the scarf dilemma.....yes or no?

When we went to the beach this summer I found the best knit shop....organized, loaded and full of inspiration!  I bought the yarn for this mohair scarf with plans for it to be a gift, but as I've been knitting it, I've been questioning the 'giftability' of this particular scarf. 

 It's a bit off beat as far as scarves go. I like it.  It's soft and the colors are very fun.  But when I've shown it to some of my friends and family I get a mixed reaction.

 They've made comments like : "Oh, that would be cute on someone younger...I think I'm too old for that style"

  or "I like it, I'm just not sure I'd wear it, but it looks cute on you"

  or my favorite: "It kinda reminds me of sausage links"

So, what do you think?  Go ahead...be honest, I can take it. 

ready and thankful

The cranberry sauce is cooked and is getting happy in the fridge

The turkey is awaiting its moment of glory

The platters are ready to be filled

The apples are sliced and the sauce is perfect

The table is all set

We've been getting the house cleaned and the food ready....it's been a busy day....

Well, for most of us....(you just can't get good work out of some folks)

We're ready for our Thanksgiving celebration...it's one of my favorite holidays.
It's been a week full of mixed blessings...some testing and much grace. I'm ever thankful for His grace - for my Heavenly Father's unconditional love.  I'm thankful that my Hope is in Him.  I pray that your Thanksgiving day is full of blessings and wonderful times with family and friends.  That each day is a celebration of thanks!  I'll be back after the feasting with some fun, festive ideas....Happy Thanksgiving friends!

stitches and stuff

Working on a bit of this and that....enjoying my days

~a camera strap cover using this tutorial

~reading this with my boy....it started out slow, but now we can hardly put it down

~working on a secret project...it's so fun, like sewing rainbows

~gearing up for the basketball season

~working on Christmas gifts

~slowly working on this knitting project and trying to decide how I feel about the way it's turning out

`~watching my favorite coach....as the shots that won the game went through the net!

Hope your day is filled with happy stitches, fun stuff and game winning shots! 

saturday sewing

I had some sewing time last Saturday and it was just what I needed.  Some people shop for therapy.  I create for therapy.  It's a good thing when I get some sewing time....You know that saying about mama being happy?  Well, when this mama is sewing, it's all good in the house!  You'd think they'd be pushing me into my sewing room but no, I've got to wait it out and carve out sewing time here and there.  When I get a whole day...it's like Christmas. 

OK....I'm not complaining...just being silly.  My family is fabulous about allowing me some time to create and they are always wanting to snatch something that I've made.  Especially these pretties.

Jodi from Pleasant Home has a fun Etsy shop with patterns and fabrics.  It's like a perfect storm.  Just the right amount of goodness ready for a day of sewing therapy.  I purchased these patterns and some fabric from her and after a day in my craft room studio.  I emerged triumphant and giddy. 

I'll be making some more of these wallets as gifts for my girl's friends.  I think a gift card inside one of these wallets would make a sweet little gift. 

Out of the two patterns I thought the wallet would be the hardest, but I think it might have actually been a bit easier than the note holder.  Neither of them was hard though.  The directions were clear and easy to follow. 

The note holder is similar to the mini notebook covers that I made earlier, it just has a bit more pizazz to it!  There's a tab to keep it shut and a handy little pocket in the front for notes and stuff.
I love how it turned out but I think it could benefit by being a bit sturdier.  I think the next one will get some heavier interfacing for stability. 

 These projects would both be a great way to use up some scraps and try out some new color combinations.  I've never been a big pink and red girl but I love how the fabrics and trim all worked together to make this so fun and girly.  I also love the red and turquoise combo....I'll be using those colors together again.

How about you, do you have a favorite color combination that you love use?  I'm loving the fresh look of these two projects and it's got me thinking about some new color combos. 

the soup bowl

I'm hooking up with Jodi for a soup swap.  The idea is that everyone who participates, posts a delicious soup recipe and we're all blessed in the sharing.  Click here to find the links that will take you to all the recipes. 

My soup is a fall favorite.  My mom's church served this every year for the Mother-Daughter Thanksgiving tea. I begged the lady who was in charge of the menu for the recipe and apparently it was the recipe on the evaporated milk can.  No matter,  It's got the perfect blend of savory and the pumpkin adds a hint of sweetness underneath all the flavors. 

2 Tablespoons butter
1 cup chopped onion
2 large cloves garlic, chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons of curry powder ( LOVE this stuff!)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon white pepper (I don't have white pepper so I just use my regular pepper)
3 cups chicken broth
1 15oz can pumpkin (make sure it's plain pumpkin and not the pumpkin pie pumpkin with spices)
1 12oz can of evaporated milk

Melt butter in large saucepan over medium high heat.  Add onion and garlic; cook, stirring frequently for 2-3 minutes or until tender.  Stir in curry powder, salt and pepper and cook for 1 minute.  Add broth and pumpkin; bring to boil.  (keep an eye on it while it's coming to a boil)  Reduce heat to low; cook stirring occasionally for 15-20 minutes.  Stir in evaporated milk.  Transfer mixture to blender and process in batches.  (Be sure to leave a vent hole when processing hot liquids....trust me!)  Blend until smooth.  Serve warm with a dollop of sour cream if desired. 

Enjoy!  And thanks to Jodi for hosting the Soup Bowl....we'll be having lots of soup in the coming days! 

a little bit of bling

This simple cowl was a freebie pattern from my lys.  The pattern calls for 1 skein of "Nuna" by MIRASOL, but I had this luscious Wenslydale yarn from Amanda of Joli House that was perfect for this project.  In addition to the main yarn, you hold a strand of "Lazer FX" alongside when you knit every 6th row. 

The sequins add just the right amount of bling to a rather ordinary knit.  You don't even have to cut the sequin yarn, you just let it run on the back side and it hides itself wonderfully. I used size 8 needles and knit until it was about 7 1/2 inches tall....easy enough! 

It seems like cowls are the thing among knitters these days. I see them all over the blogosphere and on Ravelry.   They are fun, fast and make great gifts, but what I really want to know is, "Do people who aren't knitters wear them?"  Let me know what you think....I've got some on my list to knit as gifts and I'm wondering if they are going to be received with joy or that "ooh, how nice! (what was she thinking knitting me a neck tube)"  kind of reception.  You know what I mean?  Sometimes I wonder if my knitting gifts are as appreciated as I hope or if they're received like that scratchy sweater your grandma knit you in bright green and orange acrylic yarn when you really wanted a curling iron......maybe that's just me.