Winner!

Hello! I have failed to announce the giveaway winner, Linda. My apologies. I have been trying to find some cute current project pics to pass along, but there are not many. Here is a pic of a hexagon granny blanket that I finished (real pics on the computer, fail). My bad. 

I also made and some Seuss-esque burp rags and a tag blanket for a friend. Love it. 

What have you been up to?

Giveaway! [CLOSED]

Sorry, but this giveaway is now closed! The winner has been chosen -- commenter #1, Linda for the yarn! The fabric winner is comment #2 from the FireWifey post, Kristi. I will be contacting all winners shortly. Thanks!

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I need to clean out my craft room. It has become a disaster zone! A total and complete mess, if you ask me. I just keep buying more craft supplies and then not using them. So it is time to clean up! And that, my friends, is good news for you! I'm going to give away a box of yarn and a small box of fabric scraps. There will probably be other goodies thrown in too, because I am cool like that. If you are interested in the fabric, let me know what you are into. I'm just going to stuff the small box as full as I can get it!

 
I'm also trying to get a little excitement going on over at my new blog, FireWifey. I have been having fun over there, but am not sure how many of you know about it. So I will be picking one winner from this post and another from the post on FireWifey. Which means you have extra chances to win if you head over there. 

 

This giveaway is open until May 8, 2013 at midnight, pst! Here is the nitty gritty...

 

1. Leave a comment telling me what patterns you would like to see here. I only have five published right now, but I would love to make a few more! Also, let me know if you want to win the fabric or the yarn or if it does not matter.
2. Tweet about this giveaway (@themegababe) and leave a comment letting me know that you did.
3. Visit FireWifey for more chances to win!

Only two entries per person / IP address on this post. One comment per entry. Giveaway closes at midnight on Wednesday, May 8, 2013. The plan is to announce the winners on Thursday and get the packages in the mail on Friday. But we shall see what actually happens. :)

 

Coffee Cup Cozy Pattern

I started making these coffee cozies a few weeks ago.  I was going to use someone else's pattern, but just could not find exactly what I wanted.  I designed this after my french press cozy pattern.  I am really happy with how this turned out, and I hope you have the same results.

Pretty gorgeous, right? I have given these as gifts and people seem to really love them. I have sent them simple (below) or adorned (above). Men prefer the simple way, but I just love the cute adornments! I have crocheted both stars and flowers and attached them. Lovely, I say. Then again, the simple looks fabulous too!

Please feel free to use this pattern for personal or small scale sales use.  Just don't go mass producing these in a sweatshop. I would appreciate it if you linked back to my pattern if you sell a finished product online. If you sell it at a craft fair, no linkback is necessary. Enough of the small talk, here's what you really want... the pattern!


Coffee Cup Cozy
Supplies:

• Small amount of yarn.  I like worsted weight, but you can just use whatever you have and adapt the pattern accordingly.
• Size H Crochet Hook (I have also used G and I, like I said, the pattern is adaptable)
• Yarn Needle
• Flower Embellishment (I like using this pattern, but feel free to use whatever one you like, or none at all!) or Star Embellishment (pattern to come soon!)

Abbreviations:
Ch - Chain
SS - Slip Stitch
HDC - Half Double Crochet

Instructions:
Round 1: Chain 14
Round 2: skip first 2 Ch, HDC in each stitch across, Ch2  (12 hdc)
Rounds 3 - 22:  HDC in each stitch across, Ch2 (basically continue in the same manner until your piece is approximately 8" when laid flat). On the last round, skip the Ch2 and Fasten Off.
Finishing: Lay the coffee cozy flat, lining up the first and last row.  SS in both rows to seam together.

Flip right side out and attach embellishment.

Simple, right? And lovely! Go ahead and make one today! Pair it with a gift card to a local coffee shop and you will have an excellent birthday gift!!

 

Doily, Hat, Flower, Hat

More finished projects (I told you I was busy!) I still have five or six projects to share, but hopefully this will tide you over! As always, the links will take you to my original post with more information (and the link to the pattern). I always feel so accomplished when I share these posts with you all. It means I completed the project AND updated the original post (and page and Ravelry)... so it's like a huge check off of a list! :)

October 7: Comet's Tail Doily

August 6:  Granny Square Hat

January 2: Rosettes

January 16: Newborn Newsie (I shared this one before, but I actually added my pictures this time!)

Thanks for letting me share my creativity with you. What have you been up to lately?

