Embroidery Machine!

Sweet Steve got me a Brother embroidery machine for Christmas! It is fancy so it will also be my birthday present this year. So worth it! I let it sit on the kitchen table for 2 or 3 weeks after it arrived because I was intimidated by it. Turns out I was worried over nothing. It is SO fun and pretty easy, too! If you forget how to do things, like wind a bobbin on it, there are little step-by-step videos on the LCD screen. I made these double pointed knitting needle pouches as my first project with the machine. I have been neglecting my regular sewing machine, as well, so it was good to put it to use.

http://kathrynivy.com/patterns/extras/needle-pouches/

I embroidered the size of the needles on each pouch. It was so fun to make something that combines so many of my crafts - embroidery, sewing, and knitting! I am kinda partial to mine because they are covered in either monkeys or polka dots. I hope someone out there gets to enjoy this pattern, too! If I actually get better about blogging I promise to take better pictures and format these entries better. That's all for now. Happy crafting!

xx,
Emsielou

Post a day?

Who thinks I can do a post a day? {crickets chirping} Well, I haven't even told anyone I started this yet (because I know it would bore ya to tears) but I wonder how long it would take for me to break the streak...honestly, though, is it better to do a tiny post a day at the risk of being mundane or should I wait until something interesting pops up? Only time will tell.

I have felt like garbage all weekend. Austinites will understand me when I mention the dreaded "Cedar Fever." Turns out the Live Music Capital of the World is also the Allergy Capital of the World. You see, we have these Mountain Juniper trees here that are mistakenly referred to as Cedar. They fill the air with their dreadful pollen every winter and make many miserable here...including yours truly. I went from no allergies for my entire life to now having symptoms most days of the year with an especially miserable 3 months each winter. I've been curled up on the couch sipping tea, weirdly tired/awake due to my zyrtec/sudafed cocktail, and fantasizing about ripping my eyeballs out of their sockets while scratching the back of my throat with razor blades. Hey, a girl's gotta dream.

I have been a little productive, though. I made two adorable newborn hats this weekend. I will figure out how to upload pictures ASAP to share. No, I am not pregnant. I am looking forward to kids at some point but I currently craft with two goals in mind: baby gifts and becoming a billionaire. There are 7 important people having  babies soon. My dear friend, Jenny R., is having her second baby boy this month; my medical assistant and his wife are having a little girl in February, my beautiful maid of honor, Jenny C.O., is having a girl in April; and then 4 other VIP's are due in May: my other {equally beautiful} maid of honor, Sandy; my sister-in-law {Steve's sister}, Mandy; my very best friend from my first PNP job, Emily; and a childhood friend's brother and his wife, who moved to Austin last year. My goal is to not be months or years late as has typically been my m.o. But after you seven I may {but probably will not} take a break!

Oh yeah, and the billionaire part...I am very interested in creating and selling my own knit/crochet patterns. I will likely never sell finished work because it takes too bloody long, though. We shall see. That's all for now. I'm off to find some razor blades. Be well.

xx,
Emily