Episode 6: Operation Surprise Susan! :)

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

This was a great big group project with the Itty Bitty Knits Ravelry Forum for Susan B. Anderson. There is a HUGE stickied thread in the forum if you would like to read up on all of our plans. Lots and lots of fun!! :)

Dream Catcher Blanket on Spud and Chloe Blog

Wordle

My Rav project page for the group project

The Ravelry names of the participants include:

knittingknirvana

bookboxer

sauceyjill

lunatic84

starrynight11

kurpitsa

womaninashoe

raelynne01

smozerose

gathersnomoss

andreaadams

johnsie4

cathcart

cehermanator

armida21

kally

gmahelen

zowmom

purplemama

beckytm

momoffour

iknitcupcakes

ljaecocker

tarafiebach

borkles

catmilc

Knitting Knirvana Video Podcast Episode #5: Christmas Projects

If you receive Christmas presents from me then DO NOT WATCH this episode. :)

Christmas Present for my parents Rav project page and Rav pattern page

Christmas Present for nieces and nephews Rav pattern page

Knitting Knirvana Video Podcast Episode #4 Part 2 Rhinebeck!

Here ya go---my Rhinebeck purchases and a quick run down of our day. I bought NO YARN! Can you believe it? I can't. :) Enjoy!! :)

Knitting Knirvana Video Podcast Episode #4: Rhinebeck 2010 part 1

My friend Maggie and I went to Rhinebeck on Sunday. Here is a very amateur video of some of our day. I'll also record another episode talking about the day and showing you my purchases. Enjoy!! :)

Video of Irish Cottage Knitting Method

A YouTube video of the Yarn Harlot knitting using the Irish Cottage Knitting method. She is amazing!! :)

By the way, I leave for Rhinebeck in 12.5 hours!! :) :) :) :) :)

Ravelry Group

There is a brand new Ravelry group for the Knitting Knirvana Video Podcast. I hope you come on over and join us!

Have a great weekend. It is going to be a beautiful Autumn weekend in our little corner of the world!!

