Beginning a Podcast

I started my podcast a few weeks ago and I have discovered a few things. First, I began recording with my iPad and I loved the quality it produced. The thing that I found frustrating was that it filled up fast and I could not see myself or a light while I was recording. This led to many frustrating nights. In addition, the sound was okay, but I felt it could be better. After spending a few weeks recording this way, I talked it over with my hubby. We brainstormed using my MacBook Air to record the video because it offered me a few options. I could see when the video was recording and I could use an external microphone for the audio. The downside is that I gave up the HD recording. I recorded my podcast this week with the new equipment. I absolutely love the sound quality, but I'm still up in the air on the video. I will continue to work on solutions, and I welcome any suggestions that you may have. In the meantime, I have included this week's show notes here. Thank you for checking in and watching my podcast.

Episode 3 Show Notes:

Thank you for joining me for another episode of my podcast. Tune in to see the projects and topics I discuss this week. In addition, if you follow me on my Instagram or Facebook account you will have little peeks into what is going on.

Ravelry: Everything Jenni group

Instagram: everything_jenni

Facebook: Everything Jenni Page


Etsy Shop: Everything Jenni


Website: www.everythingjenni.com

Getting Podcast Ready

1. Start with what you have
2. Invest in sound equipment
3. I started with my iPad and now I’m using my MacBook Air.
4. I’m using the Samson Go Mic for sound.

Works In Progress (WIPs)

• Coziest Memories Blanket (Junkyarn)
• UPDATE: ordered yarn from Praefatio Yarn on Etsy (set of 6 mini skeins in spring colors)
• Are any of you working on this project? If so, please share on Everything Jenni Ravelry group page for the WIPs thread. Tell us if you are you using the same weight of yarn or the same pattern? What size needles are you using? How many squares have you decided to do? We love to see what you are working on.

• PurlSmith: Stitch Markers (Sterling Silver and Freshwater Pearls)

• Whispering Pines Shawl
• Notes: Making slow progress, but it’s looking great! 

• Hiker Socks
• Notes: I’m making the men’s size medium, so I cast on 60 stitches. I finished the first sock and am getting ready to cast on the second sock. These will be really warm and snuggly.

• Cruiser Mittens
• Yarn: Madelinetosh Vintage
• Colorway: Tannenbaum
• Needles: US 6  or 4.00mm
• Cruiser (Cailyn Meyer of dailyskein.wordpress.com)
• Notes: I just cast on this morning for the first mitten. I love the colorway.

Sewing Projects

Medium size project bags and DPN Holder Project Cases available in my Etsy Shop now

**UPDATE: I have a Valentine bag and an Earth Day bag in the shop now.**

Finished Objects (FOs)

• Miscarriage Blanket
• Yarn: Bernat Softee Baby
• Size G Hook
• Shell Pattern
• Notes:  About the size of a washcloth, super soft

Patterns I Would Like to Try

I’m still looking for some shawl patterns using 400 yards or less of fingering/sock weight yarn.

Love Notes Postcard Project #lovenotesjb

www.jenniferbelthoff.com

Thank you for stopping by. I would love to hear what you are up to this month. I hope you join me for my next podcast.

Hugs,

Jenni

Busy Week: Episode Two Podcast

I have created my second podcast! I want to thank all of those people who subscribed this week. I love receiving an email that says I have a new subscriber. It brings a smile to my face. This week I was overwhelmed with projects that did not involve yarn. I spent a great deal of time prepping and teaching a GATE workshop (Painting With Picasso) to third through eighth graders. It was a lot of fun seeing the students create superhero paintings in the cubist style of Picasso. When I wasn't working on the workshop I was busy sewing and creating medium sized project bags and DPN holder project cases. I was able to get some of these posted for sale in my Etsy shop last Friday. Here is a sample:

I would love for you to grab a cup of coffee (or any beverage) and join me for my latest podcast.

As promised, I'm including my show notes here.

Episode Two: 1/25/16 Show Notes

Ravelry: Everything Jenni group
Instagram: everything_jenni
Facebook: Everything Jenni Page
Etsy Shop: Everything Jenni
Website: www.everythingjenni.com

Works In Progress (WIPs)

Coziest Memories Blanket (Junkyarn)

• UPDATE: ordered yarn from XrayAnn on Etsy (set of 8 hand-dyed mini skeins in the autumn sampler color way)
• Are any of you working on this project? If so, please share on Everything Jenni Ravelry group page for the WIPs thread. Tell us if you are you using the same weight of yarn or the same pattern? What size needles are you using? How many squares have you decided to do? We love to see what you are working on.

