Valentine Exchange

On Wednesday I received an awesome exchange from Sharon. I am really not a good photographer so my photo does not do it justice but just look at this pillow! The fabric is so perfect for this design too! She even made me a matching scissor fob and sent me lots of goodies. I do feel positively spoiled and I love it. Thanks so much Sharon!!! I hope I get a chance to stitch for you some time =)

Here is what I sent to Julianne. I stitched a scissor fob for her. The design is "Monthly Markings, February" from Heart in Hand and is stitched on 32 count Summer Khaki linen with the fibers called for in the pattern. I finished it by hand using Staci's ornament finishing method and I used twisted cord instead of the ribbon. I really enjoyed hand finishing like this and think more of my smalls and ornaments will be finished this way. Thanks goes to Staci for the great tutorial! I also used size 12 perle cotton instead of the floss for back stitching and sewing it together.

Keep checking back for some give-aways I am planning. I hope to post the first one tomorrow =)
Have a great day!

A New Year

Here it is. My first finish of 2010. I am participating in the Monthly Dishcloth KAL and this is the first completed dishcloth of the year. It says "Happy 2010" and was designed by Alli . I have two other dishcloths going at the moment and will share photos when they are finished.

I am skipping the whole New Year's Resolution thing. After all, why set myself up for failure, lol. I had "resolved" not to buy any more yarn. Broke that yesterday. I just can't help myself. Hopefully I will do better at the "goals" I have set for myself for 2010. They are:

1. To knit an average of one dishcloth per week.
2. To crochet an average of one pair of slippers each week.
3. To cross stitch at least one ornament per month.

That will be a good start for now. I plan to use as much stash yarn and supplies as I can. Lord knows I have a ton. I'll record my progress here and make lists in the sidebar as I accomplish things. I have kept my goals light so that I will have time to add in other crafts and projects. Hope you are having a wonderful start to the new year =)

PIF

I received this wonderful package from Monique between Christmas and New Year's. She read my blog and saw that I was doing more knitting than anything else and sent me a beautiful knitting needle case along with the needles! These will be perfect for scarf knitting! She also sent me one of her beautiful beaded fobs, a bookmark she made and a calendar. I thought the card was also gorgeous so included it in the photo. Thanks for a wonderful gift, Monique =)

Christmas Exchanges Arrived!

Look at what I received from Donna for the Christmas Exchange Between Friends Exchange! I tore into that box like a five-year-old on Christmas morning! I love everything she sent. The box is beautiful. She did the stitching and her husband made the box! Isn't that just so cool? Here is another picture of the box so you can see more of the detail.
I know my photos don't do it justice but in person it is perfectly lovely. Thank you so much for a wonderful exchange, Donna! I plan to knit myself a scarf with the yarn she sent. It is really soft!

Here is a photo of what I sent to my dear friend, Marie! I was so excited that I got her name for this exchange! You can see better pictures of what sent to her on her blog. I am so not a photographer! I even took photography in high school. You know, with one of those now old-fashioned cameras that you put film into. I'm afraid the more digital we become, the less I know!

Have a great day!

More Knitting!

Here is another scarf and hat set for the "Knit One, Give One" charity through my LYS. These sets are really fun and fast. I knit the hat one evening and the scarf the next and all from one ball of Encore Colorspun!

This is another baby gift for the granddaughter of a woman that works with Doug. The patterns were from handouts from my LYS and are great quick patterns. I used Bernat Baby Jacquards and I am pretty sure that I can get two more sets from the same skein!

I had some fun knitting gingerbread for my friend Becky. You can see the photos at her blog because my photos did not come out well. I am working busily on Christmas presents and organizing my yarn. I am planning a HUGE stash busting project of knitting and crocheting for next year. I am really excited about it because I have so many patterns printed from the internet, from magazines and even a few that I have purchased that I really want to make. Everything from Afghans to baby things, kitchen items, slippers, and who knows what else. I have what would equal a room full of yarn and I really need to use it. If any of you have some favorite projects, please tell me about them. I would love any inspiration you have to share.

Have a great day!

More Knitting!

Aren't these yarns gorgeous?! At sock club Wednesday night we got to purchase the featured yarn for 15% off. I bought two skeins. The blues/greens will be for the sock pattern we received that night. The peach and variegated sock yarn next to it are for a scarf, and the pink cascade 220 is for another pair of wrist warmers for me! I love pink and really like the pair of wrist warmers that I made myself a couple of years ago.

This was knit for the "Knit One, Give One" charity that my LYS is currently doing. From one skein of Encore worsted yarn you can make one hat and a small scarf. I enjoyed knitting them so much that I am making another set for them. The patterns were given with the yarn from the shop and all you do is knit them. I think that is very nice of them to provide everything.

I am currently working on another baby gift and loads of Christmas goodies so not everything will be pictured here right away. I plan to keep knitting as long as I am inspired to do so. I do have one Christmas present that I need to get stitched so I will do that this week so I can mail it by the deadline.

Have a great day!

Just Knitting Along

I am such a dork! I can never figure out what order my photos are going to show up on this so that I can write about them in the order I made stuff! Anyhow, the bottom photo is a baby gift that I knit for a nice little gal that works at the club here on the base. The patterns are Baby Diamonds hat and car seat blanket from the Fall issue of Creative Knitting and the dreambaby booties are a freebie found here. I started with four skeins of Lion Brand Jiffy yarn and it made this set plus the Garter Cuff Beanie in the photo at the top.

Next we have last weeks dishcloth knitting. The light purple cloth is a freebie found here. The scarecrow coaster I knit (middle of next photo) is a pattern from a set by the same designer. I love her patterns and plan to collect them all! The orange, pink, yellow variegated cloth is the standard grandmothers favorite dishcloth and the tree is from the monthly dishcloth group I joined a couple of weeks ago.

I am on a serious knitting binge so there will be lots of knitted and crocheted gifts this year. I have tons of yarn (not counting what I bought today, and last week, oh it's an illness I tell you!) I plan to try using up as much as I can while I feel like playing with it, (and randomly buying more even though I don't need it cause I can't help myself). Have you started to make your list, check it twice, etc? This is the fun part for me. What are you making for Christmas?

Have a great day =)