Oh my gosh, this is the cutest thing I have ever knit! I am in LOVE with this Sophie bag! I used the Plethora of Petals pattern from Knitty . This bag was knit in Cascade 220 Quatro and the flower was done in Cascade 220 Winter White. Tomorrow, this will be on it's way to a sweet little
girl in Nevada. She is one Shabby princess, as is her Mom, Jenn. I just hope she likes it as
much as I do!





Here are the bag and flower before felting

15 days until my birthday. The big 3-0. I am pretty excited about my birthday this year. Heck, I always love my birthday. No diapers to change, no children to really take care of (all I have to do is nurse A). I really enjoy my birthday.
So, in the spirit of my birthday (and to give some hints to my sweet husband) here are some things that I hope I get this year!
1. Addi Turbo needles, size 0 and 1, 40 inch cable. I love doing socks in the magic loop, but I don't have these sizes of needles yet! You can only knit so much on 2's and 3's! :)
2. This yarn. Those who know me shouldn't be surprised, my two favorite colors!
3. Any of this yarn
4. And, any of this yarn - this is especially yummy stuff! I've blogged about it before.
5. Of course, I always love gift certificates to my lys (Local Yarn Store, Jer) my two favorites are Black Sheep Wool and/or Soul Spun Yarn. This way I could take a class or two :)
6. This is something I have been wanting for a while now. Of course, my husband (the engineer) thinks he can make me one that is electric...we'll see!
7. And, how could I have number 6 without this?!?!
8. I also adore this sock yarn. My sister in law, Stephanie got some from Santa, it is just heavenly! Sadly, it is usually sold out since she hand dyes and spins it!
9. I would love a gift certificate to this store
10. Or this one

So, I originally started this list with 5 things, I have since added on 5 more :) It is my top ten wishlist, but in no particular order. Even if I don't get any of those things, it is fun to look for them and think of what I would want :)

And, as promised, 30 things about me will be coming soon. I have to think of 30 things first! heehee!

Here are the finished Calorimetry's! I did Erin's (the purple one) out of Wings Alpaca. Oh man it is so soft! I attached 2 buttons (ladybugs) so that it can be adjustable and fit her longer. Michelle's is out of Lamb's Pride bulky. I really like these, I may have to make myself one too :)

Jeremy's Logan interview went really well!! Jeremy felt really good about the interview. He met with 8 different people and when he called me, he sounded so upbeat and happy. There are about 10 people they are interviewing and he was the first on site interview. However, his main contact, Dan, told him that half of the people that interviewed him today were first interviews themselves :) This is somewhere Jeremy would really like to work. They will be hiring someone in February, so it shouldn't take too long :D
Since he was in Logan, Jeremy went to see his Grandparents after his interviews. It was nice for him to go see them and see his cousin, Matt, who just returned from an LDS mission to the Philippines in November.
Now the next interview is on Tuesday/Wednesday in Warsaw, IN. He has been to this town before for an interview with a different company, he said that I would like the town. My most important question...is there a yarn store? OH THERE IS!!!!!!!!!! I can live anywhere as long as I can get my knit fix!

While Jeremy was gone today, my friend Nicole came over. Here is a picture of our kiddos - S, A and E. They were having fun with their babies.














S and A are so funny together. They are just such great friends and crack Nicole and I up on a daily basis. Last night we went over there for dinner and S and A got married. After they got married, S gave A a Lightning McQueen car. She looked at S and very seriously said, "Oh S, I only like beautiful cars". Nicole and I cracked up! They are just such nutty kiddos. It is a good thing that they get along so well, it gives Nicole and I the much needed sanity/knitting breaks that we need!

I didn't get much knitting done today because my little A was Miss Cranky Pants. I don't think she realizes that Mommy is happiest when she gets time to knit. So...now I am off to do just that.

Oh look at these ADORABLE booties!!! These are knit with Baby Alpaca with a Twist. I love them!!! They are off in the mail tomorrow!! I also finished Michelle's Calorimetry today! I'll post pictures of it later, I need to go nurse A.

Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you...I frogged mil's socks. I just wasn't loving them. I'm sure that they are a great pattern, but this yarn just didn't want to be those socks. So, when I get everything else done that I need to, I'm making her some jaywalkers.
I am also making my darling, sweet, wonderful, patient husband some socks (FINALLY!). They will be red with a blue cuff, heel and toe. Oh, and I am going to do a little color work on the side with KU!!! Yeah, they will be his KU socks! He also wants these Socks with the Mac Apple on them. They are perfect for him! Maybe if he's really nice he'll get them for Christmas next year! ;)

Sorry for those who read both my blogs...

So, last Thursday, Jeremy had an interview with Zimmer, a company in Indiana. For those who remember, he interviewed with them in September, they liked him and wanted to bring him out, but the job was canceled due to budget issues. Well, they interviewed him for a different position last week. They called today and want to bring him out for an interview!! YIPEE!!

