Gratitude Sunday

Nicky13 Comments

Today:

  • I’m feeling: rested.
  • I’m thinking of: the spring cleaning projects I need to do and some re-decorating plans running around in my head.
  • I’m reading: Widow of Larkspur Inn.   Or rather, that should be, this week I read, this lovely romantic novel in which the story was told without the vulgarity and crassness of modern day “romance” novels.  Lots of timely spiritual lessons were weaved into the story.  I enjoyed it so much I got the other books in the series.  It’s been a while since I read a romance novel (not a fan of the genre) but 434 pages in three days?!!  That should indicate how much I enjoyed it.   I’m also reading my latest edition of Cooking Light. Can’t wait to try some of these Spring recipes.
  • I’m looking forward to: buying my seeds (basil, cilantro, parsley) this coming week and getting my hands in some dirt next weekend.  Nizzy’s visit to NY; hopefully we can meet up.
  • I’m learning: that having integrity is hard but worth it.
  • I’m enjoying:  My first installment of Love Notes; after a long week it was great to see it in my mailbox yesterday.   I’m enjoying this exchange sooooo very much.Love Note Week 1
  • I’m creating: swatches for my sweater.  Just one more swatch then I’ll see the mods I need to make.
  • I’m grateful for: making it through the week.  A slow, lazy Saturday.  Home-made shrimp fried rice.  A long “just what I needed” conversation with my oldest friend.  We’ve known each other since we were 2 and I ain’t no spring chicken anymore.  😛  Long, honest, open conversations with God.  A health scare that scared me straight! Yikes.
  • Around the house are:  more open windows.   The scent of a Lavendar & Vanilla Glade plug-in.  Last winter hurrah, lemme say goodbye to yah in style 😛 — smells of my baking winter’s cranberry nut bread.
  • In my kitchen: Oven roasted tilapia with brown rice and broocoli. Pre-oven fried tilapia
  • I’m planning later in the coming week to: do more spinning on Olga.  I think I’m almost there.  Spray paint some generic plant pots.  Finish these pot-holders for my kitchen.
  • I’m wishing you: the very best of Sundays and a wonderful week ahead.

the new format for “Gratitude Sunday” is borrowed from “The Simple Woman’s Daybook” series

The Week In Which I Want To “Knit All De Thingz!”

Nicky16 Comments

I’m not exactly sure what’s going on but something’s happening and you know what … it’s all good!  I’ve been feeling to craft, craft, craft all the time now.  Typically, I’m a technique person, so once I get a technique down I’m not always so interested in the F.O.   But now … I want F.O.’s.  I guess I can say that I’m entering a new phase in my crafting journey?  Hmmm … Not sure what it is but I really don’t mind.

Barley Rewind

Barley & Shawl

Guernsey Wrap

Magic Looping Revisited

This week in craft adventures I’ve:

  • Frogged my Barley hat.  I made the size recommended as per the circumference of my head but it ended up being too big.  I guess my head is not as big as I thought!  LOLOL!   I love the pattern so much, I really don’t mind frogging and starting over.  I’m also making one in a silver grey for a friend but hers I’m doing in all stockinette.  I might do mine that way also, not sure yet.
  • Dreamt about Brooklyn Tweed’s Guernsey Wrap.  I’m taking that as a sign to make one.  I have some KP Cyber Monday 2012 special reserve Chroma that was gifted to me; I figured this is a good pattern to use it for.
  • Re-visited magic looping.  This time around, the concept was easy peasy.  Very Pink’s tutorial video was probably the shortest one I found but with the clearest instructions (I’ve linked the video below).    The first two rows were fiddly, but I know it well enough to not have to revisit practicing before I execute the technique.  Winner, winner.  😀  My only issue is that the last stitches on the loop are so tight, it’s a struggle to get them back on the needles in the starting point.  But other than that, it’s been pretty good.   Next stop: DPNS!!!
  • Felt in the mood for making “The Sunlight Shawl for Sad People“.  No, no, no — I’m not sad!  LOLOL!  I just found it to be a very pretty pattern and a good one for my first shawl attempt.   And with some Madeline Tosh fingering (purple yarn in the second pic) found in my stash, this should be a very enjoyable project.
  • Will cut fabric to make about 4 – 6 of these potholders, hot pads … whatever you want to call them.   I got some fat quarters from Jacey … errrrr .. a quilt might be in my future but in the meantime, potholders it is!

Hope you each are having a great, sunshiney, crafty week.  😀