Keeping Nancy's neck warm...

I was late in getting my little sister Nancy's Christmas gift done in time, but finished it yesterday, and will give it to her today (today is also the day I will get to meet her new Fiance, Trevor... It's weird that the baby of our family is now engaged!) I made this to keep her pretty little neck warm as she is braving the winds of Rexburg Idaho at BYU-I.

The pattern is: Cashmere Neck Warmer from Luxury Yarn One-Skein Wonders. I have alot of single skeins of yarn, so this is a nice book to try to use them up. I liked the stitch pattern alot.
This picture is a little goofy because Derek was gone to work so I had to take it myself. I added the buttons so it would stay put.

The Cowl, in action...

An up close picture of the stitch pattern. I was happy with how this turned out, and may have to make one for me!

Christmas Crafts, etc.

Ok, so I know its been a long time since I posted anything, but here is what I have been working on- Christmas presents! Now I can post about them. This is a heavy picture post!

First, Derek and I had my brother Ian, and his wife Karissa for Christmas this year, and it was their first Christmas together since they've been married. I wanted to do something special for them, and that hopefully they can use for many Christmases to come so I made them Christmas Stockings:

Next, for my mother-in-law, Cheryl I made linen and Christmas napkins. She always has such a beautifully set table (see end of post) and usually has paper napkins so I thought I'd make her something fitting for her table.

Christmas Tree napkins.

For my mom I made a felted hat. She had asked me to make her one a long time ago. This was my first time making a felted project and it was very funny (and a bit worrisome) to see how giant you make it, then it shrink/felts in the washer. Here's Derek modeling the pre-felted hat:

Look at how big it is compared to his head!

I forgot to get a picture of it on my mom, but here is a pic I took with my cell phone to show to my sister.

I made ornaments for my co-workers and friends. I thought they turned out cute!

Then, maybe my craftiness wore off onto the Husband, because he made this Awesome cookbook for his mom, with no help from me. He took her favorite and most used recipes and crafted this:

He went to Michael's and picked out the supplies, and got to work printing the recipes onto pretty paper, and cutting it down to size, gluing, and inserting into the page protectors. He did really well (though I'm not gonna lie- he left a big mess...) and was happy to make his mom tear up when she opened his present.

Here is the table set just before Christmas dinner. Isn't it pretty? The Wood's have invited my family over for Christmas dinner several years now, and its great to be able to celebrate with both my families.

I got a picture of my niece Baili making a hat for her sister with a Nifty Knitter loom that she got that morning for Christmas... Makes me happy to see another generation crafting away!

Last of all, here are the new Fiesta dishes I got from Derek and his mom. I love all the bright colors, and the variety!

Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas with your loved ones!

Slumbering Spiders

Last night my wonderful Mother-In-Law, Cheryl dropped by. She had made us some Halloween pillowcases and couldn't wait to give them to us. Once I saw them, I couldn't blame her for her eagerness. I love the choice of fabrics but my favorite part...

is the spidery fringe she added to it. Isn't it great? I can't gt enough of the little beasts and can't wait to get them on our pillows. She makes the best pillow cases!

Bet you wish you too had spiders crawling around on your pillow ;)

Books and More Swap

More on Ravelry... I joined a 'Books and More Swap'. It's kind of like receiveing a care package from a mysterious pen pal. It is an anonymous swap and each package had to include a knit/crochet book, some yarn, and something with the theme which was Back to School. You filled out a questionnaire beforehand so you had an idea what each other liked. I had a lady from Minnesota, and the lady that had me was from California. I just got my package today, and I love it! Everything in it is awesome and I"m super excited to start planning my next project.

Inside: One Skein- 30 quick projects to knit and crochet by Leigh Radford, 3 skeins of Knit Picks yarn in a beautiful green, a picture frame, a sweet notebook, mechanical pencils, post it notes (perfect to use on my patterns) some yummy treats, an adorable re-usable bag (masquerading as a strawberry!), and some sweet stitch markers.

And this fun bag to hold it all. Thanks Jenna!!

Did you know...

That October is "Socktoberfest"? A Blogger by the name of Lollygirl began it a few years ago and it has caught hold in the knitting world. Socks are knit all year long, but in October many knitters focus their attention on contructing socks. I've mentioned that I joined a Mystery Sock Knit along (KAL) and wanted to show the first part. Tomorrow we get the next clue to the pattern which will probly be the leg. This is the cuff, all that we've gotten so far. I love how it squggles! I'm really enjoying being part of this and can't wait til the finished product! Here is the link to Through the Loops blog that is hosting the mystery kal:
http://throughtheloops.typepad.com/through_the_loops/2010/09/mystery-sock-2010-clue-1-the-cuff.html


For those that are intersted I'm using ShiBui Knits yarn.

I thought I'd add this picture, just for fun, of my cats. They are racing around and staging a mock fight as I type this.

