Ruffly Scarf: My Genius Knitting Friend Janine

I consider my sewing skills to be quite adequate. It has taken me a long time to get where I can "see" how to make something without a pattern.

However, my knitting skills are not there yet. I am a slave to the pattern. I meticulously keep track of where i am on my project. Usually, i pick something that I can easily keep track of or memorize.

Not Janine. She is a knitting genius. She can look at a sweater and say, "I can make that. It's just short rows here...cable there..." Janine noticed that ruffly scarves are everywhere. She came across one in a knitting book and "dreamed" up a recipe to make the scarf. Over Thanksgiving, I asked about her pattern for this lovely scarf. And she just said, "oh, it's just a recipe, I haven't written it down yet." She showed me how, and it is easy! Here's my scarf:

It does require "short rows," but, it is so awesome! Just 2 skeins of a nice worsted weight. Want to know more, you must message her on Ravelry. She's janineknits. If you can find her, find me: sewsarah.

Buy Local: The Vintage Pearl

The Vintage Pearl is my new favorite place for hand-stamped jewelry. Rich and I ordered two necklaces for our 10 year anniversary and they are really special. Here's mine, taken shortly after I picked it up at the store:

It's called "The Family Nest." The artists design your little tree with a bird for each member of your family. Then they hand-stamp your names along the bottom. It comes with a sterling silver chain and a little pearl charm. It's my new favorite, everyday necklace. Here's a picture from their website:

Rich bought a dog-tag with all of our names on it. I think it's neat that he wears it everyday, under his work clothes. I love that boy, but I digress. Here's an example, also from their website.

Here are some other favorites that I would like to order next:

Right now, they are having a $50 gift certificate giveaway. Please go check out their blog and join in the fun.

Fast Holiday Ornaments

When Vincent was about 2 or 3, I made ornaments out of Model Magic and with some encouragement, he painted them. They turned out really cute and we still have one on our fridge. His little sister, Ava, is a little more interested in coloring, so I found this ornament tutorial and changed it slightly. Thanks Kristi, from OCD: obsessive crafting disorder!

Step 1: Use a large coffee cup to trace large circles. Draw a holiday picture for your favorite 2 year old to color.

2. Scan your artwork and print using printer-friendly fabric sheets. I found some at Joann's. They are super cheap with that 40% coupon.

3. Cut out sheets and iron to a coordinating felt. I thought the pink goes great with that light green felt.

4. Create a border by cutting out a slightly larger piece of felt. I used some glittery white felt from Joann's in the remnant section. You should check that section each time you go in!

5. Sew a zig-zag or running stitch around the edge of the green. Cut a small hole in the corner, thread your ribbon and you are done!

These can be gift-tags also!

Quick Gift Idea: T-Shirt Scarf

This is such a quick gift. I learned this from Disney at Ruffles and Stuff. Couldn't find the tutorial, but if you can sew a straight line, you can make this scarf.

1. Cut 4" squares from your old t-shirts. It helps to have the same color family.

2. Overlapping the squares, sew a zig-zag down the middle of the squares. Your are sewing the squares on a diagonal.

3. Keep going until the scarf is the length you need. Three medium sized t-shirts will make almost 2 scarves.

Now, go get started!

My Holiday Wish List: A Meme

Mama’s Holiday Wish List Meme

TodaysMama (link to: http://bit.ly/tmwishlist) and GameStop (link to:http://bit.ly/gamestop10) are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you.

1. What is your holiday wish for your family? For everyone to stay healthy through the winter season.

2. What is your Christmas morning / Hanukkah Nightly tradition? Christmas morning, after we have looked at all the awesomeness Santa brought us, someone finds the "Christmas Pickle" ornament and they get to open the first gift. Then we take turns wearing a Suess-style Santa hat and passing out presents from our family.

3. If you could ask Santa for one, completely decadent wish for yourself, what would it be? I would ask for a spinning wheel so I can spin all of my wool fiber faster!

4. How do you make the holidays special without spending any money? I do LOTS and LOTS of baking for my family and friends.

