Sunday, December 26, 2010

Ep 47- Regift, Refund, Repurpose

~Welcome/ Thank you!
This episode is sponsored by Audible! Visit the link for a free 2 week trial and audiobook download of your choice!
~Sweater Forecast:
Cold and rain through Tuesday, then possible snow Wednesday through Friday!
~ Knitting: 
Aaron's socks are almost done! Eep!  Planning to cast on 4 baby sweaters New Year's Day!
(Links go to Ravelry, sign up if you aren't already a member)
For Leighton: the Easy Baby Cardigan by Diane Soucy in Lime Green
For Twin baby A: Baby Sweater on 2 needles by Elizabeth Zimmerman in bright aqua blue
For Twin baby B: Lillie Baby Cardigan by Laura Edwards
For Arya: Helena Sweater by Allison Green Will
Goal: Finish all 4 sweaters by end of April!
~Spinning:
 I got fiber for Christmas!!  I have 24 oz of fiber in all corresponding colorways for my next handspun sweater!! Got lots of spinning to do over the next 2 days!
~Sales!!!
After Christmas sales/ end of year sales!!
  -Webs is having their year end blowout!  from 12/22- 1/2 save up to 75% off certain yarns!!
  - Joann Fabrics is having a year end sale! Every skein of yarn in store and online is on sale!
~Tip of the Week:
If you got a holiday gift that doesn't suit you, feel free to practice one of the following options. I give you permission.
Regift: Just be POSITIVE that the person you gift it to and the original gifter are NOT in the same social circle.
Refund: If you know where the gift came from but you don't want to ask the original gifter for the receipt, you can often return it (as long as it is UNOPENED) for a store credit without a receipt. They will usually give you the lowest price that item was in the past 90 days, and you can usually only do this once or twice a year at major stores. Be sure to bring your ID, so they can keep track of how often you do refunds without receipts!
Repurpose: There is no need to save your Christmas cards after Christmas, but you can cut them up and make gift tags for next year out of them!  Thanks for the tip knitting group!
~ How I Saved the Week:
I made 16 batches of shortbread for all my family members in ONE DAY! I'm pretty proud of it!
Chocolate Shortbread Recipe:
1/4 c butter, softened
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 c flour
1/4 c powdered sugar
1 to 2 T baking cocoa

Cream butter in a mixing bowl. Add vanilla and mix well.
Combine flour, sugar and cocoa separately; add to creamed mixture.  Beat until dough holds together, about 3 mins.
Pat into a 9x4inch rectangle. Cut into 2-in by 1-1/2-in strips. Prick with a fork. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 300 degrees F for 20-25 mins or until firm. Cool for 5 minutes on cookie sheets, then remove to wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy alongside some delicious hot cocoa, coffee or tea. Yield: 1 dozen.

~ Worth It:
The Taste of Home Chocolate Lover's Cookbook
A compilation of hundreds of recipes using chocolate as the major ingredient!  YUM!
You can order through Amazon (most expensive) or order through mail by sending $15.99 plus $3.95 shipping for one book, or $4.50 for 2 or more books, with item number 32496 to:
Country Store Suite 5610
PO Box 990
Greendale WI 53129-0990.
Or visit their website!
I've made several recipes out of this book!  If you or someone you know loves chocolate, this book is TOTALLY WORTH IT!!
~Contact Info:
Email: cleverroue (at) gmail (dot) com
Ravelry: Roue
Twitter: Roue0824
Have an awesome week everyone!!

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Ep 46- Greensleeves

~Welcome/ Intro/ Thanks!!
  This episode is brought to you by Audible!  Visit Audiblepodcast.com/knitcents for a free 2 week trial and free audiobook download of your choice!!
~Contest:
How have you used your KnitCents?
Post in the Ravelry thread to enter!!
~ Sweater forecast:
Cold, windy, rainy.  Maybe a little snow tomorrow, so wear ALL your knits!
~ Knitting:
 Just a little bit on Aaron's sock.  Almost to the heel.
~Spinning:
 Finished the first 4oz of the Sunset Fibers corriedale, colorway C-13-08 for my next handspun sweater!!
~Baking: 
Triple Chocolate Quick Bread!
Ingredients
1/2 c butter or margarine, softened
2/3 c packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips, melted
1-1/2 cups applesauce (unsweetened is best)
2 tsp vanilla extract
2-1/2 c all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 c semisweet chocolate chips
-For the glaze
1/2 c semisweet chocolate chips
1 T butter or margarine
2 to 3 T half and half cream
1/2 c confectioner's (powdered) sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
pinch salt

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar.  Add eggs and melted chocolate; mix well.  Add applesauce and vanilla. Set aside.  Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture and mix well.  Stir in chocolate chips.  Spoon batter (batter will be super fluffy and light) into four greased 5-1/2-in x 3-in x 2-in loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 35- 40 mins or until a toothpick inserted near center comes out clean.  Cool in pans for 10 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely.
     For glaze, melt chocolate chips and butter in a saucepan; stir in cream. Remove from heat; stir in sugar, vanilla and salt.  Drizzle over bread. (For drizzling, I spoon the warm glaze into a sandwich bag, and cut the tip of a corner off the bottom to use as a piping bag!)
Yield: 4 mini loaves!
ENJOY!
~Free Entertainment:
Podiobooks has 3 Christmas stories!!  Search the word Christmas in the search bar!!
~ Sales Last minute, handmade gift ideas!
 -Triple chocolate quick bread: Takes about an hour (not including cooling and glazing time) and makes 4 loaves!
 - Homemade cocoa!
    5 c nonfat powdered milk
    1 c unsweetened baking cocoa
    1 c sugar
optional:
   5 T cinnamon
   12-15 crushed candy canes
    extra cocoa for a darker chocolate flavor
Combine ingredients in a large zipper plastic bag, shake and distribute evenly among pretty cellophane bags with a ribbon and serving suggestions!
Total time: about 20 minutes, total cost for more than 20 servings (if you make all the flavors) less than $30.
 - Sewn coffee cup cozy
Use a small amount of fleece or flannel, sew a seam and you're done! Fleece works well because it keeps the heat in the cup, and is a little bit stretchy so it will fit around many different cups!! Total cost, less than $1, total time: varying depending on sewing skill, but less than 20 minutes.
~ Tip of the week:
Enjoy the season!  I see too many people stress about buying or making the perfect gift, making 30 dozen kinds of cookies, volunteering too much time to the point that they don't enjoy the beautiful Christmas season!  Relax and spend time with friends and family!
~How I Saved the Week
OMG Amazon has flea medicine for cats for $27 for a 3 month treatment!! That's compared to the $21 for 1 month from my vet's office!!!!
~ Worth It:
The Princess Bride (book) by William Goldman
$8.95 new on Amazon
This book is hilarious, romantic and wonderful!  This is an awesome gift for an individual, or a couple!  This is one of mine and Aaron's favorite books to read aloud to each other, and we have gifted it to other couples with the same instruction!
Before you read the book, read the Wikipedia article about the Author and The Book!
It makes the story way funnier!!
Totally WORTH IT!
~Contact Info:
Email: cleverroue (at) gmail (dot) com
Ravelry: Roue
Twitter: Roue0824

