Happy Thanksgiving and Free Gifts!

First, I want to wish all my wonderful blog readers a Happy and food-filled Thanksgiving!!! This is one of my favorite holidays! Not only will I be eating lots of my favorite foods, but it really does make me give Thanks for all the wonderful things I have in my life!

*My amazing husband who loves and supports me

*My wonderful little girl who drives me crazy at times and is the best snuggler in the world

*My family and friends

*My creative talents that allow me to stay home to raise my little girl while still making enough money to support my yarn habbit

There are MANY more...

I also want to let you know of some exciting new things going on!! I have teamed up with a wonderful group at Etsy to promote and sell items during the next week. Search etsyFEST to find some great deals and free gifts!!

I will be offering a free gift with purchase from now until December 1 at both my website and my etsy shop!! Pattern purchases will receive a limited-edition baby blanket pattern and all custom/ready-to-ship items will get a surprize in their boxes!! I am also now offering Gift Wrapping at both locations!!

So, have a great THANKSGIVING everyone!!

I Worked On It ALLLLL DAY!

And now it's Ready!! The Winter Bliss Earflap Hat Pattern is now ready for purchase!

The Winter Bliss Hat

CONGRATULATIONS Jennifer on winning my Name the Hat Contest! I have chosen to name it

The Winter Bliss Hat

I will be in touch shortly for your mailing address for your prize! Hmmm....now to go shopping for 40 "Somethings"! And I will email the completed pattern to you as soon as it is finished!

Thanks again to everyone who participated! It was really hard to narrow down the names and choose only one! You are all very creative when it comes to naming things!

BTW...Happy Birthday Ron!! Time to go make your cake!

I made a Video!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Look Ma!! I'm Knitting!

Look what I picked up today! My knitting needles, LOL!! I've been down with a stomach bug for 24 hours now and needed something simple to work on while laying around on the couch. I decided to make a fuzzy scarf for one of Heather's classmates. Her birthday party is tomorrow and since I know the girl from volunteering in the classroom, I knew she would like a fuzzy scarf! I've seen her wearing one....and asked her about it...and she said it was her mom's. So I thought she could use one of her own!! This week I asked her what her favorite color was and she said dark blue. Luckily I just happened to have some fuzzy dark blue yarn in my stash! And since fuzzy yarn is easier to knit than crochet, plus I only had one skien and knitting uses less yarn, I decided to knit it. Looks like I'll be sitting around on the couch a little longer and working on it.

Keep all the great names coming for my contest and I really hope none of you get this nasty stomach bug!

Just Some Random Thoughts

All I can say is WOW!! You guys are amazing and so creative!! I am LOVING all the name suggestions for my hat!! It's gonna be hard to choose!!

So as I was coming home today from taking Heather to school, I realized that I needed to gas up my car. Drove by my local grocery store where I usually buy gas to check out the price. HOLY COW!!! Gas was only $1.78 a gallon!! And with my 10 cents off by using my value card I would only pay $1.68!! When was the last time gas was so cheap??? Guess I'll take all the money I'll save from my gas budget and start Christmas shopping!

And then, another thing I noticed while driving home was that a few of my neighbors have been busy painting their houses. Well, I'm all for sprucing up the neighborhood, but what were they thinking!?!?! The house across the stree is not the most awful shade of mint green I have ever seen!! It's like those little mints you get at weddings...almost neon! It's really bad. Especially with the white trim!! It's so bad I actually had to go back out and snap a picture for you!! But the pic definately doesn't do this aweful color justice!! You'd have to see it in person!!

And then another house down the street that I have been watching them paint....well first they painted the front door and garage door BLACK!! Not too bad...the house was a light, almost white color. But today when I drove by, they had painted the house a DARK, DARK grey!! HUH??? Can you say GOTH? I will admit, it is done very nicely and looks great...but personally I find the color a little creapy, LOL!!

OK, time to run. I need to go fill up my gas tank and stop by the dollar store for some envelopes. Have a great day!

CONTEST!!! Name This Hat!

OK...I admit it...I'm stumped!! I have no idea what to name this newest original crochet pattern from Jaybird Designs!! This fun hat features random stripes plus a few bobble textured rows! Just think of all the fun you could have with colors while making this earflap hat!!!

