Here is the last thing I knitted before I started my smoke ring. It's called the sampler stitch purse and I got it from Frugal Knitting Haus Free Patterns. I made a big one in black and then one in red for Christina's birthday and then I needed a small blue one so here it is. I had to wait a long time for my smoke ring yarn from my mom to get here and I didn't want to start anything big. You know me and bags, you just need a lot to stay happy.

Just one more picture of Alida in the dress I finished a week or so ago. I saw a similar dress in a store window for 59 EUROS and thought they have to be nuts, so I sewed one myself and I think it turned out really cute. I think I spent a total of 5 EUROS for the whole thing. It doesn't look it here but Alida likes it too. She is just too cool in her shades Miriam gave her.

The tomato and lavender plants are growing madly. We love to watch the little yellow flowers turn into tomatoes, which Alexander just devours. My lavender was a bit neglected this winter but seems to be doing well now. Just had to show off my green babies.

I think I'm growing a green thumb; here are my Hydrangea, tomato and lavender plants from my balcony. I can't believe this was a dried out twig this winter. Martin said it would never be anything. The flowers are just coming out in the back and they should be blue, I've been giving them hydrangea blue food for the last two months, if that doesn't work I don't know what will.

I love the gingham dress with the smocking front

Oh how I love a yard sale!

I filled my new bag with some great buys. I went to a yard sale and can you believe I bought all of this great stuff for about 20 EUROS? That's a bit more than $20 for all of you living on the other side of the lake. I just can't pass up a great bargain. What fun.

I've decided to try to knit my smoke ring only when I'm completely awake and alert. Today I sat down to work on it when I noticed how many little mistakes I had made in the rows I knit last night at 11 pm. I call any kind of mistake character but this little bit of character is just too much. Granted, I've never knit lace before but this is something I definitely need to have a clear head for, not that this is ever the case with two kids but I get so frustrated seeing so much character. Well, I've cleaned it up as much as possible and now I'm going to sit down and work some more, knitting lace can be quite addictive.

The buggy bag-19"wide x 11 1/2" high x 4" deep - really big and roomy- great for two kids on the go

New Buggy Bag and Sick Babe

Here it is the newest member of my ever expanding bag collection. I love the fabric I found at IKEA for 2 EURO! Can't beat that deal, lady bargain hunter. It was only 3/4 meter and I used every last piece of it to make a great big bag to hang over my buggy(an umbrella stroller) handles when we are out and about. It has two small pockets on the inside and I just love it. I worked diligently all night to get this baby done and now I can't wait to go shopping to fill it up. Unfortunately, Alexander had an ear ache at 2 this morning so we'll have to see what this weekend has in store for us. Oh how I hate ear aches because you can't do much for them but give them ibuprofen and hope the pain subsides. Poor little monster. I'll post some pics of my love babies as soon as I figure out how to get some photo albums going.

So much wasted time figuring out this blog thing!

Man I must really be stupid, I just can't figure this whole blog thing out. Did it take you all this long to figure out how to make your blog look the way you want?? Unfortunately, this is getting really addictive and taking me away from my machine and needles. Although I made another bag tonight I feel I have to come back here and work on things and conquer this html stuff. Oh if only I had an html angel looking over my shoulder to tell me what to do and not to do before I really mess everything up. I'm just so impressed with the amazing blogs that I've been reading between working on mine, knitting and sewing-I have too much time anyway, congrats to all of you for your genius, send some my way. Enough of my complaining and back to work.

My newest addition

Please have patience with me, this blog thing is not that easy yet. I'm still trying to figure out how to do it all. I just couldn't resist these fabrics and soon, when I find the time, they are going to transform into some great bags - you can't have too many bags, can you?

I just couldn't resist

Classic Province

Province fabric- too cool! Someday these will be bags.

Of course I had to wear a t-shirt with our flag. 10 K and I have a medal to prove it.

10K run

I did it! I didn't think I would be in shape enough to make it but I ran the 22nd Berlin women's 10 Kilometer run smiling. My time was 8 minutes slower than my best time, but my goal yesterday was to run without stopping and to go over the finish with a smile on my face. Needless to say, I was exhausted when I got home and didn't get a stitch done. This smoke ring is going to take me forever and I am really itching to work on it. Today we are going to an open house at the police station with the kids and some friends and then to see Star Wars so I won't be getting much done again today, so many projects and so little time!!

Freddy was knit with fake fur using two colors-white and a grey marble- Alida likes his button eyes

Freddy, my fox scarf

I was putting my winter clothes away when I stumbled upon my last big knitting project from February, so I thought I'd put it here to see. I don't understand why I'm the only one who seems to love this scarf, isn't he just a little cutie? My friends say he's cute but they wouldn't wear him, I guess I have no shame. I worked him with that fake fur yarn which I really never liked until now but it worked out well. It was really hard to see my stitches which drove me crazy, so I don't know if I'll use it again. I always say that and then find something I can't live without and have to make.
My run is tonight, wish me luck!

Flared Lace Smoke Ring row 8

Flared Lace Smoke Ring

Here is the first picture of my smoke ring for my mom. She bought the pattern and yarn at knit Picks and sent it to me. I waited two months and then it finally came. I wasn't quite sure at first if I was knitting to gauge because it doesn't look at all like the picture but sure enough, after knitting a small gauge piece I'm right on. So, I'm still knitting. Can you believe I'm on the 8th row!!?? This will take a bit, it's slow knitting for me. I really like the result anyway.

This bag is 9"x9"x2 3/4" with a chinese button I made out of covered cord

I'm so excited to finally have my own blog. I hope you all find something interesting in the things I have to share. Thanks for coming to visit and to start with here is a picture of my latest creation-a bag out of french material-I love it!