It's Finished!!! WooHoo!

Well it took me 2 weeks and 2 days (ends are almost all woven in and will be finished tonight) instead of the 8 days I hoped for, but... It looks FABULOUS (shameless)! I would have finished more quickly if I hadn't picked up Kiss The Girls mid-weeks and had a reading frenzy - it's hard to read and crochet at the same time.

See.

Here are a few more views:


and one with a kitty:

(That's P.C. - our "Poofy Cat")

Out of 28 skeins of Cotton Classic used from my stash
THIS:

Is all that's left.

I also finally got around to taking a picture of the Jitterbug Ankle Socks I made - I love them - even if they did turn my feet blue (should have washed them first huh?).


Next I'm going to knit the Forest Canopy Shawl out of Schaefer's "Miss Priss." I can't wait to have it finished - I've heard it's a really quick knit.

Check out Lolly's page and view her "Stanley Cup Knitting." We don't have decent Hockey in Atlanta (really - we don't), but Law and Order is on about 16 times a day - so...

I'll keep you posted.

AmyDe

Welcome

That's my car last evening. See here - I'll prove it.



I do LOVE spring. It really is my favorite time of year. This year is one of the worst I remember for sheer quantity of pollen. In the breeze you can see the green stuff swirling in the air like smoke. We need a good rain - I mean come on and give us a break from all the tree pollens already - my kids and I want to breathe!

From WSB TV (our local ABC) here is the "official pollen chart"

POLLEN COUNT

0-30 Low

31-60 Moderate

61-120 High

Over 120 Extremely High

So wanna know what TODAY'S count is? Can you guess?

3243

There's not enough Claritin on the planet to combat numbers like those.

For those of you just now enjoying the onset of spring, with it's flowers budding, grass greening, and days warming...

YOU SUCK!

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

The Trick

To Destashing:

2 Big-ass garbage bags (not counting the 4 or 5 I've gotten rid of over the past couple of years)
Plus several yarn-rabid friends
and things are pretty much taken care of.

I still have too many projects waiting in the wings and I'm contemplating all of them based on many criteria. At least most of the projects-in-wait are crochet projects (read: uses more yarn and works-up more quickly).

Yes - for my "knowing friends" right now it's just yarn (smart-ass!).

I'm off to update Ravelry because my shoulder hurts from over-crocheting.

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Your New Best Friend

Whilst Toby was getting his last haircut he told Andrea "You look like a teenager." As if they weren't already - they are now definitely best friends for life!



The afghan is almost finished. If I hadn't fallen asleep on the couch Saturday afternoon (damn those snuggly kitty cats) I might have finished. I only have 5 more skeins to work through and then a photo shoot. It's been so much fun to work on and I'm looking forward to the next project - though I'm not sure what it will be yet. Oh BTW has anyone seen my 200 Ripple Stitch book or is it just lost in the house somewhere?

I have a new goal (don't faint) it's NO STASH. Well no significant stash anyway - a little sock yarn and dishcloth cotton are always good to have on hand, but other than that I am aiming for one project at a time and only yarn for that project. Sometimes it feels like giving up a long-time best friend, but the stash is dragging me down and holding me back.

No Stash is so unlike me (see here); I'm willing to try something new for more peaceful, more productive results. I've got a long way to go before the stash is distributed and/or depleted so I'm only working on projects that I truly love and KNOW I will complete - everything else is going. Much of what is in the photo is already gone - in fact I'd say MOST is already gone, even though the remaining stash is still HUGE. It's a process right? Maybe I'll post a current stash photo this weekend. It might be interesting to see the contrast and mid-point of my new "Stash-Free" journey.

I'd better go work on that afghan so I can get moving to the next project and bust up that stash!

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Please Pray

I have a friend in need. Please pray for strength, grace, perseverance, and much needed support. Thank You.

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

You'll Be Relieved to Know

That I remembered the book I had forgotten. Phew - a big collective sigh of relief right?

The book I forgot to list was The Florabama Ladies Auxilary and Sewing Circle.

