Ning is So Nice!

Back when I did my Birthday Giveaway, I never thought I'd meet so many nice people and hear so many wonderful stories. That was really a great birthday gift in and of itself. And as a bonus, the winner turned out to be a real gem! To thank me for the prize package I sent (of which you can visit in its new home here), Ning, writer of babalisme, made me an awesome set of tags that I can print off and use with all my handmade goodies. Not only are these about the cutest thing I ever did see, but they're also something I really needed! So awesomely wonderful! Thanks, Ning...you're the best!

RAK of the Sea

The start of a new month means the start of new RAK wishlists! Yay! If you've been reading my blog for a while, you know that I find a lot of joy in making knitter's little wishes come true. For January, I've already purchased a book for one person and a pattern for another, but being on a budget means I need to find other ways to give as well. One person, batty4yarn, is looking to complete her Recipe for Fish blanket but is getting burnt out on knitting fish after fish. (Below is what a finished blanket looks like.)




So batty4yarn's wishlist asked for people to knit some fish for her. Here are the four I'm sending. They were a lot of fun to make. I'm crazy enough to be thinking about making mine own now.

Yep...Two More Hats

The Chemo Caps for the Toots charity need to be in Chicago this week, so I wanted to kick out another couple of hats before I put them in the mail. I was hoping to make more than this but with the holidays and all the gift making I was doing, I was only able to knit five total. Still, any hats help the cause.

The Case of Coaster vs. Coaster

It should come as no surprise that Shane and I don't always see eye-to-eye on home decorating. That was most certainly the case when it came to coasters. I know, I know...coasters? Who cares. But I think you'll understand when you see the evidence:

The Blain's Farm and Fleet flyer has been sitting on my end table for weeks. Everytime I go to throw it away, I remind myself that we don't have any coasters and this flyer will just be replaced with another. So why waste the energy on walking it to the trash when the effort should be put forth made making coasters I actually like. And thus:



Ah, much better. Nothing fancy, but it beats Blain's Farm and Fleet.

Case closed. I win.

Boo...Back to Work

After having nearly two weeks off--two weeks to do whatever I wanted: to make crafts, to knit, and to just all around be lazy--today is a sad day. I'm headed back to work. (sigh) I can't help but have this song, from the movie Sid and Nancy, running through my head:

One Beret Deserves Another!

After making the bauble beret for Lisa, Jenn--my BFF and sis-in-law--asked for a hat that wasn't a ski cap. I would've done another bauble beret for her as well, but with so many beret patterns out there, I wanted to branch out. Instead I made the Rose Red pattern (I can't give it to you since I had to purchase it...go here if you want to buy it though.) I used the yarn that I got as an RAK gift. I love how it self stripes, but you can't really see the leaf patterns come through as well. Oh well, guess I'll have to make another one! =)

Hats...One of Many

Last winter was the year of the scarf. This winter must be the year of the hats. I've been knitting hats like crazy lately...funny enough, none have been for me...yet! I usually do the typical ski cap, but recently my friend and co-worker Lisa challenged me to do a beret. And I'm glad she did. This pattern was full of firsts for me. One, I've never done a beret, so it was cool to see how it progressed. Two, I've never made baubles before, so that was fun...for a while. My fingers started to hurt about half way through. (Why not take a break, you ask? It's not in my knitting vocabulary). I think it turrned out really nice. And the yarn was Misti Alpaca Chunky...yum! I had extra yarn left, so I surprised her with a pair of mittens as well.

Mittens pattern here.

Beret pattern here.