Frost

Well Autumn is really here- the leaves are changing, I scraped frost off of my car this morning and I could see my breath... It is wonderful. In preparation for winter, I have been knitting myself a new scarf that actually matches my ski jacket and some glittens (flip top mittens with gloves inside!). Here are some pics!


I also made some kick-ass cupcakes for a work colleague's daughter's first birthday! Mmmmm...

Massive Update

Well I've been busy- just not posting. Part of the problem was that I threw out my back (again) but two weeks later I'm back in commission!
I finally finished the quilt- I LOVE it- it isn't perfect (all of my corners don't match perfectly) but it looks just like I wanted it to- Yummy, yes? Plus it's huge- like queen sized... I didn't origionally intend it to be that big but it just sort of took over...

I've got lots of other knitting and spinning projects going (yes, I said spinning!)

As for the knitting, I broke down and got "Socks from the toe up". Love the book- I've started one of the pairs for myself!


I've also started knitting Christmas gifts but no pics of those as "certain people" may be reading this blog!

I've also got baby gifts going... but again, no pics... it will be a surprise!

Last on the knitting front, I'm starting a scarf... I saw this pattern on Ravelry and LOVED it!!!

Gotta get it done for fall though with my fall colors! I've not cast-on yet but here is the yarn- Cascade 220-Mmmmmm my favorite colors!

Now, I mentioned spinning- Well my Grandma is quite supportive of my crafty endeavors and provided funding for my very own wheel!!! May I present my Ashford Traveller. I got it unfinished and oiled the wood before I put it together. I've decided to name it D.E.B. (My grandparent's initials- in memory of them!)- quarky, I know but there it is...

I also purchased a few other items that are neccessary for spinners including a niddy noddy (came with my wheel), a ball winder, a lazy kate and a swift. I'm now ready to SPIN!!!!

Here is a pic of my first skien. I got the wool (merino) from a local fiber store. it is three ply and I'm going for one long color change- from light to dark - you'll be able to see it when I knit with it!

Lastly, here is a picture of Smokers in the morning- all cute and curled up!!!!

Happy Fall Knitting and Crafting!!

Some Recent FOs

I've finished another baby sweater:

This is the last one for a while using this pattern though... I'm really bored with it so I got a new one!


ALSO, this is my first yarn spun on the rented Ashford Traveller. It is 420yds of superwash merino at about a lace/fingering weight. I was really quite pleased with myself though I'm sure when I get my own wheel and practice my yarn will be more consistent!


I'm planning some sort of lacy scarf with this... still not decided on a pattern though!

As for WIPs I've got a few knitting projects still going plus a mystery project that has quickly taken over my living room! Poor Smokey now has quite the obstacle course to navigate to get to the kitchen and his food!

Misc Update

It's been about two weeks since I've had blogging time! Never fear- I've been busy crafting and creating. Last week I made a cake (using my Wilton Skills, of course) for a work colleague's birthday as per her request: chocolate cake, peanut butter fondant filling, vanilla buttercream frosting and covered with peanut butter cups- Mmmmmm...

Now for the real excitement in my crafting life... as you know, I've been experimenting with spinning yarn using a drop spindle. Well, recently I've felt frustrated with the slowness of the drop spindle process and have begun coveting a spinning wheel. Now, spinning wheels are expensive and I'm not going to drop that kind of cash without one, finding the perfect wheel for me and two, figuring out if this is something I really want or just a passing fad... Just outside of Minneapolis is a wonderful woman named Detta- she has a "shop" in her home with lots of different wheels (and looms and wool, and books....) so I took a trip out to visit. I spent three hours trying different wheels and have found one that I really like. Unfortunately the one I really want is not rentable... so I rented my second choice for two weeks to try it out and see what I think. Here is the Ashford Traveller....

This is the fiber I am spinning- a superwash (meaning it won't felt- see previous post- in the wash) merino (very soft) wool from the Fiber Studio in South Minneapolis


This is my first attempt- there were some consistency issues and my plying (twisting two strands together) isn't perfect but I'm really pleased with my first attempt- I'd say that there is about 90 yards of sport weight yarn here. I have no idea what I'm going to do with it though- maybe just keep it as a reminder of my first spinning wheel experience...


