Dragonfly Days and Daisy Dreams

Preemie hat pattern

2010-08-23T10:12:00.006-04:00

I came up with a pattern for the Head to Toe contest the Knitmore Girls are hosting on thier website and on Ravelry. It uses up bits of leftover sock yarn and is inspired after the Ball Band dishcloth. So I give you, the:
Ball Band Baby Hat

Sizes: Preemie (Newborn)
Yarn: Any leftover sock yarn; 2 coordinating colors
Needles: US 1 (US 2)

CO 70 (90) st, join to work in the round.
Work 6 (8) rows of garter stitch (K one row, P one row)
Begin St St. Work 10 rounds even
Join color 2 (do not cut color 1)
Next round: K4, sl 1, *K5, sl 1* repeat around ending with K1
Next 3 rounds: P4, sl 1, *P5, sl 1* repeat around ending with P 1
With color 1: K 2 rounds even
Color 2: K1, sl 1. *K5, sl 1* repeat around, ending with K4
Next 3 rounds: P1, sl 1, *P5, sl 1* repeat around, ending with P4
With color 1: K 2 rounds even.
Color 2: K4, sl 1, *K5, sl 1* repeat around ending with K1
Next 3 rounds: P4, sl 1, *P5, sl 1* repeat around ending with P 1
Cut color 2 leaving tail long enough to weave in end.
With color one, K 6 (8) rounds even in st st.
Purl 2 rounds
Begin decreases as follows:
*K5(7), k2tog* around
K one round even
*K4(6), k2tog* around
K one round even
*K3(5), k2tog* around
K one round even
*K2(4), k2tog* around
K one round even
*K1(3), k2tog* around
K one round even
Preemie hat - k2tog around for 2 rounds ending with 5 st on needle. For flat top, cut yarn (leaving end long enough to weave) take tapestry needle and thread through remaining 5 stitches on needle and pull tight. Weave in all ends. For knotted top, knit 2 inches of I-cord with the remaining 5 stitches, cut yarn, weave tail through 5 st and pull tight, weave in all ends.
Newborn hat - continue with decreases as follows
*K2, k2tog* around
K one round even
*K1, k2tog* around
K one round even
*k2tog* around, for 2 rounds
For flat top, cut yarn (leaving end long enough to weave) take tapestry needle and thread through remaining 5 stitches on needle and pull tight. Weave in all ends. For knotted top, knit 2 inches of I-cord with the remaining 5 stitches, cut yarn, weave tail through 5 st and pull tight, weave in all ends.

2009-12-28T13:39:00.001-05:00

We have a new addition at our house! A 40lb English Bulldog named Angus. We are in love!!!

Socks by ME!!

2009-06-13T19:15:00.019-04:00

I took the challenge issued by the SKA group on Ravelry to design my own socks. I designed socks around a DIAMOND theme - and named them Cut, Color & Clarity. I am working on getting the pattern converted into a PDF and will offer it when I get that accomplished - this is also the first time doing that too!
OK I think I have the pdf thing figured out - try this link

pattern link

Older pics of me

2009-05-12T15:40:00.003-04:00

These are some pics of me from when I was younger for The High Fiber Diet Podcast
The top L pic is my junior school pic - BIG hair, the one beside that is my Senior pic; then on the bottom row is a pic from when I was 6 (1979) when I had my orphan Annie hair thanks to my mother, and a side view of me - LOOK AT THOSE BANGS!! (my Mom and Aunt are in the pic too) WOW

Productive Knitting month

2009-03-31T07:02:00.005-04:00

So March has been a productive knitting month for me. Not only have I finished 4 pairs of socks (3 of which were started in March), I have taught my BFF, Jaimie, how to knit socks too! I have brought her to the dark side and she will never go back, mwhahahahahaha! *insert evil grin to go with laugh*

I have also gotten some spinning finished. I finished spinning up the wool that I dyed, and made my first 3 ply (that wasnt navajo plied) sock yarn. I am currently knitting, what else but socks with it.

In other news, my back is hurting again - UGH. Kaitlyn went to the dermatologist and got diagnosed with psoriasis (at least now we know what it is). Jacob got his braces off! YAY! He has been chewing gum almost constantly since he got them off - except for school hours.

I CUT MY KNITTING - ON PURPOSE!!

2009-03-25T19:15:00.006-04:00

It is called Steeking, and it is scary! Meghan from the Stitch It! Podcast is hosting a steeking contest, so I decided to try it. I had a swatch from my Green Susie sweater just laying around, and it is wool, so I decided to go for it! So I followed the crocheted steek instructions from Euny Jang here that Meghan shared with us, and did it!! I got Kaitlyn to help me take pictures of the actual cutting process. And it worked!! Here is the photo progression!

