Spring Fever

I hand dyed this Merino wool with Easter Egg Dye.I got just the prettiest mix of color ever!!!There is yellow, blue, green, purple, and a hint of orange. Spring Fever is the perfect name for this pretty yarn. Their are 2 skeins of yarn that weigh 3.9 ounces together. I spun it into worsted weight yarn at 10 WPI, and 134 yards. Soft and Beautiful this would make a perfect Spring project. http://mrae123.etsy.com

Very Basic Baby Beanie

I knit this cute little Baby Beanie hat to go along with the baby sweater, that I knit for my niece Misty.

I used I Love This Cotton yarn in the color Spring Ombre. The pattern can be found here .

Thrid Degree by Greg Iles

Holy Crap!!! This book is intense!!!!!! It will hold you hostage from page 1 to the very end of the book! I swear I could hear a helicopter over my head, and could feel the rain pouring down on me as I read this book!! No Kidding!!! Greg Iles knows how to write a book!!

Garter Stitch Baby Cardigan

I knit this little baby sweater for my niece Misty. She is going to have a baby next fall. You can find the pattern for this cute little sweater here . It was easy to knit, and knits up pretty quick. This is the very first time that I have knit button holes, and that was easy also. The little buttons on the sweater came from my button stash. I like to buy jars of buttons at estate sales, and auctions. So I am calling these buttons vintage buttons, because they are old buttons, that some lady cut off another item of clothing and saved for them to be used again in the future. Well I am using them now on this baby sweater. I think that is cool!! I used I Love This Cotton yarn, in the color Spring Ombre. I just cast on a little hat this morning to match this little sweater.

Hand Dyed Roving

I dyed this roving yesterday with Easter Egg Dye.I got just the prettiest mix of color ever!!!There is yellow, blue, green, purple, and a hint of orange.I am loving this mix.It will be on my wheel this afternoon!!!!

How to knit an I cord

When I knit the baby bib for my niece, I had to knit an I cord for the ties of the bib.
This is how to knit an I cord.

1) With two double pointed needles, cast on a few stitches. For the baby bib 3 stitches were used.
2) Knit all the stitches.
3) Without turning your work, switch the needles so the needle with the stitches are in your left hand.
4) Slide the stitches to the right hand side of the left needle. Pull the yarn tight across the back of the stitches, and knit the row.
Continue steps 3 and 4 until the desired length of tie that you want for your bib.
That's it. So very simple to make ties for your baby bib.

Baby Bib

I knit this cute little bib for my niece Misty. She is expecting a baby later this year.
I love this pattern, it was so easy to knit and it cute to. I used Lion Brand Cotton in the color Sherbert Swirl. I have enough of the yarn left over, I may knit her another bib. I cast on a simple baby sweater for her yesterday. I just love knitting for babies. The pattern for this little bib came form the Dishcloth Hangups Calendar for 2009.

Happy Anniversary

Our Sweet Granddaughter Casey made us a cake for our 29th Wedding anniversary today!!!
Thank You Sweetie. We LOVE you!!!!

Pretty in Pink

This is a set of 4 Pretty in Pink glass bead stitch markers. Perfect for knitting or crocheting, you will never lose your place again, on your project. A great gift for your knitting or crocheting friends. http://mrae123.etsy.com/

Pink and Black

I dyed this Merino wool with pink and black dyes. Then I spun it up into Sport weight yarn, 16 WPI. I got 206 yards from this roving.

Twisted Cable Rib Cloth

I knit this Twisted Cable Rib cloth using Peaches and Creme yarn, in the color Salmon Royale. The pattern is from the 2009 Dishcloth Hangups calendar.

Laced by Carol Higgins Clark

Laced by Carol Higgins Clark is a fun, light, mystery to read. It has a haunted castle, a ghost, jewel thieves, and a happy ending.

White Pearl Stitch Markers

This is a set of 5 White Pearl bead stitch markers, accented with gold beads, giving them a look of knitting jewelry. Perfect for knitting or crocheting, you will never lose your place again, when you mark your stitches with these stitch markers. A great gift for your knitting or crocheting friends. http://mrae123.etsy.com/

Tiny Angel Stitch Markers

This is a set of 4 Tiny Angel stitch markers. Perfect for knitting or crocheting, you will never lose your place again, on your project. A great gift for your knitting or crocheting friends. http://mrae123.etsy.com/

Ruby Red Stitch Markers

This is a set of 5 Ruby Red stitch markers. Perfect for knitting or crocheting, you will never lose your place again, on your project. They can be found in my Etsy shop at
http://mrae123.etsy.com/ A great gift for your knitting or crocheting friends.

Pretty Purple Stitch Markers

This is a set of 5 Pretty Purple stitch markers. Perfect for knitting or crocheting, you will never lose your place again, on your project. They can be found in my Etsy shop at
http://mrae123.etsy.com/ The perfect gift for your knitting or crocheting friend.

