Quick Progress Update...

Just so that no one will think I’m a slacker, I thought I’d do a little update. Sorry, no pictures this time.

Felted bag: I’m still looking for the perfect something to embellish it with. I don’t really want to do any embroidery on it, but I can’t find the perfect button or pin for it. Maybe I’m too picky.

Bad Ass Knittin Bag: It’s all done, but the sewing. I’ve been procrastinating more than I need to on this one. My deadline for delivering it for the fair is next week and I’m still not really sure how I want to put it together. I usually have things planned out to the slightest variance. This whole flying by the seat of my pants thing is exciting and nerve-wracking.

Baby blankets: The blanket that I was knitting back in July (#1) has finally been completely completed. I finished weaving the ends in on Sunday. The blanket I’m currently working on (#2) is halfway there. Unfortunately, I don’t believe it will be completed before the baby is here. I’m just missing by a couple of days though.

Other that that, I’m trying to figure out what I’ll do next. I have several baby projects I’d like to do. Maybe try my hand at some little hats. I’d love to find a simple sweater pattern to knit for myself. First I’ll have to save some money to pay the small fortune it will cost to buy that much good yarn. I also want to do another embroidery project similar to my knitting bag. Only time will tell what I actually end up doing.

Bad Ass Knittin Bag Part 4 and Other Crafty Endeavors

First of all, I've done some crafty shopping. The floss is for my knitting bag, then there are 3 skeins of recycled silk yarn and a skein of lavender alpaca. I got the silk from In the Loop in Columbia and the alpaca from The Needler in Lexington. I have no idea what I'm going to do with my one lonely skein of alpaca, but I have grand plans for the silk. This picture doesn't do it justice. It's gorgeous in real life.

Since having to cut out the lettering on my knitting bag, I've been working on my knitting again. This is a picture of it before I cast off the body of the bag and sewed it all up. You can still see how big it is before felting.

And this is what it looked like after felting. I still need to add a little button or something to it and it will be done. One project crossed off my list.

Since the knitting is done and I was no longer disgusted with my having to rip out the work on my embroidery I started working on the Bad Ass Knittin Bag again. I chose 3 different shades of green fading from dark to light. So far so good.

I'm finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

Bad Ass Knittin Bag Part 3

When I started working on my bag Friday, this is what it looked like:



When I got finished working on it Friday, this is what it looked like:



So this is what I've been workng on:



If you're wondering, no I didn't mistakenly put those first 2 pictures out of order. I wish that was the case. Very frustrated, very disappointed that I had to rip all of that work out. When I went to move my hoops and looked back at my work I realized that the metallic thread I was using just wasn't working the way I wanted and I wasn't happy with how it was looking. I think I could lave probably fixed part of the problem, but I didn't want to chance it and not have the time to do something else.

Note to self: I don't think metallic thread was meant for that kind of satin stitch.

So, as you can see, I've been knitting this weekend. I've been kind of sick over having to rip out all that work and just couldn't face looking at my embroidery again without a short break. I've gotten some good work done on my knitting. And, even better, I've discovered that knitting and purling the "right" way have now become habit for me.

Tommow, back to the embroidery.

Mmmmm...Pie!

I tried something new for supper last night. A recipe I got from a friend at work for tomato pie. Of all the things you can make into pies, who would ever think that tomatoes would be one of the yummiest? Not all that healthy, but yummy still. I'm sure it can be made more healthy though. Maybe next time.

The recipe:

1 pie crust, baked according to package instructions (I used Mrs. Smith's Deep Dish)
4 medium-large tomatoes, peeled and sliced
1 package bacon
fresh basil
1 cup mayonaise
1 cup shredded mozarella
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar

Preheat over to 350 degrees.
Seed and slice tomatoes. Lay slices on a paper towel lined pan and sprinkle lightly with salt.
Cut bacon into pieces and brown.
In a separate bowl, mix together the mayonaise and cheeses.
After the pie crust and the bacon has cooled, assemble the pie.
Layer half the tomatoes on bottom of pie crust. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Add a few basil leaves. Sprinkle with half the bacon. After all the tomatoes and bacon have been used, spread the mayonaise and cheese mixture over the top.
Bake for 30 minutes or uintil the top of the pie is golden brown.
Let cool for 10-15 minutes. Slice and enjoy! Serves about 6.

I wish I had thought to take a picture before we demolished it.

Our State Fair is a Great State Fair...

I love the SC State Fair. I always have. Most likely I always will. The fair always brings back good memories of my childhood and a story about my brother as a child that never fails to make me laugh and embarrass him. I love the exhibits, the animals, the crowds, the food…Everything! But now that I’m older I can appreciate parts of it more. The exhibits especially. I know exactly how much work and artistry go into so much more of it now.

A few years ago, actually, more like 6 or 7 years ago, I entered a pair of embroidered pillowcases in the fair. I did better than I expected: Second place in my category. I’m still proud of that. I even have a tattoo that was inspired by that design.

And then I stopped embroidering.

Now that I’m back into my craftiness I’m thinking about entering again. If I did, I’d enter my Badass Knittin Bag and the felted bag that I’m also working on. I have to make up my mind by August 29. Any item I entered would have to be completed by October 1. I worry that if I did enter an item I’m still working on that it would take the fun out of it for me. Not only that, but when I’m faced with a deadline I have to meet I tend to procrastinate.

I hate making decisions.

Bad Ass Knittin Bag Part 2

I love my bag and its not even close to being done. I'm making good progress. I've got the skull done and half of the knitting needles. Once I get the embroidery done I'm going to take a break from it and work on my knitting some more.

I just love it! The colors, the shapes. I almost wish I could snap my fingers and it be embroidered and sewn together. But then again, I don't want to miss out on doing any of it. I'd like to say I try not to talk too much abut it, but I'd be wrong. Hopefully my coworkers aren't too terribly tired of seeing me show off my work. I'm just so darn excited about it!!!!!

Bad Ass Knittin Bag Part 1

I started the work on my bad ass knittin bag this weekend!! Friday I pre-washed the fabric, Saturday I ironed it and cut out the outside of the bag, and then I put my husband to work.

Here he is making his blog debut. He's transferring the pattern onto my fabric.


This is what the pattern looks like before I started work.



And here it is after a little longer than a day of work.



Damn this thing called work that interrupts my embroidering and knitting!