I'm very happy with how they turned out, even though I didn't get them done in time for our anniversary :)
Wedding Books!
Finally finished the wedding photo book from Mixbook!
They arrived today and they look great, so I'm pleased. The big one that I plan to keep at our house was delivered to the shipping/receiving area @ work instead of my building (darn UPS), so still haven't seen that one, but the little ones I got just fine. Soft-cover about 8-9" squar(ish), and beautiful.
I'm very happy with how they turned out, even though I didn't get them done in time for our anniversary :)
I'm very happy with how they turned out, even though I didn't get them done in time for our anniversary :)
Learning = Affective Context
Awesome video explaining "Affective Context" which explains why we might want to move toward a "pull" learning model instead of a "push" model - because it works better!
Lacy Cocoon Kit - Grey from KnitPicks.com
Lacy Cocoon Kit - Grey from KnitPicks.com
What do you think? good for a "rotund" girl, or not so much?
What do you think? good for a "rotund" girl, or not so much?
Those notebooks I mentioned? STILL AWESOME!
I love my Circa Notebook!!! I think if I had known about this thing longer, I could have been a much more organized person.
Drawback: I have too many projects to fit all in one book! hahahaha :) I've already added a set of 10 tabs, and then added sub-tabs that are stick-on ones from Avery
because I just needed more than 10 divisions - sheesh! do you think maybe there's a lot going on at work? I certainly do...
I have already printed, punched and added documents of my own: a tab index, training program calendar, to-do lists, and a cheat sheet for "SMART" goals. So far, I obviously really like this whole Circa/Rollabind design :)
Drawback: I have too many projects to fit all in one book! hahahaha :) I've already added a set of 10 tabs, and then added sub-tabs that are stick-on ones from Avery
because I just needed more than 10 divisions - sheesh! do you think maybe there's a lot going on at work? I certainly do...
Summer Fair Isle
It's done! And I think it turned out quite well - not perfect, but for a first attempt, I'll certainly take it! :)
Fair Isle Jacket by Debbie Bliss, from Essential Knits for Kids.
She likes it, and is willing to wear it, so that's a good thing ;)
Fair Isle Jacket by Debbie Bliss, from Essential Knits for Kids.
She likes it, and is willing to wear it, so that's a good thing ;)There's a funky messed up part right in the center next to a button, but oh well!
I think next time I make it, if I do, I would make the cuffs of the sleeves a little wider - cast on more stitches & reduce the steepness of the increases - because they're a bit tight.
Ultimately, I'm pleased & would do it again! I just have to figure out how to carry the color to another row without messing up my stitches... or maybe I should just cut the yarn on every row, or do an extra stitch or two at the ends of the rows... Advice anyone?
Awesome Notebooks
So, at work recently, we have discovered these really cool notebooks that you can sort of re-arrange & refill, adjust the size, add tabbed dividers, etc., etc., etc. - but the kicker is they flip open to LAY FLAT while you're writing on top of all that - and you can even flip the cover around to the back like a regular spiral notebook! And they're not heavy like a binder.
I am so stinking excited about this!!! I know, I'm a complete dork, please forgive me - but actually, if you read this blog, you already knew that. ;) They are a bit expensive, for sure, BUT, if you use it for work, and can expense it, awesome. Plus, you can get a hole-punch for them, and make your own refills or pages of any type anytime you want.
AWESOME!
Waiting for a co-worker to get back from vacation, and then we're all going to order them! :)
Cool free project instructions from Interweave!
Got an email from Interweave Press (I'm a member of the Knitting Daily distribution list), and though I would share! They are offering 16 free project instruction packages (multiple projects in each) from all their many crafty/artistic facets...
I downloaded a couple of the beading ones, a mixed media art one, a quilting one that had ideas to make things out of ties.
The quilting out of ties is something special for my family because my uncle died a few years ago, and left lots of fabulous ties that we all felt were very indicative of his personality. He was a defense lawyer, and would always dress "to-the-nines" for court, and his ties were really pretty cool. My cousin always wanted to make something special out of them, but I don't know if she's actually done anything yet. I sent her the pdf, so we'll see! :)
And the gift books arrived today!
LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! :)
These are gifts for Grammommy, Nona & G.G. - I will be giving them out this weekend! Perfect purse size, 6" x 4", and even though a few of my bazillion photos are a little small, and they'll definitely need their reading glasses if they want to read the journaling, that's still OK with me, 'cause they should always have them anyway! hahaha :)
Scrapblog is awesome
I'm not sure if anyone actually reads this blog, but if you do, and have even the remotest (I know that's not really a word) interest in photography, journaling, scrapbooking, or digital photo editing, you MUST check out this site!
http://www.scrapblog.com/
They are fantastic!! :) I made the baby knitting scrapblog there, and have made a few others, including my daughter's first year baby book. I totally love them, they are completely responsive when you need help, and the application is super easy to use.
