Back to School, Back to Cool

(Ok, first of all, can we just all gaze in wonder at my Romanticism book for this semester? It is 1477 pages, as if the picture didn't do it justice.) 

*sigh*

Christmas break was wonderful, but now it's over and it's back to studying, classes, homework, and papers.   So I apologize if I post a little less frequently for the next week or two. I've got to get my groove back. Like Stella, you know? Ha!

I'll still be knitting as often as I can! It's pretty chilly in my apartment, so I have found that knitting in my Snuggie is maybe the most comfortable thing ever. Don't judge.

Also, at the beginning of each semester, I always admire my little crochet clock that I made last summer, a time when I actually had time to make things for myself! (We all know that is a resolution I am working on this year.)

But isn't he cute? Although, he does absolutely nothing to help me wake up in the morning. He just sits there, mocking me with his smug little half-smile as I rub the sleep out of my eyes and whack my actual alarm buzzing annoyingly by his side.

So wish me luck as I get back into a routine and attempt to tear myself away from Etsy and my yarn stash long enough to get some studying done. 

Oh! AND I'm having a sale in the shop! YAY! From January 24 - February 6, everything in the shop is 15% off when you use the code SHEEP15 at checkout. Check it out! ;-)

New Valentine's Day Packaging

All items in my Etsy shop will be wrapped in this Valentine's Day packaging until February 14th! (The little knit heart is just for decoration, not included...sorry!)

My cat Abby decided she just had to look out the window at the same time I was taking pictures. She is such a nosy little diva. :-)

Feel the love! 

How to Make a Pom-Pom

I am making a new hat for the shop right now and I wanted to add a pom pom to the top, but I didn't know how. So, as usual, I went to the all-knowing YouTube to learn the tricks of pom making. I found this great video here, but I thought I would photograph the process a little more clearly for my lovely blog readers. 

1. Trace out a a circle on a piece of cardboard. The size of your circle will be the size of your pom pom. I used a measuring cup that was around the size I wanted to trace the circle.

2. Cut out circle

3. Draw a smaller circle within the circle

4. Cut out the little circle.

5. Make a small "v" where you cut out the little circle to make the yarn easier to pull through. Repeat steps 1-5 to make a second circle. 

6. Hold the two circles together and wrap the yarn through the notch and around evenly around the sides of the circle. 

7. Wrap the yarn until the circle in the middle is filled in.

8. Use a pair of scissors to cut the yarn between the two circles all the way around.

9. Cut a length of yarn and tie a tight knot around the middle of the pom-pom. Bring the yarn around the other side and tie another, the tighter the better! 

10. Trim the pom pom to make it round and even.

Ta-da!

Let me know if this helps! 

SNOW.

As you can see, I am VERY happy! It snowed today! IN TEXAS!!! I am not a huge fan of the Texas heat, so I rejoice when the south is blessed with a snow day.

(If you are from an area that gets snow all the time, please humor me and my probably pathetic snow pictures.)

Even with the wind whipping in our faces, my mom and I took a walk around the neighborhood. Everything looked so pretty!

I love how snow can even make suburbia look beautiful!

We warmed up with some earl grey and strawberry/rosemary scones that I made yesterday.

What a perfect Sunday.

*Also, get ready for some new stuff in the shop this week. I'm so excited for you to see!*

Wrist Warmer Giveaway Winner!

Thanks so much to everyone who entered my first giveaway! Please come back to this blog in the future for more giveaways. I am going to try to do one every couple of months.

Now...the moment we've all been waiting for....the winner is...by the power of a random number generator...

Hooray! Congratulations Krista!!! I have sent you an e-mail, so please send me your address and I will send you your new wrist warmers right away! 

Thanks for playing everyone! Have a wonderful day!

How I Will Dominate 2011!

It has taken me a few days to get my goals for the new year in order....it's kind of a big deal though. Whether or not I actually complete any of them is debatable, but it is always good to have goals, right? So here it goes, my semi-thought out, non-binding, vague, goals for 2011. 

1. Increase confidence in myself

This is something I have really struggled with. I never fail to put myself down on a daily basis. My self-esteem definitely increased in the last year, but I know I can feel even better about myself at the end of this year if I keep my chin up. :-)

2. Take more time to create

I spent a lot of time last year making the same things and not taking the time to create new products for the shop. I have so many ideas, I just need make them happen!

3. Apply to a craft fair

I think I am ready to tackle the intensity involved with working at a craft fair. It will definitely be an adventure! 

(See my trip to the Dallas Flea and Etsy Dallas Jingle Bash)

4. Submit my work to magazines/blogs

Why not right? If I don't try, I'll never know.

5. Increase my social network stamina

I need to be a better with my blogging, tweeting and...tumbling? Haha. 

5. Attempt some "yarn bombing/guerrilla knitting" on my campus

I think that would be so fun!!! I would definitely blog about it too.

Some yarn bombing done by the amazing group, Knitta Please.

6. Be happier! 

That's pretty straight forward right?

This year was so great, but the unknown of a new year always scares me a little. 

That's ok though, we'll see what happens together!