Sleepy Sunday

Erin Brockovich and a basket of blankets. What are you doing tonight??
I've got at least 4 knit blankets that don't have their ends tucked in. Got a nice little zip-lock to save the ends for Momma and the birdies in her yard. Pink blanket is getting close to finished.

And some spring break pictures:

 We went to beautiful Gatlinburg, TN. Where we stopped at Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies. Seriously it is voted the best aquarium for a really good reason. We saw this cutie penguin out in the play area (penguins can swim under the public hallway into a outdoor area) her name was Maggie, so we snapped a picture.

The best part of the aquarium is their Shark Lagoon. They've got a moving sidewalk underneath the tanks. So you can walk around over the tank looking in, and then you can go UNDER the tank as well. It is pretty awesome. The hubster was thoroughly impressed.

After the touristy stuff, then we did some sight seeing. National Park of the Smokies is right in Gatlinburg as well. So we drove out there in the afternoon. It was a bright pretty day, so the guide suggested we do Clingman's Dome. Basically its a lookout on one of the highest mountains. So. Dang. Beautiful.

So we drive out through the park, already pretty, and start climbing the switchbacks into the mountain. It was a really nice drive. Without all the blinking signs and tourist traps that we just passed through. All mountains, and trees, and even a little snow left over. So you drive out, and then climb up the rest of the way. 15-20minutes up a rather steep incline.

But you look to the left, and you suddenly get your wind back. The view is amazing (Have I said that already?).

At the top of the mountain you walk on up to the observation tower, and on a clear day like we had, you can see for about 200miles. Insane, right?

The hubster and I on top of the world (at least, east of the Mississippi).
Hope everyone else is having a great Lazy Sunday, but maybe getting a little something done as well.

More etsy ideas

Store names: R House (family meaning), CreateR (leaves room for multiple crafty ideas), TeenyReenie (as in baby stuff), Wooden Kneedles (since I do wood stuff and knit stuff).

New idea from Mommy via text this morning:
Add hats to every blanket! Or at least knit some totally awesome cutesy kid hats.

This looks crochet, but I do have hooks, I'm sure I could figure out how to make the flower and then attach to a knit hat.
Or I could knit the hat in the same pattern as the blanket depending on the blankie.

I think for etsy's sake I would want to list the hat separately. Though I was talking to some ladies I know yesterday who have had Etsy issues. One recommended just doing a facebook page. No limit on pictures. Easy to put up or edit. Easily accessible. Still would have to do paypal or something. Plus no paying out per listing, or per sale.

So something else to think about. Plus I could start the page now with the note that the store opens suchandsuch day. Then people could start sharing and getting the word out before Opening Day! (Speaking of, Tigers open in a month and I haven't started those hats, dang.)

P.S. don't mind my awkward editing to protect the child's identity. I don't know these parents much and don't know how they feel about their infant being on the interwebz. (She is super cute though)

Edit/Update: Googling cancelled out Teeny Reenie and R House as they are already somebody's something.

Shower update

 Well I had a blast. All the worst of the snow missed me and the roads I needed (thank goodness). I spent a penny or two at Hobby Lobby, Party City, and the Dollar store, finding boxes and bows. It was fun, and probably unnecessary.
I absolutely love Hobby Lobby's wrapping paper. Adorable, usually on sale, thick paper, and thick roll. So I got a great gender neutral baby wrap. Lots of pastel "mommies" and "daddies" and elephants and baby things. Party City had some different shaped boxes that I thought would help with the awkward size things I had to wrap, but it didn't much. (Bummer) so instead I bought gaudy ridiculous frilly ribbony things. So cute, yes?

All the responses have been happy from the Moms-to-Be. Madix had a lot of monkey themed things at his shower. I didn't make the other two showers in Ohio, but I saw some cute facebook pictures, and heard good responses. Hope I can get together with some of the sorority sisters and their new little ones this summer or fall. I'll let them have spring and the sleepless nights to themselves ;-)
And also, look what nursery decoration made it to the shower. :-) Wish her belly were more prominent in the picture, because it is dang cute! Ready for baby any day now, and I know the momma is feeling the same way.

So that is the news. Purple blanket finished. Pink blanket started. Etsy update in the making.

Baby Projects

 I thought April had all the showers? but instead it appears to be February. I guess that is fair since the ladies I know are mostly due March/April.
So we start with the combo pack. This lovely lady is one of my very good friends. I got to meet up with her when she was just under twelve weeks along. I was thrilled that they were able to announce at the end of the summer, and quickly went out and bought some yellow yarn. I was going to finish the blankie with a little green, but couldn't find a yarn I loved.

The day they found out boy/girl I double checked the name we talked about (she is being named after Grandmothers) and ran home from school to paint. Blankie, board, and a little stuffed giraffe went in the mail immediately. Next weekend I get to see that baby bump again. Can't Wait!!

 This little lady is a happy honeymoon babe. Lady bugs have been her mother's passion/obsession for a while, so I knew that had to be included. Fun coincidence, our school colors were purple and gold.

Next weekend is also the shower for baby boy Madix. Yes, you read that correctly. I will be traveling to Ohio for one bestie's shower and returning for a coworkers shower the next day. Saturday and Sunday, both babied up.

 Jameson is another Ohio sorority sister. His parents were married just two weeks after me, and their wedding was our honeymoon trip. Guess we missed the memo about having kiddo's right away ;-)
Mom is decking out the nursery in owl adorable woody's stuff. The board turned out a little darker than I liked, but it suited the theme, so I hope she likes.

