterday I grabbed four of my white pillowcases, I had 8 of the same style, and dyed them pink to match the pillows and duvet cover on my bed.
Then it was off to the craft studio where I cut lace strips and glued them onto the edges of my bookshelf.
I brought my lunch in the craft studio and looked around and decided I wanted to cover a plain looking stool
I dug in my fabric draw and came out with some pretty floral fabric, and grabbed a bag of poly-fill and created this:
Then I looked around and decided the computer chair needed covering also:
There was no sewing involved. I grabbed some allen wrenches and undid the legs, laid the stool seat upside down on the fabric and cut a circle leaving enough extra to staple onto the bottom of the stool. The computer chair was a little harder as I could not figure out how to unscrew the bottom so I laid the fabric, over the chair and brought just enough of the fabric underneath to staple it. Now I had I went to the next side and did the same thing. When I got to side three I stapled that side down and cut off the excess and did the same for side four. For the back I will sew two pieces together on three sides and just slip it over the top, I think I might add some elastic on the bottom.
Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!!
Dye, Lace and Fabrics
It has been so hot out I don't even want to venture out to the pool. I will though, I stopped to the library and picked up Death by Cashmere by Sally Goldenbaum and a couple of mags.
Yesterday I grabbed four of my white pillowcases, I had 8 of the same style, and dyed them pink to match the pillows and duvet cover on my bed.
Then it was off to the craft studio where I cut lace strips and glued them onto the edges of my bookshelf.
I brought my lunch in the craft studio and looked around and decided I wanted to cover a plain looking stool
I dug in my fabric draw and came out with some pretty floral fabric, and grabbed a bag of poly-fill and created this:
Then I looked around and decided the computer chair needed covering also:
There was no sewing involved. I grabbed some allen wrenches and undid the legs, laid the stool seat upside down on the fabric and cut a circle leaving enough extra to staple onto the bottom of the stool. The computer chair was a little harder as I could not figure out how to unscrew the bottom so I laid the fabric, over the chair and brought just enough of the fabric underneath to staple it. Now I had I went to the next side and did the same thing. When I got to side three I stapled that side down and cut off the excess and did the same for side four. For the back I will sew two pieces together on three sides and just slip it over the top, I think I might add some elastic on the bottom.
Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!!
June 20, 2010
Knitter's Connection
Beth, Ellen and I (excuse that horrible picture I am not sure what my camera was doing with our hair. Besides the horrible light it looks like I am wearing a wig) drove to Columbus, Ohio for Knitter's Connection on Tuesday. A very small convention but OMG what a blast it was. Everyone was so great and I made so many new friends. I even met Franklin Habit and he is a sweetie, but really what knitter isn't.
Warning this post has a lot of pictures
I had a complete shock when I checked my Facebook and had a note on a post I made that I was in Columbus at the Red Roof Inn. There was a post from an old schoolmate of mine telling me to call her. I'm thinking ok why would Amy want me to call her, oh wait doh maybe she lives in Columbus. Sure as shit she does. We met up Friday morning before my afternoon class and OMG did we have a blast. I so cannot wait to see her again at Swartstock, a Catskill Mountain meetup/party, for those of us who can't get those mountains out of our blood.
Her son's are just gorgeous, and it was so great to meet them.
Here is our welcome package
two magazines: Debbie Bliss and Interweave Knits, a Berocco pattern, three yarns (the ribbon Eros is missing) and a bag.
Bought
Yummy soft cashmere yarn and Anne Hanson Campanula Scarf, lace yarn for shawl, books, mags, and another Anne Hanson pattern.
Classes I attended:
Stranding and Steeking taught by Amy Detjen. I loved this class, Amy is hysterical and a great teacher. Now since I took Jared Flood's Fit class, Anne Hanson's sweater class, and Amy's steeking I am ready to start working on a fair isle cardigan.
Next was Ginger Luter's class on edges. I am not sure I should call this a class. It was really, here is the pattern and knit it. Ginger is very nice and her mosaic knitting is awesome.
Then another Amy Detjen class, Double Knitting. It was tough at first, but my the third charted, changing color row it clicked. I am going to finish this and use it as a wall hanging.
Can you tell Amy would be a blast. She is the one sticking her tongue out. This was taken during the student reception.
Student reception was held Thursday night with a cash bar and lots of goodies to eat.
Can you tell we were all having a blast? I am sorry I forgot the person on the left, then Ellen and Beth. Room shot with Ellen and Beth.
Mary Beth Temple, Franklin Habit, Candace Eisner Strick, Ginger Luter, ?, Cookie A and I don't know the others. Myrna A. I. Stahman is hiding behind Cookie, she is the one who wrote Stahman's Shawls and Scarves which is a great book with a lot of helpful information.
After the reception there was a talk on how to improve your knitting. A raffle was held before the talk and I won.
Well actually Ellen did. On Wednesday evening Franklin gave a talk but I was so exhausted after all day of classes that by 7:30 I was too tired to attend. Ellen went and won the raffle that evening of a gorgeous pink Rowan turtleneck pullover. Just gorgeous. Well Ellen felt since she already won she shouldn't win again so she gave me her ticket and it won. It was a HiyaHiya bag with two buttons and a cute panda charm and inside were Hiya Hiya needles, double point, bamboo and regular circs., a needle bag which I gave to Beth, a very cute puppy cut scissors and a purple dumpling bag which has stitch markers inside including a bag with ring markers to change the size as needed.
North Market was a block away, what a great place! Every ethnicity you can think of was represented through food here. You can buy it raw or they will cook it for you. The first time I had Vietnamese, then German the second day, and it was sooo good. One day Ellen and I walked around between breakfast and lunch while it was quiet and I took a picture of her. LOL isn't she the cutest. I found my wasabi balls here and some purple popcorn, I can't wait to pop them.
So as you can see it was a great time and I can't wait to head out again with these ladies. We are talking about going to Stitches South together. I know I am planning on going to SAFF so maybe I can convince them to join me ;-)
Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!
Knitter's Connection
Beth, Ellen and I (excuse that horrible picture I am not sure what my camera was doing with our hair. Besides the horrible light it looks like I am wearing a wig) drove to Columbus, Ohio for Knitter's Connection on Tuesday. A very small convention but OMG what a blast it was. Everyone was so great and I made so many new friends. I even met Franklin Habit and he is a sweetie, but really what knitter isn't.
Warning this post has a lot of pictures
I had a complete shock when I checked my Facebook and had a note on a post I made that I was in Columbus at the Red Roof Inn. There was a post from an old schoolmate of mine telling me to call her. I'm thinking ok why would Amy want me to call her, oh wait doh maybe she lives in Columbus. Sure as shit she does. We met up Friday morning before my afternoon class and OMG did we have a blast. I so cannot wait to see her again at Swartstock, a Catskill Mountain meetup/party, for those of us who can't get those mountains out of our blood.
Her son's are just gorgeous, and it was so great to meet them.
Here is our welcome package
two magazines: Debbie Bliss and Interweave Knits, a Berocco pattern, three yarns (the ribbon Eros is missing) and a bag.
Bought
Yummy soft cashmere yarn and Anne Hanson Campanula Scarf, lace yarn for shawl, books, mags, and another Anne Hanson pattern.
Classes I attended:
Stranding and Steeking taught by Amy Detjen. I loved this class, Amy is hysterical and a great teacher. Now since I took Jared Flood's Fit class, Anne Hanson's sweater class, and Amy's steeking I am ready to start working on a fair isle cardigan.
Next was Ginger Luter's class on edges. I am not sure I should call this a class. It was really, here is the pattern and knit it. Ginger is very nice and her mosaic knitting is awesome.
Then another Amy Detjen class, Double Knitting. It was tough at first, but my the third charted, changing color row it clicked. I am going to finish this and use it as a wall hanging.
Can you tell Amy would be a blast. She is the one sticking her tongue out. This was taken during the student reception.
Student reception was held Thursday night with a cash bar and lots of goodies to eat.
Can you tell we were all having a blast? I am sorry I forgot the person on the left, then Ellen and Beth. Room shot with Ellen and Beth.
Mary Beth Temple, Franklin Habit, Candace Eisner Strick, Ginger Luter, ?, Cookie A and I don't know the others. Myrna A. I. Stahman is hiding behind Cookie, she is the one who wrote Stahman's Shawls and Scarves which is a great book with a lot of helpful information.
After the reception there was a talk on how to improve your knitting. A raffle was held before the talk and I won.
