hi....

Blue Sky Alpaca 
Hi guys! First off, thank you SO much for all your kind words on your last post.  I can't tell you how much they all meant.  I will reread them over and over.  And for those of you going through something similar, remember to stay strong and honest.  Big hugs to all of you.

My mother, sister and I attended TNNA again this year.  I'll be back to tell you some cool things I saw.

Have a beautiful weekend!

strong and honest

Me and Libby.  Concert in the park.  June 3, 2012
Some of you have checked in over the past year as you noticed a change in my posting.  Not posting as much.  Not knitting as much.  Not baking as much.  Not taking as many photos.  Not a single thing sewn. The emails meant a lot.
Thank you.

There have been some major shifts in my household as of exactly this time last year.  My husband and I decided to separate and will soon be divorced.  A major life change that was all about learning, adjusting and re-balancing a different life.  A friend reminded me to be "strong and honest" throughout the whole process.  Repeating those words was extremely helpful to me.  I couldn't be more grateful for those two powerful words and the support from my family and friends.  As things change in life one learns to adapt and can only grow from the experience.

I'm gonna try to get back to spending more time doing those creative things I love to do and spending more time on the blog.  I have missed you all a lot.

Onward and upward!

Have a beautiful day!

{Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.  -Dr. Seuss}

i make them jump


It's official.
Summer of '12 has begun.
My 3 + 2 friends.
I make them jump.
They hate it and then love it.
We plan on spending the summer doing not much of anything and a little bit of everything.  So looking forward to it.
Happy Summer!

take tee's

A good friend of mine, Amy,  has a little inspirational t-shirt business.  They are 100% cotton and printed with earth friendly dyes.  4 different colors: milk chocolate, midnight black, snow white and fairy pink.  4 different styles:  shorts sleeve- crew neck, short sleeve-v neck, 3/4 sleeve-crew neck, 3/4 sleeve-v neck.  4 different sayings:  "take charge", "take notice", "take action" and "take control".  I'm a "take control" fan.  Take control of your thoughts, your feelings, your attitude, your life, your knitting stash!  A motivational reminder to live your life with a healthy attitude and positive outlook.

Amy would like to give my readers a 50% (!!!) discount. Enter the code afriendtoknitwith when checking out.  You can order here.

IK summer '12

My interweave knits was delivered along with the warmer temps.  Perfect timing.
I think I found something that I certainly want to look into knitting.  I L O V E this sweater!  "Nautical striping goes modern with super-skinny lines and neutral beige in the bethany wrap I-cord edging and a polo collar add weight and anchoring detail to the long flyaway fronts."  This moved to the top of my list.  (I really must show you what I am working on.  So that I will actually work on it.)
I thought these darn beach umbrella's were just about the cutest things.  Ever. (Except no pattern.) The article is great.  All about "cool wool".  Wool is back for summer.
And this cute little swaddling leaf blanket?  Almost made me want to have another baby.  Almost.  Well, not really.  Just made me want to hold one.  I actually love the ages of my kids.  16, 14, 12.  I have a driver!

k1 yo p1 p3 tog

the yarn lounge.  richmond, virginia
The random number generator chose number 224,  Judith and number 9, Maryse as the winners of stitchionary.  Congrats to you both!  Please e-mail me with your address and I'll make sure the book lands in your hands.  

Happy MAY!

stitchionary

Stitchionary  volume one knit & purl
250 stitch patterns from Vogue Knitting.
This book is amazing.  Divided into four chapters by stitch pattern:  Knit & Purl, Lace, Traveling and Unusual Stitches.  
I just love the beginning... how to use this book.  It is honestly one of the easiest most comprehensive, well written knitting books I have ever had my hands on.
Each chapter is arranged from easiest stitch pattern to most challenging.  Truly a wealth of information for the novice knitter or the seasoned.  
Michelle's bachelorette party.  April 20, 2012  Deep Creek, MD

Soho publishing has offered to give two of my readers a copy.  If interested, please leave a comment here before Monday April 30, 4pm EST and I will have the random generator choose 2 names.

Have a beautiful weekend!

the weekend

Two fun things to do this weekend.  
Make these:
Do this:
Make sure both include yarn.