Then, on Friday a company in Logan, UT called. They did a phone interview with him on Friday. The gentleman he spoke with said that they originally wanted someone with more experience, but if the right person came along, they'd work with them. He has a phone interview with the rest of the team tomorrow at 4. Man, it would be awesome if he got offered both jobs and we could PICK where we lived!

Both places have perks, so we'll have to pray about it and decide where we really need to be right now. Keep us in your prayers please!

As for us...I'm sick, the kids are sick...man I hate colds! I don't like wiping runny noses. My babies don't like it either. :(

I'm trying to get some knitting done and quick! I am making some beautifully sweet booties for my friend Sarah's little baby girl, Zoey. I am hoping to get them out this week and she can have them before she turns 4 weeks on Saturday! :) Then, I need to finish Jenn's Sophie, Mom's capelet, Michelle's Calorimetry and a scarf for my doula (yeah, A is 7 months old..I'm a little late!). All before my birthday on February 11.

Speaking of my birthday...I'm going to be 30 this year. Kind of a big one. I am excited to be 30. I have always loved my birthday. It is a great time for me. A time of reflection and goal setting. Watch for an upcoming post...30 things about me, just in time for my birthday!

Look at these cute booties!!!! The pattern is from Nursery Knits by Zoe Mellor. I am not sure what the blue verigated yarn is, I got it in a yarn swap. The pink is Patons Merino. I love it!!! I made these in 2 days, so easy, so fun!!


I am now making some other booties from the pattern I mentioned in the previous post. I like them...but they're WAY too big for a newborn. So, A is getting another pair of booties!! These are in Big Baby Alpaca, YUM! I have enough yarn to make some for baby Z too. I'll just use a size 4 needle (instead of the 7's I used for the first pair). Or maybe I'll do a *gasp* gauge swatch! Yeah, I didn't check my gauge...I am really bad at that!

Booties are SO fun to knit!!! I have almost finished a pair for Miss A. She will look stunning in them! Tonight I cast on for these too! I can't do any more of these until I finish A's though. The seamless ones (cabled) will be for my friend Sarah's new baby girl. I'll post a picture when I can, I'm nursing A right now.
Have I mentioned how much I love to knit? It gives me such a great sense of satisfaction to finish something and see how beautiful it is. I just love hand knit items. Ooh, it's fun!

Losing weight for Yarn?? Yep!!! This is what my friend Nicole and I are doing. It is our own version of The Biggest Loser! :) We are weighing in at the beginning of each month and who ever loses the most percentage, gets yarn!! This month we are getting a gift certificate to Soul Spun Yarn, one of our local yarn shops.
I am down 6 pounds in the last 2 weeks! I am pretty happy about that. I want to lose a total of 43 lbs. and think I am well on my way.
Anyone want to join in?? You're more than welcome! Just let me know and we'll add you to the pot! We each donate $10 at the beginning of each month and then decide what we want to get. This month it's a gift certificate. Next month it may be some yummy yarn that we're coveting! :)

Brrrr it is COLD here! This morning it was 5 degrees. BRRR!! I wish that I had been thinking ahead last year and knit myself a babywearer poncho. I really want to do this out of an alpaca/wool blend. I am definitely doing it for next winter!!!

Tonight I finished my first calorimetry. I like it a lot. It is made from Blue Sky Alpaca in a grape color. (I can't remember exactly if it is Blue Sky Alpaca, I can't find the wrapper, but that is what I think). I just need to attach a button (or two) and it is done! I think I will attach 2 buttons to make it adjustable. I made this for a 4 year old little girl. I want it to work for her for more than one winter. They live in Florida and are going to Wisconsin this winter and then to NYC next year for Christmas. So, it would be ideal if it worked for her for both trips! Now I get to cast on her Mom's calorimetry! Hers is being made from a bulky Blue Sky Alpaca in charcoal. It is going to be so pretty!!!!
The hourglass socks are really coming along. I am enjoying the pattern and think they are looking good. It is a fun pattern and isn't too hard, but is just enough to keep my interest. I am excited to get them done for my mil for her birthday. Although, she informed me tonight that she no longer has birthdays, so it just has to be a present! HA!














The capelet (which never shows up very well in the pictures) for my Mom is not my favorite right now. I am using my knitpicks options needles and one of my cables broke! ERGH! So, I've had to fix it and in the process dropped a couple stitches >:( But, now that I've fixed it, hopefully all will be well!














I'm well into the Sophie bag for Jenn. I will be making a big hot pink flower with a green leaf on it. It will be so cute!!!















The Longies and I are having issues. I started the short rows too early, so I fear that they will fit her funny. I am thinking that I will be frogging these and starting over. If they're not perfect, I won't be happy and then it just isn't worth it. Oh, but how I hate pulling out work that I've done. It really does just break my heart.














