Snow, FO's and a Forever Home!

TGIF!  Well, Mother Nature certainly shook up her snow globe and it finally looks a lot like winter out there. 



The kids were all happy to explore the snow-blown front yard this morning...



However, as it began falling on Wednesday, Maverick was not at all amused.



Let me OUT of this Snowglobe!

It was Mavie's first taste of snow and he spent most of the time looking like he wanted to kill someone trying to wipe it off his face with his tiny little paws. 



I'm planning take him outside this afternoon and try to show him that snow can be fun... but I'm not sure he'll agree.  Right now he's curled up in a tiny little ball, sleeping on my lap as I try to type around him (yes, this post is taking a long time to write).  What Mavie doesn't know yet is that he's going to meet his forever family tomorrow!  Yes, it's a bittersweet day here in the Lapdog household, as tonight is Maverick's last night with us.  He will be going to live with a wonderful family in Connecticut and will have a 3 year old mini dachshund brother named Zac and 3 teenaged human siblings.  And get this - he and Zac share the same birthday!  I'm very excited for Mavie and know that he will love his new life in Connecticut!

Well, it's Fiber Arts Friday and guess who actually has some fibery content to share?  If you caught Wednesday's post, you'll notice I recently acquired a Styrofoam head form to photograph hats on.  Here are the results with last week's FO...



Since becoming unemployed, I've decided to stop neglecting beef up my etsy shop a little.  This is a teenager/women's wool hat that I've listed for sale.

A couple of baby hats, which were actually left over from the last craft fair I did...

This was my favorite... it sold last week.

Have you listed anything in your etsy shop lately?  How are your sales going?  I'll admit I had only been using etsy to shop for gifts lately and my sales had pretty much come to a halt, as I hadn't listed anything new in close to a year.  In addition to the hand knits, I do have some new stitch markers to list as soon as I get my lap back from Maverick get a chance to photograph them.  Hopefully you'll take a look if you're in need... and share your shop with me if you haven't already!  With this economy and our love of handmade things, it's time to get the focus back to supporting our crafty circle of friends!

In the Mood to Shop?

Have you checked out my Etsy shop lately?  As a result of becoming unemployed from my day job, I will be once again focusing on crossing my fingers that I can make some extra money to pay bills being creative.  Stay tuned for lots of new items coming soon!

FO Friday!

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!  This is going to be one of those this 'n that, catch-up rambling posts, so grab a cuppa your favorite beverage and here we go...

LOOK! I actually have not one, but two FO's to show... proof that I really do still knit (and my UFO pile is starting to decrease, even if very slowly).

The Breeze Baby Block hat is one of those patterns I go back to again and again.  I think this one kinda looks like an Easter Egg, don't you?  Not sure just who it's for yet...

I started hats for my sister's kids and what a surprise didn't finish them before spring supposedly sprung, so they will be Christmas gifts... which meanss I'm one up on the great Christmas Knit list for 2011!  I did the Tasseled Topper - minus the tassel - from 60 Quick Knits for Amber (Twisted Torque from the same book is OTN for Austin).  Her only request was pink, but I figured I had better pick something that was easy for her Mom to care for... Trip to AC Moore resulted in Lion Brand Vanna's Choice.  For a 100% acrylic, I loved working with it.  It was easy on the hands and comes in a decent selection of colors... yes, I'd use it again.  The second photo is more true to color. 

Although I haven't exactly been cranking out the stitch markers lately (I really do need to work on that), I am happy to report that Lapdog Creations markers have been recently added to two cool Treasuries on Etsy... check out "Greetings From New Hampshire" and "Boogity Boogity Boogity - Let's go racing!"

Anyone catch my Bruins put a whopping on the Canadeins last night?  What a game!  "A 3 on 5 shorty... back to Montreal they go, soundly beaten!" - that just might have been one of the best plays of the season! It's almost playoff time... Go B's!

RESCUE - Adopt a Pet!

I just received the adorable "RESCUE - Adopt a Pet" tag that I won in Sugar The Golden Retriever's giveaway and I heart it!  Check out the other cute pet tag accessories for your key chain/bag at Sugar Paw's House - they also have some great ID tags for your pet, collars and treats too.

I'm leaving you today with some Friday Fill-Ins... Happy Weekend everyone!

1. Why does it have to be so difficult.

2. Your voice is equal to mine.

3. My favorite breakfast includes bacon... because what breakfast would be complete without it.

4. You Had Me At Woof: How Dogs Taught Me the Secrets of Happiness was the last book I read and finished.

5. I am SO glad there is a "block" button on Facebook. 

Miles Smith Farm, July 2010



6. Flowers would make me feel better right now.



7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a new episode of Fringe, tomorrow my plans include a visit to Miles Smith Farm to pick up the prize I won in their scavenger hunt and Sunday, I want to knit, watch the Fontana race, and have a quiet day!

Hop Over to Etsy

Happy Wordless Wednesday!

Have you hopped on over to the Lapdog Creations Etsy shop lately?

Friday Catch Up

Its finally Friday... and finally time to play a little bloggy catch up! Grab a cuppa your favorite beverage and settle in, this is gonna be a long one...

First up, a couple of FO's from last weekend. The umbilical cord hat for Emma (yes, yes... its a Ravelry project link... if you're not a member, just sign up already) is finished.

A quick and easy knit, with a really cute result! This is the second one I'vs made and, once again, used Rowan All Season Cotton, which I am really liking. Because of the blend, its more "silky" than traditional cottons and I'll definitley use it again, especially for baby items. As usual, I had some helpers during the photo shoot...

After getting "caught," Lola gives Tut the "Mom's gonna get mad at you" look...

They just wanted to eat the poor model, which is actually going to be a birthday present for another little girl (though I still need to dress him). I did a good job of hiding his "tags" here...

