Sorting Mail

After a very nice long trip, here is what our kitchen table looks like. 

Drum Roll ############ And The Winner Is: Teresa

I feel so honored by the visits from many wonderful bloggers living all over this magnificant world.  OWOH has given me a new appreciation for the talented individuals sharing their treasurers.  Although Teresa from http://favoritethings.typepad.com/delightful_whimsy/ ♥ tere
 is the winner of this lovely neck warmer, I am the real winner to have had so many visitors. It was so fun reading the heartfelt notes from each of you.  Thank you Lisa for the opportunity to join in the fun of OWOH.  Blessings and Good Fortune to you all, Janet

Welcome One World One Heart

Hello everyone!  Since I am blessed to still have relatives in Italy and England, here is a picture of our great and wonderful world as seen on my office desk.  This globe is positioned so I can see the 'boot' of Italy.  There are such awesome people all over this world.  The One World One Heart Event gives us an opportunity to broaden our friendships and share ourselves.  Note:  The globe is as aged as I am, now that's impressive.  Look at the color, still lovely.

Welcome to my DreamChallenge and One World One Heart Event.  Here is a heart designed using my very favorite hobby - knitting: (the design is mine and the circle of pearls represents our circle of unity).

 My husband loves to garden and so this picture of me shelling peas is appropriate to share with all of you.  He does the gardening and I do the cooking/canning, etc.  Of course, he helps me a lot especially with the clean up after the project is completed.  We always send our granddaughters some fresh peas out of the garden when they are first ripe.  They live about five hours away and love getting the packages from Grammy and Papaw.

 Here he is, the love of my life.  Bob is a cancer survivor and has lived through a stem cell transplant.  We are so blessed and Thank God each day for Bob's continued good health.  Can you see that smile?  He is a great person.  This picture shows a sweater I made for his niece (mine too), but little Jack was not even born when this project was completed.

Sharing my love of knitting is a joy.  The item choosen for this event giveaway could be for a man, woman or child.  When you win this lovely item knitted with prayer for the winner, be sure to tell me who will wear it.  If it is a woman or girl, there are flowers to accompany the 'arrowpoint neck wrap'.  The men and boys will probably not want the flowers.  Knitting flowers sometimes makes them a little too big, so these are crochet and will tie onto the wrap.  When you leave a comment, please leave your e-mail or mailing address or some way for me to contact you when you win.  I look forward to meeting you as we travel the world together.  Thank you to our wonderful host, Lisa http://awhimsicalbohemian.typepad.com/a_whimsical_bohemian/2010/12/annoucning-the-fifth-and-final-one-world-one-heart-event-.html

New Projects

Nothing like sharing with others. Thus a Heart Swap sponsored by Deb @ Mosiac Magpie blog. Her blog is http://mosaicmagpielogspot.com/  stop by and visit, she loves visitors.

After I finished by creation to swap, it was time to start my next project. A lovely sweater for a precious little princess born about nine months ago. The sweater pattern is one of my favorites and was shared with me by my friend Vicki. Vicki is a true friend and travel companion. Stop by and see her. She actually has pictures that are in focus. LOL (unlike mine)  Vicki's blog is http://vicki-2bagsfull.blogspot.com/

I found some yarn that actually has a little design once it is knitted and after hunting for weeks to find the "perfect" yarn for little princess, this one jumped out at me.  It's called Cuddle Muffin and the color I choose is white/green/pink and yellow.  It is so soft and washable
So please, follow along as the design takes shape and thanks for stopping by. I would love to hear from you if you have time to leave me a comment. Enjoy the moment. Jan

Designer Bag

The little sweater and hat are ready to deliver and quess what???Not a bag in the house to put the gift. So what is a girls to do? Well, I did have a shopping bag with some writing on the front. Wall paper books are great to help out when a person needs cards or just some pretty paper to craft with. Well, I cut out a heart and a little stamped heart, all from the old wall paper. Used some glue and there you have it - A Designer Bag to put the gift into. It looked a little "pail". I made a head band for the little princess and attached it to the handle of the bag and then made a tie from the yarn by making a nice chain.

There you have it - The lovely bag made from 'around the home stuff'. I think the new Mom will love the bag as well as the gifts inside.
What have you made lately using 'stuff around the house'? Maybe we should have a contest to see what people have made from 'stuff around the house'? Let me ask my friend how to do that and we will start on February 1 if I can figure out how. Happy crafting.

Ruffle collar baby sweater

Now this little sweater is a treasure come true.  The little baby girl is not with us yet, but she is growing nicely and will soon arrive.  Sweaters are so adorable, but I wanted her to have one with a ruffle collar and so made up this little pattern.  The button is also hand made using a crochet hook.  The penny will show the size.  Just so cuddly.  Her Mama and family will have no trouble seeing her in this beautiful creation.  No, not bragging, just thankful God gave me the ability to create something so beautiful for one of His children.

