Its that time of year when the world falls in love...

Hello world! I came across two pretty cool things today, both courtesy of my Aunt Pam (who only fwds the cool emails). The first is a yarn lovers dream tree....

The other is in the form of a little song and video by Wendy Francisco. I think it is just a great reminder (to me especially) that although we may be the center of our worlds, we are not the center of THE world. However, there will always be people who love you and will be there for you, no matter where you go or how long you are away. This is called "God and Dog"...it is kind of profound in that simple way. It is a great message especially this time of the year when everyone seems to be a little extra crazy. I hope you enjoy...let me know what you think.

God and Dog by Wendy Francisco

Until next time...

My Cute Niece

If you need a smile today, these pics should do it for you! This is my little niece Jada. She is a hugger. She has a pooh bear that she is always hugging, we got her a huge stuffed dog for her 1st birthday that she loves to hug and (of course) she loves to hug people too. These pics were taken a few weeks ago when I was over there working on some projects. She just loved this soft yarn and wanted to hug it like her pooh bear.

And, of course, she wanted to try on a scarf...she was enamoured witht the little fuzzy threads on this one...so cute!

Until next time...

The Holiday Spirit...

These cute guys are living on my tree now! Their bodies are yarn...I love it!! I found them at Hancock's and I couldn't resist.

I'm going with a group from work today to feed the homeless at one of the local shelters. I guess they are expecting over 400 people...wow! Things like this are great before Thanksgiving...they really make you Thankful for your family, friends and good fortune.

Here is wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. Now lets eat some turkey!!!!

Until next time...

Knitting/Crochet Group

Sooo, if you live in the OKC/Edmond area and want to be a part of a knitting/crochet group, come join us! We will meet every other Monday. We're starting on Monday, November 30th at 7pm. We'll meet at the Panera Bread on Western. Bring your needles/hook and some yarn. I'm excited to have this opportunity to learn from other crafty people. I knit and KC, the girl that is starting this with me, crochets. I'm excited to learn a new skill! Our first project as a group will be to knit a scarf or two each with the option of donating to a local shelter...Scarves are much appreciated during this cold time of the year.

Let me know if you have any questions...

Until next time...

Twinkies and Root Beer

This was just too sweet not to share with the world...
Just click on the link to see what I'm talking about....

Twinkies and Root Beer

You never know how the simplest thing you do will touch someone else.

Until next time...

New Stuff!!

Thanks to Amanda over at http://www.kevinandamanda.com/whatsnew/, I have new fun blog dates, titles, and sidebar titles, with a fancy signature. She is great...if you are looking to make your blog a little fancier, she has easy to follow tutorials....

Also, a big thanks for the new background to Mikelle at My Style Backgrounds. I don't have much to write about today...it has been one of those run of the mill, nothing spectacular happened, good days.

So, since I have nothing to write about...I'll show you a picture of my super clean and shiny car I just had it cleaned yesterday. It is a Ford Escape Hybrid and I really enjoy driving it. It is totally loaded out with leather, sunroof, chrome package, navigtion, 6 disc CD, sat. radio...it is just kind of fancy and I like it :) I took this pic as I was walking to my car after work because it was just too clean not to document in a photograph.

Until next time...

Sharing is Caring

Hello Blog World!
I'm feeling generous today, so I'm going to share all of my favorite sites that I use for patterns and what not...

ALSO, a few friends have told me that they can't comment on my page, I just tried a fix, so try to comment and let me know what happens...thanks!

And now for the websites:

Ravelry.com
Knitpicks.com
LionBrand.com
VogueKnitting.com
PlanetPurl.com
KnittingForCharity.org
KnitRowan.com
Caron.com

I'm sure you all have your own favorites, so please share!!

Now for the most dedicated knitter ever:

Until next time....

CRAFT SHOW!!

