RoseKnits

Going on Vacation = RoseKnits Sale!

2011-10-26T03:03:00.000-05:00

We are going on vacation... Beginning on Monday, October 31, we will be closed until the day after Thanksgiving! In an effort to clear out some inventory enjoy 30% off of your order placed between now and October 31! Enter coupon code 'THIRTY' at checkout!

Project Bags

2011-10-05T22:02:00.001-05:00

My employer has been kind to me this week and allowed me some sewing time... As a result, I have added quite a few new bags to the shop! Be sure to check them out here!

Day 1: At the Gym

2011-10-04T07:42:00.002-05:00

Today was my first official gym visit! Elaine slept soundly from 8 PM until 4 AM this morning, so after our 4 AM nursing session I was wide awake and ready to go! The gym opens at 5:30 so I snuck out of here about 5:15. I was able to get in a 45 minute workout before heading home to relieve John! One trip and I already feel a lot better about myself!

I don't know that I will make a habit of the 5:30 visits - I think I will just take it day by day to see what works for our schedule. Luckily, I can call the Child Watch the same day to reserve a time - so I should have no excuses for not going.

I hope to lose about 50 pounds over the next year; set a healthy example for Elaine; and get in a few hours of "me" time a few days a week. We have a treadmill at home, but just being at the gym this morning with the music going and not having to listen for my sweet babe was a much better workout and release for me.

I'm going to notate how often I go, so I'll be sure to give an update in November!

As the World Turns

2011-10-03T21:37:00.004-05:00

It occurred to me today that it has been over a month since I last posted anything! I believe everytime I *think* about posting Elaine does something to distract me. Yes, let's go with that... I did manage to make her another little dress like the one that Janet sent in the previous post. They are sooo cute! I still want to make more for next summer!

She is growing up ever so quickly and changes on a daily basis! She started rolling over a few weeks ago and the doctor informed us that it was time to wean her from the swaddle. The thought brought me to tears in the doctors office - but now all seems to be fine. We have a little stomach sleeper and I love getting her dressed every night in her little footie pajamas!

Speaking of feet... She has recently discovered hers and she spends a lot of time simply admiring them. She enjoys chewing on everything and quickly pulls everything within reach to her mouth like a little ravenous being. This week she has taken a liking to people's faces and she enjoys reaching and grabbing and exploring. She has become quite the companion and even allows me some time to sew. We also joined a gym last week and tomorrow will be her first day in their child care center. She can go for up to 2 hours per day while mommy works out! What a great deal, right?!

I just love the little girl - and am happy to say I am still very happy with my decision to stay home with her. Most days are simply delightful - and on the not so delightful days she usually shoots me a smile or a little giggle to get me through...

Ravelry and our Hand Knit Princess

2011-08-27T14:36:00.005-05:00

Princess, you say? Well, Elaine is certainly our little princess :-)

A few things that I love about Ravelry... I have met some really awesome people around the world whom I keep in contact with on a regular basis! And you can pretty much always find really great deals on yarn... So, as I found a great deal on some yarn the other day - my friend from afar also enclosed this darling little dress in the package for Miss Elaine! As soon as it arrived I gave Miss Elaine a bath and dressed her in the hand knit garment. Fitting because we are supposed to have company tonight and I thought she should dress up a bit!

Elaine has been babbling ever since I put the dress on her - I am pretty sure she is telling me how much she loves it - and that she would like for me to make her a few more :-)

Thank you, Janet, we LOVE the dress!!! So special that you would send that for Miss Elaine!

XO

Let Sewing Resume!

2011-08-23T16:04:00.002-05:00

Three months later and I feel like we are finally starting to find our flow around here!

I feel like my little bean is growing up way too fast!! The nap times are becoming more regular so I have actually started sewing again! I believe I added 10 new bags to the shop this week (I have not added 10 new items in at least 6 months!) And I have started taking custom orders again!

Staying home is AWESOME and certainly one of the best decisions I have made to date. I thank everyone for their kind words and encouragement regarding this decision!

Once I have restocked existing items I plan to add some new, larger bags to the shop. Certainly I can have this done by October...

The Baptism of Elaine Grace

2011-08-15T16:29:00.002-05:00

Mk 10:13-16

And people were bringing children to him that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, "Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." ... Then he embraced them and blessed them, placing his hands on them.

Career Change

2011-07-21T05:21:00.004-05:00

Since learning I was pregnant I was tormented with the decision of what to do once the babe arrived. I could see the pro's and con's of both sides... Stay home to raise our baby and be tasked with being personally responsible for each of her developmental milestones or send her to day school to let the professionals handle it. After all, they are all much more qualified than I in child development.

I decided to wait a few weeks after her birth to make such a decision as I did not know how it would feel staying home. At some point during the past 6 years I started to feel like quite the professional and at times thoroughly enjoyed working, earning an income, etc.

Each day that I have spent with her the past 9 weeks made it increasingly obvious of what decision I should make. By staying home I risk ruining her, but by sending her to day school I risk missing out on so much that I really do not want to miss out on. I read somewhere that if one does decide to stay home they will never regret the time spent with their child. I really agree with that statement - so, not to say how long I will stay home, but for right now it is the right decision. With that I resigned from my professional position yesterday. Bitter sweet, yes it is, but if I ever need reinforcement of the decision that I have made I will just ask Elaine to give me a little smile or a snuggle and that seems to make it all worth it.

6 Weeks Later

2011-06-26T07:54:00.002-05:00

Things are looking up in the Saltsman home! Last week we began our use of cloth diapers... Elaine has finally packed on enough pounds to where I felt like they fit her appropriately. John has embraced the usage of cloth diapers, and I secretly believe that he likes them. As a friend told me, "cotton has to feel better on their bottoms than plastic!" I settled on using the BumGenius 4.0 pocket diapers with snaps - and am very happy with my choice! I also purchased a few BumGenius AIO's, while both are great, I am actually much happier with the fit of the pocket diapers.

Other breaking news... after almost 6 full weeks of sleeping on our chests at night in the trusty living room recliner, Elaine Grace has successfully slept in her crib for the past two nights! While she is not sleeping "through the night", which is what some would consider success, I cannot express how much more rested I feel spending my time in between feedings in my actual bed! Before, Elaine was only almost perfect, now she is surely perfect (to us anyways...)!

I was so excited about this new occurence that I picked up my knitting needles yesterday and finished a baby cocoon and a matching hat! This morning I started a little sweater for Miss Elaine. It will be her reward for sleeping in her crib.

I will post new pics this week - Have a Happy Sunday, All!

One Month Later...

2011-06-19T16:28:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow it will be 5 weeks later, but strangely, what used to take minutes now takes days for me to accomplish! That explains the late post! On the 16th, Miss Elaine Grace, officially turned 1 month old!

This month has flown by and it is amazing to watch our little "Munch Munch" change every day! I lovingly call her "Munch Munch" because I promise she nurses every two hours - she occasionally allows her mother a four hour stretch - and I have become intimately familiar with Medela so that I am able to have a break more frequently.

While she has not been formally weighed, I believe she is close to 9 pounds, which is a lot bigger than the 6 pound 3 ounce baby we brought home. I love when she is nursing or laying chest to chest and she will look up at you with one eye open to make sure you are still there :-) She is definitely the new ruler of this household!

Hopefully as we continue to adjust, and she takes more regular naps, I will be able to update more frequently! Until then, enjoy Miss Elaine at one month!!

World, Meet Elaine Grace

2011-05-26T10:41:00.003-05:00

Change has arrived in the form of a bubbling baby girl, Elaine Grace. She came a little earlier than expected - May 16th instead of May 30th, but I guess that is why they are called 'Estimated Due Dates'. Because I have an acrobatic baby, she managed to turn a few somersalts while in utero and wrapped the umbilical cord around her neck, twice. As a result, she was a c-section baby and entered the world with a perfectly shaped crown. She weighed 6 pounds and 3 ounces when born and has already put on a few additonal ounces. Eating is a pasttime that she savors. She has both John and I completely wrapped around her long little fingers - she enjoys being held at night to sleep as any bed is simply too uncomfortable for her right now. She is so small and precious we indulge her.

So, welcome to the world, Miss Elaine, you have certainly changed our lives forever :-)

Change, It's A Comin'

2011-01-18T15:50:00.003-06:00

Someone once said the only thing that is constant is change. Oh how true that statement is! The challenge: to look for positives in change and to view change as an opportunity. I am still working on this one.

Baby Saltsman will be joining us 19 weeks or so - and he sure is growing! I say 'he' lightly, because we have decided to not find out the gender. This little bean pie weighs about 1 pound now... If only his weight would equal my weight gain all would be well with the world! After the ultrasound last week the doctor assures us he is very photogenic, posing for the ultrasound tech., and progressing right on schedule!

A Little Less Thinking and A Little More Knitting...

2011-01-14T06:28:00.004-06:00

This week has been met with its own challenges. But, what's new, everyday presents a new set of challenges. I have been a bit distracted this week so my normal topic will not be addressed at this time. You understand.

I have been doing some knitting for the babe. Good. Mindless. Knitting. I have completed the Kanoko Pants - I love these wee, little pants and hope to make a few more! They're a pretty quick knit taking only a little over 200 yards of worsted weight yarn. I think next time I will use 100% wool so the pants can double as soakers. I am still on a mission to use cloth diapers - and people still laugh at me when I mention doing so!

I am onto the hood of this cutie, cutie Debbie Bliss baby jacket! I hope to finish the hood tonight and maybe the sleeves this weekend! At first I thought I would wait to add buttons until the gender of the baby is revealed, but I've since changed my mind and think I will go with some nice gender neutral buttons.

Today we have a doctor's appointment and a mid-cycle ultrasound! Yes, folks, we have officially passed the 20-week mark and I will now begin counting backwards to baby Saltsman's arrival! So much to do and so little time!

Have a great weekend!

"Congratulations, You're Pregnant!" Now What?

2011-01-07T03:29:00.005-06:00

Being pregnant is interesting. I am a person that enjoys planning and I enjoy knowing what is going on. Knowledge is power... Lucky for me, once you are finally pregnant, there are websites, books, endless opinions of strangers and doctors to tell you what to eat, drink, when, how much, how long and every other detail in between. I know to avoid unpasteurized dairy products, what exercises I am not allowed to do and I even know, thanks to all of these resources, how much weight to gain based upon my pre-pregnancy weight. I mean these experts, or shall I say people, have it all figured out. A few things they have failed to mention (that's not entirely true, some make mention of these things...) is: Do I stay home or do I keep working? Will my kid turn out ok if it goes to daycare? Will I turn ok if my kid goes to daycare? If I were to take a hiatus from work, what will happen to my career? If we are having more than one kid, will I ever have a career again? Do I care about my career? I should have spoke outwardly about all of this before now, but I was afraid someone would see it. God forbid my boss scroll across this blog and know that her pregnant employee now had questions about life and work and how to make it work with babies...

Before I was pregnant, I kind of thought I had it all figured out. When I was younger, I thought for sure and without any shadow of a doubt, I was going to be a stay at home mom. When I did not have kids on my initially planned 'schedule', I had at that time started working. Working... I liked what I did and by golly there's nothing wrong with a kid that goes to daycare! After all, I was making a difference, I was valued at work, and I enjoy adult interaction. Far be it for me to give up my career just to have a family. I could have it all. A great career, fabulous husband, cute kids, etc. I would give up nothing in the quest for the perfect balance.

Fast forward 6-8 years... I went through a lay off last year and maybe stay at home parenting is not such a bad thing. I did, myself, have parents who stayed at home with me. My husbands mother stayed at home with him. My husband's parents are school teachers and they can tell who has had a stay at home parent and who has been to daycare. And my dads opinion, who rarely has an opinion, if you can stay home, you should.

One of the first big parenting decisions to make, and I feel ill equipped to make it. How am I supposed to take care of this kid if I cannot even identify the best place for him on a day to day basis? I guess my one 'thankful' moment in all of this confusion is that my husband supports either decision. And while before now, daycare was kind of like a dirty little word to him, he has come around to say, "whatever you decide is what we'll do". To him I say, "thanks, no pressure..."

Thanks for stopping by and come back next Friday to read more on this journey. Trust me, it's better than that Mediterranean cruise you've been dreaming of!

2011, Really?

2011-01-06T16:17:00.002-06:00

I always remember people telling me that the older you get the more quickly time passes - I am really feeling the truth in that statement as we are almost halfway there to meeting Baby Saltsman!

I am almost finished with my first baby knit - Kanoko Pants pattern, free on Ravelry. Because we are not finding out the sex of the babe, I'll be focusing on gender neutral colors. I feel strongly about it being a boy, though, so you may see blue garments... If it turns out to be a girl I'll crochet some pink flowers to attach!

Happy New Year - and here's to making the most out of the next few months!

A Saltsman Christmas Tree

2010-12-15T15:00:00.005-06:00

Aside from tearing apart other areas of our house lately, in preparation for the babe, we did manage to make it out to the Owasso Tree Farm and purchase our 2nd Christmas tree as a married couple! We thought we would take advantage of the 10 ft. ceilings in our living room, hence the 9 ft. tree. Spational relations have never been a strong point for me, so next year I may go for something a bit smaller :-) So, here it is, the Saltsman Christmas tree!

John and I spent Monday evening decking it out and we are both really happy with the end result! In other news, my craft room is fully and completely cleaning out and in process of being merged into a gue(studio). It is coming along better than expected, ignoring the piles of fabric in the hallways! The babe's room is all painted in a nice shade of orange sherbert! I hope to post pics soon - and maybe include some pics of my growing mid-section.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Holiday Knitting Spirit, Where Art Thou

2010-12-03T10:57:00.003-06:00

As Christmas approaches, there is always much discussion about Holiday Knitting. There are even some people who share all of their finished Christmas gift items and parade them around Ravelry with photos to boot! (I'm not jealous...)

