I dreamt of a white Christmas...

Well I dreamt of a white Christmas and woke up to this
Originally uploaded by elletrain

...and I got one! Our Christmas was so lovely here in NW Arkansas. There was a beautiful snow that started on Christmas Eve and was just enough to cover the landscape with a few perfect inches. We woke up to a gorgeous sunny white Christmas!

It has been a lovely time with family and friends and food and fun. Beautiful gifts were exchanged and quality time was spent together. We have this one last day here before we head back to Nashville tomorrow. A movie and dinner with my family tonight. Today we're going to go pick up my new iPhone from my sweetie :) We've enjoyed playing his Rock Band game I gave him and have had a blast spending time playing it with my brother (who is actually in a rock band.)

I sure love this time of year and get really sad when it's over, but thank goodness for New Year's Eve and some fun plans on the horizon that night. We'll be spending it with dear friends in East Nashville. Have a blessed New Year and enjoy the rest of the holiday season!!!

Pinky's scarf and the Titans

Pinky's scarf
Originally uploaded by elletrain

So I finally knit something for Pinky! I finished his scarf on Sunday just in time for the Titans game. We got lucky and received free tickets from his boss. We are 3-0, Pinky and I are, for at home wins that we've gone to. I think we're really turning this team around :) Ha.

Brent and Amanda joined us for the game and Amanda brought her hat I made her for Christmas last year. She looks so lovely in it! We had a fun time and saw the Titans to another win.

This week is filled with finishing Christmas shopping, wrapping lots of gifts, keeping track of which are done, which are wrapped, which stay in Nashville and which go to Arkansas. Whew. I didn't think so before, but I really do have a large family and lots of people to buy/make for. That's ok though...I love giving gifts!!!


We're off to my grandmother's house in East Arkansas this Saturday and then on to my home, Bentonville, on Sunday for a whole week! I love getting to go home for more than a few days. I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas. I may be checking in throughout the next week or so, but if not, Happy Happy!!!

xoxoxox

Trees and sequins

Here is our lovely Christmas tree...I have had loads of fun decorating it this year with birds and butterflies and sparkly fruit! Those birds better not eat the fruit 'til after Christmas though or else. Plus I don't know if birds should be eating sparklies anyway.


How to add some fullness to an otherwise thin-ish tree?? Gold-dipped flowers of course! I learned that from my mom. She always has a really tall, really lovely tree with giant poinsettias all over it. So beautiful.

Here is a fun, but time-consuming, ornament project. They turn out really beautifully but they do take a while to make. I'd suggest watching Season 3 of Buffy while making them and the time just flies! Yes, killing vampires is definitely festive.



All you need are: styrofoam balls, sequins, sequin pins (they're shorter!), and ribbon. Place the sequins all over the ball, overlapping them so you don't see any of the white styrofoam. My lovely friend Jill made some last week and I loved them! I put one on my mom's package because I know she loves sparkly things and will appreciate the sequins. Don't give these to anyone that doesn't like a little sparkle. That's the rule!

Where I want to live and catching up

Well, I have been out of it for a while and not so great at posting. But, you will be excited about this post. I'm really just reposting something from Design*Sponge, one of my most favorite blogs. This is the home of Elise Vaughn, an Aussie now living in Idaho. She opened a vintage boutique there. Don't you just adore her colors in her home? I wish I could have a turquoise couch!!! Ours is tan :(

And I LOVE her headboard too! This has been my year of yellow and this is such a happy rich yellow color. Maybe if I contact her she'll just let me stay there for a few days for some inspiration!!
Here's a link to the full article on Design*Sponge:

http://www.designspongeonline.com/2009/11/sneak-peek-elise-vaughn.html

So, I'm finally winding down my Christmas knitting. I think I'm almost done. I have one pair of fingerless gloves left to make and that's it! I've actually been knitting so fervently that I've almost injured my left shoulder and have to go more often to the chiropractor/massage therapist!! There are worse things than massages to HAVE to have done often though. I just need my strength back because I still have the knitting fever! I went through a slump earlier this year, so I'm trying to take full advantage of this urge to knit 24/7.

What have you been making as Christmas gifts? Don't you just love being able to create things for people? It's so gratifying in so many ways. Here are a few gifts I've made this year (can't tell you who they're for in case they read this!!)