Well actually Ellen did. On Wednesday evening Franklin gave a talk but I was so exhausted after all day of classes that by 7:30 I was too tired to attend. Ellen went and won the raffle that evening of a gorgeous pink Rowan turtleneck pullover. Just gorgeous. Well Ellen felt since she already won she shouldn't win again so she gave me her ticket and it won. It was a HiyaHiya bag with two buttons and a cute panda charm and inside were Hiya Hiya needles, double point, bamboo and regular circs., a needle bag which I gave to Beth, a very cute puppy cut scissors and a purple dumpling bag which has stitch markers inside including a bag with ring markers to change the size as needed.
North Market was a block away, what a great place! Every ethnicity you can think of was represented through food here. You can buy it raw or they will cook it for you. The first time I had Vietnamese, then German the second day, and it was sooo good. One day Ellen and I walked around between breakfast and lunch while it was quiet and I took a picture of her. LOL isn't she the cutest. I found my wasabi balls here and some purple popcorn, I can't wait to pop them.
So as you can see it was a great time and I can't wait to head out again with these ladies. We are talking about going to Stitches South together. I know I am planning on going to SAFF so maybe I can convince them to join me ;-)
Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!
June 09, 2010
Sewing the Day Away
Well almost all sewing. I am still knitting, and doing embroidery and making jewelry.
I have many favorite blogs that I love to visit, and one that I love going to is Junie Moon. She does so many wonderful crafty things. She either has tutorials or links to the sites that had the tutorials. One of the things she made was a key ring and I knew immediately I had to make it. A while back I had noticed Hobby Lobby had some charms of the tree of life, and I so love that symbol I had to get a few, but did not know what I was going to use them for, this project was perfect.
To me it has so many meanings, the circle of life, renewal, the connection to every one and thing. As a German I loved all the mythology that came out of that region and Yggdrasil is mentioned many times in Norse mythology, and early Germanic tribes held trees to be very sacred. For some reason I feel a strong connection to Ireland and my dear hubby (DH) is Irish. Ireland also uses the Tree of Life symbol and also has many meanings, some the same as mine. After the death of my great-aunt I now finally feel that I can move on, I feel as if I am renewing my life and it is in thanks to the many connections I have in real life; family, friends, Hospice, and in my Internet life, especially the many blogger friends I have. Even though some do not know me, but going to the sites and seeing how life continues on made me realize that I need to do the same. So this key ring is my sign of renewal and interconnections.
The trees aren't exactly what I like for the tree of life but they still represent it very well. I love the ones where the branches reach high towards heaven but yet are intertwined with the roots that go deep down into the earth.
The little tag on the end I found yesterday at Hobby Lobby and says believe. I must continue to believe everyday that I can continue. The glass leaf was also found yesterday and I thought it helped to represent the tree and cycle of life.
I did make hubster one but I think he already pocketed it, as I couldn't find it this morning to take pictures of.
Now for the sewing. Last week I picked up some waffle material to make dish towels, napkins and dishcloths. Unfortunately I didn't have enough to make napkins and the dishcloths were small. I bought other towel material a few years back but this was different, the weave was looser and I am not sure I really enjoyed sewing on it.
The top towel was my first and I used it to play with different stitches to see what it and my sewing machine liked & disliked. It did not like doing decorative stitches, the weave is way to loose. Also the loose weave made the ends fray very fast.
I took some fat quarters and cut two squares, two rectangles and the butterfly square, sewed them into a strip, hemmed with a basting stitch and sewed it onto the material. I sewed as close to the edge as possible and removed the basting stitch. On the dishtowels I tried a few different edge stitches to see what would work best with the fraying edge. I didn't want to hem as they were small already.
The "cheater" curtains I bought at Zooks, a while back when vacaing in Pa with my Mom, Dad, sister and her family. I bought some more when DH and I went to Amish country after my great-aunt's funeral last August, but haven't made them yet. **oh I just had an idea, I've been wondering what I was going to do with some lace sheer fabric I bought on clearance but not enough to make a full set of curtains for two windows, I think I'll combine the two in order to make a set** I sooo love that store in Intercourse PA, it is where the local Amish and Mennonite's shop and they have such wonderful fabrics. In the back of the store is another smaller store where you can pick up already made Amish/Mennonite clothing, housewares, and notions. Next time I need to pick up some petticoats. Oh I call these cheater curtains because all that is needed is to hem the sides and they have many patterns and beautiful color work.
I need to find two small dessert plates, the decorative plates I wanted to put behind my sink were too big, so for now my relish plates.
Off for now, need to eat lunch and then make some pillowcases to match the duvet I made two years ago.
Oh please pray the rain holds off for a bit. I painted my wicker coffee table this morning and it is outside drying. I'll have pictures tomorrow
Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!
Sewing the Day Away
Well almost all sewing. I am still knitting, and doing embroidery and making jewelry.
I have many favorite blogs that I love to visit, and one that I love going to is Junie Moon. She does so many wonderful crafty things. She either has tutorials or links to the sites that had the tutorials. One of the things she made was a key ring and I knew immediately I had to make it. A while back I had noticed Hobby Lobby had some charms of the tree of life, and I so love that symbol I had to get a few, but did not know what I was going to use them for, this project was perfect.
To me it has so many meanings, the circle of life, renewal, the connection to every one and thing. As a German I loved all the mythology that came out of that region and Yggdrasil is mentioned many times in Norse mythology, and early Germanic tribes held trees to be very sacred. For some reason I feel a strong connection to Ireland and my dear hubby (DH) is Irish. Ireland also uses the Tree of Life symbol and also has many meanings, some the same as mine. After the death of my great-aunt I now finally feel that I can move on, I feel as if I am renewing my life and it is in thanks to the many connections I have in real life; family, friends, Hospice, and in my Internet life, especially the many blogger friends I have. Even though some do not know me, but going to the sites and seeing how life continues on made me realize that I need to do the same. So this key ring is my sign of renewal and interconnections.
The trees aren't exactly what I like for the tree of life but they still represent it very well. I love the ones where the branches reach high towards heaven but yet are intertwined with the roots that go deep down into the earth.
The little tag on the end I found yesterday at Hobby Lobby and says believe. I must continue to believe everyday that I can continue. The glass leaf was also found yesterday and I thought it helped to represent the tree and cycle of life.
I did make hubster one but I think he already pocketed it, as I couldn't find it this morning to take pictures of.
Now for the sewing. Last week I picked up some waffle material to make dish towels, napkins and dishcloths. Unfortunately I didn't have enough to make napkins and the dishcloths were small. I bought other towel material a few years back but this was different, the weave was looser and I am not sure I really enjoyed sewing on it.
The top towel was my first and I used it to play with different stitches to see what it and my sewing machine liked & disliked. It did not like doing decorative stitches, the weave is way to loose. Also the loose weave made the ends fray very fast.
I took some fat quarters and cut two squares, two rectangles and the butterfly square, sewed them into a strip, hemmed with a basting stitch and sewed it onto the material. I sewed as close to the edge as possible and removed the basting stitch. On the dishtowels I tried a few different edge stitches to see what would work best with the fraying edge. I didn't want to hem as they were small already.
The "cheater" curtains I bought at Zooks, a while back when vacaing in Pa with my Mom, Dad, sister and her family. I bought some more when DH and I went to Amish country after my great-aunt's funeral last August, but haven't made them yet. **oh I just had an idea, I've been wondering what I was going to do with some lace sheer fabric I bought on clearance but not enough to make a full set of curtains for two windows, I think I'll combine the two in order to make a set** I sooo love that store in Intercourse PA, it is where the local Amish and Mennonite's shop and they have such wonderful fabrics. In the back of the store is another smaller store where you can pick up already made Amish/Mennonite clothing, housewares, and notions. Next time I need to pick up some petticoats. Oh I call these cheater curtains because all that is needed is to hem the sides and they have many patterns and beautiful color work.
I need to find two small dessert plates, the decorative plates I wanted to put behind my sink were too big, so for now my relish plates.
Off for now, need to eat lunch and then make some pillowcases to match the duvet I made two years ago.
Oh please pray the rain holds off for a bit. I painted my wicker coffee table this morning and it is outside drying. I'll have pictures tomorrow
Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!
June 09, 2009
June 02, 2009
Food, Knitting and WendyKnits
I had to share two pictures of happenings in the kitchen. This past weekend DH came in from working outside and proclaimed it was hot. He went into the kitchen and started doing something but wouldn't tell me what. A few minutes later he brought me this. OMG it was awesome. Some of the ingredients I remember are lemon juice, seltzer, mint, ice and some vodka.
This turned into this
a beautiful (if I must say so myself) Fococcia Bread.
I also joined a KAL on Raverly from the group Socks From the Toe Up using Wendy Johnson's book by the same name. Even though I design my own socks, I just had to get this book. If you are interested click on the picture to the right under On My Nightstand. I also put it out to the Yahoo KAL group to see if anyone was interested there. I hope we get lots of knitters to join in.
