1.Seraphina Shawl FINISHED!!!!

2.Summer Ripple Cardigan FINISHED!!!!

3.Karls Ripple Afghan 40% done

4. Portrait of Jennifer and Chris

5. Rasta Cap 35% done

6. Portrait of Nicole and Keith FINISHED!!!!

7. Kanzashi Brooch and Hair Pin (J)

8. Knitted Hat(D)

9. Rag Quilt (stars and stripes) FINISHED!!!

10. Second Seraphina (Red) FINISHED!!!!

11. Pom Pom Rug

12. Make a purse "rack" FINISHED!!!!

13. 3 handmade scarfs (1 down, 2 to go)

14. Set of smaller everyday earings FINISHED!!!!

15. Felted Booga Bag (Crochet) FINISHED!!!! Just need to get a strap and its all done!

16. Framed Portrait of Karl and each kid

17. Brooch for the Seraphina Shawl FINISHED!!! Hate it though and it doesn't match.

18. Knitted Legwarmers for Kennedi

19. Fingerless Gloves for Thomas

20. Fat Bottom Bag for Randi Jo

21. New Winter Set for Thomas

22. New Winter Set for Kennedi

23. New Winter Set for Randi Jo

24. Set of Spiral Scrubbies

25. Framed Autumn Stitchery FINISHED!!!!

26. Set of Fingerless Mitts for Judith FINISHED!!!!
27. Mrs. Claus shawl

Well, I've been biten by the bug. A couple of months ago, my sister talked me into reading.....Twilight. I was totally against it, being too cool to be such a "follower". I think deep down inside, I knew my book reading tendancies...meaning once I start, I can't stop. When I was 15, my parents and I went to Washington State and drove the whole way back to Kansas. I pissed my mom off by reading 7 V.C. Andrews books in the 3 days it took for us to drive back. I missed out on all of the scenery and wildlife because I got so engrossed that I couldn't stop. Well, Twilight has done it to me again, and not only did i read all of the books in 1 week, but I've now become addicted to any vampire/witchcraft/magical book I can get my hands on.

Just for kicks, these are the books I've read in the last 2 months:
Twilight
New Moon
Eclipse
Breaking Dawn
Midnight Sun

Charlaine Harris:
Dead Until Dark
Living Dead in Dallas
Club Dead
Dead to the World
Dead as a Doornail
Definately Dead
All Together Dead
From Dead to Worse
Dead and Gone

Nightworld Series:
Individual Titles:
Secret Vampire
Daughters of Darkness
Spellbinder
Dark Angel
The Chosen
Soulmate
Huntress Reading right now...

Kim Harrison: The Hallows

Dead Witch Walking

The Good, the Bad, and the Un-Dead

Every Witch Way but Dead

A Fistful of Charms

A Few Demons More

The Outlaw Demon Wails

White Witch, Black Curse

Anyway, I found this cool blog that is doing a give-away, and I want to get my nieces picture done, as she is the biggest Twilight fan there is. The blog is Twilightations, and they are giving away a "Cullenized Transformation" and I think they are sweet! I went to the Etsy shop, and I think she has some awesome Twilight items.

Well, lots of stuff's been happening since my last post. All three of my little monsters started back at school this last week, so we had weeks of school shopping, and orientations and enrollment. My oldest started Junior High this year, which was very hard on Mommy. I got to take her to Orientation, which brought back all kinds of memories for me. I don't think I've seen the halls to the JH for over 10 years, and I of course got lost as soon as we got there. Teaching her how to use the lock on her locker was funny, she kept turning it the wrong way! (I kept saying "Right to your number" but that wasn't working, so I told her to turn towards her homeroom class first) On her first day of school, she said it took her a little bit to remember how to get it open. :)