This post comes with a TON of pictures from the craft show that I've been blabbing about. It was a great experience and it was pretty fun. My friend Adrianne sold jewelry on half of our table and I did my knitted stuff. Our location wasn't as great as we had hoped for and I think it really affected our sales. Lesson learned...next year we ask to be near the entrance. I was very please with how the booth ended up looking, I've been shopping here and there to get props that will make everything come together and it turned out just like the picture in my head! Success!! I hope you enjoy the pics...let me know what you think!

Now I'm working to complete 3 Baby Cocoons! One was ordered at the show from a sweet lady, who I'm glad to have met. And the other order is two cocoons for my friend Neely who is an amazing and talented photographer. I'm excited to see pictures of little ones in my cocoons!

Until next time...

CMAs

So last night was the CMAs. It was a great show...I really enjoyed it. A short recap is in order...
Kellie Pickler has brown hair now, Taylor Swift won just about everything and was super giddy the entire time, I LOVED the green dress that Carrie Underwood was wearing, Miranda Lambert rocked the house, Brad Paisley is still a hottie and it was cool to see Dave Matthews participate with Kenny Chesney. Here are a few pictures...

I love the boots that Miranda Lambert wore when she performed.....I might just need to get some for myself. A cool note about Miranda Lambert...she is dating Mr. Blake Shelton and they live on a farm in Oklahoma...I don't know what it is, but knowing that an artist lives in your state just makes them a little bit better! Needless to say, I super pumped about going to the Brad Paisley and Miranda Lambert concert on Jan 8th in OKC with my friends :)

On the knitting front....

I'm on my way to more dishcloths...I'm really excited about the craft show on Saturday...For those of you who live in the OKC area, it is at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Edmond. On 15th Street (164th for you OKC people) on the South side of the road between Santa Fe and Western. Come buy handmade Christmas gifts!!

Super Cool Gadget

They're called Spaghetti Scrubbers... you can find them on UncommonGoods.com. They are made in Japan from peach pits and corn husks. They won't rust, mold or mildew. Pretty cool...the best part is that they're only $10. It seems like a great alternative to steel wool....

On the knitting front...the craft show I'm doing is on Saturday...it is coming quickly. I'm knitting just as fast as I can to get more little dishcloths finished. I did two last night...they are small (9.5 in x 5.5in) garter stitch with a little rib stitch border. I think I'm going to call them kitchen scrubbers. I decided to do the "half" size because normally I fold my dishcloths in half and then use them that way...well, now you don't have to fold it in half. :) I guess I'll find out on Saturday if anyone but me likes them!

Until next time...

amazing technique for ribbing

I know, I know....two posts in one day. I just found this video and it is amazing! I couldn't figure out how to embed it...so you'll have to click the link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pP7PO2E0u7g

It is a ribbing technique from http://fastfallingfeathers.blogspot.com/ that does not require you to move your yarn to the front of your work to purl. It is simply amazing. I can't wait to try it!!

What a BEAUTIFUL Day!

It is a beautiful warm fall day here in Edmond, Oklahoma. I just returned from my lunch break and I really just want to go home now and enjoy the beautiful weather! The temerature gage on my dash said that it was 77 degrees! There is not a cloud in the sky...just wonderful!

On the knitting front: I have been working on my first ever knitting order, so I don't have any new pictures of my work. I showed a co-worker the skully dishcloth and they liked them and ordered 4! It is very exciting. :)  I should finish up tonight and begin working on craft show stuff again....I plan to make dishcloths all week. Hopefully I'll sell out of everything I've made so far. My fingers are crossed. The show is in 9 days...Saturday, November 14th from 9am-4pm at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Edmond (between Santa Fe and Western on 15th Street).

Rainy Day

It was raining when I left for work this morning...and it was raining all night and it has been raining all day. Normally, I would not appreciate all of this rain, but today, I like it.

The picture above is the park that is next to my house. We are just to the left of this picture....
I was shocked to see that the park was soooo flooded that the ground is not visible. Crazy...so I had to share the pic.