I am using Pagewood Farms St. Elias in the Watermelon colorway on size 0, 35" circs. using the Magic Loop method, 2 at a time. I increased the toe to 2" as I long a long covering on my toes before the pattern starts. I was also afraid that the lacey pattern would rub in my shoes. I hope you join us, even if you are brand new Wendy has awesome instructions in her book. Wendy will be in Charlotte NC this coming weekend for classes and book signings, I'll be heading down on Sunday. I can't wait!!!
Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!
Food, Knitting and WendyKnits
I had to share two pictures of happenings in the kitchen. This past weekend DH came in from working outside and proclaimed it was hot. He went into the kitchen and started doing something but wouldn't tell me what. A few minutes later he brought me this. OMG it was awesome. Some of the ingredients I remember are lemon juice, seltzer, mint, ice and some vodka.
This turned into this
a beautiful (if I must say so myself) Fococcia Bread.
I also joined a KAL on Raverly from the group Socks From the Toe Up using Wendy Johnson's book by the same name. Even though I design my own socks, I just had to get this book. If you are interested click on the picture to the right under On My Nightstand. I also put it out to the Yahoo KAL group to see if anyone was interested there. I hope we get lots of knitters to join in.
I am using Pagewood Farms St. Elias in the Watermelon colorway on size 0, 35" circs. using the Magic Loop method, 2 at a time. I increased the toe to 2" as I long a long covering on my toes before the pattern starts. I was also afraid that the lacey pattern would rub in my shoes. I hope you join us, even if you are brand new Wendy has awesome instructions in her book. Wendy will be in Charlotte NC this coming weekend for classes and book signings, I'll be heading down on Sunday. I can't wait!!!
Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!
May 19, 2008
Altered Book Organizing
My camera charged and I am using the internal memory for my pictures now. This is fine, but it doesn't hold as much.
Here are pictures of the finished book.
The see through stickers that you can't read say things like, Pure, Natural, 2 Live remains an art, art is the chance 2 Live, Inspire and Create.
The stickers on the back are flowers, pins, pincushions, apples, hand w/heart, sayings like Nothing feeds the center of being so much as creative works. The curtain of mechanization has come down between the mind and the hand - Anne Morrow Lindbergh. Unfortunately I couldn't find any knitting related stickers to add.
The sticker says Though Shalt Sit on a Cushion & Sew a Fine Seam and Feed Upon Strawberries Sugar & Cream, and a little ladybug sitting next to it. Shshsh a few of the stickers are hiding spots where glue stuck or a crooked something or 'nother.
The left-hand side is what I print my household tips, to-do calendar, cleaners and things I want to permanently live in the book, on. The journal sitting on top is what I write my thoughts down in. I took some lovely gift wrapping paper that was wrapped around the best useful gift I have ever received. Little mini colored pencils. I love the pencils as I go out a lot and draw birds and other things. I glued the paper on the cover and then printed a picture of a Victorian era lady sitting at a writing desk and glued that on top of the pretty paper. Does someone recognize that lovely paper??? LOL
Recipes I want to try are put into page protectors. Once I try them and find out they are keepers they will be printed on good paper and placed in the Big Family Recipe Book. I thought this would be easier than putting them in an Excel spreadsheet. However, for my online recipes with unusual ingredients I will put into a spreadsheet and save in recipe folders. On the right is my page divider (I need to put on tabs) with one of the pictures I printed from Divine Domesticity.
I have a section for projects, cleaning, household tips and the recipes. Everything is placed in page protectors to protect them from clumsy me.
Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!
Altered Book Organizing
My camera charged and I am using the internal memory for my pictures now. This is fine, but it doesn't hold as much.
Here are pictures of the finished book.
The see through stickers that you can't read say things like, Pure, Natural, 2 Live remains an art, art is the chance 2 Live, Inspire and Create.
The stickers on the back are flowers, pins, pincushions, apples, hand w/heart, sayings like Nothing feeds the center of being so much as creative works. The curtain of mechanization has come down between the mind and the hand - Anne Morrow Lindbergh. Unfortunately I couldn't find any knitting related stickers to add.
The sticker says Though Shalt Sit on a Cushion & Sew a Fine Seam and Feed Upon Strawberries Sugar & Cream, and a little ladybug sitting next to it. Shshsh a few of the stickers are hiding spots where glue stuck or a crooked something or 'nother.
The left-hand side is what I print my household tips, to-do calendar, cleaners and things I want to permanently live in the book, on. The journal sitting on top is what I write my thoughts down in. I took some lovely gift wrapping paper that was wrapped around the best useful gift I have ever received. Little mini colored pencils. I love the pencils as I go out a lot and draw birds and other things. I glued the paper on the cover and then printed a picture of a Victorian era lady sitting at a writing desk and glued that on top of the pretty paper. Does someone recognize that lovely paper??? LOL
Recipes I want to try are put into page protectors. Once I try them and find out they are keepers they will be printed on good paper and placed in the Big Family Recipe Book. I thought this would be easier than putting them in an Excel spreadsheet. However, for my online recipes with unusual ingredients I will put into a spreadsheet and save in recipe folders. On the right is my page divider (I need to put on tabs) with one of the pictures I printed from Divine Domesticity.
I have a section for projects, cleaning, household tips and the recipes. Everything is placed in page protectors to protect them from clumsy me.
Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!
May 18, 2008
Saving Old George
To continue with my savings, on the way home from Raleigh we stopped to the grocery store just to get a lottery ticket and a few items. I had no intention whatsoever of doing my weekly shopping, I was planning on doing that Monday after I had a chance to go through the Sunday paper. Well you know, well laid plans and all that jazz, we ended up doing the weekly shopping. Good thing I had my coupons with me and my grocery list as we did very well. Normally for a week plus some days we spend 125.00 plus. This week we spent 75.00 and I saved 23.00 between coupons and using the store card.
I found wonderful recipes for six days in a magazine and it included a shopping list, so this weeks Menu Plan Monday was relatively easy to figure out (Thank you Family Circle).
Monday - Apricot-Dijon Chicken w/Rice and Salad
Tuesday - Leftovers
Wednesday - Cheesy Flounder Fillets, Tomato Lentil Couscous and Salad
Thursday - Hopefully Shrimp with Bean-Tomato Ragu served with WW Pasta and Salad, I'll be Umze this night do it depends, things might be moved forward.
Friday - Filet w/Mushroom Sauce (I'll have pizza), Asparagus and a Salad
I still have a meal because of Tuesday so Saturday DH will have Pork and Peppers, I'll have soup and a salad. Tonight we had the Spaghetti w/Tomato, Green Pepper and Anchovies. Man was this delicious. When you cook up anchovies they just melt to nothingness and do not taste fishy at all. This time I made the bread with Whole Wheat and it really came out awesome.
What happens when you take this
and this
and mix it all with some paper?
You get this
This is the inside, unfortunately the outside and the journal I did are stuck on my little memory stick. It died, which sucks because it was my back up and 64 MBs, the other one is still in NY. Hopefully my Mom put it in the box with the material she sent me. It took a while to do because, I layered the papers and had to have each layer dry before I continued. The inside I didn't use as many layers, just one. The green ribbons are bookmarks.
I will be using pictures taken from Divine Domesticity's Retro Household Manual. Click here to see the pictures. I will use the third one from the top as a cover, as that is something that would definitely happen to me.
Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!!
Saving Old George
To continue with my savings, on the way home from Raleigh we stopped to the grocery store just to get a lottery ticket and a few items. I had no intention whatsoever of doing my weekly shopping, I was planning on doing that Monday after I had a chance to go through the Sunday paper. Well you know, well laid plans and all that jazz, we ended up doing the weekly shopping. Good thing I had my coupons with me and my grocery list as we did very well. Normally for a week plus some days we spend 125.00 plus. This week we spent 75.00 and I saved 23.00 between coupons and using the store card.
I found wonderful recipes for six days in a magazine and it included a shopping list, so this weeks Menu Plan Monday was relatively easy to figure out (Thank you Family Circle).
Monday - Apricot-Dijon Chicken w/Rice and Salad
Tuesday - Leftovers
Wednesday - Cheesy Flounder Fillets, Tomato Lentil Couscous and Salad
Thursday - Hopefully Shrimp with Bean-Tomato Ragu served with WW Pasta and Salad, I'll be Umze this night do it depends, things might be moved forward.
Friday - Filet w/Mushroom Sauce (I'll have pizza), Asparagus and a Salad
I still have a meal because of Tuesday so Saturday DH will have Pork and Peppers, I'll have soup and a salad. Tonight we had the Spaghetti w/Tomato, Green Pepper and Anchovies. Man was this delicious. When you cook up anchovies they just melt to nothingness and do not taste fishy at all. This time I made the bread with Whole Wheat and it really came out awesome.