And now for what I got this week!!! Nursery Knits by Zoe Mellor. I LOVE THIS BOOK!!! I am SO excited!! There are lots of really great patterns in here. My dear friend Sarah, had a baby girl one week ago. I am going to make her some booties from this book. I have some alpaca that is just dying to be worn by a sweet little baby girl! ;) The main reason I bought it was for a doll pattern. I will be making this for A for her birthday. There is also an Angel Dress in there. Oh it is SO sweet. Miss A will be getting that for her birthday also. As soon as I am done with the above projects, I will be starting on birthday projects for my darling babies! Oh, and more socks for me!

My sister, Stephanie, got a spinning wheel last week. I am so excited for her to have gotten this. Now she and I can hand dye and spin some yarn to make my dh his Jayhawk socks!!! We will dye the roving the exact colors of crimson and blue and then she will spin it for me. I am really excited for this. So is my very patient dh. I want his socks to be perfect, so that is why I haven't finished them yet. I will though...I promise honey!

So, for those that know me well, you know I love pink and brown. Well, look what I found!!!! I LOVE this yarn!!! I have sent an email to my dh giving him a big hint for my birthday!!! I will be 30 in less than a month. I think that qualifies as a pretty significant birthday and that he can splurge on 2 skeins of that beautiful yarn for me!!!

I have also fallen in love with Socks That Rock yarn. I don't have any. I've never knit with any. But, Stephanie won some and got it this week. It is beautiful. I want to touch it all day long. I love it to pieces. I want some. Someday...mmmm...it is yummy yarn!

Well, I need to get knitting some booties for my dear friend...and maybe even for my darling daughter. Her brother likes to remove her socks from her feet...if I made some good booties, maybe they'd stay put!

And the winner is.....Celeste!!! Celeste has one the bag for $10! All proceeds will be sent to Doctor's Without Borders. Thank you so much for your generosity and kind heartedness this season Celeste!!!

Ergh. I had this great post this morning, and I accidentally hit the power button with my foot and restarted the computer! >:( So...here I go again!

Happy New Year!!! My wish for all of you this year is that you will accomplish your personal goals and have lots of fun with your crafts...whatever they are! :)
As for me, here are my goals for the year:

1. Have more patience with my children, my spouse, and myself.
2. Be healthier. I am keeping this one pretty vague so that I will succeed!!! :D
3. Complete all the knitting projects that I want to do!!!

What projects are they, you ask?? Well...I will be HAPPY to tell (and show) you!

Currently, I am working on these Hourglass Eyelet Socks for my Mother-in-law for her birthday.














I am also making some Longies from Little Turtle Knits for A.














I am also making a Capelet for my Mom. She is a temple worker in the LDS Omaha, NE Temple. She often gets cold and asked for this. It's a fun and easy knit.















My dear friend Michelle, and her daughter Erin, have asked for Calorimetry's from the most recent Knitty. They are from Florida and are going to Wisconsin in March, then to NYC next December. So, I've decided on something very warm and very soft for them...alpaca!!! The gray is for Michelle and the purple for Erin.














And, I am also making one last Sophie Bag for my friend Jenn. Her daughter Chayce will be a very stylish 6 year old toting around this sassy bubblegum pink bag! :)















Now, you may be wondering how I keep all of this organized?? Well, my dear sweet husband was so good to me this year. He bought me these!



















While I think that he was just sick of my yarn being strewn about the house, he says that he did it for me.
He can be pretty convincing...that is until he asks me, "Now, you know what these are for right??? Why is there still stuff on top of them??". He just doesn't get it.

So, those are my projects for this month. Yep, this month. We'll see if I can get everything done. The other things I really want to do this year are....

1. Swing Thing for Miss A. What a great fall coat this will be for her!
2. Jaywalker socks for ME! I keep saying I am going to do these, but they just don't get done.
3. Some kind of socks for Jeremy. My sister-in-law, Stephanie, is getting a spinning wheel this week (YAY!!!) and she is going to spin some yarn and we will dye it to be crimson and blue self striping!!! Then, he will get the socks that he wants/needs/deserves!
4. King of All Wild Things for S. He is a wild thing and definately deserves this! You have to scroll down the page a bit to see this.
5. A dress for A (I haven't found the perfect pattern yet), a doll for each of them (hopefully birthday presents), leg warmers for A, and, well...anything else that comes to mind.

I think that will keep me busy for a bit. Oh! And, I'm doing a sock of the month club! :) It's more like a knitalong than anything. So, I will be doing one pair of socks every month. Hopefully it means I will have some presents ready for Christmas next year!!!

Eek. I think that my last post came across harsher than I meant it. I just want to give another week to see if anyone else wants this. I am grateful for whatever bids I get, and if it goes for $10, then that is fine. Sorry if I sounded harsh, I really didn't mean it.