Beware the doghouse...

This is the funniest thing I've seen in a very long time.

Beware the Doghouse

Thanks for playing...

Wow - giveaway day was so much fun! I got to enjoy a whole bunch of new blogs as I hopped around trying to win all the fabulous goodies, and then I enjoyed a mug of tea while I read all the lovely handmade gifts you've all received. Handcrafted rocks!!

So, I'm sure you're all eagerly anticipating the winners announcement, so we'll get right to it. Each comment was assigned a number (and then if you emailed me the code you were given a second number) and then the handy number generator (aka: my eldest son) selected the winners.

Grand prize winner, for one skein of the farm merino in mojito, is the (nameless) blogger writing as I'm a medical student who loves knitting at http://fineneedleaspiration.blogspot.com/ She wrote:

The best present I've ever gotten was from my mom. Although she has given me tons of handmade things like ornaments, scarves, socks and a very cute ballerina bear; my favorite was a custom made science experiment set. It had all the makings for a few science projects like a volcano and cornstartch goo. As a kid who loved to experiment, it was perfect!

The winner of the first set of stitch markers is Code Crafter, blogging at Silicon Granola.

The winner of the second set of stitch markers is MissKnitta, who won via her entry with the RSS code.

But, don't forget, you're all winners! If you signed up for the newsletter, check your email later today for the free pattern. Congrats, all!

Giveaway Day!

I'm so excited to be participating in this fun event this year. Sew, Mama, Sew is hosting, with a (BIG) list of folks who are doing giveaways - such an awesome way to celebrate handmade goodness.

It there anything better than a giveaway? How about several special giveaways, and a little bonus for everyone who plays? It's Giveaway Day at LTK!

The "grand prize" we've got here is going to be for a skein of our 2 ply farm merino yarn, handpainted in the Mojito colorway. But wait, there's more! Two other lucky readers will win a set of handcrafted stitch markers. To be entered for a chance at the yarn + markers, you'll need to leave a comment on this post answering the following question:

What is the best handcrafted gift you have ever received?

For a second chance to win the yarn + markers (and a 25% off coupon for an order in the shop, you'll want to subscribe to our feed (there's a handy link over there on the right) and email me (littleturtlemama at gmail dot com) the giveaway coupon code. (You can then feel free to use the coupon code in the shop to save 25% off!) All comments and emails received by midnight tonight will be eligible to win. Winner will be announced tomorrow, with the goodies shipping out this week. We welcome international contestants, too!

But that's not all! If you subscribe to our shop newsletter by midnight tomorrow, you'll not only stay up to date on all the shop happenings and get insider-only sales, you'll receive a brand-new free pattern for a great last-minute gift via email this Friday.

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Happy Giveaway Day!

It's a Conspiracy, Man...

A life-changing, world-shaking conspiracy. Are you in on it?

A Perfect Afternoon...

That's me and my two eldest boy-men. Ethan, the one on my right in the picture, decided that rather than read a book (like big brother AJ) in the car ride to Uncle Andy's for our Thanksgiving celebration, he wanted to do some knitting on the hat I was working on. Since I was sitting next to him (a rarity - Mama hardly ever sits in the back-back of the van, but Grandma was sitting in my usual front seat) and I was, of course, knitting, I turned it over to him and gave him a refresher on how to work a knit stitch. This is the child that absolutely refused to learn a few years ago when I attempted to teach him on a few rainy days.

I couldn't believe what happened next. He not only *got* my instructions right away, but he proceeded to work on my hat (him doing all the knits, me doing all the purls) for the remainder of our hour-long drive. And then he asked me a few a dozen times through the course of yesterday "when can I knit more?"

This morning, first thing, he again asked if he could knit. I pulled out a pair of short size 10 needles and cast on two dozen stitches for him, and my wild-child, normally bouncing off the walls (literally, he bumps him body into the walls and bounces around the room) boy - he sat on the couch and knit all afternoon. He shouted "gotta finish this row!" when I called him to dinner, and after he inhaled his food, he went right back to the couch and knit some more.

The big brother, not to be outdone, sidled up to the couch and asked for his own needles and some yarn. I gave him a brief rundown of the knit stitch, and he also spent several hours on the couch, knitting the afternoon away.

