Like I need Anymore!

I went to Hancock Fabrics on my lunch hour today, just because it was convenient to some of the other errands I had to run. Well, Butterick patterns were on sale for $1.99 and I looked at the book. Like I need anymore patterns. A coworker just gave me about 10 from the 70's and I have purchased probably 6 others in the last 6 months alone. I am sure I will never have time to make all of them even though I probably have enough fabric in my stash to make a good attempt. Anyway, I have some fuchsia sweater knit type fabric that I was going to use another pattern for a jacket that I have already used twice before. I like the pattern. It is fairly easy. I just thought it was time to try something else, so I went looking and came up with this. View A&B are using a sweater knit fabric and I would like to make the longer version if I have enough yardage. I don't recall if I purchased 2 or 2 1/2 yards. I also like view C&D only with a straight hem. Of course, I also purchase this one. I think I would like to make one of the tops using some of the fabric from the kits I blogged about a couple of posts ago. The solid fabric is a nice double knit, but I don't know if there is enough yardage. This will probably cause me to purchase new fabric. Millend Textiles did send me some coupons for 60% off one cut. Might have to use that. So much to sew so little time. Too bad I can't afford to be a stay-at-home mom so there is more sewing and knitting time. Such is life.

What a Crock!

I can't believe the IT guys at work. Most of the websites have been blocked on the work computers. I can't read any blogs, watch any videos, movies or TV shows. I know, I know, I'm supposed to be working, but there is quite a bit of downtime some days during my 12 hour workday. I am so bummed. I like to catch up on all the blogs that led me to wanting to have my own and now I have to try and find time at home. That leaves less crafting time. Not fair! I also can't catch up on the shows I miss while working evenings and weekends. What a crock! I'm hoping maybe it is only temporary because the computer wasn't working quite right today. I guess I will just have to work on my socks instead. It was just nice to have the background programs going on while I knit.
On to more interesting stuff. Here is a small sample of some of my first spinning. A little overspun, but not bad for my first attempts. I can't wait to finish up and knit with it. I thought I would also share with you my boys. These were done while we were on vacation this last summer. We spent a fun week at Okoboji with my family. This is a series of small lakes in northwest Iowa. This is Bud. He started playing the drums his senior year in high school. You can only do that in a small town. He is kind of a natural. I'm proud of him. He gets this nickname from when he was little. My dad always called him Bud said like on The Cosby Show from the 80's.

This is Technoboy. I decided to nickname him this because he is the one I always go to if/when I have a computer question. He seems to always be able to figure it out for me and is patient in showing me repeatedly how to do the same thing over and over again.

This is my youngest ( by a few minutes), Hat head. He usually has a Denver Bronco
cap on, except for this day. He was in trouble and his punishment was to not have his hat for the day. It almost killed him, I swear. That is the only reason he doesn't have it on in the drawing.

Hathead and Technoboy are identical twins. I enjoy looking at these pictures because the artist did a great job of showing their differences. I see them everyday, but when I see them in photographs I see the likeness they have. Sometimes it is tough to tell them apart in photos except they have different taste in clothes and I can usually remember who wore what. Hathead is very picky about what he wears and only has a few specific things he'll wear. He will wash a small load of his clothes every couple days just so he can have his favorites. If he wants to do it, more power to him.

Well I am being harassed again for the computer. Thanks for letting me rant and share.

I know it's been a while again, but like I said, I need my own computer. It's awful trying to share with 3 other people. Hubby has a control issue especially when it comes to the laptop. So, I will finally show you the last 2 hats I made for Christmas presents. The first is a stranded colorwork (my first) Thorpe hat.

The second is the one for Bud's girlfriend. As I posted before there were numerous false starts before the final product. It looks huge, but I tried it on as I went. I'm not sure if she likes it or not but she picked out the pattern.
I think it's pretty cute. She has quite a few hats so I hope it goes into her rotation. I have been working on her sweater but the last couple of nights have been unproductive. I seem to be in a little bit of a slump. I think it is my winter depression. I need some sun and outside time. It happens every year about this time and I feel like winter started early and it is lasting forever. I shouldn't live in the midwest, but here is home. I'll make it. I always do. I did do some sewing the last 2 days. I made Hathead's pajama pants and have Technoboy's second pair cut out and ready to sew. I also purchased some linen type fabric with a larger floral pattern on it for $1.29 a yard. I spent time the other night going through my patterns and chose a nice 3/4 sleeve jacket to make from it. I hope to have that done before a surprise birthday party for a good friend in a week. It will have to wait until after the weekend because I have to work again. Speaking of, it is time to leave . Have a good day.

