Tuesday Question

It's been a week since I posted and what a busy, crazy week it has been. I had every intention of posting, but every time I sat down to do so, something or someone else wanted my attention. Most of the time was taken up with wedding preparations for a close friend of mine and also with the wedding itself last weekend. The wedding was beautiful, but also very tiring and I got to admit, am glad it is over with. My Problem now is that I seem to have a hard time getting back in the swing of normal daily life. The Laundry basket is looking at me, the floors would like to get swept and mopped (not my favorite thing to do) and the dogs would very much like to get their hair brushed and untangled. And that are just a couple of things that needing done. But oh, where is my ooomph, you know, the giddy up and get going spirit? Not here....not even that good cup of coffee is getting me motivated. Pretty sad, huh? 

As you can imagine, crafting has been the last thing on my schedule as well. I hardly picked up a hook, except I continued a little bit on my granny square blanket. Pictures will have to come later. Hopefully I will start working on more this evening, when I can catch a quiet moment to myself.

But here is the Tuesday Question:

Do any of you use ETSY? What do you think of it and what are your good and bad experiences with it? If you don't use Etsy, do you use any other site do sell your handmade items?

Well Folks, that's it from me for today. Hope by tomorrow I will get back to normal and back in the swing of things. Hope to see you than. Good Day!

Tuesday Question

Hallo to each and every one of you!

Looks like it is going to be quite a nice day, with temperatures in the 50's and lots of sunshine. For me that means a good start to the day. When the sun is out, I am more motivated to get things done and I have quite a list of things that need getting done. For some reason the little elves don't come to my house to help me out. Wish I knew where they were hiding.

But here to the Tuesday Question:

For the last week we have watched the devastation over in Haiti on TV. So much help is needed and not able to get where it needs to be. So much help will be needed in the future. What I would like to know now is, what do you all do for charity, if anything at all? Do you crochet blankets for the homeless? Or knit chemo hats for people with cancer? How much do you craft in a years time to help others? Will a disaster like this make you want to help more than before? I know, more than one question, but it all fits together. 

My Answer:

Yes I have done both the crocheting blankets and knitted chemo caps for cancer patients. Last year I have done more than in previous years and I plan to do much more this year. I am thinking of keeping a little count of it in my sidebar to see my progress and to keep me encouraged to do more. Yes, a disaster like this makes me want to do more, much more.

Here now also is a prayer for all those poor people in Haiti and for all the other needy people in this world. May God send you a Blessing each and every day.

Ok, that's it from my neck of the woods today. Going off to fill the washing machine and take care of my little critters. Hope your day is filled with Joy!

Weekend Report

And a "Happy Good Monday Morning" to you all!

Once again another weekend has passed and the week lays before us. Let's make it a good one. What did you all do over the past weekend? Anything exciting you care to share?

Here in my neck of the woods it rained all weekend, so outdoor adventures were impossible. I did make a trip to the local library to look for some craftbooks. Couldn't find anything interesting, but did walk away with some other reading material, a book by Dorothea Benton Frank - Return to Sullivans Island. So far I have enjoyed reading it and made it about half way through.

I also bake a cake this weekend and thought I would share this recipe with you. This great-looking Black Forest Cake is originally called Schwarzwaelder Kirschtorte. 

Ingredients:
===============
PASTRY:
1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups (butter-) milk
1/2 cup shortening
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup Schwarzwaelder Kirschwasser (I used home-made cherry liquor)
FILLING:
1 cup sugar powder
1 pinch salt
1 can (0.5 liter) pitted cherries, drained
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon kirschwasser
TOPPING
1 square semisweet chocolate, or remaining crumbs

Cooking:
==========
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line the bottoms of two 8 inch round pans with parchment paper circles (since I didn't have such paper, I just greased the pans). Sift together flour, cocoa, baking soda and 1 teaspoon salt. Set aside.
Cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and beat well. Add vanilla. Add flour mixture, alternating with milk, beat until combined.
Pour into 2 round 8 inch pans. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. Cool completely. Remove paper (if any) from under the cakes. Cut each layer in half, horizontally, making 4 layers total (as you can see from my picture, I chose not to cut the layers because they looked too fragile to cut them). Sprinkle layers with 1/2 cup Kirschwasser.
In a separate bowl, whip the cream to stiff peaks. Beat in 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and 1 tablespoon Kirschwasser. Add sugar powder, and a pinch of salt. Beat again. Spread first layer of cake with 1/3 of the filling (use 1/2 of the filling if you have only 2 layers instead of 4). Top with 1/3 (2/3) of the cherries. Repeat with the remaining layer(s).
Frost top and sides of cake. Sprinkle with chocolate curls made by using a potato peeler on semisweet baking chocolate. Or you can use the remaining crumbs to sprinkle the sides of your Black Forest Cake.

