Island Knitter

giveaway

2010-02-21T01:07:00.000-08:00

http://sweettidings.blogspot.com/2010/02/sweet-valentine-sponsor-giveaway-from.html

Fun giveaway

2010-02-19T23:31:00.000-08:00

http://thecreativeplace.blogspot.com/

recipes

2009-06-20T12:07:00.000-07:00

Brown Rice Krispie Treats

Ingredients

•1 teaspoon light olive oil
•1 cup brown rice syrup
•2 tablespoons almond butter (or peanut butter)
•2 teaspoons vanilla extract
•6 cups dry natural brown crispy rice cereal
•1/2 cup peanuts (optional)
•1/2 cup raisins (optional) or currant (optional)
•1/2 cup unsweetened carob chips (optional)
•1/2 cup chopped almonds (optional)

Directions

1.Put oil in a large pot and heat.
2.Add rice syrup and nut butter. Stir and heat until bubbles form.
3.Turn off heat and add vanilla extract.
4.Add cereal and mix well. Stir in any optional items and mix lightly.
5.Put mixture into a 9 x 13 pan. With slightly wet hands, press mixture flat.
6.Let set to room temperature. Slice and serve. Lasts a week in an airtight container.

The recipe is courtesy of Planet Organic...their cookbook is awesome!

Ingredients:
1 bunch Kale, chopped very fine
3 cups Carrots, grated
1/2 head Red cabbage, thinly sliced
1/2 cup Tamari pumpkin seeds (see method below)
1/2 cup Tamari sunflower seeds (see method below)
1/2 cup Flax or hemp or sunflower oil
1/3 cup Bragg Liquid Aminos (or 1/2 tsp. of salt)
5 tbsp Balsamic vinegar
1 tsp Oregano, dried

Method
Wash kale and chop. Be careful to rinse the leaves to remove dirt and grit.In a cast iron skillet over medium to high heat, stir sunflower and pumpkin seeds. Remove from heat when they’re toasted golden brown. While the skillet is hot, add in a few drops of tamari, which will sear onto the seeds. Remove and let cool.In a large bowl combine chopped kale, carrots, cabbage and seeds. Set aside.In a small bowl whisk together oil, Bragg Liquid Aminos, vinegar and oregano and pour over kale mixture. Toss until evenly coated and chill 2 hours before serving. This salad keeps well refrigerated 2-3 days.Yields 8 - 10 servings.

My summer goals

2009-06-18T15:33:00.000-07:00

I have few things I would like to accomplish this summer.
1. lots of baby knitting(since I just learned I will be a grandmother soon)
2. finish at least one of my paintings

trouble

2009-06-10T12:12:00.000-07:00

For some reason I am having trouble with loading images and posting lately.I don't know what is going on-it must be some setting and I hope i can figure it out soon.Sorry :(

Shopping trip

2009-06-10T10:13:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my daughter and I went shopping and we had a great day.It was her day off at work.We drove to Nanaimo which is about 120km from here.Even thought we had all day it went by so fast and I wasn't home till past 7pm.She did lots of shopping since it was her b-day this past Sunday and I did find some stuff for myself as well :) I picked up these ribbons at Michaels and I hope they will match the fabrics I've got a while ago.I am planing to make a knitting needles case from that.Today I'll be back in the garden since the weather is still beautiful and hopefully it will hold and I can take my son to the river for a swim after school.

bag

2009-06-07T00:12:00.000-07:00

bag I didn't post anything for a while again.It's because I spend most of my days outdoors,working in the yard and the garden.Which is all good but sometimes I feel like I am not "productive" enough.I am sure we all have days like that.Here is my latest project.I was able to purchase these lovely pieces of leather and I also bought some fabric for lining. I would like to make nice leather bag(or two?) which I never did before.I am very excited and can't wait to start.

Birdie

2009-05-12T20:55:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since my last post.Spring is in full swing and I am busy with the garden and outdoor stuff.We planted some trees and berry bushes and flowers are already blooming on the porch.The weather is not super hot but we did have some nice days.Right now I have my fire going for the night,just to take that little chill out of the house.I like to be comfy.

I meant to blog about this little birdie that I made a while ago for Cooper's flock.http://lucends.blogspot.com/search/label/coopers%20flockIt's been sitting here since Easter and I finally got bubble envelope for it today.So it's going to "fly" tomorrow.

