Manicures for Knitters!

I am usually a nighttime knitter. Night is also the only time I really have to do my nails. I have to make the choice nail or knitting and, if I choose nails how early can do I have to start them in order for them to dry in time? Oh the problems... :)

I have tried the Sally Hansen nail polish stickers and have had wonderful results, however, I very much dislike taking nail polish off. I feel like I spend all night with a cotton ball in hand stinking like acetone. Well enter Jamberry Nail Shields, they are my new answer!!

Here's what attracted me to these particular nail shields: they are NOT nail polish! These are easy on, easy off! They go on with a heat source (hair dryer) and off the same way. (You can also soak them in acetone for a "gentler" removal.)

My suggestion, if you decide to try them, is to watch some YouTube videos on tips for applying them. I read some reviews where people had some difficulty so I researched, learned their tricks and they went on pretty easily. I can see how it might be quicker with practice but definitely worth it!

They were on for a week and not only did the stay on but they look adorable! I got antsy and changed it up last night, I'm loving them!

I am hosting an online "party"! Feel free to click on the link below and have fun with hassle free nails. Let us know which patterns you choose. I think my next order will include the lollipop chevron...

Feel free to click on the link:
Http://ckrog.jamberrynails.net
At check out, they will choose "MammaGranate online party" from the drop down box beside "is this order associated with a party?"
Right now it's buy 3 get one free!!
Party ends June 14

D to the O-N-E

So today I brought the sweater with me to Maya's gymnastics and finished that darned thing!!! All I need is buttons, my niece and some cold weather!

For real?

So yesterday I was determined to finish the Baby Sophisticate. Even I'm tired of hearing that! I did a few rows with Maya as we were watching a show on North American animals during Simon's nap. I helped her a bit and then NEVER FINISHED my project! It is SO close. 

On the other hand I did have Maya and Simon clean our finds from Goodwill. We set them up with their water table, sponges and a hose and let them go, mission accomplished! I also got in a good run,  had tea with the kids and breakfast for dinner - I would say that this day was a success! Maybe I'll finish it tomorrow...

Getting there!

Yesterday we went to the Goodwill Outlet. You heard me correctly, outlet. I believe that they sell the stuff that the Goodwill stores haven't sold and when they try to switch up the inventory they send it to the outlet. We did find some treasures but we had to sift through a lot of stuff to find them. There was definitely yarn there, however, nothing I was really interested in using...

I did get some knitting done on the way. I have about four rows left to finish my niece's Baby Sophisticate! I'm determined to finish it tomorrow and start on my nephew's sweater!

Found It!

So yesterday I tore apart my closet looking for the project I'll never finish with the extra yarn to finish my nieces sweater. I recently went through my house and donated tons of things and then it hit me - I  probably got rid of it. I must have figured that I would never finish it so I got rid of it. I was so incredibly frustrated and was scheming how I could get enough yarn to finish the project but not have to buy the entire pound of yarn! I was trying to figure out if I could change to another color, just end it there when I decided to take one more look. I FOUND IT!! It was in my yarn stash hiding under a bag of yarn scraps. I'm so relieved, I can finally finish it.

On a funny note, Maya saw my yarn and asked if she could go to the store and get a box of yarn just like I have! She has also planned out her next few projects; first a hat, then an ankle bracelet. I love it, she is hooked!

Little Knitter

When is a child old enough to learn to knit? I've tried a few times and my five and a half year old daughter, Maya, has finally taken to it! We started on some scrap yarn but it just wasn't right. I wanted bigger needles and thicker yarn so she would see the progress to keep her motivated. We went to Loop in Philly, one of the shops I frequented when we lived there. I used to take Maya there when she was a baby and, to my surprise, they remembered us! I just love local yarn shops...

Maya and I had fun on our mother daughter date to choose her supplies. I figure that I should get her hooked on the good stuff, she will get super into knitting and then we can get some cheaper stuff to supplement. She chose a chunky, thick and thin variegated yarn, Malabrigo Aquarella in the colorway Paysandu, which is beautiful pinks and purples. She got some Crystal Palace bamboo needles in size 11 and she also chose a cute project bag, I'm a sucker for knitting supplies! If my husband and two year old weren't waiting for us we might have purchased more...

We got started that night. She sat on my lap and I cast on ten stitches. She watched me do a few stitches, we did a few with her hands on mine and then I watched and coached her while she finished the row. She did amazing for a beginner! It was so hard to let her make mistakes because I knew how to fix them but she really seemed to get it. We are now trying to knit together when we have down time and she has dubbed it her "favorite thing". She even brought it in for show and tell!

Look what I realized...

I finally pulled out my knitting, brushed off the needles and realized why the Baby Sophisticate hasn't been finished. I'm out of yarn. I have a project I can frog to get more yarn...I just need to find it! 

Meanwhile I'll work on my Charade socks. I started them on a trip to the Adirondacks for my friends wedding. I was determined to finish them by winter of 2009, two months to finish sock should be easy, right? Argh, apparently I was wrong! I seriously have about two inches left. I'm determined to finish these socks by the time it's sock weather again! 

My goal for the summer is to finish these two sweaters and the socks.

Get out of the bag!

I have two current projects on the needles and a few hibernating in the closet. I mentioned before that I'm working on sweaters (Baby Sophisticate) for my niece and nephew. They are so close to being done! I have all but  half the coller done on my niece's sweater and all but the whole coller done on my nephews. I'll take pictures of the progess; hopefully tomorrow!

Wannabe Knitting Bag

I love the Jordana Paige knitting bags. They look like purses, have the function of knitting bags but I'd rather buy yarn and patterns. I found it though, my newest knitting bag! To top it off, it was ON SALE!!

I found this Deena and Ozzy bag at Urban Outfitter's 50% off the sale price sale; it came out to $10!!! (I can't resist a good sale!) It's vegan "leather" so I'm guessing somewhat water resistant and extremely roomy. It has a great pocket on the outside for patterns, tape measure, etc. Now I just need to finish the knitting projects that are inside it...

Let's Try This Again

I'll admit, I was super duper into knitting. Then I had kids and, while I wanted to knit, the time wasn't presenting itself! I'm trying to get back into the swing of things. I have hibernating projects that range in start time from Memorial Day Weekend 2009 to baby sweaters for my niece and nephew who turned one in March. Thankfully I had the foresight to make them size 18 month!!

So here I go, back into my knitting adventure!