5. What games did you play with your family growing up? We played Pac-Man and Space Invaders for video games, but our favorites were board games: Connect 4, monopoly, LIFE

6. What holiday tradition have you carried on from your own childhood? Keeping the tree up through the new year.

7. Where would you go for a Christmas/Hanukkah-away-from-home trip? I would go to any warm and sunny place!

8. Check out GameStop (link to: http://bit.ly/gamestop10) and tell us, what are the three top items on your GameStop Wish List this year? A new DSi for me and Vincent, XBox Kinect and that Scribblenaut game for DS!

Christmas Card 2010

Snowflake Wishes Christmas Card

Make a statement with Shutterfly Christmas photo cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

Shutterfly Offer: Free Cards to Bloggers

Hey there, did you know that Shutterfly is offering 50 free holiday cards, just for bloggers? You can find more details here.

I'm very partial to Shutterfly. I began using this photo printing/sharing site when Vincent was in preschool. I like the way that you can organize your precious photos in many different ways. You can even create a photo sharing site for family. My sister-in-law did that so that all of her wedding pictures could be shared at a single site.

In the past, I have ordered Shutterfly's photos, magnets, and cards. Two years ago I worked with my other sister-in-law Katie to create a special "Grammy" book for a Christmas present. It is a special gift that our kids like to look at when they visit.

I have been thrilled with every order. The delivery time is quick and you have many options for shipping if you need it sooner. Here are some links to help you get started:

Christmas Cards

Photo Holiday Cards

Personalized Photo Mugs

I think my favorite is the Top 10 Moments Christmas Card. We've had a busy year (who hasn't, right?) and this would be cute. Or, I also like the Naughty or Nice? card.

So what are you waiting for? Get started on those holiday cards today!

Rosey Little Bee Quilt Block

About 9 months ago, I joined a virtual quilting bee organized by Jennifer Smith of Rosey Little Things. Naturally, we are called Rosey Little Bee. We have been super busy making all kinds of blocks: wonky houses, pinwheels, crosses to name just a few.

I have known all year which fabric I wanted to use. It's call "Eyes Wide Shut" and I bought it about 5 years ago when I worked at a quilt shop. It reminds me of everything that is an Oklahoma summer: HEAT. There's a lovely combination of teal, plum, gold, lime, forest green, and of course, a reddish-orange.

At first, I wanted to make a spider web block. But I found the perfect block: Little Miss Shabby's scrapbusting block! It uses all these tiny 1.5" squares that you sew borders around and around. I chose it because I'm still looking for that "perfect" 1/4" seam allowance quilters use. The directions ask for a "scant" 1/4" seam: not sure exactly what that is, but I tried to make my seams as tiny as possible.

I'm planning to sew a border around all the squares so hopefully, I'll have a lap-size quilt. The virtual quilting bee world is so inspiring! It's AMAZING what these women can do. I'm glad that quilting has become an acceptable form of self expression. Right now, there appears to be a resurgence in traditional blocks with updated color.

Time for me to pull out my vintage quilting books!

Baby Clothes Quilt Along

Bethany at Vermillion Rules is hosting a new kind of quilt-along: quilts from baby clothes. I've made several basic ones before and am going to participate to possibly learn a new pattern. Here are the ones I've made for friends:

Join me - time to get some quilts made from those sweet baby clothes!

WHOOO are You?

My classroom theme this year is owls. Every year my class t-shirt uses a very studious owl with the phrase "Caution: Curious Minds at Work." Of course, my class had to have their own owl to be our mascot. I think my students have named him "Hooty" which suits me fine. We pass Hooty each morning as we answer our "question of the day." It helps us stay on track and listen to the person who is sharing.

Inspired by PotteryBarn owls in their catalog, I researched free patterns and one night, late at night, I made almost 8 of them - assembly-line style in my dining room. Here are some of my free patterns:

Modern Mind, Vintage Heart

One Red Robin

My Tiny Star

Toad's Treasures

Each owl definitely has their own personality. I made one for a teacher friend for her class and then a few other teachers just HAD to have one for their class. I even sent some to Kate's little kiddos.