I want my own computer!!!!

I have been trying to get computer time at home so I can catch up on my blogging. First, I had to wait my turn so I could download the pictures I had been taking. Second, hubby says he needs to check on something. Then, it ends up back in the hands of the kids. UGH! Hubby doesn't understand the whole blogging thing I started. I'm not sure I can explain it to him. Between working, kids and the commute there just doesn't seem to be time (or money) to really keep up friendships. I work with some great gals and we get along good and have nice chats, but it rarely goes outside of work, mainly because I live 35 miles from where I work. I know, make a little effort, but that means valuable time and usually money. Gas was terrible a few months ago so I didn't do anything extraand now I'm in the habit and a fraid the prices will skyrocket again.
Unfortunately, we live paycheck to paycheck and we own horses. That takes a good size chunk of our income. I wouldn't give up watching my boys ride and it is the one thing we do as a family when the summer comes. Back to the topic, I really don't feel i have any close friends that share my crafty interests. Like I said, we have horses and the kids are in 4-H so there are those families we enjoy in the winter. They are all at least 45 min away from where we live. We did try to sell our house last year so we could move closer to where these friends live, but after a year on the market we called it quits. That was not a fun year. Very stressful.
I read blogs in my spare time at work and knit on my breaks, but there isn't really anyone else who shares that passion with me. There are a couple of dablers, but they are the garter stitch scarf makers and that's it. I've tried to steer them along, but they aren't interested really. I enjoy being at home and sewing and knitting. Gardening and horses when the weather is nice. But, that still doesn't include other people. My husband doesn't like to go places much and I get lonely. I need to express myself to other people who will understand and hopefully not judge. I guess that is what I hope to gain here. I don't know if anyone has found my blog yet, but I am enjoying getting myself out there and maybe in time someone will find me. There is so much i feel I have to say and share and would like to try. I don't think he gets that. He has a good buddy that drives truck, so they are able to talk on the phone during the day quite a bit. I can do that with my sister and my mom, but they are a few hours away. I seem to be more comfortable with the computer talking thing. I am able to use the computer at work but the pictures are on the laptop at home and some websites are blocked at work. It's not the same. I hope to get some computer time at home tonight. I need to list some things on ebay and share some photos with you here. Thanks for listening.

I'm Still Here

It's amazing how fast the days fly by. I can't believe it is past the middle of January already. We have had a lot of snow and freezing temperatures. I think we had quite a few days of below zero temps. 20F feels warm after that.

I went to our local Savers thrift store before Christmas and picked up to of these packages that included 2 different knits along with matching ribbing. I think there is enough for a nice top in each of these. they were only $2.50 each. Solid knit is what I think would be considered a double knit. It is nice and heavy. There is a little more yardage of the stripes which is a thinner knit. I need to just find the right pattern for these now. I have a few patterns I also picked up that day for 75cents each. Then a gal I work with brought me several of her mother's after they cleaned some things out. Most of them are from the 70's and a few from the 80's. I was really excited about them. Now if there was just more time in the day to work on my project list. I will show you a picture of my sewing desk later. I have been doing a little shopping on ebay and purchased 4 nice sweaters a week ago for less than $20 including shipping. I have to stop looking as I just won a lot of 11 tops for $15. I need to list some items that I took pictures of last night to support my habit. There is only one probem, I don't have a scale to weigh the packages so I can say how much shipping will be. I need to invest in one. I usually just weigh myself at work and haven't needed one at home. I hope to get these things listed by this weekendso I can have a little cash. I will leave you with a parting shot of a some of our pets. Here are Daisy, Reba and Cosmo.

