Ahhhhh…

I had a spa day today! I used my rad gift card from the in-laws…the head to toe package at Jackson Massage and Day Spa. Let me just give you the itinerary for the day:

• Relaxing 1 hour full body massage
• Rejuvenating facial
• Pretty pedicure and manicure
• Brow wax (not included in package)
• Wash, cut and style (not included in the package)

The workers at the spa were all: “Are you comfortable?” “Are you relaxed?” “Can I get you anything?” “It’s all about you today.” (how NICE!) Also, got to listen to beach noises and relaxing music all day long (gladly no new age mumbo jumbo though). They did the massage and facial first and I seriously though I wasn’t going to be able to finish out the rest of the day I was SO freekin’ relaxed (can you really be freekin’ relaxed??? ….anyway). Wanna see the toes?

Sorry if toes gross you out!

On to a card….I’ll post down a little so you can scroll past the toes, but still look at the card in case you’re squeamish (I know feet gross some people out)

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That Happy Birthday image is Stampin’ Up! Everything else is non-SU!. I think I’m enjoying stamping again even though I’m not a SU! demo anymore. I can use other products on my projects and not feel like I “need” to be selling only the stuff I’m using. So I’ll probably get lax about posting recipes for cards, but I think people mostly just look at the pics anywayz….Ok so maybe only I do that. Still reading??? Yes? In that case I’ll ramble on a little more.

Knitting: I’m knitting a Booga Bag. I’m a little late on the bandwagon with this project, but it’s so darn cute I don’t care.I’m about halfway completed. No pic…maybe tomorrow. It’s so bright and colorful and easy to knit! Can’t wait to finish.

Employment: Starting my new job at the hospital Monday…no longer a “lady of leisure” as my grandmother put it…yeah right…a nursing student isn’t “leisure” anything. Wish me luck.

Bye for now.

It’s part of a sock

I’ve been working on my sock today. I got the heel turned and the decreases done on the instep. Blah blah blah…here it is!

It’s kinda a bad angle from the back. But you can kinda see the instep and heel right??? Just say yes!

Oh here’s another thing I did:

I dyed Nathan’s newborn diapers! They were SO boring…just white…blah! Now they are super cute. I used Dylon dye from Hobby Lobby. The colors are called turquoise and lime. I wish I had left the prefold diapers in the dye a little longer cuz they are lighter than I’d like. BUT the Sandy’s fitteds turned out almost perfect! Can’t wait to put them on my little pooper!

This sock rocks!

Here’s what I’ve been working on lately:

It’s the Monkey sock from knitty.com. I’m using Socks That Rock yarn (forgot the colorway).  You may remember this yarn from a sock project abandon long ago! I much prefer the direction this yarn is going now. This is also my first lace project. The pattern repeats are pretty simple. Hopefully I’ll have a sock by the end of the week! Maybe even 2 socks by the end of next month! haha

Some people asked about the pattern I used for the wrap wool soaker from the last post. Find it here. It’s free!!!!

Knitting for Baby

So I’m combining three of my latest “obsessions” in my latest crafty adventure. I’m knitting (1) a wool diaper (2) cover for the baby (3). Ooooo it’s gonna be so cool. Here’s a progress pic:

Here’s a pic of the yellow bear modeling it, so you can get an idea about how it’s gonna fit on baby:

It’ll have Aplix (hook and loop) on the front panel and back wings…you know the familiar diaper format. So, this project will also let me use my new sewing machine too! Yay, one more crafty addition.

And a close up of the increase rows, just cuz:

This knits up so fast! I am going to get some more wool this weekend and make another one in the next size up. I hope wool works for us!

I’m using the Warm Heart Woolies Free Wrap Style Pattern. Find it here.

A new sock

K. Remember how I was making these socks for Socktoberfest? Well I got tired of them and got some new sock yarn. I finally got my new size 1 circular needles in the mail to begin making the socks and wouldn’t you know it – there’s only 3 days left in socktoberfest. So I’ve decided to make November Sockemberfest! I know that’s not quite as catchy as Socktoberfest, but HEY I’m making my socks in November. So there you go.