I admit, after making 8 of them, I'm a little done with owls for a while. But message me if you simply MUST have them. Each one is different, so you'll have to trust the process.....

Sew-Liberated Jersey Skirt

Jersey skirt
Originally uploaded by sdchimblo

One of my goals this summer was to update my work wardrobe into wearable, but stylish pieces. I teach first grade, which means that my students can be icky at times and in other times, come at me with markers.

This came from Meg McElwee's Sew Liberated book. When this book came in the mail, I immediately chose this project. Knit skirts, or yoga skirts, are super easy to make. Measure your waist, cut the skirt out at a diagonal, sew and you're done.

What makes this skirt go from "drab to fab" is the reverse applique. That takes a bit of a leap of faith for me. i've appliqued, but not like this. In fact, I messed up. Below is what happens when you get in a hurry and don't make sure that your fabric is in the right place BEFORE you sew:

See the holes? Ewww!

So what can you do when there's 2 holes in your skirt? You cover it up with another type of applique! I used heat n'bond lite and then sewed around it to give it a more finished look.

I think it's wearable-to-work..

I won! And Someone You Should Know

Yesterday I won my first giveaway - just by following her blog! Marcia of "Oh, Cock!" is a new blogger, like myself. She sews these cool wristlets as well as creates beautiful mixed media pieces and t-shirts. She's a mommy, negotiating the ever chaotic world of babies and finding balance in her work as artist, wife and mommy. I look forward to reading about her adventures from all the way in New Hampshire, and you should too!

Hats for Beth

Beth and I have been friends for about 4 years. When you meet her, you are immediately at ease and know that she is someone who cares deeply about her family and friends. The plans she makes for her kids' birthdays are absolutely amazing. I am so lucky that she lives just around the corner from me. Last summer, we walked with our youngest kiddos in the evening and her sense of humor is contagious.

She also is an amazing photographer and the scrapbook queen! She has all the latest tools and I can sit at her house and scrapbook for hours....

Why am I telling you this?? Well, in January, Beth had a massive brain hemorrhage at age 36 and had several surgeries to repair the damage. She has been in a rehabilitation facility since and is coming home today. I am so proud of her. Throughout this journey, she has been surrounded with thoughts and prayers and I think because of that and her strong will to work through this, she is coming home today.

Since her surgery to put a plate in her head, she is somewhat bald again and is requesting that me and my friend Janine make hats for her in pink. I've always thought that it is important to "think global, act local" and this one service project we can do together. I am opening up the opportunity to you. If you sew, crochet, knit, whatever. Please make a pink hat for our dear friend. Because "Pink is Cool."

Message me if you want to participate. I want to overwhelm my dear friend with lots and lots of pink hats. Because, she is, well, full of awesome-sauce.

Summer Crafting

Wow, I haven't posted since March? Well, it goes to show that time flies when you are having fun! The end of school is always so stressful to me. Not the beginning of school, that energizes me. I can't stop thinking about all the possibilities of a new start with new kids and this year, I'll be in a different building. So the end of school was spent packing on top of all the other things like grades, projects, etc. WHEW!

So this summer, between soccer camp and professional development activities, I have been crafting. And lots of it: spinning, sewing, quilting, embroidery and (gasp) jewelry making. The next few entries will show pictures of what I've been doing with all this free time. So let's start with ring making, shall we?

I'm making rings. Lots of chunky rings from vintage earrings. These are also called statement rings or cocktail rings. Basically, a large stone, button or vintage earring adhered to a ring blank. Where did I get this idea? From my dad....

Rich and I moved my dad to a "mature adults only" apartment complex a few weeks ago. Let's just say that my dad is anything but "mature" except for his age. He lives under the philosophy that someone will always take care of him and basically lives by the seat of his pants. No money for electricity because he blew it on "other" important entertainment is the life he chooses to live. But I digress...

So while I'm unpacking his randomly packed boxes, I come what's left of my Mamaw's jewelry. I pilfered some of that jewelry and turned it into rings.