More spinning

2008-11-24T11:48:00.005-05:00

I have been spinning and knitting like crazy! I have 10 holiday gifts COMPLETED!! The Holiday KAL-CAL, hosted by Sydney and Marley (see sidebar button), has really gotten me motivated! I have 3 more projects I want to make for holiday gifts for sure... But anyway, spinning! I have gotten my very own wheel - an Ashford Traditional. I have done quite a bit lately so here is some eye candy for you....

SPINNING WHEEL!

2008-10-14T15:16:00.003-04:00

My MILs friend let me borrow her spinning wheel for a couple of weeks, and some fiber to practice with. I have had so much fun with this wheel. I made a 280yd skein of yarn, 2-ply worsted weight

spinning

2008-08-27T12:34:00.004-04:00

I just wanted to post a picture of some spindles that I have made. These have all be made with suppies from the craft store / hardware store, and they work PERFECTLY well. No more than $5.00 in any of them and probably more like 2 or 3. I *heart* spinning!

The one on the left is made from a wooden decoration that you could add to molding to make it more decorative that Kevin helped me drill a hole through and then insert the dowel rod with cup hook in it. I stained it with some honey stain that I found in the garage, and Voila! The middle one is a craft wooden circle found at Michaels for 25 cents painted green and a wooden daisy, also from Michaels for 25 cents, painted by me. Both were drilled with a hole in the "center" (by me) and a dowel with cup hook inserted. The one on the right, is another craft circle, but this one is by itself and I painted one of my favorite things on it - a dragonfly.
All were easy to make and are EASY to spin with!

Finished Ravelympics

2008-08-27T12:14:00.004-04:00

When Ravelympics came up, I decided that I would sign up and that it would be a good chance to get the kids' school sweaters done for this year. I also thought, "I can do some socks too," so I signed up for 2 pairs of socks knit from hand-dyed sock blanks. THEN I thought, "I should spin too." And so the overcommited 17 days began... BUT I FINISHED IT ALL!!!! WOO HOO. YEAH ME! Not only did I knit 2 sweaters and 4 socks (aka 2 pairs), but I spun, on a drop spindle, 345 yards of yarn (that's a 2-ply yarn - so I reall spun almost 700 yards of fiber that I plyed together to make the 345 yards of yarn) It is a lovely merino wool and bamboo blend that I got from Butterfly Girl Designs Etsy shop, called Blueberry-Lime Surprise. YUM! So, I am quite pleased with my accomplishments during the Olympics/Ravelympics.

Also, I technically could have signed up for one more event, because I finished another project before closing ceremonies. Kaitlyn's rainbow socks didn't use up all of the sock blank, and with the yellow polka-dotted end, she wanted fingerless gloves. So once I finished the last stiches on the last pair of socks, I immediately cast on for her gloves. And I finished them the next day - which was the last day of the olympics (Sunday).

All in all it has been a VERY productive knitting 2 weeks. Not much else has gotten done, but I can't do too much else because of my injured back. So who needs a better excuse to knit than that? NOT ME!! :-)

Finished Kaitlyn's sweater!!

2008-08-20T13:53:00.002-04:00

YES! I did it! I finished Kaitlyn's sweater. I started it on Aug 17th, after finishing Jacob's, and finished weaving in the ends this morning! Acutally finished knitting last night!! It is soft and nice! She loves it. Here are some pics - I am off to try to finish spinning my batt -- almost done!! WOO HOO!

Here's a pic of Jacob in his sweater!

Sweater DONE!!

2008-08-18T09:01:00.002-04:00

I signed up for the Sweater Sprint in Ravelympics for 2 sweaters. One for Jacob and one for Kaitlyn - school sweaters. I finished Jacob's yesterday around 12:30pm, and shortly after, cast-on for Kaitlyn's. I got almost 2 balls knit up for hers; which worked out to almost 10 inches -- IN ONE AFTERNOON!! I might finish hers after all!!

Here are some pics:

Ravelympics!

2008-08-17T11:07:00.004-04:00

Ravelympics is an event on Ravelry where you knit items in "sporting" events that correlate with the Olympics. The catch is that you have to cast on during the opening ceremony or after and finish BEFORE the closing ceremonies. For Ravelympics, I have signed up in several events. One item is already finished. Kaitlyn and I dyed sock blanks and I made her socks from this dyed blank. The first pic is the blank that we dyed, and the next pics are the socks. The yellow dotted end is not knit up yet - she wants fingerless gloves from that part, but that will have to wait until after Ravelympics

I started these on Friday 8/8/08 (opening ceremony day) and finished them on Monday morning (8/11/08). On Sunday night, as I was getting towards the end of Kaitlyn's socks, I went ahead and cast on for my second project - a school sweater for Jacob. So I cast on 8/10/08, and as I am typing, I am on the last 3 rows - so I will finish TODAY; 8/17/08 - one week for a sweater - Not too bad! HOWEVER, I have also signed up to do a sweater for Kaitlyn too -- not sure if that will get done or not. Also, another pair of socks (for me) are signed up for - these probably will NOT get done.

