Craft room, craft room, I love you...

My craft room/office is almost done... I'm so excited! I finally will be able to work comfortably in my room again and it's only been, yikes, 3 years! Now I just have to get my husband to finish the trim work. Hailey can't wait for me to get back in there and finish up some more scrapbooks. She loves looking at her books. I will also finally be able to get my yarn organized too. As you can see from the photos I started putting some of it on my shelves, I'll finally be able to see what I have. I also have more tucked away in the fabric baskets on the bookshelf. This is just too exciting... I love it and I really LOVE my purple walls too, it's so girly! I have to give a great BIG thank you to my sister for coming over last week and helping me decorate and put up some shelves. I'm not exactly handy with a screwdriver and hammer. I can never seem to get things straight. My room wouldn't look so darn pretty if it wasn't for her. She has so much more of a "decorator's" eye than me, she is amazing! THANK YOU SIS! Now, off to organize and put more stuff away!

Here comes the candy corn...

My charity knitting for this month is now complete. I made a total of 12 Halloween hats for the wee little babes of Madigan Army Hosptial. I got on a kick of making the candy corn hats because they were just so darn cute, which means I only finished 3 pumpkin hats. The candy corn hats were just fun and I loved the yarn I used even if it was a cheapy yarn. It's called Little Grins and is 60% cotton, I just love how it feels and it was pretty nice to knit with too. Now I just need to get them delivered today. Next up... Christmas hats.

Pattern: Candy Corn Hat found at http://www.skeinsandbeans.com or on Ravelry at http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/candy-corn-hat.

Yarn: Little Grins was purchased at Artco Crafts in Tacoma, WA.

Pumpkin Hat: http://sonnentaler.blogspot.com/2008/09/krbis-baby-hat.html and

http://randomstitches.wordpress.com/2008/01/11/hello-world/ (various yarns used).

Wow it's early...

I can't remember the last time I was ever up at 4:00 AM (other than still being awake at that hour), guess that's what I get for falling asleep on the couch so early. At least I got a good 7 hours of sleep, that's unusual for me. It is now 5:13 AM and I'm trying to decide what knitting project I should get out (or should I jump in the shower before the kids get up? nahhh). I was looking at my projects and I sure think that I have knitters ADD... does one ever overcome this? I really wish that I could complete an entire sweater for myself before it becomes a "frogged" or "hibernating" project. I look at my friend Sue's projects and she has so many beautiful sweaters to wear this winter and me, well, I have a vest or two that I don't even know if I will wear. Do I sound a little jealous? Well I certainly am! But, I have no one to blame but myself. I think I will set a knitters New Year's resolution right now... finish at least one sweater next year! Maybe I can stick to a knitters resolution since I can't seem to stick to any other's I have made in the past.

I think I will go work on my sister's birthday present now. Halloween will be here before we know it. Won't be posting pictures until after Halloween. Maybe I can keep this on as a surprise since she was snooping through my projects and saw the other half of her gift last month. But, that's OK, at least I know she likes it!

Hopefully the sun will be shining again today! I'm enjoying the cooler weather but it's nice to still have some sun. Have a great day!

Sick or not...

Sick or not my week must go on... I was pretty much down on the couch all weekend long with a terrible head cold. But, come Monday, I just couldn't sit around much longer. After all, I have a mile long list of things to do this week. So, what do I do first? Head to the yarn shop, hey I needed needles. I've been on such a hat kick lately that I figured I better build up my stash of 16" needles before I hurt myself out of frustration for not having the right size when I want to start a new hat. Of course, I also found some great yarn to add to my other stash (I need more yarn like I need a hole in my head). Tuesday we were off to the Puyallup Fair which was exhausting but fun, at least the kids came home smiling while I came home with a headache, feet that were on fire and a mild backache. Oh, the joys of getting older! Wednesday, ahhh, I love my Wednesday's because that is knitting group day. Thanks goodness for these wonderful ladies, if it wasn't for seeing them every Wednesday I'd probably be a... well, let's just not go there. I could be having the worst day, or the worst week, and the minute I walk in the door my troubles just drift away! Then Thursday hits, back to the school for volunteer time in two classrooms and a meeting after that. Friday, wind down day right? NOT, Friday is our big school fundraiser. It's a silent auction and Italian dinner catered by Olive Garden. That will be one busy day and evening.

