Cute Knitting: 2011

Behind The Scenes of Coastal Knits

Over the past few weeks I have gone through my pictures from the photoshoots for Coastal Knits and was reminded of how much I enjoyed that experience. For those of you familiar with our book, you'll know that it isn't me modeling my designs, it's actually my former babysitter and friend Andrea.

Hannah and I had originally intended to model for the book ourselves, but since I ended up pregnant during the time the pictures were taken.. I wasn't exactly feeling or looking very "model-y".

It really worked out well however because not only did Andrea make for a perfect model, but now I have a super cute and squishy baby too! :)

We spread the picture taking over three separate days using the evening time for the best light.

My husband, daughter, and Andrea's fiance, Hunter accompanied us each time.

On a side note.. Both Andrea and Hunter are two of my most favorite people and couldn't make a cuter couple!

In fact.. you podcast listeners might be interested to know that Hunter is also the voice behind the Never Not Knitting podcast theme song! We have known Hunter for years. He is an amazing and talented guy, and proved to be a great help on the photoshoots as well. He worked the second camera for me and helped us carry coats, props, and even my daughters pink sippy cup. What a guy.

We were able to capture some really pretty model shots of Andrea for the book, but it wasn't all serious work all of the time...there were definitely some silly times too.

Additionally.. Andrea was such a great sport because I made her do all sorts of uncomfortable things.. like model in front of onlookers.

That's the awkward part about photoshoots in public places. :)

I also made her climb eucalyptus trees for the Rustling Leaves Beret photoshoot.

and instructed her to stare at them lovingly...

Which she actually did.

Poor girl. I really put her through it. :)

We weren't the only ones who had fun though.. my daughter LOVED exploring our coastal locations with my husband while we were busy taking pictures.

She walked the flower fields of Shell Creek Rd...

Ran through the waves at Morro Strand Beach...

Climbed the gnarled oaks in the Los Osos Oaks State Reserve...

And walked the Moonstone Beach Boardwalk with us.

And had a fabulous time with Andrea as well.

Andrea started babysitting for us when my daughter was only 8 months old and the two of them have a very special relationship. My daughter looks up to her so much. It is very sweet.

What a fun experience it was creating this book with friends distant and local. It was a lot of work, but I will always look back on the process with fond memories.

Thank you again to Andrea and Hunter for all of your help with our project.

We couldn't have done it without you!

"Cliques, Hicks, and Ugly Sticks" Review

"Cliques, Hicks, and Ugly Sticks"
by K.D. McCrite

Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: Dec 6, 2011
Source: sent by publisher

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Summary from goodreads.com:

Just when April Grace thought the drama was over . . .
After an automobile accident, Isabel St. James-resident drama coach and drama queen-needs help putting together the church play. Mama insists April Grace and Myra Sue will help. April's fall is now devoted to spending every afternoon with Isabel and Myra Sue-if anyone is as big of a drama queen as Isabel, it's Myra Sue. Plus, she's dumb. (Okay, not dumb, but "older sister dumb.") If that's not enough, Isabel is wreaking havoc in the community trying to get Rough Creek Road paved, the new boy at school will not leave her alone, and then Mama drops the biggest bombshell of all . . . April Grace is no longer going to be the baby of the family . . .
Girls will completely relate to April and love her sense of humor as she deals with siblings, boys, and the many changes that come with growing up.

My Review:

This book was an adorable middle grade story, with some deep topics. April Grace's mother had some really tough times with her pregnancy. While it was really good storytelling, it put April Grace through a lot of stress and heartache, and since she's so young it was hard to read about sometimes. She was so strong and never wanted to add to her parents' stress over the baby, so she internalized a lot of own pain. Of course, the story isn't all heartache, there are lots of more typical everyday issues explored in the book. It's a nice balance of tough issues and everyday middle school problems, instead of all fluff.

I love how strong April Grace is, she is a great role model, especially at that tough age when boys and clothes and makeup start to take over common sense. She stands up for herself and doesn't let the cliques at school run her life. Her family has some very accurate observations on why cliques are the way they are.