I finished the Quiltmaker's Daughter and The Bishop's Daughter - those two along with The Storekeeper's Daughter are a trilogy called The Daughters of Lancaster County. Amish folk were a welcome relief after the two serial rapist/murderer books I had just finished.

I am crocheting an afghan finally! I'm calling it my 'Waste-not Want-not' blanket. I gathered all of the cotton classic I have in the house and I'm making a giant random granny-square afghan for my family. I started last Friday and so far I've worked through 12 skeins of yarn (only 16 more to go). How you may ask does one end up with 28 skeins of cotton classic? Well I didn't - I actually had 42 but I pulled the pastels and tweedy colors for another project. Please, if you know me at all NO ONE was shocked at 42 after all it is the answer to life, the universe, and everything.

I really love the way it's coming along and I hope to be finished with it by the weekend. Andrea is making one as well out of her Sierra - She learned to crochet in about 5-seconds and off she goes - it's going to be gorgeous!

I'll take pictures of mine as soon as it's finished. Here's to using what you have!

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

"Have You Been Knitting?"

That's what my friend asks me everyday. Some days "yes", but lately most days "No." Lately I've been reading. I posted back in January about books I want to read this year. Some I've gotten to, some I'm getting to, and most of what I read wasn't anywhere near the list.

So far I have read:
Grace Walk
Eat, Pray, Love, (Gag on your own 'god of self-importance')
The Golden Compass
Along Came a Spider
The Lovely Bones
The Storekeeper's Daughter
Tuesdays with Morrie
and it seems like there is one more I can't remember - oh well.

I'm enjoying myself and looking forward to more, but I better warm up the crochet hooks and get to work on a few afghans I want to make for the holidays and maybe a bag for myself.

I've been giving away and selling yarn and I still have more to sort through, but lots is already posted on my Ravelry - Lynne K. if you're interested in anything just let me know - it's yours! - I can send it with Casey for you.

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

My Poor Neglected Little Blog...

What did it ever do to me except bring me laughs and friends and a place to share my thoughts? And here I'm off living my life while this helpful, friendly little blog gathers much dust. Well believe me little blog - you aren't the only thing gathering dust at my place.

Let's see - since we last met...

New car
New Bed
Got back to ACTUAL TiVo instead of that cable DVR CRAP!
New Socks (for me)
Lots of yarn purging
New Books
New Outlook on Life and Family

I'll return soon I hope - the blog just hasn't been on the list lately, but I'm missing it so...

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Yay! My Computer is Fixed

Casey touched my computer and it broke - that's what I'm going with anyway. Now he's replaced the HD in my mac-mini and while it isn't silent as it was before - it does actually work now, which is better. Now to get everything reloaded and transferred over - ugh. I'll be back soon - lots going on - lots to tell you!

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Just in Case You Were Wondering

How Netflix makes ANY money at all!?!

It's us.

I was just looking at our queue and noticed that the movie we just returned *cough*Monday*cough* was sent to us on January 9. It wasn't even good either. Oh well at least there aren't late fees$!$

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

WOW That was FAST!!!

Taxes 2007

Filed them
Received them
Spent them

All in 10 days!

Phew...

(Yes I know, we're those disgusting people who file early)

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Plagiarizing Outright

I'm stealing this directly from Dioramarama (who I borrowed it from someone else so it's only fair *grin*) It's a list of the AFI's 100 Greatest Movies of All Time. I've seen VERY few of them and it makes me wonder WHAT the heck I've been watching - oh yeah CSI and Law & Order. Really I do watch movies - for instance I've seen all the Tammy movies and most of the Gidget movies. I've also seen An Affair to Remember and Anne of Green Gables about 100 times each. There's also Mary Poppins (which I think should have made the list), Sabrina, The 5th Element, Ferris, Serenity, and dozens of others I could (and do) watch again and again.

