Gratitude List #8

I can't think of a better way to mark the ending of this year.  In all honesty, it has been a crummy 2011, but at the same time, I have so much to be grateful for.

66. Celebrating a wonderful Christmas holiday with my family and friends.

67.  A good movie can be such a happy distraction.  I saw Girl with A Dragon Tattoo this week and it was excellent.  If you haven't seen Crazy, Stupid, Love rent it right now.  It just made me smile last night.  And Ryan Gosling is so adorable in it too.

68.  Taking time to relax this week.  I feel like I've caught up on sleep, organized a bit, made time for fun, and finished reading the Hunger Games series.  Oh Peeta, how I love you!  I read the last two books in a day for each of them.  So good!!

69.  Being blessed with an awesome group of knitting friends!  I heart you guys and couldn't have gotten through this year without you.  I started my IGK group on Ravelry this year and I'm so glad I did!  It is such a fun group :) and I especially love our knit-alongs!  Next up is a Cotty KAL, so come join us.  And Cotty is on sale for $4.50 from now until Jan. 8!  

70. I have four new designs that will be released in January and (sh!!!) no deadlines in the next month or so! I need a little time to breathe and create.  Plus I have a gorgeous design on my needles right now that I'm enjoying.  My first design will be released later tonight...I'm designing for the Sock knitters Anonymous Mystery KAL in January! The pattern will be released in 4 different clues! Come join us here.  I'm going to pretend that I am not nervous about releasing a mystery sock pattern, especially when there are already 122 projects for it on Ravelry! EEEK!



71. Finishing a pair of socks before the end of the year.  Lil' Snowboarder requested socks for Christmas (love that kid!) and she has been coveting this STR colorway all year.



She was so excited to receive one on Christmas, I know she'll be thrilled to now have a pair!

72. I hope to celebrate the new year tomorrow by finishing another pair of socks.  Pa will be so happy to finally have a new pair of socks.  Well, not as happy as if I just mended his old ones, but I'll be happy knowing a new pair of socks are done.

73. Although I'm not yet 100%, the past two weeks I have felt the healthiest I've been in the past four months.  That is a lot to be grateful for.

74.  The music of the Nutcracker.  I've fallen asleep to it probably every night since we saw it last week.  Such a happy memory!

75. 2011 is done in less than 6 hours.....woohooo!  I am grateful to have survived this year.

Wishing you and yours a very happy and healthy new year!!!

xoxo Irishgirlieknit

P.S.  I'm also offering a new year's sale in my Ravelry Shop.  Just use the coupon code happynewyear between now and Jan. 8, and you'll receive 20% off any of my individual IGK patterns here.

Merry Memories!

It has been such a wonderful week of happy holiday celebrating, that it is almost easiest to share with pictures.























I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a happy holidays!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

{this moment}

{this moment} A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, visit SouleMama leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

I can't believe how big these two are getting! And how much they love spending time together!  This is what the holidays are all about :)

Happy Christmas!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Twas the week before Christmas....

...and all through the house, there was hustle and bustle, and no time for blogging or clicking a mouse.

Or time to continue pretending I can rhyme..haha.  You know things are busy when IrishDad comments that I haven't blogged in a week.  Oh, how I wish it was because I've been secretly knitting and don't want to show you.  There has been some secret knitting, but not much.

I did finish mom's Comfort Food gloves.



I knit the second one up in just a day, so technically, if you've got the yarn and need a last minute gift, get going :)  I knit these up in Blue Moon's Gaea....just lovely!



Cheekyattitude snapped this picture in between taking pictures for two new designs I have coming out!  So excited to show you these soon!

A very special Christmas gift arrived last week that I've been waiting to show you!  Meet my very own Santa Host, made by Erica's awesome mom, Candy (seriously, no wonder Erica is crafty with a mom like this!)!



I just love him!  And he sits atop a wine bottle, so he'd make a perfect hostess gift!



The details make him such a special, unique Santa....from his charming hat, to perfect beard, to his lovely basket....



