No New Knitting

I've worked a little on knitting recently - but not much. I've done a little work on the Russett scarf, but that requires me to pay attention. I've also been working now and then on Stephanie Pearl McPhee's One Row Scarf. This is the third one I've made, and it will join the ranks of charity items for the church's mitten tree at Christmas. I'll post pictures at another time.

Just wanted to wish everyone a great summer. I'm off to Australia in less than two weeks to finish my teaching internship. I'll be there for July and August. I'll take some knitting along, but I don't know if I'll get any done while I'm there. I had anticipated getting lots done when I was in Korea, but that wasn't the case.

I'll be bringing my laptop and camera along with me and posting pictures. These will be on Facebook and probably my other blog, Confirm The Work of Our Hands. I'll let you know when I post some pictures so you can check it out then.

Must go get ready to do some running around for the trip. Happy knitting!

Stamping Blog Candy Contest

Mudmaven Designs is giving away some blog candy! Pop on over here and check it out. Also, scroll down to see the amazing card's she has made. She's one awesome card-maker! She's drawing the winner on Wednesday, June 17th.

Here I Am!

Well, I think it's high time I post to this blog! I haven't been doing a whole lot of crafty things lately, so i suppose that's why I haven't done much here for a little while. Anyway, I've got a couple of pics to share with you of some knitting.


Up first is another "Tubey" scarf. I only worked at this off and on since probably February or March. I finished it a couple of weeks ago and just got around to taking the picture this evening.


This is made from some brightly coloured acrylic yarn (I had it in my stash from awhile back and thought I'd use it up). Boy does it feel different knitting with acrylic yarn after using wools, bamboos, and alpacas! All I have left to do for this is sew the ends together. This is for a child, and will be added to my charity work that I'll put on/under the mitten tree at church next Christmas.


I've started on another scarf. This one is Russet pattern and it's very easy - just a repeat of 12 rows. I'm using Paton's Shetland Chunky Tweeds in the Sea Ice colourway. I really like this scarf, and the yarn is nice to work with (though it's partially acrylic as well). It's knitting up fairly quickly - that is when I actually sit down and work on it. Even though the pattern is super easy, I find I need to focus on it or I'll get lost or make a mistake.

Anyway, I haven't decided who will be the recipient. It will either be a friend, or go on/under the mitten tree at church.

I have a lot more patterns queued up on Ravelry that I want to make. I've also printed some off, and hope to work on them. My knitting mojo (or craft mojo for that matter) hasn't been up to par for a while now. I think it's because I am tired when I get home from doing my internship and don't feel like doing a lot. I am really hoping that it will come back soon.

School ends June 19, and next week is my final week of doing all the teaching. The following week my host teacher picks up and does it. I'll have two weeks off to get ready to head down to Melbourne, Australia! There are 10 of us from school who are heading down to do the second half of our internship there. We'll be there for July and August, and when I get back, I will be able to start teaching. Firstly, however, I do need to take an information session about supply teaching first. No doubt I'll have to be a supply teacher for a bit, but I'm praying that the Lord will work His hands and I'll have a full time job quickly!

Well, I must head off now. I'm actually feeling like doing some knitting. I think I'll work at a pair of socks or something that doesn't require a lot of concentration, and put in one of my Stargate SG- DVDs to watch. Hope you all have a fantastic day/evening/rest of weekend!

Stamping Blog Candy

What a great contest going on over at Passion For Crafts. Check it out! I sure wouldn't mind winning!

Look...An Actual Post!

Hi! How've you all been? I'm finally here to make a post on this lonely ol' blog. I have a couple of pictures of the scarf I made my Ravelry Scarf Exchange Pal, as well as two cards I made this afternoon.

First up is the scarf I made for my RSE pal. I sent this to her in early April and she received it. Unfortunately I was so busy I didn't get a chance to post a picture of it until now. I used Patons Silk-Bamboo yarn (I think that's what it's called. I forgot to save the band, but it is made with silk and bamboo). The pattern I used was the Diagonal Lace Scarf. It was so easy to make and had I been able to sit for longer periods of time to work on it, it wouldn't have taken me so long to make. I highly recommend this pattern. It can be made with any weight yarn, too.