After I figured out how to clip the wires and take the earring back off, I went a little obsessive about this little project, stalked an estate sale and made some more that are available in my little shop. I got lots of compliments about the one above. It's neat to take something and update it into something new! Have you tried that?

Wonder Pets, Wonder Pets, We're On Our Way!

For Ava's 2nd birthday, I decided to go with Wonder Pets, since, she loves singing the theme song so much and LOVES Ming-Ming, the girl duckling. Apparently we missed the Wonder Pets flyboat, because I couldn't find Wonder Pets gear anywhere. I had to order some fromBirthdayExpress: the usual napkins, plates, cupcake rings and treats.

I am a an over-the-top homemade birthday kind of mom. Vincent's first 4 birthday parties were AWEsome. We did Blue's Clues, Jack's Big Music Show, Shrek. I really enjoy the theme planning, invitations, games, snacks. It's ALL fun for me. But, with the economy being well, crummy, right now, we had to tone it down a bit. So my daughter got a little less bling, but it was just right.

For the snacks, I made devil's food cake cupcakes with white icing. That's a big deal at our house. You must have WHITE icing with chocolate cake. We also had ants on a log - because everyone knows that after they save the animals, they celebrate with celery.

This week, she knew there was something special going called her birthday. She kept saying, "happy" and we would answer with "birthday" and she would grin from ear to ear. At her party today, when she saw her presents, she wanted right away to start opening them.

For her outfit, I made an applique for her shirt and I found this birthday party for my inspiration on her cape and other things. It was just a wonder-filled day! There were so many little moments where she would look at Rich or me and just give us a special smile.

I love that kid.

Weight Loss Wednesday

2 weeks have gone by since I've weighed, and I've gained the 2 pounds back. Problem is, it is that time of the month for me and I know I retain water. I'm continuing the habit of fruits/veggies, walking or running 6X per week and I can tell that my belleh is flatter and my legs are firmer. I'm getting my runner legs back! Yay!

So, I'm continuing the same with the understanding that I may not lose 15 pounds, but I'll definitely be a size smaller.

Weight Loss Wednesday, uh Thursday

I lost another pound, down to 133! But as I write this, I am hungry. Still working on increasing fruits and veggies and I am exercising 6/7 days a week. My cyst came back on my right foot and it's bugging me when I run, so I'm calling my doctor to see what I can do about it.

Does anybody know what triggers ganglion cysts?

Weight Loss Wednesday

Weight: 135 and holding.

You know hormones can wreck havoc on weight loss and last week was not pretty due to all things associated with monthly cycles. But, I am at 5.5-5.7 running on the treadmill comfortably. My friends are noticing that clothes are getting loose, so I'll take the unchanged weight for this week.

Maybe I'm losing fat and making muscle.

Inches Left

Inspired by YarnHarlot's recent post on her Knitting Olympics, here is my progress so far:

I'm rounding the last part of my 2nd baby kimono for my Knitting Olympics. I'm thinking I have this in the bag, only the right front left and now I have this problem:

I ran out of yarn.

This the second time I've had this problem. And, it was with the FIRST baby kimono. My knitting friends say it is not stash enhancing if you are finishing a project, but I feel like I'm failing in some aspect of stash-busting. I'm committing to working through my stash, but it is getting slightly bigger with every project by a skein or 2.

Poor planning? Maybe I need help with planning out the project. Conspiracy to keep yarn addicts buying? Probably.

So you can find me at LOOPS this afternoon, buying more Be Sweet Bamboo in sea green. And my friends better not sabotage me by getting the 3 skeins. I know who you are.

Weight Loss Wednesday

WOW! I just checked last Wednesday (137) and with today's weigh in I'm 135. So 2 pounds gone.

Out of here.

Last night I was seriously contemplating what I was going to do if the scale did not move, but I'm happy with 2 pounds. That's a healthy amount to lose in a week. Here's how I did it:

1. I exercised 6 out of 7 days. I mixed it up with walking and running, but did a minimal of 30 minutes per day.
2. I drastically cut down on the junk food. If I ate something sugary sweet, it was a bite and that was all.
3. I made one of my meals a fruit/veggie smoothie in some way. You can google "raw food" and will find lots of information out there. Right now with the weather being so wintry, I can only do one meal as a smoothie.
4. I logged what I ate daily using SparkPeople on my phone.