What happens when you take this
and this
and mix it all with some paper?
You get this
This is the inside, unfortunately the outside and the journal I did are stuck on my little memory stick. It died, which sucks because it was my back up and 64 MBs, the other one is still in NY. Hopefully my Mom put it in the box with the material she sent me. It took a while to do because, I layered the papers and had to have each layer dry before I continued. The inside I didn't use as many layers, just one. The green ribbons are bookmarks.
I will be using pictures taken from Divine Domesticity's Retro Household Manual. Click here to see the pictures. I will use the third one from the top as a cover, as that is something that would definitely happen to me.
Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!!
May 17, 2008
May 06, 2008
Corkboard Makeover
I have one of those plain jane corkboards and have always wanted to make it over. If you read my posts you know that hubby helped me staple on the material. Unfortunately the staples were too long also, but I left them in until I was done. Hubby also helped me put on the ribbon, we used double sided tape, a lot easier and less messier than a glue gun. Yesterday I measured and marked where I wanted to place my ribbons and hot glued them on. I measured 4 1/2" out from the corners and placed a mark, I measured the middle of each side and placed a mark. The ribbon, which I love buy the way, (I bought the same ribbon years ago when I decoupaged my Yorkie box, I'll get a picture, and in '05 when I redid a Micheal's project book to hold those small free project papers you get at the stores) was on clearance at two different Michael's I went to, so I hoarded. Oops oh yeah, sorry got sidetracked, the ribbon is half green and half lavender so I used that as a placement guideline on my markings. After all ribbons were glued to the edges and back I then went through and glued just where they meet and then onto the fabric. I wanted to be able to tuck things under the ribbon so I did not glue the whole length. Then hubby reattached the frame for me. I also made a little tack bag to hang on the corkboard.
*I love the purple flower magnets, they came in a set but I don't remember of what, I do remember a magnet to-do list, shows you how long I've had them.
*I didn't use any pattern for board or bag. I just measured the corkboard, measured and cut the material. I then laid the corkboard in the center of the material, folded the corners in and then the sides. As I held them tight DH stapled. I did this all the way around the board. For the bag I knew the general size I wanted and just cut the material. I used the same material as the corkboard and the back of the bag is the little tiny flowers you see in the picture. That was a tablecloth I messed up so I'm using the material for odd and end things. No test knitting for me today. My class Journey Without A Goal, The Tantric Wisdom of the Buddha is tonight and I need to finish my reading. Once I'm done with that I can sit and knit.
*Remember you can click to make bigger
Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!
Corkboard Makeover
I have one of those plain jane corkboards and have always wanted to make it over. If you read my posts you know that hubby helped me staple on the material. Unfortunately the staples were too long also, but I left them in until I was done. Hubby also helped me put on the ribbon, we used double sided tape, a lot easier and less messier than a glue gun. Yesterday I measured and marked where I wanted to place my ribbons and hot glued them on. I measured 4 1/2" out from the corners and placed a mark, I measured the middle of each side and placed a mark. The ribbon, which I love buy the way, (I bought the same ribbon years ago when I decoupaged my Yorkie box, I'll get a picture, and in '05 when I redid a Micheal's project book to hold those small free project papers you get at the stores) was on clearance at two different Michael's I went to, so I hoarded. Oops oh yeah, sorry got sidetracked, the ribbon is half green and half lavender so I used that as a placement guideline on my markings. After all ribbons were glued to the edges and back I then went through and glued just where they meet and then onto the fabric. I wanted to be able to tuck things under the ribbon so I did not glue the whole length. Then hubby reattached the frame for me. I also made a little tack bag to hang on the corkboard.
*I love the purple flower magnets, they came in a set but I don't remember of what, I do remember a magnet to-do list, shows you how long I've had them.
*I didn't use any pattern for board or bag. I just measured the corkboard, measured and cut the material. I then laid the corkboard in the center of the material, folded the corners in and then the sides. As I held them tight DH stapled. I did this all the way around the board. For the bag I knew the general size I wanted and just cut the material. I used the same material as the corkboard and the back of the bag is the little tiny flowers you see in the picture. That was a tablecloth I messed up so I'm using the material for odd and end things. No test knitting for me today. My class Journey Without A Goal, The Tantric Wisdom of the Buddha is tonight and I need to finish my reading. Once I'm done with that I can sit and knit.
*Remember you can click to make bigger
Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!
May 05, 2008
Menu Plan Monday
I decided to try Menu planning for the week. Back in the day when I use to frequent* the scrapbooking message boards, there was a woman who would post her menu for the week. I wasn't that ambitious but I would post what we were having for the day, as did many members. It was great as they all shared wonderful recipes, some I still use today. However, since my recent 'let's get organized' binge, which by the way was started due to the high cost of groceries and wanting to start doing couponing and rebating again. Yes I use to be one of those people that could buy 100's of $$$ worth of groceries for 10 dollars. The glitch is, you really have to be organized because you need to keep your proof of purchases from all your packages, keep your rebate forms (which I'm having a hard time finding these days) and coupons organized. Well anyway back to my menu planning... so for this week it will be:
Monday (today) - Ginger-orange pork loin with leftover Risotto
Tuesday - Chicken leftovers
Wednesday - homemade sausage (I need to use up the chop meat, turkey and pork that were in my freezer). However if my attachment for the KitchenAid doesn't get here soon it will be pasta, with pasta and homemade pread
Thursday - Tilapia w/rice and some sort of squid appetizer
Friday - Bratwurst with homemade rolls and potato salad.
I went through my freezer last night and wrote down all the meat that was inside. I'm planning my menus around what I have. The days we have beef I will be having a salad with either chicken or fish on it. Kris still eats beef so I still have to purchase it.
I mentioned to Kris that we really need to get an upright freezer. We had one back in the day, we use to get frozen food delivery. It was awesome! A rep would come to your house and you would sit with him and figure out the meats and fish you would use for the year or 6 months, however you would plan it. They also had frozen bread dough and juices and some other things I can't remember, too long ago. They also had a purchase a freezer plan and this thing was huge. They would deliver your food, they would even put them in the freezer and organize everything. Yeah great customer service. When we moved we sold the freezer to my sister. I wonder if it is still running? These days I can't stand the side-by-side freezer/fridge. I think we lost a lot of refrigerator space when they did that. Heck I can't even get a box of frozen pizza inside my freezer, it's not wide enough.
Well I need to get back to my knitting. It's a gorgeous day today so I'll sit outside. Oh yeah we ate dinner outside last night - the first time this year. Friday night I finished cleaning off the back deck, placed all my plants around the deck and put out the newly made tablecloth. Now it's ready for outside time!!!
Oh two new websites. The listed above and Home Sanctuary - I just love her idea.
*the ladies on the scrapbooking message boards started to get real snarky so I stopped visiting them. It was very schoolish stuff and who needs that these days.
Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!
Menu Plan Monday
I decided to try Menu planning for the week. Back in the day when I use to frequent* the scrapbooking message boards, there was a woman who would post her menu for the week. I wasn't that ambitious but I would post what we were having for the day, as did many members. It was great as they all shared wonderful recipes, some I still use today. However, since my recent 'let's get organized' binge, which by the way was started due to the high cost of groceries and wanting to start doing couponing and rebating again. Yes I use to be one of those people that could buy 100's of $$$ worth of groceries for 10 dollars. The glitch is, you really have to be organized because you need to keep your proof of purchases from all your packages, keep your rebate forms (which I'm having a hard time finding these days) and coupons organized. Well anyway back to my menu planning... so for this week it will be:
Monday (today) - Ginger-orange pork loin with leftover Risotto
Tuesday - Chicken leftovers
Wednesday - homemade sausage (I need to use up the chop meat, turkey and pork that were in my freezer). However if my attachment for the KitchenAid doesn't get here soon it will be pasta, with pasta and homemade pread
Thursday - Tilapia w/rice and some sort of squid appetizer
Friday - Bratwurst with homemade rolls and potato salad.
I went through my freezer last night and wrote down all the meat that was inside. I'm planning my menus around what I have. The days we have beef I will be having a salad with either chicken or fish on it. Kris still eats beef so I still have to purchase it.
I mentioned to Kris that we really need to get an upright freezer. We had one back in the day, we use to get frozen food delivery. It was awesome! A rep would come to your house and you would sit with him and figure out the meats and fish you would use for the year or 6 months, however you would plan it. They also had frozen bread dough and juices and some other things I can't remember, too long ago. They also had a purchase a freezer plan and this thing was huge. They would deliver your food, they would even put them in the freezer and organize everything. Yeah great customer service. When we moved we sold the freezer to my sister. I wonder if it is still running? These days I can't stand the side-by-side freezer/fridge. I think we lost a lot of refrigerator space when they did that. Heck I can't even get a box of frozen pizza inside my freezer, it's not wide enough.