So this was my quickest blankie ever. Two weeks to completion. Started New Years day, apparently football and knitting worked well for me. Still need to sew the ends in, but that is just my life story. I could see a lot of these being made in my future.

Current Project, loving the texture! Not as quick as the previous, but still nice. I have used up one ball of yarn, and hopefully will make a large dent in the second this weekend.

It did turn out a little skinnier than I would like. As is my style, I shrank the pattern by a few repeats, but I didn't take into account that I'd switched yarns as well. I like little car seat size blankies instead of full crib size blankets, but may have made this one a little too little.
Just knitting away otherwise. Making a dent in the yarn stash, slowly.

As of yet, there is no move date, so the stash does not have an expiration date either. I have purchased the second set of drawers. It contains some stash, some completed blankies, my needles, books, and other odds &ends.

Name my shop!

So I keep talking and talking I'm going to sell my stuff. Well I guess I really want to make this happen. So blog followers, help me name my shop!
Business plan: create area in the apartment for proper photography of items for sale. Coupon for proper yarn stash, and wooden letter stash. Get rid of unnecessary yarn stash. Want 6-8 ready to sell blankets so goal is by summer to have the shop up and running.
Yes I think I will go to Etsy. I like the convenience of not having to run the business side. Plus then it will still be a hobby, not as much of a job.
So comment away!! I need ideas for the shop name and at the moment have none!

2012 books!

Well clearly it is 2013, and sadly I did not read the full 30 books I wanted to in 2012. But here is my list of books I successfully completed:
The Hunger Games , Catching Fire , Mockingjay  Suzanne Collins
The Color of Water James McBride
Ender's Shadow Orson Scott Card
The Phantom Tollbooth Norton Juster
Uglies , Pretties , Specials  Scott Westerfeild
Night Road Kristen Hannah
Water for Elephants Sara Gruen
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake Aimee Bender
Always Something There to Remind Me Beth Harbison
Man's Search for Meaning Viktor E. Frankl
Knitting Under the Influence Claire LaZebnik
A Clockwork Orange Anthony Burgess
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe Fannie Flagg
The Art of Racing in the Rain Garth Stein
Life of Pi Yann Martel
Never Knowing Chevy Stevens
Middlesex Jeffery Eugenides
The Time Traveller's Wife Audrey Niffenegger
What Came First Carol Snow
Too Far Rich Shapiro
The Handmaid's Tale Margaret Atwood
The Secret Life of Bees Sue Monk Kidd
Daughters of the North Sarah Hall
Bossy Pants Tina Fey

28 out of 30 books accounts to a 93% finished goal. Not too shabby.
2013 I am also aiming for 30 books. If I reach it, I'll raise the goal but until then I'll just keep aiming for 30 (and getting my library books back on time).

A year in review

Baby Blankie #1

after a very long weekend, it is finally Christmas Eve, and I am so ready for the two and a half days off work. Hooray!!

Blankie #2, green and purple

Blankie #3

accomplishments this year: four completed baby blankets, one finished fall lap-ghan (only a year late), read 28 books and counting, couple of little wooden name boards
 (one failed :-( due to typo), wedding monogram, key to good marriage framed, five vases, bouquets, and I'm sure more.

The pictures are not the best, my color appears to be off. But the baby blankets used a majority of the same yarn. Started with a yellow yarn that I am working with for Blankie #5 still. Moved on to a green/purple mix. This blanket was one of my favorites. Very easy pattern and forms a neat little look without all the ends hanging off from changing colors (which I hate).

Blankie #4, white with a little green

After this I used only the green for a lacy type blankie, with a big bold seed stitch border. It drove me crazy, but in the best way possible, and I'm sure only I will see the mistakes ::rolls eyes:: (the lies we tell ourselves)

Blankie #4 used up nearly the rest of the green (mint) yarn, and a nice "white" (has mixed in colors) baby yarn. Still have more of that to use up before the move happens if I plan on following through on my 5drawer plan.

Healthy baby boy @ 7lbs

The baby name boards are fun, and I still love doing them. Some how the artist in me has developed ESP and I can read the minds of pregnant mommies I've never met. Baby Gage's daddy works with us, and says the board matches the nursery perfect! Usually I at least stalk the registry for ideas.

Like Brady's board:

I panicked when I saw a facebook post from the mother talking about little Bradey coming soon. Since I would not be able to attend the shower I didn't want there to be an awkward exchange of gifts where mine was a giant mis-spelling of the baby's name. Tried to fix it, but ruined it more. So I just gave the registry items without the craft.
((Advice from this, always trust your instincts, and the Grandmother!))

A big event this year was my own wedding! And of course I had fun planning that :-) and all the great crafts that came with.

wedding flowers

wedding vase, pre frosty spray

monogram pre-scrapbook

beginning of project

My fabulous Maid of Honor was in London leading up to the wedding. And in an adorable shop she found the "key to a happy marriage". So of course I had to frame it! 

finished project

Now I am lucky enough to be helping her plan her wedding! Don't know if I can top her speech, but maybe an already crafted key to happiness or something before the speech will help. ;-)

A few more random crafts/projects:

card for a coworker

set of 4 frames

And that is my year in pictorial review. I hope I have kept you entertained. And/or given your creative juices something to enjoy. Hopefully before the end of 2012 I will update my books of the year. But as hectic as times are no promises ;-)

So enjoy a cup of cocoa and a VERY Merry Christmas :-)