Happy Thursday everyone...one more day until the weekend begins!

It's almost Halloween!!!

So it is almost Halloween....It is like the beginnng of my favorite time of year. I made some dishcloths for my old boss, whom I consider a mentor. Her birthday is on halloween. She has everything you could ever think of to decorate for halloween (she has her own holiday...I would do the same thing!). I decided to make her halloween dishcloths. They can double as trivets since they're cotton...I really hope she likes them!
They are so fun...a bat and a skull! I found the patterns on Ravelry.com. I love that site!

On another note, I was doing some serious cleaning in our Master BR and Bath area and I found my Caboodle!!!! Did anyone ever have one of these? I had to have it when my mom bought it for me so long ago. I'm sure she spent like $25 on it....rediculous! Thanks Mom. Anyway, my make up was just haphazardly strewn about my dressing vanity, so I'm using the caboodle again. Mine is like this one, but mine

is clear with glitter in the plastic....I know....you're sooo jealous. Just kidding. Its amazing what you find when you clean :)

What a friend...

The only thought for today comes from Psalm 91.

Psalm 91


1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. [a]

2 I will say [b] of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."

3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare
and from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,

6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.

8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the LORD, who is my refuge-

10 then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;

12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation."

new new new...

Hello world! I have decided to scratch the ETSY idea for a little while. I have started little business blog instead. It can be found at http://julieelizabethhandcrafted.blogspot.com/.

If you want to inquire about custome products, go there and check it out :)

Until next time...

ETSY.com

Hello everyone! I hope you are all having a fantastic week. If you're not, just keep in mind that it is Wednesday and you are halfway to your weekend.

Short post today...

I started an ETSY shop and wanted to share it with the world. This is the link.

http://www.julieinjuly.etsy.com/

I only have one item listed now and will list more soon. Let me know what you think. How can I improve it?

Until next time...

Just DANCE!

Today is kind of a dreary day, so I want to share this video with everyone to bring a smile to your day. I've seen this video over and over and I still laugh every time. I think I want to be friends with these people.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-94JhLEiN0

Let me know what you think :)

Until next time...

Relaxing on Sunday...

Race for the Cure was amazing yesterday. There was a HUGE turnout. I knew it would be a sight to see, but it was so overwhelming and wonderful. There were so many survivors who were there. What a joy to be a part of something that is so much bigger than myself. Our group has pictures...I'll post them when I get them.

Second, I want to share something that was in the sermon this morning. It is an amazing story about a man named Nicholas Winton. This is the link to his story: http://www.powerofgood.net/

The thought for my day and week comes from him:

Do not be content in your life just to do no wrong. Be prepared to do something good every day.

--Nicholas Winton

Here a a few pics of what I've been working on. The green scarf is my first ever attempt at cabling. I LOVE it! The second is a scarf I started in a pattern called divided boxes. It is super easy and it is a nice effect, even with the chunky yarn I like.

Until next time...

Race for the Cure

My mom and I are participating in Race for the Cure tomorrow. It will be an early and no doubt cold morning, but it will be awesome to be a part of such an important event. We will be racing in memory of my mom's mom, Elizabeth Bledsoe. She passed away from breast cancer in 1976. I never met her, but I'm named after her, so I feel like she'll aways be a part of me somehow.

So ladies...let's be dillegent and do our monthly self exams. Let's stay healthy and make healthy lifestyle choices so we can continue to raise awareness and lessen our risk.

Let's Race for the Cure and continue to hope for a world where people can live with, not die from disease.

Until next time....

Rainy...Fall...Day

Its raining; its pouring. The old man is snoring. He went to bed bumped his head and didn't wake up in the morning.

Wow...we sang that song when we were kids. How morbid!

Today is another in a string of dark rainy days in Oklahoma. It seems unusually rainy for this time of the year, but according to the weather man it is not.

In my knitting world...

