Finished Knitted Pumpkin, Knitting Sock, Halloween, and Reading On

 Hello Friends,

I hope you are doing well. It has been awhile since I have posted! I have some things to share now to update you. I had a fun Halloween dressing up for a work virtual huddle, dressing up Evan for his daycare Halloween party, decorating our porch, and giving out candy to trick or treaters. I watched The Nightmare before Christmas after we were out of candy (120-ish bags and handfuls of candy later!). I felt like it all went so well and was so happy after such a wonderful holiday celebration.

I carved this pumpkin the night before Halloween for the pumpkin carving contest at work and the trick or treaters. It was fun to use the stencil from a carving kit and carve the pumpkin. I hadn't done that in years. I chose this monster thought it was cute!

Evan was dressed as a monkey and I dressed up as a scarecrow for the Halloween contest at work! I bought both on Amazon and happy with the costumes how they looked, fit, both great quality.

I finished knitting the pumpkin! Pattern was fun to knit again this is the third pumpkin I knitted using this patter and really like it.  The pattern is called Knit Pumpkin and is by Katrina McNerney on Ravelry.

I am continuing to read Here One Monent by Liane Moriarty. I have been enjoying it so far and it makes you think about our lives and you never know what to expect.

I am also continuing to knit the socks by on Ravelry by Meaghan Schmaltz. I will be knitting these more now that I finished the pumpkin and Halloween has passed. 

I took a selfie of Millie and I as I was taking photos she was around. It was during Evan's nap and busy getting the pumpkin finished and having some time to relax and blog afterwards.

Thank you for visiting my blog today! I hope that you are having a good weekend and great week ahead!

Happy Halloween!

 Hello Friends,

I hope you are doing well.  It has been a busy week with Millie getting spayed last Tuesday. I have been feeding her because eating normally didn't work with the cone and she would bump into the bowl. Today we freed her from the cone after going to the vet for a check up, and she was happy to run around and play as usual. I was happy to see her so happy and playing. I dressed as a witch for Halloween for work and also for my friend's Halloween party. I bought the witch hat on Amazon, which was URFUN Womens Wool Witch hat, and the black dress which was TARAINYA women's long sleeve maxi dress on Amazon. They both arrived the next day. I love the hat it is so comfortable and heavier so it doesn't fall or blow off your head. The dress is so soft and love the length and fit. I can wear it all year round instead of getting a costume dress that is just for Halloween. Then I bought the black toole, feather, and face paint from Michaels to dress it up a bit more for the party last night.  I took a photo with Millie before leaving for the party.

My friend's boyfriend's place looked very spooky for the Halloween party and we had a lot of fun taking pictures, chatting, and eating.

casting spells...

I didn't decorate a lot this year, but here are some decorations I put out for Fall and Halloween this year below. I used the "hello Fall" sign from last year and decorated around the TV stand with knitted and crocheted pumpkins from previous years. I bought the crocheted one a long time ago and the pink one was knitted last year. I also put up a fall wreath on the door and I liked how the porch looked with the wreath up this year. I plan to also get a wreath for Christmas. 

I displayed a small Halloween scene on my dresser with the haunted house and the trick or treater girl. 

I bought this Tiny Treasures Ashland trick or treater girl figurine from Michaels yesterday. She is so cute with her ghost costume and has a vintage look to it. That goes well beside my haunted house. 

I got this haunted house a long time ago and display it every year for Halloween. Each part opens to see some spooky scenes inside. I love haunted houses at Halloween and this one is pretty nice detail for a Dollar store find. One of the ghosts heads broke off, but mostly still in pretty good shape. 

I am still busy working on the Blustery day in Berkley scarf  and it is almost halfway done. I bought another skein of yarn at Michaels because I realized I wouldn't have enough to finish it to the length I wanted with just one.  I will be starting on some other projects soon for Christmas gifts to have them done in time for Christmas.

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed Halloween!

Knitted Pumpkin for Halloween

 Hello Friends,

I hope you are doing well. I am so excited to share with you my knitted pink pumpkin for Halloween this year. I decided to change it up this year and I love this color. I realize it is more close to a beige color or a dusty rose color. I used the Knitted Halloween Pumpkin pattern by Vicki Coombe on her blog Tippy Tupps. I originally found the pattern on Ravelry. It was worked on straight needles size US 9 5.5 mm. The yarn I used was "Canyon Sunset" and the yarn is Lion Brand Wool Ease. The pattern is quick and easy and great for beginner knitters and good if you want to knit up a bunch of pumpkins or a pumpkin just in time for Halloween.