Blogger went and changed on me since the last time I posted.  How are you blogger users finding it to use?

Enjoy your weekend!

well, hello there

Hello, you.
Hello, April.
Hello, goodbye spring break. THAT was fast.
We spent it at home this year and I must admit, I liked it. It was a taste of what summer is... in our home. We checked some things off our list. The adventures weren't as often as I would have liked, but that's okay.
I did manage to finish a couple of small projects.
Susie's reading mitts were fun. I used some angora I found in the stash and made them pretty long. 12 inches to be exact. Instead of knitting a thumb, I opted for just a small opening for the thumb. Accomplished by switching from knitting in the round, to knitting 4 rounds in stockinette. Easy, peasy.
Those mitts can really be knit in a few days.
And I think that makes the perfect little gift for a very sweet friend.

I'll be back. I have recipes, a book to give away and a new project to share.

lucky

March 17, 2008
It's St. Patty's day... and it is going to be 75˚ with not a cloud in the sky!!!

The winner of Extra Yarn book is number 4... Lyn. Please e-mail me with your address and I will get the book off to you.

Have a beautiful day!

extra yarn

Have you heard the buzz about this book, EXTRA YARN? Seen the darling pages?
I think it is one of the most charming little books I have ever read. Probably because of my love of knitting.
A girl named Annabelle. Who has a tiny box full of never ending yarn for her.
And a heart full of the love for knitting and the art of giving.
Sweet and creative with darling illustrations.

I have one copy for one of my readers. If interested, please leave a comment here before Wednesday, March 14, 5pm EST and I will have the random number generator choose a number.

pepper nuts

Good morning! Good afternoon! Good evening!
Good day!
Wanted to share a recipe with you where you will either love me for or not.
They are a little time consuming. Hopefully, worth your time.
The name given is "pepper nut" but, nothing nutty about them. They contain no nuts. Just sized like a nut. Little bits of spice. Perfect for your yarn.
After the dough is mixed, roll small pieces into "snakes". The thinner the snake, the smaller and crisper the "nuts". If your dough is sticky, you may want to place your snakes in the freezer to harden a bit. This will make the next step easier.
Cutting. This is the part that may take time. I find that using kitchen scissors is a little quicker... although you may just want to use a knife.
Lots of little nuts ready to pop into the oven. Try to make sure there is enough space in between them on the cookie sheet. Bake at 350˚ for about 10 minutes... until they start to brown.
They really are the perfect size to grab a handful and pop into your mouth... one at a time.
Knit a row.
Repeat.

Enjoy your weekend!

patterns ago again

Hi there!
Gosh, I so, so apologize for link inconvenience. And, I really apologize for those I never emailed back regarding the non working links. The links for toast, toasty and those mitts are now working!
Happy March!
xx,
leslie

frost

I can't believe it took me 2 months to make this hat.
Two months of knitting a little (tiny) bit every day.
Some days I knit a row. A row that included a mistake.
The following day, I would rip back that row.
Some days I knit half a row, finishing that row the following day.
The next row, I would make a mistake... ripping it back the next day.
I kid you not, it continued like this. On and ON.
I'm not sure if it was for lack of concentration. (I have a lot going on in my life... remind me to tell you about it someday.) Or, that I was just having trouble following the pattern repeat. I mentioned that I placed markers in between each pattern repeat. That definitely helped and I think is a must if you cast on for this.
Loved the yarn. Although, I ended up wishing I would have knit it in a natural like this.

I'm ready for a simple something.

Have a wonderful weekend!

today

The breakfast table sprinkled with hearts.
A surprise heart on a walk with Trouble.
Unbelievably delicious Peanut Butter blossoms made entirely by Libby.

I finally finished a hat, chose a new sweater pattern and am looking for the perfect yarn.

Hope your day was happy.

sweet.

The random generator chose number 106 as the winner of Sweet Shawlettes.
AnnEdith please email with your address so that sweet shawlettes can end up in your mailbox.