Snuggling with my boys, each of us engulfed in our crafting, passing the hours chatting and laughing, it did this mama's heart good.

A(nother) Simple Mom Giveaway!

Dangit, Simple Mom's had some rockin' giveaways, but this one might be the best so far! I've been lusting after this printer, wishing I had gone to Blissdom just to get a peek at it. And now we've all got a chance to win one of our very own. Go check Simple Mom today for your chance to win!

I love contests...

Do you love pretty things as much as I do? Look longingly at other people's earrings, wondering where they came from? Perhaps your head gets turned by every beaded bauble that passes you by? Well, then this post's for you!

Wanna chance to win one of Lisa Leonard's exquisite jewelery pieces? Rachel's running a contest over at Small Notebook, so go check it out. (hey, even if you don't like jewelery or winning good stuff, go check out Small Notebook anyway, cause, well, she rocks)

Tip for Today: Reusable Produce Bags

I'm a reusable bag person - I dutifully carry my bags to the market and feel good when I can avoid using plastic bags. So whenever I've reached for one in the produce section, or had one handed to me at the farmer's market, my Green Guilt has kicked in. I've been scheming about the perfect reusable produce bag for quite some time. It had to be cheap *ahem*....frugal, it had to be easily seen through (so the cashier doesn't get annoyed) and it had to be extremely lightweight (So I'm not paying for it every time I buy produce.) Ideas about sewing nylon or cotton mesh bags often crossed my mind, but I just haven't been able to find the right fabric or the time to sew even if I had found it.

Imagine my frugal eureka today when I found the perfect produce bags in Dollar Tree! They’re Tidy Totes from Blink and It’s Done. 4 in a pack, for $1!!! I got 2 packs and figured that 8 produce bags is perfect for what I need each week at the grocery or farmer’s markets. The bags are super lightweight, so I’m not worried about them causing me to pay more, and they are tiny mesh, so the checker can easily read the numbers on the produce. Score one for the frugal team!

June's Sock Club

Now that the postal service has finally delivered all packages to their intended destinations, I think it's safe to reveal June's Club goodies without ruining anyone's surprise. This month's pattern is one I'm especially proud of, so I hope all the clubsters enjoy working on it.

Pemberley, as most of you probably know, is the English country estate of a certain Mr. Darcy. Didn't we all have secret dreams of finding our own Mr. Darcy? My own dear hubby is quite a bit like ol' Darcy - biting observation and quiet admiration and loyalty, minus the grand estate (darn it!)

These silk stockings are what I imagine Elizabeth Bennett might have worn as the Mistress of Pemberley. They are elegant, luxurious and out-of-the-ordinary without being over-the-top. A blend of merino with the silk lends a more practical warmth to these beauties, as well. Of course, if you're a modern woman who isn't living in a drafty estate house and don't require the warmth of knee stockings, there's the (quicker to knit!) crew length option.

June's swag is further proof of my paper obsession lately. Adorable little notecards that I wholly encourage clubsters to use for some old fashioned letter-writing. There's nothing like taking a moment, putting pen to paper, and writing a note of gratitude, love, sympathy or well-wishes to someone else. It's like a little gift every time I get a handwritten note or card in the mail, and one that I love to give to others.

Can't wait till all the July packages arrive so I can reveal this month's rollickin' pattern and yarn!

May's Sock Club

Now that all of May's Sock Club goodies have arrived safely to their new homes, I can finally post about them! This was our first month with the new Sock Club, and I have to admit that I had way too much fun putting it all together - picking out the goodies, developing a new (exclusive) colorway, and finally getting the new (exclusive) sock pattern out in the world at large (where eyes other than my own or the tech editors can oogle it) It's all such a labor of love, and so nice to get lovely comments back about the packages. Marion, a lovely customer-friend from near my hometown in NY, wrote me this week:

Gorgeous yarn, the colors are sensational. The pattern book is terrific, the stitch markers are beautiful and the journaling book sends the whole kit over the top for one fabulous sock knitting club. It is all so nice and I am so happy that I joined the club. You really outdid yourself! Thanks for recommending the May kit. I would be upset to have missed out on this sensational kit.

