I'm Behind!

I have been so behind with everything since I got back from Ireland and haven't really caught up! I have been working on a few Christmas presents but I will have to save posting pictures till after the Holiday. I more then likely will post random pictures as well from my Ireland trip.

My Ireland trip was amazing and I had a great time. I'm slowly going through all my photos and editing them. Trying to get through over 2,000 photos and working on Christmas presents is killing me this year. I have to always think, "I have free time, what's more important!?"

Recently I commissioned Lisa over at Ambitions Love to make a few key chains for me as gifts this year. I also got one for myself. I'm in love with it and the quality is outstanding.
I will honestly try and post more since I completely skipped the month of November. Good grief I am so behind!

Jewelry For Me

Jewelry has always been something I have loved making even as a child. I remember always having a huge box full of beads. As a child, I would sit for hours on the floor with this box full of beads making jewelry. My mom was always amazed at how I could be perfectly happy doing this for hours. When I found cross-stitching as a child I split up my time between them.

I have a number of jewelry pieces and I won't go into numbers. I love everything I have and wouldn't part with it. A few pieces have been created for me by friends throughout the years. I have always had a hard time finding bracelets I like though. Finally I decided to just make my own.

Realizing I could easily use the drill my Dad got me as part of a toolbox to make holes in a few charms I had, I knew it needed to happen. I'm sure he had no intention of me using my toolbox like this but I won't tell him. It's a multi-functioning toolbox.

I love how my bracelet turned out and I'm sure I will be making more of them. I'm calling this bracelet, "Pink Explosion".

Socks +2

My first pair of knitted socks is done! I'm excited and happy with the way they turned out. The yarn was easy to work with and now I have left over yarn. I think I'll make some wrist warmers with that. I'll have to take photos of my mom wearing them when I go back to IL for my visit.

I have been asked this a few times but YES, these are my first pair of knitted socks. I had help from my lovely friend Crystal. We meet in my local Stitch 'n Bitch group. Crystal had been after me for awhile to try knitting socks or even try knitting. I finally gave in a few months ago. She pretty much introduce me to DPNs and the joy of working with them. After that I was pretty much let lose and I could easy ask her if I didn't understand something.

Ready For Fall!

I am all ready for fall! I usually have problems wearing hat thanks to my big head and thick curly hair. So the right path was just to make my own hat. It seemed to go down hill from there because I then wanted a matching scarf! I loved the yarn I was working with and just couldn't stop.

So, I started out with a crocheted hat and scarf but then realized I needed some fingerless gloves. This realization came to me after a outing on a very cold day. Trying to walk around with cold hands and a camera was not working. I kept thinking through out the whole day I needed some fingerless gloves so I can still easily work with my camera. You can see the ending to my story below.

Patterns:
Scarf
Hat
Gloves

Sock +1

I finally got my first pair of socks done! I have talked about my Evil League of Evil Socks in another post. I was so excited to be done and feel like I was halfway there. I just needed to finish the other sock and I would be in nerd heaven. My first sock ever! I've been told by a few people that I did pretty well for my first time.

The bad part? It don't fit me! I should have made them a inch longer but didn't. According to the pattern I was using when you start to finish off the toe part it will add 2 more inches. It didn't and by the time I realized this I had already sewed/cut/finished the toe part. My mom was also visiting me for the past two weeks so out of curiosity I asked her to try them. Of course, they fit her and then she asked me to make the other sock so she can wear them.

I'm pretty sure I will have enough yarn left over so I will not give up on making socks.

My New Love

After loving my Canon Rebel XSi for almost 3 years now I knew it was time to upgrade. My photos started lacking and after reading what other SLRs are doing now. I pretty much wanted to buy another Canon since I have loved them for years. So it was a easy choice and tons of online reading that I upgraded to the Canon 60D.

I have already had a couple of trips to bring my camera along since my Mom has been visiting me. I am loving how easy it is and the big improvement from my Rebel XSi. Still my Rebel will always be my first love as I was introduce to the world of SLR cameras with it. I have yet to play around a lot with the video feature on my 60D but I will soon.

Here are a few photos I took with my Canon 60D. I have also a new interest in mushrooms and how beautiful they can be. Nature is really amazing.

