Busy Week

I know, I know, it's Friday. I don't have a five for Friday today. I honestly just don't have the time to think of five things for today's FIVE. So part one of this is, what Five do you want to see me do? (restaurants, bugs, movies, songs, recipes....) leave a comment and let me know, maybe I will chose that topic for my next Five for Friday.

In other news, I made the front page of etsy.com again!!! It was Wednesday of this past week.

A HUGE thank you to www.botanicalbird.etsy.com for creating such a lovely treasury that got noticed by etsy and including my slippers!! I got 7 orders as a result of this, and really need to be finishing them right now. My goal is as many pairs ready to ship as I can on Saturday, and the remaining to ship on Monday.

Please, if you haven't yet, enter this giveaway!! I met such a cool local etsian this week and she is giving away a beautiful prize. All you have to do is comment on my blog HERE.

I'd love to hear from you all my readers, so be sure to leave a comment and say hello!!

Have a beautiful weekend.

Extra Large Spa Cloth - Free Pattern

I began working with cotton yarn a couple years ago and really loved the look and feel of it. I especially love Peaches N Creme to work with.

I had followed quite a few patterns to create washcloths and never found one that was just right for me. In the meantime, I had opened my shoppe and wanted to sell washcloths in it, and wanted to create one that was all mine, (or at least I haven't seen any like it) I also wanted to make one that worked up pretty quickly, and was larger than the typical cloth I was seeing. Thus, the Extra Large Spa Cloth was born.

Item description: These cotton washcloths measure roughly 9"x10" and are a wonderful addition to any beauty regime. They are super absorbent, great exfoliaters, all the while being very gentle. The pattern I designed gives a great texture on both sides...and makes the cloth look really cool! You can choose to use these as washcloths or dishcloths...I don't mind.

Extra Large Spa Cloth

PRINTER FRIENDLY (CLICK HERE)
G hook

1 ball cotton yarn

abbreviations: ch=chain, dc=double crochet, sc=single crochet, flo=front loop only, blo=back loop only

Gage: 11 dcs X 4 rows = 2 1/2 inches (in other words, don't crochet it too loosely)

Ch 43,

ROW 1 dc in third ch from hook and in the remaining chains (41) ch3 turn

ROWS 2-17 dc in first dc, ( *dc in blo of next three dcs, dc in flo of next three dcs) *repeat until one stitch remains, dc in last dc ch3 turn

after round 17, ch 1 and turn and sc around. make 3 scs in each corner and continue around until you have sc around entire square. join with a slip stitch finish off and weave in ends.

Copyright 2010 by Jennifer Kaye of Jenster76designs. You may make items from this pattern for personal use and to sell (a link to this pattern would be appreciated in your online listings), just don't copy or sell my pattern as your own.

Gracelaced

I recently was contacted by a shop owner whom I had hearted a few weeks ago. I started reading her convo with a grain of salt, because I thought at first she was going to try to sell me something...(which really bugs me when I heart someone) well, she actually just wanted to make acquaintance since we live in the same town.

She does, as a matter of fact, have a beautiful shoppe. Have you seen it yet? Gracelaced is a shoppe full of feminine and gorgeous items at really reasonable and affordable prices. It has a bit of an anthropologie feel to it. (And besides all that, she is really great to work with.)

Well imagine my delight when Ruth, the owner of Gracelaced donated a beautiful set of hairpins for a giveaway!!! So without further ado, here is what YOU can win!!

Posy Hairpins Set in Double Sorbet:

This set of hairpins makes a perfect gift...but they're so sweet you might have to keep them for yourself!

Two satin posies in peach and pink corals are secured with glass pearl beads, then fastened to nickel hairpins, making them stylish for exposed or hidden placement in any hairstyle.

Aren't they so pretty...so worth winning?? Here are FOUR ways you can enter (You can do all 4 or just one or two...whatev..):

1. Leave a comment about how incredibly cute they are and how much you want them...

2. Go to her etsy shop and heart it, then come back and leave another comment telling me...

3. Become a fan of hers on FB then come back and leave another comment telling me..

4. Become a follower of my blog and then leave a seperate comment telling me.

Winner will be drawn by random.org on Monday, March 1...So tell everyone you know to head over here and let the games begin!! :)

Giveaway!! GraceLaced

Check out her shoppe Gracelaced ...I have a giveaway from my fellow etsian coming VERY SOON!!!

Well howdy ya'll!!

I never knew how popular a blog could get just by posting one little crochet pattern. There have been around 2000 views since Thursday since I posted the pattern. Have you made your scrubbing bobbles yet?? I made one in acrylic and one in cotton. I had heard that acrylic tawashis were all the rage in Japan, so I wanted to see what an acrylic sponge would handle like...it was awesome!!! The cotton one works fantastical as well!

Here is a preview of my next pattern. It is super simple, yet so luxurious. I love my cotton spa cloths, and I know you will too!!