Well I need to get back to my knitting. It's a gorgeous day today so I'll sit outside. Oh yeah we ate dinner outside last night - the first time this year. Friday night I finished cleaning off the back deck, placed all my plants around the deck and put out the newly made tablecloth. Now it's ready for outside time!!!
Oh two new websites. The listed above and Home Sanctuary - I just love her idea.
*the ladies on the scrapbooking message boards started to get real snarky so I stopped visiting them. It was very schoolish stuff and who needs that these days.
Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!
May 03, 2008
April 30, 2008
Busy But Not Really
Warning: Graphic intense
I have been busy but it seems like I haven't done a thing. I know I haven't gone out to read the blogs lately as I am almost 300 behind. OUCH!!!
First of all I am just so psyched. I won first place in Brian's aka Brileyknits contest. I couldn't decide between the custom needle roll or the 4oz of handspun Merino. I had a feeling both would be made by Brian which is what I wanted, so it was a tough decision. I finally decided on the handspun. I can't wait for it to arrive. LOL no rush Brian take your time hon.
Brian also gifted me with something absolutely wonderful. I am slowly going to a total vegetarian diet and Brian has been a big help, I am not eating any beef right now and starting on not eating pork. Brian doesn't know this as it was wonderful timing as I have recently had a stronger reason to do this, a dear friend passed away two weeks ago from Mad Cow's Disease. Now this totally freaked us out as he was a farmer back in the day when hubby also did farming. John eventually stopped farming and went into another business. Now people, he grew up and lived in NY, so this isn't some other country we are talking about, this really hit close to home. Thank God he didn't suffer long, as I saw documentaries on how this disease affects you. He was having some health issues and was diagnosed as diabetic, as week after the diagnosis he couldn't move his limbs so he was taken to Albany Medical Center where he was diagnosed with MCD, and he passed away two days later.
The very lovely gift from Brian was
a vegetarian cookbook, with recipes by Brian and his friends. LOL funny he posted today about this. Weird brain connections going on this week. I'll explain more later.
There were typed pages and pages like this,
Absolutely beautiful!!! I will treasure it forever. Brian did you know I collect cookbooks? Thank you so much!!!!
Oh here is a picture of that sampler tea towel. Now please don't laugh at how crude this is.
It was just a scrape piece of cotton I had and decided to do the different stitches for the J foot. As I was doing it I realized I could make a tea towel. I tried to square it off as best as I could. LOL this is the one when hubby asked who is D? LOL I need to rip that out and put in a K. I also cut the bottom to make it scalloped.
This weekend I went out and did some straightening up on the back deck and decided to quickly make a tablecloth for the deck table.
Two years ago outside Jo-Ann's there was a bin of clearance item and they had these bolts of vinyl with flannel backing. I grabbed two since they were a nice price. in 2006 I made my tablecloth from one of the bolts and this was the other that was left. There still is a good amount on the roll, I'm thinking placemats for outside. This is real easy to make.
Then as I reached into my sewing project bag I pulled out a placemat I was working on two years ago when my Mom's machine decided to stop sewing, I managed to finish one before it died. Here are the finished placemats.
They are reversible. The pattern wanted you to make your own binding but I didn't want to use all that material for the binding so I found a roll of ribbon and sewed that on instead.
The paper on top was one of my finds today to finish printing out the recipes. I didn't like the red rose paper for the recipes as I think it was just way to much with the recipe binder. The color on the paper is very muted and I think will look great.
I actually ventured out today, as it was just gorgeous and I couldn't resist. First stop was to Yarns Etc. to drop off a check for Mary Ann. Teresa of Singing Waters Farm had bought us some dye plants and dropped them off to Mary Ann's. Since I've been so sick I haven't had time to go pick them up and decided today was a wonderful day to go do so. I didn't realize the shop was closed as Lucy Neatby was there holding a workshop. Good thing they were all milling around as I was able to go in and see Mary Ann. I also saw Lucy and Mary Ann showed me all of Lucy's wonderful knitting cloths. OMG were they gorgeous. I am so sorry I didn't know about this workshop. REMEMBER: IF YOU ARE GOING TO MARYLAND S&W STOP BY AND SAY HI TO MARY ANN OF THREE WATERS FARM.
Then I headed over to Good Price Books, a used bookstore in Chapel Hill. I took my time, grabbed a chair and went through the cookbook section. I found some really cute books. Country Recipes from Friends and Family; A Collection of 900 Tasty Recipes from Mennonite Homes All Across America. I wanted this cookbook as I was over at Wendy's Modest Dress blog and tried making her Hunza bread. It was good but hubby and I both feel something was missing from the recipe.
Next is The American Kitchen 1700 to the Present by Ellen M. Plante, printed in 1995. It shows kitchen layouts, advertisements, helpful hints, recipes and guidelines for running your house all during various time periods.
For example, "in the colonial time period one household hint is that tight, waxy, yellow butter is better than white or crumbly, which soon becomes rancid and snowy. Go into the center of balls or rolls to prove and judge it; if in firkin [a lidded, wooden container], the middle is to be preferred, as the sides are frequently distasted by the wood of the firkin - altho' oak and used for years... American Cookery - Amelia Simmons, 1776."
In Victorian times "Home Comfort a Mrs. Logan gives advice on a one-servant household. The one maid must rise early enough to accomplish part of the washing before breakfast. By rising at five, there will be two hours before it is time to lay the table and prepare the first meal... after having cooked the breakfast and waited the table, the girl sets before her mistress a neat dish-pan, a mop and two clean towels; then takes the heavy dishes, knives and forks into the kitchen, while the lady washes the glass, silver and china."
It ends with The Kitchen as we Know It 1940-1990's. I love really old cookbooks from the Victorian era and before and I just love the advice they usually give. Some of the information is useful even today. For insteance, I have some oil cloths and I was wondering how I would clean it if I was to use it outside and there is a wonderful hint inside the book as how to do this and how to re-oil the cloth.
Now the last book is a gold mine for me. It was published in 1951 and has the cutest pictures ever. It is A World of Good Eating; Recipes From Around the World by Heloise Frost. Here are some pictures from the book:
These are just a few of the chapters. Then they have little pictures on the pages.
I wonder if these illustrations are still copyrighted? The book does give credit to "Ellen A. Nelson whose figurines and greeting card characters have charmed their way into the hearts of thousands. Mrs. Nelson also contributed the Scandinavian recipes." I guess I need to do some internet research, as I would love to use some of these.
After the bookstore it was time to head to Staples. I was looking for a blue highlighter with the post-it flags but no blue. However, there was a guy sitting out front selling subscription to the newspaper. I've been wanting to get the weekend papers so this was perfect. I also received a 15.00 dollar Staples gift certificate for joining, hence the paper for my recipes.
Then it was time for Whole Foods, I wanted to get some sausage casing as I want to try making some chicken sausages. No luck but I did get a good buy on wholesome chicken boneless chicken thighs. The best surprise was that they actually had my husbands favorite rub for chicken.
Hubby and I talked over the Nextel earlier and decided to meet at a local Chinese restaurant for dinner, so after some sushi I headed to Cliff's Meat Market in Carrboro. They cater to the Spanish/Mexican clientèle and have some great cuts of meat. However, I wasn't there for the meat I wanted to see about the sausage casings. Lucky, they had it and the wonderful gentleman told me how to do it and store whatever is left over.
Then to Mary Ann's to pick up my plants - I now have two each of Madder, Weld, Dyer's Knotweed, . Tonight I'll research on the internet the best way to plant these and do that in the morning.
Okay Phew enough LOL. I'm sure you are tired of reading.
Ooops the mind/brain thing. I wanted to call my dil the other day to see how she was doing. I ended up with a real sleepy spell and decided to take a nap instead of calling her. When I got up I checked my email and there was a nice long email from her. Then the newspaper thing, as I had just called the Burlington paper to see about the weekend subscription, the vegetarian cookbook from Brian and now the same postings LOL.
Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!!
Busy But Not Really
Warning: Graphic intense
I have been busy but it seems like I haven't done a thing. I know I haven't gone out to read the blogs lately as I am almost 300 behind. OUCH!!!
First of all I am just so psyched. I won first place in Brian's aka Brileyknits contest. I couldn't decide between the custom needle roll or the 4oz of handspun Merino. I had a feeling both would be made by Brian which is what I wanted, so it was a tough decision. I finally decided on the handspun. I can't wait for it to arrive. LOL no rush Brian take your time hon.