Next up is the first of two cards I made this afternoon. It's just a simple card, but I think it looks OK.

I don't know what brand my papers are; they are just ones I have bought here and there. I know a lot of card makers can tell you what kind of paper they used (or colour name) because they buy theirs from companys such as Stampin' Up. I haven't bought any from there yet, but they sure have some gorgeous colours and patterns available!

I used two stamps. The hummingbird is one I've had for awhile. I believe I bought it from Michael's. The quote is from a the Refuge and Strength set from Stampin' Up. I got this set last month when Jodi became a rep.

The second card is, again, made with random pieces I have. I decided to experiment with the colours to see how they'd look. I know black and yellow go together, but I didn't know how it would look on a card. The image is from the set I won awhile back, and the quote is from the Refuge and Strength Stampin' Up set. On the inside, I stamped a flower pot with some tulips and coloured them in.

The black looked plain to me, so I thought I'd glue some little yellow buttons on. Unfortunately, they are brighter than the paper I used, so I don't know if they look OK or not. But, since this was a practice card (more than anything), I can use it as a reference and next time try to find buttons or something a little closer to the colour of paper I use.

Well, going to head off now. I still have a table full of card making supplies and stamps to clean up, and it's time for supper as well.

I hope it won't be too long before I post again!

Stamping Blog Candy

I've got a post coming up soon...I promise!

Until then, check out the awesome blog candy available to be won - for stamping/card making/scrapping.

New Goodies!

On Thursday I received my package from my Ravelry Scarf Exchange pal, and the scarf is gorgeous! I did take a closeup of the scarf, unfortunately the picture came out really blurry. I wanted to show the little beads she had in it. To the right you can see the contents of the package she sent: the lovely scarf, which I'm looking forward to wearing, a postcard, 2 balls of silk yarn she also used in the scarf, a cute pin cushion, some lavender soap, and some chocolate! Startare, who is from France, had my name in the exchange. Thanks so much for the scarf and other items - I love it all! You did a wonderful job on the scarf!


In stamping news, a few weeks ago I entered a contest and won a set of stamps (minus the blocks)! I visited several different stamping blogs and left comments to be entered into draws for a set of stamps. The company donating them (I forget offhand, but will have to find the link to post) had several different ladies demonstrate various sets by making cards with them. Anyway, the set I won was my favourite out of all of them! How cool is that! Diana was the one who chose my name since she was the one using this particular set. She did the whole random generator thing and my name was drawn. Thanks Diana!


My mom's birthday is coming up this week - St. Patrick's Day to be exact. I'm hoping I'll have enough time between now and then to make her a card using this set I won. She loves flowers and is into gardening so I thought this would be a great set to use for her. She's seen the set as well and commented on how pretty it was.


Well, better head off and try and get some homework done. Happy knitting, stamping and crafting!

More Stamp Blog Candy!

Jes is having a contest on her blog. You have until March 15th to enter. Go check it out!

Frustration!

I am so frustrated! I was working on the scarf for my Ravelry Scarf Exchange partner last night when I noticed a mistake. Well, this isn't the type of pattern that is easily corrected - at least in my opinion. Anyway, I had to frog back a few rows, and somewhere along the line I've lost/dropped about 4 or 5 stitches and I don't know where in the pattern they are. I don't know if I should rip back another row or two or not.

The thing is, I need to finish this up by the end of the month and get it sent off to her. I had debated just tossing it aside and starting another scarf in an easier, quicker pattern (though this one is easy as well). The only thing is, I don't know if I started over if I would get the scarf finished in time to send it out or not. My pal doesn't want anything too thick, so I want to be conscious of that.

I think I'll try to fix up this scarf and continue. I just don't want the mistakes to be noticeable if I can't fix it, and I have a feeling they would be noticeable...