I've not gotten as much done as I would like, and my list is ever changing. Here is the most updated list:
1.Seraphina Shawl FINISHED!!!!
2.Summer Ripple Cardigan FINISHED!!!!
3.Karls Ripple Afghan 40% done
4. Portrait of Jennifer and Chris
5. Rasta Cap 35% done
6. Portrait of Nicole and Keith FINISHED!!!!
7. Dead Fish Hat (J)
8. Dead Fish Hat (D)
9. Rag Quilt (stars and stripes) FINISHED!!!
10. Second Seraphina (Red and Dark Red with black beads)
11. Pom Pom Rug
12. Make a purse "rack" FINISHED!!!!
13. Garter Knitted Neckwarmer in Pooch 50% done
14. Set of smaller everyday earings FINISHED!!!!
15. Felted Booga Bag (Crochet) FINISHED!!!! Just need to get a strap and its all done!
16. Framed Portrait of Karl and each kid
17. Brooch for the Seraphina Shawl FINISHED!!! Hate it though and it doesn't match.
18. Knitted Legwarmers for Kennedi
19. Fingerless Gloves for Thomas
20. Fat Bottom Bag for Randi Jo
21. New Winter Set for Thomas
22. New Winter Set for Kennedi
23. New Winter Set for Randi Jo
24. Kanzashi Brooch and Hair Pin
25. Set of Spiral Scrubbies
26. Framed Autumn Stitchery FINISHED!!!!
27. Alice in Wonderland Stitched Piece (Cheshire Cat)
I still haven't found a piece of wood that I'm happy with for my purse hanger, and I'm starting to get desperate. I don't want to buy anything, so I am resigned to keeping my hunt going. I've gotten excited about making the Kanzashi Brooch and Hair Pin. I'm going to make myself some rice glue soon and stick it in the fridge. When finally get to do some tye-dying, I plan on making some fabric to use. Slow and steady, get little bits of everything done here and there seems to be how I work. :)

Its been quite hectic around here lately. Last weekend Karl and I joined a bunch of our friends for the 2nd Annual Kimmel Bros. Float Trip in Noel, MO. We left on Friday morning in a caravan of 4 trucks and met up with several other couples at the River Ranch Resort. I've fallen in love with floating, it is especially fun with around 30 of your friends! Too much booze, just enough sun, and forgetting about lifes worries for a little while what what the Dr. ordered! Karl and I want to take the kidlets out on a trip, as it would be just as fun with them :)

I've made a lot of progress on the quilt. I've gotten all of the squares cut, and have assembled it, I just need to stitch around the edges and washh it. I got one row upside down, and have decided that it is just going to have to stay that way. It is my first quilt, and I'm ok with it not being perfect. However, after I realized that I screwed it up, I had to put it down for a few days. My perfectionist attitude was getting away with me enjoying the process.

I also picked up the Seraphina again, and have it almost completed. I have 4 rows left, and just decided today that I'm not going to put beads on the tips. The colors I have right now won't work, and I'm not spending much on supplies until I can clear some room in my stash. I flashed it to Momma yesterday, and she ooohh'd and aaahhh'd appropriately. I just love the colors and how soft and cushy this shawl is turning out to be. My sister gave me her sewing machine with the condition being I had to make her a hat. She saw the shawl and said, "Or maybe you could make me something like THAT!"

Well, I've finally finished my Summer Cardi and I am soooo pleased with the final result. I was a crocheting mad-lady for a few days as I got obsessed with getting it finished. My fingers hurt at the end, but all is well with the finished product.

This was taken without the button attached. I plan on getting some good pics tomorrow of me wearing it.

So I decided to update my list, just to keep motivated and going: ( I also have a few projects I want to add...)

