Barefoot Sandals, a Knit Kit and a Charmed Row Counter

I love these barefoot sandals my daughter made!  She saw some on Pinterest and asked me to show her how.  A mother can't resist!  We got out one of my crochet books...Beyond the Square Crochet Motifs by Edie Eckman....we popped over to Hobby Lobby and bought some Lion Brand Bon Bons....and away she went on her first crochet project.  She then sewed on some little white seed beads, which make them really pop!

She then tried another motif pattern and added another yarn color.  I think they are both really cute!  What a great bridesmaids gift for a beach wedding!  She put them both up on "snap chat" and all her friends wanted to know where to buy them.  I have a feeling she will be crocheting them up for bithday or Christmas presents for all her besties!

I've been busy putting Knit Kits together for my Etsy shop.  Here's how have them listed in my shop:

Everything a knitter or crocheter needs for their project bag. A $25.00 value!

You get everything you see here:

*Zippered bag with two pockets (measures 6.5" W x 9.5 L) {16.5cm x 24.3cm} color may vary
*Journal (80 blank pages) color may vary
*Tape measure
*Two barrettes (I use them to keep yarn tails in place on my yarn balls)
*Two sewing needles
*One row counter
*Ribbon on thread card
*Four point protectors
*Two cable needles
*One needle gauge
*Two stitch holders
*Ten bobbins
*Twenty crochet stitch markers
*One pair of scissors
*One Project Card

A $25.00 value!

And it all fits in the zippered bag.

Great gift for yourself or any knitter or hooker.

That's a TON of goodness for $16.00!!!!  I only have 5 available, so if you'd like one for yourself or yarn buddy, visit my Etsy shop to purchase.  

This is one of the cutest knitting/crocheting accessories I have seen in a long time.  Attach it right to your project.  Heidi Bears Row Counter for Circular Needles Tutorial is on her sight and easy to follow.  I can't wait to go out and get a few things to make some!  I often misplace my row counters as they are quite small.  This will make it easy to remember to USE the row counter on many a project.

I'm heading over to the Iowa State Fair next week.  My annual trip with one of my closest friends, Michelle.  I so look forward to it every year.  Food on a stick, the butter cow,  all the blue ribbons for best knitting and crocheted items, the piglets, baby lambs, and the largest bull and pumpkin in the state!  

When I was a teenager, in the '70's, my friend Karen and I would go there first thing in the morning, take off our shoes, walk around barefoot, till it closed at night!  It...was...awesome.  We saw Elton John, Sonny and Cher, Loggins and Messina, Chicago and Seals and Croft.  Some of the best memories of my life.  I am still friends with Karen and saw her last weekend when I passed through Kansas City, where she lives with her family.  I'm SO lucky to still have her in my life.

Have a great weekend,

Sheila

Yarn Tip:  

I keep a knit kit in my suitcase. When I travel, I sometimes forget to pop one in my project bag.  This way, I always have one on vacation or business trips.

A Downton Abbey Christmas!

 Just LOOK at all this Downton Abbey goodness!  The full dvd set, 2 Downton books and a tote!  Can't wait for the new season to start!  Whoo hoo!

 A new yarn bowl from my bestie and a headband from my daughter!

The back of the headband.  I think I might have to try and recreate this!

An Addi starter kit from Fiber Wild for $50.00!  AND a $25 gift cert for an Addi Click It set!

What were some of your favorite prezzies?

Best,

Sheila

Yarn tip:

Freeze your garment overnight before ripping out mohair or other fuzzy yarns.  You'll have an easier time getting the stitches undone.

Gift Giving and Receiving

This is the time of year that I really treat myself!  I feel that I work hard all year knitting and crocheting away.  Custom orders, pattern writing, photography, networking and keeping up with 4 online shops and another one in the works.  I'm also working on my first book of patterns.  But who can pass up on all the yarny goodness of sales!  Just look at what arrived this week from Knitcircus!  Three hanks of glorious, hand painted yummy yarn from Jaala.  AND, a mini skein, free hat pattern and Soak soap.  Can't wait to get out my winder to cake these!  

Knitpicks has a great sale going on at the moment.  They have very affordable prices even without a sale, so you can save a bundle when the yarn is 50% off.  I am awaiting a big box of goodies from them this week!  Whoo hoo!

 I also treated myself to a Gelaskin for my Mac.  This is my logo for my knitwear business. A crocheted blanket and bunny, with an ombre ribbon, in a linen colorway.  I'm sorry that it does not show well in the photo.  I use it on all my Moo business cards, stickers and labels.  Gelaskins is a great product.  I do not receive anything for touting their praises.  The site is easy to navigate, upload your photo and purchase.  They have skins and cases for all your iphones and laptops.  They also have tons of designs to choose from if you don't have your own photo.

The keyboard decals are from Kidecals.  I bought these a few months ago and love them.  You can read the post here.  They have some new decals this season, a great sale and you can create your own on their site, too.

Have a great week,

Sheila

Yarn tip from Knit Simple:

To keep stripes even on circular needles,when you come to your next color change, put your needle in the stitch below and knit with the new color.

Keyboard decals / not yarny, but still awesome!

Just LOOK at these awesome decals I found in my mailbox today!  I have not been in love with something other than yarn for a long time.  I'm not even sure how I ran across them....maybe another blog.

Laminated keyboard stickers by Kidecals.  I am crazy over the Pretty Roses Keycals.  Feminine, colorful and a brilliant idea!

If you sign up for their newsletter you get 15% off your first order.  They are for 13" and 15" Macbook,  Macbook Pro and Macbook Air and bluetooth keyboards only, so be aware.  Also, they are removable.

Some of the letters and numbers are a bit hard to read, but if you are old like me, you took typing in high school and don't look at your keys much.

There are 20 designs to choose from, cost $14.00 (without the discount) and shipping is free.

I bought the orange set my for daughters birthday coming up.  She will love these and all the letters and numbers can easily been seen.

They also have smaller sets for $6.00.  A set of 9 for certain keys only.  Still, really cute.  If I knew which of my friends had a Mac, this is what they would all be getting for Christmas!

Yarny post next week for sure.

Best,
Sheila

*tip of the week:

Buy little snap barrettes and mini rubber bands in the hair care section of the dollar store to keep the loose tails on balls of yarn!

Click here for the kidecals/keycals site

Blocking Wires

There' something very exciting about ordering on line, as opposed to a stand alone shop.  You see something you like on your computer, research some other shops for prices, check your PayPal account and click, click, click you're done!

Then you anxiously await the mailman!  Well, my mailman delivered this "gift to self" yesterday and I must say, I was VERY excited to open it!

Now, if you've seen blocking wires for sale in your local yarn shop, you know that a FEW wires cost about $30.  I found this set at The Knitting Warehouse.

You get:

24 36" stainless wires
4 24" stainless flexible wires
one yardstick
40 rust proof t-pins
complete blocking instructions
storage tube

All on sale for $29.99.  I must say I think is a GREAT deal.  I have also purchased yarn from this site and was very pleased indeed.

For you newbies out there, the purpose of blocking your knitted piece is to uncurl and form your work the enhance the beauty and block it to the correct size.  

Best,
Sheila