Butterfly Stitch Markers

Set of 5 Butterfly Stitch markers.

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Oreo Fudge

Oreo Fudge
20 Oreo cookies, broken into chunks, divided1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk2 tablespoons butter2 2/3 cups white chocolate chips1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Line sides and bottom of a 2-quart glass baking dish with buttered wax paper. Cover bottom of dish with 1/2 the Oreo cookies.
In a medium saucepan over low heat, cook milk, butter and white chocolate chips until chips are melted; stir well. Remove from heat, then stir in vanilla extract. Pour over Ore cookies. Sprinkle with remaining Oreo cookies. Chill, covered, for 1 hour before cutting into squares.

The Burnt House by Faye Kellerman

The Burnt House by Faye Kellerman is a very interesting murder mystery. Actually 2 murders are solved in this book. She goes into great detail on how a police investigation works, and I liked that.

Lion's Mane

The majestic Lion is the king of all the wild beasts. A large animal found in Africa. The male lion has a heavy mane around his neck, and shoulders. This Lion's Mane yarn would make a beautiful neck warmer or scarf, to wear around your neck. This yarn is 12 WPI, making it DK weight yarn. It weighs 4 ounces, and is 128 yards of beautiful Merino wool. I knit up a swatch so that you can see what the yarn will look like, after you have knit it up.

http://mrae123.etsy.com/

Elvis

It he just the most handsome boy? He is my buddy and my very best friend. He walks with me, he naps with me, he cuddles with me, and he sits on my shoulder when I knit. No kidding he really sits on my shoulder when I knit. which is what I am doing most of the time, so he spends a lot of time on my shoulder. He just got back from the groomer, and they gave him a fancy new scarf, so of course I had to take a picture of my boy all dressed up!!

Blocking Folk Mittens

Blocking Folk Mittens

Either water or steam is used in the blocking process. Once your mitten is completed, the blocking is done. Blocking will help adjust, and reshape both the length and width of your mitten. Both of your mittens should be identical. Blocking will ensure proper size and fit of your mitten.

Your mitten can be dunked in cool water until completely saturated before shaping. Steam can also be used by pinning the mitten to the correct measurements, then using a steam iron held above the mitten to steam it into shape. Don't let the iron touch your mitten because the natural fibers can be scorched, and man made fibers will be ruined.
Which ever method you decide to use, it is important that the mitten should dry completely.

After blocking your mitten it should still have texture, and life. It should not be blocked to the point where the stitches are lifeless and flat.

Jubilee

A Jubilee is a season of joy. Looking at this yarn brings joy to my eyes. It is a beautiful mix of pink and teal, with a hint of purple where the two colors blended together. I used acid dyes to dye this Merino wool. It is 14 WPI which makes it DK weight yarn. It weighs 4.0 ounces and is 140 yarns, of soft,warm, colorful, wool yarn. Perfect for any knitting, or crocheting project. I knit up a swatch of this yarn, so that you could see what it looks like once you get it on your needles.

http://mrae123.etsy.com/

Prairie in Bloom

Prairie in Bloom reminds me of the beautiful color of Spring on the Prairie in South Dakota. Our prairies are flat rolling acres,and acres of land cover with wild grass, and sweet clover. These prairies are covered with deep fertile soil. They bloom beautifully in the Spring, with deep emerald greens, and rich warm, golden yellows. This is Merino that has been dyed with acid dyes in the color emerald green, and golden yellow. It is 14 WPI, so it is DK weight yarn. There are 210 yards, that weigh 3.8 ounces. http://mrae123.etsy.com/

Teal and Pink roving

I dyed this Merino wool with acid in the colors Hot Fuchsia, and Teal. I got a lovely mix of teal, pink, and purple.
I can hardly wait to get this on my wheel!!!!

Rebecca Towel

I liked my Andrew so, much that I decided to knit another kitchen towel. This one is called the Rebecca towel. The pattern came form the Dishcloth hangups for 2009 calendar. This towel was so very easy. Only one row for the whole towel pattern!! Can't beat that for easy!!!!

Andrew Towel

My knitting friend Ariel sent me Dishcloth Hangups for 2009 in an exchange gift. I needed another hanging towel for my kitchen, so I browsed through the book and found this pattern. It is called the Andrew Towel. I like the hanging loop in the pattern, you don't have to fool around with a button at all. I used Peaches and Creme yarn in the color Spring Meadows. This towel is sure to brighten up my kitchen.

Green and Yellow Hand dyed Roving

I must have Spring Fever. I dyed this roving yesterday using emerald green acid dye, and golden yellow Rit dye.
These colors remind me of the South Dakota Prairie when it is in bloom in the Spring!!

I am Thinking

About how I am going to spend my $13.00 a week. Hummmmm

For my Sweetheart

I baked this cake for my husband today!!!