Whispering Pines Shawl

• Yarn: Manos del Uruguay Alegria
• Colorway: Antigua
• Needles: US 6  or 4.00mm
• Pattern: Whispering Pines (Molly Klatt of A Homespun House)
• Notes: I just started, but using this yarn I can see that I will not see the snowflakes well, but the pine cones and trees will be awesome.

Hiker Socks

• Notes: I’m making the men’s size medium, so I cast on 60 stitches. I’m still working on these, but did not make much progress this week.

Sewing Projects

• Medium size project bags and DPN Holder Project Cases available in my Etsy shop now
• UPDATE: I have been busy stitching away on my sewing projects. I hope to have Valentine project bags available by the end of the week. I’m also in the development stages of a few surprise projects.

Finished Objects (FOs)

Christmas Eve Socks (Little Bobbins Knits)

• Yarn: Madelinetosh Sock
• Colorway: Clematis
• Needles: Karbonz Circular – Size 1
• Pattern: Vanilla Latte Socks by Virginia Rose-Jeanes
• Notes: I used the “eye of partridge” heel flap and the rounded wedge toe.

Casting On This Week

Rustling Leaves Beret from Coastal Knits

• Yarn: Woolfolk Tynd
• Colorway: Color No. 3
• Needles: Size 2 and 3 circular 16"
• Pattern: Rustling Leaves Beret (book: Coastal Knits)

New Yarn Purchases

• Yarn/Colorway:  The Lemonade Shop in Harvest Moon
• Yarn/Colorway:  Paca Peds in Mermaids go Walking

Patterns I Would Like to Try

• Pattern/Designer: Cruiser/Cailyn Meyer (dailyskein.wordpress.com)

Art

• Artwork Behind Me
• Artist: Christopher Burgan
• Title: Hanging Onto Time
• Medium: Oil Paint on canvas
• Subject: Early 1900’s era everyday tasks by everyday people
• Website: http://www.chrisburgan.com (artwork coming soon)

Love Notes Postcard Project #lovenotesjb

• www.jenniferbelthoff.com

Recipe

• Recipe:  Loaded Chicken and Potatoes from Tip Hero on FB
• Notes:  Recipe calls for hot sauce, but I used my own seasoning mixture and a white gravy. I omitted the bacon.

Thank you for stopping by. I hope you join me for my next podcast.

Hugs,

Jenni

Love Notes Postcard Project

I have been so inspired lately to create new art pieces. Generally, I am spending at least part of my day wrapped up in music and painting. I couldn't be happier.

Although I don't need to add anything to my plate, I have done just that. A dear woman across the continent, Jennifer Belthoff, hosts a "Love Notes Postcard Project" every few months. It is this amazing postcard swap where you are paired up with a partner anywhere in the world. The idea is that you are given a prompt each week. You send your partner a postcard with your response to the prompt. I have participated twice before with less than stellar results. However, this time around I have been moved to create original postcards to send to my "love note partner." I think there is something completely moving about sharing your personal thoughts, and in my case my art, with a complete stranger. It has been downright invigorating for me. Let me share my process with you.

Here is how I create a postcard for this beautiful person:

• On Sunday, I receive my prompt. I begin thinking about what it is that I want to say in my writing.
• By Monday, I begin sketching ideas of how I can express my words through imagery.
• On Tuesday, I begin painting my words, and this process usually takes a few days to allow for drying times.
• Either Thursday or Friday, depending on the drying process, I add my writing to the back of my postcard and send it off to my partner.
• Then I spend my weekend waiting in anticipation for my partner to post that she has received my postcard. It is incredibly difficult to create an original piece of art and then just send it through the mail with no special packaging to protect it. You are never sure how it will arrive. Will it be as beautiful as you remember? Will the post office have stamped over your image? There are so many variables involved that you can't possible worry about them. You slide the postcard into that mail slot and pray that the recipient receives it just as you intended.
• By the end of the project, it is my hope to have gained a new friend. I think this time I have been lucky enough to be blessed with a truly beautiful person who shares her own thoughts with me as well.

This week I encourage you to pick up a postcard that speaks to you and send it to an unsuspecting person in your life. I guarantee that the surprise will bring a smile to their face and possibly start a trend of sending happy thoughts to those you care about. Be sure to let me know if you decide to take on this challenge and bring unexpected smiles to beautiful people in your life.

Hugs,
Jenni