Choose My Next Blogging for Confidence Challenge - I need a little push.

It has been such a long time since my last Blogging for Confidence challenge and I think it is about time I changed that. Honestly, I'm just too chicken to give either challenge I have in mind a try. Each one intimidates me in different ways. Maybe you could give me a little push?

Challenge #1 - Take Myself on a Date // Oy. Dating is not my favorite topic in the world. I just don't go on dates that often. Who knows why, but it hasn't really happened for me and because of that, I've dealt with a lot of self-doubt and negative feelings about myself. I try not to focus on it because it just gets really frustrating. Do my single friends agree with me on this? One of my resolutions for 2012 was to date more and I honestly don't know how I can achieve that goal. Since no guys are asking at the moment, I want to take myself on a date. Just because I'm single doesn't mean I can't treat myself to a movie and cupcake, right? However, the trouble is I actually have to do it. Go out there, alone, to a movie and face the world with my singleness. I really admire people who are able to take themselves out on dates so easily. It is difficult to feel and be alone in a sea of people. This challenge will help me get over those feelings of loneliness that creep up on me throughout the day and remind me that I am worth it. 

Challenge #2 - Yarn Bomb a Desk in My Classroom // In my morning media class, the desks are in a big stadium-like classroom. Each chair has a little pull out desk and I have contemplated yarn bombing something on it for months. I don't know why my mind has fixated on that desk, but I won't be satisfied until I cover it with yarn. This challenge will be difficult because it is yarn bombing something inside and after I do it, I can't flee the scene like a bandit, but I have to sit there for the entire class and wait. I don't really talk about my blogging and knitting with my friends from school. It just doesn't come up and it makes me feel super shy when people from my real world start looking at my blog. Yesterday my entire class pulled up my blog and said the sweetest things about it. They really made my day. :) So, I guess this yarn bombing will be my little symbolic way of connecting my school life and blog life before I graduate. Also, it had been awhile since my first yarn bombing experience and I really want to try it again! Wait...does it still count as yarn bombing if it's inside? Haha.

So those are the two challenges. I would really appreciate it if you let me know which one you think I should try and why. Have you taken yourself on a date or yarn bombed something in a weird place before? Please share your thoughts and experiences. Maybe we could all do the challenge together once it is decided. That might be fun!

Leave a comment with the challenge you think I should tackle and I will do it sometime next week! :)

Spring Cardigan Makeover with Crochet Buttons

I've had this grey stripe cardigan for way too long. I think I got it in middle school? Yikes. Now that I think about it, this little Old Navy sweater is the closest thing to vintage that I have in my closet. The basic color palette of the sweater has resulted in wearing it repeatedly over everything, from t-shirts to dresses, in every color under the sun. When I pulled out the sweater the other day, put it on, and watched it sag sadly from my shoulders it got me thinking. What to do with this old, faithful, cardigan of mine? Of course, I thought it might be fun to spruce it up with some yarn buttons! I replaced the old buttons with snaps so I could still close up the sweater on chilly days. I am so happy with the result! 

You will need...

- An old cardigan or sweater with buttons

- Yarn (I used Sugar n' Cream cotton)

- A crochet hook to fit your yarn (I used G6)

- Snaps (I found them at Hobby Lobby in the sewing section)

- A needle and thread

- Scissors

Crochet Button Motif (See image above):

1. This is called the "magic ring". Wrap the yarn around your finger three times. Slide the hook under all three loops and pull the third loop up and under the other two. Chain one. 

2. Make 12 single crochet in the ring. Join with a slip stitch.

3. Chain 3, skip the next single crochet space, then single crochet. 

4. Repeat until you have six chain 3 sections. Join with a slip stitch. Bind off and weave in the ends. Make as many motifs as you need for buttons on the sweater. 

Now that you have your crochet buttons...

- Remove the old buttons from your sweater

- Sew on the snaps

- Sew the crochet buttons on top of the snaps

- Ta-da! Now you have a brand, new springtime sweater!

I really do love how this turned out! I went with a sort of "ombre" color scheme because I like the fading color look. This project is great because it only needs a little bit of yarn so you could use up your scraps by adding a little color and life to an old sweater. If you missed my last sweater makeover with duplicate stitch heart elbow patches, you can find it here.

Yes! I've managed to transition my crazy sweater wearing into the spring.

I'm not sure if I can stretch out wearing it in Texas heat though.

Enjoy! :-)

Accepting Sponsors for April!

...The auto-crochet hook. I need to make this idea a reality. ;-)

Thank you all so much for making my first month of sponsorship a wonderful experience! I am continuously blown away by your support. If you would like to sponsor my little spot on the internet and advertise your shop or blog, I would love to have you! You can find my sponsor information here and please send me an email at sheepishknitcrochet(at)gmail(dot)com if you have any questions.

