greetingarts

i've got sunshine

Skies are very grey today and it's a bit drizzly, but I've got all the sunshine I need right here.

My little sweethearts (well, one of them is kind of a holy terror these days, we won't name names but she isn't in school yet and just turned three) brought me not one but two huge bouquets of flowers last night (just after Daddy got home from work, imagine the timing!) and in a couple of hours we're going out to Todai for lunch.

Last week's Home Depot Kid's Workshop was such a cute Mother's Day project that I finally got to play with today.  It was such a hoot, I had to help them put it together, but I wasn't allowed to look!

I got a little poem from school, too, that Rebecca's teacher helped with.  This is my favorite reason why "My Mom is Special."

Isn't that funny?  And she told me that I had ten less grey hairs today.   I wonder if she thinks I'm 65, too?

Happy Mother's Day!   I love you, Mom.

birds, bees, flowers, trees

One of the swaps I couldn't resist, I got my Notecard Swap 3 package from Regina the other day, with the most wonderful works of art tucked inside.

I don't think I'll ever be able to use these, but maybe I could display them on an inspiration wire or pinboard or something.   Even the bookmark Regina included is frame-worthy.  Check out the Flickr! group for individual credits and pictures of all the cards, and see the ones I made here.   Thank you so much, ladies.  I absolutely love the unique styles, the different media used, and now as soon as the weather starts cooperating, I'm all ready for Spring.

kerri sent

I'm still lucky!  I won another giveaway a few weeks ago, and I just got a marvelous package from Kerri the other day.

I'm absolutely head over heels for this lantern-shaped bag.  The froggy fabric is great, and who doesn't love dots, but it's the silhouette that's got me totally ga-ga.  Right now there's some test knitting in it, and it barely ever leaves my side.  I've almost always got it within arms reach because the chubby little form just makes me happy.

She also included this book because she happened to have an extra, and she saw that I was a knitter.  I love stitch books, and this was  new one to me.  It's great!  Chock full of cables, lace, ribs, colored swatches, even edgings.  I'm sure I'll be using it often.

And finally, there was this little embroidered cell phone pouch that she picked up in Yemen.  I'm fairly certain that I will never be going there in person, so how wonderful is it that I can still have a piece of that country in my own living room?

Thank you so much, Kerri.  I think of  you every time I see these little treasures, and smile.

hampton roads & pocahontas

This month I can't go to the Monday night Block of the Month class because I have to attend a special program at my daughter's school.  As a result, I had to finish the blocks (yes, they gave us two this month instead of just one!) a few days early and will be going to the Early Bird session tomorrow.

I cranked this one out last night, finishing up most of it during  commercial breaks for CSI and Lost.  It's called Hampton Roads and I love the diagonal checkers.  Some people get all crazy trying to line up the plaid and make everything absolutely perfectly straight.  I'm definitely not one of those people.  I'm just happy if I don't chop off any points.

And this block is Pocahontas, one of my least favorite (no offense, Pocahontas.  It's not your fault they named this block after you.  And it's also not your fault that I put it together so badly).  Look at how poorly I did those seams and those points.  Whack, whack, whack!  You can practically hear them getting chopped off, willy nilly.  And those that didn't get hacked aren't lined up or connected as they should be.  I think I might have to take this one apart and redo it, but... knowing how many quilts I want to make and how little time there is even if I live to be 122, maybe I should just leave it and call it "good enough?"

may day accomplishment

Look at what my baby learned to do on May Day!

Wow.  Look at that bow.  Good job, Rebecca!

pintail whale

I know a Pintail is really a type of duck, or a kayak, but I just liked the name Pintail Whale, the way it was so appropriate, and rolled so easily off the tongue...

