Jen's Popperie

After searching for yarn to "semi-match" my scarf, both in Boston, and back at home where I originally got the yarn, I found that they no longer make that specific type of Noro yarn. Bummer! So, I checked one more place...EBAY! :) And to my happiness, they had the same yarn, dye lot and everything! I ordered more, so I can continue on in bliss! I absolutely LOVE knitting this scarf, because it's striped, and variagated, I never seem to know which color combinations are coming next. This, in itself, is one of the most fun things to see, how the colors will play against each other.

Speaking of spring, I also spent some time this weekend getting all of our leaves out of the flower beds. One wondrous thing about having oak trees is all of the leaves you not only get in the fall, but also the spring! HA! Our flowers have started blooming, and I have been enjoying the fragrance in the air. We had some little purple flowers, which I need to learn the name of:)
It's wonderful that spring is finally here!

Did it freak you out? Are you on the right website? So I decided to change up the blog a bit....to much pink. I like pink, but I was in need for something new for spring. I was inspired off of the Rosie Posie craft link. I love the color combo. of the turquoise, red, and other pastel colors she is using in her granny square blanket.
Anyway, I don't have a photo at the moment to post, although I have finished the totally cropped hoodie sweater, and am in the midst of trying my first "lace" pattern. I'll post soon. It's going pretty well so far, but I'm just too busy to blog. Grrr... I have 11 more miles to run to hit my hundred by April 1. It was a good goal to have, and if I make it, Chris said I can reward myself with a ladies set of golf clubs! Amy, Josh, he and I went golfing this past weekend, which seems funny, but it was fun! So, I have to plug in a few more miles and I'll be set!

Here is the bracelet I made with teeny tiny crochet thread. It was definitely a process to make. I first had to string on about 1,000 beads onto other thread, loop it through, and thread it onto the crochet thread. I used a size 00 needle, and knit the beads in as I went. It was actually not too bad once I got to the knitting part. A few of the beads twisted to the other side, but I think it turned out pretty well. The pattern is free from the Magknits website.

And it's done....almost, just have to add that snap. Sorry about the blurry photo....


So, I was really pumped to get another free pattern off of the Peony Knits blog. She has the incredible amazing talent of picking apart a sweater, and coming up with a similar pattern. I like the way it looks. However, it was about the size for a 12 year old! It is supposed to be snug, but not quite that snug. I even made a gauge swatch, which is a new thing for me, since I'm used to making baby clothes, which I don't worry about, because eventually a baby/child will grow into it! I guess I'll just have to try again and readjust.


I'm super excited about how this pattern is turning out. I got the pattern for the Totally Cropped Hoodie off of Magknits once again. Love that website! It's great for a small grouping of free patterns each month! I went the cheap route and am using a combo of the Read Heart super saver Monet and Wool-Ease Thick n' Quick Charcoal. It is actually fitting so far! YAY!
I just want one knit kind of sweater thing that I can actually wear myself!

Check back later for a pick of some knitting supply birthday presents! I'm so excited!

So, for my birthday, I really got a treat! We had a blizzard, and a whopping 14 or so inches of snow! And, we had a snow day, no school, the next day! Ok, we did spend most of my bday shovelling and I did hang out inside most of the day Friday. I have been trying to take a crafty break, but it's been hard during the winter. What's a girl stuck inside in MN to do? Check out the largest icicle we had! I think it was about the same height as me! How crazy!



At school, we have a card club where we exchange 20 cards with 20 people. We have a different theme each month. This month's theme is "Congrats". So, thinking most people will have wedding cards to dish out, I thought I would go for the "onesie" theme. They were very simple to make, and I think they turned out pretty cute! Maybe it's just that many of my friends are in that baby zone right now...or just entering it.


These were some of the Valentine's I made for my parents and grandmas....thanks to my latest obsession with Stampin' Up. I must take a break from craftiness, but I can't!



So I have been very lazy at sharing photos of works in progress and finished stuff! Here are a few! The first is the "boob"holder---or mini-sweater. I think the yarn that I used made it a little looser than it is supposed to be. I also messed up on part of it, and instead of joining the back and side pieces, I ended up stitching them together after the fact. I increased in the wrong spot, but still ended up with the right amount of stitches. Maybe I can take it in on the sewing machine.

How cute is this? I have yet to purchase a pattern off of the internet, but this may be the first...in the future. It's so cute!
http://www.loopyarn.com/detail.aspx?ID=446

I have been knitting so much...I have injured my hand...still it's hard to not do something:) Oh well....maybe I'll catch up with knitting this weekend. I have found lots of patterns, in the mean while, that I want to try, eventually. But, I have learned that I will never make everything that I want to :)

4 more miles down! YAY! That makes 50...really, I have one month left to go 50 miles!

So, I realized I haven't been marking my miles this week....5 more miles down.
YAY! I'm down to 54 more miles...Maybe I'll throw a few more in today.

So, we had a great knitting night on Tuesday night. I made a lot of progress on my sweater vest/tunic. However, I tried it on and realized it was about 5 sizes too big. It's hard to knit something to actually fit myself. I think I need to try a different sized needle, and actually make a swatch...I can now see the importance of swatches. They haven't really been a necessity to me so far in my knitting as I've really only made baby clothes....which, at some point a baby will grow into. I'll wait and see what the bday brings as far as needles. I'm also making a little more progress on the big block blanket. But, I feel like I've reinjured my knitting forarm...even my shoulder was sore playing volleyball on Friday night. I know, how sad.....a knitting injury! HA! It is a little hilareous...my addiction to knitting has hurt me!

I have tried to take a little break and work on the cards for my card club, and a baby book that was for a friend a long while ago...latest projects for the weekend. I'll take some photos when they are all completed.

