When I said I was busy, I wasn't kidding.....

What have I been up to lately??? Let's see:

1. Finished my first quilt ever for a friend's baby shower today

2. Finished blankets and burp cloths for a friend to give at her friend's baby shower

3. Travel bag for our upcoming trip

4. Hip Bag to match the travel bag (hey, a girl has to look good and match!!!)

5. Started on my travel wallet - I am almost there with figuring it out!!!

6. Took a second knitting lesson on Saturday with the husband. It is fun doing something together that we both enjoy. I think I may be ahead of him in getting the stitches down, which is nice, because he was kicking my tail in the first class.

7. I have had a friend order a Knitting Bag that I made - yay!!!

What's left to do??

1. Make a hip bag for my mom and a friend

2. Make a travel bag for my mom

3. Make an sleep mask for my trip (have to cover up the eyes - too much light wakes me up!!)

4. Make two more sleep masks for friends

5. Make my friend's knitting bag

6. Crochet 3 hats for our trip

Not much to do, huh??? Someone better tell my sewing machine to start drinking some coffee. We are going to be cranking some items out!! I will post some photos in the next few days!!

Check out my Hip Bag

I have a Hip Bag in my shop too! Check out my typepad blog for more!

The Knitty Gritty Bag is on the way!!!

I have two bags listed in my Etsy shop. Find out more details about the bags at:

www.itching2Bstitching.typepad.com

These bags are on sale because they were my test bags. Real bags will be in the shop by this weekend. Coming soon - Hip Bags and Travel Wallets!!

New Blog Location

I decided to take the plunge and started a blog over on typepad. I am in the process of cleaning it up and making it look like me. Stop by and visit me. You can follow me on there too. I will probably keep this blog open too, however, I will start updating more frequently on the typepad location. See you there!!

Two Bags Sneak Peek, Third One on the Way!!

I have almost completed two knitting bags for my etsy shop and I have a third one cut out. I am so excited about these bags, and I hope others will be too. I have carried mine with me throughout my errand running this week and have received several compliments. I have two other projects I am working on and hope to have to other items in my shop by the beginning of next week. Here is a sneak peek of the two bags that are almost finished. I LOVE the cupcake one, but how many bags does a girl really need? (That is my husband asking that question, I would say as many as a girl needs!!!)


My camera or my lighting sucks. Or maybe both!!! The polka dot is a vibrant pink and the cupcakes are on a aqua/turquoise color.

I am still working on a pattern for the bag too, in case you are like me and like to make your own stuff from time to time. I had no idea how hard you had to think when you write a pattern!! You have to write every little thing. I am no Amy Butler, that is for sure :)

If you like either bag, check my Etsy shop - they will be in there Saturday Evening. You can send me an email if you like either and I can hold it for you that way too!

Thanks for the kind emails I received from some of you about the bag. You all are too kind!!

I did it! I made my own bag!!

As I can so easily do, I spent hours searching Etsy for a knitting bag that met my needs. I could not find what I wanted. SO - I designed my own and it turned out awesome!!! I am working on writing the pattern out and making it available as a PDF download in my Etsy shop this week. I am making a few to put in my shop too. I am so proud that I didn't back down and worked through the hair ripping moments. You will have to let me know what you think of the bag. I am working on copyrighting my bag too. My friends who have sold other items from their shops have said that it is always a good idea to copyright.

I hate trying to keep up with my knitting needles and I have lost some before falling out of pockets in my bags. So- I decided to make a bag with a pocket on front that keeps your needles with your yarns and keeps them from falling out. Now, I don't have to keep up with a needle carrying case and I can carry my knitting and extra yarns wherever I go!!

I took the photos with my IPhone, so they aren't the greatest, but hopefully you can see my bag!!

I hope you will find my bag cute and functional! Watch my etsy shop later this week for your own pattern to download and make!!

Quilt Block Swap

Want to do a really simple but fun swap? Head over to Little A's blog and join her swap. You can sign up until February 12th!! You are only committing to making one quilt block a month. There is freedom to make a modern or traditional block. She is thinking that you would declare a color, like pink, so there is some cohesiveness to your quilt. Go over and check it out. I haven't done a swap in forever and this feels like one that will be tons of fun!!!

Patterns for sale too.....

The decluttering continues! Check out some of the patterns listed in my shop. I have a pattern or two that I am sketching out and hope to get some items in my shop before long. Go take a peek here.

1200 square feet to 500 square feet = Decluttering Sale

The husband and I are making plans by next year to be living elsewhere. That means we are going to be downsizing from 1200 sq ft to closer to 500 sq ft. We have been decluttering the house in phases and the time has come for some of my fabrics to be sold. I will probably have one more sale before we leave, but it is always easier to this in stages!!!