So here's to continuing making progress instead of planning my sabotage.

Movies That are Fun, even on Cable TV

I've been thinking about the movies I will watch on cable.

1. Steel Magnolias - there are so many lines in that movie that remind me of my grandmother, great aunt and yes, my mom. She IS Sally Field's character. I cry every time at Shelby's funeral.

2. The Green Mile - Although the plot revolves around a gruesome murder and the most of the movie takes place in the death row of a penitentiary, I really enjoy the watching the interactions between the guards and inmates. Even bad guys can still care about each other.

3. Fried Green Tomatoes - Another film with powerful female characters and about the nature of human beings.

4. The Breakfast Club - Reminds me tragically of high school. Everyone of us is a nerd, a prep, a jock, a psycho, whatever. It's true and sad that high school can feel like that sometimes.

5. Mean Girls - It's an updated version of Heathers to me. I think I enjoy the movie because it reminds me of my job at times and how ridiculous keeping female friendships can be. I want to read the book it's based on "Queen Bees and Wanna-be's." I love Tina Fey's interpretation of the book...

6. The Notebook - a hopelessly romantic film, about a girl and a boy and their love story. The first time I watched it was around the death of my great-aunt, Mimi. She had Alzheimer's, dementia, whatever-you-want-to-call-it and it was so sad to see her die that way. I bawled and bawled and bawled - I still miss her.

7. Chocolat - I think it would be fun to own a chocolatier in France (during Lent, of course) and wear amazing clothes and red shoes. It would be fun to be the mom that is not like any others. Especially if Johnny Depp was my love interest. Wow.

8. Along Came Polly - Sometimes I think I'm Polly and Rich is Reuben at times. We have different ways of thinking about things at times, but it works for us!

9. Parenthood - Another movie set in the 80's about parenting. This movie gets me all nostalgic about the circle of life and how we are just really trying to do what's best with the people we love and sometimes that gets messy.

10. Walk the Line - I'm a closet Johnny Cash fan and I think Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon did a fanastic job in their portrayal. Another love story about two people finding each other...

What's your favorite movies you'll watch when flipping channels???

Olympic Knitting

Yarn Harlot started the Knitting Olympics a few years ago to challenge knitters to complete a project within the 2 weeks Olympic Games. The idea is for you to do something "Citius, Altius, Fortius" or "Faster, Higher, Stronger." If you finish your goal, whatever that is, you get a gold medal banner to put on your blog, etc as a reminder of that feat. If you belong to Ravelry, then there are teams and everything. Yarn Harlot keeps her Olympics separate. Ravelry is a whole other ball game. It's a little overwhelming....

This month has proven to be a hectic one, especially in the work area of my life, so I decided to work on the "faster" aspect of my knitting. My goal is to complete 2 "heart-breakingly cute" baby kimonos out of some cotton that's been hanging around my stash. The pattern is done is one piece, with minimal stitching to complete. It's like you are going along in your stockinette stitch or garter and voila! it's done! Here is my progress so far:

This is just after one weekend of the Olympics. But all Olympics have some disappointment and mine is not immune. I. ran. out. of. yarn. Seriously. And not only that, but I have 3/4 of one kimono done, so I have to go to the store to get something that might work. I'm thinking blue, white or tan - keeping it simple. If I can't find a coordinating color, I know, I can find white somewhere.

Weight Loss Wednesday

137. I indulged in a lot of sweets over the weekend. But here is my saving grace: a brand new treadmill. Yes, I have found my running mojo in the form of a new treadmill. If you know my husband, it will do the basics, plus more so now there are no excuses.

This morning I cranked it up to 12mph and thought "this feels ok - I'm waking up." I remember in the not so distant past when 5.0 on the treadmill was a talking pace for me and let's just say that is not the case now.

