knitting in wonderland

2012-01-28T09:30:00.000-05:00

My sweet baby girl is now 9 months old!

2012-01-27T00:43:00.002-05:00

Happy Birthday, Darling!

My oldest daughter turned 8 this week!!

For her birthday, she wanted cake pops instead of cake.

She also wanted cupcakes...

So, I made both! 

There is no such thing as too much cake at a little girl's party!

I made both chocolate and vanilla cake pops. The recipe is a mix of a few recipes that I found on Pinterest plus a few things that I learned along the way. 

I am posting this since so many are asking for the recipe! 

Here is my version: 

I sprinkled the vanilla with pink sugar :)

Cake Pop Recipe
Bake your favorite chocolate or white cake (or both!!) and let cool
Make your favorite frosting (I cheated and used Pilsbury)
Crumble cake into a bowl.
Gradually add frosting so it it sticky, but not too sticky. If it is too sticky, it won't form balls
Make balls by rolling mixture of cake and frosting and set in a 9" x 12" casserole dish
Stick balls vertically with candy making lollipop sticks (I used Wilton)
Freeze overnight (Finish the rest the next morning)
I melted chocolate in a glass measuring cup (white chocolate for vanilla pops)
Dip balls into melted chocolate and sprinkle with sprinkles, sugar or topping of choice
Let chocolate harden

These were delicious and a huge hit! They are very similar to the ones at Starbucks!!

(I think these would be wonderful at Christmas to dip chocolate cake with chocolate frosting into white chocolate and roll in crushed peppermint!!) 

For the cupcakes, I made chocolate and white cake. I used

Meri Meri Eat More Cake Cupcake Kit

2011-12-07T23:24:00.001-05:00

Enter to win a clek carseat or a 100% organic cotton nook baby blanket at

THE BABY GUY GEAR GUIDE

2011-10-29T17:48:00.002-04:00

Hello!

Yes, It's been a while since I have blogged... sorry, folks! Where have I been? Let's see... working part time, art school part time, taking care of the new little baby (now 6 months!!), breastfeeding exclusively (still!!), taking care of the other 2 wild children, being a wife and knitting, spinning wool, sewing, painting, drawing, cooking and baking... you know, typical mom stuff! I am back to send a shout-out to the

BABY GUY GEAR GUIDE

head over to his site here and enter to win the new uber-chic

Phil & Teds Promenade!!!

Bananna Blueberry Muffins

2011-06-23T23:24:00.001-04:00

These muffins are amazing!!

I got the recipe from my dear friend, Maryann. You can find the recipe over at the ICU

I made a few changes to the recipe, since I didn't have buttermilk or vanilla/plain yogurt. So I added milk instead of buttermilk and I added a banana. I also used half whole wheat pastry flour and half all-purpose flour. For the topping, I used organic cane sugar (turninado raw sugar). These came out absolutely delicious!!! They are super easy to make, too!

bonjour, mon beau bébé!!

2011-06-16T15:44:00.001-04:00

Welcome!

Arabella Violet

was born on April 21st, at 2:58 pm, weighing 7 lbs, and was 18.5" long!!

5 weeks old

I love her tiny little feet!

Psalm 127:3

Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD:

and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

happy new year!!!

2011-01-02T01:42:00.004-05:00

i am sew excited for the new year! (yeah, that's bad, but i just couldn't resist!!) i have been sewing almost daily on my new singer esteemII that i received from my hubby for Christmas. i have been making drawstring bags, a pillow cover for my son's little ikea pillow, baby blankets, burpcloths, flannel pillowcases, an american girl doll dress and a tote for my little guy.

i have been nesting this weekend in the form of sewing!

these are some drawstring bags that i made for my knitting projects. they get all tangled in my purse half of the time when they aren't in a bag, so these are a great size for smaller projects, since i always have my knitting with me!

here i am with my newest flannel baby blanket that i have made with my new machine. there are running horses on one side, pink with white polka-dots on the other side

the polar fleece batman pillow for my little guy

my little man and his batman tote

i start my sewing lessons this friday night with the amazing MARYANN, blogger at http://www.maryann-designs.com she is a wonderful friend and an amazing designer! i am so excited have the opportunity to learn from such a creative and gifted designer!!

now, i want to make bibs! i found some nice patterns online, i made a list of links below of the good free baby bib patterns that i found online.

links to some awesome free baby bib patterns:

nested.com (lots of other fun stuff!)
made by petchy (she has some other awesome patterns, including an easy baby dress!)
chickpea sewing studio (some other baby patterns)
make it and love it (also a high chair cover, and mamny, many paterns, including a nice pettiskirt)
spincushion
vanillajoy (where i got most of these links! she has some good stuff!)
sewcando (great little site with other tutorials)

a tutorial for a boppy pillow slipcover!!!
also at vanillajoy.com

and moses basket bedding!! at sewcando

during my search, i stumbled across this amazing little tutorial for a nice little zippered box pouch bag:
http://modernquiltlove.wordpress.com/2009/07/14/perfect-box-pouch-tutorial/ she has some other fun little sewing tutorials there!

***once again, sorry about the horrible photo quality, we are still without a camera since the rain got ours... :(

2010-12-29T00:42:00.006-05:00

Christmastide!

my hubby with the kiddos, Christmas Eve

(yes, the kiddos had matching polar fleece Christmas jammies :D)

we had such a wonderful Christmas this year! on Christmas eve, my husband read Jan Brett's version of The Night Before Christmas (signed by the author when we met her a few yrs back!!), to us in our Christmas jammies. everything was wonderful, the food was delicious, the children were happy and we all adored our gifts. after opening gifts at home, we went to my grandmother's house to celebrate with the rest of the family. my mom made a lovely breakfast of an assortment of cranberry bread, pumpkin bread and the annual cheesy egg-filled breakfast casserole with organic fair trade hazelnut coffee!! yum! our dinner was a HUGE ham, that was better than a honey baked (my mom can really cook!) along with the traditional sides of corn pudding, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, twice baked potatoes, cooked apples (homemade and canned by my awesome uncle), and lots of other yummies, which i am sure i am forgetting. my mom made gorgeous nutcracker cupcakes, a tree cake (for my son, per his request), chess pie and i made pecan pie. boxing day was spent at my husband's mum's house, where we had another yummy dinner.

these are the nutcracker cupcake toppers that my mom used for her chocolate cupcakes. clara and the trees had pink vanilla frosting and the mouse king and nutcracker had green vanilla frosting. they all had yummy sprinkles and sugar :D. and yes, they were as delicious as they were gorgeous!!

my hubby surprised me with a

NEW SEWING MACHINE!!

he got me the SINGER ESTEEM II

with a carrying case, since i am going to be starting sewing lessons soon!

my daughter got FELICITY, the colonial american girl doll. she has been wanting her for a while now. she was sooo excited!! (sadly, she will be discontinued at the end of this year.) different family members all pitched in together to help her get almost the whole collection, including all of her dresses! she also got felicity's horse, penny, and the foal, patriot. (she will be getting felicity's friend, ELIZABETH, for her birthday in a few weeks with elizabeth's dresses. shhh!!)

my son's big gift was a train table for his wooden thomas railway set. he loves thomas the tank engine, and was so thrilled! various family members also helped out, getting different destinations for the table. he was sooo shocked!

my grammy got us some awesome "puppy love" flannel sheets from the martha stewart collection at macy's with graphics of festive french bulldogs, since we have a french bulldog/beagle (frengle). these are super thick, and very soft!

my uncle got me the knitting book that i wanted!!
Around the World in Knitted Socks: 26 Inspired Designs

by Stephanie van der Linden

my mom got some sweet little gifts at a local boutique for the baby! she got 2 pairs of robeez, 2 packs of trumpette socks and some adorable bloomers for Arabella! she also got me some fleece pj pants, a supersoft plush pink robe and some awesome gift cards.

and to top it all off, on monday, i received my "mistletoe" ornament in the mail from my favorite author, LAUREN WILLIG! i received a lovely little Christmas card with birds and an ornament enclosed! i can't believe that i won one, i secretly wanted one really, really bad! they were made not for sale, so the only way to get one was through the author! i feel blessed and very lucky to receive one, since there were few of them and everyone wanted one! they were made for the release of her latest release, The Mischief of the Mistletoe. Thanks, Lauren!!! :D

here is my "Mistletoe" ornament alongside my new St. Lucia ornament that i received from my Grammy for Christmas

Lola, our English mastiff, in front of the tree on Christmas eve

(please forgive the not so great quality of some of my pics, our camera died in Williamsburg this past October, thanks to a flash flood/rain while we were there!! i am now digital camera-less, which is torture for an art student or any parent for that matter!! i have been resorting to the blackberry camera...)

