In my year of healthy changes, I've become very interested in the healing properties of essential oils. I've read and researched and interviewed and experimented... it's all just very, very fascinating to me! While my collection of oils is small, I've picked up several to help with my family's sinus and skin issues, muscle aches, sleeplessness, and just overall wellbeing.

You may be thinking... the placebo effect is strong with this one...

And maybe it is, but I've been pleased with the impact they have had on our household.

So, for my handmade Christmas efforts this year, I thought it would be nice to share a gift of health with my kids' teachers and a few friends. Not to one to knock a great drinking vessel, but do they really need another mug?

My other idea was a gift card to Dunkin' Donuts. Mmmm... doughnuts are my kryptonite. They may really wish I'd given them a gift card!!

I made blends that I thought would be universally appealing - for sleep, alertness, and sinus relief. I used some recipes that I found on Hello Glow as my base and customized from there.

Good Night, Sleep Tight :: roman chamomile + lavender

WAKE UP! :: frankincense + peppermint + orange

Breathe :: eucalyptus + peppermint

I then knit up these adorable little bags to carry them. For the knitters among us, this is the first pattern that worked up on my own! I shouldn't be this proud because it's so simple, but I am.

I added a Christmas ribbon and a menu card... Voila! A simple, yet very personal little gift.

If you think this is an idea for you, you are completely welcome to my files, recipes, knitting pattern, etc. Just let me know what you'd like.

I am curious - if you are a teacher, would you use a gift like this or would it be regifted? I would love to know if I'm just thinking inside of my own bubble.

What are you crafting for Christmas this year? I'd love to hear all about it!

I don't think I will ever understand the game of football. Other than the really important plays, like running the field, kicking a goal, or scoring a touchdown, the rest is just confusing noise. My apathy for the game has always bothered my husband (as someone who takes every-single-play very personally). Imagine his delight when I began my most recent major knitting project - Michelle Hunter's Scoreboard Scarf.

Participating in this nationwide "knit along" meant that I had to stay on top of the weekly scores for my team, which also meant multiple conversations about football - or "teaching" moments - with my husband. Seriously. He was giddy.

The idea behind this scarf was just plain fun - for every point that your team scored, you knit a row in one spirit color. For every point the opposing team scored, you knit a row in a contrasting spirit color. For example:

1 touchdown + good kick = 7 rows
1 field goal  = 3 rows
1 kick-their-butts-no-one-else-even-came-close-to-scoring game = 52 rows

I divided each game with a row of purling and alternated between black and gray for the opposing teams to break up the Halloween vibe.

By the end of the season, you have a wearable document of the scoring plays.

I knew I had to make this for my best friend, Kellie, for Christmas. We both bleed orange and black for our Mercer Bears, but she's the one dedicated to sitting through cruddy weather to cheer them on. Not me. I've had my lifetime's share of bad weather in the past 3 years. Reserve for me a permanent seat in a warm, dry environment.

So, I started this scarf at the beginning of football season and wrapped it up at the 11th hour, just before Christmas. There was A LOT of knitting, knitting, knitting... and with game scores of 52-0, there was a lot of monotonous knitting.

Look at all of that orange! Go Bears!!

I'm so pleased with the outcome (not so much with these pictures), but I'm not anxious to do this again for a long time. In the words of Squints from "The Sandlot," this project took...

via GIPHY

It's not too late to knit your own scoreboard scarf! Just head over to the Scoreboard Knit Along site for the pattern and your team's website for the season's scores and knit away! If you need help deciphering those box score summaries, just give me a holler. I'm an expert now.

**wink-wink**

If you've ever moved to a new place, you know how hard it is to find solid friends.

I've been incredibly blessed over the past 2 1/2 years. Since moving to Pennsylvania, I've been wrapped in support and kindness from all sides - neighbors, colleagues, acquaintances... I've been overwhelmed by warmth and acceptance.

So, let me introduce you to two ladies who now occupy a very special place in my heart - Cristy and Missie. These ladies have made it their personal mission to make me feel like family. They are now my sisters. They embody all of the characteristics that you could use to describe the "perfect friend."

Cristy was one of the first people I met when I moved here. She has done an amazing job of pushing me out of the house and forcing me into social settings. That's a tremendous feat for this introvert! She asks for as much as she gives (which is, in my opinion, THE hallmark of true friendship). She also introduced me to knitting, which has had a powerful effect on my overall well-being.

