Love Is All We Need~~sampler freebie!

  This past week, has been quiet and I've been working on some goals I set for 2014 that include:

• simplifying my life in all areas
• learning new knit stitches
• reading, reading, reading at least a book a week
• organizing while I'm simplifying
• paying it forward with donations of "too much stuff"
• being more mindful of my morning devotionals
• practicing yoga more often AND learn more from You-tube videos
• learning more about frugal living
• researching more about the products I put on my skin and going more organic
• pulling out my cross stitching I designed to stitch the models
• pulling out my WIPS I have already going and finish some
• start writing a book

So, as you can see, I set some big goals but all in all, so far, it's February and I'm doing as well as I can.

Folks, there are some intelligent, talented writers in the blog world and I really didn't realize the depth of the free education and movies on u-tube that we have available!!!

For example, I've been wanting to learn to use cables in my knitting but it just looks so hard. I'm going outside my comfort zone and found The Casting on Couch series of English knitting on u-tube and she taught a braided cable scarf! It looks quite much easier than I had thought but I will have to get those needles out and work it.......work it baby, work it......

Here is her site for freebies. I highly recommend her tutorials on You Tube. She is great at explaining.

http://www.thecastingoncouch.com/

I have knitted the Chunky Lace pattern on the end of a garter scarf and it turned out well.
I really want to try the Cabled scarf pattern.

For simplifying, I set this goal because I'm at a middle age (huhum) point in my life where cleaning the chaos, having fewer things, promotes a better environment for less stress. I've read a couple of books and found some blogs I really like and without identifying myself a hoarder...........I do tend to cling on to things longer than need be. I don't know if it's the mentality of "some day I'm going to need that" or what. I think I mentioned the book I read that was free on Pixel of Ink about organization and decluttering. I have since found and stashed a couple more on my Kindle. Speaking of that, doesn't Kindle save space for books!!!!  I've got 265 books on my Kindle, most of them from Pixel of Ink freebies.

I started with the down stairs bathroom and took out all that was in the cabinets. Threw away an entire trash bag full of expired or junk. Then, I organized using baskets I already have for different things. I have WAYYYYYYYY too many lip products. :O
But, I'm very girly, so to part with them is hard to think about.
I have gone through the baskets once and taken a week off of that and now I'm going to go through them again. My goal is to have minimal things in my bathroom. Minimal. Less stress. And this is just one room. In January, I finished selling or donating toys that my adult kids didn't want and feel a load is off there. So, still have many rooms to go but by the end of this year, I hope to meet my goal.

The knitting bug has had me for a while now, but I'm digging into my cross stitch WIPS again and going to pick this up more. I do love samplers! I think knitting has just been such a repetitious therapy for the mind and also useful finishes, with Winter being the best time to knit.

Yoga is now a mindful part of most days in the week and I like it best when my hubbie and I find a lesson online and practice together. It's really quite balancing. I've practiced yoga for about 2 years now, maybe 3. There was a time I didn't practice and I could really tell the difference when I started back.

Recently, I've started substituting natural oils for many beauty and cleaning products and I'm really, really enjoying coconut oil. Just Google Coconut Oil and uses and you will find amazing things. I really didn't realize how good for you this is. Make sure if you get coconut oil, you get, Extra Virgin Cold Pressed, Unrefined Coconut Oil. I have replaced my shaving cream, my night cream, day cream, cleanser, makeup remover and body moisturizer/scrubs with it. It's solid at 76 degrees or below and liquid above that. It lasts forever! It is antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties so you can use on acne, dry skin, sensitive skin and eczema. In fact it's GREAT healing for eczema and psoriasis type conditions. This also ties into my more simple and wholesome living goal! You can order this online but I just picked it up at a grocery store. I prefer the glass jar brands instead of the plastic.

One of my goals in life I set many years ago is to write a book. I officially started and have a publisher already in the ready. It's in it's baby stages of formulation right now and that's about all I can say at this point. But! When my writing mojo begins, I write a little more. My goal to finish is by the end of this year. I know that sounds like a long time but I want to make sure it's right before releasing. The publisher is supposed to call me again early Summer to check on progress.

My camera is really on the blink. I hope to get it to squeeze a few pictures of the snow we are getting. The most of this storm, Pax is hitting our area in the mountains with prediction totals of 9-12 inches by Thursday morning. Folks, that is ALOT of snow. I'm concerned about the icing conditions as well. But for the most part, hubbie and I are huddling inside until Thursday.

 Louie the outside cat, has checked in the Lodge at Fox mountain through the end of the week! We already have had constant snow since 5am. He is ever so glad to curl in the back of the bathroom cabinet that is open and hibernate. Can't wait to see what he does when I turn on a blow dryer.


I designed a freebie offered for a short while here for you!!!  I want to thank you for all your support and taking time out to read my blog. Valentine's Day is just around the corner so I was inspired to design this one. I will have it out free for a couple of weeks. Again, if you stitch it up, please, please, please send me a pic. I will put it on the blog here and especially adore the different ways you finish it.

 

Love Is All We Need

designed by Jennifer Fox, Feathers in the Nest

copyright 2014

 

I'm humming the Beatles song now in my head...........................................

 

Use colors of choice and linen of choice! From muted pinks to bright pinks, this sampler can take many décor options. I would love to see this in a primitive sampler.

Please keep pattern as is except changing the initials to suit you and your sweetheart!

