Some finished projects

I made this necklace using the pattern in the newest issue of Creative Crochet magazine. 26 gauge wire and various glass beads. I donated this as a raffle prize for the Stitches from the Heart sale this weekend benefitting Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Research.

Baby blanket made from Bernat's Baby Coordinates in Pale Yellow. Unfortunately, I cannot find the pattern book so I can't tell you where it came from but it makes the most interesting pattern. Lots of braided loops and spirals.


Close-up of loops and spirals.

Poncho

Found this picture of Sarah wearing a red poncho I made for her. Specifically for school because they wear uniforms and can only wear certain colors (red, white and navy blue) This uniform thing can seriously dampen the creativity but I like that they wear uniforms...
Anyway, this pic is a year old but she still wears it. Made from Lion Brand Homespun (Color Caribbean - discontinued). Pattern from Sally Melville's book "The Knit Stitch".

Also, took Paige for her first real haircut

Before (Ragamuffin extraordinaire)



After (So neat and tidy)

Too cute for a title

In my mailbox yesterday was the always impressive Sundance Catalog.

These jumped out at me

Acres of Books

My digital camera died on Halloween night (appropriate, huh?) and should now go to digital camera heaven. I am so bummed because I did not get any good kidling costume pictures.

I have been making baby hats for Stitches because they are such a good stress relief. Crocheted and knitted. There are lots of good patterns at Crochet Pattern Central and Knitting Pattern Central.

Yesterday, John and I took Paige to Acres of Books, (an old used book store in downtown Long Beach) It really is Acres of Books, to the point where you feel really claustrophobic and hope there is not an earthquake (which is always a good possibility when you are in an inappropriate place in California). It's this old warehouse filled sky-high with old books and divided into sections. I headed to the craft section and children's books. Some of the book were so old, they were falling apart. We could have spent hours there but something about the close quarters and the dust smell made Paige crazy! She ran up and down the aisles yelling very loud. She enjoyed looking at some of the kid books but she totally disorganized that section by taking books and putting them in other random sections. I have no idea how one would find anything in that store anyway, but Paige made it much harder for the next person to find what they were looking for. I don't recommend taking a 2 year old toddler to an antique book store. Unless of course, you bring some Halloween candy in your purse.. and bribe her out of the store with it.

Best part of going to downtown if you are 2 going on 3:

Seeing trains (the Blue Line) and blimps (used car lot advertising) and ambulances (local hospital) all on the same road.

Baby present

I finished a present for my cousin's baby boy that was born a few months back. Sweater is made from Caron Simply Soft. I handstamped the doggy prints on the bodysuit. Hope she likes it!

Paige and I are battling the nastiest of head colds. This time of year always sneaks up on me and reminds me that we are vulnerable to germs... no matter how much we wash our hands. UGH!!

Knit in the City

What a fun day yesterday!! My mom drove us to Pasadena for the Knit for the Cure event. We volunteered to help out at the Stitches from the Heart booth. It was near Old Pasadena which had some amazing antique architecture.




The city park where the festival happened also had a small amphitheatre where there was live music and a fashion show.


Best part, I got to meet some of my favorite blog authors and yarn people,


Wendy from Knit and Tonic


Regina from Monster Crochet


And the talented Barry Klein of Trendsetter Yarns



Here's me and Vickie Howell of the DIY TV show Knitty Gritty.


Sandra Carter, fiber artist, was there making a cool HUGE pink scarf for the competition. She is knitting with homemade PVP pipe knitting needles!


Here's my scarf being judged (I did not win, but the scarves will be sold for the Susan G. Komen Foundation) The winner (Jan from the Yarn Lady) made this gorgeous rose colored felted spiral scarf with felted flowers that were handbeaded. You can also see my mom's scarf in this picture. It's the white scarf with large pink flowers on it.

Friday fun

Before I head out today, I wanted to share pics.

Scarf I made for today's Knit for the Cure in Pasadena. They are collecting the scarves and selling them to raise money for breast cancer research. There will also be a friendly scarf competition.