This is my second attempt- much better- I'm waiting to spin all of the fiber I have to ply this- I'm not sure if I'm going to go with two or three ply but I'm hoping to get it fine enough to knit a pair of socks with it!

Finally, this is for Els- your sweater orders are, in fact, in progress- I hope to have them done, along with Dad's Father's Day socks, when I visit in July!

Fun with Felting

I've finished my first knitting projects ment to be "felted" or "fulled" One is a pin and the other a bowl. Here are the before and after pics!

I'm on a Busy Bee Crafting Spree

My latest projects have been gifts...

The weather is warming up here in MN and the trees are green!!! Hurray for summer!!! Now I just have to get my summer clothes out and put away the winter sweaters- hmmm... when was the last time I said that?

I've been busy!

Hey everyone! Sorry it's been a while since I've posted but life has been busy! My weeks have been full at work and the weekends have been busy with outings, spring walks, crafting and cooking. I keep saying how much I love the spring but it is really true! I've been able to watch the tulips come up out of the ground and bloom and now the flowering trees are coming into bloom! Here are some of the tulips outside my door:
As for crafting I'm working on lots of baby things. This is the latest baby sweater for my cousin's baby Mallory:

I also managed a pair of slippers for Mom for Mother's Day:

As for cooking, I've been in an ethnic mood. I tried my hand at making pho ga (Korean chicken soup) for the first time and thought it turned out very well.

I used the leftover chicken to make carrot, chicken chow mein:

Changing continents, I made pupusas for the first time (think tamale without the corn husk)

Hope everyone is doing well- enjoy May!

Spring Fever

While I do love the spring (I have even left the house without a coat- gasp!!!), apparently it does not love me. Hay fever has hit in a BIG way. Friday was a slightly sore throat and yesterday was full blown, can't breathe, can't swallow, no contacts, head exploding allergy attacks. Not cool... I've now dug out the allergy drugs- all sorts along with lots of tissues... Let's hope that whatever is blooming dies quickly.

I've continued to be crafty during the nice weather, though soon I may move my knitting sessions to a blanket outside- it's not that warm yet! Here are some "in progress" pics of the burp cloths that I'm knitting- there will be bibs also!

On the cake decorating front, we made gumpaste flowers in class on Sat- I love the daisy's and the "fantasy flower" though I'm calling it a poppy! There will be another cake next week!

My First Foray with Fondant

I've finished my first fondant cake!!! I now realize why fondant cakes cost so much... The time, effort and expense are considerable... My arms and shoulders ache to prove it! Here are some pics- I went with a St. Patrick's Day theme for obvious reasons.

I've also finished the first sock of my first PERSONAL pair of socks. The other pairs I've knitted have all gone out as gifts but these I'm keeping!

Blankie Friends and Fondant Friends

I've had my first fondant course and it went well, I think. No pictures yet as all we did was cover a cake board but.... next week is our first cake and in honor of St. Patrick's day I think I'm going to do a shamrock theme! Stay tuned for updates...

I've also completed another knitting project- blankie friends! I remember how precious my blankie was to me and so I thought I'd make some special friends for some of my pregnant friends! Here are some quick pics...

Misc. Happenings

I've been plugging along on a few knitting projects lately- the orders for baby sweaters keep coming in so I'm trying to get those done. Here is a pic of the latest one for Sam's friends...

I'm also working on some socks (as always) and a hat.

I've been up to my usual baking and cooking- I made mini cupcakes- dangerous to just pop in the mouth!

I've also been inspired to take another Wilton Cake decorating class. I've already taken Course 1 and taught myself Course 2 so I thought Fondant would be interesting... Plus it is at a reasonable hour on Saturdays in March. Now, I've heard that the Wilton Fondant is both expensive and tastes absolutely horrible. I've decided to make my own... there are some very easy recipes on the web for "Marshmallow Fondant". It is basically adding two pounds of sugar to melted marshmallows. It tastes great and seems to be quite malleable from my playing around- Hopefully it will work fine for the class. Here are some pics of the process- imagine powdered sugar everywhere!

Finally, while I believe I've weathered the worst of the winter, it is still cold. Here are some pics of cars frozen to the ground with icicles from the parking lot...Burrrr....