The Camera's Been Clickin'

Okay so this'll be a first.  I've been following click it up a notch since we bought our new camera.  I knew that while photography might be in my blood (my dad's a photographer) I learned film photography and not digital and that I wanted some pointers.

I really have no inclinations to go pro with this, I just want to take really nice pictures of my kids, my crafts and life...the stuff that makes me well me.

Still last month (really last week) I took the kids outside for a photo project and I somehow managed to capture this picture of mister Thaddeus:

Are you as amazed as me?  Yeah...it was one of those photos that I wasn't trying to get but got it just the same and with just a little editing with PicMonkey (honestly I'm too poor for PhotoShop) I think that it just captures his pure joy and delight at 1) being the center of attention and 2) swinging. 

Since this is definitely one of my very best photos I've decided that I will enter it in September's I Clicked it Up a Notch photography contest.  My fingers are crossed.



Photo Taken: Sept 24, 2012
Camera: Cannon EOS Rebel T2i, kit lens
F-stop: f/4.5
Exposure: 1/1000 sec
ISO: 400

2 weeks in...

So I'm 2 weeks into my sweater  for the KAL at luvinthemommyhood and what to I have to show for it?  This, this is what I have...

UMBRELLAS!!!  Yes those are UMBRELLAS!  I love it already and can hardly wait to finish!!!!!

I finished the fair isle last night, finished a decrease round and now I'm placing stitch markers for the raglan increases.  I'm 13 3/4 rounds from dividing for the body and sleeves!!!  This is so exciting.

Speaking of stitch markers, what do you think of mine...

Everyone uses their daughters hair elastics for stitch markers right?  Haha!  I can never seem to keep track of stitch markers...I have hundreds floating around in my house but can barely find 1 for a beginning of round  marker so I go back to the hair elastics :)  I drool over markers like these...

Drops of Rainbow Stitch Markers from Charming Beadz

or these...

Musical Non Snag Stitch Markers by winemakerssister

and would love to get some like this...

Owl Knitting Stitch Markers by lavenderhillknits

but in all honesty I'd rather spend what little yarn budget I have on actual yarn and patterns than cute stitch markers.  I do however have a birthday coming up wink wink :)

So tell me, what do you think of the sweater progress?  What do you use for stitch markers?  Speaking of gifts I feel it's time to do another giveaway...it's been a while.  Next week I'll have something fun to give away :)

A Bit of Randomness

1. Currently I'm uploading 85 pictures to photobucket...it will take a while.
2. I love photobucket...you can save, share, and edit your pictures.  It isn't like Picnik but it works enough for me.
3. The kids and I went to the park today...so much fun.
4. I've decided the housework can wait today, Fun is on the agenda today.
5. Days like this make me excited for summer.
6. I know that this day is fleeting and tomorrow I could be running around like wild banshee.
7. I hope I'm not though.
8. I went thrifting on Friday.
9. Should have pics for you tomorrow.
10.  My secret project is coming along nicely.
11.  When I was little I couldn't keep a secret, now as an adult I love them...anticipation is so highly underrated.
12.  I made three garments on Saturday night.
13.  I need to practice my self-photography.
14.  May is almost here, that's when my Daddy's birthday is.
15. I bought patterns from Magpie Patterns today...you should too.

I hope you enjoyed this small moment of complete randomness.  I'm not ashamed to admit that this is how my mind works most of the time.  I hope someone thinks like this too, otherwise I'm alone in the thought world.  Have a fabulous spring day.


Note:  The patterns I bought was for an infant footie romper to be made out of woven fabric and an embroidery pattern.

What We Bought Last Night...

source

Yes that is a camera!  A brand new camera and I'm so excited!!!  Husband and I went out without the kiddos to shop (we ate first then shopped).  We started out a Best Buy because they know their stuff about what they sell and I always get fabulous customer service.  Then after deciding what we'd like we drove to a nearby pawn shop...they had a couple nice cameras but just not comprable to what we wanted.  So after checking a couple other shops we headed back to Best Buy to buy our camera!

