Fun Pics from Halloween~
Published November 5, 2009 Family Fun , Holidays , Kids , Spooky Things 2 CommentsNovember LAL Fun~
Published November 2, 2009 Free Loom Patterns , Knitting , Loom Alongs , Loom Knitting 2 Comments
Remember these beauties??
Well…we thought we’d spread the joy of wearing princess gear on your feet, as well as knitting with the simply amazing EvenKnit Sock Loom by Dalooms.com this month! In the mood for pirouettes and prances? Or just to feel very pretty as you go about your household duties? Or need a wonderful giftie for someone special? Well…this is the time for all of the above!
Here are the places to join in on the LAL:
Gettin’ it Pegged Loom Knitter’s Chat Clique
…not had a chance to order your EvenKnit Loom yet? Or anxiously waiting for it to arrive at your doorstep? Well…we’ve even thought of that! You can adjust the pattern to match the gauge of the fine gauge loom that you are planning on using… AND I’ve just managed to whip up the alternate Knifty Knitter pink “scarf” loom instructions! 
See the Pretty Ped pic in blue up above…yep! That’s it! There’s no excuses now…you’ll just have to grab a loom and join in on the fun. Hope to see ya’ there!
Bethany~
Part One of the “Mystery Project” Unveiled!
Published October 30, 2009 Loom Knitting , Looming Patterns , New Projects , Project Preview 13 CommentsWhat does a girl say when she’s been away from her bloggie for an unprecedented 2 weeks??? Does she say life has been chaotic and she just couldn’t grab the extra few minutes to pop onto her computer with all pics at the ready and chat a while with you? Does she say that her daughters have been monopolizing all available computer time with their online schooling and homework? 
Does she say that she’s been so busy knitting up a storm that there has not been a moment to spare to even collect her thoughts, let alone coherently write about them here? 
Does she say that she’s been jet-setting across state lines and meeting interesting and exciting people, while working on a heretofore top-secret loomy project?
Well…I could really take my pick of the above, as they’re all true! 
As I won’t bore you with the hum drum details of fighting over the computer with my girlies, and the every day pressing matter of trying to unpack bits of my life from the boxes in which they have been hiding ever since our move last month…I’ll get right onto the more juicy tidbits of what I’ve been doing while I was away…sound good to you?
Well…The most exciting piece of news is that I’ve been involved in a project for Provo Crafts! They’re in the process of polishing up their promotions for the Knifty Knitter Looms, and the first stage of that is a brand new world-wide (gulp!) infomercial…of which yours truly got to participate in! I know…crazy, right?? The best part of this whole deal is that I got to travel to Salt Lake City, Utah, to meet and work with our own Isela Phelps, who is also a part of this new promotion. Super splenderific, right?! The other best part: since we were there, not a half hour from another loomy favorite, we planned to get together with 
the very sweet Jenny Stark (Guppy Girl!) and her hubby for dinner after the taping was complete. It was one of the most enjoyable times I’ve ever had…both ladies are everything I’d hoped they would be and more so! It’s really quite amazing to meet people who you’ve only known long distance, and when you’re finally face to face, it doesn’t seem like it’s the first time…that’s when you know you’re true Kindred Spirits.
The infomercial is set to be shown the first of December, so be watching for it! I didn’t get much sleep the night before, as I had to get up at 3am to catch the plane… long story, lol… SO, if you notice that I’m all puffy and red-eyed, and can’t string a coherent thought together, this would be why, lol! 
Isela, on the other hand, was both professional and stunning… flashing the camera and everyone around with her amazing mega-watt smile! It was truly a pleasure to get to hang with her for the day.
The infomercial will be jam-packed with loomy goodies from several designers including:
Shannon Erling, Anne Bipes, Isela, and myself. Many of these I’m sure you’ll be able to recognize, so keep your eyes peeled for your favorite projects! It was so fun getting to see so many models sporting our pieces and strutting their stuff in front of the camera…what a surreal experience!
There will be several new pieces to be seen as well…such as:
RUFF-les & Stripes Doggie Set!
hehehe…I’m not that great in hats, just wanted to let you get a look at what the shaping looks like while wearing.