Knitting Knirvana Video Podcast Episode 3

Welcome to Episode #3!

~~~~Show Notes~~~~

Thank you to my new viewers for the comments, messages, Ravelry friendships, and YouTube subscriptions!

Thank you to Leslie and Laura of The Knit Girllls Video Podcast for the promo! If you haven't already, go check them out. It is like your own personal knit nite! :)

Finished Objects: I've got nothing!

Works in Progress:

1) A super secret project.

2) A Christmas present to be featured on a future episode.

3) Iris the Gourmet Monster (Rav link) in Paton's Melody (Rav link)

What's going on in the knitting world:

Souther Adirondack Fiber Festival

Adirondack Yarns in Lake Placid, NY

Somerset Designs suede slipper soles

Handspun from Fuzzy Bunny Fibers

Rhinebeck--New York State Sheep and Wool is coming up soon! I'll be there Sunday October 17th.

Knit Simple Holiday 2010 has a woodland animals collection of toys from Susan B. Anderson.

Knitting Knirvana Video Podcast Episode 2

The first video ends abruptly because I was over the 10 minute limit that YouTube has. Also, I had a hard time embedding the second part into this blog post directly from YouTube. So, I tried uploading it into Blogger. If it doesn't work, then just follow the link over to YouTube to view the second half. I'm still figuring all of this out. Thanks for your patience!!

Show Notes for Knitting Knirvana Episode 2 September 19, 2010

Thank you to SaucyJill, Susan B. Anderson, and deniknitter for spreading the word about my new video podcast!!!

Itty Bitty Hats by Susan B. Anderson

Pumpkin Hat

Football Hat

Candy Cane Stripe Hat

Apple Hat from Spud Says!

Clapotis by Kate Gilbert from Knitty Fall 2004

Blue Moon Fiber Arts Seduction in Puck’s Mischeif 2 skeins Rav link

The Inspired Learning Model by Peter J. Reding

Knitting Knirvana Video Podcast Episode 1

Here it is. My very first video podcast! I hope you like it. :)

On The Needles:

JessaLu bag

Football Hat Rav link from Itty Bitty Knits by Susan B Anderson

Tahki Cotton Classic Yarn

2 at a time magic loop socks Rav link

Yarn Harlot's Sock Recipe Rav link

Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock Multi Yarn Colorway Hawaii

Finished Objects:

Apple Hat Rav link from Spud Says Blog by Susan B Anderson

Tahki Cotton Classic

Citron from Knitty in Handmaiden's Sea Silk

Adirondack Yarns in Lake Placid, New York

Podcasts:

Round the Twist Videocast with Carin

Stash and Burn

This month is Single Skein September!

The Rest of My Life:

My little guy is starting preschool. :)

My article on Yahoo News! :)

A Day In My Life

My little guy is starting preschool next month. Just one morning a week for 2 hours. It will be the first time he has ever been in anyone's care other than family.

It is a VERY big deal for me . . . I mean him.

In some ways I am really looking forward to it and am excited about the next phase of his life. And in some ways I would like to hold on to my little guy and not let him grow up.

He needs a backpack and Kohl's is having big sales plus I got a coupon in the mail. So, this morning we picked out a really cool Cars backpack. Both Lightening McQueen and Mater are on it. Does it get any better than that??? Not when you are a car & truck obsessed little boy!

All of this came out of the garden today. That's a baby eggplant, a green pepper, and several tomatoes. That yellow tomato is actually a variety of a gold tomato. The garden is doing really well and I am very proud of my green thumb!

And tonight is my weekly Knit Knite where I'll continue working on my Citron. I'm almost done with section 4! I love this pattern and the yarn. I am thinking that some of my sock yarn may turn into a Citron or three.

FO: Fetchings

I have loved the Fetchings pattern from Knitty for a very long time. But, for whatever unknown reason it has taken me until this summer to actually make a pair. They are a fun and quick knit. They would make a great gift and are a wonderful way to honor that one skein in your stash that you aren't sure what to do with. This is also a great pattern for mastering new techniques: DPNs, Magic Loop, cables. By the way, I just love the shade of green of this yarn. It is kind of a cross between a kelly green and a lime green. Very pretty!

Project: My Fetchings Rav link

Needle: size 5 addi turbo magic loop

Yarn: a brand-less cone of Italian merino wool I picked up at School Products in NYC

Verdict: LOVE THEM!!!

FO: Crocheted Sponges

It is summer and it is hot! I have a hard time working on any big projects in the warmer weather. Just having all that wool piled up on my lap makes the heat that much more unbearable. Although, I do still dream about all of the wooly things I will be knitting in the cooler months.

My Summer solution? Small projects, cotton, and crochet.

I used left over kitchen cotton to make 4 crochet sponges. Here's my Rav project page.

Yarn: Lily Sugar'n Cream

Pattern: Crochet Dish Sponge (Rav link)

I left it in the kitchen and would work on a few rounds here and there. It is amazing how much can get done with a few stolen moments in between doing other things!

FO: Easter Duck Soup

OK, so this time my Duck Soup is REALLY finished. I did all of the knitting prior to Easter. Well, I finished it on Easter. But who's keeping track? Anyhow, I did everything but the closures. I even bought the buttons and totally stalled out on actually finishing it. Yea, I know. That is so unlike me. Ha! :)

I used leftover Socks that Rock (from Blue Moon Fiber Arts) from My February Lady Sweater to make the closures. The buttons are simple toggles from JoAnn's.

The closures are just i-cord and really simple. I did them while watching the season finale of Grey's Anatomy, which was awesome by the way. I loved it and hated it the whole time. Lots of action, but I often didn't like what was happening. Totally edge of my seat kind of tv. So, back to knitting. Duck Soup is done, done, done. Yea!

I totally love this pattern. It was a great knit. I knit the size 2/3 and I have a tall thin kid that is in size 2T. I think the shape is designed more for a chubbier child. So, if I had it to do over I might make the smaller size or use a lighter weight yarn. Hopefully it will fit next year. Yet another theme. My son's sweaters are always too big. Ah well, I try. But this time I actually checked gauge!! And it's still too big. Sigh.

