my supervisor or helper

I think he thinks he is I tell you! He is always next to me, always. It is so funny but whenever I put something out to measure or cut he runs over and lays on it.

Here is one of the place mat tops in a set I am hoping to finish up tomorrow. I would love to hear how your homemade gift are coming along?

Here's wishing you all a lovely Wednesday.

making progress, doing what I can and I am okay with that

So the challenge this year for me is to make as many gifts as I can while working full time (and then some) and not stress out and forget the reason for this wonderful season. Normaly my house is decked out, I am hosting parties, crafting and baking like a maniac, often to the point where I am totally freaked out trying to get everything done. Running around to make everyone happy by cramming in too much stuff. I know some of you guys know what I'm talking about.

Well, this year my job has become a time vampire since summer and has not let up. My days are long and have cut into my free time for crafting, exercise, blogging and life in general. I've had no choice but to step back on my holiday busyness this year and am surprised that I actually am enjoying the slower pace, shocking for those who know me but true. In only having baked a little and have only my tree up (versus 100 santas all over, yes I love Santa) I have chosen to spend every minute I can crafting my gifts and spending time with my family. Life is so good and I am feeling very blessed and thankful.
I am happy with the progess I have made thus far and am making a definite dent in my "to do" list. I hope to be able to get everything done but now know the world wont end if I don't and I am okay with that, sigh.

Here are a few things from my list

::Comfy pants for monkey and my neice~check
::blankets for my niece and nephew~check
::fabric washed, coordinated and ready to be completed into
something special for my mom and sister~check
::Hybrid mittens for my FIL~on the needles
::Thorpe for monkey's BF~soon to be on the needles
::Enjoying these moments, this season and taking my time and putting
love and warm thoughts into each stitch~check
::making progress, doing what I can~check
::smiling a lot~check


What are some of the things you are working on these days?

Christmas Cookie fun

Life is extra busy and a bit hectic this week but I hope to back soon to share pictures, lots of good stuff going on around here.

Happy Weekending to you!
Jen

Good Bye November, Hello December

Pieces of my everyday in November

Thanksgiving weekend we hit the road and had such a good time. We spent Turkey day hiking in the Palm Springs mountains and filled our bellies with wonderful food shared with family. Friday we were back on the road and drove to the lake. Road trips are fun for me as the music man usually almost always drives so I get a lot of knitting time in.
I am working on the slouchy cardigan from Knit Cafe and I know I say this alot but this could be my new favorite (haha), I know but a girl can't have to many right.

The weather is cold and it feels more like winter than Fall these days. Funny how this California weather can be. Not to long ago it was 100 degrees out and now we are averaging in the 50's and 60's. I know not cold for most of you but us So Cal peeps really dont know what real cold is. We have been enjoying soup and home fresh breads though, yum!

The cool air has inspired me to get going on my Christmas gifts as well. I have several to finish up and much more to do. I hope to have my tree up by next weekend and am looking forward to hanging the garland and mistletoe.

Be back soon to share some of my soon to be (I hope) finished projects, until then here's wishing you a beautiful week filled with peace and joy.

Gratitude

"Gratitude is noticing the extraordinary in the ordinary and then taking a nanosecond to feel it" author unknown

I love this quote and have shared it here before but it reminded me that it's been a few months since I've done a thankful post. With Thanksgiving this week it felt like it was time for another one.

Life is busy, full, often crazy and so so good, my family and I are greatly blessed. Here are a few things that I am grateful for right now.

::faith, for the peace and grace it brings to my life
::my beautiful and healthy family who makes me laugh daily
::snuggles from a brown dog
::the smell of homemade cookies wafting through out the house
::cool weather and a warm cup of coffee
::the company of good friends old and new
::for the beginning of each day
::the quiet at the end of day where I can sit, knit and clear my mind
::for new adventures that are yet to come

I would love to hear what you are feeling grateful for?
Here's wishing you a lovely Thanksgiving week that is full joy.

Jen

Hello weekend I am so happy you are finally here

Oh my gosh work has been SO busy and stressful this week. I have to say that I am very thankful it's Friday and am so ready for a little fun! Tonight the musical handy man has a gig so we will be spending the evening with friends, music and cold beer *whoo whoo* I wanted to drop in and wish you all a Happy Friday and a wonderful weekend!

brioche rib stitch floppy

This was a quick and easy knit that only took a couple hours to do. I didnt follow a pattern or have a plan when I started, I simply cast on and then I was done. I think it's perfect for good or bad hair days. It may have actually taken me longer to get a picture of it then it did to knit it up. I found that again it isn't easy getting a picture of yourself is it? My hope was to get a nice shot detailing the stitch but after many attemps I ended up with this one.

I used Knit Picks Wool of the Andes. It was my first time working with this lovely yarn and I found it to be soft, squishy and in bulky knits up really fast. I have been wanting to learn the brioche stitch for a while and am happy I chose it with this yarn. This is such a fun stitch thats reversable and creates a thick and cushy surface. The versatility would make it a great stitch for a scarf or throw as well.

Happy Friday! Here's wishing you a wonderful weekend full of things that make you smile.

new comfies pants

The Musical Handy Man had a gig the other night and I often go watch him, I love listening to him sing it makes my heart happy. This time though I was a bit tired after working extra hours and didnt feel like going out. Instead I enjoyed the quiet that comes with an empty house and the hum of my sewing machine. A couple hours later I had myself a new pair of comfies to lounge around in.

Last year I got Amy Butlers In Stitches. Do you have this book? If not you might want to check it out, it's awesome. There are so many great and easy patterns that are perfect for my simple sewing skills. Last year I made a dozen of the pants as gifts for birthdays and Christmas. Everyone really liked them and I have a couple peeps asking for another pair as this year gift. SO fun!

I received another knit picks order in the mailbox and have this beautiful and colorful wool rolled and ready to become something groovalicious. Here's wishing you a great week. Thanks for stopping by this place of mine and saying hi, I love that you visit!

Shalom Cardigan

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Yep, this is definitely my new "go to" cardi. There are so many things I like about this one. The pattern is a quick and easy to follow. The big needles make you feel like you are knitting really fassssssst. The yarn is soft, gushy and of course red, yay. I couldnt decide weather to use buttons or a zipper to finish it off.

I decided to go with these buttons since I had knitted the holes alreay but because of the hang and softness of this yarn a zipper would work great to.

~Pattern is Shalom by Meghan McFarlane
~Yarn is knit picks bulky comfy color pomegranate
~Needles~ size 10 circulars

~Modifications made~

I added button holes at each pattern repeat (initally I was going to do buttons all the way down but changed my mind and went with pattern repeats)

I also converted into long sleeves. k28, place 33 sts on scrap yarn, co 10 sts, k 47, place 33 sts on scrap yarn, co 10 sts, k28.

I skipped the waste shaping

continued sleeves by picking up 10 sts under arm for a total of 46 sts. Decrease 1 sts every 6 rows until 36 sts remain. knit until desired length and BO.

Quick note~
My mods were a combination of several found on Raverly. I CO using the long tail method and my neckline is a bit looser than I would have liked. Several people have found that a cable cast on would render a tighter edge? I think I will give that a try. I am already thinking about several other colors this would be great in because a girl can't have to many cardi's right.

Have a great weekend!

This weekend

I made this for a friend who was blessed with another beautiful little girl.

Baked some witchy cookies for my family

and soaked in some sunshine.

Hello November and a happy Monday. Here's wishing you a wonderful week ahead!