I am sad to say, holiday / gift knitting has never, ever been one of my strengths. If I want to doom a knit project to fail, set a deadline, and have someone in mind while knitting. Failure. It will not get done, and is likely still sitting in my endless basket of WIP’s.

Truth be told, I am not even one to make a big to do about Christmas shopping. The malls and super stores are no place for me during the holiday rush. I much prefer to do my shopping from the comfort of my home, dressed in my sweats sipping my cup of decaffeinated tea.

So for anyone who may worry or anticipate a knitted gift from me. Please, lay your worries to rest, I will do no such thing! And for those of you who are kind and proactive enough to knit for others, please pass some of that spirit onto me... Next year!

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

2010-11-18T10:17:00.000-06:00

Well, did it work? I have been gone for, oh, two whole months now… And was scantily present prior to that. Let me explain.

In June, after being unemployed for 7 glorious months, I went back to work. It was a welcome change from my non-routine of lunching with friends, knitting, and sewing, but took me quite a long time to get back into the swing of things. I had quickly forgotten what it was like to manage a 7:30 – 5:00 work schedule, have a husband, sew, and try to maintain some kind of contact with friends and family. Notice there was no mention of house cleaning or cooking in that last statement, so imagine how many things have fallen by the wayside in our house! Knitting – why, yes, - I still made time for knitting.

Then came July… and August… I recently looked at some past posts in my Ravelry group and laughed as I had declared around on August 21st that my sewing mojo had returned and RoseKnits shop updates would once again be a regular occurrence. During this time, we had many visits from the good state of Detroit and in September, my sweet baby sister, Rita, paid us a visit and we were off to Springfield for a weekend family gathering.

The story goes uphill from this point with a little downhill swing :-) The uphill part. John and I found out on our way to Springfield that we will be welcoming Baby Saltsman #1 into our little two person family + one dog family next May! The downhill part. For the past 10 weeks I have done nothing but come to work, go home, eat, and go to sleep. Seriously. My weekends – spent primarily on the couch. Please do not ask me to do anything because the fatigue was nothing like anything I have ever before experienced!

As we jog into 13 weeks of pregnancy and the beginning of our 2nd trimester, I really do feel like a less tired person. I have started sewing again. Knitting again. And staying up past 8:00 p.m. I even mopped the floor last weekend! So, here’s to my return, regular shop updates, and renewed energy… At least for the next 13 weeks.

I will post pics this weekend of the home improvement projects that have been going on – thanks to John, not me. Unless choosing the paint colors count.

Ain't Technology Grand

2010-09-09T07:44:00.002-05:00

From Oklahoma to New Jersey, I was able to spend a few minutes with my baby sister on her 1st birthday!

To Have or Have Not...

2010-08-17T07:45:00.001-05:00

This subject has been a hot topic for me for as long as I can remember. I even recall an impromptu speech during my senior year speech class on the subject. Hair. My hair in particular.

I have childhood memories of dreading the sight of the brush and crying as my mom would try to drag the bristles through this wild mass of curls. Tight curls. No More Tears became my friend at a young age and made the task a bit more manageable. My hair was such a challenge for my parents, while my dad claims to not remember, one day he sat me on the butcher block in our kitchen and cut it. Cut. It. Off. Lucky for me I have my 1st grade photos to remind him where a white bow was placed on my head so not to be mistaken for a boy.

In the first grade, I became friendly with a black girl in my class – and her family introduced me to the perm. My mom would purchase the salon sized relaxer and blow dryers for the trade of them managing my hair. I remember stations being set in her grandmother’s kitchen. First station: relaxer; Second station: the comb through; Third station: the fan if the relaxer started to sting and had not been on your head an adequate amount of time; Fourth station: rinse and wash; Fifth station: blow dry and flat iron. We continued this process for many years… In the Seventh grade my god-mother, who owned a flower shop in a local shopping center, would trade flowers for my hair appointments. This situation carried me through to college where I became responsible for my hair appointment costs to today.

To me, the subject of black ladies and their hair is funny. I have been relaxing my hair for 20 years – part habit, part afraid to see what it looks like natural. Would I feel as pretty with shorter, curly hair? I always had pretty hair – usually long – and even when acne or feeling too pudgy would get me down, I could spend a few hours in a beauty shop and walk out feeling prettier than I had when I entered.

Laziness paired with curiosity paired with impatience led me to the idea that I should grow out my natural hair. It has been 20 years so I do not feel I have ever had a proper introduction to the natural hair, nor any knowledge of whether or not it is manageable, etc. If you have ever attempted to grow out hair color or a hair perm, you can feel my pain!

After almost one year with no relaxer I said a prayer, confirmed with 12 people that I would be okay if I cut my hair, and made an appointment with Amber Lynn. (This is where I should insert a photo… Maybe later :-) )

I’m actually happy with it – and think it’s kind of fun. I am now proudly a Have Not and I am really glad that I did it!

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood!

2010-08-13T08:28:00.000-05:00

This week has been a GREAT week for me! Three really positive things happened… I can share ONE as of this moment.

Officially I started RoseKnits November 2008. This was also the month of our wedding, because I’m smart and overly ambitious like that. Doesn’t every girl dream of starting an Etsy shop the same month that she is making the commitment of a lifetime, why not? RoseKnits was my answer to having lots of money to buy yarn! At some point, I started making more money than I could justify spending on yarn, consequently calling it a ‘business.’ As we approach our two year mark, I’ve happily produced and pedaled over 1000 bags! Last year I was acknowledged both the Vogue and Knit Simple holiday editions: Exciting! Well, yesterday, knitwear designer extraordinaire, Cecily Glowik MacDonald ordered a bag from ME! Tonight I plan to prepare her extra special package to slip in the mail on Saturday! If you have yet to scope out her designs, you should! She’s AWESOME! So awesome, she recently co-authored New England Knits with Melissa LaBarre.

I currently have Goodale on the needles, a design by Ms. Cecily, and I have many, many more in my queue! So, friends, that pretty much made my week! Tomorrow John and I are headed to Wichita to see DMB in concert – I’m sure Stefan has been missing me ;-)

Next week I hope to be able to share another piece of the happy pie and will at minimum show you what I’ve been knittin’ on and some new things in store for RoseKnits!

Have a fantastic weekend! I know I will!

And the Beat Goes On!

2010-08-09T08:09:00.001-05:00

Well, hello, friends! It has been quite some time since our last visit. And, changes, well they’ve been happening. I returned to full-time employment towards the ends of June.

I am filling a temporary role within a benefits department located in downtown Tulsa. I am enjoying it, along with all of the ‘perks’ that come with working downtown. Earlier in the year John, who also works downtown, began taking the park and ride express bus – picks us up about one mile from our house and drops us at our downtown offices. This is fun to me because I figure it is as close to big city living as I will come in Tulsa, OK… And I’m sure every gal dreams about commuting with her husband  Increased together time! I get to work with my dear friend, Vonchelle, whom I became acquainted while working at my previous employer. Because I am hourly I truly only work 40 hours per week, which forces me to take a full hour lunch break each day and knit!

We’re quickly approaching the first year in our home, our second wedding anniversary, and our fourth year together – time really does pass quickly. On the house front, we have added front landscaping, painted all rooms but the bedrooms and we are almost fully furnished!

RoseKnits has been on the back burner during this training period, but I am hoping to have that rhythm back in September. I’ve had a few, large custom orders – so once those are done I should return to regularly updating the shop, as well as having some new offerings for the fall knitting season!

What have you all been up to since I’ve been gone?

I'm headed to Guthrie, Oh yes, I am!

2010-04-30T13:04:00.003-05:00

Today is an exciting day... Some time last year my friend, Stef, and I enrolled in the annual Knit Out event held by SWAK in Guthrie. A few months later my other dear friend, Annie, decided to join in on the fun... Three girls, one hotel suite, lots of yarn - weekend with Jared - chocolate, wine, and cookies! Oh, how divine! If you know a knitter, you know that packing projects for travel seems to be more torturous than packing clothes. And - to add to the confusion - we have to bring supplies for our classes! My task was to pack 3 skeins of worsted weight wool. I know, I know, you think this must be easy since I am the owner of so many skeins... well, not so much. I buy most yarn in sweater quantities and I just hate breaking up a bunch! Plus, do I really want to use the good stuff for a mere dress rehearsal? I broke down and I chose 3.

An update to my last post...

1) Baby Dress for Rita - COMPLETE! I just need to sew up some matching bloomers and get this in the mail to her...
2) Emmaline
3) Creature Comforts Cardigan - COMPLETE! Going in the mail next week...
4) Ribbed Baby Jacket for Loops - COMPLETE! Well, I do need to sew on a button, but there is no more knitting required!
5) Whisper Cardigan
6) Cable T - RIPPED! I decided I no longer like this garment and have decided to salvage the yarn for the Moch Cardi by Gudrun Johnston.
7) Socks for John - MAKING PROGRESS! I knit a few inches on the sock at the baseball game last weekend! I love stitch 'n pitch!
8) Lacy Pullover
9) Springtime Bandit
10) Pinwheel Baby Blanket
11) 28Thirty Cardigan
12) Classic Elite Dolman Tunic

I have an exciting prosepct on the job front - I hope to have happy news to share in the next few weeks... I think I should download some HR / Healthcare related literature to my kindle and get caught up on what has been going on in the HR world. I also need to submit to have my PHR certification renewed - it expires in June and Lord knows I don't want to take that test again!

See you guys next week with some FO pics and more updates! Have a great weekend!

Confessions - Be Careful, This Gets Messy

2010-04-20T14:49:00.002-05:00

This may be embarassing, but it must be done. Most of you know, I like to knit. I collect yarn, knitting patterns, knitting books and interchangeable knitting needles. I even collect UFO's - some people call these WIP's - but we'll just flat out call mine UFO's. Well, folks, here they all are - list style. I am doing this because every single time I log onto Ravelry I find something else that I think I must knit. The problem is people / companies are producing yarns and writing patterns quicker than my little hands can start and finish an item!

What is a girl to do? Well this girl, even if only for a day, is going to a come to her senses meeting with you and write down every unfinished object. Here it goes!

1) Baby Dress for Rita
2) Emmaline
3) Creature Comforts Cardigan
4) Ribbed Baby Jacket for Loops
5) Whisper Cardigan
6) Cable T
7) Socks for John
8) Lacy Pullover
9) Springtime Bandit
10) Pinwheel Baby Blanket
11) 28Thirty Cardigan
12) Classic Elite Dolman Tunic

Ok, I think this about sums it up. Good news is... 50% of these projects have hope! I'll see if I can finish one, or two, or three before I cast on for another! I better get busy!

Another FO - Sewing & Knitting

2010-04-17T14:38:00.003-05:00

I really don't know what the deal is lately, but I am actually able to start and finish knitting projects... It's amazing, truly. Last year when I was feeling a bit more adventurous I started on the Provence Marl Empire Waist Cardigan from Classic Elite. This was adventurous by my own standards because typically if the pattern does not start with the words "top down", I'm out. I'm a lazy knitter. I know. Sleeves are my enemy. I know that, too. I was really making great progress on this until I reached the skirt portion. And then that's where the project died. 300 stitches - stockinette - can life suck any more? I retired the sweater to a bag in the bag of my closet. I pulled it out last week determined to finish, and here she is!

I am truly thrilled with the results - now if only I can get the yarn to stop shedding. This stuff is getting everywhere - but I'll keep wearing it! The vacuum will be my friend once I take it off...

On the RoseKnits front - I'm seriously addicted to sewing the zippered bag buddies lately. I think it is because they are the perfect compliment to my new knitting bucket find. The Reisenthel Loops Shopper... This is one of those times where I am glad that my husband is a little less than observant. The zippered bag buddies separate my projects perfectly for tossing in the shopper... I wanted to make sure that I was prepared for our field trip to SWAK Knit Out on April 30 --- more on that later... I leave you with the bag buddies - pick one up today. They're perfect, for - well... Everything!

Green's Queen Around Here

2010-04-13T06:38:00.002-05:00

As I stroll through the open spaces at my local yarn shop I continually hear chatters of green, green, green... I will leave 'stylish' opinions and such to people other than myself - because they are definitely much more stylish. Much. So, why not some green for the babes?

For a quickie project I cast on for Debbie Bliss' Ribbed Baby Jacket. It's a free pattern, so feel free to cast on. It calls for 4 balls of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran - although I will be very surprised if this takes four balls. I am almost finished with the back and ready to cast on for the sleeves after only 30 minutes of Law & Order.

I will be sure to keep you all updated as I anticipate finishing this little sweetie jacket and my empire waist sweater right around the same time.

Happy Tuesday!

Knitting FO Ahead!

2010-04-12T17:59:00.004-05:00

Watch out people! I guess the enthusiasm that I felt for the baby socks really helped fire up the 'ole knitting mojo. Who says that knitting is reserved for the winter months? I finished my Tea Leaves sweater with a few minor adjustments... Given the time of year and my hatred for knitting sleeves, I opted to make Tea Leaves a short sleeved pullover instead of a long sleeved cardigan.

I was so excited to wear a hand knit - and a little disgusted with myself due to my inability complete projects - I pulled out a Classic Elite - empire waist cardi that I started last year... Yes, I did say last year as in 2009... Maybe even early 2009 if I dare think about it. There are close to 300 stitches on the skirt of this cardi - so it takes me FOREVER to knit a row... I'm finishing off the collar and hope to finish off the skirt this week, too! Keep your fingers crossed. If all goes well, I could have another adult FO by the weekend!

