Simple Saturday - Granny Square Poncho!

It's a lazy simple Sunday. I started this Granny Square Poncho last night. The hardest part is picking the colors. I'm about 1/3 of the way through... I am hoping to finish tomorrow and wear on Monday! Soon this will be available in my store!

I made this crochet cell phone holder a few nights ago. I love my new iPhone 6 Plus but I don't like the lint from my sweatshirt pocket that gets on the screen. So, I thought I would crochet something simple. Turns out I needed a cotton lining since the cotton crochet thread is a little fuzzy.

This little holder well its actually kind of long is perfect! I will decorate with a cut crochet flower. Oh well maybe a few flowers and some leaves. We'll see.

So it's that time of year again... baseball and softball flip flop flowers! I sold over 1300 last year... lets see how many are shipped out this year! Add these to your flip flops. Clips on backside make them easy to swap out! 

Courtney made some Nestle Toll House cookie bars today. As you can see, this is all that is left. They were delicious! Baked potatoes in the oven for a simple and easy dinner. Everyone can pick their own toppings!  Well that's it for now... I need to get back to my crochet!

Monday...

I have a new favorite beverage. It's not cheap so I buy it only to treat myself every once in awhile. So delicious! I usually buy on my shopping trips to Whole Foods. I usually head over to Whole Foods when I am looking for an unusual ingredient for a recipe.

This past weekend we were in Santa Clara for the Fall State Nationals with the Marlin's U16 team.  Our team won the championship game! My son Chase pitched 6 innings in the semifinal game helping to get the team to the championship game! The guys seemed to have fun during the weekend. We won all of our games! So, more baseball this weekend but I'm happy to say it's in town. I can do some gardening in between games. Maybe some pizza and beer too with new friends! The photo above is my son getting his trophy and his championship t-shirt. It's been awhile since he's received a trophy! 

This is another new favorite that I picked up at Bevmo on Friday after work. Fireside Chat Winter Spiced Ale. It has 7.9% alcohol. I love it, it taste great and enough alcohol so I don't have to drink a lot of beers to relax. One actually did the trick! You've gotta try it.

My youngest daughter is my model. Here she is modeling my slouch camo beanie. I think it's because I love her black and green glasses. She's perfect to model my handmade beanies and hats. She may not be a fan of all the styles but no complaints from her putting them on. Oh and I am very proud of my model... she has a 4.0 on her progress report! Way to go Courtney! Woot Whoot!

I love to knit too. This is a knit slouch beanie with a tribal pattern. I love patterns in my handmade items. Takes a little more time but it's worth the look! This one is available on my bigcartel site. You can also click the shop button here on my blog to start shopping! I am knitting every night to add new and exciting styles to my knit and crochet line on my websites. Well that's it for now... make it a great week!

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It's Friday!

I'm liking the way this is turning out! Size 17 knitting needles. Great texture! It's going to be a knitted cowl. Yeah.. I'm knitting again. I had to give the crochet hooks a rest!

A hat ready for shipping!

Pilaf... Thanks to my friend Cheryl for the recipe!

20% Off

20% off In my Etsy Shop. Use coupon code HOLIDAYSALE 

http://www.dishandstitch.etsy.com

Saturday...

Thinking about what I am going to crochet or knit this morning. Most importantly, my coffee starts the day. It's been a long stressful week. I am now working 4 hours per day at my job. The reduction in hours is not my idea. This is something that I have to adjust to and I'm not liking it financially. I am sending out resumes to find something to fill in the afternoon hours or maybe something to take the place of that job. I say that job because it's been a long year at that job. So,with that being said... I am looking maybe for new beginnings? 

I have been trying to focus on my Etsy Shop this week. I've been busy making cowls and infinity scarves. It's getting cold out so these are perfect for the season! 

Of course the bearded beanies have been big sellers the past few years. I sell the pattern or I make them. I'm hoping to sell a lot of these again this year. So comfy and warm! 

Of course I will use one of these for the upcoming soccer games! I'm excited, my daughter Courtney made Varsity! She's worked really hard and it's paid off. I know last year it was freezing out at the games!

We'll... Time to get busy!  Happy Saturday everyone!

Relaxing but handmade busy weekend ...

So this weekend I was busy making beard beanies. These are camo beanies which have been a big seller so far this year.Yesterday after the soccer game I came home and crocheted all day while watching SOA season one on Netflix. I took a break so I could watch Revenge on ABC. Then back to Netflix. Now on to season 2. I am beginning to understand this show now.  