I'll keep you updated, and when my pal receives the scarf, I'll post pictures for you.

Happy knitting & stamping & crafting!

More Card Related Blog Candy

There's a contest going on here at Three Clover Designs to win a great prize. All you do is guess how many Hershey's Kisses are in the jar.

Stamping Blog Candy

Over at Starving Artistamps there is some super cute Easter blog candy up for grabs! Why not check it out! Let them know I sent you :o).

Cards Again

On Friday I made two more cards. I just wish mine would turn out as good as the ones I've been seeing in the stamping/card making blogsphere. I just don't have the supplies these ladies have, so I'm limited in what I can do. Also, they have TONS of cute rubber stamps. I have some nice ones, but they seem to pale in comparison. Oh well, once I'm working and have an income, then I can buy some supplies - and more yarn of course, lol.

The first card I made is, as you can see, a birthday card. It's quite plain. I was trying to follow an example in one of the card/scrapbook magazines I have, but it didn't turn out anywhere near as nice. I had an image in my mind of how I wanted it to look, but of course the finished product didn't come anywhere near as close.

I went to Michael's after doing my observation at the grade two class on Friday and bought a few supplies that were on sale. I did get a stamp, but didn't use it for these cards - it is a cute one though. Anyway, the background paper was part of a pad of such papers that I found. I got another pad of different patterns and colours as well, and I'm anxious to use them. The card stock is some that I have on hand - from a package of bulk card stock in different size squares and rectangles. The stamp (which has just 2 balloons on it) is one I got a few years ago at Wal-Mart.

This next card is my favourite of the two. It's pretty simple, but yet elegant - at least I think so. Let me start by apologizing for the blurry photo. The paper, the little border in the middle and the paisley image are all from a "punch out" pad from, I think, Deja Vu. It's really cool - it has papers in the back and several different punch out designs (flowers, tags, alphabet, etc.), and they all match.

The only stamping I did on this card is the sentiment in the lower right corner, which says, "Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness." I also added the three brads at the top because that area just looked so empty.

I'm on March Break this week, and I hope to get more cards made, and more knitting done. But, I do have enough homework to keep me busy too. So, I'm going to head off and attempt to work at the homework so I don't have to try and get it all done at the last minute. Next weekend is booked with photography and a stamping workshop (both depending on the weather), so I'll need to have the homework finished during the week!

Happy knitting and card making!

Knitting Content - Sort Of...

I received my final package from my SP13 pal yesterday. I have been spoiled by Kelly of The Vagabond Weaver. She's in the process, from what I see on her blog, of transferring her old posts into the new server she's with. It's been a real pleasure getting spoiled by her and I hope to get to know her better now that the Secret Pal 13 has run its course.

Here are the goodies she sent me this time - I love them all!! I got some yarny goodness - some Opal sock yarn (I think it's from the Rainforest collection because it has a picture of a toucan on it), some really soft 100% baby alpaca from Blue Sky Alpacas (Tinker Belle loved this. She tried to get at it numerous times). The colour number is 800. There are some really cute sandstone buttons in the picture too. I took a close-up of them so you could see the detail. She had everything wrapped up in super cute Easter bags. She wanted to celebrate Easter a little early since there's been so much snow lately...it was certainly a bright spot in the day!

Not only did Kelly send these items, but she had a cute tote bag included as well! It's nice and environmentally friendly - I can tote my yarn around in it, or I can take it to the grocery store and use it there.

I'm on March Break now, as of yesterday, and will have the next week off. Unfortunately, I have homework to keep me busy. I did a little of it last night but got stuck, so I'll wait to do the rest of it. I do plan on doing some relaxing this week though; things have been a little hectic at school the last couple of weeks. I plan on getting the scarf done for my Ravelry Scarf Exchange pal. I'm also supposed to make something for a couple of friends. We're having a little gift exchange of something handmade (it can't be food) and I haven't started yet - been so busy. We were going to have the exchange on St. Patrick's Day, but we moved it to April Fools Day. I have a month, but depending on what I make, and how much free time I have...I don't know if I'll get their gifts done on time...might have to extend the time on it. Hopefully I'll get something done for them on time though.