Knitting Socks

2010-03-25T10:58:00.004-05:00

I must admit - although I've been knitting for close to three years now, I am very intimidated by knitting socks... Something about "turning the heel" and doing the kitchener stitch is all too much for me... While working at Loops on Tuesday evening, on of my co-workers had the cutest baby sock pattern using worsted weight yarn. I thought, surely I can handle a baby sock with worsted weight yarn.

I came home that evening - logged on to Ravelry to find an easy baby sock patttern - cuff down - and we now have baby socks! I even used fingering weight yarn - from stash! It has been awhile since I have actually finished a project, so I have a feeling these will become addicting since they are an easy finish. Pair them with a baby hat, and I've also got a great shower gift! I'm not sure if these really get to count at my first socks, but it has at least made the process seem manageable.

Here's the first pair - using Koigu KPPPM from stash. This morning I've cast on with some 3IG and using a ribbed sock pattern... The next pair may have to be toe up. We shall see...

Hey, I'm Back!

2010-03-24T16:16:00.002-05:00

Well... Kind of. I know the consistency of my blogging leaves a lot to be desired... but life has been busy. Trust. Me. I would never imagine that I would be so busy with no full-time job... Ah, well! It is what it is.

Added a few new zipper pouches to the shop today - with a "bonus"... A swivel hook so you can easily hook to your keys or to another bag! There'll be more to come - just wanted to check in and say, "What up!"

Please pardon the delay

2010-01-31T07:49:00.003-06:00

If you watch the news we are now considered to be 'recovering' from the horrible winter storms of 2010. Sure. Whatever. We had a bit of ice and snow last Thursday and Friday, but all-in-all, not bad. I did update the shop pretty well on Thursday - Friday I developed cabin fever and cast on a new project (the current projects just weren't gettin' it for me) and Saturday I spent the day pedaling yarn at Loops. Others must have been feeling cabin fever as well, because we had significant amount of traffic, under the circumstances.

A dear friend of mine gave birth to a darling baby boy on Saturday - and another dear friend of mine learned that her cancer is terminal - and is expected to be sent home from the hospital with hospice in tow. If you know me, you know I have an intimate relationship with cancer, and like many others, I hate it. I've not had cancer, but my mom did (pretty severely) my senior year in high school, my step-father died with cancer a few years ago, and my uncle currently has cancer. Cancer certainly sucks. Today is a great day to be nice to those you love, to sneak in a few extra hugs and kisses and i love you's, and just be thankful that you have the moment together.

Today John and I are headed over to help the new parents, who also have an 18-month-old. Talk about having your hands full! Life is ironic to say the least... And I'm now praying more than ever to be at peace with His plan rather than my own. It's times like these where one can easily lose faith if one does not turn it ALL over.

Stay tuned for sporatic shop updates throughout the week... I leave you with the buttons and dumpling bag, that for some odd reason, are reason enough to smirk right now!

The Husband Diaries

2010-01-19T10:36:00.001-06:00

Today - like most days - I'm completely and intensely studying all of the latest FO's on Ravelry while doing a mental check on my current yarn stash and what I could possibly make... Lots! Let's just say I could make 15 sweaters from that stash and then some... But - I asked my husband for some words of encouragement to sew and not play around on Ravelry... This is what I got:

Positive motivation: You are doing so great at making bags...I'm so proud of you! You do a great job and should be proud of the work you do! With the money you are making you can buy more fabric! :-)

Negative motivation: Get to work or I'll stop cooking you dinner!

John wins motivation: Get to work or I'll buy a 60 inch TV this weekend!

Motivation that is usually meant for a kid: Get to work or I'll take away your Nintendo!

I forgot one....

The do something nice for your husband motivation: Get to work so your husband can have a bigger computer monitor at work and he'll be a better employee!

Gotta love him, right?

I know, I'm a great hubby! XOXO

It's Friday - Again!

2010-01-15T09:48:00.003-06:00

I hope that I am not creating a pattern of only blogging on Friday's - I guess if I do, though, that will still be more consistent than what I've been in the past...

This week has been busy and productive. I finally feel like I am getting the shop restocked after the busy holiday and I'm finishing off some pending orders... I also feel like we've accomplished something on the house front this week; not sure if I mentioned it, but it seemed that as of December we were kind of on a stand still with the house. No additional furniture had been purchased - no additional boxes unpacked. Stand. Still. My front living area happens to be a cluster of no longer used dining room chairs, etc. Well... this week I ordered two chairs and an ottoman for the front room to match our new couch that will hopefully be headed our way soon! Once all the furniture is in I plan to start my hunt for the perfect coffee tables, pillows (go Pier One!), and art work. I came across this wreatch today at Purlbee.com made of felt and colorful thread and feel like I must make it with coordinating furniture colors! I've already printed off the template and will head to JoAnn's this weekend for some natural colored felt. I usually do not attempt to make such things to be on display in the house, but this seems pretty and doable - and will not be the focal point, so why not? I think I will also make a few coordinating fabric buckets to set under the end tables to keep WIP's available but somewhat hidden from visitors...

So I guess that's all for us right now in the land of Broken Arrow! I hope you all have an enjoyable weekend as well!!!

Week in Review

2010-01-08T07:43:00.003-06:00

Happy Friday everyone! This week we will count as a success ~ I have managed to finish the sleeves on the Oatmeal Pullover and wear it once... My photographer was absent so I will try to throw it on again this weekend for some modeled shots... One more sweater lacking sleeves! Yay! My bmom made me the 'Tess' sweater... I blocked it and will likely wear it today or tomorrow. Once blocked it grew a little, but I moved the buttons over for a more asymmetrical fit and all was well with the world!

I'm happy to report that I've cooked THREE times this week! Yes, three. Whole. Times. That means, we did not eat out one meal - for dinner, that is. I am uber excited about going to WW tomorrow to weigh in! I definitely feel a bit more svelte this week (and I cheated and stepped on the scale), but it has kept me motivated, right?

I've spent time with two great friends this week and am going to lunch and knit with a third! One friend is my complete inspiration for the new bag design that will be in the shop this week... The prototype is photographed below.

Tonight we're having friends over - and I have my pork in the crock pot cooking away for carnitas! YUM! Tomorrow is kind of a free day except John has to work - he has to work a Saturday each quarter... So I'm thinking we may need to dine out tomorrow. And Sunday (I think we'll go to mass) and then we're heading out to visit our friends, the Thummels... They have a fairly new baby boy and a precious toddler girl running around - so we're going to take a meal over there and feast with friends and enjoy the kiddos...

I hope you have had a great week - have a more enjoyable weekend - and enjoy the bag pics below! If you're interested in a bag prior to their being placed in the shop simply leave me a message and we can work up a custom order for you!

The girl who can't do everything still tries

2010-01-04T09:55:00.002-06:00

Ok, January 4th! New week in a new year! I'll acknowledge that I cannot possibly do everything, but I'm still going to try! Today I start a part-time job at a doctor's office... funny how I used to work a full-time job and sew and now the proposition of working 20 hours a week and sewing seems overwhelming. What gives? At any rate, I've enlisted the help of my friend Jessica to organize my schedule! Sometimes looking from the outside one can see opportunities that the other cannot.

I need time to 1) Sew, 2) Study for the Real Estate Exam, 3) Work my 20 total hours per week split between the yarn shop and doctors office, 4) Knit (of course)! Oh, and I also need to spend time with my husband, cook, house chores... Luckily spending time with John is easily facilitated by simply living in the same household.

What's on your agenda? How are you organizing your new year? I eventually need to work in some exercise time, but figure exercise can occur concurrently with studying for the real estate exam. I study well on the elliptical!

I've updated the fortune cookies in the shop today... Stop on by if you feel so inclined! Happy Monday and have a magnificent week!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-03T08:47:00.003-06:00

I opened blogger to reply to a blog and feel like I should stop and say something... "Happy New Year?" Maybe? I would like to THANK EVERYONE for their patronage of RoseKnits in 2009. I distributed around 550 bags in 2009!!! That is amazing for something I was doing on the side... I am excited and anxious to see what 2010 will bring in that regard! So, again, thank you so much.

On the life front... Life has been hectic, hectic, hectic. For some reason I had almost convinced myself that when the day job stopped on 12/4, life would almost instantly become this relaxing place where I lived. Not so much. It seems I have the ability to turn any relaxing situation into a hectic one - and I also have the ability to stress myself out entirely on my own without anyones help! I booked a week of travel to NJ to hang out with my little one - home for six days - then headed off to Detroit to spend Christmas with the "other" side of my family.

Since we've been back we've tried to catch up with friends - and more family. I have high hopes for this year - and I still hope for something that resembles relaxation. I have quite figured out how to incorporate the relaxation part into my schedule, but surely I'll get it one day!

I wish for you all a very happy 2010 filled with inspirational and relaxing experiences :-) (Got the experience part from my "sister" Annie - to hell with resolutions!)

Day 2.

2009-12-08T14:55:00.002-06:00

Well my awaited unemployment has finally set it. Effective 12/4. This is my second day at home. This week I am headed to NJ for a week - so in preparation, I've hardly had a second to breathe... I'm finishing off orders as quickly as possible in hopes of coming back from NJ with a clean slate. I hope to have a more relaxed schedule... Sewing for a few hours a day and getting in some good, quality knit time. I also dream of days where a trip to the grocery store doesn't seem like another task and preparing dinner is pleasant and relaxed rather than necessary and hurried.

How do I feel? I feel ok? I assume that my true feelings of this 'new' lifestyle will not settle in until after the holiday since we are traveling so much between now and then. I have managed to squeeze in a bit of knitting... The Snooty Snood - I had to get on board! I've almost finished the Columbia Beret, too, inspired by OneKnitWit. FO pics coming soon!

Handmade Inspiration Strikes at the 11th Hour

2009-12-03T08:58:00.002-06:00

I have to almost laugh out loud as I write this post. I was just e-mailing my last minute Christmas orders to Taryn Peine... She's whipping up great baby stuff - and lucky for me, I have a lot of little babies in my life who will be showered with handmade gifts this year. Handmade by Taryn, not me.

I have a little list of quick knits that I am going to attempt to make for people! I will let you know how I fair after the holiday with a photo packed post of gifts that we gave (if I finish them..).

If you are looking for some handmade, 11th hour inspiration of your own --- check out the Loops blog where Shelley is featuring 25 Last Minute Knit Gifts! She's only on day 3... so you can still catch up!

Taking it Personally

2009-11-30T12:07:00.002-06:00

I am the first to admit that I can sometimes be a bit sensitive and tend to take things personally. It's almost like I have it backwards - I take things personally when I should not - and maybe when something is directed at me it shoots straight over my head with not so much as a notice.

I think for today I'm going to try to release a bit of my self-centeredness and not take everything so personally... Because contrary to what I believe, it is not always about me.

Worried About Not Worrying

2009-11-13T08:48:00.002-06:00

My feelings lately have been kind of interesting. I first received word that I would be losing my job at the beginning of June. The process of my losing my job has not been an easy one. No one came into my office one day and said, "hey, this is it..." It has dragged on for almost 6 months. Literally. Throughout this time I have felt a lot of emotions - anger, anxiety, relief, excitement. John and I have planned, budgeted, replanned, rebudgeted, so on and so forth. Last night my father in law said to me, "man, you just don't seem worried about losing your job at all... if it were me, I would be worried." Naturally when someone says something to me I start to - worry - that I'm doing something wrong. Maybe I should be worried more. Maybe something is wrong with me because I am not more worried. John and I were discussing it this morning and he plainly said, "you know, we've come to terms with it. We have a budget. If it doesn't work, you can find a job." Plain. Simple. Not worried.

So - maybe I'm not abnormal. Maybe I've already done all of my worrying. And, maybe, just maybe, I've turned this worry over to someone else. I am now counting down my remaining work days on my fingers. I don't know where I will end up, or what I will be doing, but I know I'll be ok. And with that, there is nothing to worry about.

Weekend Update

2009-11-02T08:00:00.002-06:00

This past weekend was our second official weekend in the house --- I had dreams of sewing all day on Saturday and Sunday and said dreams were quickly crushed Saturday morning. John was on his way to Lowe's (men LOVE Lowe's - and I think every time John walks in there we lose another $100), I was sipping my first cup of coffee for the morning... John proceeds to take Chandler out to go potty and he was limping! He would not even put his front left foot on the ground... So - like any good parents, I quickly got dressed and we rushed him to the vet - and sat. For. Three. Hours. We finally were able to see the vet - no breaks. Prescribed anti-inflammatory meds. Soon after we arrived home John found a toe doggy toe nail by the trash can. Apparently in one of Chandler's digging fits into the carpet he sprung a nail down to the quick. He was running around within two hours of being home! I did get in about 2 hours of knitting though - thank goodness for portable projects!

Friday evening John and I watched toddler Ella for a few hours and had a yummy dinner with Sarah and Bill... Saturday evening Jessica, Daniel, and Louis joined us for a pot of stew and lots of trick-o-treaters! Our neighborhood is filled with little ones! And Sunday - I did do some sewing, John did some straightening of the garage, and my mom came over for dinner!

This weekend we are headed to New Jersey for my sweet little sis' first meeting and her baptism! No rest at the Saltsman home... We are busy, busy, busy! Now, to find a portable project for the plane...

I Have Five Minutes...

2009-10-27T05:56:00.002-05:00

In five minutes, surely I can't write anything breath taking, astounding, or great... But, hey, I'm going to take five to write. I guess that John having his name on the mortgage of a house totally changes things. He used to play fix it man at our old house - my first house - but he is like a tornado maniac in this house! He came home from work yesterday and 1) fixed the bars in our closet... They needed new bar holder things... 2) Fixed the board covers on the bath tub... 3) Fixed the sliding door in the second bath... and cooked dinner... all by 8:30 p.m. when I came home from Loops! Amazing I tell ya!

I sat on the couch after a long day of work and knit a few rows :-) If I could only get my sewing mojo to mimic his fix it mojo we'd be in good shape! There's always the weekend, right?

