Happy Valentine's!

vintage valentine: she knits!
Originally uploaded by jek in the box.

Just thought that I would shout out and say Happy Love day to you. I hope that you get to spend it with someone special.

I will be spending it at school. Trying to understand my teacher and being completly confused by what he is actually teaching. Ya-ay for Physical Geology and how ultra romantic it is not!


This is where cinnamon hearts fill the void....

ipod blues

My baby died. Let me explain....

Two years ago my wonderful Hubby bought me an ipod for Christmas. She performed wonderfully and played many of my most favourited songs, but alas no more. She stared to freeze, needed to be reset constantly, and would no longer sync up with iTunes.

Chris informed me that we had purchased the extended warrenty over at Best Buy. That should either fix it or replace it. Well I finally just bit the bullet and took her in. They wouldn't out right replace her. I had to send her away to see if they would fix it first. Then after 60 days if I haven't heard from them I can go in and get a replacement.

That's all fine and dandy for them but I'm lost!

I use my ipod every day! My music collection is growing but I can't bring it with me. How am I going to really experience the new Norah Jones album? Or get through those boring afternoons splicing logs with out my podcasts.

The withdrawl period isn't pleasent.

How did you do that?

If you haven't heard you can find out the answer to that question along with how to build, make, alter and generally do pretty much anything you want over at instructables.

This is where I have been spending quite a bit of time lately. I found SO many tutorials. Like this one for making a Costume Cardboard helmet. (this could be one for Chris)

OH and there is DYI Febreze! I don't use the other stuff but I'm always up for a new homemade product, also this one uses Vodka.

Have fun and make sure you have some time cuz your going to be there for a while.

A Little Bit of Spice

What a great Idea!
Tsp spices has come up with prepackaged tea spoon sized servings of all sorts of different spices and herbs. They are organic and ready to use.

I love the fact that they are individually packaged and you know that you are getting fresh spices with every usage. I don’t know how many times I have questioned whether or not my spice rack it at it’s still at its peak and these would elevate that question.

Oh and did I mention that they are totally cute?

*first spotted over at Holly's Plate and image from tsp spices

showing off

showing off
Originally uploaded by peariso.

So as promised here is a lovely pic of Calorimetry. It was a super satisfying knit. Almost instant gratification, which is something that I don't normally get from knitting.

There are some things though that I did have to change with the pattern. Instead of casting on 120 stitches I only did 100. I also didn't do as many repeats as called for. The pattern turns out to be REALLY big and since I don't have that much hair I wanted it to be more of a headband than an all incompasing head thing.

I think this just may be the pattern I use on Sunday when I teach a couple of friends to knit.

a little inspiration...

Lately I have been checking out all of the great tutorials around here. These are just a few that have sparked my interest...

Lolly party Bags over at One Hour Craft

With the cold weather these may come in handy...

Hot off my knitting needles comes Knitty's Calorimetry. It was a nice, fast knit and I will definitly be getting a lot of use out of it.

Now if you EVER need an Ultimate Tutorial list you should check out what jMi has compiled over at Craftster. So many purses so little time!

Something new

So while I was doing my last up date I realized that I could actually just email my posts to this Blogg. Well! Hot damn! I just had to try that.

Yes, I am constantly online but I don’t always remember what it was that I needed to talk about when it comes to writing my entry. Hence the copious amount of babbling, like I am doing here.

So that being said I’m off to do my actual work and leave the ramble for another day.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Bear! Nice turkey...

Happy New Year!!

After way too much food and drink and seriously lacking in sleep I find myself in a brand new year. It is kinda shiney here. Loads of plans to travel and for new job oportunities for Chris, also weddings to attend in exotic places.

I just got off the phone with our travel agent and we are set for one glorious week in Cancun Mexico. I can't wait! I have never really been any where like that before. I have traveled all over Canada and through many of the upper States but never any where that I need a passport. (which i seriously need to get)

Mostly though I am looking forward to seeing my dear friends Erik and Christine get married. They will have such a wonderful time and are perfect for each other. Christine is going to look amazing in her dress and I know that Erik will have a blast.

Happy Birthday To ME!

Ya I know your saying," but Brod your birthday was a month ago."

Well I got these lovelies from a Wonderful woman called alwaysinmyroom from over on Craftster. She picked to craft for my birthday on the last day of October and I didn't even know.

After one rotten day I got to come home to this soft felted purse that is totally superstar lined and did you see that cute tissue holder? It is made out of Kimono fabric.

Yay for pretties!

Artist Trading Card

I just resently entered my very first ATC (Artist Trading Card) Swap over on Craftster . I had never really done anything like this as I'm not much of a paper crafter but I was told that they can be rather addicitve.

Um... that is a way of putting it.