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Episode 45- Cotton is absorbent

Hey!  Sorry I didn't get around to posting these until now!  Here are the main points:
~Free Entertainment:
Audiblepodcast.com/knitcents Free 2 week trial, and lots of freebies including free Christmas stories!!
Free Target Holiday Album!
~Sales!
KnitPicks has swifts on sale (really nice ones) for $50 through Jan. 3!!
All the other sales I talked about are over now...
~Tip of the Week:
Check your online wish lists often, prices change!!  Something you didn't think you could afford before may have dropped in price to a reasonable range!!
~How I Saved the Week:
I bought Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day from Amazon for $14 including tax!! This is a $30 hardcover retail, and I've wanted it for a long time! WOOHOO!
~Worth It:
KnitPicks Comfy
Comes in lots of colors and weights, great to weave with, great cotton/acryllic blend would be great for anyone with wool allergies, doesn't hurt my hands like most cotton!!
Yay! Worth it!

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Ep 44- Trials and Timers

~Welcome/ Intro/ Thanks!
~This podcast is sponsored by Audible.com! Click here to sign up for a free 2 week trial and download a free audiobook of your choice!
~Contest:
 Visit the Ravelry group, email me or leave a comment on the shownotes page telling me what you've learned from the Knitcents Podcast or another listener, and tell us a story of how you've used it!!
~ Sweater Forecast:
Mid to low 40's with rain this week!  Another week of light sweaters and cardigans!
~ Knitting:
I finished the Tappan Zee and I totally rock it with all its little quirks!
I also am almost done with the handspun baby hat for Leighton!
~Spinning!
Spun the first 2.5 oz for my next hs cardigan!! Super pretty!
~Weaving:
I also finished weaving 5 little wash cloths/ burp cloths for Leighton!  yay for finishing things!
~Free Entertainment:
Just One More Row Podcast with Brittany and Dana!  I love it! Check it out!
~ Camp KIP:
An awesome knitting retreat hosted by Jackie of KIPing it Real! Visit her Ravelry group for more details!! I'll be there if I can raise enough money to get there!!
~Sales!!!
Free Trials that are awesome!
- AudiblePodcast.com/KnitCents Sign up for a free 2 week trial, download a free audiobook and audible will donate $$ to the podcast which I can use to go to CampKIP!  Its an awesome way you can donate $$ for me to go to CampKIP without actually spending any $$ yourself!!
 - Netflix free one week trial!  You can choose to only have instant watch now, and there are so many amazing things on here!!!
 - Gym trials! Go to gyms in your area and try them out by signing up for free trials!
 - FreeCreditReport.com allows you to view your credit report for free once a year! Just don't do it too often!
 - Amazon Prime offers a free 1 month trial of Prime! Free 2 day shipping on all your holiday gifts!!
~Tip of the Week:
Set a timer! When you sign up for a free trial where you have to provide your credit card number, set a timer or reminder to remind yourself to cancel the trial before they charge your card! If you decide to keep it, then ignore the reminder, but if you don't want to be charged, make sure to use the reminder!! Its a good idea to set the reminder for one day before the trial will end so you don't get charged because you're too late!
~How I Saved the Week:
I used functional gifts as decorations for the baby shower! (of course I forgot to take a picture) but I bought a baby bathtub (inflatable ducky) and used it as a punch bowl!  I made awesome bubble bath punch in it and it was super cute!  not only did I get a super cute decoration for the shower, but it is something that my sister will be able to use to bathe her baby in!
~DIY:
Bubble bath punch! 1 carton of light colored sherbet (I use lime) and 3 2-L bottles of clear, caffeine free soda!  Scoop the sherbet into the punch bowl (or baby bathtub) and dump the soda on top!  The bubbles foam up to big fluffy bubbles and it looks like bubble bath!! Also, it is super delicious!
~ Worth It!
The Intentional Spinner by Judith MacKenzie McCuin
Retail: 26.95  150 pages, published by Interweave Press
My thoughts: This book is amazing.  JMM definitely demonstrates her vast depth, breadth and wealth of knowledge about spinning and fiber in this book! From the science of the fiber to the way it takes dye, to many techniques for spinning, plying and making art yarns! There are 4 projects to spin for, and great instructions for caring for your handspun and handmade items!!  Overall, I would say this would be an awesome "Only" book for a spinner, meaning if you only had one spinning book, this would be a great one!!  This would be a little overwhelming for a brand new spinner, but with a little help from a friend could be the perfect spinning guide!  Totally worth it!
~Contact Info:
Email: cleverroue (at) gmail (dot) com
Ravelry: Roue
Twitter: Roue0824
Please leave a review on iTunes if you like the show!!


Sunday, November 28, 2010

Ep 43- Podcast-tacular

~Welcome/ Intro/ Thanks!
~This week's show is sponsored by Audible! Click here to try their service free for 2 weeks and download a free audiobook of your choice!
~November Contest Winner:
 CuteKnitter aka Jasmin! She suggested giving the gift of time to family and friends!  Awesome! She will receive 8oz of undyed corriedale roving and 2 sets of awesome stitch markers from NeoTigress on Etsty!
~December Podcast-tacular!!!
December 30 will mark the one year anniversary of the KnitCents Podcast! To celebrate, I want you to tell me what you've learned and how you've used your KnitCents over the past year!  Leave a comment in the thread on the Ravelry Group page, or send me an email!  Winners will be chosen on December 30 with a special anniversary episode!

