And because I went all crazy, I rented chickens!  Not really crazy.  Brilliant in my eyes.  We get the whole chicken experience with eggs as a bonus.  And... they come and pick the sweet girls up in the fall.  Unless of course we decide to adopt them.  That option is available.  I think this concept is absolutely wonderful.

But lately it has been my Windswept Shawl bag.
Windswept fits perfectly in this cute little bag.  Amazing, but true.
And it makes me ridiculously happy whenever I see it.  (It's available in 5 shades!)

Btw:  Those are beetles.  Good Luck beetles.  Symbols of strength and luck.  Perfect for my small, interesting projects.  😊

I went to a baby shower and almost all of the gifts given were little boy baby items with skulls.  Who knew there was quite a selection out there.  I gave her a little black and white striped sleeper but decided to knit her something when the baby was born.  I was pleasantly surprised to find this pattern while perusing Ravelry.   I decided to opt out of the striped sleeves and the hood.  Easy enough.  Instead of picking up the stitches for the hood, I picked up the same amount of stitches and knit for 6 rows.

Pattern:  Baby Goth Knits Hooded Jacket
Yarn:  Uptown Worsted
Needles:  US 5 & 6

Happy Weekend friends!

Okay.  I could not be more in love with these colors from April's KNITCRATE.  It truly takes everything I can to not cast on for this project.
The yarn is Vocabulary Yarn in Hawaiin Ice and Cara Cara Orange. 100% Superwash Merino Wool.   Soft lavender, pale aqua, cool mint and beachy blues combined with neon orchid and fiery orange.  Neon-sherbet at it's finest!
Two hat patterns, one for beginners and one for intermediate and advanced.
And a lovely sheep milk soap from Maple Hll Farm.

These mail days make my month!

Remember to use code FKW20 to receive 20% off your first Crate!

We traveled to Florida, yet again, for the break.  I'm down to just one child to take.  WHAAAAA!
Those years went way too fast.

Hey Friends!

Barbie Lou is finally written up.  I  apologize for those who were waiting and for it taking me so long.  I had a lovely knitter test it, and I think it's all correct.  Thank you, Sarah!  (Sarah was really fast, it was I who was slow!)

This is the pattern my sweet mom wrote. (We call my mom Barbie Lou.)  All of my children, my sisters children and friends children have worn a Barbie Lou.  This has always been our go to baby sweater.  Great for both sweet baby boys and baby girls.  It is written in two sizes, 3-6 months and 6-12 months.

The pattern for Barbie Lou is available here.

Happy Friday!

Ha ha!  I'm giggling how the straight needles (I never use straight... but all of my size 6 circulars are holding projects.) look like crossbones.  Well, sort of.  Get it?  Skulls and crossbones!

This is actually a baby sweater for a friend who recently had a baby and is all about skulls.  The pattern is darling.  But, be warned.  There are no guage or measurement details written in the pattern.  So, I'm flying solo.  I'll be sure to give my measurements when I am finished.  I've swapped out the striped sleeves for solid black.  And, I am leaning towards not adding a hood.

As my husband and I were headed out the door yesterday, I realized that it was the second Sunday in a row that I was going somewhere, in my city, for the first time. That made me feel pretty giddy. :) We decided to try to do something new and different on Sundays. Act like a tourist in our own city or if we are traveling, try something new on our travels.  I particularly love it, not only for the new experience, but because I can always, always, pack my knitting.
 We shared a delicious tuna salad sandwich at Pear and Pickle and then headed to St. Anthony's Chapel where the second largest collection of Christian relics is held.  Second only to the Vatican!  WHAT?!  People from all over the world travel to visit St. Anthony's.  And, there it is, only 15 minutes from us.
 A brewery for an ice cold, Sunday, afternoon beer.
Ending the day with a little sunshine on our faces, yarn in my hands and leftovers for dinner.
Perfection.

Last weekend, Pittsburgh held a yarn and crochet festival. Although, it has been going on since 2005,  I have never attended and was really looking forward to it.  I hadn't been to a yarn festival since Rhinebeck in 2008!  My friend Denise and I grabbed a coffee and headed there on Sunday morning.
There were some really amazing booths.  We met some charming people and they told us about their incredible farms.  (All yarn named after their adorable sheep!)  I ended up walking away with some really gorgeous yarn from a couple of other booths.   Hello new poncho. Hello new mitts.
I remember being at Rhinebeck, back in 2008, and noticing how every single person was wearing something they made.  That's the time my sister wore her only knit and was getting tons of attention.  That's the time I didn't wear a thing that I made.  That's the time, I was wishing I wore something really great to say...hey!  I knit, too!  I almost forced my sister to give me her sweater to wear.  As I headed out the door to Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet on Sunday morning, I pulled out one of my Hanne Falkenberg Ballerina's.  And, that sweet knit did not disappoint.  Finally.  Finally.  The fellow knitters at the show knew that I, too, was a knitter. 😍

Meet Judy.
I haven't knit with mohair in a very long time.  It's been years.  Like, many years!  But, when I saw Wool and the Gang had a mohair out, I just had to try it.  L O V E.  Especially for a small project.  It took one ball to make Toast.   I cast on 4 stitches less for the pattern only because I was getting a different gauge.  That is the only change I made to the pattern.  These will definitely take me through those cool spring days and make me happy.

