Ah The Therapy of Baking

and of making truffles. It is amazing how therapeutic making delicious desserts with a deadly amount of chocolate can be for the heart. Chocolate chip cookies, truffles, mice, enough chocolate to melt the hearts of the likes of Hilter, Sadam, and my high school Physics teacher. Pictures tomorrow.

Green and Black Knucks

These are the coolest knucks I think I've made, maybe I'm just partial to the colors :) These are a custom order for a friend as a Christmas gift.

They took me a little longer to make than they should have because I was swamped with school work (the semester is winding down and finals are this week) and I also became fairly ill, but here they are, all completed and warm and wonderful!

Holiday Stocking Stuffers from Etsyknitters Team!

It's not too late to get those last minute stocking stuffers for your deserving (or otherwise) family! Here are a few adorable choices from fellow Etsyknitters:

This adorable Sir Hamlet Cuff/Armpocket from OhMay would be the cutest little gift for that animal lover (or pig)

How cute is this little Mouse Hat from ElleGanT?!


All of the super cute earflap hats in BabbidgePatch's store are too die for, and this skunk one is perfect for your little stinker!
And don't forget about all the other Etsyknitter's Team members out there that haven't been mentioned here, all of them have wonderful, high quality pieces in their shops :)

Happy Holidays everyone!

Ravelry Swap! And basically a little more about me...

Hi everyone, I have decided to do my first Ravelry Swap! This should be a fun experience and to start off the swap to give my pal some information about me I am going to answer a few questions for them that have been posted in the group.

Do you knit or crochet, or both? How long have you been at the craft?

I knit, I have tried crochet and can crochet a few simple things but not the complex things I can knit. So I mainly stick to knitting. I've been knitting for about ten years, my momma taught me when I was about 9 or 10.

Do you spin?

I have recently (within the last three months) taught myself to spin using a basic drop spindle.

What yarns/fibers are your favorites?

Oh boy, I like so many of them! I mostly just like anything that is soft and in beautiful colors.

What yarns/fibers do you not like?

I am not a big fan of chenille....but I think that's the only fiber I make sure to steer clear from.

What yarns/fibers would you like to try but haven’t?

I'd love to try to spin some fibers that aren't wool, as I've spun only wool since I first learned, but knitting-wise....I haven't knit with silk too much, that might be fun.

What are your favorite colors? Colors that you don’t like?

Colors, all of them! Except probably pink, I don't really like pink but I do have some because my customers like it...

What are your favorite types of projects to knit/crochet?

Honestly, I like all of them. I haven't come across any projects that I absolutely loathed.

What are you currently working on?

Right this moment I am working on a pair of knucks for a custom order as well as trying to finish up some Christmas presents for friends and family.

What is your favorite FO? (Please post a picture if you have one.)

I suppose I would have to say my every day bag, because I use it every day...I'll see if I can dig up a picture...

Are there any techniques that you want to learn?

Oh yes! Always, I love learning new things! I'd love to learn how to crochet even better, I'd love to learn how to dye yarns (and have the space to do so), I'm always up for learning new stitches, new textures, new anything and everything :)

Do you have a yarn winder and/or swift?

Sadly, I do not, at least not yet. When I am more permanently established somewhere I would love to finally get one!

How do you store your needles/hooks?

I store my needles, hooks, etc in this super cool organizer case from lenabrowndesignsDo you collect anything?

I have an unnatural fondness of elephants and have all kinds of elephant paraphernalia around, even a tattoo on my back. Also I collect yarn hehe, like any natural fiber addict!

Do you like sweets?

Oh yes, but who doesn't?

What are your favorite scents?

I really like anything citrus-y, as well as the basic but calming vanilla, lavender, patchouli, sandalwood, and dragon's blood.

Are you having a birthday during this swap?

I am not, my birthday has passed already, but wouldn't that be fun?

What is your living situation (Are you married? Do you have kids, pets, or both?)

I currently live with my boyfriend and our hamster, Delilah and our Samoyed, Panda.

Are you allergic to anything?

As far as I can tell, I'm only allergic to cruel people and school work.

Is there anything else that you would like your pal to know?

I suppose I could let my pal know that I am a college student and plan on getting my Associates Degree in May, 2009.

Small Ways You Can Save a Little Green

Don't we all need just a little extra cash these days? I know I do, college sure is the money-suck. Here are super cool, easy, sneaky ways you can save a little dough here and there, and hey, even if its just a few cents, every little bit counts, it all adds up. Some of these were found in the Etsy Forums, and some are just little ways I, and my peers, save some every day.

• Wash clothes in cold water, not only does it help them retain their color, size and shape, it lowers the cost of gas
• Wear jeans twice before washing them (unless you go out skipping in the mud and make a slip n' slide out of banana peels)
• Make slightly bigger dinners so that you have leftovers, leftovers for lunch will prevent the allure of fast food which isn't actually cheaper than bringing your own lunch
• Set the thermostat a degree lower every day, you won't realize that its colder, and if you do feel chilly, layer up with sweaters and blankets (besides, a cold room is a great excuse for snuggling)
• Save all your change, even the pennies, and put in your savings account when the jar is full or too heavy to carry
• NEVER go to the grocery store hungry, this is probably the number 1 way to come home with more than you expected
• If possible, shop at a Trader Joe's, or local farmers' market - considerably healthier food for half the price, supports local economy
• Who really needs the name brand cereal? The store brand tastes the same, costs a fraction of the price.
  
• Use household items for cleaners instead of the toxic and expensive ones you can find at the store
• Lemons, vinegar, water and maybe some alcohol is all you really need to clean anything in your home
• Walk or ride your bike wherever possible, gas is still expensive and most cars are still bad for the environment
• When you do have to drive, avoid using the heater or air conditioner, these use up your gas more quickly. Just bring in extra sweater if its cold, or roll down the window if its hot

If you have anymore ideas, please leave them in a comment to this post!

The Rasta Beret Pattern

So my friend Miriam pretty much brings out some of my best hats. She tells me what she wants, or at least an idea of it, and lets me be creative with the rest.

Our latest brain child was this totally awesome, super soft, very warm slouchy-rasta-beanie-beret. It is knit with two strands, one merino and one soft fuzzy acrylic held together throughout in 3 different colors of each. It is loose and warm and a relatively easy project.

Those beginning knitters out there who have mastered scarves and basic beanies would enjoy this pattern because it is still easy with minimal shaping, but is beyond the basics. Advanced knitters would also enjoy this project because it is not complicated and would provide a needed break from the more time-intensive pieces they have done.

The pattern can be found here. Once purchased I will send it as an attachment to your desired email address.

Coming Soon!

I have another pair of baby booties and matching hat coming soon to my shop!

So far, the booties have been completed. The set is knit out of a recycled mix of white and red wool, they look like candy canes had a love child. It is very soft and very warm, and the colors are great for this time of year what with parties and other social functions that all the hip babies today attend.

The booties are about 5 inches long and should fit munchkins up to a full year old! Why not pick these up for your favorite little one?