~Prizes:
- 8oz of undyed corriedale roving and 2 sets of stitch markers from NeoTigress on Etsy!
- Victoria Mitt Kit from SarahMontie with pattern and orange yarn shown!
- Single pattern PDF download of winner's choice from SarahMontie!
- 3 balls of CityTweed from KnitPicks in Lemon Curd colorway!
- 3 pattern PDF downloads of winner's choice from FiddleKnits Designs!
- 2 Fiber to Go cups- 50/50 Merino/ Bamboo from Sunset Fibers (blue and purple)!
- 2 Fiber sampler cups from Sunset Fibers! (total is 1/4 oz of each of: corriedale, medium coopworth, silk noil, loose alpaca, honey tussah silk, llama, superwash merino, angora, bleached tussah silk, and 80/20 alpaca/silk)
- 1 skein of KnitPicks Capra (85/25 Merino/ Cashmere) in Fairy Tale colorway and a KnitPicks Options Interchangeable nickel plated needle kit!
*All prizes have been donated to the podcast! Thank you so much to everyone who has donated to the show!!!
~Sweater Forecast:
This week, it is forecasted to be in the low to mid 40's with drizzle.  I'm thinking light sweaters and cardigans, and definitely some mitts!  Heavy wool pullovers aren't quite necessary this week!
~ Knitting:
I finished the Robot Hat!  Aaron loves it!  It turned out awesome and I'm super excited to start another colorwork project!   Aaron wore the hat for about 24 hours straight, including wearing it to bed!  I'm glad he loves it so much, and all of it is handspun except for the little green eyes! I'm going to change the eyes to red, so the robots look like the cylons from Battlestar Galactica. (awesome show, available on Netflix Watch it now!)
Tappan Zee disaster/ awesomeness:
My Tappan Zee is crooked.  That's really all there is to say. I don't know what went wrong, it was definitely my problem, and not a pattern problem!  But I'm going to rock it anyways!
Also, even though the picture shows up right side up on my computer, it keeps showing up upside down everywhere else. Blergh.  FInally, I'm almost done with the handspun hat for little baby Leighton!  It is going to be so soft and warm and I'm knitting it so that hopefully it fits her for a long time!
No new spinning, but I may start a new spinning project this afternoon!
~Free Entertainment:
iTunes Single of the Week! Free song every week! Check it out in the iTunes Store!
~Sales!!!
-Cyber Monday: Sort of like black friday but for the online deals!  Its awesome, check it out!
- Amazon Mom: Sign up for free if you are the caretaker of a baby and get a free year of Amazon Prime!  Other awesome services include extra awesome deals and automatic diaper delivery!
- Howtoshopforfree.net is an awesome site!  The writer of the site tells you how to double up on coupons and sales, gives seminars on saving money and wrote a book which is going to be released on Wednesday, December 1!  Check it out!
~Tip of the Week:
Quality vs. Quantity: We decided to change our cat's diet so she will be more healthy!  The food is a lot more expensive, but she eats a LOT less of it (enough less that it will be a net gain for sure)!  Also she is more active, which will help her be more healthy, which will hopefully mean less trips to the vet!  Spend a little more to get a LOT more in return!
~How I Saved the Week:
Aaron and I, after a glorious victory over the Thanksgiving turkey we cooked!  We spent about $10 to host an awesome thanksgiving dinner with our friends!  Turkey was less than $5, potatoes were about $1.50, green beans were about $.50 a can (2 cans), cranberries were about $2 and everything else we already had on hand!  Friends brought rolls, stuffing and pie, and we had a fabulous evening with lots of food and even more leftovers!
~Worth It:
No review this week, because the episode was getting long! Next week for sure!
~Contact Info:
Email me: cleverroue (at) gmail (dot) com
Ravelry: Roue
Twitter: Roue0824
If you like the show, please leave a review on iTunes!
Have a happy week everyone!

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Ep 42- Thankful

~Welcome/ Intro/ Thanks!
~ Sponsor:
   - NeoTigress on Etsy is donating 8 oz of undyed corriedale fiber and 2 sets of beautiful stitch markers to our contest winner this month!
   - To enter the contest, before 8pm PST, go to the Ravelry group page and share an idea for a handmade holiday gift!
~ Sweater Forecast:
It is SNOWING!  There is about an inch of snow on the ground!!!
  (Music played- A Snowflake Fell (and it felt like a kiss) by Glasvegas. (One of my favorite holiday songs)
~Knitting:
I got a ton done on my handspun Tappan Zee Cardigan this week!  It's almost done! I also cast on a baby hat for Leighton (my niece- due in January) out of the leftover cormo from my HSTZ!
~Spinning:
Spun about 6 oz of Jacob fiber, 5 oz in dark gray and 1 oz in light gray to make a colorwork hat for Aaron with some awesome robots on it!
~Weaving:
  Warped the loom to weave some burp cloths and wash cloths for Leighton as well!  Warp: White Lion Brand Wool Ease (75/25 wool/ acryllic) Weft: KnitPicks Comfy (75/25 cotton/ acryllic) and I've been practicing with some different patterns in the woven fabric! So fun!
~Free Entertainment:
-Yarns from the Garden with Cindy aka KigeliaKitten
- Clothed in the Lamb with Janeen
Both on iTunes!
~ Chicken Update
The chickens have stopped pulling out their feathers! Yay!
~ Thankful:
I am thankful for you! I know it seems cheesy but the comments, messages and love you all send me makes me so happy and I am thankful to have gotten to meet some of you, and hope to meet many more!  Thank you!
~Sales!
-Follow Webs Yarn store @websyarnstore on Twitter to get Steve's deal of the day!
- Black Friday shopping this weekend! Good luck on getting good deals!
~Tip of the Week:
Also regarding Black Friday, my tip for saving money during the day after Thanksgiving: Stay home, sleep in, and shop online if you need to shop!  Most stores have awesome deals online just like they do in stores the day after thanksgiving! If you do go out, please be safe! No deal is worth your safety!  Also if you do go out, stop by Costco! They give away a free cookbook every year the day after Thanksgiving!
~How I Saved the Week:
2 things! I redeemed some of my credit card reward points! (I totally forgot I had them!) and I used a coupon at WinCo foods to get bacon, eggs, PopTarts, english muffins and orange juice all FREE!
~Worth It!
Weaving Made Easy by Liz Gipson
Retail: $24.95
If you only learn how to warp a rigid heddle loom from this book, it is worth every cent!  The instructions for this tedious part of weaving are amazing! There are also 17 projects you can use for your woven fabric and lots of photo instructions! I borrowed this book from a friend, then bought it because the warping section was amazing!  If you want to learn to weave on a rigid heddle loom, this is the only book you need!
WORTH IT!
~Contact Info:
Email me!
Ravelry: Roue
Twitter: Roue0824
Also, at Madrona I will be taking the "Batts, Roving and Top" class with Judith McKenzie McCuin Saturday morning, and the Advanced Cabling class with Jared Flood Saturday afternoon! See you there!

