Back again with a Greener path

Being green can also equal being crafty!!! I will show you how, but first some apologize and explaining to do.

As I have stated in the past the the hiatus would be temporary it has not. This I am sorry to my readers… Even if they are only my family and friends!  I will be making an honest effort to blog more and to keep in touch, not just so you can see all the crazy hair brain ideas I get.  But this will be my journal… my family and friends have said that I should get back in to my blogging and writing because I am more level when I do so… Here are my goals (new goals):

1. Blog MORE!! I pledge to try and post every day or atleast a few times a week.  The reason why – well I have been hushing myself and I have to much knowledge and interesting finds to share with you all… (who ever you are – Please leave comments so I can engage you too)

2.  Get my personal finances in order.  Well I have already started to try to do this – JUNE: Month to notate all the I am spending so I can analyze it and save.

3. Lose some weight – Well more engage in a more healthy lifestyle.  I am doing this not to be more “beautiful” because I love me the way I am.  But I am doing this to ensure that I am healthy and today we see so many with Diabetes and or Heart issues and I do not want to push my luck.  There are sub goals in this one:

• Eat more healthy foods – I have decided Healthy also means Local so I am enrolling in the 100 mile challenge.  I pledge to eat more, and more, and more local food.  *I will do this as long as I am not going to become broke by it*
• Exercise – In accordance with my saving and personal finance revamp I am going to exercise at home and outside (posts on this to come)
• Drink more water and fluids other than POP (aka Pepsi or Coke *my weakness*)

4.  Help to support local merchants… So buying local food and items.  Plus I will support the Handmade merchants so I think I am going to investigate items on Etsy!

5. Make the world greener! and my family too… I am going to make some nice green changes to my life… so that means cracking out the sewing machine and making some nifty items.  I will make sure I will let you all know what works and what doesn’t

6. Continue with my passion of cooking and food!  There will be food posts of all kinds! Food is technically a craft (kinda) too… its an Art!!

7.  Too Be Happy!  This will come over time and hopefully will show in my posts.

8.  Take more pictures – and share them

9.  Travel: explore my local area !  This is important to many of my above goals!  By exploring I will find new local merchants, friends and areas that I can green!  Plus I would really like to see more of Ontario! and my local area!

10.  To Keep crafting – to learn some new Crafts

11.  More to come…

I, Little Miss, pledge to honour my goals and post along the way!  I hope you all will help me along this journey!

Mystery Package Solved!

Well I had mentioned on Friday that there was a UPS sticky note on my door indicating I had a package I was to sign for (but I was not here).  So I looked up the info number and it said the package weight 11lbs and started in IA, US.  So I was mighty confused as to WHAT IT WAS!

Today (being Monday) the UPS guy came back and gave me a giant box… Which said Greenies on it!  I then clued in as to where it was from.  It is from head office of one of my many jobs.  I do promos for pet food.  It was a giant box full of greenies products.

Then 10 minutes later Canada Post showed up with……

My books from Chapters! I am so excited I can make up some new stitch patterns in my designs and go sew up a storm!

Creativ Festival

I went to the Creativ Festival today. I know I could have gone to the Knitters Frolic but I didn’t really want to just go to a show about knitting (as much as I love it). So I went to the Creativ Festival and the Food Networks Good Food Festival.

I got to the International Center at 1045ish and stood in line and chit chatted with some lovely crafters. A mother and daugther who sew and another woman who is a budding Entprenure with her scrapbook company. I had a great time in line for the 10minutes with the ladies. Did I mention that I did go to this by myself? I ran to one of the free workshops. It was all about Creative Spinning. I have to say I learned ALOT in the 40 minute session. I now understand 2 plys (which are the yarns I find the most attractive). Who knows maybe I will become a spinner. I would love to make my own Yarns!

I stopped and purchased some lovely sock yarn, Jitterbug. I am going to make my little sister a pair of socks (or two if I have enough).

I stopped at the MacFab booth and bought an Amy Butler pattern The Frenchy Bag. One of the employees was very helpful and aided me in choosing some Fabric. Amy Butler fabric of course! So that will be something I will dust off the sewing machine for.

I headed over to the Good Food festival and INDULGED in some great food! I have to say I had a really good day! Plus it ended excellently with a Salmon, Lobster and Shrimp dinner I made for my hubbie and my girlfriend.

Should I Etsy?

Well I have an Etsy account as a buyer right now. I am hoping that when I get my two funky sewing books and some experience under my belt I would like to sell my items on Etsy. I just don’t know what I would want to sell.

I have seen some food items such as Jams and spreads which I can make! Plus they are might good! Although I also see pretty sewn items that I want to make too. I just don’t want to step on anyone eles toes.

This was making Jam last summer – Note I would not do this if I were to sell the Jam! It was such an awesome picture. Everyone thought I actually licked the potato masher.