So, I thought it was time for a contest! YOU can help me name it! Please leave your name suggestions in the comment section and on Monday, November 24th, at noon MST I will choose the name I like best!! What will the winner get??? Well, of course they will get a FREE copy of the pattern! BUT, that is not all!! OH NO! That is not all!!! Since Monday is my wonderful husband Ron's 40th Birthday, I will also send the winner 40 "somethings"!! OHHH!!!! What could it be?? 40 marbles? 40 cupcakes? 40 skiens of yarn!!!!!!! You'll have to win to find out!

OK, so here are the pictures of the hat. Best of luck!

My Secret Sister ROCKS!!

Ok, so at my local MOPS group we have Secret Sisters who give us small gifts thoughout the year. Well, usually I get the standard candles and bath soaps, but this year my sister ROCKS!! Look at this box of goodies I found at the table today! Whooo Hoooo!!

There are lots of goodies for making cookies including sprinkles (Heather will LOVE these!), cookie cutters, decorating stuff and even a new magazine!

Also, there were TONS of scrapbooking supplies including two small books!! OH MAN!!! Now, I don't usually scrapbook....1~beacause all my photos are now digital and 2~I don't have the time with all the other crafts that I do, LOL!! But she made it so easy on me~! There are tons of ribbons, pens, stickers, and all kinds of thigs! This is going to be so much fun!!!

So, whoever you are dear sis, I hope you read my blog and I want you to know that you ROCK!!! I can't wait to get started! THANK YOU SO MUCH!! You totally made my day! All I can say is next time....how about some yarn?? LOL!

Sorry, nothing to say!

Sorry I didn't blog yesterday. Really don't have much to talk about. Been busy crocheting, LOL!!

I did make some changes to my website. What do you think of the new category titles?? Might change the logo at the top too. Any other suggestions on what you all think I should change?

Other than that...busy cleaning the house, taking care of the family, and your average - everyday - type stuff.

What's new with you?

A new Picture of me!

Do you like it??? And can you believe that Heather took it today??? LOL!! But I think the hat looks much better on her!

Hmmmmm...could that be a new original Jaybird Designs pattern I see?

My Christmas To-Do List

Ok, it's getting closer!! I need to get my butt in gear and start making gifts!! I've got lots of cool crocheted projects to make for loved ones that I would LOVE to share with all of you, but since many of these people read my blog, I can't!! Or else they would know what I am making them! LOL!! But here is my list and I will mark it off as I can.

Ron
Heather
Mom
Linda-started
Anna
James
Cora
Glen
Leiliki
Mikey
Trevor
Shane
Lauren
Lindsy
Mom Cirka
Dad Cirka

Ok...who am I forgetting?? LOL!! Back to crocheting.....

November Free Crochet Pattern - Quick & Easy Scarf

OK, OK.....I know you are all tired of scarves! I promise...this will be my last one! I'll make sure my next few FREE patterns are NOT scarves! LOL!! But I had to share this one with you because it is PERFECT for this time of year! And if you find the time, why not whip up a few for Dee's Challenge?

Again, please respect my copyright and you can download the PDF version HERE. Also, this has not been tested, so please let me know of any errors!

Quick & Easy Scarf

By Jennifer J. Cirka/Jaybird Designs
This great scarf works up quickly and is a great use for those leftover skeins of yarn!

Materials

Two skeins of yarn, worsted weight or thinner
N-15 / 10 mm crochet hook
Scissors

Finished Size
Customizable
Gauge
Not important

Pattern

Row 1: Working with 2 strands together and leaving a long tail (approximately 6-8”), ch 120. Finish off leaving another long tail.

Row 2: Starting with a slip knot on your hook and leaving a long tail, sc in the last ch made and each ch across. Finish off leaving another long tail. Turn.

Row 3: Starting with a slip knot on your hook and leaving a long tail, sc in the last sc made and each sc across. Finish off leaving another long tail. Turn.

Repeat row 3 for desired width. Trim yarn ends to desired length for fringe.


Copyright
Copyright 2008 by Jennifer J. Cirka (aka Jaybird Designs) all rights reserved. This pattern is for personal use or for gifts/charity only! Sales of this finished product are discouraged. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission from the author. Please feel free to link back to this pattern.