Scarf made from three different yarns (one fuzzy soft fleece type, one ribbon yarn and one worsted weight. Very simple garter stitch with single row stripes. The best part of this pattern is that when you finish one row, the next color is on the right side for you to pick up and keep knitting. The yarn will run along the side easily, just try not to get it twisted up.

Just for fun...



Paige and Maddie in a tunnel. What would we do without playgrounds????

FYI - My stitches (from my surgery, not knitting) finally came out this week and I am feeling oh so better!! Almost 100 %

Postcrossing

One of the most interesting parts of the internet is the ability to encourage the penpal in all of us. Here is my latest card from Jenny in Finland:



Thank you Jenny! Yeah Postcrossing!

Square One

First freeform crochet and knit 7 inch square for a swap with my bud, Mara at AllArtTrade.

Some knitting??

Can you believe it? A knitting blog with some knitting on it!

I am feeling a lot better as of yesterday. In addition to all my medications/painkillers, my mom suggested adding iron to help my dizziness thinking that maybe I was anemic. It took 2 days but has made a heck of a difference. I think the previous 2 weeks might have been the longest of my life. My youngest is definitely so out of sorts that it is going to take me weeks to get her back with the program (Using the potty, having some manners, not giving everyone evil looks and shrieks, etc). At least she's young enough that hopefully she won't remember any of this..

I started a sweater for Paige now that the weather is cooling off the tiniest bit. It is a light weight baby yarn I have had in my stash for at least (uuum I'm embarassed to say) 6 years...

Crocheting requires me to lift my arms too much and since the doc said that was a no-no, that's out for a while. Knitting can be done with the smallest amount of arm/shoulder/chest movement. Feeling very grateful that I can do both..

Paper Flowers

The kidlings and I had fun making these flowers for my mom to take with her when she volunteers at a local nursing home. Since Paige is going along for the visit so I can recuperate, I thought it would be fun for Paige to have something to pass out. Instructions for the flowers can be found here.

Squares for Survivors

Just wanted to make sure everyone knows about this great lady and what she is doing...

Squares for Survivors

I have sent some squares and you can too!

Out of commission

Just wanted to let everyone know I will be having surgery tomorrow. It is not too major but I will be out of commission for about 2 weeks. I will probably not be able to respond to email or posts but hope to be back crocheting and knitting and painting just as quickly as I can...

Honored

I was thrilled to find out one of my Artist Trading Cards was picked to be displayed on the homepage of one of my favorite groups. You can see it at:

All Art Trade

Dakota as art

Wanted to share my latest cards for a swap.

I love my dog.

Purple purse

I wanted some instant gratification so I crocheted this cute little purse from Marvelous Mini tote by Deneen then I felted it. I used 100% Peruvian Highland Wool from elann. I added a little texture thread in there but you can barely see it. The hook shown in both pictures is a size K.

Before

After


Hi to all my new friends from the crochet blog webring!

something random

From my front yard garden. Now that Scary the rat is gone, I have a new terror, I mean, um, friend. Meet my friend Hoppy.

Down under

Received these exquisite ATC's from Llewena Newell in Australia. Her postage stamp even had a koala on it and Sarah and I ooh and aahed over it as well. Thank you so much for the trade, Llewena!

Last day of summer.. for us..

Even though I hate it when ANY picture is taken of me, I feel I'm taking a huge step in my self-confidence by actually posting a picture of me with my family. It's part of an inner strength, come to grips with your weight demons, therapy kind of thing...


We finished the summer on a high note by going to Disneyland today. I'm in the back with Mike, John is in the middle with Sarah, and my mom is in the front with Paige.


I wonder who my idol was when I was two and a half? I think it's cool that Paige got to meet hers in person.... (Ariel from The Little Mermaid) We know all the words in this movie by heart. Someone little also likes to send the songs at the top of her lungs!


We listened to some awesome music in Disney's New Orleans Square and thought of all the victims of the hurricane.

School starts tomorrow!!! YEAH!!!!! I am doing a little happy dance right now...

More back-to-school stuff..

I made this beanie for Mike as part of the Back-to-School KAL and CAL. Ten year olds make such lovely and obliging models...