We've Only Just Begun

2009-10-26T09:58:00.003-05:00

This past Friday John and I closed on our house. We were able to have our furniture moved on Thursday so as soon as we finished up paper work I was able to head over and start unpacking boxes. Overwhelming. Let. Me. Tell. You. The front two rooms were completely packed full! I believe we likely unloaded 75% of the boxes this weekend - so it was filled with both excitement and exhaustion.

The past year has been filled with so much activity I cannot help but to reflect. In one month we will celebrate our one year anniversary. A huge milestone, no doubt - people who say the first year is the most difficult are right on point! We have sold a house (closing is this week), purchased our first home together. We are losing one job - and in that are able to put in perspective the things that are important to us.

I hope that everyone is well - and enjoying life! More to come later...

Strike A Pose

2009-10-14T09:29:00.003-05:00

When I hear the phrase strike a pose, I instantly think of Vogue! Well, my friends, RoseKnits made the pages of what's new in knitting in the Vogue Knitting Holiday edition! This is following an earlier release of the Knit Simple Holiday edition where RoseKnits made the Knits and That section!

Press, in itself, is exciting. Press from people you don't know, double exciting. Press in a nationally published knitting magazine by people you don't know: priceless! It is a great honor and I am humbled by their recognition! The people at the magazine are super nice and encouraging and I will be forever grateful for the kudos.

In one short month RoseKnits will become my full-time gig so all of the feelings of excitement and nervousness are definitely there! Please stay tuned because something tells me this adventure is just getting started.

I've added some new Market Totes to the shop ~ you should check them out if you get a chance!

When the Hustle and Bustle Doesn't End, Then What?

2009-10-05T05:26:00.003-05:00

I often find myself saying... "When I'm not so busy..." and "After this happens..." and various other word combinations that express the same meaning of, "when life slows down..." but I'm still secretly still waiting for life to slow down and last time I checked it hasn't. And it doesn't seem it is going to any time soon. I yearn for the Saturday where I don't have to get dressed, get in the car to go somewhere, and where showering is optional.

This is good and bad - just depends on how you look at it, I suppose. When John and I were busy, busy, busy keeping the house cleaning, doing showings, etc. I thought once it sold it'd be different. Well, folks, it sold and we have been packin' all weekend. I wake up in the middle of the night and start day dreaming about the new house and all of the painting, etc. and realize that certainly by the end of the year, it's not going to slow. We're headed back to NYC early November and we'll be spending a week in Detroit over the Christmas holiday. What happens when life doesn't slow down? How do we keep up? And why on earth do we make it so busy? Boredom, today, is not allowed. There seems to be no value in being bored.

Although I threaten to never work again, the idea of not having a 'work' to go to is so scary to me, I've got at least ten things lined up 'just in case...' So, maybe you can help me...

What are your tricks and tactics to simply take time to smell the roses?

Autumn Harvest

2009-09-18T10:50:00.001-05:00

Tomorrow I'll be heading over to the 16th Annual Autumn Harvest. This event is organized through Catholic Charities and benefits the Madonna House!

There will be vendors and exhibitors from Tulsa and surrounding areas! Come check it out - maybe knock out some of your holiday shopping - and support a great cause!

I'm an Oklahoman

2009-09-16T06:16:00.003-05:00

And funny thing, today there's a snippet about me in the Daily Oklahoman! I know, not the most creative way to break the news, but it is 6:15 AM so cut me some slack, ok? On Monday I had a phone interview with Debbie Blossom. The spin, girl gets laid off and turns a hobby into a business. I think she did well - so, check me out if you have a few!

Shop updates have been slow going the past week. I'm finished up a store order and then plan to get busy again, so please stay tuned!

A Diet for Everything - and Some New News

2009-09-15T06:24:00.002-05:00

It seems as though every aspect of my life at this time contains the word 'diet.'

This weekend after a shopping trip to Ms. LOFT, I angrily came home and cleaned out my closet. It seems as though I've added twenty pounds to my not so svelte physique since the wedding. I have thirteen pairs of jeans in my closet that will no longer make the trip over my ever growing hips and derriere. What's a girl to do? My girls were already a bit on the larger size - and I just refuse to wear anything larger than the current size. I refuse.

After clearing out the closet - to cut down on my anger, beat myself up spasms (and allow hubby to see how many clothes I really don't have) I joined Weight Watchers Online. I've done WW before - haven't we all? And it works. It seems like the most logical thing as it is about eating healthy and portion control rather than depriving myself of my love of Starbuck's and all things sweet. I'm also committed to going back to the gym where I have the membership that I've refused to let go of no matter how infrequently it is used.

That's the first diet in my life. The second is yarn. Folks, I think it is time I go on a yarn diet. My stash is nothing compared to a lot of people - but it is to the point where I am starting to feel a little guilty. How much yarn must one hoard? My new 'thing' is anytime I have a hankering for yarn I am going to come home, wind a skein I've not touched since purchase, and play with it for awhile. I may come out with some pretty cool FO's or I may end up with a bunch of yarn cakes. Any way it goes - I'm hoping this helps to curb my appetite for the latest and greatest.

Last night while working at Loops I sent John a text, it read something like this, "Talk me off the ledge, I'm hankering to buy yarn..." His reply, "Go for it!" I didn't do it - I'm on a diet. And to be on a diet, one must be committed.

The New News for the post! I believe the latest Knit Simple (Holiday 2009) may have made an early entry into our LYS - but I'm not complaining! RoseKnits is featured in the 'Knits & That' section!!!! I am so very proud to have something that I made in a national knitting publication. Proud, proud, proud! If you see it out, even if you aren't a knitter, pick it up! Things like this don't happen too often!

House News, Life News, and News News

2009-09-04T14:19:00.003-05:00

Happy Friday and even happier that this is a 3-day weekend! Oh, Labor Day, how I have been longing for this occasion where I don't have to go to work - anywhere - for three whole luxurious days!

Any other time I would have taken advantage of such an occasion and planned lots of sewing and knitting - but not this time. This time our house is on the market. This time, our neighbor listed their house - directly across the street - for $100 less than our house. They have taken months and refinished wood floors, put up new privacy fences, and painted the house neutral colors. So, this time, we are painting our bedroom and our computer room neutral colors. I will likely not be doing too much sewing or knitting (just a little, though).

I don't know, though, I should maybe thank them for listing their house because our house has been viewed a record three times this week! That's more than the entire time it has been on the market!

This morning I was on channel 6 news (broadcast on CW12) standing right next to Ms. LeAnne Taylor showing off some RoseKnits bags! A smart business lady does not turn down free advertising no matter how petrified she is of talking to people, in front of people, and especially on television (in front of lots of people). I made it through without doing anything too totally embarrassing and I think I only stuttered and stammered in the beginning! Yay! We'll overcome that public speaking phobia yet.

I have started a blog collaboration with Amby of Julip Bags and Kristi of Reddogknits. The blog is called The Boss Knits and is intended to provide lessons learned and some funny passages along the way of being business owners of our own crafty empires! Many expect that Amby and I would not be such great friends since we are both making bags - and each can be viewed as competition - but we're actually quite the like and enjoy sharing ideas, successes, and gripes all the same. You should definitely check us out!

Ok, that's enough for today... I may try to post some new stuff tomorrow!

Peace out and have an awesome holiday weekend!

Just Another Day...

2009-08-30T20:29:00.003-05:00

Today is not just any day, it is my husbands 31st birthday!!! Yay, John! Happy Birthday, sweetheart! If you haven't taken the hint by now, John is the best husband ever, and as I like to tell him, he's my favorite yet! ;-)

We have had another one of our usual busy days and busy weekends for that matter... and my sewing machine broke down on me! I'm trying to be a bag maker, build a mini-empire and the sewing machine is on the fritz... how's that for luck?

I am now on the fence ~ so I go buy a quick replacement tomorrow so not to slow progress this week and shop it out for a few months to buy the 'great' machine - or - do I try to squeeze in shopping for the great machine next weekend and take this week off of sewing? I'm definitely leaning towards option #1.

Tonight I added some new zipper / notions pouches to the shop and plan to add wristlets this week ~ provided I go with option #1. Check us out!

End of Summer Sale!

2009-08-24T11:03:00.002-05:00

We're celebrating the end of the summer and giving you a 25% discount on all items at RoseKnits!

Discount applies to merchandise only! Take advantage now because this sale ends on Friday, August 28th!

Fearless Knitting

2009-08-20T14:40:00.004-05:00

I have always admired the fearless knitter. The person who will try a new pattern or technique - the person who uses yarn other than what is recommended and takes the time to calculate gauge should they want to use something different... The person who has the where with all to adjust as they go and know that fixing it is as easy as ripping back a few rows... This knitter is definitely not me! I need to follow the pattern, use the recommended yarn - or at least yarn that meets that gauge... I remember I knit a sweater, top down mind you, and I felt a bit more free when I put in just a few more waist decreases! That was living on the edge, people!

I purchased the pattern Moch Cardigan by Gudron Johnston today and am getting nervous as I think about using worsted weight vs. the recommended DK weight. I have so many worsted yarn varieties in my stash - sweater quantities - that it seems like a sin not to try and use them! I am going to drag out the calculator and do what I've never done - attempt to adjust the pattern... Heck, while I'm at it, I may even try to convert it to top down rather than bottom up!

On second thought, I'll only try one new skill at a time! I'll let you know what yarn we're using after I swatch!

The Countdown Begins

2009-08-18T08:34:00.002-05:00

This week it is official and I will begin the countdown to my unemployment! Boy, this is scary - and exciting - all at the same time. I am relieved to at least feel that there is some movement coming along, rather than feeling stagnant like I have for the past ten weeks or so.

While it is difficult for me to imagine what my days will be like without the official 8 - 5 gig, I am hoping to really dive into RoseKnits to determine if it is something that I can do on a more full-time basis. I figure I can always return to HR if it does not work out and if I keep my certification current.

Speaking of RoseKnits ~ I am attending the Dustbowl Arts Market in Norman, Oklahoma on Saturday, August 29! Come check us out if you are in the area! Tonight I will also add additional 'Bag Buddies' to the shop... so be on the look out for that as well!

Waking Up is Hard to Do

2009-08-17T09:46:00.003-05:00

I am incredibly sleepy this morning ~ and it is becoming more and more evident to me that I just cannot do everything. This Saturday I went to the hairdresser at 6 AM, worked at Loops from 9:45 - 5:00, and went on a date with the hubs at 7:00. Sunday ~ house hunting began promptly at 9:00 AM and I then worked at Loops from 1 PM - 5 PM... After that we had my mom over for dinner ~ and I got in some knit time and cutting / prep work for sewing. Today ~ I started at 5 AM. Will work the day job until 5 PM and work at Loops until 8 PM. I'm pretty sure I should do some sewing when I get home before bed.

This sounds like a complaint, right? I'm not complaining, really. I love everything I'm doing. Just wondering if I am doing too much at the moment! I did reward myself with a coffee from Starbucks this morning ~ 4 shots of espresso ~ just the way I like it! Too bad it has little effect. I'm off for my second cup of coffee and will hopefully find something along the way to keep me motivated!

Happy Monday and I hope you have a great week!!! Look for more Bag Buddies in the shop tonight!

TGIF!

2009-08-14T06:28:00.005-05:00

I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!!!

Spreadsheet Anyone?

2009-08-12T15:59:00.005-05:00

Depending on how often you read this, or how often I manage to write, you will sometimes see my incessant rambling about my husband and his spreadsheets. In the words of John, Spreadsheets are the answer to everything! And he truly, truly believes this...

Example: John goes to Denver, CO (very cool place, I hear) on business... He visits friends from high school or college (I can't remember)... I anxiously await stories of catching up, cool restaurants, bars, something that 30-year olds do... Not my husband! He instead fills me in on how the office where he was working uses Excel 2007!!!! Excel 2007, people! This isn't just any 'ole excel program, this program holds One Million line items! We're both nerds in our own way, so this is ok. I'm sure he enjoys hearing about yarn textures, fibers, colors, etc. and my latest bag idea...

Today, I have a new appreciation for the spreadsheets. You may also know that we have been house hunting. Why? I don't know, because in one month only ONE person has looked at our house so if you ask me today, I doubt we'll be purchasing another home anytime in the near future... But, hey, I guess stranger things have happened. At any rate, I digress. Since we have been house hunting for one month we have looked at and liked a lot of houses. As you can probably guess, they are neatly organized in a spreadsheet. MLS#, Address, Stats, Subdivision.... Well he added a column with a hyperlink to the house page!!! LOVE THIS FEATURE!!! This feature has given me a new appreciation for my husband's spreadsheets!!!

And onto RoseKnits news... I have a new bag idea brewing in my head! With any luck, I'll have one in the shop tonight!!! Stay tuned... Also, if you are a RAVELER - join our group 'RoseKnits'! For the month of August all group members who 'refer a friend' to join the group will be entered into a drawing with their friend for a bag out of the shop! Who can pass that up??

A New Week and a New Bag!

2009-08-10T06:22:00.003-05:00

I have been kind of MIA since we returned from NY. Two days after our return I had to have a quickie medical procedure - that didn't work - so I get to do that one again, UGH! I started working at Loops and I've been trying to keep RoseKnits updated... You get the picture, right? We're busy as heck! We also had scheduled to play in my company golf outing this past Saturday (100 degrees outside with 22 MPH winds) and had an open house yesterday (which meant lots of cleaning! I often ask myself if life ever truly slows down - and I'm beginning to think that it does not.

I have, admittedly, been on some kind of fabric frenzy and ordered A LOT of fabric last week... Somewhere in the neighborhood of 70 yards or so... And I'm still sittin on 20 yards that I've not cut into. Surely this will get me through the month - or year rather!