I made a couple of cards again today and I'll post those in a separate post...hopefully tomorrow. One of them is plain, but bright. The other I am quite fond of, though it's "plain" to a degree. I used some pattered paper and a little "border" and a cutout - a limited amount of supplies, but I'm happy with how it turned out. Anyway, I'll discuss those in the post tomorrow.

Happy knitting/crafting!

Two More Cards

So sorry for the lack of knitting content lately. However, I did originally set up this particular blog to show any crafts I happen to do. It turned into a knitting blog because that was my main craft. But, from time to time something else might pop up, as is the case with this post (and the one from a couple of posts ago).

I made both of these cards the other evening (Thursday I believe), but didn't get a chance to take pictures and post about them until today. Most scrappers and card makers (or any type of paper crafter) can typically tell you the names of the papers they used, the specific colourways (much like yarnaholics can do) and which set/company they got their rubber stamps from. I've picked that up from reading several paper craft blogs recently. I, on the other hand, cannot do that just yet. The reason being is that what paper I do have I bought at Michael's in those "grab bag" type of packages - and 99% of the paper I do have is cardstock. The rest might be patterned paper such as the background in the next card.

When I made this card, I wasn't paying close enough attention to stamping the lighthouse, and it ended up a little crooked (is that how you spell that?). The stamp is actually one piece with the words to the left on the card, actually appearing below the lighthouse. It says, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path" and comes from Psalm 119. I used my watercolour pencils to colour the image. I must add that I'm not all that great with colour combinations, LOL, but I thought they might look nice together. Also, the words could be up a little higher in that area...or maybe I could find some kind of embellishment to put there...

This next card I used some striped scrapbook background paper (one of those 12 x 12 sheets) and tried to get the solid cardstock colours to be as close a match to the stripes as I could. I think they were pretty well close to being the same. Sorry the picture is a little dark. for the upper right corner, I cute a triangle of the blue cardstock using some scissors with a patterned edge. I used the same scissor to cut out the red and blue circle as well.

The words in the triangle area say "Thinking of you is a nice thing to do" and the little mouse in the circle is holding a little flower. I got this set from Stampin' Up a few years ago. Again, I used my watercolour pencils to colour the mouse and flower. Unfortunately I don't think it shows up too well since the cardstock is a little dark. I only have the watercolour pencils and some chalk (from Stampin' Up) to colour my cards with, so I'm limited. Someday when I have a job (and I'm not in school), I may be able to get some of the markers and other items many of the papercrafters 'out there' have! But, until then, I am limited to what I have to work with...unless I get together for a day of card making with some friends and they have items they are willing to let me use...

Well, just wanted to post the pictures of the cards. Must get back to the tons of homework I have for the weekend - a 6 lesson unit plan (this one is a group thing but in total we have to have 6 lessons...I've got to get mine done for Monday so the others who need it to work from can use it), 2 lesson plans for my math class, go over my stuff (and gather the supplies) for my little mini presentation in phys. ed. for Monday evening, work on a resource binder for phys. ed., work on my wellness portfolio for phys. ed., work on my teaching portfolio, and an assignment using a new marking program we got the other day in one of my classes. Tons to do, and most of it due this week...

So, happy knitting and/or happy stamping to you!

Butterfly Award

My friend Jodi gave me an award! Thanks so much Jodi!

I choose to give the award to:

Kelly at Celtic Cast On
Robyn at Knit and Purl Mama
Janice at Willow Way Knitting
Monica at Monica Knits...a lot!
Rhonda at Home of the Stitching Nut
Carol at An Island Girl




Why not pass on the love? Here is what to do: 1) Post the award’s logo on your blog 2) Add the link to the person who nominated you 3) Nominate at least 6 others & post their links.

*****

Been doing a little knitting on the scarf for my Ravelry Exchange Pal. I really want to show a picture, but she wants to be surprised and she might stop by the blog some time. I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise for her.

