When will it end?

Ok, who is tired of this?








Or this? (one of my gardens)






Swim anyone???


I'll give you this to perk you (or me) up and remind you that spring will come eventually.






After searching through the pictures of my gardens I am just about dying to get my hands dirty. I might have to get out the old milk jugs and potting soil and do some winter sowing. It is worth it just to hear my husband say, "Those are some nice jugs you've got there!"

If you are interested in winter sowing, here is a great place to find out about it. Garden Web scroll to the second to the bottom forum and have fun!

On the knitting front, I got lots of work done on my daughters multi colored blanket this weekend. I enjoyed my first KIP (knit in public) during a seminar...I could not just sit there and waste all those knitting hours. Good news, passed the class even though I knitted through it!

What's a crafter to do?

I ordered new needles and yarn for my upcoming projects- the ponchette I mentioned and the Sun Ray Shawl knit along I am going to attempt. Don't worry, porn to follow when it arrives.

As I am reading through the patterns I notice I will need stitch markers, so what's a self proclaimed crafty girl to do? I pulled out my supply of jewelry making stuff and got to work. Well, didn't take me long to discover that I don't own any jump rings or clasps that will even come close to fitting over the needles, but instead of being discouraged I sought inspiration. I attended a class on earring making a while back and produced a few pairs of lovely dangly earrings. They hang from your ears on the loop wire things (not the technical name I'm sure). So I bent, and wrapped, and cut until I had these little beauties. I don't know if they will work because I can't get the wire completely smooth and they might catch the yarn, but I am pretty happy with the results.







By the way, it is really hard to get a good, non shadow picture of them- on my camera anyway. The beads are some sort of antiques I was told and are actually very pretty, not showing up very well. But you get the idea.

A Small Request

If anyone can tell me why my blogs are now coming out single spaced and splitting up words I would be forever grateful if you would clue me in. I have looked everywhere I can think of but I can't find any reason why they are doing it. Maybe I somehow clicked something I shouldn't have or perhaps aliens have gotten into my blog.

In my quest to add pictures I know I love to see who is writing so I will let you all see me too. It took me forever to find a picture of myself and even then it was taken by an 8 year old, but at least you can see who I am.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help me with my little problem!

Webrings

So, I have discovered this thing called webrings. Ok, so you all knew about them but they are new to me so I discovered them! While searching the endless possibilities of things that can be blogged, I discovered a few rings that seem to fit me perfectly. One: I live in Michigan, Two: I am CountryCrafter at Knitting Help, and Three: I make monthly dishcloths. Don't get me wrong, I might be a month or two (or three) behind but I love doing them!

I don't know which month this was but isn't it pretty! I can't bring myself to use it. It is a mock cable and I think it came out very nicely!

A good day of knitting

Well, today passed pleasantly enough with lots of waiting time (otherwise known as knitting time). Maybe soon I will look forward to all of those trips to pick up kids. What else is there to do but knit away?!

I finished another square for my 7 year olds blanket and started another of my ever present dishcloths. I can see a few mistakes I have made along the way, but I don't rip out dishcloths, I just plow on through. They are my practice for bigger and better things (although the family really likes my knitted dishcloths-we prefer them to purchased ones).

I also found the pattern I ordered a couple of days ago in the mailbox when I got home. Here it is Cool Hemp Ponchette but I am still deciding what to use to make it. I first saw it at Knitting Escapism and fell in love with it as I am with all of this lovely ladies work. Decisions, decisions...

A use for even unfinished projects

I woke up this morning to find that my knitting bag had been raided and pieces of my 7 year old daughter's unfinished blanket were being put to good use.

Please don't hate my color choice...it's what she likes! I know some knitters frown on the cheap acrylic yarn, but I have an afghan my grandma made me 30 years ago that still gets daily use today. It is made from acrylic and I treasure it like it was gold! I don't even know how many times it has been washed and dried and is so cuddly soft. If it was good enough for Grandma, it's good enough for me!

First Post, First Blog

After years of enjoying the internet and reading the wonderful blogs of so many fun people, I have decided it is time to start my own. I also need a little incentive to get some of my projects finished and if the pressure of publishing my current (and not so current) works in progress gives me the nudge I need, so be it.

I am a crafter. I say that with a conviction that I don't always believe but if crafting can be judged by interest and the sheer amount of supplies that I have collected over the years, then it must be true...right?

Beyond crafting, I also enjoy many other hobbies...most notebly my love of fitness. I am an avid video fitness lover and use my DVD's pretty much every day, especially during the long, cold Michigan winters. When spring springs this year I am very seriously considering training for a triathalon. There, I said it. Now it must be true.

Ok, enough for my first day at this. It is now time to dust off the digital camera and get ready to share myself with the world. (or just myself in print if I am the only one who ever reads this)