I did manage to add a new bag to the shop yesterday, we are calling this one the Bag Buddy! The bag measures 10" wide by 13" tall and it's perfect to toss in a project and toss in your larger bag! And it is priced right at $12!

Tonight and tomorrow night I'll be working at Loops and trying to figure out where the gym fits into all of this business! I am hoping to head over after I finish my shift (around 8 PM). This is out of the norm for me, but some times we have to try things out to see if they will work! Hope you all have a fantastic Monday!

Eye of the Tiger

2009-08-01T19:25:00.002-05:00

This is complete silly, Annie type trivia. When I was growing up, my sister closest in age Casey, had a favorite movie. Her favorite movie was When Peggy Sue Got Married... My favorite movie was Rocky IV. Not just any Rocky - Rocky IV. Let's get specific here, folks. To this date, it is still one of my favorite movies. So much so, last year or the year before - John bought me the Rocky box set as a Christmas gift! I was pleased as punch, let me tell ya! I even make him sit on the couch and watch Rocky just about every single time it is on television! My favorite scenes... When Apollo Creed performs with James Brown right before being beat to a bloody pulp by the Russian... My second favorite scene... When Rocky is training in Russia, prior to avenging the death of the dear Apollo Creed.

Ok, that's my only fun fact for the day!

Today we putzed around in Spring Lake Heights, Avon, and Ocean Grove. I've half decided I should move to Ocean Grove and open a yarn store (forget the fact that I did not notice ONE SINGLE open store front). It's such a quaint little town with lots of fun eateries and shops. It would be fun... In my dreams! Baby sister Rita also did some twists and turns for me today! I've never felt a baby in the stomach so I was very fascinated by this event! I think I've asked Margaret to pull her dress taut several time since just in case I can see Rita making more moves! Margaret, of course, patiently obliges.

We are currently looking over the picks for the horse races tomorrow... So far I'm going with Summer Bird and A Rose for You <---or something like that... I only hav 12 more races to pick for!!!

More to come later... I'm sure of it!

Exciting, Exciting - RoseKnits

2009-07-31T20:08:00.003-05:00

RoseKnits has very exciting things going on! I have to keep the mum for the moment, but want you all to know we are still busily creating and trying to provide great customer service to our customers and fans!

I promise I'll share when I can!

Holla!

Hangin' in the Heights

2009-07-31T19:59:00.002-05:00

So this is our third day in the lovely New York... Well, this afternoon we actually migrated to New Jersey. Yesterday John and I went on the 'Circle Line' which was a 3-hour boat tour around the city! It was a lot of fun aside from the very hot and muggy day. I definitely have some very non-complimentary tan lines as a result. After that we made our way back to the apartment... I wanted to be a champ - walked all the way to the Circleline - 3 miles - and started walking back, but I ended up with 3 blisters... Cried uncle, and we got on the bus...

We went to dinner at a very quaint, Thai restaurant called Room Service. It was excellent ~ the best thing ~ tuna tartar as an appetizer. It was delish and I would gladly eat an entire platter for a meal any day!! After dinner we headed over to see 'In the Heights'! Very, very good musical! Upbeat! Loved the music, dancing, and the intertwined love story.

Today we went to Gray Dog for breakfast - DSW for shoes - Basilio's on Staten Island for lunch with Aunt Albina and then to the outlet mall! I was able to score some very cute onesies and whatnots that say 'little sister' and also an outfit for Miss Brynn in Michigan! We have since been lying around the house - I'm knitting, Marg's knitting, and John and John are watching television. Apparently 'How Its Made' and 'Cash Cab' are popular in households other than my own!

Tomorrow we are going to hit up some garage sales (Marg's new thing), scope out a sand castle building contest, and BBQ... I am also hoping to make some freezer paper stenciled onsies for Rita and John is going to help the other John put together the crib for the babe.

We have to save all of our other energies for Sunday when we're headed to the horse races for the ENTIRE day! We are set to arrive at 10 AM so we can get a good table... and the races will likely last through 7 PM! Trust, a lot of knitting will be done there as well...

Milkweed in New York

2009-07-29T15:49:00.002-05:00

I blog to you today from New York City! A much different environment than our beloved Tulsa, OK. So far, so good. Our plane left on time, arrived early - and thus far we've had a very nice visit and trot around town! After having lunch we visited St. Pat's and prayed to St. Joseph so I am hoping that he will help us out on the home sale! We've buried him in the front yard... and now we pray and wait :-)

John AKA best husband in my world took me to New York Yarn School where I scored 2000 yards of 100% merino in a beautiful blue / gray tweed to make my best husband a sweater he's been begging for - for, oh - about one year. It was only $30 / pound! So amazing! They also had an amazing selection of Karabella yarn, but I was not able to purchase that because the rule is only purchase yarn that is unavailable in Tulsa, OK.

It's gloomy here - and it poured - right on us! We had to stop and buy another umbrella (we don't always share well...) And, actually, when I would hold the umbrella to try and protect myself I almost poked John's eye out on four different instances so he broke down and bought his own... which I stole because it was much larger than the umbrella that I was totin'!

I am currently safe and dry in the apartment working on Milkweed! For a moment I thought I was going to throw it out the window because I kept making mistakes in the pattern... I think I've fixed the mistakes and am up to Chart D, row 70. I'm loving this scarf that I am knitting up in Madelinetosh Wren - color: Terra.

More tomorrow... I have no sewing machine, weather is gloomy, so I should have time to blog to you!!!

Hello Friday!

2009-07-28T16:27:00.003-05:00

Well, it isn't the actual day 'Friday' but it is my Friday! John and I are headed off to New York tomorrow... Last weekend I went to Fiber Christmas (John helped me set up - he clearly deserves husband of the year award). It was a good experience because it gave me an opportunity to set up my display stands and take photographs to apply to other craft shows.

Sales seemed slow... but, hey, that's ok! We always learn something! I will have to upload photos a little later. I have found 65 additional craft shows to apply to for the remainder of the year!!! I'm crossing my fingers that I get into all of them!

Tonight will be busy because we have packed nothing and there is still laundry, a bit of sewing to finish off some orders, a trip to the post office, and we're watching my two nieces for a bit! Who needs sleep the day before a vacation??

Our house has been on the market for almost two weeks! I had to laugh at myself as I looked at a calendar today to realize that - because I would have sworn to you it had been a month or longer! We went house hunting on Sunday and have some VERY good prospects! So, if you know anyone dying to make an offer on our house, go ahead and send 'em to me!

I'll have to post some pics of New York and craft show booth pics! Hope you all have a good rest of the week!!!

Life Update!

2009-07-22T08:27:00.002-05:00

It has been almost one month exactly since I last blogged so I figure I better get with the program! Someone asked me a few weeks ago why I had not updated the blog - and I believe my response was, "I've just not had many positive things to say..." This is not wholly true, so I am going to try and do better!

We are still here - hanging out in Tulsa, OK. Our house officially went back on the market one week ago today. We are excited and hopeful that it will sell quickly because honestly, I'm just not great at keeping all of the yarn and sewing stuff put away! I like to spread out and see what I'm working with - one of the reasons for the move - I need my own room.

Additional to that tidbit of news we have also been doing some planning and decision making. I hate making decisions and I think I say this every time I am faced with any kind of 'real' decision... You know, something outside of what are we having for dinner? My job situation is still a bit shaky so we are planning for sudo unemployment. I am actually going to try working at the yarn shop part-time and sewing! RoseKnits has been doing well and doing fun hobby stuff seems, well, fun right now. This will allow me to stay home and raise our kiddos whenever they get here - and I am dreaming of thumbing through cookbooks and preparing excellent dishes for John!

I am quite petrified of these 'decisions' (and I know I can change my mind and always look for something corporate, right?)... What if I am a horrible SAHM? What if I am unemployable once my kids return to school? And the biggest concern, what if I hate sticking to a budget!!? I purchased my first book yesterday on staying home and how to return to work afterwards... ha! ha! And John says I'm not a planner...

This weekend I will be working at my first official fiber / craft show, Fiber Christmas! Tomorrow is my last sewing day - I should have around about 100 bags!!! Yay! And a few other goodies to take! I am uber excited!!! And will surely take pics and let you guys know how that one turns out!!

Until next time... Which will hopefully be tomorrow!

Freestylin'

2009-06-24T13:08:00.003-05:00

I am not much for blogging lately because I cannot think of anything profound or smart to say ~ imagine that! So we are just going to freestyle here. From my head to fingers - this is for you!

I seem to be a bit obsessed with my current employment predicament, because although I've not been able to plan much in life, my education and job security has been something that I've had a pretty good handle on. I'm a busy body - ask anyone who knows me - and the thought that my future may not be as busy is exciting and very, very scary all in the same.

I often joke with my husband about taking a break or become a kept woman... Stay at home wife - that is my calling! Yet I find myself day in and day out searching for whatever it is that the future may hold for me. I have endless ideas that are constantly racing through my head. Sew full-time? Stay at home mom? HR Professional? LPC, maybe? Pursue the doctoral degree that I've been talking about for 5 years? I just don't know. As my parents would say, the answers will come. In the meantime, that does not stop me from searching for them.

I have been sewing like mad, which is a nice distraction from everything. There will be another shop update tonight (adding 5 large fortune cookies) so if you are in the neighborhood and want to stop by, please do. You are always welcome!

TGIF & Update!

2009-06-19T05:14:00.004-05:00

It has been a few weeks since I have taken this seat at the computer with the intentions of writing anything, although it has been on my mind quite a bit!

I guess we'll start with the fact that it is Friday... And Friday has become my favorite day because after 8 hours at work, on most weekends, I am able to have some quiet time to sew and knit! I have just about 20 yards of fabric laundered and folded waiting to be made into something great! Initially, I thought surely I would only make bags for the shop... but after reading a post by Miss Carrie, I may just make myself a simple skirt or something :-D

On the job front, I guess it is ok to say now, I will officially be joining the ranks of the unemployed in the next few months. I've been processing this information for a few weeks now, and I seem to be ok with it. I am sure that other emotions will flow as the time draws near, but for now, it is ok. I am browsing around for a new job - although I tease join almost on a daily basis that I am going to become a kept woman and that this is it for me! If you know me, you know I am an extreme busy body, and that would likely never happen... But dreaming is fun. The most sad or difficult part of all of this is watching so many people that have worked at this site for so long and wondering how they are going to make it and what they are going to do. Everybody doesn't have a 'John' at home, so it worries me. More to come on this...

RoseKnits has had a very exciting month ~ I think in the first two weeks of June I had more sales than I have ever had in an entire month! That encourages me to sew, sew, sew! I am also busily preparing for Fiber Christmas which is July 24 - July 25 in Kellyville, OK. If you are around during that time, you should surely check it out!

I leave you with a photo of my dear daddy, Dennis! My step-sister, Catrina, wrote a very nice blog post if you want to check him out! She shares some nice tidbits about him, including his love of denim overalls!

Have a great day everyone!

Reasons Why John is the Best Husband Ever!

2009-06-04T21:04:00.004-05:00

Well, maybe he is not the best husband for you, but he certainly is for me! He knocks my socks off all of the time! Tonight, though, was a first for us... John always says that he is really proud of the sewing and RoseKnits and all of that good stuff :-D that is, of course, what husbands are supposed to say...

This July, in good 'ole Kelleyville, Oklahoma the third annual Fiber Christmas will be held (www.fiberchristmas.com). I'm really nervous because the date is fast approaching, and like everything else in life, I don't want it to creep up on me! My 'goal' is to make 100 items to take to Fiber Christmas. I keep telling John that cutting fabric, ironing interfacing, etc. all takes time. Something I will surely have less of in the near future ~ so I really want to get crackin'! After dinner I asked him to iron on interfacing for, oh, 20 box bags... He did it!!! And after that, he turned about 10 handles or so... (I should have taken photos of this event - drats!)

I think he secretly enjoyed it so I promised him more fabric fun this weekend where we are going to have a sew-a-rama at our house! And this, folks, is the reason for today why he's the best husband ever!

We're Still Alive, I Promise!

2009-06-01T06:01:00.002-05:00

It has been awhile since I have taken a seat to talk to you from blogger land... Here goes nothin'!

I suspect that you all thought that John and I killed each other in an effort to prepare our house for sale. We did not. The things that have been transpiring in the Saltsman household are much, much more interesting than death!

I only wish I could tell you the details of what has been going on; but I cannot. Maybe a little later, we'll have to see how it all unfolds!

An update, nonetheless. We listed our house last Wednesday only to remove it from the market Thursday evening. I am excited to report that TWO people viewed our house on Thursday and a few others drove by this past Saturday searching for a 'For Sale' sign only to find nothing. We've dug St. Joseph out of the front yard and placed him in the kitchen ~ in hopes of using him in the future. Yesterday, my dad took us to breakfast and brought his truck so we could make two grueling trips from mini-storage to our house. Our garage looks much like it used to, only cluttered with boxes of stuff rather than the stuff. I plan to bring those back into the house one at a time in hopes of getting rid of some of the stuff.

The yarn, well, it never made it to the garage... It went right back to the room that it was packed from, but did manage to find some new shelves that hubby installed Saturday night. That room has the appearance of being a bit more tidy and organized.

In the near future John and I are looking at some changes in both of our lives, and YES, we will be making the changes together vs. apart just in case some of you were thinking the worse!

So we are alive, well, and plugging onward! Hope to have more updates for you soon!

A Well Sorted Plan

2009-05-14T05:36:00.004-05:00

It can still be good, though, right? In the last blog I mentioned how John and I have decided to set forth and look for a new home together! As exciting as this is, it appears it is going to be a lot of work. When I moved into this house 1) it was just me and 2) I was moving in from a 700 square foot apartment and 3) I have the tendency to make some impulsive decisions at times so it really didn't take very long to get stuff done.