1. Red Heart Super Saver – Forest Green & Patons Kroy Sock Yarn –
Summer Moss Jacquard
2. I Love This Yarn – Baby Blue & Red Heart Baby – Pink
3. I Love This Yarn – Baby Blue & Pink

60 Scarves in 60 Days Challenge

It's that time again! Dee's annual 60 Scarves in 60 Days Challenge! I just finished my three for this year! This year she even has a Ravelry group to help promote it and to keep an updated count! Wanna make a guess as to the total so far?????

213!!!!

How amazing is that!?!?!?! What a great way to give back this holiday season! I encourage you all to participate!! Here is a picture of my three. Happy crocheting!

New Crochet Pattern! Million Dollar Cowl - Learn to Crochet

Are you ready for some new patterns? Even if you don't know how to crochet, you should check out this one!

Million Dollar Cowl Pattern - Learn to Crochet


I'll also have a new FREE pattern ready to go sometime this week! I've been really busy this weekend!! Now it looks like I need to go an make a Tooth Fairy Pillow for Heather!!! She has her first loose tooth!!!

Happy Crocheting!

Someone Love Me!!

Thanks to my new friend Jennifer over at Crafty Goodness, I am feeling the love!!!

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!!!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Rules of the Award:

1. Must display award.

2. Must link back to the person who gave it.

3. Choose 7 other bloggers to pass the bloggity love onto.

4. Let them know they have been chosen.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

And I love.....

1. Trevor

2. Cora

3. Shanon

4. Lisa

5. Beth

6. Sandy

7. Ellen

Have You Noticed?

The new little widget over there on the right? ----->

It's a link to Amazon and I am featuring all the books there that I currently have in my library! Just in case you were interested....

Under the weather

Just a short post today. I've been up with Heather since 1am with her taking many trips to the bathroom with stuff coming out "both ends". We have managed to get a little nap in, but other than that we've just been sitting around on the couch watching tv. I've also been crocheting baby hats for my favoite chairty group, lil'troopers and some for the new mom's at my MOPS group. Right now I am making a big pot of chili for hubby and myself for dinner and tonight I have my first BJ Baby Blanket class at Tangle.

Hope you all have a great day!

Happy Election Day!

Ok, I admit it. I HATE politics and have only voted in two elections....today's being the second! My wonderful husband and his love of talk radio has caused me to pay more attention to my civic duties, LOL!!

But I really didn't want to stand in line today, so I requested a mail-in ballot and dropped it off yesterday. Our local ballot was a record breaker at three pages long! So I got to take my time while filling it out at home. Now, my husbnd and I have made predictions on what will happen in the next few days. I think they are pretty funny, but I won't be commenting on them. Sorry!

Oh!! And McCain came to speak in my town of Grand Junction, Colorado today! How cool is that! He choose us to talk to on election day. Of course I didn't go, LOL!! Too many people and I didn't feel like sitting around for hours waiting....although I guess I could've taken a crochet project to work on!

So, I have no idea who is going to win...but I do know who I voted for! And I will definately be HAPPY when the commercials stop running and my phone stops ringing! So get out and vote! This one is sure to make history!

Happy November!

WHAT!!!???!!! NO! NO! NO!! It can't be November already!! I can't believe it! This month I have Thanksgiving (which BTW, is my favorite holiday because I love to eat! LOL!) and my husband's birthday! I'm not ready!

I've been spending today cleaning my house and doing laundry as I do just about every Monday. I am currently all caught up on my crochet projects and am actually playing around with my sewing machine! It's been a lot of fun! I made my nephew a pair of flannel pants for his birthday this week, made a fun gift for my bloggy contest winner, and am currently working on a little something for myself!!

Heather is doing great at school and is getting really good at reading! She is amazing me at how fast she is picking it up! And Ron is working hard as usual!

I'm "adjusted" to not having Nola around anymore and Cash is healing nicely from his "fixing" last week. He is such a lazy dog....except for our nightly walks! LOL!!

BTW, I was Grumpy Care Bear for Halloween!

I'm a little grumpy today....but hanging in there. I need to go eat some lunch! LOL!! Maybe that will give me the energy I need to mop the kitchen floor! Then all I will need to do is finish my laundry and go clean out the "mystery mess" that we found yesterday in the RV fridge!! EWWWWWWWWW!

Well, I hope you all have a GREAT day! Just a reminder to my local friends, this Wednesday starts my crochet class at Tangle for the BJ Baby Blanket! Hope to see you there!