My favorite from the list is definitely "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington."

legend:
black=seen
red = never seen

1. Citizen Kane (1941)
2. The Godfather (1972)
3. Casablanca (1942)
4. Raging Bull (1980)
5. Singin' In The Rain (1952)
6. Gone With The Wind (1939)
7. Lawrence Of Arabia (1962)
8. Schindler's List (1993)
9. Vertigo (1958)
10. The Wizard Of Oz (1939)
11. City Lights (1931)
12. The Searchers (1956)
13. Star Wars (1977)
14. Psycho (1960)
15. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
16. Sunset Blvd. (1950)
17. The Graduate (1967)
18. The General (1927)
19. On The Waterfront (1954)
20. It's A Wonderful Life (1946)
21. Chinatown (1974)
22. Some Like It Hot (1959)
23. The Grapes Of Wrath (1940)
24. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
25. To Kill A Mockingbird (1962)
26. Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (1939)
27. High Noon (1952)
28. All About Eve (1950)
29. Double Indemnity (1944)
30. Apocalypse Now (1979)
31. The Maltese Falcon (1941)
32. The Godfather Part II (1974)
33. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
34. Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs (1937)
35. Annie Hall (1977)
36. The Bridge On The River Kwai (1957)
37. The Best Years Of Our Lives (1946)
38. The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (1948)
39. Dr. Strangelove (1964)
40. The Sound Of Music (1965)
41. King Kong (1933)
42. Bonnie And Clyde (1967)
43. Midnight Cowboy (1969)
44. The Philadelphia Story (1940)
45. Shane (1953)
46. It Happened One Night (1934)
47. A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
48. Rear Window (1954)
49. Intolerance (1916)
50. The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring (2001)
51. West Side Story (1961)
52. Taxi Driver (1976)
53. The Deer Hunter (1978)
54. M*A*S*H (1970)
55. North By Northwest (1959)
56. Jaws (1975)
57. Rocky (1976)
58. The Gold Rush (1925)
59. Nashville (1975)
60. Duck Soup (1933)
61. Sullivan's Travels (1941)
62. American Graffiti (1973)
63. Cabaret (1972)
64. Network (1976)
65. The African Queen (1951)
66. Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981)
67. Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
68. Unforgiven (1992)
69. Tootsie (1982)
70. A Clockwork Orange (1971)
71. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
72. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
73. Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid (1969)
74. The Silence Of The Lambs (1991)
75. In The Heat Of The Night (1967)
76. Forrest Gump (1994)
77. All The President's Men (1976)
78. Modern Times (1936)
79. The Wild Bunch (1969)
80. The Apartment (1960)
81. Spartacus (1960)
82. Sunrise (1927)
83. Titanic (1997)
84. Easy Rider (1969)
85. A Night At The Opera (1935)
86. Platoon (1986)
87. 12 Angry Men (1957)
88. Bringing Up Baby (1938)
89. The Sixth Sense (1999)
90. Swing Time (1936)
91. Sophie's Choice (1982)
92. Goodfellas (1990)
93. The French Connection (1971)
94. Pulp Fiction (1994)
95. The Last Picture Show (1971)
96. Do The Right Thing (1989)
97. Blade Runner (1982)
98. Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)
99. Toy Story (1995)
100. Ben-Hur (1959)

What are your all-time favorite movies On the list and Off?

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Overheard...

I love to listen to my kids as they play. They don't know I'm listening (a Mommy secret of the ages) and I learn so much. Usually I just giggle at their daily antics, but some days are real treasures.

Yesterday, my love - Toby got angry with Anna as they were playing. He threw his toy down (there was a talk about that later), stomped his feet and said ,loudly, to Anna "I DON'T LIKE YOU! BUT I STILL LOVE YOU!" I thought my heart would burst.

And as if Toby had not been on sweet overload all day...

We went to Joann's and neither of the kids wanted to go in. I told Casey that was fine - he asked "you won't be lonely?" Toby replied "No. Because she has my love." Really - who could be lonely after that?

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

I LOVE Weekends

I do. I always have.

I used to cram weekends full of "To Do" items simply because doing anything with two rambunctious children is easier when not outnumbered. For the past few months, and especially lately, I've tried to keep our weekends as free as possible. Saturdays still hold a few "to do" items, necessities like hair appointments, and some fun errands (though Microcenter is only fun for one of us, but he goes to JoAnn's so it's not really a chore). But Sundays?

