greetingarts

WIP well, it's a piggy

Technically, it's still Friday, right? 



I'm test knitting a stuffed piggy for my friend, who designs knit and crochet patterns.  I'll let you know when the pattern is available (for free!) on her website.

four

Happy birthday, my amazing, wonderful, sparkling child.



You are so full of personality and energy, and, at four, are so much more than I ever thought a kid could be.  You teach me and astound me and melt my heart a thousand times a day.  I love you.

i do

Nine years and counting.  I love you, hon. 

pink mermaid

So, remember the mysterious pink WIP that I showed a couple of weeks ago?  I did finish in time for the birthday party (just barely, I wove in the last end at one o'clock in the morning, the day of the event), and Becca loved it.  Her party was beach themed, and she requested a mermaid outfit.  Pink, of course.  I was trying to steer her towards some green yarn, when I suddenly realized how dense I was being.  It's a mermaid, for crying out loud.  If she wants to be a pink one, then pink it is. 

I'm pretty happy with the way this turned out, although the waist is a bit large for Becca.  It's basically a tube top with I-cord ties, and then a tube for the bottom, with an extra long back.  There is a pattern in this book, but I didn't like all the unecessary seams or so much purling, so I used circulars and ended up without one single seam to sew up!  The stitch pattern does come out a little differently, but I think it turned out fine.

I didn't actually manage to get a good photo of her in the outfit at the party (man,  I'm still kicking myself for that one), I guess we were all too busy having fun.  It would have been the perfect setting, though, since we had an inflatable kids' pool with a slide,  and Rebecca did get a boatload of sand after all.

Wouldn't that have been a great photo with her on the prow? stern? helm? of the boat?  You know, that pointy thing up front.  Ah, well.  Instead of posing for pictures, she swam, squealed, ran around in her bathing suit and flip flops, and played with her friends.  Instead of setting up blog shots, I blew up balloons, slathered the kids with sunscreen, and made sure there was enough ice and shade for our friends and family in the 100 degree heat.  But when cake time rolled around, Rebecca insisted on blowing out the candles with the mermaid outfit on.  This crafty mom's heart was warmed.

best dressed gardener

We've been trying to fix up our postage stamp-sized yard lately, so we swept away all the cobwebs, cleared some of the viney, weedy growth, hacked up a fallen bush, and planted some things in containers.  I've got Sugar Snack cherry tomatoes, lemon cucumbers, basil, cilantro, and some bits of forget-me-nots and morning glories that we grew from seed ($1 bins at Target).  Oh, and something that is supposed to eventually have red flowers, forgot what it was called.  No flowers on anything but the veggies, yet, but Rebecca's really enjoyed seeing everything grow, and it's been nice extending our living space, no matter how small the yard is.  And I use that term, "yard," loosely.  Very loosely.

And here's the glam gardener, standing with Meow Meow in front of the lemon cucumbers, modelling the beautiful dress Stacy made for her (go ahead, check her out, she has a store, too).  The dress ties behind the neck, halter style, and makes me wish I had one in my size!  Becca would wear it every day, if I'd let her.  Shameful, that it took me this long to post a picture, but, rest assured, it was loved the moment it arrived.

Can't wait for the first ripe fruit.  Will it be Becca or the bugs that get to taste it first?

WIP with infinite patience...

...my husband waits for his quilt.  It's been, oh, at least three years, now.



The 12 blocks were hand embroidered onto muslin, and then I just did a simple plaid border.  I even got around to basting it ( which obviously needs to be done again!) with thin cotton batting and that fantastic fabric, Sumo Sam from Michael Miller (discontinued now).  Doesn't really go with the style of the front, but who cares?  I just love that fabric!  And it's the back.  Anyway.  Now I just need to hand quilt it.  It keeps getting shelved because it's too hot, too bulky, too impossible to do with the kids climbing over me, and too big of a project for the few hours I have to myself at night.  Knitting or handsewing little stuffies seems so much more do-able.  But now that I've aired it out, maybe I'll commit to finishing it.  Uh, maybe this December for his birthd... no.  I'm not going to even say it.

true blue

More blue goodies, this time courtesy of Project Colorswap.  My package from Jen arrived a while ago, I just haven't had the time to blog about it until now.  But I so loved everything that came inside!



Absolute gorgeousness!  The yarn, so yummy, and I love the chocolate brown and sky blue journal.  It's going to be one of those that I'm afraid to write in... but I will.  Lip balm and soap that made the package smell nice, too, and those tapestry needles that I was about to have to buy for myself because I really need them!  But my favorite item was the cell phone pouch.  I put my phone in its new home within minutes.



Oh, and Rebecca said that Jen was really nice to include all these goodies for her...



Hmmmm.  I suppose I could share. 

Thanks so much, Jen, I love everything.  And I finally remembered to take a photo of one of the outgoing packages.  I had so much fun putting this together, I just wish I'd wrapped it more artfully.



Here's a closeup of the vintage ribbon...



And a handbag I crocheted.  I liked the interesting handles and the way one loops through the other.  Very very easy to crochet, no seams.  Gotta love that.



Thanks, Jen.  I hope you've gotten your package by now, and that you enjoy all your goodies.

I still have more mail goodness to share, though, can you believe it?  Jack, my Backtack wee bunny finally arrived and is fitting in nicely with the other residents of the household, and my daughter's wardrobe has been beautifully expanded due to a package from Canada... but I haven't been able to take photos yet, so I'll save all that for another night.  I feel really bad, bacause I appreciate everything so much, and I want to show you all what wonderful people my swap partners are.  But, geez, there just aren't enough hours in the day!  Mirre, Stacy, I really hope you understand and know how much I appreciate your things.  I swear, I will post more details later. 

My sister is visiting and we've been busy.  Shopping, going to the park with her adoring nieces, eating, and crafting.  She's a new knitter, so it's been fun talking yarn and opening up my stash and knitting library to her.  My daughter's birthday party is coming up fast, and I'm still plugging away at the knitting for her, too.  So more to share, and back to blogging in the near future!

happy father's day

We love you, appreciate you, and thank you.  Have a great day!

WIP working under pressure

This needs to be finished in time for Rebecca's birthday party.  So I have 7 days.  And my sister is coming on Sunday and staying for four days, then there's Father's Day dinner I'm preparing for my father in law on Saturday, and kids' activities on Tuesday...



Think I can do it while still getting a decent amount of sleep?  Any guesses on what it's going to be? 

red

This is one of the very few times Rebecca's been speechless.  Look at her face closely, so full of awe.

This week has been fun!  Let's do it again sometime.