Thank you all, and Happy Thanksgiving to all my US listeners!

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Ep 40- Have your soup and eat it too!

I just realized I had 2 episode 39s!  Oops! Technically this is episode 41!
~Welcome/ Intro/ Thanks!
This week's show is brought to you by Audible! Get a free audiobook and sign up for a free trial here!
Congratulations to Ravelry for having 1,000,000 users!! I'm so glad to be a part of it!
~Contest:
Prize was generously donated by Neotigress on Etsy! She is donating 8oz of pindrafted corriedale roving and 2 sets of stitch markers!
  To enter, go to the KnitCents group page on Ravelry and share an idea for a handmade holiday gift that is fast, easy and inexpensive! The thread will be open until next Sunday, the 21st, and then we will vote until Sunday the 28th when I will reveal the winner!
~Sweater Forecast:
 Mid 40s to low 50s and RAIN! Definitely sweater weather! I think it will be sweater weather for a while! :)
~ Knitting:
I finished the Baby Cabled Raglan Cardi which turned out lovely! I'm really pleased with it and I think my sis will be too!  I've also been working on my Tappan Zee, which is coming along nicely! (though the photo is a bit blurry)
~Spinning: 
Haven't done a ton but just a bit on the Jacob fiber and some of the blues colors in the Sunset Fibers wool I started a couple of weeks ago!
~ Free Entertainment:
 Pandora A free streaming radio site that plays music you like!
~ Chicken update:
My chickens think it is a fun game to pull out all of Eva's feathers.  Help!
~ Sales!
   - JimmyBeansWool has lots of cotton yarns for around 40% off! They also have a few colors of Cascade Venezia for 49% off, and they have Debbie Bliss Pure Silk for 50% off!
   - LittleKnits has Seta Bella, a 100% silk yarn for 70% off! They also have Andes hand dyed for 70% off! Only $30 for a bag of 10 skeins, each skein is 100g and about 220 yards! That's a whole sweater's worth of yarn!
   -Elsewhere: Turkeys! We got a 17 pound turkey for under $5 at our grocery store the other day, and I know the other stores around have the same deal!
~Tip of the Week:
Its easier to add a little or upgrade than it is to make new! I had friends over for soup last night and when I worried there wouldn't be enough soup, I just added more potatoes and more broth and we had tons of leftovers!  I also have an apron that's seen better days, but instead of getting rid of it, I'm just going to clean it really well and replace the lace edging and it will be good as new!
~ How I Saved the Week:
I doubled up on coupons! I was bra shopping at Kohl's and I had a coupon for "$10 off a purchase of $20 or more" so I found a bra that was on sale for $22, used that coupon, then used the "15% off your entire purchase" coupon! I ended up getting a $40 bra for only $12 after tax! I WIN!
~Worth It!
Shepherd Baby Wool 4 ply
Discontinued but lots of people have it stashed for sale or trade on Ravelry for good prices!
50g, 180 yds 100% wool, machine washable, air dry.
I really liked knitting with this yarn! It wasn't splitty, there were no knots and it is super soft! Now that I've washed it, its even softer!  If you can find some, its worth it!
~Contact info:
Ravelry: Roue
Twitter: Roue0824
If you like the show, please leave a review on iTunes! You guys rock!

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Pumpkin Muffin Recipe

Pumpkin Muffins:
-Cut 1 pie pumpkin in half and scoop out the seeds. 
-Roast at 350 face down in the oven for 1 hour and 15 minutes until very tender. Allow to cool. 
-Scoop out flesh and then stir well to blend. 
-Preheat oven to 400°F with rack in middle. 
-Butter or oil muffin pan if not nonstick. 
-Meanwhile, whisk together 1¼  cup whole wheat flour, 1 cup oats, 2 tsp baking powder, ¼ tsp baking soda, 1 heaping tsp ground cinnamon, 1 tsp ground ginger, ¼  tsp ground allspice, ¼  tsp ground cloves and ½ tsp salt in a large bowl. 
-In a separate bowl, whisk together 1 stick melted butter, ¾ c. brown sugar, 1½-2 cups pumpkin puree, ¼ cup Greek yogurt, 2 large eggs and 1 tsp vanilla. 
-Add to dry ingredients and stir until just combined, then stir in ½ cup cranberries and 2 TBS pumpkin seeds or walnuts. 
-Divide batter among muffin cups. Bake until a wooden pick comes out clean, about 20 minutes. 
-Cool slightly on a rack.

Halloween Pics!

The whole gang! (I'm in the back behind Luigi)

Zoe from the Firefly TV series

Princess Leia and Obi Wan Kenobi. (She MADE those costumes!)

Sarah Palin posing with some of the Rebel Force!

Jordan (the flower) and her dog Cedar (the bumblebee)

Me, Jordan and Cedar

When video game characters have to get day jobs (pt 1)

When video game characters have to get day jobs (pt 2)

Cheshire Cat


When video game character have to get day jobs (pt 3)

Hope everyone has an awesome Halloween!