Thanks again to my wonderful March sponsors! You are such a wonderful group. I couldn't have asked for more talented ladies to be my first sponsors ever!

P.S. - The gif above is a peek at the crochet project I worked on this weekend! It was a lot of fun to make and I will have it ready to share with you tomorrow.

Have a great Monday! Let's get this week started! :)

The Blush List - Eggs, Pastels, and a Giveaway Winner!

Knitting // I love the pattern on these scallop knit socks. 

Crochet // Such a cute idea! I might make these easy egg warmers from Pickles instead of dying eggs this year. ;)

Etsy // Mint geo beaded necklace from A Merry Mishap

Style // Bellis Dress by Whitney Deal

Art // I can't get enough of the beautiful prints on the tea towels from To Dry For. 

Food // These soft eggs with herb-gruyere toasts from Smitten Kitchen look amazing. Perfect for brunch!

With Easter only a couple weeks away, I thought I would share a few things I would love to find in my Easter basket. Yes, the eggs and toasts too. ;) I seriously want every single tea towel from that To Dry For shop. I don't think I could actually use them....they are just too pretty! Talk about cute kitchen art though!

I hope you all had a great weekend. I made a fun crochet tutorial that I can't wait to share this week, knit some of my fawn-cho, and caught up on sleep. I'm also really excited about the return of Mad Men tonight! I foresee an evening of blogging and TV watching, even though I should be reading. I have less than 47 days left of required reading though! *Heel-click*


Also, Congratulations Kristi! You are The Merriweather Council embroidered necklace giveaway winner! I will be contacting you soon!

Happy Sunday!

Weekend Plans 3/23 - 3/25

Happy Friday! I am so very glad the weekend has arrived, how about you? It is always so hard getting back into a routine the week after a vacation. I had a pretty big test this morning that I think went really well, so now I can just enjoy the crafty weekend ahead. 

The past week or so I've jotted a few knit and crochet ideas in my journal that I can't stop thinking about. I was actually daydreaming about them in class this afternoon...full-on, thought-bubble above my head daydreaming about these projects. Haha. I guess I'm excited to give them a try! So the second I finished class, I bolted to Michaels to pick up a few supplies. Here's what I have planned for the weekend...

- I have another sweater makeover idea up my sleeve! I can't wait to see how it turns out. 

- I also have a few ideas of what to do with scrap bits of yarn. I hate to waste those little bits, so hopefully I can come up with fun ways to put them to use. 

- Of course, music and possibly a little Audrey Hepburn movie marathon will help me bring these ideas to life! 

It's going to be a good one! I definitely need to catch up on my sleep because I stayed up way too late last night studying. Zzz..

What are you up to for the next few days? 

Knitting Inspiration - Herringbone Stitch Video by Oversize Me

   

The other day I stumbled upon Oversize Me, a lovely French blog with beautiful photography, style, and snapshots of fun weekends. I was so excited to discover that the author, Jay, is also a fellow knitter. I spotted this post on the herringbone stitch, a stitch I've yet to try but always envied, along with an amazing video tutorial. I had to stretch my three semesters of beginners French to pick up the instructions, but I was so captivated by the stunning images that it basically spoke for itself. Even if you don't speak French, I think this video explains the stitch wonderfully. As you know, I am such a fan of baking videos that the idea of stunning, fiber-filled videos gets me really excited. I might have to try my hand at a knitting video one day too! :-)

What do you think? I've watched it so many times at this point...

It's just so lovely. :)

Making "Fawn-cho" Progress

Every time I look at this I get all giddy and jumpy inside. I can't believe I knit that sleepy, little fawn (even after my initial hiccup) and in a matter of weeks I get to wear it!! I know spring is coming, actually it has already arrived, and this fawn-cho is more of an autumnal garment...but I don't care. The minute I finish knitting this beauty I am going to find an excuse to wear it with pride. Maybe it will even be cool enough to wear it around London in May??

Over the break I would stop mid-stitch and say, "Isn't this just the coolest thing?" or "I mean...I can't even...come look at how cute this is!" even when no one was in the room. Oops. I guess cute knitting makes me talk to myself. The intarsia fawn was pretty tricky though. Intarsia and stranding result in so many ends that I really don't know what to do with or where they even came from. I had to share the last picture to give a peek at the insanity that lies just beneath my peaceful deer. Intarsia isn't pretty. Remember the Union Jack teacosy I made last year? I like to think of all of those ends as the storm before the calm.