Wow! I don't know that I deserve all that flattery, but it sure is nice for the ego ;) She also sent along a yummy yarn-in-action shot of some of my 3 ply farm yarn that was a custom-dye. Check out this yarn goodness:

Don't they look all squishy and comfy? I'm wishing I had made some of that yarn for myself and squirrelled it away - I'd totally be pulling it out right now and casting on. (That is, after I finish June's sock sample, of course!)

But, wait! You're just dying to see May's sock, aren't you? There was a bit of a theme this month - the yarn at the top of this post was May's yarn - yummy, squishy sportweight superwash merino in "Japanese Garden." It's a harmonious blend of navy, grass green, lilac, lavender and winter white. Worked up in socks, it is lovely. Worked up in May's sock club pattern "Everyday Zen" it is super, duper fantastic!

It's a short row heel and toe sock, with the ribbing extending down the toe and heel for a truly excellent fit. The sort rows incorporate the ribbing, so that the transitions are pretty and flowing. Multiple sizes from infant to (big, big) man's make it one that's get used over and over. But, It's exclusive to the club until Jan '09 - so if you aren't in the Sock Club you'll have to wait. Of course...if you do join the club, you can back-buy the pattern if you really have to have it. Just one more reason to join now...June's club is an excellent luxury yarn, in a Jane Austen inspired pattern and more handmade club goodies! Last month's extra bonus was a handmade, perfect-bound journal. This month's....well, you'll have to wait and see!

We're having a sale!

Sorry for the post and run, but wanted to let you know that we're having a Two Day Sale at the shop! 25% off all patterns through Wed night, so go shop and stock up now: http://www.littleturtleknits.com.

And I've jsut stocked some fantastic new colorways at the Little Turtle Knits' Hyena Cart, they'll be going live Tuesday at Noon! There's also a gorgeous baby kimono and one of our sweet Trelford Turtles, so be sure to check it out!

Meal Plan Monday

Monday: Roasted Chicken, Garlic Smashed Potatoes and Braised Brussell Sprouts
Tuesday: Chicken Pot Pie (made with leftover chicken from Monday's roasted bird)
Wednesday: Dinner at church (woo-hoo, I don't have to cook!)
Thursday: Leek Soup and Broccoli Quiche
Friday: Fajitas
Saturday: Pioneer Woman's Marlborough Man Sandwiches, baked sweet potato fries and garlic broccoli
Sunday: Meatballs with Nana's Gravy (AKA: tomato sauce, for all you non-Italians)

Recipes for all of these will follow at some point, I promise!

Silly Saturday; Severus Snape

(what's funny about Snape, you ask?) Watch this:



We're huge Harry Potter fans in this house, so it'll be weeks before we tire of this video. I love it!!

What do you get...

when you mix this:

(a rambunctious, goofy 4 year old)

with this:

(a prayer rock, made at our church's Wed evening kid's program)

Any guesses?

You get this:


In other words, you get a trip to the Emergency Department (where they, unfortunately, know you by name because you are there with said 4 year old quite often) at 9 pm, with a gushing finger. (let's not ignore the irony of the fact that the kid was injured by a Prayer Rock. Resulting in lots of prayers that his hand wasn't broken. Apparently, the rock works, maybe a little too well, in encouraging prayer. I don't quite think that's what the Children's Director has planned when she did this activity with the kids, though.)

You get x-rays (not broken, but badly bruised and sprained) You get DermaBond (not stitches, thankfully, since the boy was seriously traumatized by the last bout with stitches, in his tongue) (No, I'm not kidding) You get almost three hours of kitting time while waiting in the ED for the doc to come in to do said finger gluing. You get a wrapped finger with admonishments to keep it dry (yeah, okay, that's gonna happen)

You also get a milkshake at the drive-through at 11:30 pm, because even though the boy is exhausted, you promised him a milkshake and he won't be dissuaded. You get the same boy drinking the milkshake for breakfast because he was too tired and cranky to finish it when you got home last night. You get a really, rally tired mama today, because all that adrenaline rushing around leaves quite a nasty hangover when it dissipates.

