Kristin's Knit Crochet & More Week in Review Sept 7, 2012

Not sure why I stopped doing my week in reviews, except maybe a ramped up travel schedule took things out of perspective.

Anyway, if you want to read about my August whirlwind of traveling, take a look at the last 3 blog posts. Here are the links:

August Whirlwind Part 1 of 3
August Whirlwind Part 2 of 3
August Whirlwind Part 3 of 3

So, back to THIS WEEK's week in review! I have a few new patterns published in my Craftsy store since the last time I blogged, so I'll just give you a link to the store. There are several jewelry patterns for only $0.99 and several new shawl patterns, some knit and some crochet, for only $3.99. As always, the patterns are PDF files and INSTANT downloads! Marilyn on Sunset Knit Shawl, Dressed to the Nines Knit or Crochet Wrap, Vermeil Crochet Wire Earrings, Tunisian Crochet Wire Bracelet, and many more!

Kristin's Knit and Crochet Craftsy Pattern Store

I have also ramped up my YouTube Channel with TONS of new videos. You can watch any of them following the link below, or subscribe to my YouTube Channel while you are there so you always know when I have a new video uploaded.

Kristin's YouTube Channel of How-To Videos for Knit Crochet Jewelry and More

I'm working on several projects, including step outs for going to Cleveland, OH next week and taping the next season of Knitting Daily TV. I'm almost finished with the step outs, which means it's time to prepare 13 outfits for 3 days of taping.

New magazine and yarn company free lance jobs are in the works, too. I have a few proposals sketched, swatched and emailed. And a few big boxes of yarn arrived for some projects that are further along the line. I finished a cute project for I Love Yarn Day. It's a pillow case, which means I need to drive to the store to buy an appropriately sized pillow form. Wish I had a stash of everything I ever needed for a project here in my office. Ya, right.

Speaking of stashes, I'm also working on some fun campaigns for when Wrapture begins shipping in the next week or so! I can't begin to tell you how excited I am about this! I hired my first part-time employee this month, my sister Trina. She went through my entire stash of yarn and compiled 5 RUBBERMAID TUBS worth of yarn to give away in contests!! Over the years, if there was 1 or more balls or skeins remaining after a job, I kept them. My sister and I went through many, many bins to figure out what needed to be thrown out, donated and put aside for giveways. The contests will begin later in the month, and each winner will receive a padded envelope of yarn with a sample of Wrapture. I'm so excited to share this yarn with people.

Can't do a week in review without adding my old favorite sub-chapters of the other things I'm up to besides knitting and crochet. Here we go:

On the menu:
I have been on a serious healthy kick lately but you've still got to make it tasty, so here are some of the things I came up with this week:

Prime Rib (ok a girl's gotta have her red meat fix once in a while) marinated in garlic & onion and cooked at 350 for 16 min per pound for a pink medium center; roasted sweet potatoes; Israeli Greek Salad (chopped tomato & cucumber with shredded feta); corn on the cob; chocolate chip cookies (cuz not everyone I cook for is on as serious a diet as I am!)

Roasted chicken breast (skinless on the bone) dry rubbed in middle eastern spices (cumin, coriander, cinnamon, salt, garlic, onion) then cooked in the oven at 400 for an hour and brushed with bbq sauce at the end; steamed broccoli; left over sweet potatoes; sliced peaches.

Left over roasted chicken breast sliced over baby kale salad (baby kale is new in my grocery stores and ROCKS!!!) with homemade dressing: lemon juice, garlic, salt, pepper & pinch of nonfat greek yogurt.

Eggwhite frittata with nonfat cottage cheese, collard greens, broccoli, buffalo wing sauce (25 calories per TBSP) and laughing cow LIGHT swiss cheese (35 calories per wedge).

Turkey Muffins with shredded carrot, onion, oatmeal, egg whites sweet chili sauce (35 calories per TBSP) salt & pepper. Fill muffin tin and cook at 350 for an hour. These are AMAZING. I eat them over salad, as a meat at dinner or an anytime snack. LOVE them. Must give credit to the owner of my gym for the suggestion!

