Fuzzy-wuzzy season

My sedums are starting to bloom. I can't escape the Packers chatter on Facebook and Twitter. And the back-to-school supplies that have been on the shelves since July are going on clearance. Yep, fall is just around the corner.

The temperatures are turning to a crisp cool. So I made some neckwarmers to keep my friends toasty during those late-summer bonfires or football games. The fuzzy soft yarn is light enough for this season. They are 100% wool-free.

Check them out at my Etsy shop. And stay tuned for even more knits from my friend, Lyn, in the near future.

Good things come in fours

Several happy moments have popped into my life in the past two weeks. Little things made me say "yay" and smile. Here are four of them in no particular order.

1. Our fourth wedding anniversary came with peanut-butter chicken and flowers.



2. I had a job interview for an adjunct instructor position at our local tech school. I'm looking at teaching a class in the Marketing and Graphic Communications program. After a good chat with the department dean, I was sent home with a packet of papers. They included forms for taxes, background checks and a name badge. While I wasn't hired for this semester, this is an awesome step in the right direction! I could be even be considered to sub this fall.

3. Mr. Mitzy won second place a photo contest. I submitted a photo to the King of his Castle contest at bunspace. The recipe for his castle was a bunch of cardboard boxes, a large tube and a handful of toxic-free markers. The spoiled bun now gets a Cottontail Cottage for his "vacation home" as his prize.

4. I made an Etsy sale. A lot of work went into this pair of legwarmers and I'm happy to say that they have sold. I hope the buyer loves them, pulls them on and starts dancing like a maniac immediately!

Friends with benefits

I hope crafty cleverness rubs off on friends. Because mine ooze talent — and generosity. So I hope to grow as a person and a crafter during every Friday Night Knitting Club. Here are just a few tangible examples of their kindness ...

Homemade yarn swift by Barbara's husband came with traveling tote


SOCKS! by Zoe and pretty earrings by Donna


Sewing-machine masterpieces by Dusty: two totes to hold projects and quilt-y coasters

I am forever in her debt in the friend bank but I gave her a small token of my thanks tonight.

Felted clutch

Mother Nature has been a friend, too. Here are some of her latest gifts to our backyard.

Celtic folklore says fairy-ring mushrooms are made by fairies dancing on the grass overnight


We have celery!


Pansies still blooming big for the last month of summer

A few for you and one for me

A pillow for you, a pillow for him, a pillow for her, a pillow for me — everyone gets a pillow! Well, if you buy them from my Etsy shop, you do.

It all began this week with a pillow I started several months ago. I finally conquered the zipper enclosure for a pillow insert. That might sound like a pip-squeak of an accomplishment to some but for this beginner, it was pretty neat.

Front of Crazy-Chic T-Pillow, made with "And How Are You Feeling Today?" Threadless design by Jan Avendano. Buy it here.


Flip it for a pretty alternative.

Now, let's get-let's get-let's get foxy! I put away the ruffles for this guy and went with one side of tassels. And while the fox might not be soft, you can certainly pet the black fleece.

T-pillow made with "Foxy" Threadless shirt by Lixin Wang. Buy it here.

The next pillow was bought before even listed. And a special thanks to jensantarelli for donating the shirt, too! Anyone can do this. Just contact me through Etsy conversations. You will get a discount and free shipping when the pillow is ready.

"Saint" T-pillow in a small, toss-at-your-rival size

Speaking of Threadless, the next two are especially for the bloggers over there. For the past few years, artists and fans alike have made the trek to the Chicago headquarters in the fall. But for some, the desire to go does not match the money in their wallet. So the amazing community gets together for what they call a "bloggeraiser." By selling arts, crafts, shirts, etc., they raise money to send a special someone to the meetup. This year, I'm donating two pillow experiments to the cause.

Shaped like a tee and filled with plush love ... buy them here!

With all these pillows bursting out of my craft room, I felt a little jealous. So I went ahead and made one for me to squeeze.

Spoils of shopping

The buttons were only the beginning. I have "suffered" from shopaholism all last week. I reaped the benefits by mail this week.

Polka Dot Cottage buttons on my market bag

Clearance loot from KnitPicks ... The yarn is sooo soft and the wood buttons are very pretty, too.


An afghan loom from CinDWood Crafts ... gonna make some sweaters starting this fall!


Yarn for the next snake hat ... and this one is spoken for!

Shopping crossed over from my craft world into other areas, too. I bought some cute peasant shirts for when I want something more dressy than a Threadless tee. And I went a little bird feeder crazy. But that's ok because a bunch of pretty birds are now going crazy for the feed.