tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22918977283695894042024-02-20T11:38:25.519-06:00the knotty kraftersJust a little bit knotty.Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14143570874237661571noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291897728369589404.post-30188651600463084782012-02-29T08:00:00.001-06:002012-02-29T08:00:15.719-06:00Update. Upscale. Upcycle.I love taking old things that aren't pretty and doing a little work on them and making them pretty. It is even better if I can find something for really cheap and with a little sweat equity, turn it into a cute addition to my home! Here is one of my favorite projects that would be super easy to repeat in your own house. <br />
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I found this very cheap (read $10) headboard at a 2nd hand store.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2mar_6dMsMcSCTeUaijG6aDXlcsQj1s3SAOJEljuiuxIJzm2WzEWvx970ystngdLdZI4URX1E-4iu4YB4KyT0YzAJ1QtvWVZfqpn0-7MJNR76x1MeU6oPe2r0HeYdBhVaMK5RM09fUw/s1600/P7010006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2mar_6dMsMcSCTeUaijG6aDXlcsQj1s3SAOJEljuiuxIJzm2WzEWvx970ystngdLdZI4URX1E-4iu4YB4KyT0YzAJ1QtvWVZfqpn0-7MJNR76x1MeU6oPe2r0HeYdBhVaMK5RM09fUw/s320/P7010006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
But, I could see it's hidden potential, hiding under a hideous 70's shell! I sanded the head board, then primed it with some <i>Kilz</i>. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzqLC_IvouEwua5Sys1lDoU548K4YQ56-R9xvddhzwYCAXKahEZxdPq0r5eodiUHU_T2EVd97_GAerQml4-htcmXtfxq0kZZYxI7T2ZFsWAImt9MMPBbG3pgSdXPVCWtUYfr5CUmoUC40/s1600/P7010007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzqLC_IvouEwua5Sys1lDoU548K4YQ56-R9xvddhzwYCAXKahEZxdPq0r5eodiUHU_T2EVd97_GAerQml4-htcmXtfxq0kZZYxI7T2ZFsWAImt9MMPBbG3pgSdXPVCWtUYfr5CUmoUC40/s320/P7010007.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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Next, I spray painted it in white with a smooth satin finish.<br />
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Lastly, I hung it on the wall with some L brackets.<br />
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After I made the bed, it looked fabulous!<br />
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Cheers! JaimeJaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14143570874237661571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291897728369589404.post-30746664304421218202012-02-28T08:00:00.000-06:002012-02-28T08:00:15.081-06:00Rotini RhapsodyOut of Magical Meatballs in your freezer? Need a quick dinner for screaming children? Try our new Rotini Rhapsody! <br />
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Ingredients:<br />
1/2 Box of Barilla Plus Rotini <br />
1lb 93/7 Ground Beef<br />
1/2 cup Diced Yellow Onion<br />
1 cup Small Curd Cottage Cheese**<br />
2 cup Mozzerella<br />
2 tablespoon Parmasean<br />
4 cup Red Sauce<br />
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Directions:<br />
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Preheat oven to 400 degrees.<br />
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Cook pasta to al dente and drain.<br />
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Add onion and ground beef to a saute pan and cook over medium heat until browned.<br />
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Reserve 1/2 cup mozzerella cheese and 1/2 red sauce. Combine remaining ingredients with pasta and beef in a large bowl.<br />
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Spray a 9" x 13" pan with nonstick spray. Place mixture in pan. Add reserved sauce and cheese.<br />
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Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Remove cover and cook for an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is bubbling. <br />
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**If you don't care for the consistency of cottage cheese, either substitute ricotta or blend 1 cup of cottage cheese in a food processor. <br />
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Cheers! JaimeJaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14143570874237661571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291897728369589404.post-22010468509949686182012-02-27T08:00:00.000-06:002012-02-27T08:00:11.585-06:00it's not easy being greenIn an effort be more environmentally friendly, I began to take stock of my life to see how I can take better care of our planet. Recycling: check! Carpooling: check! (I make Jennifer drive me around as much as possible) Reducing Water Consumption: check! (no sprinkler system for my grass, I only use the water God decides to give me). <br />
<br />
So, I generally think of myself as pretty environmentally friendly. I donate used clothes to charity, I recycle pop cans, and I dispose of chemicals the right way. But, as I was watching television one night with my crochet hooks and yarn close by, I had an epiphany-- reusable cotton balls! I use the cotton pad variety to take off make-up, put on toner, and take the nail polish off my nails. So, I took some white yarn that I had lying around and tried a few different patterns. Here is what I came up with: [for those of you dear readers who don't know how to crochet or don't want to, we will soon have them available at our Etsy Shop]<br />
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<b><u>Reusable Cotton Face Pads</u></b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzB5K82RNLOwRGcLEGlGtinL3eL7c583rsIv4uo94NaHDXlktoPowJHs0IQ9D9Ea3uyYIUJviN7KKK0_ThQULsiidfxPPflxnNL6gLezPq9o_gek2cAyxWPD9Iws8AU_H8LbwJKjxo_3g/s1600/IMG_5317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzB5K82RNLOwRGcLEGlGtinL3eL7c583rsIv4uo94NaHDXlktoPowJHs0IQ9D9Ea3uyYIUJviN7KKK0_ThQULsiidfxPPflxnNL6gLezPq9o_gek2cAyxWPD9Iws8AU_H8LbwJKjxo_3g/s320/IMG_5317.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<b>Materials:</b><br />
100% Cotton Worsted Weight Yarn (I used Lily's Sugar and Cream in White)<br />
Size J Hook<br />
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<b>Abbreviations</b><br />
Ch: Chain<br />
DC: Double Crochet<br />
St: Stitch<br />
Sl st: Slip Stitch<br />
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<b>Instructions:</b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Row 1: Ch 4, join with sl st to form ring.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Row 2: Ch 3, 11 dc in circle, join with sl st to top of ch 3. 12 dc.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Row 3: Ch 3, 2 dc in next st and each st around, dc in </span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">joining</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> st, join with sl st to top of ch 3. 24 dc.</span></span></span> <br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Weave in ends.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I use these for all my make-up needs. After I am done, I can throw them in the washing machine with some bleach and they are good as new. The only task I don't use them for is taking off nail polish. If you would like to use them for nail polish removal, I would suggest using a very dark color yarn when you make them. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cheers! Jaime </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14143570874237661571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291897728369589404.post-11284719097926122582012-02-26T19:25:00.000-06:002012-02-26T19:25:16.255-06:00..... aaannnnddd we're back!Dear Readers,<br />
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We have all been super busy for the past week, darn those "real" jobs. But, we are back in full swing this week! Check back in the morning for a new crochet pattern!<br />
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Cheers! JaimeJaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14143570874237661571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291897728369589404.post-10331250276753000292012-02-20T08:00:00.000-06:002012-02-20T08:00:09.857-06:00Secret Weapons [Shhhhh, don't tell NASA]Dearest Reader,<br />
<br />
I am about to share with you a tip I once got from a dermatologist that revolutionized my life. I don't throw the word "revolutionized" willy-nilly either. This advice has saved me HUNDREDS of dollars in my quest for a clean face. <br />
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About 6 years ago [right around the time I was studying for the bar exam], my dermatologist gave me the following recipe for washing my face:<br />
<a href="http://www.biglots.com/images/small/120071834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.biglots.com/images/small/120071834.jpg" /></a><br />
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1. Wet your face.<br />
2. Put 2 pumps of original clear Softsoap in your hands and lather.<br />
3. Use the Softsoap to clean your face.<br />
4. Continue to use your hands to scrub while you sing "Happy Birthday" to yourself twice.<br />
5. Rinse.<br />
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<br />
[the music swells and angels sing]<br />
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I have to say that my dermatologist was GENIUS! The Softsoap is super cheap and very mild on my skin. Making sure to use it for the entire song of Happy Birthday TWICE really makes sure that my skin is clean. So, no more expensive face washes for this girl! It is very important that you use the colorless, clear version. You can even get the generic version (that's what I use to save even more money).<br />
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Happy face washing!<br />
<br />
Cheers! JaimeJaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14143570874237661571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291897728369589404.post-88433413070595244422012-02-17T08:00:00.005-06:002012-02-17T09:39:32.270-06:00Magical Meatballs<div>I have been known by many in my life as a great baker. I'm good at cakes, sweet breads, cookies, some pies, casseroles - you get my drift. It has recently been pointed out to me that while I am a good baker...I'm not a very good cook. So I have started a personal mission to claim my kitchen much like Columbus claimed the new world in the name of Spain! Of course hoping no one dies in the process. ;-)</div><div></div><div> I decided that logically I should start with "easy" recipes. I was pleasantly surprised to find that there are several cooking websites that will rank the recipes and let you pick from the appropriate level.</div><div>Of course if you know me at all you know I can never be TOO logical so of course I had to MacGyver my own first recipe. Well, I actually took one of the recipes I thought was good and make it better!</div><div> </div><div>I have been making meatballs and pasta for a long time. I recently had them as an appetizer at a restaurant close to home and confirmed THAT is what they should actually taste like. So...my journey began. I could easily share with you all the "failed" attempts, but who really wants to re-live a failure? Instead here is my Magical Meatball recipe. Enjoy!!<br />
<u><b><br />
</b></u><br />
<u><b>Magic Meatballs:</b></u></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_WUJ3NHrPEwyi7HU8D8HJXDerkcmry4gZo1gNCH_q3Nhm_ArbxztvZr6Ga2bDc8uvURwAkbDMOVQRzkqI4ENKAaTFgnk0JAp7ZRgCeNIx0tEQFo6tOqBCZ-ncYSBod_bNu0wAtolGKd8/s1600/IMG_9497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_WUJ3NHrPEwyi7HU8D8HJXDerkcmry4gZo1gNCH_q3Nhm_ArbxztvZr6Ga2bDc8uvURwAkbDMOVQRzkqI4ENKAaTFgnk0JAp7ZRgCeNIx0tEQFo6tOqBCZ-ncYSBod_bNu0wAtolGKd8/s320/IMG_9497.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<b><u><br />
</u></b></div><div></div><div>Ingredients</div><div>2lbs lean ground beef</div><div>1lb Italian sausage</div><div>1 cup crumbled cracker crumbs (buttery crackers are best!)</div><div>2 large eggs</div><div>3 table spoons of Italian pasta sauce (I like the thick part at the top of the jar when you first open it)</div><div>1 tabl minced onions</div><div>1 tabl Italian seasoning (in all honesty I just put in several shakes of basil and oregano if I dont have Italian seasoning)</div><div>1/2 teas pepper</div><div>1/2 teas salt</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br />
<br />
<br />
Instructions: </div><ol><li>Put it all in a bowl and mix the heck out of it! Seriously I mix for a full1-2 min (which is a long time if actually counting) </li>
