Sew Crafty...

I've been doing a little crafting lately. I'm currently intrigued by the whole concept of a mug rug. The idea that you can put your snack and your drink all on the same oversized coaster is interesting...but more interesting is the whole Mug Rug craze. There are mug rug swaps, vast amounts of mug rug tutorials and Flikr pics galore. Well, who am I to buck the trend? At first I thought these folks were clearly crazy, but after a very informal survey amongst my friends about if people still even use coasters, I decided to give it a go and see what it was all about. Using this tutorial, and my handy dandy Dresden Plate cutting thingy I crafted this one here:I am completely and utterly charmed! I can see how this could become addicting because you can make it in just a wee bit of time and it's a great way to try out patterns and color/fabric combinations without the investment of a whole quilt. This particular one went to live with a teacher friend who I imagine using it after all her bouncing students go home for the day while she's enjoying some hot tea and fresh scones. Shh...It's my imagination...let's not ruin it with trivial things like reality.

I also made this cute little pleated pouch using this tutorial. I learned a lot from this project. It's been a really long time since in put in a zipper, and never before in a zippered lined pouch. I love the way it turned out and although this one is not mine to keep, I feel that I MUST make one to keep for my very own.

Blog Reading is Expensive--or "I have no self control"

I have been intrigued by Japanese crafting books for a while now after hearing about how fabulous they are for inspiration on a podcast. Well, yesterday I came across The Sometimes Crafter's blog about the amazing Japanese craft books she recently acquired and I FELL in LOVE with the one known to me only as ISBN 978-4-391-62952-1 (since I don't speak or read Japanese). It was the picture of the projects that got me. I mean, really...who could resist this:
I LOVE the photography, the fun projects and the fresh fabrics that just seem to mesh so well, but not be boring. Perhaps it's because I love the blues and reds, perhaps it's because I love the mix of the traditional (dresden plates) with the modern (houses). I am enamored with the idea that a craft book from another nation that speaks a different language, has an entirely different culture and history from my own could have such similar likes to mine. It makes me think that crafters/sewers really are all kindred spirits and are just a super classy bunch of people. In any case, I now have my very own copy of this fantabulous book winging its way to me from Aichi, Japan (thank goodness for promotional free shipping deals!) and it should be arriving in 3 long weeks...

Out of the Closet...

I am a closet (not so closet?) fangirl and was very excited to attend the midnight showing of "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse". I have to say that this was my favorite of all the three movies that they've put out so far. Should be interesting to see what they do with the next book which they've split into two movies a la "Harry Potter".

One of my favorite things about going to the midnight showing of movies like this with such a committed fan base is the level of excitement of the audience. And I admit that while, in general, I am a silent movie watcher (in theaters anyway), at a midnight showing I may be known to sneak in a "SQUEEE" or an occasional "Whoo hoo!"...One such moment was when Jacob Black/Taylor Lautner said, "Oh come on...we both know I'm hotter than you." Nearly the entire audience (including a few men) went wild at this line and I will own up to my girlish giggle. It's true...he IS way hotter.

One of my least favorite things about going to the midnight showing of movies like this with such a committed fan base is the committed fan base. These dang crazy people show up for a midnight showing waaaay early. I have too much self respect to show up for a midnight showing at 3pm like some of the folks there, but when Dad drove past at 7:15 and told me that the line was already snaking a good way around the building, I decided I'd push up my 8:30 pm arrival to 7:30. I took my trusty knitting, an iPod, some candy, a soda and a bottle of water. If I'm going to be sitting that long, you better believe I'm going to be knitting and listening to an audio book (last night it was Pride and Prejudice). It was really fun to be able to see the different fan shirts. I especially loved seeing a big group of guys with "Team Alice" shirts and enjoyed chatting with a girl wearing a shirt with "HEY EMMETT! (wanna Neck?)" plastered across the front that she had just purchased on a recent trip to Forks, WA. I was knitting on some fingerless mitts that are made with yarn dyed to look like the fingerless mitts Alice Cullen wears in New Moon:

Now, I am not naive...I know that they will not be as cute and stylish on me as they seem to be on her...but hey, I'm a knitter and they are an awesome piece of movie knitwear. I fully intend to rock them. And since I love Twilight...and Knitting...I was particularly interested in this website where Franklin Habit, a famously funny knitter, combined these two interests.

Giddy

Today I am giddy! So giddy that I have that whole fluttery body syndrome that makes you want to just jump up and hug someone and say, "Can you believe it?!?!" The source of my giddyness is simple...I'm a winner.

A few months ago, someone on Ravelry posted about a new blog that was dedicated solely to GIVING THINGS AWAY...Knitterly things...The blog is YarnOnTheHouse and I am one of the winners of Giveaway # 21!! When I first saw my name listed as the winner of the circular needle organizer, I though, yeah...sure...it's probably some other Tanya...But then I clicked on the link and MY blog popped up. (That's when the giddy feeling started.)

Since then I have sent off a message to let them know where I live and now I wait...wait for the giddy feeling to subside...wait for my insides to stop jumping around...wait to stop feeling like an idiot for getting so excited about winning...wait for my needle organizer!

Oh Yay!

Happy Mother's Day!

One of the thing I look forward to all year is the Mother's Day Luncheon at Tyler's school. They put on a great meal where the moms get to come eat with their kiddos and watch them sing a quick song. One of my favorite things about this lunch is that I get to see Tyler interact with his classmates and since I've been going for several years now, I've gotten to see all the kids grow up. It shouldn't, but it does always amaze me how big of personalities these little being have!

I also just recently had the opportunity to help chaperone the Panda Bear excursion to the Fresno Chaffee Zoo. We had a BLAST!!

Also, I ordered a Mother's Day present for myself*Blush*...

I ordered this from Australia after seeing Cindy's--Although the price of postage is a bit steep, I have never seen this fabric here in the States so I figured I was worth it. After all, it has three of my favorite things! Tea, Knitting and Fabric!

And the winner is...

I'm going to be a winner!! Well, I hope so anyway. Miss Cindy got me hooked on reading this blog: Brooklyn Limestone and there is a New Years Giveaway going on that I'm sure I can win...it is all about the random number generator! One of the fun things about surfing blogs is finding out about all the talented people out there in this world and this is one talented photographer!!

All the time in the world...

In my blog reading, I keep finding these amazingly fun projects that I would LOVE to do (If I had all the time in the world....

While reading Nesting Place, I came across this project that I really feel like Tyler and I would have a blast with.

While cruising Live a Colorful Life, I found this awesome half eaten gingerbread ornament that I plan to start right after Christmas (gotta finish the Christmas gift knitting) and besides, then I'll have time to do it for the tree for next year.


And while looking on Etsy this week, I found several people who are making Button Letters...I'm totally planning mine (since I can't see spending that much money on something I can make). Instead of a pillow, I'm making mine a wall hanging!


This one's by Letter Perfect Designs

If you have any other super fun projects that I should add to my to do list, please feel free to leave them in a comment!!

Pick up lines for a yarn lover...

So, Jessie has her "Never-not-knitting" page a day calendar, I haunt her blog...Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, also known as the yarn harlot recently posted a hilarious blog about yarn pick up lines. If you like yarn, or knitting, you'll probably want to check this out...this post specifically or the blog in general. My favorite: "Let's go to my ball winder and do all the things I'm going to tell knitters we do anyway." Hahaha...too funny