Extra bonus: our hubbies hit it off, too, and our little guys are like brothers.

Missie is one of the most positive, inspirational women that I've ever known. She has faced incredible hardship due to chronic illness over the past year and a half. Her body has betrayed her in every way. She lives in pain—yet, she never complains. She remains upbeat and chooses to focus on care and concern for others, rather than herself. I will forever think of Missie when I'm compelled to complain about trivial issues.

Needless to say, it's going to be really, really, really hard to leave these amazing women behind! I'm constantly brainstorming ways to take them with me.

In a silly moment, I declared, "We should get matching tattoos before I leave. We'll be bonded forever!" Before I even had time to process my own idea, Cristy had already made appointments for the three of us.

So, I spent the next two weeks hyperventilating at the very thought of getting this tattoo. I didn't have any tattoos... neither did Missie... Cristy, well, let's just say she has her fair share.

**wink-wink**

I'm 37 years old! I decided if I was getting a tattoo, it had to be meaningful and original so I worked up a concept for the 3 of us and the artist tweaked it.

Tattoo Day came and I awoke thinking of this video:

Needless to say, the girls made me go first. Here's how it all happened.

One week later, I'm getting used to my permanent addition. I was in shock for a few days. Not necessarily a bad feeling, but I had to work through all of my emotions. Truthfully, it was an awesome experience - one that I've always wanted to have. I'm so grateful that I got to experience it with two women who mean so much to me.

k3tog... knit 3 together... It's heartwarming to know that we're forever linked in our own creative way.

So, I feel like I'm just waking up from a dark, haunting, and very cold dream...

I've just endured the longest, most miserable winter of my life. I didn't fully understand that weather could leave you feeling incredibly drained and uninspired. Depressed, really.

I used to think that any temperature below freezing would essentially feel the same.

{snicker}

I can now attest that -25° F (before the wind chill) does not, in fact, feel like 25° F. And... walking through deep snow is more of a workout than jogging on a beach. And... going weeks without sunshine does affect your emotional well-being. Phew!

We've had 40° temps and sunshine for a few days now and I feel reenergized. It's simply amazing.

So, now that I'm feeling more like myself, I have a lot of catching up to do.

Most of my creative energy over the past months has been channeled into knitting - primarily because you can do that one the couch, in your fleece pajamas, wrapped up in a blanket! I have to say, I've become pretty darn comfortable with it.

So, here's a quick overview of a few of my favorite creations. Get ready for photo overload...

Chunky wool poncho

I absolutely love this piece. I would wear it all of the time if I could. Every time I've worn it out, ladies stop to ask me where I bought it. I've actually made two of these. With practice, the second actually turned out better than the first. I doubled the amount of fringe and it looked so polished!

This pattern came from a book. If you'd like to make one similar, here are a few free patterns:

Poncho 1 • Poncho 2 • Poncho 3 • Poncho 4

The Simplest Sweater

I chose this pattern for the promise in its name. It was my first attempt at a top-down sweater. I am pleased to report it was incredibly simple! I've been lax with my photography, but a friend snapped this quick pic for me. 

I will definitely work up this again. Love it!

Colorwork Cowl

Three cheers for my first colorwork project! For this cowl, I used a pattern from The Purl Bee. Truth be told, I really prefer the colorways that they recommend. But, I wanted to use the yarn that I had on hand. I made many, many, many mistakes along the way. Fortunately, the folds disguise most of them!

Honeycomb Brioche Sweater

I could not love this sweater more. I typically gravitate towards free patterns, but I actually bought this one. I found this yarn on Little Knits, one of my favorite yarn sites. Retail, this yarn would have cost more than $200. I only paid $40!

I am very proud of the way it turned out. And it's such a cool look!

This is just a sampling from the past few months. As you can see, I've been very busy (and cooped up indoors!).

Next update... sewing!

I don't think I've ever worked on a project for 9 months.

{Well, other than my pregnancies... the ultimate test of strength, patience, and creativity. Am I right?}

At the beginning of the year, I enrolled in a knitting class. The project? A 12-block patchwork blanket that would serve as an introduction to a variety of knitting techniques. We followed Michelle Hunter's book, Building Blocks.

Nine months later, I have the coziest, most beautiful blanket that I've ever owned.

What a fantastic experience!

More than just technique, here's what I've learned about knitting.

1. There is no appropriate price that can be placed on a hand-knitted item. More than the materials (which aren't cheap!) there is a huge investment of time, skill, labor... I will never balk at a price tag again.