The Lost Blogger

Ok, I have been feeling guilty about not updating this blog, and now I"m starting to get hassled about it, so here you go! I've taken the summer off from knitting (mostly) and am just now feeling the knitting fever again so I have all kinds of projects planned. But during the summer I was working on some scarves. For Young Women's we were working on a service project and our goal was for each YW and leader to knit 5 scarves each to donate to a shelter in the fall. We don't have a very large YW's group but we were able to make about 45 scarves of all shapes and sizes (I'm at work, but just realized I'll have to edit this post and add that picture later). It was pretty great how had they all worked on accomplishing this goal. Now we are teaching them to crochet baby hats for the hospitals.
Right now I've got a few projects in the works that I can't show yet because they will be Christmas presents but I'm working on a mystery sock Knit-Along. "What's that?" you're saying? Well, I go to this website called ravelry.com (probably as often as I do facebook) which is an online community for knitters/crocheters/spinners, etc. There are patterns and forums and more and recently I've discovered some fun groups. One is a Mystery knit along for a sock pattern. You get only part of a portion of the pattern each week, and you don't have any idea what it will look like so I'm just starting the cuff. I'll post some pictures to show the progress.
Anyway, that's a little bit of what I'm up to these days. I'll try really hard to be more regular with my blog posts!

Celebrities at my local gym...

I thought it was time to update you all on the progress of my running plan but before I do, I want to mention a couple fellow gym members.
First up is a guy I like to call "Biff". For those that have seen "Back to the Future" (LOVE those movies!!) you'll remember a character by that same name. He reminds me of an older version of Biff. He's always lifting very large weights and wears small biker shorts...

Next is a character I just saw today. At first I thought of the "Caveman" in the Geico commercials, but as I serripticiously stared at him some more, I think he more resembles Forrest Gump in his running days. He has a long brown beard to his chest, and his hair is also long and just to his shoulders, and he's in his running shorts and sports tank top. As its been a very chlly windy last few days, I guess he traded the road for the treadmill.

Anyway, I'm back to my training schedule. I had to start over due to different things that got in the way, but I am halfway into week two. Today I walked 10 minutes, alternated running 1 min and walking 1 min for 12 minutes, then walked 3 minutes. I do my workouts on the treadmill right now, and like how i can watch the time easily to do my transitions, and it is much easier on my knees. I would get really achy knees when I was running on the streets. I'm hoping that my legs and joints will get stronger so that when I do make more ventures to running in the streets (when the weather gets warmer) it won't set me back.

I'm also thinking of blogging about another thing I have trouble with, but I am having a hard time committing: Sweets! I was thinking about blogging daily about the sweeets I eat, as well as my workouts so that hopefully I will be able to cut back on sweets, and build up the running... thereby getting into better shape. Ahh the constant battle! But I'm a bit too embarassed to expose how many treats I eat...

A Peck of Hats...

Many know I've been trying to knit up some baby hats. My sister Sharon was asked to host a booth at a baby fair in Idaho Falls. She has sewn all kinds of adorable outfits for babies, and she asked me if I wanted to make some hats that she could sell for me. It was a very nice offer, so for the last two months I've been a knitting fool. I wanted to have 40 hats made for her, but alas, life has gotten in the way and I only made about 23 of them. I might still try to squeak out a few more before the fair, which is April 10th, but this is the main batch that Bekah will take down for me when she visits Sharon next week. It's been fun coming up with different ideas, or finding fun patterns to make.

Sideways pictures... grrr!


My only last question is I have those little labels that I posted about a few months back:

http://allaboutshavonne.blogspot.com/2010/01/my-new-labels.html

I don't know if I should tack them on, and if I should make them visible, or put on the inside. Or, if I should just have them tied on with a ribbon so they can be easily removed. What do you think?

Week one is finished...

I guess I couldn've waited till Monday to start my running program, and made it easier to figure the days, but I figured it was best to get started while I had the motivation. So, that brings us to the final day of week one. Today I walked 6 minutes, then for the next 12 mintues I alternated 2 minutes of running with 2 mintues of walking, then walk 2 minutes. I was actually suprised how quickly the two minutes of running went by... but it certainly helps when you go with a friend who distracts you with conversation. My friend, and co-worker, Erika meets with me three times a week and we workout together. Admittedly our workouts aren't that heavy as we spend most of the time chatting as we are on the ellipticals, or treadmill but it does get us to the gym.
Anyway, One week down and 5 more to go till I am a runner...

Rest Day, Day 4, and Day 5

Been a few days, but I have still been going at it. Sunday's are my rest day, then yesterday I did a weight training workout:
Dumbell chest press
dumbell flys
modified pull-ups (c'mon, like I can do real ones!)
bentover rows
plank on bosu ball
squats on bosu ball
mountain climbers
dead lifts on bosu ball with a barbell

Then today I did:
Walk 8 minutes,
Next 10 minutes alternate running 1 minute and walking 1 minute,
Walk 2 minutes, stretch.
I almost didn't go today, I was dragging my feet after I got up. I hung out with Derek, and by then it was 4:30 and I have to leave at 6:30 for work. I usually reserve the 3-4 hour for working out on my work days, and when that passed I started with the excuses... Don't have time, don't want to, I'll just do some squats and sit-ups here... BUT I'm trying to follow the program to a T, so I finally got my shoes on and left. Anyway, glad I did. Aren't we always glad we do? If only you can bottle up the "Done" feeling and take it before we go, is sure would make working out a whole lot easier.
As an aside, it is a GORGEOUS day today!