Oh Sundays! Quiet and peaceful with good food to cook and eat and movies to watch or books to read and lots of music always. We play games and Wii and take naps, do school lessons as a family, craft, Bible study and just enjoy our family. Yes, Sundays are the best.

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

You are Evil and You Must Be Destroyed!

WARNING: The following information is not for the faint of heart and MAY cause dependency and/or late-night cravings.

Three Little Words

Pecan Pie Cookies

Let me tell you first hand that these are a problem. Harry's (Whole Foods) makes all kinds of sweets and baked goods and for the most part I do ok to just get our ciabatta bread and perhaps a baguette and some muffins for the kids - then I move on (past the cheese counter which is my REAL weakness, but...). Then, there was Andrea - damnit - who in the past heralded the praises and joys of said Pecan Pie Cookies. Then there was a call from my father who has brochitis "can you please bring me... various list of get better things..."

So there I was, at Harry's, IN front of the cookie and muffin case. I had already passed the fancy chocolates corner and only picked up a milk-chocolate with almonds for my sick father - good me! I think (probably out loud at this point after being in the grocery store with two children for the better part of an hour) "Oooh! Pecan Pie Cookies! I should get some of those for Daddy - he'll love them; after all, he IS sick." Right so of course I get him two and pick up two for myself while I'm at it.

Of course I "try them out" in the car. Granted I was hungry, but there is NO picture because the cookies didn't even make it CLOSE to home. In fact I considered turning around and going back for more, but then I thought better of it (read - I was on a deadline to get lunch to my dad and couldn't swing it). Damn those cookies are good. Pecan Pie Cookies are like make you leave the house at 10 p.m. (if Harry's were open @ 10p.m.) kind of good - like Hot Krispy Kreme - ooh Krispy Kreme. I'd better go make dinner now - I seem to be hungry.

BTW - Daddy LOVED his two cookies too and he's feeling much better - must have been the cookies right?

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Trashy

Thursday is trash pick up day at our house ('cause I knew you were dying to find out). I was thinking this morning and considering all the trash our household of 4 people and 5 pets generates. And here's my secret (shhhhh): I'm a closet environmentalist - ack!

Yes it's true. I could be a total "green freak" if I allowed myself (because I am obsessive) - no because I care. But I am NOT a total "green freak." Good for you (and all of us) if YOU are & thanks - truly. Maintaining my sanity (shut-up!) and marital bliss (I'd make him even crazier than I already do) requires a different approach to "green" in my life.

I carry my box in and out of Harry's (and other places too) and I buy organic as much as possible, heck we're even buying a Prius in a month or so (gosh how average is that?). I have been evaluating my reasons for all of this during the social climate of "green" being trendy and "in."

Well as you know I care NOTHING for being "in" or trendy so I asked myself "Self? Why or even ARE these things important to you?" I'll stop recounting the quoted conversation I had in my head - you can relax I'll just get to the point (in a minute or two).

Being "green" for me is almost a selfish choice (maybe it always is?) in that I carry boxes into Harry's because it's easier and I don't have to figure out where to store or toss all those plastic baggies. I buy organic because it tastes better and if I can cut out at least some of the chemicals, antibiotics, and hormones pumped into myself and my children - WooHoo I'm doing it. We're buying a Prius because it's cheaper on gas with Casey in Atlanta rush hour daily and let's face it (for gadget and techno freeks like us) it's really cool! I take a short shower (usually) so that I can have some quiet time to myself before the kids wake up. I turn out lights because they give me migraines (and I hear my father's voice in my head when they are left on, but I think that's another post).

