Done Please!

As my favorite toddler would say, "Done Please!" YAY! Im done Im done Im done!!! But also bummed slightly...

So I finally finished all three of our Harry Potter Sets!! WOO! It has been a crazy 3 months but it was totally worth it! Not only did I finish, but again, finished BEFORE my deadline! woo! AND I have already started another project, hehe!

I am so proud of myself for taking on such a massive project in what seems to have been the busiest 3 months of our married lives! haha. Between work, moving, and everything else, I have managed to tackle the most involved projects of my knitting career! hehe. Very exciting stuff! I am so happy! And so glad it is over! The sets turned out awesome! And while they have a few flaws, overall, I am very very very happy with the end result! I cannot wait to see everyone in their outfits on Saturday, which brings me to why I am slightly bummed...

My photographer friend is in town this week. Originally, she was going to accompany us to Harry Potter World at Islands of Adventure (Universal) and take our Christmas card pictures there this Saturday. Unfortunately, she will not be able to due to time constraints, so I am having to settle for pictures with her in our own version of the Forbidden Forest. I have worked so hard on these outfits and want some great pictures. Im sure all will work out. Besides, mom has offered to help us with pictures one weekend at HPW. Most people do their own pictures for Christmas cards anyways and then let Walgreens do the rest....so maybe my plans won't be ruined completely....here's to hoping my camera does an adequate job (hint hint hint hubby and family, I want a new camera!!!, thanks!).

So onto my new project before tackling some Christmas patterns. I am making Domo fingerless mitts for the hubby. Most of you probably don't know what Domo is, and to be honest, I didn't really know either until hubby showed it to me at the Japan store in Epcot. Pictures to follow. Already started them and they are going rather quickly. Even using a new technique!! Magic-loop! And having to make a thumb gusset for the first time! Okay, back to knitting and watching Dr. Quinn!

The fake knee high!

It has been a long and crazy week and another one is about to start! We finally got our bed moved over and most of our stuff, so now all that is left are a few dishes and glasses and a few odds and ends. Nothing that can't be done in a day. So that's one thing checked off my list!

The next, was finishing my sister's skirt for Harry Potter pics (which are this coming weekend, yikes!). Now just to go buy buttons and sew in the ends! Woo! Its super cute and can't wait to see it all come together.

After making her skirt, I felt as though she needed something else to go with her outfit, so today I whipped up a fake knee high. There is no heel, its more like a stirrup but looks like a sock! haha! so I guess she finally got her socks after all! The top wants to keep sliding down, so I put in a string that can be tied tight. Next time I will use elastic or something...

So one more to go of the fake knee highs and then that is it for Harry Potter! 3 very long months of working with the same color wool and making some very very very long and involved projects!

That leaves me with just one question..... what to start on next???

What am I worth?

Apparently, my work is worth $550!!

On Saturday, mom treated us girls to a pedicure. It gives us a chance to have girl talk and catch up on the latest fashion magazines (that I otherwise wouldn't bother buying or looking at).

I picked up InStyle and began my usual page flipping, scoffing at the so called fashion. I prefer jeans and a t-shirt any day, thank you. Anyways, so I was looking through the fall fashion section and came across a knitted pull over made of wool with a snowflake intarsia design on it. The price? Thats right, $550. Did I not just make something similar myself for Harry Potter? Flipped to the next page, a knitted wool vest for $525! Just made that for my husband.

I guess Im worth a lot after all. Guess you'll be thanking me in the future for your high fashion, expensive, couture, hand knit designs this Christmas!!! (and on your part, spending a little more on me, considering, after all, that I am worth at least $550! just kidding!)

He's a cute, cuddly, little bumble bee!

Did I actually get a hat done in just a weekend? It feels like it has been forever since I have been able to start and finish a project in the same weekend! Life has been soo crazy (good, but crazy), and time seems to just slip away! My husband and I had a very busy weekend. The baby celebrated 2 years this past weekend! He was too cute opening gifts and trying to blow out his candle, "help please!". After the party, mom and lil sis came back to our apartment to make Halloween cookies. I was having mega trouble with the dough, but eventually got it to roll out nicely. We had fun decorating them with icing...should have taken pics, ooops! After all that, we moved a load of stuff, ate dinner with the fam, and then came back home. Sunday was pretty much the same, more moving and time with the fam. But....I did manage to finish my sister's Hufflepuff beret!! And of course, my husband loves being goofy and modeled it for all of you to see since my sister wasn't around to try it on! HAH!

Already have one panel of her skirt done. I showed it to her last night and she loved it (along with her beret!). I love making things for her and just seeing how her face lights up when I show her my latest project! Hoping the skirt goes quickly so that I can make her some stockings or something to match.

Anywho, big shout outs to my grandma and aunt who are continually on the hunt for yarn! I really appreciate their time and effort, going to thrift stores and garage sales looking for knitting supplies (shout outs to their friends as well who also find me yarn!). The scraps are awesome and are great for holding stitches, making swatches, and making intarsia and fairisle color blocks! Sometimes they get lucky and find a whole bag of the same color! Even though I am having a blast making things for Harry Potter, I am getting sick of working with the same color and with the same wool. Can't wait to make some things for Christmas, which hopefully includes Stockings for my husband and I!

Well, back to knitting and packing!

Gryffindor!!!!

