Box Bag Mania!

Charlotte....meet my family of box bags:

I have been obsessively sewing these cute little box bags over the last couple of days. During their completion I broke 2 sewing machine needles. Actually, truth be told, it was while assembling the farthest bag to the right that I broke BOTH needles.

I had found a tutorial for a box bag on SewMamaSew, and thought I'd give it a try.

The first attempt, while pretty cute, was a little flimsy:

So for the second attempt, I lined the bag and put interfacing between the layers to make it sturdier:

Then I decided I needed to make a third (you know, to perfect the art of the box bag):

Cute, aren't they?! My sewing skills are still far from stellar, but they'll get better with practice...at least I'm hoping they will!

I'm impressed with your egg poaching! I'm not sure I like poached eggs, so I've never really thought about doing it. I do indeed get the Martha Stewart EveryDay food magazine. Yumm.

I will probably not be wowing Weirdo with my culinary skills this weekend. He arrives late tonight, and Seth REALLY wants Ahi Tuna Steaks tomorrow for dinner. Seth will be in charge of the tuna, but I will probably make some oven roasted potatoes, which I think are pretty fabulous. Tonight, though, I'm making some baked ziti and my house is starting to smell like fresh tomato sauce! The smell is making me hungry!

Congrats on hopping back on the running wagon! Seth met someone with a border collie on Monday while he was running. Her and I took the two dogs for a long walk in the woods this morning. The dogs had a blast running and playing with each other. We're lucky neither of us got knocked off the trail by the pups running back and forth at top speed! Sailor has been conked out on the couch since we got home!

Well, I'm off to start some baked ziti and finish picking up the house!

Love,
liz

Okay, better late than never.

Exciting news, finished my cowl neck thingy- will post photos later.  Wearing it as we speak at work.  It’s super bulky, soft yarn that was really way too expensive for something just for me… but oh well.  Good distraction from the disaster that is F’s hat.  That pattern is my nightmare.  I currently have no idea where I am in it… and I knit too tight, so cables with that size needles are not my friend….  Seriously contemplating starting over… but I still have too much to do!  Mom’s sweater is finished, just needs to get blocked.  I like it, but it’s kind of boxy- which honestly is how she wears her clothes, so maybe it’s not too bad… we’ll see!

I did get back on the running wagon.  I’ve been running at camp with a girl from work who just quit smoking.  Talk about a boost of confidence!   My lungs are great!  I ran three with her the past two days, talking the whole time, while she just tried to breathe.  Last night, I left her at my car and sprinted one more, because I was itching to pick up the pace.  THAT feels good J  I’m really proud of her and happy for her because I can’t imagine quitting smoking... 

In food news, I POACHED AN EGG! (Two actually!!).  I don’t know if you get the Martha Stewart everyday food magazine, but it’s awesome.  It had a little thing on the technique, which is terrifying really- especially after Julie and Julia… but I did it (soo easy.  The water boiling seemed to be the most complex part! Ha!)  and put it on a  bed of wilted spinach and garlic chips on whole grain Panera baguette.  YUM.  Sooo good!   I also made some killer scrambled eggs last night for dinner- with a bit of cream cheese and siracha hot sauce.  Simple, but so yum after a run!  Can you tell we had left over eggs after camp this weekend??

Speaking of… camp has been going well.  Weekends keep flying by, with some really fun families- but I’m just ready for summer.  Itching.  For.  Summer. 

Last week Kim and I went on a recruiting trip to Indiana (first time there!) and had a great response at both Indiana University (beautiful old campus) and Purdue (great students!!).   We’ve already had three applications come in from them (they were Fed Exed, how cool is that!)  and TWO of them were boys.

Okay, yesterday I got mad work done on leadership orientation and I have to hammer the rest out today, because I’m now in charge to developing the oldest camper program, which I’m really excited about, just need to get cracking on.

Enjoy the weekend with Weirdo!  Tell him I say hi and wow him with your amazing culinary skills!!

Love you,

C

So, I joined a yarn club...

I just received my first yarn club shipment from MadelineTosh, and it is beyond gorgeous. There were three color families to choose from: Jewel, Natural, and Neutral. I chose Jewel because I am in love with the bright/intense colors that she does. So, without further adieu....meet "Lolita":

There is enough to make a sweater of some sort (around 1300 yards). It is superwash, single ply merino in fingering weight. I have some in a couple of other colors, but I think this is my favorite, so far! I'll be getting 2 more shipments of yarn through the yarn club. In April I'll receive 3 skeins of Pashmina (superwash wool, silk, and cashmere...YUMM!), and in May a skein of Eyre Light (no link because it's not a yarn they sell wholesale....but it is merino, silk, and baby alpaca....double YUMM!). 

Are you madelinetosh-ed out yet? I'll move on, in case you are! 

Next up....Ravelympics medals! I was able to complete 3 projects, which was pretty gosh darn exciting! French Press Slippers were for the Felting Freestyle, the Heirloom Baby Blanket was for the Giant Slalom-ghan, and.....

A Sock Hockey Medal for my Crazy Cabled Slipper Socks:

I made these out of the "Jazzercise" yarn from my spinning class. The pattern is Cabled Footies from the book "One Skein". It calls for worsted weight yarn so they knit up REALLY quickly. I want to wear them every day, seriously. They are so cozy.