Sewing is in the Horizon

I feel that the sewing machine has collected enough dust sitting on the kitchen table (not to mention it is kind of in the way). So today (well yesterday) I started considering what items I need to start sewing. A while back I borrowed many books from the local library on sewing – except none were what I wanted to sew.

So…. I had eyed a few books at Chapters and well… I ordered them. I ordered 2 sewing pattern books and a knitting book.

I cannot wait to get:

Lotta Jansdotter – Simple Sewing

Amy Butler – In Stitches

and well I will keep the knitting book a secret for now!

Regular Crafting will Resume Shortly

Well I must let you all know I will be returning to my ever craftyness in less than 6 hours. At 2pm today I write my last FINAL! I have a whole slue of books I need to talk about and a sewing machine in the kitchen I must start using…

Here is a little shot of all the books I will post about in the next few days!

Sew Ready… or Not

Well last night I threaded the sewing machine and was contemplating making a Double Point Needle holder. I downloaded the instructions for the Double Point Needle Pouch, from Kathryn Ivy site. I was testing it with some scrap material I had. Although it was too small for a first project – so I decided to make a Pin Cushion instead. I have made it – not hard. I just have to pick up some stuffing and I will post a picture of it soon.

I must add that I Do really like the DPN case that Eliphantom has made, Toothy DPN Case.

I was surfing to find some interesting ideas for sewing in the blogo sphere – here are some of the blogs I stumbled upon:

• Pink Chalk Studio – 3 free patterns, loving the patch work scarf and the note pad folder
• The Artsy-Crafty Babe – More WONDERFUL bags & some really great ideas with buttons
• Craft Apple – I love her bags and the Portfolio Folder she has!
• A Stitch in Dye – Beautiful Patchwork and Quilting – Her items are enough to inspire the lease inspired (not me of course). I love the pillow covers and her quilts

There are a few of the blogs that have inspired me… If you have a sewing blog – leave a comment and I will go check it out!

Great Little Finds…

Yes I know I have been a horrible blogger and knitting friend the past week and a bit… Ever since I hurt my hand I have been rather distant in posts. This past week is DOOM week for us University students. It is when all your assignments and tests happen. So this past week I had 2 essays, a test, and a dreaded group project. Plus I did get a new job (well a job for my summer – so I don’t have to commute into the city for my old job).

But on a craft note… Yesterday I took a trip to my favourite *cheap* craft store (well its not a craft store) I went to Value Village again. I purchased two yards of this great vintage fabric…

I also got this funky pillow case which is a cream with little flowers on it.

I purchased this fabric to use to I can try out my sewing machine without ruining the nice fabrics. It is to practice. Although I do like the two… so I will make something cute and I will post it soon! I have to keep you all in suspense!

As for knitting – I am still on hold due to my hand still being sore, although I have started to design a sweater for my baby sister. I will post more about that later!

I have a Singer – Do You?

I finally received the sewing machine this weekend when I was visiting the family for my little sister’s birthday and Easter.

My WONDERFUL Aunt has lent me her Singer Sewing machine, to learn on and if I like the whole Sewing craft then I will save up and buy myself one. I practiced on it with the assistance of both my Mother (teaching us) and my always interested Sister. Mum set it all up and said this is what you do… Now Do It! I did!!

Mum gave me some felt (which are crazy colours) and some sewing accessories to start me off. I have taken some books out from the local library and I will now be able to have some sewn gifts for my Hand Made Pledge.

I did not knit at all this weekend since I was recouping from my hand injury! I am all better now… It is still swollen, although I am able to move my fingers and type.

Well I am off to read some Sewing patterns from the Purl Bee, if you have any recommendations for pretty & free patterns OR sewing related tips and tricks Please let me know!

I So want to Sew

Oh how I am so witty!

I am an ever loyal blogger… and reader as well. Since the Ultimate Blog Party I have become inundated with many new wonderful adventures to read. I especially have enjoyed Crafty Natalie’s blog – her most recent post Amy Butler Large Portfolio, is not a good post for me to have read. Since it is all about sewing – and for those who know me best I am already on the hunt for a sewing machine, and well this makes me want one more. As I did pledge to make all my gifts this year by hand – see my badges.

Back to what I was talking about; Amy Butler has some great Free Patterns (and these days FREE is the key word)! I have saved a few of her PDFs, which will be gifts for me and maybe some others out there (No names because they may read this now or in the future).

Oh this whole world of craftiness is not looking so great for my wee pocket book – heck I will make my self a bigger wallet (lol).

THANK YOU to all the great bloggers who came by for the Ultimate Blog Party

The photo below is from The Purl Bee’s Knitted Easter Eggs… I think I will try and make some of these little cuties! (If you make some post a link to the pictures I would love to see them!)