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Ep 39- Sharing is Caring

~Welcome/ Intro (Sorry about the neighbor's dog barking in the background!!!)
~Audible is still supporting the show! Click here for your free audiobook download!
~Contest Sponsor
  -Paula of the Knitting Pipeline Podcast is donating a Longaberger basket!
  - Share a recipe for a hot drink in the Ravelry thread!  Vote for entries once I've locked the thread!
~ Sweater forecast:
  Cold and rainy means sweaters all week! :D
~ Knitting:
Finished the practice wedding shawl, and got a pretty wedding dress!  I gave the practice shawl to my mom, and asked her to wear it for the wedding so we can kind of match and she loved it!  Worked a bit each on the baby sweater, socks and am currently swatching for the Cassidy cardigan for the Knitmore KAL!
~Spinning:
Finished the spinning for the Tappan Zee cardigan!  Yarn is now drying after being set last night! Can't wait to start knitting it!
~ Free Entertainment:
Yarnings Podcast with my awesome friend Kristine (with a K) is a new show!! She is fantastic, give her a listen!
~ Sales!
   - JoAnn Fabrics is having an online sale through the end of October where ALL their yarn is 25% off!
   - Shipwreck Beads is having a sale through the end of October on over 7300 different beads including seed beads and some Swarovsky Crystals!
~Tip of the Week:
Sharing is Caring- My mom and I are sharing a set of crochet hooks because I wanted the tiny ones and not the bigger ones, and she wanted to bigger ones and not the tiny ones so we shared
~ How I Saved the Week:
The wedding dress I picked out (Alfred Angelo Style 2100 if you want to check it out) is awesome!  The dress on the rack fit me perfectly, there was NOTHING wrong with it, the color is perfect so we got the one off the rack!  Because a few people have tried it on, we got a 15% discount on it! Yay!
~ Worth It!
Lion Brand Fisherman's Wool
Retail: $9.99  8 oz, 465 yards of heavy worsted/ aran weight  100% wool with lanolin
I LOVE IT!  Softens a ton when you wash it, I've never found a knot (I've knit with this a lot).  Takes dye really well, and most importantly, it is such an awesome value!  Its a really good workhorse yarn and I love it!
~Contact Info:
Email me!
Ravelry: Roue
Twitter: Roue0824

 

Ep 38- Lifelines

Sorry I didn't post shownotes, I probably didn't talk about anything interesting anyway...

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Ep. 37- Discriminating Customer

~Welcome/ Intro/ Thanks!
~Show Sponsors: 
This week's show is sponsored by Audible! Download a free audiobook of your choice and get a free 2 week trial by clicking here!
  And, Paula of the Knitting Pipeline Podcast has donated a Longaberger basket to this month's contest winner!
~Contest:
Visit the Ravelry group page and share your favorite hot drink recipe!
~Sweater forecast:
 In the PNW this week, mostly sunny with a high chance of sweaters in the mornings and evenings!
~ Knitting:
  SO MUCH KNITTING!  Still working on Baby Cabled Raglan Cardigan for sis's baby, finished the fingerless mitts I started 2 weeks ago, cast on a baby hat and still knitting on the Bumbling Smooshy socks!  Going to cast on soon for the Flicka Hat from the Knitter's Book of Wool, using some Abstract Fiber Colorwork and the Falling Stars Cardigan from KnitPicks!
~ Spinning:
  Almost done with the BFL for the Handspun Tappan Zee! I love BFL!! Already done with Cormo, next up is SW Merino!  Yay!  Also, yesterday I worked at the Schaefer Meadows Fiber Festival in the Sunset Fibers booth, and in exchange for me working, Linda gave me a Jenkins Turkish Delight spindle!  I also got a pound of Jacob fiber which I am planning to spin and knit for Aaron! He wants fingerless mitts and a headband... :/
~ Free Entertainment:
Chrissy the Great has rejoined the podcaster community!  She took about 6 months off, and has just posted episode 63 last night of the Manic Purl Podcast!
~Sales!
   - KnitPicks Kit Sale!  The Falling Stars Kit is only $26!! That's 17 balls of yarn!
   -  JoAnn Fabrics is having their Columbus Day Sale!
   - Little Knits has some awesome deals too!!!
~ Tip of the Week!
If you have a bad experience at a shop or store, let the owner or manager know.  If you continue to have that bad experience, don't go back!
~ How I Saved:
I got some sock yarn from JoAnn for Buy one get one half off (total: $7.50) instead of buy 2 for $9 because I paid attention to the ad!
~Worth It!
Clover 9" bamboo circular needles.  Retail: $14.99
The needle tips are only about 1 1/2 inch, I had to hold my needles differently which affected my gauge, and my hand cramped up! I would never recommend these to anyone and I will probably take them back and get my money back.  Terrible, not worth it at all, even half price!

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Ep. 36- Laugh until you cry

~Welcome/ Intro
~Last month's contest winner:
 TeamMom aka Tera!  Congrats!
~October Contest:
 Share a recipe for delicious hot drinks! It will help warm the chill out of your bones faster than turning on the heater!
   Contest prize: A Longaberger basket donated by Paula of the Knitting Pipeline Podcast!
~Sweater Forecast: A new segment, where I tell you if its sweater weather or not!  This week: No.
~ Knitting:
Finished the first of the cabled wristers, and started a Cabled Raglan Baby Sweater for my sister's little girl!  I also bought an awesome button for it! Yay!
 I published the TDTU pattern!  Search TDTU on Ravelry to find it!
~Spinning:
I've actually been doing some!  I'm going to spin 3 different colors together and knit the Tappan Zee!
~Free Entertainment:
Knit Knit Cafe with Abby and Ben- Super fun!
The Knit Wits with Carin and Rick- hilarious!!!
~ Garden:
We canned 7 jars of salsa using tomatoes from our garden!
~ Sales!
   - KnitPicks book sale! All books are 40% off!
   - Webs Grampa's Garage Sale! Tons of yarn for over 50% off!
   - Madrona published the Overview!  Lots of free events and demos! Come to the PNW!
~Tip of the Week:
Laugh until it hurts!  I've noticed that I am less inclined to make an impulse purchase if I'm feeling really good, so do something that makes you really happy and laugh until you cry!
~How I Saved the Week:
  I made salsa instead of buying it, made muffins and tea instead of going out to a coffee shop and used free yarn to make a cute sweater!
~ Worth It!
 The Expectant Knitter by Marie Connolly
Retail: $27.50, 30 patterns
Pros:
I like the patterns, lots of top down seamless stuff, lots of really practical baby things and the patterns are well written and the photos are lovely.
HOWEVER: The author inserts MEDICAL ADVICE into the book, which is absolutely inappropriate.  If it was just a book of patterns, it would totally be worth it, but as it is, I would not buy it.  A library book for sure.
~Contact Info:
Email!
Ravelry: Roue
Twitter: Roue0824

Ep. 35- OFFF Recap

I pretty much just talked about lots of food!  Sorry for lack of notes!

