Pay It Forward

Wow!! You guys are Great!! I have 4 people interested in Paying It Forward! Participating are Woolywumpus, JourneyingFive, Ze and Celestial. You are the nicest people ~ I'm off to raid my stashes and start making stuff for you all!

Sheila is participating in a Paying It Forward exchange. I absolutely love the idea so I've joined her in spreading some joy and having some fun. If you haven't seen the movie 'Pay It Forward' the concept works like this: When someone has done a good deed for you rather than doing something nice in return to that person you Pay It Forward by doing something nice for someone else. I'll send handmade gifts to the first 3 people who commit to also Pay It Forward by posting in the comments you'd like to join.

The gifts will be from my heart with the intent to make the receivers feel warm and happy. They'll be sent out within the next 6 months. In return you post a Pay It Forward promise on your blog and then send out your handmade gifts within your 6 month time frame.

If you'd like to play be sure to mention what colours you like in your comment. Blogger doesn't ask for emails for me to reply to commenters so please send me an email if you know I don't have yours. Won't you come join me? I'd love to make you something special!

ETA: Leaving a comment won't commit you to Pay It Forward unless you specifically say you want to join, so no worries. Have a great day everyone!

Quilted knitting bag

Made from fabric scraps this little bag rocks for small knitting projects and socks. The squares are cut at 3-1/2 x 3-1/2 inches stacked in 3 rows of 4 on each side. There's a 3-1/2 inch wide strip for the bottom so this bag can sit up nicely. The quilted handles are comfortable and sturdy. I used fabric spray adhesive between the layers and quilted it in the ditch on my sewing machine while it was still flat before I lined it with the bull rush fabric. Next time I'll use a different fabric for each square for a scrappier look.


I'm stashing cut-to-size fabric squares to make more bags as gifts. Next time I'll add a magnetic closure and maybe a piece of plastic mesh in the bottom. I'll probably sew up some 5 x 5 inch square bags too. It's a fun project that can be finished in an afternoon to use up leftover bits from quilts.

11 Random Things about me

1. I hate to be late. I try to keep an organized schedule and always wear a watch. I'm also a list maker which helps prevent me from being late.

2. My family had German Shepherds while I was younger and Rottweilers when I was a teenager. I always wanted standard poodles but it wasn't until I was married that that finally happened. It's been 20 years with poodles now.

3. When I started knitting my dad offered to pay me to quit. He thought knitting was for old ladies with nothing better to do. I counter offered to use the money for wool to knit him a hat.

4. I'm influenced by colour. I'm especially fond of watery blues, grays, whites & creams, and shades of green. Colour affects my mood, my energy level and it inspires me to create, knit and sew. The older I get the clearer and lighter the colours I surround myself with are becoming. In the autumn I'm drawn to reds.

5. I have trouble maintaining my body temperature and dress in more layers than most people would ever consider putting on at the same time. Wool is a major part of my wardrobe along with jeans and boots. I rarely wear shorts, even when it's scorching hot outside. Mom says I've been chilled since I was a preemie.

6. I knit every day unless I'm sick and always have multiple projects on the needles.

7. I'm married to the love of my life and consider myself extremely fortune to be with such a wonderful man with 2 great kids.

8. I hate it if there's a mess or clutter on the kitchen counter or dirty dishes in the sink. I will stay up late to tidy that up or it bugs me so much I can't sleep thinking about it.

9. I used to be a runner. With a compromised right foot that's become long walks, hiking and yoga. I just ordered some Yoga DVDs for a new workout and am looking forward to them arriving in my mailbox. I'm working on being a runner again. I miss running on my treadmill ~ it's where I do my best problem solving and brain storming.

10. I suffer from SABLE. Stash Amassed Beyond Life Expectancy. I love fibre. There's a yarn stash as well as a fabric stash. I suspect my SABLE tendencies are a direct result of enjoying Ravelry and reading other people's blogs so much. I'm constantly tempted by people's amazing FO's and adding to my queue.

11. I love to see inside other people's homes. I'm intrigued by how they decorate, how they live and what things appeal to them. I especially enjoy seeing what they collect and getting copies of thier favourite recipes.

I'd love to learn something random about you!

Ryan's Favourite Oatmeal Cookies

I enjoy baking instead of buying cookies for my appreciative teenagers and husband. This recipe is from Dawn's mom's 5-Star Recipe file. If you like you can add 1 cup of chocolate chips to the mix before they go on the baking sheet. Ryan is thrilled she shared the recipe with us. Thanks Dawn!! I'll try to eat just one, honest... After a long, cold day outside in the snow tracking with my friends and Chase I'm sure I burned off enough calories to indulge in a cookie. Or two...

5 STAR OATMEAL COOKIES

½ cup butter, softened
½ cup shortening
½ cup packed brown sugar
½ cup white sugar
1 egg, room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup all purpose flour
2-½ cups 3-to-5 minute rolled oats
½ teaspoon baking soda
¾ teaspoon salt

Cream together butter and shortening; add brown sugar and white sugar, egg and vanilla. Mix in blender until well combined.

In a separate bowl, mix together flour, rolled oats, baking soda and salt. Add dry ingredients to creamed mixture in 3 instalments, mixing well after each addition.

Drop by teaspoonfuls for small cookies or a filled and levelled ice cream scoop for large "Ryan sized cookies" onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven 8 – 12 minutes for small cookies, 16 minutes for the large sized cookies. Let cool completely on a rack.

You light up my life

I collect a lot of different things including lamps, they vary from elegant to rustic in design.

I love the lines of this tall lamp with it's square shade lined in gold that casts a beautiful warm light down the hardwood base. If I only had one table lamp this would be it.

The shade on this western saddle base is parchment paper punched with leather lacing.

This elegant cut lead crystal & brass Pineapple lamp with a hand sewn linen shade lights our living room. It was purchased not long after Don & I were married for our first house.

This was the first lamp I collected when I was 10 yrs. old ~ my dad was concerned that I was already collecting light fixtures and dishes at that age!

Mom gave me this adorable standard poodle puppy. The hat band around the top of the shade is leather threaded with silver hearts from the Stetson I wore showing horses in conformation.

A Tiffany lamp ~ everyone probably has one of these.

A wooden dresser base with drawers sits beside one of my porcelain flowers with it's distressed milk based paint finish.

This lamp is for a night table but until I find the right replacement for it's spot it's on the antique chest of drawers in the front entrance.

I also have a lamp with a momma bear (my nick name is She Bear) and 2 clubs, as well as Ott Lites for knitting, sewing and reading. There are exquisite bronze castings of poodles made into lamps (I saw in Maryland while at the Poodle Club of America National Specialty) that are gorgeous. I haven't as yet gotten over the sticker shock ~ but one day I might not be able to resist and ship one of them home.

There's no knitting progress to post ~ I've had my butt kicked by the flu this past week. The true measure of how sick I am is not how high my fever but if I can't manage to pick up knitting or a book to read. I haven't knit more then a few rows on my scarf in the last 10 days or so. I've spent time visiting other blogs and emailing in bursts, then head back to the couch or bed to nap. Being sick is such a waste of time! Hope everyone is healthy and well.