I don't compost (though it might be fun), or garden, or reclaim rainwater (like it rained here this year?!?), or ride my bicycle to make my ginormous T.V. work (though my a** would be smaller if I did b/c I LOVE T.V.), or use biofuels (don't even get me started on why ethanol is EVIL), heck, I don't even recycle on a consistent basis (SHAME). I AM more aware and more cautious about what we put in our bodies and in our homes. I "go green" where it is reasonable for us at this point and always strive for more (without being my completely obsessive self) incrementally. I admire those who do more and those who go all-out; I understand those who don't and those who don't care. I'm somewhere in the middle - do what I can where I can as I can - and it's enough.

I do have a goal of reducing the amount of garbage we generate (again selfish, as we just plain have too much stuff) which means I have to remember GIGO, but I can work on that and I'm sure my garbage collector (they don't pay those guys enough) will be appreciative.

When I doubt myself I just remember the immortal words of great thinker Kermit the frog "It's not easy being green."

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

I Wish To Read

I wish I could be IN that photo to do it too.

For 2008:

• My Sister's Keeper
• The Knitting Circle
• Anne of Green Gables (again)
• The Kite Runner
• Anna Karenina
• Water for Elephants
• The Golden Compass 1, 2 & 3
  
• Grace Walk
• Wicked
• Death's Acre
• Eat, Pray, Love
• Emma
• The Time Machine
• William Faulkner & Southern History
• The Island of Dr. Moreau
• A Thousand Splendid Suns
• The World Without Us
• The Measure of a Man
• No One Belongs Here More Than You
• The Call of The Wild (again)
• The Nine
• A Walk Across America
• A Touch of Wonder
• The Pillars of The Earth
• A World Without End
• As I Lay Dying (again)
• My Antonia

What do you wish to read this year?

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Vicodin Good!

Makes me Love EVERYBODY! And it quells the migraine.

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Square Pegs

"Square pegs, square pegs, square, square pegs..." You remember that show? Yeah - I know - that song is going to be stuck in my head all day too.

I've been thinking lately (nearly burned the house down *grin*); soul searching one might say - not me, but 'one' might. I've come to this:

I don't fit in!

It's something I've always known and am quite satisfied with. For the past few years I've found myself straining to "fit" somewhere and I can't really figure out why I've been trying. I like not fitting. I like going against the grain, ruffling feathers, marching to the beat of my own drummer, rocking the boat, using lots of idioms... Really I have always been happy on the outside. True, sometimes the outside is lonely and often it is scary. Ultimately 'outside' is where I belong and where I am happiest.

I have struggled against my own nature to 'fit' myself into this group or that group even into 'typical' social roles - it doesn't work. I don't fit in my church groups, small social groups, large online forum groups, heck I didn't even fit in my Girl Scout Troup nearly (ack!) 30-years ago. For better or worse I'm just me; quirky and creative, opinionated (cough *understatement* cough) and loud, kind and generous, gracious and stubborn, smart and funny (sometimes).

My sister-in-law, who struggles with self-certainty, maintains that I don't care what other people think of me - not exactly. More accurately, it doesn't matter if others LIKE me. If someone likes me that's their choice - if they don't that's fine too. I don't waste time and energy 'fitting' myself into someone else's mold or idea of who he or she thinks I should be.

I truly am a "Square Peg"; you know what? I like it.

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

What? Snow? Here?

It's snowing.

It's pouring.

This blog post is boring!

Last weekend's wintry loveliness.



I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

All's Quiet on the Eastern U.S. Front...

Been reading. Can't talk and read. Can't knit and read. Can't sew and read. Can't watch T.V. and read. Can just read and read.

Read this:
And This:
I know I'm behind on the knitting book. And HEY!!! Someone could have warned me!

Read LOTS of children's books (we read at least 5 everyday) and we're listening to The Golden Compass.

Now I need to find something else off my shelf to read - probably Tuesdays with Morrie. I could knit or sew something before I begin the next book, but it's so cold here lately that I just want to sit on the couch with my quilt and read.

What are you reading? Anything good?

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Toby's Favorite Trick

Disturbing No? He's 4 there. Loves to show that to everyone he meets. He always gets a laugh. For an encore he sticks his tongue UP his nose.

We're so proud!