Today has been one of those really weird weather days, really gray skies and then rain, then snow, then sunshine....I've had such a yummolicious pot of coffee slowly warming me up today. It's one of those days that can get away from me if I am not careful. I need to finish up a few projects today...that seems to be the hardest part for me...the finishing...and start on a few more...on top of the laundry, vacuuming and and cooking and cleaning.

I told you about my new dryer last week. This has inspired a whole makeover in our laundry/craft room. We took out the box freezer and placed it in the garage...and we brought our computer desk down into my craft room. It was too wide, so I had my ever so crafty dad cut it down on one side.It is going to be my sewing machine table...now I need to learn how to use it. Next....ooooh this part makes me want to squeal like a little school girl....He is going to build me a set of cubby shelves so I can organize my stash of yarn by color and skein...Oh I so cannot wait!!
And lastly, just a shot of my beautiful buttons!! Do you have a button collection?? This is just one tin filled to the brim...I have many more buttons...but I need to buy a new bin for them!!
See you soon my lovelies...and please feel free to say hello!!

Five-TV Series I Love...

Is it Friday already?? Time for Five for Friday. Let's play with TV shows this week. These are current faves...and they are mostly shows on regular ol' non satellite or cable tv. (With the exception of one.) The fact of the matter is, we don't watch too much tv anymore, and we don't really watch these as they appear on tv, because we really really try to censor tv viewing by the kiddos...I don't want them to hear yucky words, or to see yucky things. Thank goodness for being able to watch episodes on the computer...that is one of my hubby and I's favorite things to do when the babes are in bed....plug in our earbuds into the laptop and watch a movie or catch up on tv.

These are in no particular order:

Fun show. Always intense (actually couldn't watch when I was preggo because it was so stressful to me!) The Unit

Okay, super funny show...been watching since it debuted. Are we ever gonna meet the momma?

I love this show. So clever. I'm on the fence about whether I love Chuck being a spy yet or not...

Never heard of this one?? Well, fortunately/unfortunately, it is a 2 season wonder. It was actually a showtime series back in 03-04. I came across it on Netflix, and hubby and I were addicted. Every night after the kids went to bed, we watched a couple episodes until the series was over. Interesting premise...they are all grim reapers...they take souls of people that will meet a grisly demise before the event happens to spare the victim of feeling any pain on death...then guide them to their "crossing." They each once were living and were "reaped" themselves before a yucky death...and George is the newest reaper. I really love this show.

Well, this just falls into the category of...well, it's Monday night, the kids are in bed and it's about the only interesting thing on tv...but it's grown on me. It's so cheesilicious. They changed the Thursday night CSI so much that this one just seems easier for me to watch.
Now it's your turn....What are your favorite tv series to watch? We'll do reality shows another time.

Scrubbing Bobbles Scrubbie Sponge

Okay, so I love love love with a passion my cotton washcloths and sponges I have made in the past and even sold on etsy...however, I recently made a headband with bobbles, and I sure did think they would work up nicely in cotton, and be a great little nubby addition to a sponge. So without further ado, here is my first published pattern.

NEW Printable Version (CLICK HERE)

Scrubbing Bobbles Scrubbie Sponge

H hook

worsted yarn (cotton...or acrylic)

sc= single crochet

yo= yarn over

blo= back loop only

bo= bobble yo insert hook into stitch, yo pull through (3 times) in same stitch *yarn over and draw through all seven loops on hook (*edited to add, thanks Darlene)

chain 16

(row 1) sc in next stitch from hook and in each across (15)

(round 1) ch 1 turn bo in blo of first sc, sc in blo of next 2 scs,

(* bo in blo of next sc, sc in blo of next two sc's) *repeat around ( eta continue around skipped front loops)

join with sl st to ch 1 (10 bobbles, 20 scs, total of 30 stitches)

(round 2) ch 1 (continue without turning from this point on)

sc in each stitch around (30)

(round 3)ch1 bo in first sc, sc in next two scs, (*bo in next,sc in next two sc) *repeat around (30)

rounds 4-10 repeat rounds 2 & 3 round 10 should be a round of scs

ch 1, sc through both layers of sponge all the way across (15)

Finish off and weave in ends.

Copyright 2010 by Jennifer Kaye of Jenster76designs.

You may make items to gift or sell, just don't steal my pattern. I would appreciate a link to this pattern be provided if you are selling this item online. Thanks a bunch.

I do believe

I am going to post my first crochet pattern here very shortly. I need to go through it once again and make sure it works up like I wrote it. I'm quite excited.

Happy Valentine's day!!

To ME!!! I kid, I kid. This was our big Valentine's Eve purchase. I had been duct taping my lint catcher into the cracked lint catcher holder for each load in my old dryer, and finally on Thursday, a blanket caught onto the holder, pulled it away from the dryer and pretty much ruined it. We needed a new one anyway, ours was 7 yrs old in January and the quality was definitely lacking. We just bought the dryer yesterday and in a couple weeks we will go and by a new washer too. The place was awesome because they are liquidator, and this was a $1000 retail dryer, and we paid $350...not too shabby!!

