Big Reveal

Yes, it is finished...
...but not everyone is happy about it!

If you aren't sure what Wee One is, he is a pierogi! I had to make a few modifications to the costume today. First, this morning when we tried it on after breakfast, the bottom was too tight and would not quite fit over his shoulders. I ripped out the seam on the left side from below the arm to the leg, then hand-sewed some snaps (or pressers) on so it could be opened to ease over his body, then could be snapped shut. Alas, the snaps did not stay closed when we tried it on (he really, really is not happy about it). This afternoon, I removed the snaps with my trusty seam ripper and hand-sewed some very plain, thin off-white ribbon inside the pierogi layers to tie the front and back shut on the open left side. So far, these have held!

Designing it and making the pattern was the most difficult part; the assembly (aside from all the modifications today) went very well and did not take as long as I had thought it might. It also cost me nothing as I simply used the ton of leftover felt I had from making the little stuffed pierogi magnets this summer. I had to also restrain myself from hand embroidering "Lil' Dumplin'" across the butt.

I figure if we can get him in and keep him in the costume long enough to visit a few neighbors and snap a few pics, we will have been sucessful. I would like to walk in a festive Halloween parade with him but I don't know if he will have the strength. Nor I!

A Proclamation Throughout the Land...

IT'S FINISHED!!!

I finished Wee One's Halloween costume an hour or so ago but have to wait until the morrow to try it on him as alas, he is dreaming away at present. I just wanted to say I finished it! I also really, really hope it fits! I will surely let you know the verdict...

Also today, I:
-cut my hair myself (which I do at the full moon to keep it growing well)
-picked up my free 8 x 10 photo collage from Walgreen's
-went out to lunch with the Wee and Nature Boy, then grocery shopping
-found these super-cute Halloween ideas!

cute Halloween luminaries from Project Naptime (using used tissue paper, old jars, old lights you have lying about)

these skeleton cupcakes are so creeptacular, I might have to veganize them...

seriously, why have I NOT made these leaf garlands out of newspaper yet?!?!

So much inspiration out there, so little time!

Free!

Wanted to let you know about a free deal at Walgreens. Good until 10/24, you can get an 8x10 photo collage free!

How you ask? Enter the coupon code 8x10TREAT and make sure to select you will pick up the collage at a store (you can pick from locations)--otherwise you'll get stuck with shipping.

So far, I've gotten two free collages and a free photo magnet and we love them all! It's really easy, you upload photos from your computer and select from the options. They usually do this around holidays or change in seasons (summer, Mother's and Father's Day, Halloween). I can usually order them in the morning and they are ready in the afternoon, very fast!

CLICK HERE for more details and the link (thanks, Be Centsable!).

While you are in there, check out these other things you can score for free (provided you have the coupons).

Speaking of deals, I scored this cute little dress for $9.95 at Anthropologie.com last night!
I can't wait for it to get here so I can try it on. I think the bodice, being shirred, will work during pregnancy and nursing, then afterward when things, um, shrink back to normal size again. I'm tempted to try dyeing it so I can wear it spring, summer and fall. Any ideas on colors, methods, dyes to use? It is 100% cotton.

Say CHEEZE!!!

Finally, finally, I finished the Garter Stitch Kimono Sweater from Compassionate Craft Week!

I was doing well but some health issues sidelined me on the last two days of the week. Wee One and I both got some colds and there was a lot of discomfort at nighttime, meaning lots of sleep intertuptus. Once I missed the deadline I sort of got lazy about it and then just knit when I could between everything else, rather than put things on the back burner so I could knit.

All in all, it was a great experience and I will do it again next year. I hope to package up the sweater, booties and hat and mail them out to One Heart, One Mind tomorrow.


