Sweater update

Just a quick update on Chris' sweater.

Only 2.5" left to knit in the round before I can bind off!

I'm just about finished with one sleeve! Then on to the final sleeve, assembly and the collar.

As you have probably guessed, I've sort of dropped out of the 2011 Sweater Challenge. I should be completing sweater 3 by now, not still working on No. 1.

But I'm fine with that. I've been enjoying myself anyway. And I do have yarn for the second sweater, which I hope to start before fall. :)


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Finished scrapbook!

I just finished my second scrapbook!

I had forgotten the second "s" and had to create a strawberry out of an "e." :)

I started this scrapbook of desserts a few years ago when I first started scrapping.

In it I've placed all the dessert-related recipes I've collected over the years, including family recipes.

On this page I've got Mom's "Cherry Crunch," Nannie's "Canned Apple Pie Filling"
and Chris' Aunt Faye's "Ginger Cookies."

I had bits of pages and papers sitting in piles and in bags, getting wrinkled and torn. I figured if I were to ever use these treasures I better organize them for easy use and safe storage.

I've got plans for scrapbooks to house appetizers, drinks, soups and breakfast; beef and pork; and chicken and fish. But those books will probably be smaller than a 12" by 12" book.

The dessert book won't fit in the closet with the other cookbooks! I could attribute that to poor planning, though I think the cookbooks were upstairs in our attic loft when I started this book. Oops! Oh, well. The book has currently found a home on a shelf on our small TV table.

Here's a few of my favorite pages. Please excuse the dark spot on the pics. I can't seem to get my Nikon cleaned. I think it's time to get the body professionally cleaned. Oh, and get a new lens. After months of the glass falling out, the old wide angle finally fell apart this morning!

First page of an apple-themed spread.

Second page of the apple-themed spread!

This page has the pumpkin pie I make nearly every year. My family loves it and requests it often.

Pies, pies, all kinds of pies!

Next up will probably be our wedding album. I don't have books for the other recipe books yet, but the wedding album is ready to go with photos, paper and mementos.

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Win some Crafty Chica books

Corinne Leigh over at Craftovision (formerly of Threadbanger) is hosting a give away with Kathy Cano-Murillo, a.k.a. Crafty Chica.

Cano-Murillo has started writing novels and she and Corinne are giving away two. To win 'em, you have to like Craftovision and Crafty Chica's Facebook pages. You can do that here and here.

To learn more, watch the current Craftovision video:

National Scrapbooking Day

Last weekend a friend and I headed to Dobson, N.C., for a scrap to celebrate National Scrapbooking Day. I think I only worked on my scrapbooks once or twice since last year's event. A shame, I know.

But I'm happy to report I completed six pages in my Desserts scrapbook!

I thought I'd be done after eight pages, but as the weekend wore on I kept adding more and more pages because the recipes I planned to showcase together wouldn't fit on the same 12"x12" page. So I've still got six more pages to complete!

Then I'll finally, hopefully, begin working on our wedding scrapbook. (Our 3rd anniversary is Tuesday!)

Here's some pics of my friend, Brenda, working on cards and the pages I completed:

Brenda working on a birthday card. She also made anniversary and Easter cards.

These photos rotate around the brads to reveal the recipe below (see next photo).
I added the words "Eat Cake" because the page looked empty without it.
I used Creative Memories Dual-Tip Pen in Pink.

This is probably my most favorite page of the weekend.
The flowers are from Creative Memories Doodling Templates Flowers and Swirls.
I could only find the templates through a Google Search. A photo is below.

This is the Doodling Templates Flowers and Swirls.
(This image is owned by Creative Memories and is only used for educational /demonstration purposes.)

If you look closely at this page you can see that I used a thinner marker (a dual-tip pen in purple) for the words and then traced the letters with a thicker marker because I didn't like the initial result. It now looks sloppy. Haaa, haaa!
I also would have used more strips of ribbon, but that should have been done before placing the stickers!
This page didn't come together so well, but it'll do.

This is another page that I liked how it came together. Hearts are a Creative Memories shape maker.

Another page that didn't come together all that well, but I really like the flowers and the brads in the bottom right hand corner.
The title "A Crusty Issue!" refers to the two pie crust recipes -- traditional and crumb -- on the page.

This page was missing something and I put it aside to come back to it later.

I later added dragonflies to the top.
The dragonflies were made using a Creative Memories shape maker.
The letter stickers show which order to make and assemble this recipe.

Besides yummy food and scrapping fun, the hostess held several games, giveaways and sales. I racked up on a lot of paper, stickers and embellishments!

I also bought a few things, including a Creative Memories Tag Maker, which I know will get lots and lots of use!

New Publication: CraftSanity Magazine!

Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood of CraftSanity has published her first magazine!

This image belongs to CraftSanity and is from the Etsy site. Now, go buy a copy!

Jennifer and many contributors offer a variety of recipes and crafty projects in this inaugural issue. You can order the 'zine on Etsy in the print or PDF format.

I've followed Jennifer for a couple years now on CraftSanity and encourage you to check out her new product. I'm sure it's wonderful! (I haven't gotten a copy yet, but plan to.)