BANANA WALNUT UPSIDE DOWN CAKE

Topping1 cup (packed) golden brown sugar1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter3 tablespoons pure maple syrup1/4 cup coarsely chopped tasted walnuts4 large ripe bananas. peeled, cut diagonally into 1/4-inch-thick slices

Cake1 cup all purpose flour2 teaspoons baking powder1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon1/4 teaspoon salt3/4 cup sugar6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature1 large egg1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract6 tablespoons milk

Sweetened whipped cream

For topping:Preheat oven to 325�F. Combine sugar and butterin heavy medium saucepan. Stir over low heatuntil butter melts and mixture is well blended.Pour into 9-inch-diameter cake pan with 2-inch-high sides. Spread to coat bottom of pan. Pourmaple syrup over sugar mixture. Sprinkle nutsevenly over. Place banana slices in concentriccircles on nuts, overlapping slightly andcovering bottom.

For cake:Stir flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt inmedium bowl to blend. Beat sugar and butter inanother medium bowl until creamy. Add egg andvanilla; beat until light and fluffy. Beat inflour mixture alternately with milk in 3 additions.Spoon batter over bananas. Bake until testerinserted into center of cake comes out clean,about 55 minutes.

Transfer cake to rack. Run knife around pan sides.Cool cake on rack 30 minutes. Place plate over pan;invert cake. Let stand 3 minutes, then gently liftoff pan. Serve warm with whipped cream.

Serves 8.

Beata Folk Mittens

Beata is a Scandinavian name that means Blessed. I used a self striping yarn for the contrasting yarn in this pattern, and I love the effect of the self striping yarn, on the look of the Fair Isle. The black main color makes the contrasting color Pop!! This mitten measures 9 inches long, and is 7 1/2 inches around. It is knit with worsted weight wool, on size 2 1/2 needles. This mitten is sure to keep your fingers toasty warm in the winter!! This pattern can be found at www.freewebs.com/folkmittens

Monkey Socks

It only took me 3 tries, but finally I have finished my Monkey socks. http://knitty.com/ISSUEwinter06/PATTmonkey.html
Like they say the third time is the charm. I used Knit Picks Essential sock yarn, in the color Meteor Twist!! I LOVE my new monkey socks!!

Casey's Tea Party

Casey made a fort, and it having a Tea Party with Elvis, at Grandma's house!!

My Daughter is in the paper

http://tinyurl.com/cd8t3j

Mardi Gras

I dyed this wool with purple and teal professional dyes, then I spun it into 390 yards, of 15 WPI, Sport weight yarn. The purple , and teal colors in this yarn are very dark, rich, festive colors. You would see color like this while strolling down Bourbon Street, in the French Quarter, during the Mardi Gras Carnival. Their is Beautiful, rich texture and color in this yarn. http://mrae123.etsy.com/

Purple and Teal Roving

This is my Purple and Teal Roving. I used acid dyes on this roving. The purple is a very deep purple, and the teal is a very deep teal. It will be exciting to see how this spins up. I probably won't get to my wheel today. Casey is coming over for a bit this afternoon. My daughter Jeni has a meeting with one of our legislators. She is going to be doing a little Lobbying. There is some bill about dogs that she wants passed, and I guess she has to schmooze with this legislator, or get the legislator on her side. Any way while Jeni is off talking with her legislator I will be playing with Casey. Fun for me :). Spending time with my Granddaughter is one of my very favorite things to do!!!

Navajo Creek Handspun Yarn

Navajo Creek is hand dyed and handspun merino wool. I used Turquoise and brown dyes. I got a wonderful mix of Turquoise, brown, and green. These colors all together remind me of a Beautiful flowing creek on a sunny afternoon. So refreshing and peaceful. The turquoise reminds me of the water in the creek, the brown reminds me of the stones in the creek, and the green is the color of moss growing on the stone. This yarn is very soft and has great texture. You can knit or crochet something very Beautiful with this yarn. You will receive 2 skeins of this yarn, that is 5.7 ounces,16 WPI, so it is Sport weight yarn, and 400 yards.
With 400 yards of Sport weight yarn you could knit a scarf, or 2 hats, or a pair of mittens, or fingerless mitts, even socks.http://mrae123.etsy.com

Turquoise and Brown Roving

You just never know where inspiration is going to come from. I was sitting home yesterday watching TV. Nothing was on . It is Super Bowl Sunday. So of course I am thinking about wool, dyeing wool. spinning wool, designing with wool, and knitting wool. So I flip through the channels on TV. I stop at QVC. Joan Rivers is selling her jewelry. She is selling a necklace, the colors in that necklace are turquoise and brown. I am thinking, how would turquoise and brown look on wool. So I tried it and this is the result.I was very surprised by the green color showing up in the mix. But I am happy with it. I think that turquoise, green and brown go together nicely. What do you think??

Spirit in the Sky

Have I told you that I LOVE to spin??? I love to dye the wool and watch amazing color combinations spin up before my very eyes. This is so very exciting for me. This is how my Royal Blue and Rose pink wool spun up. It is just Beautiful with blues, pinks, and even purple. At 17 WPI this is 338 yards of Sport weight yarn. So very soft, Beautiful and full of character! I Love it.

http://mrae123.etsy.com/