TDTU Sock Pattern!

I hope you all enjoy it!  Let me know if you have any questions about the pattern and I will be happy to help!

Thank you to all my test knitters, this pattern would have been a big pile of mess without you!
Click here to view PDF

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Ep. 34- Be Well to Knit Well

~Welcome/ Intro/ Thanks!
  Shout out to Meghan- get well and feel better!
~Sponsor:
Bar Maids! They are donating their Travel Pack! Includes a LoLo to go bar, LoLo Lips and the Cuticle Intensive!
~Contest:
 Post your best recipes for apples on the Ravelry Page! If you aren't on Ravelry, you can email it to me and I will post it for you!
~Knitting and Weaving:
  Simple knitted bodice is so close!  I have just about 14 more rows of neckband stitches and I will be done!  (Then of course I need to weave in ends and block, but that barely counts- it will be done by OFFF!)
  The socks I started last week are going well!
~ OFFF Details! 
  I will be there from Friday the 24th to Sunday the 26th! Saturday, Erin from the Anatomy of Knitting Podcast and I will be at the Bar Maids booth from 12-1 on Saturday for a meet and greet!  Come see us and get some hugs and buttons!
~Sales:
   - Fabric.com 30% clearance coupon code: Clear910. Also, notions and patterns are 20% off until tomorrow (Monday the 20th) so check that out!  Finally, check out the clearance section where they have 20-30% clearance!
   - ParadiseFibers.net has a moving sale closeout!  Awesome deals on name brand yarns and free shipping over $100.
   - wow-coupons.com has awesome links to grocery, retail and manufacturer coupons for almost anything you could need!
~Tip of the Week:
   Stay healthy! Cold and flu remedies, medicine and doctor visits are expensive! I've found that when I'm sick and cranky, I will pay almost any amount of money to feel better, and that is not a good state to be in. Wash your hands, don't touch your face, get some exercise, eat healthy food and get plenty of rest to stay healthy!  If you use up all your leave time being sick, then you won't be able to use it to do fun things like go to fiber festivals!
~ How I Saved the Week:
I bought a cone of yarn (about 2 pounds) to warp my loom with for only about $18! Over 5,000 yards of a beautiful steel gray color that goes really well with a lot of other yarns I have!
~Worth It!
The Knitter's Gift, edited by Bernadette Murphy
Retail: $12.95, 38 stories, 9 patterns.
I really like this book when it is cold and gloomy and I want to read stories about knitting! The stories are inspiring and touching! I don't know if I would recommend purchasing this book, I probably wouldn't have bought it for myself but it was a gift.  Definitely a library read though!!
~Contact Info:
Email Me!
Ravelry: Roue
Twitter: Roue0824
If you like the show, please leave a review on iTunes or click that fancy button!













~

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Ep. 33- You Know It's Autumn When...

~Welcome/ Intro / Thanks!
~Sponsors:
Audible is giving my lovely listeners (that's you!) a free audiobook and a free 2 week trial!  Check it out for a free download!
   -September's Prize donation has come from Bar Maids! Yes, the lovely ladies are back and are donating their LoLo Travel Pack! This includes a Lo-Lo to go bar, (small and fits well inside a knitting bag) a Lo-Lo Lips (amazing chapstick) and their new product, the Cuticle Intesnsive! (So nice and smells great!)  If you want to win, send me a recipe for apples!  Visit the Ravelry Group and enter your best apple recipe!  I love apples and I want your recipes!
~Contest Winners from last month:
Listen to hear if you've won!
~ Knitting and Weaving!!
   I've finished Aaron's cabled socks and he is thoroughly enjoying them!  I've also started a new pair for myself out of some Dream in Color Smooshy that I picked up at Little Knits a few months ago on sale!  Yay!  I've done a bit of work on my simple knitted bodice, and I've also been weaving on my new loom!  I love it!  It is super duper fun and really easy! YaY!
~Free Entertainment:
I've been listening to The Well Knitted Life on the Knitmores' suggestion, and I am enjoying it!  Sadly, this segment might disappear because I am no longer allowed to listen to headphones at work, and since this was 90% of my listening time, I'm going to have a hard time keeping up with all my favorite podcasts as it is! I hope you'll all share your new free entertainment you find on the Ravelry group!
~Garden: 
We harvested almost 48 pounds of green tomatoes!  Kim from the Crooked Row podcast mentioned that if your tomatoes get too much water, they will split and rot.  It rains a lot here and we didn't want that to happen so we picked them! We are storing them in paper bags and cardboard boxes and they are starting to ripen off the vine!  We will definitely be canning and freezing loads of tomatoes!
~Sales:
I was a little bit lazy, I really wanted to talk to you guys but I didn't feel like doing homework so the big sales I've noticed in stores are summer stuff and Halloween!  Go get stuff!
~ Tip of the Week:
  Priorities: Save FOR something.  Whether it is the down payment on a house or a new ball of cashmere, if you have a specific goal you are saving for, it will be a lot easier to pass up those impulse buys because you know it will negatively affect your ability to buy something you really want!
~ DIY:
Apples in the fire!  Core out your favorite variety of apple (I like fuji and pink lady), wrap it partly in aluminum foil, fill the cored out space with a little butter and loads of sugar and cinnamon (or cloves, orange peel, ginger, whatever you think would be tasty) and wrap it up in the foil.  Either throw the apple into a fire for 20 minutes or bake it at 350 for about 45 minutes!  A tasty, inexpensive and (mostly) healthy snack or dessert!  
~Worth It!
Retail: $24.99, I got it on Amazon for $18!  Use a coupon!  
Awesome book on making natural household products like body washes, face creams, cough drops and flea treatments!  I love this book and I can't wait to tell you more about the awesome things I make out of it!
Totally worth it!

