{Th} read

This week I have two books I'm reading.

And they're my own books - not borrowed from the library or a friend. 

I can't even remember the last time I got a new book,

and in a week's time I got two. :-)

The first book was a gift from my secret sister at church.

In the note attached it said that it was one of her favorites.

I've finished the first two chapters and I am really enjoying it so far.

The setting is on a farm in 1931. :-)

Hidden Places by Lynn Anderson

The best part of this book, though, was the bookmark that came with it!

So pretty!  I just love it.

The other book I'm reading, I just got over the weekend, when we went to Houston.

I got to spend a few minutes in one of my favorite places to "window shop" -

Williams Sonoma. 

I just drool over everything in there.  

And, I also wonder what kind of folks can afford most of the stuff they sell.

On this visit I got a chuckle over a $20 jar of frosting.

$20!!  Granted it was cute packaging and it looked yummy, but still. ;-)

Chicken and Egg by Janice Cole

There are always a lot of really nice cookbooks to look at Williams Sonoma.

I spotted this book last fall and thumbed through it.

This time it was on a clearance rack for 1/2 price

so I snatched it right up. 

It's a memoir of chicken keeping with lots of recipes included.

I think I'm going to like it a lot!

As far as crafting goes - this week I started a blue baby blanket 

for a nephew due in late November.  

I've made this particular blanket before

and it is definitely a "thinking" project,

meaning it takes a lot of counting and full concentration.

I was a little unsure if I should tackle it right now

seeing that my lazy days of summer are swiftly coming to an end,

and I will be a busy girl as soon as school starts back.

But, you know what I did?

I looked at the pattern again.  The blanket is 229 rows long.

I simply divided the number of rows by the number of days I had to work on it 

in order to be finished by the end of November. 

 I quickly realized that even if I only knitted 3 rows a day 

I could still be finished with it by the middle of October! 

 Looking at it that way made it seem SO much more doable.  

And aren't so many things like that??

Something can seem so daunting when faced with the big picture,

but when you break it down and just do a little bit each day,

one foot in front of the other as they say,

all of a sudden it doesn't seem so bad.

Finishing a project, loosing 10 pounds, saving for a vacation, reading a book,

cleaning out a closet, etc...

It's all easier if you just break it down and take it one step at a time. 

So whatever you're facing right now, just put one foot in front of the other

and before you know it you'll reach your destination! :-)

And, isn't it the getting started part that is the hardest? ;-)

As all knitters know that is definitely the hardest part of knitting.

The first few rows are always tight and hard to knit,

but after you get going it's much easier. 

I would say that's probably true for most things...

Week of August 6th

{TH} read :-)

I'm linking up this week with the all new

at The Simple Woman -

where we share what we are reading 

and what we are crafting.

This week I am reading, Thinking in Pictures - My Life with Autism

by Temple Grandin

I'm crafting a knitted cowl

to match a knitted cap.

Link up what your reading and crafting at {TH} read! 

~knitted cap~

I usually don't knit much in the summertime,

but it's been so long since I've had any time to knit

that it's made me just itch to get to some projects.

This cap only took a few days to stitch up.

It's a big step for me since everything else I 

have ever knitted has been a flat piece.

I thought it turned out really well.

I know I will enjoy wearing it this winter -

it is very warm!

The cap only used maybe 1/4 of the skein of yarn,

so I decided to make a matching cowl out of the rest.

I am knitting it in a ribbed seed stitch and I am loving the texture.

So happy to be knitting again! :-)

All done! :-)

So excited to be finished with my first knitted

baby blanket!

I will be starting my next project today!! :-)

::: a knitting journal :::

This brand new knitting journal

was also given to me along with the 

yarn jackpot.

I'm really excited about it!

It gives tips on how to take good photographs

of finished projects.

A place to record details about 

the pattern, needles, and yarn used.

A place for a picture.

And a place for a yarn label and/or sample.

I have a picture of everything I've knitted so far 

and I've saved yarn labels as well,

so I'm anxious to get my projects into my journal!

What a nice record of my progress it will be. :-)

*The journal was written by Char Loving, 
published in 2003 and retails for $14.95.

Jackpot!

Whoo!

Hoo! 

I hit the yarn jackpot I think!

Someone sweet passed on some yarn

that she thought I would get more use out of 

than she would. :-)

I didn't argue!

I already have visions of projects

dancing in my head!  

A poncho with this yarn?

Or this?

I scarf out of this?

Or maybe I could tackle a knitted hat?

This yarn is very interesting.

And so is this.

Something for a baby? 

More baby soft yarn.

Not sure what I might want to do with this yarn,

but I love the color.
A scarf, hat, and mittens set??  Dare I dream? ;-)

Lots of this!

Maybe an afgan?

And this is my favorite!!

Just one skein, but I think it'll be plenty

for an autumn scarf!

Can't wait!

But first, I've got to get this

baby blanket

finished up!  

All that yarn waiting for me is a fantastic motivator! :-)

A Baby Blanket

I've gotten a little more work done,

on my latest knitting project.

Can you see the heart?

And the teddy bear? :-)

Learning...

 ...some new stitches in knitting. :-)

~Simple Christmas Joys~ Day 14

Knitting a quick, funky scarf.

With Peaches & Cream's 100% Cotton Yarn 

in "Peppermint".

Knitting Inspiration

I was so excited over my black poncho,

(we had a little cool front this weekend

and I was able to wear it to worship on Sunday!)

that as soon as I finished it, I couldn't wait to jump right in to another project.

I spent a little time exploring my favorite yarn brand website

and discovered lots of free patterns at my knitting experience level.

I was so inspired! I have three new projects started!

First up is another light weight poncho.

I purchased two skeins of a variegated yarn that I've had my eye on.

(The normally low priced Red Heart yarn

was marked down even further to only $1.50 a skein!)

I am experimenting with rows of knitting

and rows of purling this time.

This will give the poncho a ribbed, textured look.

The only problem is I can't seem to keep up with my rows of each!

I'll learn a lot with this project. ;-)

I already have the finished poncho paired up in my mind
with a tan turtle neck, flair jeans, and brown boots. ;-)

I've also started working with a 100% cotton yarn
for the first time.

Knitting with three strands at a time
produces a very thick fabric.

I am using the popular Lily "Sugar 'n Cream" in Natural Ombre to make potholders.

And lastly, I've started some patchwork squares
in garter stitch, seed stitch, and moss stitch.

That one day,
might become a blanket...

Whoop! ;-)