Cabling without a cable needle and Fingerless Gloves patterns

Woah, that's a long title. Just wanted to share a few things I've done/mastered lately. First of all, here are a couple of really cute fingerless glove patterns. They are really great gifts for people. They are quick but are a very useful item to have and I love these 2 patterns particularly because of the lovely details they have.

Suzie's Reading Mitts

Emerald Green Hand-warmers


I am now working on a cabled hat as well. I looked up a refresher on how to cable without the cable needle and found a great set of instructions on Knitting Daily's website. Cabling without the needle

You save SO much time not having to pick up and put down the cable needle. It's a little fiddly at first, but after a couple of cables, you get the hang of it. It also helps you understand the construction of a cable as well. Hope it helps you like it has me! Happy Cabling!

Hope everyone has a lovely lovely Thanksgiving. I'm making my first turkey this year! It's just Pinky and I and I'm excited about making the whole meal myself (except for the delicious pumpkin cheesecake I got from Sweet Jane's!!!) Here is our menu:

-roasted turkey with sage, thyme, garlic and spices (we're cooking it on the grill!)
-my grandma's cornbread dressing recipe
-fresh cranberry sauce with apples and pecans
-mashed potatoes
-gravy (courtesy of Williams' Sonoma...my mom says it's the BEST!)
-green bean casserole with french fried onions (Pinky's request)
-roasted veggies with goat cheese (zucchini, squash, fennel, parsnips, peppers)

I think and hope it will turn out great! I'm brining the turkey right now so it better not get dry while it's cooking!! I'm sure we'll take pics and I'll let you know how it all turned out!

Happy Turkey Day!
xoxoxo
-

Mattie's Favorite Song

Mattie and I sing "Puppies Dressed as Cats"
Originally uploaded by elletrain

For a long time now Mattie has barked every time I say "cat." Check out the fun song, thanks to Conan O'Brien...

"Still"

my newest sweater
Originally uploaded by elletrain

My latest finished project! I love finishing a sweater when it fits well and turns out how you envisioned it. I love this sweater! I made some changes to the cuffs and the bottom band, but other than that I followed the pattern for the size small. It couldn't fit any better and I love love this yarn, Silky Wool from Elsebeth Lavold. I've used it before on a cardigan and it's the knitted item I wear most out of my creations.

The yarn is a nice wool and silk blend, and it's a DK weight so it's light enough to wear a decent amount here in Nashville. I wish it were a bit cooler today so I could wear it to knitting tonight. I might just wear it any way! I still have to wash the sweater and I think the yarn will soften up more, but not today...I'm sweatin' it out and wearing this puppy!

Goodwill strikes again... my awesome find

Goodwill strikes again... my awesome find
Originally uploaded by elletrain

Yay! A new coat for $6! It's from Sears, back in the 70's. Love this. I've been looking for one for a while. I didn't find much else at Goodwill today, but this was an awesome purchase. I also bought a couple of books at the bookstore today for Christmas gifts. When all else fails, buy books. You know some people are very difficult to buy for and I feel like it should almost be required to send out a Christmas wish list to all of your family so they know what to get you. In fact, I will send one out to my family right now! I think it will include:

-gift certificate to purlsoho.com OR knit-purl.com, or to Bliss Yarns, my local yarn shop
-anything from the home section of Anthropologie (esp. if there's a bird on it)
-a list of some of my favorite sellers on etsy.com (including matteart, sarahearn, and chezsucrechez)

...and maybe a gift card to Goodwill...hahahaha!

Help your family out...send them a wishlist!

The Black Hole Cowl pattern

So, this all resulted out of me losing my favorite black scarf a couple of years ago when my rear windshield got broken during a storm by a giant tree branch. The backseat of my car was covered in glass pieces...and so was my favorite scarf my brother had gotten me in college. I was super sad to lose it, but sure that I couldn't wear a glass-ridden scarf, even with as much sentimental value as that one had. I bought some Big Wool a couple of years ago in black to replace the scarf. I wore that scarf almost everyday in the winter for many years, so I wanted something similar. This yarn has gone through a few different test-runs over the last couple of years...I tried to do a ribbed scarf like the one I lost, then I tried a crocheted scarf, then I tried a crocheted ruffle scarf...none of them were very awesome and I'll admit I rarely make a knitted scarf anymore due to the time commitment involved :)