... so here is my creation for the March/April Pincushion Challenge.  The Sea was the theme, and this little guy is knitted with US size 3 double pointed needles (no reason they have to be double points, I just like the length of them, especially for a small little project like this) from 100% cotton fingering weight yarn, Paton's Bumble Bee in Morning Glory (fancy name for light blue).  He measures about 3" from the tip of his nose down to his flippy little tail.  I found the pattern on the Knitted Toy Box, a gem of a site.  So now you can go knit up one of your own!

lunchbox swap

I mailed off my package for the Lunchbox Swap today, making the deadline with several hours to spare.  Quite unlike me, don't you think?

For my little lunch tote I decided to incorporate a lot of different crafts.  Knitting, crochet, and sewing.  The outside was knit from hemp twine, and is a one time only deal.  I'm never going to use that particular kind of hemp again.  It really wasn't meant for knitting, it's literally just a thin rope, and was the roughest thing ever.  "Difficult to knit" would be putting it mildly.  Especially since I have a very tight gauge.  My hands were rubbed raw and I had to take very frequent breaks.  But I think it looks nice, and that's what matters.

I sewed a little lining for the inside, out of fabric I've used before, which I thought was perfect for something that's supposed to hold food.  Then I used some cotton crochet thread and steel crochet hooks (1.5mm and 2.35mm) to make the handles.

I included some Hello Kitty sandwich bags and summery, barbeque napkins just for fun.  I really hope my swap partner likes it.

And now, I get to show you all the goodies I received from Christina.  In the photo, it looks black, but this cute lunch tote is a dark denim, with the red/green paisley print apple on the front and inside the handles,

and one of my favorite color combinations of pink and green for the lining and ribbon closure.  There are pockets on the inside,

and even one on the back.

And look at all the little treats she stuffed inside!  More pink and green, buttons, fabric, a yummy fun magazine, and rubber stamps.  I love my little tote and it really does fit my style.  I've already got a little knitting project settled inside it.  But you know, on second thought, since it was supposed to be for lunches, I think I should find some food to put in there... I'm sure there's a bar of dark chocolate around here somewhere.  That's a good lunch, right?

lucky, lucky me

I've won a few drawings lately.  Wanna see?

Every month, when I go to the quilt shop to attend the Block of the Month class, they give me a little red raffle ticket.  In two years, I never won anything.  Until March, that is.  Now, I've won two months in a row.  First, it was this adorably packaged fat quarter bundle.

Then, the first week of April, it was this chubby little roll of 5" strips.

Look at all those prints!  And they are *exactly* my style!  Love them.  Thanks, Mary, and the wonderful people at The Fabric Patch.

But my luck extended to the internet and the crafty blog world, too.

Hillary's original doll arrived last week.  I've since had to put her high up on a shelf, far from sticky fingers (literally).  But I can still see her every day, and she makes me smile with her sweet simplicity.

Then Sarah picked my name in her April giveaway, and I received the cutest turtle magnet to adorn my fridge.  Again, the little darling is placed well above the danger line, at my eye level where no one can love her to death.

So much luck and cheer in a very difficult month.  Thank you so much, I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate your generosity.

artichoke head

Happy Earth Day!

For dinner, we're going to eat the largest artichokes I've ever seen.  I think it's going to take at least an hour to steam, and maybe about that long to eat... dipped leaf by leaf into a little sauce made of mayonnaise, mustard, lemon juice, salt and pepper.  So yummy!  And guess how much they cost me?  $1 each.  A dollar!

Too bad I missed National Artichoke Heart Day on March 16^th.  Oh well, I guess we're making up for it today.  Better late than never, right?

baby turns three

How did this happen?  When did my baby turn into a three year old?

Who is this strong-willed, independent, "I can do it myself" girl who knows how to add (thanks to this awesome CD/DVD)?  You're unpredictable, protective, loud, competitive, unbelievably cuddly, and a thousand contradictions all wrapped up in a compact little bundle.  No one can mess with your sister, but you find a dozen different ways to get under her skin every day.  You want to wear high heels and dresses, but like to scoot your butt along planters and curbs.  Each day is a surprise with you, and you keep me on my toes.

I love you with every cell in my body.  Happy birthday, my little Jemsicle.  Donuts and Disneyland, my dear?  Sounds like a perfect day to me.