One World One Heart

Last year was my first time as a blogger participating in this wonderful world wide event.
Thank you for the opportunity

Keri Beth's Contest

My friend Vicki has an amazing blog.  Here is the link: 
http://vicki-2bagsfull.blogspot.com/ 
If you visit her and enter herVera Bradley Contect, Little Keri Beth will choose a winner on December 27.  Please tell her you saw her link on DreamChallenge blog.
Good Luck and while you are their, check out our dinner party.  It was so much fun and Vicki captures the fellowship as no other could.

Jack's Sweater

Well, putting more than one picture at a time seems to be a project I need lots of work to accomplish.  Please stay with me.
As I said on the last post, Jack is growing, eating and generally pleasing his parents and grandparents.  Although his Uncle Bob has not seen him in person, you can see the happy smile on his face just holding the gift made with love for Jack.  (Some of you know, Uncle Bob is my beloved husband.)
Here is the sweater and hat made to help Jack celebrate Christmas:

Sweaters

My goodness, so many babies lately.  Three beautiful sweaters are either on their way or ready to go.
Each one was a joy to knit.  As some of you know, I like to pray for the child and family as I knit.  Two of the little ones are here and one more to come very soon.  Wanted to share the different styles made for these little ones. 
The first picture of this new design was posted before it was completed.  Here it is with the buttons sewn on the side for a little boy.  The bundle was 8 pounds and 10 ounces.  I made a 3 month size because the child has relatively small bones parents.  Surprise, little one came into this world a little larger than expected but extremely healthy.  Praise God.

This next sweater is for our nephew.  I made it using two yarns twisted together.  Great for Christmas Season and Valentine's Day soon after.  Little Jack is doing great and so are his parents.

Front MU Sweater

Ok this time I got two pictures and here is the front, hat and booties:

The colors are so very MU.

Marshall University Sweater Set

In case you have a favorite football team, here is the sweater set I made for the newest little one on our block.  She is now here and WILL BE A HERD FAN!  If her Mom will let me I will post her picture later when she grows into the set.

Front of Sweater

OK, so I was suppose to put this front picture beside the back, but being new to this process, it did not work.  Next best thing was to start over with a new post.
Stay with me, I will learn.

Latest Sweater Creation

Amazing how praying for a little one not yet in this world is so very rewarding to me.  I was with the Momma to be on Thursday and sure wanted to show her this beautiful treasure, but did not.  Since she is not into blogging, I wanted to show all of you. 

Favorite Scarf

This is one of my favorite scarves.  The yarn is from Russia.

DreamChallenge Shop

Today a very nice lady stopped by our home to show us this fabulous rug cleaner and my beloved husband let her come into our home and clean our bedroom rug.  Do you have any idea what kind of dirt came from that rug?  Now we have a fabulous housekeeper and she does a wonderful job.  That rug looked pretty clean.  Well the dirt that came from the rug was totally awtful.  So why am I sharing this with you?  Because rugs and not important to me but clean is.  When was the last time your rugs were cleaned?  Well, needless to say, I would rather knit than ever think about rugs that LOOK clean and totally not, so here is what I decided to do.  Tell you all about the fun knitting projects I have been working on.  Here is my note to you: 
Please visit my shop it has a few listings. Christmas is not far away.



I would love to make something special for someone you love. Special orders should be started soon. Let me know what you would like and the kind of yarn to use and who you plan to give it to (example, male/female/little boy/girl etc.).


http://www.etsy.com/your/listings

Vicki's Contest

This beautiful fall nest will be given away by my friend and mentor at blogging,
 http://vicki-2bagsfull.blogspot.com/
Please visit her blog to see what a wonderful creative person makes this item.
Tell her DreamChallenge sent you her way. 

Every (almost) spare minute reading blogs.

Thank you Karen for this wonderful opportunity to share time and our creative spaces with people all over the world.  Since I spend most of Saturday and Sunday reading blogs, decided better take care of the garden and a few things around the house.  Put stew meat, potatoes, onions and tomatoes in the crock pot and went out to the garden. 

Wait, what is that???Right, two beautiful pea blossoms.  They have not given up with all this heat.  So, of course, I did not pick all the vines. 

ohen I saw all the beautiful kale and ask my Bob, husband,to please pick all he could, so he did.  A whole sink full of kale ready to wash, strip and steam.  Ready for the freezer.  Yes, it is finished. 

Do you ever put kale in your

brown beans?  Well I like it that way. 