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Amy Sews

I made some things for the kids today:

A Skirt for Anna out of mini-cord (McCalls 5168)




And a Camp Shirt for Toby out of a Cotton Jungle Print (Butterick 3475)




Both projects were simple, but had some details that made them fun. I love sewing for the kids and sewing in general.

I will have many more items finished over the next 6 weeks or so b/c a group I am a member of is having a "Stash Game" in February and it's a competition. Many of you may not know me well, but I am fiercely competitive and I want to WIN. So sewing is going to feature strongly in February! Better watch out SewingMamas!

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Anna Sews

We bought Anna a new sewing machine; a Janome Jem Gold 2. It is perfect and easy to use and lovely; a little (and big) girl's dream machine.

Anna wants to sew all day everyday - like this:


and this (finishing by hand):


She makes things for herself, her brother, just because, but mostly for - the cats - like all of these:




The quilt blocks were in the scrap bin, a long-ago abandoned project and Anna made them into pillows herself.

Apart from keeping her safe with the machine, I don't help Anna at all (like she'd let me)and she just goes to town with her imagination and her new machine.

I'll Keep You Posted!


AmyDe

Reminders of Home

Dinner was simple, easy, familiar; a meal I remember from childhood. Tonight we ate "Pepper Steak."

Pepper Steak is a classic American 1950's dish of hamburger patties, tomato sauce, green peppers and, as my Mom did, served with rice and green beans. As I was putting this meal together I was uncertain of a few steps. Nearly two years later I still almost picked up the phone to call my mother. It's strange how, if only for a moment, a meal from my childhood made me feel so grown up and alone.

I am thankful for the moment; the bittersweet memory. I am thankful for the recipe and knowing my way around the kitchen. I am thankful for all the things of me that are "Hers." I pray daily that I give my children as much as my mother gave me.

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

L.E. Funt, Thy Name is "Trouble"

Here is what should have been a really cute project.





Instead it's really NOT. It's just weird.

The pattern is from my new book Toys to Sew. The pattern itself was horribly vague. Neither Andrea, an excellent seamstress and smart lady, nor I could decipher the written directions fully. We went with what we know about sewing and finally got things together. It's still weird. I tried to put it into the "Throw me away, I'm really UGLY" bin, but Toby loves him.

I'm glad Toby loves him, even if it's just because he's "Mommy made"; in the end I guess we all need to be loved.

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

What will $2.25 and 15 Minutes Get You?

Get your minds out of the gutter! What is it with you guys *grin*?

A Cute-as-can-be girl's top that's what! I made 5 of these this morning for Anna. For her size it's a top, for a toddler, a cute spring/summer dress. Completely adjustable and completely easy either way!

Here's what I did: (yes, it's officially a tutorial)

1. Start with two regular bandannas (22" x 22") from the craft or discount store and 1-1/4 yards of coordinating ribbon (about 1" wide) cut into two equal pieces.



2. Fold and press a 1-1/4" (approximately) hem casing on each bandanna. I don't measure OR pin, but feel free.



3. Stitch casing VERY close to original hem line. Be sure to back-tack at the beginning and the end. Repeat for bandanna #2.





4. Thread (test) ribbon through each casing with a large safety pin. Tie off one shoulder side.



5. Adjust gathers around neck and tie off shoulder #2. Pin fit underarm at point where side seam will begin.



6. Remove test ribbon. Sew side seam (right sides together) very close to original hem lines. It need NOT be perfect - this should be easy and the original bandannas are not "perfect" anyway.



7. Press hems open.



8. Thread "actual" ribbon through casing and tie one side. Fit on child and tie side two. Trim excess ribbon. Adjust gathers and admire your work (the sewing's pretty good too huh?).



9. Side/Underarm view



10. Back view



11. Tack edges to ribbon and you are finished!



These are Fast, fun, and easy to make. Anna will be wearing these this spring and even now over her turtle necks. I can think of so many fun things to do. I can't wait to get some orange and white bandannas and make UT tops for Anna and a UT dress for a friend's toddler.

Let me know what you think!

