freebie alert

New week, new month, so how about some freebie links to kick off? :-)

• Looking for some Halloween and autumn craft projects? Lion Brand yarn, one of my favorite sources for patterns and inspiration, has more than 70 free patterns here, for both crocheting and knitting, and beginners, too!

• The University of Chicago Press has released their free e-book for October, the novel Loving Little Egypt by Thomas McMahon. To get your download, go here.

• Lastly, Northcott is offering a free pattern download for its Child's Play with Kate and Nate collection crib ensemble. For details and your download, here's the link.

Happy Monday!!!!

the count is on

Let's be honest, I know no one is quite ready to accept the fact, but it won't be long before Christmas decorations start creeping into shops and catalogs fill our mailboxes. As I'm making most of our gifts this year, I've already been busy sorting through patterns and my yarn baskets and stocking up on supplies.

Lots of people on our list will be getting one of these wool hats this year. The pattern is easy, is FREE here, is available in both children and adult sizes, and the colors can easily be changed so that everyone can wear their favorite team or school colors = win, win, win, win! :-)

Oh, and in case you're wondering, 103 days until Christmas and counting!

in love

I stumbled across a new blog yesterday, and I am in love. Design Sponge, you make me swoon. So many pretty---and practical---ideas to make my head spin!

I love these faux books, which are easily made from scrap cardboard and hide art supplies and assorted knickknacks.

I also love this simple but fantastic stenciling tutorial (perhaps I'm partial on this one because I also love to eat ;-).

And before you gag over this Tom Cruise jumping on the sofa link love, here's just one more: I love both of these "afters". Two pretty generic pieces of furniture given personalities of their own---wonderful!


Photo is from Design Sponge.

what to do...

When the Mother Nature decides to ignore the forecast and turn a gloriously late summer weekend day into an overcast, rain-sprinkling one? Pull out a book from the project shelf and get to work, of course. :-)

I realized recently I needed a new pin cushion, so I decided to make this pin cushion/sewing caddy from Anna Maria Horner's Seams to Me. I followed the instructions pretty much to the letter, except I used old (but clean!) shredded tee shirts for the stuffing rather than polyfill. Great way to use up some fabric scraps too!

last week's view

Work is not always required . . . there is such a thing as sacred idleness, the cultivation of which is now fearfully neglected.
---George MacDonald

Yes, I'm back and have no intention of leaving again for awhile. After a couple months of intensive work, we corrected the imbalance by spending two weeks at the sea, during which time my major accomplishment was perfecting the beach nap. :-) I also had a lot of time to think, and one of the many realizations I had was that I missed writing for this blog. So expect regular postings here again---and often! :-D

As I am catching up with my e-mails and reading, I have a bunch of good links for you today. First, a link on 5 Ways to Preserve the Summer Harvest, including other methods beyond the traditional canning. Also, a few seasonal recipes from Kripalu. I am a huge fan of hot chai tea during colder months, but I am curious to try Kripalu's suggestion of having it cold on hot days, too. Next, a free knitted dishtowel pattern from Lion Brand Yarn. Man, do I love this pattern---all the yummy colors! Great way to use up random bits of yarn as well. Finally, a reminder for me as much as you that for real productivity, less is truly more.

Keep enjoying these last weeks of summer, and if you find yourself frazzled, take it from me---get outside and do nothing! Until tomorrow....

freebie alert

Hope today finds you all recovering from a potato salad and flag-waving stupor. :-) Between lounging about and reading your latest beach novel today, make time to head over to Knitting Daily and download this free 10-page e-book titled Knitting Techniques for More Successful Knitting (and sign up for a free issue of Interweave Knits while you're at it). Although geared more for beginning knitters, I have been knitting for at least 10 years and still found much of the information new and useful. So check it out---it's FREE! :-)

balance and bookmarks

One aspect about the recession that challenges our family is the work-time imbalance that has become routine for almost the last 2 years. My husband and I each have too much of what the other wants so desperately. He, a true hunter/gatherer, wants nothing more than to be working again, and I of course have more work projects than I can handle. I want nothing more than to have another 10 hours in my day so that I can work on all the many non-work projects I have had to put off for longer than I care to remember, whereas my husband, after working on his job apps in the morning, has stretches of hours to fill. And I think both of us crave nothing more than a bit of balance for each other. Something you never read about when the news reports of "more jobs being shed" (can't help but notice how the human element has almost been entirely removed)....