The silver lining to my tale of woe? You also get:
A finished sock!

{Work} in Progress Wednesday

Is there anything worse that a sight like that for a mama who is desperate to get some work done? sigh Poor Rusty. He's cutting some eye teeth, and so the bulk of the work I'm getting done today is snuggling with my little man, trying to distract him from the pain and his tears. With the other three boys, teething didn't seem to be such an ordeal. But with Rusty, determined to make his mark and distinguish himself from the brothers who came before him - teething is an epic event. the bigger guys, I'd just nurse them and they'd be happy. But not Rusty - he's the stinker who self-weaned at just a year old (probably just punishment for the mama who staunchly advocates for child-lead weaning. I just never thought that meant I'd have to be okay with weaning at a year old!!!) So, I feel like I'm a new mama again, working hard to learn new tricks for soothing a toddler who isn't a nursling. This is hard work, let me tell you!

I've had two saving graces today, that have pulled me through the struggle to soothe my little man. The current sock in progress, a new design that will be one of the sock patterns for my LTK Sock Club, has progressed from a paltry 1" cuff this morning to the beauty (with heel and gusset decreased completed!) you see before you. Alongside it, is my new favorite tea, a gift from one of my Sunday School students. Republic of Tea's Orange Cranberry. Yum! Nothing like a little lot of caffeine to help you cope!

And, after a quick nap on mama's lap (and a healthy helping of chocolate yogurt pops) we've moved to this sight:

Tutorial Tuesday: Home Management Binder

When I originally devised the Tutorial Tuesday idea, I planned on it being for knitting tutorials. So, naturally, my very first Tutorial is going to be on something completely unrelated to knitting. Well, not really unrelated, since getting organized frees up time to (you guessed it!) KNIT!

I get asked often, as the mama of four boys, how I manage to keep my house in order and my sanity intact, which still keeping up with my business. It's no easy feat, and for a few many years, I was completely unsuccessful. As my kids grew (and multiplied) I got further and further buried under housework and laundry. (Oh, the laundry!) So, after trying all the various programs out there (Flylady - the emails killed me), reading all the books, and listening to whatever advice people wanted to give me, I realized that I needed to just buckle down and Do It.

I needed to get organized. I needed to get my house in order. And I needed something that would help me keep it that way. Enter, the Home Management Binder. Otherwise known as The Brain. The Brain has revolutionalized my life. I'm actually organized. My house is actually clean. My laundry is actually washed and put away(most of the time.) Most importantly, my sanity is intact, and I don't waste entire Saturdays trying to clean the house from top to bottom. (I know I'm not the only one who has done that, fess up!)

You, too, can have these things. You can get the organization. You can get the clean. You can get the peace. You can get the sanity. You just need to get a Home Management Binder. Here's my set up, which I hope inspires each of you to get your own and find the home groove.



Supplies Needed:

3" Binder (I got one with clear inserts on the front, back and binder so I could spiff it up)

Clear page protectors (at least 30 to start)

Page Dividers

Dry Erase Marker

Printer/Paper

three hole punched zipper pencil case

pens, pencils

Optional: Pretty Scrapping paper to jazz up the binder and the page dividers (I found that the nicer my binder is, the more I want to use it, because it's fun to look at)

Here's the front of my binder:

And now let's dive right in:

On the left are notecards so that when I need to send a thank you note, they're readily available. Behind the cards are things that need to be filed in the binder that I haven't gotten to yet. (It's always a work in progress, that's the key! You're never "finished" with the binder, but it's always morphing with your family's needs) The note across the right says: Don't let what you don't have spoil what you do have On the right is the pencil case, which holds the dry erase marker to using on the clear page protectors, a pencil, a few pens, sticky notes, and stamps. Let's flip the pencil case, and take a look at the first page divider: Vital Info. (notice the pretty scrap paper - if it's pretty, you're more likely to use it!)

