 I have 2 boys & succulents. I love wool & cupcakes. I like to make things. e: lisa@goodknits.com
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posted by Lisa on September 2nd, 2010
I know, I know! I’m late with the cupcake of the month. I’m sure you were all sitting there, holding your breath, so….here it is! You can breathe, now!
Technically, it isn’t a cupcake. It’s a muffin. And not just a muffin, a mini-muffin! These little guys are perfect in a household with kids. I can toss them to my kiddos after breakfast and it makes them happy. “Cake for breakfast?? K!” I can hand one or two to my kindergartener to snack on during his walk to school with daddy. I can hide one in my mouth, in its entirety when someone catches me in the kitchen at midnight. *ahem*
So, yeah. They’re pretty darn nifty.
Have you done any baking lately? What recipes are you MOST excited about, now that the weather may finally be cooling down?! I know I can’t wait to roast my first pumpkin of the season. Oh goooooodness, I’m just waiting for the scent of nutmeg and cloves to fill my house! I LOVE fall-baking!
posted by Lisa on August 31st, 2010
Right before Jason left for Vegas (like the day before!), I came across the first issue of a magazine called Nuno. I saw it had some great projects in it, so I bought it, downloaded it, and skimmed the amazingly gorgeous photos. I figured the boys and I could do some while daddy was away.
Well, Vegas week went by and since it was the week before school (KINDERGARTEN!) I decided to start enforcing a bedtime. Sooo, the projects got put on a back burner. We started preparing for school (did I mention KINDERGARTEN?!) and then daddy came home and then the weekend passed and holy moly! I’m a mother to a kindergartener, now!
It feels like that first day, both our tummies filled with butterflies, was ages ago, but it was really only a week. Sunday evening, I decided we would make masks after school on Monday. I printed out the templates and after we walked home in drizzling rain, we sat down to cut, color, tape, and wear these gorgeous masks. I chose the color scheme for the owl. I let Andy choose two markers for the bear and Nathan exclaimed he wanted his deer to “look REAL.” Nathan cut out the templates, I traced them and colored them (I think I have the only kids who think coloring is boring after about 2 minutes) and cut out the cardboard. I used some ribbon to tie them onto their heads.
They thought they were so cool! To my surprise, Andrew was able to see through the holes. Or one of the holes, at least. He kept coming to me, staring up, then lifting the mask and exclaiming, “HI!” with a giggle. It was ultra-adorable. It was so overcast, though, I didn’t get to get any good photos of them galavanting around as woodland creatures. Maybe this afternoon, if the rain clouds find their way out of town.
I took this photo around 10pm, last night. Everyone went to bed early, including the husband, so I was all alone. Me and my camera. And the owl mask.
posted by Lisa on August 29th, 2010
There are only about 3 days left of the goodknits end-of-summer-sale. I have 18 items left in the shop and would love to empty it out before the end of the month to make room for fall/winter wares. Because of this, I’ve changed the sale from a BOGO 50% off sale to a BOGO FREE sale. That’s right! Buy one item and get the second of equal or lesser value for FREE! I will issue refunds via PayPal, or if you would like an updated invoice or a reserved listing, I could do that. Just let me know!
Thanks for the support!
posted by Lisa on August 29th, 2010
Inspired by the doily pillow tutorial on Smile and Wave, I started scouring thrift stores and craigslist for any little sets of doilies I could find. I HAD to make one. My couch NEEDED it!
One of the thrift stores close to our new house had some and I was SO excited! Until I saw the price tag. GAH! Them ladies knew how long and tedious doily making was and priced them accordingly. Unfortunately, doilies aren’t in the family budget, so I had to pass those up.
A week later, we headed back to our old stomping grounds in South Houston and hit up our old favorite thrift stores, including SeAM. I’m happy to say SeAM did not disappoint. I found a bunch of doilies for about two bucks. I used all the large ones, a medium one, and a few small ones to fill in open spaces. I still have a medium sized one and two little baby doilies left. I’m in LOVE!
I did this a little differently than the tutorial. After figuring out the configuration (most exciting craft-related puzzle!), I pinned the doilies to some yellow fabric, about 17.5″ square. I then hand-sewed them down, overlapping where necessary. I didn’t want to cut any and there wasn’t much overhang, so I didn’t. Most of the doilies were bright white and one was a lovely light brown, so I whipped up a pot of super strong tea and let the pillow top soak for about 10 minutes. I washed it with some dish soap and tossed it in my dryer for a bit. Tea staining for the win!
I used a vintage pillow case for the back. Again, i can’t stress enough how much I love reusing pillowcases like this. The hem is already there, so I don’t need to do any extra sewing! I cut out a piece about half the width of the pillow and one that was two thirds. I pinned it down and sewed it up. My 18″ pillow form makes it a little over-stuffed, but that’s how I like ‘em.