So, this last Saturday I was inspired by all of the lovely cowls I saw on Ravlery and decided to make my own. I knew I wanted a huge, over-sized cowl that would be super warm and resemble the look of wearing my beloved scarf (it was like 7 feet long so very thick when wrapped around my neck). I started chaining stitches on my giant 16mm crochet hook and here's what I came up with:

The Black Hole Cowl

3 skeins Rowan Big Wool (only used approx. 220 yds)
size P (15 or 16mm) crochet hook
large button (it's good to find one with large button holes b/c your yarn is chunky)

abreviations:
SC = single crochet
TR = treble crochet

Directions:
Chain 50.
Join chain into ring with a slip stitch, being careful not to twist the chain.
Round 1: SC in each chain around and join last SC to first SC of round with a slip stitch.
Round 2: DC in each SC on next round and join last DC to first DC of round with a slip stitch.
Round 3: TR in each DC around. Join last TR to first TR of the round with a slip stitch.
Round 4: SC in each TR **in the back loop only** (this creates a nice ridge on the front of your work). Join last SC to first SC of round with a slip stitch.

**Repeat rounds 3 & 4, 4 times.

Next round: TR in each SC around. Join last TR to first TR with a slip stitch.
Last round: SC (regular SC on this round, NOT in the back loop as in round 4) in each TR, at the same time decrease 5 sts evenly around (this brings in the neck edge of the cowl so it's not quite as gaping). Join last SC to first SC with a slip stitch. Cut yarn and tie off.

Finishing: Try on the cowl and fold one top corner diagonally to the other front side of the cowl. Mark this button placement with a piece of your yarn. Secure the button to this spot. Weave in your ends. Try it on again...voila! Your neck is surrounded by a void of nothingness...I mean the Black Hole cowl :)

Easy Chili dinner

Easy Chili dinner
Originally uploaded by elletrain

I thought I'd share my new quick, easy dinner recipe when you want chili but don't have time to make it properly.

1 can Amy's Organic Chili (we like spicy, but it comes in mild and medium too)
1 can organic diced tomatoes
1 can organic black beans

Heat these three cans together and add whatever extras you want, like more chili powder, a little beer or a Hershey kiss, some cinnamon and nutmeg, etc. (For those of you that like Cincinnati chili you know what I'm talking about!) Be sure to add your spices and extras when you first start to heat it so they have time to incorporate. Heat until hot all the way through (probably 15 minutes).

Serve over organic spaghetti noodles and top with cheddar cheese and any other chili fixings you like. It's yummy, easy, and healthy! Good for cold days :) It's what we're having for dinner tonight!

Enjoy!

I designed my own fabric!

I designed my own fabric!
Originally uploaded by elletrain

So the fabric came in! It turned out so great, too. It's a really nice cotton fabric and the printing is very soft and doesn't feel stiff at all. I'd definitely recommend using spoonflower.com. My friend Amanda is going to use it to make labels for her children's clothing she makes. We're going to put her logo on the fabric design and voila, labels!

I will probably make a little knitting project bag out of this fabric. It is fairly thin so I'll line it with a different print. I also though of making a pillow for "your face." :) xoxo

Happy 1 Year Smoochiversary to us!

Yay! The Pinkster and I have been together for one year this weekend :) I'm calling it our Smoochiversary. Hahaha...

To celebrate the lovely occasion we're heading to nearby Asheville, NC for a nice little weekend away. Pinky's been before, but just briefly and I've never had the pleasure of visiting this lovely artsy town. I'm so excited! I think the leaves should be just gorgeous out in the Blue Ridge Mountains right now. We're of course going to tour the Biltmore tomorrow and definitely stop in a yarn shop or two. I'm looking forward to wandering around and exploring the town. I love going to new places with Pinky...we travel well together and are super easy going about our trips. Well, except for the fact that I always have to plan our accommodations WAY in advance :)

I will post pictures when we get back. I hope you all have a lovely weekend too, whatever your plans are. Be sure to enjoy the lovely fall colors and cool weather! xoxo

Create your own fabric!