Now don't you just want to pull up a chair, grab a good cup of coffee and share a piece with me? Wish you could.

My doggies weren't so happy over the weekend, as they don't like the rain and get very impatient when their playtime outdoors is interrupted. They quarreled like children, not even their toys could make them happy for long. Just to play around a little bit, I made a red crochet bandana for one of them. I thought it would look good over his black hair. When I put it on him, he wasn't a happy camper at all, but sat stiffly in the chair. Once he jumped of the chair, he did his utmost best to remove the bandana and his siblings tried to help him as well. It was fun to watch them in this activity. Here is a little pcture of him still wearing it.

 

Here now a little report on what I am currently working on:

1. colorful rounded ripple blanket for myself
   
2. blue and yellow ripple blanket - custom order
3. continues granny square blanket - family request
4. Alabama "Roll Tide" blanket - custom order
5. white shawl (picture on previous post and almost finished)

 

 

I also started working on some projects for Valentines Day. Here is a little preview. Will share more later.

Last, but not least I wanted to comment on one of the blogs I follow on a regular basis. You need to check out her wonderful photos. It's worth the trip there just for them, but she is also a wonderful storyteller. I think you will enjoy reading it as much as I do.

http://thegardenbell.blogspot.com

 

Well that's it for me for today. Getting ready to have another cup of java and get my day and it's regular routine going. Hope you all have a wonderful day and to see you soon.

Remodel Thursday

Yes it is Thursday and Remodel Day. Sorry to say there hasn't been much going on in this department over the last week and that was mostly due to the cold weather. I had wanted to take pictures of the interior over this last week, but whatever I took came out yucky or you couldn't tell what I was trying to show. Not enough sunlight. Will try again over the next few days, as it is warming up and we are supposed to have lots of sunshine (yippie).

In the meantime I have decided what color I want on my kitchen walls. Remember the color of my fingerless gloves a few posts back? Well that is the color I chose for my walls. It is lovely and bright and cheerful, and because of that just what I need. First I have to wash all the walls so and get what grease and grimes has layered there over time. Halfway done with that and the rest should be done within the next few days, as time allows. Looking forward to the painting part. For some reason I always loved to paint, even the smell of the paint hasn't bothered me.

Since I couldn't show you much of anything today, I thought I show you some more of what has been inspiring me of late. Hope you like it.

Design Day

I'm on a journey....a journey to make 2010 the Best Year ever. Also to make relevant changes to my life, that will improve it and make it happier at the same time. It's a personal journey and one I've been telling myself to make for some time now, but as I do have a tendency to procrastinate at times, was always put off again. I have made excuses as to WHY I couldn't make this or that change. But NO MORE. I have let bad circumstances in my life drag me down. On the first day of this new year, I made a promise to myself to do something to better my life every day, even if it was just as simple as cleaning out a cupboard. So far it has worked and I must tell you, with it my mood has been improving. It is amazing that such a little change can make such a big difference. That does not mean I will never have a bad day again, just that I will see the better in each and every day and look at it with a more positive attitude. I've already noticed a change as I am cleaning things out. With less clutter comes Happiness. As my other tendency is to be somewhat of a hoarder, which means holding on to things I think I will need in the future, but never do, clutter happens fast. Now I have already filled 2 bins with things I plan on selling in a yard sale as soon as it gets warmer. This will also help me with getting more organized in the future and with that another improvement.

Ok enough of my ramblings of a personal nature and on to the subject of the day: Design Day.

Today we will have directions on how to knit a Baktus, which comes from Norway and is something between a scarf and a kerchief. They are the rage in Europe at the moment. Some are also made with fancy edgings (not in directions).It is best knit with a thinner yarn, like sock yarn. Make sure you use the appropriate needles that go with your yarn. You could also crochet one, if your preferred that. Just increase a stitch every second round on the same side each time.

Directions:

Cast on 4.
Row 1: Knit 1, YO, knit the rest of the row.
Row 2: Knit, make sure you knit the YO through the back loop.
Rows 3 and 4: Knit.

