just checking in

I'm working A LOT this week, so there isn't time for creating and crafting. but like larissa, I'm looking forward to beginning a new project next week. I'm going to take a project break from knitting and stitch up a few felted wool easter eggs.

you might remember my original post about crafting from what I have. I've challenged myself to use up, make do, or do without in the crafting department. I didn't realize I had so much yarn in my stash. actually, I didn't realize I HAD a stash until this challenge started.

so far, I've finished 7 projects from this pile of yarn. check out the 'creating from what I have' set out on my flickr to see what I've completed.

have a happy week my friends!

completed this weekend

the triplet baby hat project is complete! my sister's good friend kyna is pregnant with triplets due in may. I volunteered to make baby hats for all three. they really are cute. you can read the beginning of the project here. and see more on flickr and ravelry.

three simple baby hats

Pattern: simple baby cap 1 from Itty Bitty Hats

Size: newborn

Yarn: bernat cotton tots

Colors: Pastel Dreams 90421; Wonder Dreams 91129; Sunshine 90615; Sweet Green 90230; and Pretty in Pink 90420

Needles: addi turbo size 7; size 7 dpn

Modifications: I started with a 10 row colored border. I knit a total of 38 rows before the decrease. once I reached 8 stitches, I knit for 34 rounds pulled my yarn through and tied the knot.

creating from what I have tally: 6 projects completed

thoughtful fridays

but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,

kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.

against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:22,23

life is eating me for breakfast

title and picture from my flickr 365 group yesterday

{visit 2009 day by day in my sidebar}

after my devotions this morning, I realize mark and I are entering new phases of parenting with both 'big guy' and 'little guy'. we're leaving the "obedience training" stage and entering the "character training" stage. the obedience stage seemed easy with big guy. but now that we're hitting a few speed bumps, stop signs, and road blocks on the character training road, I realize this will be a longer, more challenging road. don't get me wrong, he is a GREAT young man. we are TRULY BLESSED! he's just entering a new stage, and I must as well.

learning dependability, honesty, kindness, consideration, helpfulness, diligence, loyalty, humility, self-control, moral purity, and other Godly qualities take time! heavens, many adults have a hard time with these qualities!

change is hard, even painful at times. we like things the way they are. it's comfortable here. I'm skilled here in comfort city. but if I try to keep him the way he is, he won't grow {and neither will I}. do I really want an 11 year old permanently? no! I want to see the young man God is developing grow into the man He wants him to be. and while he's growing and changing so am I. so I must grasp onto the new challenges, because change is good...right?

what if?

what if the house was spotless?
what if all the laundry was washed and put away?
what if you'd read all the books on your wish list?
what if you used all the yarn in your stash?
what if the house was decorated like your favorite magazine?
what if you'd finished all the craft projects on your list?
what if?
what then?
find joy in the journey, kristyn.
it's in the process of life that you grow, love, explore, become.

thoughtful fridays

just visited leslie and then hurrayic and thought I'd play along with the thoughtful friday idea.

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,

that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

-early morning at Rock Mountain 2006

some things I'm thinking about:

finishing the purge and re-order of my craft space (must finish this weekend)

preparing our taxes

getting back on track with exercise (must be intentional about this)

meal planning (come back again to learn of my successful week)

creating by using what I have (the focus of many of my recent posts)

being completely and unconditionally loved by my husband (feels good)

what are you thinking about?

same as the first

creating from what I have continues...

finished another chunky beanie {this was the first}. it's for myself this time. I've gained a few pounds over the winter {due to not walking}, so I'm being a little camera shy.

had a loving request for posts other than these knitting projects, so come back soon, I'll be sharing meal planning success and a recipe from my kitchen.

creating from what I have

continuing on from my last post. I finished two knitting projects this weekend. these are the first two projects in my "creating from what I have" collection.

the first is one of three baby caps for the triplets soon to arrive. Pattern: Simple Baby Cap #1
Source: Itty Bitty Hats by Susan B. Anderson
Size: 0-6 months
Yarn: Bernat Cotton Tots
Needles: size 7 Addi circular and size 7 dpn
Modifications: I knit a contrasting border on this hat for 8 rounds. at the finish, I decreased to the eight stitches then knit for 38 rounds on dpn, which made the top portion 5 1/2". I'm thinking about decreasing this for the next hat to 4 1/2" - 5".

the second is a chunky knit beanie for my sweetie! how adorable is he?Pattern: chunky knit beanie, by leslie friend
Size: large
Yarn: Lion Brand, Wool Ease, Thick & Quick; color-black
Needles: size 13
Modifications: While the yarn is 2.25 stitches per inch, I still used size 13 needles and cast on 48 stitches. The chunky knit beanie is 26 rows total (a little longer than leslie’s). Quite happy with the results!