We picked out the Cannon EOS Rebel T2i and I'm dying to try it out.  Unfortunately they didn't have any left in the store last night but had just received a shipment but the cameras hadn't been unloaded yet.  Because we had to get back to the kids we paid for it and now it is waiting for me to pick her up.

We also picked up a new 8 GB memory card and a new tripod as well.  Now to get some time to practice...good thing I have so many subjects I can photograph.  Even if one is being camera shy I've got four more options :)

More than just the camera for taking pictures of my kids and my creations I'm also excited for this to turn into a hobby for Husband and I to share together.  I had so much fun shopping with him, we both had different questions to ask and both fell in love with this camera.  We have so many plans already!

Is there something you've been saving up for?  Something you're super excited to share?  Let me know!  I know how much fun it is to share in your joys :)

Sock Luv

I'm dreaming of sock knitting...

Love Bugs

Samwise

Gimli

Gratitude

Legolas

Embonpoint

I don't know quite what the allure of sock knitting is for me, I know that not all knitters love to knit socks.  Some love to knit them but have trouble casting on for the second pair but for me...well I just always seem to have a bad case of startitus when I catch the sock fever coupled with the fact that I love the patterned socks so much more than the plain socks which makes the portability of sock knitting not so great.   Though I'm fairly certain my favorite part is actually searching out the perfect sock pattern as the pictures convey them in their finished perfection.

Now I've made these Turkish Bed Socks a couple times...

Turkish Bed Socks

They're a pretty quick knit as far as socks go and the construction is pretty fascinating.  I also have been working on (for longer than I care to admit) a pair of these socks...

Bacchus Socks

They actually aren't as complicated as they look the only problem I had is that I kept breaking the needles (wooden size 1s aren't that strong).  So the second sock got stalled a long time, because when all the extra needles broke I couldn't find the size of dpn's I wanted in metal at the stores...so they've been hibernating a while.  I did dig them up a month or so ago but had other projects that I needed to work on.  Maybe this year I'll finish them up, perhaps make another pair?  We'll see.  I'm pretty sure I'm gonna need some new dpn's because I do not like the magic loop for sock knitting...drives me batty.

So how's that for some sock love?  Does it make you find your favorite pair of socks, put them on and curl up with a good book?  I know I do!  Here's to sock knitting...or finding someone who will knit them for us ;)

The Techie-Toddler Blues...

Poppy Paperie

So it's Tuesday and I have no finished garment...boo!  I know, I know this is only the 2nd week and I'm already behind.  However it just over half the month and it is totally a recoverable condition.  Yes I am going to be optimistic :)

Stylish Children's Parties

I wish I had photos of all the things I've been working on.  A convertible mitten for my dad, socks for me, mitts for me, Husband's sweater...and that is just the knitting.  I have a shirt I'm working on for me, plus a few Valentine projects and a super cute tute that I'm hoping to have finished by the end of the week!  So don't think I'm not doing anything ;)

Woodlands Home

The problem is I have been running into a few roadblocks...one of which I have absolutely no control over and that is my camera.  Last April we bought a new camera...we dropped said camera...camera broke...went to get camera fixed...not covered under warranty...cost to fix=price of new camera...thus we have been without a decent camera for a while.  I am borrowing a camera from my dad but the battery is slowly dying that I can hardly take any pictures without needing to charge it, plus it only takes pics when the camera is cold...so much work

Shannon McNeil via Pinterest

Thus I have relied heavily on my cell phone...the cell phone that is um...well slow.  Yes, it is new but the technology is really old, 3 years old, so while it does make phone calls, I can text and surf the web... it takes a while...and that includes uploading pics.

mod cloth

So right now I have the techie blues, waiting for enough money to go buy the camera I really want and waiting also for my phone to be eligible for an upgrade.   Yes, I do have the techie blues indeed.  And the toddler blues...you know the independent 'I do myself' which often turns into screaming and crying because she can't...plus all of a sudden she has decided she doesn't want to use the potty anymore...FRUSTRATING!!!

blogs babble

As you can imagine I've been drinking copious amounts of coffee, trying to craft and still get groceries bought.  A household of 7 isn't always easy but it certainly is never boring :)

Knitting, Knitting, Knitting

I've been hard a work behind the scenes here...well maybe hardly working...still I have a few knitted lovelies to show off.  The first being my first ever glove!