A new recipe was also tried! My Vegan Cookbook has some intriguing stuff on there but nothing made me as curious (and hungry) as the Smokey Cheddar Cheeze Ball. Made with firm tofu, cashews, almonds and spices, I was curious as to how it would compare to the memory of the dairy-heavy original. I also thought it might be the perfect fall snack in the evening with friends around the table, or even an appetizer for Thanksgiving or the holidays. So I finally whipped it up this past Sunday, during the triumphant return of Big Ben Roethlisberger to his Pittsburgh Steelers in a lovely grudge match with our neighbors, the Cleveland Browns. Ok, I mixed up everything that morning but you have to refrigerate it for at least 5 hours before it's firm enough to make it into a ball. At halftime, I managed to first run upstairs for a bathroom break, then we hit the "concession area" (aka kitchen) where I formed the cheeze ball and rolled it in the paprika and almonds. I admit, I was in a bit of a rush as to not miss any of the game so I did not have much luck getting the almonds to coat the cheeze ball as fully as you might like.

I then snapped a pic for you and posterity, and dug in. I am just going to say it: MAKE THIS. Make it now. You will not be disappointed, it is delicious! Nature Boy, a strict carnivore, tried it, then ate three more crackers spread with this stuff! Unheard of! Oh and the spread, the spread. It is so velvety and glides over your cracker, I was amazed. I did use hickory-flavored liquid smoke but that was the only substitution I made on this one. It does make a lot, which in my case was welcome, but I think the next time I make it will be when company calls. It will most likely grace whatever table I'm at for Thanksgiving.

We have been having so much fun, from RAD Days at the Pittsburgh Zoo...
...to hitting the Punkin' Patch!
Now to get working on a Wee Halloween Costume...oh my...

Progress Post

Another quick update on my Compassionate Craft Week Progress...

Monday: Booties finished and sewn up, sweater cast on and started!

Tuesday: Sweater continues to before buttonholes.

Wednesday: Sweater continues to before neckline decreases.

The sweater is this pattern here that I made for Wee One, the Garter Stitch Kimono sweater. It seems to take forever because it's garter stitch and you knit it in one piece from the bottom up so you are knitting back and front pieces at once. Plus, since it wraps around the Wee you are sweatering, you are knitting much more area for the right and left fronts than a normal sweater would require. I loved the end result of the one I made Wee, but this probably isn't the best choice for a sweater I now have only two days to finish. I am hopeful though and will be faithfully working on it until Friday at 12AM (or until I collapse into bed, whichever comes first).

So tune in folks to see how this one finishes up!!!

Weekend Update

So I know you are all out there wondering, how is Ms. Knitsburgh doing amidst Compassionate Craft Week? Is she triumphing over time and yarn? Is she sinking amongst a sea of unfinished chores and projects?

Here is my daily progress:

Day One (Friday): Owlie Hat knit to decrease rounds.

Day Two (Saturday): Owlie hat finished, bootie knit to double needle bind-off.

Day Three (Sunday): Baby Bootie #1 sewn together and some ends woven in; Baby Bootie #2 knit up to the decrease rounds for the sole; Owlie Hat ends woven in.

The Estate is not looking its best, but every night after Wee One goes to sleep I knit and knit and knit until I can take it no longer and go to bed. I am feeling good about what I've completed so far and am excited to start my next project later this evening, a sweater. I have to say I almost feel guilty if I have a moment to do something and I'm not knitting, so even blogging is making me feel bad right now. I took some time yesterday morning to update my Coupon Notebook and my coupon organizer and then felt guilty about that "wasted" hour or so. Making things for someone who needs them seems to really motivate you, which is fantastic.

I hope to finish a sweater and matching hat by week's end. If I finish before the 8th, I will try to make something else, maybe some more hats.

I am very sad to report we have run out of ink for the printer at the estate, which is making me lean towards a baby sweater pattern I already have on hand versus a new exciting pattern I've not yet knit. The likelihood of me securing more printer ink before this evening is not looking good, so once the "second string" pattern is selected, I'll let everyone know.

Last week before Compassionate Craft Week started I made two apple pies. I froze one before baking it so we have one ready for company; we ate the other with lots of vegan vanilla So Delicious ice cream on it, it was really yummy.

We also took in the RAD sponsored Hay Day this weekend (yes, another awesome free event) at a local park and had a blast!

Hope your weekend was fun too!