50 Projects: 52 Weeks (6. The Chalkboard Coffee Table)

January is simply flying by. Steve and I have been getting into some home-improvement projects, one of which being this coffee table. It was an old laminated round table that my dad found while dumpster-diving and it has traveled with me to various apartments and counties as we've moved. At the moment it's a little out of place because a round coffee table is conducive to conversation and more than just a couch (it needs more seating around it); so instead of trashing the whole thing, we decided to spruce it up with our leftover chalkboard spraypaint. It's a success! 

It took only an afternoon and one can of paint and the beloved sander to dull down the clear coat on the top. Eventually, we'd like to paint the rest of it. Any other creative ideas for the sides? I was even thinking of trying to do a mosaic tile...

50 Projects: 52 Weeks (5. Beard-clava)

I found this pattern called Incognito and it was a hit. The husband saw this pattern and immediately latched onto it. It'll be great for his snowboarding adventures. It's part functional, part whimsical and was a lot of fun to duplicate stitch the Fu Manchu onto the Beard-clava. 

Notice the top and bottom used a twisted knit stitch. This makes the knit stitch tighter and added a bit of interest near the face and bottom. 

Steve is smiling underneath. ;)

Cozy up with Spices

I grab a cup of black chai (creamed, of course!) and pull out several of my favorite ingredients:

Squash (this time it was Acorn Squash!) It's super cheap at the farmers market and really easy to freeze and pull out later.

Whole Wheat Pastry Flour - Baking just isn't the same without it. I've had to "adjust" my baking a bit at this higher altitude, but not by much. Pastry Flour is just so much more light and airy (it has more of the bran and germ portions of the wheat kernel). 

Garam Masala - I practically had pounds of this seasoning, it seems. I struggle to find uses for it, but I think I may have just discovered a gold mine.

And, Voila! I've made this great bread by 101 Cookbooks:

(Photo courtesy of 101 Cookbooks - doesn't it look delish?!)

You can find the recipe here! It reminds me of the bread-pudding that my English friends in New Zealand used to make in their old wood-burning stove. Ahh, the memories...

50 Projects: 52 Weeks (4. Wedded Bliss Stitch Markers)

Keishi Pearls + Wedding = Stitch Markers

Super easy! I love the outdoors. Steve and I got married at Devil's Lake State Park.

I created the jewelry I wore at my wedding and same goes for my girls. There is something stunning and so organic that made using keishi pearls a no-brainer. The copper tones and rough round shape perfectly complemented our autumnal surroundings.

The joy that we felt that day, October 10, 2009, was indescribably crazy. I married my best friend. The keishi pearls are from the pearls I bought for my wedding. I wanted to pass on the joy to someone else. Again, it's going to be another Etsy find. So, everything from the pearls to the copper-colored beads to the tiny swarovski crystals - it's a Wedded Bliss Stitch Marker (works well for up to a size 9 needle). May it bring many years of knitting happiness! 

50 Projects: 52 Weeks (3. Two Hiker Hats)

Two Hiker Hats: Moss (Left) and Meander (Right)

Tada!

I've cranked out two hats in less than a week. Both of these only took an afternoon each and it was a great way for me to use up my acrylic yarn that I've been meaning to find a project for. You'll find these at my Etsy store soon! I repurposed the yarn that would've otherwise fallen to the wayside! Cozy.

1. Oblique is Not Opaque Sweater: The Finished Back!

The Back (Finally)

This only took about 400 years...Nonetheless, the back is looking great and will probably work out just fine (one can hope) after I block the whole piece! My friend Elizabeth Royal knit a sweater with some lacework and can attest to two things: 1. knitting potty mouth and 2. plenty of "beginners mistakes." Ugh. I am pretty sure the only mistakes I made involved the decreasing raglan around the armpit areas, and I'm sure I'll be the only to notice. So, shhh...! Don't tell anyone else!

Soul Journer Studio (pre-Grand Opening)

Well!

As some of you may know, I am piecing together items for my up-and-coming Etsy store (It already has a storefront and it's called Soul Journer Studio!) I'd love to bounce ideas off of some veterans, but the whole premise of the store is to discover Purpose in Nature. Since I'm a woman of many trades, I didn't want to just splatter random items without a theme, but I also didn't want to be stuck knitting hats for the rest of my life. I have a vision in my mind and I'm going to run with it.

Sneak preview of some of the items to follow!

50 Projects: 52 Weeks (2. Homestead Laundry Soap)

The Joys of Simple Cleanliness

My mom supplied me with the Fels Naptha bar soap and the Washing Soda; I bought the Borax. That's it. I followed a simple recipe which you can find here! Was so worth it, but it made so much soap that I don't even have enough containers to, er, contain all the runny/gelatinous great-smelling laundry soap. It smells great, too!

50 Projects: 52 Weeks (1. Oblique is Not Opaque Sweater)

Meet Oblique

This is the sweater of all sweaters. I've made hats. I've crocheted beanies. And then some greater power took over my mind and I decided a sweater would be the next logical step. The original sweater pattern can be found here. 50 projects in 52 weeks. Oblique has taken me over a month thus far and I hoping to finish up the back in the next day or two. Lacework has been daunting, but so rewarding!

Simplicity and Repose

"Simplicity and Repose are the qualities that measure the true value of any art work."

-Frank Lloyd Wright

Rest.

Turning a new leaf, 2011 is a breath of fresh air. Simplicity is the theme. Rest is my goal. And I recognize that I will not find rest in temporal things, but in God's Beauty. God's Nature. God's Sweet Treasures.