Toasty - a finished works in progress - FINISHED

The fingerless gloves below are ones that I had been making for Jessica and finally got them finished, especially with a nudge from the works in progress that I signed up for. I used the pattern Toasty by Leslie Friend (a-friend-to-knit-withblogspot.com). She gave out 2 free patterns, this one has a thumb, the other doesn't. This is a really easy and quick pattern and all of my fingerless gloves thus far have been knit from one of these patterns. These that I made for Jessica I only cast on 30 stitches and cut the thumb stitches down by 3. The yarn is Jaspe' Wool - I forget the exact colorway but as you can see they came out great. So great that I went back last week and bought another color for Kris' mitts. (If you remember - way back in December Kris and I agreed not to finish our Christmas presents to each other - so we could finish presents for others- and make some cut little bird ornaments). If you hope on over to her blog (quiltedsimple) you can see she is almost done with the sheet quilt she is making me. Good thing it wasn't done when I was there today - I only have one mitt done. By next weekend I'm sure we will both be getting belated Christmas presents. Sounds like a little bit of fun to me - we might have to do this again!!
Well I'm off to put on my PJ's and spend the rest of the evening knitting. There are more projects to finish before I can start something else - and I so want to start something new!!

Until next time........

Snowmen

Thought you would like a look at the snowmen around my house. The one below is a wool penny snowman that I finally found the perfect place to hang - really its been done for years but just never had the right place for it. This one is from a class that I took at a local quilt shop several years ago. It's one of my favorites.

This is a little table mat that Kris made for me last year.

This guy is good and fat and fits perfect in the bowl.

This is a pillow sitting on our bed. I picked him up for $2.00 last year on the close out section in Tractor Supply.

Finally, this guy is knitted on a tree outside the local yarn shop - Studio Knit. The picture isn't the greatest but then again the temperature was 0 today when I was taking it.

Hope you enjoyed the tour of some of my favorite snowmen!!

Stay warm if your in the Northeast - its going to be cold-cold-cold!!

Wordless Wednesday

So far today the only thing that hasn't got snowed on is the chickens. They are warm and snug in a stall in the barn and giving us plenty of eggs every day. This is supposed to be Wordless Wednesday so I won't say much , other than its snowing, windy and cold!!

Happy Wednesday.....

PAY IT FORWARD

Its time for me to play Pay It Forward!! This is the gorgeous counted cross stitch that I received from Angie over at Children in the Corn. It is just beautifully done, framed and perfect for a country chicken. Right now it sits on top of a cuboard in my kitchen until I find a more permanent home for it. I just love it. Thanks Angie!!!

So now I need 3 people to play with me. Just leave me a comment that you want to join. I will then make you something hand crafted - which from me will be knitted. I am aiming for my items to be done late summer, early fall. After you receive your gift from me then you have to sign up 3 friends to play along with you, make them something in the craft of your choice and the circle goes on and on. I actually think you have a year to get these items done and its up to you what you wish to send. Truly no pressure in this at all.

Enjoy your weekend.......

Jackie

WIP challenge, blogging, Pay It Forward

Topic #1: (This is a topic filled post)

I tried to get all my things together for the Works in Progress Challenge - what do you think?? I think I sure do have a lot of unfinished stuff. Have I started on anything you ask?? Nope - just looking at it so far!! Even worse - I could probably finish off more than half of the stuff in less than an hour each. Tonight is a good TV night for me - so maybe I'll start tonight. Maybe.. This goes all year - so no pressure!!
Topic #2:
Ohio State lost on Monday. Well - there is always next year!!

Topic #3:
Blogging: Before I had my own blog I read blogs all the time. I still read blogs all the time. If I have a couple of minutes to spare I sit down and read blogs - like instead of watching TV. Then I got my own blog and it has been even more fun and interesting. First off - who knew I could take pictures that you could put out there for other people to see. I had a terrible time at first uploading them, but I did learn how get those pictures right (A little tough love from my son was all it took - he just doesn't understand I am computer challenged) This is a part I have really enjoyed and definitely want to get better at picture taking. This year - more pictures.

I have enjoyed the comments that people have left. So far no one has had anything nasty to say - so that is good. But it feels good to know that people are enjoying what you have to say. You will notice that I said I read blogs, but I don't comment a lot. This year I will try very hard not to be such a lurker and put more comments out there. Blogging is like inviting people into your home and talking to them about everyday stuff - so I need to definitely comment more.

I have also noticed that people do read my blog and don't have a blog - just like I used to be. My advice to these people is GET A BLOG. Can't think of a better way to chronicle your life and then I can see what you are doing in your life. Which is one of the reasons why I'm putting this all out there. Even Tom is a blog reader. He reads Kris and Sara's blog faithfully and feels like he keeping up with them on a day to day basis. Sometime this year he is going to do a couple of posts here at Country-Chicken. I will admit I don't know all the tricks of getting things to appear, like those tricky little badges, but I have blog technicians that help me out every now and then. So if you get stuck on something I'll lend you one of the blog techs - they will have you up and running in a jiffy. So all of you lurkers without a blog - get going and have some fun with this.

Topic #4:
Pay it Forward. My turn to do Pay it Forward. I joined last year with Children in the Corn and my gift arrived on Christmas Eve. Unbelievable is the word I would have to use on this gift. Since everyone has been taking a bit of a break with the holidays I decided to do my Pay It Forward the beginning of January. Tomorrow I will show you the beautiful chicken counted cross-stitch I received and touch on some of the rules. So think about if you want to do this with me. I need 3 people, the gift has to be hand made - mine will be something knitted and you will have it by Fall 2009. (Heavy knitted things are of much use in Spring and Summer). Then you will need to post about it on your blog, have 3 people join you and make them something. It can be any type of hand crafted item. More tomorrow on this.

Hope you have a good evening and stay warm. More winter storm warnings are out for tomorrow evening and Saturday in our area - Brrrrr!!

Go BUCKS!!

Yes, we are Ohio State fans. My son graduated from their last December and this is one of the framed jersies he has hanging in his room (hopefully hanging from his own place soon - its a tough job market out there).

Anyways, we will be watching the game tonight - Tom and I for as long as we can stay awake, Matt probably to the end. Hopefully this will be a good night for them and they get a win, although that's not what the prediction is - but we can hope!

2009 Challenge

I have decided to join the 2009 WIP Challenge.