Completed Projects: Easter / Irish Edition

Another batch of finished projects is here! I didn't finish them all right now... I just took pictures and uploaded them right now. Heh. I try to finish one seasonal project each year. This year I made Peeps before Easter and the fun little leprechaun hat before St. Patrick's Day. I was actually on my A game this year and made them early enough to enjoy them during the season!

February 17: Peeps (half eaten by the puppy!)

August 29: Adirondack Cap

May 28: American Girl Fringed Scrapghan

March 14: Leprechaun Hat

St. Patrick's Day

As I have mentioned in years past, I love St. Paddy's Day. We get together with the same couple every year and do something fun to celebrate. This year started off extra special, as I won this scarf from Crafty Holly Louise.

How cute is this?  Holly's stitches are totally even and gorgeous, and I just adore the white flower that she put on it.

I seriously love it (and I'm not really a cowl person). If you want one, or something similar, feel free to check out her shop!

Also, we celebrated with Guinness Floats & Mint Swirled cookies with our dear friends, Kev and Linds. It was nothing compared to last year's feast of corned beef, cabbage, and Guinness & Bailey's cupcakes; but it was fun. And that's what counts. If you want the recipe for the cookies, check it out on FireWifey [and just FYI they are gluten free :) ]

Do you have St. Patrick's Day traditions? What about Easter, since, ya know, that has also happened since then? :)

Finishing Things Up.

I've finished a few things recently, and it's high time I shared them. Sharing these finished project posts is like the final check on my list for each pattern. If you're new here, I started this in 2010 by posting a pattern a day, with the goal to finish all 365 projects by the end of 2014. I still have a ways to go, but I'm happy with my progress. A few patterns have disappeared after I posted them, so I'll change them up (that's the case with the Newsie Hat). Anywho.

First up is this adorable Newsie Cap [Jan 16]. My friend requested it for her son and I just could not say no! I took a few pictures of my own, but the one of him wearing it is just too precious.

Next is a doily that I actually finished back in October. I just forgot to take pictures before I gave it to my mom and then I kept putting off updating the post. Now the Cluster Stitch Doily [Sept 21] is fully complete, posted and all! Also, I hate cluster stitches. Aptly named, this pattern is fully of them. Boy was I glad to be done with this!

Lastly are these two adorable baskets. I made them in one or two days (I only crochet for an hour or two a day). They are chunky yarn, and two strands together, so they worked up FAST. I used this pattern and this one too! Oh, and most importable, my friend loved them. She found them on pinterest and just had to commission me to make them! :)

What have you finished lately?

[Note: the links will take you to my original post and the pattern links]

Bits & Pieces

This post has 2 reasons for being written.

1. Google Reader will be gone as of July something. It's sad. I know. I'm switching to Blog Lovin though, and you know that means I need to claim my blog. Right?
   Follow my blog with Bloglovin  
2. I started my new blog. It is FireWifey. It is fun. It is now where you will find my Instagram pics. [[Thank you to the two friends who reminded me to add a link and Blog Lovin link. You two are too smart, ya know!! Referral link: Follow my blog with Bloglovin ]]

 

I am keeping this blog for crochet specific things. I do have a few posts up my sleeve for this little place (patterns and updates to my finished projects), I just need to find the time to sit down and write. Thanks for your patience!

 

But I couldn't leave you with random "techincal info" and no cute pics of the pup, right? These are from the end of January... 

 

 

Some crochet goodness (can you tell what the pup got to?)...

 

 

And lastly, a pic from our anniversary getaway last week...

 

 

Happy Thursday! (It is my first day at work this week, so my days are completly off. I almost said

Happy Monday!)

NewlyWife: The End of an Era

No. I'm not talking about me not being a newlywed anymore (although as we approach five years, you may disagree). I'm talking about the end of my blog with Emily. We have blogged there for three years and loved it. I know I learned so much about blogging, and life, through writing there. As we posted on Monday, we have decided to sell the blog. It has nothing to do with our relationships (we are both still happily married), our contributors (those ladies are awesome), or our friendship / cousinship (Emily is seriously awesome, check out her new site); but everything to do with our passions and time.

at the Foodbuzz Festival in 2011


You see, we both love writing and blogging (both of us have had one blog or another for the last ten years), but we just were not feeling NewlyWife anymore. It was not our passion and was taking up a lot of time. It started as a fun adventure, but had turned into a dreaded chore. Personally, I felt like I had to be careful with what I said because it was not just my blog but hers too. She never said anything to offend me or quench my writing, but I know that we don't always think the same way (who does?), and I wanted to be careful not to say something like it was what we believed, when it was my opinion. [hello run-on sentence!] Make sense? It was also just plain exhausting to have to come up with 2 - 3 posts of new content each week. The contibutors totally helped, but it still was not what we thought it would be after three years.

