random & repeat

A few months ago, Shimelle Laine asked me to make a little project for her online class, True Stories. I hadn't made any little books in awhile and the topic I chose gave me the perfect excuse to make one.

My assignment was to put my music collection on shuffle and as each song came up, write down whatever came to mind. (This is funny, because a bunch of friends have been sort of playing a game just like this recently.) I used a 7Gypsies rubber band book, which I love. It has pre-cut pages with notches cut in them so putting it all together is a snap.

I have pretty strong ties to my favorite songs, so this was such an awesome way to record some very specific memories. (Click the image to see what I wrote.) And it's probably one of my favorite projects (that I've actually finished!) in awhile. I encourage you to give it a go when you have the chance ... maybe in January, which is a great time to reflect. I'm working on a little December book this week full of fun pics/holiday preparations and hope to have a little bit of that done very soon. (I'm still in shock that Christmas is almost here already! Just like Rachel said ... public service announcement: only ten days left.)

Etsy shop Christmas update!

Hey gang! I've been working hard on a bunch of new hand-knit beauties just in the nick of time for gift giving. Like this one-of-a-kind chunky Malabrigo scarf. You can check out my latest shop update here.

 

I have a bunch of these cowls (made with Twinkle soft chunky) in new colors. Buttery yellow, navy, blue/green, cobalt blue and this pretty light purple.

 

This turquoise cowl is super long ... long enough to wrap around your neck twice.

 

And a new color I haven't used before ... kelly green is my new favorite.

 

These have been selling out super fast, so if you see something you like, snag it before it's gone! It's far enough into December that I'm no longer able to accept custom orders, so shop now for the best selection. Happy Tuesday to you ... stay warm.  ;)

GAP-tastic

 

So, if you've been doing a little shopping here and there, you may have spotted a lovely cowl at the Gap that looks something like this.

(photo from Gap.com)

Apparently, it was a popular accessory this season because many stores are sold out (and I believe they're sold out online as well) and anyway, I decided I had to try to re-create it myself. Because it's a totally easy-peasy pattern. It's just a lot of seed stitch.

So I did. (I also may have done a little ... ahem ... research/stitch counting in the store to make sure mine came out pretty close to what theirs looks like.) I love the ginormous blanket-y size of this thing, big enough to go around your neck twice.

If you'd like to make one, too, you can find a free pdf download here. Because it's fun to share. Happy knitting, happy December.  :)

tardy for the party

In case you missed it, my pal Michelle had an outrageously cool blog party on her blog Scissor Quirk a few days ago, and it's not too late to go check it out. Also be sure to enter to win some fantastic giveaways. (You can enter through Saturday, December 11th at midnight PST!)

TGIF (and a winner!)

Hello and happy, happy Friday! No, I still haven't figured out what my song title is from yesterday. But thanks so much for all of the ideas. I'm a little bit sickly (fun sinus stuff) and I've got a hugely busy weekend coming up ... you, too? I shouldn't be surprised ... December is just like that. Earlier this week, I finished a test-knit for the lovely Elisa – the lovely 'Strictly Knit Headband/Earwarmer.' Check out the pattern here on Ravelry. I used Malabrigo Twist to make mine, in my favorite 'lettuce' color.

This weekend, I'll be knitting and selling at my very last craft show in Des Moines of 2010. Stop out, say hi, and score some last minute hand-knit holiday gifts! I have worked hard to have a ton of new cowls ready to go, so there will be lots of colors available. Central Presbyterian Church in Des Moines. 3829 Grand Avenue. The sale runs on Saturday, Dec. 11th, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sunday, Dec. 12th, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

And last but not least, I have a winner from the Bugsnugger hand-dyed yarn giveaway!

Random.org picked #13, which is Stacia ... YAY! (Just email your mailing address info to jgeigley [at!] gmail [dot] com.) A big thanks to everyone who entered to win!! And have a good weekend.

what's the name of that song?

 

Help! I need song help. So, there I was, about three weeks ago. Sitting in Starbucks, knitting away. And I heard this song. I didn't ask the baristas who the artist was because it wasn't until after I left that I realized how much I liked it. I've been half-singing it ever since. Even though I'm not even sure I remember how it goes anymore. And I must find out what it is! Please help me. (Surely someone knows what the eff I'm talking about.)

