11.29.2006

USPS brings me gifts

After I posted the first installment of my 40 before 40 list, Desiree emailed me asking for my address so she could send me a little something. The package arrived the other day and it contained a poi spinning dvd and these stitch markers spelling out my name. She also told me to google homemade poi which lead me to a bunch of sites explaining how to make practice poi. I am so excited to start working on this goal, all I need are a few supplies to put my practice set together and I will be ready to go. Thank you Desiree!!!

Right after receiving the poi package I got another box from my secret pal. It contained a shopping bag kit with some Euroflax which is quickly becoming one of my favorite yarns to work with. She made me a wooden tray and through in some of my favorite little locking stitch markers (a must for those of us who forget to place the marker until way after the stitch, they are also really good row markers.) There was also a handmade bookmark, some stationary, and more Capricorn stuff so I assume that she is pretty into Astrology. Thank you so much SP!
As if all of this wasn't enough, my vegan pal sent me a $10 gift certificate to the Knit Pixie store which will be used to buy something fabulous.

In other news, I am almost done with my vegan pal package which is in need of a box. I am going to stop by the post office and get a few boxes this afternoon so I will have everything together and packed up to mail out on my way to work on Friday (last minute as usual.) I also have another box for my secret pal and a few other surprises going out Friday so it will be a big day at the post office.

11.28.2006

Handmade ornaments

Since I can't post the Christmas presents that I have been working so hard on I will post a few little things that I have been working on that aren't a secret.

First, here are some little ornaments that I knitted for my sister's tree. She wants to decorate her first tree in her new home with handmade ornaments so that it will be special. Unfortunately, due to stupid family drama, she won't be able to use any of our family ornaments. I decided to make some ornaments that will be special and represent her first Christmas with her husband. I made these with scraps of yarn and ribbons.



Then I decided to use some scrap craft felt to make a few sewn ornaments. These were super fast to put together and came out really cute.



I am right on schedule with my gift making which feels good, of course that could all change in a matter of days. Before I started working on my Christmas list I created a schedule allowing myself so much time for every gift. If I finish one a little early I work on another one from the end of the list until it is time for the next one to begin. I am also

11.17.2006

Time for a little knitting

I've been knitting like crazy, but since most of my projects are Christmas presents I can't post them just yet. In the meantime, I will post Philip's birthday fingerless mitts. I got Philip a gift certificate to Zappos for his birthday on Monday so he could buy some spiffy vegan shoes. While I knew he would love the chance to buy expensive shoes, the gift felt very impersonal so I decided to make him a little something to go along with the gift. I have become obsessed with making fingerless gloves thanks to my secret pal, this is the 7th pair this month. They are a great way to try out decorative stitches and advanced cable work. This pair is very basic since I have yet to find a stitch pattern that doesn't turn out to feminine. I used a worsted weight yarn (actually two strands of sport held together to make a worsted) and did the ribbed rows on US3 dpns and the middle section on US4 dpns. The gloves are 40 stitches around and about 7" in length.

11.13.2006

40 before 40, part 2

More goals....

21. Start using our savings account for saving money, not as a back-up when we go over budget
22. Learn about stocks, bonds, cds and other alternative savings plans
23. Set up a solid retirement plan above and beyond the 401K
24. Learn to cook elaborate things that don't cost more than a dinner out (It seems like anytime we try to fix a really fancy meal at home we spend $40 on groceries just for the meal)
25. Start or join a dinner club
26. Learn to play Mahjong
27. Learn poi spinning
28. Knit an afghan
29. Create a family tradition
30. Dance in Thriller

11.08.2006

Gifts and cupcakes, it feels like my birthday

In yet another attempt to improve my baking skills, I decided to make cupcakes tonight. I used the pumpkin chocolate chip cupcake recipe from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World. I had to make a few changes since I am not at home and don't have access to a full kitchen or the money for ingredients that I am only going to use once. The only major change was the removal of the chocolate chips. I went to the health food store and they were out of chocolate chips and since I am not a big chocolate fan I decided to leave them out. The cupcakes are cooling, but I already tasted one and it was fantastic. They aren't super sweet and without the icing (which I haven't added yet) they could be served as sweet muffins. Tomorrow I will add the cinnamon icing and serve. Yummy!!!
In other news, I came to work on Wednesday to an email message from my friend Angie telling me there was a pressie at her desk for me. Of course I rushed down to find that she made me this fabulous bag. How did I ever get so lucky?

11.01.2006

40 before 40, part 1

The other night Sarabeth was talking about the 40 things that she wants to do before she turns 40. She had quite an impressive list started so I started thinking about my goals. My big goal was to open a store before I turned 30 which is now done, so what is left. I have just over a year before my 30th birthday so it is too late to make my 30 list which means that I am going to go ahead and make a 40 list with a few changes. I am color-coding this list to represent things to do before I am 30, 35, and 40 since some are shorter term goals that need to be finished sooner.

Here is the start of my list, in no particular order
1. Pay off the store loan
2. Work for myself
3. Finish school (I started working 2 classes shy of finishing my degree and I still haven't gotten around to finishing it off. Just because I won't use it doesn't mean I shouldn't get it.)
4. Buy a house
5. Pay off 2/3 of the mortgage
6. Go to Hawaii
7. Attend SXSW
8. Get one of my patterns published in a knitting book
9. Learn to spin on a wheel and create art yarns
10. Make a music video
11. Learn Spanish
12. Learn to bake well
13. Publish my Southern Vegan's Guide to Domesticity (even if just through a vanity press)
14. Start and maintain a vermicompost pile
15. Figure out the whole kid thing and if we decide to adopt, get the paperwork going
16. Design and plant a successful garden
17. Learn to like brussel sprouts (they are so healthy, but I can't stand to eat them)
18. Become a master knitter.
19. Learn to keep my house clean
20. Run a significant distance