Knitting & Crochet Blog Week Day 3

Although today's topic is listed as discussing our crochet and knitting heroes, I've decided to swap it out for my wildcard topic. Mainly doing this because I really don't have a "hero" in the craft. I don't have other family members that crochet or knit, I taught myself and although I frequently test for several designers and follow many others, I certainly couldn't pick just ONE of them.

On to wildcard-ness :) The wildcard topic this year is to "Craft Your Perfect Day"


I have to say that with life being so busy lately, my perfect crafting day would likely be heading out to nearby Shenandoah National Park, renting a cabin and crocheting the day away to put it simply (possibly some knitting too but crochet is my main craft).


More specifically heading out to Sky Meadows in Shenandoah, the highest point on Skyline Drive. When my husband and I got a cabin there several years ago, this was our back deck view:

That sunset every night was AMAZING. Now starting with the sunset I feel like I've started at the END of my perfect day so let's talk about the rest of it!


To be honest, I wouldn't mind dragging along some stitch dictionaries and other sundry books I own and making a few swatches of stitches and motifs I've never used before.


An hour or two of that fun would mean it'd be time for a snack! I'd have to bring along some one minute lemon mug cake (recipe here) because who doesn't like cake that can be made warm in one minute!

Another portion of my day would have to be making some amigurumi! There are way too many cute patterns and not enough time for me to take them all so a perfect crafting day would allow me to try a few extras in addition to ones I've already made like these!

Green Owl

Lil Pumpkin! (With a kitty sleeping in the top right)

Purple lavender scented elephant that was the star of yesterday's photo challenge post :)

A little amigurumi playing and then it'd be time to whip up a project for myself for the evening, likely a top or a cowl since those seem to be my current favorites.

So more or less my day is simple enough:

1) Find a cabin

2) Try random new stitches, motifs, etc.

3) Eat lemon cake

4) Amigurumi

5) Whip up an evening project

Ahh...to be able to sit on my butt all day and crochet, I wish!! (Although I do enjoy my gym visits once a week).

Knitting & Crochet Blog Week Day 2 - Photography Challenge Day!

Wanna see some small finished objects in action? Well, that's what you're getting in today's photography challenge :) Enjoy!

Knitting & Crochet Blog Week Day 1 - Color Lovers

Kicking off Knitting & Crochet Blog Week with a discussion of COLOR! It's my first time getting to participate in Knitting & Crochet Blog Week so I'm excited...let's get started and let's talk color!


I think the season tends to lend itself to my color choices in projects. Being that we've had such an early spring (summer really, it was 80 here as early as March), I've very much been on a bright color kick! Maybe it's the inspiration of the flower popping up outside or maybe it's just the cheery sunshine.

Although based on this picture, it's not a bright colored party in my house until pink and orange are involved so I suppose those are my "bright and cheery mascot colors" :)

Once Autumn hits, I'm sure to go into a phase of burnt oranges, burgundy, plum, brown and cream as that's usually the case! Then winter will likely bring in the blues, purples, aquas, etc to round out the rainbow.


Lately I've seen a lot of projects by others done in various neutral tones or various shades of the same color so you can bet as soon as I catch up on what I'm doing now, I"ll give some of that a try!


I will say when it comes to variegated yarns, I have a hard time picturing how they will work up in certain patterns. So many of the yarns from the big box stores have shorter repeats so finding the right project (that isn't socks, although...one day I'll make socks, I promised myself).

When it comes to picking a yarn for a project, there's three ways for me:


1) I've already got an inkling for some idea in my head that I want to make happen
2) Let's go to the LYS and run around like a mad woman through the aisles holding colors next to each other until I'm satisified
3) Take advantage of the hikes that my husband, daughter and I take and pull the inspiration from nature and our adventures!

Made it Hap-Pin 4/20/12

Have I been MIA? Why yes, yes I have. Besides having family in town and a to list a mile long...I have no excuse :-P Buuuttt....remember that Cheesy Ranch Lasagna I was going to try out? Well I did (that week too)!

Here it is ready to go into the oven. I followed all the directions but as you can see...there really wasn't a significant amount of shredded cheese or sauce to cover my noodles. The recipe also said you were to use already cooked noodles but I've ALWAYS used the oven ready lasagna noodles.

After baking time...

Here's the thing about this. I can't say my husband or myself was thrilled that because there was not enough sauce for the noodles, they didn't properly cook on the edges and nobody likes crunchy pasta...yuck.

I will say the sauce, chicken and noodles (those that were cooked) were absolutely delicious.

My husband and I both agree that it's a dish we'd make again with a few changes:

(1) Make double the amount of sauce
(2) Bake it more like a baked ziti casserole kind of thing instead of layering it all lasagna style
(3) Try it with meatballs instead of chicken

So with those suggestions in mind, I'll definitely be trying it again soon. I"ll let you know how it goes! Until then, check out Shateen's great cookies in her Made it Hap-Pin post on Knit2Together

Pick A Pin 4/2/12

Decided to try more food this week. Found this pin for cheesy ranch lasagna. My husband and I love italian food so this has to be perfect to try!

The pin itself links back to the "Mommy? I'm Hungry!" Recipe blog but she actually got the original recipe and modified it a bit from Real Mom Kitchen.

Sooo....the original blog was chicken lasagna...the pin was ranch and chicken...what will I come up with?

Come back Friday to see!!