2010-12-18T00:46:00.002-05:00

DwellStudio

for Target

A dear friend picked up this adorable blanket for me at Target, since it was unavailable at the Target by me. I love the birds on the blanket, they are so adorable! I haven't seen anything yet from dwellstudio that I haven't liked!! Their graphics are amazing and I love the colors. This is an amazingly well priced line at Target for what you get! This is available at target.com.

2010-12-16T12:30:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday,

Jane Austen!

She was born 235 years ago, today on the 16th day of December in 1775.

"The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid."
— Jane Austen (Northanger Abbey)

2010-12-14T16:21:00.000-05:00

my favorite thing right now...

i am obsessed with burt's bees mama bee belly butter. through each of my pregnancies, i have tried several belly balms, creams, butters, and oils. by far, this is my favorite!! it is smooth, not greasy, and it lasts all day. i put it on every morning and every night. another plus, i had lots of stretch marks with the other pregnancies by half-way. this time around, i don't have any! you will never get the preggo "itchy belly" from the skin stretching to make room for your new little bundle. the cocoa butter, shea butter and vitamin e is a perfect combination for your growing belly!!

my second favorite thing...

burt's bees mama bee leg & foot creme is amazing! i have to say, this stuff is awesome! after being on my feet, this stuff is the best. the peppermint oil is so refreshing and is an instant mood lift and energizer if you are tired. the smell is strong, but i love it! it's tingly, and reviving. be sure to wash your hands immediately after applying, though...!

2010-12-07T11:18:00.000-05:00

It's a GIRL!!!!

we just got our 20 week ultrasound yesterday!!! we are sooo excited! hopefully we will bew meeting her sometime around Easter!

2010-12-06T17:22:00.001-05:00

Matilda Jane and the Tiny Sparrow Foundation

Matilda Jane is teaming up with The Sparrow Foundation to design a sweet little dress where 50% of the proceeds go to the Tiny Sparrow Foundation to help the families of children with terminal cancer's and illnesses.

please click on the image below to be directed to their blog and learn more about their work

Chelsa Dress

this lovely little dress comes with 2 removable aprons! it will match all of our items that we have from the field trip collection. I know that I can't wait to get mine for my daughter!!

to order, go to matilda jane platinum
it is listed under dresses tab. please help such a worthy cause!

Please take time this holiday season to be thankful for the children in your life that are healthy, I couldn't imagine what these families are going through with children with terminal illnesses/cancer. Cancer has touched many in my family, 3 of which are in my immediate family. My father, lost a leg due to childhood cancer, my grandmother is a 2 year, stage 4 breastcancer survivor. Last Thanksgiving, we lost my dear Papa to lung/brain cancer.

Christmas Wishlist...

2010-12-01T00:36:00.001-05:00

my dear husband has requested a Christmas wishlist. i don't even know where to begin?!!

here's my top 10, listed in no particular order...

let's start with:

1.Victoria's Secret pink snow bunny flannel pajamas

and matching slippers

on sale right now and slippers are free!!

2. Around the World in Knitted Socks: 26 Inspired Designs

by Stephanie van der Linden

3. a spinning wheel, can't decide between the louet and the ashford...

4. a canon digital SLR

will be compatible with all of my film SLR lenses.

5. a sewing machine!

6. juicy couture's "couture couture" perfume

7. a petunia pickle bottom diaper bag/backpack

in moroccan mint

8. williams-sonoma peppermint hot chocolate!

9.Ravelry in the UK tote bag

10. ipod (since mine died)

or an ipad!!

TiTuS

2010-11-30T11:19:00.001-05:00

Meet Titus!!

titus is our new 6 month old holland lop. his coloration is called a broken tortoise. he is sooo cute! he is so tiny and weighs about 3 lbs. we got him last night from a friend who happens to be a holland lop breeder. he is a bit on the small side to show, so that's how we ended up with him. i begged the hubby, since our REW (red eyed white) english angora male died and we had an extra hutch sitting outside empty. he is so sweet with the kids and very tolerant of them. i grew up with a mini lop, but i was surprised to find out that the holland lops are actually smaller than the mini lops! when my daughter starts 4-H in a couple of years, it will be a good project for her first year, since she may not be able to take a horse project her first year, we will wait and see. it may be too much for her to take our angora, since they are a very competitive breed to show. we can't spin his wool, but he will be very easy maintenance. i think bunnies are the easiest, least expensive to keep and the cuddliest pets that i have ever owned!! and very rewarding! who doesn't love a baby bunny?!!?

he loves to cuddle!!

who's afraid of the big bad wolf?

2010-11-26T14:15:00.005-05:00

looks like it might be good. if not, it will be worth it to see the costumes!

i see some knitting inspiration starting already... a red hooded cape for my daughter for dress up?! hmmm...

2010-11-18T22:10:00.001-05:00

more diversions...

wow, it has been over a month since i last posted. there has been so much going on, i have been so busy, it's crazy! we had some things come up with my 3yo son, going to behavioral therepy, evaluations, etc., etc. this last month has really been a challenge. things are looking up, but we need to find a new pre-school! we went to virginia late last month and everyone got sick when we got back, which put me out for about 2 weeks. it seems all i have been doing is cleaning, laundry, working, cleaning, cooking and then cleaning, and then some more laundry! no time to rest and no energy!!

i will post more soon, i promise!

2010-10-13T12:11:00.000-04:00

TRUNK SHOW!

i had a Matilda Jane TRUNK SHOW this past weekend! it was super fun! my 'trunk keeper" (the MJ representative who came and brought the samples for the party and set up the show) was amazing. she brought sample items from field trip (back to school and fall) and sugarland (holiday), their two newest lines. i am very grateful to my mom and grandmother, who ordered some cute stuff for the kids. my mom was also able to get a few super cute items for herself. i bought a few things for my daughter, as well as a cardigan for myself. i did so well in sales, i received almost $100 worth of clothes, for free!! if you love matilda jane, a trunk show is a great way to make it more affordable, since you get perks from having the show!

here's some pics of field trip and sugarland

that we were able to snag for my daughter.

(click on photos to enlarge)

FIELD TRIP

below: the tween alex tee and the tween jesse skirt

below: the tween alex tee

the photo doesn't do it justice, it is amazing in person!!

below: the tween jesse skirt

the two together will look cute with...

below: the tween sabine leggings

below: the tween goodie tee

the tween goodie can also be worn with the jesse skirt and the sabine leggings underneath.

below: the tween london lap dress with a removable apron

which can also be worn with the sabine leggings!

the text allover says "london taxi" in a light peachy-pinkish color

below: the tween mable tee and the tween fern leggins

below: the tween mable tee

which also looks adorable with the jesse skirt and sabine leggings!

below: the tween fern ruffles

these might actually be my favorite MJ piece, ever! i love this print!

these can be worn with any of the MJ tops/tees! (even cute with the london dress!!)

below: the tween harlow dress

i love the detail on this dress. the ribbon on the bottom of the dress is bunnies!!

this dress is AMAZING on! (also looks cute with the sabine leggings!)

below: the tween sally lap dress

this is adorable with the fern ruffles and the sabine leggings!

below: the hanover knit jacket

i actually got something for myself!! this is sooo soft and comfy!!