The song was Christmas-y. But not overly Christmas-y. More alt holiday-ish and nothing I'd heard before. It was a guy/girl duet, singing back and forth. Kind of low. Super repetitive. Da-da-da-da-da-da-da. Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da, this season. Something something something something, something something something something something ... season. Something about this season, this time every season, or every time this season. Something to do with ... season!

I've gone back to that Starbucks to ask if anyone remembered hearing this song (I even kind of sang it! omg.) But no one knew. It was probably something playing via satellite. It's not on the new Norah Jones compilation or any of the holiday cd's that they carry at Starbucks. I checked. I googled. I searched. No luck. The more I think about it, the more it drives me crazy.

I may never find out what it is. But if you think you know and can link me up to the artist or album, I will send you some kind of reward. Seriously.

hey knitters ... hand-dyed yarn GIVEAWAY!

Hello, hello! If you're having kind of a gray, dreary day, I hope this splash of color helps you out a little bit. You must see all of this completely gorgeous hand-dyed hand-dyed yarn and fiber by my lovely friend Diane of Bugsnugger. (Definitely drool-worthy, right?)

Yup, hand-dyed superwash merino roving, too! You can find all of these yarns and fibers on Bugsnugger's Etsy shop and also on Hyenacart. (You should definitely go take a look.)

 And now for a GIVEAWAY!! (Yup, free yarn!)

Diane from Bugsnugger is kind enough to give you the chance to win this hand-dyed skein of Stellar sock yarn in a one-of-a-kind colorway! (The details: 80/20 BFL/nylon. This 4 oz skein has 420 yards.)

To enter, just leave a comment here telling me what you would make with this gorgeous skein and I'll pick a winner on Friday, December 10th. Good luck!

handmade snowfall

So, I've been in the mood for an easy holiday craft that Lo and I could do together this weekend, and this winter, snowflakes seem to be the thing. We don't currently have any white stuff on the ground, but I know it's coming! I first caught a glimpse of Gifted magazine on Creature Comforts, and saw this branch/snowflake mobile idea and knew it would be just the thing for us to try. Branch? We've got plenty of those.

Paper cutouts? Perfect time to practice using safety scissors.

We made super easy 4 and 8-point stars/snowflakes, which I can proudly say I learned from my childhood craft resource, Childcraft. (I loved that book.)

Yes, Childcraft. Make and Do. Volume 11. For those of you who also owned that little library of goodness in the 80s.

We threw in some pine cones and sparkly beads to serve as weights on the end of each string of our mobile.

 And before you knew it ...

We had this...

 A handmade snowfall. I almost like it better than the real thing ... ;)

dear Market Day ...

Dear Market Day: Well, here's to the end of another wonderful craft season. It's been fun. This year brought a location change or two, a new P.A. system and Scott Rocketship spinning vinyl. We ate DarbyCakes and White Boy Burritos. We supported each other, learned from each other and helped each other grow. My craft fair experience here in Des Moines gave me the courage to knit for Renegade this year, something I never thought I could do. Market Day provided a way for a nerdy mom who knits to make a little extra cash while sitting on the couch in her pajamas, watching Netflix movies late at night. (Really late at night.) 

Thanks to this experience, I have met and had the chance to spend time with so many talented friends. Like Erin, Leslie, Sarah, Amanda, Danelle, Daphne, Lara, Dani, Scott and Cat. Handmade is fun. But the people might be the very best part. (Definitely the very best part.) So, Market Day, thanks for everything. And see you next spring.

'tis the season

Hello, hello! I wanted to share a little holiday fundraiser project put together by my friend, Kara Haupt.

(Yup, this adorable friend, Kara Haupt.)

Each of these rad 4x6'' postcard prints are only $6, and 100% of the profits will go the The Mercy House, a six-bed maternity home for pregnant girls and staff on the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya set to open the summer of 2011. You can read more about The Mercy House's mission here or visit their Etsy store and donate to their cause.

1. "May All Your Christmases Be White" print by Kara Haupt
2. "Creativity" print by Danielle Thompson
3. "Twas the Season for big, bright hair" print by Rhian Cooksey
4. "Conspire by the Fire" print by Kim Smith
5. "Love" print by Pilgrim Lee

Click here for complete info and to purchase the postcard prints!

Happy holidays.  :)