My Geekyness Brings All The Geeks To The Yard

For those that don't know this...I am a HUGE Batman fan. I won't go into the number of Batman comics I own. I will skip over how the other day I figured out I own about 7 Batman shirts. If you ever want a full rant/ramble by me over a batman comic/movie/etc. then you know who to ask.

So after I finished Lisa's Captain America Headband Shield I knew, I had to make a Batman version for myself. I am loving how it turned out and can't wait to wear it. I did end up cross-stitching the bat part. This was a complete fly by the seat of my pants moment like many of my projects. I found some cross-stitch patterns online for the Batman symbol and went from there.

Brain Slugs!

I will fully admit I am a huge Futurama fan! Trying to figure out what I should do for Halloween this year, I came up with the idea of making a Brain Slug. I will actually be in Ireland for Halloween but at least this little guy could come with me for a easy Halloween costume.

A person assimilated by a brain slug will be likely to speak in a monotone voice and do everything to further the spreading of brain slugs throughout the universe, but the easiest way to tell a person is infected is by the brain slug sitting on their head. The person assimilated retains awareness of his condition, which Hermes referred to as a "nightmare". The recommended procedure of dealing with a brain slug victim is to act natural and switch to a garlic shampoo. Another way to deny attachment is wearing a helmet. Fortunately, brain slugs are not very intelligent and can be easily removed without harming the affected person, minimizing the risk. Once removed from the afflicted person's head, the person returns immediately to normal.

Look how cute this little guy is!? I just need to attach a hair clip so he can fit nicely on my head. Pattern from Ravelry

Indian Echo Caverns

So, I'm one that likes to come up with random adventures for myself. A few weekends ago I convinced a friend to join me in going to Indian Echo Caverns. We both have never been to caverns so it seemed like a good way to spend a day. The caverns were just beautiful and it's amazing what the earth can do. Even climbing back up 71 steps was worth seeing it. I loved learning about them and was amazed when we were told the caverns were 83% alive and growing.

Like many caverns in the Mid-Atlantic states, Indian Echo Caverns is a limestone cave. Cut through Beekmantown limestone, which is over 440 million years old, they were formed through the erosive properties of water. As time progressed, geological forces led to an "uplift" of the surrounding limestone, eventually allowing more and more water to flow through the formation. As the water flowed over the limestone, it began to create small crevices, these small crevices led to larger ones, and eventually, over a series of millions of years, it created the caverns as they are today.

Star Trek:TNG Gift

One of my friends that is moving away in a few weeks was kind enough to give me one of the amazing shawls she knited! I can't believe she is going since we have become good friends within the 4/5 months we have know one another. I know, I will miss her. Not just the going for coffee and knitting parts but the conversations we have had. At least technology makes it so much easier to keep in contact.

My present for her. I wanted something that she could easily pack and take with her. We both have a love for Star Trek: TNG so it was easy for me to figure out what I should make her. Oh, and like two geeky women we have a love for Wil Wheaton so I made sure he was included too.

Yes, I was watching Star Trek: TNG while cross-stitching her gift.

Cross-stitch pattern is from: black-lupin on Deviant Art

Knitted Socks!?

What do we have here!? Yes! I decided to start knitting socks and the helpful push from a friend. I'm glad I got that push and I am finding it easy. Of course my friend is a text message away or having coffee with me when issues appear with my knitting. I call her my encyclopedia of knitting because whatever problem I have she easily knows how to fix it.The pattern I am using is called Silver's Sock Class and the directions/pictures are very detailed. I was intimated about knitting socks but after my friend pointed this site out to me I found it easy.

I'm actually moving along with my first sock. I thought it would take me a year for each sock the way I knit. I'm rather slow at knitting and get teased about it. Still, bring out any crochet project and those same people that tease me about knitting I know I can outdo them in crochet. I seem to be knitting faster though and I do love DPNs. We will see how much further I get!

I'm in love with the yarn and it's very easy to work with. What is the yarn called? Well it's called Evil League of Evil! Yes! That Evil League of Evil from Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-Long Blog! I purchased it from Nerd Girl Yarns and she offers tons of colorways based on fandoms like Harry Potter, Dr. Horrible, and Dr. Who. Yes, a nerd's dreamland of yarn.