Day Three

Ok, for today my little chart said to:
Walk for 10 mintues, Next 8 min alternate running 1 minute and walking 1 minute. Walk 2 minutes, stretch.

I did this (whoa, 4 minutes of running!) then a weight routine for another 20 minutes. It was a good workout. By the end of 6 weeks I'm suppose to be able to run for 30 minutes straight... Hmm, we'll see! Thanks for everyone's support!

Day two

Well, on Day two of the running program it says "strenth training". I have a full day today, so I just finished a Pilates video here at home. If I have time tonight, I want to get to the gym to do a real strength training workout, but it's probly not going to happen. Derek's brother returned home from his mission last night, and this weekend is pretty full of things with the Wood family. As for today, I am going to a felt party at Bek-Bek-Bekah's (my sister) then the rest of the day is devoted to the Wood's: We're going to the Temple, then Devon will be released from being a missionary, (Go to mormon.org if you have any questions) then a family dinner. Should be a good day.

Runner's... High?

To me, the runner's high is kind of out there, like Big Foot, or the Loch Ness Monster. Not something I've ever experienced, and hard for me to imagine. I think only marathon runners get it, after they've run for like 5 hours... then I think it's really delirium.
I've often wished i was a runner. It seems like an easy, and effective way to exercise. By easy, I mean convenient, cheap, and available. But I've never gotten very far in my quest to be a runner. Anyway, once again I decided to give it a go. And I've decided to blog about it in hopes it will keep me accountable. For the last two months I've been working out 6/7 days (Sundays off) but not much has happened in the body department (partly because I'm inconsistent in my workouts, and partly because of what I eat...) so in the constant effort to look better, I found this training schedule:
http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/run-walk-program
It's a running program for beginners that seemed doable. It starts out nice and slow.
For Day 1 (today):
One Walk 10 minutes. Next 6 minutes alternate running 1 minute and walking 1 minute. Walk 4 minutes. Stretch.

Alright, so I've got day one down. I'd appreciate any kind of comments and support to keep me on. If all goes well... in 6 weeks I'll be a runner!

Our "Kids"

Ok, here are some pictures of our most recent kitten: Snoball. She is a very loving, and dependent little thing. She would sit in your lap all day long if you would let her. And although this is nice when you're sitting there, when you're just sitting for a second and she jumps on your lap its a little bit of a nuisance. She is also VERY vocal! She meows loudly (must be the part Siamese in her). She meows when you're petting here, she meows when you stop, she meows when she's playing with Mitch... You get it. And, once they got used to each other, they are now BFF's.
Keeping my vest warm for me... Caught You!

Here you can see a little more why we called her Snoball. She's like dirty and clean snow all mixed up together. And you can't see it, but she has very light blue eyes.

Being a princess. BTW this is the pillow my little friend Mary made for me. We have the same birthday and we always give gifts to each other. She is mentally disabled, and gives the best gifts. This one she embroidered everything on the pillow, and I know she worked hard on it.

Don't worry... he was being supervised while playing with this bag. I love this picture of Mitch.

My new labels!

Again, don't know why it came out sidways, but here are my new labels for my knitted items I just got. I was wanting something to label them, and in case someone wanted to contact me after seeing one of my knits the information would be there. I ordred it off Etsy from "Remember Wynn" and I LOVE them!!! They were very affordable, and you can personalize them by color, font, size, shape, etc. I am super excited to use them and recommend Remember Wynn, she had great customer service.
www.rememberwynn.artfire.com

Vote for Ian!

http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor/casting_call/video_player.php?vid=2604

This is my brother Ian's Survivor submission video, and it is AWESOME!!! I totally think he should be chosen, and not just becuase he's my brother. Watch the video, tell me what you think-- it is HIL - arious!!!

Go Bud!

I'm posting... Shocker!!

Ok, I know it's been forever since I've posted but here are a few projects I've done. And I want to apologize for the sideways pictures... don't know why they uploaded that way.
The first is a scarf that I did. I wish it had been just a bit wider, but I still like how it turned out. It was a pretty easy pattern. I used two yarns, a big chunky yarn, and a small golden one to give it a little sparkle, thought I don't think it shows up in the picture. The pattern can be found here: http://stitchdcblog.blogspot.com/2008/09/cabled-scarf.html

It's late, otherwise I would've gotten Derek to take a picture of me wearing it. Instead you get it modeled by the computer chair.


The next project was a commission. My sister's, step-Mother-in-law's, Daughter's theme is sock monkey's for her daughter (get that?). She saw my sister Sharon ( sharon-c-thats-me. blogspot.com ) knitting a sock monkey hat which I had made for her daughter Jayne and wanted one for her daughter, but Sharon referred her to me. I got the pattern at Knitty.com. This time I made it in the original colors, but I've made them before in pink or blue depending on the gender of the baby. Anyway, if you are interested let me know and I'll make you one too. I charged her $28.

I had some extra yarn leftover so I made a second one, but smaller. More a newborn thru 1 year.

I've been really into knitting lately, so I'll try to keep up with the posting :)