knitcole

A penny for your thoughts.

I've been sewing away this week since I am work free for for a couple of days. I've been working on aprons, quilts, bouquets, coin purses and a couple of other projects.It's been a lot of fun and I'm so excited to keep it going and to actually move forward with some business dreams.

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A couple of months ago I bought some African wax print cotton and I had no idea what I was going to do with it but I just had to have it. When I bought this amazing wallet from the great Whodini, (you should go buy one too! Jay is amazing and his wallets are LEGIT,) I had to downsize from my massive girl wallet which means I had a bunch of cards and things that I wanted to carry around but didn't necessarily need in my wallet. This is when I figured out what to do with my wax prints.

Considering I'm not very good with zippers this came out much better than I thought. I pretty much made the pattern and had to figure out how to do the lining without sewing it all together but I definitely think that I will make more of these. Maybe not so small, this one has a 4" zipper which means it's pretty tiny but my cards fit in it just perfectly! Now I can carry around my punch cards without having to overload my wallet!

Nicole

 

Let's take a bath!

Today was the first day in I don't know how long that I haven't had to work or go to some obligation or another and I planned a day full of sewing! Mr. Coleman and I headed out to Armstrong Garden Center bright and early to pick up some grass for the pups and a new cilantro plant. (I learned that if you let your cilantro plants grow in the sun they eventually bolt and grow flowers which become coriander.) We were home by 10AM and I spent the rest of my day in my sewing room.

For awhile now I've been working on making our bathroom a bit more nautical. It's kind of hard to do with the all of the earth tones that are in it but I'm making do with what we have. So using inspiration form a pattern in this wonderful book, I set out to make this bath mat using an old towel and some fabric scraps. I don't usually end up following patterns, I use them as inspiration and this was no different. The only thing I definitely followed from the pattern was her recommendations to not worry about straight lines, which my OCD had a severe issue with but I managed.
 

I really like how this one turned out. I'm not sure if it's nautical or Americana but either way I'm happy with. Now all I need to do is make the anchor embroidery pieces done!

Nicole

 

Tips and Tricks for Knitting and Crocheting.

I always have people asking them to help them learn to crochet or knit so I thought I would share a couple of my favorite tips and tricks.

 

Stitch 'N Bitch books: These books by Debbie Stoller are great. I bought the crochet book, The Happy Hooker, to help me become a more proficient crocheter and it definitely worked! I became so confident that I was able to begin making my own patterns. I bought The Knitter's Handbook when I decided that it was time for me to be able to knit on my own. (I could knit if my aunt helped me get started.) This book has been a God send! It has the best instructions and I use it every time I get ready to knit for a refresher.

2. Crochet Lite Crochet Hooks: I adore these things! I can't seem to find them in stores anymore but Amazon has them. I have them in my favorite sizes, H and J, and they are perfect when you have low light, you just flip the switch and turn them on. They are also great because they are ergonomic.

Short Knitting Needles: When I first started knitting I thought that the long  needles were the way to go. They look more impressive when you're knitting too! Come to find out if you want to knit while you sit on the couch they are the WORST! The needles hit the couch and it's very annoying!

These are just a couple of my favorite things, I could go on and on about notions and things but that would be an excessively long post. I hope that these little tips will help even just one of you in your crocheting and knitting adventures!

Nicole

 

I've been waiting for this day for over a week!

I've been working around the clock for at least a week. It's been ridiculous. For those of you who don't know I do contracting work and sometimes I'm completely free and other times I work like crazy. This has been one of those times. This project has been awesome and tiring at the same time. So finally today it's close to coming to an end. The report reached over 160 pages and over 60MB, it's a doozy! So what do I plan to do tomorrow? Besides a hair cut, nothing. A whole lot of nothing.

In celebration of having five minutes to think, I started a sweet little raglan sweater for our new pup. It's been so nice to knit again. I'm not very good at it and I had to get my "How to Knit" books out but I'm enjoying it. 

Anyhow, now that I'm free again look for a new blog soon. One of real substance. :)

Nicole

This Old Married Life: Behind Closed Doors

It's time for another edition of This Old Married Life. Today's topic, Behind Closed Doors.

They say that marriage is a sacred bond between two people and in my opinion there are other things that should remain sacred too. When you get married, or even when you move in with someone (this can be just a roommate too,) you begin to learn a lot about this person who you thought you knew so much about. People's habits surface rather quickly and while you can't hide who you are or your weird idiosyncrises you can keep some things to yourself. Here is my own little list of things I think should remain behind closed doors.

1. Going to the bathroom - Ok, this is definitely something that I want to keep to myself, forever! I have zero desire to have Mr. Coleman in the bathroom with me while I am taking care of business. (He also doesn't want to be there, or vice versa) Now I know for some people in some marriages this is no big deal and I think that's awesome...FOR THEM! As for me and my house, we will go to the bathroom in private! 
2. Personal Grooming - Personal grooming in it's self isn't necessarily embarrassing or gross but there are some things that I like to do alone. I really enjoy spending some time along thinking while I pluck my eyebrows or wash my face. It's not that I really care if Mr. Coleman sees me doing these things but I kind of just like to think and be alone while I do them.
3. Blowing your nose - This is just one of my own personal weird things. It could be that I have a severe aversion to the sound of nose blowing, (some of my old classmates can attest to my gagging when people blew their nose.) I just have a really big problem with this particular bodily fluid, those baby nose sucker things gross me out so bad. I literally just gagged thinking about it. Call me crazy, (maybe I am,) but I like to blow my nose in private.
4. Have a moment - Ok this probably isn't a man thing, but sometimes I need to have my mental breakdown moments alone. I go in the bedroom, I shut the door and I cry like an idiot until I feel better. It's not that I don't want Mr. Coleman to help me out but sometimes I know that I just need to cry. I don't need anyone to say anything I just need to be alone with my thoughts and my tired, sad, cranky, overwhelmed, weird, frustrated, whatever is going on in my head on that particular moment. I definitely think this is a woman thing and Mr. Coleman never even attempts to understand it, he politely asks if I need him and if I say I just need a minute he sweetly obliges by shutting the door and leaving. 

