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!