If you have any doilies you don’t want (psssssh!), please do let me know.
posted by Lisa on August 19th, 2010
My mom had this plastic milk crate sitting outside and I asked if I could keep it. She said yes, of course, and so I decided to turn it into an awesome ottoman. Really, it’s just a foot stool, but I like saying “ottoawesome.” I simply crocheted a cozy for it. Started with a large square that covered the base of the crate (top of the stool) and then crocheted–in the round–down the sides. I sewed a few layers of batting under the top for a tiny bit of cushion. It’s pretty lovely, don’t you think? I’m scouring craigslist for more crates!
Now, I need to find an area rug for this living room. One day, we’ll redo the flooring (previous owner put in new carpet, but it’s pretty darn unattractive, I think), but for now a rug will do. Are there any that have caught your eye recently?
P.S.! Isn’t it also awesome that the yarn color pretty much matches my loveseat EXACTLY?! It’s Hobby Lobby’s I Love This Yarn in Old Leaf and I used about a skein and a half (J-hook).
posted by Lisa on August 16th, 2010
Look at what I finished up, today! I crocheted the front on Friday and it sat on my loveseat all weekend. I kept throwing ideas around about completing the pillow. They’d land on uninterested ears (my husband, my kids, etc) but it wasn’t until last night that I decided to use one of my favorite vintage pillow cases as the back.
I liked this idea because I could use the pillow’s natural hem as the envelope-back hem. Less sewing! I used a brown paper bag to cut a circle pattern. I marked off half the circle and two thirds of it. I cut out my pieces, pinned them to the crocheted circle and hand-sewed it together. The seam isn’t perfect and my [foam] pillow form is kind of hard, but I really like the end result!
This orange packs a punch and the flowered back is just lovely! It’s the same fabric I used to make my last camera strap cover.
 
I dig this fabric so much, I couldn’t just toss the scraps. Instead, I made more buttons:
  
If you love them, you could buy them from my Etsy shop, here. They would qualify for my BOGO 50% off sale!
posted by Lisa on August 11th, 2010
I call it the breakfast room, but no one eats breakfast in there. I use the table to fold laundry since our laundry room (through the door straight ahead) is so tiny.
notice my tiny helper?:)
I was folding the millionth load of laundry on that table there and was SO fed up with the wall paper I had to stop. every time I passed the room, my hatred for it grew. I actually liked the wallpaper when we first saw the house. now? I’m quickly stripping it off. I got the first layer off easily and will be spritzing the walls with vinegar to get the rest of it off.
I’m still uncertain what color to paint this room. I’m thinking I should paint the wood paneling white, though. Maybe a nice blue or green for the top? advice?
should I paint the doors, too?! the one on the right is a closet and the one straight ahead leads to the laundry room. I want to use chalkboard paint somewhere, too. Perhaps on the wall by the light switches? It could be used as a bulletin board for the kitchen (to the right)–for lists, menus, notes, etc.
I definitely want to move the microwave out.
posted by Lisa on August 10th, 2010
I won a 20 x 24 inch canvas from HelloCanvas.com on the shutter sisters blog, a few weeks ago (hello summer). I finally ordered, last Thursday, and it arrived on Monday. Talk about SUPER fast shipping!
We absolutely looooooooove it! It is so beautifully printed. THANK YOU, Hello Canvas & shutter sisters! :D
This is where we ended up putting it.
posted by Lisa on August 9th, 2010
I haven’t been sharing any crafty goodness, but I HAVE been making things and planning others. I picked up my knitting needles for the first time in a while, the other day. I gathered some yarn in a basket for me to have downstairs at my disposal. I am one of those people that needs to see things and feel them to get inspired to create. I like having this basket around while I do other [more mandatory] things around the house. When I have to rock the toddler to sleep or sit down to catch my breath, I can look at the basket and think of what I’m going to make next; what I’d rather be doing: knitting.
I took this photo with my Polaroid SX-70 camera and The Impossible Project’s newest film–PX 70 FF Color Shade. I love the soft color and blue tone. I had a tough time with my first pack of film, but I learned some things about my camera. I think that’s why they have the 2+1 starter packs–the first is just practice!
posted by Lisa on August 4th, 2010
Some of my listings are expiring, so I’m having a BOGO 50% off sale! Buy one item and get a second of equal or lesser value for HALF off! I’ll issue a refund minus the shipping cost. Click on the image above to get to my shop. Thanks for the support!
I’m currently working on a few new items, including some brooches, bookmarks, and hats for the fall.
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