Isn't she pretty?  I'm totally smitten and I know I should cast on the other but I have a couple projects that need to get finished first...you know the projects I should have finished before I cast her on ;)

Now I'll confess I was moderately nervous to knit gloves, I mean think about all those fingers.  However they are quite easy and super fast.  I knit this glove in a week and only worked on it at night and not every night that week either!

The yarn is the yummy Madelinetosh Tosh Merino yarn my lovely little sis got me for Christmas.  I posted about it here.  She came up for Thanksgiving but couldn't wait to give me my pressie.  Though I was a dutiful sister and waited until AFTER Christmas to cast on for anything.  I know I'm going to have a ton of yarn left over.  The hank weighed 112g and the finished glove weighs 25g so I'll have over half the hank left to play with.  I'm excited :)

The pattern comes from this awesome little book put out by Patons...Next Steps Seven: Mittens and Gloves.  The book cost me $5 only because my coupon went towards purchasing a higher priced item.  Still for $5 it's a great resource.  It starts at the very beginning in mitten making with 2-needle mittens then progresses on to mittens in the round then smaller yarn, gloves, convertible mittens and gloves, cabling, colorwork...honestly it's the only mitten & glove book you'll ever need.  The directions are concise and have pictures plus the sizes are from a child's 2 to a Men's Large.

My Bestie swears by it too.  She found this amazing beaded glove pattern (from another source) and tried it out only to hate the thumb and tore it all out and started with the glove pattern in the Patons book and added the beadwork to the glove.  The fit truly is amazing.

Enough about pattern reviews and onto the other goody I have.

This is the start of Husband's sweater.  I cast on Tuesday night and have been working on it at night...already I have six inches done though I did marry a very tall man (6' 5")  so I have to knit a lot  further to reach the underarms and for the sleeve...the trade off is that I get to knit the smallest size :)

The yarn is Ella Rae Classic and I'm a wee bit concerned that I won't have enough yarn...but then again I might have just the right amount.  I've been cruising Ravelry and checking out finished projects and all off them seem to use a lot less than the suggested amount.  I can totally identify with The Yarn Harlot right now:)

So how has your week been?  Any knitting or sewing projects to show off?  I'd love to see what you're working on.  I've got a cup of coffee and in the mood to chat!  So pull up a chair and tell me all your secrets ;)  Well maybe not all your secrets but anything you feel like telling me about.

Drum Roll Please...

Yesterday I dove head first into my stash of fabric to see what I could dig up that could be turned into clothes for me.  I knew the items I wanted to make this month but had to find the fabric to match.  Without much more of an introduction here is what I chose...

The orange fabric on top will turn into this dress...

The dark green fabric will become dress pants...

The pattern is from Burda (2938).  I'm excited to try this out.

The turquoise fabric will become a cardigan.  Not just any cardigan though, it's going to become the Awesome Amy Cardigan by the seriously talented Shannon of luvinthemommyhood!  You might remember the MODify Dresses I made from her tute and of course Elsa's Holiday dress.  Shannon knows how to make a pattern easy, fast and fashionable!

Finally the light pink fabric at the bottom will become a fitted blouse.  

McCall's M5433 B

Though I wouldn't expect the fabric to stay pink long as it isn't my 'color' so a dye bath awaits her.

Well there it is, the clothes I'm making for me this month.  Don't be surprised if a few things for the kids show up, Samuel does have a birthday this month plus there's a top that I'm itching to make Elsa.

