FO: Cladonia Shawl

Instead of just having pictures of the finished object (FO), I thought I'd take you on a journey what goes into it.

First of course is the knitting (WIP):



This is right before I started on the lacey party of the shawl.  After you've finished knitting and weaving in all the loose ends you wash it.  I use a product called Soak, it is a non-rinsing detergent that you just let the item soak in for 15 minutes. 

After a quick spin in the washer to get as much of the water out you block the item.  Not all things require blocking, but items with lace work in them really pop after they've been blocked.

before:





during:



and after:





And that is the process of making a pretty FO.

I really liked this pattern and want to make it again, it went quickly.  Until I had to take out 5 rows at the end, but that was a learning experience and it made it prettier.

My next Camp Loopy project is Knotty Gloves, and the yarn is pink & cream with sparkles.  :-)

A Teaser

I have finished my first project for my summery camp.  You can have a small peak:



I have an idea of the blog for that project, coming in the next few days (cross your fingers, but don't hold your breath!)

I did want to share one more picture with you. It was taken a couple of nights ago and the sky was just lovely.  Enjoy...

Camp Loopy 2011

So one of my favorite on-line yarn stores is holding the 2011 Camp Loopy for the next three months.  There is a challenge each month and if you participate and complete the three challenges you get free yarn.  I love free yarn.  ♥ 

The time frames are tight, but I'm hoping that this will kick my knitting butt in gear.  The past couple of months have been light on the desire to knit.  Of course that could be due to the fact that I've been devouring books on my Nook.  :-)

The first challenge requires you to make a shawl (or something that you could throw around your shoulders while sitting around the camp fire) that uses two or more colors.  I've decided on the following pattern designed by Kristen Kapur (Through the Loops one of my favorite designers!!)  Cladonia with a 100% superwash marino wool in pink & brown.  If you are looking at the picture of the shawl the green will be brown & the blue will be pink. 

I'd like to do a picture once a week to see the progress that I get done.  This challenge runs from 06/15 to 07/15.  I have four days off for the 4th of July so I see extreme knitting being done those days.  :-)

Not a great picture of the yarn colors, but you at least get an idea.  

Easter

This year for Easter I offered to make the rolls.  I'm on a bread kick it seems.  I found a nifty recipe on Tasty Kitchen for French Bread Rolls and I busted them out.

A yummy picture of the whole batch:

Then I made deviled eggs.  Something that is a must at any family gathering in my opinion.  My Gram used to always do the deviled eggs so I've made it my mission to be the bringer of the deviled eggs going forward.  Last time I made them they were a bit too mustardy for me (and my mama) so this time I decided to tweek the recipe and just throw some things in:

I like things quite spicy so I was a bit worried the cayenne & Tabasco might be too much, but turns out I didn't put enough in.  However, they were devoured so all was good. And I got to use my nifty egg platter.

And just to try out some picture taking tools that I learned in my photography class I learned here is a picture of the boiling eggs:

Day of Cooking

It seems every time I turn around it's been almost a month since I posted.  Not cool.  I have lots of pictures to share so this post will be a follow up to my last one regarding the "Day of Cooking".

1.  Cinnamon Rolls:

This is the first attempt I've made at creating cinnamon rolls.  I used the Pioneer Woman's recipe from her cook book sans her frosting.  I'm not a fan of coffee flavoring in things so I just used a basic frosting recipe that my came from my Mom.  These rolls were requested by Mom for her birthday, although she did end up helping which was greatly appreciated.

It made a lot of cinnamon rolls. A lot.  I didn't get any in process pictures.  I seriously forgot about the camera until the end of the day!! So not so many pictures to share.

You split the dough in half, the first roll we melted the butter and spread it on and it was very very messy.  The second roll we just softened the butter and it was a bit easier to roll.  I don't know if I would make them again.  The flavor was good, but I like big fluffy rolls and these did not seem to raise very well.  Maybe my house was too cold?  Who knows.  Also next time much MORE cinnamon.  Much more!!  I'd give these a 3.75 out of 5.

2. Gram's Soup

This was my first time attempting to make my Gram's soup.  It is a basic veggie base with tomato juice, hamburger, & pasta added to make a soup.  Again, no in process pictures, but finished ones.  It was a hit with my Dad and I've since made a bigger batch and canned them.

Above: what I canned; below: finished product.

I made two other dishes that day, but no pictures to show for them.  The first was tex-mex pot stickers from Hungry Girl's 300 under 300 book.  The second was a chicken pot pie that I found online.  Both were good, but not sure I'd make them again.

And so concludes the Day of Cooking.  It was fun, though I don't think I'd do so many in one day again.  

 

Cinnamon roll anyone? I still have 'em.  :-)

 

New Things A-comin'

I'm having a hankering for cooking/baking these days and I've decided this Saturday will be the day.  On the list:

1. Cinnamon rolls from The Pioneer Woman Cooks.
2. I hijacked a couple of folders & a huge bag of my Gram's recipes and I'm looking to see what I can fix. I found a wheat bread one that I want to make as well.
3.  Mom purchased the new Hungry Girl's 300 under 300 recipe book.  I've got my eye on a tex-mex pot sticker combo that I'll put together as well. 

And in between all the bread raising and the cooking I'll be knitting.  I started my 2nd quarter socks, a Christmas present (and it's not even October!!) and got one glove done of a build my own pattern that I'm not wild about, but Mom likes them so I need to get the 2nd one done for her.



I also finished a shawl that has been on my needles for a couple of years.  Coalie & Belle were real big helps when I was doing the fringe.  I'll have a better picture & post to come, but here's a peak.



Hope y'all are doing well.  :-)

Walking

With the weather being nicer (some days!) I've taken to walking outside.  I love where I live because it's close to the city, but far enough out that there is quite a lot of land around me with animals and vegetation.

Saturday morning I went for a walk and saw these pussy-willows along the side of the road.



I'm still learning about taking pictures with my phone so it's not the best, but it brought back so many memories.


One of my Aunt's house backed up to a canal in Nampa and when we'd go over there we'd always pick the pussy-willows and color them.  I can recall many bouquets left for her when we were all done.

It was always a fun thing to pick these. I wanted to stop every time we'd see them along the road.  They were always so soft and fuzzy.  And something to make one smile. :-)