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Gift Bin 2008 Begins

These are ready made denim totes embellished with silk kimono scraps. I used a raw edge technique to apply the silk. They were fun to make. I used items I already had on hand. I FINISHED them, AND I really like the turn out. All in all I am very pleased! Off they go into the gift bin.




I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Looooooonnnnngggg Weekend

That's what it feels like and it's wonderful! Casey got off work last Friday and doesn't go back until the 2nd. Yippee! I LOVE it! We're all having fun sitting around in our p.j.'s and playing games all day.

I did run out to the fabric stores with Andrea yesterday and we had a blast! I picked up this:

and Andrea got this:


I see lots of cutie-pies in our future!

Christmas was wonderful - nice and quiet. We played and played and will be doing more of just that all week/weekend. I can't wait!

I've been sewing some as well and it's bliss. I can't wait to finish things up and have photos to share. Soon.

I'll keep you posted!
AmyDe

Merry Christmas to Me!

Last week my iron met an awful fate - a kitten.

NO! Don't be so morbid. Mac the wondercat just knocked it off the ironing board (it was off and cold) and busted the thermostat dial to bits. WooHoo - Time to get a new iron! I had the last one for nearly 14 years, but it worked and that was good enough for me.

So I searched for a REALLY good iron and found an amazing deal on Amazon (don't you adore Amazon?). I got this...


What's most Fabulous is I got it for $49.99 and FREE shipping!

It's pink and it's wonderful! I love it and I know we'll be best buds for many years to come!

Thanks Wondercat, and Thanks Casey for not making me wait until Christmas!

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

New Directions

A Blog about Knitting, Sewing, Crafting, & Life in general with a husband, 2 kids, and 3 dogs. I'm having a ball! That was my tagline above.

When I began this blogging adventure that tagline was fun and comfortable. These days it seems confining and a little overdone - like a fancy pair of shoes that look fantastic, but after an hour you remember why they are in the "way back" of the closet - "Oh yeah, these pinch!" To that end there are changes coming.

This blog was originally focused on knitting, that's where I was 3 years ago. I was managing a yarn shop and completely immersed in a knitting lifestyle. I worked knitting, I blogged knitting, I talked knitting, and I LIVED knitting. My life is different now.

I LOVE knitting and crochet. I also love sewing, and scrapbooking, and homeschooling, and being a wife, and being a mommy, and being a friend, and finding and fulfilling my small role in God's big world. There are times I blog about things not knitting related when I feel it's against the rules (albeit self imposed "rules"); like I strayed from the "THIS IS A KNITTING BLOG" code and "NOW I'LL BE PUNISHED!" I recognize the ludicrous nature of that sentiment, yet it is somehow so very prevalent and even more persistent.

I am officially breaking that mold - Here and Now! This is MY blog and it is filled with the things in my life that I love - ALL the things I love. Why I am only now realizing and acting on this is beyond me, but sometimes God has to drop a piano on your head right...

This inner struggle is in part why I have had the blogging blahs lately. Often I feel like I have nothing interesting to say and maybe sometimes I don't, but I hope you all still hang around. In fact I hope you invite your friends and neighbors. I hope you share with me what is going on in your life - not just the big stuff, but the small stuff too. "Small stuff" is what makes us interesting; it's what connects us all. That's what I want - to feel connected.

The blogging community is vast and often fickle, but it is also good and inspiring; it's where we connect with each other, and ourself. Please keep me in check and don't let me be vast or fickle - I want to be connected (I'd also like to be famous, but only sometimes).

I do love my life and I am having a ball. Thanks for listening to what bounces around in my head.

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Unless He Has Studied His A Grippa...

Which I have!




Which Princess Bride Character are You?
this quiz was made by mysti


Thanks Amy - that's fun!

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Feel Free...

Please feel free to link to the Meme below. I've had everal requests and am handling it all here. I'll have an actual post later today.

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Christmas Meme

My Friend Anna (who LOVES Christmas) sent this to me in email. I figured it's a cheap way to get a blog post in so here goes...

