The Insanity

 Yay another post before the month of July ends!
I was meaning to post yesterday but I got caught up in work and decided to use the kids nap time as time for me to watch shows aimed towards young teenagers and hang with my Momma.
I know you're jealous....

This coming Thursday (Aug. 2nd) I will be teaching a class on the
"Grrlfriend Market Bag".
This is a free pattern that I found on Ravelry that I absolutely had to make.
I've been wanting to make a market bag for a long time... like since I first learned how to knit but didn't have enough skills to make one easily.
Well since I'm pretty confident in what I know and am totally willing to learn what I don't... I decided that it was time.
I've made 4 in the last 4 months.
It's knit from the bottom up and the cast on was pretty tricky but as long as I kept breathing...
I was golden.
Here is one that I've made for the class.

I've been contemplating making a few and selling them...

Any takers?

I went to Billings, Montana over the weekend with my Mom and Kids to go visit my Grandma.

It had been a little over a year since I had seen her and so I was thrilled when my mom offered to take us with.

We had ice cream every day.

Shopped.

Went Swimming.

Ate at a yummy pizza place.

and found a couple yarn stores.

(one of which I actually went into.)

I was seriously in need of some time out of town and especially with people who are so key in my life.

Wild Purls was a highlight on my trip for sure.

I walked in and immediately felt at home as I browsed at the big selection.

Saiya was busy.

Brodey was busy.

I was busy looking at yarn.

My mom helped me out and kept Brodey preoccupied in the car while Saiya and I kept looking.

I visited with the lady that was working there as we shared some of our favorite things to knit, planned projects for the future, favorite yarn,  and pattern/yarn match-up mistakes.

I walked around a few times and kept gravitating towards this bin of beautiful, soft, luxury yarn that I just could not help but to pick up and pet.

I ended up getting two skeins of it!

Lorna's Lace Shepherds worsted weight.
100%  superwash merino wool

I don't know why I didn't think to look at the tag to see what kind of yarn it was.
I just saw that it was Lorna's Lace and was super soft.
I was sold.
I then got super excited when I realized it was superwash merino wool because I often times prefer it due to its washability and softness.
I like having high quality yarn and still being able to put it in the wash with no worry of felting.
Especially with a toddler that is oh so busy with food and cup.
It was a successful yarn purchase and I walked out of there all sorts of giddy.
If I wasn't worried of looking like a complete fool you could have possibly seen me skipping out of there with bag in hand and ear to ear smile.

Sometimes I feel like I sound insane.
Like I'm just some fiber crazed fool that has completely lost it around yarn.
But I know other knitters understand.
Yarn can either make or break a project.
It adds character.
Texture.
Uniqueness.
Possibly some sentimental meaning.
and not to mention some yarn is hard to knit with and can honestly hurt the hands.
Would you rather knit with some stiff string that has absolutely no give or bounce to it?
Or would you rather knit with something that is soft as it hugs your needles and gives nicely as your needles move in and around it? 
Do you want harsh man made fiber hanging off your body or the body of a loved one that holds no real warmth?
Or something that gives warmth and comfort?
See where I'm going with this?
Yarn is very important to a knitter.
and if we sound crazy...
we just might be but only because we know what's good and have learned to really appreciate all the work that goes into making it and how it makes the knitting experience just that much more enjoyable.

If you're a knitter or crocheter (or both) that does not purchase yarn from a Local Yarn Store I would recommend purchasing Lionbrand's woolease (if you haven't already) which I've found at Walmart and Hobby Lobby.
I've knit with that a few times and have enjoyed it on the occasional project.

Keep your eyes peeled and look at labels.  I know I've seen a few acrylic yarns with wool blends added in like woolease but have also seen some with alpaca and other friendly fibers.
You can still enjoy yarn on a budget.  :)

If you haven't tried luxury yarns...
I dare ya.

I hope your day is going well!