Vital Info's first page is Emergency Information. It's a central place that everyone in my family knows they can find important info, like:

• our address
• directions to our house
• the fire dept phone number
• police dept phone number
• poison control
• emergency contact numbers (grandma, neighbor, pediatrician, dentist, mom cell)
  
• where the first aid kit is located
• where our family "meeting spot" is if we need to evacuate the house
• where medicine is located

While most of us think that this is information we "know" it's nice to have it in one spot, because in an emergency you just might forget it! The next page in this section is my Emergency Supply Checklist. It's a great list complied by the folks at Real Simple. Last is the Crib Sheet for anyone who spends time with our boys. It's a handy list of rules, kids habits and quirks. Great for the evenings when Grandma babysits and I've forgotten to tell her that Rusty won't be able to go to sleep without his music and duck.

The next section is the Calendar.

I keep our family's master calendar with Outlook. Each person is assigned a color, and every activity gets input to the calendar. At the beginning of the month, I print out the next two months' calendars, and they go into the binder. Behind the family calendar is the lunch calendar that the boys' school sends home. They're allowed to buy lunch once or twice a month, so they highlight the day that they want on the calendar and then in the binder it goes.

The next section is probably the most critical, and definitely the most used, in my binder. It's Homekeeping, and this is where the Brain Files come into play.

I've got a sheet of Daily Chores, then an assigned room for each day of the week (except Sunday, which is officially Mama's Day Off) Each day is broken into chores that need to be done each week, then rotating monthly chores, and finally, seasonal chores. You cross off each job with the dry erase marker as you go, and then wipe it all off at the end of the day. Super easy! Please download the Brain Files and use them! I promise, if you don't do any but follow the brain files, after just two weeks your house will be in much better shape.

After the brain files cleaning pages, I've got a bunch of other pages related to keeping house. There's a Stain Removal Guide, an excerpt from Martha Stewart's HomeKeeping book that I clipped from a back issue of Living, and a fun little page called the Elements of Clean, from Real Simple. It's a basic list of cleaning chores, done a la Period Table of the Elements.

The next section is Contacts.
This is where I've got a page of phone resources, the "note to teacher" pad from my boys school (to make absence and late notes easier, it's pretty cool. You just check off the reason, add in the date, and sign the note), a page protector will all of my frequently used take-away places, and then finally a page protector will my address book and the member book for our church.













Next is the Holiday section.
For the most part, this section isn't super active until late September.

Year-round, there is a gift list that I'll add to as I find good gifts for the people on my list. At the end of September, this section will get a schedule of things that need to be done for holiday prep, and then closer to Thanksgiving it gets a calendar with events we do and a plan for getting the holiday prep finished. This section also has a Birthday Worksheet that lists our family and friends' birthdate and gift ideas.

Next is Health & Wellness.

This is where my workout log is, a clipped weightlifting workout from Self (that I am trying to get motivated to do!) and other interesting articles I come across that I want to read or save. There's also a sheet in here for each person in my family, listing allergies, medications, illnesses, doctor visits, etc.

Next is Crafts.

This is where I file craft ideas to do with the kids, clipped from magazines, written down from friends, or printed from the net. When the kids are crazy, I send them to the binder to pick out a craft for us to do. It usually buys me 10 minutes of non-crazy, but hey, I'll take anything!

After Crafts is Parenting. This is where I clip and file all those article that I want to keep referring back to (like Argue with Me
) and a fabulous little one from Women's Day on the things your kids should know before they move out of your house (gems like knowing how to pump gas, change a tire, sew on a button, read nutrition labels and do laundry)

Last in my binder is the Home Dec file. This is where I put all those gorgeous magazine spreads that inspire me in my decorating - it's a virtual dream file for how I want my home to look and feel as I work on my home.At the very end, there's extra page dividers and extra clear page protectors.

Now that you've seen the binder, and hopefully gotten some inspiration for making your own and embracing the Brain, I'll show you what might be the best part. Do you suffer from serious paper clutter? Never know what to do with the mail that comes in, or all the papers that your kids seem to generate. I keep this little basket on my kitchen counter.

