Week 15: Scarves Galore

I've been posting for a couple weeks about knitting for the family adopted by my office.  I started slowly (aka procrastinated), which means I was knitting my fingers off this past weekend trying to finish the last two scarves.  I had a few scarves in reserve for girls, but trying to figure out how to make a scarf for a boy stumped me a bit.  I have two sisters, seven female cousins, and four nieces--not a boy in the bunch!

I worked on the black and rust ribbed scarf during the Bears game, which I started and finished on Sunday.  All three boys' scarves were in the laundry that night so I could take them to work on Monday morning.  Oh, and the Bears did win this week, which put them at the top of their division!

I always meant to make a scarf to match the striped hat,
so it was given with this batch of boy scarves.

The pink/purple scarf (left) was the only new project for the girls.
The other two were past projects from when I just felt like knitting a scarf!

A family of six scarves lined up in my cubicle
for an aunt and her five nieces and nephews.

Week 14: Da Coach

Da Bears pulled out an impressive win this week for Monday Night Football, which was appropriate considering they retired Mike "Da Coach" Ditka's number during halftime.  Oh, and I got a bit of knitting done on the scarves for the sponsor family at work this past week, too!

I'm a little ashamed my "to finish" pile has gotten this bad,
but the scarves on top got finished and washed this week!

Starting a scarf for a 4-year-old boy

Skeeter tolerates modeling the finished scarf

You started another one?  Leave me alone till it's done...

Almost done with the brother's scarf!

Week 13: Return of the Scarves

I've been in a mood to knit scarves lately, so at least one Christmas present will be this beautiful ribbed scarf of a soft fluffy yarn in purple, green, and turquoise, which was knit together with a second strand of turquoise chenille yarn to add thickness and warmth to the eyelash yarn.  It's finished, except for weaving in the ends.

Bernat Eye Lash yarn in "Glam" and
Herrschners Chenille yarn in turquoise

The office announced last week that we're adopting a family for Christmas, so I promptly volunteered to knit everyone scarves.  The girls are easiest to knit for--this scarf is a ladder ribbon yarn in burnt orange, pink, and purple, with a second strand of variegated purple eyelash yarn for contrast.  It's still a work in progress.

Folklore by Darice yarn in "Tan/Purple" and
Sensations Chello yarn in "Magic Purple"

I was working on the purple scarf at the Bears game, but because one of the opponent's colors is purple, it was suggested that I work on something else.  I started the Pink Camouflage burp cloth after halftime, knit about 50 angsty rows, but the Bears still managed to lose in overtime.  I may boycott knitting for the next game out of spite!

Week 12: Just Knit

I knit fast and furiously as the Bears played their division rivals, the Lions, but all I got was a bunch of finished or nearly finished projects...

Lime Stripes burp cloth is FINALLY done,
plus I finished the Pink Camouflage bib

Photobombing cat arrived shortly after I snapped the first picture

Started this double-strand scarf on a Friday...

...practically finished on Sunday!
Both yarns were from my random stash of accumulated yarn :-)

Week 11: Overtime

We had our lucky numbers back at our table for Week 11

Almost done with this burp cloth despite my issues with it

Week 11 saw a two-hour delay in the first quarter due to serious storms in Chicago during which I was trying to convince myself that I wasn't getting sick (thanks to the double-whammy of a tetanus shot and the flu vaccine a couple days earlier, my immune system was low enough for the crud to take root...)  Despite several mistakes I had to fix (I blame the crud), I did get some knitting done on the Lime's Up burp cloth.  It's easy to tell the second skein is from a different dye lot just by comparing the first two sets of stripes to the second two.  It was hard enough to find that last skein, so it will stay that way for the finished product, which I'll probably bind off before the next game.  Oh, and the Bears won in overtime, even though I (and my lucky knitting) had to leave before the end of the fourth quarter!

