30 Day Shredding

For years, I've been addicted to watching "The Biggest Loser" and recently I learned that Jillian Michaels has an exercise video or two out there. I heard around the blogsphere about "The 30 Day Shred" and how awesomely painfully good it is.

Today I decided to start my 30 Day Shred journey. I started up the DVD, grabbed my weights and started working out. Scott was working on his laptop and gently encouraged me to keep going. OK so he wasn't gentle and I did threaten to kick him since he wasn't in pain but he did encourage me to keep going.

Also while they claim this is a 20 minute workout, my heart rate monitor clocked it in at 25 minutes. It was a hard 25 minutes but a good one and I am going to do my best to do the full 30 days of this workout. 30 Days of FUN!

Pillows! Pillows! Pillows!

Ever since Scott and I brought the new couch home, I've been attempting to accessorize it with pillows. After searching high and low at various stores and freaking out at the cost of pillow covers (never mind the inserts), I gave up. Then I happened into The Quilting Loft and was inspired. And in the end, even with the silk backing on this pillow, I spent less than what Pottery Barn and Crate and Barrel were wanting for their pillows.



The pattern for this pillow does not necessarily exist. I cut two 20" square pieces of fabric and machine sewed three sides together with the right sides facing. I believe I sewed a 3/4" seam allowance but it might have been a 1/2" seam allowance. I then turned the pillow pieces right-side out and stuffed a 18" pillow form into the fabric.



Then the hard part came, the hand sewing. I attempted an invisible seam and it took about four times longer than the cutting and sewing of the other sides.



In the end though, I love how this pillow came out! I have two more pillows to create and I'll use be using an actual pattern from Last Minute Patchwork Gifts for those two pillows.

Year of the S(ox) - Sox One

The Year of the Sox is well underway and I've finished my first pair! I used my simple socks pattern with Jitterbug yarn.





Now onto my next pair!

Hemlock Love

I finally finished my Hemlock Blanket last week after three days of binding off the border.



I did enjoy knitting this blanket but I personally did not find it to be "easy". "Easy" in my definition is mindless knitting that you do without a pattern while watching TV.



Blocking this blanket wasn't as hard as I imagined. I placed it in the washer on rinse and low spin before laying this out to dry with pins for about 24 hours.



And now I'm ready to cuddle under the blanket while knitting on my socks or whatever else I cook up to knit on.



I used Louet Riverstone in Burgandy with US 7 needles to create this blanket. I used almost 5 skeins. I have about .25 of the 5th skein left.

Building the Fabric Collection

I seem to be busy building my fabric collection instead of using it to actually make things. I hope that changes soon.



But so far, I love the additions to my collection!

Superheroes Meeting

I believe this sign indicates the location of a Superhero meeting. There was a group of people in the building behind this sign sharing a meal. While I have no idea what this sign reads, I pretend that it is for a secret meeting of superheroes because that is fun.

If You Look Hard Enough...

You'll find PINK everywhere!

Year of the S(ox)

I've been watching a few of my friends as they take part in NaKniSweMoDo. I so wanted to join along but knew that I just wouldn't be able to complete 12 sweaters this year. So instead I have decided to complete 12 pairs of socks for myself. Yes, I do plan to be selfish and not share these socks. It feels good to do that.

I was discussing this plan with Jessica and Meg at knitting on Chinese New Year and they decided that this year should be the Year of the S(ox).

I decided to do a simple style for my first pair since I decided on this plan so late. I have some ideas floating around for the other sock patterns but one think I have plenty to spare of is the actual sock yarn. I don't think I'll need to buy any yarn for this project!