I am spinning too for Ravelympics. I am spinning a merino wool/bamboo/angelina blend batt and it is GORGEOUS. Here is a picture of this WIP.

The batt was titled Blueberry-Lime surprise. And it is divine. The angelina are little sparkly fibers thrown in for some SHINE!!

When I get a pic of the sweater I have done for Jacob, I will post it. And I will let you know how the other projects come out!

Some finished knitting

2008-07-29T19:44:00.002-04:00

I have been finishing up several projects as of late...first I finally finished the socks that I had started before father's day for Kevin - whoo hoo - boy were they tedious. Dark navy on size 0 needles - TINY stitches take FOREVER!! But they are done, he has worn them, and approves.
here they are in all of their boredom! ;-)
Next, I finished Jacob's toe socks that had been hibernating for MONTHS. I had done the first one of the pair around christmas/new year's and just couldnt get motivated to cast on for the second one. Then the Knaked Knits Podcast was having a Stocking/sock KAL (knit-a-long) so I thought that this would be a good project to cast on for this KAL. So, I cast the sock on and in only THREE DAYS, I finished the sucker. The toes were a little tedious, but now I am SO glad to have them done; and Jacob LOVES them. Even with it being 100 degrees out, he is wearing them around the house. (too cute)

Sydney, of Knaked Knits, also hosted a preemie hat knit up contest where if you send her 2 preemie hats, you are entered into a drawing for a skein of Lorna's Laces yarn. Of course, I sent her 2 hats

I also finished a sweater for me!! This is called Drawstring Raglan from Interweave Knits Summer 2008. I used Knit picks lace yarn and used the lace sampler I had already ordered without knowing for sure what I would use the yarn for - Win WIN!! I love how it turned out, and have already worn it to a class at work!

I have cast on a pair of socks for me too using a new Knit Picks yarn called Imagination. It is a superwash wool/alpaca/nylon blend and is just DIVINE! I am using the colorway "Frog Prince" and am about 2/3 of the way finished with them. This is a pic just after I started them

So I have been a busy knitter. With my back being hurt, that is about all I can do....which you dont hear me complaining! ;-)

Spinning!!

2008-07-29T19:28:00.002-04:00

Well, I have started a new thing -- spindle spinning. I am in LOVE! I got the bug from listening to a podcast (knit picks') and that got me interested. So I finally got a learn to spin kit that had a beautiful roving and spindle and watched a few YouTube videos and taught myself to do it. After my first session, my wrists and fingers were SO sore. But, once I loosened up a bit and got the hang of it, off I went. I have made YARN!!

I have since spun all of the first roving I bought and have bought 3 more. I am having fun!

Here's some eye candy for you!

and my newest:

Yummy!!

Round the Rink

2008-05-25T14:04:00.003-04:00

Another new LO from today. These are pictures of Jacob at Alex R's bday party at Kate's skating rink. This was his first time skating. The sketch is from Becky Higgins 4x6 photo sketches. Both pages also fit the challenge. page one has ribbon, buttons, staples, chipboard, and paint (on the chipboard). page two has chipboard, paint buttons, journal box, ribbon and staples. I used my CR to cut this retro title - skating makes me think of retro *grin* TFL
Ann

Another one

2008-05-25T12:57:00.002-04:00

These photos were taken Friday night. Kaitlyn had a friend spend the night, Aimee, and they made each other over. This meets the challenge - page one has ribbon, fiber, brads, flowers and staples. page two has staples, flowers (ribbon slides), eyelets, ribbon and journal box. The sketch is one out of my folder, and it says "ditzy scrap" on it, although I dont remember exactly where I downloaded it from.

New LO - Jacob

2008-05-25T10:42:00.004-04:00

This is a LO for the final challenge for the April May contest! I used a sketch from my sketch notebook that says in the copyright area "Little book of sketches by Caroline Little" I modified the second page to be just one big horizontal photo instead of several smaller photos.
Both pages have at least five of the elements required, so both count as challenge pages. Page one has brads, journaling box, paint, fiber, ribbon and staples. Page two has paint, fiber ribbon staples and chipboard. You probably cannot see the staples in the picture - they are around the edges of the strips of paper - used as stitching from the sketch.
These are picture of Jacob this past october.