I love these little guys. For those of us who are into the instant gratification of certain project and I think this fills a crafting void.

The little beauty here is the one that I recieved today from Psyche. I find it to be very insistant and I kinda makes me want to break out my scissors.

Christmas socks!

This baggy shapeless knitting is my very FIRST sock! I have to say that I am rather proud of it. I did have to seek professional help on the heel. (who hasn't on their first?) But I did dye the wool myself and it only took me 3 days to complete.

Now if you are reading this and you are a member of my family then you can stop reading right now...

You heard me Git!





K so this was actually supposed to be part of my brother Carley's Christmas present. But I have fallen in love with its loose, soft comfort. I happen to adore the stripy goodness of it and think that you should keep your first.

Don't get me wrong I still intend on making another pair for him and the many other people in my family but this one has a special place in my heart.

Oh! I just got a really good idea... I'll expand more on it in the future....

Crackster

Craftster has been going through some growing pains at the moment and it should be bigger and better. I'm excited about it but these down times are a little upsetting.

I need my fix! Crakster as it is commonly known on the boards is probably the most addictive site I have ever been to. Everyone is so inspiring and positive! I get a million ideas everytime I log on, which is every 2 mins. It is also really fun to show your own stuff and have people compliment you or give you ideas on how to improve on it. Also watching good ideas get better as the thread grows. Oh and then there are the swaps!

Swaps are when you get a theme and a partner that you craft for. Usually it is one large item and a couple of small ones. The fun is that there is a purpose for you to craft. So often you want to make something but really what do you need it for or who are you going to give it to? Unless you are in the market of doing the craft show circuit there really isn't a need to craft, but when some one acutally asks you for a dress or a hook roll why wouldn't you make it? Also on the other end of it there are packages from different places coming to you chock a block full of goodies all hand made just for you!

So when this wonderful site isn't up an running the withdrawl symptoms start to kick in and you become way more productive!

Excitment

Excitment
Originally uploaded by peariso.

I have to say that this is one of my favourite pictures right now. I took it for The Emotional Photo Swap over at Craftster.

On the last day of the Calgary Stampede Hubby and I decided that we should actually go. I needed to find some emotions and what better place than one that has thousands of people all crammed in to one spot?

We definitly had fun and no matter how much we protest I can guaranty that we will go again. I still need to get me a Sweepa!

This is the fridge that I totally want! I found it over at design*sponge .

These are part of Elctrolux's "war on white". They are cool and contemporary and I could see this one really working in my kitchen or on the next episode of Pimp my Ride

Happy Birthday!!

Henry camping
Originally uploaded by peariso.

Our little man Henry has turned one year old today. We got a hold of his breeder and sent them pictures. It was nice to hear that his Mom is doing well and that they are going to try to have another litter this fall.

Henry is going to be having a birthday party this weekend with all of his friends. We are going to be having Pup Cakes and liver treats.
I can't wait!

What a spoiled Pup!

Doll maker

So i found this site that is now totally addictive.

Check out the pixel Brodie!

Camping for the long weekend

We hadn't been proper camping in years so when Chris said, " Let's go camping on the long weekend." I jumped at the chance. It was exactly what I wanted to be doing on my 4 day weekend. (I took a half day on Friday)

We got out to Peter Lauheed Provincial Park, after getting lost, and lucked out and got the last camp site in the park. Not the prettiest one but at least we didn't have to go home.

Yeah! Camping!

We got everything set up and went exploring while we waited until our friends could come out and meet up with us. Chris and I had never been out that way and we were surprized at how nice it was.

There are lots of campsites as long as you get there early and most are pretty and sucluded. The two large lakes are very accessable, with many different trails that you can explore. We noticed that there were a lot of biking trails that we will have to explore on our next trip.

We had a blast spending time in the sun with our good friends, cooking on the open fire, hanging out in the hamock, and drinking a many a beers. It was a perfect way to celebrate our wonderful country. We will certainly have to do it again.

red, yellow and orange

red, yellow and orange
Originally uploaded by peariso.

I can be a quick crocheter (is that even a word) but this baby blanket took me FOREVER. It is only 16 squares but it was my first attempt to do squares of any kind. I wasn't working off of a pattern but I never do.

I kinda like the organic look of this colour pattern. No two squares are alike but they are all very similar. It was all done in a double crochet with rounded edges on all the rectangles.

The yarn was Bernat satins and is incredibly warm. So it will be perfect for those cold winter days in Calgary. It is also a very soft yarn without having to be nessarily a baby yarn. I liked the fact that it could actually be washed and dried.

But thank Gawd that it is done!

I'm still here

Whoa! I just realized that I hadn't posted for a while. Sorry.

I have a couple of projects that when they are finished I'll give you the low down.

Promise.