First Finished Motif!

Ok, so once I got going this was really fun to make.  It is very time consuming and uses a ton of yarn - hence "wool-eater".  But the finished product really is pretty.  I'm honestly still not sure if I will be making a whole blanket or just making a couple of these for pillow covers.  I have to see what Sarah London posts tomorrow about joining them...

Done right, this is what 115 calories looks like...

So, I came across this recipe and thought I would try it.  I'm all about pre-preparing food for the week cause with twin teens there's not much spare time.  As long as you put these right on a cooling rack straight out of the oven, once they're cool, you can package them up in snack baggies and have them ready to pop into your lunch bag.  This is my second week making them and they kept nice and fresh all last week.  I reheat them in a toaster oven but I'm sure a microwave would be fine as well.

Here's my version of the recipe:

1 carton of egg whites (I used Crystal Farms "All Whites")
Whatever veggies you like (I browned some mushrooms and chopped up spinach)
PAM cooking spray
Reduced fat cheese
Mrs. Dash

Pre-heat the oven to 350
Spray muffin tins with PAM
Add veggies
Add egg whites (I filled mine all the way to the tippy top)

Bake for 30 minutes

Remove from muffin tin onto cooling rack (remember, this is the key to keeping them fresh for the week)

Top off with cheese and Mrs. Dash

Once the muffins are cooled off, pack them up into snack size baggies.  2 will fit into a bag and is considered one serving for 115 calories (obviously less if you leave off the cheese), 12 grams of protein, 2 carbs, and about 2.5 grams of fat depending on your cheese.

Wool Eater - Larger Motif Decoded

Ok, so I've gotten the third color finished.  I had to unravel a bunch last night around 2 am because I ended up with 16 wheels and a wonky motif.  So, if you follow the Sarah London pattern but want to do more than 2 colors, in the valleys or flat edges you will need to do a total of 10 treble crochets together instead of 8 need to read, re-read, then follow the instructions as they are written the corners get the regular cluster of 4 together.  Corners get 12 tr, and valleys get 8 tr to form the wheels.  Also note that the Sarah London pattern is not in US terms - dtr in her pattern is tr in US.

I am really liking the colors that I chose, but this is not a pattern for instant gratification.  The third color took a really long time and I really don't think I will be able to finish one motif consisting of all 6 colors and a white border each week.  However, I do think this is going to make an amazing blanket and I am enjoying participating in my first CAL!

Sarah London CAL Yarn Selection

I know it's called "wool eater" but since I live in Florida I think wool is a bit much for a blankey.  I'm going with cheap acrylic on this one simply because I didn't really have time to shop for quality and I love, love, love the colors.

As soon as I get back from my run and am done with making dinner I plan on starting my first motif.  I haven't even looked at the pattern so I hope I can finish off at least a couple of rows tonight!  

Been Busy!

Ok, so...I certainly did not intend to let so much time pass, but life gets in the way when you have so many responsibilities.  I've had the best intentions though.  I took pictures that never made it to my laptop.  I thought about the posts that I would make while I drove to work.  I contemplated all of the projects that would be fun to document in my diary, and so here I am again.

I finally finished the bobble blankey for my son.  He sleeps with it every night and it warms my heart that he loves it so.  Especially since it took me 9 months to make!

I also got around to redoing the backsplash in my kitchen.  This project was inexpensive - under $200.00 - and I was able to complete it all by myself from start to finish.  It was a quick update that makes a huge difference that'll hold me over until I get around to the re-model.

Spring is here and the rabbit brought loads of candy that one boy would not even touch.  Who knew that peeps and jelly beans are not vegetarian?  Well I am enlightened now and still learning from this young man every day.

A couple of other fun projects that are also finally completed are:

Mod Podge purses:

I bought these plain black purses from Faith Farm - a local thrift store.  They cost me maybe $3 and were in very good condition and very clean.  I painted them with regular acrylic paint then cut out some really cute matryoshka dolls and mod podged them right on the front!

Crochet bracelet:

I can't even begin to say how easy this was to make!  I was finished before my Sunday morning coffee!

My next posts will be all about Sarah London's Crochet Along 2013.  We will be working on a wool eater motif and I am all ready to go!  

Work in Progress

It feels like I'll never finish my bobble blankey, this thing is a monster!  I had to make it extra long for my son who is at least 6' 2".  He says that his feet stick out of every blanket he has...  I started it last June with a frenzy, then slowed down for smaller crochet and non-crochet projects.  It takes me at least 25 minutes per row and I have at least 5 more to go.  It'll probably take me several more hours to weave in the ends then put an edging on.  I so hope he will have it with him forever and ever.

I did get to finish the latest dishcloth that I've been working on here and there.  I guess there's a new pattern with all the turquoise and red going on here!  I love these colors together, they match my kitschy retro kitchen, and his comic book themed bedroom...

Pelicans are Friendly! Well, kind of...

Took my son to Anglins fishing pier in Lauderdale by the Sea today.  That kid would do nothing but eat, sleep, and fish if he could!  I had a nice day of yarn shopping at a new store that I found, then more fun perusing the souvenir shops and pretending to be a tourist.  When I finally joined my son on the pier, this guy was there looking to steal some of the catches.

We stayed until almost 6:00 so I was able to catch the sunset over the city and watch the cruise ships leaving Port Everglades.  It actually started to get a bit chilly!!!  I'm looking forward to taking him again.  Next time I think I will stay on the pier and play with my yarn or read a book.