This is an awesome site...you can upload a design and they will print it on fabric for you! I just ordered a fat quarter size piece with my little Your Face! birdie here. I think I'll make a knitting project bag out of it. The possibilities of what to make with this are super exciting! Don't ya think??

http://www.spoonflower.com/

Monday Monday

Monday Monday
Originally uploaded by elletrain

Today's outfit:
Jeans: Gap new line of jeans; blouse: Forever 21; jacket: TJMaxx; hat: crocheted by me!

Where the Wild Things Are

Waiting in line for Where the Wild Things Are
Originally uploaded by elletrain

I'm a horrible blogger lately! Here's a little pic for ya though from last night, waiting in line to watch Where the Wild Things Are. We were first in line...ahaha. We got to see it at the IMAX and it was amazing. It was like we were in the forest with Max. What a beautiful adaptation of the book this was. I had forgotten what an amazing story it is...such a sweet but sad tale about a wild little boy with a superb imagination. Go and see it!

In other news, I'm starting way too many knitting/crochet projects these days. I guess that's what happens this time of year. Progress is good on the Koigu blanket and has slowed a bit on the crocheted hexagon blanket. I'm of course starting Christmas gifts as well and really want to get a sweater project going, but I can't seem to decide on what to make.

We got a cozy coffee table yesterday...apparently called "cocktail ottoman." It's a leather, upholstered coffee table and is so much nicer to put my feet up on than the glass table was. It looks really nice in here as well. All in time for many comfy afternoons inside knitting and watching football! We also just had chili for lunch, too, one of my favorite cool-weather meals. I know you love this time of year as much as I do! Happy Fall! xoxo

My new glasses!!!

I'm SO excited...I finally found the pair of glasses I've been looking for. I thought I was going to have to order some from Europe. I'm not that fancy, I just couldn't find the right style. BUT, I went to Image Optical here in Nashville and they had some! They are a men's frame, hahaha. Oh well, I do have a large cranium and I really wanted over-sized frames. I should get them in a week. I'm so thrilled! They are by Oliver Peoples, style "Nom de Guerre" and I think the color may be a limited edition or something. Maybe not. I had trouble finding the right color online. I think this photo is close though. Woohoo! Don't you love finding something you've been searching for forever??

I'm addicted

It's growing!
Originally uploaded by elletrain

...to crocheting! Here's a photo of the latest project addiction, thanks to Charisse :) I'm making a blanket out of crocheted hexagons. It's very fun to pick out colors for each piece and add them on as I go. It's really starting to look like something, though I'm obviously far from the finished product.

I'm using Lion Brand Cotton yarn and it's got such a nice weight to it when crocheted like this. I think it will be a lovely blanket to curl up under. And the most exciting thing is it's finally getting cool here!!! Yay!!! So who knew I'd ever be working on 2 blankets at one time. I never used to even want to make 1.

I've found a cute tunic pattern to start next. I think it will be something I'll love to wear with leggings or skinny jeans. Here is a Ravelry link to my favorite version of it: Coral by Hiiragi

We will be learning how to crochet coasters at our next Craft Night on Oct. 6th. One option will be to make a hexagon like this. It should be a blast. I hope everyone enjoys this lovely Sunday. I hope you are having cool breezes that get you in the mood for fall where you are!

Baby pandas have got to be the cutest EVER!

Ok, so most people who know me know I have an affinity for pandas. The Panda Cam dashboard widget saved me many times when I used to work in a more stressful job. They provided much solace when I would get overwhelmed with either creativity block or other job pressures when I was at my desk job. So, I went to look at the weather widget this morning on my dashboard and I found this tiny panda on the Panda Cam...a lovely close-up of this precious little thing! Go...now! Check it out here: Panda Cam

The Beauty Shop and other Memphis lovelies

The Beauty Shop
Originally uploaded by elletrain

We had a super duper fun weekend in Memphis visiting our dear friends Hunter and Terrah. They moved there this summer for Hunter to attend med school and Terrah was fortunate enough to find a really great job with Ful bags (the main company is co-owned by Justin Timberlake!!!). SO, they're both doing great in Memphis town and we decided to pay them a visit.