I'm sure everyone has those things they like to do alone that they just need to do in private. (This is outside of actually having time alone, which is a whole different thing when you're married.) This is not a comprehensive list and of course there are exceptions to each of these. If we were in a situation where we had to go to the bathroom in front of one another neither of us is going to wet our pants to avoid it but it's just a something that in our daily lives, leaves a little bit of mystery and privacy for each of us.

What do you keep behind close doors?

Nicole

Super Simple DIY: Succulent garden.

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For awhile now I have been inspired by succulent gardens like the one above. I really like how easy succulents are to grow and how many different varieties of succulents there are. I decided after successfully planting some herbs and vegetables that it was time to build my own succulent garden. 

 
I actually started my succulent garden a few weeks ago. I found a simple terracotta pot, you can pretty much use any container that has really good drainage, succulents hate to have wet roots. Then I scoured Armstrong Garden Center's succulents until I found a few that I really liked.

Some Haworthia, different versions of Echeveria, Thanksgiving Cactus, House Leeks and some unknown succulents. They come in different shapes and sizes and range from about $2 - $5 each, making succulents extremely affordable. I think all of the pot and plants cost me about $25.

I went to my friend Sara's lovely wedding on Friday and she gave away sweet little succulents as favors. I took three, (didn't want to let them go to waste!) to add to my succulent garden.

1. Make a spot in your pot, or garden, for your new succulent. *Remember to use a good soil. There are special soils for cactus but I just used a really good organic potting soil that I also use for my herbs and vegetables.
2. Remove the succulent from it's container.
3. Plant it in the pot or garden making sure there is soil all around.
4. Pat the soil down well. Succulents can grow without roots, you can even cut off a piece of the succulent and replant it in soil or water and it will grow, so make sure to get them in there well.
5. Move to a sunny place and give them just a little bit of water. Succulents need lots of sun and very little water.

That's all there is to it! Now sit back and enjoy your pretty little garden!

Nicole

Wedding season...again!

If you know anything about me then you know that I go to weddings...A LOT! No less than five a year for the past five years!

Well this year I have been lucky and we haven't gone to one wedding yet! (We did actually miss one when I was dying earlier this year.) Well, that's all about to change tonight as we head out to Sara and Sean's wedding, which I am very excited about.

Let's take a little look at wedded bliss from last year.

Starting from the top...there was Geoff and Candice in March, Joseph and Jenna in May, Kim and Steve in July, April and Dan also in July, Trever and Ingela also in July...I think...that or early August, Andy and Angel in September, Mr.Coleman and I in October and Jason and April also in October.

It was a busy year and I'm thinking I forgot one or two, Mr. Coleman actually went to two others without me so it was quite the year. This year we look forward to Sara and Sean, Jessica and Mike, Los and Hayley and Corre and Becky, (listed in wedding order.)

Here's to parties and showers and wedding toasts!

Nicole

 

Art in the Streets

A couple of weeks ago I ventured out to LA with a couple of crazies to see the Art in the Streets exhibit at MOCA. It's the first major collection of US graffiti and street art. It was pretty amazing. We waited in a huge line but it was worth it. The installations inside were pretty incredible. Coming from someone with a love for art and some formal training I was blown away by the sheer size and proportion of some of the stuff in there. There is a whole section of city recreated inside MOCA, it's pretty unreal. I didn't have my camera with me, (epic FAIL,) but I did get some great iPhone photos. Here's a bit of what we saw.

I really like Banksy and here are a couple of his pieces.

I don't know any artists for the remaining pieces but I really liked a lot of the graffiti and there was a section on how the tools of the trade evolved, (that's where all the spray paints were,) and then that kid was just so cool looking. I hope that what my kids are like someday. 

This installation was gorgeous. All white, grays and black. Beautiful. This picture doesn't do it justice and you can't tell that it fills a whole room from floor to ceiling.

My favorite piece of the day by far was this Banksy piece. It was so gorgeous and it was framed in the middle of everything. Truly breathtaking.

These crazies made my trip to the museum a perfect one! Love these people to pieces! I highly recommend Art in the Streets, for $10 it's reasonably priced and a trip to MOCA is always nice...even if the drive to LA isn't!

Nicole

 

 

Please welcome the newest member of our family!

This is our sweet new little boy, Sue. He is named after the Johnny Cash song "A Boy Named Sue" and Mr. Coleman says he is going to call him George. (Which is fitting if you know the song.)

He is just about the sweetest thing. He loves to play and the second you set him down he bounds off to find a toy or just run after your feet.

Then just as soon as you pick him up he becomes a little lover. He already LOVES his mama!

We are still working on the balance between him and Toots. She isn't quite sure what to do with him yet but she is already a lot better with him, so far today she has only chased him off when he got close to me when we were having breakfast. I'm convinced they will be friends eventually but right now she loses it if I am holding her and he comes up to us. We are just going to give her time to love him because anytime we try to put her near him she gets mad. She tolerates him but we hope soon she loves him, I'm pretty sure he already loves her.

You can look forward to tons of pictures of this crazy little dude!

Nicole