I have made some progress on the Amelia Slouch Beanie by Elisa McLaughlin. I found the pattern on Ravelry. I love the colors for Fall and hope to wear it soon and into the Winter. It feels like it will be so warm and comfy to wear in the cold months approaching.

 

I am also continuing to work on knitting the Men's Rib Ridge scarf pattern by Purl Avenue. It will be a Christmas gift for Liam. It is a great knit and I am enjoying knitting it for him. 

I am continuing to read In Five Years by Rebecca Serle. It is very good so far and I am enjoying reading more of it. I am also reading The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. I really would like to read more of this book and will be reading in more in the next week to finish it. 

Joining along with As Kat Knits for Unraveled Wednesday. You can visit her blog to see what others are knitting and reading this week!

Thank you so much for visiting my blog today! This week has been so busy at work and it is always nice to unwind and write these posts mid-week to catch up with you. I will be going to reading what you are up to now on your blogs. 

Have a great day!

Happy Halloween! Knitted Ghost

Hello Friends,

I hope you are well. I hope that you are having a great Halloween! I knitted up this little ghost for Halloween the past couple of days. His name is Gus on the pattern I used, and he was such a fun and quick knit to knit up just in time for Halloween.

I used the pattern Gus and Augustus Ghosts by Patricia L Clark found on Ravelry. I used some worsted weight white yarn that was leftover in my stash and used size 3.75 mm circular needles. The pattern calls for using double pointed needles, but I had no problems with using circular needles instead. I used polyester stuffing to fill the ghost and I used thread to sew the eyes. 

He fits in nicely in the apartment beside his pumpkin friend. He is trying his hardest to be scary but he is way too cute!

He knits up a short and small size and his style has the flowy bottom made by knitting purl stitches. The other ghost in the pattern is his friend Augustus, who is taller and skinnier. I hope to knit him up for next Halloween and they haunt together.

Joining along with Frontier Dreams for Crafting On and with As Kat Knits for Unraveled Wednesday.

I will share some more updates with you soon on knitting plans and reading updates. Thank you for visiting!

Have a great day!

Finished Knitted Bat, Decorating for Halloween, and Reading On

Hello friends,

I hope you are doing well. This weekend, I spent time with my family, and catching up and going for a birthday dinner since my birthday was at Thanksgiving and we get busy with having the holiday dinner.

I have finished knitting this little bat for Halloween. I used a pattern that I found on Ravelry called Violet the Little Bat. It is a very simple pattern, and great for beginner knitters too! I wanted a quick and fun project for Halloween and it was the perfect project for me right now and so adorable.

First, I knitted the body and head by knitting in the round and increasing stitches, then decreasing stitches when getting to the bat's head. Then I moved onto the ears which were also knitted in the round to make the ears fuller. I did not add stuffing to the ears though as it is not requested in the pattern. Then for the wings, I still used the circular needles but did not knit in the round for the pattern. I added the eyes with some gray yarn sewn on with my darning needle. You can make your eyes using a different color and knit the body a different color from the wings if you prefer. There are many possibilities with making this project your own and being creative.

Bat hanging up on wall. I used one of the ends of yarn from sewing the wings on the body to create a loop to hang the bat.

I have been continuing to work on sewing the 3timesChic sweater seams as well. I am working on sewing the second side now and then I will be working on the neck edging. If you would like to read the entries I have written over the year about knitting my first sweater, please click here.

Sweater in progress

I decorated the apartment for Halloween and fall today. I had a few out already but it takes a little bit more time to take them all out and put them around. I just kept the decorating to our living room and put a few of my favorites on shelves. I don't really have a lot of decorations right now with little storage space.

Below are two pumpkins from Michael's that I bought last year, and the cat with a sign saying "trick or Treat" from the Milton farm craft fair a couple of years ago.

Pumpkin patch

I knitted the pumpkin below last year and it was really fun to knit up! You can see last year's post and how to make the pumpkin here.

Squishy pumpkin

This is my favorite Halloween decoration I own. I have had this small haunted house since I was a child. I am pretty sure I bought it from the dollar store but it is still in good shape other than the one ghost missing a head! But I guess that can make it even spookier! I like how it opens up to show inside the house as well, these are so fun for kids and adults too.

Haunted house, opens up to show many spooky inhabitants

I enjoy decorating for each holiday and it adds to the fun of celebrating. Will you be decorating your home for Halloween this year? And what are your favourites?