I also made a couple more cards last night. I like these results better than the two from the previous post. I don't have the pictures of them yet - hopefully tomorrow though. I will post them when I get the pictures taken.

Until then, I'm heading out for supper in about half an hour so I must go get ready.

Making Cards

I haven't been getting much knitting in lately, though I have done some work on the scarf for my Ravelry Scarf Exchange pal. I'd like to post a picture, but she wants to be surprised with it and she might visit the blog. I will post a picture though once she has received the scarf (we have to mail it out by the first week of April...have to check on the date for sure though).

This past week I've been getting the itch to make some cards again. I haven't done this since before I went to South Korea. I've seen some really gorgeous cards online recently, and borrowed Jodi's Stampin' Up catalogue last Thursday as well. I don't have a lot of the pretty papers and things (or a lot of really cute stamps), so my cards are turning out kind of plain and boring.

This evening I made two cards. The first one I am not very happy with. It's plain and boring. I'm sure there is something I could do to make it look nicer, however I was just trying something. Actually, the first idea I had for it didn't quite work out, but I think it would have been plain and boring as well. I'm not sure if clicking on the image will enlargen it or not. However, on the dark blue background I used the Versamark ink pad and a stamp that had some little tiny hearts and dots on it (it's more of a background stamp). On the red I have the one black heart that you can see, but also used the Versamark ink pad to put some other hearts around it. I attached a little tag that says "all my love" to the right. Like I said, it's plain and boring. I'll have to try this again using different papers or something...

The second card I made is a little more to my liking, though it is quite plain as well. This one I used some pink and yellow striped paper, though the yellow seems to look a little white (probably because I had to use the flash). I attached a pink sheet of paper, stamped a flower vase and the verse "May God's love brighten your day!" at the top. As well, on both sides of the vase I used the Versamark ink pad and the corner of the little heart & dot background (the same that is in the card above). I coloured in the flowers and vase using my watercolour pencil crayons. Like I said, though, this is still quite plain. Someday I'll learn how to make really nice cards - just need to have a better supply of paper and stuff onhand I think...

Anyway, I just wanted to share some of the other crafts I enjoy doing - even if I don't do so well at them just yet.

So, other thank knitting, do you have any other crafts you enjoy doing (even if you don't have the time)? If so, let me know what they are in the comment section!

Happy crafting!

Flutterbye Dreams

My friend, Jodi, from school is into crafts. I knew she somewhat did crafty things like making cards and scrapbooking, however, I just discovered on the weekend that she is into more than that. She even has an Etsy shop! It's called Flutterbye Dreams and she has some really cute things there. I saw pictures of some of her other crafts that she doesn't have listed, and let me tell you, she makes some pretty cool things!

So, I just wanted to help advertise her shop and hopefully send some customers her way. Go check out her blog and her shop - tell her Shelley sent you! And before you can ask, no I'm not getting any kind of commission for this; I'm just doing a good deed.

Time To Knit?

Well, between not having any knitting mojo and school work, I've got hardly any knitting done since the beginning of 2009! I am starting too feel the withdrawls now and feel the need to knit!

So, this afternoon (after my classes) I went and got some yarn for my Ravelry Scarf Exchange pal's scarf. I do hope it will be one she likes. I also got some Bernat cotton to make a couple of dishcloths. I figured maybe a quick knit from time to time might help get the knitting mojo back!

Today I had a group presentation for one of my classes. We had to talk about and discuss Gender Separated classes. I'm glad that one is over. My next presentation is in a couple of weeks, so my group will have to get together soon to decide what we're going to do and how we will present it.

We got more snow last night - another storm. Schools were cancelled today, even though by early this morning it wasn't snowing, the roads were plowed, and it really wasn't too bad out there. Sigh, I can't wait until I'm a teacher and can get snow days too, LOL!

Ok, just wanted to put a little update on here and let you all know I'm still around. I'd better head off and get some knitting done before the motivation and mojo disappear again!