There's one thing in book that I absolutely love when it's done right, and I really can't stand when it's done wrong, and that is the southern accent. When done wrong, it comes across as fake, and it can ruin a book for me. In this book, April Grace's southern drawl is written to perfection and I loved it. It really added to the story for me, and I don't think April Grace would have been as endearing to me without it.

April Grace goes to Church and Sunday School, but I wouldn't say this book is overly religious. There's just the basic message of treating others the way you would want to be treated.

Main Characters: 5/5
Supporting Characters: 4/5
Setting: 4/5
Romance: N/A
Uniqueness: 4/5
Cover: 5/5 (love it)
Writing: 5/5

Bottom Line: I thoroughly enjoyed April Grace's story and I would love to read the other books in the series. Her authentic southern charm really won me over.

FOR THE LOVE OF CHRISTMAS.

IT'S CAPITALS BECAUSE I'M SHOUTING ;-)

I'm a little Grinch, green Grinch of Christmas

(literally here's some reasons why)

lost my spirit, just a bit.

Stripes

Blankie of many colours (Joseph)
Bed Spread book dated 1958, so I'm a little out of date with this but that's typical me.

No wiki for spread but spread rhymed with thread and from that I got the link below.

http://www.vintageknits.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=3513&language=en

A good blog is a factual one with links and reference! apparently. This is my bed spread (so 70's) that I decided to make to keep me warm for xmas.

The only issue being in true my style its massive! to big to leave the house, and I am indeed notorius for huge projects but this takes the (mince pie) Biscuit.

Watch this space will it ever end.

Reef! dyslexic so matter of factly...... Wreath

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wreath

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advent_Wreath

Plain green (fake) £8.99 local garden centre, added baubles......baubles not buble (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Bublé).

But talking of xmas

I can't bring my self to Merry Christmas you all yet, because sadly the wreath is as xmas dec as Ive got.

Due to the silly fact that now is not a good time to sell, sell that being my house. I was basically two months to late for the market so having to keep my humble aboade uncluttered!!!. NO CHRITMAS.

I guess this would also explain why my blog entries have dropped off! just pretty hectic at a hectic time of year for everyone.

ART

I managed to complete my family gift before the damp cold shut down the progress of my creativness.......

Currently sitting in my kitchen which let me tell you is pretty un-inspiring!!!!!

But this peice of art I can not wait to give to my family.

There's an ad on TV at the mo, where a little boy is counting sleeps to the 25th to give his parents a gift.

Well thats exactly how I feel about this, gift wrapped in my room ready to go under the tree!.

Etsy

For the love of hooking and my ducks.

Dark duck

Jelly

Im an ADDICT, OBSESSED WITH THE LITTLE WIBBLE WOBBLE. The art of it hit the plate intact? art form.

Rich & Rasmus, two of the three men in my life.

Flickeflu ? new I only just descoved it on a random google. History? no idea, but I like It!

http://flickeflu.com/photos/12268466@N06

Royals

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reading_F.C.

It seems a production line of Royal scarfs (unofficial) should'nt think Mr Mad Stad would be to annoyed.
And lets face it a more worth while project for Reading and it's Elderly I think would be a good, great idea to mount a big knit campaign and ditch those shop brought printed scarfs in return for quick knit acrylics that give the old a little extra income;-)

Applogies for all grammer and spelling mistakes my spell check seems to fail me every time!!!! I need a break from my pc the little pink thing.... is really starting to annoy me........aaaaahhhhhh of to crochet stripes, stripes and yes yet more stripes.

Waiting on Wednesday (97)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine, and it is a way to show off the books you can't wait to be released!!

This week I chose:

"Legacy"
by Molly Cochran
Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
Release Date: Dec 20, 2011

The following description is from goodreads.com:

When her widowed father dumps 16-year-old Katy Jessevar in a boarding school in Whitfield, Massachusetts, she has no idea that fate has just opened the door to both her future and her past. Nearly everyone in Whitfield is a witch, as is Katy herself, although she has struggled all her life to hide her unusual talents. Stuck at a boarding school where her fellow studens seem to despise her, Katy soon discovers that Whitfield is the place where her mother commited suicide under mysterious circumstances when Katy was just a small child. With dark forces converging on Whitfield, it’s up to Katy to unravel her family’s many secrets to save the boy she loves and the town itself from destruction.