Brian also gifted me with something absolutely wonderful. I am slowly going to a total vegetarian diet and Brian has been a big help, I am not eating any beef right now and starting on not eating pork. Brian doesn't know this as it was wonderful timing as I have recently had a stronger reason to do this, a dear friend passed away two weeks ago from Mad Cow's Disease. Now this totally freaked us out as he was a farmer back in the day when hubby also did farming. John eventually stopped farming and went into another business. Now people, he grew up and lived in NY, so this isn't some other country we are talking about, this really hit close to home. Thank God he didn't suffer long, as I saw documentaries on how this disease affects you. He was having some health issues and was diagnosed as diabetic, as week after the diagnosis he couldn't move his limbs so he was taken to Albany Medical Center where he was diagnosed with MCD, and he passed away two days later.
The very lovely gift from Brian was
a vegetarian cookbook, with recipes by Brian and his friends. LOL funny he posted today about this. Weird brain connections going on this week. I'll explain more later.
There were typed pages and pages like this,
Absolutely beautiful!!! I will treasure it forever. Brian did you know I collect cookbooks? Thank you so much!!!!
Oh here is a picture of that sampler tea towel. Now please don't laugh at how crude this is.
It was just a scrape piece of cotton I had and decided to do the different stitches for the J foot. As I was doing it I realized I could make a tea towel. I tried to square it off as best as I could. LOL this is the one when hubby asked who is D? LOL I need to rip that out and put in a K. I also cut the bottom to make it scalloped.
This weekend I went out and did some straightening up on the back deck and decided to quickly make a tablecloth for the deck table.
Two years ago outside Jo-Ann's there was a bin of clearance item and they had these bolts of vinyl with flannel backing. I grabbed two since they were a nice price. in 2006 I made my tablecloth from one of the bolts and this was the other that was left. There still is a good amount on the roll, I'm thinking placemats for outside. This is real easy to make.
Then as I reached into my sewing project bag I pulled out a placemat I was working on two years ago when my Mom's machine decided to stop sewing, I managed to finish one before it died. Here are the finished placemats.
They are reversible. The pattern wanted you to make your own binding but I didn't want to use all that material for the binding so I found a roll of ribbon and sewed that on instead.
The paper on top was one of my finds today to finish printing out the recipes. I didn't like the red rose paper for the recipes as I think it was just way to much with the recipe binder. The color on the paper is very muted and I think will look great.
I actually ventured out today, as it was just gorgeous and I couldn't resist. First stop was to Yarns Etc. to drop off a check for Mary Ann. Teresa of Singing Waters Farm had bought us some dye plants and dropped them off to Mary Ann's. Since I've been so sick I haven't had time to go pick them up and decided today was a wonderful day to go do so. I didn't realize the shop was closed as Lucy Neatby was there holding a workshop. Good thing they were all milling around as I was able to go in and see Mary Ann. I also saw Lucy and Mary Ann showed me all of Lucy's wonderful knitting cloths. OMG were they gorgeous. I am so sorry I didn't know about this workshop. REMEMBER: IF YOU ARE GOING TO MARYLAND S&W STOP BY AND SAY HI TO MARY ANN OF THREE WATERS FARM.
Then I headed over to Good Price Books, a used bookstore in Chapel Hill. I took my time, grabbed a chair and went through the cookbook section. I found some really cute books. Country Recipes from Friends and Family; A Collection of 900 Tasty Recipes from Mennonite Homes All Across America. I wanted this cookbook as I was over at Wendy's Modest Dress blog and tried making her Hunza bread. It was good but hubby and I both feel something was missing from the recipe.
Next is The American Kitchen 1700 to the Present by Ellen M. Plante, printed in 1995. It shows kitchen layouts, advertisements, helpful hints, recipes and guidelines for running your house all during various time periods.
For example, "in the colonial time period one household hint is that tight, waxy, yellow butter is better than white or crumbly, which soon becomes rancid and snowy. Go into the center of balls or rolls to prove and judge it; if in firkin [a lidded, wooden container], the middle is to be preferred, as the sides are frequently distasted by the wood of the firkin - altho' oak and used for years... American Cookery - Amelia Simmons, 1776."
In Victorian times "Home Comfort a Mrs. Logan gives advice on a one-servant household. The one maid must rise early enough to accomplish part of the washing before breakfast. By rising at five, there will be two hours before it is time to lay the table and prepare the first meal... after having cooked the breakfast and waited the table, the girl sets before her mistress a neat dish-pan, a mop and two clean towels; then takes the heavy dishes, knives and forks into the kitchen, while the lady washes the glass, silver and china."
It ends with The Kitchen as we Know It 1940-1990's. I love really old cookbooks from the Victorian era and before and I just love the advice they usually give. Some of the information is useful even today. For insteance, I have some oil cloths and I was wondering how I would clean it if I was to use it outside and there is a wonderful hint inside the book as how to do this and how to re-oil the cloth.
Now the last book is a gold mine for me. It was published in 1951 and has the cutest pictures ever. It is A World of Good Eating; Recipes From Around the World by Heloise Frost. Here are some pictures from the book:
These are just a few of the chapters. Then they have little pictures on the pages.
I wonder if these illustrations are still copyrighted? The book does give credit to "Ellen A. Nelson whose figurines and greeting card characters have charmed their way into the hearts of thousands. Mrs. Nelson also contributed the Scandinavian recipes." I guess I need to do some internet research, as I would love to use some of these.
After the bookstore it was time to head to Staples. I was looking for a blue highlighter with the post-it flags but no blue. However, there was a guy sitting out front selling subscription to the newspaper. I've been wanting to get the weekend papers so this was perfect. I also received a 15.00 dollar Staples gift certificate for joining, hence the paper for my recipes.
Then it was time for Whole Foods, I wanted to get some sausage casing as I want to try making some chicken sausages. No luck but I did get a good buy on wholesome chicken boneless chicken thighs. The best surprise was that they actually had my husbands favorite rub for chicken.
Hubby and I talked over the Nextel earlier and decided to meet at a local Chinese restaurant for dinner, so after some sushi I headed to Cliff's Meat Market in Carrboro. They cater to the Spanish/Mexican clientèle and have some great cuts of meat. However, I wasn't there for the meat I wanted to see about the sausage casings. Lucky, they had it and the wonderful gentleman told me how to do it and store whatever is left over.
Then to Mary Ann's to pick up my plants - I now have two each of Madder, Weld, Dyer's Knotweed, . Tonight I'll research on the internet the best way to plant these and do that in the morning.
Okay Phew enough LOL. I'm sure you are tired of reading.
Ooops the mind/brain thing. I wanted to call my dil the other day to see how she was doing. I ended up with a real sleepy spell and decided to take a nap instead of calling her. When I got up I checked my email and there was a nice long email from her. Then the newspaper thing, as I had just called the Burlington paper to see about the weekend subscription, the vegetarian cookbook from Brian and now the same postings LOL.
Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!!
April 24, 2008
Not a Lot
Not a lot going on right now. I found my camera cord but until I download the photos I'll do a post of things past.
When I stopped at GW the other week I found these lovely pink boxes. The plant is a Viola Guzmania (LOL kind of a perfect name as I'm rewatching the Sopranos), that hubby bought for me as a welcome home gift.
It has a purple flower coming out of the funky beaver tale looking thing.
I also bought the glass bottle, I thought I would make some flavored oil.
Remember the fabric I bought the other day? Well again I managed to match my bathroom LOL. A couple of years ago when I worked for AC Nielsen, I would go to Asheboro once a week. I would pass a Wal-Mart each time I went and never stopped. Finally I decided to stop in and walked down the bath section and found some really pretty towels, I also picked up a matching bath rug, garbage can and shower curtain. When I got home I found out it matched the wallpaper perfectly. People have actually commented thinking I had it custom made to match.
I put it in the guest bathroom as my master bath has a glass shower stall and a whirlpool tub, so no need for a shower curtain. Notice the tile floor? Hubby put it down while I was in NY. We also will put the same down in the master bathroom.
Not a Lot
Not a lot going on right now. I found my camera cord but until I download the photos I'll do a post of things past.
When I stopped at GW the other week I found these lovely pink boxes. The plant is a Viola Guzmania (LOL kind of a perfect name as I'm rewatching the Sopranos), that hubby bought for me as a welcome home gift.
It has a purple flower coming out of the funky beaver tale looking thing.
I also bought the glass bottle, I thought I would make some flavored oil.
Remember the fabric I bought the other day? Well again I managed to match my bathroom LOL. A couple of years ago when I worked for AC Nielsen, I would go to Asheboro once a week. I would pass a Wal-Mart each time I went and never stopped. Finally I decided to stop in and walked down the bath section and found some really pretty towels, I also picked up a matching bath rug, garbage can and shower curtain. When I got home I found out it matched the wallpaper perfectly. People have actually commented thinking I had it custom made to match.
