el fin

I have finally finished Aileen's sweater and it is on its way to Colorado as I type. Hooray! I'll post pics once she sends me some.

a whole month...ick

needless to say, its been a busy month.

I finished knitting Aileen's sweater and it is now in the assembly stage. That sucker will be there for Christmas. Hooray.

I co-organized the Unconditional Swap on craftster with Nicool and that was very time-consuming. By the end I think there were something like 200 people signed up - I could be exaggerating. :)

Jason has been able to throw a lot of proofing work my way which is delightful. Presents to Wayne seem a lot more present-y when I don't buy them with 'his' money.

r & r

after hosting the 3-year-old birthday party to beat all 3-year-old birthday parties, i've been resting up. now, i'm back in the swing of things. here is a photo of the happy bday girl - i'll post photos of the kickass backpacks I made soon:

not quite knitting related . . .

but I've had some people request to know what stamp sets I have, and this seems like a good place to list them:

A Little Love
All the Best
All Year Cheer 1
Alphabits
Alpha Shadows
Baby Firsts
Bitty Bolds
Burst into Bloom
Cheery Chat
Classic Alphabet
Crayon Kids
Crazy for Christmas
Cuddles and Tickles
Fanciful Favorites
Fresh Flowers
Fun Filled
Funky Flowers
Gifts from the Orient
Handmade w/ Love II
Happy Winter
Holiday Minis
Holiday Print
Itty Bitty Borders
Just Journaling
Little Layers
Little Shapes
Love w/o End
Make A Wish
Paint Prints
Painted Garden
Perfect Party
Pretty Princess
Shapes & Shadows
Simple Somethings
Simply Circles
Sincere Salutations
Small Script
Stars and Swirls
Sweet Talk
Tags and More
The Fine Print
The Shape of Things
Wonderful Wings

a little bit about me...

X marks the Meg. . .

[ ] I've run away from home.
[X] I listen to political music.
[ ] I collect comic books.
[X] I shut others out when I'm sad.
[X] I open up to others easily.
[ ] I am keeping a secret from the world.
[X] I watch the news.
[ ] I own over 5 rap CDs.
[X] I own an I-Pod.
[X] I own something from Hot Topic.
[ ] I love Disney movies.
[X] I am a sucker for hair/eyes.
[ ] I don't kill bugs
[ ] I curse regularly.
[X] I paid for that cell phone ringtone.
[ ] I have "x"s in my screen name.
[X] I've slipped out a "lol" in a real conversation.
[ ] I love Spam.
[X] I bake well.
[X] I would wear pajamas to school.
[X] I own something from Abercrombie
[ ] I have a job.
[X] I love Martha Stewart.
[X] I am in love with someone.
[X] I am guilty of tYpInG lIkE tHiS.
[ ] I am self conscious.
[X] I like to laugh.
[ ] I smoke a pack a day.
[ ] I loved Go Ask Alice.
[ ] I have cough drops when I'm not sick.
[ ] I can't swallow pills.
[ ] I have many scars.
[X] I've been out of this country.
[ ] I believe in ghosts.
[ ] I can't sleep if there is a spider in the room.
[X] I am really ticklish.
[ ] I see/have seen a therapist.
[X] I love chocolate.
[ ] I bite my nails.
[X] I am comfortable with being me.
[ ] I play computer games/video games when i'm bored.
[X] Gotten lost in your city.
[X] Saw a shooting star.
[X] Gone out in public in your pajamas.
[X] I have kissed a stranger.
[X] Hugged a stranger.
[ ] Been in a fight with the same sex.
[ ] Been arrested.
[X] Laughed and had milk/soda come out of your nose.
[X] Pushed all the buttons on an elevator.
[X] Made out in an elevator.
[X] Swore at your parents.
[ ] Kicked a guy where it hurts.
[ ] Been skydiving.
[ ] Been bungee jumping.
[X] Broken a bone.
[X] Played spin the bottle.
[X] Gotten stitches.
[ ] Drank a whole gallon of milk in one hour.
[ ] Bitten someone.
[ ] Been to Niagara Falls.
[X] Gotten the chicken pox.
[X] Crashed into a friend's car.
[ ] Been to Japan.
[X] Ridden in a taxi.
[X] Shoplifted. (Hello Kitty gum at 5 years old. My mom make me take them back.)
[ ] Been fired.
[X] Had feelings for someone who didn't have them back.
[X] Stole something from your job. (If sticky notes count!)
[X] Gone on a blind date.
[X] Lied to a friend.
[X] Had a crush on a teacher/coach.
[ ] Celebrated Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
[ ] Been to Europe.
[ ] Slept with a co-worker.
[X] Been married.
[ ] Gotten divorced.
[ ]Saw someone dying.
[X]Driven over 400 miles in one day.
[X] Been to Canada.
[X] Been on a plane.
[X] Seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
[X] Thrown up in a bar.
[X] Eaten Sushi.
[ ] Been snowboarding.
[ ] Been skiing.
[X] Been ice skating.
[X] Met someone in person from the internet.
[ ] Been to a motorcross show.
[X] Gone/Going to college.
[ ] Done hard drugs
[X] Taken painkillers.
[ ] Cheated on someone else
[X] Were so bored you took this survey.
[X] Have a tattoo

busy, busy, busy

The last couple of weeks have been busy...getting adjusted to a new schedule and whatnot. I have completed somethings though, and started some too.

I put together 2 more submissions for the Sampler, one for September and one for October. It seems to be bringing the etsy store a lot of traffic. Speaking of which, I sold something!! Two somethings actually, two scarves to a really nice girl from England. It feels really validating to have some feedback finally. :)

The spinning has been on hiatus because I've just been too tired to deal with it. Or sore - new personal trainer doesn't think that crafting is something to save energy for.