Individually packages and ready for large envelopes. 

Don't these look delicious! I dropped Couetney off at practice on Saturday morning and had to stop by Vallarta market to pick up some sweet breads. Oh yes, they were yummy!

I can remember when I was young... My mom would often buy some of these candies. Nope, didn't buy any. Too sweet!

I love being able to stay home on the weekends. I love to cook. I made albondigas soup and homemade tortillas. Delicious!

Went to Courtney's soccer game on Sundy morning... Great job Fusion!

Of course I had my crochet with me. I don't leave my house without my work in progress basket!

Of course another stop by Vallarta market to get some more sweet breads. I ate one while watching the game. So this week should be busy at work. The shop is getting items completed this week for a trade show in Florida. 

Make it a great week! I'm busy with orders fromy Etsy Shop! It's the holiday shopping season!

 

Cherie

Bearded Beanies shipped today to NY!

What a great wedding party gift headed to  Staten Island, NY! Just completed a Dish and Stitch Etsy order of 11 sets and handed the box to my mailman.  I hope my customer takes a pic at the wedding!

It's Halloween!

So who thought of Jack O Lanterns? I was curious so I did some research today. I thought I would share this info from history.com.

The practice of decorating "jack-o-lanterns" - the name comes from an Irish folktale about a man named Stingy Jack - orginiated in Ireland, where large turnips and potatoes served as an early canvas. Irish immigrants brought the tradition to America, home of the pumpkin, and it became an intergral part of Halloween festivities.

The Legend of "Stingy Jack"

People have been making jack-o-lanterns at Halloween for centuries. The practice originated from an Irish myth about a man nicknamed "Stingy Jack." According to the story, Stingy Jack invited the Devil to have a drink with him. True to his name, Stingy Jack didn't want to pay for his drink, so he convinced the Devil to turn himself into a coin that Jack could use to buy their drinks. Once the Devil did so, Jack decided to keep the money and put it into his pocket next to a silver cross, which prevented the Devil from changing back into his original form. Jack eventually freed the Devil, under the condition that he would not bother Jack form one year and that, should Jack die, he wouldn't  claim his soul. The next year, Jack again tricked the Devil into climbing into a tree to pick a piece of fruit. While he was up in the tree, Jack carved a sign of the cross into the tree's bark so that the Devil could not come down until the Devil promised Jack not to bother him for ten more years. Soon after, Jack died. As the legend goes, God wouldn't allow such an unsavory figure into heaven. The Devil, upset by the trick Jack had played on him and keeping his work not to claim his soul, would not allow Jack into hell. He sent Jack off into the dark night with only a burning coal to light his way. Jack put the coal into a carved-out turnip and has been roaming the Earth with ever since. The Irish began to refer to this ghostly figure as "Jack of the Lantern," and then, simply "Jack O'Lantern."

In Ireland and Scotland, people began to make their own versions of Jack's lanterns by carving scary faces into turnips or potatoes and placing them into windows or near doors to frighten away Stingy Jack and other wandering evil spirits. In England, large beets are used. Immigrants from these countries brought the jack o'lantern tradition with them when they came to the United States. They soon found pumpkins, a fruit native to America, perfect for jack-o-lanterns.

We have two pumpkins at home. My son couldn't decide what style to carve on his pumpkin so I don't think we will have a jack-o-latern this Halloween. Maybe he will rush home after training and get the pumpkin carved.

Delicious Pumpkin Soup recipe from Martha Stewart website. 

I used to roast the pumpkin seeds but its too much work to get them clean, season, then back. I will just buy a bag of pumpkin seeds. Ha!

One thing I do love about this time of year... Pumpkin Bread and Pumpkin Pie. I love pumpkin flavored stuff! I just purchased some Pumpkin Pie flavored coffee creamer last night. It's delicious in my coffee! I used to buy the Pumpkin Pecan bread mix at Costco. It's delicious but this year I will make some homemade from scratch Pumpkin Bread. Here is the recipe if you'd like to try this recipe. 

Well, my kids are too big to trick or treat this year so I will be home crocheting and handing out candy. Thinking my kids can hand out the candy while I crochet. I hope we get a visit from my Grandson JJ. I think he is Mickey Mouse this year. My other grandkids are in Salinas so I can't wait for my kids to post pics of them in their Halloween costumes!

Last night I was working on my Dish and Stitch Etsy shop packaging. All of my items will be wrapped in brown packaging with a tag. I love opening packages so my customers will probably love it too!