Repeat rows 1 through 4 until you have used up half your yarn, or until your scarf is 50% of desired length.

Then decrease 1 every 4th row:
Row 1: Knit 1, knit 2 stitches together through the back loop. Knit the rest of the row.
Rows 2, 3 and 4: Knit.

When you have 4 stitches left, bind off.

Well what do you think? Worth a try? Leave a comment and let me know what you think.

That's it from my little world for today. See you all soon......

Tuesday Question

Good morning all on a bright sunny Tuesday morning. The sun being out makes my day so much better right away. I don't know how it is for you, but when the sun shines, I always seem to get more done and I do it more cheerfully. It doesn't even bother me so much that it is still pretty cold outside.

For the last hour, with my trusty cup of coffee by my side,  I have been browsing through a few of my favorite blogs. I so enjoy that time. It always amazes me what beautiful work you all do and I also realize how much more I have to learn, especially when it comes to knitting. I have knitted a lot over the years, but got to admit, most of it was rather simple stuff, non of that fancy lace knitting that I have seen on some blogs. I guess I really need to jump over my own shadow and just try it. I know the fear of failure has held me back. When it comes to crochet I am more daring and willing to try anything. So this is one of my resolutions for this year, try, try and try. 

Here now the Tuesday Question: 

How many different projects do you all have at one time and is it just knitting or crochet, or both at the same time? Or do you just work on one project at a time? If you work on more than one project at a time, after how many do you start feeling uncomfortable and pressured to finish something?

My Answer: Yes, I always have more than one project going at the same time. I seem to get more done, if I keep it more interesting, especially when it is a bigger project, like an afghan, which you all know, can take quite some time to finish. I would say 10 is the most I had going at one time. More and I think, I would never finish what I started or panic. I don't feel pressured to finish something, but I do want to finish it.

Now please let me know your answer to this. Thanks!

See you all tomorrow. Until than, may the sun shine upon you.....

Weekend Report

Well here we are.....Monday morning again and the end of another weekend. They don't ever seem to last long enough, don't you think? How was yours and what did you all do?

Mine was pretty quiet for the most part. The cold continued throughout the weekend and is supposed to continue for another few days, after which it is supposed to warm up into the 50's with rain. As much as I don't want to see the rain either, the warm-up will be much appreciated, by me and my little critters. We did have a short time yesterday afternoon, when the sun peeked out and we got to go out and play for 45 minutes. The dogs so enjoyed that times, chasing their ball and stuffed animals. They were only to happy to take a nap after.

As I had promised myself, I spend a lot of time in my bed, over and under the covers, catching up on some of my german movies and as I had planned, did some more hooking. I finished a pair of fingerless gloves (Stulpen in German) and a scarve in the same color, which was bright yellow. Yes it was a joy, that beautiful bright yellow color. It cheered me up and made me think of the spring to come, the sunshine and the colorful flowers. Can hardly wait for that.

I had seen these figerless gloves somewhere on the internet, but it had no pattern with it. So I sort of played along and made up my own to fit. It came out pretty good, except I did make them a bit to long and if I make them again have to adjust for that. But they are so nice and warm and was much needed in the last few days. Here a little preview:

 

 

Hope you all can see them good enough. Sorry to say the light in my house is still quite awful. But aren't the a wonderful yellow and cheerful? 

Here now is the scarve in the same bright cheerful color:

 

 

Well what do you all think? Did they come out alright? I certainly had fun hooking them. The patterns were certainly easy to follow and didn't require constant counting and with that perfect to do while watching a movie.

Before I go today I did want to say CONGRATS to the new addition (little man) at ATTIC24 and to Lucy. I do so enjoy her wonderful blog and the snippets she shares of her life. She has also inspired me to try working with colors more than before. THANKS Lucy and good luck and much joy with your new little addition to the family. May you all be happy, healthy and we are looking forward to sharing your little world for many years to come.

That's it for today friends. Hope you all have a good day and a good start to another week. See you tomorrow.

Friday - Week End Report

Good Morning Friends,

Here it is...Friday and once again the end of another week. Got to admit, this morning I really did not want to get out of Bed. The comforter was just to nice, warm and toasty. My dogs on the other hand had different ideas and made sure I got on up and took care of them. Yesterday we had what I would call a light dusting, 1" of snow on the ground. My dogs enjoyed playing in it, but it certainly wasn't enough to built a snowman or anything else for that matter. Overnight the temperatures dropped to uncomfortable so, into the teens (12F) and is supposed to drop some more. Can't wait for the small warm-up we are supposed to have sometime next week. In the meantime, with the weekend ahead, we will snuggle more in bed and watch some good movies and maybe do a little hooking.