So tell me the verdict, good patterns or not?  Excited to see them completed?  Me too!  I better get crackin'!  Next Tuesday one of those lovely patterns will be on display for you to see.

Super Awesome Crazy Goal

crochet spot via Buffy on Pinterest

Before I begin with my post today, I just want to say thank you for all you lovely comments last week as I posted about my goals and my anniversary.  They meant a lot so thanks!

Now I'm sure you've probably noticed that there has been one area of my life not yet covered with a goal, sewing!  The reason of course is that it is integral with my one and only very big goal for 2012.  A goal that I'm gonna need everyone's support on and encouragement.  This goal has been on my mind like a lingering cold in August so when I finally sat down with Husband to discuss it he told me I should go for it!  What a guy right?  Now I'm sure you're all curious and I won't make you wait a minute longer.

zanzara via Buffy on Pinterest

My goal is to make 50 garments and blog about them by December 31, 2012.  Yes you read that right FIFTY!  However, I'm going to take it just a little bit further and say that the majority (38) have to be for me or another adult.  Yes, I want to make some clothes for me!

Buffy on Pinterest

Last year I discovered the joy of sewing for myself, combined with another overarching goal of not looking like I was cast for Frumpy in the role of Momma of Five.  My desire is that this goal will stretch not my sewing skills but also help me to develop a deeper sense of what fashion styles work for me.  Other little bonuses will be the additional blogging and prayerfully better photography.

blogs babble via Buffy on Pinterest

I probably should now take a moment to say that what I'm defining as a garment is anything that you wear...yes anything!  So accessories and the like are included.  I have opted to go this relaxed route for the simple reason of time and that they are necessary in fashion.  So don't be surprised if a belt or hat show up on the blog :)

GQ via Buffy on Pinterest

In fact I actually have a dream list of things I want to make for myself in the new year and a list of things I want to make for the kids.

Since my goal is about one garment a week I will post on the first Tuesday of the month the 4-5 garments slated for the month to make.  This will give me the flexibility to work on what is working and not stress that one project is taking far longer than I expected.  Yet on Tuesday I will also post pictures of my newly completed project.

I've thought about different sorts of rewards for this but have determined natural consequences tend to work best in these situations.  I have 5 outfits planned for January but if I fail to make them all then February (a shorter month) will have to play catch up.  However the positive benefit is that if I'm sewing that means I'm using up supplies which in turn means I get to go shopping!!!  Winning right?

Well there you have it, my big goal for 2012.  I know I can do it and to be honest the excitement I have can only build right?  I'll be back tomorrow with my choices for the month.  Have you started a goal yet?  Still thinking about what you want to accomplish?  Just because the new year is already here doesn't mean it's too late!  Find a quiet moment and turn those wishes into goals and let me know!

The Medium Goal

On Wednesday I shared my small goals, most of which are one time goals for the month of January.  (I'm still on the prowl for some accountability buddies for some of those goals)  So today I want to share with you my medium goal, To Redecorate the Kids Rooms.

We live in a tiny house and Thaddeus (the baby) is very particular in how he sleeps...meaning he sleeps in his own room.  We only have 3 rooms in our house so this means that the other 4 kids sleep in one room.  Currently this is how they sleep...

As you can see it works but it isn't using the room to the best advantage.  What I want is to have double bunk beds built to go along the long wall with drawers underneath.  I even have a picture that as inspired this goal...

try this via Buffy on Pinterest

My favorite part of this is that the beds are like berths on a ship and have the curtains for each bed.  I imagine that the curtains will be perfect for keeping in the warmth in the cold winters and keeping the light out of early summer hours.  I do love the nautical theme but not sure if we'll go that route.  I will need a theme once we start painting and getting supplies.  Themes and decorating ideas is where you lovely people come in, I kneed your help!  I'm not the best decorator in the world...but I'm pretty good at copying others fantastic ideas.