I put it in the guest bathroom as my master bath has a glass shower stall and a whirlpool tub, so no need for a shower curtain. Notice the tile floor? Hubby put it down while I was in NY. We also will put the same down in the master bathroom.
April 21, 2008
April 19, 2008
April 17, 2008
Tired
I am so exhausted today. Yeah I really should learn with fibro. not to do a lot when feeling good, you end up paying for it.
This is what dessert looked like last night with the tea.
Please excuse the table cover as I was not up to ironing it when I grabbed it out of my linen closet. I was very happy to see how well it matched the tea cozy I bought from Homespun Living. The loaf was not as dark as it is coming out in the pictures, here it looks burnt, but it wasn't. Tonight we will be having it with strawberries as hubby suggested, YUM!!!
Today was a good mail day.
The books are from Crafter's Choice. They were having a great sale and I couldn't resist. The vegetarian cookbook, Fresh From The Vegetarian Slow Cooker by Robin Robertson, is awesome and I would definitely recommend it. Especially for slow cooking people. I love my slow cooker! The Sew Everything Workshop by Diana Rupp (yellow), I would only recommend to very beginners and not for a lot of its patterns. The wearable patterns are very boxy and do not fit the models very well. Actually when I saw a lot of the patterns I went ick! not for me. There are maybe 5 out of the lot that I did like. However, her explanations of knitting, stitches, zippers, material is very informative and I will get a lot out of that. I'm just glad I bought it at a great discount so I'm not going to return it. The next book Sew In No Time by Emma Hardy is AWESOME!!!! I love just about every pattern in the book. It is very inspirational and I will definitely be sewing like crazy.
The shortbread pan you see on top was on ebay and I was so happy to have the winning bid. It is Hearts and Flowers, Brown Bag's 1988 design. I think it was on Junie Moon's site that I read about these pans and so loved the idea of making shortbreads with them. No pamphlet came with it so I need to go online and see how to care for it, I probably should check the Brown Bag site again.
Well early to bed tonight, eye appointment in the morning in Raleigh.
Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!
Tired
I am so exhausted today. Yeah I really should learn with fibro. not to do a lot when feeling good, you end up paying for it.
This is what dessert looked like last night with the tea.
Please excuse the table cover as I was not up to ironing it when I grabbed it out of my linen closet. I was very happy to see how well it matched the tea cozy I bought from Homespun Living. The loaf was not as dark as it is coming out in the pictures, here it looks burnt, but it wasn't. Tonight we will be having it with strawberries as hubby suggested, YUM!!!
Today was a good mail day.
The books are from Crafter's Choice. They were having a great sale and I couldn't resist. The vegetarian cookbook, Fresh From The Vegetarian Slow Cooker by Robin Robertson, is awesome and I would definitely recommend it. Especially for slow cooking people. I love my slow cooker! The Sew Everything Workshop by Diana Rupp (yellow), I would only recommend to very beginners and not for a lot of its patterns. The wearable patterns are very boxy and do not fit the models very well. Actually when I saw a lot of the patterns I went ick! not for me. There are maybe 5 out of the lot that I did like. However, her explanations of knitting, stitches, zippers, material is very informative and I will get a lot out of that. I'm just glad I bought it at a great discount so I'm not going to return it. The next book Sew In No Time by Emma Hardy is AWESOME!!!! I love just about every pattern in the book. It is very inspirational and I will definitely be sewing like crazy.
The shortbread pan you see on top was on ebay and I was so happy to have the winning bid. It is Hearts and Flowers, Brown Bag's 1988 design. I think it was on Junie Moon's site that I read about these pans and so loved the idea of making shortbreads with them. No pamphlet came with it so I need to go online and see how to care for it, I probably should check the Brown Bag site again.
Well early to bed tonight, eye appointment in the morning in Raleigh.
Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!
April 16, 2008
Busy!
WOW I had a busy day. It was a day relatively pain free so I took some advantage of it. I did my dining room, kitchen and dinette floors, straightened up my bedroom, and did some laundry, oh and I made this;
Orange Sour-cream Loaf from the little cookbook I picked up at GW - Tea breads and Coffeecakes. Then while that was baking I prepped the ingredients for tonight's dinner, my son's recipe for Mushroom Chicken Stir-Fry. OMG it was awesome!!! Hon, Dad and I are very impressed. I cut up the zucchini sandwiched it between napkins, and the same with the mushrooms, I made the orange sauce. Yes I even grated the peel myself and juiced the orange. That was my reason for making the loaf as I thought the orange flavor would tie everything together nicely. I also made a sauce for the pot stickers we were having with dinner, stuck that in the fridge to meld the flavors together.
I was just thinking of jumping into the shower, then make a cup of tea and cut up the cake and steal a slice out of the middle, when Hubby beeped me on my Nextel to say he was heading home. WHAT!!??!! so early?? I looked at the time OMG it's 4:30. No tea and cake but I did make some coffee, and jumped into the shower.
While I made up the stir-fry and put the crab ragoons in the oven, hubby was sweet and vacuumed for me. I then heated up some Kung Po and Ginger/Sesame Noodles and made the pot stickers. Needless to say dinner was a big hit. I'm so glad, it makes all that work worthwhile.
When dinner was over and cleaned up I thought a nice orange icing would be great with the cake so I added some orange zest and fresh squeezed orange juice to confectioner's sugar and drizzled it on the cake, adding the orange slices from all the oranges I zested.
Now I'm going to have some tea and this;
Hubby just told me that tomorrow if he gets home on time we can go get that Brother that embroiders! YAHOOO!!!!!!!!
Hugs!!!!
Namaste!!!
Busy!
WOW I had a busy day. It was a day relatively pain free so I took some advantage of it. I did my dining room, kitchen and dinette floors, straightened up my bedroom, and did some laundry, oh and I made this;
Orange Sour-cream Loaf from the little cookbook I picked up at GW - Tea breads and Coffeecakes. Then while that was baking I prepped the ingredients for tonight's dinner, my son's recipe for Mushroom Chicken Stir-Fry. OMG it was awesome!!! Hon, Dad and I are very impressed. I cut up the zucchini sandwiched it between napkins, and the same with the mushrooms, I made the orange sauce. Yes I even grated the peel myself and juiced the orange. That was my reason for making the loaf as I thought the orange flavor would tie everything together nicely. I also made a sauce for the pot stickers we were having with dinner, stuck that in the fridge to meld the flavors together.
I was just thinking of jumping into the shower, then make a cup of tea and cut up the cake and steal a slice out of the middle, when Hubby beeped me on my Nextel to say he was heading home. WHAT!!??!! so early?? I looked at the time OMG it's 4:30. No tea and cake but I did make some coffee, and jumped into the shower.
While I made up the stir-fry and put the crab ragoons in the oven, hubby was sweet and vacuumed for me. I then heated up some Kung Po and Ginger/Sesame Noodles and made the pot stickers. Needless to say dinner was a big hit. I'm so glad, it makes all that work worthwhile.
When dinner was over and cleaned up I thought a nice orange icing would be great with the cake so I added some orange zest and fresh squeezed orange juice to confectioner's sugar and drizzled it on the cake, adding the orange slices from all the oranges I zested.
Now I'm going to have some tea and this;
Hubby just told me that tomorrow if he gets home on time we can go get that Brother that embroiders! YAHOOO!!!!!!!!
Hugs!!!!
Namaste!!!
April 14, 2008
Sewing Machines
I'm in the market for a sewing machine as the one I have is a second hand one that doesn't rewind it's bobbins and only has about 3 stitch selections, or a Singer I traded with my Mom. She took my basic Singer and I in turn got hers. She wanted it for my niece to learn on. Which is great, it was a great little machine, I used it when I use to do piecework at home, sewing visors for a women out of Woodstock. However, her machine has a problem with the tension, I've been meaning to get it to a repair shop but I haven't yet and when I do it will make a good second in case the new one is in use. I would love one of those embroidery sewing machines but man is the $$$ high.
When Mom and I went to Kingston NY to pick up things for her party we also went sewing machine looking, as she said she would get me one for my birthday. I consider my Mom an expert in sewing and sewing machines among other things so I value her opinion highly. We looked at a Brother CS6000i, that we both liked and believe it or not it was at Wal-Mart. It has 60 stitches but 101 stitch functions ((?) which I'm not sure what that means), and 7 button hole styles and an expanded table. I remember seeing it in our Wal-MartS (yes we have like 5 within 30 minutes of each other). Mom thought this would be good for me, especially since I am relearning sewing. I've just dabble and now I want to get more serious. Mom gave me a gift certificate for it so I wouldn't have to bring it on the plane and I could just buy it down here. Well guess what? Every single Wal-Mart I have called and visited from Raleigh to Greensboro does not have that particular Brother anymore, they are being depleted from their stock. One lady said they are getting in new stock and that is why there aren't a lot on the shelves right now.