Have a beautiful day.

sweet shawlettes

I bet you've heard the buzz around blogland as the blog tour of Sweet Shawlettes has been going on for a few weeks. It's Jean Moss's latest book which includes 25 irresistible patterns. Jean has included patterns for all levels and all interests. Lace, colorwork, texture and cables.
The book is broken down into four different categories... country, couture, folk and vintage. I like the little explanation and brief story at the beginning of each. A little peak into how the pieces came about.
Couture:
I really love this two-piece shawl made out of gossamer kidsilk. The drape looks dreamy to me.
Folk:

Ceilidh shawlette and Polperro Cape caught my eye immediately.
I really like the tweedy look of the ceilidh and rowan denim (used for polperro) is an all time favorite yarn of mine. (Love the buckle!)
Vintage:
Mantilla shawlette. Oh, do I love this. Knit in the round out of rowan kidsilk haze. Light enough to be worn several ways.

Taunton Press would like to give away a copy of sweet shawlettes to one of my readers. If interested, please leave a comment before Tuesday, January 24, 12 p.m. EST. I will have the random generator choose a name.

Enjoy your weekend!

sloooow

I am knitting, I promise. However, this hat has put me in a bit of a funk. The yarn is yummy but wearing thin cause row 15 has been knit and reknit a few too many times. Oy. I finally got smart and put markers in between every 24 st pattern repeat. Hoping that will help out my brain.
Charlie reminded me that I used to make a lot more cookies.
Okay then.
Lemon Sugar cookies were made last week and this.
Big, chewy and full of flavor.
We highly recommend them.

Now back to my hat.

toast

Cheers to all the lovely knitters, crafters and peeps out there that visit this space. (And, those that don't, too!) Thanks so much for the inspiration you give me... and for letting me feel like I inspire some of you!
Here's to a healthy and happy 2012!
xx,
leslie

{Below, a really great email from Char, someone that stopped by my little space. To me, this sums up knitting. The warmth, the ease and the feeling we all get when we create something. Even the simplest can be oh so rewarding. Thank you, Char.}

dated December 30, 2011 8:38:37 AM EST


Toast...

Could it actually be that easy? After making mittens, gloves, fingerless mitts could Toast be just too, too simple?

I noticed that while walking trails in the fall, and strolls on the beach in the cooler blustery days that I usually tugged my shirt sleeves over my hands or stuffed in in my pockets. I wasn't ready to get out my winter gloves yet. I decided that this looked like a job for Toast. At home I scrounged through my knitting stash and found some of my favorite wooly heavier yarn. I love wooly yarn. I am definitely happy that wooly yarn likes me.

I whipped up my Toast and used it on my next outdoor walk. It was great! If my hands felt chilled the toast covered them. If I was getting too warm I pushed Toast up so my hands got more air. I found Toast to be much more practical for me. If I wore Toast while on errands, I didn't have to take them off. I just pushed them up again so that my hands were free.

This winter I think I will use Toast over my dress leather gloves.

Okay, one day I did manage to lose some Toast. One fell out of my coat pocket at a restaurant. ::sigh:: I simply went home and made more Toast. That didn't take long. I am a little giddy thinking of the day when all I have is mismatched Toast. The creative ideas are limitless for color!

I have found Toast is warmer than the fingerless mitts that I have had in the past. by pulling further down over my hand it covers my thumb better and holds in more heat. I am so glad you gave us Toast. I never would have tried it if I hadn't found it on your site. Thank you!

From a very toasty reader,
Char

Okay... so let's get knitting.
How about having a supply of mismatched toast. Love that.

real. simple. happiness.

Well, well. December 21.
I've thought about getting over to this space all month.
I have also thought about knitting.
And, about your knitting. And, how busy a lot of YOU are knitting!
L O V E that!
I, on the other hand, have knit about 2 rows in the last several weeks. I know, I know. Shocking. I have a pretty good reason.
The chalkboard place mats were included in Real Simple's 50 gifts under $50 and I have been beautifully swamped. I feel extremely humbled and blessed.
I don't take for granted all of you. My entire reason I started that little business in the first place. You gave me the motivation and the inspiration. Truly, I couldn't be more grateful.
(This double rainbow showed up today. It was a lovely gift.)
I plan on getting my knitting back on. Very, very soon. I dream of all of it. Sweaters, shawls, hats, mittens and socks.
Real.
Simple.
Happiness.
My wish to you is the same. Real, Simple happiness...
the merriest of Christmas's and the happiest of holidays!
xx,
leslie