I am so excited! I just finished my Harry Potter set!!! AND I finished right on time! I made goals for myself in order to keep the pressure on and to get my fingers moving faster! I decided back when I took on this Harry Potter project that I would devote one month to each set, starting with August and the Ravenclaw house. September was for my set, and October is for my sister's set.

I was really worried that I wouldn't finish on time with my set, but as luck would have it, I found a few extra hours in my day and was able to power through and get it all done! Now I am just hoping that the weather will get cooler so we can wear these awesome sets!

For my sister's Hufflepuff set, I originally decided on a simple jumper dress, almost like a tunic, and was going to pair it with some leggings. But yesterday, after perusing my usual knitting pattern sites, I came upon this extremely cute button down skirt with patterned pleats!!! I emailed her the picture and she loved it, so tomorrow I begin!!!

I did learn quite a bit from my very first sweater (with sleeves). I cannot wait to make another one!!! Well, before I start a new project, I guess I should do some more packing....the big move is coming up quick and our weekends are packed! So back to doing something productive! I have the day off tomorrow because it's the baby's birthday this weekend!! Happy 2 to a very special boy!!!

Busy and yet productive!

It has been a while since I last posted. After finishing my husband's Potter set, I immediately started working on mine, which might take a bit longer than his did. I am making a full cardigan for myself, adding the house colors to the bottom hem and sleeves. It is actually coming along rather quickly and I can't wait to finish it! The pattern is really easy to follow and I have already divided the sleeves, back and fronts. Now just to knit, purl, knit, purl for about 22"!!! haha. Shouldnt be too terrible, just boring at times. It is a good TV watching project, which is great because I just got the next DVD of Dr. Quinn (favorite series ever!).

Besides knitting, we have been very busy packing up! We hate where we live and thankfully our lease is up at the end of October! It doens't leave much time to pack and knit, so I have had to be choosy lately picking one night for packing and the other for knitting. My husband and I have gotten a lot done and hopefully will be taking another load tonight to the storage unit (that is after I pack the car, haha).

The pressure is definitely on to get everything done in time for Halloween. Not only do we have to pack and move, but I also have to finish my set, and my sister's by the end of October! What was I thinking when I took all this on??? Oh yea....I remember now....Im an overachiever! And since I am no longer in school, I gotta have something to stress about! haha. Well, back to packing, loading, and maybe some knitting!

YAY my first normal sized garment!

Im soooo excited! I just finished my very first adult sized garment!!! Now I feel as though I can accomplish just about anything!!! So here it is! Hope you all enjoy! And now my husband can never say that I don't make things for him!! HAHA.

Next on the project list: Gryffindor sweater and head scarf for me, and then a Hufflepuff jumper dress and beret for my lil sis! I really want to show off my talent in our Christmas pictures! Soo excited to be trying new patterns and actually making things that I can wear! Hoping that winter gets here soon so that we can start wearing these warm wool garments!

YAY for Harry Potter and YAY for making something really neat!

Almost Done!

So I am almost done with my husband's Ravenclaw sweater vest!!! I am almost done working on the ribbing for the second armhole and just have the neck band left! I will post pictures of the entire Ravenclaw get up when I am finished (hopefully tonight!)

Busy bee!

This past week or two has been insane! With in-laws in town, little sister starting middle school, and work, I have managed to get hardly any knitting done! Or anything done for that matter!

Mom2 is on her way back to Tally tomorrow, sister starts school tomorrow, and back to a normal schedule next week! Whew! Its been a long and crazy summer!

I must admit that Im looking forward to my normal schedule again. The baby is actually starting to play on the floor now with his toys and is doing less running around! Hopefully this means that there will be less chasing around! His birthday is coming up and Im so excited that he is going to be 2! Each day he is learning more and more and is continually surprising all of us with the things he is saying and doing! He has started saying "I want ____" which is quite funny. And apparently I have him well trained, too! The other day I went to Michael's to pick up some paint brushes for my husband. And the baby cried out "I want soft!" (Soft is his word for yarn). HAHAHAH Nice!!! Starting him at a young age! Hey, maybe by 3 he will be knitting?!?!?! Then I can finally start that business....

Anyways, well, lots I have been working on. Trying to get at least one vest done before the month is over. Almost done with the Ravenclaw scarf. Have to knit a few more rows, bind off, and then weave in ends. Already finished one ball of wool for the the first sweater vest so hopefully the rest will go quickly. My sister just expressed to me last night that she would like a Harry Potter set as well for Halloween (haha yea right! Like I have time for that....lol). We will see. I am an over achiever....

Little girls little girls!

(Watched Annie with lil sis the other day! thought of this song with all this pink around!)

Just finished up some great items for baby girls! I made the pushing daisies hat for my photographer friend. Can't wait to see newborn shots with this one!!! It turned out really cute and only took one night to make! YAY!

The dress is for my mom's friend that is expecting a grand daughter. Originally I was going to give the sweater to her, but then started thinking that the dress would be much better here with this hot weather! I am going to give the sweater to my mom's niece, who is expecting her fourth and first baby girl!!! Im also making a baby blanket to match, but since she isn't due until November, I have some time to finish it after I get back onto Harry Potter.

Anyways, it has been great fun doing all these short projects, but now I really need to get back to Harry Potter because then it is time to work on Christmas gifts! Yikes! Where did this year go?????

Well, shark week is on.....you know what Im going to be doing!