A Request From Mom

I asked my mom to get me some "Oregon" yarn for my birthday this year (it's in less than a week). I grew up in Portland, but live in South Carolina now, and having yarn from home makes me happy.  One of my favorite Oregon yarns is Blue Moon Fiber Arts.  They have beautiful colorways, and many are named after places in Oregon so I love it even more.

Anyway, while Mom was at Twisted (a fab Portland yarn store) she took these pics and sent them to me with a request to make her something like this for Christmas.  What she doesn't know is I'm already making her a shawl for Christmas (I'll show you it in another post) but I can't say no to Mom, so I'm going to try and design her some pretty fingerless gloves as well. 

I'm going to unravel this wool Old Navy sweater for the yarn.  I LOVE recycling sweaters for yarn because you get so much for so little!  I think this cost me $4.50.

I'm going to make her fingerless gloves in a lace pattern, but I haven't decided yet which pattern to use. I've been looking through some of my books tonight and I'm leaning towards this pattern.  I like the lace and texture combo.

I think I'll do the cuff and top edging in a simple ribbing and use this for the body.  What do you think?  If I come up with something great I promise to share it with all of you. 

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Kitchen Corner Clean-up

I've been feeling sort of blah lately, and I've spent a lot of time sitting around on my rump.  The house has started to suffer, but I can't seem to help myself.  I've just been having a hard time finding the motivation to do much of anything.  So, this evening I kicked myself in my lazy rump and completed a little rearranging project.

This corner of our kitchen is the first thing you see when you come in the back door, and it was a real eye sore.  I got rid of the doggone clutter and brought in an extra table.  Then I moved all of my "office" junk and the kids' art stuff (both of which were spread around the kitchen) to the table and created a little desk area.   It's still not the prettiest entrance view, but it's better than before.

I moved the pup's stuff to another corner that gets hidden behind the back door when it's open.  Cami, our blue heeler, doesn't seem to mind her new spot but she was losing her mind when I moving everything around.

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Thrifting Haul - The One with the Bunny

One thing you are going to learn very quickly about me is that I LOVE thrift shopping! It's a love affair I've had since I was a little girl tagging along on my Mom's thrifting trips.  It's the thrill of the hunt that has me hooked!  So, you can expect me to write many more thrifting posts in the future. 

Today I went to a couple of stores and found nothing I was looking for (I wanted a crock pot for yarn dyeing, and something pretty to make a cake stand with), but that didn't stop me from snatching up some other great things....

This Bunny portrait was my first find, and I love it! And.... it only cost $3.03!  Usually the Goodwills in this area really overprice the framed "art" so I was thrilled when I saw it was only $3.03.  Does your Goodwill do weird prices like this where the first and last number are the same? I think their pricing is so weird!

Anyway, I can't decide if I'm going to keep this picture or give it to my Mom.  I love anything strawberry, and my mom collects bunnies, so this makes me think of her.... which I really like, so I think I'll keep it.  Or, I could give it to her to remind her of me.  I don't know! Either way I definitely need to do something about the frame because it's pretty beat up.  I'll either paint it or replace it. 

These knit fabrics were only $1.61 each.  I'm guessing they're 100% polyester, but I don't care I think the prints are great! There's easily over two yards of each, and I'm envisioning shirts or skirts for the little Misses.

Speaking of little Misses, look at these all leather boots I found for Miss S. $4.99! Butter soft leather!! $4.99!!!  They'll look great with her skinny jeans.

I love Vera Bradley bags.  I love the colors and how soft they are.  This is a very small bag, maybe six inches across, and only cost me $6.06.  It's in great shape and I think it's lovely.

This hanger was $1.51 and I plan to use it for scarves and maybe belts.  I have some hooks I need to put up in my bedroom so I can hang up all of my purses and other accessories, and I thought this would work well with those.  

These shelves were $3.03 each and I'm going to paint them and hang them in my craft room.  Not sure what I'm going to put on them yet.

I told you... I love anything strawberry.  This is a nice sized bowl, actually I think it's a baking dish, but I think I'm going to use it as a planter.  It does have a few little flaws, so I thought it was a bit pricey at $3.83, but I couldn't pass it up.

I've been looking for a wire basket for awhile now.  This isn't exactly what I had in mind, but I still really like it, and it was only $2.02.  I'm going to use it for collecting eggs.

And, last but not least....

I love pottery decorations that aren't what you'd typically find... things other than mugs or bowls, etc.  And, I love decorating with snowmen at Christmas time because you can leave them out longer than nativities or Santas.  This cute little guy (he's about three inches tall) was only $1.01.  I think he's adorable!