Okay… I have to say that I love these Half Fingered Gloves (pattern by Karen Gielen) and the colors they’re made in. I pretty much always find excuses to wear them, lol! They’ve been laundered, blocked and shaved numerous times, and still look great! (Thanks, Karen!) When the producers needed a basic scarf for the infomercial, I just knew that now was the time to give my favorite snuggies a buddy. So, onto my looms went the same yarn, and soon I had this marvelously stripey scarf… L-O-V-E it! I have a new thing to find excuses to wear now, lol (in fact I’m wearing it now! ) The colors just make me so happy and calm and at peace with everything…and this is a very good thing.
Well…There is still one more piece to the puzzle before the complete mystery is revealed (well…there might still possibly be a couple in the works…we’ll see & I’ll be sure and let you know). This will entail another trip on a plane and another visit with my wonderful best loomy buds ever…BIG SMILE from me!
**Little extra tidbits: 5 Things I Learned About Isela:
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She’s every bit as fun and lively as she is online!
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She loves to eat! It’s amazing that as tiny as she is, how healthy her appetite can be, lol.
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One of her favorite shows on TV to watch is The Nanny with Fran
Drescher- hehehe…I’ll always remember this, Isela! -
She’s very good at meeting people and being warm and open with them… she was friends with everyone on the set before the day was done.
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She has a wonderful, quirky sense of humor!
After the next phase of the project, I’ll be able to give you 5 things I learned about Miss Jennifer Stark…something to really look forward to!
One last thing: Happy Halloween, everybody! 
I hope you’re all ready for trick-or-treating and pumpkin’ carving fun… I just love this time of year! I also wanted to remind you that you can find a Wooly Felted Pumpkin pattern here at the site, just itching to be worked up on your looms…it’s quick and easy and something that’s great to display clear through Thanksgiving! Spencer the Spider is one you’ll be able to whip up in a quick jiffy to add to your Halloween decor, or a last-minute touch to your costume…he can be made in about a half hour, tops!
So what are you waiting for? Happy Haunting!
Bethany~
This is the danger of trying to stock up on Halloween Candy before the last minute…I found this note stuck inside a torn hole of this bag of goodies:
I think it’s hilarious that the bag of candy is labeled “Child’s Play”, lol! I think Halloween brings out the kid in all of us, don’t you??
Bethany~
Birthday Blessings~
Published October 12, 2009 Birthdays , Crafting , Family Fun , Kids Crafting , Life , Movies , Pets 7 CommentsWell…as many of you know already, yesterday was my 38th birthday! I’m not really one who loathes these things…actually, any reason to have some fun is great with me, lol! Once I got past my 30th birthday, which came at a really troublesome time in my life, and probably really affected my ability to be happy about turning the 30-something corner, every other one has been a breeze. My 38th one was no exception!
Since it fell on a Sunday, we kind of made the whole weekend a fun celebration, starting with Friday. I traveled to my hometown to get my hair done and be generally pampered by my favorite beautician (thanks, Jeannine!) and then on Saturday, the girlies and I had a day of craftiness and fun in our new hometown. We first went to the Great Pumpkin Event at Michaels Crafts, each creating our own spooky pumpkins, which you can see below in the pics. After that, we went to lunch, explored a new antique shop (this is one of our family’s favorite hobbies…we’ve raised our girls right, wouldn’t you say??) and then checked out a new yarn store: Shibori Dragon, which I believe I saw at the Sock Summit, and which is actually stocked with much, much more than just yarn! It has beads, embroidery goods, and fabrics as well…most of which are specialties from Japan…very nice place to hang out!
Sunday, my hubby took me to a very nice breakfast, then we planned on going to Lattin’s Country Cider Mill (one of our family’s yearly traditions), but after doing a little grocery shopping, waiting for my youngest girlie to finish baking a cake , and walking the bunny, it was really too late to try to fit the cider mill in. We decided to give this fun event the time it needed, and thus move it to next weekend, and headed off to a movie instead: 9. It was really very interesting, kinda spooky, and very visually impressive.
