February SOTM Blog Hop

Welcome to the Close To My Heart Stamp of the Month Blog Hop for February!

All artwork on the hop will feature February's SOTM,"Piece of Cake", a set of 10 stamps! If you have come here from {Judy's blog}you are on the right track!  Click the link at the end of this post to continue on the hop and see more great artwork!  As an added bonus this month, I'll be randomly selecting one person to win BOTH of my blog hop cards! To be entered, just post a comment below. Receive a second entry if you sign up to be a follower of my blog! I'll draw a winner and post their name at 8 am, Feb 2.


Here is a photo of the stamp set, and some great artwork that can be seen here in the current Close To My Heart Idea Book!

Card 1: 4.25" x 5.5".  I used the *new* Topstitch paper, Togetherness stamps (for the faux stitching), Create a Shade Pearl Paint, and Spring Buttons.

Card 2: Size 4.25" x 5.5". This card is more simple than I usually do, but is part of my Valentine Workshop Fundraiser which you can read about here.  I used the That's Amore paper, and red stickles for the cherries.

I hope you enjoyed my cards! Don't forget to post a comment. One lucky poster will win both cards!!!

Now hop on over to {Kim's blog}! She is sure to inspire you with her incredible artwork!

February's Knit-Along

So earlier in the month I had my first knitting class and it was a smashing success!  We knit, we gabbed, and we enjoyed a fabulous, yummy dessert made by my sweet Dave.  I'm so excited for February's class on the 20th!  If you are in the Seattle area, and you want to attend, send me a message with your email and I'll send you the details.

I just put the finishing touches on this month's pattern and couldn't be more excited about it!  Even if you can't attend my class, you can still get the pattern - and it's only $3.50 in my etsy shop!  It's a great beginner pattern, and teaches an increase technique ("yarnover") and two decrease techniques ("knit two together" and "slip, knit, pass").  The finishing is also fairly easy (just sewing on a button) and can be left plain or embellished as desired.

Here is a preview of the project!  If you purchase the pattern you are invited to participate in a blog hop on a date TBD to show off your finished project!  The finished January project hop is going to be January 5th, and I'll post links to the participants blogs!

And here is Ruby wearing her new bib!  She really needed this because she's teething and drooling like crazy.

Greeting Farm Digi Relay day 3

Okay... day three card.  I'm not the biggest fan of the little critters, but this guy is kinda cute, and he was FREE! Can't beat that.  :)

I pulled out more CTMH stuff for this card: tulip brads, That's Amore paper, Blush CS, Chocolate ink, window charms.  I used my copics for coloring the bear.  The sentiment is from one of my bella stamps - but it seemed appropriate!  I think this may be the Valentine I give to Sammie.

Greeting Farm Digi Relay day 2

Here's my card for day 2 of the challenge!  This little diva's name is "Charlotte".  Isn't she cute!!!  She reminds me of my little Ruru.

Supplies are spellbinders, copics, CTMH inks in Blush and Baby Pink (for sponging), CTMH dimensional hearts and rub-ons, scrap paper, and dew drops in clear.

Greeting Farm Digi Relay day 1

TGF is having a digi relay challenge this week.  On Sunday they gave out  a digi stamp for free.  Anyone who makes and posts a card using that stamp by this evening (6 pm central time) gets Monday's digi free.  If you post a card using Monday's digi by 6 pm tomorrow, then you get Tuesday's digi free - and so on.

So this is my Valentine using Sunday's digi - Mer Ian.  It through me for a loop at first, but I'm pleased with the result.  I had to explain to dave the pun - "my FUNNY valentine" is a jazz song from a different musical era, and he hadn't heard of it.  :)  So there ya go...  I used my copics for coloring, my spellbinders for the circle and scallop layers, some random scraps for paper (including sea foam cs - an ancient CTMH retiree).  I embellished with CTMH dimensional elements hearts, waxy flax and mini sparkles.