So... that is a run down of my week. I'm not trying to whine and I'm not trying to complain, I know there are crazier/busier people out there than me (yes, I'm talking about you Sue). This is just a crazy schedule for me personally... and I wonder why I can't get my house clean. When I am finally home, able to rest, cleaning is the last thing on my mind. I think I'll make some tea and settle down before everyone gets home from soccer. Thank goodness for my husband, he has been such a trooper. He hasn't complained about soccer practices yet and he has taken Hailey to every single one. He hasn't even complained about the funky things I come up with for dinner lately (whatever I can fish out of the freezer or pantry) and he hasn't even complained about the house... YET! Gotta love him!

Now I need to go find something to knit...

I hate being sick...

Being sick is the pits and it cuts into my knitting time. Luckily, two days of laying on the couch gave me a little bit of knitting time (once my pounding headache went away). I have been on a hat craze lately, I'm stocking up for Christmas. Seems everyone wants nice, warm, wool hats this year. Do you think they are anticipating a cold winter? I sure hope not. Along with making some baby hats for charity, I have finished two "gift" hats to start my stash. The first is The Amanda Hat found at http://www.yogagardennh.com/Patterns/AmandaHat.pdf. I used some yarn I picked up on clearance from Southwest Trading Company called Saphira. It's a super wash wool in a beautiful colorway but I'm not sure I like knitting with it. It seems to split and snag on me and it's not as soft as I thought it would be. Maybe after it is washed and blocked it will be better. Some yarns do feel better after washing them. I have one more skein of this yarn so I'll see if it does the same on my next project. The second one is called the Rib-A-Roni hat found at http://knitjaneknit.blogspot.com/2007/12/holiday-half-time-and-rib-roni-hat.html. I wanted to make this hat in Seahawk colors and found some Cascade 22o in blue and green in my stash. I was happy to be able to use up some of my stash. I will probably be able to get two more hats out of my yarn too. Both patterns can also be found on Ravelry, they are both free downloads.

The last picture is my beautiful needle case purchased from http://www.lisaellisdesigns.com/. You can also find her at http://www.lisaellisdesigns.etsy.com/. All her needle cases are made with TOP quality, designer material and they are absolutely beautiful. Pick one up for yourself or your favorite knitter this Christmas, you won't be disappointed.

Adding to the pile...

Candy corn hat... I just love Halloween. This was a fun project and quick too. Wish I could sneak into the maternity ward and get some pictures of the little ones wearing their hats. On to making one for Hailey, after all, candy corn is her favorite!

Made the hat out of a yarn I saw at Artco yesterday. Yes, the yarn snob bought yarn at a craft store and, yikes, it's part acrylic too (and cotton). The colors were so pretty and it actually felt pretty nice too. I'm happy with how it knit up, hopefully it holds up OK to hospital washing machines. The yarn is called Little Grins. I think I have enough to make quite a few hats. Watch for Christmas hats coming soon... can't wait to make those. Oh, I almost forgot, the pattern is free on www.ravelry.com, just type in "candy corn hat" and it will come up (and pumpkin hats too).

Knitting again...

Summer is coming to an end, school is back in session and my knitting group has started up again... thank goodness, I was beginning to go through withdrawls! Plus, I was told my blog was suffering from a busy summer schedule (thanks Sue :) Ok, Ok... I really was getting desperate to get back to my knitting! I started out this week making a quick ribbed beanie for my son. He finally got his long hair cut short and was saying his head was now cold. So, out came the needles and some Debbie Bliss donegal chunky tweed for a hat that knit up in a matter of hours (thanks Lisa for recommending this yarn, it was perfect). He was happy!

Next came another quick project for charity knitting... a cute little Halloween pumpkin hat. I just love these hats and, since it is for an infant, it also knit up in a matter of hours. I've already started my second one in Dale Baby ULL (purchased at Yorkshire Yarns in Lakewood). These hats will be for the maternity ward at Madigan Army Hospital. Next I think I will tackle some hats for our local cancer center. Can you tell I've really been into making hats lately? I just love that they are quick and fun projects. Quick is always good with me since I have the attention span of, say, maybe a 5 year old! If a project is too big, in the zzzzz or frog bin it goes. I need QUICK, I crave QUICK! My stress level (and blood pressure) can't take complicated these days! Oh ya, that cable sweater I started? Already in the "frog" bin. Darn it, maybe I just need some good pills to overcome my lack of follow through on a project, LOL!

Must get back to knitting now... Oh, by the way, what a good Mom I am :) take a look at the great poster I made my daughter from the Jonas Brothers concert back in June. Did it through Costco and, guess what? It was QUICK and it was EASY... my new motto. I framed it and hung it in her room before she got home from school. She gave me the biggest hug I've ever had, that sure brightened my day! Have a great night!