<li>Roll into balls. I usually make mine between the size of a golf ball and a gumball. Put them in a greased pan (class or metal) to bake. They can be close enough to touch but not squished together. </li>
<li>Bake at 400-425 for approximately 8 mins. Once they start to firm up, roll them over for even cooking and bake for another approx 8 mins. </li>
<li>You want them cooked through before putting them in the sauce - at least I do because by that time I'm starving and ready to eat! </li>
<li>Once cooked add to your sauce and have a magical moment!</li>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0i76SzeWs8gMwc0gEBixDmX06CMoNDrPFLPZ7qttB2DrlskmYSopxo8KdRnC3P56Cfoya2Ev0VCNFzk8dOJkunM4AgD3L2XRrlgtZbxlkqBd5kPdVxde9n65pMxf5uZbrtvITUfo0QY/s1600/IMG_5922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0i76SzeWs8gMwc0gEBixDmX06CMoNDrPFLPZ7qttB2DrlskmYSopxo8KdRnC3P56Cfoya2Ev0VCNFzk8dOJkunM4AgD3L2XRrlgtZbxlkqBd5kPdVxde9n65pMxf5uZbrtvITUfo0QY/s320/IMG_5922.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<div>I like to only put half of the balls in my sauce and then freeze the rest. They are so quick and easy to get out for a quick snack OR a tasty meatball sub!<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">go dtí go gcasfar le chéile sinn arís</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Elaine</span></div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div>Lainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12789896585309293559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291897728369589404.post-63875842768476762852012-02-16T08:00:00.000-06:002012-02-16T08:00:06.095-06:00RISK, anyone?<div>I've always wanted to have a risk tournament. What is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risk_%28game%29" target="_blank">Risk</a>, you ask? I honestly have no idea. I've just heard of full out wrestling matches incited by some land takeover in a friendly game of risk. I think this is the perfect way to offset the love and ridiculous holidays February has to offer. </div><br />
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<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdSrh21SdjIXxthZW5upXPzJKDYoc4H9AF-nCJJ7zI7CbdoMawUsK7e6WUIHQlZLd9TWio3NTglOpF0R933h8Wa37PEpjyDlVlxJQkkCvwwT6swhg6_r2MxuFHYiaQsk1gzuBf1PSAzAc/s1600/Punx.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708289604820519762" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdSrh21SdjIXxthZW5upXPzJKDYoc4H9AF-nCJJ7zI7CbdoMawUsK7e6WUIHQlZLd9TWio3NTglOpF0R933h8Wa37PEpjyDlVlxJQkkCvwwT6swhg6_r2MxuFHYiaQsk1gzuBf1PSAzAc/s320/Punx.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: right; height: 214px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a></div><br />
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<div>To give a bit of background, I have always been mildly obsessed with minor holidays. It was my dream and obsession for the greater part of my youth to travel to Punxatawney, PA to see the prognosticator or prognosticators predict the end of winter. It may be no surprise that my awesome husband made that dream come true. As proof: </div><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGTjVjpV2-6HSOBojIPHU_CTla-lbJhC8_1Y0qhokNb0oNpW_xbpq8iJ5RxMbs2qL_kHkB3gtoeBGyKg_zZTrVZz6NHU_K40p0c2SWyPrX9kTsTjfahUkSW9PHxLijvbTFm3MRK2b7dis/s1600/VDAY.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708290227768976178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGTjVjpV2-6HSOBojIPHU_CTla-lbJhC8_1Y0qhokNb0oNpW_xbpq8iJ5RxMbs2qL_kHkB3gtoeBGyKg_zZTrVZz6NHU_K40p0c2SWyPrX9kTsTjfahUkSW9PHxLijvbTFm3MRK2b7dis/s320/VDAY.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 239px;" /></a></div><br />
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<div>You may also not be surprised to learn that every valentine's day I pass out valentines to everyone in my office. Last year was awesome robot valentines I bought off etsy. This year, in the spirit of Kansas' 151st birthday, I went with the Wizard of Oz.</div><br />
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I also bake cookies for Kansas day (January 29th for those following), and I even have a cookie cutter in the shape of our great state, conservatives and all. <br />
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I have a fantastic Ides of March party/dinner every--you guessed it--Ides of March (March 15), and I serve up a fantastic meal of corned beef and cabbage for whoever will have it in the spirit of celebrating st. patty's early. <br />
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My roommate and I used to have an annual Bikini Martini party, and at one point had the best Cocktail Party ever--tails, tales and you know what were entirely welcome. I believe this will mark the second year of our Fool Proof April Fool's Day Party. However, to date, I have not found a way to celebrate leap year. I'm a big fan of numbers and timing and it occurs to me that February 29th, in all of its limited glory, should be celebrated. <br />
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So here is my suggestion: Risk is an apparently appalling, terrorizing, and awful game to play. It can take all night. Weeks. And I hear it is entirely responsible for breaking up the former soviet union, and god knows how many marriages. For that reason, as well as others that I will share with you all sometime, my husband will not be playing with me. HOWEVER! I propose a full on, leap-tastic risk tournament to take place on leap day. If it only happens once every 4 years, what's the fear that we'll even remember the hatred we brewed for the occasion? We'll leap over it every year, and then duel it out every leap year. Perhaps all wars should be fought this way. <br />
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<div>So there you have it. Please view this as an official invitation to my risk tournament. Once I find out what it is. </div><br />
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<div>Exit, pursued by a bear, Christy.</div>Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15638489656568551564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291897728369589404.post-73221378134867673532012-02-15T08:00:00.005-06:002012-02-15T08:00:16.188-06:00calling David LettermanI started knitting about a year ago. Christy and I bought a Groupon to an awesome shop here in Wichita called <a href="http://www.twistyarnshop.com/" target="_blank">Twist</a>. Along with a couple other friends we we took our first knitting class and were purling like crazy! [A special thank you goes out to our instructor, Lindsey, who put up with our constant interruptions, very loud conversation, and Christy's intermittent (or not really so intermmittent) swearing-- WE LOVE YOU LINDSEY!!!]<br />
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Christy and I then dragged Jennifer into our expanding web of yarn and we took then next knitting class from Lindsey. (Elaine has been knitting all her life and has no need for pedestrian classes like the rest of us). The past year has brought 3 dead fish hats, 10 ruffled scarves, 4 placemats, 1 baby Harry Potter Hat, 3 Griffyndor scarves, one dog scarf, a stuffed rabbit, 3 Christmas Stockings, 4 Gap-Tastic Cowls and countless scrubbies, but we finally feel like we know what we are doing with our needles and yarn.<br />
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We like knitting so much, we want the whole world to knit with us. So, if you haven't learned yet, take a class at a local business. And to help you out at your new venture, we have put together a little list to help you get started in your own knitting revolution! So, without further ado, here is my Top 10 list.<br />
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<b><u>Top 10 Websites for New Knitters</u></b><br />
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1. Learn how to knit with <a href="http://www.knittinghelp.com/">KNITTING HELP</a> for free!<br />
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2. <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/">Ravelry</a> is like facebook for knitters and crocheters. Find friends and free patterns.<br />
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3. <a href="http://www.knitty.com/">Knitty</a><br />
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4. High Quality, Low Cost Yarn at <a href="http://www.knitpicks.com/">Knit Picks</a>.<br />
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5. <a href="http://www.planetpurl.com/">Planet Purl</a>: After you learn how to knit, you will want to visit yarn shops all over the world. This site helps you do just that!<br />
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6. <a href="http://www.purlbee.com/">Purl Bee</a> is great for a daily dose of creativity.<br />
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7. <a href="http://www.knitpurlgurl.com/">Knit Purl Gurl</a><br />
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8. <a href="http://www.knittingfool.com/">Knitting Fool</a> has over 2300 stitch patterns and counting.<br />
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9. <a href="http://www.knittinglemonade.blogspot.com/">Knitting Lemonade</a><br />
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10. <a href="http://www.theknottykrafters.com/">the knotty krafters</a> :) Check back for new patterns!<br />
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Cheers! JaimeJaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14143570874237661571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291897728369589404.post-29521041388614905782012-02-14T10:00:00.000-06:002012-02-14T10:00:08.710-06:00I double dog dare ya!<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">In the old west [and especially on the playground] these were fightin' words.....crafters also have fighting words. They usually come in the form of "Too bad you don't know how to make_______" Or "I wish you could make ________"</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">As you may remember from my prior post my sewing machine gave me a HUGE feeling of a major power trip. I was Wonder Woman and MacGyver all in one (throw in my iPhone and I could dang near rule the world!) - I was basically just waiting to be dared to make something!</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">And of course it happened......"Too bad you can't make Christmas Stockings...." :-O Excuse me?!? OF COURSE I can make a silly little Christmas stocking!!! Geesh! I thought you were going to ask me to make something hard! In fact I'm going to the craft store right now for supplies!<br />
</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">So this started my Christmas Stocking adventure.... I literally went to the craft store the same day....bought material, went home and washed it, ironed it (of course my favorite part!) and then stood looking at it...for a long time.....Just how the heck does one MAKE a Christmas Stocking?????</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">So back to the craft store I went. I purchased a cheap stocking, brought home, and ripped out every seam to use as a guide (or what actual "sewers" would call a "pattern"!)</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Then I went to work! Even with a "pattern" it took SEVERAL times to get the shape enlarged correctly...but thankfully I live close to the craft store so if I had to go buy more material so be it! I was dared after all remember?!!?!?!</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The first one was for the dog (please do not let this make you think I don't love and care for the dogs in my life! Because I DO!)....it wasn't bad....but I knew it could be better! So I did what every knotty krafter would do....I'm tweaked it and improved it!!!! By the time I had the 3rd one done I would have been willing to let anyone watch my happy dance! I HAD DONE IT!!!!! You can take that dare and drown it in a cocktail! I RULE!</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">And then I remembered I needed to put a cuff and a loop to hang it by on...... BUT I put on my big girl pants and my pearls and went back to the craft store! I got some $.99 white fat quarters and came back home and went to work!</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">All in all they turned out GREAT - especially for my first time! I might even get brave enough to make a new batch next year.... ;-D</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYaLUEkaKkAOo24p0s25DzXlnqw5drAg1kgW90zTPfw1DY1bAnaXhsE26ejcO6CXFPjmev5p_iz2fXRlJHDGZ8AxF0NJH1vP5qMDhmzorqMuDpsyBInkiArlaGvA9Ss1bA8jragBSq7E/s1600/IMG_4393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYaLUEkaKkAOo24p0s25DzXlnqw5drAg1kgW90zTPfw1DY1bAnaXhsE26ejcO6CXFPjmev5p_iz2fXRlJHDGZ8AxF0NJH1vP5qMDhmzorqMuDpsyBInkiArlaGvA9Ss1bA8jragBSq7E/s320/IMG_4393.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