Happy knitting!

P.S. I have turned comments moderation on because I've noticed sometimes lately I am getting spam in the comments section (I have the filter apparently on, so the spammers are now being done by 'live' people...). It's so annoying that the spam is happening again, but hopefully this will catch it. If I wanted to advertise on my blog, then it would be set up that way. I hate spam!

SP Package 2

On Thursday I came home between my last two classes because I was tired and thought some fresh air and change of scenery might help wake me up. Boy am I glad I did! I came home to find a package from my Secret Pal! Look what she sent me:

She had a really cute birthday card with a kitten and yarn on the front, a package of two DP Wip Tubes (which I really needed), a beautiful suncatcher, and some gorgeous, soft, yummy Fleece Artist Trail Socks yarn in the Seafoam colourway!

Thanks so much Secret Pal - I love it all!


Look how gorgeous the suncatcher is held up to the back window...sooooo pretty!

I've used Fleece Artist once before and find the socks to be nice and soft, especially after washing them. I have another hank of Fleece Artist wound into a ball (I had it with me when I went to South Korea), but haven't knit it up yet. I have the pattern for it (one from Monica), but I was waiting on the size 0 needles. I now have size 0, so all I need to do is get knitting.

I've got a presentation coming up this week, on Thursday, for the Social Studies Education class I'm in. It's a group project, and we are actually going to do a few activities in our lesson which we learned last semester when some of our class went to the Wetlands Center not too far from here. That was actually for our science class, but we chose to do this presentation for a grade 4 class, and in that curriculum there is a section on how humans affect rivers, lakes, oceans, etc. We talked it over with our prof (she also taught us the science class last semester) and she gave us the go-ahead to do it. She didn't get to go to the workshop with us, so she said she's anxious to see what we learned there. I'm sure it's going to go well. We've got another meeting or two this week to put things all together to make sure it falls into place.

A few months ago I got a new camera (Pentax K200D). A few weeks ago my friend, Michelle, invited me over to her place to help me learn some hints and tips for taking pics. I've used a 35mm SLR camera (Pentax as well), but I don't remember all that I had learned for using it. Besides, things are a little different with digitals...but the basics like aperture, f-stops, etc. are still the same. Anyway, we got some flowers at one of the grocery shops and did some macro shots. I've got about half a dozen up on my other blog, Confirm The Work of Our Hands, if anyone is interested in seeing them. I can't seem to get the posts to link, but they are the first two posts listed (would be the second and third if I manage to get a post made there before someone has a chance to visit).


I'll leave you all with a nice close-up of Tinker Belle. I had to snap quickly because she wouldn't stay still too long!

Happy knitting!

Keeping Busy With School

Just a quick update...

Haven't been working on any knitting lately - well, that's somewhat of a lie...I did do a few rounds on a couple of scarves I've got on the needles. They will be going on next year's mitten tree at the church, so there is no hurry for them.

I did join the scarf exchange over at Ravelry and we got assigned our people to knit for the other day. Have to check with my downstream (I think that's the right term) person and see if she wants this to remain "secret" or not. As for me, if my upstream pal sees this - I don't mind if this is not secret. Have to start looking for a good pattern and nice yarn to make the scarf. We have to send our packages out by the middle of April (I think it's the middle, though I have to double check on it again).

My birthday was yesterday and it was nice. In one of my classes, they all sang me Happy Birthday and one of the girls sitting at my table laughed and told me I was turning red, lol. My mom made me a cherry cheesecake and gave me some money, and the fellow I've been seeing since early December took me out to dinner at Swiss Challet (it was my choice of where I wanted to go, and Swiss Challet is my favourite).

Well, just wanted to post a quick update. Need to get back to the homework. I'm working on a rough copy of my bio-resume for one of my classes. I have a lot of it written out already so I just need to type it up and finish the parts I don't have completed - and tweak things up somewhat. I've also got some other homework to do as well, though I think tonight will be "light" for homework.

Anyway, happy knitting to you all!