Weekly Inspiration:

"Keep your grind right and it will keep your mind right." ~ Rev Run (@RevRunWisdom on twitter)
"Any one can hold the helm when the sea is calm." ~ Publilius Syrus
"Always do what you're afraid to do." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Our life is what our thoughts make it." ~ Marcus Aurelius Antoninus
"No one makes you feel anything. It is how you react and respond that determines your emotions." ~ Brian Tracy
"Gratitude is the memory of the heart." ~ French Proverb

Weekly Workout Inspiration:

A good friend asked me if I knew what freestyle music was this week. I had no clue so I googled it, of course! Only to find out I LOVE freestyle music! It was the genre of music I LOVED growing up and had often wondered about it as an adult but didn't know how to describe it or find it again. Needless to say, I've been listening to it all week. Here is a link to listen to a free internet radio station of Freestyle music out of NYC: http://www.live365.com/genres/freestyle

I still go to the gym to lift weights 3x a week and I believe I am making progress :) Every now and then I see a new muscle emerging and it thrills me. I have realized that I could probably speed up the process if I lost a little more fat, so I have upped my cardio this week.

I am doing sprint intervals with walking in my neighborhood. I described it to a non-sprinting friend the other day as follows: "I run like someone is chasing me with a knife for 30 seconds, then walk briskly for 1 minute. Then I repeat both 10 times or more." LOL My neighbors MUST think I'm nuts. Good thing I don't care ;)

My trainer suggested that due to the fact my job is pretty sedentary, I should think of ways to raise my metabolism throughout the day. So we came up with an idea that every hour on the hour I will walk outside my door, run up and down my stairs 3 times, then go back to work. It takes no more than 3 minutes, but elevates my heart. I will keep you posted if I think this helps. Reminds me that I STILL want to come up with exercises to do while we are knitting and crocheting. LOL It's on that very long list of crazy ideas of mine ;) Please notice my plants in this photo: a Vanda Orchid at the top of the landing, a gardenia and vining jasmine at the base of the stairs. Thanks :) I'm quite proud of them.

Please leave a comment below and I will randomly choose winners on Monday. Are there any things you do that could make your neighbors think you're nuts? Shoot, just the fact we knit and crochet in our yards might even suffice! LOL If you think of something, share it in your comment! The prize winners will be announced on Monday. It could be patterns, books, yarn, Wrapture, who knows! But you've got to leave a comment to find out ;)

xoxo, Kristin

Comments

[Jeanne Steinhilber]

I watched your video for the Tunisian wire bracelet and I am definitely going to be giving that one a try soon!

[Lois Dauel]

Noticed I missed some grass after mowing the yard. Sat on the driveway with scissors to even out the lawn. Neighbors called and wanted to know what was going on. How embarrassing. I love your crochet videos. Keep up the great work.

[anne j-z]

I do love to crochet on the deck. The neighbors pretty much expect it by now.

[Linda]

You look amazing. It is working no doubt! Hmmm, I do alot of silly things..I am learning to brew beer right now for a micro-brewery we are going to open. I wear alot of "tie dye"..and many look twice..I love to wear bright colors and tie dye makes me happy! Ok not as good as your "running with a knife". Ill have to think on it..lol

[Karon]

Some years we leave our Christmas tree up longer than others. One year, neighbors called to see if we were ill and volunteered to help us take it down!

[Karen Wayne]

Hi Kristin, I just finished your circular shawl 'Stella' from "Wrapped in Crochet" !!! I used 3 colors from Zen Yarn Garden. It's beautiful! I love your patterns. I'll be wearing it next weekend at the Knit and Crochet Show in Reno, Nevada. I look forward to seeing you again at yarn market in January! Thanks for sharing your creativity !!!

[Lisa W]

Crocheting in the movie theater. People just don't understand. LOL!!!