I can't wait to finish this pattern! I'm about halfway through so hopefully I will be wearing it before you can say "fawn-cho isn't really a word" ten times fast. ;)

Are you working on any big knitting or crochet projects at the moment? How is it going for you? I hope I'm not the only one that gets so excited about fun knitting patterns.

Giveaway - CLOSED // Win an Embroidered Necklace from The Merriweather Council

I'm happy to share another amazing giveaway this week from the ever-so-lovely and talented Danielle of The Merriweather Council. Danielle was one of the first people I met on Etsy when I started my shop and over the last year we have become good friends and pen pals. Thanks to Skype we are able to chat over the long distance between us, but if we were neighbors we would totally sew and knit together all the time. She has always been a huge supporter of me and my blog, but I was completely honored when she said she wanted to sponsor One Sheepish Girl this month and give you the chance to win a custom, embroidered initial necklace from her shop! I was lucky enough to receive an embroidered brooch from Danielle for Christmas. I cherish the delicate stitches. :)

Here is how you can enter to win:

This giveaway is open to international readers!

Mandatory Entry:
- Visit Danielle's shop and check out her other lovely handmade goods, like her embroidery hoop wall art. Come back here and leave a comment telling me your favorite item! Please leave your email address so I can contact you if you win. If there is no way to contact you, your entry will not count.

Bonus Entries: (Leave a separate comment for each entry.)
1.) Follow @MerriweatherC on Twitter
2.) Tweet about the giveaway! Please mention @MerriweatherC and @sheepishknit in the tweet. Feel free to copy and paste this tweet: "Enter to win a custom embroidered necklace from @merriweatherc on @sheepishknit blog! http://onesheepishgirl.blogspot.com/2012/03/giveaway-win-embroidered-necklace-from.html"
3.) Like The Merriweather Council on Facebook and post the link to this giveaway on your page. Please tag The Merriweather Council in your link.
4.) Share this giveaway on your blog or tumblr. Please include the link to your post in the comments

There are a total of five ways to enter this giveaway. Don't forget to include your email address!

That's it! This giveaway will end on March 24 and I will announce the winner the following day.

Pretty exciting stuff! I hope you all have a wonderful day.

P.S. - I know that spring break is over because I didn't knit at all yesterday. The baking-filled yarn party is really over...haha. ;)

Blog Mention in Mollie Makes Magazine!

The day I discovered my little ol' blog was mentioned in the pages of my favorite craft magazine was possibly one of the greatest moments of my life. I still cannot believe that my blog and my name are in this month's issue of Mollie Makes. I haven't found a hard copy of the magazine in Dallas, but I'm sure I will find one soon. Thank you so much to everyone who has emailed, instagram-ed, and tweeted me, letting me know my blog was in the magazine! :)

I hope you all know and love Mollie Makes as much as I do. Just look at those cute, knit egg cosys right on the cover!

I'm just so over the moon right now. I can't think of a better way to start another week of class after a long vacation. Thanks Mollie Makes!

Spring Break Fun + Giveaway Winner

I had the best time during my spring break this week! It was filled with...

(From left to right)

- Going to brunch with my family.

- Painting my nails.

- Working on my "fawn-cho". I've definitely recovered from my mistake and I will share some progress pictures this week! I love this project so much.

- Baking homemade granola.

- Baking homemade rosemary crackers. So random, but they were extremely easy and tasty too!

- Snapping more Instax pictures around my neighborhood.

- I finally had time to update my blog banner for spring! It is always hard for me to change anything on my blog, but I really like it. It reflects what I think the inside of my brain looks like during 99.9% of the day. :)

- I did a little shopping yesterday and found that cute sweater and dress. 

Throughout the week, I honestly felt really lame at certain times. I didn't go spring break crazy or anything, unless you consider baking homeade granola and crackers crazy. Actually...don't answer that. Haha. Anyway, I realized it's ok that my definition of "fun" mostly consists of baking, knitting, and other crafty things. I  enjoyed my vacation so that's all the matters! Also, my time away from school gave me a chance to plot, plan, and dream about....

...my trip to London and Paris in May!! I won't feel lame on that trip for one second, I can tell you that right now. I am getting so excited it is ridiculous. It's kind of a dream come true. I'm almost more excited about that trip than some other big event in May...what's that again? Oh yeah. Graduation. Haha. I will probably ask you all for travel tips when May gets closer, but I would love to hear all about your favorite places to visit in both cities. This will be my first trip to Europe so please fill me in on your travel wisdom if you can! 

Also, the giveaway winner of the Chocolate Mints in a Jar pattern giveaway is...

Congratulations Megan! Jessyz will be contacting you soon. Thanks for entering everyone. 