Aileen's sweater is still trucking along. I really think I can have it done for Christmas if I just keep on it.

Right now I'm in countdown to Saturday - I started a baby blanket on Monday evening that I need for a baby shower Saturday evening. I'm cutting it a little tight, but I think I'll make it(keeping fingers crossed).

swaps galore

Here are some things I made for a recent craftster.org swap. The theme was "Something you can put stuff in".

A wallet:





A mini-scrapbook:





A jordy bag:





And a really great bunch of cards I received from craft_t_chic for the Greeting Card Swap:

report card

here's what i've got going and how well i'm working on it:

* aileen's sweater: back finished, sleeves started. i really tend to just knit on this at knitting group so hopefully tonite will be a productive time.

* mary ella from knitty.com: all beads on cotton. all necessary tools present and accounted for. have yet to do even one stitch.

* spinning: took adrienne's free yarn off the spindle and started on my ebay roving. it is delightful to spin with, very soft with long fibers. i try to put in at least 1/2 an hour each day, but don't always make it.

* darci scarf from KnitWit: had to take it off the needles to lend them to someone. will resume at a later date.

* Jen's garter: ha! too difficult for me. i finished about 2 inches and gave up. too small, too many special stitches.

* unbiased from knitty.com: finished. i still haven't worn it anywhere, but its done. i'll post photos soon.

In addition I've been trying to keep my cardmaking going along so I can sell some cards on etsy.

the sampler

I'm in this month's (August) Sampler. My hand-stamped card samples were added as a Sneak Peek today. Woo hoo! Check it out here:

http://www.homeofthesampler.com

yikes...almost 10 days

since I last posted. sorry. we've been in potty training boot camp in preparation for uber-strict dance class dress code.

I'm organizing my first swap on craftster.org and so far its going well. Will keep that updated.

I have finished the back of Aileen's sweater - this seems like a miracle and is truly a victory to be celebrated. I even started on the sleeves right away so as not to lose momentum.

Adrienne, my lovely friend from Knitting group, brought me a drop spindle and some roving on Tuesday so I could try my hand at spinning. I like it, my yarn is all slubby, but its very cool. I can't wait to dye it funky colors.

My goal for today is to get my penpal letter out, or at least have it written for mailing tomorrow.

swap: craft your own knitting needles and goodies

So here at long last are the items I sent for my first Craftster swap.

Everything:



Case Inside:



Case Outside:



Needles:



The needle case was made out of an old pair of jeans and some remnant fabric. I embroidered the front with the help of Sublime Stitching. The needles were made from chop sticks (yellow) and dowels (red) with button tops. I also included stitchmarkers and note cards to give with knitted items that you could include the fiber/washing info.

littleone loved everything and I can't wait to see what people think of the craftster gallery.

neglect

I feel a little neglectful since its been a week between posts. But lets not dwell on that and push forward.

Last night was knitting night with the girls. It was a lot of fun, everyone is working on some great stuff. I finished another couple inches on Aileen's sweater back. I'm just about to start the raglan shaping and then that piece will be done. This sweater is working up so much faster that the last one, mostly because I only really knit on it at knit night. I knit much, much faster there. :)

I'm going to post another list of open projects and how far along I am soon.

etsy.com

so i just discovered etsy.com courtesy of leah at craftster.org and have posted some things to sell. i want to get some more of my knitting up, but first i have some linings to add and some ends to weave in. feel free to visit: http://megaknits.etsy.com .

Happy 4th!!

A little Independence Day craftiness - for Grandpa Bill's bday party:

knit night & pants!

knitting night with the girls tuesday went well. i finished about 4 more inches of the dreaded sweater. its coming along nicely and i'm trying not to stress out about when its ever going to be finished. a couple of new friends joined us which is always a great thing.

last night i stayed up extra late to finish ali's pants, my first sewing with a pattern project. i admit that initially i didn't think i'd finish when i didn't quite understand most of the pattern, but i just trucked along and tada:





they fit and ali loves them! hooray!

more swapping & some completing

I finally finished the 'unbiased' bag from knitty that I wanted soooo badly to make. Its pretty, I had some difficulty with the weird yarn and the pattern, but it turned out good. I'll try to post a photo soon.

My swap items for my first craftster.org swap are coming along nicely. I feel like a really accomplished crafter: sewing, knitting, embroidery.

Today I cut out the pattern and fabric for my first sewing pattern. Its a little pair of capris for Ali. I'll start sewing, maybe tomorrow.

craftster swap #1

i'm participating in my first craftster swap: knitting needles swap. i'm going to try to make some diy ones that i found here: http://www.littlecabbage.com/diy/needles.html
i'll post pics of my package before i send it out to littleone.

i can sew?!

i sewed this little square-bottom bag up a mere two hours after buying my first sewing machine. i didn't even have a pattern. . .

current projects (or projects I'm about to start)

Darci scarf from Knit Wit by Amy Singer - fabric in hand, may start today

A knitted garter for a friend's October wedding - little lace on little needles, a little mind numbing
Unbiased bag from knitty.com - just the strap to go

A patternless sunglass holder - inspired by Nicole

A sweater for my sister - a long story, may be addressed here soon

tinsel from knitty.com

a little bag for the smallest princess or your best friend who lives in tinseltown. pattern available at www.knitty.com winter 2004 issue.

four feet

maryjanes inspired by craftster post

craftilicious

i have recently broken free of just knitting and have started sewing and embroidering as well. i'm going to post photos here of each completed project. and some ideas and thoughts to make it interesting.

...

dress