2008-05-02T13:52:00.005-04:00

Here are 3 others for the current challenge. Arcade Fun, and Embrace Life. The quote on the arcade page says "the time to be happy is now. the place to be happy is here" And on the two other pages they are " embrace life", and "you make my life a beautiful thing" The arrow on the arcade page is bling, and there is a strip of bling on the Left embrace life page and 4 stones on each corner of the photo on the Right page.
TFL
Ann

New LOs

2008-05-02T08:26:00.004-04:00

Got some scrapbooking done today! These are the kids school pictures from fall 2008 - 4th and 2nd grades. This meets the current challenge of Bling, Double-Matted photo, and quote. Kaitlyn's quote is from Katie Lusk - "Education means inspiring someone's mind, not just filling their head." And Jacob's is from Thoreau, "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined." I used the sticky numbers from Stampin' Up! for the numbers representing their grades and coordinating glitter to add more bling! All supplies are Stampin' Up! Thanks for looking!
Ann

Yarn swift

2008-04-18T21:00:00.002-04:00

What is a yarn swift you ask? Why, it is a wonderful invention that holds your skein of yarn while it is being wound into a ball. And this afternoon, my dear hubby, Kevin, made me one following the instructions I came across on Ravelry at this website: Crafty Diversions Thanks Anne for great instructions. And thanks Kevin for a great swift - all from stuff we already had - nothing bought!! Woo Hoo! That is better than 70.00 ANY day of the week and twice on Sunday!!
Here are pictures of the finished product. One still, and one in motion. It spins like a dream! Isn't he wonderful?

In other knitting news, I am finishing up a pair of green striped socks, and started a shawl. No pictures of those right now, but I will get some up soon!

2008-04-17T11:42:00.002-04:00

Another for the challenge. I got these pp's a couple of years ago but just hadn't found the right photos for them. Now I have! I love the retro feel of these papers and pages. The are double sided PPs - more bang for my buck! The black strips are actually black grograin ribbons. TFL!
Ann

Fixed this one

2008-04-17T07:05:00.003-04:00

I fixed this one so that it REALLY fits for the challenge :-) oops that is what happens when you scrapbook with little sleep - harder to follow directions! Thanks Jackie! HUGS
Ann

2008-04-16T12:55:00.001-04:00

This meets the new challenge of 3 PPs, ribbon and buttons.
Fun to do! Thanks again Jackie!

New Los

2008-04-16T09:56:00.002-04:00

6 more LOs for the TKD album. These are a continuation of the yellow belt testing.

Yellow belt testing

2008-04-09T15:52:00.003-04:00

Another for Jackie's challenge. This is DH, DD and DS doing their forms for the testing. I have had this yellow stitched paper for AGES (probably 5 years) and am glad to finally find a use for it. The words Yellow belt are stamped and embossed, and the word testing is using up old alpha stickers.
TFL
Ann

Needed a break

2008-04-08T22:09:00.001-04:00

I needed a break from white background, so I pulled out some different pictures to work on. These were from DS's 6th bday party where everyone had their turn at sucking helium and talking funny. My MIL especially thought it was too funny. Fun times!

another TKD LO

2008-04-08T18:46:00.003-04:00

This meets the challenge and highlights the forms, one-steps and sparring that are part of testing.

more TKD pages

2008-04-08T12:41:00.003-04:00

These are of Jacob breaking his first board. This follows Jackie's challenge.

And these are the companion pages for Kaitlyn and Kevin breaking their boards - also for the challenge.

Title page

2008-04-07T14:45:00.004-04:00

I made the title page for my TKD album - and of course, it meets the challenge requirements. I made the title from a file I was sent by some sweet person (Katie or Jeanne??) when I first got my CR - thanks!

PS - I also forgot to mention with the yellow belt testing page, I used a sketch that I had gotten from Janelle - thanks Janelle!

another one

2008-04-06T20:58:00.002-04:00

This is another for the challenge. I am happy to finally be working on my TKD album. The idea that Jackie gave, of using a white background, was SO liberating for these pictures! I was so hung up on what paper to use for the album, I was too intimidated to start. Doing that first LO, using the white background, got me started. Now here is the second set of LOs that will be in this album. THANK YOU JACKIE!!

This meets the challenge with using a white background, fiber (the yellow ribbon lines the stamped stars on either edge) photo corners (tied ribbon knots on the 4 corners of the photo on the L page) stickers (the black stars) and eyelets (4 black ones in a square shape).

other happenings

2008-04-06T16:24:00.002-04:00

Just so you guys dont think that all I do is scrapbook, I wanted to also share some knitting that I have been working on. I finished a pair of baby socks last night that turned out cute, and am working on a cabled sweater (for me!).

LO #2 from challenge

2008-04-06T16:03:00.003-04:00

I have finished another 2pg LO for the issued challenge. The sticker is the "Karate" rubon in the title, the black dots under Tae Kwon Do are actually black eyelets, there is white ribbon along the bottom of the photo mat on the right hand page, and the photo corners are punched out cs around the set of 4 photos on the L page.

challenge LO

2008-04-05T16:50:00.003-04:00

Jackie issued a challenge to do a LO using the following: white background paper, eyelets, fibers, stickers, and photo corners. This is my challenge LO.
I started with white paper (obviously) and stamped flowers along the middle of both pages -- this is the same stamp that I used on DD's wall shown in the photos. Then I stamped flourishes along the bottom (All SU stamps). I then used my jumbo eyelets from SU (for the first time) in the centers of all of the stamped flowers. I matted the long "panoramic" picture of the stamped wall in green cs and then wrapped the frame in green fuzzy fiber and tied 2 bows in the top 2 corners. I used some old letter stickers to make the title and punched photo corners with my SU photo corner punch and attached flowers to each corner with eyelet snaps. In so doing, I completed the challeged issued! :-) Thanks for looking!
Ann

I've been BUSY!!