1.Seraphina Shawl FINISHED!!!!
2.Summer Ripple Cardigan FINISHED!!!!
3.Karls Ripple Afghan 40% done
4. Portrait of Jennifer and Chris
5. Rasta Cap
6. Rasta Cap
7. Dead Fish Hat
8. Dead Fish Hat
9. Rag Quilt (stars and stripes) FINISHED!!!
10. Second Seraphina (Red and Dark Red with black beads)
11. Pom Pom Rug
12. Make a purse "rack"
13. Garter Knitted Neckwarmer in Pooch 50% done
14. Set of smaller everyday earings
15. Felted Booga Bag (Crochet) FINISHED!!!! Just need to get a strap and its all done!
16. Framed Portrait of Karl and each kid
17. Brooch for the Seraphina Shawl FINISHED!!! Hate it though and it doesn't match.
18. Knitted Legwarmers for Kennedi
19. Fingerless Gloves for Thomas
20. Fat Bottom Bag for Randi Jo
21. New Winter Set for Thomas
22. New Winter Set for Kennedi
23. New Winter Set for Randi Jo
24. Kanzashi Brooch and Hair Pin
25. Set of Spiral Scrubbies

I need a break from yarn, so I have decided to start on the quilt. I stuck the fabric in the washer and will dry and iron today and tomorrow. Hopefully tomorrow night I can start to cut the fabric. I've decided to make a rag quilt with a dark redish flag fabric, a blue gingham, a red stripe, and some muslin. I've got an old flannel blanket that is red plaid that I will sandwich in between.

I really want to make the purse hanger, but I haven't been inspired by any of the pieces of wood I've seen. Of course, I will not be purchasing anything to make this, so some good found wood is what is in order. I already have the hardware, some wrought iron hooks, very rustic. I'll have to poke around at Mom's house this weekend.

Well, today the weather was beautiful! Really, perfect temperature with a nice breeze to keep us cool. The family and I spent the day down at Mom's, sitting in lawn chairs, b-sing with the neighbors, watching the kids play. Karl worked hard all day getting his car put back together after getting airbags put on it last weekend. He's got a car show on the 4th he plans on attending (and winning a bunch of trophies!) so he was sure giving her the "treatment".









I spent the day working on one of my projects, the Summer Chevron Cardigan. I had already done the first five rows prior to today, but I worked for six hours and got past the armpits and am working on the body. My shoulder is sore from crocheting that long, but I am super stoked about getting this project finished. Here are a couple of shots to show my progress....

Here is a closeup to show the stitch detail:

I'm using elann.com Sonata, in a turquoise color. I may make a matching head kercheif if I have any leftover yarn.

I also worked on a poly-clay brooch for my Seraphina Shawl. I've sanded and finished it and need to wait for it to dry to see if it matches like I want.

I have decided that I need to practice setting goals and reaching them. Usually I will just do what-ever tickles me, but I've found that that I have a ton of unfinished projects because I have no goals...

So, I am going to create my list of 25 things to have finished by the end of the year. Some will be gifts, some are things I'm already working on, some are just things that I want or want to try. I'm going to start out with 25 things, and I'm sure I will substitute some out for others, but 25 is where this list will end! If I can accomplish this goal, I will start a new list. :)

On to the big reveal:

1.Seraphina Shawl 15% done
2.Summer Ripple Cardigan FINISHED!!!!
3.Karls Ripple Afghan 40% done
4. Portrait of Jennifer and Chris
5. Rasta Cap
6. Rasta Cap
7. Dead Fish Hat
8. Dead Fish Hat
9. Quilt (stars and stripes)
10. Tie Dyed Tiered Skirt (longer)
11. Pom Pom Rug From the book Craftivity
12. Make a purse "rack" I like this one...Rack
13. Garter Knitted Scarf in Pooch
14. Set of smaller everyday earings
15. Felted Booga Bag (Crochet) 90% done
16. Portrait of Karl and Thomas
17. Brooch for the Seraphina Shawl Done
18. Portrait of Karl and Randi
19. Portrait of Karl and Kennedi
20. Knitted Legwarmers for Kennedi
21. Fingerless Gloves for Thomas
22. Large Fat-Bottom Bag for Randi Jo
23. New Winter set for Thomas
24. New Winter set for Kennedi
25. New Winter set for Randi

Ok, I'm done procrastinating, on to working the projects. First I am going to get going on the Summer Cardi, I need to finish it so I have more variety to my work wardrob. :)