I am still reading My Not so Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella and Mercy for Animals by Nathan Runkle on my online Overdrive account. I have been reading them on my phone, which makes them easier to bring them along with me wherever I go and have some time to read. The books I am reading are both so interesting and I will be trying to read more of them before they both are due very soon and will go back to their lengthy hold lists.

Joining along with Frontier Dreams for Crafting On, AskatKnits for Unwraveled Wednesday, and The Little Room of Rachael for Yarning Along.  What are you working on and reading this week?

Thank you for visiting my blog! If you would like to keep updated on when I post an entry, please follow my blog on Bloglovin', Google Followers, and you can include your email in the subscribe by email button at the top right corner of this page.

Have a great day!

Knitting a Bat for Halloween and Got a Wool and the Gang Kit!

Hello Friends,

I hope you are doing well. I had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend visiting my family and my boyfriend's family. It was my birthday yesterday and I enjoyed going for lunch with a friend, face timing with family, and going for dinner with my boyfriend. I am now only one year away from thirty years old and thinking I really want to make it a good year! A lot will be happening and I am looking forward to the year ahead. 

Knitting
I have been busy with different knitting projects lately. I have been working on sewing the seams on the sweater. I now have one sleeve and side sewn and working on the second this week and knitting the neck edging. It has been slow progress for me, I am thinking that I am not a fan of sewing seams after this experience like many of you said you were not when I started knitting all the pieces for the sweater.  I am looking forward to finally being done though. 

I started knitting a bat for Halloween over the weekend and using a pattern from Ravelry called Violet the Little Bat. It is a simple pattern and I am enjoying it so far. I have knitted the body/head and ears and going to start working on the wings. I would recommend this pattern if you still don't have a project for Halloween and are looking for something quick to knit up.

Knitting bat, done the body and ears, working on knitting the first wing

I received this Wool and the Gang kit from my sister for my birthday. It is the Farrah top in the billie jean color. I am so excited to start knitting this tank top once I am finished more of my current projects. I have been looking at all their amazing projects on Instagram for over a year now and think it will be a lot of fun to try one out!

The Wool and the Gang bag for the kit

Kit contents: four balls of up-cycled yarn, pattern, and a needle

Reading
I am reading My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella. I had started reading this book earlier this year, then I ran out of time on my loan from the library, and because there are so many holds on it,  I only got it back a couple of weeks ago. I am really enjoying it again and love this easy read. I was reading Love the Wine You're With but I was not getting into it as easily and still debating whether I will continue with reading it. I also got my loan recently from the library which downloaded online for Mercy for Animals by Nathan Runkle and I have been glued to this book ever since. In this autobiography, Nathan discusses starting the organization Mercy for Animals and sneaking into factory farms to expose them for their maltreatment of animals. I have my hands full with all this reading but I think I will read through them fast since I am really enjoying the books right now.

Joining along with Frontier Dreams for Crafting On, AsKatKnits for Unwraveled Wednesday, and The Little Room of Rachell for Yarning Along.

Thank you for visiting and if you would like to keep updated on when I post blog entries, please follow me on Bloglovin', Google Followers, or you can subscribe by email at the top right of this page. 

Have a great day!

Halloween traditions some old and some new..

Hello friends,

 It is Halloween tomorrow! At the daycare the children are going to dress up and ECEs will too! I am going to put on a witch hat and some green makeup and wear all black.  I am looking forward to seeing all the cute costumes that the children come in. It is my first and only Halloween at this particular daycare center because I am leaving next week.  I decided I wanted to work elsewhere and explore other options :)

At night I will be handing out Halloween candies as I do every year and watching my favorite Halloween movie “Double, Double, Toil and Trouble”.  It's kind of nerdy that I still watch this movie every year but it’s become tradition for my sister and I to watch it.  This year she is away at University so I guess it will be just me and my bowl of candies waiting for Trick-or-treaters.

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What movie do you watch every Halloween?

Have a fun day and night tomorrow! take care and be safe while trick or treating!

Halloween Monday favourites!

Hello!

Since it is almost Halloween I thought I would share some Halloween themed favorites with you tonight.  They are all DIY's that look very easy to do to decorate your home for the Halloween holiday.  I found all of the pictures on Pinterest. I hope you enjoy and I just might try some of these out! 

Made with spaghetti jars, gauze, googly eyes, modge podge
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click here for an etched glass centerpiece tutorial from just-between-friends.com

Pumpkins with holes drilled in in different patterns, great idea!
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Creepy crawly candle holders just in time for Halloween....
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Boo Wreath, really cute.  Looks like it was painted black and then the web was added on top with the spiders and boo.
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A wreath made from balls of yarn in Halloween colors! very festive
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Have a great night!!