To enlarge to print, just click on the picture and then print in your computer software.

 

I can't wait to see some finishes! You really do make my day. I hope this makes someone happy at least and if your heart is happy, then so is mine.

 

I have two knitting projects on the needles. A shawl and a Spring light airy scarf.

Stay-tuned for pics and progress.

 

And finally, this creature that was stealing all of Louie's food outside on the back porch is not around anymore. He actually growled at me and hissed. Scared me to death.

He met his demise at the end of last week.

 

 

I failed to use the Opossum Pie recipe that is in one of my cookbooks......YUCK.

 

Now this is a much prettier furbaby. Yup, she is a B.A.B.Y

 

 

So on the needles I went from this:

 

 

 

 

I have another one, a thick cranberry shawl in another pattern on more needles but at this time my camera has met it's demise. I will have to get hubbie to take a pic of it for the next post.

 

 

This red headed woodpecker was seen prior to the snow coming. I guess he was "going to the grocery for milk and bread before the storm".

 

Stay tuned. Soon some snow pics today with hubbie's nice camera!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Knitting warm and cozy,

Jennifer

 

Saturday Knitting by the Woodstove = Scarf Finish

 

The Foxy Boxy scarf

 

And so I've been knitting all evening yesterday and this morning and now on my last block to knit and then finished. I will block this scarf because in doing so will stretch out 5-7 more inches.

 

Otherwise the homestead is pretty serene. We have been watching HGTV all day and especially back to back episodes of Love it or List It! LOVE those shows.

 

I made this scarf for Mr. Fox but.........he likes to wrap his more and he is much taller so this will be for myself I guess worn around with a heart wooden pin I have, jeans and boots.

 

The pattern is simple, something I totally made up myself and easy:

 

CO 26

Knit 5 rows

Then, row 6

(WS) K5, purl 16, K5

(RS) K all stitches

do this alternating to make the blocked section until 7 garter edge ridges or 14 rows

then K 5 ridges or 10 rows, each row

then, repeat with (WS) K5P16K5

and (RS) K all stitches for 14 rows

then continue to repeat this pattern.

at end, K 5 rows

then BO

 

This created a garter ridge on the edge to keep the scarf from curling with the purling of Stockinette.

This also is a pretty structured unisex design.

 

I used a #  10 interchangeable Chiago Goo metal lace needle with 24 in cord

The yarn was in my stash from last year on a clearance table at my local yarn shop Bumbleberries in Clarkesville, Georgia. I cannot find the tag for info but it was a thicker yarn and washable.

The colors really attracted me because as I thought of my husbands blue teal eyes!

The colorway is just really pretty.

 

I hope this finds you warm and cozy. The woodstove is so relaxing today and the sun actually came out for a little while.

 

Abigail is curled on the sofa watching me finish this up. She has not yet to try to play with this or mess it up and it's been on the sofa for easy pick up and knit. She's been a good girl!

 

I've let this frame sit with the Jane Austen piece unironed and loose behind it for just a glimpse.

I'm going to have to choose a color of fabbie from my stash to sew along the sides. The pink is brighter than I wanted but I think with a light sage green side it will look better.

I am almost thinking of shabby chic-ing this one up. Not really sure.

 

 

Till later..........

Jennifer

I Just Can't Wait Sometimes and K2tog

 

~~~~~~~~~~for snow and

~~~~~~~~~to start a new lace freebie

especially with this yarn I have in my stash,

and the cabin fever with all the cold weather.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 And on days like today, I just look at it after 5 or 6 rows of the pattern

 

and realize after it's stretched out, the beauty shows.

 

The beauty of the colorway and the way it shows the lace.

 

When  stitches are put together in a pattern intentionally to leave a "hole" for lace,

 

sometimes it's not until it's all stretched out until it's full pattern can be appreciated.

 

Space can be beautiful when it is in the right timing of a pattern.

It can be a real mess when it's not supposed to be there.

 

Reminds me of our journey in life. The places we think are holes, can sometimes be just part of the pattern to make the bigger picture, our journey pattern, a more beautiful purpose in the end.

 

This I know for sure:

 

Those that left holes in our hearts, were just part of the whole pattern, and that in God's grace, He knits our life the way it should be if we put our trust in Him always and always seek His will.

 

Knitting gives me time to meditate. I think that's why there are research studies that show how therapeutic knitting really is. However, if you ask some people, they would say it's just for old people. Man, what they are missing out on, no matter what age!

 

The rhythm of it. The counting. The freedom to choose. Choose colors. Choose patterns.

 

It's very functional as well as beautiful as the process goes along.

 

At the end, there is no better sense of accomplishment which is like a balm to our soul.

 

And the very best part of knitting is using our gifts to give of our hearts.

 

This is just what knitting means to me. I'm blessed to have been able to learn a year ago as it's been as good to me as many a close friend.

 

On the reading front:

 

I'm finishing the Bible study devotional book and online study group called Wife After God in just 4 days!!! I can't believe it's almost over. I don't want it to be........

 

 My review of this is highly recommended for Christian wives. The author is the group leader, Jennifer Smith, and she is very gifted with teaching about such a HUGE part of life. I'm also blessed to have a husband who is just so easy to love and respect. You know marriage is a true KNIT 2 TOGETHER!

And for that, I'm truly, truly thankful.

I think God had me go through a marriage of what is not, to show the contrast of how a real marriage should be.

 

#soblessed #soloved #sothankful #knittedtogether