I ordered a keepsake book, and am waiting on pins and needles for it to arrive!
http://www.scrapblog.com/ They are fantastic!! :) I made the baby knitting scrapblog there, and have made a few others, including my daughter's first year baby book. I totally love them, they are completely responsive when you need help, and the application is super easy to use.
I ordered a keepsake book, and am waiting on pins and needles for it to arrive!
New Knitting pics
there has actually been knitting!
My new nephew!! I'm an AUNT!! :)
Isn't he the cutest little thing?
The sweater is the Pure & Sweet Layette from Susan B. Anderson's Itty Bitty Nursery.
It's not too hard, although I really couldn't get the hang of the embroidery (confirming that I am NOT a sew-er). I wish it came in bigger sizes though, not just newborn!
Fits the little man relatively well it looks like - he was 7lbs, 14oz at birth, so a good sized boy. :)
This horrible picture of me is accompanied by a Baby Raglan. This is the super-easy Raglan Sweater pattern from The Baby Knits Book (although I got it online somewhere) by Debbie Bliss. I ran out of yarn, of course not realizing until I had already knit too far, so went back to Yarn Dogs for some more of the yarn for stripes. I think it turned out pretty well :)
Baby to match the raglan has now joined us, congratulations to my dear friends & big sister!
He won't be able to wear his sweater for a while though - I think this is the 6-9 months size.
I also finished the "N" Sweater. It's the Knitty Double Scoop pattern by Gail Pfeifle, with my own charted "N."
I'm not super happy with my intarsia. It's very lumpy where I had to change colors & weave in ends, but if you look at it from a little farther away, it's OK.
The little one likes it, so I guess that's all that matters, especially since she's willing to wear it even though it's really too warm. hahahaha :)
And finally, the in-progress Fair Isle Jacket, also by Debbie Bliss, from Essential Knits for Kids.
This is my first attempt at fair isle, and it's actually not too bad! I'm not looking forward to weaving in ends, but I think the pattern is actually turning out pretty well.
I've finished the back & left front, and just started the right front. Picked up some ribbon, and will need to hunt up some buttons, but I think I either have some, or can find some without too much trouble. Hopefully I'll finish it soon, and she can actually use it this summer!
My new nephew!! I'm an AUNT!! :)
The sweater is the Pure & Sweet Layette from Susan B. Anderson's Itty Bitty Nursery.
It's not too hard, although I really couldn't get the hang of the embroidery (confirming that I am NOT a sew-er). I wish it came in bigger sizes though, not just newborn!
Fits the little man relatively well it looks like - he was 7lbs, 14oz at birth, so a good sized boy. :)
Baby to match the raglan has now joined us, congratulations to my dear friends & big sister!
He won't be able to wear his sweater for a while though - I think this is the 6-9 months size.
I'm not super happy with my intarsia. It's very lumpy where I had to change colors & weave in ends, but if you look at it from a little farther away, it's OK.
The little one likes it, so I guess that's all that matters, especially since she's willing to wear it even though it's really too warm. hahahaha :)
This is my first attempt at fair isle, and it's actually not too bad! I'm not looking forward to weaving in ends, but I think the pattern is actually turning out pretty well.
I've finished the back & left front, and just started the right front. Picked up some ribbon, and will need to hunt up some buttons, but I think I either have some, or can find some without too much trouble. Hopefully I'll finish it soon, and she can actually use it this summer!
First Steps!!!
I just had to post this - My baby girl took her first steps last night!!! AHK! :) So excited, yet so emotional about it - my little baby girl is growing up!!!
actual knitting!
I FINALLY finished this little baby jacket for my friend's baby - of course, he's gotten so big, that if he even fits into it at all, it will be for like 5 more minutes! Oh well, not much I can do about it now! I decided not to do the velvet edging, because just the knitting was taking so dang long, and I couldn't figure out how to do it without being such a pain.
I think it turned out pretty well despite the lack of trim :) Hopefully there will be a baby fashion show picture shortly.I have now started a little baby blanket for another friend, but all I've done so far is wind the yarn into a ball - well really, SEVERAL balls because it was such a tangled mess!!! It seems there were 2 lengths of yarn (at least) and they got wound really weirdly, so it was impossible to find the right end, and it was pulling from the outside of a center section of the ball!! That was rather a nightmare...
Hopefully I'll be able to make more time for knitting in the future so this blanket doesn't take forever. Luckily, it's not a sizing issue to worry about :)
Don't you hate it when...
...you don't have any time to do anything but the absolutely necessary things??