Well, those are all the goodies I found today.  All except for one other thing that I'm going to save for another post.  Do you love thrifting as much as me? Or, do you think I'm crazy?  ; )

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Drum Roll Please....

Hello World! It's me Amy. Have you missed me?

Those of you who have been "online friends" with me for awhile know that I've tried this blogging thing before, and that I never really stuck with it.  In fact, I've started (and stopped) so many different blogs that I don't think I could even name them all.  I know.... it's sad! (pitiful really!)

Despite my sorry blogging history, I'm once again giving this blog thing a go.  My plans for this site are a little different than anything I've done in the past, and I'm excited to get started.

So, what can you expect to find here on sknitches?  I'm so glad you asked!  This is going to be my home away from home, my online corner of the world, and the place I go to escape my kids (the tenacious beasts!).  For the most part I will be writing about my numerous crafty endeavors, in a day-dreamy, journal-y, sometimes informative-y way.  In other words, I'm going to write about all of the crafty things I'm doing, and every now and then I will post a DIY/How-To.  My favorite hobbies are sewing and knitting, but I also like cooking and baking, jewelry making, home decorating, and crafting (so, EVERYTHING).  I will also be sharing anything and everything I find (in real life or online) that I love and well.... that I want to share with you! So, pictures, tutorials, interesting people/places, etc, etc.  You just never know what you'll find here. Sound like fun? I think so!

From time to time I may comment on my family, so let me take a minute to introduce them to you...

My husband, also known as my main squeeze, the love of my life, and the man I spend too much time missing (he travels for work) will be referred to here as Mr. Gorilla.  No, not because he's a "big ape" but because one of my favorite places to be is wrapped up in his big embrace.  (Ahhhhh.... I know.. "how mushy!" What can I say? My insides are made of vanilla pudding.) He's a very handy guy (he's installing our new kitchen sink in that pic) and a wonderful husband and father.  I am very lucky, and blessed, to have him in my life.

Mr. Gorilla and I had a combined moment of insanity (it lasted 6 years) that resulted in four tenacious little beasts, also known as our daughters.  As of this posting, our oldest, Miss S, is ten years old.  She's involved with her school's chorus and loves being dramatic. She's a wonderful big sister and a big help to me.  Our second daughter, Miss A, is eight years old.  She's my little artist, and already talks about going to art school some day.  I love that about her because when I was a kid I didn't even realize that something like art school was an option.  Miss L, our third daughter, is six years old and is adorably hilarious.  She really does say "the darnedest things!"  Just tonight she asked me if her feet were old because "they sure are wrinkly!"  She cracks me up!  And, last but not least Miss T, our four year old, is our baby and boy does she take advantage of that fact! She's too cute for her own good.  She's in pre-K this year and learning the ABC's is torturing us both.  She's loves homework as long as it involves coloring, or scissors, or glue, but if any actual studying is involved then you can count her out.  Can't say I really blame her.  ; )

So, that's the fam.  As for me, I'm just your average girl.  I'm in my thirties, I used to be in the Marine Corps, I have a few tattoos (and plans for a few more), and I'm mildly addicted to Diet Coke and chocolate chip cookies.  Ok, one of those things is a lie..........  I'm MAJORLY addicted to Diet Coke and chocolate chip cookies.  (I have a serious problem and may have to seek counseling in the near future.)

I spend my days avoiding housework and indulging in my crafty pursuits.  My afternoons and evenings are consumed by my girls who force me to don my maid's apron, chef's hat, and chauffeur gloves.  At night I'm an online student with way too much homework, and very little enthusiasm for any of it.  I'm busy, busy, busy.... which may explain my frequent bouts with the "lazies" or more accurately the "I don't wannas" because I don't usually have the luxury of being lazy.

Oh, and..........  we have a spastic blue heeler who's in love with my feet, and eight crazy chickens who keep us well stocked with eggs.  Like that coop? I designed it, and built it with lots of help from Mr. Gorilla and his Uncle Billy.  It's in dire need of some paint!

So, um......... that's all I've got at the moment, but please come again.  There's going to be lots going on here, so please check in from time to time and see what I'm up to, and let me know what you're up to as well!

If you're a social media fan like me, please stop by my various social profiles and friend, follow, or whatever me on those sites.  You can find some buttons to my profiles up in the top of the sidebar under "Socialize With Me"  >>>>

See you soon! Kisses! 


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