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</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Materials</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><div>Christmas Fabric </div><div>Coordinating Fat Quarter for the Cuff (I used white so you could see the names)</div><div>Pattern (There is a great one <a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=1nG7bWKA7uCjQnindwpjjLs9iE3GL7ViAECk-mdPl80-X1SIXA1H6W6ahKJaR&hl=en&pli=1" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">here</a> from Prudent Baby-- we LOVE <a href="http://prudentbaby.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Prudent Baby</a>)</div><div>Pins</div><div>Thread</div><div>Sewing Machine</div><div>Red (or coordinating color) Glitter Paint</div><div>Sequence in the same color as your paint </div></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Instructions</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9O0axFnrG-Wxslvl-kqf6ThHy5_-0M_eYC7dF6y_lsyqiWWsfc8rbmQg9Jcd3Xe8v9PZ2c7ZXxMF07AYK2yd3yD9FPn4wmPK6HgvX7th8nrrqRO5X1rEOeHE_lqPPvt1RXOw62nwdGxs/s1600/IMG_7504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9O0axFnrG-Wxslvl-kqf6ThHy5_-0M_eYC7dF6y_lsyqiWWsfc8rbmQg9Jcd3Xe8v9PZ2c7ZXxMF07AYK2yd3yD9FPn4wmPK6HgvX7th8nrrqRO5X1rEOeHE_lqPPvt1RXOw62nwdGxs/s320/IMG_7504.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div><div>1. Wash and Iron material</div><div><br />
</div><div>2. Lay the "pattern" piece on the backside of the material and use a nifty frixion** pen to draw the outline one the material approx. 2 inches bigger than the pattern (because I just got a small cheap sock to tear apart LOL!)</div><div><br />
</div><div>3. then I cut it out and flipped it over to the other side of the material and traced it and cut that out</div></div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPC3LTUjfbQtWrxZE-ZO4xdQ3EdqzPJGWtIv_FI8G84d7EXM9qD3UEz1IsqgMfGQ3IsDCBwzUdbR6cwM1fQARGEuPgOucUnVeKHiekkm83ICgtyyUJG2VbfZP6q-9-KB2k3gkT9-lvEiA/s1600/IMG_5336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPC3LTUjfbQtWrxZE-ZO4xdQ3EdqzPJGWtIv_FI8G84d7EXM9qD3UEz1IsqgMfGQ3IsDCBwzUdbR6cwM1fQARGEuPgOucUnVeKHiekkm83ICgtyyUJG2VbfZP6q-9-KB2k3gkT9-lvEiA/s320/IMG_5336.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div>4. Pin both pieces together inside out and sew 1/4 in seams along the bottom and both sides leaving the top open</div><div><br />
</div><div>5. For the cuff, cut the fat quarter into pieces long enough to go around the top of the sock and then wide enough to be doubled</div><div><br />
</div><div>6. Put the cuff inside the sock pinned it to sew 1/4 in seam and then roll the cuff out.</div><div><br />
</div><div>7. Take red glitter paint and write the first letter big and outlined with large red sequins (using the paint like glue) and then finish the names with smaller letters.</div><div><br />
</div><div>8. Viola! Your stocking is complete!</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6LsDdjEAR59u3QjryhoaEVZ5XG57bDCcv9U-2Sd2IXUygNHgFR11YFzCNwyL1jpx1PSzsClnLqOOhLRtDltudNZPEIxRcRBEiTFb6sM4TsqjfzPWhWpefP5cv-D-bmkxLCFtXyssq18s/s1600/IMG_7457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6LsDdjEAR59u3QjryhoaEVZ5XG57bDCcv9U-2Sd2IXUygNHgFR11YFzCNwyL1jpx1PSzsClnLqOOhLRtDltudNZPEIxRcRBEiTFb6sM4TsqjfzPWhWpefP5cv-D-bmkxLCFtXyssq18s/s400/IMG_7457.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br />
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</div><div>**Frixion Pens by Pilot are the BEST new invention for quilters and crafters. They completely erase with heat. There is an eraser on the end of the pen which causes friction and erases the mark. You can also use an iron to erase the markings from your fabric, as I learned the hard way! I buy mine at Target, but you can also get them <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pilot-FriXion-Erasable-2-Pack-31553/dp/B002B55YD0/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1329233621&sr=8-4">here</a>.</div></div>Lainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12789896585309293559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291897728369589404.post-4338802018550337742012-02-13T10:00:00.000-06:002012-02-13T10:00:13.494-06:00STAR WARS. PERIOD.<div><div><div><div><br />
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<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSclyeQHvW3ZZ0HaVJxb3sXCFHcfi4yjQtPcnMySIpxcuESmw9odmEpecqm1nCAJ6QyDJvsWaBfxLQbIlfmTQZZ4qoFsgjEl53V-4LrVjBCqtP2ToF-jZpx1htWlTcUB9bpKAr4N8mPE/s1600/star+wars+pose.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708282571718036146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSclyeQHvW3ZZ0HaVJxb3sXCFHcfi4yjQtPcnMySIpxcuESmw9odmEpecqm1nCAJ6QyDJvsWaBfxLQbIlfmTQZZ4qoFsgjEl53V-4LrVjBCqtP2ToF-jZpx1htWlTcUB9bpKAr4N8mPE/s320/star+wars+pose.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 239px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 320px;" /></a> As I'm sure you have read from my fellow-bloggers, my husband and I left work Thursday and drove-dogs and all!-to Kansas City to see Episode I in 3D at midnight. For those non-dorks, Episode I is NOT the one with Princess Leia. Chewbacca, Han, Luke, Darth Vader--none are in this movie. I'm not quite sure WHY Mr. Lucas opted for THIS movie to introduce 3D to the force, but I'm sure he has a plan. The man always has a plan. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBmkyQkAOv4dxXACJxl3fFYypClwrucQCx_-2JD7PpgLP6kF2mEoAQFuDqi0bHIb0_6r_7mET9JLQzbO1lcIqKrHktGyVBcdg3zwniO2muAA4rN7WYL5aHMTPqG8L1ODeBI5JULb0Plk/s1600/mit+lichtensaber.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708284374053439762" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBmkyQkAOv4dxXACJxl3fFYypClwrucQCx_-2JD7PpgLP6kF2mEoAQFuDqi0bHIb0_6r_7mET9JLQzbO1lcIqKrHktGyVBcdg3zwniO2muAA4rN7WYL5aHMTPqG8L1ODeBI5JULb0Plk/s320/mit+lichtensaber.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: right; height: 239px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
For fellow Wichitans, I will explain that my husband and I have been stalking the Warren theater for several weeks now, trying to buy our midnight tickets. I personally stopped at least twice at the theater to try and purchase tickets, or coerce the high school student behind the desk into letting me know when they would be on sale. To our utter surprise and disappointment, as of the day before the midnight showing, no theaters in town were showing the movie at midnight. Therefore, as true followers, who obviously need a bit of ridiculousness in their lives, we traveled 3 hours to Kansas City to see the movie. I'll spare you my husband's mild explosion over the theater not giving out the Darth Maul 3D glasses at the midnight showing, since I'm sure that matter has been covered in countless OTHER blogs. Needless to say, we only had to stop the car once because of the meltdown.<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708286053317775282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD68UL33tsAKp9V7ipNwgiFefeuAyfgy3htoB1C31jIVi9eG438_T271B-ufg7kbZ-lK8VtUIgaERWCxeJGc5CdALkth3zeIAjW1dfVmg2ez3D_Q_WxxBBrQ_x0SniLIMtVjotNxy2qus/s320/dum+dum+dadadum.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 239px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></div><br />
<div>I will confess, that before meeting my husband, and even a year into our relationship, I'm not quite sure I fully understood his love of Star Wars. I had seen star wars when it returned to theaters in high school. My husband informed me this weekend that he had been loving Star Wars longer than I have been alive. As we're currently in the middle of a "How I Met Your Mother" marathon, I don't think you can fully understand how important Star Wars is to some of these people until you attend a Star Wars convention--to my friends, known as one part of dork fest (Harry Potter World completes the festival), or until you watch the movie when you're at home sick. I confess that I have attended such a convention. If funds allow, I totally intend on returning in costume. I also confess that this week, while at home with an awful ear infection, I did in fact watch the original trilogy. And driving all the way to KC for the re-release of a movie in 3D was totally worth the sleep deprivation that I exhibited the next day at court.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ7un167uJCB5oqi0FD4OpyWd5Ops1LNqRqnn80Spwuz_fRZg_taVHIB2oaiV897R6lQ68JqOZMfkO6q5vvjEAkEkF2MJW7SgKZIEGFsEgAcu46F7Iv8Ali6d8U0a3dYPeFQ2hDihfils/s1600/US%2521.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708287561801440610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ7un167uJCB5oqi0FD4OpyWd5Ops1LNqRqnn80Spwuz_fRZg_taVHIB2oaiV897R6lQ68JqOZMfkO6q5vvjEAkEkF2MJW7SgKZIEGFsEgAcu46F7Iv8Ali6d8U0a3dYPeFQ2hDihfils/s320/US%2521.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: right; height: 240px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a></div>I could spend an hour dissecting why the original trilogy is better than the prequels, or why Luke and Leia are not incestuous, or how it is that I have a three-panel painting in my living room depicting wookies in trees on their home planet of Kashyyk, but you'll never understand. And I think I'm alright with that.<br />
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<div>My husband is right--every once in a while, you need a bit of ridiculousness. I wouldn't have it any other way. Don't tell him, but I think I'm starting to enjoy this stuff :]</div><br />
Exit, pursued by a bear, Christy<br />
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<div></div></div></div></div></div>Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15638489656568551564noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291897728369589404.post-79911186396808280602012-02-10T12:01:00.000-06:002012-02-13T09:55:48.759-06:00Star Wars... Knotty StyleDearest Readers:<br />
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I will confess, now that we are talking about knotty little secrets, that you will not find me being responsible for several things on this blog amongst which are: tutorials, quilting, cooking, sewing, canning, crotcheting (although Jaime is trying to teach me), and/or technology (I'm still trying to figure out my Iphone). But this post will show off a couple of things that I can do and that I can do well. I can knit (just can't show you how I did it because it just happens) and I can draw. <br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Yes, folks, it may come as a big shock to you that my day job does not involve illustration but, I tell you truthfully, it does not. Nope. Nada. But, here, on our humble little blog, I can really let my artistic talents shine. So, join with me now as I take you on a little adventure called Star Wars... Knotty Style. </div><br />