And by the way... I just received the email that Wool and The Gang is having a sale!  The take care mohair is on sale through midnight March 27th.

I've been meaning to share these amazing wallpaper murals with you guys for some time.  Can you stand it?  I am totally in love.  There isn't a room in the home I am living in right now where I feel like I could accomplish this.  But, I definitely want a room like this in my future!  Aren't they awesome?
Those are some big stitches!

The winner of Knit Noro Accessory 2 book is number 7, Cami Paul.   Cami, please email me with your address and I will make sure Knit Noro book lands in your mailbox.

Or these fabulous gloves.  Oh ya.
I absolutely love the stripes and drape of this wrap.
I just love how some of the patterns are constructed.  This art deco wrap is knit by starting a small rectangle and picking up stitches along an edge to add to the size.  Repeating that concept as you build onto the size of the wrap.  (Or a blanket!)
This truly might be the garment that really caught for my eye.  It's knit in strips making it visually not only a garment but a true piece of art.

The sweet peeps over at Sixth and Spring would like to give away a copy of Knit Noro Accessories 2 to one of my readers.  Please leave a comment here before Monday, the 20th at 5pm EST, and I'll have the random number generator choose a name.

Happy St. Patty's Day!  I hope you are wearing a green knit.  xx

KNITCRATE seriously makes me ridiculously happy.  A surprise box in the mail containing yarn and a treat?!  How could it not make someone happy?! ( Especially when it just happens to match flowers that were gifted to you!)
March's KNITCRATE contained 2 skeins of Crock-O-Dye fingering weight yarn.  65% Superwash Wool, 20% Nylon and 15% silk.  I love how it also gives two shawl patterns to choose from.  One for Beginners and one for Intermediate/Advanced.  I think I'm going to cast on for the Beginner pattern which is Windswept.  I haven't made a shawl for such a long time.  Pretty giddy about it.
And, can you stand those adorable little sheep stitch markers?!  Crazy about them!

The KNITCRATE peeps would like to offer 20% discount off your subscriptions first month.  Enter code FKW20 at checkout.

So, I have been wanting a pair of toast in a Camel color for a while.  I seriously have been stalking yarn stores and combing the internet in search of the a Camel color yarn.  Not caramel.  But, camel.  You know, like a Camel color jacket.  Or, a Camel color bag.  Or... our beloved CAMELS!
Well, I ended up finding a yarn that I loved that was discontinued on Amazon.  Ya, I know, Amazon!? Not sure if it was exactly what I was looking for, but it was the yarn I loved...  in a color I loved.   So, I snatched it!
Toast are seriously my all time favorite.  Sure, I love a fingerless glove.  But toast are completely fingerless.  Not even a space for your beloved thumb.  Which makes them perfect for those times when you need to use your fingers. (Just push them up.) Or, when you need to cover your cold fingers. (Just pull them down.)  All the while, adding that extra warmth needed.

Pattern:  Toast.
Yarn:  Rowan Cashsoft.
Needles: Size US 7 dpn.

How cute is that coaster?!  My sweet friend, Suzanne, had knit a sweater that she wasn't happy with. So, instead of crying (well, maybe there were tears) or throwing it on the floor and throwing a fit, or frogging it, she decided to felt it and repurpose it!  She mentioned how liberating it was.  I think it was a beautiful project that went exactly the way it was supposed to!  A beautiful coaster full of love and a whole lot of inspiration!  I just adore it.

The random number generator chose number 11 to win 60 quick knitted toys.  Congrats, Debra Childers! Please email me with your address.

60 Quick Knitted Toys stirred memories of when my children were younger.  And, oh, how I wish I would have knit half of the toys in this book! It's like a toy chest bursting with lovable patterns to knit!
Hippos, owls, foxes, monkeys.
Musical instruments, giant tic-tac-toe board and penguin bowling.
Honestly.  I think they are the perfect gifts to be treasured.

The sweet peeps at Sterling would like to give away a copy to one of my readers.  If interested, please leave a comment here before Monday, March 6th, 5pm EST,  and I will have the random generator choose a name.

Happy weekend!

Happy March, Friends!

February was fun.  Really fun.  There wasn't much knitting that took place, but there were other things.  Things that filled my soul.  Things that ignited my soul.  From the magnificence of the Grand Canyon to this past week's Yeah Field Trip.