2008-04-03T19:52:00.002-04:00

WOW!! I have had a HUGE scrappin' day!! I have done TWENTY pages today!!!!!!!!!! I got so much done and I love how my pages turned out!!!! This challenge is really motivating me! I even had to go out for about 2 hours today -- just think if I had been home all day!! :-) Yes, my family did get to eat supper (LOL). Hope you like them!
Ann

another one finished

2008-04-02T21:09:00.001-04:00

Finished this one just now. Moving on to a different topic (than Kaitlyn's 9th bday) This is Halloween 2006 - Kaitlyn was Rani -- one of Tinkerbell's fairy friends from the book series. It was so strange to see her with LONG blonde hair!
TFL!
Ann

On Call

2008-04-02T20:00:00.002-04:00

Well, I am supposed to be at work, but I am on call instead, so I bet you can guess what I've done - yep Scrapbook!! Here are the 4 pages I have finished...

This one I used chipboard for the title, inked it up and then used SU's new chunky glitter to jazz them up. Love it!

This one I used a bunch of "9" accents to highlight the fact that she was turning nine.

Lots of old stash used up on both of these!

I am up to 10 pages for April! Woo Hoo!!

another LO for today

2008-04-01T16:00:00.002-04:00

Just finished this one - for Kaitlyn's party, the girls made glass-bead bracelets. These pictures of them showing off their work!

next LO

2008-04-01T14:35:00.000-04:00

This is the next LO that I have finished.

Scrapping Challenge

2008-04-01T13:35:00.003-04:00

OK - so, I haven't kept up with my photo-a-day endevor. I have been taking some pictures, but not daily, and I got behind with posting, so I kinda gave up. Sorry! But now I am participating in a challenge to scrap A LOT in the months of April and May through PAWS; and I have finished my first 2pg LO of the competition. So I am posting it here. I also challenged my Ravelry buddies in the Scraphappy Yarnies to scrapbook too!

This is a LO of DD on her 9th birthday.

The colors are a bit washed out in the pic - sorry.
Thanks for looking!
Ann

Feb 21st

2008-02-23T11:01:00.003-05:00

I asked Kevin to put "My Spanish Coach" on our gamefly que, and it came. It is a pretty cool tool to use to help you learn spanish. Jacob thought it was really cool too! He wanted to play it, so of course I let him. Adios!

Feb 20th

2008-02-23T10:56:00.004-05:00

There was a Lunar Eclipse tonight! Cool. Of course I had to work, so Kevin took these amazing pictures with my camera and gorillapod The one is of just the moon (obviously), and the other has the moon, Saturn and Regulus in it too. Pretty cool!!

Feb 19th

2008-02-23T10:54:00.001-05:00

I finally felted the last of the purses that I had made last year. This one is by far my favorite! So much so that I promptly filled it with my stuff and am now using it as my own. *grin*

Feb 18th

2008-02-21T15:48:00.003-05:00

New yarn stash - I have several friends that are pregnant and having babies in the coming months, so I went to Hobby Lobby and got some yarn to start on their baby's presents. 2 Girls and a Boy.

Feb 17th

2008-02-21T15:45:00.002-05:00

I got new silk flowers for a spring time arrangement on my front door. Now if only spring weather would come too!

Feb 16th

2008-02-21T15:38:00.003-05:00

We were in Hendersonville this weekend and Saturday night the moon was almost full and it had a HUGE cloud ring around it -- I mean HUGE. I tried to get a picture of it, but my camera wasnt cooperating well, and it was so big, I could only get a corner of the ring and the moon in the shot. You can barely make it out in the right side of the photo....

Feb 15th more!

2008-02-15T19:12:00.002-05:00

I have been busy today! I finished 6 more pages! These are all from Halloween 2006. Carving pumpkins, and trick or trunking! I have also been busy putting these guys along with all of the other LOs that I have finished INTO albums! WooHoo!! It feels good to have my LO drawer empty!! Thanks for looking!

Feb 15th

2008-02-15T09:56:00.003-05:00

Did some more scrapbooking this morning. I finished a LO I started the other day (added the journaling) and completed the next one completely. On PAWs this month, the challenge was issued to do heartfelt journaling. These LOs meet this challenge. The one with B&W photos, are pictures of the kids Father's Day 2007. The other one is photos from Mother's Day 2007, with the journaling hidden under the Right hand side of the page -- there is a green tab to use to pull the page out to read the journaling. I also used a PAWs kit on the Mother's Day page from Laurie K.

