As the craziness of presents and shoveling overtakes me, I've decided to sign off for the year.

Leaving you with our family xmas card, I send it virtually to all my world wide web friends.  Love, Peace and Hope to you all.

2010 will be rockin' on my blog.  I've got giveaways planned and will surely have holiday drama to vent.

Feliz Navidad!

Two orders of business today.

First.  Here are last Sundays Socks.  Using the left over from Papas Christmas socks, I was able to squeeze Axel a pair!  Dang, his feet are bigger than I thought!  I guess these are for this winter only!

PS - He's not headed for a career as a foot model.  I thought his face was hard to keep still...his feet nearly threw me into cardiac arrest.

Second.  I get many comments such as:  "how do you do it?"  "how do you get anything done"  "isn't it hard to sew with Axel around?"
Proof is in the second photo here.  Taken this afternoon when the sun hit a precise angle, just as I was capturing this bag, Axel can be seen pouting in shadow.  I answer all the wondering minds.  "I'm not always doing either (mothering or designing) well.  Survival has it that my two worlds must coexist."

The dry spell is over!  I have ideas again!

A couple designs have been in the works for some time and until just recently, I couldn't wrap my brain around how I would construct them!

2 NEW patterns were born this week.  Although their concepts have been on my design table for a year or more, I finally can put them into words!

Also, I have decided to lift part of the copyright on my patterns.  You are now allowed to "sew it and sell it".  Check my shop policies for the details.  I am excited about the possibility of others starting their own little sewing shop using my patterns.  I get requests all the time to "sew and sell", and it took me a while to make up my mind.  So...HAVE AT IT!

Ok, seriously?  You are all too busy to enter for a chance to win an Amiga wristlet?  In my latest giveaway?  Well, I am happy to announce that 2 people did enter and I am sending them both a wristlet!

*Kristina Sorenson (you actually commented on the wrong blog post...but I        know what you meant :)...must be the mommy brain)
*Marci Girl

Please email me with your addresses and I will ship them out right away.
jahred_jen_stephens@hotmail.com

Ok, thats all for today.

Ok, it may seem like I am lacking in my commitment to a pair per week.  I can honestly say, knitting is the 1 area of my life right now where I am not lacking!

Here are last Sundays "socks" and although they aren't the double-point delights of previous weeks, I think you will enjoy these felted lovelies.

Knit with Galaway worsted weight wool in heather...felted to foot size...decorated with vintage buttons.

This pattern was SUPER fun!  It is from an awesome etsy designer and you can find it HERE.

The directions are wonderful.  Mine didn't turn out as cute as hers, but I'm guessing she's made about one-million pair.  Perhaps by then I will have mastered the moccasin looking ridge as well.  Also, I'm a rather crappy felter. I'm inattentive at the washing machine and to save a load, I always felt with a few towels (never hurts to wash your towels in hot).

Also worth mentioning is that tomorrow I will be listing the pair of socks that were actually for today.  Yes, that will make me caught up!

Yesterday was my dear Oscars birthday.  He turned 4 in people years. Sometimes I wonder about 2 things.  

#1 - How old do you have to be until you don't look at the people in passing cars (seriously, there seems to be an age when you look over and people just aren't looking back)?

#2 - Do you ever get tired of your dog?  Previously never a pet owner, I figured the thrill wears off some time during the puppy stage.  With Oscar, I could snuggle him more every day.  Even at 4 years...he's still the most loved dog on the block.

***Don't forget to comment on my previous blog post.  Its a GIVEAWAY!

happy birthday oscar . . . photo credit GS 2009

Ok, lots of stress right now with business, school, family and the holiday rush.

In order to fill my time, and make me happy, I've decided to host a HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY!

Seriously, giveaways can be addicting and I recommend to bloggers, don't break the giveaway seal...you won't be able to stop!

If you are the lucky winner, you will be receiving by mail (world wide entry is always accepted...2 entries for posting in Spanish) a surprise WRISTLET!

To enter, do the following:
1 entry for posting your favorite stress relief technique
2 entries for posting in Spanish (I am desperately trying to stay current on 1 of            my college degrees)
1 additional entry to anyone linking to this giveaway from your blog/website and          letting me know about it

Ok, there ya go.  The giveaway will run through Monday, December 14th. The wristlet pictured below isn't the one you will be getting, then it wouldn't be a surprise!

Best of luck!

Despite feeling the nearly 2 years of isolation during the longest "snow day" in my career.  This is my first "real" snow day since grade school.