Monday, August 30, 2010

Ep. 32- Self Preservation

~Welcome/ Intro/ Thank you!
   I had an awesome birthday! Thanks for all the birthday messages!
~Sponsors/ Contests!  
Check them all out in previous posts from this month! 
   Visit audiblepodcast.com/knitcents to download a free audiobook of your choice and sign up for a free 2 week trial!
~Knitting/ Spinning:
  I've been working on my Simple Knitted Bodice again!  I'm almost finished with the first sleeve, and the second one won't take long either!  (since is short sleeved!)  I've also almost finished Aaron's first TDTU sock!  Haven't done any spinning :(  I did however, buy a Schacht Cricket rigid heddle loom with some birthday money!
~Free Entertainment:
 NPR Sunday Puzzle!  Check it out on iTunes!
~Garden Update:
   Tomatoes are still going crazy, and I got some canning supplies for my birthday so we are going to make dilly beans and pickles this week!  Yay!
~Sales!
  -Joann has a really amazing deal on fine crochet thread!! 1.19 for a spool of of 400 yards of fine crochet thread! Great to use as a lifeline!
  -CrystalCreekFibers has awesome prices on fibers, including 4oz of hand dyed mulberry silk top for only $17!
  - Lion Brand Yarn Co. has Schacht Cricket looms on sale, 15% off! I got mine there!
~Tip of the Week:
  Self Preservation!  Can, freeze, dry or pickle fresh foods now!  Buy them fresh in bulk and preserve them to have all year! Bulk foods are way cheaper, and they are even more of a steal when they are in season!!!
~ How I Saved the Week:
   - Everything I bought with my birthday money was on sale except for a skein of yarn and a couple sets of needle tips!  I win!  Also, I bought some gross yogurt (because I wasn't at my favorite grocery store and the terrible store I was at didn't have ANY good yogurt!!) so I made frozen fruit yogurt popsicles out of them!!
~Worth It!
Put 'Em Up! by Sherri Brooks Vinton
  $19.95 retail, 300 pages!
This book is amazing!  It teaches you really easily how to preserve your own food without using special equipment!  Dry foods in your oven or air dry, freeze, can in a large soup pot and pickle using vinegar!  The book is laid out by main ingredient, so if you find yourself saying "what am I ever going to do with x pounds of x?" you can flip to that section!  I made dilly beans and pickles, and also some bruiseberry vinegar!!
SO WORTH IT!!!
~Contact Info:
Email ME!
Ravelry: Roue
Twitter: Roue0824
Leave a review on iTunes or click that fancypants button over there!











Sunday, August 22, 2010

Episode 31- Warning, No Whining!

~Welcome/ Intro/ Thank you!
   -Sorry last week's episode was so whiney!  This one is way better!
This week's episode is brought to you by Audible!  Visit audiblepodcast.com/knitcents for a free 2 week trial and a free audiobook download of your choice!
~ Sponsor:
Sunset Fibers is offering 4oz of fiber or 200 yds of yarn in the colorway of your choice to the winner of this month's contest!  Check out all the details at the Ravelry Group page!
~ Knitting:
  I've finished the pattern prototype for the vanilla TDTU sock pattern!  It is being test knit and I hope to have the finished product done by the end of September!  I've been working on Aaron's cabled sock, but haven't gotten much done because I've been working on wedding plans a lot!  Not much spinning either.
~ Garden Update: 
Tomatoes! Mmmmmmmmmm
~ Sales:
   -Webs is having their summer sale with bargains of up to 70% off!
   - Knitpicks is getting rid of lots of summer colors at 25% off, and they have loads of kits for 15-33% off!
   - Amazon has tons of canning supplies for amazing prices!  Check them out if you are going to be doing as much canning as I will be!
~Tip of the Week
Ship packages online!  If you have the weight of your package, you can visit USPS.com and save up to 15% on shipping!!
~ How I Saved the Week:
Costco!  I got almost all my party goodies there for super cheap!
~ DIY:
 Preserving Carrots and squashes.  Carrots: peel, slice and blanch the carrots, then freeze them for up to 9 months!  Blanching is where you heat the food in boiling water for a short amount of time, then immediately dunk them into ice water for the same amount of time!
Squashes: Grate and store in the freezer in quantities perfect for zucchini bread! Yum!
~ Worth It:
Baby Knits for Beginners by Debbie Bliss
$19.95  144 pages, 16 patterns
Pros:
Patterns are well written and easy to read
Beautiful photos of all the patterns
Patterns are progressive in terms of skill
Technique pages are very good with easy to understand pictures.
Cons:
None of the sweaters are seamless! What the heck?
Yarn is all Debbie Bliss- do a little research to sub yarn!
Overall Worth it!
~Contact Info:
Email Me!
Ravelry: Roue
Twitter: Roue0824
Please leave a review on iTunes or click that shiny button below!!!










Episode 30- Its too darn hot!

This episode was very bad and I was super whiney and the music was too loud.  Feel free to skip it if you'd like.  If you want the info though, there it is:
Sales:
c-cerpets.com Super cute knit hand puppet patterns!  Use coupon code :Rav for 25% off!
Flocks of Yarn is going out of business. :( But they've got good sales going on because of it!
Sears is having their summer appliance sale, which includes air conditioners!!!

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Episode 29- I tried to be lazy...

~Welcome, Intro, Thank yous
~Sponsors/ Contests:
 Check out last week's shownotes, there are a LOT!
~ Knitting/ Spinning:
I've got 5 repeats of chart B on Brandywine, and I still love it!  I've also finished the first top down toe up sock and I'm almost done with the foot of the second one!  I also started a new pair for Aaron, using some JoAnn Sensations Bamboo and Ewe yarn.  This ball seems a little slubby and has some weird bits of unspun sections that I am not a big fan of.  Hopefully it was just a little at the beginning of the ball...  I've worked a little on spinning that cormo, but not much on that front.
~Free Entertainment:
I'm still listening to the Quarter Share series by Nathan Lowell. (See last 2 or 3 episode notes) I've finished all but the final book, and I'm 2/3 through that one!  There is also a spin off type book from the same universe but about a different character that is queued up on my ipod for the next one!
~Garden Update:
We harvested a ton of stuff and made some AMAZING veggie lasagna from our garden and CSA this week!  I'm quite sure I've gained 15 pounds!
~ Sales!
   -Hairball Yarn is offering free shipping in the US!
   - WhitKnits is offering 15% off all their sock yarns and summer yarns during the month of August!
   -Woot is a website that highlights a deal every day!  Sometimes there are useless deals but sometimes the deals are really quite amazing!
~Tip of the Week:
Take advantage of free things!  Free isn't always a scam, sometimes its an advertisement, but you can also request free samples of products through their websites, take advantage of free trials of things like magazine and movie subscriptions (like Netflix, the best $9 a month I spend) and loads of other things!  Be creative!
~ How I Saved the Week:  Aaron really likes these sandwiches they make at our local grocery store, but one sandwich is about $7, so instead I decided we will make our own!  I made some delicious foccacia bread and we made up yummy sandwiches!  The bread recipe is from the Williams Sonoma Bread Cookbook. Its a recipe for Onion Foccacia, but instead of onion I use 3-4 cloves of pressed garlic and about a teaspoon of fresh chopped rosemary!  So yummy!
~ Worth It:
Knit Ponchos, Wraps and Scarves by Jane Davis
Retails at $21.99, 128 pages, 44 patterns
Pros:
-Teaches a lot of techniques: lace, cables, beads, fringes
- Lots of yarn options: says "use x amount of yardage in sport weight yarn of x fiber content" instead of specific yarn.  Gives readers permission to choose their own yarn a little easier.
- Beautiful color photos of every project
- Full range of skill levels
-Instructions are easy to follow
- Patterns are charted and written out line by line
- Diagrams used to teach techniques are easy to see and follow
Cons:
- Some patterns use really crazy novelty yarns which makes the design hard to see
- A lot of the patterns use Super Bulky yarn, which isn't my style.  Nothing wrong with it, just not for me
Overall: Worth it!!
~Contact Info
Email Me!
Ravelry: Roue
Twitter: Roue0824
Please leave a review on iTunes or click that lovely button designed by Kristine below!