2. A gift of something hand-knitted is an expression of love. Seriously. Thousands of stitches, constant attention to detail... More than a gift card or anything purchased "off the rack," it is something that is created intentionally, with thought and care... L.O.V.E.

3. Knitting is soul-satisfying. It is therapeutic. It is challenging. It builds community. I'm convinced that if everyone knitted, we'd all be happier people.

Having said that, I will confess that everyone in my house is fighting over who gets to use the blanket. I've very carefully outlined the consequences of abusing it, too. 

We'll see how long that lasts.

{smile}

Since picking up knitting last fall, I quickly realized that it is an activity that I can carry with me everywhere — in the car, on the plane, to the park, to the beach...

With my busy schedule, it's become the only creative outlet that I can take advantage of these days.

When my mother taught me the basics — knit and purl — less than a year ago, I never imagined that I could create a garment. It seemed an impossible task. But... I've done it!

First, the inspiration.

This is the Tiger Lily tank by Lion Brand Yarns, a free pattern.

Because most of the work is basic knitting, I thought it would be a good project to start with. I made several attempts to start the tank before actually committing. It begins with 180 cast-on stitches. I kept running out of yarn in my cast-on attempts so I quit out of sheer frustration.

The ladies in my knitting class talked me into picking it back up. These are just the kind of friends that I need... those that hold me accountable and won't let me give up.

It took me a few weeks to complete, but here it is!

I think it turned out exactly as intended. The straps are supposed to softly roll. The seams line up. The decorative details are spot on. Overall, I'm very pleased! The only change that I would make (in retrospect) would be to add an inch to the length.

The best part about completing this project is the confidence that I've gained for moving forward. I have a much clearer understanding of how garments take shape.

That's a very timely lesson as my knitting class is preparing to take on a top-down sweater. As slow as I am, maybe I'll have it ready to wear by next winter!

I've always been that annoying student who works ahead of the teacher.

A.L.W.A.Y.S.

In my defense, I'm just too dang eager to see what's next! Will I be able to do it? Will it be hard? The anticipation is too great to wait.

So, I plowed forward and finished the second block of my afghan. A month early.

I 'fessed up to Cristy and she promptly shot back, "Well. That is what class is for. What will you work on during class?!"

{hanging my head in shame}

Don't you love friends who keep you honest? Point taken and I am committed to playing by the rules from this point forward. Maybe...

Isn't this design the coolest? The author describes it as a chart, but I think it has a bit of a tribal feel to it. Don't you?

The delightful lady who owns the shop that is hosting the classes is offering a fun incentive for anyone who brings their materials to class in a bag they've made. That was just the kick-in-the-pants that I needed to finish up McCall's 6522, a Laura Ashley bag that I started this time last year.

I'll admit, it was not a fun project for me. It's not a complicated bag. I simply lost interest about half way through the construction.

But, it's done! And, it's just big enough to carry my materials to class.

It's really amazing how much I've learned since my first knitting lesson with my mother over the Thanksgiving holiday. In just a few short months, I've gained the confidence to try more complicated techniques and I've discovered that knitting is a bit addictive.

My favorite video tutorial of the week is for another great headband, courtesy of The Casting on the Couch.

Before you worry that this is becoming a knitting blog, let me put that fear to rest. Knitting has become a new creative outlet, but sewing, home construction, gardening, photography, paper crafting, jewelry-making, Shrinky Dink melting, and all of that other good stuff is still just as present as ever.

Don't you love living a creative life?

My knitting class started last week and I missed it!

My husband was traveling for work and I just couldn't fit it all in. Thanks goodness for my friend, Cristy, who gave me a quick tutorial during lunch one day.

To catch you up, I'm taking a afghan class. The goal for the class is learn a variety of knitting techniques by completing one blanket square per month. We're following Michelle Hunter's book, Building Blocks.

I'm pleased to say that Block #1 is done. I just love this pattern, too.

If you are interested in learning to knit this way, Michelle's book is great. There are also resources online. I've mentioned the site newstitichaday.com. There are several blocks on there that look like they would be fun to learn. This one is my favorite:

I could envision a whole blanket just out of this one pattern.

I'll continue to share my progress on this blanket over the next 11 months. I really appreciate the forced slow pace for this project. No pressure to knit all of the time!

Do you knit? What are you currently working on? Any tips, tricks, favorite tools and websites?