Friday night we hit Memphis Pizza Co. for dinner and then went to Young Ave. Deli for drinks. They had lovely artwork on painted on the tables and I took a pic of ours. Saturday we headed to the Rendezvous for yumminess in BBQ form...the ribs are to die for and so was my pork shoulder sandwich. We walked around on South Main, kinda the artsy district. We saw the Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his last speech. We also visited the Cooper Young Festival and had fun people-watching. I saw a Sugar Glider that this man brought and it was too adorable!

We finished off the evening at Molly Fontaine's...the coolest bar in an old house. It was lovely and we had a great time, great drinks, and great service. For brunch the next morning we hit The Beauty Shop...a great place for breakfast. The Bloody Mary's were excellent and they still have some of the original hair-dryer chairs from the old beauty salon. We think Priscilla Presley used to get her hair done there :)


It was a great weekend...Memphis has so much character and it's always fun to hang out with Hunter and Terrah. They are so easy and so much fun to be around. We miss them dearly. You should take a trip to Memphis soon if you've never been. It's a cool place.

Fun geeky-ness

So I spent way too much time this morning changing the application icons on my dock. Thanks Color Me Katie! She has a tutorial on her blog showing you how if you aren't familiar with the process. I've had a great time picking out photos to use. It's pretty fun :) Try it out yourself and spruce up your desktop!

Blanket squares so far...

Blanket squares so far...
Originally uploaded by elletrain

So, I'm kinda jamming on the Barn Raising Quilt knitted blanket I'm making. I've become addicted to collecting the Koigu and making the squares lately. I'm on my 11th square. I need 42 total for the pattern size. It'll only make a 42"x49" throw size blanket, but I'm pretty excited about the finished product. Who knows when that day will come that I'll be able to snuggle up in Koigu, but I CANNOT wait!!

My amazing antique store find

Vintage hand-embroidered calendar
Originally uploaded by elletrain

OMG...look how amazing this hand-embroidered calendar is! I just bought it today at an antique shop here in Nashville. The pieces all have velcro so you move them around each month. I love that all of the months are displayed around the edge so you can continue to see their loveliness throughout the year. I just hung this up in my craft room/office. It fits perfectly and truly inspires me. This is why I love going to antique shops. I don't go that often, but I think I'll start going more after today's great purchases!

I also found, at another antique shop, a set of lovely napkins and placemats with a pretty lace edging. I bought some vintage lace too to hang on a beautiful blue-bird hook I have in the craft room. It hangs right behind where I sit and looks lovely against the pale robin's egg blue of my room.

I'm so excited about slowly getting the house decorated with lovely things. I'm trying my best to reuse stuff and find vintage stuff in order not to buy a lot of new crap. I'd say I'm doing pretty well at not buying as much new stuff as I used to. Plus, it's much more fun to buy something that has had a previous life or give something old a new one!

New crocheted hat

New crocheted hat
Originally uploaded by elletrain

Here is my latest finished project. My friend Charisse has gotten into crocheting lately even though she said she'd NEVER crochet :) And it got me re-interested. I made this cute Puff Beret with a few adjustments to the original pattern. Love the slouchiness and the color. I think I shall wear this often!

When Autumn Leaves

So, I JUST finished a second website for Amy Foster and am so excited. She has written a book that is the first in a series, it's called When Autumn Leaves. It's a lovely story about magic, women, faith, and creativity. You will get hooked like I did. I can't wait for the second book. The first book comes out soon, the end of the month. Here are the two sites I designed for her:

amysfoster.com
visitavening.com

Avening is the town in which her stories are set...I had a great time creating the map and making the magical site to show it off, with the help from my excellent programmer Todd and my dearest Pinky who has become quite spectacular at building websites.

Check out her sites and pick up the book when it comes out. You will not be disappointed!

A cocktail for your holiday weekend

Here is a post from today's Design*Sponge (one of my favorite blogs). It is a recipe for Lavendar Lemonade Cocktails. YUM-MY! Plus, the post is beautiful and shows wedding pictures in a to-die-for setting in Southern California. Happy Labor Day Weekend everyone! Have a lovely cocktail, relax, and party safely. xoxox

Our First Craft Nashy Craft Night

Our first craft night was such a blast! Please check out the full post on our craft blog, Craft Nashy. You can follow along with our projects there, too, for those that can't join us or live out of town. Enjoy!