Feb 14th

2008-02-15T09:52:00.002-05:00

Kaitlyn and Jacob are really into Webkinz! So for Valentine's day, I got them each a Lil'kinz. They were both thrilled! Happy Valentine's Day!!

Feb 13th

2008-02-15T09:46:00.002-05:00

I did some scrapbook pages today. These are from when we met the teachers and the first day of school 2007. Kaitlyn in 4th and Jacob in 2nd.

Feb 12th

2008-02-15T09:43:00.002-05:00

I was supposed to work tonight, but was put on call - and I was happy because the kid's (and Kevin) had their testing for their High Red belts in TKD. So, I was able to go and be the photographer! This picture is when they were getting ready to spar (not each other) and you can see Kevin in the background helping the other kids get on their sparring gear.

Feb 11th

2008-02-15T09:41:00.001-05:00

Finished the Kids Valentine's today. Jacob's are the "Wild About You" and Kaitlyn's are the "Stinkin' Cute" ones. We added Dum-Dums to the cards before they handed them out.

Feb 10th

2008-02-11T12:50:00.000-05:00

Today was the family party to celebrate Kaitlyn's decade-ness. She is so impressed with herself being double digits! I can remember feeling the SAME way! We had FUN. Nanny and Poppy were there, MawMaw had a bad cold and she stayed home. Uncle Aaron and Aunt Kelly were there (with my neice in the oven), and Uncle Philip and Aunt Aldyn and Phelps, Aubrey and Ashtyn too. Gabe and Keegan came too. Carmen fell on their ski trip and broke her collar bone yesterday, so she stayed home.

Feb 9th

2008-02-11T12:47:00.000-05:00

Well, we all survived the sleepover. Kevin was a HUGE help. He was right in there tie-dying, and chinese jump-roping! The girls "slept" in the "big" room upstairs. They did a lot of dancing, singing and giggling up there. I think they finally went to sleep around 1:30am.

Feb 8th

2008-02-11T12:44:00.001-05:00

Today is Kaitlyn's TENTH birhtday!! I CANNOT BELIEVE IT. Time flies when you are having fun!! Today is her party/sleepover. When she got home from school, we gave her a present from the family so she would have it for the party - a new digital camera.

She was very excited to use it and take LOTS of pictures of her friends. It will even do short videos!

Feb 7th

2008-02-11T12:42:00.000-05:00

This is the cake that I made tonight for Kaitlyn's party tomorrow. It is a make your own pizza, tie-dye, sleepover party. So the cake is tie-dyed too!

Feb 5th & 6th

2008-02-11T12:41:00.001-05:00

I worked these 2 nights, and just never took any pictures...oops - I will make up for it over the weekend with Kaitlyn's party pictures!

Feb 4th

2008-02-11T12:39:00.000-05:00

All of the invitations have been sent. Kaitlyn helped me "tie-dye" the glossy cardstock for them. They were all different. This is the one that we sent to MawMaw.

Feb 3rd

2008-02-11T12:36:00.000-05:00

Today is Jaimie's 31st bday and the Super Bowl. So on the way home from MawMaw's house, we stopped at the Sweem's and had some cake and ice cream - then stayed for the super bowl too.

Feb 2nd

2008-02-11T12:33:00.000-05:00

Ok we were in Hendersonville this weekend and it was cold outside, so it was a lazy day inside. We called Nanny to wish her a happy birthday, and then just layed around. Kevin and Kaitlyn watched some TV, Jacob played his DS ALL day, and even tho there isnt a picture of it, I was knitting!

Feb 1st

2008-02-01T21:48:00.000-05:00

Wow - February is already here! This is a photo of a cake that I made for my best friend Jaimie's 31st bday. It is a 3-layered checkerboard cake with chocolate and butter-recipe yellow cake, with vanilla icing between the layers and on top, and chocolate icing on the sides and as the decoration.

Jan 31st

2008-02-01T21:45:00.000-05:00

Well, we finally came to a decision about Kaitlyn's 10th (can you believe it??!) bday party. We are going to have a Tie-Dye/Pizza/Sleepover party! The girls will be making their own pizzas and Tie-Dying shirts and a pair of socks; and then the ones that want to can sleep over. Should be fun and interesting. This will be her first sleepover at our house...and one of the reasons the "big" room was cleaned out! :-)

Jan 30th

2008-02-01T21:38:00.000-05:00

So another find for me - what treasures I had packed away *wink* I found this doily and pair of baby booties in the sewing box that had been my Mamaw's. I am guessing they belonged to her and were either her child's booties or her own. I took this second photo playing around with my camera's settings and tripod. I LOVE how this came out!

Jan 29th

2008-02-01T21:17:00.000-05:00

Another find from my clean of the big room - this was my very first teddy bear, and the frog was given to me by Aunt Ann and Uncle Tom. I LOVED that frog! Cool to find them, now they are living on a scrapbook room shelf, watching over me. :-)

Jan 28th

2008-02-01T21:15:00.001-05:00

I FINISHED MY SWEATER!!!!! What a fun project and I love it! The lace work was fun and interesting and I am glad I chose red!

