5..4...3...2...1... Happy New Years!!!

I don't know about you all, but I am so looking forward to the New Year!

A new beginning for all things, a time for wiping the slate clean, of letting go of loves lost, reflecting on the year blessings of support and finding my independence. After all I am my mother's child, you have grit she would tell me, you are stronger than you think! Thanks mom...you were right...

As I look back in reflection I feel blessed for where I stand in this moment! Stronger, healthier and ready to take on a new year! I can't wait to begin an exciting new year with family and friends, with many good things to come!

My New Years resolution...improve self: become more organized, be more independent, perhaps take a trip, reflect more....say less! I'm sure this list will grow but hopefully I accomplish all that I have resolved for!

What are your New Years Resolutions? What do you say we keep them together!

Glory to God in highest heaven,
Who unto man His Son hath given;
While angels sing with tender mirth,
A glad new year to all the earth.
~Martin Luther


Christmas Food Coma

Well Christmas has come and gone but there's definitely still a hint of celebration in the air as the new year closes in. I hope everyone had as great of a Christmas as our family did. We drank, opened gifts, ate until we couldn't see straight, rinsed and repeated!

In the spirit of Christmas my husband and I are trying to come up with a few traditions to bring to our own little family. Jim's mom makes this amazing fruitcake and it's quickly becoming a holiday repeat! I know what some of you are thinking. Blech FRUITCAKE!!?? I was once like you...that is before I tasted my MIL's delicious fruitcake. None of that neon colored fruit or petrified nuts in this recipe! LOL Everything is fresh and it was so popular at our traditional Christmas eve party, that I'm getting requests for the recipe now.

Have I told you how much I LOVE Ginger Snaps?? Well I do and butter and molasses...but that's another story, I digress. As a wedding present we received a recipe that had long been coveted and cherished over the years. Jim's childhood friend's mom..phew...has been making these cookies since they were very young and has been one of his favorite memories growing up.  Now that we've got the recipe I think we've discovered a new family tradition that will not be disappearing anytime soon!! YUM!!



I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and enjoyed your families traditions...all while roasting like chestnuts in front of the fire! Til Next year, happy eating...and knitting!!

Swatching Report...

This Christmas while everyone is striving for a big finish in their gift knitting I will be swatching something for moi! :) I'm not brave enough or experienced enough to knit gifts for anyone...maybe in a few years when I have better technique. Right now, I'd only feel paranoid that whomever was on the receiving end would gape in horror as they opened their present thinking to themselves...this is it? Bahaha! Meanwhile I'd have spent hours upon hours working on it....no thanks!! I salute all the brave knitters out there who give of their knitting...I personally would be honored by such a gift! So for now I am going to swatch for this beauty! For the yarn I'm using Lana Grossa Bolero in 014 Marin Blue.


Ravelry Link Here

On another note, my MIL mama Marcia was in town and she has finished her squirrel sweater! GORGEOUS!! If I wasn't a well behaved and proper lady I might have snagged it right from her shoulders but alas, I adore her so I wouldn't do such a thing....would I? All joking aside it was amazing and she did a beautiful job on it!! I think it's my favorite of everything I've seen her do...however, I must add I've not seen her closet so I'm sure I could pick a number of beauties! Maybe one day I will tackle some colorwork and make my own set of squirrels.

Ravelry Link Here

Marcia did hers in Classic Elite Vail in Grey...double stranded...softest yarn I've ever felt in my short lil life. If I never knit this cardigan I'm definitely knitting something else with this yarn!

Happy Christmas Knitting!! :)

Christmas Mantle Wonders

Decorating for Christmas is the perfect time to explore one's creativity. I'm never quite sure what each year will look like and this year I am definitely in the crafting mood! In an effort to get creative I browsed through lots of Christmas decor on Pinterest!

Just look at these fabulous mantles!

Source

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Checkout this front entry way! If only I had this red door!

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Everywhere you look Christmas is all around us! Happy Holiday's to all you crafty kids out there!

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Gingher Scissors!!!

I never knew these beauties existed until Marcia introduced us to all that is Gingher! How stunning these beautiful scissors are! So hard for me to want to even take them out of the box, just look at all the details and colors!

Last year she so sweetly gifted both my sister and I a pair and this year we were once again delighted with another amazing pair! How wonderfully thoughtful!

I have since taken them out of their box and yes gasp used them a gazillion times but never without great care to put them back in their box! Look how beautiful they are!! Thanks Marcia for such a beautiful gift, we are so blessed to have such an amazing teacher in all that is knitting!

Knitted Home Decor

One day I hope to have a house, in this economy now is the time to buy! While I dream of home ownership another joy is constantly in mind. Decorating said lovely home of course! What do you think of some of these fabulous knits made for the home!