Would you believe that, until about a month ago, I had not watched the Star Wars movies?! Yes, I know - according to some of my friends, it is an outrage since it is my generation's version of Harry Potter or Twilight or so they say. So, in honor of my friends Steve and Scott (fellow Knotty Krafter Christy's husband), I determined that I needed to watch ALL of the movies... in about the span of one week. I do think that my friends were a little worried when I asked "When does Spock show up?" I was completely joking ... um... ya.. I was COMPLETELY joking. <br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Because Mr. Lucas is rereleasing Star Wars: Episode 1 in 3-D (read: making an assload of money), I decided to dedicate this blog posting to my version of the main characters in Star Wars via my detailed illustrations... Don't be jealous of my drawings - we all have our talents, you must simply find yours and not covet my natural, God given talent. Without further ado, Star Wars... Knotty Style.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVT41MSFEkySG5NQh74lSzEAKB2wdMcxjV2hSvaDuEGa3PbEF3GgVvwhSn1CaHDj5ixy7Od82jv0uebd7oiNKYEQw86iy6e-YB6vSIpF7V9Qk3FvaGO5XOwyL1XVUfialF5wDcOvtlDU4/s1600/2012-02-10" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVT41MSFEkySG5NQh74lSzEAKB2wdMcxjV2hSvaDuEGa3PbEF3GgVvwhSn1CaHDj5ixy7Od82jv0uebd7oiNKYEQw86iy6e-YB6vSIpF7V9Qk3FvaGO5XOwyL1XVUfialF5wDcOvtlDU4/s1600/2012-02-10" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">C-3PO: "I am a pain in the butt who gets into trouble and constantly needs saving."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIfZfdgKYGsXMRC4I05Nf0hEPQab24tTVSSEG0IHCfCuZdGYGPLZHozN_uIeNvYY3Q7VKIEz50QphS-Nt0f7gpfCiE0Zc50Jhn6f6cwJIhIwCPRLCIJa79lAPWO_Uo3cPBfgsS56UbEck/s1600/2012-02-10" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIfZfdgKYGsXMRC4I05Nf0hEPQab24tTVSSEG0IHCfCuZdGYGPLZHozN_uIeNvYY3Q7VKIEz50QphS-Nt0f7gpfCiE0Zc50Jhn6f6cwJIhIwCPRLCIJa79lAPWO_Uo3cPBfgsS56UbEck/s1600/2012-02-10" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">R2-D2: "I am the brains of the operation. I plug myself into crap and save the day. Dee do. Dee Do. Beep. Beep."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaeCKWaWCsDdcsW2t9i7ttxXptRHvZ7KkNApR8oHDf39U5HZrh3-o7UNle3LuTsXD6SrI3HsSc8QkMPCSI1F0qcolpy2RdYbc8X49ERdFBYsLWc4IyKM6wQEgRb75GDDNbezkjQ06hqAY/s1600/2012-02-10" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaeCKWaWCsDdcsW2t9i7ttxXptRHvZ7KkNApR8oHDf39U5HZrh3-o7UNle3LuTsXD6SrI3HsSc8QkMPCSI1F0qcolpy2RdYbc8X49ERdFBYsLWc4IyKM6wQEgRb75GDDNbezkjQ06hqAY/s1600/2012-02-10" /></a></div>Yoda: "Make Sense... I do not." <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ZHOp3QpBKFNPQ9H1GjcYYRS9vguW81xszwt20qrYx97cFgAIP9BJpodafizBenKeFFTemh_ksmkdLQM6UbudmvPw24WpRyowZoWtK5kvLT8RdTGAWminJ9dQHkhUVCR7hWuB1aYP-J0/s1600/2012-02-10" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ZHOp3QpBKFNPQ9H1GjcYYRS9vguW81xszwt20qrYx97cFgAIP9BJpodafizBenKeFFTemh_ksmkdLQM6UbudmvPw24WpRyowZoWtK5kvLT8RdTGAWminJ9dQHkhUVCR7hWuB1aYP-J0/s320/2012-02-10" width="238" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Luke Skywalker: "I am into incest."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAceDs2tru-hsw42v6HA06AxA1do29FuTcyjHllq6FqK8dDVa3IbbM0sxeUNoDuFMU1OeQCoT51X8xBzH52ihA3PU4GMcHRUAXhHj9dSiJodKJVawE2yT9-V317OAUbltfuPySyLB0iSA/s1600/2012-02-10" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAceDs2tru-hsw42v6HA06AxA1do29FuTcyjHllq6FqK8dDVa3IbbM0sxeUNoDuFMU1OeQCoT51X8xBzH52ihA3PU4GMcHRUAXhHj9dSiJodKJVawE2yT9-V317OAUbltfuPySyLB0iSA/s1600/2012-02-10" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Princess Leia: "What a coincidence - Me too!"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimva6h6PbkYVoReIpcqAHiypP5yaDxsG1aPuu4_8d0YCxyADOu-4YZYBwKL-M5C7dwegPDFo1MNeZzZOXEY2SrGgYIqG6Bcj1pIGRG83LAGIzp6zHJb49rfNKVkaLfwmtI-hp9rx8qIME/s1600/2012-02-10" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimva6h6PbkYVoReIpcqAHiypP5yaDxsG1aPuu4_8d0YCxyADOu-4YZYBwKL-M5C7dwegPDFo1MNeZzZOXEY2SrGgYIqG6Bcj1pIGRG83LAGIzp6zHJb49rfNKVkaLfwmtI-hp9rx8qIME/s320/2012-02-10" width="238" /></a></div>Chewbacca: "Raar! Seriously? What in the hell is he saying? Give a girl some subtitles."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Ito_dxkjHxkc-3UNhIH64JBJA95hBfA_BtoCgXXn59gVYuVklxMsEZmt1MR6-Mn_2tiSpSbQjTA69T97YA2AE_AAzrNmrjuT1XrajQViB8kChg2fdqLW-ne16NtWd1ACCtWOf1j_xYA/s1600/2012-02-10" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Ito_dxkjHxkc-3UNhIH64JBJA95hBfA_BtoCgXXn59gVYuVklxMsEZmt1MR6-Mn_2tiSpSbQjTA69T97YA2AE_AAzrNmrjuT1XrajQViB8kChg2fdqLW-ne16NtWd1ACCtWOf1j_xYA/s320/2012-02-10" width="238" /></a></div>Darth Vader: His Match.com ad: "I have a lightsaber that I enjoy. Must be into heavy breathing!" <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But, seriously, in honor of the movie series, the rerelease, and my dear friends (Steve and Scott), I decided to knit a Yoda hat and here is the result:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWfTofIZDK-w7zGGOUkfBJoW0JIKSj7VwLLVlWF5qCp1BoWgikh_9QL-5elCJsal01QxTeeelDjRynw07AriEnKiDVrW2_YP2leLD2isO8pBz13en0EW9eItSLtmbfgMWYlIcr-Y7avt0/s1600/2012-02-10" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWfTofIZDK-w7zGGOUkfBJoW0JIKSj7VwLLVlWF5qCp1BoWgikh_9QL-5elCJsal01QxTeeelDjRynw07AriEnKiDVrW2_YP2leLD2isO8pBz13en0EW9eItSLtmbfgMWYlIcr-Y7avt0/s1600/2012-02-10" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">And, asked two of my faithful companions, Chloe and Rawley, to help by modeling it for you:</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYZIT7Edav_7jSeq_o7cehgJCQmsWpm-5rjgTdsBAhtg-6r8Ys7FgpojXhCl3e858qQ0sN7gNiY2DwALcXDQjsi8oAXl1E68SJZIgTFVrFRT-Ujb-daFq2xUj-WpEdnfbt_Fcvl0M5cc/s1600/2012-02-10" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYZIT7Edav_7jSeq_o7cehgJCQmsWpm-5rjgTdsBAhtg-6r8Ys7FgpojXhCl3e858qQ0sN7gNiY2DwALcXDQjsi8oAXl1E68SJZIgTFVrFRT-Ujb-daFq2xUj-WpEdnfbt_Fcvl0M5cc/s320/2012-02-10" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8uAJ1yDsDYAcrvZEz6EOOKRuW_l2mbx56fgeRFzvLmifGPVp5s1AgONoRmjFfO_2kgSpatl5ufsEjDtRG__rf6ZmMXw6HAFl6RZ2n6bDXiUw21eJPIecxLXp-ZzJW36HFlIUwkXUW_xQ/s1600/2012-02-10" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8uAJ1yDsDYAcrvZEz6EOOKRuW_l2mbx56fgeRFzvLmifGPVp5s1AgONoRmjFfO_2kgSpatl5ufsEjDtRG__rf6ZmMXw6HAFl6RZ2n6bDXiUw21eJPIecxLXp-ZzJW36HFlIUwkXUW_xQ/s320/2012-02-10" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">All in all, not a bad series. I tip my hat to you George Lucas - you marketing genius! And, I am strangely attracted to Darth Vader... Weird? </div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">And that my friends is Star Wars... Knotty Style. Have a great weekend!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">- Jennifer</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529084339304538399noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291897728369589404.post-675867851201859812012-02-09T08:00:00.000-06:002012-02-09T08:00:07.697-06:00Felix and Oscar (Episode 1: Felix has some Knotty Little Secrets, too!!!)We have all read about how I am possibly a hoarder (it's a disease, people!), thanks to Jennifer. Jennifer is one of the most <strike>OCD</strike> organized people I know. Her house is clean, her deadlines are met, and she never starts one project without finishing the next. And that is why we all love her here at The Knotty Krafters! <br />
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Fellow Knotty Krafters Jennifer, Christy, and I were all invited to a Superbowl Party on Sunday. Part of the invite was to bring a snack to share and we would all stay afterwards to watch Chris Mann on The Voice. I made my newly discovered Crack Dip (<a href="http://theknottykrafters.blogspot.com/2012/02/one-dip-to-rule-them-all.html" target="_blank">see previous post</a>). Christy made a delicious cherry concoction (I'm sure if you asked her nicely she would share the recipe with you). Our hostess made a fabulous taco soup and pork tenderloin sandwiches. If you notice, dear reader, the operative word in each of these sentences is <i>made</i>. There was quite a spread!<br />
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Here is what Jennifer brought:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTG73dpViG6A-q8cLuBXWyiCB4w_H94awqATlVn1R1e4qM6v-jC2OKtRy1LgLCqya6PmWHiOK7vQJyTvqt-P0YSfgNWPAVxT3Kg6XTPnUm0XOFFS1RPmrH369ZMMCDSy2nOqOnRD2kH0w/s1600/IMAG0260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTG73dpViG6A-q8cLuBXWyiCB4w_H94awqATlVn1R1e4qM6v-jC2OKtRy1LgLCqya6PmWHiOK7vQJyTvqt-P0YSfgNWPAVxT3Kg6XTPnUm0XOFFS1RPmrH369ZMMCDSy2nOqOnRD2kH0w/s320/IMAG0260.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Here is Jennifer "making" her dish:<br />
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Here is Jennifer showing off her <strike>jugs </strike>tubs of frozen custard. (Isn't she pretty?) <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFSzfE2fiOrDsdNyFFcOKvxLQnaMySAZCUllojHbbh9whS19sYec6_h1prQFjvxoo3chV2cjWXcwgHDGdAFiCwgomDYFS_dNw1hsMrT-AyDEqCNmscyNGMIGvbG8cQu3W29YRCVXJL_c/s1600/IMAG0262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFSzfE2fiOrDsdNyFFcOKvxLQnaMySAZCUllojHbbh9whS19sYec6_h1prQFjvxoo3chV2cjWXcwgHDGdAFiCwgomDYFS_dNw1hsMrT-AyDEqCNmscyNGMIGvbG8cQu3W29YRCVXJL_c/s320/IMAG0262.jpg" width="191" /></a></div><br />
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So, my friends, I just wanted to let you in on Jennifer's Knotty Little Secret. She doesn't actually make things for parties. She buys Freddy's Frozen Custard. It's shameful really, but I thought you should know the truth.<br />
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Cheers-- Jaime<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14143570874237661571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291897728369589404.post-56487319926819746052012-02-08T10:00:00.000-06:002012-02-08T10:00:10.639-06:00One Dip to Rule Them All<div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjn3-kC-lxiG3pWCyOQoEpDjH4x_yRK-7kF0agAKZHKyAyJ4KuqkFOLX3bXnCjBcLfOpff0rCIB9WwAGEw6ywjB5DfVl8ANCwx7ffN0QBunudzCEo-AnE078HQP0NyB4Uidi2ccXbwdWU/s1600/IMAG0256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjn3-kC-lxiG3pWCyOQoEpDjH4x_yRK-7kF0agAKZHKyAyJ4KuqkFOLX3bXnCjBcLfOpff0rCIB9WwAGEw6ywjB5DfVl8ANCwx7ffN0QBunudzCEo-AnE078HQP0NyB4Uidi2ccXbwdWU/s200/IMAG0256.jpg" width="119" /></a></div><div>Last weekend, I was at a friend's birthday party and I must admit I spent most of the party right next to the BEST DIP EVER. I saw this bowl of creamy goodness sitting on the counter calling my name with a large bag of Frito's Scoops sitting next to it. After taking my first bite, I can only describe the dip as a *crack! I sat transfixed. So bright... so beautiful... ah, Precious. </div><div><br />
</div><div>I started asking around the party to see who brought the dip and discovered a blond girl, whose name I still do not know. I asked her how to make this wonderful concoction and she gave me all the details.<br />
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</div><div>So, this weekend when it was time for me to decide what to make for the Superbowl Party, this dip popped into my mind (or to be more precise it has been in my dreams since last Saturday when it first touched my lips). Remember, Blond Girl Whose Name I Don't Know-- imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Here is the recipe:</div><div><br />
</div><div>Ingredients: </div><div><br />
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</div><div>Directions:</div><div>Combine sour cream, ranch package, and cheese in a bowl. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Serve with chips. </div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3pnd8LwWYGgMICn9a76l4wOyKwNr4BGg5z-JgJl7qhN8KjHWMsxzaOO8A-ynIFNtiaiX4JDCfpeXr_agxaHt7d-usD-ECOcAPI9goQHoD0-xPvYCxOaPLmJJOpuXQHYlHq3Daor-6ZE/s1600/IMAG0255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3pnd8LwWYGgMICn9a76l4wOyKwNr4BGg5z-JgJl7qhN8KjHWMsxzaOO8A-ynIFNtiaiX4JDCfpeXr_agxaHt7d-usD-ECOcAPI9goQHoD0-xPvYCxOaPLmJJOpuXQHYlHq3Daor-6ZE/s200/IMAG0255.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh7DRuzvN6Obq0uQiL5YoFATHRup4nSpVrQPa5QzoEEX1hzp2zq7JdweEXM7UgpJ05NgvjPmGccetSKJNn-dg6nEMAWyvLJW9uaPq_EZBNM1BXyEh1nCGL2FkC5CBer5N0oxhEltHxzts/s1600/IMAG0253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh7DRuzvN6Obq0uQiL5YoFATHRup4nSpVrQPa5QzoEEX1hzp2zq7JdweEXM7UgpJ05NgvjPmGccetSKJNn-dg6nEMAWyvLJW9uaPq_EZBNM1BXyEh1nCGL2FkC5CBer5N0oxhEltHxzts/s200/IMAG0253.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7b5z9uN7X8zNwyr5D6AAIsUp2-LtoTtuihga0KqXs6gws71Iqd5_ZxeA0qK1iMyzdRfWXpH7HbuNGKr04QWrWrn0sWmLQPuwo6fjzJTJtsyoZUAQ2zHp8hhzXRvDitBaa3a4l_91z3Eo/s1600/IMAG0254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7b5z9uN7X8zNwyr5D6AAIsUp2-LtoTtuihga0KqXs6gws71Iqd5_ZxeA0qK1iMyzdRfWXpH7HbuNGKr04QWrWrn0sWmLQPuwo6fjzJTJtsyoZUAQ2zHp8hhzXRvDitBaa3a4l_91z3Eo/s200/IMAG0254.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjn3-kC-lxiG3pWCyOQoEpDjH4x_yRK-7kF0agAKZHKyAyJ4KuqkFOLX3bXnCjBcLfOpff0rCIB9WwAGEw6ywjB5DfVl8ANCwx7ffN0QBunudzCEo-AnE078HQP0NyB4Uidi2ccXbwdWU/s1600/IMAG0256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjn3-kC-lxiG3pWCyOQoEpDjH4x_yRK-7kF0agAKZHKyAyJ4KuqkFOLX3bXnCjBcLfOpff0rCIB9WwAGEw6ywjB5DfVl8ANCwx7ffN0QBunudzCEo-AnE078HQP0NyB4Uidi2ccXbwdWU/s400/IMAG0256.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NOM NOM NOM NOM</td></tr>
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</div><div>Cheers! Jaime</div><div><br />
