Goals for 2012

The new year helps us all to reflect and make changes, if needed. I think its important to continue to learn and strive towards being a better person. Here is a list of things we want to work on, some are business related, some are personal and some are a way to do our part in being more "green"and/or self sufficient.

1. Make more pre-prep meals for freezing and canning.
2. Save seeds from as many varieties as we can, to start our own collection of seeds.
3. Make more things from scratch, for instance we just switched to make all our own butter but we want to do more, like cheeses, pasta, ketchup, mayo, and etc.
4. Raise a percentage of our own meat.
5. Eat seasonally and preserve enough so that we don't have to buy non-local veggies and fruits.
6. Serve a series of community dinners, with all local food.
7. Hold a food swap.
8. Teach a canning class and a series of cooking classes.
9. Switch to more natural products by making them ourselves; shampoos, conditioners, laundry soaps, etc.
10. Read more books.
11. Finally open an Etsy shop for my knitted items.
12. Take a sewing class or read a sewing book (my grandfather sent me my great grandmothers sewing machine).
13. Exercise more, like taking walks, yoga and swimming every day once it warms up.
14. Gain more followers on our blog.
15. Try new recipes and blog about them.
16. Go on more than one date night a year.
17. Create how to videos on homesteading.
18. Attend the farmers market every week for a year, see below.

(Things have changed a bit since the begining of this year, some of the crossed out will be added to future goals.)
We have also decided to attend the local Saturday farmers market every week and make a detailed list of everything that is grown in our area. This way others will have an idea of what is available locally and when. We define local, in this since, as within 30-35 miles of where it is sold. It will help us to know what others are growing, know when to start planting and help us develop relationships with other farmers. We plan on it becoming apart of our weekly harvest Monday post.

We are looking forward to the coming year and will be blogging about our adventures as we achieve these goals. Happy New Year!

Check out our long term goals by clicking here.

Handmade Christmas 2011

Faux cable legwarmers for my niece (ViolaStitchStudio)

Earflap hat for my nephew (ViolaStitchStudio)

Every year we make homemade Christmas presents for friends and family. We always try to add to it and make it bigger and better each year.

This year we are giving (all handmade and from our own garden):

Homemade marinara (regular, pesto, and spicy)
Thai/Genovese Basil Pesto
Bloodymary mix
Spicy pickled green beans (recipe coming)
Zucchini pickles (recipe coming)
Demi glace, a french Mother sauce that takes over 36 hours of cooking, made with local ingredients
Pomegranate sauce, from pomegranates from our lovely neighbors.
Croutons, made with homemade bread
Cookies
Peppermint lotion
Dried Pink Lady apples from Noble Orchard's in Paradise CA

We are also making butter and chive/sage cheese to take with us for Christmas dinner. We also usually add a few local items we love:

Massa Organic's Brown rice
Tin Roof Bakery and Cafe Bread
Vita style chicobag

Halloween style

Super Grover and Daddy at Treat Street downtown

I want more candy (even if I don't really get what is going on right now).

The other option...I do love chickens!

We had fun this Halloween because the little guy was finally old enough to kind of understand what was going on. I made him a Super Grover costume as requested and my mom sent him a chicken suit. He loved the chicken suit so much that I figured that is what he would end up wearing but he decided to be Super Grover to my surprise! I was happy because it actually took quite a lot of work to create the helmet (which he wears as much as possible now).

We all went to Treat Street downtown (craziness) and got a little candy (we only did one block since he so little). After it got dark we also went to three of our neighbors houses...I threw together a gypsy costume and the doctor dressed as a fat chef. We had a lot of fun and I can't image how next year will be. I hope you all had a great Halloween. We are linking up with mama loves papa for Small Style!

Super Grover Costume Part 2: Finished

The Cape!

As you can see I ran out of yarn, Gnar doesn't notice it. :)

All finished and just in time for Halloween.

The little guy was not at all interesting in wearing the helmet until I had the cape finished. I don't really know why but now he is wearing the helmet as much as possible. It is all done and I got it finished the day before Halloween...perfect timing. Now onto the next project...

A green alternative to store bought sponges...Knit a reusable one!

I recently realized how wasteful I was when it came to sponges. They get dirty so fast and there is really no way to sanitize them. So what to do? Stop washing dishes...no! It relaxes me...one thing I actually enjoy doing...I know I'm weird. I decided that I would knit something to replace them, it was really simple.

Basically knit (or crochet) a square double the size of a regular sponge, then fold in half and sew shut...your done! I used cotton yarn so that I could just throw it in the washer and dryer. It doesn't dry out very well so I recommend making at least three depending on how often you do laundry. I also made one in a different color for the bathroom, this way I will never get confused. I'm somewhat of a germ freak when it comes to certain things, toilets being one of them.