Aren't these beautiful lamps! Can you imagine how romantic this room must be?

Santinha - Casas Possíveis

How cozy does this look! I want to jump right in and snuggle!

79 Ideas

Perhaps Rooster might like a bed too?

By Drew Emborsky

Or even a rug on for those cold hard wood floors during winter?

Rag Doily Knitted Rug

Where can you find knitted pleasures in your home?

Nativity Wonder

As the month of December draws near and we begin to put up all the wonderful Christmas decorations I start to remember the reason we deck the halls. The real message of Christmas is not the gifts that we give to each other or all the fancy feasts, but the reminder of the gift that God has given to us. It is the only gift that keeps on giving.

Wouldn't it be a wonderful reminder to knit a Nativity set made from beautiful yarn! I do not expect it will be done for Christmas this year as I am a beginner of beginners but I would love to depict the rememberance of God's love for us in a tiny knitted nativity scene.

Did you know that the first nativity scene was believed to have been created by Saint Francis of Assisi in 1223.

Here are some of my favs!



Just look at the sweet little figures! Isn't baby Jesus precious! This was one of the cute little figures one of the girls at Woolie Ewe knitted!

Let us not forget Joseph with his Donkey!

Or the Angel, the Shepherds and the Three Wise Men!

I just love these little figures, what a wonderful way to celebrate the birth of our Savior!

Finished Object Report!!

As most of you already know I've been working on the Spring Garden Tee - Adult Version for quite some time. Over the Thanksgiving holiday my sweet MIL helped me finish it once and for all so I could finally get it blocked!! It looks great and I'm really excited to wear it!

The lace detailing on the sleeve looks great, although I confess I probably messed up a few stitches here and there...I'm still very pleased with the finished product!! I was going to give up on it because as I bound off it became WAY to tight and wouldn't lay flat against my jeans...but my MIL wouldn't give up and worked tirelessly to get it right...so now I have a brand new sweater. Thank You, Thank You! I Love It!!

Now I think I will work on my next project, Nantucket Red designed by Thea Colman. I love the design, it's so feminine and looks so comfortable. I've decided to use Sublime Tussah Silk DK in a gorgeous Grey that I already had in my stash...I'm trying desperately not to buy any new yarn...too bad I squashed that on Black Friday. In my defense there were ALOT of people there buying too!!



Found Here on Ravelry



 

 I think it will knit up beautifully, wish me luck! Happy Knitting!!!

Over The River and Through The Woods...

This Thanksgiving weekend we stayed in one of the cabins located in Beavers Bend, OK smack in the middle of Broken Bow State Park. It was so beautiful and incredibly quiet! An amazing dinner was had by all not to mention what a nice time it was catching up with everyone without having to run off and get ready for work the next day. A quiet place does much for the soul as well as one's knitting!!

With the help of my awesome MIL mama Marcia, I was able to complete two of the sweaters I was working on!! I was so excited I blocked them both when we got home and haven't taken the cardigan off since!  It's always so nice to get help when you're new at this whole knitting thing and not to mention the yarn eye candy of all the lovely sweaters she wore.

All I had left after blocking was to sew a button onto my Plymouth cardigan. I wasn't happy with any of the buttons in my stash but went to JoAnne's and was able to find this perfect lil beauty. My sister and I always joke that we find buttons for the yarn we buy...well I do confess, I picked up a few extra buttons just because they were so beautiful! LoL

Hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving Holiday spent with family and friends. Happy Knitting!!

On This Veterans Day...

I wanted to take a moment to on today's blog and thank those courageous soldiers who are currently serving or have served this great country!! It is because of your bravery that I am able to live in the land of the free; and I am ever greatful for your generousity and spirit!

Each Veterans day here in Arlington, TX we have a ceremony to celebrate these great veterans. The Veterans Day National Ceremony is held each year on November 11th at Arlington National Cemetery . The ceremony commences precisely at 11:00 a.m. with a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns. The ceremony is intended to honor and thank all who served in the United States Armed Forces.

On this Veteran's Day, take a moment of  silence to remember those who have sacrificed and still sacrifice today, their lives every moment to achieve peace and democracy. We are honored by your sacrifice and inspired by your bravery! GOD BLESS!

Happy Veterans Day!!

A Merry Knitted Christmas

Christmas...the time of year spent with loved ones, presents under the tree, fabulous family dinners and wonderful memories with family and friends! One very important part of every Christmas for my family is that of giving back. Amongst many my sister and I love to support the Angel Tree Charity.

Speaking of tree, take a look at this knitted masterpiece! Now this is one amazing way to give back!

In 2007 this beautiful knitted Christmas tree was created by The Eden Project. Topped of with a 54 inch tall knitted Angel, this 30ft creation is completely knitted from top to bottom! It took a thousand knitters of all ages to pull this magnificent creation off and is made out of thousands of knitted sleeves, that's right sweater sleeves!