I was misty-eyed when I saw how Candy captured my Summer Wind pattern and then included yarn and a project on the needles, using Kollage Yarns Glisten!  Candy has knit quite a few of my designs and I'm so touched that she took the time to make this special Santa for me and surprise me with him!  Thank you Candy!! He will definitely watch over my stash throughout the year!  (and Erica, get going on planning our knitting adventure in Michigan so I can give your mom a big hug!!)

I'm officially on vacation until the new year and the past few days have included appointments, last minute shopping, cookie consuming (note the lack of pictures?!), attempts at secret holiday knititng, and making a few very special holiday memories with Lil' Snowboarder and Lil' Guy.  I'll be back with more details but until then...



A very happy princess after the Nutcracker performance in San Francisco Tuesday evening....we were one of the last ones in the building because someone had such a hard time picking out her very first nutcracker :)

Happy Holidays!!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

{this moment}

{this moment} A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, visit SouleMama leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Happy Friday!  Don't forget you have until midnight tonight for the last Blogiversary Special! 

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Blogiversary Special #5

I don't want to jinx it, but the busy busy part of my job is just about behind me!!!  Yay!!  All my reports are done for the year, one more IEP, and now just for some fun holiday "meetings"!  I even made fudge tonight for our holiday staff meeting tomorrow.  Let the holiday baking begin!

First, let's announce the winner of the Blogiversary Prize!

Congrats to Peppermint Mocha Mama!!!  I'll be sending you a package of yarny goodness just in time for Christmas!  And I can't wait to try your apple crumble recipe.

I also picked a few other winners to pick a free IGK pattern from my Ravelry shop!  They are...

EliArendt
CelticCastOn (ok, beware of the adorable sweater and the beyond cute kiddo when you click that link!)
Janmarie

I'll message you all tomorrow, but if you see this before I do, feel free to let me know which pattern you'd like.  You can message me on ravelry (irishgirlieknits) or email me irishgirlieknits AT gmail DOT com

Thank you all again for participating!  I loved reading everyone's holiday traditions.  If you haven't read through the comments, I suggest you do.  It'll make you smile.  Well, and you may want to try FowlervillesDeb's Homemade Bailey's Irish Cream.  Seriously, that is on my to-do list.

A few of my favorite holdiay traditions...

Watching Christmas movies.....my sister texted me late one night a week or two ago telling me Meet Me in St. Louis was on and I immediately began watching it.  Didn't matter that I own the DVD.  Other favorites include Love Actually, Christmas in Connecticut, the Ally McBeal Christmas episodes with Robert Downey Jr...... I could go on and on.


Holiday knitting.  Even if it is just a gift or two, there is something about the deadline, late night holiday knitting that I do love.  Especially next week when I'll have a few days off...knit knit knit.  Everyone wants socks this year.  Well, technically, Irish Dad wants his socks mended.  ugh.

Holiday baking.  I love it!  I used to go all out, but I've scaled back a bit lately (that should read I'm too tempted to eat the treats!).  That fudge in the fridge from earlier tonight will be delish tomorrow!!  I'll definitely be making Mimi's Sugar cookies this year.  Ok, re-reading that post just made me teary.  It'll be our first Christmas without Mimi.  And that is why I love traditions....memories...

My mom, sister, and I started what I hope will be a tradition, doing something special to get us in the holiday spirit.  Last weekend we spent the day in the city shopping, looking at the holiday decorations, just having a nice day together.  I love the city around the holidays.




Now for our last Blogiversary special!!  Only fitting to offer Winter Wonder for a special 50% off sale price of $3 from now until the end of Dec. 16 (11:59pm PST)! 



And since this is our last special, and tomorrow (Friday) is my mom's birthday, I'm also offering Maryanne for the same special 50% off sale price of $3 from now until the end of Dec. 16 (11:59pm PST)! 



Feel free to wish my mom Happy Birthday in the comments too!  I know I have at least one glove knit for her.  Better than last year, I guess!

Oh, and today is Bailey's birthday!  She's 7.  This is one of my favorite pictures of her from last year.