Blessings!
-Caren-

Knits and Finds

 I was hoping to get this blog posted before the kids got up from their nap but I had problems logging in and then had to go through a couple hundred emails before I realized I was in the wrong email account to get my login information.
They are wide awake now as Brodey scrolls through Netflix to pick out a show to entertain them for a few while I do this. 
My computer at home seems to be a little bit more user friendly and so I'm hoping to post more frequently now that I'm not as limited.

For the last 1.5 years I've been wanting a China hutch. 
I even went as far to ask my mom for the one that I grew up with because I just needed a place to put some of my breakables and store some of those keepsakes that I didn't want Saiya's busy little fingers all over.
I'd post on facebook on Casper Mama's Upcycle every once in a while asking for an inexpensive or free china hutch and had no such luck. 
I had just figured that it would be simple to find one at a decent price because I always see people posting on their blogs the stuff that they bought from thrift stores for close to nothing.   They do not live in the state of Wyoming and apparently our 2nd hand shops here in Casper are not always poverty friendly.
Well last month I decided to ask God for one.
"God, please give me a China hutch.  I feel like I've been patient in my search and I would just really like one.  Please give me one...."
And he did!
I had posted on the same facebook page that I have been for over a year and had an immediate response (from someone I knew of all things) saying that I could have theirs for free.
I was thrilled and couldn't wait!
I got it, I moved into it, and it sits full in my dining room.  :) 

 Is it in perfect condition?  No.  But does it have to be?  NO WAY!  There is a little wear on it but I don't mind.  It just gives me a good excuse to paint it later on down the road if I so choose.

Now I didn't ask God for these but they were an awesome garage sale find!  I love garage sales but it seems I don't find much because often times what others see as junk... I see as junk as well.   BUT there have been times when I find something perfect and this last month I did. 
These two red chairs!
SCORE!

The guy that was selling them was wanting $50 a piece but David talked him down to $20 so I got both chairs for under the asking price of one. 
They are so comfortable, and after a little rearranging (and total make over on my knitting corner) they fit perfectly!

I have been knitting!  In fact I have been knitting like crazy. 
I've managed to complete a number of projects in the past couple weeks. 
This dress being one of them!

In addition to that I've managed to knit 2 headbands, 1 washcloth, 1 market bag and this super cute and fairly easy baby sweater.

I started this baby sweater on a Friday afternoon and had it done by a Sunday afternoon.
It was knit using chunky yarn and size 10 US needles which would explain why it wouldn't take so long to do. 
The size I made was a 6 mos.

I've been planning for Saiya's 2nd birthday that is coming up in Sept and have been starting to get ideas for Christmas knitting.
I don't know why I want to torture myself again this year with deadlines and last minute projects.
I just have some ideas going around in my head and they are so awesome that I'm having a hard time passing them up but we will see. 
(will more than likely knit.)

David has been at his job for a little over a month now and all is well so far.
The longer he is there the more comfortable we have become with this change even though there are some things that we are all adjusting to still.
The hours are unpredictable and though he may be given a day off... it doesn't mean it is.
They can call him in at any time and send him home at anytime.
There was one day when he worked from 8:00 a.m. till 4:00 a.m. the next day which included a couple hour break for him to come home, cook, eat, and water the lawn.
He will be going out of town the closer his training comes to an end.
I am just thankful that 1.) He has a job and 2.) God is providing and 3.) He is much happier than he was.
We have a lot to be grateful for!

Brodey will be starting Kindergarten in just a few short weeks.
The closer that time comes the more I consider home schooling, which is weird because I have never felt these emotions before.  haha!
I know things will be ok and if at some point they aren't... I will deal with them then and not be in fear of what he may face.
Just praying and trusting God while I prepare to send my son off to elementary school.
I am so proud of him and feel so privileged to watch him grow into such a neat little dude. 

Whoa.
I guess this is what happens when I don 't post for a while.
Big ol' long winded blog.

Love you ALL

Caren