</div><div>*I do not, dear reader, actually believe this dip to be made of crack cocaine. I only use the term in jest to describe how addictive this dip can be. We here at The Knotty Krafters do not condone the use of actual crack cocaine, or really any form of cocaine. </div></div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14143570874237661571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291897728369589404.post-70877688000054275152012-02-07T10:00:00.000-06:002012-02-07T10:00:02.731-06:00VDAY 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.vday.org/%7Eassets/images/press/vdayutvs_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="http://www.vday.org/%7Eassets/images/press/vdayutvs_web.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Last night, I went to see fellow Knotty Krafter Christy in "A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant, and A Prayer" as part of the V Day Movement. She was taking a stand against the violence facing women. According the the UN, 1 in 3 women on the planet will be beaten or raped in her lifetime.<br />
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Christy absolutely KILLED it in the monologue "Fur Is Back" by Eve Ensler. She was the perfect combination of poignant and funny. Christy is my hero. [SSHHHH: don't tell anyone, but she totally stole the show.]<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHr4chLspvZZ9LtukQn3jZ4Mqk40d9-M2ebyF6rlxRA5YLq2aqmtZ-8CCFjf6XijkgafgHLOK-9CKFw_g0Kr3T798n1ikGxDyMpeS2woftBGxT1jwgJCwp_b_yoLsL-T0NTTKCTcfWtfI/s1600/IMAG0271.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHr4chLspvZZ9LtukQn3jZ4Mqk40d9-M2ebyF6rlxRA5YLq2aqmtZ-8CCFjf6XijkgafgHLOK-9CKFw_g0Kr3T798n1ikGxDyMpeS2woftBGxT1jwgJCwp_b_yoLsL-T0NTTKCTcfWtfI/s320/IMAG0271.jpg" width="191" /></a></div><br />
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To take a stand with Christy to end violence against women, join VDAY's ONE BILLION RISING campaign. Join ONE BILLION RISING, FEBRUARY 14, 2013-- a global day of action for women and men across the planet to gather and dance to end violence against women and girls. You can sign up at <a href="http://vday.org/billion">vday.org/billion</a> or text BILLION to 50555.<br />
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To find a VDAY event in your area click <a href="http://events.vday.org/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Cheers, JaimeJaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14143570874237661571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291897728369589404.post-22286399955714037792012-02-06T12:46:00.000-06:002012-02-06T12:46:32.809-06:00We have a Mann Crush!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkW8yi_tQJm0CBRdSpCTsSPIbTcDyyuDqSAKYYZNkUDhc9T6YbYbHe1j8is8TibUl-wSczgOSXbN6T7kvOOEGHaxZAiuNlJ6H8Vxf3wxUI4LFwxyfi5ZXtDLs5Gr1ihfpWh9m5yeWjE4/s1600/IMAG0265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkW8yi_tQJm0CBRdSpCTsSPIbTcDyyuDqSAKYYZNkUDhc9T6YbYbHe1j8is8TibUl-wSczgOSXbN6T7kvOOEGHaxZAiuNlJ6H8Vxf3wxUI4LFwxyfi5ZXtDLs5Gr1ihfpWh9m5yeWjE4/s320/IMAG0265.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Last night several Knotty Krafters went over to to our friend Becky's house to watch her brother CHRIS MANN on THE VOICE. He was absolutely amazing and will now be moving on to the next round on Team Xtina! We officially heart opera.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi81TPGNQMjLeS6Rsu4s_CDGRQhAuGgYPxzTnml0I0__xSGisEUVtWXdOAgsqD76MOhyEtFPR5faTWtmImwbnQ6aGEZZFzc-fiikyyqzy-jT3esrnmptgZ1Q2xdlEEPe5_5s3UCme87Vo4/s1600/IMAG0268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi81TPGNQMjLeS6Rsu4s_CDGRQhAuGgYPxzTnml0I0__xSGisEUVtWXdOAgsqD76MOhyEtFPR5faTWtmImwbnQ6aGEZZFzc-fiikyyqzy-jT3esrnmptgZ1Q2xdlEEPe5_5s3UCme87Vo4/s320/IMAG0268.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Becky with her Chris Mann Poster</td></tr>
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You can check out Chris here:<br />
<a href="http://www.nbc.com/the-voice/video/chris-manns-because-we-believe/1383162/" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" target="_blank">http://www.nbc.com/the-voice/<wbr></wbr>video/chris-manns-because-we-<wbr></wbr>believe/138312/</a> <br />
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Cheers, JaimeJaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14143570874237661571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291897728369589404.post-74085910762079119832012-02-06T11:33:00.000-06:002012-02-06T11:36:20.302-06:00Quilt initiation! YEIKS!Hello all!!!!!!!!!<br />
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I thought I would have my first post be about the first quilt I made! Talk about a learning experince!<br />
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My wonderful mother gave me a kick in the rear to make a quilt after telling me there were only so many times she could fix the quilt my Grandmother had made me. So, I decided that I would have her teach me how to make my own quilt that I could use on a regular basis and retire my special Wedding Ring pattern quilt to keepsake status.<br />
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The “adventure” started with a trip to the local craft store to buy fabric. This is my favorite part! I LOVE picking fabrics for my quilts!! Apparently this is a great skill I got from my Grandmother <img alt=":-)" class="wp-smiley" src="http://s0.wp.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif?m=1305289405g" /> I picked 6 fabrics with a aqua-green and chocolate-brown color scheme in an attempt to match the ridiculously expensive bed set that I had…but of course didn’t use. (That will be a topic for another post!) They were BEAUTIFUL! We checked out and headed home to start sewing….or so I thought! Here is where the lesson really started! I learned that all the fabric needed to be washed, dried, and ironed before anything else could happen. I was geared up and ready to rock out a quilt and I had to wait for laundry?!?!?! YES! my mother said! So….I waited for the laundry and then ironed my lovely fabric later that day. This is my second favorite part <img alt=":-)" class="wp-smiley" src="http://s0.wp.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif?m=1305289405g" /> I’m weird I know, but there is something relaxing about ironing quilt fabric!<br />
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With all the material ready it was time to cut. This is my least favorite part because the more precise you are here the easier it is when you start sewing. (I recommend doing what I did if you are not a good cutter and find a friend who is! Love you Jaime! <img alt=":-D" class="wp-smiley" src="http://s0.wp.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif?m=1305289405g" /> ) I had the cutting mat and rotational cutter all set up and folded my fabric to cut the ends off first. This is important because the ends are there to keep the fabric from stretching before it is used and it will sew differently than the rest of the fabric if you don’t cut it off. Thankfully it is usually no more than half an inch on the end! Once I had the ends off I set out to cut my 8 inch blocks.<br />
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With all the blocks cut out it was TIME TO DESIGN! This part can be difficult if you aren’t patient with yourself. Take some time to look at patterns and see different layouts so you have somewhat of an idea of what you want and then leave room for your special spins on them! I took my blocks and laid out 3-4 different designs before deciding on the ONE! (At this point I was a day and a half in and hadn’t sewed 1 stitch! Talk about learning patience for the correct process!)<br />
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Then my mother gave me an amazing gift!!! She took me down and bought me my first sewing machine!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m not sure what it was, but I had such a sence of power having my own sewing machine! Like there was nothing I couldn’t make or fix if I really had to! It was great! Then she bid me farewell and sent me out to start sewing! The block quilt was a great pattern for a first quilt because it’s easy and there aren’t a lot of little pieces. I sewed each block into their rows with 1/4inch seams and then sewed the rows together. It was so exciting having the top done!<br />
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<a href="http://80isthenew30.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/20110620-022150.jpg"><img alt="20110620-022150.jpg" class="alignnone size-full" src="http://80isthenew30.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/20110620-022150.jpg?w=584" /></a><br />
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With the top done we then went and bought “the filling” <img alt=":-)" class="wp-smiley" src="http://s0.wp.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif?m=1305289405g" /> and material for the back. Then we laid everything out on top of each other and safety pinned it together so the “quilting” could begin! I started in the middle and quilted (by hand) to the edges. It did take a few weeks, but I found that I enjoyed hand-quilting! It was nice to have something to do with my hands while watching tv in the evenings and is also a great way to keep warm having it on your lap!<br />
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Then before I knew it I had my first quilt!!!!!!!!!!!! And I was able to share my excitement with my friends and then THEY were inspired to learn how to make a quilt! That’s where this adventure really started! <img alt=":-)" class="wp-smiley" src="http://s0.wp.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif?m=1305289405g" /> Through this experience I learned things about my Grandmother I never knew and was able to feel a connection to her. I have memories of learning from my mother that I will keep in my heart always. Most importantly I gained knowledge and the amazing feeling of starting a project and then finishing it! It gave me confidence to start trying other things! Like knitting! And Crocheting! <br />
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<a href="http://80isthenew30.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/20110620-022300.jpg"><img alt="20110620-022300.jpg" class="alignnone size-full" src="http://80isthenew30.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/20110620-022300.jpg?w=584" /></a><br />
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--ElaineLainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12789896585309293559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291897728369589404.post-21712812126329391772012-02-02T17:01:00.000-06:002012-02-02T17:01:10.403-06:00Coming Soon....Invading The Knotty Krafters, Star Wars is. To our Etsy Store soon Yoda and R2D2 are coming. Yeesssssssss.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrSH6H1_CA37LC8Syr96A9aXA5LN6j2jooHlMh_57M4Po80lsCoaUCcaXKTcYximbASYtCQ8aY3Ls4qrb3shlH84cfup5jzmZ-VxMex8PiywdlVw6yXQ4kgM1qxpdPdTw5ejyf8CHU1w/s1600/IMAG0231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrSH6H1_CA37LC8Syr96A9aXA5LN6j2jooHlMh_57M4Po80lsCoaUCcaXKTcYximbASYtCQ8aY3Ls4qrb3shlH84cfup5jzmZ-VxMex8PiywdlVw6yXQ4kgM1qxpdPdTw5ejyf8CHU1w/s400/IMAG0231.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jennifer and Chloe show you a Sneak Peek of an R2D2 in the Making.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14143570874237661571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291897728369589404.post-47292784499769321882012-02-01T12:29:00.000-06:002012-02-01T12:55:06.597-06:00We need a craft board on aisle 3...<span><span>My good friend Grace gave me this fantastic orange grocery store aisle directory in law school. At that time, I took my daily direction from Stephen Colbert and turned it into a "dead to me" and "on notice" switchable board. That's right, I would list what subjects, individuals or general ideas were on the daily chopping block and display it for the rest of my apartment to peruse. Shockingly, it got little attention. A note to secured transactions: YOU ARE STILL DEAD TO ME.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLAiZQpQWcdRo-fG14CIyWOFKRNT0gA3mJ3mis0LW4SPBKTKsSRfdxckwmShSpyRCwki0Hyr9YN-pQRRaZIMInarhBi83_ZCiV9TknxbmCwmuSrR7UEoYqFgU2WtwY5GG4G_FrMP2s2Es/s1600/board+1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLAiZQpQWcdRo-fG14CIyWOFKRNT0gA3mJ3mis0LW4SPBKTKsSRfdxckwmShSpyRCwki0Hyr9YN-pQRRaZIMInarhBi83_ZCiV9TknxbmCwmuSrR7UEoYqFgU2WtwY5GG4G_FrMP2s2Es/s320/board+1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704237191895402498" /></a><span>I'm sure you're all good friends to my addiction, also known as "pinterest." After several weeks of feeling less-than-par creatively with the rest of the world, I figured I could show those so-and-so's a think or two about my craft organization. I'll have to post later on my continual organization and REorganization of my craft room, but for now, you'll JUST HAVE TO LIVE with my craft board creation.