Before the movie, we had cake made mostly by my youngest, which was absolutely delish and amazingly creative! She crafted it into a jack o lantern pumpkin…out of a heart cake pan! Isn’t that just clever?? And let me tell you, it was absolutely melt in your mouth goodness of Devil’s Food Chocolate…mmmmmm! See the pics for one of the most awesome birthday cakes ever…
Another absolutely amazing thing? My eldest daughter (with some creative juices from my younger thrown in) created this tiny sock money out of itsy bitsy crochet…all her own design, with no pattern! I swear she needs to sell these little things, don’t you think? She put on the little green bow because it’s her favorite fuzzy yarn, and it looks like a Dr Suess bow tie…cute, huh? She knows I have a thing for sock monkeys and have never yet had one of my own. Now I do!
Here are the pics of one of the most enjoyable birthday weekends ever, spent with my favorite loved ones and blessings all around:
I hope your upcoming week is filled with just as many wonders…
Bethany~
…another idea!
Published October 10, 2009 Knitting , Life , Loom Knitting , Looming Patterns , New Projects , Peggin' Pages 2 CommentsI was cruising through my (sadly, rather large) backlog of emails this morning, when I found a link to a pattern from Berroco… it’s a really very useful pattern for needle knitting… an ice pick glove! Now, you really must click on the link, so that you can see what I’m talking about, and then come right back here, K? Go on ahead… just don’t forget to come back for the punch line, K?
Are you back now?? Did you get a good look? Cute idea, isn’t it? Let me show you something else that will be of the utmost interest to us loom knitters out there:
Bath Mitt from the Spa Set~
Doesn’t this little item from the Spa Set found in the Peggin’ Pages look just like it could be used as the same kind of thing?
Let me tell you as the maker of this little design that YES! It would be perfect for it!
All you would do is cinch the finger tip area up around the ice pick edge using a gathered bind off, rather than sealing it closed upon itself… couldn’t be easier!
What a great idea for a Christmas gift, right?
It’s so funny that this was in my email box today, because just a few days before, an idea popped into my head about this very same Bath Mitt. Actually the idea was inspired by the true life events of my friend GuppyGirl, who has been experiencing quite a few reasons lately in her household to have need of this little trick:
This is a pic of the exact ice bag that I own a pair of… twin ice buddies that have come in very handy for assorted surgeries and bumps and bruises.
The only thing is that you can’t really use it straight on the skin… it’s just too cold, and it tends to condensate, leaving you all damp as well as cold, lol!
The answer?? Just slip this baby inside the Bath Mitt and then fill it with ice…voila! Ice bag cozy!
So, now that I’ve inspired you (hopefully, lol!) to set out upon a journey of bath mitt making frenzy… are you wondering where to find the pattern for this very versatile little item?
Just click right here to the Peggin’ Pages and scroll down until you see the Spa Set… it’s actually 3 patterns in one, and thus a very good deal.
Have a wonderful weekend!
(I know I will: my family is making a journey to the pumpkin patch on Sunday…which is also my birthday! I just love birthdays, lol!)
Bethany~
Tip for Tuesday~
Published October 6, 2009 Crochet , Knitting , Loom Knitting , Product Review 3 CommentsIt’s happened to the best of us…
We fall in love with a special knitted item, be it sweater, mitts or bag, and then we proceed to use this favorite fibery goodie every chance we get…I know I’ve done it many times, lol!
But, alas…before long, all that sumptuous softness is displaying itself in pills and snags. Your smart design is now blurred and fuzzy. I’ve tried to remedy this in the past with shavers you can pick up from clothing stores, etc, but none seemed to really do the trick…until I found this little beauty:
See how’s all scattered with bits of fuzz and fluff?
That’s because I put it to the test…a big one! My most fuzziest of all favorite purses, the Braided Cable Bag. 
I’ve loved this baggie to pieces, literally, and I thought for sure I’d have to make a brand new one before I could again enjoy this as my traveling companion.
But guess what? I found this shaver in a fabric store (Joann) and thought I’d give it a try…it’s Dritz brand, so I thought that maybe it would be a little more powerful than the cheaper versions I’d had disappointing run ins with before. I was right! The little holes are a bit bigger than the norm and the motor seems quite strong and puts up with long sessions of de-fuzzing without burning out. I was so sold on it’s good qualities that I thought I’d pass the tip along to you! (fyi: just be sure to not get too deep with your shaving, as it’s kind of addicting, and I wouldn’t want you to slice through the actual fibers you need to hold your item together, lol! )
Here’s a few before and after pics for you to see for yourself how good it worked for me:
I hope this helps you be able to get out those old fuzzy favorites that you just couldn’t bear to part with, but still love as much as the day you first laid eyes on them.