SUGARLAND

below: the tween felecia knot dress

the apron is removable! it simply unbuttons, which allows it transition from winter to spring/summer!

back view of the felecia knot dress

below: the house necktie

we got something for my son! i love that he will match my daughter this winter!

below: the lotti peasant top and the blithe velour big ruffles

below: the lotti peasant top

below: the blithe velour big ruffles

below: the lotti peasant top and the fern ruffles

below: the deliah ruffles

these are from an older collection, but will be super cute with the musem dress we already have (pictured in and will take the felecia knot dress right into spring/summer! (you prob can't tell from the pics, but the fabric in these ruffles is the same as the fabric in the sash/belt of the felecia knot dress!)

i love how everything mixes and matches. we will have several outfits from just a few pieces. i can't wait to see what they will have next!

it's all been orderd, now i just have to wait 2 - 2 1/2 weeks for it to ship!!

2010-10-12T10:46:00.002-04:00

WEG!

we made it to the WORLD EQUESTRIAN GAMES in lexington, kentucky, at the kentucky horsepark this past week! it was amazing! we had so much fun, the kids even had a blast. there was a bit of something for everyone.

this is the first time the WEG has ever been in the US!!

please watch the video below, it does a good job explaining the magnitude of this event!

WEG official poster

below: a photo of the stadium that i took with my cell, since i forgot the camera :(

below: another photo i took of a horse chandelier, all glass!

below: my dear husband got a new stetson "sturgis" cowboy hat there! it looks very dashing on him with his huge frye boots or his blundstones! the shopping here was amazing!

i'm so glad that we got to go, because there won't be a "next year!"

this has been a chance of a lifetime!

2010-10-06T14:54:00.003-04:00

i am so excited, i won Lauren Willig's latest

t-shirt design contest!!

front

back

these are available at my cafepress store

i will be receiving a signed, ARC of Lauren Willig's

The Mischief of the Mistletoe

isn't the cover lovely!!

and she will also be sending me a t-shirt with the winning design!!

i can't wait to get my goodies!!

THANKS, LAUREN!!!

2010-09-23T11:39:00.004-04:00

LAUREN WILLIG is having another contest for her readers.

here is my entry:

You know you're obsessed with

the Pink Carnation Novels when...

1. You try to get your British husband to wear knee breeches, a mask, and a cape at Halloween.

2. You try to get your British husband come up with a flowery spy name to go by, while he is wearing his spy ensemble.

3. You are trying to procure a matching Regency gown to wear to match the British husband. If it means sewing one by hand, so be it!!

4. You have a daughter named Penelope

5. You are with child and you want to name your baby Arabella if it is a girl or Colin if it is a boy.

6. As soon as you find out the release date for the newest Pink novel, it immediately gets put into the calendar in your blackberry.

7. Your blackberry is set to remind you of the upcoming Pink novel's release, 2 days before it's actual release so that you are sure to not make any plans that morning, so that you can dash out the door to buy it!

8. Whenever you see a parasol, you immediately think of it's possibility of being used as a weapon.

9. the "Lauren Willig" tag on your blog is the second largest tag, with the largest being "books"!

10. The only thing on your nightstand besides a decorative reading lamp is a beautiful display of all of your Pink novels, all hardcover, and in order. You wouldn't want them on your bookshelf with all of your horrid novels!

and a few more...

11. Pink is your favorite color

12. You wear a pink shirt and pink sapphires to the bookstore to pick up your Pink novel on its release date.

13. You and you daughter have flower middle names. Any other daughters you may have will also have flower middle names.

14. You prefer to travel by horseback or carriage.

15. You have secret crushes on fictional men in novels, who would be older than your great great great grandfather.

16. When you click on your internet browser's tab of "most visited", Lauren Willig's site appears in the list.

17. When you talk about Lauren Willig, your family knows exactly who you are talking about.

18. You dream about the day when the Pink novels will become movies.

19. you call your ginger cookies ginger biscuits.

20. You spend hours and hours doing things for contests instead of working on your 7 page art history research paper!!!

2010-09-21T21:53:00.004-04:00

time to vote!! 

the t-shirts are up!! please visit

lauren willig's site and vote!!

all of my designs are pictured below in my previous post,
but please vote for your faves, by all means!!

to purchase, please visit my cafe press store.

2010-09-20T10:19:00.002-04:00

lauren willig is having another contest!

she is having a t-shirt design contest, which is a wonderful idea! these little contests she is having have been super fun!

part of the contest was to create a cafe press store:

http://www.cafepress.com/knittinginwonderland

here are my t-shirt design submissions:
i worked in adobe creative suite to make these. i used a combo of illustrator and photoshop.

Design 1

front

back

Design 2

front

back

(i couldn't stop with the tee's...)

Tote Bag
because you can't have too many totes for your books and knitting! i use them for everything!!

front

back

SIGG Water Bottle

Ceramic Travel Mug

2010-09-16T11:43:00.000-04:00

M i T t E n S !

i make mittens for everyone. i make them for my kiddos, for gifts, my kid's friends, etc., etc., etc. so for once, i made a pair for myself! i used noro yuzen, which is super soft. i bought 2 skeins 1/2 off when a LYS (local yarn shop for all of the non-kntitters out there) was going out of business. i have no clue what i will use the other skein for...

see them on ravelry

yuzen is 56% wool 34% silk 10% mohair

i love all of the colors...

thumb detail

and once again, i used ann budd's

the knitter's handy book of patterns

2010-09-14T10:22:00.001-04:00

i finished knitting a little hat for my friend's little angel, cerys, to accompany her new booties that i just made for her (see them in a few posts back). isn't she just darling! she is the sweetest little baby!!

see it on ravelry!

once again, i used ann budd's the knitter's handy book of patterns for the pattern.

i used size a 10 circular and dpns with lion brand's new

nature's choice organic cotton in espresso

it was a dream to knit with, it was so soft!

here's what lion brand has to say about their yarn:

"Nature's Choice is grown and spun without the use of pesticides, herbicides or other chemicals. The dyes used to create our beautiful colors are certified according to the Global Organic Textile Standard by the Institute of Marketecology. Nature's Choice is a soft, versatile yarn that's so easy to work with and perfect for everything from baby blankets to fashion items. It's good for your knitting and good for the planet."

2010-09-09T09:47:00.001-04:00

knit your own dog!!

by Sally Muir and Joanna Osborne

this is hilarious! i can't wait toget my hands on this. soon, i will be knitting a large brindle english mastiff and our little frengle (french bulldog/beagle). i may even knit a couple in honor of a few beloved pooches that i grew up with on the farm. so, this isn't available in the states yet. it has 192 pages, with 200 color photographs!

here's what tesco has to say about the book:

"Best in Show is packed with knitting patterns patterns for adorable dog breeds from a pretty Poodle to a burly Bulldog, a perky Pekinese to a dotty Dalmation. With Sally Muir and Joanna Osborne's designs you can now knit your precious pet, reproduce your favourite breed or knit the dog you have always desperately wanted. As well as patterns for pedigree pooches Sally and Joanna include brief accounts of the characteristics of each breed. There is also a section offering tips and advice on sewing up the dogs. With lavish full-size photography and easy to use patterns you'll soon be knitting yourself a covetable cuddly companion for life."

see the telegraph's awesome review...

web design

2010-09-07T17:07:00.001-04:00

for my web design class that i am currently taking is requiring us to have a blog for the class. so instead of creating a new blog for class, i have decided to use my personal blog for the class. so, you may start seeing some posts about web design and other class related things on here this upcoming fall.

the history of the internet...

for our first project, we are to make a comment and talk about what we think about this video on the history of the internet.

my ideas: it is interesting, but about halfway through, i thought it got really boring, and it was hard to keep my attention. previously, i had no clue about anything about where the internet came from, but i use it all the time. even after watching the video, i still have no clue how it works! to difficult for me to understand! i just cant wrap my brain around all of it.

2010-09-04T23:31:00.002-04:00

i finished the little t-strap booties for cerys!

i used the goodbye yellow brick road booties pattern and the yarn i used was berroco suede in "Wild Bill Hickcock", a nice brownish-leathery color. they feel like they were knitted with velour. you can find the pattern here.

you can also see them on ravelry.

2010-09-04T09:48:00.000-04:00

I WON!!!

i won a $300 gift certificate to equestrian collections to use on weaver leather products, through an online contest!! woohoo!! :D

we are getting our mare a new bridle, the desert blossom headstall

(with real silver and gold buckles!)

we are also gettinga purple headstall with matching reins for my daughter (and blue reins for my son)

we need a good western pad, so we are getting the western pretty in pink memory foam argyle pad (won't that be pretty in a leadline class for my daughter?!!)

our mare's flymask is pretty ratty, we really need a new one for her, so i picked out one to use with my certificate

2010-09-03T15:59:00.000-04:00

a random thought for today...

(not my iamage, i found it on google, original source unknown...)

2010-08-26T15:03:00.000-04:00

2 books that i am in love with right now...

and i would love to get my hands on this...

2010-08-24T12:08:00.002-04:00

i finally finished my socks last week. nothing feels better than a handknit pair of socks, custom knit for your foot. i used berocco sox, which knitted up very nice. i have knitted several pairs of socks, but these are only my second pair for myself. see more info about these on ravelry.

heel detail below

i got the pattern from:

Knitter's Handy Book Of Patterns: Basic Designs in Multiple Sizes and Gauges

by Ann Budd

i have found that you can't go wrong by anything

from interweave press!

2010-08-23T11:33:00.001-04:00

first day of school in lilly!!

she is wearing the Little Lilly Shift Patch (Classic White Carsons Grandstand Patch) with the horse/equestrian theme. we love it!! and a portion of the sales went to the american saddlebred museum!

2010-08-20T12:09:00.004-04:00

There is something I would like to share today,
we are expecting a bundle, one fine April day!!!

my due date is april 23, 2011, which happens to be

ST. GEORGE'S DAY!

(england's national day, what st. patrick's day is to ireland)

so, you will probably see lots in the near future on knitting for baby!

2010-08-19T12:20:00.001-04:00

Lilly Pullitzer is having a sale, some stuff up to 80% off! they are having their once a year summer clearance!! it started as a private/secret sale, then later went on to the general public. i was able to snag a Little Lilly Shift Patch (in classic white carsons grandstand patch) in my daughter's size!! i can tell you i just bought the little lady a dress for the same price i could have at target!! and it is in their horse print, so naturally i chose this one! it followed their derby/racing theme that was released just in time for the kentucky derby. and i didn't have to pay anything near $70!! i can probably re-sell it later (with stains, even. heaven forbid!!) for more than i paid for it! they even have a women's shift to match in the same print.

mine has shipped and i should be receiving it tomorrow!! (shipping was nearly free, too!) check back later, you will be sure to see a pic or too of my darling daughter in her new lilly shift!!

(above: neck/collar detail)

(above: fabric detail of the horse print)

hurry and snag your own lilly!!

go to www.lillypulitzer.com

2010-08-18T23:42:00.000-04:00

go to frenchgardenhouse

for a chance to win this super cute apron!!!

tweetie too (shown below)

2010-08-16T09:58:00.000-04:00

my daughter is learning how to knit! she is very interested in knitting, seeing her grandmother (my mom) and i sitting around knitting all of the time. she has been knitting with my mom to surprise me with her new skills. she is very proud that she picked it up so quickly. knitting is giving her a such a great sense of accomplishment. she is currently making a blanket for her barbie bed in her doll house for her dolls.

2010-08-13T00:26:00.001-04:00

i had a chance to go to a rodeo this past weekend, which was alot of fun. my husband and i took the kids along with my mom and my father-in-law. we met some old friends down there who i used to show horses with.

here's a pic of my daughter, as we were leaving the rodeo

2010-08-11T21:23:00.002-04:00

i got second place on lauren willig's

book cover contest with:

this was so fun to do, thank you lauren for providing this opportunity for your readers! i am so excited to get my book in the mail! i will be receiving a hardcover copy (hopefully signed!!!) of the orchid affair before its actual release date, right after lauren gets them herself!! that is so generous! i am just happy to be getting the book, but to be getting it BEFORE the release date, wow!!! i am soooo excited!!

a big thank you to all of my awesome followers and friends for voting!! :D

2010-08-09T18:47:00.002-04:00

my hubby is always surprising me in the most unexpected ways. yesterday, he found the new phillipa gregory book, the red queen and picked it up for me in hardcover! thanks sweetie!! :)

2010-08-07T12:02:00.002-04:00

i'm almost done with sock #2! i bought the yarn in bowling green, kentucky last october, traveling through a cute little town with an awesome yarn shop called crafty hands. it was a sweet little shop, full of scrumptious, quality yarns. the lady who assisted me was super helpful and sweet. they seemed to have a lot of brands that are harder to find with an excellent selection.

the yarn is berroco sox. 1 skein will do 2 socks (1 pair)

2010-08-06T23:58:00.000-04:00

i am super excited! i am getting the museum dress (shown above and to the left, below) through my friend jamie's Matilda Jane trunk show. it will be a bit big, on my daughter, but that just means that she can wear it longer. i am getting the last one! thanks jamie, you are awesome!!

i love the apron and my daughter will love how it twirls!! i can't wait to try it on her. it's going to be super versatile (it's shown with a long sleeve tee underneath). in the summer she can wear it alone with her keens or flip flops and come fall and winter, she can layer a long sleeve tee underneath with some tights and boots. she is going to get several years out of this!!

2010-08-05T16:21:00.002-04:00

apparently i am being accused of cheating by a fellow contestant, since my blog post inviting my readers/friends to vote. i was shocked at the response to my blog post, people have been coming out of the woodwork to vote. i can't believe that i have been called "unfair". i have been quiet about this long enough. it is apparent that someone is just jealous that they are not winning and acting like they are in grade school. it is very childish to try and get the winner removed because they have a flooding of votes. it all boils down to jealousy. if i win, great. will i resort to cheating to win, no. if someone else won, i would never accuse that person of cheating because they got tons of votes and ask them to be removed from the contest.

2010-08-05T16:02:00.000-04:00

a sweet little bonus for those who vote on lauren willig's website! they will receive a signed copy of The Temptation of the Night Jasmine in paperback to two people chosen at random!

i can't believe the overwhelming response to all of my blog readers who have come forward and voted for me! thanks guys! i am blessed with some awesome friends!

2010-08-05T15:42:00.002-04:00

Phillipa Gregory has a new book out, part 2 of her series of the 15th century plantagenets. The Red Queen just came out this month. i will be heading to my local bookstore soon to pick up a copy. i haven't read the white queen, yet. it has been sitting on my bookshelf for a good while, since i was waiting to get my hands on the red queen before i started the first one.

Philippa Gregory writes about the white queen:

"The first in a stunning new series, The Cousins’ War, is set amid the tumult and intrigue of the Wars of the Roses. Internationally bestselling author Philippa Gregory brings this extraordinary family drama to vivid life through its women – beginning with Elizabeth Woodville, the White Queen."

Philippa Gregory writes about the red queen:

"Heiress to the red rose of Lancaster, Margaret Beaufort never surrenders her belief that her house is the true ruler of England and that she has a great destiny before her. Her ambitions are disappointed when her sainted cousin Henry VI fails to recognize her as a kindred spirit, and she is even more dismayed when he sinks into madness. Her mother mocks her plans, revealing that Margaret will always be burdened with the reputation of her father, one of the most famously incompetent English commanders in France. But worst of all for Margaret is when she discovers that her mother is sending her to a loveless marriage in remote Wales."

2010-08-04T15:26:00.002-04:00

time to vote!!
please go to lauren willig's site

i am so happy to have introduced so many of you to one of my favorite authors. i would love to win, but if there is another design you like better, by all means- please choose that one! through all of this, it is worth it just to get to have some fun designing some new covers. it is wonderful to see so many new willig readers through all of this!

2010-07-29T23:43:00.001-04:00

Lauren Willig has posted another one of my bookcover designs on her website!!

voting starts soon, i can't wait to see all of the entries!! i hope to win, only bc i would love to win a copy of the orchid affair. i hope they are signed!! all of her book signings are so far away. i couldn't even imagine having all of my pink novels signed!! i would be happy with just one signed! le sigh...

with this cover, i wanted to stay with the dark haired beauty, but a bit different than the others. a regency novel needs a portrait by a regency artist for the cover. gainsborough came immediately to mind, and suddenly started remembering everything from my art history courses on the regency style. i thought the portrait in nature connects a bit with the time of the novel. in those times, i think there was a closer connection with nature. the old portrait, mixed with newer typography/design elements reflects the inside of the novel, going back and forth between present day and history. willig tells two stories throughout her novels, which flow wonderfully.

2010-07-29T12:59:00.005-04:00

i love king arthur flour's banana bread recipe found on their website. i actually made it from one of their cookbooks that my mom had. when i wanted to make it at home a second time, i didn't have the cookbook, so i looked online. and, there it was! it is a super easy recipe. it includes a few ingredients not normally seen in banana bread, so it has a very rich unexpected taste. the usual response i get is, "wow!"

you add 3 tbsp. of orange marmalade (i chose orange- the recipe gives you options) and honey, which make it super-moist. i even used a bit of lemon curd to stretch the marmalade, since i was running out. i added a tbsp of sorghum to a batch and a handful of crushed pecans in a recent batch to add a bit of a twist.

in my version, to make it healthier, i use organic whole wheat pastry flour for half of the flour that is called for and the other half king arthur all purpose unbleached, or a white whole wheat flour. you can also add 1/2 cup of applesauce and remove 1/2 cup of butter to cut down on the calories. just to make sure that it isn't too healthy, i add a handful of ghirardelli milk chocolate chips and a handful of ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips! just before i put it into the oven, i sprinkle a few tbsp of organic turbinado sugar on top. it turns out delish!!

**plate: librerty of london for target (i love it!! the kids use them, since they are melamine!!)

i won, i won, i won, i won, i won!!!!

2010-07-25T23:35:00.002-04:00

i won the pindar diamond from goodreads.com!!! they have giveaways on their site :) i am so excited, the book doesn't even come out until the 17th of august.

2010-07-24T09:49:00.000-04:00

So, i satyed up all night last night, i couldn't help it. so here is another cover submisssion. i already have another one started. i have been photoshopping like a madwoman! the contest is going om until the end of july i believe, then the voting begins on lauren willig's website!!

2010-07-23T10:07:00.002-04:00

Random photo for today...

Tower Bridge, London

2005

this is my photo (above), please don't steal it. if you use it, please give me credit! thx :)

2010-07-21T14:52:00.000-04:00

here is another cover that i made this afternoon in photoshop/illustrator cs3 for lauren willig's cover contest. i love making these, i already have a few more in the works!! i can't stop designing these, they are so much fun! the painting is a gainsborough of mrs. richard b. sheridan. the orchid image is from an amethyst hummingbird with a white orchid by martin johnson heade

Le Cover du Jour

2010-07-20T11:17:00.000-04:00

Lauren Willig has posted my cover on her site!! yippee!!

here is my entry below: i used adobe cs3 to design this

you can see it here!

here is what she wrote:

"Like the lady in this portrait, Laura Grey, the heroine of The Orchid Affair, is dark-haired and dark-eyed and always, always wears dark clothing."

after reading the first chapter, i really thought this portrait suited willig's newest heroine, laura grey in the orchid affair. willig's fans are in outrage over the newest cover picked by her publishers. there is a cover contest going on on her site, allowing submissions from other artists and readers. i agree that the cover picked by the publisher does not correctly portray the content inside.

i picked this particular image to keep in continuity with her previous covers being fine art portraits. please see my previous post or look here to see the new cover from the publishers. it is a nice cover, it is just not what is a willig reader would deem "appropriate" for her content. the image i finally chose, feels looks more like a governess to me. at the time the orchid affair was written, a governess would not run around with bare arms, and the top part of her bosom sticking out. i understand that they probably chose to make her look like a victim of the guillotine, by removing her head on purpose. i could see that one would want to have the woman on the cover be anonymous, so the reader could envision their own heroine. that's fine, but regardless, the artwork was all wrong. i just can't see it sitting up on my bookshelf with all of willig's lovely hardcovers. it would stick out like a sore thumb!

i am already tweaking this submission and i am in photoshop working on another!! i may have to step it up a notch if i want to win!! my current submission is anonymous at this time on her site, so no one may be swayed during the voting. i have my fingers crossed, i would love to win an advance copy of the orchid affair! (maybe she will sign it, too!!)

the orchid affair

2010-07-19T19:12:00.000-04:00

lauren willig is having a cover contest on her website. she is asking us to come up with our own interpretations of the cover. 3 lucky winners will receive advance copies of the orchid affair!!!

this is my submission below. the painting is of
Mrs James Guthrie by Frederic Lord Leighton c. 1864-65 (from Yale University)

i used Adobe CS3 to design this

the orchid affair will be in stores on january 20, 2011. that seems so far away, i am really hoping to win, i can't wait that long!! but, it will be just in time for my birthday! you can actually read the first chapter on lauren's site here (here it is still only referred to pink vii). all of her books are marvelous, i am currently lending out my pink hardcover out to a dear friend, becca (we were pretty much raised as sisters, since our moms are best friends!) i wouldn't let anyone else borrow them!

i am a bit disappointed in the newest cover, it doesn't seem to fit with all of her other covers. you can see pictures of all of them here and make your own decision. her previous book covers are very colorful and the images used are museum quality portraits of beautiful women in period costumes, usually ones were painted in the time in which they are depicting. the newest seems like something you would see on a mass market paperback romance. personally, i would buy the book regardless of the cover. i am embarrassed to say, the cover is what lured me to the first pink novel, the secret history of the pink carnation. i picked it up at my local barnes and noble and thought, "hey this looks good and the cover is awesome!" that led to me buying/reading all of her books to date. i guess what i am trying to say is that i would hope that someone else who has never heard of the pink novels would stumble across one of her books and say the same thing, only i'm not so sure with the cover for the orchid affair.

above: the actual cover the publishers came up with! so sad!

Does this really look like a governess!!?

here is a copy of the email that i wrote to the publishers responsible for this mishaps:

To whom it may concern:

I have been reading Lauren Willig's books since her first book, The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, since it first came out in hardcover. I am embarrassed to say that the cover was what made me pick up her book. yes, i did judge a book by it's cover. I bought it at my local Barnes and Noble and waited for each book to come out after that and bought each one in hardcover within 24 hours of their release date. Willig's books are wonderfully written, i would think of them as historical fiction with romance, action, and adventure. The latest cover for her newest book doesn't seem to portray that.

The Orchid Affair's new cover is a real fizzle. They are not trashy mass market paperback romance novels. Your publishing company is doing Willig an injustice by putting a cheap cover on what I'm sure will be a delightful novel. Personally, I would have NEVER picked this book off of a shelf. The previous books use fine art portraits and excellent design, not a poorly rendered photo-realistic image of a woman with her head lopped off. The quality put into the Orchid Affair is sadly lacking the same "oomph" that the others have. I am sorely disappointed in the choice that your company has made. it is unfortunate that no one will pick up this cover and think, "lovely!" instead, they will not buy it, they will pass it by and think, "ewww!"

I am truly sorry to be so harsh, i have never written a letter like this before. My only hope it that your publishing company can re-consider the cover choice you have made for the Orchid Affair. I fear your sales will be affected by this misjudgment. In this economy, wouldn't sales be even more important? Please see what others are saying about this situation on Lauren Willig's site at the link below:

http://www.laurenwillig.com/news/2010/07/12/orchid-affair-has-a-cover/

I don't mean to offend anyone, but please re-evaluate the situation. I have read and bought all of Willig's books, in hardcover. I have anxiously awaited each and every one and bought them within 24 hours of their release date, and then read them immediately. I am a true fan, and only wish the best for Willig as an author.

Thank you for your time.

2010-07-15T00:08:00.000-04:00

Joyeux Quatorze Juillet!!

Happy Bastille Day!!!

2010-07-12T12:59:00.002-04:00

check this out!

uncle ben

2010-07-01T15:33:00.001-04:00

the brothers

(left to right) shirley (yes, they wore dresses on boys back then!), wade, ben, joe, glen, papa (kenneth)

TENNESSEE, around 1940 taken before their sister was born

This past week, i lost a dear great-uncle, uncle ben. he was my papa's brother. i lost my papa last thanksgiving morning. both of their deaths were sudden and unexpected. we lost their brother glen in 1997. i traveled to tennessee with the kiddos, my grandma and my uncle over the weekend for the funeral. the trip was a quick one for sure!

uncle ben was a practical joker and could talk all day long. the last time i saw him was when he came up to see my papa when we found out he had brain cancer. it was good to see all of the boys together, talking trucks, weather, and lots of gossip of "back home." we all went out to eat together and talked all through dinner, joking around and uncle ben was telling tall tales. the last time we went to his house, last october, he had my wild kids (hyper from being in the car for hundreds of miles) running on his treadmill (they were too young to be running on there, but they caught on quick, and it gave him a good chuckle).

the eulogy service was well done, presented by a good old time missionary baptist preacher, who knew him well. it was harder than i thought it would be being back in that funeral home, since the last time i was there was with my papa for my uncle glen's funeral. i grew up thinking my grandparents were invincible and that they would always be here forever. i have a very vivid memory standing in the cemetery with my papa and the rest of my family, realizing that no one has the promise of tomorrow. funerals make it so real. i remember standing there thanking God for my grandparents and saw them and my family as a gift, not something that i deserved or should take for granted. it was a very humbling experience. just walking through the funeral home doors sent a flooding of emotions that i had not prepared for.

i will never forget uncle ben's sense of humor or his ability to talk a mile a minute, his jokes or his crazy sense of humor. he had a special knack for telling tall tales and was usually accused of stretching stories, adding a bit of his own imagination to aid in the delivery of his storytelling and recollections.

back row: ben, wade
front row: shirley, papa (kenneth), glen, joe, lane

"Poor Wayfaring Stranger"

I am a poor wayfaring stranger
Travelling through this world of woe
But there's no sickness, toil or danger
In that bright land to which I go

Well I'm going there
To meet my mother
Said she'd meet me when I come
I'm only going over Jordan
I'm only going over home

I know dark clouds
Will gather 'round me
I know my way
Will be rough and steep
But beautiful fields lie just before me
Where God's redeemed
Their vigils keep

Well I'm going there
To meet my loved ones
Gone on before me, one by one
I'm only going over Jordan
I'm only going over home

I'll soon be free of earthy trials
My body rest in the old church yard
I'll drop this cross of self-denial
And I'll go singing home to God

Well I'm going there
To meet my Savior
Dwell with Him and never roam
I'm only going over Jordan
I'm only going over home

pink lemonade

2010-06-28T16:04:00.000-04:00

recently, our neighborhood had a city-wide yard sale. my daughter decided to have a pink lemonade stand to raise money for girl scout camp. she made $30!!! there were some neighbor boys around her age who kept coming over after emptying their piggy banks. i was so cute. it was hot, but she had fun. she actually made more money than i did! i was very proud of her, she was an excellent little saleswoman.

2010-06-27T22:44:00.000-04:00

another day, another giveaway!!!

photo from the chronicles of windy ridge blog, not my photo!!

http://edensbouquet.com/blog/

2010-06-24T13:33:00.000-04:00

one more day, another chance to win!! go to http://edensbouquet.com/blog

photo from http://edensbouquet.com/blog (not my photo!!)

2010-06-23T15:46:00.000-04:00

the chronicles of windy ridge is doing another giveaway today!! be sure to check it out! today, you could win super cute ruffle pants for girls!

2010-06-22T09:39:00.000-04:00

the chronicles of windy ridge is doing a giveaway!!! please go to: http://edensbouquet.com/blog/ she is giving away a beautiful burlap pillow cover with ruffles to celebrate summer!!

philippa gregory

2010-06-17T16:52:00.001-04:00

  diversions

on monday, i finished the short second life of bree tanner: an eclipse novella. now, i am reading philippa gregory's the other queen, which i am really liking right now (still in the first few changes). unlike many other books about mary queen of scots, this seems to be more sympathetic to her and her struggles. the first page starts out from the point of view of bess (of hardwick hall-one of mary's caretakers) at chatsworth. if you follow my blog, you will see that i have a small obsession with chatsworth :). thought it was worth mentioning.

what i am listening to right now:

the twilight saga eclipse soundtrack

bitten

2010-06-05T00:07:00.000-04:00

so, obviously, i haven't posted anything for a bit. i have to blame the whole twilight saga. i was determined not to like any of it. until a friend let me borrow the first movie, i thought it was just some silly thing teenage girls were swooning over. was i wrong. against my wishes, i liked the movie. alot. so, when the second movie came out, i had my hubby secretly take me to the theater to see new moon. and i liked it, too. my father-in-law graciously got me the saga (all 4 books) in hardcover for christmas. thats where the part of me not blogging comes in! every spare second i had, i was reading these books! and i am in love with them. tomorrow morning, i am going to get the novella, the short second life of bree tanner at my local barnes and noble. so yes, i have been bitten by the twilight bug. but, shhh.... don't tell anyone!!

treacle pudding

2010-05-19T11:10:00.005-04:00

my very british father-in-law (from derbyshire) was talking yesterday over dinner how much he loved treacle pudding. i found this recipe, which i hope to bake sometime this week. i will let you know how it turns out!

Treacle Pudding
(recipe from www.thebritishshoppe.com)

Ingredients
Butter for greasing basin
10 tablespoons golden syrup
115g softened butter
115g caster sugar
1 lemon, finely grated and juiced
1 orange, finely grated and juiced
2 medium eggs
115g self-raising flour, sifted

Directions
Using the top of an 850ml pudding basin as a template, cut out a greaseproof paper lid. Liberally butter the inside of the basin and measure 4 tablespoons syrup into the bottom. Set aside.

Beat together the butter, sugar and citrus zest until pale and fluffy, then gradually beat in the eggs. Add half the orange juice and half the lemon juice. Finally, fold in the flour and spoon evenly into the pudding basin. Gently press the greaseproof paper onto the sponge mix before pleating a sheet of foil and tightly covering the bowl.

Place in a large saucepan and add enough boiling water to come halfway up its sides. Cover and return to the boil. Continue to boil over a moderate heat for 2 hours, replenishing the water regularly so that it never becomes too low. The pudding is ready when well risen and firm to touch.

Remove from the pan and leave to rest for a minute or two. Meanwhile put 6 tablespoons golden syrup with the remaining lemon and orange juice in a small saucepan. Gently heat, mixing all the ingredients together.

Loosen the pudding with a palette knife, before turning it out onto a warm dish. Serve with the hot sauce.

i also found this recipe you do in a bundt pan from mrs.delicious

I also found a recipe from tate and lyle. go to www.tateandlyle.com and download your own golden syrup recipe booket.

2010-05-11T14:05:00.001-04:00

Happy Birthday, Grammy!
i love you, i hope that you have a wonderful day!!

a pic of my grammy around 1950 (she is around 16 here. i think it's her senior picture- yes, she graduated at 16!)

this is one of my favorite pics of my grammy and papa. prob 1951, right after they got married.

meet beatrix and

2010-05-04T11:34:00.001-04:00

meet beatrix and ~~ruby~~ peter

beatrix and peter are my 1 year old english angora bunnies. i had always wanted english angoras. my husband surprised me with them about a year ago. he was told (he even asked SEVERAL TIMES) that they were both females. so i named the blue beatrix and the r.e.w. (red eyed white) ruby, because of her ruby red eyes. later, after some suspicious behavior, we started to wonder if ruby was possibly a male. yep. he's a male alright! so, my daughter renamed him peter. they are housed together, so i was hoping for some baby bunnies to come along. i figured beatrix was prego, but i wasn't sure when. i felt what was like 4 marbles in her belly, but i had no clue what i was feeling for when i gently attempted to palpate her. she showed other signs, too. when peter would attempt to breed her, she would run away growling. she never did that before. she appeared to be gaining weight and seemed to ravenously devourer meals with more zeal than normal. so, the signs i saw:

doe no longer wanted to be bred. would growl at male,
hungrier than normal, very very hungry.
seemed to be putting on weight
i felt small marble-like bumps in her belly (supposed to be a tell-tale sign)

i have been checking every day, trying to prepare for the new little ones. i wasn't sure when to put the nesting box in. i read in a reputable rabbitkeepers book that if you put it in too early, it becomes a litter box. so i didn't put it in yet, because i wasn't sure when the kits were due. when i went out to feed/water/check on them i found 4 dead baby bunnies in their hutch. i think i just about had a panic attack! i felt horrible! the poor little things were perfect, she cleaned them up well, they must not have been warm enough since the nesting box wasn't in there. so i removed the poor little dead kits. beatrix was very upset when i took them. i have heard that they lose their first litter sometimes, i thought i had prepared myself. but how can you not be disturbed by losing little baby bunnies?

good out of this? well, this does give me a possible due date for her next litter. i could expect her kindling (birthing) to happen on memorial day weekend. about 1 week before, i will remove the male and add the nesting box and really examine her more closely to hopefully give me more clues to narrow down the day/time of when they may come. at least she attempted to pull a bit of wool to surround her kits. but, not near enough to keep them warm. she did not "nest" a few days before with the straw/hay/wool. hopefully when given a box, she will next time.

luckily, they are both pedigree bunnies, so hopefully if necessary, it will be easier to find them homes, and for a decent price. hopefully i can keep her first litter. i am excited to see the colors they may produce, since there are so many diverse colors within each of their pedigrees. each breeding of their parents/grandparents were carefully chosen to better the breed and create a nice assortment of colors. the breeder, who originally had/bred these, planned on breeding beatrix's siblings with ruby's siblings. she did all the work, planning, etc., etc. she gets all of the credit. i just "happened" to get a pair perfect for each other.

the reason i wanted angoras, was #1 to spin their fiber and #2 who doesn't like cute fluffy bunnies?!! angora fiber is 8x warmer than wool and can hold 2x as much moisture. it is so soft and i love the "halo" effect when spun/knitted. they are great little pets, and very easy to care for (they are cheaper than a cat to feed!). they are a high maintenance for a bunny, due to the care/work that goes into their fur/fiber. i love their personalities and the kids love playing with them. hopefully my next post about bunnies will feature some new little kits!

run for the roses

2010-05-03T11:59:00.000-04:00

136th Kentucky Derby (2010)

Calvin Borel brings in his 3rd Kentucky Derby win in 4 years with super saver. we had an amazing saturday, having a derby party at my house. my dear friend at the icu got to go (yay!!) along with many of my other friends. it seems everyone got to go this year! i am so happy for calvin borel, he has worked so hard for so long. it is good to see his dedication paying off. maybe we will have a triple crown?! we will see!

click on image below to link to churchill downs' article

2010-04-28T14:57:00.005-04:00

2010-04-21T16:38:00.003-04:00

i kind of left a hint on the fridge for my hubby for mother's day. i have been wanting a pair of gizehs for about um... since summer 2004. i have no clue why i haven't bought a pair yet, since i practically live in birkenstocks. i got my clogs in may 2006. i have been wearing them continually for nearly 4 years. my sandals i have had since 7th grade (i won a bet with my parents regarding whether or not i could indeed get straight a's -which i did, and to my father's dismay we went and got a pair). i can't decide on which color to get. but, after much contemplation, i have finally decided i like the onyx pair best. sparta was the runner up.

gizeh

sparta

2010-04-21T00:26:00.005-04:00

liberty of london in march 2010 instyle magazine

excerpt from magazine. click to view larger.
** note: yes i am aware, i do have a problem, hehe :) **

at target, i managed to snag a delightful 2-tiered stand

and a dunclare black teapot!! (both under $15!!)

2010-04-19T22:04:00.004-04:00

friday, my mom and i impulsively stopped by studio knit as i was driving through medina. the lady working was super sweet and very tolerant of my 2 energetic children, who were accompanying us. they were all excited because we were on our way to see "how to train your dragon". which, by the way, was super cute. the kids loved it!

i saw knit one crochet too ty-dy in #1289 painted desert (100-gr/436-yds. ball) to knit a yummy pair of socks with. the colors change from pink to orange to a burgundy color. they should knit up pretty cute and not get too boring like solid colored socks do about halfway through. one ball should do 1 pair of socks. i decided that i will use the comfort sock pattern (free download) from the knitting experience cafe for a good classic pattern. i can't wait to start them, but first i have a few more ufo's (unfinished objects) to contend with!!

2010-04-14T08:52:00.007-04:00

heather ross for summer

one of my daughter's favorite things about summer is dresses (and flip flops). i found this lovely pattern at marthastewart.com for a girl's smocked dress. the pattern comes from weekend sewing by heather ross:

go to marthastewart.com and watch this video for a super easy "smocked" sundress pattern for girl's

check out the keds store by heather ross:

i could wear the grownup version of the unicorn pair:

and these pink unicorn ones for my daughter...
wouldn't they be cute with a smocked sundress...?!

2010-04-12T21:23:00.005-04:00

i about fainted at my local barnes and noble today!

yes, i have a problem (one of many!!) i have a fondness for gerard butler! i think it is not such a bad thing, since most of my friends think my hubby is a younger gerry (and yes, sadly my sweet husband is aware of this. luckily, he doesn't seem to mind, hehee. he knows it is rather innocent).

the cover of the may 2010 issue of architectural digest has a photograph of mr.butler smiling, sitting in a beautifully upholstered wing chair in his newly designed manhattan loft. i love all of the natural elements. the floors, the walls, the columns, the stone lions, the ceiling- is somehow all pulled together.

"Thirteen-foot-tall mahogany doors with a knocker that could summon the dead. A ceiling fresco depicting the rape of Ganymede. Plaster walls chipped and mottled with age, massive columns supporting limestone lions, crystal chandeliers casting spidery shadows…. Medieval castle? Ancestral manor house? Try a two-story loft in the heart of New York’s ultratrendy Chelsea district. The doors alone are remarkable enough to stop the most jaded Manhattanite in his tracks: Who in the world lives here?
Why, King Leonidas of Sparta, who else? The place starts to make a little more sense when one considers that its owner is the actor Gerard Butler, and Gerard Butler is known for channeling such larger-than-life figures as the Spartan king, Attila the Hun, Dracula, the Phantom of the Opera and Beowulf. “I wanted something elegant and gorgeous and at the same time rather masculine and raw,” the actor declares, his Glasgow burr somehow enhancing the description. “I guess I would describe the apartment as bohemian old-world rustic château with a taste of baroque.” -quoted from architectural digest, may 2010

Gerard Butler at Home Homes & Spaces: architecturaldigest.com

the theater

the kitchen

2010-04-12T10:05:00.003-04:00

my new liberty of london watering can from target. how can you have a
bad day and still water your flowers with this?!

i have been out in the flowers and herbs, planting, pruning, weeding, watering and preparing for summer. i bought some sweet pea seeds to plant soon. i have been doing alot of research on bio-degradable pant pots. i cringe at the thought of buying the overpriced peat moss ones at the local garden center. i thought, " can make my own! my mom has used cardboard egg containers before and just planted the plant right along with the container. i needed something a bit bigger, so i stumbled across these DIY newspaper flower pots, which decompose in your garden.

How to Create Seed-Starting Pots From Newspapers -- powered by eHow.com

2010-04-07T11:04:00.012-04:00

my very first blog award!!

i am very excited, this is my very first ever blog award!! so sweet. i received the award from my dear friend at the icu :) thank you!!

first, upon receiving this award, i am supposed to list 10 things that i love (plus a few more!!):

first, to keep my priorities straight in life, i must say GOD
my family, especially my energetic children and my awesome husband
my pets, sounds silly but i love my animals and riding horses
knitting and spinning
anything that allows me to be creative, i need to have a constant outlet
photograpghy
i am an anglophile, so anything english. my husband, especially!
being outdoors. hiking, walking, (i used to rock/ice climb and go backpacking all the time)
a good cup of coffee, tea or espresso. and i love fine chocolate!! my husband makes the best homemade hot cocoa on the stove from scratch!!
costume dramas, the newest ones from bbc are amazing. and guy ritchie films
traveling
history
reading (i read ALOT!)
antiques and anything vintage
gardening- flowers, roses, herbs heirloom plants and organic gardening
i love going shooting and especially bullseye shooting. i am currently a nra sharpshooter
i love going to the bookstore and hanging out, drooling over books and magazines while enjoying an espresso or a hot cup of tea
music
i think maybe i would have been a makeup artist in another life. i love makeup. i try to see all the different colors/combinations with blending eyeshadows
art history. i love all of the tedious art history classes at the university.

then, pass along the award to my 10 favorite blogs (out of courtesy, include the blog that sent you the award in your list):

the indomitably courageous you

the wadsworth pilgrim

away to pemberly

lydia's purse international

an asthete's lament

58 cherries

the duchess of devonshire's guide to the 18th century

ysolda

the purl bee

the inverterate optimist

if you received one,
please pass along to 10 blogs
that make you happy!!

2010-04-02T09:22:00.003-04:00

May you have a blessed Easter weeked!

2010-03-31T15:56:00.003-04:00

who doesn't like an excuse to knit for wee little newborn babes!?? i usually knit something for my friends when they are expecting a new bambino. i one of the sweet girls that i work with is due any day now. she is having a little girl to be named Cerys. i showed her some examples of a few patterns that i had, so she could pick her fave hat and booties. she picked the goodbye yellow brick road booties and the 2 needle eyelet hat,which i will knit in the round.

she wants the hat to look like the cherry cola hat on ravelry by crochetvj and the bootie to look like the tiny t-strap booties by tinycacti.

i will post pictures soon!!

2010-03-30T14:16:00.001-04:00

hilarious!!

2010-03-30T09:49:00.002-04:00

a fun little ditty about knitting

2010-03-25T14:36:00.004-04:00

today is international waffle day!!!
waffles are hands down one of my favorite foods ever!!

this is my favorite waffle mix! i buy it at williams-sonoma

today i will be making homemade belgain waffles with my waffle iron for dinner, yummy! i will be using a basic buttermilk waffle recipe from williams-sonoma and serve with strawberry and raspberry jam. i may throw in some blueberies for good measure! typically i will make a double batch when i make waffles. i let the second batch thoroughly cool on a cooling rack and freeze for breakfasts the following week. i put them into the toaster oven frozen, and the crisp right up rather nicely.

2010-03-22T12:02:00.006-04:00

etsy.com search: girls dresses
need i say more?!!!

check out these pillowcase dresses from EMMYDOODLESTOO on etsy

2010-03-21T01:45:00.005-04:00

prancing ponies at gymboree for spring!

baby girl pony bow dress

baby girl pony tank

the new spring (march) 2010 capsule line at gymboree is horses!!!

kid girl horse tank

baby girl cornflower skirt
kid girl cornflower top

kid girl cornflower scarf

horse snap clips

2010-03-18T12:01:00.004-04:00

for all of the lauren willig (author of the "pink novels") fans out there, she is still accepting submissions for the title of her next book, pink vii on her website. you have until monday the 22nd of march to submit your ideas. you can also read chapter one of the untitled pink vii! how fun! i think that it is very exciting that she is taking ideas from her readers. i love how she interacts with her followers through facebook and her blog. i love her personality! she seems like an amazing person to just sit and chat with all day over a latte.

her books are amazing if you haven't read them! i have read all of her books except for the last one the betrayal of the blood lily, only because i have decided that i want to start again at the very beginning and re-read the secret history of the pink carnation and all of her following books over again, then start her most recent novel. it will be like visiting old friends!! it sounds so silly, but true. you develop a certain fondness for her characters as she gives them life through such rich dialogue and imagery. you feel like you are right there, part of the suspense and the action. character development flows from one book to another, popping up here and there. each book is intertwined with the other, and you learn more about your favrite characters with each new novel.

i think that part of the success of her novels is because they break all bounds of typical novel genres. they are suspense, thriller, adventure, and historical fiction and amazing romances. she is a modern version of the bronte sisters, austen, and gaskell with a bit of dickens thrown in for good measure- only better! i can't seem to get enough of her novels, they are very addicting. i warn you, once you start you won't be able to stop reading the entire collection!

2010-03-17T16:01:00.005-04:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day!
here a a few st. patty's day greetings that i have come across.
i thought i would share them!

let them eat cake

2010-03-17T00:29:00.003-04:00

today i have been dreaming about...

tokyo milk bon bon lip balm

2010-03-16T14:16:00.003-04:00

one of my wips (work in progress). i started these wristwarmers back in september 2009. i put them down before christmas, now i guess i am ready to pick them back up and get them going. i am currently using sportweight frog tree alpaca in an indigo color (#37 i think). picture will follow soon of my project.

2010-03-15T14:16:00.003-04:00

for a rainy day...

i first discovered h&m in england, actually. i was stunned at the prices! i was so excited to discover them stateside, that they have made the leap across the pond! my only issue with h&m is that you can't order online.

today i went to h&m's fashion design studio and spent way too much time playing. you can pick out outfits and accessories to put onto a model. i will share one of my favorite outfits with you. the model's clothes are fun and not practical, unless i was going to the opera. (and i still had my pre-prego body!!!!) check out these heels!

check out the h&m style guide. the last page allows you to put cute "americana" outfits together.

my favorites from the style guide (below)

2010-03-10T12:47:00.004-05:00

i love this bunny locket, it would make a wonderful
easter gift for someone who loves bunnies (like me!!)
i first discovered this in lucky magazine and fell in love with it immediately!

2010-03-09T16:52:00.002-05:00

my hubby took me to see alice in wonderland in 3-d over the weekend. it was AWESOME!! i highly recommend it! the whole movie was amazing! everything from the costumes to the digital effects, to the storyline- i loved it!!!

absolutely alice

2010-03-05T09:57:00.009-05:00

(click on the picture of alice above to watch trailer on youtube)

i have been waiting months for this!! it's finally here. the hubby and i are going either tonight or tomorrow night to see the movie, i am sooo excited!!! head back to wonderland in this amazing adventure!

to celebrate, today i am wearing this...
(detail of one of the bunnies, above)

and painting my nails with
absolutely alice
by opi

and today, we are watching this

but, what i really wish, is that i could wear my daughter's size 3t alice in wonderland dress she wore for halloween a few years back (and still wears for dress up!)

2010-03-04T12:23:00.004-05:00

(above) detail of a bag available from the disney store online

tim burton's alice in wonderland open's tomorrow!! i am so excited!
instead of a re-do, think of it more as a continuation from
where disney's alice in wonderland cartoon left off.

i came across this tee (below) i think it is befitting for me, considering my blog title! i came across it at a shop in the mall the other day

detail of the back of the shirt

tees available from hot topic

this one is appropriate, since i am always hearing this from my family...

2010-03-03T18:24:00.003-05:00

what i want to knit next:

go to www.elliphantom.com, or find it as a free ravelry download here

2010-03-03T11:02:00.004-05:00

an interview with tracy chevalier on her newest book,
remarkable creatures. tracy talks about an amazing true story
and the history that inspired her to write her latest novel.

2010-03-02T12:01:00.003-05:00

only 3 more days!!

knitting in wonderland

Bananna Blueberry Muffins

bonjour, mon beau bébé!!

happy new year!!!

Christmas Wishlist...

9.Ravelry in the UK tote bag

10. ipod (since mine died)

or an ipad!!

TiTuS

who's afraid of the big bad wolf?

web design

Knitter's Handy Book Of Patterns: Basic Designs in Multiple Sizes and Gauges

by Ann Budd

There is something I would like to share today, we are expecting a bundle, one fine April day!!!

my due date is april 23, 2011, which happens to be

ST. GEORGE'S DAY!

(england's national day, what st. patrick's day is to ireland)

so, you will probably see lots in the near future on knitting for baby!

i won, i won, i won, i won, i won!!!!

Le Cover du Jour

the orchid affair

uncle ben

pink lemonade

philippa gregory

bitten

treacle pudding

meet beatrix and

run for the roses

let them eat cake

absolutely alice

There is something I would like to share today,
we are expecting a bundle, one fine April day!!!