2 Little Monkeys and a Princess

I made monkey costumes for my boys this year. My Mom made the same costume for my nephew who is a year younger than my youngest. They were the Three Monkeys Jumping on the Bed. Notice the bumped heads. My boys loved their costumes. For my daughter I made a midieval princess costume. She looked great but the dress turned out a little big. Patterns can be so frustrating. I followed the pattern measurements for the monkey costumes and they just fit. For the dress I did the same thing and it was quite big. Go figure! I should have measured the pattern pieces but I just did not want to take the time. I love the back of my daughters dress. The eyelets and lacing were such a cool touch. My wonderful husband put all of the eyelets in and he did a great job!

Finally, I am going to work on something for myself. Stay tuned...

We Made Bread!

This was my 3 year olds exclamation as we took out pans of yummy looking bread out of the oven. Last year, at about this time, I got the bug to start making homemade bread for my family. We love 100% whole wheat bread and it is quite expensive at the store. Unfortunately, I had a very hard time finding a recipe that I could make cooperate and turn out great loaves of bread. Working with only whole wheat flour is a challenge. After quite a few attempts I got tired of trying and I was lacking time to make bread each week. Well, fast forward to Monday. We were out of bread and out of money (we are on a very tight budget). So I decided to try my hand at making bread again. I found a recipe that seemed like it might work. Yesterday my 3 year old and I gave it another try. Here are our results:

Here is my 3 year old who is very impressed with his work:
Lastly, here are my children enjoying a yummy, healthy afternoon snack and a story:
I guess I have the bread baking bug again. Next week I am going to try hard white wheat instead of red.

Crafting update: I have been working on my husband's sweater. I am almost done with the back. I have also been working on costumes for my children. Hopefully I will be able to post pictures tomorrow.

Until next time...

Spartan Pullover Update

I have actually been working on this sweater. I thought for sure that I would get to the end of the fair isle pattern and then go find something else. But, I have surprised myself and continued. It has gone much quicker than I thought it would. About 13 inches are complete. Woohoo! Only about 3 more inches until I split the front and back. I think I might be able to get to this point tomorrow evening. I am a little (okay, no, a lot) concerned that I will not have enough yarn. I guess I will have to wait and see. If worst comes to worst I can always make it a vest. Unfortunately I cannot go back for more yarn. I do not think that my LYS would have the same dye lot after a year. That's what I get for taking so long to complete a project. Knit on!

Spartan Pullover

I started a sweater for my husband a last winter. Spring happened and I quickly lost interest. Well, now winter is coming soon and I have new motivation for working on this. Here is the picture from the Fall 2006 Interweave Knits.

Now, for my progress:


Yarn: Cascade Yarns
Type: The Heathers
100% Peruvian Highland Merino Wool

I am using size 10 needles. I am making a larger size to compensate for gauge being a bit off. I will have my husband try this on this evening to see if it fits enough to continue on. So wish me luck!

Until next time...

I Won Fabric!!! It can't get any better than that!

I am so excited! I won a yard of fabric from Sew Mama Sew! I cannot believe that I won. I rarely win anything. Here is what I picked. I have no idea what I will do with it but I just really liked it. There is so many possibilities. I think that it will be hard to choose the perfect project.


I haven't been sewing lately but I have been knitting. I love to knit while watching TV. I have just been wanting to sit a veg lately in front of the TV (It has been premier week) and so knitting has won out over sewing. I have so many sewing projects in my head. Someday they will be completed. I have been working on a sweater for my husband. I started this more than a year ago and did not get very far. I will post on his sweater later.

So long for now!!

Defending the Caveman

My husband and I have birthdays that are 2 days apart. His is on Monday and mine is on Wednesday. This year instead of trying to find each other presents we went to see a production of Defending the Caveman. This is a one man monologue about the differences between men and women and it is HILARIOUS! I laughed so hard I thought I would burst. I haven't laughed so hard in a while. There is a quick clip at the Anchorage Concert Association website that is pretty funny. Check it out.

I Could Go a Month on This One!!

My mom and her best friend used to say this phrase a lot when my brothers (her sons) and I were younger. This phrase would come out when we would do something or say something that they had worked hard to teach us or showed some appreciation for all they did. These small things were what kept them going and loving motherhood. When I was younger I did not understand this at all. Boy, how things change. I completely understand now. Those moments of satisfaction when you know that your children are listening to what you are trying to teach them are few and far between. In my head I know that my children listen to me, love and appreciate me but they do not clearly express as much as I would like. So often I feel like I am talking to little brick walls. When I hear through the grapevine they did or said something I had been teaching them it is such a boost of confidence that I am doing a good job of being their mom. Plus, anytime I hear that they love me or thank me for something I did for them it is such a great moment.

