Lizard Lattice Dishcloth

Lately, I have been knitting up a storm dishcloth. Actually, more than one, but the same pattern. The pattern is found on Ravelry and is titled the same as this post, "Lizard Lattice Dishcloth". The pattern is written by Tera Johnson. I really liked this pattern! Thanks to Dee for knitting one and posting on her blog, because that is how I found out about it.

The pattern was so easy to follow and knit up sooo quickly, even for a super slow knitter like myself! The yellow dishcloth completely follows the pattern. I found it to be a little big for my personal dishcloth taste. However, since it is intended to be a Christmas gift, it was no big deal. I made the brown dishcloth smaller....I decreased the cast-on by 6 stitches and then only knit two repeats. That made the dishcloth come out to be much more my size... plus, I didn't have any more of the brown yarn. I had less than a yard of yarn left once I finished.

In other crafty news, I am also working on some knitted dish scrubbies, a scarf that will be a Christmas gift, adding on a navy border to a light blue baby blanket that I had "finished" crocheting last year... and those are just a few of my projects that are currently in the works!

My Standard "Go To" Baby Shower Gift

I had a baby shower to attend today. I made up one of my standard "go to" baby shower gifts. It is a made of flannel that I have edged with satin blanket binding. This was always the standard gift that my mom has given for as long as I can remember.

Luckily, I am handy enough that I can make them as well. The blanket turns out larger than the standard small size baby blanket. Based on "feedback" I have received, this larger size is well liked because those tiny little babies quickly outgrow the small size blanket.

I have gotten thrifty as I have grown older and realized that they usually have the flannel on sale at JoAnn Fabrics the day after Thanksgiving. For several years in a row, it was less than $1 a yard, so I bulked up my stash (a much better price than the full price that ranges anywhere from $4.99 a yard to $7.99). Then, when I am at JoAnn's or another store that might carry blanket binding, if I have a coupon or a few extra dollars, I grab a pack of binding. When it is time to throw a blanket together, I don't have to go out shopping for all of the materials.

I usually add a little something more to my gift, too, even though I know that my time is worth way more than I could ever spend.

Do you have a "go to" gift for baby showers?

p.s. I don't know what is wrong w/ blogger today but it is not wanting to put spaces between my paragraphs and I don't have time to fool with it right now.

Just a Post

It's been a while since I have made a post. I want people to actually come back and read this stuff I am writing, so I figured I had better get it together.

Over the long holiday weekend, my husband and I went to visit my family. While we stayed at my dad's house, there was plenty of time to sit outside and relax, watch the squirrels, etc. I believe that my dad had to put out several ears of corn over the weekend because the squirrels gobble it down so quickly.

Other than my totally relaxing weekend, I am feeling pretty much frazzled. I have been expending so much energy while I am at work, when I arrive home I do not have much energy for anything.

"Why?," you ask. Well, without getting into too many specifics about my job and where I actually work, let me just say that in the course of a "typical" day, I go to an average of five schools. Yes, I said FIVE SCHOOLS a day. That is just to see my students. I still need to make phone calls, return e-mails, plan lessons, and do general administrative paperwork (which reminds me that I need to finish my mileage reimbursement form and get it turned in so that I can get reimbursed!).

Anyway, all of that to say that until I get a few more weeks into the year and actually get a rhythm going, I am totally wiped out when I get home. Consequently, my laundry is piling up on the floor next to my clothes hamper, the bathrooms need cleaned, vacuuming needs to be done and I've got about a hundred crafty projects that need to be finished. Plus, it is almost the end of the car show season (I haven't even told you about all of my husband's "show" cars...that's a post for another day) and so my husband wants to go to as many car nights as he can and if I want to spend any time with him, I go to those, too.

I'm tired, I'm cranky, and even when I'm home long enough, I can't seem to get anything accomplished. Thankfully, I have a husband that does dishes and vacuums.

Kitten Mischief Volume #5 ...Am I in Trouble?

What? You didn't buy this lovely basket just so I could play with it??? I know you only paid $.75 for it at the Great American Yard Sale, so I didn't think you would mind. Look at my face...can't you see that I am apologizing?

WHOOO WHOOO wants a sneak peak?

Not the best photo in the world, but then again, not the worst, either.

Just a little peek at my current work-in-progress. What do you think this will turn out to be?