Jay Leno said during is opening monolog last night that according to survey, they "angriest" people on the planet are 20-30-something women who stay home with babies and toddlers.  Jay mentioned how scary that is...I know how sad it can be.  How glamorous it must seem to working men and women to be able to "wake up at your leisure" - yeah right; to "stay in your pajamas all day" - clearly not by choice; and to "coffee or lunch with your other stay-at-home friends" - I've been trying to schedule coffee with a friend for literally 18 months, hasn't happened yet.  One would think that a snow day for someone already stuck would seem devastating.

Something about this real snow day is different though.  Jahreds finals were cancelled today leaving him stuck inside with us.  Although it's terrible to delay the inevitable of a final, I have to admit, him being stuck home is a breath of fresh air for me!  

A REAL snow day today, just like when I was young, is MAGICAL.

If it weren't for the 30 mph winds, it would be hard to keep me indoors.  On a blustery day like today, I know I am a part of an exclusive club.  Very few regions of the world experience such extreme weather and have no excuses for a "snow day".  Even more exclusive is the club of those who have seen snow at all.  How bizarre to think the substance that brings nutrition to our spring grass, simultaneously causing so many road pileups and furnace malfunctions, has NEVER been seen by many fellow earthlings.  Some people read of snow in national geographic or hear of it in folklore...we curse it and love it every winter here in Minnesota.

Today on this REAL snow day in December, I am proudly still sporting my pajamas, I almost woke up at my leisure (thanks to a plow) but I probably won't get that coffee date with a friend.  Instead, I am listening to Jahred play with Axel, relieving my stress just a bit, and playing quietly in the basement with some fabulous new fibers.

Happy snow day to fellow Minnesotans...so sorry the rest of the world has to miss out!

If you're snowed in like me...check out the ALL NEW items in my Etsy shop.

Previously being a lover of all things foreign or hunky, it's amazing how with age, our definition of eye candy changes.  

In years past, my dreams drifted to exotic beaches, breathtaking sunsets and Oscar de la Renta.  Currently being surrounded with none of the above, I thought I would share a few of this weeks favorite things.

I found this trashy/eclectic box at an art show a few weeks ago.  While trying to get over my disease of "oh cute...I could totally do that myself".  I convinced myself that even with a strong love for Michael, I could never replace the random, uber-glued style of this cigar box.  I picked up my treasure for $10 from a groovy, pop-art loving mama.  It has sat untouched in my sun room, and is currently the only object in the house Axel is not allowed to even think about.  Some things are sacred, damn it!

Ok, not quite willing to spend $52 for 102 yards of this gorgeous yarn.  I can only look and drool.  Hand spun, beehives...colors to die for...need I say more.

For a knitter, this yarn would be heaven, truly.  For any of you who feel like I should have it (or possibly you should), I have included a link to this gals Etsy shop.

and here is my shipping address...
just kidding

Thanks to Melissa and Doug, we have a new chef in the house!

Now our 2nd dress up set, Axel is simply adorable and learning to pretend.

For nearly 1 hour this morning, chef Axel shopped (with his grocery cart), cooked with his new kitchen tools and imagined.

Really, it doesn't get much cuter than this.  Thanks Nana for the awesome early xmas present!

Really, has it been over a week since my last post?  It's strange how every year I forget the craziness of this season.  Parties here, caramels there. Seriously though, I think I have spent the last week eating caramels.

Two things you should NEVER do during the winter in Minnesota.  
1 - Go to Sams Club.  They sell a larger than life container of Utz cheese balls; to be avoided at all cost. One should NOT consume that many balls...not that my container is gone yet...a respectable dent has been made...I'm the only one who knows where in my studio they are hidden (pretty tricky to hide a 4 gallon bucket)...doing the math -  balls + hiding + me knowing where = I HAVE EATEN THEM ALL MYSELF.
2 - Make caramels when you don't IMMEDIATELY have somewhere to bring them.  Of course I made some rules for myself regarding caramel consumption, but in my house, rules have never worked.

Ok, now that I have explained what you shouldn't do...here is what you SHOULD do!  Knit socks.  Keeping true to my promise (although a little late with the pictures), here is this weeks SUPERSOCK SUNDAY!

These lovely mens socks were knit for the MOST important man in my life. Probably the only man I would dare knit socks for (the rest are too careless with footwear).  Papa will be getting these socks for x-mas this Sunday (early...sshhhhhh).  I'm sure he isn't reading my blog, so the secret is safe with you all.

Knit with "Happy Feet" sock yarn by Plymouth.  A simple k3, p1 rib throughout. Standard pattern with a little extra height in the calf.  It took me a while to fall in love with this yarn.  I am a fan of a stiffer, scratchy wool like Noro, but the soft-slight-stretch of the Happy Feet MADE me love it.  I'm sure they will wash like a dream and wear like a hug!