My friend, Vicki, who is also sharing her awsome Yarn Room Creative Space http://vicki-2bagsfull.blogspot.com/2010/06/sacred-yarn-room-my-creative-space.html  told me I was NEVER to cook brown beans again.  LOL  It seems that Italians just do not understand that tomato paste does not go in everything and the beans were, well shall we say, awful.  I took them out of the crock pot, put them on the stove with onion, salt and pepper and cooked them another hour.  We ate them and Bob said they were good, but we both know, next time Mrs. Vicki will be cooking our beans.

Sure hope each and every one of you are as happy as I am with finding new friends.  Please come again, Jan

Space for DreamChallenge

Since I am a very new blogger, please forgive the fact that a picture is first and not a very sincere WELCOME to each and every one of you who chose to visit my blog.  I am so grateful to Karen for sponsoring this "Share your Space Day". 

This is my evening knitting space. 

I use this space to be close to my husband because when the news comes on this is the couch where Bob sits. He loves to watch the news and I love to be near him, especially if it is a work day for me and I have been gone all day.

Sometimes we have such special gifts that just the feel will give delight and happiness. 

That is what these two sets of VERY OLD wooden hand carved needles do for me. 

 I just love the feel and smell.  And Yes, I do knit with them as I sit in my corner of the couch.  They are a very special gift from my housekeeper and friend.  Juanita is a blessing to Bob and me.

Growing up in an Italian Household allowed me to share a room for many years with an Aunt.  Then when I became a teen and was given the small room at the back of the hall of my very own, it was a joy.  Today, our home affords me space abound, but my craft space is mine alone.  This is my space for bill paying and keeping my Etsy Account up to date.  That is the Ohio River in the background.

As I sit in my space in the pantry, this is the beautiful rock garden entry that Bob built.  It is lovely and has seasonal flowers as well as a flowing red Japanese maple tree in the background. The pantry in our home was built so I could look out the window as I sewed on the same sewing machine my parents gave me when I began sewing classes in High School. Remember Home Economics classes???I totally loved my Home Ec. classes and learned so very much. Thank You Mrs. Gooch where ever you are. 

Here is my space to sew and store yarn.

 Bob, my husband, put the shelves together so I could ORGANIZE my yarn. Now those of you who have yarn realize that just putting the yarn into color combinations will never work, but we are going to give it a try. He and our youngest daughter did an excellent job trying to help me be organized.

We all need a space to store our beads.  This lovely wooden wine holder was just what I needed to add to the pantry space.  All my beads and nylon thread for securing them to the garments fit nicely into this wooden box.  Little did my brother and sister-in-law know what the box would be used for after we finished the refreshing wine.  Thank You both for this treasurer. 

Notice the antique Coke bottles.  Coke is my choice drink.

We all have little scraps and I find keeping them in this jar is an easy way to see what colors are available.

Sometimes we have favorite yarns.  Here are some of mine. 

This beautiful woven basket is just the place for my special treasurers.

Even though the space is small, it is mine.  The view is fabulous and the lighting very good.

Here I am making a credit card holder using left over fabric and lace.

This creation makes nice little gifts.

In the spring, summ and fall, I may be found out on the patio enjoying the river, boats and animals.  We have ducks that think we are their sole source of food.  Then the birds sing as though they know us.  Just beautiful.

This particular yarn took me a LONG time to find.  I was looking for just the right colors for a little blonde.  Now that I have found it, the sweater will be finished in a few weeks.

This table scape is my first attempt at a craft sale.  Our local church Our Lady of Fatima, decided to combine a rummage sale with a craft sale.  It was great fun setting up.  Normally I just knit for friends and now that Etsy craft space is in my life, this seemed like a good idea. 

My space is a treasure and I am so thankful you took the time to visit. 

Please come again and be my friend.

May Blessings and Peace fill you and your space.

Jan  jan.yost@yahoo.com 

Mushroom Pea Soup

Wanted to share this delicious soup with my new blog friends.  The fresh peas were not in the original recipe, but they were on the counter so I threw in a handfull or so.  Fabulous addition to an already good soup.
2 tbsp. olive oil
2 fresh green onions, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
sald and black pepper
1 garlic clove, minced
1 pound wite buton mushroom caps,  may use an assortment of fresh muchrooms which I did not have, rinsed and sliced
1 tsp. basil finely chopped
2 tbsp. tomato paste
1 can (14 1/2 ounces) dices tomatoes with liquid
6 cups water
1 pk onion lipton dry soup mix
2 beef bullion cubes
hand full or two of fresh peas
1/4 to 1/2 cup of broken in bite size pieces of whole wheat spaghetti (could use any pasta shape)
Bring to a low boil, reduce heat with lid on pot and simmer for 20 minutes.  Serve with hard bread.  Enjoy.