In 2005 I wanted to buy a house - I made an offer on ONE that I had seen (I had only seen ONE) and only when that deal did not work out I was forced to spend a Saturday with a realtor and picked another one that day. Not a big deal. This move, however, is going to be very, very different. 1) There are 2 people involved 2) We are trying to move roughly 1200 square feet into (with any luck 2500 square feet) and 3) my husband, God knows I love him, is extremely anal rententive. This is a good quality, I supposed, because it may provide some balance to my impulsive side.

We rented a storage unit yesterday - and I won't tell you how long that took - nor the discussion that transpired over what kind of lock was going to be used on the storage unit... At about 2 yesterday afternoon I received a spreadsheet with a list of.... "MLS Number, Who Recommended the Home, List Price, Address, School District, Pros, Cons..." Are you getting the picture here? I love, love, love the hubs, but he truly believes that a spreadsheet is the answer to everything!

Needless to say - I will try to enjoy this ride - and probably what keeps me sane is the idea that once completed, I will have my very own room for sewing and yarn storage. As I was packing up my yarn two nights ago (people who view the house may consider my yarn clutter --- we won't hold their ignorance against them) I promised my yarn that after it was forced to stay in a storage place in a rubbermaid tub (we at least sprang for climate controlled; John does not want me to have to replace all of my yarn) I would provide a proper, more deserved home for it the next time I unpack it. Here are some stash photos... Doesn't it look sad??

Funny thing... I only purchased on 32-gallon tub... When I came home John said, "You know that isn't going to fit, you may as well turn around, go back to Target and buy another tub. Why would you think all of that would fit??" Hehehe... I love him, yes I do!

Have a great day folks... Tomorrow... I will carry the Meme torch passed by Taryn.

Adventures in the Saltsman Home

2009-05-11T20:43:00.003-05:00

John and I have spoken, joked, hinted around on numerous occasions that maybe we should be in the market for a new home. While we realize this may not be the 'ideal' time to buy a home, we are both still gainfully employed (knocking on wood), and John's job seems to have something that resembles stability.

Currently we are living in my first home - my starter home - a home definitely made for one person, not two. I love this house - it was my first introduction into the adult world, and the first substantial thing that I purchased that was not a mistake :-) My little starter house is 1127 square feet, 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom. It's so cute! Unfortunately, I think John and I are outgrowing this house - and with any luck, we'll be growing our family next year. We joke that we can stay in this house until someone else needs to use the restroom - but we risk a potential homicide occuring in this house if we do not choose to part with it.

I mentioned that John and I have discussed this before - where I am quite sure he dismissed me and went about his daily business. Well - Grant (John's buddy at work) and John went to lunch on Friday - and Grant says, "John, this really is a great time to buy a house... blah... blah... blah..." I can hear the conversation now. Saturday morning John casually saunters up to me, "So, honey, Grant and I were talking yesterday at lunch and I think it would be a great time for us to start looking for a new home..." You could just see the little glimmer in his eye as he made his very proud statement, that I am sure he still thinks that he came up with... Whatever! You have to pick and choose your battles in a marriage and the realtor is coming this week. We're preapproved for a new home... And we'll see what happens.

While I may not get to shout, "H-E-L-L-O, that's what I have been saying..." or "Do you ever listen to me..." I do get to look for new homes. I've won this one, even if I don't get to brag about it - to him...

Shop Updates!

2009-05-09T23:30:00.002-05:00

I received an order of Erin McMorris' new fabric today! So far these have been added... More to come tomorrow!

Buy yours today!!!

Happy Friday! Would Anyone Like Some Freezer Paper?

2009-05-08T05:41:00.005-05:00

Happy Friday! We have made it through another week together... And I think I have managed to blog every single day! Not always substantial, but hey, I showed up! I will be doing a special post on Mother's Day - yay! This morning I seem to be very excited, not sure why - but I woke up with the song in my head, "Let's Get It Started..." by the Black Eyed Peas. It quickly brought me back to the days of Jazzercise... Ahh, I digress!

I have loads of sewing planned for the weekend, may catch a movie with the hubs, and I am scheduled to volunteer with the Sand Springs Community Services tomorrow. The mail carriers are having a food drive and we will be weighing in and documenting food deliveries! I'm going to take some knitting in case the traffic is not constant.

The other day I was reading the blog A Peace of Presley, and she made some awesome freezer paper stencils. I googled it and decided that it would be a fun project for all of the impending babies in my life - oh and those that are currently in existence. Yesterday, on my afternoon trip to Wal-Mart, I picked up fabric paint, freezer paper, and loads of onsies! This is what I made last night...

And I plan to make a lot more this weekend, right after I have John cut out my stencils. He's a perfectionist (worse than me) and he'll do a much better job at cutting them out. I just want to prep the onsies and paint! I was telling my girlfriend, Sarah, about my new project and she asked me if I ever do... housework! Of course I do - but I am investigating hiring a housekeeper - only twice a month, though, to do things I don't enjoy.

Oh, and I can't forget your daily dose of RoseKnits! This is another "Large Fortune Cookie" that was posted in the shop today! I love the colors together... It's just HOT!

Hope you guys have a Happy Friday!!

Good Morning...

2009-05-07T05:44:00.001-05:00

Some posies to start your day, perhaps...

Bloggin' Late Night

2009-05-06T21:54:00.001-05:00

Ok, you may be laughing at the title... To imply that late night is 9:53 PM, but let's face it, for the working adult, that is seriously late night! Especially when you are due at work at 7:00 AM the following morning!

The fortune cookies you see below are not just any fortune cookie... They are the LARGER version of the fortune cookies. These cookies are 10" tall - perfect for the sock knitter in your life, or anyone else who enjoys smaller projects! They are cute, right?

What is your idea of a 'perfect' knitting or project bag? I love feedback!

Which Fruit Are You?

2009-05-05T21:34:00.003-05:00

Ok, I may just have an odd sense of humor, but when a coworker brought this fabric to my attention, I could not help myself! It is not the typical designer fabric that I usually use... But, in my opinion, this perfectly represents most female perception of body parts! I especially love the little lady with the 'tramp stamp' on her lower back (not knocking tramp stamps, I have one myself!)

You can find this little dandy in my shop! Enjoy!!

Saltsman Shipping Center Open for Business

2009-05-05T21:27:00.002-05:00

If you were to walk into my kitchen right now you may mistake it for a low budget Kinko's :-) It is that time of the year - well, we actually have this situation several times of year... Anytime there is an occasion where gifts could possibly be involved it gets crazy in this house. We are trying to finalize packages to be shipped to Detroit, New York City, one local package, and several local envelopes.

Only a few more days until Mother's Day!!! We'll have a history lesson on that tomorrow!!

RoseKnits - Weekend Updates

2009-05-04T06:20:00.002-05:00

You can find this...

this...

and this...

here!

How to Pimp Your Husband - Unintentionally, Of Course!

2009-05-04T05:54:00.004-05:00

Hello Everyone! It's been awhile since I blogged... This week I am going to make an attempt to go 5 for 5. We'll see how that works out...

This weekend I spent time doing something that I'd not done in awhile. On Saturday while it was a rainy mess here (I promise it rained 12 hours on Friday - and Saturday morning John was still insisting that he was going to play golf <-- he did not... I digress, back to me!) since it was a rainy mess... I did what any girl would do. I went for a morning facial and then trotted off to Starbuck's and Loops to settle in for some knitting... When I say settle in, I mean it! I stayed at Loops from 11 AM - 3 PM. It was SO MUCH FUN! I thought, why have I not done this in so long? I made some pretty good progress on my pleated neck t. With any luck and a few lazy evenings that should be finished this week! I've not tried it on - so I hope that it all works out ok.

To the topic, though. How to pimp your husband! In case John sees this, I say this lovingly and with a bit of humor. By writing this, I am totally risking John never helping me untangle another ball of yarn - again - ever! He may not want people to know of his secret untangling powers...

Last week I was chatting along with RobinM. She was telling me about all of the goodies that she purchased at Stitches South (I'm not jealous) and she purchased a skein of ribbon yarn that just kind of blew up when she opened it. Ribbon yarn is slick and tension must be maintained while winding it... It seems like it would be really cool to use - but a mess to wind up. It has to be hand wound.

So I started bragging about how wonderful John is at untangling yarn and how he always keeps a lot of my yarn clear of the trash can. I offered Johns services to her... Totally pimped him out! Well, Robin, being thoughtful as she is, included some lovely fabric in the box of yarn (the fabric was clearly for me). Definition of pimping: offering someone elses services for personal gain. So, you can see I pimped the hubs.

Let us remember, though, that Robin is thoughtful... When John's golf surprise arrived Saturday morning he untangled the yarn with enthusiasm I have never quite seen while untangling yarn (note to self: keep golf rewards on hand when faced with tangled yarn). Needless to say - yarn is all untangled and will go in the mail on Tuesday back to the rightful owner!

Here is a quick pic of the fabric that Robin sent (thank you!!) and the pattern that I plan to use with said fabric.

Hope you guys have a Happy Monday and I look forward to talking more tomorrow...

Book 2 and a Weekend Recap

2009-04-27T05:35:00.004-05:00

My first book to actually finish on the Kindle was The Reader. I have now, happily, completed a second book! This time I read Cane River. Initially when I started this book, I was not too sure. It was only when I restarted the book that it truly peaked my interest.

Some may say, "Two books in two months... Annie, what are you really acccomplishing here?" But let us recall that I suffer from a severe case of ADD and two books is in addition to sewing, knitting, trying to be a great partner and wife, and dabbling in multiple books :-) Surely you did not think that I limited myself to one book purchase at a time... Not me!

Also on my Kindle are The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, Anna Karenina, and Dreams of My Father... I have a lot of summer reading to do! I am not sure how I will fair through Edgar Sawtelle, the book is a bit slow for me; I reserve the Monk for times when I need a pick me up - or a pep talk from someone who is not actually talking; Anna Karenina, I just downloaded that yesterday... It was $1.99, but from all of the characters that I can gather, I need to start that at a time when I can concentrate; and lastly, Mr. Obama... I think it helps that I can imagine his voice as I read the book. Awww, nice.

This weekend was a nice weekend at the Saltsman home. Friday night was the usual "do I really have to go anywhere since I worked all week?" John tricked me into buying Rachel Getting MarriedI?? or something of the sorts on pay per view, folks, we did not make it past thirty minutes.

This year I volunteered to be the survivorship chair for the Sand Springs Relay for Life through the American Cancer Society. While this is a very worthy cause, I do not know why I volunteered. I have anxiety any time I have to plan something that involves other people. We had a survivor celebration on Saturday... I will have to post some pics! It turned out well. We served frozen custard and chatted for just short of two hours. Saturday evening John and I doubled and dined at Oliver's Twist. It was good, but Jeremy's wife fired him from choosing any more restaurants. Next time we're going to hit up Doe's Eat Place where steaks are served up by the pound - you have to get there early because the one pounders go quick!

Sunday, we bummed around, I met my dear Vonchelle for coffee, did the grocery store bit, and cleaned house. I think this was a typical weekend, except John did not golf.

Hope you all had an excellent weekend!

Another Day in the Life...

2009-04-23T06:37:00.002-05:00

Yesterday afternoon was the TU Conscious Consumer Marketplace event! Sales were minimal, but not non-existent. We did hand out some cards with the web address as well; it was fun because my girlfriends Angie and Vonchelle came to hang out and keep me company... Who doesn't like extra time with their girlfriends? Also, I was pleasantly surprised at my dear hubby - he helped me set up, stayed the entire time, and would run to the other side of the time whenever a wind gust would occur and blow something off of the table. He's great, isn't he?? I think so ;-)

Here's a photo of Angie and I right after setting up - we ended up having to anchor the stands to the table due to the wind. All in all, a great learning opportunity - and good time with friends!

Today we are hosting a type of 'thank you' for our employees where we will cook their lunch; I anticipate this taking the greater part of my day! More to come tomorrow...

XO

Week In Review

2009-04-17T10:08:00.002-05:00

Today is Friday and I have made it through yet another week at the good 'ole steel mill. I am not sure if it is my outside activities, my attitude adjustment, or indifference, but the past few weeks have actually not been that bad. This is a good thing because I can certainly think of days that I did not want to come to work.

It appears that it will be a pretty laid back weekend (my favorite!). Tomorrow we will be celebrating Earth Day at work where we will hand out 1600 Red Bud Saplings, water, and reusable shopping bags. In the past this has been a fun event. Little kids LOVE handing stuff out to people and we usually have our fair share of little kids running around the workplace at Earth Day celebrations. John will be golfing - so I am hoping to sneak home and sew for the remainder of the day. We may do a date night where he will pick the movie... Which means I pick the restaurant! I better make it good since we will be starting the FAT SMASH diet on Sunday!

Is it time for spring cleaning yet? I may try to do some of that this weekend as well.

Yesterday my girlfriend sent me a lovely text message that had TWO lines on it :-) They are expecting their second child... Their first child is only 5 months old - and they believe her to be 7-8 weeks into the second pregnancy. While she is stressed and in shock right now, I am so excited for her!!! And even more excited for me; my friends and family keep me in ample supply of babies... I get all of the pleasure and none of the pain... So, for now, I will continue to live vicariously through them and enjoy my uninterrupted nights of sleep and my body that is all mine, mine, mine --- !

Next week I promise to include some photos - you can only handle so much black and white... Or is it gray and white? Anyways, I will show my knitting WIP's. OMG!! Have you seen Scabbard? I loved this sweater, but wasn't crazy about the neckline. They now have a 'summer' version with a more simple neckline... After I finish a few things, I will definitely have to cast on for this in SILK! Treating myself... I'm good at that!

Have a fantastic weekend!!

I Read It Somewhere...

