My "CAN'T WAIT" but will post

In the midst of all of my knitting there is one project that I am really wanting to start but haven't yet because I want to make sure that I can dedicate a good chunk of my time to it guilt free.
I have an incredibly hard time starting projects for myself when I have orders that need to be done for other people and so I'm busting my butt so I can get started on this...

It's a Newport Beach Sweater.
I love the neck on it and I think it would be perfect to throw over a tshirt or tank top. It calls for fingering weight yarn and I believe is knit on size 6 so hopefully I won't lose interest being that it's knit on smaller (but not the smallest) needles.
I managed to score some yarn on clearance in this color...

I ordered it from knitpicks which I don't really ever do.
I would much rather go to my LYS because at least I am investing my money into a local business and can touch and feel the yarn before I purchase it.
I figured at a little over 2 bucks a ball that I would give it a try though.
Cheap doesn't always mean good and I haven't knit with this yarn before so we will see how it goes.
I CAN'T WAIT to get it started!

Brodey's turns 5 yrs old in 9 days!
I have been brainstorming on what to knit him that will be quick and simple and yet will get a lot of use and love out of it.
I think a simple ribbed scarf in his favorite Wiggle colors (yellow, red, blue,and purple) would be perfect for him.
He plays with this Spongebob Square Pants scarf that I got like 10 years ago and I think he would love one that is made in his favorite colors. So, I will be starting that tonight when he goes to bed cause I would like to surprise him if I can.
Should be a fairly quick knit :)
I think I'm just as excited for his birthday as he is.
I'm pretty sure we both....CAN'T WAIT!

If you are a nerd and enjoy comics in addition to your knitting then you've probably already heard of "The Knit Princess".
If not the link is here: http://www.knitprincess.com/
anyway.
They were looking for a new artist a couple of months ago and had posted it on their facebook page. I shared that page with my friend, Gilly, who is an incredible artist and has done some work for the famous Comic Con and various other things.
She sadly didn't get it and it was handed over to a chick that was capable of getting the job done and honestly can do a better job than I can but it totally messed with the feel of the comic.
Welp, that person is out and Gilly is in!
Her comic debut for The Knit Princess will be on Feb 28th so keep your eyes pealed!
I CAN'T WAIT!

Kids go in for a re-check on their ears so wish us luck!
I really hope that Saiya does not need tubes in her ears and am keeping my fingers crossed that we can dodge that one.
Until then though I will be working and then picking up munchkins for a quick lunch and nap before we have errands and the dr. visit.

Hoping your day is a good one!
love you ALL!

Blessings,
Caren

pish posh blog of randomness

Ugh I know.
Super Sucky at writing lately.

I did you know that it is cold and flu season?
Did you know that the months of January, February, and March are the worst months for it?
Well my family seems to know this all too well and I can't wait till it is over.

Saiya has had fluid on her ears for the past 3 months now that keeps getting infected. I think within that time her ears have been clear once.
She has been on 3 different kinds of antibiotics and has gone in for checks and re-checks in addition to her milestone check-ups.
This has kept me on my toes.

Brodey has been pretty healthy but this season he has had numerous colds, pink eye, an ear infection, the start of strep, and we just recently found out that he may be going in for surgery in a couple years to have his sternum pushed out because it is slightly concave right now (which makes, what looks like a hole in his chest) and may get worse as he grows. Guess we will cross that bridge when we get there but it has just been nuts with all of these doctors visits!

I have had what I believe to be tonsillitis twice within the last 3 weeks. I know its bad to self diagnose but when I go to webmd and every symptom I have matches up exactly with tonsillitis... I'm going to put my money on that.
Thanks to a stock of antibiotics and a ton of vitamin C... I feel like I am on the mend finally.

My husband.... he feels great!
good for him.

Anyway. I've been thinking about collections lately. I know a lot of people who collect things. And often times I read blogs where people actually post their collections on there. And then I start to think... what do I collect? Well I have a nice "collection" of yarn and an awesome variety of coffee mugs! but that is about it.
One collection I think would be fun to start would be of nesting dolls.

Maybe someday I will start a collection of my own.
But right now I am just too cheap.

Within the last year my yarn has been forced out of my knitting corner. My one corner in the entire house that I spend knitting, contemplating the meaning of life, drawing up my escape plan, and figuring out quantum physics. Well.... I knit there at least.
This corner has seemed to transform quite drastically as I've acquired new yarn, books, and more responsibility.
It's become more of a little office area than anything which holds all my paper work, Celebrate Recovery Resources, mail, and of course all of my knitting resources and supplies.
It no longer looks like this little picture...
It looks like this now....