I traveled with a couple of friends to Yeah Field Trip to learn more about photography. But the funny thing is, I didn't take a single photography class.  There were so many other classes my soul needed instead.  I loved hearing about others creative journeys.  I loved meeting so many people that are following their hearts.  Their passions.  Like minded people finding their way.  I took few photos.  And, my photos don't tell the magic that happened deep in my heart.

It was a gathering of such.  And we gathered with others to learn.  To educate.  To connect.  To grow.  To laugh.  To cry.  To be fed.  To fill up.  To love. To listen.  To notice. To be curious.  Basically, to be deeply nourished.

I can't even begin to tell you how wonderful this experience was.  I am forever grateful and amazed at the creative souls who gathered there and all of the goodness there is in this wonderful world.

I've mentioned what a big fan I am of KnitCrate. It really is SO MUCH FUN!
February's KNITCRATE contained 3 yummy skeins of Mrs. Crosby worsted weight 100% merino and a lavender bath bomb.  Super fun!  The pattern included is for a Patchwork Purse.  I'm actually thinking I may not make that and may come up with something else to make.  I think finding a pattern for a worsted weight yarn is pretty easy.  SO many choices.  The lavender bath bomb is such a cute touch.  Handmade of essential oils and premium ingredients.  What a fun way to recover sore muscles!
The Sock KNITCRATE contained a yummy skein of  Mrs. Crosby's Train Case, a blend of 55% merino wool, 15% nylon and 30% outlast viscous, a unique fiber that extends the life of socks!  And another scrumptious bath bomb!  Definitely motivating me to make more socks.

You have until the end of February to order either of these crates.  Then, March is here with another exciting mail day!

We headed to Arizona on the 7th to hike the Grand Canyon.  And, oh, was it G R A N D.
This trip is definitely one that takes some planning.  And, in case anyone is interested, I will give you some tips and highlights.  (Please feel free to email me at anytime.) Steve and I traveled with a couple and she has had the unbelievable gift of hiking and staying at Phantom Ranch eleven times.  (Eleven!)
Some tips and points to mention:
•If planning on staying at Phantom Ranch, you must book this adventure a year in advance.  So, if you would like to hike down during March 2018, you will need to make reservations on March 1, 2017.  It gets pretty hot in the Canyon (Typically 10-20 degrees warmer.) So, February/March are great months to travel.
•We hiked down Kaibab, stayed in the Cabins for 2 nights and hiked up Bright Angel.
•You can choose to stay in a cabin or a dorm.  The cabins have 2 sets of bunk beds.  The dorms sleep 10.
•Two nights is an ideal time to stay at the Ranch making day hikes out of your time in the Canyon.
•It took us 6 hours to hike down Kaibab (leaving the south rim at 9:30am)  and 8 hours to hike back up Bright Angel (leaving the Ranch at 6:20am).
•There are 2 seatings for breakfast 5:30am/7:00am and 2 seatings for dinner 5:30pm and 7:00pm.  We ate the 7pm dinner after arrival at the ranch, the 7am breakfast and the 5:30pm dinner during our day in the Canyon.  And, the 5:30am breakfast on the day we headed out of the Canyon.
•Plan to arrive at the Ranch before 4pm if you would like to enjoy a cold beer.  Kitchen closes at 4pm in order to set up for dinner.

I can honestly say this was probably the trip and time of my life in terms of personal achievement.  It hits all levels... Spiritual, Emotional and Physical.  I was completely and utterly in awe.

Happy Valentines Day, Friends!

Just wanted to let you know that I was doing a little Valentine Celebration and offering 25% off all Chalk Lots orders.  Enter code justlove at checkout to receive the discount.

Hope ALL your days are full of love.

I adore the little pocket.  You can see the bit of striping better in this photo.  It doesn't really bother me.
While the front is a garter stitch, the back is stockinette.  A purl row up the sleeve gives it a look of a "seam".  Not sure that is completely necessary.  But, might be a nice added bit of interest.

Patten:  Pink Memories
Yarn:  Came as a kit.
Needles:  US 4 and US 5
Mods:  Didn't really make any.  Not sure why, but my neck is a bit "tighter" than I would like.  I may end up re-doing the neck.  Just not right now. 😁
We are headed to the Grand Canyon.  I am so excited!

Toasty.
Always a fun thing to make.  For yourself or someone else.  I made these for a gift and used the wrong tag.  She absolutely, positively,  can machine wash and dry these!  Cause I made them out of this.
I cast on for a pair of  Toast today.  Of all the pairs I have made, I seriously don't have a single pair left for myself.

My mom and sisters and I spent last week together in St. Petersburg Florida.  We really loved it there.  Right on the water with great restaurants and cute shops.  Well, I'm not exactly sure about the shops as we didn't do any shopping, but it DID have great restaurants, museums and a beautiful marina. To tell you the truth, we could be anywhere just as long as we spend time together.

How cute is that t-shirt I am wearing?!  Thank you Elizabeth!  I absolutely love it.  I found them here if anyone is interested.

Knitting happened.  Pink Memories was finished.  Back soon with pics.