Week 10: Too Late

We'll say this post is so late because of the Bears' unfortunate defeat last week. The fan base at our local Chicago eatery were yelling at the coach to pull the injured quarterback for most of the second half. When he finally did send the back-up quarterback in, it was too little, too late, and the Bears lost by 2 points.  I spent the first half of the game tinking (or un-knitting; "tink" is literally the word "knit" backwards) the Lime Stripes burp cloth because I was having trouble matching up the stripes to start the second ball of yarn.  Since I was so frustrated with the stripes, I ran home at halftime and grabbed a ball of Pink Camouflage to start the bib for another baby set.

Photobombing Cat must play with the string...

Mine.

Ten Days Till Turkey

It's beginning to look a lot like Thanksgiving around here! 

Refreshment table food labels from a recent party

Updated welcome sign on our front porch

My newest Thanksgiving decoration, a solar-powered turkey!

Pumpkins, pine cones, and pilgrim squirrels

Week 9: Surprise Finish

I think most Bears fans were hoping for a win against their long-time rivals from Green Bay last night, but with our quarterback out and no home field advantage, we were also mentally prepared for the opposite.  When their quarterback got injured early in the game, both teams were on a more level playing field and a close game ensued with the Bears pulling out a win at the end!

I also finished another baby bib at halftime made from a cone of Peaches & Creme "Christmas Ombre" from my grandmother.  Dave liked the colors so much, he said he would have asked me to make him a scarf if he actually had clothes to match!  For next weekend's project, I've thrown the half-finished "Lime Stripes" burp cloth back into the knitting bag.  Oh, and did you notice my new knitting tote?  I've recently discovered Thirty-One, and I'm having a party next weekend to buy more storage totes for my crafty stuff!

Photobombing Cat strikes again!

Week 8: Bye

A week late, but not much to report for Week 8. The Bears had their bye week, and I didn't do much stitching except to finish up one of the Chicago bibs.  And Skeeter thinks all unfinished ends are hers to eat...

Week 7: Away Game

Both of us missed the Bears at Bobby G's this weekend because we were up in Chicago for Dave's grandfather's funeral. The Bears were out of town, too, and unfortunately they lost even though we were surrounded by the Chicago family in their Bears gear. I knit during the game, as well as during the drive and most of the weekend while we were staying with Dave's grandmother. She used to be a kniter, too, but now only crochets, just like my grandmother.

Finished projects: "Hippie" burpcloth, "Playtime" bib,
and striped "Hippie" and "Hot Blue" bib

Partially finished: "Tie Die Stripes" bib and striped
"Beach Ball Blue" and "Hot Blue" bib

Skeeter just wants attention (and to play with yarn)
after being without her humans for several days

Week 6: Weeknight Win

The Bears played (and won) on Thursday night in week 6, which was nice since we had another wedding this past weekend.  Instead of knitting, I was making reception signs and learning how to make bouquets and boutonnieres for my sister's DIY wedding.  I was still able to finish the Hippie yarn bib on Thursday, and got a few rows done here and there on the matching burp cloth.  No weddings this coming weekend, so maybe I'll be able to knit 80+ rows to finish off this set!

Week 5: Wedding Weekend

My husband and I were both in a wedding this past Sunday, so he caught most of the Bears game in the groom's hangout room.  The TV in the bride's room didn't work, but we had plenty to keep us busy before the ceremony!  Still, I'm sure my lack of knitting is getting blamed for another loss.  I did get a bit of knitting done on a new bib (yarn color "Hippie") at the salon on Sunday and during Monday Night Football.  I also finished up the Tie Die Stripes burp cloth during the week.  So many friends having little boys right now--I'm going to run out of options for blue yarn!

Pretty in Pink!

A bib start and a burp cloth finish

Let me help you with that string, Mama!

Week 4: Lack of Progress

Knitting during the Bears' games is apparently a requirement for them to win, and I have been blamed for their loss in Week 4 because I had a Tastefully Simple party scheduled.  Alas, I will not be there again next weekend because Dave and I are in a wedding.

The only knitting I got done this past week was a couple more stripes during Monday Night Football.  Instead of knitting, I was preparing for my first TS tasting party.  Preparations included dissecting a bunch of binders (by cutting out the center section with the rings) to make lapboards for party guests to fill out their order forms.  See the pretty new business cards that arrived last week?  And I have a shiny new nametag, too!

