Author: spaleksic

Twelve days of Christmas – Day Seven

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I started running in January 2019. I’ve been at it for almost a year and have completed 2-5K races, 2-10K races and 1-1/2 marathon. I’ve run 570 kilometres this year and counting. I might try and slide in one more 5K race before the year is over.

Today I am crafting for myself because it’s cold outside. I ran this weekend wearing a toque but got too warm so I knit myself a headband to see if I can keep my ears warm but my head cool.

Materials:

  • Bulky yarn – Loops and Treads Cozy Wool
  • 9 mm US 13 – circular 16″ needles
  • 1 place marker

Pattern:

  • ROW1: CO44
  • ROW 2: Join place marker and K1,P1 to end
  • ROW 3: K1,P1 to end
  • ROW 4: Knit all stitches
  • ROW 5: P1,K1 to end
  • ROW 6: P1,K1 to end
  • ROW 7: Knit all stitches
  • ROW 8: K1,P1 to end
  • ROW 9: K1,P1 to end
  • ROW 10: Knit all stitches
  • ROW 11: P1,K1 to end
  • ROW 12: P1,K1 to end
  • ROW 13: Knit all stitches
  • ROW 14: K1,P1 to end
  • ROW 15: K1,P1 to end
  • ROW 17: Bind off and weave in ends

Twelve days of Christmas – Day Six

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For the last few years we have done one family ceramic Christmas craft. Each year gets a little less chaotic as the kids get a little more independent working with clay.

This year we made gingerbread ornaments which were a piece of cake after making mugs and Christmas trees.

They are a little heavy to hang on a live Christmas tree. I might have to wire them on 😉.

Twelve days of Christmas – Day Five

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I saw this idea when I was shopping last Christmas. I took a picture with every intention of making them last year. Here we are a year later and I can finally delete the photo reminder.

These are made from a tree branch from our yard. My husband cut these up into disks years ago after drying the branch for months. My son and I drew snowflakes on the wood discs and I drilled many, many holes. We sewed the snowflakes with red twine (from the dollar store) using a large needle. Then screwed hooks and added twine to hang them on the tree.

Twelve days of Christmas – Day Four

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I make my kids at least one ornament each year with the goal of creating a tree full of decorations by the time they have their own trees. This year I made them knit stars. If you want to make your own the pattern is here.

Twelve days of Christmas – Day Three

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I’m taking a tiny break from knitting projects to show you an outside Christmas decor idea. These currently line my front porch stairs.

I assembled these from cedar boughs, tree branches, plastic ornaments, wood plant stakes and metal pails. The cedar boughs and tree branches came from my yard and the rest of the items are from the dollar store.

Twelve days of Christmas – Day Two

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I participate in a yarn sharing event called Fibre Share. I have done it a few times this year. The theme this round is Christmas ornaments so in addition to sending yarn and other goodies to your partner/stranger there is the expectation to send a Christmas ornament. Keeping in the fibre share theme I knit her an ornament.

Materials:

  • sock yarn- super fine #1
  • 2.75 mm double points
  • 7cm Styrofoam ball
  • ribbon – optional

Pattern:

  • ROW1: CO8 (on three double points, 3,3,2. Three needles are easier to manage than 4 in the beginning.
  • ROW 2: Join and K8
  • ROW 3: Increase to 16 by KFB8 (knitting front and back of every stitch)
  • ROW 4: Knit one round and divide stitches evenly to 4 needles (4 per needle)
  • ROW 5: K1, KFB2, K1* repeat to end of round
  • ROW 6: Knit one round
  • ROW 7: K1, KFB1, Knit to second to last stitch on needle, KFB1, K1* repeat to end of round
  • ROW 8: Knit one round
  • ROW9-16 – repeat ROW7-8
  • ROW17-28 – Knit all rounds (12 total)
  • ROW 29 – K1, K2TOG, K10, K2TOG, K1* repeat to end of round
  • ROW 30 – Knit one round
  • ROW 31 – K1, K2TOG, K8, K2TOG, K1* repeat to end of round
  • ROW 32 – Knit one round
  • TEST THE BALL to make sure that you can get it in, if it’s a tight fit, knit the following rounds with the ball in place. It’s easier to knit without the ball, so test after every even row until you have to force it in. Then knit the remaining rounds.
  • ROW 33 – K1, K2TOG, K6, K2TOG, K1* repeat to end of round
  • ROW 34 – Knit one round
  • ROW 35 – K1, K2TOG, K4, K2TOG, K1* repeat to end of round
  • ROW 36 – Knit one round
  • ROW 37 – K1, K2TOG, K2, K2TOG, K1* repeat to end of round
  • ROW 38 – Knit one round
  • ROW 39 – K1, K2TOG, K2TOG, K1* repeat to end of round
  • ROW 40 – Knit one round
  • ROW 41 – K2TOG, K2TOG* repeat to end of round
  • Cut yarn leaving a long enough tail to close with a needle and or create a braided hanger with other yarn. Or you can tread in a ribbon.

