Holiday Card Update

With two days left to finish and gather holiday cards I don't see much accomplishment. There are a few cards in the basket and I've sadly only managed to make 3. I have heard people telling me that they just haven't brought them in and our Homework Help Center at work has managed over 50 cards. Their goal however is 300. I'm sure they'll get there. Their incentive is seeing Mrs. Val dressed as an elf!

Inside the Snowman card.

Inside the Deer card.

Commissions Update:  I managed to complete most of my clients projects. I've still got 1 left to do however. I'm hoping to have it done my tomorrow so that she can give them away. She's kind of hoping this as well. It would have been much easier if I had gotten a deadline when she gave me the commission though. All well! That's just taught me to ask when they would like it by.

So First up is 'Hearts'. A lovely headband with a heart, lace pattern. It's knit in a wool/microfiber/cashmere fiber. The pattern was cutesy of Mel Clark though I did shorten it a bit.

 

A wee bit of self photography!

Hearts!

Then we have a forest green beanie. I lined it in fleece so it's uber warm!

Skull Cap

Historic Dublin Shelf Elf

Here in Historic Dublin we have a tradition (at least since that damn book and it's creepy elf came out) of placing an elf in 12 different locations throughout the town. Here's my collection! (I'll be adding to this as I go around town on my off times) I'll try not to give the locations away!

Knitting Out

I've taken to going out to knit. I've got so many commissions to keep up with that if I just stayed at home to knit I'd never leave. My most recent outing was with Daniel to Black Wing. Black Wing is a shooting range and gun super store. In my humble opinion anyways. We went there to get a kit for making ear plugs since I need a pair for mussel loading and apparently they are good for riding bikes as they cut out the whistling of the wind. While Daniel was playing with two of his toys I mosied to the back and made myself a wee nest to knit in. Surprisingly no one looked at me cross ways. I thought for sure someone would ask why I was knitting and sipping my coffee at a gun range. :3

I did get visited by a cute black lab. He just walked right up to me gave me a sniff and walked away. I'm guessing he belonged to one of the workers ... that or they don't care if people bring their 'well behaved' dogs with them.

In the time it took Daniel to play I managed to finish a headband and get past all the annoying repetition of a hooded cowl. I feel accomplished by this.

Loan Hell

I can't believe 5/3rd did this to me!

I've been looking for a car for some time now since my only means of transportation is either car pooling or my motorcycle. I found a few I like ranging from 10K to 15K so I decided it was time to see what I could get approved for. Seeing as 5/3rd gave me all my previous loans I started with them. I took the paper with the car information to the bank and asked. They did a pre-approval for the 14k with a 2008 Honda Civic Si with 100K miles as the test car shall I say. So from the beginning they knew the car then ... I made sure that I couldn't deny me that I was guaranteed the 14K before hopping into the car to test drive it. I didn't want to get my hopes up. Well I decided that I preferred the Si to the Mazda3. Since at that point my bank was closed I did a carmax loan that gave me 3 days to pay it back no interest or fees. Thus I had time to go to my bank WITH the car. I get to my bank the next day and guess what they tell me!   I'm denied ... why you ask? because of the miles which they knew about!

They refuse to help me even though I was pre-approved and am a long time good standing customer. It's only 100 miles over.

Giving Thanks

Monday, November 19th I joked with the boss man about getting lazy on my 4 day holiday. Turns out I shouldn't have jinks-ed myself so. I woke up Thanksgiving morning with a cold weight in my lungs. By the end of the day I had a migraine, insistent cough and was achy all over. Today is my first day back to work since then. I still feel tired and sickly.

However, my lovely lady from The Little Ice Cream Shoppe brought in Peppermint and Coffee flavored homemade ice cream for everyone to enjoy. So yummy! I'm enjoying some now. The peppermint is very minty. This lovely cold ice cream (not that there's another kind) has real peppermint pieces so there's a crunch if you're lucky. And the coffee ... oh my. Any coffee lover would love this ice cream.

So excited to see them open.

Decided to take some photos of my li'le lemon tree. It's shooting up pretty fast I think. From a wee little seed back in February when I planted it in the up cycled cup to this foot tall spiky sapling. It's got lovely color, in fact I worry about having it in my window for when the police do their fly by's they might mistake it for pot or something. All shinny, bright, green! With the cold coming in I moved it back and put a little cozy on it's feet. I hope it stays warm and keeps growing.

 For my contribution to Thanksgiving dinner I brought dessert. Like last year it was pumpkin. Only this time it's a cheese cake! Yup, and in a JAR! Can you believe it? It actually came out pretty darn good. I'm not happy that it rose then fell ... a lot. But the flavor and consistency are perfect. I've been getting complements from people who don't even like cheesecake. My boyfriend for instance even had a second jar. That's gotta say something. And it was so easy to make. Well, I used Daniel's muscles for the beating of the batter; at which point he broke our whisk, but otherwise easy! Clearly I need to invest in a table mixer or we're going to run out of whisks!

I was knocked out both Friday and Saturday with whatever it was I have. Both days I had a fever in the 100s but luckily Saturday it 'broke' and I began to sweat rather than just getting uncomfortably hot. Sunday, though I was drowsy and still achy I managed to get outside for some fresh air. Monday, still sick and weak but up enough to do some knitting (like 1 stitch a minute). I finished another pair of Fingerless gloves and these I was able to post to etsy for sale. I got started on another commission. This lovely blue headband for a lucky little girl.

Prior to all this sickness I knit up a lap blanket for Buckikiddies Photography that I'm sure you can guess will be a prop for her photography. My sister was all over it when she got a gander. It's very soft.

Well I should stop here and get back to car hunting. Daniel got the Honda fixed however the rings are too tight and it would need some break in time or for him to tear the motor back apart which he doesn't wish to do. So car shopping I go. Wish me luck!

Holiday Cards for those in Hospitals

Front of card

My online art community is currently hosting a project that gives cards to those poor people stuck in the hospital during the holiday season. All the cards created and collected will be distributed around the world by selected DA members and hospital staff. I'm not sure who decided which hospitals get the cards but I'm thinking if I make and collect enough from those artistic people I know that I might contact children's hospital here in town for those poor dears with terminal issues. Perhaps some funny pick me uppers just for them. If I get enough for all them and more then the extra I can send to the DA project. If not then they'll all go to DA.

 

The guidelines are simple. Don't write anything religion specific as you won't know what religion the recipient will be of. You won't know what degree the recipients illness is so no 'get well soons'. They could be terminally ill! How would that even make them feel I wonder!?

Back of card

The cards can be of any size and any type. You can hand make the card or purchase it. Though if you purchase one try to jazz it up a bit so it's more personal.

The two above photos are for my first card. It's not all that fancy but I had to work with what I had. I've got a few ideas for more which I will post once they are made.

Good luck to everyone!

American Duchess

So check this out. American Duchess is doing a give away on her blog. To read ALL about it just click on the image to my right.

She's definitely good at making costumes and shoes. They're really cute. I can't wait to get a pair but I need to make a costume first that goes with them. Of course I could use my red military costume. (I swear I'll get some photos up soon. Please be patient!)

American Duchess has a new pair now that are more modern then I ware but still cute. I know a few people who would love them. They're called 23Skidoo. They're a 1920's style shoe that come in a few colors.

 I must say, I'm partial to her Pompadours!