Jan 27th

2008-01-29T21:32:00.001-05:00

While cleaning out our "big" room that has housed boxes and my sewing and a various asundry of items, I found wrapped in tissue at the bottom of a box my crumpled wedding boquet. So I got it out, fluffed it up and set it on top of my scrapbook room shelves in my office. A pretty reminder of a wonderful day.

Jan 26th

2008-01-26T17:41:00.000-05:00

Kaitlyn found some Mary Kay samples today and was giving herself a make-over...here are the results...Looks much older than her almost 10 years old! Man...preview of things to come I guess.

Jan 25th

2008-01-26T17:39:00.000-05:00

Went to the grocery store today and loaded up...and for tonight's dessert, I made chocolate chip cookies (the easy break apart kind) YUMMY!!

Jan 24th

2008-01-25T07:29:00.000-05:00

MaryGrace and John came over this afternoon, and we had fun playing on the floor with John's peek-a-boo blocks. He loved it when I would build a tower (even if it was only 2-3 high) and he knocked it down. He laughed and laughed. So did MaryGrace! What sweet kids!!

Jan 23rd

2008-01-25T07:24:00.001-05:00

I finished a present for John (Jaimie's littlest one) today. It is a baby lovey for him to sleep with. I made him one when he was first born, and thought it would be good to have a backup! They both are made out of Lion Brand Microspun yarn. David and Jaimie are Clemson Tiger fans, so that is where the color combo comes from. This is my first Double-Knitting project that is not exactly the same on either side. It is reversible, but one side has Clemson, while the other has Tigers. These were knit at the same time! WHEW! It took a lot of concentration, but it wasn't hard to do.

Jan 22nd

2008-01-25T07:19:00.001-05:00

Kaitlyn had a school project due on Wed so we finished it tonight (read "did it tonight") {sigh} She did a good job - she had to make a model of either a Colonial town, or a southern plantation. She chose the southern plantation. We made the houses out of paper (printed from the internet), and made salt dough to make the landscape. Once we baked the salt dough, and it was dry, she painted it. Her favorite part was when we used Liquid Applique (a type of puff paint that when heated puffs up!) for the cotton fields. Good Job Kaitlyn!!!

Jan 21st

2008-01-25T07:17:00.001-05:00

Another scrabook layout that I finished - this one is of the kids' summer hair cuts.

Jan 20th

2008-01-25T07:15:00.000-05:00

I had to work again tonight, and I took a close-up picture of the scrub top I had on - one of my FAVs!! I {heart} GREEN!!

Jan 19th

2008-01-25T07:12:00.000-05:00

Well, you can't tell it in the picture, but it was a snowy MESS today. It snowed from about 2:00pm until Jaimie and I went to work. Thankfully, it didn't stick, and it stopped early enough in the night, AND it was windy enough, that by the time we left work Sunday morning, the roads had dried - for the most part. We had an uneventful drive home.

Jan 18th

2008-01-18T15:34:00.000-05:00

I finished Kaityn's hat late last night, and she wore it to school today. I am pleased with how it turned out. It is double-knit, the inside is the fuzzy cream yarn like the heart, and it would be reversible except for the pom-pom. It will be nice and warm!

Jan 17th

2008-01-17T10:07:00.000-05:00

Last night before we went to sleep, it started to snow. GORGEOUS, HUGE white flakes. I got up and checked about 3:30am and there was about 3 inches accumulated on the grass and cars. So imagine my disappointment when we got up this morning that it was raining, making things MISERABLE. At least if it has snowed, you can play in it, but not with the rain -- NASTY. What a day...oh, and it is my Daddy's birthday! Happy birthday Dad!! Love you!

Jan16th

2008-01-16T22:22:00.001-05:00

I did some more scrapbooking today, but I also started a double-knit hat for Kaitlyn. A new technique for me. I also "frogged" part of my red sweater that I messed up on (Frogging is when you have to rip out what you have knit -- so called because you "rip-it, rip-it"). I got it back to a point that I can start again correctly...but I just can't knit on it right now!

Jan 15th

2008-01-16T22:14:00.000-05:00

I slept today after working last night, and then I scrapbooked some more... I finished up the last touches on the I {heart} Frogs LO and did the other 2 LOs too! I am following challenges from Scrapbook Friends

Jan 14th

2008-01-16T22:11:00.000-05:00

I have been SCRAPBOOKING!! This is a LO about our new artificial tree - "Faux Fir" hahahaha ;-)

Jan 13th

2008-01-16T22:08:00.000-05:00

Uncle Burt came for a visit yesterday. He is here to see Uncle Bill who is in the hospital. This is a family photo with my parents Karl and Carol, hubby Kevin, kids, Kaitlyn and Jacob and of course Uncle Burt.