Preserving Tennessee Craft

This is such a cool site that I found on the CRAFT Magazine blog today. They are working to preserve all needlework samplers designed in Tennessee prior to 1900. It's great they are working to collect all of these lovely designs.

http://www.tennesseesamplers.com

What I Wore Today

I ♡LOVE♡ this new flickr group. It inspires me to draw even though I'm not much of an illustrator.

What I Wore Today

This lovely drawing is from Carolyn Alexander, one of the group members. Maybe someday I will post a drawing of what I wore...we'll see. Enjoy!

Blue finches and ugly books

These are my new obsession...I must have 2 of them to live in my craft room! I was in Petsmart today and I usually skip the pet section because a) it's too tempting and b) I want to take all of the animals home so they don't have to live in the pet store. I'm not sure how I feel about owning birds, but these darn things are so freaking adorable and beautiful that I think I must save up some money to get 2. They like to be social. They are called Cordon Blue Finches...how cute are they!!!??? I am almost dying because they are so cute. I really must consider them as new members of our household. I also fell in love with the tiny mice at the pet store too, but those might not get along too well with the dogs. The birdies can stay safe in their cages.

In addition to really lovely birdies today, I also saw a really scary knitting book. I already posted it on Twitter and FB, so you may have seen it, but whew, I may have nightmares about it. Sheesh. What is UP with the cat sculpture peeking over the lady's shoulder? I've been watching too much Doctor Who, but I'm just waiting for it to come alive and start gnawing on the sweater...yikes. I did find it at one of my favorite bookstores in Nashville though, McKay's Used Books. I found Elizabeth Zimmerman's Knitter's Almanac there for $1.75! I didn't think you could buy any books for that cheap anymore, much less a book by the master queen of knitting. I also bought Pretty in Pink on DVD, as well as Anchorman and March of the Penguins. It was a great day for buying pre-loved stuff! I just finished watching Pretty in Pink and what a lovely movie that is...SO 80's and SO great!

Monthly Craft Night Take 1

Monthly Craft Night Take 1
Originally uploaded by elletrain

So...I think I mentioned this before but my friend Jill and I are starting a Monthly Craft Night...and the first one is this Thursday! I'm so excited...we have 12 people signed up to come. We're making headbands and hairpieces adorned with feathers, buttons, etc. I tried one out today and I think they're going to be lovely! This headband is pretty straight-forward and so super quick and easy to make.

The extra good news is that even if you can't come to the craft nights, I'm going to post the supplies, pictures, and information on our Craft Nashy Blog each month, so you can make your own project(s) at home! You have no excuse :)

Happy Crafting!

Another outfit, playing with iPhone apps, and Asheville

Another outfit
Originally uploaded by elletrain

I bought the Pic Grunger iPhone app last week. It's pretty fun. Here are a couple of pics I've used it on. I think it's hilarious I was standing on the bathtub for a bit of a change of scenery. I'm SO excited about the cool weather lately because I am the queen of wearing layers. It's hard to wear many layers when it's 90 degrees with the humidity at 80%. It's been so beautiful here for the past couple of days though!

I also booked our hotel today for our 1 year anniversary trip to Asheville, NC. Yay! Pinky and I will have been together a year at the end of October. It feels like we've known each other forever already :) He is precious and I'm so excited to visit a lovely mountain town with him in the fall. I've always heard such great things about Asheville and can't believe this will be my first time to visit. I know there are a couple of great yarn shops and of course we'll see the Biltmore. Woohoo! I can't wait to go hang out there.

Have a lovely one my friends!

Ok, so I'm a little obsessed...

SO, last week they showed this amazing little bit on Conan. I am obsessed with it's hilarity and cuteness. I've watched it like close to 10 times AND trot around the house singing it (which is quite a loud interruption to the house b/c Mattie barks EVERY time I say 'cat'). We were watching Conan again last night and they brought them out again! It was my lucky day and we were jumping up and down when the cuties were rolled out again. Please watch this if you haven't already, or watch it again for a true "Moment of Joy."

http://www.tonightshowwithconanobrien.com/video/clips/puppies-dressed-as-cats-082709/1151669/

xoxoxo

My new office setup

My new office setup
Originally uploaded by elletrain

My "office" was previously set up at the dining room table. I just moved upstairs the other day in order to have a more ergonomically correct desk, but I'm loving the new scenery up here, too! I've got all my knitting and design books up here, great morning light from the window, some of my artwork, a lovely shade of robin's egg blue I painted on the walls earlier in the year, and right now a snoozing Mattie-dog. I have a bulletin board with lovely postcards, artwork, and other inspiring items above my desk. I bought a bright new chair cushion last week to make my seat more comfy.

