Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
Baked Butternut Squash Soup
Step one:
Quarter the squash. Scoop out the seeds. Turn upside down onto parchment paper-lined cookie sheet. Bake at 350F for 40-45 minutes, until soft.
Remove from oven. Let cool enough to handle. Scoop the pulp from the skin and place into soup pot.
Step three:
Smooth together with immersion (wand) blender. Heat gently (do not boil). Adjust seasoning as desired. (The broth has enough salt in it for me.)
Step Four:
Friday, December 12, 2008
Snow Peeps!
Today our class was taken over by these darling little snow people! The original idea came from FamilyFun Magazine. The classroom teacher and I made a few modifications and ta-dah!!! Just look!!
The adults handled the base painting. We used latex semi-gloss house paint, rolling on three coats. The keystone paving bricks really soaked up the first coats.
The noses were created with Sculpey clay instead of the modeling clay called for. This was really fun to watch as kids played with the clay and creating silly and serious carrot noses. (Finished noses were baked by the teacher.)
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Rationalizing
Today, I found myself with an hour between clients in an area close to THREE thrift stores! What a dilemma!! Well, I succumbed to the call...kind of.
In one shop, I found these lovely handknit wool mittens for 99 cents. While they were a pretty shade of yellow, it's just not a color I wear often. A little Kool-Aid later, and I had bright cherry-red mitts!!
I then embroidered them with a bit of recycled white yarn and some sparkly beads. Ta-dah! Christmas mittens!!
Okay, so I didn't strictly stay with my "no-stores" plan. I did, however, keep it in control. Kind of like having a bite of a cookie instead of the whole package, right? (I love rationalization, don't you?!)
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Celebration!
We didn't get the news that we had a new president until we landed back in Portland. We could hear the cheers from one of the lounges on the concourse! A great way to return!!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
Worms!
Posted by JanKnit at 5:34 PM 2 comments
Labels: cotton. crochet, crazymonkey, dk, halloween, scarf, worms
Saturday, October 11, 2008
A Socktoberfest Mystery!
School's back in full swing and I'm continuing my part-time (summer) job as well. This means life is much busier, and now we're counting down to all the October/November family birthdays which just slide right into the holidays. Wheeeeeee!!!
Here are a couple of shots of the progress:
Clue One: The Cuff
Clue Two: The Leg
I'm always amazed at how many interpretations there can be of the same pattern. Kirsten's design is simple and elegant. It's set up to work with or without cables. (I've chosen without.) Take a look on Ravelry at all the different versions!
Posted by JanKnit at 5:38 PM 1 comments
Labels: handdyed, knitting, socks, socktoberfest, wool, yarn
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Instant Gratification
The Hats! Hats! Hats! group in Ravelry is sponsoring a monthly Hat-along. Choices each time include one knitted and one crocheted free pattern that everyone in the group can work on together. It's great to see all the different interpretations of the same design.
September's choices are Flowers on a Grave and Beacon Street Cloche. Both are felted and result in a similar structure.
Overall, both of these cloches are classic, great quick-to make designs that any knitter or crocheter should add to their wardrobe. This Hat-along runs the whole month of September. Please join us!!
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Thank you, Felicia!!!
I am so thrilled with my package from Felicia!! Just look at this gorgeous yarn!! The photos do not at all do it justice. It's wonderfully muted shades of greens and blues, with a bit of yellow. Felicia dyed this yarn for me with Superwash Merino in sport weight. She calls it "PG Getaway" after her home in Pacific Grove, California.
Now, on with the search for the perfect sock design to showcase this beautiful yarn. Thank you, Felicia!!
Posted by JanKnit at 2:35 PM 6 comments
Labels: beach, blue, california, green, merino, pacificgrove, sport, swap, wool, yarn
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Not Your Ordinary Block Exchange
Now, if you've never joined a swap or exchange circle, I do recommend it...at least once. While not all swaps are successful due to well-intentioned folks who flake out on their commitments, most are a fun way to exchange ideas and make new friends.
The NYOBE was very well organized by Tanya. Cindy, our circle leader, did an excellent job of keeping track of folks and encouraging all the members, even taking on additional postage charges for the international portion of the exchange. The end result was a mixed-media blanket, made by many hands from all around the world.
My blanket details:
I made four additional squares in order to enlarge my finished blanket. This was also a fun way to try out a few new stitches and color combinations.
Not all the squares I received were 12 inches. (One was as small as 9"X10".) In order to make them uniform, each was blocked and then edged. I crocheted around the smaller blocks with matching yarn using either single, half-double, or double crochet to bring them all up to the same dimensions. Then each block was edged with the darker brown.
Then, using Priscilla Hewitt's Flat Braid Method, all the squares were joined together. I had never used this method before, but it quickly became my favorite!
Thursday, August 07, 2008
I lovvvvve thrift stores!!
Today was a great thrifting day. Just take a look.
Happy thrifting. May your day be filled with gems!!
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Mittens for Winter
Posted by JanKnit at 12:55 PM 6 comments
Labels: bfl, handpainted, hands warm, handspun, knit, mittens, mitts, spinning, stockinette, wool, yarn
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Pure Love
The yarn is so soft and well-spun. The colors are beautifully dyed and had no pooling. The pattern is simple and sweet. Together they make very lacy feminine socks that I will love wearing!
Tendril Embrace
Keegan Lane Yarns Toasty Sock in Lavender
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Movies
A fun game going around the blogs are Flickr Memes. Here is my Movie Meme...quite fun!
1. Favorite movie?
2. Favorite movie genre?
3. Favorite actor?
4. Favorite actress?
5. What movie always makes you cry?
6. What movie have you watched over & over & over?
7. Worst move you ever saw?
8. What was the last movie you watched?
9. Favorite cult movie?
10. Most embarrassing favorite movie?
11. Hottest actor or actress?
12. The actor or actress most people say you remind them of?
Saturday, June 28, 2008
But I digress...
The yarn is some of my recycled sweater yarn...a very soft yellow lambswool. I hand-painted it with Jacquard dyes in olive, brown and a touch of orange. The result is perfect for next fall.
Posted by JanKnit at 10:58 AM 0 comments
Labels: handdyed, handpainted, recycled, sock, sos08, wool, yarn
Friday, June 27, 2008
Just because...
Posted by JanKnit at 8:59 PM 1 comments
Labels: berries, berry, delicious, fruit, raspberries, summer
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Happy Summer!
Of course, I already have way too much sock yarn in my stash. And of course, I had to have something new. My goal, however, is to make as many socks as I can this summer and use up some of that stash...after I knit this!
Posted by JanKnit at 1:59 PM 2 comments
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Spring Tulips are Blooming!
Let me introduce you to my "ode to springtime."
Posted by JanKnit at 10:14 AM 2 comments
Labels: keeganlane, pattern, sock, spring, tulip
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Monday, June 02, 2008
Storm
Before:
During:
After:
Posted by JanKnit at 9:54 PM 4 comments