So I started a pin board on Pinterest that is open to contributors (if you aren't able to contribute email me and I'll add you).  I'm hoping to find a theme that appeals to both boys and princesses alike.  Also it has to be fairly classic too.  I'm not planning on redecorating for 5 years or more at which point Lincoln will be 13.  Other things that I would like ways to make a small space feel big, organization for toys, clothes, bedding, books...pretty much everything 4 kids need in their room.

Also the wardrobe will stay but the red dresser can be repurposed or passed on.  My goal is to be done by the end of June, six months.  My small term goal for January on the project is to get measurements of the room, start pricing the cost for the bunk beds and come up with a reasonable budget for the project.  I'll be looking for the perfect theme too, but I imagine it won't be completely solidified until February or March.

Only one more goal to share and it happens to be the one I'm most excited about too!  How are your new year goal plans coming along?  Have any small goals you'd like to share?  Go ahead jump in and dream big then make the plans to make your dreams a reality!

10 YEARS!!!

we heart it via Buffy on Pinterest

Today is my anniversary.  It seems crazy to me that we've been married for 10 years!  I remember back when we first got engaged and I thought 10 years was a long time, now looking back 10 years is nothing!  I honestly love that man more each and every day.  He has always been my biggest supporter and I know that when everything else goes wrong in life he'll always be there to hold me, draw me a bubble bath or buy me coffee, which says a lot since he hates coffee himself.

In honor of our anniversary I dug out the photos and scanned them in, since everything was on film in those days, and uploaded them just for you.  I must admit that it took a bit of time to get used to what we used to look like.

This has always been my favorite picture...

Just me...

Husband, doesn't he look so young?  Hard to believe he was 22...

Our First Dance, yes I was singing along to the song...

Me and my daddy...

The cake...

I take great pride in the fact that I have never been to a wedding in which there was a car for a cake!  Though who knows I just might be more proud if I did now, knowing that I started the trend ;)

Ten years with the man who stole my heart went by so fast so excited to spend the rest of my life with him.

Moustache Mugs!

Oh am I ever excited about today's post!  This summer I bought a mug from Starbucks that you can write on to personalize it.  I got it for a friend for her birthday and even though I wrote a bunch of stuff on her mug there was lots of the enamel paint left over.  I of course being a craft hoarder kept the pen even though I had no clue if I would ever use it again.

Enter in a quick trip to the store to pick up some supplies to finish up some Christmas pressies (we're getting down to the wire here) as I was looking for what I needed I found some ceramic mugs that were all black.  Instantly I fell in love and the final two in the store leapt into my cart because I had a plan, a very good plan indeed.  I was going to take a plain jane, or should I say a Black Jack, mug and turn it into a...

Oh yeah baby!  Those mugs were beggin' for a makeover that would take them into the WOW world of blogging :)  For those with more delicate mouths I made a smaller 'stache...

Because I was having so much fun taking pictures with my cool new mugs...

Honestly these mugs were easy peasy!  I just traced out a mustache that I liked onto paper.  Then I traced that image onto my mug, colored it in and let it dry.  Per the directions on the pen I waited an hour for the paint to dry and then baked those suckers for 20 minutes at 450!

I have plans to raid the thrift store on Friday...I'm hoping to find me some awesome mugs at killer prices.  What I really want to find is a bright red one and I'll paint a mustache on for Old St. Nick!  I'm sure they make paint enamel pens in all colors so just watch out world...I'm on a roll...

Oh and just so you all know that I can be serious (when I want to be) here is a nice pic of me in my new cowl that I fought for tooth and nail at our annual Christmas Knit Night...

My bestie knit it so I knew it was worth fighting for.  Didn't know I was a fighter did ya?  

{{hugs}}

Buffy

Okay, so be honest the pics, delightful right?  Husband doesn't see the glamor of the moustache but I do.  What are your thoughts?  Honestly I think I could whip up enough of these for everyone on my list this year...so ridiculously easy but fantastically perfect :)