I also just started a pair of Sweet Fern Mitts, from "The Knitter's Book of Wool". It is a fabulous book by Clara Parkes of "The Knitter's Review".  I joined a ravelry group that she has and we are doing a woolalong! Every month is a different kind of wool and last month was Cormo. I spun up some Cormo fiber and started these:

The yarn is really soft and cushy. Wool for the month of March is Blue Faced Leicester and I'm in the middle of spinning some up...then I'll just need to find another pattern.

I've also been doing a little sewing on a secret project. I just finished all the components today and it's ready to ship to the recipient, so just a sneak peek for now:

Phew. Are you sick of looking at yarn and crafts yet? I'm going to be casting on for another Knit-a-long with Purl Diva, but I'll wait until I have something to show before I delve into the details.

Weirdo is coming this weekend on his way to Hawaii! Hopefully the rain will hold off so we can go do something fun. Speaking of weather....I think I could easily be a meteorologist here in Oregon. Seth and I were laughing the other day while watching the weather. Every single day we hear, "Well, today it might rain, but it might be sunny" or "It looks like the clouds will lift this weekend, or they might stay". It's really pretty amusing.

Well, I'm off to eat lunch and take the pup for a walk before the rain (or no rain!) starts!

Love,
Liz

Pretty, Pretty Plum Tree

Who knew plum trees were so pretty?! Ours has started to bloom and looks gorgeous:

We also have lots of other flowers popping up all over the place!

In Ravelympics news, I just finished the Heirloom Baby Blanket in MadelineTosh DK. It's so soft and cozy! 

I'm also working on a pair of cabled slipper socks out of some handspun yarn. They are a really quick knit and are going to be a great for kicking around the house. Hopefully those will be done tonight or tomorrow. I also need to finish up invitations for M's bridal shower and bachelorette party so I can mail them out next week. 

Not too much else going on besides excessive shopping at Trader Joe's! I bought some really yummy garlic and herb pizza dough yesterday and topped the pizza with some Italian style spicy chicken sausage. It was delish! Steak fajitas are on the menu tonight. 

I'm sad there are only a few more days of the Olympics...although it will be nice to go to bed before midnight!

Love,

Liz

French Press Slippers FINISHED

I finally finished my French Press Slippers, and I LOVE them. They took about a week just to dry...but once they were dry I was able to needle felt them and sew the straps on. They are cozy and comfy too!

How did Braveheart weekend go? How did the People photo shoot go? Have you gotten back on the running wagon? Don't feel bad about missing last week....especially with the nasty weather you've been getting.

In other news, Seth and I went to a little rock cliff in Eugene yesterday and did some climbing. Sailor came and hung out at the bottom of the cliff checking everyone out! The weather was great, and Seth got to do some lead climbing in preparation for his climbing trip next month. 

Oh yeah, and my sunroof is stuck open. Really stuck. Even the manual override won't close it. And the VW dealer can't look at it until Tuesday. Thankfully no rain is in the forecast until Tuesday night. No worries though, it has a garbage bag and painter's tape over it until then! Oy.

Can't wait to hear about your weekend!

Love,
liz

falling off the wagon.

It's been a week since I went on a run.  I feel like the worst kind of person.  Because in that time, errr less time, I have consumed AN ENTIRE DOUBLE BATCH OF HOMEMADE BROWNIES and sat on the couch knitting....

Which has it's perks.  I'm going to finish the damn hat if it kills me.  It finally looks like something, which is nice... The yarn I'm using is the left overs from the sweaters - so it's all mohairy and woolish... meaning blocking will help.

This weekend is heart weekend.  Some great kids will be here that we've known for quite a while.  We got the list yesterday and I cackled looking at the pictures of who's coming.  It's also the photo shoot for clorox this weekend.  Which means I'm going to be ducking and hiding from cameras....  I think my biggest fear would be realized if my mug ended up by accident in the People's 50 Most Beautiful Issue.... haha ;)

I'm envious of your weather.  I'm blaming my lack of effort partially on the fact that it's been horrifically cold and windy...oh and snowy... what the what?!  Today the sun is out and I'm just not sure what to make of it- it feels like a big tease...  I know this time next month, I'll be cursing at needing to use the air conditioning or something, but right now I just want to run without mittens and 5 layers....

I'm having a good music day though, Lena Horne, Love Songs is a fantastic album if you don't have it. I bought it LITERALLY because the cover was just a photo of a magnolia blossom.... I'm a sucker for cover art.... also Cherish The Ladies- it's about that time again to crack out the tributes to Irish heritage :)

Okay, to work.  I need to get you a picture of the mosaic wall I've been working on in Arts & Crafts.  Sometimes it's the little things that get you pumped about showing up in the morning!

happy weekend,
cb

Think Spring!

Today was another GORGEOUS day in the Pacific NorthWest! It was about 65 degrees and there was not a single cloud in the sky. Seth and Sailor went for a run in the woods and then we spent most of the afternoon in the backyard. I pruned our raspberry bushes and our grape vines, repotted an aloe plant, attempted to walk on the slackline, and played frisbee with Sailor! It was so nice to be out in the sunshine.

In crafty news, I'm a little over halfway done with the baby blanket and I just started a pair of these with some handspun yarn. I want to start spinning up some new fiber that I bought from Briar Rose:

It is ridiculously soft and smooshy. I can't wait to start spinning it up! I also can't wait to needle felt my French Press Slippers...but they are STILL wet! And Sailor thinks they are pretty tasty. Silly dog and his wool obsession.

Back to men's figure skating....