Anyone else watching "Losing It with Jillian" tonight? I am totally looking forward to it! I am a huge "Biggest Loser" fan and can't wait to see the new show. It is on at 10pm tonight and I REALLY hope they move it to an earlier time slot after this week.

A Few of My Recent Articles

Here are a few of my recent articles over at Associated Content. Thanks for reading!! :)

Dirty Dancing, Back to the Future, and Top Gun Need to Be Remade
Generation X is itching to re-live their teen years. With the resurgence of the 80's and the soccer mom's throwing all sorts of buying power towards the Twilight series, now is the time to remake popular 80's flicks!
Read More

How to Fit in Exercise with a Toddler in Tow
It is hard to fit exercise into your daily routine. But, you can be a great mom or dad by spending time with your kids while finding time to burn calories and get in shape!
Read More

"Losing it with Jillian" Debuts Tuesday June 1
Jillian Michaels is continuing her quest to help America lose weight and live healthier, happier lives. Her new show "Losing It With Jillian" begins Tuesday June 1 on NBC.
Read More

Notre Dame Cathedral-Paris, France
A slideshow of photos of the Notre Dame Cathedral taken while vacationing in Paris.
Read More

Check Out My Articles!

I have two recently finished objects! WAHOO!!

But, I have really been focusing on my writing. I hope you are interested in checking it out . . .

My Debilitating Migraines Are Caused by Stress
After dealing with debilitating migraines, I realized I needed to figure out what was causing them and make some changes. I am happy to share with you how I learned to treat migraines and eventually prevent them.
Read More

Five Small Lifestyle Adjustments for Big Weight Loss and Improved Health
After finding myself at my highest weight, I knew I had to really take action. Are you wondering how I did it? By making conscious decisions of how to truly take care of my body. Here are 5 tips that have really helped me.
Read More

How to Stay Motivated Losing Weight when the Scale Doesn't Move
It can be discouraging when you are eating right, working out, and the scale refuses to budge. Keep yourself motivated while losing weight with these great tips!
Read More

5 Helpful Tips to Maintain Your Weight Loss
There are 5 things you can do right now to make sure that you maintain your goal weight. You have worked so hard to lose weight, now make sure you keep it off!
Read More

How to Create an Inexpensive, Transitional Wardrobe While Losing Weight
While losing weight, it is so important to wear clothes that fit and look fabulous! You can create a budget-friendly wardrobe to get you through the seasons and your weight loss.
Read More

Where to Dine on Mother's Day in Saratoga Springs, New York
Treat your mother to a memorable meal in Saratoga Springs, New York to celebrate her on Mother's Day. Brunch? Dinner? Downtown? Off the beaten path? There is a fine dining option for everyone!
Read More

Toddler Toy Storage: Bins Vs. Toy Box
Children's toys multiply at an unbelievable rate. Have you figured out how to store and organize them? I have and I am happy to share with you how I do it.
Read More

Dairy-Free, Nut-Free Toddler Meal Ideas
Kids' favorite meals can be made without dairy or nuts for children with food allergies.
Read More

Top 10 Dairy-Free, Nut-Free Finger Foods for Toddlers
It is hard enough to find finger foods that a toddler will enjoy. It is even more difficult when trying to avoid dairy and nuts. So, I went through my pantry and came up with a list of my toddler's favorites.
Read More

DVR Has Set Me Free!
Find out how a DVR can improve your quality of life. It won't make your bed and do your dishes, but it will save you time and might even help you make dinner!
Read More

Albany Frugal Family Examiner

I started a new writing gig. I am the Albany Frugal Family Examiner. I'll be posting links here in hopes that you might want to check out my articles.

The Examiner pays based on internet traffic. So, the more people that read my articles, the longer they spend on my articles, the more comments I get, and the more people who subscribe, the more money I make.

Also, they offer a generous "finder's fee" if someone I know gets a job as a writer at Examiner.

So, if you like to support my new writing endeavor I would really appreciate it if you go read my articles, comment, and subscribe!! THANK YOU!!! :)

Price Chopper Coupons and Deals on Facebook

Ballston Spa Man is $10,000 Winner of ESPN NCAA Tournament Contest

What To Do With Marshmallow Peeps

Boscov's Decides to Discount Golf Equipment at Local Stores

Paas Color Snaps

Easter Bunny Shops at Aldi's

Spring Spin at the Great Escape

Albany Frugal Family Facebook Page

Cool Yarn Holder

Check out this really cool yarn holder made out of coffee cans. It is yarn art!! :) I just LOVE it!!!

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

I'm having a hard time trying to figure out what to knit next. Want to help me decide?

1--I could make an Itty Bitty Hat since I am working towards knitting every hat in the book.

2--I could finish my huge felted tote bag that I've been working on for forever. I just have the pockets left to do and then I need to felt it.

3--I could make the i-cord closures for my Easter Duck Soup and sew the buttons on.

4--Cast on my April sweater for my sweater a month challenge.

5--Cast on something from my 10 in 2010 list like Calorimetry or Fetchings.

Almost FO: Easter Duck Soup

Almost done! He could have worn it today without closures. However, it was nearly 80 degrees and a bulky sweater was the last thing he needed. The hood is SUPER cute!! The body is a little big on him I made the size 2/3 and he is a very thin size 2. So, I expected it to be big. I haven't done the i-cord button loops yet. I bought toggle buttons to use instead of the i-cord buttons. Since the sweater is so big on him, I'll probably back burner this WIP.

Happy Easter!! :)

A Little Detour

I have a little detour from my Easter Duck Soup. I am about 4 inches from being done with the body. Then I need to do the sleeves, seaming, and then the i-cord toggles. Still quite a bit to do. In the meantime, I have an order for a hat to be delivered Wednesday morning. So, I need to get cracking. I started it and had to rip it all out and start again. It is pretty bad when I make serious mistakes knitting my own pattern. Sigh. I feel like I am coming down with a cold. Maybe that's my problem. Yea, yea, that's it. I'll blame the impending cold for my inability to read my own pattern.