Here a little view of my dogs:

I had planned on revealing the winner of my give-away today. Since she did not respond to my e-mail yet, I have decided to postpone it until she does. Hopefully that will happen over the weekend and I will be able to tell you all about it on monday. Sorry you all have to wait a little bit longer, but it is worth the wait.

Ok, I also promised to tell you more of what I have planned for my blog. I have decided to blog about a different subject each day. With that, I hope,  it will get more interesting.

1. Mondays - Weekend Report: I will tell you all about what has been happening over the weekend, including what I have worked on and a bit about my life.
2. Tuesdays - Tuesday Question: Every Tuesday I will put out a craft question for all to answer and share with us in the blogger community.
3. Wednesday - Design Day: On this day I will introduce different designs, which will include freehand crochet, designs I have found on other blogs and find noteworthy, and a pattern for all of you to enjoy and/or share. 
4. Thursday - Remodel: I live in an old rented house and have lived here for the last three years. It badly needs changes made, like painting. I am also looking for solutions for storage, etc. Over the next few month I will be working on improving my living space and thought I would take you along for the ride. Sounds interesting?
5.  Friday - Week-ending Report: I will have a look back at the week, at what I have worked on in my crafts and also finished. Also maybe what other interesting things I have found across the internet, that might be of interest to everybody. 

So what do you all think of that? How about leaving me a comment and sharing your thoughts. Looking forward to reading you all.

The other thing I meant to talk about is,  that I have decided that this is the year I work with bright colors, lots of bright colors, in my crafts and in my life. I have always loved primary colors, especially my favorite color "Red". Until now I have always been somewhat held back in using so much bright color and worked more with pastels or whites. The older I am getting, the more I am telling myself, what do I have to loose. Nothing right? Could be interesting, don't you think? Here are a few samples of what I am talking about and NO,  I cannot take the credit for the pictures, as I found them on the internet.

 

 

 

Now tell me.....what do you all think about that? Good idea or just plain crazy. Well you know, now that I have arrived in my 50's,  I am no longer as concerned about what is crazy or normal anymore. Life is supposed to be lots of fun and since that has been lacking somewhat for a long time, it is time to get back to it and enjoy my later years doing what is fun and exciting. How about coming along for the ride and enjoying it with me?

That's all from me for today. Here is hoping you all have a wonderful weekend and we will see each other again on monday, unless I have something else to report over the weekend. Bye for now or Tschuess how we say in german. 

2010 - A New Year and New Beginnings

Hallo everybody.....how are you all doing? 

We are already 7 days into the new year and I believe it is sure time I started back to posting. How have your Holidays been? Mine were rather busy and I got to admit, as much as I like Christmas, I am glad the whole hoopla is over. We make ourselves crazy for the time after Thanksgiving until the new year. I know it is all for a good reason and we do enjoy the time we are able to spend with our families and friends, but we do have a seigh of relieve when it is all said and done.

Personally I took a little time off from doing any sort of crafting. I did a lot of reading and catching up on some german movies I really wanted to see. Oh how I enjoyed that time. Snuggled in some warm blankets, a cup of Hot Chocolate and that good book, what more could a girl ask for. The weather has been rather cold here in Alabama for the last week or so and has been the coldest it has been here for a long time. At the moment it is snowing some and starting to stay on the ground. I do so love the look of snow and wish it would stay a little longer than it does here in this region. As a kid I loved to ski. Now I would probably break a leg, haha, but I still would love to try if given the chance. Well for now I just keep on enjoying the look of it.

Now it is time to get back into the grind of everyday life and some kind of normal. Time to get out the hooks and yarn and start working on some orders I have to fullfill. Over the next few days I will show you some of the new things I have started working on and also some of the new things I have planned for the New Year. I have also planned on changes for this blog. I decided I will have different themes/topics for different days. More will be revealed in the next few days. Can you wait that long? Sure you can!

Tomorrow I reveal the winner of my give-away and will announce the next one. So please check back and don't forget to enter for the next one.

Well this is it for today. But before I go here is a little reveal on something I started working on. Hope you like it and I hope you also return for more crafting and stories of daily life. Until than......see you soon! And I also wanted to say: "Happy New Year 2010" everybody! Lets make it the Best ever.