I'm not in it a whole bunch while I'm knitting but I still do enjoy it.
I've claimed this little spot on the floor that has a massive pillow for me to lounge on with a whole bunch of throw pillows and an electric heated blanket which is where I do most of knitting now. It's cozy. :)

What have I been knitting?
ORDERS!
I will be starting a project of my own here soon. Just need to knock out another earflap hat and a couple of neckwarmers.
ALSO
I am going to knit something for Brodey for his birthday which is on the 18th of this month. He is going to turn 5 years old and I just can't believe it.
It seems like it was just yesterday that I saw him for the first time. I intently studied his face and looked over every little bit of him to find his features that were most similar to mine. I immediately fell in love with his sweet little heart point chin and completely soaked in the feeling of finally being a mom. Not just a mom though... HIS mom.
He was the biggest adjustment I ever had to make but has by far been the biggest joy I have ever had. Even just this morning as we were hanging out before school he said "Mom, I love you. Want to know why? Because you're my favorite. Want to know why? Because you're mine!" I am so glad to be HIS mom but most of all I am blessed to have a son as wonderful as him.
This little boy deserves something special and of course it has to have the same colors as the Wiggles. Haha! It just wouldn't be right if it wasn't!

Off I go to get some work done.
Have a busy day today with kiddos.

I hope you all are doing well.
Love you ALL!

Blessings,
Caren

Mah Bad!

I've been really bad about writing the past couple months.
Not intentionally.
I usually do my blogging during down time at work and as of late I have had plenty to do which is a good thing.
But I have also been busy doing other things aside from that and will be blogging again within the next couple days to share.

I have been getting some knitting done! Kinda.
I have taken a few custom orders have been having a hard time not knitting as much as I'd like because between the kids and I... we have all been sick enough to probably last us till next winter. Ugh.
Seriously.
It's a good thing I'm not speaking this blog to you because you'd probably be quite irritated with my deep, raspy voice which sounds like a smoker going through puberty.
I squeak mid sentence with what little voice I have.

I don't like posting blogs without at least one picture so I thought I would share this one with you!

This sweet little picture from a Valentines Day Card was floating around on facebook yesterday and I absolutely adore it! I seriously would be thrilled (well. first floored) if David gave this sweet little card to me. It is just perfect.
Actually, I enjoy it so much that I printed it out yesterday and framed it to stick in my knitting corner.

Speaking of Knitting corner...
I had done a post on it a long time ago. It was probably the 2nd or 3rd post I did on this blog.
Anyway. There have been changes and I will be posting pictures. So anxious to show you my new working space(s). It seems I've claimed the living room. :)

Well, on I go to find stuff to do at my day job.
I hope you all are doing and I love you ALL!

Blessings,
Caren

Did I get it all done?

So I'm sure the question I should answer is...
"Did I get all my knitting done for Christmas?"
Answer: For the most part.
I came to realize that I couldn't devote my every waking moment to knitting and crafting and not that I couldn't but mostly didn't want to.
I scrapped the idea of knitting for my husband and managed to buy him a Christmas gift.
Didn't paint my yearly ornaments for my kiddos but am knitting them 2011 owls to hang on the tree this coming Christmas.
Didn't get to knit for my Godson either like I had wanted to but found a super cute Veggie Tales Nativity set!
(Baby Jesus is a baby carrot! so cute!)
But I did get all custom orders done.
I did knit for my grandmother and 3 of my siblings.
And my wrists have had a nice vacation.

I think the Christmas gift that I was focused on the most was my brother in-laws bearded toque.
It is rare when I actually know what Bryan wants for Christmas and I was shocked to hear that he wanted a bearded toque because he dresses fairly simple.
But I was determined to knit this thing and so I did!
Aprox 14 hours later I completed this...

I practically swim in it but it fits his face perfectly!
And from what I have heard... he wore it out to shovel the driveway a few days ago. :)

Now when I say that my wrists have had a nice vacation... I mean I have probably knit for maybe a total of 3 hours since Christmas Eve.
Shocking I know.
I do have Custom orders now that I will be starting on tonight more than likely but what I really want to knit is a sweater.
I found this pattern for the simplest top down sweater and still need to buy yarn for it but I don't think I will be satisfied until I cast on for it.
Ugh.

