Pattern: Child's Fair Isle Cardi (free pattern coming soon!)
Yarn: Abuelita Merino (LOVE!)
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Fair Isle Vest
Pattern: Child's Fair Isle Cardi (free pattern coming soon!)
Yarn: Abuelita Merino (LOVE!)
Friday, March 25, 2011
Spring!
While it has felt like spring for weeks, the first rose has just appeared in the Feisty Garden!
Monday, March 21, 2011
Man Room Conversion
When we rebuilt our house in late 2006, we decided to tweak the original floor plan to carve out some much-needed storage space. The original house had cathedral ceilings in the great room, as well as the master bedroom.
We kept the high ceiling in the great room, but opted for a cove ceiling in the master, which created a good size room above it on the second floor. The first thought was to make that room a storage space, but it eventually was finished out as a "man room" for the husband with a huge, ugly leather recliner, TV, and place to put all his hunting-related paraphernalia, including mounts of dead animals. Ostensibly, it was to be a man-only private sanctuary from an estrogen filled house.
While it contained all of his man-stuff, he actually never used the room, preferring the bigger television in the living room. Truth be told, I think he likes being surrounded by his wife and daughters.
Last year I began sewing again. Initially, I set up in the dining room, but soon it looked like a fabric shop threw up in there. Because it is the first room off of the foyer, I always felt as though the house was a complete wreck because the dining room was a sewing mess.
A couple of months ago, I crept up into the man room and slowly began setting up shop. Out came the sewing machine, which was closely followed by the serger. I bought a counter height stainless steel cutting table and several shelving units. One by one, I emptied the closet of my bins of yarny stash goodness.
The husband reconciled himself to losing his room, as long, as he could still store his stuff in there.
Yesterday, I broke out a small roller and a can of Kilz. I was only going to test a small patch to convince myself the Kilz would actually kill the antiquing stain from the previous paint treatment.
I got a little carried away and did most of one wall because I wanted the husband to put up some wall shelves for me.
Good News: The Kilz works beautifully!
Bad News: It is the dickens to get out of one's hair.
There is still a lot of Kilz painting to go, but the fun part is picking out a new paint scheme. In the back of my mind, I knew I wanted to add some orange to the room. An email from Jo-Ann fabric listing coupons and sales convinced me to start my search with fabric.
I found a pattern I love and have narrowed my choices to two:
We kept the high ceiling in the great room, but opted for a cove ceiling in the master, which created a good size room above it on the second floor. The first thought was to make that room a storage space, but it eventually was finished out as a "man room" for the husband with a huge, ugly leather recliner, TV, and place to put all his hunting-related paraphernalia, including mounts of dead animals. Ostensibly, it was to be a man-only private sanctuary from an estrogen filled house.
While it contained all of his man-stuff, he actually never used the room, preferring the bigger television in the living room. Truth be told, I think he likes being surrounded by his wife and daughters.
Last year I began sewing again. Initially, I set up in the dining room, but soon it looked like a fabric shop threw up in there. Because it is the first room off of the foyer, I always felt as though the house was a complete wreck because the dining room was a sewing mess.
A couple of months ago, I crept up into the man room and slowly began setting up shop. Out came the sewing machine, which was closely followed by the serger. I bought a counter height stainless steel cutting table and several shelving units. One by one, I emptied the closet of my bins of yarny stash goodness.
The husband reconciled himself to losing his room, as long, as he could still store his stuff in there.
Yesterday, I broke out a small roller and a can of Kilz. I was only going to test a small patch to convince myself the Kilz would actually kill the antiquing stain from the previous paint treatment.
I got a little carried away and did most of one wall because I wanted the husband to put up some wall shelves for me.
Good News: The Kilz works beautifully!
Bad News: It is the dickens to get out of one's hair.
There is still a lot of Kilz painting to go, but the fun part is picking out a new paint scheme. In the back of my mind, I knew I wanted to add some orange to the room. An email from Jo-Ann fabric listing coupons and sales convinced me to start my search with fabric.
I found a pattern I love and have narrowed my choices to two:
Waverly Maldives in Papaya
Waverly Maldives in Ceylon
While I am actually leaning toward the Papaya, I really love the Ceylon, too!
Any thoughts?
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Putting It Away
Like any knitting fanatic, I've tools, skeins, and UFOs everywhere. I had just the spot near the window seat that would hold a small cabinet. I found this one at Ikea (Konsmo 001.804.21) and it really suited the spot and the duty with a reasonable price.