I'm working on the never ending scarf right now and I anticipate finising tonight. I was excited to hear this week that I have a closet crafty friend! She loves doing crafts and her family actually makes crafts everytime they get together for a holiday. What a great tradition! She and her mom seem interested in knitting, so I'm really looking forward to being able to teach someone and possibly have a new knitting buddy!

Well, my super cool boss just came and said that we can cut out early today. He doesn't have to tell me twice!!

I hope everyone has a great evening!!!

Attention Lion Brand fans....

Hobby Lobby is having their Lion Brand Event this week! That's right today thru Saturday, their Lion Brand Yarn is on sale. Most of the prices are less than you would even pay on the LB website. This is the link to the Hobby Lobby ad: http://www.hobbylobby.com/weekly/entire_ad.cfm?menu=1

GO FORTH AND BUY YARN!!!

FALL....

I LOVE fall! It is my favorite time of year. The air turns crisp and the sun seems a little richer. The leaves turn and it is time to plant mums and pansies. We have started our fall planting...hopefully I'll have some pictures up soon.
I've been a knitting machine lately. I knit 3 scarves on Saturday and one on Sunday. I'm working on a really cute one right now. I'm using Bernat Felting yarn in New Iris, but I don't plan to felt it. It has such a rich pillowy texture that makes it perfect for a skinny scarf. If you haven't used this yarn before, I would totally reccomend it. The color variation is brilliant!

Pictures to come....until then, I'll be outside planting!

It's Official!

My friend and I have officially been accepted into the craft show!

It is the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Holiday Bazaar. Saturday, November 14, 2009 9am-4pm. Come one come all...bring your money :)

Here are a few more things you can expect to see in our booth:

Gearing Up....

So, I mentioned that I'm getting ready for a Craft Show... I've also had a few people asking me for custom orders, so I've decided that I need business cards. Above is the design I ordered. I feel so accomplished! I think the next step will be working on getting an LLC so I can buy tax free. I never thought about this until I realized that a lot of craft shows require you to charge tax on what you sell. So, for this show I'll be taxed on what I bought, as well as what people buy from me. Do any of you have any experience in starting an LLC (limited liablility company). I remember the legal stuff from all of my business management and contract law classes in college, but we never went over what a person would do to start one.

I would appreciate any insight that can be offered on small business ownership. I'm not talking storefront at this point, just the "i-do-this-from-home-in-my-spare-time" business.

Until next time....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUCY!

My little Lucy poo pants is 4 today!! I still remember when she was just a little cotton puff ball running around my house...I'm going to be a mess when we have kids.

Happy Birthday Lu!

Back to life....

It has been a little too long since I last blogged. If you've read my profile, then you know I work for a professional sports team. Lets just say that summer is over...things are back to normal. Back to life, back to reality. I'm learning that when you have a job that moves with the seasons, there are a few weeks of trying to re-gain that perfect work-life balance. Until that happens, you get home after work everyday and try to catch your breath. I'm getting there.
In the mean time, I've been knitting my fingers to the bone making little baby cocoons, scarves, dishtowels and dish cloths. Why, you ask? Well, I have decided to do a holiday craft show. The place already has banners out. I've never done one before, but I have been reading and looking for advice. All sources say to take more that you think you could possibly sale...so that is my goal. I think it will be a great experience. Does anyone have any great patterns for dishtowels/dishcloths? So far, I have just been making up my own.

So the update on my sweater is that I bought the yarn. I found the yarn I wanted on sale, so I bought plenty for the sweater. No stiches on the needles just yet...maybe I'll start working on it during the craft show!

I'll post pictures of the latest work soon....until then enjoy the cooling weather and the changing colors of the trees.

Getting to know you...

This was a "note" on Facebook awhile back...I just love it. If you are a reader, play along. Write 25 things about yourself, then leave me a comment, so I'll know where to go read about you!