Okay, it is late late late.  Must to bed.  I'll be back a bit more though this weekend.  I have the best Christmas decoration ever to share with you.  A new holiday tradition for me :)

Happy Holidays!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Blogiversary Special #3 & #4

Happy Friday!  Busy busy week, but now it is countdown to holiday vacation time!!  And another weekend filled with holiday fun....work party tonight, shopping downtown tomorrow with the family, and maybe getting some holiday baking done :)  Must not forget the knitting too....



Today's treat :)  Yummy!

To continue with the blogiversary fun, here's specials #3 and #4.

Tonight until the end of Saturday (11:59pm PST), Dancette is on sale for 50% off!  $3.00 for a gorgeous shawl that you still have time to knit before Christmas if you want.  No coupon needed! 



Blogiversary special #4.... a yarny contest!!!  One special winner will be receiving a few skeins of gorgeous yarn and an IGK tote bag!  Just leave a comment sharing one of your favorite holiday traditions...whether it be an activity, recipe, favorite song to decorate the tree to....  Please leave a way to contact you if you win (e.g., ravelry name, email).  Plus a few others will win an IGK pattern too!

Off to get ready for the holiday party!!  Happy Friday!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Blogiversary Special #2

What a whirlwind of a weekend.  I forgot how quickly December weekends seem to fly by.  This one was no exception.  Just a few highlights....




Holiday decorating has begun.



Two patterns with looming deadlines were sent off.

One Mystery Sock KAL design has made some serious progress!  So excited, but alas, can't show you any pictures since it is..a mystery.  But I am using a gorgeous skein of Plucky Knitter Primo!  So dreamy.  I just love this yarn!  Now to write up the pattern and get it to my test knitters (sorry guys! It is coming!).

Did I tell you guys I'm taking more graduate-level courses for a specific certification for work?  It has been on the to-do list for quite awhile and it started in October.  I'm taking an accelerated course that started in October and I've been managing ok until Thanksgiving weekend.  Fortunately I can at least knit during my 5 hours a week of video lectures and my 1 hour a week class (I love this online class thing!).  But this past week, it has definitely been cramping my style.  Just another year of this....woo-hoo...  Anyways, this week's test has been taken (yes, there is a test every week), so check that off the list.

Lots of college football was watched and the 49ers are the NFC West Champs!

My list of all the things I had planned to accomplish though is just as long. Oh well.

So let's start our week off right with Blogiversary Special #2...

Comfort Food, another quick knit project for those holiday gifts, is 50% off (just $3.00) on Monday only (well, starting now until Monday Dec. 5 at 11:59pm PST)! 





Knit in aran weight yarn, this will knit up quickly!

Did your weekend fly by?  What do you have planned for the week ahead?  And dare I ask about that holiday knitting?  I won't, if you won't.

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

{this moment}

{this moment} A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, visit SouleMama leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Happy Friday!!

Just a few more hours left for the Snowboarder Deal of the Day!

Check back sometime this weekend for a contest and the next deal (hint hint...the pattern is a comforting knit!  And quick holiday gift too!).

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

5 years!

Kind of crazy that I've been blogging now for 5 years!  Who could have thought that it would have led to an amazing group of friends and a budding designing career!  I know I couldn't have.

So for the next week or so, we're going to do 5 fun things.  I haven't thought of all of them yet, but I'm pretty sure you guys will enjoy them.

First up, the newly reformatted Freestyle Snowboarder Hat. 



My first pattern that I offered for sale is now shiny and pretty, and definitely written a bit clearer!  Just in time for winter!



It was perfect timing that Jill was able to reformat this.  Thank you Jill!  Speaking of Jill, aka Knitterella, did you guys see that the Yarn Harlot gave a huge shout out today about Jill's knitting gift tags?  They were featured as one of the gifts for knitters.

Okay.  Back to the pattern.  I love the striped version of this. Look how little Lil' guy looks!



I still love how the decreases work too.



When I was reformatting the pattern, I knit another one for Lil' Guy in Kollage Yarns Fantastic (seriously, that yarn is fantastic!).







I think I may knit a few of these for gifts. Well, that is once I start my holiday knitting.  It is only Dec. 1, right? I love the striped version and have quite a few leftovers around here that will work!