Spring

2009-04-06T20:16:00.000-07:00

Another gorgeous day, I hope we ride this sunshine right into summer! Today I transplanted the arugula,tomatoes,calendula and artichoke into bigger containers.I also took plants out of the summer kitchen and placed them on the deck by the house.The deer got into my garden already and made huge crates in the beds with the garlic.I patched the holes once again.I also put the hummingbird feeder out when one zipped by while I was examining my plants.I am not doing much knitting these days but hopefully get back to it soon.

Tess enjoying the sun.

Finished

2009-03-22T00:55:00.000-07:00

My baby cardigan is finish.It took a long time,but it's done.I was very tempted to start another project while still working on it but didn't.I was sick with the flu all last week and tried to knit but I was too tired to even hold the needles.Finally I finished it last night.

I am ok now,actually I spend some time in the garden this afternoon.Turn few beds and planted some garlic.It was a nice day,the sun was out and the weather was pretty mild.My body is already hurting from all the digging but the satisfaction from actually achieving something is great.I was worry that it will be to wet and cold to put the garlic in as it is already late in the season,but today was perfect. It is just the beginning of my gardening this year.I started my seeds(inside) last week and yes,I am late with that too.It is the weather this year,for some reason the winter is long and cold.So much for the global warming.Here is more like the global cooling and I am not kidding.

older stuff-fall 08

2009-03-15T01:07:00.000-07:00

Since I was in bed all day (with my laptop) I decided to post some of my older work. Good thing the pumpkins are there so I don't have to guess when it was taken.
I didn't follow any pattern,just want to try to make the thumb.So they turn out little plain... but after adding those crochet flowers I do like them a lot.

I like these socks too,I was wearing them just the other day.
My daughter put them through a drier and they just slightly felted but it is ok since I used thicker material and they had some room to spare.

still going

2009-03-15T00:42:00.000-07:00

I am down with the flu and it's not fun.Today I though I'll try to knit but lasted about 10 minutes and had to go back to bed.I didn't progress much with the little cardigan since my last post.Here is a picture of one sleeve done and I just started the other one.It will not take that much time once I am able to sit down and finish it.

I am back

2009-02-27T09:42:00.000-08:00

As I promised I am back.I didn't work on this sweater much since I decided to move my youngest son to the bigger room. So I had to paint and clean and move lots of stuff.
Also I have to admit that I did take the right front stripe section apart after finishing the other one.They didn't end up looking the same.So much for an easy to follow pattern :-)Well it was not the pattern,it was me not paying attention and it's fixed now.
and.......here is the beginning of the first sleeve.

The snow is falling again and as much as I would like to be it a beautiful sunny day I am ok.One more day at home without feeling guilty that I am neglecting my yard and garden.

Just a couple of things I wanted to add but never get to it before.

2009-02-18T23:56:00.000-08:00

I love this reversible scarf.
It's from the book: Cables Untangled by Melissa Leapman.

This hat is a basic pattern with a color design I made up as I worked on it.

cable and lace wrap cardigan

2009-02-18T13:03:00.000-08:00

From the book Baby Knits
by Lois Daykin
Using Mandarin Petit-100% egyption cotton with white crocheting string added to it and 4mm (euro size) needles.

It's going pretty well,the pattern is easy to fallow.

I am quite please with the texture and the color combination.Since I don't usually swatch and do not have the same material I wasn't sure about the size.I am following size 0-3 months instruction and it looks just right to me.

The days are nice and sunny here after what seemed like "forever" period of grey sky and cold air(and lots of snow).So I will be spending more time outside soaking in some sun and vitamin D but hope to post the finished project soon.

white kitty

2008-06-20T16:27:00.000-07:00

Crocheted Hats

2008-05-30T21:15:00.000-07:00

Melon pattern shawl

2008-05-29T14:07:00.000-07:00

I have found this book in the library the other day and even thought I don't wear shawls I decided I'll make one.Unfortunately I couldn't find the same beautiful green color in our local

stores so I settled for this very pale lilac.

Materials: Patons Lacette
Needles: 4 1/2 mm
Started: May 2008

I wish I have a head for displaying my hats.But for now a vase and a ball must do.

2008-05-29T12:23:00.000-07:00

socks

2008-05-29T11:52:00.000-07:00