The all important progress picture:

That’s 2 toes on 2 circular needles. I’m using these instructions for the toe and then I’ll probably use Wendy’s Generic Toe-up Pattern for the rest of the sock.

Some yarn to look at

I am already planning my next pair of socks. I think I am over the boring gray Socktoberfest socks. I think I probably won’t finish them…I have more exciting sock yarn in the works. See:

Old boring gray sock (that I probably won’t finish) meet new fabulous Socks that Rock sock yarn! Oooooo…I know that you are jealous of it’s bee-u-ti-ful colors and soft feel. It is far superior to you, boring gray sock. And here’s another insult to injury:

It is totally awesome self-striping Lana Grossa sock yarn. I have swatched it and must say that this has got to be the coolest yarn ever. Now I am awaiting my 2 size 1 circular needles so I can begin making the awesome socks. My fingers are just itching.

Sorry no stamping in this post. What can I say? I’m a multi-crafter!

Socks, cont.

Stop the presses!!! It’s a sock update!

For your review:

A really bad picture of the sock *after* the heel turn.

And an even worse picture of the said “turned heel.” Hey! I think I’ll have a pair of socks in no time… well ok it’s gonna take me a while, but HELLO! I’m knitting a sock here people!

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And now for something to keep you stampers happy! An Artist Trading Card I made for an upcoming SCS ATC swap. It’s SU! demos only, but if you’re a demo I hope you’ll consider joining. It’s FUN! The swap is to make one card using your fav technique and the other is using your fav stamp set. I joined both! This ATC features my fav technique – masking! (and one of my fav stamp sets…just cuz.)

• Stamp Set: Natural Beauty
• Ink: Basic Brown, Always Artichoke, Rose Red, Gold Encore
• Card Stock: Always Artichoke, Mellow Moss, Rose Red, Very Vanilla, Brushed Gold
• Accessories: Blender Pens, Hodgepodge Hardware, Ivory Wide Grosgrain Ribbon, Hole Punch
• Technique: Masking (Beginner), Watercoloring with ink and blender pens (Easy)

Sock Post

Here’s somesock progress: I’ve got the heel flap done.

The sock atop some prime pickin’ cotton! It’s cotton season in west TN.

And here’s a close up for those of you that are double checking my work:

The flap is kind of rolled up, but you get the point.

And to contrast the close up here is a far away shot:

Can you spot the sock? heh heh

Check back later cuz I’ve been doing some stampin’ too!

My Socktoberfest socks are done!

Ok so that was a lie. I am totally ready to have a hand knit pair of socks! Here’s what I’ve got so far:

There’s the top. Wow! 3 needles. Yeah I know what you’re saying: “This progress picture sucks!”

So here’s a close up of the first cable row:

Ok I know what you are saying about this picture: “Man you’ve really got a long way to go!”

Hey quit giving me such a hard time…it’s my 1st pair!

And in the spirit of hoping I can actually finish this pair of socks, I bought some new sock yarn! See I am becoming a real knitter. Check it out here. I got the colorway 7710, which is purple and gray. I’m so psyched!

So I’m getting ready for the 2nd cable row and of course, I’ve lost my cable needle. Grrr….

Socktoberfest 2006!!!

Allrighty. I’ll be knitting my 1st pair of socks for Socktoberfest. Here’s my cast on…ok it’s my 3rd cast on . I’m about ready to pull my hair out with this double-pointed-needle-kitting-in-the-round business. If I finish this project, then I will officially consider myself a “real” knitter.

I’m knitting the Cable footies in the One Skein Book. Hope they turn out ok (crosses fingers).

And here’s what Maggie Mae has been up to:

…that’s what “keeping Daddy’s chair warm” looks like. She’s waiting for him to get home from work…yes you should pitty her.

