Skinny Sister's Quilt...

After Angie made the art quilts for her 2 sets of twins, my skinny sister Jeanne got the bug.  She embroidered the artwork her youngest Riley did as a small boy {he is now a freshman at Wartburg College}.  Here is a sampling of her work.

A+ Mrs. Anderson!

Where does the time go???

My resolution to get organized has totally gotten away from me.  But... if at first, you don't succeed, TRY, TRY again.  I refuse to give up.  I just cleaned out one of my yarn stashing {read hiding} places.  My BFF Theresa is making Thread & Sulky free form scarves she saw on Fons & Porter and I have some great bits of leftover novelty yarns to share with her.  I can let go of this yarn knowing it is going to a good home. {Can you say hoarder?}

I have been knitting samples for the shop.  I made this cute felted bag.

Before

So sorry.  The quality of the above picture has probably forever impaired your vision.

After

My BFF Carolyn took these pics at the shop, hence the quality!

The pattern "Lopi Hipster" is free with purchase of yarn.  I used 3 skeins of Lopi.  I could hook you up!

I also made the beginnings of this cute cable scarf using a skein of sock yarn and a skein of Rowan Kidsilk Haze.  It is so soft and reversible - which is nice with a cable.

The pattern is here. 

I have also been taking a sock class with Jane.  I have one sock ready to Kitchner and another on its way. Can''t wait to show you the finished project - and yes, the sock yarn was from my stash.  I ambitiously purchased  it at the shop last year.

What's on your needles?

Amending my Resolutions...

On Thursday, I had lunch with Carolyn {from When Pigs Fly fame} and her daughter Sarah.  Sarah is home from college so I asked her if she needed anything crafty before she went back.  Could I knit or sew her anything???  Sarah explained that she could use a hat, but that she had read my resolution post and understood that I would need to finish a project before I could begin a new one.  RATS!  This self-described law-abider was almost foiled by her own rules.  But then I came up with a clever new one... If I use materials on hand, formerly purchased {thereby qualifying as stash reduction}, it is okay to begin the new project.  There you have it people, my own little loophole.

Sarah stopped by today and here she is in her new hat.   

I asked Sarah if fingerless mitts would come in handy when studying and she thought that would be nice.  I tried to talk her into a trip to The Village Yarn Shop to pick out new yarn but she wanted me to use something from my stash.  RATS!

Go Hawks!!!

The Orange Bowl is tonight and the Number 10 rated Iowa Hawkeyes (10-2) will take on Number 9 rated Georgia Tech (11-2).  The Husb and I are both University of Iowa alumni and we are getting ready for the game. 

Let's go Hawks!!!

Here is one of the husb's fav football munchies... great with beer.

Garlic Pretzels

1 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon garlic salt
1 tablespoon dill
1 tablespoon lemon-pepper
2 lbs pretzels - I prefer Synder's of Hanover Sourdough Nibblers

Preheat oven to 325*. Mix the garlic salt, dill and lemon pepper together with the oil. Put the pretzels in a roaster or large pan.  Coat the pretzels with the oil mixture.  Bake for 8 minutes. Stir and bake 8 additional minutes.  Yummy.

Enjoy! 

It is a New Year...

Happy New Year!!!

Have you done the whole resolution thing?  You know, it is a new year, fresh start, let's be retrospective, let's reslove to improve ourselves.  The Husb asked me about my resolutions at dinner last night and I really wanted to be creative this year... but I got nothin'!  Same old, same old.  But I say it never hurts to try!

1  Get fit, lose weight  Now, I have been working on this {since the birth of my 17 year old son} seriously since last February.  I have lost 30 lbs.  I no longer need my blood pressure meds.  All my cholesterol readings are in the normal range.  And as my gym buddies say, I can back up any verbal butt kicking with a real butt kicking.  I go to the gym and meet with a personal trainer 3 x a week.  He is great.  Check out the Heckers' Fitness website.  Matt recently put 3 good FREE  fitness videos on you tube.  It would be a great start for anyone! 

2  Get organized  Need I say more?

3  No new craft projects without finishing an old one  I really enjoy the creative process of selecting/designing and beginning projects.  Finishing and wrapping up... apparently, not so much.  I need to work on getting over that!

4  Volunteer... regularly.

There... I have said it... it is in print.  What is on your list?

Let's resolve to make 2010 a great year!

Rejoice...

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."  Luke 2:8-14

Rejoice! Rejoice!

We are Santa's Elve's....

I finished the card production yesterday.  Being proactive {for the first time in my entire life} I mocked up a few designs last January.  This process usually begins in August when Skinny Sister is here for her visit... but we didn't get to it this year.  I began work on the selected card the Saturday after Thanksgiving with the help of Eva K.  I am not waiting to the last minute next year!!

Here is a finished card.  It simply says Merry Christmas inside.

There was also a Allen'09 Christmas Card Version 2.0 because I ran out of the pretty red card stock.  I used green for V 2.0 and burgandy for the border... or in some cases... whatever I could find in my stash.  I made 113 cards... and considered shortening my list several times during the course.  If I haven't mentioned this before, Mom and Skinny Sister got me started on the tradition of homemade cards.  They are both big into Stampin' Up.  And... if I can be SNARKY for a minute... Jeanne sent cards from Target this year.  Come on!!!  We have a reputation to uphold sister!

I also managed to finish my nephews t-shirt quilt for Christmas.  Not the most exciting quilting project, but he will appreciate it.  My friend Juna did the quilting and she put her heart into every block.  I should have taken a better picture before I sent it off.

I wanted to give a bottle of wine to each of my co-workers at the yarn shop.  In a brief moment of genius I came up with the idea to take the arms of some sweaters Theresa and I felted and make wine gift bags.  This was a fun project because it will reuse * reduce * recycle, and my knitting cohorts will be pleased with my cleverness.

Again, my photography abilities stink, but you get the idea!

It is snowing, and Eva K is arriving today.  I am going to make chili in the crock pot before work so I better get moving.

Ho ho ho

Ho ho ho

We are Santa's elves.

We are Santa's elves

Filling Santa's shelves

With a toy

For each girl and boy.

Oh, we are Santa's elves

We work hard all day

But our work is play

Dolls we try out

See if they cry out.

We are Santa's elves

We've a special job each year

We don't like to brag

Christmas Eve we always

Fill Santa's bag.

Santa knows who's good

Do the things you should

And we bet you

He won't forget you.

We are Santa's elves

Ho ho ho. Ho ho ho

We are Santa's elves

Ho Ho!