September Blessings

Is it just me, or did September fly by?  It seems like summer never really got here before the temperature started cooling down, and before I knew it, it was October!  Before I think about everything going on this month, I wanted to take some time to think about all the ways Dave and I were blessed in September.

• Dave is officially a Big Blue employee!  Even though he was eligible for benefits right away, he has to work six months to earn vacation time.  Boo...
• I am working again!  A part-time job at a law firm in Buckhead fell into my lap at just the right time.  I enjoy the work because I'm getting paid to organize files, and it's only through the end of the year when their office moves.
• We had an awesome housewarming with lots of friends and family stopping by!  The new place is definitely better for entertaining (even if it is only temporary lodging till we're ready to buy a house out here).
• My sister's bachelorette party was a smashing success.  If you want to know more about it, Mary and Sarah both posted on their blogs.
• I had a successful first tasting party for Tastefully Simple!  Now that I've gotten the first one done to know how it goes, I can work on refining my presentation for future parties.  It's a challenge keep up with TS, the chores at home, and the PT job, but I'm enjoying it so far.

Never thought I'd work at a big building in Atlanta...

Week 3: Bears Win Again

Another win for the Chicago Bears this week, but since it was a Sunday night game on a busy weekend, I didn't get too far on the latest burp cloth.  I made it to the halfway point, and once this Tie Die Stripes one is done, hopefully my last skein of Lime Stripes will be here so I can finish the other burp cloth in progress.  I had no luck finding that last skein I needed in-store, but I was able to locate it on Ebay for less than shipping alone at JoAnn.com!  Woo hoo!

Bridal Helper

The big day is October 12! Less than three weeks to go, Mary! 

In the beginning, there were many homemade invitations to tie with a purple bow...

Then I converted dollar store invitations into snazzy bridal shower invitations with a new printer and lots of rubber cement.  Of course, we tied in the favors and prizes to the purple color scheme, too!

And finally, I made a fantastic Pin Win with this bachelorette party bag I found months ago on Pinterest!  She'll have to live with no purple on this one...

Week 2: Bears Win (Barely)

Da Bears won again (but let's not talk about how ugly that game was), and I had three finishes this week!  I completed the "Pretty Pastels" burp cloth and the "Lime Stripes" bib as anticipated, and just for fun I stitched up a dishcloth from the remaining "Pretty Pastels" striped with the remnants of "Strawberry" from an old project.  While I did start the "Lime Stripes" burp cloth, I ran out of yarn halfway through (and will probably have to order it online because I've had no luck finding one more skein at two of the three big craft stores so far...).  This week's project is the matching "Tie Die Stripes" burp cloth to go with the bib I finished before pre-season was over.

Week 1: Bears Win!

We just finished the first weekend of football season, and here are the two projects I've been working on while my husband watches non-stop NFL.  The burp cloth is in girly Sugar'n Cream "Pretty Pastels," and I'll probably finish it up tonight during Monday Night Football .  The bib is in gender-neutral Sugar'n Cream "Lime Stripes," and once I finish the second strap, I'll start on the matching burp cloth.

Window Win!

Our new home has a couple of awkward (but cute) square windows in random places. The most obnoxious one is in the living room, and previous tenants covered it with some sort of ugly white plastic thing.  Since I don't want to go through the hassle of blinds, and a tension rod with a small curtain didn't really make me happy, either, I decided to get crafty.

Step 1) Cut foam core board to size (easier said than done...)
Step 2) Pick fun fabric and cut it with enough excess to wrap the board
Step 3) Use leftover packing tape from moving to secure fabric to the board
Step 4) Wiggle stepladder in between audio/visual set-up and awkwardly hammer in small nails to hold the board over the window
Step 5) Wait to see how long it takes Dave to notice...

I may go purchase one or two square canvases and cover them in the same or similar print fabric to make it into an art wall, rather than a random fabric aquarium floating above the TV.  Anyone want to join me for a trip to Hobby Lobby?