WIP Wednesday

Hello Work In Progress Wednesday! I promise to post you earlier next time!

At the moment (and usually all the time), I have many unfinished projects, ranging from Sackboy softies to my list of Pay-It-Forward crafts. They have been placed aside for now, so I would like to share three projects that I have on hand.

• Project: My First Shawl

• Pattern: Simple Things by Mary-Heather Cogar

• Yarn: Sunshine Yarns Super-wash Merino Sock

• Color: Edward's Volvo

I have oohed and awed over various knitted shawls but up until this year, I wasn't interested in making one. The reason may seem silly; I just thought those long and intricate shawls were more suitable for older people. Perhaps someone like my mother or my aunt. Also, I hadn't really searched for shawls either, I thought they required lace weight yarns, and I'm more of an instant crafter anyway. My friend pikkle wears them often and she wears them well too! She has inspired many of us in our weekly knitting group to try knitting one. So began the search which led me to the Simple Things shawlette. It's been a relatively easy knit for me and I've learned some new techniques. Like fixing yarn overs and dropped stitches. It's also nice to have something on the needles that'll be for me. Mine all mine! heehee

• Project: Grab Bag Blue

• Pattern: TBD/Unknown/My own knitted design

• Yarn: Sunflower Yarns Super-wash worsted

• Color: Grab Bag Blue

Amanda, the owner of Sunflower Yarns holds monthly KALs (knit-along) over in her ravelry group. This month's theme is all about bags. The requirements are to use some Sunflower Yarns and knit or crochet a purse, bag, or clutch. Once all project entries are accounted, a winner is chosen and that person receives a prize! It's also fun to just play along; her yarns are fabulous! I've yet to post much about my progress in her group, but I have started on a small knitted tote bag. I tried a cabled pattern, but I wasn't agreeing with the written instructions. Thankfully, Amanda has extended the entry date until the end of October. This weekend, I'm hoping to pick this project up again.

• Project: E Loves To Get Mail

• Pattern: Bunny Nuggets by Rebecca Danger

• Yarn: Unknown scrap

This little nugget is born out of joy for my friend's little girl, E. There was a mix-up in a swapping dishcloth group - the person accidentally sent my package to my friend's place. Luckily, we live in neighboring towns so I was able to obtain them easily. That is when I found out about how E thinks that all of the packages from the mailbox are meant for her (she opened my package). So I thought it would be cute to send E a packaged addressed to her! I'll be including this super simple to knit little bunny nugget in her favorite color pink, along with a few other pink goodies.

This is it for show and tell! I hope you will join me again next week.

What are you crafting on? Anything OTN (on the needles) or any new WIPs?

Happy Crafting!

♥♥♥♥♥
heartsy

Giveaway Monday!

Firstly, I'd like to mention that it feels great to finally have a drive for my blog! I've decided that the best way for me to keep blogging actively is to do so with some weekly and monthly regular posts. So today I present onto you with Giveaway Mondays! 

♥ When? What's it all about?

I'm hoping to promote a monthly giveaway here of random crafty, handmade, fun, inspirational goods for you! Anything from sewn totes or knitting/crochet bags, knitted or crochet items, stitch markers, crafting supplies, handmade card sets, yarn, and more! Eventually I would like to feature some of my favorite indie craftspeople as well.

♥ Why? & Why on Mondays?

For those of you who know me well, you know that I just love, love, love to give! Whether it be to a charity, for random acts of kindness, or simply because it's my nature. Sorry for the cheese-ball; I can be sappy! 

Monday seems to be that day most people dread, so I figured it would be neat to have something to look forward to and something to start off the week! Plus, don't you just want to literally giveaway Monday sometimes?!

I know Mondays can also be busy, so I'll plan to extend giveaway entries until Wednesday evening. This will give me time to prep and you time to enter for a chance to win! 

♥ Where and How do sign-ups work?

Depending on my schedule for the month, I will be posting Giveaway Mondays here, via my blog. Each giveaway will have a different sign-up/entry requirement but all of the entries will be done through the comment section of said giveaway post. 

♥ Any extra info?

Examples of entry requirements include: sharing my blog with others, recommending other blogs, answering silly questions, etc. Entries will be closed Wednesday evenings, PST.

I will include a standard RNG, or random number generator, to help select winners on either that same giveaway week or the following Monday.

♥ Okay, already! What's the first Giveaway Monday?!

Today's first giveaway will include... 

• One skein of gorgeous Springtree Road hand-dyed sock yarn in the color Perfect Poppy.

• 460 yards/3.52 ounces of 75% super-wash merino, 25% nylon
• 4-ply sock yarn

• One project bag out of moda fabrics 

• 100% printed cotton; bliss by bonnie & camille

• One pattern of your choosing!

Take a look at the goods:

To enter, simply answer a few questions... 

What are some other daily/monthly postings would you like to see here? Would you be willing to guest blog? 

...by posting in the comment section of this Giveaway Monday post!

Wishing you all a fantastic new week! 

with peace, love, unity and respectfully yours,

♥♥♥♥♥

heartsy

Next this week: WIP (work-in-progress) Wednesday 

Whirl Wind

It has been a whirl wind of a month in my life! I’ve kept busy each weekend with events, travelling, and I spent one weekend catching up on day-to-day tasks such as piles of laundry, grocery shopping, etc. I am glad that we’re finally settled into our usual routine.

The new schedule is keeping both DB and me productive. The only hiccup we’ve had is due to a doctor’s appointment I scheduled. I’ve not shared this with many, but for some reason I feel like opening up here. Over the last year, my back pain has become nearly unbearable. It started to take a turn for the worse a few months ago when I noticed the pain was a consistent bother to me every day. After several complaints (okay, maybe more like whines) to DB, he finally urged me to seek medical attention. I know this must have been difficult for him because I loathe any kind of medical attention so getting me to see a doctor was like asking me to give up crafting. I would just die! I’m not opposed to it; I’d rather just let illnesses/sickly things run their course or take over the counter meds (even those make me cringe). A friend recently told me she was a firm believer in modern medicines. I suppose I just have a hard time ingesting something I know nothing about.

But alas, the pain has caused me much strife, both psychically and emotionally. It has also taken a toll on my ability to function properly at work. I’m very fortunate, so I give thanks to the universe everyday that I am able to work and that I even have a job. This is ultimately why I’ve chosen to try medication. Yoga seems to help as well; I’ve just had too many excuses come up! Hopefully, after this monthly trial of anti-inflammatory meds, I’ll be able to partake in some yoga sessions again. For now, I’m trying to be patient and get the needed rest my body craves as it’s been so exhausted lately (med side effects). Thanks to DB and a dear friend, I’m trying to stay focused on reviving my health.

So with all of this happening, my blog has once again taken a back seat. Sleep has definitely won over most evenings this last week. I’m starting to feel better though so I’m hoping to get my journal notes in order and post about much needed crafty progress. I have a lot planned for my musings here!

Things to look forward to:

• Review my crafting goals for the remainder of this year

• Complete/start my Pay-It-Forward projects (I cannot wait to share these!)

• Begin Holiday crafting, or at least think about it

• Open a shared fiber-craft Etsy shop with my dear friend, Heather

• And as always, DREAM about decreasing both my stash & my piles of patterns!

How about you? What are some of your goals or Holiday ideas for this half of the year?

peace, love, unity, and respectfully yours,


heartsy
♥ ♥ ♥