This one looks spooky, and I love the cover. There's not too long to wait either! It's out Dec 20th!

What are you waiting for this week???

Orzival Socks

I wish I had been able to photograph these socks so you could see the true color. The photo above (with my new Pottery Barn pillow) is the closest. The color is Poppy Red and the yarn is Panda Soy (bamboo/soy/nylon). Alas, Panda Soy was discontinued this year but fortunately I bought up quite a bit on sale. It is a bit splitty but has a lovely elasticity and is really really soft. I am looking forward to knitting with it again.

The pattern is Orzival Socks by Nicole Masson. I used size 1 (US) dpns and less than 2 skeins of yarn (probably about 1 1/2). I really love the fit; lately I've been tiring of knitting socks that were too wide for my feet.

Just a quick note - the Hippocampus Mittens KAL on Ravelry's Stranded forum now has a thread HERE. It doesn't start until the day after Christmas but people are already posting with their yarn choice ideas.

Some Knitting Patterns For Christmas (All Free)

Knitting some nice scarves, hand gloves, socks is a new trend of the girls these days.

Knitting has almost fallen into oblivion when the beginning of this year’s winter is warmer than ever before. But these days which are near new year, the cool air flocks through the north which makes up the trend of knitting things for relatives. Even if we can buy variety of types, colors, styles, the feeling of spending time making something for our relatives is not only cheerful but also very happy. For whom we make things, they’ll very appreciate it .

This freezing winter, the handmade wollen scarves are taking the lead. Owning a handmade wollen scarf is one of the girls’ hobbies, that’s a reason why people telling jokes that winter is a season when girls show their to their relatives.

Knitting brings us relief, just imagine when your lover wears the wollen scarf made by yourself. How happy you will be, won’t u ?

These are knitting patterns for someone who have experience!

Christmas Hat Pattern

Christmas Baby Hat

Christmas Socks

Free Christmas Stocking

Santa Mittens

Little Christmas Reindee

Christmas Santa

Santa Shelf Doll

Merry Christmas and Happy new year!

"Lady Sophie's Christmas Wish" Review

"Lady Sophie's Christmas Wish"

by Grace Burrowes

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Release Date: Oct 1, 2011
Source: ARC sent by publisher

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Summary from goodreads.com:

All she wants is peace and anonymity...
Lady Sophie Windham has maneuvered a few days to herself at the ducal mansion in London before she must join her family for Christmas in Kent. Suddenly trapped by a London snowstorm, she finds herself with an abandoned baby and only the assistance of a kind, handsome stranger standing between her and complete disaster.
But Sophie's holiday is about to heat up...
With his estate in ruins, Vim Charpentier sees little to feel festive about this Christmas. His growing attraction for Sophie Windham is the only thing that warms his spirits-but when Sophie's brothers whisk her away, Vim's most painful holiday memories are reawakened.
It seems Sophie's been keeping secrets, and now it will take much more than a mistletoe kiss to make her deepest wishes come true...

My Review:

Grace Burrowes is an author who never fails for me. All of her books are excellent, and "Lady Sophie's Christmas Wish" is no exception. In fact, while Valentine's story is still my favorite, I think Burrowes' storytelling may be her best yet in this book. The story reads much more quickly than her other books, and it flows much better.

One thing that I always love in historical romances is when the hero and heroine are actually TOGETHER for most of the book. In this instance, Sophie and Vim meet in the first 2 or 3 pages, and they are not separated for more than a few pages for the rest of the book. They actually get to know each other instead of just falling in love at first sight.

The baby storyline wasn't my favorite thing about the book, but it does bring Sophie and Vim together, and create conflict, so it worked out.

I loved that Sophie's brothers were in the book quite a bit at the middle and end. I was sad not to see their wives, but as long as Val was back in the story, I definitely won't complain.

Main Characters: 5/5
Supporting Characters: 5/5 Val :)
Setting: 5/5
Romance: 5/5
Uniqueness: 4/5
Cover: 5/5 (I saw the finished cover in person and it's gorgeous!)
Writing: 4/5

Bottom Line: Another excellent romance by Grace Burrowes. I hope we continue to see all of the Windham siblings in future books.