We came to the decision to end it (?) late last year, and have been trying to figure out exactly what to do since then. I'm sure some of you noticed that we went from daily posting to nothing overnight. It wasn't planned that way, it just kinda happened. Matt and I started talking about creating a blog together, that has since changed to my new blog about fire wife life (which has not made public yet, but I am working on it!). With my passions headed towards that, I really had no idea what to write on NewlyWife. All I could think about was one post or another about my new life as a fire / EMT wife. I will miss NewlyWife, but I know it is time to move one. I'm just grateful that I have something else to be passionate about.


at the Foodbuzz Gala in 2012

As Emily said, Yesterday [it was Monday, but I really just stole this text from her site], we announced our plans to move on and also our intent to try and sell the site. With 925 posts and a growing readership of about 13,000 unique visits per month, we believe it has potential to continue to grow under the direction of someone who feels passionate about newlywed life. Our goal is to see the site continue and continue to be the blessing for them as it was for us.
Are you interested in purchasing NewlyWife? We’d love to get in touch with you! Learn more by visiting NewlyWife and reading our post announcing the sale.

On Sugar and Booze

It's no secret. I love sugar. I love carbs. And, I'll admit, I love booze. I started the year doing a 21 (or shall we say 19) Day Sugar Detox from Diane Sanfillipo (who wrote Practical Paleo, which is amazing)! I wasn't worried about the sugar as much as the carbs (and vino) -- but thought it would be simple as we were practically eating paleo before the holidays anyways. However, everything was a challenge. I REALLY missed my bread and cookies, but mostly I missed wine. Mmmm. Wine. Also, it was really hard as we dealt with Matt's grandpa going on hospice and then passing away in the midst of it. Trying not to eat sugar / carbs while eating fast food is nearly impossible. But I did it. I caved though, when we had whiskey in his honor, and then just called it quits on day 19 when we had a Cajun feast at church (also in his honor). It was okay though. I was fine (although a bit bloaty) after cornbread and key lime pie.

 

I think the biggest change is coming now. I am eating sugar daily (but still not much), carbs are in full force while at work, and wine is the drink of choice with dinner. I did not think it was really having an effect on me, but upon deeper reflection, it is. My face broke out like crazy, I'm incredibly tired, and if you don't feed me often enough, I could kill you. Those symptoms were non-existent when my blood sugar levels were not rising and falling like crazy with carb rushes (hello afternoon carb cravings!). I also have noticed that I am retaining a lot more water in my belly. Boo. This is more health / body talk then I usually share here, but oh well. My girl Alice has been more honest in her daily blogging (you go girl), so I want to as well. And I want to write more. That is one of the things I miss most about not posting on NewlyWife anymore. I hope I can find my voice here again. Whoa, major rabbit trail!

Anywho, I think I am going to try and have more fats and protein in my diet. I hate the craziness with the blood sugar in constant flux. I have found that eating a high protein / fat meal in the morning (eggs with sausage or bacon or leftovers from the night before) keeps me going until lunch. I used to have to eat a snack by 9 or 10, but better food fuels me longer. We're also trying to eat organic and grass fed. I know it's crazy expensive, but I really do notice a difference. Also, we eat smaller portions of meat and it lasts longer. The biggest challenge is not eating, but preparing. It is so easy to grab whatever is close (hello frozen pasta meals) when there is no fresh food in the house. I really need to get better about meal planning / grocery shopping, and including lunches in the mix (I'm actually really good with planning dinners). Matt wants to cook more, so we need to find a time that we can both sit down and prepare for the week.

 

All of the foods pictured are sugar / sweetener free and carb free (with the exception of Matt's breakfast). It was actually really tasty too. The pizza has a cauliflower crust and is a favorite around our home. The biscuits are made with coconut flour and olive oil (they're savory, with thyme and rosemary). My favorite treats (we could have one banana or green apple per day) from the detox were these coconut bliss bites. Basically mash banana with unsweetened cocoa powder and unsweetened coconut flakes. Freeze. Let that for a minute or two before devouring. And I feel so healthy when I eat them. No gluten or grains or other stuff that makes me feel like crap. Let's not discuss the girlscout cookies in my freezer. Grrr.

 

 

Could you go without sugar for 21 days? Would you even want to try? Any suggestions for upping my veggie intake? I'm good with meat, but don't know how to prepare veggies other than a slow roast. haha