The Purse

So I finished my purse. This was a pretty quick knit – easy for beginners I thought. The only thing was the pattern kinda left you hangin’ in some spots. I had to figure things out for myself at times, but it all turned ok after felting. Felting is pretty forgiving!

And here’s the pic:

Maggie Mae made a nice place to prop the purse up against. You can almost see her rolling her eyes. I think my next project will be the pair of socks from the One Skein book. That should be an adventure.

Belated Blogger

Ok so I haven’t posted in a while. I am a nursing student…nuff said. haha

Here is a card I made for DH’s boss. She needed a card for a wedding. Everything used is Stampin’ Up!

• Stamp Sets: Natural Beauty, Wonderful Words
• Ink: Always Artichoke, Elegant Eggplant, Lavendar Lace, Regal Rose, StazOn Black
• Card Stock: Always Artichoke, Elegant Eggplant, Lavendar Lace, Regal Rose. Watercolor Paper
• Accessories: Oval Punch, Slot Punch, HodgePodge Hardware, Ribbon: Wide Ivory Organdy, Purple Grosgrain, Thyme stitched Grosgrain, Narrow Ivory Organdy, Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Glue Dots, Blender Pen
• Techniques: Dazzling Diamonds (Beginner), Watercoloring with blender pens (Easy)

Here’s a few updates:

My knitted purse is progressing nicely (pics later). I’m finishing up the handles, and soon it will be ready for felting.

Am I still flying? Well I’ve been keeping my sink and bathrooms clean, but that’s about it. I will work on hot spots this week.

We have a purse…sort of

Here’s my progress on my knitted purse. It looks pretty good compared to the smallish rectangle I had the other day. However, I wouldn’t carry around my wallet in it…yet. ha! Man, it’s gonna be CUTE after felting. I’ve decided that this will be my official winter purse! I believe that I will have enough yarn left over to make a matching coin purse. YAY! Yarn!

Also, here’s Maggie Mae with the emerging purse:

She looks overjoyed that I’m taking YET ANOTHER PICTURE of her. I think she’s more mad that I disturbed her nap by shoving my WIP under her chin. After the picture she totally rolled all over the purse. Doggie fur makes it warmer!

This & That

Only odds and ends to report today – no productive stamping…sorry

I went to Graceland (Elvis Presley’s home in Memphis) with my Mom on Thursday.

It was pretty fun. I’ve never been, which is a sin if you live in West TN. Elvis had some awesome 70’s style. I thought it was cool, but I can see now why everyone is like, “Elvis’s house is SO tacky!” Well they left it the way it was when he died. And that was what was “in” then. I thought it was a great preservation of the period style. He had a TV in every room! even the dining room. We got to see some of his psychadellic jumpsuits – I was like “I wonder if that smell is Elvis’s BO?” So, if you are ever in Memphis, don’t miss Graceland! haha

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When we went to Memphis Thursday I got to go to a REAL yarn store. Yarniverse is awesome…I think I petted every skein in the whole place. I bought some yarn and here’s what I’ve got so far:

Here’s my current crafty project. It’s a purse – more of a rectangle right now. I’m knitting it with Cascade 220. It will be felted and I’m planning to make the straps longer than what the pattern calls for.

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We also went to an AWESOME stamping/scrapbook store in Memphis called Eclectica. Here’s the only thing I got. Man, I was good!

Elsie is my fav paper scrapper. Her book has 52 challenges. I’m thinking of doing all the challenges and making a special blog about it. hmmmm…. that sounds like a lot of work – especially for a nursing student taking 21 hours this semester. Maybe if I cut out studying….ok I’ll keep ya posted.

We have a knit scarf!

Here’s my finished knit scarf I started last week sometime. It’s really skinny and long. I just knitted until I ran out of yarn. Of course it’s not very practical in 96 degree heat! I think I will wear it around the house in the AC for a while to “break it in!”

We’ll also let this serve as the “before” picture, as I am getting a haircut next week. Stay tuned…