It was another ordinary day, and that's o.k. I spent the day getting ready to go house sit with Bud for some of the best friends anyone could ask for. He will take care of the horse chores and I will help take care of the cats and dogs. They are needing some time together. He drives truck and she is going to go out on the road with him for a few days. They put up with Bud and all his anticks. He has pretty much lived with them off and on for the last few years. He has been helping them out this winter since she is alone a lot and that is tough. Especially when you have 20 horses to take care of and everything else that goes along with living on an acreage in the winter especially. This means quite a few nights of knitting time for me. Yeah! I hope to have some FO's to show you at the end of next week. I also plan on doing so spinning during the next week also. I'm really addicted. I have to tell myself that I need to complete the house cleaning first and then I can spin. It's terrible. I can't wait to get it all spun so I can knit something with it. It's a vicious cycle. Well, I better get the boys to help me get our chores done so I can head on over to our friends.

I'm Addicted!

I got a drop spindle for Christmas and I am hooked. I finally got a chance to sit down and spin a couple of small skeins last night. I'm hooked. I puchased a drop spindle and roving from Annie Mae on ebay. She might have an etsy store also. I also purchased some roving from etsy. I will find the store and post it with pictures of my itty bitty skeins. I am so hooked. Now I need to investigate how to ply. I think I might stick to some single ply knitting for right now and work of the plying later. My hubby will distressed to know that I will now have to stock up on more fiber. Like I said, I am now addicted. If anyone out there knows of a good site to help me better my spinning skills and learn to ply, I would appreciated it.

Dreary Day Perfect for Crafting

It is another dreary, grey day. Perfect to stay inside and work on the long list of projects I need to complete. First, another Christmas present. I made a pair of soft shoes for my youngest nephew. Unfortunately I don't remember where I came aross this pattern and had lost the assembly instructions. I managed to work my way through it on my own and I think they came out well.

The soles are cut from an 80's bomber jacket that I had. It has had lots of use by me, then by Bud and then by Hathead(that's my youngest-never without his hat). I am disassembling it to be used for, hopefully, many of these soft shoes. The tops are a fine corduroy and lined with a fun cotton robot print. I had also used these same 2 fabrics to make his older brother a messenger bag for his birthday this past summer. I, of course, do not have a picture of that fabulous bag. It has inside divided pockets and an outside back pocket. I wanted to make sure it had a place for all his games and necessities for his PSP.

I finished Bud's GF's hat yesterday after 4 false starts. I had to keep ripping back until I got the right circunference and then I crocheted even until I got the right length before adding earflaps. I will post a picture after I have given it to her. Hope it's what she was expecting. I will give you all the specifics in that following post.

Well, I best get a little laundry and cleaning done and then start on that long project list.

New Year!

I can't wait until this weekend. I need a nap and it is only 10a.m. I ended up working on New Years Eve even though it would have just been hubby and me at home for a nice quiet evening, but the boss lady needed help and made an offer I couldn't refuse. Not to mention, I felt I owed her since she ended working for me when I was sick awhile back and then had to get coverage for me during a snowy day on a weekend to boot. Soooo, I worked and was home in bed by 11p.m. Exciting I know but I had to work New Years Day as well. That is one of the holidays I chose to work this year. Now if I can just get through today I plan on sleeping in tomorrow. Work was very slow yesterday, so I caught up on a little blog reading and restarted Bud's GF's hat for the third time. It was coming out too big (no I didn't swatch) and just wasn't looking right. It was a free pattern from Lion Brand so I signed on and only then did I realize that the pattern stated that the picture was shown from the crochet pattern. No wonder it wasn't looking the same. Well, since I didn't have my crochet needles with me I had to call it quits. I watched a movie on Hulu and watched the clock until I could go home. It wasn't until I was laying in bed that I remembered that I had a sock in progress in my bag that I could have been working on. Bummer! I have been wishing they were done so I could keep my feet toasty warm and then I forgot all about them being in my bag. I swear my brain is losing cells by the second these days. Completely fried! I also plan on starting back up with the exercising tomorrow. The elliptical is being moved back up from the basement and put where the Christmas tree was (yes we took it sown already due to the cats insisting on playing ring-around-the-rosy under it) so it is staring me in the face. I think I will start with my mini-trampoline first and work myself up to the elliptical. I feel very fat and out of shape and think I need to start small. Of course I need to quit eating all the Christmas goodies that are left. One step at a time. Wish me luck!