2009-04-16T08:11:00.002-05:00

I always make fun of my mom because her latest thing is reading magazines on how to live better, live longer, more healthy, increase brain function, etc. Most conversations with her begin with... "I read somewhere..." After awhile I become annoyed because if she read it somewhere then by gosh darnit, there must be some truth to it! Imagine the humor this morning when I was putting on make up (I never do this) and so the conversation goes...

John: What are you doing in here?
Annie: I'm putting on make up...
John: Make Up (obvious confusion going on)
Annie: Yes, well I read somewhere... if you put on make up you will feel better.

So, today I wear make-up because 1) I have a telephone interview at 10:00 AM with a local community college for an adjunct teaching position. I applied quite awhile ago - and I was annoyed at the fact that I did not even receive a phone... Their minimum requirements are a bachelor's degree - I have a master's... And while I only have 4.5 years of HR experience, I have done some substantial things during that time - so I figure beginning HR class, right up my alley. I'm not sure that I am really interested anymore since I have been sewing so much, but I am glad that I finally received that phone call :-) 2) I have a grievance review meeting where we will be writing responses to some grievances... Work for me is a constant challenge - so I wanted to feel better about the meeting which is possible if I just feel better about myself...

Fake it 'til you make it, right? I am in the middle of 5 books right now... 1) Cane River - this one is moving rather quickly. I've completed 25% of it since yesterday at lunch time! 2) Dream of my Father by the lovely Barack Obama... Yahoo has an article today about his tax returns... He's made a bit of money on this book. Rightfully so, it's pretty good so far! 3) The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari - cross between self help and self actualization. I save this book for days when I need a pick me up... It always does the trick. 4) The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. This book is definitely on the back burner. It is moving a little slow for my taste. 5) The Fat Smash Diet. I will start this diet on Sunday. I've managed to escalate from my jeans being tight to plain 'ole not fitting. I have no desire to go up a pant size - so we'll see if we can smash enough fat in 3 weeks at least for the clothes to fit again. I understand it is a lot of veggies, rice, and limited meat. Will definitely let you know how it goes!

We owe all of this reading to the Kindle. God bless Kindle creators. And have a happy Thursday!

We Always Get What We Need

2009-04-14T07:57:00.005-05:00

I thought of adding this tidbit last night, but it really did not go with my dinner frenzy mess! I did mention that I was trying to increase advertising for RoseKnits. Well, one thing necessary to self promoting is confidence. Sometimes I find that I lack in that area, but often try not to let people know this. I believe in what I make, and I believe that I make quality products, but to walk up to someone and say, "Hey you should be interested in this because...." isn't really my cup of tea.

I mailed a package to another city - to a complete stranger - just to see if they would be interested in any of my products... She sent me the nicest e-mail (I have not been denied at this point) and said that she really thought that I did quality work!! From a complete stranger - vs. your husband - wow, what a compliment!

Some evenings or mornings when I am tired and may not feel like sewing at that moment, someone, usually a stranger, will believe in me or give me a compliment and that keeps me going. I am true believer that we always get what we need exactly when we need it!

Now... on to gathering paperwork for the auditors. It is that season, again! Have a good one everyone!

Thought for the Day

2009-04-13T21:08:00.002-05:00

I have not blogged in 9 days *gasp*! The truth is, I have thought about it often, but have not sat down to do it... Life, it always gets the best of us. The last glorious occasion that I had something humorous to say - oddly enough everyone does not share my darling sense of humor - was last Thursday.

Friday was a holiday for our plant so Thursday (hold your breath... wait for it... wait for it...) my boss let us go home EARLY! Yes, folks, I was headed to the Saltsman home at about 3:30 PM. Since I had the luxury of coming home early, and John was working late, I had the responsibility of preparing dinner.

When I spoke to John and he told me to "figure it out" my first thought was TAKE OUT! I've not had to prepare a meal in quite some time and when I do it is usually strategically planned and I have all of the ingredients and tools in place. I am not a fly by the seat of my pants kind of cook girl - it takes thought for me. Back to John telling me to figure it out... It sent me into a frenzy! I scoured one of our 100 cookbooks and ended on the 4 ingredient recipe book. Certainly we had four ingredients of some kind in this house to come together to resemble a meal.

We ended up with chicken breasts marinated in soy sauce and orange slices, couscous (5 minute preparation), and corn (the steamfresh variety). It was ok - not Bobby Flay worthy, but John worthy. He ate it, complimented me as any good husband should, and we went on with our evening.

The majority of my free time as of late has been spent sewing my little fingers off! I start advertising for RoseKnits in May and want to make sure the I am stocked full of great stuff! I am also going to attend an event next Wednesday at the local University and hope to make some sales. The yarn store order - it is due on May 1. I, of course, like any overachiever would, would like to deliver early... So the rest of the week and weekend will be spent finishing up that order.

It is fun, it is good, and I am happy. That is the important thing, right? Oh, John is happy, too <--- mainly because I am happy.

Until next time...

And It's Friday!!

2009-04-03T08:32:00.003-05:00

Well folks I've made it through the week and this morning I will set out to enjoy my last few hours of the Employment Law seminar. It has been a good week and I think I am refreshes on most laws affecting the HR profession today... *Sigh*

The most exciting part of the week I will have to say was finished Snezi! I wish I had a camera because I love, love, love the shrug! Very simple and very cute. I am also on the skirt part of the summer cardi I've been working on - will be great knitting for the plain seeing as though I have 12 inches of stockinette stitch to carry me home... How do I get myself into so much stockinette?

John and I will be going to Detroit in June for a 'wedding celebration' with his family. I believe he said we are having an open house at his parents house with catering, etc. I think I should make my dress and shrug for this event, what do you think? Lucky for me RobinM posted a host of cute summery items - I will have to decide on one and set out to get the pattern!

The Hot Loops party is tomorrow night - yay! And my Knit Kit is in as well... Oh what a wonderful weekend this will be... After I get through the dreadful airport travel :-)

Happy Friday everyone!!

Writing A Short Story

2009-03-31T21:24:00.003-05:00

We all have a story and what makes the story significant is the way in which it is told :-) Lately I have been working on a short story or a chapter, if you will, that will hopefully someday have a place in my novel (<-- better known as my life).

I have been selling bags on Etsy since January... Wow! I now have 32 sales which is pretty exciting... Last week I landed my first 'official' store order. My LYS has ordered 12 knitting / craft totes and 12 fortune cookies!!!! I cannot explain the excitement! And I think John is finally starting to take me seriously --- I have a lot of ideas, bless his heart. At this point I do not have any real intentions on this bag thing; it is more or less just done for the love of beautiful fabric, and the fact that a girl can only have so many bags... It also provides some additional funds for yarn.

I will be posting regular updates on RoseKnits (roseknits.etsy.com)... Because it is fun and it is all me!

Anyways, what are you guys writing about lately? What is going on in your lives?

PJ's for the Little One

2009-03-25T06:53:00.001-05:00

Here are the adorable little PJ's for baby Brynn! When I purchased the fabric for these I could not remember what the pattern said exactly so I bought 2 yards of each fabric. John says, "I do not even sew and I am quite sure it is not going to take 4 yards of fabric to outfit a baby..." Whatever! Now I have enough to make another pair; fitting since yesterday I found out that I am having a little sister!

About that... As a person - more so as an adult, we have choices that we have to make. I have a lot of emotions and feelings about the new little one, but at the end of the day, I love my family - and I would like for them to remain actively involved in my life and I would like to remain actively involved in theirs as well. The little one is part of that equation... So, I'm on board.

I will have days where I am sure my emotions will not remain in check, and for those days, I have a loving husband who will suck it up right next to me - and fortunately, still be my husband the next day! And the other days I'll spend buying ridiculous stuff (i.e. the pink rubber ducky I found yesterday) and making even more ridiculous stuff for the little one - we want her to know how much she really is loved!!

Happy Hump Day!

Gotta Love Little Girls

2009-03-24T11:41:00.000-05:00

The news is in: I am having a little sister!

Tuesdays with Annie

2009-03-24T09:02:00.001-05:00

My patience of lack of is rearing its ugly head this morning! I consider myself to be of average intelligence. I think with effort and diligence most people can do anything they want to do. I truly believe that. My most recent happenings at work has required me to communicate with an HR person at another company. Regarding benefits (-Not my favorite HR topic).

Do you ever have conversations with people and you are saying that exact same thing and they cannot make the connection? Well that seems to be the case this morning.

Here is your insurance lesson for the day… Our companies have the same exact spouse work rule that states if your spouses company offers him/her medical insurance, they must elect that insurance as primary insurance. They can continue to be covered on the plan, but only as secondary. If they choose not to enroll in their companies insurance as primary, then they are no longer eligible for our coverage and they will be dropped from our plan. The argument: when we implemented the spouse work rule we did not force spouses off of our plan, we did not define a date in which loss of coverage would occur – we simply said, when your spouse has open enrollment, please do the right thing and have them enroll in their companies plan. The conflict: a particular spouse, after saying yesterday she missed her open enrollment period, had me speak with someone in their HR department today stating that they had no open enrollment. Hmmm… I guess I am skeptical because I dislike speaking with a persons ‘HR Representative’ that sits right next to them in the office. I think this can sometimes cause mistruths to be communicated.

Enough about work – if you’re still with me! Things have been busy at home, sewing, knitting, and trying to be a great wife like I aspire to be! I have a meeting this Thursday to show a local shop owner some of my bags – I am very, very, nervous. I do not do well with criticism (better get over that one and quickly) and the thought of standing there while having your objects inspected is just pure frightening! I am sewing up some special goodies for the meeting - will show those on Thursday – after the meeting!

I also intended to post the very cute Kimono Pajamas made from Amy Butler’s kiddo sewing book (can’t think of the title) but I forgot to upload them this morning. I will post those tonight. In newspaper, we used to say something about there being too much writing – not enough white space – and I believe this post is pushing those limits. Photos tonight!

Babies Are In the Air!

2009-03-19T05:24:00.003-05:00

One week ago today I made a post and John's little sister was in the hospital to deliver her first baby! By 4:30 that afternoon we were blessed with a beautiful baby NIECE - her name is Brynn Grace! Very amazing and very happy for them!

Last night, the phone call that I have dreaded since 2002 came. My birth mother who I met in 2001, called. She's 48 - and she's pregnant. 13.5 weeks to be exact. I have always been the baby in my family and an only child to her and now she's having a baby.

I'm quite sure I am still in the shock stage. I have felt more emotions in the past 12 hours, more painful than happy, than I ever care to experience. Once I have absorbed and come to terms with all of this I may try to explain how it feel to be in my situation and have this happen. My coming to terms will most likely take a long time.

On a happy note, it's Thursday - one more day until the weekend! Oh, and after work I am going to stand in line at a book signing by Sally Melville and Caddy Melville Ledbetter - their new book that is a mother - daughter collaboration is out!! Yay!! And Loops, my LYS, was lucky enough to host them for a book signing. When I told John about it he simply laughed. Here is where he's the good husband, though - I said, "Honey, remember, this is what I was saving my birthday gift cards for..." He replies, "I still think you should use your gift cardsd to buy yarn - pay cash for the book..." Oh, yes, yarn lovers - that comment sent me straight to heaven!!

Happy Day everyone!!

Old Man Winter Pays Oklahoma Another Visit!

2009-03-12T10:36:00.002-05:00

In Oklahoma there is some saying about if you do not like the weather, just wait a few minutes?? At any rate, the past week we have seen spring and summer temperatures – lots of sun, thoughts of working in the yard and planning of what to plant for this year… Today, we are being serenaded with fluffy, white snow puffs. It is rather peaceful outside. Perfect weather for staying in the house; only it is a weekday, and grown ups do not get to stay in the house on weekdays!

This morning I had to visit the dentist to have some fillings replaced on both sides, so my entire upper lip and upper half of my face was completely numb. I am beginning to regain some feeling, thank goodness!!

An avid reader and co-worker, Ryan, turned me onto this book called The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari. I initially started reading it to be annoying because I had the Kindle and could download it within seconds of him breathing the title (it took him a few days to get to the bookstore), and surprisingly, it is actually a good book. I think for me it is just what the doctor ordered right now. It speaks of positive thoughts and the idea that if you think something the body and reality will follow. Very, very good book that I would recommend for anyone that needs some uplifting words!

And let's end on a very happy, high note! John's baby sister, JoAnne, had a due date of March 3rd. This is the first baby in their immediate family... Well, she just was not budging so she was admitted to the hospital last night... I believe the plan is to induce labor - so we are hoping for a new niece or nephew by tomorrow! John and I may be out shopping this evening for goodies to send in a care package! Yay!

Don't Forget to Count Your Blessings

2009-03-11T13:46:00.001-05:00

It was brought to my attention that I have not blogged in approximately one week! Some days I am feeling inspired, begin to write something magnificent, then my computer goes on the fritz and all inspiration leaves me.

This week has been an interested and somewhat sad week for me. I feel like I have, literally, been surrounded by death. On Monday morning when I came to work I walked in and blasted my usual overly chipper, “Good Morning, Tyler. How are you today?” This Monday, he did not look like he was doing well. Immediately assuming the worst, I thought *oh, sh*t, did I do something last week that I forgot about…* He quickly relieved me of my narcissistic thoughts, but only to share that one employee lost his son to cancer the previous Friday evening and another employee was killed in an accident Sunday evening. The son who died was only 21. Then on Tuesday we had another employee lose his mother. I literally feel like I am surrounded by death.

When faced with death, I think it causes us to reflect on things that we do not do on a more regular basis that we should because as demonstrated, time is not infinite. It will also cause one to count their blessings, because as bad as it may seem, it really could be worse.

So I hope that today you will take a moment to count your blessings – I have been trying to do more of that this week and limit my whining to the first 30 minutes of the morning – only after saying ‘thank you’ for having awakened from the night before.