I have been using these for the past 6 months and they have been working great!

Super Grover costume Part 1

I had been thinking a lot about the Halloween costume I had decided to make the little guy and started to get worried that I wouldn't have enough time or it would come out horrible. So I started working on it and got inspired...

A Super Grover helmet, knitted by hand

Here is the first part, the helmet that Super Grover wears. I'm excited by the way it turned out and so is the little guy! Now I have to start the cape! Most likely both items will become a part of the ViolaStitchStudio Esty shop when it finally opens...it should be next month!

ViolaStitchStudio: Exctied to debut at the Sweet Repeats Sale

Headbands size newborn-Kids

 I decided to participate in the fall Sweet Repeats sale. I wanted to make a lot more, like fingerless mittens and cute fall hats but some family stuff came up and I was only able to focus on finishing 12 headbands. I still plan on making them and finally opening an Etsy shop! Sweet Repeats is an awesome company that has seasonal infant, children, teen and maternity consignment sales. I spent some time going through all of the clothes that no longer fit the little guy and instead of tagging them myself I had the Sweet Repeats crew do it for me!

The sale is this weekend so check it out! Saturday Oct. 8th 9am-5pm and Sunday Oct. 9th 10am-2pm at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds Art Center building in Chico, CA. Please check out their website for more information or find them on facebook.

The little guys Halloween Costume inspiration

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For the last couple weeks the little guy has been saying soccer buga and I couldn't quite figure out what he was saying.  We don't own a soccer ball so I was pretty sure it wasn't that but what else could it be right....

I was reading with him the other day and finally figured it out when we pulled out a book with Grover on it...he was saying Super Grover! He then ran around the house yelling it and holding his hands on his hips. Too cute! Now I have to work on making the costume for him...

More to come on this project!

How to make an old t-shirt into a reusable bag

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I got this great idea from a fellow blogger, The blue spot! Check out the link for a video. I used a new t-shirt that the Doctor got me as a joke gift and I have never worn. I kept meaning to turn this shirt into a bag but always put it off, then I read her blog post and got inspired!

What you need:
T-shirt
Scissors
needle
thread
a mixing bowl
a pen or pencil

Its really very simple, start by sewing the bottom of the shirt closed. I turned it inside out first and since I don't have a sewing machine, I switched across twice.

Lay the shirt flat, and smooth it out well. Then using the mixing bowl trace around the neck to create a larger opening and cut off the sleeves.

Voila, its done! I'm planning on trying to work on using the sleeves to create a pocket. Think how many you could make and just put in your car...you would never have to use a plastic bag again!

International Yarn Bombing Day June 11th!

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We are back home! We decided to focus more on family, gardening and relaxing for a week or so while we got back into our normal routine.

The idea of Yarn Bombing is to brighten the world by making something with yarn and placing it publicly. I decided to do something really simple and I placed it near our home on a bridge we drive over daily. I hope that it stays up for awhile but who knows maybe someone will take it home with them.

what I've been working on for ViolaStitchStudio...

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As some of you may know I am really into knitting and I had a goal to open an etsy shop by my sons 2nd birthday. Well that was last weekend and I didn't make it but I have been working on my a lot of fun stuff and trying to better my skills.

I attempted my first real piece of clothing and it has been more work than I expected. I really enjoyed learning what to do and most important what not to do.

Here is the Cozy Shrug I just completed, it is simple and was a great first attempt.

I also made these really really simple girly dress-up necklaces for a friends daughters birthday present. Super quick knit and I know she will love them.

I'm am currently working on one last project before I focus on making items to post in my etsy shop. So stay tuned to more info on when I finally open the shop! You can also stay tuned in by following my facebook page ViolaStitchStudio.

Fall is here...winter is coming...warm knitted things for the family

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I started to make some things for Team Dean to get us through the winter, hats and fingerless gloves. So far just fingerless gloves for the little guy and hats for all of us but once I finish the christmas presents I'll be making them for all of us along with scarves with pockets to warm your hands in.

Reversible Knitted toys...

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I always loved the idea of reversible toys...so here are a few I've made. Nessie hatches, Chicken/Penguin and Turmo the turtle monkey.

Knitted gifts for Baby

Please note this blog is no longer updated. (Click here to find my new blog address). Here are things I made for the baby shower...I have been waiting to post them so they would be a suprise. Knitting for girls is so much more fun and I can't wait to make more things for this new little lady. I have to finish christmas gifts for the other cousin before I start but I be making a moblie and a few stuff animals soon.