Challenge Cards

Sparkle is doing a weekly Christmas Card/sketch challenge (you'll have to scroll back a few posts to see it on her blog).  I don't really need Christmas cards, but I do need Valentines.  So I used her sketch for these two cards (left one portrait and turned the other landscape).

Here is the sketch:

I also used some of the Felicity paper from the National Paper Crafting month promotion (ends Jan 31st!).  I used two new stamps that had never seen ink from Stamping Bella, as well as new CTMH stamps.  I colored with my copics, and used random embellishments that were sitting on my desk.

Sorry this first one is a bit crooked.  That's what happens when I take pictures first thing in the morning.  ;)

This stamp reminds me of Sammie's little friend Dylan from school.  He is really into dinosaurs, and even dressed up as a Triceratops for Halloween.

Valentine Workshop and Fundraiser

Last November, I met Taryn Hardy at our church and heard her amazing story of love and hope.  She and her husband Ian, have been trying to adopt three little boys, brothers, from Nicaragua since March of 2008.  Ironically, March was the same month that Dave and I began our adoption process.  The Hardys have faced many joys and trials, progress and set backs, but the time is FINALLY here to bring their sons home.

Unfortunately, they are extremely short on funds, and so we as a church body are pulling together to raise as much money as possible for this dear family, as quickly as possible.  Please consider attending my workshop on February 5th.  I will be donating 50% of all proceeds to the Hardy family - and you also get to make 12 great Valentine cards!  Please email me if you cannot attend as there will be "virtual workshops" available as well.

As I cuddled and played with our precious baby Ruby tonight, I couldn't help but think that three little boys don't have their mom and dad holding them and kissing them goodnight!  I can make a difference, and so can you!  THANK YOU!

To read the Hardy's story please visit this webpage: http://home.comcast.net/~billandrobbin/IanAndTaryn.htm

Christmas Socks

As promised, here are a some pictures of the socks I knitted for my family at Christmas.  All but Rick and Dave's socks came from this book, which I HIGHLY recommend.  It's fabulous!

I knit a pair for my mom using Cherry Tree Hill's Super Sock Semi-Solids in "Loden".  This yarn is *so* incredibly soft, and you get over 400 yds per skein!  I might have enough left to make a pair of mittens, or at the very least 2 pairs of baby socks!

I knit a pair for my step-dad Rick.  His are a simple K3,P1 rib and I just made up the pattern on the fly.  Once you get sock construction down, this is much simpler than it sounds.  Rick is a pretty simple guy - he doesn't like flashy things.  So these socks fit his personality to a T.  His are also made with the Cherry Tree Hill yarn in the "Mauve" colorway:

Here are the socks I made for my mother-in-law, Marie.  I used Indigo Moon yarn.  This yarn was imported from Canada, and is only sold in one store in the US (Twisted) but you can order it by phone from them, or directly from Indigo Moon's website.  I have links to both sites on the left.

Here are the socks I knit for Tim, Dave's dad.  They are also in Indigo Moon Yarn.  It's hard to tell in the photo, but this is the Tsunami pattern from the book listed above.  It has a diamond pattern all the way down the leg and foot, and cables between the diamonds just on the leg.  That is why in the photo the leg looks a bit "scrunchy".  I didn't block them, because once you put the sock on everything is nice and neat like it's supposed to be.  :)

Here are Dave's sister, Meagan's socks.  These are also in Indigo Moon yarn, and also from a pattern in the book above.  She loves blue, and i thought this pattern would be perfect for her - it's a little lacy, but still simple and can go with anything.