It's time for a knitting night! I'm finally making it off to Dunn Bros. coffee with my friend, Katri. I've been meaning to hit it up for quite a while, and it finally works out! Running update...down to 59 miles! I realized that my date is more than half-way, and I haven't hit the half-way mile marker yet, so I have to get moving!

http://www.myheritage.com

Ok, so this is such a fun website! However, there is no Amy Poehler! What? I guess I will have to settle for my look-a-like's here. It's so fun! It's hilareous when you are matched as the opposite sex as well! HA! Try it out! It's great!

Yes! Finally I have put some photos back on the blog! We recently worked on re-doing our basement somewhat. We used to have the dark dark brown wood paneling half way down the wall. We refinished our walls with Venetian Plaster (curtosy of the great Home Depot). The color is "Misty". I then went a little crazy with Target and a great store called the Hobby Lobby (located in La Crosse, WI). My cousin Kari introduced me, and I absolutely love the store. I guess it's good that the only store located in MN is in Rochester, or Chris and I may go bankrupt. (just kidding! ). They had all sorts of home decorating things that were very unique. Plus, they had some crafty things as well: fabrics, yarn, floral decor...it was great! I got the "Serendpity" sign and the black wood carved wall hanging there.

The pillows I got at Target at half-price. I love a good deal! We kind of were going for a subtle "Hawaiian" theme in that room with the browns, teal, and flowers. Plus, all of our photos from our trip to Hawaii last year. Maui is an amazing place......must go back some day!

The hat and booties, I made for a woman at school who is having a little girl in a couple of weeks. I love the "Lola" hat. I got the pattern from my friend, Angie. It's always kind of a guess to me to see how big booties or baby hats will be. But, they should eventually be the right size. Sorry about the not so in focus picture...I've been trying to get the new cam. to work right...



This blanket is still a work in progress and was actually one of the very first knitting projects I ever started....being a blanket, I think I got bored with it after a while, and then put it away and forgot about it. Each "square" is about a foot, so I have a bit to go. What is done is actually the size that the pattern calls for. But, I would like to make it a 5x5 blanket instead of 3x3. When it is finished I'll take more closeups of the different stitches. Each square is made from a variety of stitches, (i.e. garter, etc.). It's a good first project, although it takes a long time.

Count down on the run....2 more down...we are at 63 left.

run count...65 to go! hopefully we'll get some photos up on here soon. HAPPY VALENTINE's DAY!
Storyhill tonight! YAY!

Ok, so looking back at all of my entries, I notice that I haven't had any photos on here in forever...due to our lack of hookup of our computer at home. We have been remodeling and painting lots and lots in our house. It gets to be chaotic, but also good, because it's refreshing to go into different areas of our house now. I wish the in the 60's was referring to our lovely MN weather....ha! It finally rose about zero or 10 for the first time in 2 weeks. Thank goodness! Yesterday, it was a balmy 30 Degrees. The kids finally got to go out for recess today, Thank the Lord! They have been crazy in school for the longest time.
60's actually does refer to the milage I have left to go...67 more miles....tonight it will hopefully be 3 less than that. Adios for now! Hopefully we'll get the computer hooked up soon!

Ok, so 2 more miles down. I've got a busy week, so I was hoping to squeeze one more mile in there, but I had to finish up the Venetian Plaster in the basement! :) Happy to finally be finished with that. Now I have conferences tonight, the last of the year, which is a weird feeling, being that it is Feb. Anyway, I've got lots to put together in the house before the big stampin' up party at our house on Sat. AM. It will be the first time I have a multitude of fellow teachers in our house. Chris has his very first ever drill weekend, even though he's been "in" for a few years. It will be a long weekend, but I will get to do whatever I want...I'm guessing I'll be spending lots of time doing crafty and remodeling things. It will be fun!

Just my running count...2 more down...we are at 73....yippee!
As far as knitting goes....updates...
mini-sweater (boob-holder) completed, but I must block it.
sqaure blanket---started working on it again after a couple of years...you know how those things can pile up. It was originally supposed to be 9 squares (it looks like a quilt), but I think I'm going to make it larger...probably 12 more squares, which makes it seem like I have a ton left to do on it. We'll see. Again, I would be posting pics right now but we are still in the midst of redoing the walls in the basement and computer room! It's not hooked up. Soon, soon!

Down 2 more miles! Down to 75...how crazy! More painting and knitting tonight! YAY!

As of Saturday, I'm now down to 77 more miles until April 1. I guess I should be calculating a bit more to determine if I am on track...I've just been running as much as I can. We have been busy tearing up the family room...ok, Chris has been busy taking out the paneling, ripping out moldy dry wall that was underneath it, and redoing all of that wood work stuff...I have been busy doing Venetian Plaster..which I love. At first, I was afraid the color would be too dark, but it's ending up pretty nice. I'll have to post a pic when we get it all done! Our computer is dismantled at home right now, since that's the room that it is normally in! Other than that...I have just finished the "boob" holder as well! YAY! I'll get that up here as soon as I can.

I've made it to 80 miles. yippee skippy! I guess at this point, it's hard to say if I think I'll make it down to zero before April 1. I have every intention of doing it...It's a busy week this week with conferences tonight. Tomorrow night, I'm pumped to be hosting a knitting night! I'll hopefully get finished with my mini-sweater...it's just over half-way finished. I didn't do it exactly right, but hopefully it will still be wearable. We shall see, I guess.

Chris and I are also determining which color to paint the family room down stairs. We are finally going to take off the wood paneling, re-do the drywall and paint away. I'm looking forward to it! Finally, a little less 70's. It's amazing how much I want to then redo something else, and then another thing, and then still another thing to really update it even more. That's how it goes, I suppose.