I have faith it will soon. I'm running a 1/2 marathon with my baby sister in May, it better. She's telling me she's running a 9 minute mile.

I may have to tell her to meet me at the finish line.

Valentine's Day Crafting 2010

I'm now into month 2 of my sock de-stashing. Janine mentioned making a X's and O's cable pattern for February socks? To which I whined, err replied, "I don't know how to cable." So as any enabling and helpful friend would do, she sent me several patterns that explained the mystery of that cable. And of course, I obliged and thought, "Why haven't I ever done this before? Easy!" So 2, yes 2, of these hats were made in a bright Valentine-y red:
One for Miss Ava and one for her cousin Bella, who at this moment, is snowed in New Jersey. They probably have dug out of it by now, being that the east coast is used to that kind of weather.Valentine's Day also brought, if early and FIRST, some wonderful blush roses brought by my partner in crime, Rich. Work has been albeit interesting lately, and he is so thoughtful. We celebrated Valentine's Day with some excellent steak (and butter sauce) Thursday.

Later that weekend, we went shopping for a treadmill and since then have been rearranging the office/game room to make room. I think there will be less steak in our future. I told him that we should both be totally ready for summer if we buy one. No excuses.

Pass the pizza and the Dr. Pepper! (just joking, of course)

Weight Loss Wednesday

136 again. I'm still cheating. Yesterday was a little rough around the edges and involved pizza and chocolate.

Good news: Rich is considering getting a treadmill for the office. I'm slightly concerned about how it will fit with the drum kit, small couch and video games. If we buy one, there will be no more excuses about the weather and that would be a good thing.

Anybody else have a treadmill? Is it like a boat? The best day is when you get rid of it?

Weight Loss Wednesday

So in a week I've lost 3 pounds. Down from 139 to 136 again. During our latest ice/snow storm, Rich and I did a little (ok, maybe more than that) cheating in the form of dark chocolate and junk food. We are back on track again.

I've been reading a lot from Michael Pollan lately. He's a journalist turned food activist who has done extensive research on where our American food comes from. His latest book is a compilation of his other 3: Food Rules - An Eater's Manual. One of the tips encourages you to eat a meal that is no bigger than 2 fists put together. Go ahead. Take a look at your two fists. If you are petite like me, that's not a lot of food. So I'm implementing that this month.

Did you know that it takes burning 3500 calories to lose 1 pound? I heard that today on NPR as I was driving to the gym. Kind of puts it in perspective that you really have to eat less and exercise more to create that deficit in order to lose weight. You have to feel a little hungry. Not ravenous - I - will - eat - my - first- born, just slightly hungry.

Speaking of, I burned 451 calories on the elliptical in 45 minutes. I'm working toward that 3500 calorie goal this week.

The Plan 2010: How's It Going?

Hi from snowy Tulsa. My 8 year old is wishing for another snow day and at the moment, I'm about 50/50 at the possibility. The roads outside the neighborhood are clear, but the neighborhoods are pretty icy. This has given me plenty opportunity to think about how THE PLAN is taking shape for 2010.

Health: Lose the last 15 pregnancy pounds. So far, that is not happening for me. In fact, I've gained 2 pounds. For February, I'm going to increase the intensity of my workouts and really focus on my fruit/vegetable intake for the day. I'm also going to cut out unnecessarycarbs/sweets and see if that helps the number on the scale. By workouts, I'm going to work my way up to running a 10 minute mile non-stop and continue with interval sets of abs and arm work.

Personal:

• A co-worker returns February 4th and I'm going to focus this month on remaining positive and secure in my other relationships that I've built while she was gone.
• Money-wise, my goal was to keep my credit card statement under $1000. Although that did not happen (read: snow/ice storm and poor planning) I'm going to work on that for the month of February.
• Knitting-wise, my goal is to knit a pair of socks per month, which I did thank you very much. I'm already planning some February socks and here are January's:
• On the marriage side, I'm going to find a place to wear those sexy-mama shoes I bought at Ross a few weeks ago. Aren't these full of the AWESOME?

My knitting friends say I need to just wear the shoes and that's all...something to consider...