Now it's time for me to get back to a schedule even though my "senioritis" is going crazy. I hope you all had a great weekend! 

Homemade Mixed Berry Granola

I usually save my baking adventures for the weekend, but yesterday my mom and I decided to try something new, homemade granola for the first time! She dog-eared this recipe in her magazine several months ago (hence the "Christmas Granola" recipe name, haha) and we decided to give it a try! It is so easy and delicious! I'm enjoying a scoop of granola with yogurt right this minute. I don't think I can ever buy pre-made granola again! 

Berry Christmas Granola by Tracey Seaman from Everyday With Rachael Ray


Makes 7 cups


4 cups rolled oats
1 cup sliced almonds
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup honey
1 cup salted, roasted pistachios, shelled and coarsely chopped
3/4 cup dried cherries
1/2 cup dried blueberries

Preheat the oven to 275 degrees. On a large baking sheet, toss together the oats, almonds, sesame seeds and salt. In a measuring cup, combine the butter and honey, pour over the oat mixture and stir with a spatula to blend. Spread evenly and bake for 30 minutes, stirring and spreading once with the spatula during cooking. Remove from the oven and let cool completely. In a large bowl, combine the pistachios, cherries and blueberries with the cooled oat mixture and toss to combine.


Oh you know, just another day of my crazy spring break! Homemade granola! Woo!


P.S. - My mom embroidered that tea towel. Isn't she talented?

Instax Spring Break Memories

It's been awhile since I shared any of my film photos. I guess that is mostly because they haven't exactly looked "share-worthy". Haha. You know how it goes with the unpredictability of film. Oh, don't worry blurry, out of focus, off center pictures...I still love you in your own special way. I just love these more. ;)

Since I didn't jet off on a fun vacation for spring break, I've decided to act like a tourist in my own town for the week. I just don't get the chance to enjoy my surroundings or take a minute to snap a pretty photo during the school week. So over the last few days I've gone on little nature walks in my neighborhood in this absurdly warm weather to capture the beautiful things I overlook every other day of the week.

I'm always weirdly proud when an instant camera shot turns out well. It's like, "Yes! I didn't just waste $3 on that purple flower! Woohoo!" I'm not sure if I can pick a favorite from this bunch. I really like the reflection in the first picture along with the darker, haunted-looking shots, but I think my favorite is the little yellow dandelion in the sea of green grass. So cute!

With my graduation date looming ahead, this is probably the last "spring break" I will have for awhile. I guess I should go out and enjoy it! Have a great day everyone.

Giveaway // Win Six Patterns from Chocolate Mints in a Jar

I'm happy to share a giveaway with you from one of my lovely March sponsors, Chocolate Mints in a Jar. Jessyz generously offered to give away any six patterns from her shop to one of my readers. Here's how you can enter to win!

1.) Visit her Etsy shop, come back here, leave a comment below, and tell me which pattern is your favorite.
2.) Please include your email address so I can contact you if you are the winner!
3.) *Additional entry* - Tweet about this giveaway, please include @sheepishknit in the tweet, and leave another comment below!

That's it! This giveaway will end on March 17. I will announce the winner over the weekend and Jessyz will send you the patterns right away. She has so many great, warm weather knit patterns that would be perfect to work on this spring! If you don't knit or crochet, maybe you could give a pattern to a friend, along with the yarn, and you just might get a lovely knit present in a few months! ;)

The 5 Stages of Knitting Mistake Grief

I almost didn't share these pictures. Oh the shame! I was so embarrassed when I realized the rookie mistake I made while knitting on the fawn-cho. I guess I was so stressed about midterms that my mind was distracted and I flubbed a few too many stitches to ignore. Ah well...we all make mistakes. Once I discovered the mistake, I made my way through the five stages of knitting mistake grief... 

Stage One: Acknowledge the mistake. Force yourself to say, "Hi, I'm Meredith. I messed up my knitting beyond repair and I have to start over." It's so hard to face this ugly truth!! 

Stage Two: Remove the knitting from the needles. There's no turning back. 

Stage Three: With every stitch you rip out it's like ripping out a piece of your own soul. No I am not exaggerating. ;)

Stage Four: Put on some good, relaxing music. Dean Martin doesn't judge me for skipping a few stitches. Just look at that face. 

Stage Five: Get yourself some coffee, tea, wine perhaps? and get ready to cast on again. It's never easy to start over but it is worth it in the end. Oh how philosophical was that? Haha!

This was silly, I know. Silly but true! Thankfully I'm back on track with the fawn-cho and will be much more careful this time around so I won't have to go through these stages of grief again...

Do you go through a similar routine when you goof up your knitting, crochet, or other craft? I'd love to hear how you deal with that awful feeling!