Grosgrain's Embellish Knit Month

Just peaking peeking in quickly to say "hi." I've been busy working on Christmas projects, a fall sweater (need to get that done a.s.a.p.!) and Christmas shopping.

While this as been going on, I've also been enjoying Embellish Knit Month over at Grosgrain. I love seeing how Kathleen alters various sweaters and cardigans she find at thrifts stores. It's very interesting and inspiring.

I especially like Day 8's cardigan. Kathleen added a flowerdy chiffon on the inside and a woven trim around the edge. Gorgeous! (Yes, I said flowerdy. I'm from the South, yo!)

Go check it out:






I'm also anxiously waiting for the new CraftSanity magazine that Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood has been working on for a bit. She gave a quick update today and I can't wait to see the finished product!

Angry Chicken's emailorder and flowers

It's finally here! Amy Karol of Angry Chicken has posted eMailorder #11 — Potions and Concoctions — and it's ready for downloading.

Amy had asked her blog readers if we wanted a compilation of all her various homemade remedies and goodies. I've been looking forward to it for a bit now, especially the lip balm, deodorant and the shampoo recipes.

In Amy's description, here's what you can find in this new download: Mullein Oil, Shampoo and Detangler, Facial Oil, Eye Compress, Herbal Toner, Vapor Rub, Facial Cleanser, Bugs Don't Like Me Balm, Favorite Tea, Hair Spray, Lip Balm, Baby Bottom Spray, Plantain Poultice for Stings, Magic Tooth Cleaning Solution, Deodorant, and Elderflower Cough Syrup

I'll report back as I give 'em a try.

You can find the eMailorder here. You can buy it using PayPal.
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Also, check out this crocheted magnet Nannie made me. My grandma is one of the crafty ladies that retaught me how to crochet when I picked up the hook again a couple years ago.

Ain't it cute? Spring's on the way, folks!

I may make my own copy and post the pattern here for y'all so you can make your own.

Nannie created this cutie using one a friend gave her many years ago as a copy. Her flower magnet has been on her frig for years and she thought she'd copy it and give some away.

Labor Day Weekend crafting

Since Chris and I aren't heading to West Virginia for some camping, rafting and visiting a friend this weekend, I'm going to take the opportunity to finish up my last summer project -- a skirt.

My grandma gave me a bunch of fabric from her stash lately, and besides the shorts I completed earlier this summer, I had plans to make a skirt.

I'm also in the process of teaching myself how to draft patterns. I'm excited to embark on this adventure and can't wait to see how the ideas in my head translate onto paper.

I'm using Rene Bergh's "How to make your own patterns: An easy step-by-step guide to making over 60 patterns." You can buy a copy here, although I have a different edition.

I haven't picked up a pencil and paper yet, but reading through the instructions gives me hope. I didn't realize how easy patterns can be made, just using various measurements of your body. I figured it would be much more complicated.

Besides basic skirt, shirt and trouser patterns, the book also gives you instructions on how to make different bodice details, such as tucking, darts, gathers and cowl, boat and v-necks.

I'll let you know how my new adventure goes into creating my own creations. The theme for my first designs is wild columbine . . . a beautiful wildflower you can find growing in rocks and crevices here in the mountains and elsewhere.

My favorite is the red columbine with a yellow center. Here's a good photo that shows you the color. It's so striking! I'm surprised such a color combination exists in real life.

Cool video

Science Channel's "How It's Made" has a cool segment on how to make a dress form.

A dress form is a tool that is shaped like the human body. Seamstresses and tailors use it to construct a garment. This helps eliminate the number of times a client needs to come in for fittings.

I found a link to the video from social network BurdaStyle. Thanks to BurdaStyle member wzrdreams for sharing it on the social network's Facebook page.

Lighted Tree Ball

News & Record (Greensboro, N.C.) has a great tutorial on how to make lighted tree balls. Go on over and check out the multimedia. All you need is some chicken wire and mini Christmas lights.

Finally!

I've been working on these pair of pants for weeks now:



And I've finally finished!

When I first completed the pants a few weeks ago, I was discouraged to find the pants were too big. I mean huge! I looked like I was ready to audition for the circus.

So the past few weeks I've been mulling over what to do to correct the mistake. Do I have to take out every single hem? How much should I take out?

After much thought and discussion with my mom and some other people, I decided that I've worked much too hard on these pants for them to go to waste. There's not much warm weather time left so time was running out!

So I took off the casing, which is at the top and holds the drawstring, and undid the hems at the bottom. But I left the hem at the top. A classmate in my sewing class, which I'm taking through Oct. 7, suggested no one would see the top hem, so leave it. So I did.

Unfortunately, all that seam ripping didn't come without casualties. I tore a small hole in the casing. But, I refuse to worry about it! It's a small hole and hopefully no one will notice since a shirt will cover the top of the pants most of the time.

After taking out the seams and casing, I marked an inch from each outer leg hem and sewed 'em up. I then tried the pants and decided to take out 3/4 inches more. Now the fit was just a tad tight in the hips, but otherwise fit nicely.

So I trimmed off the excess material, reattached the casing and drawstring and hemmed the legs. Perfect!

I wore the pants yesterday to visit family and go to a show with my hubby.