This pattern is intended for personal use only. I offer this pattern for free but I request that you do not sell it or any product made from it.

Twelve Days of Christmas – Day One

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It’s that holly jolly time of year again and you better believe I’ve been crafting up a storm again this year. I’ve been at this blog for many years and there are bound to be a few ideas that are similar if not identical because I’m becoming a bit of a creature of habit as I level up each year.

Day one brings a pile of knit hats. I have made 4 so far this season from this pattern called Tin Star by designer Kelly Vu. Yarn is Loops & Treads Cozy Wool.

4th Crainiversary

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August 7th was the fourth anniversary of my brain surgery to remove a meningioma tumour. To honour the occasion I try and do something that I couldn’t do 4 years ago.

It’s not really that challenging because the day of surgery I couldn’t do anything. Keeping my eyes open was a challenge. In the days leading up to surgery I wasn’t living as active a life as I would have liked. If my blood started pumping my tumour started to hurt.

I am happy to say 4 years later I celebrated by running 15 kilometres. I’ve been training for a half marathon and today’s run was set to be a 2 hour run. My quads are killing in the best possible way and I will be sore tomorrow but I don’t care.

As I ran I thought about my hospital stay and 3 days post surgery I was just walking again for the first time. I remember holding the IV pole in one hand and my husbands arm with the other. He was holding me and my catheter bag, so incredibly romantic. I was wearing sunglasses in the hospital because I was super sensitive to light. The sunglasses left a huge dent in my freshly stapled head but I didn’t even feel it because I had an endless supply of drugs.

It’s amazing to think of those days in the hospital and the life I am able to lead post tumour. With almost no side effects I am a pretty lucky duck.

Running for Research

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On March 18th 2015, I was diagnosed with a brain tumour and it was life changing. I believe that no one should hear the words “you have a brain tumour”, but it will continue to happen. Which is why it is so important for me to support organizations like the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada that help those of us unfortunate enough to have heard those words.

As a brain tumour survivor I feel that it’s my duty to raise money for those that never got the chance. Brain tumours and brain cancer are nasty beasts so please join me in supporting this cause near and dear to my brain. I will be running the 5K on May 26th and I will gladly accept your donations on behalf of the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada.

This is why I’m fundraising for Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada. Patients and families need information, support and education. We also need more research. There are too few treatments for this disease and survival needs to be improved.

Every dollar raised by the Brain Tumour Walk goes towards these goals.

Thank you for giving and, more importantly, for helping the 27 Canadians diagnosed daily with a brain tumour. You’re changing lives.

For those of you that have already sponsored me, thank you!

On May 26th my family will be running to raise money for the Brain Tumour Foundation to donate please follow this link. THANK YOU!!

On the Eleventh day of Christmas

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On the Eleventh day of Christmas my true love made for me…

Baked Brie

This is a very easy appetizer. It only requires three ingredients, Brie, a package of crescent rolls and jam.

  • Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper
  • Unroll 4 crescent rolls keeping them together and put them on the cookie sheet
  • Place the Brie in the center of the crescent rolls, and put a few tablespoons of jam on top of the Brie
  • Wrap the crescent rolls around the Brie, cover and wrap with the rest of the crescent rolls
  • Bake

Keep crafting & eating 😉

Sarah