Johanne Folk Mitten

Johanne is a Norwegian name that means God is Graceious. . 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 pink 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

Turning Angel by Greg Iles

Ok where do I start. This author and this book are amazing!!! He captured my attention on page 1 and keep it to the very end of this book. This is a very exciting, captivating book!!! No doubt about it. This book is packed full of action and adventure, and mystery.
Greg Iles is a Master of Mystery, and YES I plan on reading a lot more of his books. I will for sure seek out books written by this author. I am on my way to Amazon.com right now, to find another of his books. I can hardly wait to read another of his novels!!

Treasure Island

Imagine yourself on a warm Sunny afternoon, sitting and relaxing on a Treasure Island. These are the colors that you would see on my Treasure Island. I used turquoise, and green acid dyes to color this Merino wool. Then I spun it up into 102 yards of Worsted weight wool yarn that is 10 WPI, and weight 3.8 ounces. This yarn is so very soft and beautiful.

http://mrae123.etsy.com/

Butterfly Stitch Markers

Set of 5 Butterfly Stitch Markers
http://mrae123.etsy.com/

Dragonfly Stitch Markers

Set of 5 Dragonfly stitch Markers.

http://mrae123.etsy.com/

Pretty Green Orifice Hook, with matching stitch markers

This is a craft wire Orifice Hook, that is adorned with green beads. It is used to pull the yarn , or your leader thread through your fly wheel hole.This is a tool that you will bend to work best with your Spinning Wheel. http://mrae123.etsy.com/
I have also made 2 matching stitch markers for the Orifice hook. They are sure to keep your place on any knitting or crochet project.

Caramel- Peanut Squares

Caramel-Peanut Squares
12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening 14 ounces caramel candy 1/4 cup butter or margarine -- plus 1 tablespoon 1 cup salted peanuts -- coarsely chopped
Combine chocolate chips and shortening in top of a double boiler; bring water to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cook until chocolate melts.
Pour half of chocolate mixture into a greased 8-inch square pan, spreading to edges of pan. Return chocolate mixture to low heat. Chill mixture in pan about 15 minutes or until firm.
Combine caramels and butter in a heavy saucepan over low heat; cook, stirring occasionally, until caramels melt. Stir in peanuts. Spoon mixture evenly over chocolate layer, and spread to edges of pan.
Chill about 15 minutes or until partially cool. Pour remaining chocolate mixture evenly over caramel filling.
Chill 8 hours. Let sit at room temperature 5 minutes; cut into squares. Serve immediately.
Yield: about 36 bars

Kitchener Stitch

I use the Kitchener Stitch to graft the lives stitches together in my Folk Mitten Patterns.http://www.freewebs.com/folkmittens/ Using the Kitchener Stitch, you will be able to seam the live stitches together invisibly. You need to make sure that the two pieces you are grafting together have the same number of stitches. Then you will create a row of stitches with your sewing needle.1) Draw your yarn through the very first stitch on the front needle as if to purl, and leave it on the needle.2) Draw your yarn through the first stitch on the back needle as if to knit, and leave it on the needle.These first 2 steps are only done once.3) Pull the yarn through the first stitch on the front needle, as if to knit, and slip it off of the end of the needle.4) Pull the yarn through the next stitch on the front needle as if to purl and leave the stitch on the needle.5) Pull the yarn through the first stitch on the back needle as if to purl, and slip it off of the needle.6) Pull the yarn through the second stitch on the back needle as if to knit, and leave this stitch on the needle.Repeat rows 3 through 6 until you have all of your stitches grafted together. Then weave in your yarn ends on the inside of your mitten.Just remember Knit, Purl, Purl, Knit while grafting the stitches on your mitten, and you will have a beautifully finished mitten.

Blue Tequila

Blue Tequila is 100% Merino wool, that I dyed with gold and turquoise acid dyes. then I spun it into 122 yards of beautiful worsted weight yarn, that is 11 WPI. I got a wonderful mix of turquoise, gold, and green with this color combination.

Needle Work by Fred Rosen

Needle Work is a True crime story written by Fred Rosen. He tells of the investigation of the crime, the trial, of the 2 murders, and tries to find out the real motive is for the killings. This was a very interesting look at a true police investigation.

Pearl Beaded Orifice Hook

This is a craft wire Orifice Hook, that is adorned with white pearl beads. It is used to pull the yarn , or your leader thread through your fly wheel hole.
This is a tool that you will bend to work best with your Spinning Wheel. http://mrae123.etsy.com

The Good Guy by Dean Koontz

This book will take your breath away, make your heart race, and your keep your eyes wide open. It is fast paced, intense, and very exciting. Kind of scary some times. Their is a villain, a damsel in distress, and a hero.
Read this book if you dare.

Buttercream Swirl

This Buttercream Swirl yarn reminds me of Buttercream frosting. Just like the frosting it is thick, smooth, creamy, and it stays soft. I hand dyed this Merino wool with Aztec Gold acid dye, then spun it into, 2 ply worsted weight yarn, that is 14 WPI. It weighs 3.9 ounces. It is 142 yards.

http://tinyurl.com/bdqy78