I'm really loving the feeling of being up here in my own space and being able to have all of the things around me that trigger my creativity and remind me of all the projects and crafts I love to do. I also get a bit more exercise going up and down the stairs a million times because I've forgotten something downstairs. :)

Plus, I'm not right by the back door so I don't have to let puppies in and out all day long. I think I shall be quite productive up here surrounded by all my yarn :)

Newest members of the family and the week of broken things...

Newest members of the family
Originally uploaded by elletrain

Meet Salt n Pepa...they are the cutest! I found them today at Pier 1 and just had to bring them home. I am happy looking at them perched on my oven. I need their happiness after a day of technology fails...my gmail account got hacked and my phone was freaking out today. Sheesh! I need to have a break from electronics.

This is definitely the week of broken things. Our air conditioning is fixed now though!!! Pinky's car is in the shop from his little fender-bender last Friday.The plumber came to get an estimate today to fix our leaks under the house and hopefully, hopefully by September all will be repaired. It really does make you appreciate those months where stuff doesn't break as much. I think Mercury must be in retrograde or something (I heard that from a previous client of mine and I think it's good to blame things on the planets).

In good news, we're starting our monthly craft night next Thursday! The blog is a little sparse right now, but it's up. Craft Nashy

I'm very excited to go buy supplies tomorrow and then try my hand at a headband. I guess I do need to make an example first. We've gotten quite a few people interested and I'm super excited! I just hope there's no more hacking going on out there! Over it.

A new little treasure

A new little treasure
Originally uploaded by elletrain

I just love my new little stone heart from Kenya...I found it at World Market yesterday. I think the little blackbird on my coffee mug likes it too. He is quite intrigued.

So, our air conditioner is broken right now in our house...but we have really lucked out because it's been SO lovely here for the past few days. Normally we would be frying with no AC in Nashville in August, but at least at night these days it's been unseasonably cool. SUCH a blessing. I still don't want to have to sit here tomorrow afternoon and wait for the plumber for 4 hours if the AC isn't fixed. Call me crazy. We're having a lot of things repaired at the house right now. We also lucked out on that with the home warranty. I know this is a super interesting blog...you are all on the edge of your seat.

Ha...ok, now I'll try to be more interesting...well, I'm not coming up with anything. You can go here and try to win some prizes though...I haven't yet, but maybe you'll have some luck!
http://www.dailycandy.com/t/click/7/F360792/1719055/18

amazing fan-made video for Grizzly Bear

This is an amazing video. It's a fan-made video...believe it or not. Such lovely animation and craft went into this. Enjoy!
http://gawker.com/5343445/fan+made-music-video-restores-hope-in-music-video-kind

Drinks with Pris

Drinks with Pris
Originally uploaded by elletrain

Just updating with an outfit pic from Thursday evening. I love these new boyfriend style jeans...my new faves. We had a lovely night at Rumours...good wine and good catching-up! Btw, the blouse, belt, and shoes are all from Goodwill. Jeans, Urban Outfitters; necklace, Forever 21.

My newest project

Sage Remedy top
Originally uploaded by elletrain

So, I'm working on two blankets right now, so of course I needed another new knitting project. I got in the sweater mood and am going to knit this cute short-sleeved sweater to wear over long-sleeved tops for the winter. I'm using Cascade 220 yarn that I bought on sale at Bliss for their last Stimulus Wednesday. I'm gonna miss those sales! The color is a muted heathered yellow. I like how the top is a little bit blousy...will look cute with skinny jeans.

It's nice to have a new sweater project. It's been a while since I've made a sweater and they really are my favorite projects to do. Today it is so lovely outside that I think I may go sit on the porch to knit a while. Yay for fall slowly approaching. It doesn't last long here in the South, so the earlier it comes, the better!