</span></span><div><span><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span>I'm sure the paint on this 1970's trashed aisle board was NOT lead based or any other toxic substance, so of COURSE I proceeded to redo my board with little to no attention to my health. You'll notice that I removed the little shelves attached with staples with my kitchen flatware. DO NOT TELL MY HUSBAND. He is very protective of our knives and forks. </span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><span>So first thing first--get the old label shelves off the damn board. Done and done. Because the label shelves were a bit discolored, I filled my sink with some water and bleach and soaked those sons of guns. Next, I lightly sanded the whole board down to make sure that the old paint would not keep the new paint from sticking. As for the painting--I'll be honest--I used some old latex interior paint I had sittin</span><span>g in the garage and gave it a heavy two coats--take that, LEAD!</span></span></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6hm4ufrLTxCuiPvygzvMAdbrsk2uqd3Zby8CixKjdFO00tC9Eawj-fLj19vwBvrK6R4bxvsrn1WoXwQUgxWTOCWAbHOcvbgGkrL99wMXg4JNBEbeO0cKQ9IqY531hGSUI67BlyXhfzF8/s320/board+2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704239011873950850" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px; " /></div><div><span>Next, I used some index cards, which it turns out are the PERFECT height for my craft board shelves. I marked with a </span><span>pencil where to put them, and used some rubber cement to tack 'em down. On a side note, you will soon realize how addicted to rubber cement I am. It is my go-to gluer. I would like to think that I have diversified tastes, but rest assured, that never applies to my adhesives.</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7H9Yqht6DEXm0mOcGcK-kVCZVYivxwSUbayA0eAr7w8qZM-Dz2LHdTd6I0pMFa7bytULPQWKv4f6dPKm29t7Ww7QlRpSv70sNQaHE3P9IxlCzQWGjNiCx0D4cb4Jtjwkwv_zS52A6Obg/s320/board+3.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704240028249723906" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px; " /></div></div><div><span>You'll note that the center aisle number display was a bit raised off of the sign. I painted it and rubber cemented a piece of black construction paper over it to hide any residue of the sleek former aisle number. May it rest in peace.</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>Finally, I chopped up one of the extra backside label shelves and added a center "craft board display topic" space. Brilliant, I know. </span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>I've hung the "craft board organizer" in my craft room and I'll post a picture of it once I get home. I think this will help me organize my present and future endeavors, or, if all else fails, help me keep track of what ideas, people or legal conundrums are close to being pushed off a proverbial "dead to me" cliff. Whatever works.</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>Exit, pursued by a bear...</span></div><div><span>Christy</span></div><div><span><br /></span><div><span><br /></span></div><div><br /></div></div>Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15638489656568551564noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291897728369589404.post-6217465464180526872012-02-01T11:10:00.000-06:002012-02-06T11:23:03.387-06:00Chris Mann on The Voice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Our very good friend Becky's brother is going to be on The Voice this Sunday night! Everybody should watch!!!!! He's cute, right??</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKaxEQA_lic-uyjIZMxH-kDys9UqCArNkgvJKatotWnMhzyJ-Rq1ciE27hgK_RZ8pYWlRvFyw9AZN6Rpu85oLPY95mdsNGb0kDOb0FHvLFd5z0VJNVLOcRwaXRS24ReG44jp8oR-ILuRA/s1600/2012-02-01" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKaxEQA_lic-uyjIZMxH-kDys9UqCArNkgvJKatotWnMhzyJ-Rq1ciE27hgK_RZ8pYWlRvFyw9AZN6Rpu85oLPY95mdsNGb0kDOb0FHvLFd5z0VJNVLOcRwaXRS24ReG44jp8oR-ILuRA/s320/2012-02-01" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #211922; line-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">CHRIS MANN will entertain you as he auditions for NBC's "THE VOICE" Sunday Feb. 5 right </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #211922; font-family: inherit; line-height: 14px;">after the Super Bowl. Watch and see how he does!!! </span><a href="http://chrismannmusic.com/" style="font-family: inherit;">chrismannmusic.com</a>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14143570874237661571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291897728369589404.post-11852078851398833942012-02-01T10:31:00.000-06:002012-02-02T09:52:28.392-06:00the Good, the Bad, and the ScrubbieWhen I moved to Wichita 3 years ago, Elaine's mom, Georgia, sent me the BEST HOUSEWARMING GIFT EVER!!!!! Dear readers, I would like to introduce you to The Scrubbie.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRc8fSxe6JNNG9qpZqjkAdpA5Rn4PYIbrhqNu6iMrOb9pG__ydYQNSafvarMIp7C7WYUeC0WliNLQk_JtOUxJy_Im3g9lKZx6DgUpQKdWvD5fFWEG4I-t_gUxOkF7QP8FvMLBuwAUSKmA/s1600/IMAG0232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRc8fSxe6JNNG9qpZqjkAdpA5Rn4PYIbrhqNu6iMrOb9pG__ydYQNSafvarMIp7C7WYUeC0WliNLQk_JtOUxJy_Im3g9lKZx6DgUpQKdWvD5fFWEG4I-t_gUxOkF7QP8FvMLBuwAUSKmA/s320/IMAG0232.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Scrubbie</td></tr>
</tbody></table>What is this Scrubbie I speak of? It is a little piece of crocheted nylon delight that you can use to clean most things in your house. They are especially helpful for <u>cleaning non-stick cookware</u> without scratching the surface. I am not exactly known for my cleaning prowess (come on people, you have seen my car). My Scrubbie lets me get to tough cleaning jobs when I want to, but isn't as abrasive as an SOS or similar pad. Best part about it is that I can <u>put it in the dishwasher</u> and it will clean and <i>sterilize </i>my Scrubbie when I am done.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Gb_VOzPfvcpNKuBInoxB-evvBbY-7h2BcU-3nbxNmpV5tEmNnKNzLWK7FKr0MeUU_1vtsRlJtLbVzrsyv298p3xooBNiEapmi5Y_DlqLiw2z7IU4A6KOlCAzHei5Irz2b3gckLFljbM/s1600/imagejpeg_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Gb_VOzPfvcpNKuBInoxB-evvBbY-7h2BcU-3nbxNmpV5tEmNnKNzLWK7FKr0MeUU_1vtsRlJtLbVzrsyv298p3xooBNiEapmi5Y_DlqLiw2z7IU4A6KOlCAzHei5Irz2b3gckLFljbM/s1600/imagejpeg_4.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Georgia </td></tr>
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So, after using the Scrubbies that Georgia gave me (Thanks, Georgia!) for 2 years, I finally decided that I needed to make some myself! So, I asked Georgia very nicely to share her pattern with me. Not only did she share it with me, but she also taught me to crochet!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjtgv5TmzsHwqeyhHsbUNS-vlOdkwDcjMBsWI8eS7T4gefDeAjSyb_D5ivaApuUUP6nGGNNeszSQMUAkBoubY3zqbHEDrwUOGI4njKjbT-ab6bq7dxmo-WEz3awNzra9FJ8620cYnvt18/s1600/IMAG0087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjtgv5TmzsHwqeyhHsbUNS-vlOdkwDcjMBsWI8eS7T4gefDeAjSyb_D5ivaApuUUP6nGGNNeszSQMUAkBoubY3zqbHEDrwUOGI4njKjbT-ab6bq7dxmo-WEz3awNzra9FJ8620cYnvt18/s200/IMAG0087.jpg" width="119" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Georgia's Scrubbies</b></span><br />
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<b>Materials:</b><br />
Nylon Netting-- <i>I bought this at the fabric store by the yard. For my first project I bought 3 yards, which should net 10 (ish) Scrubbies. </i><br />
Crochet Hook Size J<br />
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<b>Abbreviations</b><br />
Ch: Chain<br />
DC: Double Crochet<br />
HDC: Half Double Crochet<br />
St: Stitch<br />
Sl st: Slip Stitch<br />
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<b>Instructions:</b><br />
Before you begin to crochet, cut your netting into strips that are at least 1.5 inches wide. I folded my netting like very long accordion and then cut my strips width wise at the top. Use these strips of netting as the yarn in the following pattern:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiyK9MBbn_5GSXUfrBFOEWnhM8sRo0dAfeRIum19oGzxbbxyMXW1RQ99kEp2axiACdRU02q26N2HFQtcpGijaQmYXvsT_dGd1SGXBJAPz8KlE-LVFZhgzAZYhm9DNs1SxMnQYGJ8OQxcU/s1600/IMAG0246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiyK9MBbn_5GSXUfrBFOEWnhM8sRo0dAfeRIum19oGzxbbxyMXW1RQ99kEp2axiACdRU02q26N2HFQtcpGijaQmYXvsT_dGd1SGXBJAPz8KlE-LVFZhgzAZYhm9DNs1SxMnQYGJ8OQxcU/s320/IMAG0246.jpg" width="191" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Row 1: Ch 5, join with sl st to form ring.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Row 2: Ch 2, 9 hdc in circle, join with sl st to top of ch 2. 10 hdc</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Row 3: Ch 3, 2 dc in next st and each st around, dc in joinging st, join with sl st to top of ch 3. 20 dc.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Row 4: Ch 3, 2 dc in next st and each st around, dc in joinging st, join with sl st to top of ch 3. 40 dc. Fasten Off.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, thank you Georgia for all of your advice and teaching me the secrets of The Scrubbie! My family thanks you, too (as they all received them as Christmas presents this year).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Cheers, Jaime</div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14143570874237661571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291897728369589404.post-57565609768240207652012-01-30T20:47:00.000-06:002012-02-01T13:58:52.011-06:00Knotty Little Secrets...This is my friend and fellow Knotty Krafter, Jaime, last Saturday at 9:30 a.m.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPE0oQ2M8ditJ9l_fHoGm0qCDB-1FY1gxONvgVRaTam80lHbLTZzSXs0uEtAoPaUrOUUSco0R1DQZpSfi6gQ9UmRQ_ySbScNlwUgwSHza-jE5Ext2Q_vOh4dmcbmK1trswBSbgIvHUXJM/s1600/2012-01-30" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPE0oQ2M8ditJ9l_fHoGm0qCDB-1FY1gxONvgVRaTam80lHbLTZzSXs0uEtAoPaUrOUUSco0R1DQZpSfi6gQ9UmRQ_ySbScNlwUgwSHza-jE5Ext2Q_vOh4dmcbmK1trswBSbgIvHUXJM/s1600/2012-01-30" /></a></div>(Please note that Jaime had limited sleep on Friday night and no opportunity for makeup or to do her hair and she is STILL adorable). <br />
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One thing that I love about Jaime is her ability to embrace her... um... quirks. One of Jaime's quirks is her <strike>whorish</strike> hoarderish tendencies. Now, folks, Jaime is not a full-fledged hoarder - NOT AT ALL. But, the girl can accumulate some stuff.<br />
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In all fairness to Jaime, I will set the stage from the beginning... It all started with me buying a small dresser at an estate sale. I asked Jaime on Friday night if she would help me pick it up on Saturday morning. True to form, Jaime readily agreed and I told her that I would be by at 9:30 a.m. so that we could pick it up.<br />
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When I arrived at Jaime's house, she was under the impression that we were going to take my car. "No silly, we are picking up a dresser and thus need your Jeep." Jaime, being the good sport that she is, said "No problem, but my car is a little bit messy." Key words - "A little bit messy." No big deal at all - whose car isn't a little messy since we all practically live in the things?<br />
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We arrive at the estate sale to pick up the dresser and Jaime scores a jar of vintage buttons that were priced at $85.00 but she only paid $15.00 (which, of course, will be used for future Knotty Krafters projects). If you know sweet Jaime, you would not think that she could drive such a hard bargain. Not true! For our Jaime, getting a good deal is like clubbing a baby seal. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAVtcOBnwpZFyKmAlBi7z4GnmXfNUhZiCznvwFKGOSllbPsSJ6zSkyLskrom6yELe8jJvpz_puH0zE7BHrnTtn53Jg26HjPs3mkRQ3nymxJ-R_N5wLtfn5ttz-y_a0PFoR77zG2au-x9w/s1600/2012-01-30" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAVtcOBnwpZFyKmAlBi7z4GnmXfNUhZiCznvwFKGOSllbPsSJ6zSkyLskrom6yELe8jJvpz_puH0zE7BHrnTtn53Jg26HjPs3mkRQ3nymxJ-R_N5wLtfn5ttz-y_a0PFoR77zG2au-x9w/s1600/2012-01-30" /></a></div><br />
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(No animals would EVER be hurt by any of us --- we are all animal lovers and would not tolerate the clubbing of any animal.)<br />