25 Things About Me
1. I love the spring and everything that comes with it...flowers, sun, the smell right before it storms and the calm just after.
2. I LOVE my husband. He keeps me grounded, loves me unconditionally and I'm so excited to spend the rest of my life with him.
3. I wish I could wear my wedding dress again.
4. If I don't drink coffee in the morning I'm pretty grumpy.
5. I love Jesus and I do my very best to see people and situations through his eyes.
6. I like peanut butter on my waffles.
7. I wish there were more time in the day.
8. A heated matress pad is currently at the top of my wishlist because our bedroom gets cold at night.
9. Most of the time I would rather stay at home and hang out than go anywhere else...and I love to have people come to my house...even for a random visit.
10. I think I would be a great host of an HGTV show.
11. I want to be friends with Ellen...I DVR her show every day.
12. I wish I could resist the temptation of chocolate, but its powers are too strong :)
13. I feel most comfortable in jeans, a t-shirt and sneakers (flip flops in the summer).
14. My favorite color is green, but not for my house. I like it best on people and outside.
15. I love planning projects.
16. There is nothing like the anticipation of going on vacation, but the best part is the feeling you have when you get home and crawl into your own bed.
17. I miss seeing my friends all of the time...
18. If I were monetarily wealthy, I would live like I do now and give most of my money away.
19. I enjoy working and I really really like my job.
20. If given the opportunity to be a rock star I would take it.
21. I'm a hugger.
22. I love getting older.....and wiser.
23. I think my birthday should be a national holiday...with a parade.
24. My favorite song is the Star Spangled Banner. It gets me every time.
25. I hope I live to be 100.

Be Inspired

I'm feeling quite inspired today...maybe it is because it is Friday, maybe it is because I watched the season premire of Project Runway last night.....
I googled "inspired" and this came up. It is the artist's (Dale Wicks artbywicks.com) take on the famous Starry Night. It is beautiful. I have always been a fan of Starry Night, but I think Dale has really brought a new dimension to this piece.

In the vein of this new found inspiration, I'm going to try, no, I will knit a sweater, yes, a sweater for me to wear. Not a scarf, not a baby cocoon...a sweater! Woohoo! To avoid frustration, I have decided to do a "knit in one piece" garmet. It is the Rolled-Collar Shrug by Marcia Cleary. I found it on www.vogueknitting.com. Wish me luck...I'll post pictures as I go along! ( http://www.vogueknitting.com/patterns/free/2008/rolled-collar-shrug.pdf )
If you have knitted this shrug, I would appreciate tips and guidence!!

What is inspiring you lateley?


I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Baby Cocoon pics

This is the baby cocoon I spoke of a few posts ago. The first picture are the in progress pics, then the front and back of the finished product. I'm working on another one now in a different yarn, pictures to follow. I found the pattern on ravelry.com. This was my first time knitting in the round but it was not as difficult as I assumed it would be. The pattern was really easy to follow too.
It is a little hard to tell from my pictures, but there is a little collar that flips over the top and both sides are held together by the little button cuflink I made. The button is completely removable.

I don't have any little kiddos to put in it yet, but it never hurts to have a go-to baby shower gift!! :)

SHOES!!!!!!

Okay, if you know me, you know that my ultimate weakness is comfy shoes that are cute. On this note, I purchased some UGG Cardy boots on Victoria's Secret.com last week. I've had a giftcard to VS since my personal shower (i.e. lingere shower) last April (read 2008...yikes!). I know, I know, I should have spent that long ago on something to impress my husband, I just don't see the sense in that stuff, but that is a post for another day. So, now for the calculation...

The boots were originally $150 and were on clearance for $99. My GC was a generous $50 and the website was having a 40% off all clearance promo. So, Final boot price was $59 - $50 = $9 + tax and shipping = final price (out of my penny pinching pocket) $25. AMAZING! The boots arrived a mere 15 minutes ago (yes, I had them shipped to work, this place is cool like that!) and I am sharing a picture with the wide world of blogers (read..the one person who reads my blog). I'm pumped. Picture below. Let the jealousy ensue. :)