I am currently juggling four projects, which is what has been keeping me away from these pages, but I am excited because all this hard work will be rewarded in three weeks, when I'm taking two weeks off. :-D

Although I haven't been writing here much of late, I have been saving lots of bookmarks for postings. First, Independence Day is this weekend (wow, how did that happen!), and if you're looking to try out some new recipes, here and here are some great suggestions. I love the foodie blog "eat make read", and particularly the yummy summery drink recipes---check it out! Also, as we live in an area where summer wild fires are a serious danger, BBQs in July really aren't done. Which is why I saved this bookmark for BAKED s'mores! Can't wait to make these this weekend! Finally, if you're looking for a tried and true, nothing fancy macaroni salad, here's a family recipe from the archives. I grew up eating this macaroni salad, which I believe my PA Dutch great-grandmother Mamie had published in one of those old church cookbooks.

On the craftier side, last Sunday I did manage to sew up a new tote bag (pictures coming) for carrying my books and things to the pool and beach. The pattern came from this book (an example of the bag is on the book cover), and it was really "simple sewing"---highly recommend. Other projects I really liked and have saved to do later include these flower necklaces and this knitted market bag.

And for a bit of fun, how excited I was to see two of my favorite singer dudes on the same episode of NPR's World Cafe: Lyle Lovett AND Steve Earle. :-D Listen here.

Ok must be off, articles to write and chapters to edit. Happy July, everyone!!!

freebie alert

Many years ago, my grandmother was at her weekly hairdresser appointment, and one of the other customers shared with her a crochet pattern for dishcloths. Until my grandmother died, no one in my family had to buy dishcloths ever---our kitchen drawers were pack solid with them.

About six months ago, though, I noticed that some ours were looking a bit ragged, and I just couldn't bring myself to buy some generic, factory-made dishcloth after decades of homemade.

Luckily, I'm a big fan of the easy and quick knitting projects that I can whip up in an evening. And this free(!) pattern from Lion Brand Yarn for the Long Beach Washcloth is perfect for summer, with its cool blue, maize, and lime colors. Download it now!

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!!!

earth week

Earth Day is not officially scheduled until later this week, but I've decided to honor this important day all week long. :-) It makes me sad that Earth Day is sometimes dismissed as a crunchy hippy granola event because other than death and taxes, this great planet is one of the few commonalities that we all share. And when we neglect a relationship, whether it be with a person or animal or plant or planet even, the result will never be a good one.

If you're not sure where to get started, Whole Living has 10 suggestions on how to make Earth Day 2010 meaningful. And for the knitters out there, Knitting Daily invites you to join their Knitting Green Challenge---lots of great project ideas!

More to come all this week!


Photo is by Joe Wirtheim, victorygardenoftomorrow.com.

spring tarts

Man, words can't describe how amazingly good this asparagus/leek/red pepper cheesy/eggy tart is. I'm not tooting my own horn, by the way; the husband gets all the credit. If you are looking for recipe suggestions for your Easter brunch, I highly recommend a spring vegetable tart or quiche. Pair with a simple salad, and you have yourself a simple yet elegant meal. The inspiration for this tart came from La Cucina Italiana, here. For more seasonal ideas, just type "spring" in La Cucina Italiana's recipe search and be amazed how quickly you start salivating. :-)

While I'm on the subject of homecooking, do consider signing the petition English chef Jamie Oliver has on his web site. His stated mission:

The American Food Revolution needs to start now! If you care about your country and the health of its children please help us make a difference. We need your support to get people back in touch with food and keep cooking skills alive before it's too late. We want to make sure every kid gets good, fresh food at school. It's proven that real food promotes more effective learning. If you want better health for your kids the junk food must go.

If you support whole foods and want to see less sugar, fat, and salt in children's diets, sign up please! Gracias!

friday freebies

It's been a long time since I've posted some Friday Freebies, and today I finally have three for you. First, though, please let's admire the supercuteness of my new niece, aged 11 days. Isn't that just the sweetest little face?! And o the red hair!

Ok, enough auntie gushing. First freebie, the latest in MIT free open courses here. Subjects covered are varied and include, for example, project management, game design, engineering, and robotics, as well as courses in the humanities like English novels, political theory, and women and gender studies.

Second freebie, Oprah's Book Club is offering a new free chapter download each month from David Bach's Starting Over, Finish Rich: 10 Steps to Get You Back no Track in 2010. The first chapter is currently available here.

Third freebie, for the knitters out there, Knitting Daily has made the "Not a Feather Cap" pattern available as a free download here. Check it out---it's a really sweet multiseasonal hat.

Speaking of sweet, look at my niece's cheeks. Aren't they just so squeezable?! Have a GREAT weekend, everyone!!!

two coats in one for less than $5?!

I LOVE this idea---a reversible coat, two distinct collars, made from thrifted fleece throws, AND for less than $5! Wow.