[Phyllis Belew]

I'm visiting my daughter in Ventura, Ca. I'm putting lace on a pillowcase for a special friend going through chemo, so I crochet while I sit on the beach. I have noticed that many of the walkers slow down as they go by but the funny thing is when I rattle the zip plastic bag, the seagulls gather around!

[Phyllis Belew]

I'm visiting my daughter in Ventura, Ca. I'm putting lace on a pillowcase for a special friend going through chemo, so I crochet while I sit on the beach. I have noticed that many of the walkers slow down as they go by but the funny thing is when I rattle the zip plastic bag, the seagulls gather around!

[Denene]

I put kitty litter under my car after an oil change to absorb the oil. I don't have a cat. That plus crocheted clothing, they think I am madd.

[Bonnie]

I crochet everywhere, including waiting in line at the grocery store, post office, etc. I always have some small projects going that are perfect for working on while I'm standing and waiting.

[Sharon Cowan]

Is there any way to bottle your energy? If you could you would be a millionaire. Love your new designs and enjoyed reading about your travel adventures.

[Deb Joyner]

Years ago, (before I became disabled), I would occasionally drive my husband to work. This is often necessary when you only own one car. Doesn't sound too weird, huh? Except that my husband's business was entertaining at children's birthday parties, performing singing telegrams, and playing family friendly practical jokes. Needless to say I used to walk out my door accompanied by anyone from 'Elvis' to 'SpongeBob SquarePants'!!
The first year he was in business 'PeeWee Herman' was a big deal with all the kids. One Saturday afternoon when I returned to pick him up from a party, I heard one of the neighborhood kids yell "Hey PeeWee, your mom is here!!" Crazy?? I'm sure they thought so. (Especially the day I walked out to my car followed by 'Baby New Year'.) But, we had a lot of fun!
So, I guess seeing me sitting outside on my bench knitting seems perfectly normal, comparatively speaking. Lol.
Btw, I love your work!!

[Carol]

Now that I've seen your tubs of yarn, I don't feel so bad. My family calls me a craft hoarder, they say I can open up my own craft store. My passion is crocheting, so I have 4 or 5 Rubbermaid tubs of yarn. Not counting all the beads I use to make jewelry, and also add them to my crocheting . Thank you for posting that picture, so I can show my children.

[ardis wade]

I've missed you the last few KnittingDailyTV episodes -- can see now that you have been so busy with other projects -- hope you'll be on soon, though -- really love the crochet segments. Re the yard -- just glad I have one in my apt complex, so I can get some vitamin D!.

[Laura]

Most of my neighbors actually know me so they KNOW I'm crazy though I'm sure even some of those who know me think its a bit nuts when I'm talking to the wildlife. I regularly greet the spider living over my door and chat with squirrels and crows. They may not understand what I say, but they do seem to respond to my tone.
Lisa - I knit and crochet at movies too. I think it would be fun to go to a movie with a group of knit/crocheters.

[Kristin]

I walk around & knit most everywhere I go - I've gotten used to the looks by now, but even I was surprised by the reactions I got at a local craft fair - every vendor I passed asked me how I could walk and knit at the same time :-)

When I was deciding on an exercise 'plan', we bought a recumbent bike because I can knit while I ride :-)

[LindY G Sherrod]

Love your Blog, I have many of your crochet designs. I'm a crochet nut, just love taking a ball of yarn and turning it into a work of art. Thank you for sharing your wonderful talent with us.

[Terri (TN)]

I am almost embarassed to admit this, but I left my antique wooden sleigh on my front porch until just the other day. I always put it next to the front door before Christmas and leave it throughout the winter months. When I carried it to my storage building the other day, I realized I should have just left it since in a couple of months I'll have to drag it back out to decorate for Christmas. Needless to say, I am quite embarassed to fess up to this. I think my neighbors thought something had happened to me since I had left it sitting out for so long!
I have signed up for your Craftsy online course but haven't gotten started yet. I'm looking forward to starting that class.
I will be keeping my fingers and knitting needles crossed in hopes I win some yarn!!!

[Cathy K.]

Off to check out the new shawl patterns on craftsy, more holiday gift inspiration, I'm sure.