So... I COULD GO A MONTH ON THIS ONE!!!
(She wrote the missing letters and words on the post-its.)

Ravelry Here I Come!!!

I received my Ravelry invite this morning. I was shocked when I saw the email. I was expecting it to take longer than it did. I am so excited!!! Although it is one more thing to do on the computer that will further distract me from the actual act of crafting. Oh well! It will take me some time to get it all set up but what fun that will be! My username is knitsewmuch if you want to check me out sometime. Guess I know what I will be doing this afternoon :).

A Sweater Finally Finished !!! (Well Almost)

I sat down late last night to post this blog but alas the internet was not working. I should have realized that this would be the case since my husband had to go in to work last night to fix an internet outage. I couldn't find my camera anyway so it was better that I just post this morning.

I finally finished my son's sweater. It took so much longer than I thought it would when I last posted. It is amazing how long it takes to do a couple more rows on the sleeves and sew up all the seams. My seams are horrible it think but it is done and together. My son is only 5 so he won't notice that the craftsmanship is not up to Mom's usual standards. I just wanted it DONE! Now it finally is except for the buttons which I might have him help me pick them out. He would really enjoy that. He wasn't just lovin' getting his picture taken this morning but I finally got a good one of him.

Happy Tuesday!

Hello blogland. Sorry I have been away for a while. Well, actually I have been here the whole time reading posts and some commenting but I have not really had anything to post about. I am sure you do not want to be bored with my random musings about stuff. Many people do it very well and make it fun and interesting but unfortunately not me. Anyway, I have been crafting quite a bit. I have been working on a a sweater for my oldest son. I started it at the beginning of the summer and I am almost done. I will show pictures later this week. I also have a pair of socks that I am on the second sock and will maybe have finished within this week or so (I really do not like this project so I want to be done with it!) As soon as I unearth my sewing UFOs I will tell you about the contest i entered over at Pattern Review. This week there will be more posts. Make sure you check back with me. Have a great Tuesday!

Until next time...

First Day of 2nd Grade

Earlier this week I finished an outfit for my daughter. Here she is on her way to her first day of Second Grade a couple of days ago. I cannot believe how big she is getting.

Knitting update: I have been practicing continental knitting. I am very slow and awkward. I want to give up but I know in my head that I should keep working and practicing. Eventually I will get faster and not so awkward. All I want is to work on my socks the way I am used to. So, I think that I am going to make my socks and then practice intermittently. Enough blogging. On to the socks!

ARRRRRRRRRRRGH!!!!

I can't find my Sew Stylish that I just bought!!! I am going out of my mind. I am beside myself. What am I going to do? I am going to have to go out and buy it again. SHOOT! I had it in my car. I read it all the way home. I thought it came in my house but I can't find it anywhere. And, to make matters even worse it is accompanied by the newest Interweave Knits! There is an awesome v-neck cable sweater that I am dying to make. I am restraining myself from purchasing yarn because I need to work on a sweater for my husband that I started at the end of last winter. But I want to look at the new sweater. I want to drool and dream about making it.

I AM IN AGONY!

American Knitting: The Hard Way

Last weekend I spend the day selling my Discovery Toys at a booth. I brought along my socks to knit when I wasn't busy. A woman walked by and saw me knitting. Our conversation went like this:
Me: Hello, how are you?
Her: Good thank you. Are you doing American or European.
Me: American.
Her: Oh, the hard way!
Me: I know it is the hard way. I have been wanting to learn how to do it the other way but just haven't been able to.
Her: Do you want me to show you?
Me: I would love that!
So she came over and showed me a few stitches. Now I am determined to learn this method. I think it will be so much faster than my throwing method. I think my knitting is pretty slow and I would love to try anything that will make me faster. I love this video that I found. I think that I just might be able to learn with this to help.

My First Pair of Socks!

My daughter's socks are finished. Count them 1,2. Yeah!! A pair of socks. I am so excited to complete my first pair of socks. Once finished I cast on for another pair of socks. These will be for me. I am again using Cascade Fixation but my pair are blue, teal, purple, and lavender. They will be fun to wear.

It's been SUNNY!

I know that I haven't blogged in a while. Long periods between entries was not what I wanted to happen. This blog is supposed to motivate me to create something consistently. Well, I have been doing some knitting. My socks are coming along. BUT, is has been SUNNY! Now for most in the "lower 48" this isn't any big deal. Up here in AK sun is everything. The world stops for sunny days. This past week it has been in the 70's and glorious. I know, this doesn't sound warm to most, but again, up here it is FANTASTIC! I cannot remember the last time we had weather like this in August and I have lived here my whole life. So, you will have to cut me some slack. We are too busy playing. I will have plenty of inside time come Winter so now I MUST PLAY, PLAY, PLAY!