Pattern details and more photos can be found at instructables.

sweater blanket

Wow, do I love this idea! ReadyMade (another one of my favorite sources for inspiration) has published instructions to make this gorgeous patchwork blanket using old sweaters and a bit of satin ribbon. Have I mentioned how much I love this idea? :-) Anytime an article is repurposed, recycled, reused gets the "thumbs up" from The Happy Recessionist, and when the end product is a beautiful warm winter blanket---and you know how much these cost retail---I make an appointment to scour our drawers and the local charity shop for sweaters looking for a second lease on life. I like the idea of mixing up basic knits with textured and cabled pieces, too. Obviously, the size can be played with as well, so the kids can have smaller versions of their own. ReadyMade DEFINITELY gets The Happy Recessionist seal of approval for this creative concept. :-)

Photo by Kate Lacey.

new beginnings

“…to make an end is to make a beginning.”
— T.S. Eliot


And so for Nochevieja I decided to end the year by trying something new---make my own sushi rolls. Perhaps some of the crab and avocado pieces are a tad off center, but that didn't seem to bother anyone as everyone gave my first attempt at DIY sushi the big thumbs up. So good they were I think I may have found myself a new culinary hobby for 2010. :-) A belly full of sushi and this cute, thoroughly enjoyable New Year's Eve-themed movie made for the perfect, stay-at-home evening, topped with a little bubbly at midnight and sweet dreams of the many delights that await us in the next 365 days. Here's to new beginnings!

homemade holidays #1

Anyone else remember these? Collecting the stacks of Reader's Digests from your grandparents and lugging to Girl Scouts, Sunday School, arts & crafts class?

When I saw this photo on re-nest, I was instantly transported back to 1975 and could suddenly feel those matte printed pages between my Elmer's glue-tipped fingers.

If you've never made these fun magazine Christmas trees, the easy instructions can be found here. Any magazine will do, but needless to say, I'll be off hunting for Reader's Digests this weekend, when our decorating extravaganza begins. :-)

holiday freebies

Busy, busy here now that my work computer has been rebuilt and I am playing catchup on more deadlines than I care to think about. But at least there is crafty stuff to help me unwind in the evenings.

Speaking of, 30+ FREE holiday patterns here at Lions Brand, sure to keep your sticks busy from now until the holidays. :-)

for the birds

Although I am not a fan of the plastic bottle, I do like whenever a creative idea emerges to give trash a new purpose in life. Like this handy gadget that allows you to turn a soda bottle into a bird feeder. Highlighted recently on one of my favorite web sites, unclutterer.com, the soda bottle bird feeder is currently on sale at amazon.com for $9.95. Check it out, before the first snow fall.

happy november!

November is writing month for me, as well as many other bloggers and writers. In addition to my other writing and editing work, the next thirty days will find 13,000+ people participating in National Blog Posting Month, or NaBloPoMo. Bloggers who sign up vow to post at least thirty times between now and December. Believe me, it sounds easier than the reality, especially as the holiday season kicks into gear in the latter half of the month!

The supercrazy writers not only sign up for NaBloPoMo but also the 50,000-word novel writing extravaganza known as NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month. Close to 200,000 (!) word-mad people with stories to tell have started the writing marathon today. I've completed over 2500 words so far this afternoon and am feeling quite pleased with myself---just another 47, 452 words to go!

So there will be entries here every day of the week this month, not just the usual Monday through Friday postings, and I'll keep a tally of my NaNoWriMo word count here as well so you can track my progess---and reprimand me should I fall behind! :-)

Before I get back to my characters and their adventures, I have a superuseful and easy project for anyone who lives in a cold-weather climate and could benefit from some extra insulation around their windows. A friend just sent me this link with instructions for window quilts. What a fabulous idea! Several years ago we hung a heavy floor-length curtain inside our front door, which has helped tremendously with our energy efficiency, but until now I had not found a practical solution for our windows. Window quilts are the answer! I love when history repeats itself this way. :-D

free candy corn, yum

Hope everyone had a relaxing and fun weekend! Here is a FREE pattern for making these fun (and very low calorie :-) pieces of candy corn, just in time for Halloween, too.

For more October craft ideas, check out Lion Brand's web site and just search for "Halloween".

Happy Monday!

full moons

Last night's full moon and some howling winds cast a spooky pallor on our town. Which got me thinking about October's classic holiday, Halloween.

If I were superorganized, I probably would not have waited until the month was upon us to start pondering costumes, decorations, and party foods. Because I am just merely organized, I rely heavily on the Internet for ideas and inspiration. And one of the first places to look when in a pinch is good old Martha. :-)

For do-at-home Halloween ideas, she does not disappoint. At Halloween Central there are ideas for pumpkin carvings, costumes, decorations and crafts, tons of ghoulish (but tasty!) recipes, and free clip art for invitations, party favors, and even the cool lanterns pictured here. Everything you need in one place, awesome! Now, should we have the "I Scream Sandwiches" or the Graveyard Cake for dessert? They both look positively creepy. In a good way, of course. :-)