A look onto our piano top...
The Valentine bears I made the kids this weekend. I used Lionbrand's Bear in a Jiff pattern.. I think every Valentines day, I want to make the kids something special...we also gave them a book each, and a new shirt...I think this will be our Valentine tradition.
I was suckered into teaching the 2 &3 year olds at church today...this works out because both my babes are in that class...we made these "Valentines" with the verse John 3:16.
Later we are making cookies and having a surf 'n turf dinner here at home, some organic, grass fed steaks and prawns. I love spending time with my little family...hope you are having a beautiful day as well!!

5- Songs we have been singing a lot lately

I was sad because my son has never been a singer. his father is a musician and the worship leader at our church, i have sung in many a choir and in other musical ventures...and i was so jealous that my friend's little 2 yr old daughter was singing away with her last year when she came to visit me.

but now...hip hip hoooooray...my daughter is a singer. she loves to sing with me and to be sung to. and because she gets a whole lot of attention from her momma while the singfest is a'happenin'...guess who else likes to sing now too???

Here are our top 5

"You Are My Sunshine"

"Jesus Loves Me"

"ABC's"

"Miss Mary Mack..Mack....Mack"

"I Am So Proud of You" (This is a song we heard Jason Upton sing at a concert once, he told how he sings it to his babes every single night before bed. Here is a really rough version...and we just replace our kiddos names inside the song. The best part is, the other night Daddy was singing to his little monkey boy and I heard monkey boy sing, "Daddy, I am so proud of you." PRESH)

Do you sing with your babes??? What songs??

feeble attempt at a cookie cake

so the tots are at this great age where they enjoy fun, dirty, crafty, messy holiday fun. but this is not about them...even though it was intended to be that way. :)

I have had these foil baking pans for a year, bought them last year on clearance, so yesterday I decided to make a cookie cake with the kids. I was lazy and didn't feel like driving all the way across town to Whole Foods to buy a healthier version of refrigerated cookie dough, so I bought the Pillsbury Simply instead.

I left it out of the fridge for about an hour to get it all soft. the kids were now napping. i plopped the package into the ungreased foil pan, smooshed it all around the bottom and cooked according to package directions.

When it cooled, I iced it with chocolate frosting I picked up at the grocery store too. (I abhore corn syrup and this kind of icing, but it was quick and simple so I bought it.)

Did you know Pillsbury made their frosting in a squirt tube?? It's the same stuff that comes in the tub...only more fun. So now you can fake your baking skills and make pretty cupcakes...and decorate your Valentine cookie cakes...as well as...ahem *cough cough*...me. :)

Sharin' the Love

As I have begun following more and more blogs, it occurred to me that I will sometimes just steal a peek at the blog and leave...the writer had no idea I even stopped in to glimpse into their world. I also thought about how much I love to check out my bloggity blog and read the comments left by others. For the rest of the month, I am going to challenge myself to comment on every blog I read. Wanna join me in sharin' the love?

Finally

I have some new items up in the ol' shop. Take a gander if you are so inclined!!

5- Ingredients you are gonna want to put together in a big pot and simmer

1. Shallots chopped (about two tablespoons or to your liking)

2. Celery chopped (I did two stalks)

3. Garlic chopped (I did 3 cloves)

Throw into pot with a swirl of olive oil and cook until clear

4. Liquid (I used one cup of white wine and 8 cups of organic beef broth but chicken broth is

awesome too!)

5. One package of dry lentils.

Bring to a boil, then simmer until soft

That's it!! I actually added a few more ingredients...I added browned organic grass fed beef and squeezed lemon on it...you can also add tabasco. I also like carrots in my lentil stew...

Seriously the best recipe I have come across thanks to my friend G!!

Naughty Naughty

Mom: (hefting 40+lb three year old on changing table) You have poops? You probably should think about going potty like your little sissy.

Boy: (surprised at the thought) Oh no, Momma, not yet.

Mom: Well, your sissy likes the potty...you should go potty too.

Boy: (Emphatically) NO, Mom, NO! Don't say naughty things to me!

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Two things I made yesterday...

Been wanting a huge headband for about a month...I love to wear buns and ponies, but they don't look so great with a big ol hat on....so I found this on ravelry...I used a skein (not all the way up) of red heart collage...I love how it striped.

Secondly, the kids and I were watching "Sid the Science Kid" on PBS yesterday morning, and he made ice pops with his parents...of course my little monkey asked if we could make ice pops too, so last night we did. We bought teensy little Dixie style plastic cups...I had some lollypop sticks for another project, and we bought a delish orange mango juice from TJ's and we had bananas...thats all ya need. Slice your banana really thick and place in bottom of the cup, stick your popsicle stick into the banana, pour in juice and freeze...The kids ate theirs this morning. My one year old pretty much ate the whole thing, and my three year old was done after his teeth got too cold. Me? Well, I waited until the kids had their naptime and thoroughly enjoyed my ice pop...even if it is grey and snowing outside.