My Christmas was wonderful though :)
I spent it with family, enjoyed the laughter, loved the smiles, savored the fellowship and celebrated the birth of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
That's what it is all about to me.
Not about knitting and yet that seemed to be my focus leading up to the holiday.
This time... I'm starting my Christmas knitting in August.

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas AND a Happy New Year!
Love you ALL!!

Blessings!
Caren

Christmas Knitting. Hot Diggity Dog.

I bet you're wondering about how my Christmas is going...
and if you're not...I'm still going to tell you.
Better yet, I'm going to show you what my little "To Do" looks like.

Weds- 2 pairs handwarmers
start Bro-Inlaws gift

Thurs- work on Bro-Inlaws gift
Complete Godson/nephew's gift
Go shopping for stocking stuffers and a couple extra things

Friday- Make David's gift
Celebrate Recovery
Stay up all night gift wrapping

Saturday- CHRISTMAS EVE!
Finish Brother Inlaws gift
Make Brodey and Saiya's ornaments

I don't know how I'm going to do it.
Please pray for me.
Today's snow has added a little stress because the roads are so awful so I hope it clears up by tomorrow so I can get some shopping done with little difficulty.

so please say a prayer for me and enjoy this little comic :)
I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and will be sure to post pics of the Christmas knitting after they have been gifted and openned.
Love you ALL!

Blessings,
Caren

Lava Flow Love

As you can guess I have been knitting quite a bit and I feel hopeful.
In fact I feel so hopeful that I took on 3 custom knitting projects to help bring in a little extra holiday money and to help out some good friends of mine.
anyone seen my money tree?
I figured I wouldn't be posting much on what I've been working on due to the fact that I don't want anything leaked but figured it may be safe to share here and there because I don't think everyone reads this blog.

I made a "Lava Cowl" which is once again off of Ravelry.
I absolutely love this mock mobius.
(meaning that it did not use a mobius cast on but has a twist in it like a mobius would. oh and it was knit flat which was nice)
The pattern called for quite a few rows in between cable rows and I didn't care much for that so I decreased the amount of rows in between cable rows which caused for a prettier "flow", in my opinion.
If you're a non knitter I am sure that doesn't make a bit of sense but Isn't it pretty?!

Lately I've been eating an abundance of cookies.
Seems to be a gift often given during this time of year and its one I am glad to accept.
The only problem is... my sweet tooth is massive and I find myself grazing through out the day on them.
So I've taken up Yoga again in hopes that it will help and better motivate me to eat better.
I'm not out to lose a particular amount of weight; I just want to feel good.
This is not a New Years Resolution cause I really suck at those.

Any of you have New Years Resolutions?
Have you ever followed through on one and completed it to your satisfactory?

Off I go to race the day!
I hope you all are doing well.
Love you ALL.

Blessings,
Caren

Mustache? Or Moustache?

So I realized today that I have 17 days to complete my Christmas knitting.
My first thought is "Piece of cake"
My second thought is "My wrists are going to die!"
I'm thinking that I will have many dates with Icy Hot and my wrist compressing gloves.
I've been working on my Grandma's gift over the past few days and with all the twists and turns my wrists have already started to feel the damage.
My goal is to do two days on and one day off which will hopefully give my wrists some time in between projects that shouldn't take too long.
Anyhoo.

I went frolicking through Ravelry looking for Christmas ideas for a couple of the dudes in my family...
I found this....

I am thinking that Saiya will have a new little spring sweater.
I don't know what it is about mustaches but I love them!
I just think they are fun to put on things.
I would so totally grow one if I could but I will settle for knitting them and leave it up to the men.
P.S. You can find this sweater patter on Ravelry under "Mini Moustache Sweater".

My search also lead me this!
I am certain that a lucky fella in my family will be receiving one for Christmas and I am also certain that I will end up making one for me as well :)
This pattern is free on Ravelry and is called "Incognito".
The pattern provides information for multiple sizes, styles of mustaches, and two different ways to make it. Not to mention it provides you with links to learn how to do the questionable parts.
I am so excited to cast on!

Once Christmas is over I will be picking back up on the custom knitting.
Seems that Christmas has kind of taken over and has forced me to cut back.
I just need the next 17 days to focus and few days after that to recover!

Thanks for dropping by!
I hope you all are further long in your Christmas shopping and preparations than I am!

Love you ALL!

Blessings,
Caren