Jan 12th

2008-01-16T22:06:00.001-05:00

I have finished my scrappin' re-do! WHEW!! Also, Eric, Hana, and Sam came for a visit today! Great to see them - gotta get Ayako here too!

Jan 11th

2008-01-16T22:05:00.001-05:00

OK, so I've started!

Jan 10th

2008-01-16T22:03:00.000-05:00

Yep, still a mess....

Jan 9th

2008-01-16T22:02:00.000-05:00

WOW! My scrappn' space is a MESS -- Gotta get motivated to do something about it!

Jan 8th

2008-01-16T21:52:00.000-05:00

I got a shipment from Stampin' Up! I have to work tonight, so this is as exciting as it gets! ;-)

Jan 7th

2008-01-16T21:48:00.000-05:00

I have 2 pictures for today - one of the beautiful grass in my backyard - It was a Gorgeous day today! And the other represents the Eagles project that Kaitlyn did - she was Rita Recycle - and gave a "commercial" on how important it is to recycle and how easy recycling aluminum cans can be.

Jan 6th

2008-01-16T21:37:00.000-05:00

We went out and bought the kids new coats today in Asheville. They both needed them. I only got a picture of Kaitlyn's coat....

January 5th

2008-01-16T21:35:00.001-05:00

This photo was taken to represent when we were in Hendersonville, and were burning brush piles for MawMaw

January 4th

2008-01-07T18:00:00.000-05:00

Unfortunately on this day, I had a BAD headache! So I took a picture of some of the meds as I was taking them.

January 3rd

2008-01-07T17:57:00.000-05:00

I had to work this night so I took a picture of my shoes - I love my shoes - they are Docs by Anywears. Very Comfortable!

Photo a day - 2

2008-01-07T17:10:00.001-05:00

January 2. 2008

I got a new dragonfly wall ornament at Hobby Lobby this day and it is hanging in my scrapbook room! LOVE IT!! (Of course it is GREEN too!!)

Photo a day

2008-01-07T17:05:00.001-05:00

I decided to take the "Photo a Day" challenge and have been doing them, so I will catch up this blog with my photos from days past.

January 1, 2008

This photo is of a WIP (work in progress) I have on my knitting needles right now. It is for a sweater tank - This is the first time I have done any lace work. It is easy and I am loving the color and how it is turning out.

Back from DC

2007-08-10T17:42:00.000-04:00

We are back from our trip to Maryland, and DC. We had a BLAST!! I will write more later, but here is a picture of me and the kids and Kimmie (who we stayed with - our cousin) What a GREAT time we had! HUGS
Ann

Cool Bug

2007-07-27T19:49:00.001-04:00

Today I was coming inside after visiting Jaimie and Vicky and their CUTE babies, and there was this "hummingbird" type moth/bug thingy drinking nectar from my red verbena in my front flower bed. So of course I grabbed the camera and got some shots, none too great, but some shots of this cool bug, never-the-less. It is a snowberry clearwing hummingbird moth ....picture from the web So, here's a picture from MY garden! Have a great weekend!

HUGS
Ann

My Flowers

2007-07-25T15:04:00.000-04:00

All A's

2007-07-25T14:59:00.000-04:00

Kaitlyn got all A's this year in the third grade and we are so proud of her! This is a Layout commemorating her achievement!

WOW!

2007-07-24T18:46:00.000-04:00

Life has been crazy-busy lately! I think the reason for the craziness is how busy we have been at work. All I can say is that 9 months ago, it must have been REALLY cold cause we have been SLAMMIN' every night for the past 2 weeks. Hey, job security, right?! Other than work, we have been back and forth to Hendersonville. The kids went and stayed with MawMaw last week and had a really great time. I have been scrapbooking a little, and knitting some too. I got the new Harry Potter book and have been devouring it over the past couple of days. Almost done! Good book! No spoilers here tho. Hope you all are well! HUGS
Ann

Faces of John

2007-07-16T12:59:00.000-04:00

Last weekend we went to the mountains with our friends David and Jaimie and their 2 kiddos and had a blast! This LO is done with some of the pictures I took of John - showing his many faces! It is another Digital LO -- fun stuff! They aren't intricate, but I don't have the software for them to be! Thanks for looking!
Ann

Finished a Baby present

2007-07-11T15:19:00.000-04:00

My friend Vicky just had a baby on July 1st and I finished her baby gift today. I knitted a baby sweater for her baby to wear this fall. His name is Brayden and he is SO cute! Thought I would share with you all! HUGS
Ann
(baby doll model)

Moments

2007-07-11T14:08:00.000-04:00

Sometimes life isn't always what we expect it to be. There are LOTS of different moments. Happy moments. Confused moments. Calm moments. Sad moments. Chaotic moments. Blessed moments. No matter the moment, we want you to know you are always LOVED! may 2007

Layout completed 7/11/07 - photo taken in Hendersonville, May 2007 -
hand-doodled/stamped/drawn by me :-)