Week In Review

2009-03-05T09:02:00.000-06:00

Happy Thursday everyone! I would have to say that life manages to stay pretty exciting in our little piece of the world. This week has been fairly busy and short (thank goodness) due to taking off of work this past Monday for my birthday! John cooked a fantastic dinner – no wonder why I married him – we dined on filet, grilled shrimp, grilled Portobello mushrooms, salad with homemade blue cheese dressing and a carrot cake made from scratch! What a hubby, right?

In addition to the fab dinner, he also made me the proud new owner of an Offhand Designs Zelda Weekender bag! My knitting, Kindle, wallet, and everything else I drag along fits quite nicely.

Current knitting projects: Provence Marl Empire Waist Cardigan and also the Hemlock Blanket. The Cardi I am doing on my own and the Hemlock I’ve joined with some fabulous ladies for a KAL. Cardi is my travel project, Hemlock my home project.

I received my first public kudos on RoseKnits from Amby at Julip Bags. That was probably one of the higher points in my week (thanks, Amby!!)

For those of you who know me well or read fairly often, you know that I have an odd sense of humor when it comes to work – or anything else – and that I remain in constant turmoil over my job situation. I often think about why we work, do I want to work where I feel I am underutilized in exchange for a better salary, or do I look for some place that offers a challenge and maybe less of a salary. It is all a balancing act that I am trying to feel my way through. Mr. Economy is allowing me extra time to think about this since this is not exactly the perfect time to go job hunting, but it is on my mind. I am hoping by the end of the summer to make some decisions which will undoubtedly affect my future career, etc. Exciting and scary all in the same.

Hope you are all having a fun week! We’re headed to the golf course after work today… Then I’ll spend my weekend sewing for the shop! Yay!

Happy Sunday!

2009-03-01T16:09:00.001-06:00

Wishes for another yarny year!!

2009-02-27T10:39:00.002-06:00

I would have to say on a scale of 1 – 10 on the mood this week, I would give it an 8. In spite of everything that could be construed as negative, I have been doing a lot of self talk to stay on the positive front! After all… My birthday is Monday, so that is exciting, right?

On the business front, while things are not improving they are not declining either. And today, that is ok.

The Lenten season officially began this Wednesday so John and I have decided to forgo soda pop and candy. Someone actually asked me if I had given up yarn! I am not going to set myself up for complete failure here, people.

My yarn stash is actually doing quite the opposite of decreasing – it is growing at warp speed! Let’s do a recap, shall we?

I started off the year ‘testing’ our joint banking account and ordered 4 skeins of DIC. I then visited Detroit, and John was in such a great mood to be with his family that I seized the opportunity and purchased 5 skeins of Shepherd’s Wool. John bought me 5 skeins of Miss Babs’ for Valentine’s Day – and I bought myself 7 skeins of Lorna’s Lace Greenline Worsted. My dear friend Brooke sent me a gift card for Valentine’s Day to the yarn store where I purchased 3 skeins of Malabrigo and 4 skeins of 2nd time cotton. And here we are at my birthday – grandma sent me a check, The Backwards Loop had a sale, and that’s all she wrote! 8 skeins of Lorna’s Lace should be in route to Oklahoma. So far, we are at 36 skeins of yarn! Do you know how many sweaters that is? At least 6, right - Although I think the Malabrigo will go to the Hemlock Blanket KAL I am getting ready to start!? My boss gifted me a yarn store gift card for my birthday today – oh my! I think I am going to hold off for a bit because my next purchase will be 9 skeins of Cascade 220 in Black… For yet another sweater! (**Note to self: this is all for me. This does not include yarn purchased for John’s sweater vest).

This is turning out to be a very exciting yarn year! Oh, and on Monday, for my / your birthday viewing pleasure I will have modeled pics of the Textured Circle Shrug. Monogamous knitting is turning out to be a good thing… I can pop out a sweater in two weeks!

I Am Practicing As A Monogamous, Reading Knitter

2009-02-25T08:25:00.002-06:00

I am having an exceptional week this week! On Monday I called to upgrade the shipping for my Kindle and I received it last night! I just could not take the waiting any long; I really should get some patience, I already know! Kindle is all charged and in hand! The first book that I will be reading is The Reader.

When debating on whether or not to make this purchase John asked if I would really use Kindle. After all, how can one knit and read at the same time? This morning I was able to make it through the first four chapters! Yay! It also has this nice text to speech feature which will allow Kindle to read to you with or without headphones – male or female computerized voice. I tested the voice last night, and I honestly do not mind it.

The other feature that I believe will be useful is that you are allowed to read one chapter of a book before deciding to make the purchase. I firmly believe this will help me to weed out books that I will not finish. I think the instant access is the BEST part! You remember the ”p” word that I mentioned above. No need for that here. Order the book and you will have it in your hot little hands in 60 seconds or less. This is nice.

On the knitting front… For the past 11 days I have been acting as a monogamous knitter, and we all know that I am not :-/ I have been working on the Textured Circle Shrug from Stephanie Japel’s Glam Knits. I am 21 rows from completion! I hope to wear this beautiful shrug on Sunday while I am out to dinner with my hubby celebrating 27 years!

Happy Hump Day!

Reading...

2009-02-21T17:18:00.002-06:00

"The Big Read answers a big need. Reading at Risk: A Survey of Literary Reading in America, a 2004 report by the National Endowment for the Arts, found that not only is literary reading in America declining rapidly among all groups, but that the rate of decline has accelerated, especially among the young. The concerned citizen in search of good news about American literary culture would study the pages of this report in vain. They say the average American has only read 6 of the following:"

Key

1) Bold the books you have already read
2) Italicize the books you intend to read
3) Notes in parentheses next to note-worthy titles.

1) Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
2) The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien
3) Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
4) Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling (the first book)
5) To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
6) The Bible
7) Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
8 ) Nineteen Eighty Four by George Orwell
9) His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
10) Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
11) Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
12) Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
13) Catch 22 by Joseph Heller
14) Complete Works of Shakespeare
15) Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
16) The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
17) Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks
18 ) Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger
19) The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
20) Middlemarch by George Eliot
21) Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell
22) The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
23) Bleak House by Charles Dickens
24) War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
25) The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
26) Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
27) Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28 ) Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
29) Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
30) The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
31) Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
32) David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
33) Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis
34) Emma by Jane Austen
35) Persuasion by Jane Austen
36) The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by CS Lewis
37) The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
38 ) Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis De Bernieres
39) Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
40) Winnie the Pooh by AA Milne
41) Animal Farm by George Orwell
42) The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
43) One Hundred Years of Solitude, Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44) A Prayer for Owen Meaney by John Irving
45) The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
46) Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery
47) Far From The Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy
48 ) The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
49) Lord of the Flies by William Golding
50) Atonement by Ian McEwan
51) Life of Pi by Yann Martel
52) Dune by Frank Herbert
53) Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons
54) Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
55) A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth
56) The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57) A Tale Of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
58 ) Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
59) The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon
60) Love In The Time Of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
61) Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
62) Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
63) The Secret History by Donna Tartt
64) The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
65) Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
66) On The Road by Jack Kerouac
67) Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy
68 ) Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding
69) Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie
70) Moby Dick by Herman Melville
71) Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
72) Dracula by Bram Stoker
73) The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
74) Notes From A Small Island by Bill Bryson
75) Ulysses by James Joyce
76) The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
77) Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome
78 ) Germinal by Emile Zola
79) Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray
80) Possession by AS Byatt
81) A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
82) Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
83) The Color Purple by Alice Walker
84) The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
85) Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert (This is one of my favorite reads of all time!)
86) A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
87) Charlotte's Web by EB White
88 ) The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom
89) Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
90) The Faraway Tree Collection by Enid Blyton
91) Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
92) The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery
93) The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks
94) Watership Down by Richard Adams
95) A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
96) A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute
97) The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas
98 ) Hamlet by William Shakespeare
99) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
100) Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

I always thought that I was well read; maybe not so much! I hope that Kindle has a lot of these titles available. This may be a very busy reading year!

I checked the National Endowment for the Arts and below is their current list.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya
The Bridge of San Luis Rey and Our Town by Thornton Wilder
The Call of the Wild by Jack London
The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines
Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich
The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
My Ántonia by Willa Cather
Old School by Tobias Wolff
The Poetry of Emily Dickinson by Emily Dickinson
The Poetry of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
The Poetry of Robinson Jeffers by Robinson Jeffers
The Shawl by Cynthia Ozick
The Stories and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe by Edgar Allan Poe
Sun, Stone, and Shadows by Jorge F. Hernández (editor)
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
The Thief and the Dogs by Naguib Mahfouz
The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien (I tried this and it was just too horrific)
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Washington Square by Henry James
A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K.

Today is Fabulous Friday...

2009-02-20T08:19:00.002-06:00

I should have known today was going to be a great day. I woke up and actually flat ironed my hair - this rarely happens because I never know when I am going to be summoned to plunk a hard hat on my head and walk out in the mill. In addition to the flat ironed effect, I also put on make up. Again, never happens. Not really a need to be glamorous in this environment (I should take photos sometime so you will all understand). I wore khaki's - some of you may now be scoffing at me - khaki's - well, when you wear jeans everyday khaki's are a sweet treat!

You can imagine my amazement when I sent a text to my husband asking if it were okay to purchase a Kindle 2 today. I always ask to buy a lot of things and I always anticipate, "no" or "not today" to be the answer. It is not that John controls our purchases, but I really would purchase unnecessary things on a daily basis if it were agreed upon, and sometimes not agreed upon by hubby. Today he said, "yes" to which I responded in complete confusion, "Are you serious?!?!?" He said yes again and I ordered it! On February 24 the new Kindle will be released and hopefully soon after I will receive mine!!! Yay for Friday's!!! And especially Friday's where you get to buy Kindles which I am sure is going to make me smarter...

Have a good one!

Weekend In Review

2009-02-16T08:08:00.002-06:00

This weekend proved to be very uneventful (which is a good thing!) Friday evening John and I actually went OUT - on something that resembled a date, which we have not done in awhile! We dined at Senor Tequila's, then being the fabulous husband that he is he rushed me right over to JoAnn's to purchase the latest edition of Debbie Bliss knitting magazine (he really is a keeper, isn't he??). While we were there I picked up two skirt patterns since they were only $1 each!

Saturday we exchanged Valentine's (since when is Valentine's a gift day??) John bought me some really great Miss Babs superwash merino - I'm going to make the Textured Shrug from Stephanie Japel's Glam Knits. I purchased a Bobby Flay grill book for him... Which he used Saturday night to make our Valentine dinner... I also went pattern shopping, again, with my mom and picked up some doggy bone cookie cutters that I used on Sunday to make Chandler Mason doggy treats!

Our Valentine's dinner consisted of: Calamari, Grilled Shrimp and Lobster, steamed broccoli and chocolate covered strawberries for dessert!

Sunday - well, we rolled out of bed and went to the corner diner for some breakfast :-) Great way to spend a Sunday with your hubby! And I sewed quite a bit while John relaxed and watched television... Oh, and read up on potty training grown animals. Chan and John seem to have their own pissing contest going on right in our house!

I leave you with photos of the beautiful yarn!! More tomorrow...

Valentine's Day on a Budget

2009-02-13T09:36:00.002-06:00

I think I have mentioned before that John is an accountant – and accountants tend to see things in black and white – and are typically budget conscious. I think he is most of those things sin budget conscious when it comes to golf. He tries to act budget conscious and hum haw around and then I make him feel better about whatever the overpriced purchase is and we all go about our day (I am fairly certain that this is an act that he has perfected since the beginning of our courtship).

Originally we were going to make dinner reservations and go out for Valentine’s Day, but in an effort to be creative and spend what discretionary income we do have on things much more fun than food (i.e. yarn **which reminds me… today The Backwards Loop is having a sale and I scored some Lorna’s Lace for $10 / skein & to top it off I received the Spring Interweave Knits magazine in the mail yesterday!!!** and a new wedge club for him), we are going to cook at home! As of this moment, we have yet to plan our menu; I am sure tomorrow will be spent scurrying about the grocery stores searching for bargains and something that looks appetizing!

The challenge: Valentine’s Day Dinner at home on $50. Some of you may be laughing at me and my classifying this as a ‘challenge’ but the drinks, dinner, and dessert all have to fit into the $50 budget… Do you think we can do it?? I will keep you posted on what we come up with!

Hope and Inspiration

2009-02-11T16:44:00.006-06:00

Hope and inspiration are two things that people need right now. They can take you a long way when there is not much to look forward to. Given the dire state of our economy, which you cannot help but focus on because every time you turn on the tv, look at the stock market, or receive a 401k statement in the mail you cannot help but be filled with overwhelming trepidation of what is next.

Taryn, a young lady who I went to high school with and coincidentally was reconnected with thanks to Ravelry, is onto something. She seems to find a way to make horrific moments funny and sad moments inspirational! If you ever need a laugh, definitely check out her blog A Peine for Your Thoughts. Her most recent post... Unless you love your job, she will make you want to be on the receiving end of a pink slip!

Here was my little bit of hope last night... The circus is always fun, right? This is my little bit of self-promotion for the day...

Someone Hearts Me

2009-02-11T16:14:00.002-06:00

The title, a bit misleading... When I say someone hearts me, I mean someone hearts some of the stuff that I have made in my shop!!! Some of you may know, or you may not, but last November I opened a shop on Etsy (roseknits.etsy.com). I love fabric and bags and all things fiber so I thought if there was a way that I could support my habit with another habit, why not!

I have had a few sales, which is always encouraging - and as I was looking at some of my items today people heart my items! If nothing else it caused my heart to swell up just enough to go home and sew some more!

If you have not checked out my shop, please do! It is fun to look at, and maybe buy something too ;-)

XO everyone!