Today I went back to one of the Wal-Marts because I had seen some great fabric on discount when hubby and I were there looking for the Brother, and decided to go get it before it disappeared.
*I have the pattern to make a sewing machine cover, organizer and things for your sewing room so I thought this crafty pattern would be great. I bought six yards of the bottom one and almost two of the top, it was all they had.
*I then spotted this floral fabric and I thought it would be great for my bedside pocket organizer (free pattern found online at Jo-Ann's) I want to make. The material was actually on the bolt backwards so I saw the muted side and loved it, the lady pointed it out and showed me the actual front. I love them both LOL. Driving home I got thinking that this would make a great duvet cover (another pattern I found at Jo-Ann's) for my comforter. Needless to say I right away measured my comforter and will go back for more.
I also found my sewing machine - one that embroiders and the price isn't that bad. The gift certificate from my Mom will pay for half, so maybe Friday since it's payday I'll be able to get it. Keeping fingers crossed.
Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!!
*remember you can click on pictures to make larger, and use your down arrow if it is larger than your screen!
Sewing Machines
I'm in the market for a sewing machine as the one I have is a second hand one that doesn't rewind it's bobbins and only has about 3 stitch selections, or a Singer I traded with my Mom. She took my basic Singer and I in turn got hers. She wanted it for my niece to learn on. Which is great, it was a great little machine, I used it when I use to do piecework at home, sewing visors for a women out of Woodstock. However, her machine has a problem with the tension, I've been meaning to get it to a repair shop but I haven't yet and when I do it will make a good second in case the new one is in use. I would love one of those embroidery sewing machines but man is the $$$ high.
When Mom and I went to Kingston NY to pick up things for her party we also went sewing machine looking, as she said she would get me one for my birthday. I consider my Mom an expert in sewing and sewing machines among other things so I value her opinion highly. We looked at a Brother CS6000i, that we both liked and believe it or not it was at Wal-Mart. It has 60 stitches but 101 stitch functions ((?) which I'm not sure what that means), and 7 button hole styles and an expanded table. I remember seeing it in our Wal-MartS (yes we have like 5 within 30 minutes of each other). Mom thought this would be good for me, especially since I am relearning sewing. I've just dabble and now I want to get more serious. Mom gave me a gift certificate for it so I wouldn't have to bring it on the plane and I could just buy it down here. Well guess what? Every single Wal-Mart I have called and visited from Raleigh to Greensboro does not have that particular Brother anymore, they are being depleted from their stock. One lady said they are getting in new stock and that is why there aren't a lot on the shelves right now.
Today I went back to one of the Wal-Marts because I had seen some great fabric on discount when hubby and I were there looking for the Brother, and decided to go get it before it disappeared.
*I have the pattern to make a sewing machine cover, organizer and things for your sewing room so I thought this crafty pattern would be great. I bought six yards of the bottom one and almost two of the top, it was all they had.
*I then spotted this floral fabric and I thought it would be great for my bedside pocket organizer (free pattern found online at Jo-Ann's) I want to make. The material was actually on the bolt backwards so I saw the muted side and loved it, the lady pointed it out and showed me the actual front. I love them both LOL. Driving home I got thinking that this would make a great duvet cover (another pattern I found at Jo-Ann's) for my comforter. Needless to say I right away measured my comforter and will go back for more.
I also found my sewing machine - one that embroiders and the price isn't that bad. The gift certificate from my Mom will pay for half, so maybe Friday since it's payday I'll be able to get it. Keeping fingers crossed.
Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!!
*remember you can click on pictures to make larger, and use your down arrow if it is larger than your screen!
April 12, 2008
March 13, 2008
March 12, 2008
Busy Knittin'
I turned the heel on the Jacobian sock. If I must say so myself this short row heel actually came out pretty nice. I really don't like doing short rows at all, PERIOD. For some reason this time I was just relaxed doing it and maybe that was the difference.
Heel Shot:
Pattern Shot:
This is a fun knit and I think the solid color yarn really shows off the pattern.
I am almost ready to turn the heel on Widdershins #2, since Mom's foot is a tad bit bigger than mine it won't be until tomorrow.
Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!!
Busy Knittin'
I turned the heel on the Jacobian sock. If I must say so myself this short row heel actually came out pretty nice. I really don't like doing short rows at all, PERIOD. For some reason this time I was just relaxed doing it and maybe that was the difference.
Heel Shot:
Pattern Shot:
This is a fun knit and I think the solid color yarn really shows off the pattern.
I am almost ready to turn the heel on Widdershins #2, since Mom's foot is a tad bit bigger than mine it won't be until tomorrow.
Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!!
March 10, 2008
March 09, 2008
More Socks
Here are some pictures I promised.
The Mystery Stole II
This is after clue 5. I just love this pattern and how it looks.
Another UFO, finished!
You will never believe how long these have been on the needle. I started these four years ago just after my knee surgery, okay not quiet four years but in September it will be. Sue from A Chick with Sticks sent me the yarn as a get well present. She was the sweetest girl, she is from Canada but gave up blogging back in '05. UPDATE-I found my original blog post I started these January 24, 2006.
Stats:
Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks, Fancy Free Color
Needles: Size 1
Pattern: I am almost positive I used Wendy Knit's Toe-up pattern. It is just a short-row heel, with stockinette knit all through except for the cuff which is six rows of K1, P1 ribbing. I used the tubular cast-off. Not sure if I used Wendy's pattern now or not, I used a provisional cast-on for the toe, which I don't tend to use now when I make my toe-ups.
The last time I worked on these The Needleworks in Burlington was open, yeah it's been a while. These were my take-a-long knits, because it was straight stockinette stitch and no concentration needed. I had one finished and was just about onto the heel of the second, lacking about 20 rows. I remember that I didn't like doing the short row heel and that was why I just put them in my UFO basket.
Yes, I can say I have cast on the Jacobian sock. I'll do a in progress shot tomorrow.
Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!!
More Socks
Here are some pictures I promised.
The Mystery Stole II
This is after clue 5. I just love this pattern and how it looks.
Another UFO, finished!
You will never believe how long these have been on the needle. I started these four years ago just after my knee surgery, okay not quiet four years but in September it will be. Sue from A Chick with Sticks sent me the yarn as a get well present. She was the sweetest girl, she is from Canada but gave up blogging back in '05. UPDATE-I found my original blog post I started these January 24, 2006.
Stats:
Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks, Fancy Free Color
Needles: Size 1
Pattern: I am almost positive I used Wendy Knit's Toe-up pattern. It is just a short-row heel, with stockinette knit all through except for the cuff which is six rows of K1, P1 ribbing. I used the tubular cast-off. Not sure if I used Wendy's pattern now or not, I used a provisional cast-on for the toe, which I don't tend to use now when I make my toe-ups.
The last time I worked on these The Needleworks in Burlington was open, yeah it's been a while. These were my take-a-long knits, because it was straight stockinette stitch and no concentration needed. I had one finished and was just about onto the heel of the second, lacking about 20 rows. I remember that I didn't like doing the short row heel and that was why I just put them in my UFO basket.
Yes, I can say I have cast on the Jacobian sock. I'll do a in progress shot tomorrow.
Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!!
March 08, 2008
Bubblegum
Hubby and I went shopping today to get some things for my upcoming trip to NY next weekend and he needed some work jeans. I headed towards the electronics section to get some CDs so I can back up my music. Last time when my HD fried I lost a lot my music, wait let me rephrase that. It wasn't lost but I would have to reload all my CDs back onto my HD and Apple was nice enough to let me redownload all the music I had bought. In other words it was just a pain in the a$$. While in the electronics section deciding which CDs to get, hubby and I decided we'll go to Best Buy and see what kind of external drives they have. Since I am always updating and changing my music/audiobooks it would be a lot of CDs in the long run.
I am now the proud new owner of a SimpleTech in Bubblegum.
It is 250GB with an extra 2GB that can be uploaded to a server, which is great if you don't want to keep the files on your HD and access them elsewhere without carrying around the portable. It was very easy to backup all my files, which are now encrypted on the portable. I can still move my files over to the portable and access them as regular files, which in turn allows me to delete them off my HD and have more free space. Even though I have an 80GB HD I am using very little of it now, it is nice to know I'm backed up.
I need to take some pictures of things I've been working on. Hopefully tomorrow.
Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!!
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