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After Jaime and I haul the dresser out to her Jeep, Jaime opens the back hatch so we can place the dresser inside. HOLY CRAP IN A CANOE JAIME! There was trash, debris, and stuff EVERYWHERE in her Jeep. Jaime takes my astonishment, amazement and (let's face it folks) mockery in good stride by saying "Ya, um, I know." At one point, I am running into the yard of the house of the estate sale retrieving papers that have flown out of the vehicle.<br />
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As we are trying to load the dresser in the back of Jaime's Jeep, it is important to note that the back hatch of Jaime's Jeep doesn't stay up in cold weather on it's own so poor Jaime is trying to hold it up with her head while we try to lift the dresser inside. And, although Jaime has attempted to move most of the debris to the seat behind the driver's side seat, we were still trying to place the dresser on the carcasses of who knows what. Luckily, two kind gentleman came to our rescue. One held the back hatch up and the other helped us lift the dresser in. After we placed the dresser into the Jeep (mind you, it is laying on mounds of TRASH/STUFF), one of the gentleman says "you really need to clean that." I then respond "I know but, just so you know, it isn't my car." He then says "No, I meant the bottom of the dresser." I simply said "Are ya kidding me? Do you not see the crap in this car?" What I wanted to say was "Hey Ray Charles, do you not see the level of freakin' debris right in front of you!!!" He didn't even miss a beat and says to Jaime "I would have hauled this for you in the back of my truck for just a cocktail." Here Jaime is with her dirty little secret literally falling out of her car for all to see and this guy is hitting on her. Go figure...<br />
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Here are some pictures of Jaime's Jeep with the dresser inside -<br />
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The back driver's side seat: <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfDseb2Xd3XbBW2vnWOPgkNy97fzEioudXfMAuNuy281Wbzj2wIykyMGcHYhC-JKOTkxlwx9S-vUT_qW_qhg8ClBXwZ49D4Cn58emaGOfOHaWMJGl7ovRMZJVjZf0R55MyeNyhvUjxWvY/s1600/2012-01-30" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfDseb2Xd3XbBW2vnWOPgkNy97fzEioudXfMAuNuy281Wbzj2wIykyMGcHYhC-JKOTkxlwx9S-vUT_qW_qhg8ClBXwZ49D4Cn58emaGOfOHaWMJGl7ovRMZJVjZf0R55MyeNyhvUjxWvY/s1600/2012-01-30" /></a></div>The back hatch beside the dresser:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYOO8QLQ4Zo0Pngw3jQGPUqctxGecGuEgqBf3VV5sEdTU0gkec4E7V5bp2mCM4OkRrK5ALylZDGgI5B2x4ogCwurG3qnhnUJEaWISW8plJ-OCNSIabXzzhHK_YZCvZKu5AgAhneLSoAfA/s1600/2012-01-30" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYOO8QLQ4Zo0Pngw3jQGPUqctxGecGuEgqBf3VV5sEdTU0gkec4E7V5bp2mCM4OkRrK5ALylZDGgI5B2x4ogCwurG3qnhnUJEaWISW8plJ-OCNSIabXzzhHK_YZCvZKu5AgAhneLSoAfA/s1600/2012-01-30" /></a></div>The view from the front into the back seat:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1Y7ZKat8BNgg0Pj7CgiVuBECz7J_uaEIOjLEGXcP2bmqVQky_QfVlc-2gywS4weeM1I9OR_3DsL_KddT_Jb-f_d5I_k2RvL5Sq6w0-g7jbESSeytoA902ervLQ2vUUwG88fROKbcILE/s1600/2012-01-30" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1Y7ZKat8BNgg0Pj7CgiVuBECz7J_uaEIOjLEGXcP2bmqVQky_QfVlc-2gywS4weeM1I9OR_3DsL_KddT_Jb-f_d5I_k2RvL5Sq6w0-g7jbESSeytoA902ervLQ2vUUwG88fROKbcILE/s1600/2012-01-30" /></a></div> Jaime presenting her knotty little secret (what a good sport!):<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYzZThgPtEa9yduNg6ixaM0YhaKfdmfGBriM5QgCQLMd19UKVWta6h_3YgXh6CBtsco2URyhPxOyCSvFAiqw-dUqmxcfGhCUqGj_weQ8wyPsEMXPsJnERs1C5Ae6wLUp4QGhteuheLXws/s1600/2012-01-30" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYzZThgPtEa9yduNg6ixaM0YhaKfdmfGBriM5QgCQLMd19UKVWta6h_3YgXh6CBtsco2URyhPxOyCSvFAiqw-dUqmxcfGhCUqGj_weQ8wyPsEMXPsJnERs1C5Ae6wLUp4QGhteuheLXws/s1600/2012-01-30" /></a></div><br />
Of course, my OCD tendencies kick in and never one to miss an opportunity to help someone purge and organize, I tell Jaime that we are cleaning this car out the instant we drop off the dresser. Jaime readily agreed. So, when we got to my house, we developed a plan - starring a recycling bin, the trash bin, and a place to put the items that she was keeping - and we went to work.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGkW_B_QObMbscGGAMa5-i90o9PJyavi3Lb-FUY9KQ_AxslvUsssXpX28q0xk_6TilC9uj6U6VNUvtPZZKNHBAhuBp_VhSLpfieb-Ucpu15AJf0gWqxOiUIL7BmWp0AhOyjjWKsPljZSE/s1600/2012-01-30" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGkW_B_QObMbscGGAMa5-i90o9PJyavi3Lb-FUY9KQ_AxslvUsssXpX28q0xk_6TilC9uj6U6VNUvtPZZKNHBAhuBp_VhSLpfieb-Ucpu15AJf0gWqxOiUIL7BmWp0AhOyjjWKsPljZSE/s1600/2012-01-30" /></a></div><br />
Here is a list of some of the items that we found in Jaime's car:<br />
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1.) Countless newspapers (and I mean countless because I had to stop counting);<br />
2.) Numerous half-empty water bottles;<br />
3.) Empty diet coke and soda cans;<br />
4.) An emergency rain poncho (who doesn't need one of those?);<br />
5.) 1/4 of a bottle of vodka;<br />
6.) a manicure kit;<br />
7.) <strike>Jaime's dog, Buddy, that has been missing since 1997</strike>...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_YTaeFRGVvCyQCittPjGI_qzOAsjv6uVFoV86zSJ6r4Om2sinwdiO1GuYPvl6SYU5V0yuXq24PBoAbISiqCCDWe76aeoqH4fMX4viNzMI6f9v0Z-TBp76WLAMzzEFhi5LqCd6mI2Saug/s1600/2012-01-30" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_YTaeFRGVvCyQCittPjGI_qzOAsjv6uVFoV86zSJ6r4Om2sinwdiO1GuYPvl6SYU5V0yuXq24PBoAbISiqCCDWe76aeoqH4fMX4viNzMI6f9v0Z-TBp76WLAMzzEFhi5LqCd6mI2Saug/s1600/2012-01-30" /></a></div><strike>now fossilized</strike>...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJKvPNjTM451XVFhwfCo9mSzJN4c7uAWBKpxqlVoTeTSyy7xi5Hny9IYQiqkW2WIcGS6j0Z1LFyJxkHyXzqh9BCInQFG_Xm79bSrClXentWzKR8zgrBKnntPCNhfcqS7W7aBsN9nDdjAY/s1600/2012-01-30" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJKvPNjTM451XVFhwfCo9mSzJN4c7uAWBKpxqlVoTeTSyy7xi5Hny9IYQiqkW2WIcGS6j0Z1LFyJxkHyXzqh9BCInQFG_Xm79bSrClXentWzKR8zgrBKnntPCNhfcqS7W7aBsN9nDdjAY/s1600/2012-01-30" /></a></div><br />
8.) Tights, socks, a suit jacket, etc.;<br />
9.) 1 cheetah shoe (Jaime: "I wondered where that went.");<br />
10.) <strike>The lost continent of Mu and her people</strike> (look it up people);<br />
11.) A fancy winter hat;<br />
12.) QT cups;<br />
13.) Dog food;<br />
14.) Canning jars (2 packages) and countless other items. <br />
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Here is Jaime with some of our favorite finds:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNXGBaTIGd7msVBkzCZGWQ83gr8A7Ui_ioRG2phZgBsWp8buAzWCTTauq3AtArIW2iCtqXvZpsjz_2H_u44OdTit4NSWVREKn3fsx9PKCkd9TNUUIyG_aYAW7jW6UFsZ6S6W2jLe9uG8/s1600/2012-01-30" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNXGBaTIGd7msVBkzCZGWQ83gr8A7Ui_ioRG2phZgBsWp8buAzWCTTauq3AtArIW2iCtqXvZpsjz_2H_u44OdTit4NSWVREKn3fsx9PKCkd9TNUUIyG_aYAW7jW6UFsZ6S6W2jLe9uG8/s1600/2012-01-30" /></a></div>After purging many, many items (read trash can and recycling bin practically full) and washing and vacuuming her vehicle, Jaime and I headed to Big Lots to buy her a crate to keep her essential vehicle items in. Yes, the rain poncho stayed but the bottle of vodka went inside as well as her random items of clothing.<br />
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Here is Jaime with her newly cleaned vehicle. And, no, there is nothing in her front or back seats. Who knew one little $3.00 crate could make someone so happy?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQV8yNFs_uMFyGahJvezl98eienu4-fO7erxtR0mkka2IfecIYiBY9tCOe61cWZqWqDZxQv_VS88TUpkURtK1Drwn7DF3ISmdf4eF39n1AOMEobLg_AU-iM29zCfonM6YS_ByCV-3Abc/s1600/2012-01-30" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQV8yNFs_uMFyGahJvezl98eienu4-fO7erxtR0mkka2IfecIYiBY9tCOe61cWZqWqDZxQv_VS88TUpkURtK1Drwn7DF3ISmdf4eF39n1AOMEobLg_AU-iM29zCfonM6YS_ByCV-3Abc/s1600/2012-01-30" /></a></div>All in all, a productive Saturday for 2 of the Knotty Krafters. And now my first blog post is done and done. A BIG thank you to Jaime for letting me reveal her knotty little secret. God knows we all have them, what's yours?<br />
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And, Jaime, you are not allowed to reveal my secrets and where is that bottle of vodka? We'll need it to get through burying Buddy...<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYXNZD5AyaNHRXV12eh3kZGJvBk5Ke7Xh27rqVrnu5pv6kEI1mkkciaLvSAIcxFjQtgz1zRmUD2_RwEPQnKlweK2X7JgQ_QB3Ht9KM18dKYaUUSn3Fu71j34Oy2DhPfsqFqNaF_dJclE/s1600/2012-01-30" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYXNZD5AyaNHRXV12eh3kZGJvBk5Ke7Xh27rqVrnu5pv6kEI1mkkciaLvSAIcxFjQtgz1zRmUD2_RwEPQnKlweK2X7JgQ_QB3Ht9KM18dKYaUUSn3Fu71j34Oy2DhPfsqFqNaF_dJclE/s200/2012-01-30" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vodka</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJKvPNjTM451XVFhwfCo9mSzJN4c7uAWBKpxqlVoTeTSyy7xi5Hny9IYQiqkW2WIcGS6j0Z1LFyJxkHyXzqh9BCInQFG_Xm79bSrClXentWzKR8zgrBKnntPCNhfcqS7W7aBsN9nDdjAY/s1600/2012-01-30" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJKvPNjTM451XVFhwfCo9mSzJN4c7uAWBKpxqlVoTeTSyy7xi5Hny9IYQiqkW2WIcGS6j0Z1LFyJxkHyXzqh9BCInQFG_Xm79bSrClXentWzKR8zgrBKnntPCNhfcqS7W7aBsN9nDdjAY/s200/2012-01-30" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fossilized Buddy</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">+</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">= GOOD TIMES!</span></div><br />
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- JenniferJenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529084339304538399noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291897728369589404.post-47968457193365994152012-01-27T11:02:00.000-06:002012-01-27T11:04:38.782-06:00Quilting Part 2 (The 10 Minute Quilt Blocks)The best kept secret in quilting gifts is Suzanne McNeill's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/5358-10-Minute-Blocks/dp/1574216694/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327680899&sr=8-1" target="_blank">10 Minute Quilt Blocks</a>. I made 3 different versions of this quilt for Christmas this year. Ms. McNeil put together a very good tutorial here: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbTHlGGKMPM&feature=youtube_gdata_player" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?<wbr></wbr>v=ZbTHlGGKMPM&feature=youtube_<wbr></wbr>gdata_player</a><br />
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I tweaked her patterns a little bit for my quilts. The first one that I did was a king sized quilt for my brother and sister-in-law (I heart you, Dave and Chy!).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1j59wLOp3iByGnFt19qfOAOCN0nUn3c3qWC5L7heVvA88axGgQzkyldqWX3cjbSOF3hYOryprZwr4ZIDvjhJScYyF-egZiTtraSqp8hafTG__eN5aW5XiucC71YZNDD0H_G54xysdy_c/s1600/IMG_4996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1j59wLOp3iByGnFt19qfOAOCN0nUn3c3qWC5L7heVvA88axGgQzkyldqWX3cjbSOF3hYOryprZwr4ZIDvjhJScYyF-egZiTtraSqp8hafTG__eN5aW5XiucC71YZNDD0H_G54xysdy_c/s320/IMG_4996.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I used the <a href="http://www.connectingthreads.com/collections/Birchtree_Lane_Quilting_Fabrics__L136.html" target="_blank">Birchtree Lane Collection</a> from <a href="http://www.connectingthreads.com/" target="_blank">Connecting Threads</a> for this project. I ordered 5 layer cakes from them (knowing that there were 19 squares per layer cake). I then ordered 11 yards of one of the prints for the middle squares, border, and back. I also got two yards of a dark brown fabric for the binding .<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt90yY0D-tCfyx50xHWlfKKxgGBMC2BQpFlLJqhp5rz7nR2EE9LRT126rh_hR4dWM1lVcGCWGPPM7P5TUWsNHy1OopfMZAkISTTo43Rk8XD3yqS45wor4B-3XexBe9Z8gnRIWxloP-QJY/s1600/IMG_5000.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt90yY0D-tCfyx50xHWlfKKxgGBMC2BQpFlLJqhp5rz7nR2EE9LRT126rh_hR4dWM1lVcGCWGPPM7P5TUWsNHy1OopfMZAkISTTo43Rk8XD3yqS45wor4B-3XexBe9Z8gnRIWxloP-QJY/s320/IMG_5000.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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The first step to this quilt was to divide my layer cakes into like color groupings of 4. I picked blue, green, latte, and dark brown as my groupings.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqNch9mAZfxNEE3cDwYFkImZ4tffcaKBHs1rQ_6wuUnDLGVndrdp4SPEAC6ZzhpOVQ7WFwtASZKuQWf2vT_Lh5oINDQ_YuvlfWmJx8RvKrCWFKHCC7iWEFcwM8cbfEajD7zdd50MLqKwk/s1600/IMG_4998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqNch9mAZfxNEE3cDwYFkImZ4tffcaKBHs1rQ_6wuUnDLGVndrdp4SPEAC6ZzhpOVQ7WFwtASZKuQWf2vT_Lh5oINDQ_YuvlfWmJx8RvKrCWFKHCC7iWEFcwM8cbfEajD7zdd50MLqKwk/s320/IMG_4998.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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I cut 3 yards sections for the back and then cut 6.5 inch strips from one of the 3 yard sections longwise for the border. The last yard I used to make 20 10in squares for the middle of each grouping. I really like the look of having matching middles and borders to all of my squares. I make this quilt 4 blocks by 5 blocks making the final measurement for this quilt 107" x 88". Since this was a king sized quilt, I sent it off to be machine quilted by a friend, since there is no way my machine could accommodate it's size.<br />