Back to the blogiversary fun....


From now until the end of Friday, Dec. 2 (11:59pm PST), The Freestyle Snowboarder Hat will be offered for $3.00!  One day to score a deal on an easy holiday gift knit.   


I'll probably offer another pattern or two for a special, one-day 50% off price....any you'd like to see featured, let me know.  Plus, we'll do some contests!

A blogiversary week of fun!  Thank you guys! I wouldn't be here without you.

30 Days!

Woohooo!  30 days of blogging for the month of November!  I'm pretty proud of myself and all of you who participated too.  What did you think?  Too many doggy pictures?  I definitely couldn't blog on a daily basis, but it did help me think a bit more creatively about posting.  November was a month with obstacles that would normally prevent me from blogging (e.g., I was sick a lot, had secret knitting projects, busy holiday weekends), so it was interesting to see that I actually was able to come up with things to blog about.

In knitting news....

Tonight I finished one of the secret knitting projects and sent that off.  Yay!  That always feels good.  It had a picot on it, if you recall (sidenote for my bestest friend in the whole wide world...the picot is the bumpy little things on the top of the sock).

I'm finishing up a new sock design for Kollage Yarns, using that pretty skein of Sock-a-licious.  No matter what patterns or designs call to me (e.g., I'm dying to cast on a new shawlette design), when I'm knitting socks, everything seems right.  I shall forever be a sock knitter. 

I need to bust a move on my mystery sock design for the Sock Knitters Anonymous Mystery Sock KAL in January.  My test knitters are ready.  I am not.  But I shall conquer that this weekend.

Did you see this?  I'm so excited to be a part of Twisted's Shawlette Club (that's me designing in Jan. 2013)!!  Look at that list of indie dyers and designers.  I've gone back and forth about stopping all clubs for next year because I just can't keep up, but this club seriously makes me want to sign-up. For March's shipment alone with Tina's yarns and Debbi's awesome designs!

I'm going to TNNA in January!  I will finally, finally get to hang out with Zonda!!! 

I still haven't started Christmas knitting and Mom's birthday gift is still just one glove.  How about you?

My blogiversary is this week too!!  I'm thinking of doing something fun....check back!

Until then...dogggies!



Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

The View from my Lap

Long day, but a good night....




Doggy, sock knitting, hot tea, and a warm fire. Oh, and rewatching Game of Thrones.

Winter is coming.

Stay warm!
Xoxo irishgirlieknits

IGK Cyber Monday

Back to work.  Back to eating healthy after all that stuffing.  But, to take the edge off just a bit, we're celebrating Cyber Monday the IGK way!

Today is the last day to receive 25% off any of my IGK individual patterns from my ravelry shop.  No coupon necessary!

My recommendations for perfect last minute holiday gifts are...

Summer Wind



It has been such a popular pattern (look #68 in popular Cowls on Ravelry!) and I think almost anyone on your holiday gift list would enjoy one.  Plus, you probably already have a gorgeous skein of sock yarn in your stash that you've been wanting to knit and it'll be perfect for this.  I love the way Sheri shows the many ways to wear this too.

Fine Fella



Perfect for the guy or gal on your list and will knit up quickly too!  I'm still hoping to have time to knit another one of these.


And to sweeten the deal today, I have overstock of my Irishgirlieknits tote bags and thought I'd share a deal with you guys.  For just $10, plus $2 for US shipping, you can have one!  They make great project bags!  These 100% cotton tote bags feature the Irish Girlie Knits Designs logo on them and measure 14 x 14 x 3.



If you are interested, email me at irishgirlieknits AT gmail DOT com with your paypal info and I'll send you an invoice.

Any other cyber monday specials that you are taking advantage of today?  Favorite etsy shops to share?  I have just a few gifts left to purchase!

Happy Monday!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

p.s. I still can't believe I've blogged every day so far in November! Crazy! Thanks for bearing with a few quick picture posts this past week with the busy holiday week :)  It has been awesome catching up with those of you blogging every day too!  And if you didn't participate in NaBloPoMo, go ahead and blog just once this week.  Baby steps!