I'm enjoying to process of deciding what to do next. in an effort to use it up...I'm thinking another chunky knit beanie and a few headbands. thanks for visiting friends!

a creative pick me up

just a quick craft

what do you do with all the cards you receive in the mail all year long? they bring so much joy when you open them. yet most of them end up in the paper recycling bin. my latest quick project is jump rings for each of us to keep our cards/correspondence on. now we can recycle that joy all year long. it will always be there when we need a little pick me up.

I know this isn't an original idea. I'm sure I saw it somewhere, family fun magazine maybe? not sure I have many "original" ideas. so no need to ask permission, take it and expand on it yourself.

this simple idea got me thinking a lot about my crafts the past few days.

on monday night I stayed up after mark went to bed to finish watching a tivo'd oprah show. it focused on families in financial crisis who are now homeless. some living in shelters. some living in new "tent cities" popping up all across America. I felt sad. I felt mad. but most of all I felt thankful.

thankful for my husband and his job that provides for us. thankful that I can work part-time from home allowing flexibility along with income. thankful that I can still grocery shop based on most of our desires and not sale flyers. thankful that our home, while smaller than some and older than others, is quite adequate for our needs. thankful that I am still able to make and create many of our gifts and cards.

so for the next few months, I've challenged myself to make due, use it up, or do without. it's rather appropriate then that I'm in the process of purging and organizing my craft room. I've already repurposed grandpa robb's black desk for my new sewing table and my grandmother's needlepoint will be decorating the wall. I'll be using what I have to create new projects. most importantly-I'll be reigniting my excitement about projects I've purchased yarn for, but haven't yet made. some won't be timely. I may be making winter hats in april; I hope you won't mind.

it's a common theme that people all across America are simplifying. maybe that's the direction my projects are going. but hidden in the simple things can be an abundant joy. and this creative 'pick me up project' is an opportunity to recycle the encouragement, laughter, and love we've received all year long.

knitting updates

welcome to march everyone! can you believe january and february have already expired? one more month and this first quarter of 2009 will be over. yikes! I looked at my 2009 list of 'crafts to do', and I'm a little off track of my plan. but I have finished several projects the past two weeks! visit my flickr or ravelry to see more photos. here are my newest projects:

a completed pink paper bag baby hat for emily's new baby.

Pattern: Pink Paper Bag, from Itty Bitty Hats

Size: 0-6 months

Yarn: Bernat CottonTots, Pretty in Pink #90420

Needles: size 7 circular and size 7 dpn

Modifications: I had fun changing up my choice of baby hat patterns with this one. it took me a little longer to complete because of the picot trim edging and making the icord. I chose to make the hat one solid color instead of the stripes and add color with the edging and icord. I think it's adorable and can't wait to see it on a new baby girl.

flounces, flounces everywhere

Pattern: lisa and I first saw this scarf at leslie's. then lisa found the yarn on clearance and gifted it to me to make this scarf pattern.

Size: two skeins of yarn

Yarn: Linie 194 solo in light pink/dark pink

Needles: size 7 dpn

Modifications: I alternated between knitting the light pink edge and the dark pink edge to get the reversible scarf design. it was fun to see the ruffles show through.

chunky knit beanie

I loved this hat and wanted to make it as soon as leslie posted it. thanks for sharing such a wonderful creation, leslie!

Pattern: chunky knit beanie, by leslie friend

Size: large

Yarn: Lion Brand, Wool Ease, Thick & Quick; color-claret

Needles: size 13

Modifications: I made one chunky knit beanie and two winter warmer headbands from one skein of yarn. While the yarn is 2.25 stitches per inch, I still used size 13 needles and cast on 48 stitches. The chunky knit beanie is 28 rows total for a total of 7.5” (a little longer than leslie’s). The first headband is 3.5” (lisa's) and the second is 2” (kathy's). Quite happy with the results!

winter warmer headband
so tienne had several neckwarmers and ribby hats on her blog a few weeks ago, which I thought would be great for warmth while walking. then lisa made this awesome winter warmer, and I knew I had to make her another to match her chunky knit beanie I was knitting for her birthday present.

Pattern: a k2p2 ribbing

Yarn: Lion Brand, Wool Ease, Thick & Quick; color-claret

Needles: straight size 13

I used one skien of yarn to make one chunky knit beanie and two headbands. It is simply a k2p2 rib until you reach your desired length-high enough to cover your ears! I cast on 48 stitches for each. The first is 3.5” (for lisa) and the second is 2.0” (for kathy). try it! they’re fun!