Sock is Finished

Well, it's done. The top is too floppy for my daughter but the foot fits. She really likes it. I ended up liking the striping on the foot but the top is to splotchy. Even though I do not really like the finished product I am proud of myself for finishing it. This is my first finished sock. The others I have tried have all been ripped. This one will be too but I will remake it and fix what I do not like. It was really fast to make. My daughter wants to just keep this sock but I just cannot be happy with one sock being right and the other being a disaster. Soon, I will show you two finished socks (if I do not get sidetracked first lol).

Cascade Fixation Woes!

I have been knitting some. Not on the sweater I should be knitting for my 5 year old. Oh no. That has becoming boring and I want something new. So what if I am so close to finishing it.

I bought some Cascade Fixation when I was in Soldotna last weekend. I bought a sock pattern and was very excited to start this project. The ball of yarn was beautiful. The colors were perfect for my daughter-salmon, lime and taupe. I was so excited. I casted on with anticipation. At the point of this picture I was really liking the look.


Then everything came crashing down. The striping started to look horrendous with big, odd splotches of taupe surrounded by funny stripes of color. I did not check my gauge (I know, I am cowering right now.) for this not-so-easy-to-work-with-yarn and so of course the rib is too loose and flabby. I am going to keep going for practice. I have some more of this yarn in another color way for socks for me. I want to learn from this yarn so that my socks will be right. Currently, I have turned the heel and am on my way to the toe. I will post a picture of the sock when I am finished. Everything is a learning experience right?

My Daughters Jammies

I thought I would post a picture of my daughter's Tinkerbell jammies that I lovingly stayed up until 3 AM so she would have them on her birthday. They are a little big but she loves them. She said they were her 2nd favorite gift (A build a bear with outfits and accessories took 1st place) because they were handmade and really from me. Wasn't that sweet? Sometimes I think I'll keep her.

Her brothers jumped in the pictures because they wanted to be in Mommy's blog. The 3 year old was disappointed that I did not have some pictures of him fishing. What can I do? He didn't fish. Oh well, this will make it up to him. He is easy to please.

Fishing Weekend

Well, I haven't blogged for a while. Every time I try something comes up. Sewing has been on hold for a bit while we enjoy the last days of summer up here in AK. I did sew my daughter some Tinkerbell jammies for her birthday because she wanted them so much. Being the loving mother that I am, desiring only to satisfy my childrens' every wish (lol) I stayed up until 3 AM sewing the night before her birthday.

Okay, back on track. Last weekend we went some property my Grandparents own down on the Kenai Penninsula (about 2 hours south of Anchorage). This property while not attractive in itself it is right on the Kenai River and looks across at some beautiful scenery. And oh yes, it is a GREAT salmon fishing spot. Every year the 'reds' (red salmon-some of the best tasting salmon I am told) come in en masse and my whole family (quite the family reunion) flocks to this piece of land (it is actually a giant sandbox surrounded by RV's and travel trailers.


This run, which coincides every year with the Nordstrom Sale, brings great excitement. I spent the weekend watching people pull in tons of fish. My children were very excited to get in on the action. They loved fishing. They did not actually hook anything because they were not using fly rods but they got to bring in some that their uncles hooked.













My kids thought that the best part was beating the fish on the head till their 'eyes got wide' once they were brought in to shore. Yes, all weekend my children ran around with the fish whacker whacking and killing innocent fish.
They LOVED it! I LOVED it too. Not the fish whacking but the fact that my children were totally entertained and I could do whatever I wanted. I should have been knitting a sweater for my 5 year old but I read instead.

This was his first salmon. Next year he is planning on catching it all on his own. They both now have 2 cans of fresh smoked salmon to enjoy. They are pretty pleased with themselves. My daughter cannot wait to make dip with hers.

Red season is over for this year. Fish has been smoked and canned. We can now enjoy the fruits of our labors. Well, they all can. I do not like fish! I know, I know, how can I live in AK and not like fish? Just a flaw I guess!

A Fun Summer Skirt

My skirt turned out great. Now I am wondering what to do next. I have loads of stuff to make for my daughter but I would like to make something for me. Most of my fabric stash has been purchased with my daughter in mind. I just might have to go shopping. Oh, bummer!

Prairie Girl Shirt is finished!

I finished the Prairie Girl shirt that I told you about a couple of days ago. I am so happy with it. It fit nicely and I really like how it looks. I am so excited that I finally made something for me and it looks good. Yeah!

I would love to tell you more but my ride to the airport is here! Have a great weekend!

I LOVE this book!