I didn't get photos of the socks being worn by Dave's mom, dad, or sister because they didn't try them on for me.  I think they know I get "camera happy" and probably didn't want to model.  They did say they loved the socks, so if they send me pictures I'll post here.  :)

Finally, here are Dave's socks - or should I say "sock".  I only had time to finish one before Christmas (and that was because I stayed up until close to 3 in the morning!).  Poor Dave.  He did get the second one by New Year's though - so don't feel too badly for him.  His socks are from a pattern I found on Ravelry.  They are called "Guitar Socks" (because the author of the pattern finished them for her husband the same day his new guitar arrived) and they have a unique argyle/diamond pattern to them.  I wish I had a picture of them up close, but alas, Dave won't take them off!  He keeps asking when he gets a second pair.  (And I keep answering, "as soon as I finish knitting a pair for ME!").  These are also in Indigo Moon yarn - the same color as his Dad's.

Birthday Socks

Sammie's Birthday Whirlwind week is over, and I was so grateful to have a whole weekend off - free from any kind of events, classes, parties, etc.  We just relaxed!  It was amazing.

Anyway, if you are a long time reader, you might remember that over Christmas I was knitting gifts for all my family members - socks to be exact.  Sadly, I didn't have time to finish Sammie's socks in time for Christmas, so I promised that she would get "Birthday socks".  She reminded me almost every day from Dec 26-early January about my promise, so I was sure to get them done and not disappoint!

Here are her fun socks.  I used a "magic" yarn that is self striping.  It was really fun yarn to work with, and I'm anxious to do another pair in a different colorway.  I can't remember the brand, but I picked this yarn up at JoAnne's and 1 skein (270 yards) was just perfect for a pair of kid socks (approx. size 1).  Mittens would also be cute in this yarn.

I was pretty proud about how close the pattens match between the two socks.  I had to restart the second one because I didn't line it up right the first time.

You can sort of see her smile through the blur in this picture.  :)

The flash got wonky in this pic, but I still think it turned out really cool.  :)

I'll try to post a few of the pairs of "Christmas Socks" tomorrow.

Ruby Videos

I've been meaning to share this first video for a while (but Dave used his cell phone to capture it, and we never could figure out how to rotate it).  It's still cute - even sideways.  It's Ruby's first official "giggle fest".



This next video clip was taken tonight.  It was Ruby's first time in the Johnny Jump-Up.  It is so cute watching her jumping - especially since Sammie always cried when we put her in it.  ;)




Thanks for indulging me in some proud mama moments.  :)

Jester Hats

The Jester Hat was one of my knitting inventions this fall.  I sold quite a few of them at my craft fair and plan to make more for my etsy store soon!  Here is a quick preview.  :)  Isn't Ruby is just too cute for words?

I'm guessing the Jester Hats will fit kids approximately 6 months to 3 years.  It is pretty big on Ruby (hence the rolled up edge and floppy pom-poms), and is just barely too small for Sammie (who is almost 5).  My kids have pretty average sized heads.

Send me an email if you are interested in purchasing one!  You can also have your pick of colors.  They are $15 plus shipping.  nonapearl@firebin.net.  The pattern is not currently for sale, but I'm considering it for one of my upcoming Knit-Alongs.  You can also email me if you are interested in more info about the January Knit-Along, or read my post here.

January Card Class

You've already seen two of my class cards for January, but here is the whole trio.  We will be using the Veranda papers, the new Filagree charms, new stamp sets, and a different waterbrush technique on each card.

Class is just $7 or free with a $20 order.  Class dates are Sunday, Jan 10th (full!), Monday, Jan 11th (3 spots left), and Tuesday Jan 12th (3 spots left).

Please email me if you would like to attend!  nonapearl@firebin.net.

Also, a special for this month only!  When you place an order on my website - www.nonapearl.myctmh.com - and qualify to earn the Felicity Promotion for free (with either $60 in stamp purchases, $125 total order, $400 gathering, or signing up to be a consultant) I will send you a pre-stamped card class kit ready for assembly for FREE!  Here is a preview of Felicity:

Blog Candy Winner

Congrats to MISS CREATIVE!  She is the winner of this month's blog candy!

Miss Creative, please email me privately with your address and I will send you your cards!  nonapearl@firebin.net

Blessings,
Nona