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both

2. Real tree or artificial? Fake


3. When do you put up the tree? A week or so before Christmas


4. When do you take the tree down? A week after New Years


5. Do you like eggnog? Blech! No!


6. Favorite gift received as a child? Cow Girl Outfit - with guns (I was 4)


7. Do you have a nativity scene? yes


8. Hardest person to buy for? Michael - My brother


9. Easiest person to buy for? My Anna girl


10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? um, tis the season to be gracious right?


11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail


12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Charlie Brown Christmas (is it wrong that I can't wait this year for Johnny Depp as Sweeny Todd?)


13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? January


14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? From time to time


15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Sausage Balls


16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Colored flashing ones


17. Favorite Christmas song? Drummer Boy (I almost put down "Last Christmas" by Wham, but even I couldn't keep a straight face)


18. Travel for Christmas or stay at home? Home


19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen –But do you recall the most famous reindeer of all. Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer had a very shiny nose.


20. Angel on the tree top? Angel


21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? From family Christmas Eve - then Santa comes Christmas Morning


22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? The contrived factor of having to buy gifts b/c a day dictates it - oh and the MALL


23. What I love most about Christmas? Vacation Days

Consider yourself tagged!

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Slow Death by Cough Drops...

I have allergies. My allergies are neither normal, regular run of the mill pollen, dust, cats allergies, nor epi-pen carrying bee, peanut, strawberry allergies. NO, they fall somewhere in the obscure range of the rest of my life.

I have a sulfa allergy - not too uncommon - but I also have a sulfite hypersensitivity (they are unrelated - weird huh?). I have to read the labels of everything and stay away from common ingredients like wine, shellfish, dried fruit, and now it seems COUGH DROPS! Apparently Ludens Cherry Cough drops are poison to me. They are made of Pectin which is on the "These things will KILL you list" Good to know - NOW!

So many many doses of benedryl and asthma inhaler and lots of very nice naps later I am almost a functioning member of the human race again. I still can't walk up the stairs quickly (lest I cough myself into oblivion), but it also gets me out of housework.

BTW: can't take advil cold & sinus anymore either It's FUN learning things the hard way right?

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Cat & Mouse

Literally:





This is Mac. Mac the Wonder Cat - as in "I wonder what he's going to get into next?"

Mac loves "meeces to pieces."

Slow week - I've resorted to pet pictures. Still sick, still waiting to get better.

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Imagination and Inspiration

I LOVE Legos. I always had them as a child and (with the exception of stepping on one barefooted) I still think they are one of the greatest imagination toys ever invented. My kids will play with Legos for HOURS - really - and they'll play so well together while they do it - AMAZING!



Toby's latest creation.

Good Mail Day Today:



Gotta love Crafter's Choice. Of course I signed up for the two (one in each email - Casey - they are already paid for) memberships BEFORE I saw Oprah's episode on Hoarding and swore I am NEVER buying another thing - EVER! Did you guys see that? Shock and Awe I tell you - seriously!

I'm still sick so I'm going to pile up in bed with my new books and be inspired.

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Hairy Christmas and a Crappy New Year!

Can you say "FUNK" boys and girls? Well the blogless wonder that I've been since - oh - AUGUST knows the word all too well. No single cause for the downturn - lots of things piling up until there is such an emotional mountain of CRAP I can't see daylight. Thanks Andrea for putting up with me and helping me through EVERYDAY - wouldn't make it without you.

New Blog I'm reading, Creative Little Daisy, says it well HERE with a tirade that I found WAY too familiar yet strangely comforting.

After a major meltdown last week (Thanksgiving STILL sucks w/o Mom) the fog is beginning to lift - some. Pair the meltdown with purging about 40 metric-tons of CRAP (really good stuff, but CRAP in my life right now) - mostly from the craftroom - THANK YOU AMY N and AADD - and the light at the end of the tunnel is looking a little less like an oncoming train.

On the other hand - Christmas is completely finished and almost totally wrapped. I have a few giftcards to order from my bank, but that's the last of it. Thank goodness for the internet, Toys R Us, and REALLY good planning. Now will the tree get put up - eh! Eventually.

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe