Crafty me: or man fabric glue is stickkkkk -yyy!

Greetings.  First I want to address the fact that I haven't blogged much this year.  There are some obvious personal reasons, but there is also the fact that I was getting nowhere fast with the new blogger interface.  I have (somehow) managed to return my blog to it's old interface, but like FB and the dreaded "timeline", blogger is inferring I will not have a choice in the not to distant future!

Second, I am sorely lacking behind in posting crafts and recipes.  I will take care of the first tonight, but be warned that these photo's aren't great.



Here is the top of the quilt I am redoing for Elle.



This is the bag and cell case I made for my oldest daughter.  I already made the hat and got that to her on one our trips up north.

This is a blurry pic of  the hat and cell case to go to my sis, I still need to make the matching bag (people seem to love these sets).  This will match her wolf fleece she wears as a coat.

Here is the 'diva' hat I made for Bre.  I love how light weight the yarn is.

Here is the matching case for Bre.  She now wants me to add a long strap to it, then she can sling it messenger bag style over her head and either carry her phone or MP3 in it.

Last but not least, this is the sweat of Eli's that  I remade into a pillow.  I did something similar with the twins bumper pads from their cribs when they out grew them.  It's nice to keep reminders around of when they were little.  Sigh, can't believe they will be 8 in 3 weeks!

There you have it,  a quick look at what is getting finished.  Now if you could just see what isn't done yet or as we crafters call them UFO's, un-finished objects, that list is muchhhhh longer!  LOL  I am working on more bag sets, more with diva yarn, several cross stitch, and a redone quilt for Eli.  I am real excited about a Halloween bag I am making with counted cross stitch and an old Halloween vest, love to reuse things around the house!  Can't wait to show you the finished item.

Now that this working again I hope to  have more for you soon.  Maybe the recipe for easy peasy lo=carb shrimp Alfredo that I had for lunch today?  Yummy!

Blessings, Beth Ann

crafty

Been a while since I last blogged but nothing exciting going on here.  After our rush trip to MI and back, life has been blessedly calm.  We had a few scary storms, but the calm after is sunny and 80 degree weather for almost the last two weeks!  It is wonderful but makes me fearful of the heat summer will bring.  We bought a new pool, slightly smaller than our last but and port in a storm or should I say heat wave?    I have been plugging away at many different hand crafts and trying to finish some outstanding ones.  Here is just a couple I completed:

This is a small Halloween novelty, stuffed like some Christmas ones I made about ten years ago.  I couldn't get this pic to rotate to save my life, but you get the idea.

Here is a closer shot of the web and as you can see I used gold metallic thread to accent the piece.  As Bre said, 'wicked cool' ; )

I finished this hat for my oldest daughter and will make her a matching bag to go with.  She picked out this yard while we were up there (who would have thought that Gaylord would get a Hobby Lobby?) and now she has to come down here to get them : )  The plan is for her to come on their spring Break up there, around the first of April, I can't wait!

I also have a bag to sew up, it goes with a hat for Bre's best friend.  I made it for Her b-day, but we were in MI at the time and I only had the hat finished.  It is The Harry Potter motif again, Griffindor House.  I had made her the scarf for her last b-day.  Then I just finished another hat and am starting the matching bag, for yet another friend of Bre's (man that girl has friends!).  As for cross - stitch: I have a quilt sampler 3/4 done,  Working on an x-large Christmas sampler and starting another Halloween novelty, not to mention two book bags I need to finish personalizing ~ geesh!  That list doesn't even include the crocheted blanket I work on at night when I need to un=stress and use up my leftover yarn  ends.  LOL   

Blessings, Beth Ann

Knitting

Been some time since I have given an knitting update.  I have finished many hats and some bags on commission as well.  Got so busy I forgot to take pic's : )  Here is a look at some recent items and what I am working on now:

Sometimes I walk past my yarn stash and see two colors next to each other and . . . wham, an idea is born.  Here is a scarf created from just that sort of event.

I call this my green rag

Russian tea scarf.

This too was born from colors just lying around LOL.  Standard blue, red sparkle and white mohair.

When I finish this will be a bag, my Red, White and Blue bag : )

Last but not least, starting a new pair of socks.  Hand made knitted socks are like sleeping bags for my feet.  Great for winter.

I am still working on Bre's Hufflepuff scarf, been working on it for like 9 months now : (  I keep stopping to do paid work, and now I am out of yarn ~ double : (  I do vow to finish by the end of this year however!

Blessings, Beth Ann

hattitude

Greetings all.  Time seems to be flying and summer is in full swing.  The kids all seem to be experiencing growing pains and I am having a hard time with change.  Z is now a high school graduate, has a car, job and is soon moving out on his own.  B is finishing up her freshman year of high school and just brought home some kid claiming he is her boyfriend!  Come fall we will be moving the twins out of the nursery and into SEPARATE rooms!  Yikes, what happened to my babies?  There is no going back and I am about tore up trying to move forward.  No one ever told me that loving my kids would hurt like this.  I sob inconsolably when I am forced to leave my oldest after a visit, but I guess that I thought it was some weird anomaly.  Guess not.  The only constant is my knitting.  I have been knitting hats like there is a demon after me (maybe my own personal one).  I love to give them away as gifts, as my friends can attest - LOL  Pretty soon all my friends will be sporting very dapper 'chapoues'.  LOL 

Blessings, Beth Ann

Back from Cincy

Actually I returned home late Sunday evening from Cincinnati, and the weather was wonderful!  We were running late because we stopped in Lexington, KY for lunch and some antiquing : )  Over all I would rate the trip a 10 on a scale of 1 to 10.  I feel incredibly blessed to have been given this opportunity to attend the Great Home School Conference of the Midwest, and with such an awesome group of ladies who share my faith and are filled with grace.  We had two suites in a hotel about 5 blocks from the Dukes Convention Center.    Many times it was faster to walk than to wait for the hotel shuttle, except when it was raining or the morning we had to be at a lecture at 8:30 a.m. : )  My poor legs and back were tired from wandering among the 300+ vendors in the exhibit hall.  Many ladies had those plastic egg crate thing's with wheels and a telescoping handle.  A couple of vendors sold them for around $25 - yikes!  I had all my worldly possessions in a back-pack/purse and then I carried a tote bag, and just sucked it up.  The only bad thing to mention were food prices  on the premises (of course).  Bottled water was going for $3!    I had my own bottle and just repeatedly filled it from one of the many water fountains, as they have filtered water.  Again, it was an amazing time, shared with amazing people.

Here is our group on the day we left.  We are standing in front of the fountain at the public library, which was across the street from our hotel, The Garfield Arms.

The grand finale for the conference was The Duggar family (they have 19 children and home school).  I don't want to talk about how long the line was or the wait to be seated, but it was a nice evening.  I had read their book, so not much new information.  However I did not know they had a show on TLC (we don't watch tv).  Since then I have rented one of their disc's from Netflix and really enjoyed it.  I mostly enjoyed it because my 14 year old dd did, and it had some great info on courtship vs. dating.  They make it look 'cool' and because of the size of their family, dd appreciates ours a bit more : )

Of course I brought my knitting!  I took it with me everywhere I went and was delighted to find one of the vendors was selling a fiber art curriculum.  It contained knitting, weaving, carding and dying your own wool.  So cool to see these things make a come back.  I managed to knit a hat on the way up there, and on the way home.  It is a 5 hour trip after all (gain an hour going east).

We also took a day to visit the Creation Museum and meet Ken Ham.  He is the founder and CEO of Answers in Genesis, a christian home school curriculum (to put it mildly).  He is a celebrity in the world of home school and maybe even a modern hero.  I encourage you to check him out at http://www.answersingenesis.com/  These are the same folks you might of heard of, who are building a life size ARK.  I so can not wait for that!  This was my second time to the museum and my first with no kids.  There is also a planetarium, but I did that the first time, not the second.  I was able to really talk more of it in and it was so much more . . . vivid, 3D for me.  It made may faith stronger and affirmed that we were on the path that God had placed our family.  I would love to go aging with a group from our church or even take the hubby and twins.  Sigh, guess I just want to go again - LOL

Well, I enjoyed the weather, the fellowship, the faith and the affirmation on home schooling, right before graduating my first from home.  I can't believe the big day is only 4 weeks away!  There have been many ups and downs in the 6 years I have been home schooling, but it is so well worth it!  Not only is it biblical correct, but it turns out kids to be proud of.  We are living our life for God and we are not afraid to live it out loud.

Blessings, Beth Ann

Just checking in

Thought I would check in before I leave tomorrow for Cinncinatti  and the Great Home School Convention.  I will be gone 4 days, but K will be here with the kids and doing some much needed car/RV maintence.  I went to this same convention 3 years ago, but now it is twice the size as before with a grand finale of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar (TLC fame).  There has been some controversey over speakers as this perpertrated to be a christian event.  The convention un-invited Ken Ham, founder and CEO of Answers in Genisis).  You can find out more about this at http://www.answersingenisis.com/    AIG also runs the Creation Museum, right outside of Cincy, so he will be speaking there and offer addional items for all registered coventiont attendees, including a free day pass to the museum and if you never been, you should.  They are currently in the processes of building a replica of the ark!  Again, check these folks out : )

I am still knitting away.  I just finished a scarf for an April b-day and will make the hat when I return.

Here is the scarf and it matches the fingerless gloves I made her for last years b-day : )

I am still big into hats and am making this tourquoise, sequenced one for myself : )

This is the book I take many of my patterns from.  They are easy and basic.  If your not a Harry Potter fan just sub any color you wish, as I do with my beannie hats!  So far I only made one HP hat and the rest are just reg. w/specialty yarn for flair.  Same goes for scarves and socks. 

I had a friend ask me yesterday to share a craft booth with her at an upcoming event ~ EEK!  Do I have enough items?  Guess I need to get on a hat binge.  How many hats can I knit on the 5 hour trip to and from Cincy?  Can I knit during the covention workshops?  Should I knit into the night?  What else should I make besides hats?  B said she would make some rice bags to sell, those are always popular as gifts and for boo-boos : )  I think it will be fun.  I just feel so darned blessed to live here and have such an aray of friends to do things with and share my faith as well.  I thank God everyday for leading me and my family down here.

Blessings, Beth Ann

Look at that bootie!

Another busy week has come to an end, and even though I was under the weather for a great deal of it, it was fabulous.  We didn't wash away in the rain, son got a job, hubby did a couple of car jobs, had tea with a friend, and the sun came out as so did my magnolia blossoms.  See, always half full.  I also finished those booties for my friend who is a new grandma, take a gander;

I love baby booties, they are soooooo cute.  It makes me want to knit a ton of baby stuff (bet you thought I was going to say, want another baby, no way Jose' - LOL).

This year we are doing a full Home Ec. course for B.  It will count for a full credit in her 9th grade curriculum.  Think traditional Home Ec., but with my kitchen and my sewing machine.  There is also the added bonus of time spent with my daughter as taught in the book of Titus.  We are half way done, finishing the food/nutrition/cooking portion and are onto sewing.  We took her to Hobby Lobby to pick out fabric for a quilt she is to make.  It is harder than she thought, but she is loving it.

Here is the crafty girl now.  I have no idea why fabric is so expensive and cost prohibitive, but this will help her learn how to re-purpose old cloths before donating them.  Tomorrow is fill a bag for $15 at the Bargain Center (resale shop) and I will take her and look for some cute fabric (I can get like 30 items in a bag), also son needs jeans for work.

Most likely it will just be me and the 3 youngest tomorrow as son is hoping to finish fixing his car tomorrow.  Poor kid had been driving it for only 3 days when it blew a transmission seal.  It has been a lesson in money, patience's and respect trying to get that thing fixed.  But now not only does he have a car, a reg. drivers license and a voters card, but he has a job and bills.  Good times, good times.  My little man grew up.  How did that happen?

Blessings, Beth Ann

Frugal and Fashion

Good Sat. morning all, hope your enjoying your week-end.  A beautiful day here.  I wanted to share a couple of things with you today.  First is a great buy I stumbled upon during my Friday shopping.  I had been making my own toothpaste, to avoid the fluoride (google fluoride health dangers), but the kids weren't that keen on it.  That's the background story.  Next, Rite-aide has a scan card now (all stores do) and I have received a couple good coupons, the last being a $5 off coupon.  I knew they carried the Tom brand of health care products (that is were we buy our aluminum free deodorant), so went in looking for fluoride free toothpaste.  Found it, at $5.47.  That's right, you know where this is going . . .

After the coupon in was .47 cents, plus tax.  So .97 cents total, the same amount I would pay at the dollar store for reg. fluoride toothpaste.  So that didn't hurt at all to compromise for the kids.  Hubby and I are still using the home made, so maybe it will string it out and make it last longer.

Sorry this is so grainy, but you can see were the total is and that I gave them $1 to pay.  So, if you have a Rite -aide near you it is worth it to sigh up for just one more card : )

Next on the agenda, I have finished two projects this week!   Man it feels sooooooooo good to finish stuff.  I usually have 4 or 5 things going, so it seems to take awhile for all of it.  Not to mention I also seem to always stop and make gifts for people.  But I love it : )  This week I finished my first pair of socks ever (excellent for sleeping in and keeping my toes super cozy) and last night I finished my knit funky hat.

It is simple but the eyelash yarn makes it look so . . .  ooh - la - la - LOL  I worked on this predominantly in Wed. night bible study (shh. don't tell anybody), so took me about 4 weeks of 45 minutes each.  I love it and will wear it everywhere!  I wore it to the library today and the librarian asked if he could touch it.  Of course he could!  : )

I still have a H. P. scarf for B and a pair of pants for me on the stix's, but first I have been asked by a friend to make some baby booties for her new grandson.  How can I say no to that?

Blessings, Beth Ann

Painting ~

After 9 years of living in our home, we are painting the downstairs!  To be fair, it is the last on our list of home fix uppers.  Since her purchase in July of '02 we have resided the house, put in all new windows, added a carport and an RV port.  We also added a screened in back deck, pool and deck.  Only a year after our arrival we were notified of the impeding arrival of twins, so the upstairs had to be redone, good-bye home office.  We also have painted Z's room, the bath room and the kitchen.   Bre's room will be next, but that's for her b-day, so maybe we shouldn't discusses that.  I love, love, love this house.  When we bought it the downstairs looked like it was permanently stuck in the early 80's (think sky blue, light mauve and white country geese) and the upstairs was left in the 50's  (think bad, peeling wallpaper with green leafs and vines)  I am proud to say we have given the old girl (1949) a face lift, two new doors, the yard fenced in and some outside wiring helped too.   So to help document this, here are some pic's of living room being painted:

Here is our handyman, Z, hard at work.

We are equal opportunity employers, so here are the girls working too.

The twins seem to be having a bit . . . to much fun : )

Here is E doing a self portrait.

Here is our newest cat, Chester Pester, wondering if he can help.  Right after this, he DID get into the paint and coated the top third of his tail.  Before we could catch him, he zipped into the bathroom and decorated the toilet seat.  Now you know why he has his name.

Z is still at it he knows there is a paycheck in his future when he finishes.

Here is the boss surveying the job, and he looks pleased, whooh - LOL

I am sooooo thrilled.  I look around and feel like I have a real adult home now, not like I am still living in Holly Hobbies house.  Come visit real soon and see for yourself.

Blessings, Beth Ann

Eat cake

Most families have a bunch of silly little traditions, mostly associated with holidays; ours is no different.  Every year for Valentines day I bake a hart shaped cake, and how can you not love that?!  Here is the easy peasy recipe:

Start with your favorite cake mix, we always choose Pillsbury valentine fun-fetti w/matching frosting, but and flavor will do.  Next, follow directions on box for mixing and pour half of batter into a 9" round and half into a 9" square cake pan.  Make sure to grease and flour well, since cakes must come out of pan.

Follow box for baking directions.  Let cool, then refrigerate for a couple of hours before frosting.

Next, empty cakes from pans onto a serving tray and slice round cake in half.

Turn square cake sideways, as to make a diamond.  Then place one half of round cake on either side, to look like a hart.

Now you may begin to frost with your choice of frosting.

You can fill in any cracks or unevenness with the frosting; no one will mind a little extra!

Now you have a frosted hart to share with your Valentine : )

You can use this as a clean slate to decorate any way you choose, sprinkles, candy or even write a message with gel frosting.

Our frosting came with candy sprinkles for the holiday.

This yummy treat was a special dessert for 8 people with leftovers.

I bought the mix and frosting at our Dollar General Market for $3.  When is the last time you did that?  Stay tuned:  this Sat. is another $5 coupon day at the $GM!

Blessings, Beth Ann

Happy President's Day!

I know I am a bit early with my glad tidings, but our home school group decided to tackle this early.  I am proud to say that after much prayer and effort that our county is just now in the processes of uniting a new group of home school families and this was our first function.  It was a huge success!   There was plenty of food, friends, fellowship and kids!  LOL I am proud to say our church sponsored this worthy group and we were blesses with an absolutely gorgeous day! (all the better to send the kids out to play in)

Z didn't do a presentation, but he was in charge of video and sound, something he does for the church on Sundays already.  B did do a pres. and she picked Teddy Roosevelt.  Dig her board and the use of all my metallic blue paint on her flag!  Guess it add panach'.

She was a bit nervous getting up in front of a large, mostly unknown group, but I told her we had paid $5K for her smile . . . so . . .  Once she was up there it was fine and she did a great job on her research.  Also good experience for public speaking.

Twin son E didn't get the whole big deal, and twin daughter E just wanted to make a pretty flag like her big sister : )   Oh to be six again with no pressure to be in the know politically.

Here is the flag I helped E make, she picked the stick out herself.  When she saw people were going up front to give little presentations she wasn't sure she was in to that, but when the mic came out . . . LOL  Anyone who knows E, knows that she has never met a mic she didn't like!  Matter of fact, she received a stage mic complete with flashing strobe light and clapping sound for Christmas and a matching guitar.  She was also a smash the Sunday before, at the super bowl party.  The kids did some karaoke, and once E got a hold of the mic that was it. 

There was lots of good eats as well.  Most brought cookies and desserts.  I didn't want to go that route and wanted something more high protein, lo-carb/healthy.  I came up with these tasty little kabobs.

These are pepperoni, string cheese and bologna.

Then I mad a dessert kabob:

These are seedless green grapes, mini marshmallows and cantaloupe.

They were a huge hit and not one was left, much to my husbands disappointment.  I think I only ate one of each, for a taste test : )

Next month we are having an ice cream social and there will be more photo's.

Blessings, Beth Ann

Saturday Shopping

I prefer to do my shopping on Friday mornings, it's the best time for mark down food at the local market (and I did get some), but today was the only day for the $5 coupon at the $GM.  On top of that the store was packed as there was mention of possible snow flurries tonight (oh my).  So braved the hordes and loaded up a cart for me and a cart for hubby (don't tell).  We were able to use two of the $5 coupons and I also had two 1cent egg coupons to redeem : )    I prefer farm eggs but these are good for making hard boiled eggs (farm eggs are not).

First week total for Jan. ended up being $78 as of last Thursday the 6th.  Second weeks total started Friday the 7th and is currently at $145.  I would like to do better than this, but it does include pet food.  I am also proud to say that all food choices and purchases were with high protein/low carb in mind and was successful.  I almost caved yesterday as I had been battling a flu bug and didn't feel like cooking but decided the cost of prepared food/frozen for all of us was not much cheaper than a nice piece of corn beef I found and plopped into my slow cooker with a bunch of veggies.  Much more satisfying and tasted delish!  Today sees a nice roast with low starch veggies in my crock pot and a wonderful smell in my kitchen.  I also whipped up a batch of bread machine hot dog buns made with spelt flour (have you seen what is in the commercial pack). 

I do have a couple of recipes to share but want to point out that sometimes there are other benefits besides financial.  I will share a recipe for toothpaste and deodorant.  Besides being cost effective they are extremely earth and health friendly.  There is no fluoride, and you don't need it, in the toothpaste and  no aluminum (why do they put it in there) in the deodorant.    Just trying to be the best me I can be.  If you would like the book info on where I get my information just drop me a line.

Toothpaste:
1/4 cup baking soda
1 teaspoon salt.

Mix and store in an air tight container.  You may also add a couple drops of any natural oil you prefer for taste.



Deodorant:
1/4 cup baking soda
1/4 cup cornstarch

Mix it up.  Store in air tight container.  Use powder puff to apply.



Whats next for us?  Well I am officially giving up soda.  Eventually coffee too I hope, but baby steps for now.  I will drink ice tea and half/calf Folgers.  When my tea bags run out I will then switch to decaf. green tea.  I am also only buying brown sugar and using local honey to sweeten.  Eventually only the honey .  Just some small steps for us to look forward to : )  Will keep you posted as the month progresses and so does our money spent on groceries.

Blessings, Beth Ann

Sock it up

I did it!  I finished my first sock ~ ever!  This was my third attempt at it too.  First attempt, dog at it and my needle too.  Second attempt, small child pulled out all the needles (used 4, knitting in the round).   Soooo, you can see why I am so excited.  It even looked better than the other attempts as well : )  Now I am just praying I have enough yarn left for second sock (wouldn't that be irony).  It has been so long since I started this and with losing some yard to . . . lets just say acts of nature, well I don't have the saved yarn wrapper to tell me how much was in my skein so that I can compare it to the pattern.  I am just moving forward with the assumption I do, and yes I know what they say about assuming.

This was a tub sock knitted in a spiral round, funky huh?

Oh ye of little faith, it does fit and doesn't look to bad either : )

Sigh, just waiting for a mate, but sooo comfy.  They say once you wear a hand knitted sock there is no going back.  You will never want to wear a store sock again.  Oh and as I was trying this on, Z walks over and wants to know when he can get a pair.  I swear he will not make it to his birthday in 11 days!  Just something for me . . . once . . .

Blessings, Beth Ann

Still here and still knitting

It's been a while since I blogged last.  Not much happening here, yet I'm always busy!  LOL  I guess the usual day to day stuff for a family of six keeps me that way.  Between family, home school, church, camping and crafts, I don't idle much : )  We are going on our last camping trip of the year, next week, to celebrate middle dd b-day.  It was her idea and since we are putting off our annul trip to S.C. until March, why not!  The weather here has been in the mid to high 90's for the past week, so should still be great for camping.  I can't believe that my B will be 14 and is a high schooler.   Seems like yesterday . . .

Today though she is planning a b-day party for her cat Tina, who is two.  Actually it seems longer, living with that white she devil/Siamese!  Anyway, B sat up late last night making cat nip party favors to hand out to all the other kitties/guests and is making a cake out of Fancy Feast.  Can we say spoiled?  B even knitted her cat a new swanky collar!  I will post some pic's of this soon.  And speaking of knitting . . .

My new project comes from this book, Charmed Knits, it should read.  We found this book at the library and son Z picked out a scarf.  

It is a striped scarf, knit in the round.  Making it a very thick scarf indeed.  The scarf/tube will have 19 stripes and the ends will be closed with matching tassels. 

These are the colors Z picked, royal blue and bronze.  I am now on stripe 9, so half way there!

Upcoming projects are socks.  Yes, trying it again and hopefully the dogs will not eat this pair!  Also, I will finely cast on for that pair of knitted cargo pants I have been eyeballing for six months now.  Not mention seasonal projects such as baby booties and such.  Will keep you posted ~

Blessings, Beth Ann