Sometimes It Just Takes a Picture

I took this on the way home from my mom's today. I was following the big storm cell that flooded Colorado Springs with hail and over an inch of rain.

Thank goodness it missed the burn scar or I might have been staying on the mountain.

Striped Socks

Finally finished this pair of socks that I started last April as mindless knitting for The Loopy Ewe Spring Fling.

I did get a lot done on the first sock that particular weekend however then they were relegated to my car knitting and I did not do a lot of that over the next few months. So I pulled them out of the car and brought them in to be TV knitting.

I finished the first sock a week ago and cast on the second one. Lo and behold, I knit the second sock in three days. Now they are a pair.

The pattern is just a basic tube sock over 64 stitches on size 1 (2.5mm). I knit a 2 inch rib section, then knit a total of 12 inches from the cast on edge before starting the toe.

The yarn is the specially dyed skein that I go at the 2011 Spring Fling, last time it was in St. Louis.

It is fun to have a souvenir from a very fun event. I hope everyone has great knit projects that remind them of memorable times. Happy Knitting to All~!

More Baby Quilts - Zombie Apocaplyse

This is my special creation for a co-worker's first baby. She is a big fan of all things zombie, so I took the opportunity to create a baby quilt with the Riley Blake collection called Zombie Apocalypse.

This has been really fun. The orange is the binding that is now on the quilt and just needs sewing down.

There is also a set of stuffies that will be revealed in a future post.

It is not often you get to do a quilt like this let alone for a baby occasion. Happy Crafting to All~!

What Am I Working On?

My latest project was a bible snake for a friend that thinks her pastor will get a giggle out of it. He is too cute.

And I found an embroidery piece that my mom gave me a while back. He is a morning monster and I thought he needed to become a snack mat. I used a 10 inch paper to piece him onto which really helps keep you on track.

And I sewed him together this morning while trying out the Bobbin Genie I got yesterday. That little disk of Teflon really does the trick. No more nests of thread at the beginning of the stitch lines. I really like this thing. Can't wait to do the quilting on this monster mat.

I hope everyone is having a great week~!

Camp Loopy 2014 Begins Soon - This Year: Fabric Challenges

For the past two years I have participated in The  Loopy Ewe's Camp Loopy for knitting projects. I think the first year I completed all three challenges. Last year I think I managed one.

So this year I was not very enthused to consider camp for knitting because I have so much going on with family event changes and work. Then she posts she is going to include fabric challenges. Well, yes, I reviewed the first one and said Why Not!

I have received my order from the camp store and am working on designing a table runner for the first challenge. 

The first challenge is to use 3 half yards of batiks in colors that remind you of your hometown or your favorite place. The colors I picked are happy colors that go with a grey neutral and will brighten up my office.

We can begin work on the project June 1 so watch for progress posts after that. I have everything in a Loopy carry bag with my camp pin on it. I am very excited to try something new this year. And leave my knitting "deadline-less" for the summer.

Happy crafting to All~!

A Nest of Snakes Has Been Completed

The snake project is done. I created 20 snakes for a commission project, half were finished flat as bookmarks and the other half were filled with the poly beads.

It was lots of fun to pair up scraps and buttons to create one of a kind critters for the kids. There is even one in Broncos colors for an avid collector co-worker.

Thanks to Shiny Happy World for the great pattern/idea. I have some requests for more as birthday gifts and, for my reading friends, these will make great little gifts to slip into a card and mail.

I hope everyone is finding great ways to stay busy and happy~!

Snake Assembly Line

First, a big thank you to Shiny Happy World for the great pattern that I found on Craftsy for free.

I have an order to make 20 of these little guys for a co-worker that leads kid groups. She will be using them for prizes.

It was lots of fun to sorting through my scraps to find different color choices to make these. I am making half of them filled and the other half flat.

In this picture, my quality inspector was trying to get into the shot but his assistant, Ms. Purl, got in there with her friend, Snaky (see his glowing blue eyes).

The funnel and melon baller are used to get the pellets into the filled snakes. Watch for a post that will include a picture of the finished "nest" of snakes when they are ready for delivery.

I hope everyone has a fun project they are working on~!

Book Review - She Makes Hats

I recently got a copy of a new book called by She Makes Hats by Robyn Devine.

It is a fast and excellent read. She shares how she started knitting and why hats have become her life.

If I say more it will considered spoilers, so check it out for yourself. It is available from her Etsy shop SheMakesHats and from Amazon.

I loved the idea of her Sandoval Hat pattern so I found some of my worsted weight hat yarn I had set aside for charity knitting and cast one on yesterday. Will let you know how it goes. Like last year, my plan is to have a bag o' hats to give away in October to a local homeless charity.

Ruby Heel Sock(s)

These are for mom as her Mother's Day gift. I tried to do both heels alike but forgot on the first sock so I did it for just one.

This is the yarn she likes for socks. They are knit off Cat Bordhi's Simple Sock pattern from her Socks Soar on Two Circs book.

I am so glad I got them done on time. I will be seeing her this weekend and she will have a new pair to add to her collection. Pssst, don't tell her but there are another pair on the needles for her from the yarn she bought in Buena Vista two weeks ago. Maybe she can have them in June.

She wears them with her Crocs and says they really do the job.

Happy Mother's Day early to all you moms out there~!

More on the Baby Quilts - Lewe the Sheep

You recently saw the finished quilt top picture for the Lewe the Sheep quilt.

Here is the picture of how I finally designed the quilt to get maximum use out of the fabric I had to work with.

Now that the top has been finished and the backing and quilting thread procured, it is time to take it to the longarm and get it quilted. That is scheduled for later this month.

While I am waiting to quilt this one, I am working on a second one that I will address in a near future post. As well as the accompanying pieces that go with Lewe. I have a growth chart to assemble and a diaper basket. From the leftover backing which is a wavy striped minky in matching colors to the top, there may be a monster softy.

This set is being constructed for my eldest nephew for his first child due some time in June, per my mother's request. I hope it is greatly appreciated.

Eeeek! It's Book Snakessssss

This was a very fun and fast project make from scrap strips, buttons, ribbon and some poly bead filler. And it is a usable item that, until recently, I had not needed.
I won a book, a real book, and will be discussing it further once I have read it, however because it is not a digital book, I had to create one so I can read and knit.

This pattern is from Shiny Happy World.  I found it on Craftsy and it was free.

I hope everyone is having a fun weekend~!