This is what my carry all basket looks like right now. I'm crocheting beanies and beards. Things are looking good so far for my Etsy Shop and it's only the end of October. People are shopping early this year... that's good for me so I'm not crocheting the week of Christmas like my fingers are going to fall off. Seriously... my fingers hurt last year! But I love orders! This is my busy time of year. Need a beard beanie, or a earwarmer or headband... shop my Etsy Store!

Be safe tonight! Happy Halloween!

Cherie

Bearded Beanie Giveaway!

How To Enter:

1. Click the photo above and go to my Etsy Store and view this Bearded Slouch Beanie. Mark this item as a favorite.

2. MAKE A COMMENT here telling me if you won, who would get the Bearded Beanie. Maybe you want it for yourself or for a gift! Don't forget to put your email address after your comment.

3. LIKE my Dish and Stitch Facebook Page!

4. Click the Facebook icon at the bottom of this giveaway post to share on your Facebook. You can do this once per day for additional entries. Please tell me you "shared" and post your Facebook Name so I can verify.

*Drawing starts October 28, 2013(my daughter's birthday!) and ends on November 29, 2013.

*One winner will be announced on November 30, 2013 on this page, and on the Facebook post. Winner will be notified via email.

*GIVEAWAY open to U.S. Residents only.

That's it! Good Luck!

Cherie

Crafty Saturday!

I'm  busy creating on this beautiful Saturday. So here is a view of my crafty table. It's actually a computer desk with a pillow case. I needed a place where I can lay my tools... I'm tired of sitting ont he couch and crafting! Makes me lazy! I am known to lose scissors, needles.... gosh I can't even begin to tell you how many yarn needles I have gone through! I don't want to think about it... it must be in the hundreds!  So above are almost pincusions, a ring and a crochet cuff. These items will appear in my Etsy shop tomorrow. Well the ring is there already. I guess I better get dressed and head out to the hardware store to look for some find sand for my pincusions. The fine sand sharpens the needles as they are poked into the cusion. My needles are dull so yes they need some sharpening.

Thank you to my daugher Courtney for making homemade waffles. I woke up early and started my second pin cushion. My older daughter wanted me to make breakfast. Courtney did it for me! Love it!

And of course, I have to have Mrs. Butterworth's syrup. Yum! 

I might have a pomegranate today. I haven't had one in years! I remembe when I was young, my mom would give me an old tshirt and tell me to go sit on the porch and eat my pomegranate. Yep, and it was good and I made a mess!

Later today it's off to a girls soccer fundraiser and of course I will be helping out! So today, I,m working on adding some Thanksgiving themed photos with links with beautiful decorating ideas, yummy recipes and some inspiration. Stay tuned, check back later. I need to go buy some sand! Completed pin cusions later!

Make it a great Saturday!

Cherie

Wonderful Weekend...

So this weekend started with a box of delicious cookies. I made a trip to Trader Joe's. It's been awhile since I've shopped the unique food items so I thought i'd stop in to see what there seasonal items were on display. I bought these cookies and they are delicious!

and also bought these Pumpkin Spice herbal blend tea. I am trying this today! A great afternoon beverage... oh and of course with the cookies!

my kids think they are funny... we were out to dinner at Luna's Pizzaria, my favorite family italian restaurant in clovis!

I put all of these lovely colored yarns in my basket... then I sat, looked at them to see what I could make. Well, I made some wristwarmers. I love color!

These are my Fiesta Fingerless Gloves. They were really easy to make but yes, needed a lot of yarn colors. I love them! So bright and cherry! A thought... make them yourself, click here for the pattern! So, you don't want to buy all of the yarn colors... click here for the pattern kit!

Then I thought of course I will make a pattern to load in my Etsy shop, and then thought... it would be hard to buy all of these yarn color skeins so I created a Crochet Pattern Kit. I will send all of the yarn needed along with the pattern. Pretty clever I might add.

Time for a break, I made some queso for my family to enjoy.... yes it was yummy! Of course it was a Pioneer Woman recipe. I just love her easy recipes... so tasty! You can find it here.

Doesn't it look delicious! It was.

Then I made another pair of fingerless gloves with my yarn selections. I love these colors too! Again, they are cheery!

I even love the snippets of yarn from the projects I made. I may put these in a large jar just to admire my hard work!

So now I am working on a camouflage beanie to add to my shop. So happy Monday you all! And don't forget to enter my giveaway listed here on my blog! Ends tomorrow!

Cherie