Tuesday, August 3, 2010

New Donate Button!

Thanks so much again to Kristine for designing my awesome logos!  Check out the awesome new Donate button she made for me!  It works too!













Sunday, August 1, 2010

Episode 28- Secrets and Surprises

~Welcome/ Intro: 
  Thanks to all who've been in contact this week, and a BIG thanks to the person who made my very first podcast donation!  The buttons are on their way, should be here this week!  If you want one, send a $5 donation to the podcast and include your name and address and I'll send you a button!
~Housekeeping:
Erica of the Fiddleknits Podcast and Fiddleknits designs has teamed up with Kim Werker to help raise $2,500 for Pancreatic Cancer research!  She is donating 50% of all her pattern sales to this cause until September 11!  To help, she is starting up 2 new KALs! One for her Pretty Polly sweater, and one for her Frosting Shawlette!  Both are super cute!  Check out her Ravelry Group for more information!
~August Sponsor: 
Sunset Fibers is donating either 4oz of beautiful fiber, or 200 yards of yarn in the colorway of your choice, to the winner of the August contest!  ALSO, for ALL of the KnitCents listeners, she is offering a special deal for August!  Visit her website, and she will give you 10% off your purchases during the month of August if you mention the KnitCents Podcast during checkout!  How do you win?
~August Contest:
August is my birthday month and I want to plan a party!  Go over to the Ravelry Group and post your best tip for saving money while planning a party!  I'll choose the tip I found most useful while planning my party and that person will win a prize from Sunset Fibers!
~Surprise #1: 
Neotigress on Etsy has donated 4oz of undyed roving and 2 sets of beautiful stitch markers to the winner of our second contest!  How to enter: Dye some yarn or fiber using kool-aid, food coloring or some other inexpensive and easily obtainable method and post photos on the Ravelry Group!  You can post photos until August 18, and then we will vote for our favorite until August 22!
~Surprise #2:
  Twilight Knits is donating a skein of yarn and a set of pattern keepers in the color and design of your choice to the winner of the third contest! How to enter: Take a single skein of yarn and use ALL OF IT!  You must knit, crochet or otherwise craft and use every last bit!  You must prove to me that you won't waste the beautiful prize!  Whoever can get the closest to using the entire skein, without going over will win!  Every item made must be useful (swatches don't count) but they don't have to be knitted!  Snips of yarn after weaving in ends and whatnot must be counted toward your final yardage count! Post photos of the finished items and leftover bits, and a description of the projects and your final yardage count onto the thread in the Ravelry group to enter!  If there is a tie, then we will use a random number generator to decide the winner!  Entries may be posted until August 22.
~Surprise #3: 
I am donating a book from my personal library!  Knit Ponchos, Wraps and Scarves by Jane Davis.  How to enter: Knit a poncho, wrap or scarf and post photos in the Ravelry group!  Fall is just around the corner, and you don't want to be caught without something warm to wrap up in!  This contest will run all the way through the month of August, and the winner will be chosen by a random number generator!
**You may enter in any or all of the contests, but you may only win once!  Let me know if you guys have any questions, and have fun!
~Knitting/ Spinning:
I've almost finished the super secret project for my friend, but she knows she's getting a cabled headband and a pair of handwarmers!  I've knitted a few rows on Brandywine, and I've been spinning a little on the cormo! Not much is new in the section!
~ Free Entertainment:
 I've made my way through the first 3 podiobooks in the Quarter Share series by Nathan Lowell and I'm still enjoying them thoroughly!
~ Garden Update:  I have little bell peppers the size of ping pong balls, I have half a bajillion cucumbers, and the beans are starting to bean!
~ Sales!
  -Webs is having their summer weaving yarn sale!
  - KnitPicks is having a 25% off certain colorways sale!  They are making room for fall colorways!
  Elsewhere, storage containers and other organizational tools are on super sale, along with SCHOOL SUPPLIES!  Yay!  Get deals on this stuff pretty much anywhere you find these things!
~Tip of the Week:
Find out the secrets of your town!  For example, my town has an abandoned blueberry field.  It doesn't cost anything to go there, but you may need to bring a clipper and some rubber boots!  Learn what kind of fun secrets your town holds!
~ I'm going to save the week by picking LOADS of free blueberries at the blueberry bog!
~ Worth IT!
KnitPicks Chart Keeper $9.99 each, $1.99 for replacement magnets
This is a magnetic board that folds up like a notebook! You can keep track of your pattern without losing your place!  My favorite part is that it folds up pretty small so it fits in a purse or knitting bag really easily!
**Totally WORTH IT!
~Contact Info
Email me
Ravelry: Roue
Twitter: Toue0824
If you are enjoying the show, please leave a review on iTunes!  If you are REALLY enjoying the show AND you want a sweet button (once they arrive) click that shiny button below and leave a donation of $5 or more! Make sure to leave your name and address so I can send you a button!

















~Final Surprise: 
You thought I forgot didn't you.  FiberFrosting, aka Naomi has won the July Contest!  Congrats!