Stop by my Etsy shop and shop away!! That fabric has got to leave the house!!

Post about it on your blog and I will give you 20% off. Just make sure in the message to seller to mention your blog address!!!

Help me get this stuff out of the house!!

A great goal for 2010.....

Find a way to use up some of my LARGE stash. Enter this challenge:

Head over to this hilarious blog, Finnyknits. What a great way to use up your fabric stash. I LOVE the book and it has awesome projects in it.

I have my project and sewing mojo back since I left my job this week. I am hoping you will see me around my neck of the woods on this blog again. It has been so neglected.

In the mean time, check out Finnyknits blog and see what you think. She cracks me up. Just a warning - the girl loves to swear ( I think she is my long lost sister), so if that is too much for you, you might avoid the sew along!!

When Plans Change....

2009 and 2010 ended and started in a way I did not want or expect. I had the best job that I loved and worked with a team that I will never have the wonderful experience of working with again. It was like waking up every morning and going to work with your friends.

In October, a new company took over management where I work, an Independent, Assisted and Alzheimer's facility. I lead the activities for the Independent Living and loved my job 97% of the time. Pretty good odds, huh? The staff was really excited and happy to see some fresh air come in. Little did we know, it was all about to change.

To keep a REALLY long story - short - here is the recap. Right before Christmas, the company fired the executive director and another team mate. They were not allowed to say goodbye, but ushered out the doors. Soon, little by little, the staff began to resign. I was considering holding on when the company asked me to do some unethical things and did some unethical things. I knew I had to get out while my name was innocent and not mixed in with anything!!

Luckily, the plans I had made for 2010 had some promise in them, when I thought they had failed me. I was able to put my resignation in and I start working next week for Cancer Care Services here in Fort Worth. I am so excited. They have contracted me long enough to hold me until my internship starts in the summer.

I will have my degree by August and able to start Social Work. So, in the long run, it may be what all of us needed, persuing jobs and dreams, but it sure hurts. I realize the business world does not always run by heart, but it sure hurt to see friends I cherished so dearly lose their jobs, especially right before Christmas. It hurts to walk into a building that feels like all it's life and spirit are slowly dwindling. It really stinks I have to say goodbye to my residents I have come to cherish.

However, I am grateful for the transition because people from work are able to be friends now, outside of work! I am going to finish my degree this year and I can start the dream job I have always wanted.

When I told a friend recently that I was going to stop making plans for life because it all changes she said the quote

"Life is what happens when plans are made". Very true! As always, I know I will look back on this as what was supposed to happen. It seems the friends I am meant to make along the journey will continue the journey with me, but just in a different fashion. I may not get to see them everyday, but email and texts sure do help!

The best thing to happen: I have my creative mojo back. I hadn't realized it, but my sewing and crocheting came to almost of a stand still. I just couldn't do it. Since handing in my resignation and reacquainting myself with life again, I have found the part of me that loved to create to begin with. So - I have started a couple things. If you can give me just a little time to get back into the swing of things, this will actually turn back into a creative project blog!!

Oh, 2010 - you are starting out a lot different than I expected, but maybe you aren't so bad. We'll see!

Catch Up

There has been a lot of stuff going on here. Lots of turmoil and sadness. I will update you all soon. I have a couple projects going and hope to share soon. I have missed you!!!

Put Out An All Points Bulletin.....

I am still alive!!!! Here are two projects I have been able to squeeze out during a busy semester!

Blogger finally let me download my photos. Here is my tree skirt. I need to put a hole in the middle and then it will be ready!!! Blogger won't let me move my one pictures, so we will roll with it!!!

Here are my writst warmers. I still need to clean up all of the strings on them. I love them!! I got the idea from Lucy's website. I crocheted them and they are a CINCH. Consider trying them!

Coming Soon To A Blog Near You........

I have a bunch of projects in the works.

• Baby Doll Clothes for my niece
• Christmas Tree Skirt
• Two Stockings for the fireplace
• Baby items for a friend
• Altering of some tops
• AND maybe some clothes on winter break between the semesters

Wish me luck. I should have some photos in the next few weeks!!

I HAVE to have this!!!!!

This is a belt out of Anthropolgie's catalog for November 2009. I LOVE bears - black bears and grizzly bears especially. I have asked my husband for a grizzly bear (a real one - for some reason he says no!!). The model is wearing another animal belt around a dress and sweater. I am obsessing over this look. I let a little scream out when I saw it. Let's cross our fingers and hope that maybe Mr. Bear Belt will show up under my Christmas tree this year!!