Enjoy!
Bethany~
I know it’s been awfully quiet here in my little corner of the WWW… it’s just been taking a certain amount of time to adjust to living in a new town and all that implies…including getting lost a few times while trying to truck my eldest daughter to her Running Start classes at the college. I’ve been spending this entire week trying to figure out the best route with the least amount of traffic jams…which varies depending on which time of day we have to make the trip. We’re sort of getting the hang of it though…we’ve narrowed it down to 15 minutes there on a good day, lol. ;P
We’ve had some culture shock with living in a big city as well. One evening, after my hubby and kidletts brought groceries in from the car, they forgot in the scramble to make sure the car doors were locked…or even shut…and forgot a couple of grocery bags to boot! Sure enough, the next morning when my hubby was looking for his lunch supplies, they were nowhere to be found. He thought they might have left them in the car and when he went out to check, found that someone had helped themselves to the meals and a few other things, including my checkbook and Blackberry earphones with microphone. *sigh* I sort of blame myself. I’m such an OCD person about checking to make sure everything is closed and locked at night, and have driven my family crazy for years. This particular night, I remembered at about 12:45am (actually jolted out of a sort-of sleep…haven’t been sleeping really well since before the move…too much stress, I think) that my lovely family probably didn’t lock the car after getting the groceries, and that my checkbook just happened to be in there (something I never do, but had been carrying it around in my little purse for the set up of our new home, and when we went to the Puyallup Fair, had decided to tuck it away in the car rather than have the extra weight & bulk). I got up and clicked the alarm on the key fob through the dining room window. Sadly, it didn’t do the trick…it would be really funny, though, if that was the exact time the person was digging around in there, and my honking the alarm freaked them out, lol!
On a happier note, we all went to do some destressing at the Puyallup State Fair on Saturday. I’ve never been, and it was really a fun experience, except for the pressing crowds everywhere. We kept having to walk single file, weaving our way through the mass of people everywhere we went. I couldn’t believe the lines to the exhibits and the rides…it really competed with Disneyland at times! We did manage to time everything to miss the worst of the lines and still enjoy what we wanted to see…here are some pics of the day for your perusal:
Hope you have a fantastic weekend!
Bethany~
In the mood for something LOOMY???
Published September 25, 2009 Family Fun , Kids , Knitting , Loom Knitting , Looming Patterns , New Projects , Project Preview 5 CommentsI’d love to share with you a project that has been on my mind and on and off my looms for the last couple of months. Yes…I have had a little time to get some looming done even with all the packing and upheaval of moving our little fam of four fifty miles to the north. I’ve been so excited to share these goodies with you, but for reasons that will be held to my chest until a bit later on, (**wink, wink**) I wasn’t sure if I could feel free to unveil the new project yet- but yay! I’m happy to say that I’m now free to do so!
So without further delay, I present to you the Silly Sidewinder Set!
Of course, modeled by my own darling little great-nephew Blake!
The concepts for these little cuties took some time to figure out, and at times I wasn’t sure if it was going to turn out like I envisioned them way back in 2007…yes, I had a few delays in getting my sketches off of the paper and onto the looms, lol!
But, wonder of wonders, it turned out exactly like the pics in my little sketch book…triangles and all!
I will be developing the written instructions soon, I promise…just in time for starting those holiday gifties, right? I just couldn’t delay a moment longer in sharing them with you.
There will actually be one more piece that will be a part of the final project series, which is still in the works…so stay tuned for that little sweetie.
Here’s another group of pics of Blake enjoying the Snake before the hat was completed…
Hope you have a ssssssplendidly sssssssssscrumptious sssssssssaturday & ssssssunday!
Bethany~
It’s Official…
Published September 17, 2009 Blogging , Life , Loom Knitting , Looming Patterns 2 Comments
This is what we're up to our necks in right now, lol!
This is what we're up to our necks in right now, lol!
We’ve moving! (finally!)
We’ll be offline until about Thursday of next week when our new internet will be hooked up…So we’ll see ya’ all then!
BTW: I have something VERY exciting to show you when I get back… it’s fun, zany, and absolutely loomy!!! ;} I just can’t wait~
TTYS…
Bethany~
What You Have To Say~