Speaking of Emma, the first hat I made for her actually fits quite nicely! I was able to spend a lot of time with her last Friday and snapped some cute shots of her modeling it.

In more hat news... here is the Care Wear Preemie Jester Hat. This is one of the hats that we'll be donating to the Special Care Nursery in honor of Emma. Thank you to everyone who's already sent some in and to those coming (I'll be sure to photo the group before donating)! Emma's Mom & I are planning to deliver them in person on April 11 - just in time for Easter.

A very quick knit, I used some Moda Dea Baby Talk that I found in my stash. The pom-poms were actually what took the longest! I have some pom-pom makers that my Mom gave me when I first got back into knitting and I don't think I've ever mastered the frustrating process. It took five attempts to acheive these two tiny pom-poms!

While trying to finish off some quick things last weekend, my cozy for my new cell phone finally came off the needles. I actually set this aside for quite awhile since I had gotten a cover for it and don't really know how much I'll use the cozy. However it will also fit my digital camera, for which I did the first cozy for last summer (the red one). Yarn was Rowan Siena.

Quick etsy plug! I added two more yarn cutters to my shop. These were on consignment at a LYS, but they seem to do better on etsy. I am still listing new sets of stitch markers off and on. If you don't see what you're looking for, please ask.

I'm hoping to accomplish a bit of knitting over the weekend, including getting started on some more cute things for Emma. After all, how can I resist? Baby girls are just so much fun to shop and knit for! There's a few different things going on that we would like to get to this weekend, as well as visting the munchkin and bringing some more things up to her Mom & Dad.

I know this post is getting long, but I can't help leave you with few more pictures...

Auntie finally got to hold her!

The bond of mother & daughter and a "3 Generations" kinda shot; Mom, Great Auntie & Baby.

Little munchkin decided she was done with her feeding tube on Wednesday afternoon and removed it herself. Yup, she's related for sure...

Happy Friday everyone!

Mr Sheepie and Emma and Fill-Ins... oh my!

So glad its Friday!!! I'm really looking forward to the weekend... we're supposed to have nice (even if muddy) weather, I'm going to visit little Miss Emma and will cook our corned beef & cabbage dinner on Sunday. Yes, I am part Irish, so its our St Patty's feast, but I could enjoy a good 'ole New England boiled dinner (which requires a Sam Adams added to the water) anytime.

Alot of you asked about Zeus' birthday sheep yesterday...

Mr Sheepie is a Hard Boiled Softies by Kyjen. Its labeled as "super tough" and actually has a rubber "egg" inside that makes the "oinking" noise as opposed to a squeak. The outer plush piece can be taken off and it is made with a tough inner lining. For those of you interested, I found it online here and also here (I've never ordered from either of these sites before). Woof It Down also had the Bumble Bee and Penguin in stock. So far this toy has shown no signs of doggy damage and if the kids keep an interest in it, I'll surely go get another. Even though it was Zeus' birthday toy, Tut and Sophie have seemed to enjoy it the most.

For those of you in the Multitasking Group on Ravelry, you know that I've decided to do another little hat drive. Last year I collected chemo caps to donate in honor of my Mom & Dad and it was a great success. Now, with my Great Niece being in the Special Care Unit, I've had another ah-ha moment and decided to ask my knitterly friends for help in collecting a big batch of preemie and infant sized hats to donate in honor of Emma. If you are too busy, no worries... however if you're interested, basically we just need to use yarn that is soft (remember these are extra special little babies) and if at all possible, washable. I’d like to collect the hats by April 5th, which should give everyone who would like to join about 3 weeks for knitting, then some time for shipping. Emma says thank you in advance...

I have a little Etsy shop update. I listed a few sets of markers last night, as I'm trying to space out my listings so they stay fresh and closer to the top. Hop on over and check these out... Easter Egg colored bumpy beads and "Aliens Attack."

Now, its time for a little Friday Fill-Ins...

1. When I look to the left, I see lots of pictures on my office windowsill.
2. The sunroom/dining room/workout room (which is really just a cramped unuseable room at the moment - time for spring cleaning) is the room that has the best view in my home.
3. Let it work dammit.
4. These days, nothing is done dirt cheap!
5. Spay & neuturing pets is a responsibility that all qualified citizens must share.
6. If you have any desire to knit preemie or infant hats feel free to join in my collection of hats for donation to the Special Care Unit where Emma is at.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to another new episode of Ghost Whisperer, tomorrow my plans include going to visit Emma and Sunday, I want to eat corned beef and cabbage!

Got Sun Spots?

Happy Doggy Day! Be sure to hop on over to the Dogs on Thursday blog and read about germs shared between humans and their furbabies. And for those of you who only stop by here on doggy days, scroll back to yesterday's post for my review of You Lucky Dog: More Than 30 Craft Projects to Unleash Your Pup's Personality !

Its been quite cold here the past few days, which makes sun spots extra popular in the mornings at our house. This morning when I got out of the shower, I found Zeus [click their linked names for more pics!] on one couch claiming his spot...

On the other couch? I literally found a pig pile of dogs!

The sun was almost gone, but that didn't seem to matter much to Lola, Sophie & Tut (there's a less lazy shot)...

For those of you still craving the white stuff (please... come take some of ours!), here's a few snowy shots of the girls from a bit over a week ago...

Lola, my speed demon...

I caught Sophie showing off her inner-Akita...

I've updated my etsy shop with a few new sets of markers and a yarn cutter. I will be adding more stitch markers in the coming days. If there's something you're looking for and don't see it, just ask! Here's a couple of sets that just went up...

Well, that's all for today... stay tuned for more reviews coming soon, including The Knit Kit, Vickie Howell's Pop Goes Crochet, NuHemp dog treats & products, and more!