The Beekeeper’s Quilt

(Photo is from Tiny Owl Knits's Website)I am convinced that more then half the people on google+ are knitters/crocheters/etc. A few of us, actually a TON of us are now knitting away making Hexapuffs or puffs for short. Tiny Owl Knits released the pattern in July and it has been going full force through the knitting community. The pattern is currently available for purchase at $5.50 on the website.

Why? I'm not sure but I think it's a number of reasons for me;
1.) My first real knitting project.
2.) You will not get this done quickly so it's pretty much a side project.
3.) It can easily fit in whatever bag you carry so you can do it while waiting in the doctor's office, on a bus, on a plane, etc.
4.) The cuteness factor and how puffy they are.
5.) I also figured out a crocheted version for myself too.
6.) You can attach all the puffs together for a quilt or whatever you can think of! I have already suggested lining the walls with them.
7.) Tons of swaps are appearing on Ravelry for puffs or even left over sock yarn.

The puffs I have made so far. A few I have crocheted too and the purple ones was from a friend after I traded mine too. I have already convinced a few people they should try it and it's rather interesting what everyone comes up with.The bag I am currently going to keep my puffs in.

Another Find at the local Thrift Stores

I feel like I'm behind on my blog so here I am playing catch up. I need to take some photos of some of the craft projects I am working on and post them too.

While my friend B was here a few weeks ago we did a bit of shopping and I also took her by the local thrift stores. I found this amazing album in town and I'm in love with it. Still trying to figure out what photos I'll be putting in the album but more then likely old black & white photos I find at the thrift store.
The kitties are just adorable! I love the art and from the copyright on the album it came out in 1996.

Weekend Fun

One of my close friends B came to visit me over the weekend. We have know one another since high school and since she joined the Air Force it is rare we see one another. It makes me thankful for technology and how we can easily text one another/email/message/etc.

We had a blast and got up at 8am for 3 days straight and came home around 10pm/12pm every night. We went everywhere and spent a good deal shopping together. It also made me miss the old times of growing up together and the fun we had.

Pictures below are from a few places we went; Hershey Park and Chocolate World, Land of Little Horses, Mr. Ed's Elephant Museum. I have over 200 photos but thought these were enough.

On a side note I actually got on a few roller coasters which I haven't done for 6 years now. I about screamed my head off but would do it again. Thanks to my friend B for pushing me to do it.

Halloween Swaps

Just wanted to show off some Halloween goodies that I have finished so far. I'm in a few swaps on Swap-Bot so I wanted to give myself a head start. I'm excited to put together my little Halloween packages and send them off. I have a few ideas and my imagination seems to come alive around Fall.

All of the crocheted items were made with free patterns;

Little Monsters can be found on CRAFTYisCool. Very basic and easy pattern to follow so I highly suggest this to anyone that wants to try out crocheting.

The ghostly garland can be found on Lion Brand Yarn's website. It's suppose to be a necklace but I thought a garland would be better for decoration.

The little bat ornament can be found on Lion Brand Yarn's website too.

What every girl needs: Bows!

Shame on me! I actually crocheted these little lovelies a few months ago and forgot to post them. I wanted to try my hand at making my own bows and this is the outcome. I also had extra yarn left over so I made a smaller size version.
I'm still not sure yet if I will keep both or they will be given away. My love of girly things, pastels, lace/frills, deer, and Marie Antoinette show pretty well in these bows.

Ireland, I'm Finally Going!

The other morning while watering in my garden I seem to have rained on this cricket's parade.

In other news...
In two months I will be taking a trip to IRELAND!!!I have been wanting this trip since I graduated from College with my Bachelor's Degree. Things kept coming up and I would push the trip back. I kept the money saved in my bank as the years passed thinking, "Oh, next year I will go." Finally! I have both the trip and plane tickets booked. No turning back and I am going.

I'm so excited to be going and can't wait. I skipped going in the summer because of avoiding everyone else. Fall is my favorite time of the year and I'll be spending Halloween there too. I'm so excited and even have to look over my trip once a week to make sure I am going.