The Eden Project is a charitable foundation who runs social and educational programs to help change the way people think about the world around them! Isn't it stunning!

Just look what can happen when people come together and as an added bonus lots of funds were raised for the charity by those who just came to admire it! In fact the tree raised thousands of dollars in support for Hospice.

This holiday make the season a little brighter for others by sharing God's blessings to others! There are countless ways to support your community so get out there and open your hearts to charities around the world! Need some ideas...

Austin Humane Society - Austin, TX
Piedmont Park Conservancy - Atlanta, GA
Stronger Families - Redmond, WA
Habitat for Humanity of Greater New Haven - New Haven, CT
United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Chicago - Chicago, IL
Matthew 25: Ministries - Blue Ash, OH
Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund - Camp Pendleton, CA

An Early Thanksgiving

Mmmmm....STUFFFINGGGG!! It's my FAVORITE part of Thanksgiving and no other recipe will do other than my mothers! I'm sure we all feel that way about a a traditional family dish that's been around for ages. It's the one we can't go without during the holidays and would be sorely missed if it ever disappeared from the table.

As Thanksgiving approaches, I think of how extremely blessed and greatful I am to even have these traditions! I love my family and am looking forward to getting together around the dinner table and sharing what we're most thankful for this year and what we look forward to in the next! This year we're gathering around the table early because the hubby and I are celebrating this years Thanksgiving with his side of the family in Oklahoma! I'm very excited to see everyone and still trying to decide what little decorations transport easily to help set the table there as well as working for our early Thanksgiving dinner with my side of the family. This beautiful table struck my fancy so I'm thinking to re-create its look for our table!

What holiday traditions does your family enjoy? Any special dishes or decorations that you can't live without this time of year? I love the holidays!!

A Rustic Thanksgiving

With Thanksgiving around the corner there are so many ways to bring the fall spirit into our homes! Looking around I found a few inspirational designs I'm thinking of incorporating around my home! I love a more rustic feel don't you?

These golden letters are fabulous (always a fan) and the cute gumballs, pine cones, and fruit add a natural touch to any space!

 

Fall



This chalkboard is perfect for the area above my mantle. Wouldn't it be cool to write a special message each day? This would keep things fresh and fun for my family to look forward to. What special message will you write for your family? The sticks are also such a great addition, and I am loving all the green and orange colors!



Fall



Is this cupcake/dessert pedestal amazing! So rustic and chic, it would be a great centerpiece for a buffet style Thanksgiving! Anybody have any trees they need cut down?


Fall

 I also found a few Thanksgiving crafts that are too cute not to create!


Gobble Gobble

Who doesn't need a knitted turkey hat! My needles are clicking with anticipation and my sister must wear this to her Thanksgiving at the cabin!


Turkey Hat






Knitted Baskets

I don't know about you but I have so much organizing that I still have yet to do around my tiny apartment. Who knew one could collect so many things! Just look at these wonderful creations I found for the organizer/knitter in everyone! Even if you don't knit how fabulous are these containers!

Stitch Rabbit

Stitch Rabbit has an amazing pattern for a beautiful basket worthy of anything needing a little organizational help! In fact when I looked around there were tons of ways to add a splash of color and organization to any area in need! Perhaps a soft bucket for babies toys?

STC Crafts

 





Joelle Hoverson’s with STC Crafts created these amazing baskets! Way better than anything you could find in a plastic bin!  This has me thinking wouldn't these be so cute for holding Christmas goodies to send to those near and dear? I've gotta get started, I have a lot of baskets to knit!

A few more for your knitting pleasure!



Holiday Craft Bazaar

Every year the J.J. Pearce Pacesetter Drill Team holds a Holiday Bazaar full of beautiful handmade crafts and holiday decorations. (Being a Berkner Bandolera alumni, I support all dancing queens!)After all what a great way to support a local high school full of talented beauties while snagging up loads of wonderful goodies for Christmas presents yet to be found. There we were getting our shop on when we spotted these lovelys!

Knitted Flower Pins. Aren't they stunning! I snatched up two immediately and headed to the register I couldn't contain my excitement! What a wonderful way to snaze up a beautiful scarf or sweater! Even a jacket looks so chic! Can you blame me for all my giddiness? They are the ultimate present and I can't wait for all my girls to unwrap!

Being the wonderful internet surfer I am I went home to search for more! I just had to share my beautiful find with my fellow bloggers! Here it is! A lovely little shop on my favorite website Etsy selling what else Flower Pins! Fringe is an amazing shop with so many beautifully handcrafted goodies! I would love to have one of everything if you know what I mean! Take a look! As Rachel Zoe would say I DIE!!!

What do you think would the knitter in your life just love them? What a find!