I like that I can quickly put everything away, removing the clutter from the room, while knowing where it all is when I'm ready to pick it up again. If it has a downside, it'd be that the storage boxes are open on the top - any moth concerns you might have could make that an issue. But then it'd be easy enough to use baggies for storage (as most of us do) or make some liner bags to secure the more valuable goods.
If you've been looking for a home for your clutter, this might do the trick. If you've already found a solution, share! (I am considering a trip this evening to the office supply store to copy Christina's "Binder `O Addi's" idea.) And, of course, the dramatic black really lets the colors of the bags I've gotten show off their beauty.
So how do you keep your knitting under control?
I like that I can quickly put everything away, removing the clutter from the room, while knowing where it all is when I'm ready to pick it up again. If it has a downside, it'd be that the storage boxes are open on the top - any moth concerns you might have could make that an issue. But then it'd be easy enough to use baggies for storage (as most of us do) or make some liner bags to secure the more valuable goods.
If you've been looking for a home for your clutter, this might do the trick. If you've already found a solution, share! (I am considering a trip this evening to the office supply store to copy Christina's "Binder `O Addi's" idea.) And, of course, the dramatic black really lets the colors of the bags I've gotten show off their beauty.
So how do you keep your knitting under control?
My Blond Moment
Blond cookies that is!
White Chocolate Cookies
1 cup (2 sticks) sweet cream butter
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
4 tsp Amaretto (yum!)
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup oatmeal
3 cups (16 oz) white chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Beat butter and sugar before adding the eggs and Amaretto.
Sift dry ingredients and stir in the oatmeal. Slowly incorporate dry to wet, then add the white chocolate.
Roll into balls and flatten slightly onto parchment covered cookie sheets.
Bake for 10 minutes.
Enjoy!
Notwithstanding the food posts lately, a great deal of crafting has been going on. Despite being ensconced under miles of fabric, I have even been knitting.
The first weekend in April (which is just around the corner), we will be attending a wedding of a dear friend in Baton Rouge.
I found a dress I liked that has a print bodice and black skirt. The only problem, it is virtually sleeveless, and it is way too early in the season for me to be sporting untanned (and untoned) arms.
The solution?
A shrug, specifically, the Audobon Shrug. Although, the Audobon zoo is in New Orleans and not Baton Rouge. It is close enough in my book.
The yarn is Classic Elite Wool Bam Boo. I love it!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Remy
He doesn't knit (yet), but he is the newest member of the family.
He is a sixteen-week-old Standard Poodle puppy, all 33 pounds of him, and a total love.
He is a sixteen-week-old Standard Poodle puppy, all 33 pounds of him, and a total love.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
The Husband is a good sport
Yesterday was the Husband's birthday!
We had a nice meal last night with Ahi Tuna, crawfish linguini, and White Chocolate Bread Pudding for dessert before watching Steve McQueen in Bullitt. (I *love* Steve McQueen, by the way! The older daughter thinks Daniel Craig looks like him...it took me a few minutes, but I got there, too, even though Steve was a lot sexier.)
This morning I presented the lucky man with Eggs Benedict for breakfast; however, in the excitement of the moment, I forgot to snap a picture.
In exchange for my culinary efforts, I humbly asked the man if he would be so kind as to model the sweater and beanie I finished for him some while ago.
He agreed!
Pattern: Hubby Henley from Knits Men Want in Hubby Verde hand-dyed by me last summer.
The beanie is Jared Flood's Habitat in Abuelita Merino Worsted. As I have mentioned before, I could not love this Abuelita yarn any more!! It is just fantastic!
A cold front has blown through, and it may be freezing (literally) in the morning, but the sun is shining and it's a glorious day in South Texas.
Have a great weekend everyone!
We had a nice meal last night with Ahi Tuna, crawfish linguini, and White Chocolate Bread Pudding for dessert before watching Steve McQueen in Bullitt. (I *love* Steve McQueen, by the way! The older daughter thinks Daniel Craig looks like him...it took me a few minutes, but I got there, too, even though Steve was a lot sexier.)
This morning I presented the lucky man with Eggs Benedict for breakfast; however, in the excitement of the moment, I forgot to snap a picture.
In exchange for my culinary efforts, I humbly asked the man if he would be so kind as to model the sweater and beanie I finished for him some while ago.
He agreed!
Pattern: Hubby Henley from Knits Men Want in Hubby Verde hand-dyed by me last summer.
The beanie is Jared Flood's Habitat in Abuelita Merino Worsted. As I have mentioned before, I could not love this Abuelita yarn any more!! It is just fantastic!
A cold front has blown through, and it may be freezing (literally) in the morning, but the sun is shining and it's a glorious day in South Texas.
Have a great weekend everyone!
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