I just bought a new book. I LOVE it. I have been on the hunt for a new good sewing book. There are many that are mostly for beginners, home dec sewing, or couture. I have plenty of beginning sewing books. I do not really like to sew for my home. I would love to sew using couture techniques but I do not want to take the time right now. I was looking for a book that would be fun for me, the intermediate sewer.

I finally found it!



This book is great for beginners and intermediate sewers alike. The author shows you h0w to draft patterns for simple skirt. I can sew but I have always been hesitant to stray far from patterns. I absolutly love making my own pattern to fit me perfectly. It was soooo easy too.

Here is what skirt I am making. It is a simple pattern but was just what I had in mind for this fabric. I had been looking for a pattern but couldn't find exactly what I wanted. Hooray for this book!!!

I will post pictures next week when I return from my trip to Oakland, CA for the Discovery Toys Convention!

I Cannot Work in this MESS!

My sewing room is in combination with my office. I love having the two together because my hubby can be working on the computer while I am sewing. At least we are in the same room even if we aren't exactly communicating. Anyway, our office tends to be a dumping ground. Actually this is an understatement! The office was such a disaster I had had ENOUGH! I would like to sew a shirt before I leave on Wednesday to go to a DT convention. The fabric has been sitting on my cutting table for a month or so. ( I have been knitting since I cannot find my cutting table.) So I finally cleaned up! It is far from perfect but at least I can sew now.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Here is what I am working on. I will have pictures before I leave on Wednesday!



The pattern is by Favorite Things. It is a nice and simple pattern. The fabric by Amy Butler. I saw this pattern made up in a fabric store in WA when I was there in March for a Sewing Expo. I loved it and had to have it. They had it in a different fabric. I loved this print. It is a little bolder than I am used to wearing but I need to branch out! I am excited to finish this and wear it.

Blog World Here I Come!

Okay, I am finally going to try to start my own blog to share my passion for my crafts and my family. A good friend of mine has been blogging for a while now (and having so much fun at it I am very jealous) I am ready to bite the bullet and share my creations with the world. I have a blog for my Discovery Toys business but only update it a few times a month. Hopefully I will be able to keep up with this one. I think that this one will be tons of fun and I am very excited.

A little about Me:

I am married with 3 children. They often cause me to NOT knit sew much!

I love to sew. Mainly I sew for my daughter because I am chicken to try and make stuff that fits me. My few attempts to sew for myself has ended pretty well but I need to do it more to get over my fear. Every once in a while I will sew an accessory for myself.

I love to knit. My children have also been the recipients for all of my knitted creations. I like to knit for my boys. They love it when I make things for them. I do not particularly love to sew for them but I love to make them great sweaters.

I also really enjoy scrapping, quilting, and jewelry making but sewing and knitting are my main focus for crafting.

I am hoping to share my creations on this blog. I will probably start with some of my past stuff. And of course I will have to share my family with you because they are my pride and joy!

To start here is a picture of my family. Starting at the left: My husband Keith, Elianna age 6, Seth age 5, Me, and Silas age 3.

Every year I buy flag shirts from Old Navy to take a family photo. This year I picked up the shirts in early June. Usually we all match but this year I couldn't find all matching shirts so my daughter helped me pick coordinating ones. So, the shirts sat in the bag on our dresser until the morning of the 4th. My husband put his on and I about died laughing. The tag said adult but the shirt was clearly designed for a woman. It had little cap sleeves. Oh my, he looked hilarious!!! I wish I had taken a picture. I tried mine on but did not like how it fit. So we were scrambling for coordinating shirts. Luckily, our 2005 shirts worked and we have a nice family photo.

Now knitting: I am a pretty slow knitter. Generally I start out making something for one child and it ends up being for a younger one. Oh well, someone will wear it is my motto! In this picture...

my youngest son is wearing one of the first sweaters I made. I actually made it for his sister. When it was finished (with the arms and length a bit shortl since it was started when she was a year and a half younger) she informed me that she did not like it! It was just blue (no flowers, pink or anything girly). So, very frustratedly of course, I threw it in the closet. I tried it once on Seth when I thought it might fit him. It hung on him horribly! Strike TWO. Back into the closet it went. A day or two before Easter this year I realized my poor boys had been neglected. Elianna had a new dress (made by my mom) but they had nothing. So we rushed out to find something. I was relieved to find some nice button-up shirts at Gymboree and a great jacket on sale at Sears. Easter morning as we were getting ready (madly because we were running late as usual) I asked my husband to bring up the blue sweater. When he did I was shocked, and pleasantly surprised that it matched the shirt. I was so excited!! Someone might finally wear this stupid (as I affectionately call it) sweater. FINALLY SUCCESS!!