In the very back, you can see the binder peeking out. In front of the binder is my coupon book (that's a whole 'nother post!) In front of that is a file folder for each person in my family. When the kids get home from school, and papers that I need to see/read/sign, then know that they have to put it in my folder, or I won't see it. Mail gets sorted right in front of that basket. DH's bills and magazines? Right into his folder! My bills and magazines? Right into my folder. In the boys' folders are magazines, papers they've drawn, and often, a little love note from mom. This one little basket has cut down tremendously on the paper clutter that used to permanently reside on my kitchen counter. The basket was less than $6 from WalGreens, and is easily one of the best purchases I have ever made!

I hope you've enjoyed this little tour of my home management binder. It has been such a blessing to me in my own home, and I pray that it blessed you in our own homemaking adventures!

Silly Saturday (and other Random Goodness)

I think it's time to shake things up a bit here at Chez Blog. (Let's face it, it's been a downright snoozefest round these parts for quite some time) I've realized that much like the rest of my life, this here blog needs a schedule An ordering of days. A plan. (Yes mom, you really did read that right. Your daughter is formulating a plan. Try not to keel over in disbelief)

From now on, Saturday will hereafter be known as Silly Saturday. It'll be the day that I troll the internet, seeking fun and frivolity to share with you, my dear reader. Right to your monitor, I'll bring the funniest jokes, videos and stories from my family (heavens knows we're all silly enough to fill at least a month's worth of Saturdays!) We're going to spread the happiness, share the smiles and make everyone laugh. We can all use a bit of laughs these days :)

Next up will beTutorial Tuesdays, offering great short videos and lots of pictures to detail those techniques that many of you ask about often. On this, I want some input from you, dear readers. What would you like to see an LTK Tutorial on? Email me at theresa{at}littleturtleknits{dot}com and I'll try to get your request in the queue.

Work in Progress Wednesday will be where I hold myself accountable and show actual progress on various projects. They might not always be knitting projects, because there's often designs that I can't show, but they'll always be crafty and (hopefully) interesting!

Finally, Fiber Friday will round out or blogging week. Some Fridays there will be gorgeous pictures of handpainted yarns, other Fridays we'll have little fiber profiles, and still other days we'll preview some of our new yarns.

I hope that you enjoy all the new stuff coming!

For today's first Silly Saturday installment, I present a Shaun the Sheep parody for your entertainment, courtesy of YouTube. This has been viewed in our house at least 10 times a day for the past week, and the kids still aren't tired of it!

The one in which I can't sleep

I'm normally a great sleeper. I fall asleep easily, sleep soundly, and if left undisturbed, will sleep in whenever I can. I adore laying in bed in the morning, in that half-awake/half-asleep state where everything feels sort of dreamy and nothing in the world seems more appealing than the warm covers pulled up under my chin and a cat curled up at my feet.

But every once in a while, I'll get in this headspace where I just cannot fall asleep. Sure, I'm tired. Sure, I want to sleep. I need to sleep. But the brain just won't stand for it. Often, these sleepless nights coincide with bursts of creativity, when my mind is brimming with ideas, designs, craft projects I want to work on, things that I need to tinker with on the website, and most recently, my committee work with the Association of Knitwear Designers, Inc. I've learned to stop fighting these nights where I'm still awake well after midnight, and now try to embrace them for the rare, quiet moments they provide. Let's face it, the only time my household is quiet is after midnight!

It's 12:46 am as I'm writing this, and I've spent the past hour working on the design of my new cart (sorry, no preview yet. Soon, I promise!) I've sketched out three new designs and will add them to the (large) pile of "To Be Swatched" sketches (surely I'm not the only designer who has a pile like this?!)

I've been catching up on blog reading, and have fallen in love with Amanda's sweet babes' Bird Calendar. The ideas are whipping around my head for next year's gifts, already. I've been admiring Meg's Emmeline Apron, and really trying to stop myself from emailing her to pester about when the pattern will be released. I really want one (or ten!) of those aprons. So cute. I'm pretending to ignore Amy's homemade marshmellows, because, well the holidays are over and I can't make any more excuses for eating sweets. But I'm counting the days till Valentine's when I can make them as treats for the boys. The only thing stopping me from busting out the rubber cement and making some seriously adorable bubble mailers right now is the fact that both the bubble wrap and rubber cement are in my craft closet, which is in the room that Rusty is asleep in and the door squeeks which will wake him up.

So, what do YOU do when you can't sleep?