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The best thing about these quilt blocks is that they make really cool seasonal quilts. I made a Christmas quilt out of fat quarters. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcO1bSeBMmyWa-40YNLy1QGUvw4T4fhkQvEFQsojytYnyRC8wQaN4sTV51CsrtX-feouK6UAYtjvUdRt3wyNzKWXGQT3ASFNMk8aMZxJ8_ZIxYWyXEMbfWOKymEu27ukwdmLRQEDpNAhs/s1600/IMG_5013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcO1bSeBMmyWa-40YNLy1QGUvw4T4fhkQvEFQsojytYnyRC8wQaN4sTV51CsrtX-feouK6UAYtjvUdRt3wyNzKWXGQT3ASFNMk8aMZxJ8_ZIxYWyXEMbfWOKymEu27ukwdmLRQEDpNAhs/s320/IMG_5013.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas Throw</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
I bought 2 sets of 5 coordinating fat quarters from Joann's. Because I couldn't cut 10 inch squares from the fat quarters, I cut 9 inch squares instead. I cut 4 squares from each quarter and then cut a 3 inch strips from the remaining part of the quarter for the border. I bought a yard of fabric for a 6.5 inch border 3 yards of fabric for the back.<br />
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After much consideration and laying out different combinations I decided to put them together in 2 different blocks and again use the same color on each of the middle diamonds. In laying out the quilt it is very important to check and see that the patters on the fabric is laid out in different directions, especially with dramatic stripes.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvDoM0NwIONyZE4t8pOZiU-CsxRiaJvabJdypm_NelJz229V_n23TIH3raiiu__uEpHkSATAuM2tV9WwQ2YjnExFbFwNUoFwsm7Oaz-oApCSZ3HKHrX9x6nizlyI6RWxmifcKx16CFsmo/s1600/IMG_5014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvDoM0NwIONyZE4t8pOZiU-CsxRiaJvabJdypm_NelJz229V_n23TIH3raiiu__uEpHkSATAuM2tV9WwQ2YjnExFbFwNUoFwsm7Oaz-oApCSZ3HKHrX9x6nizlyI6RWxmifcKx16CFsmo/s320/IMG_5014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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The greatest part about this throw was that I spent under $20 to buy the fabric and I used leftover batting from another project. I put the entire quilt together, including the binding in one weekend. For binding on this quilt, I used the leftover 3 inch strips and sewed them together in a patchwork pattern, making sure that each of my angles went in a different direction.<br />
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</a></div><div style="clear: left; color: black; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: -webkit-auto;">For the quilting, I decided that this quilt was small enough to sew on my machine. I used clear thread on the top and green thread on the bottom an<span style="text-align: center;">d sewed diagonally thorough all of my squares making a fun pattern on the back!</span></div><div style="clear: left; color: black; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Cheers! Jaime</div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14143570874237661571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291897728369589404.post-40046649432821696732012-01-24T22:11:00.000-06:002012-01-24T22:11:17.146-06:00Christy Rocks!Christy showed us this the other day. It is fabulous! Seriously, you could spend all day just clicking the button. <a href="http://random-tutorial.com/" target="_blank">http://random-tutorial.com</a>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14143570874237661571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291897728369589404.post-68398753449346961282012-01-24T11:15:00.000-06:002012-01-24T11:15:58.825-06:00A Harry Potter Baby Shower?!? Yes, please.The lovely Christy and myself are in a fabulous book club. We started out reading all 7 Harry Potter books last year in time to see <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Harry-Potter-Deathly-Hallows-Part/dp/B005UG542S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327421536&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 2</a>. (Our latest book club obession is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Game-Thrones-Complete-First-Season/dp/B002IFT1ZA/ref=sr_1_2?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1327421856&sr=1-2" target="_blank">Game of Thrones</a> and the entire <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Game-Thrones-BOX-SET-Continues/dp/B005MGAM82/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1327421801&sr=1-3" target="_blank">Song of Ice and Fire Series by George R. R. Martin</a>, but that is another story for another post).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HPBC Girls at Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2</td></tr>
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In our Harry Potter Book Club (HPBC for short), one of our fellow members got pregnant during our reading of the original 7. As a group, we decided the only option open to us as that point was to throw a Harry Potter themed baby shower for Stef and her little muggle in the oven. So, Christy, Kim, and I started meeting weekly at our favorite lunchtime restaurant to make plans for our epic event! Baby showers are NOT my favorite thing and I generally avoid them like the plague. Our goal was to make this baby shower as fun as possible for everyone, espcially the mother to be!<br />
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I know, I know what you are thinking. How in the world does one throw a Harry Potter baby shower?!?!? Well, that my dear reader is exactly what I plan on telling you.<br />
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<strong><em>Decor, ext</em></strong>:<br />
<strong>Invitations</strong>: I used a sample Hogwarts letter and changed the date and time to the date and time of the party. Kim printed them with paper that looked like parchment and we hand delievered them to our guests. <br />
<strong>Decorations</strong>: Our main decorations were signs that we made and put up around the house, including a "Platform 9 3/4" on the front door and "Moaning Myrtle's Bathroom" just next to the loo.<br />
<strong>Guest Arrivals</strong>: When our guests arrived, each of them got a pair of Harry's spectacles (which I bought at Party City with the nose and mustache attactched and just cut them off of the glasses-- they were perfect!). Also, we gave each guest their very own lighting scar with a black eyeliner pencil.<br />
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<strong><em>Food</em></strong>:<br />
<strong>Butterbeer: N</strong>on alcoholic of course, made by Christy.<br />
<strong>Treacle Tart</strong><br />
<strong>Pumpkin Pasties</strong><br />
<strong>Snape's Potion</strong>: This is just White Bean Chili in a "cauldron" with several different toppings (cheese, sour cream, cilantro, avacado, etc.) in bowls around the cauldron that people can add to their "potion."<br />
<strong>Ramilda Vane's Love Potion</strong>: Since it was October, we wanted to make hot apple cider. Wr just renamed it something creative!<br />
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<strong><em>Games</em></strong>:<br />
<strong>The Sorting Hat</strong>: As each guest arrives, tape a 3x5 notecard to their back with the name of a HP character. We chose fairly obscure characters to make the game interesting, but you could make it easy or as difficult as you want (depending on the age of the guests and their level of knowledge about Harry and his friends).<br />
<strong>O.W.L.s</strong>: This game is kind of like Scattergories. Give all of the guests a peice of paper with each of the letters of the alphabet. They all have 5 minutes to write down one thing for each letter. After the 5 minutes is up each player gets one point for every unique answer. You get double points for alliterations. <br />
<strong>Transfiguration</strong>: Harry Potter charades! Just write down different HP themed charade things and put them in a bowl. Divide into teams and act away. No talking or sound effects :)<br />
<strong>Robe Decoration</strong>: In our (only) ode to traditional baby shower games, we had a onsie decorating contest (Harry themed of course). We bought white onesies in a variety of sizes and fabric markers (they are much easier to use than paint) and let the girls go to town! Stef picked her favorite as the winner.<br />
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Christy and I decided to knit the little muggle a Griffyndor had and scarf so that there was no question of which house he belonged in. I used the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/magic-coffee-baby-hat" target="_blank">Magic Coffee Baby Hat</a> from Ravelry for my pattern. I specifically made the newborn size so that he could wear it as soon as possible, since he was due in December.<br />
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Christy put together a very fun diaper cake with a hand knitting scarves for mom and baby as well as my hat on top!<br />
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This turned out to be the most fun baby shower that I have ever been to! Stef got some very fun gifts for the baby (including the cutest onsie with SPEW written on it from her sister Kim). Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14143570874237661571noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2291897728369589404.post-50320177997213719122012-01-23T14:36:00.000-06:002012-01-23T14:38:04.329-06:00Quilting Part 1<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This year past year for Christmas, I decided to hand make all of the Christmas gifts that I would give to people. It was a HUGE undertaking!! My list of gifts was long and distinguished.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I made quilts, dishcloth and scrubbie sets, Ginger Peach Jam (with Christy), <a href="http://theknottykrafters.blogspot.com/2012/01/peach-brandy-aka-my-adventures-as.html">Peach Brandy</a>, and knitting needle cases. While making everything took time, I really enjoyed the process of hand making things for the people I love most in the world.</div><br />
My favorite quilt that I made was for my parents. I used the Daisy Chain pattern from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jelly-Roll-Quilts-Pam-Lintott/dp/0715328638/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327339390&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Jelly Roll Quilts by Pam and Nicky Lintott</a>.<br />
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I used the Moda Fabric Line of Pom Pom de Paris by French General for the fabric. It took 2 jelly rolls to make this king sized quilt. <br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I modified the pattern in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jelly-Roll-Quilts-Pam-Lintott/dp/0715328638/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327339390&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Jelly Roll Quilts by Pam and Nicky Lintott</a> to accomodate the king size of this quilt, using 2 full jelly rolls and 8 blocks x 8 blocks. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguPB6xdUuZhh4ZVCFpC2v1V8mm9Jjb76eBW6PnWeCowgorkwzH1rQ-TTakQ3kpAxnyYbGEgMoDVnGfpQNYiOWl1X6yYHqtmcN46L54KMlyn5iq6Do87g1qVtasJOXZH-0ZO02L3QdRLCA/s1600/IMG_5009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguPB6xdUuZhh4ZVCFpC2v1V8mm9Jjb76eBW6PnWeCowgorkwzH1rQ-TTakQ3kpAxnyYbGEgMoDVnGfpQNYiOWl1X6yYHqtmcN46L54KMlyn5iq6Do87g1qVtasJOXZH-0ZO02L3QdRLCA/s320/IMG_5009.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I also added a 5 inch border of my main cream colored fabric as well as a 5 inch border of Pom Pom de Paris yardage. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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Happy Quilting!</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14143570874237661571noreply@blogger.com0