greetingarts

but my eggs will be cozy

I'm starting to freak out.  Easter is in, what, two weeks?  Fourteen days?  I haven't found all the Easter decorations yet, haven't planned the egg hunt for the girls, I mean, I haven't even ordered the ham.  And let's not even talk about the fact that the week right after Easter is my baby's 4th birthday.  She's going to have a Hello Kitty party, but let's just save that for another post, shall we?

This post is here so I can talk about what I did manage to accomplish for Easter (so I won't feel so bad).  I knitted one of these babies, using Julie's oh-so-cute knitting pattern for a bunny egg cosy.  I really appreciate the fact that she made it so affordable!  This was just my first attempt, now I'm going to make two more, in pink and purple, and maybe enough for everyone on Easter Sunday.  Who knows?  I don't, because I have no idea who's even coming for dinner...

my little entrepreneur

Anyone want to buy a boat?  They're on sale.  Ten cents each, such a bargain.

Who could resist?  Certainly not me, I'm now the proud owner of a dark pink beauty.  My little businesswoman is suffering from a bit of a fever, so our plans for the aquarium are put on hold and we're just going to take it easy this weekend.  Hope yours is germ-free and full of little treasures.

i totally deserve this

Because today I rode with two first grade classes (which translates into 40 very excited six and seven year olds) on a bouncing yellow school bus for a twenty mile drive.  Both ways.

Because after getting to our destination, we realized that at least two other school districts were also having their field trip excursions on the same day, at the same time.

Because I spent five hours (was it only five?!) counting to 20 over and over to make sure we had all our kids. 

Because we picnicked on wet grass, and I had to take five girls to the restroom at the park where there were no doors on the stalls and only one working faucet.

Because we made a very disturbing, disgusting discovery consisting of bodily fluids and rubber (if you get my drift) in the middle of our lunch area.

             

So tonight I'm grabbing some chocolate covered macadamias and curling up with my two latest additions, Crobots and Sewing Green, and enjoying some Me Time. 

By the way, I'm pretty much just kidding about all of the above being an ordeal (except the last thing, which really was just too disgusting for words).  I feel so lucky to have been a chaperone for the field trip today.  I was responsible for my daughter and some of the most well-behaved girls in the class, and as I was looking around, I realized we had one of the best classes in the whole place.  Two of our kids even fell asleep in the bus on the way home.  So sweet.  It was a crazy, hectic, fun-filled, sunny, warm-but-not-hot, very active, wonderful day.

But I still totally deserve the books.

question of the day

"Mommy, is this my threehead?"

"Your what?"

"And is this my fivehead?"

"Can you stop laughing at me now, Momma?"

floss flowers

It's been a surprisingly grey day outside, probably because the girls and I were planning to fix up our little postage stamp yard and play in the dirt outside.  Oh, well, if the weather won't cooperate, I'll just have to grow my own flowers inside.

So I finished up some stitching and made my daffodils bloom indoors, with a bit of perle cotton.  An online quilt group that I've belonged to for years has started a monthly embroidery challenge, and that's where I'm getting these cute floral patterns.

Don't know what I'm going to do with these panels yet, but I might make them into a table runner or wall hanging of some sort.  I just stitched them onto some scrap white Kona cotton, and each one is pretty small, maybe only 5" x 5", give or take.  Meanwhile, I'm just waiting until Wednesday.  It's supposed to be 79 degrees and sunny.

halfway through

Block 6 of the Star Struck Block of the Month.  Halfway done, and I've managed to keep up with both quilts that I'm making.  None of the sashing is even cut yet, but at least I have the blocks completed.  I gave up on hand piecing after the first month.  Just takes too darn long.  I like the results of my hand work much better than when I machine piece, but sometimes you just need to get things finished, rather than have perfect points.

I do think I'm improving (however painstakingly slowly) at being able to control the machine.

The color of these blue batiks in real life is just beautiful.  The very light background is a batik, too.  Lately I've been really drawn to collecting neutrals and light fabrics.  Which is very unlike me, I'm usually all about the novelties and brights.  I guess everyone needs a change now and then.  I think I'm ready for Spring.

bird treasure

My birds from Regina's swap have come home, brightening up an otherwise mostly dull, tiring, grey kind of week. 

The girls are having fun finding little places to hang these.  Not surprisingly, most are in or around their room.

Such a great variety of media was represented, and so many different skills involved.  Paper, fabric, wool, sewing, embroidery, weaving.

This one is so neat.  Love the colors, the boldness of the silhouette, the one word sentiment.

Sweet little birdie, gorgeous fabric.

This one has been woven with some kind of basketmaking material, and is hanging by the girls' window so she can see outside.  My pictures didn't come out very well, but you can check things out on Flickr for better shots of almost all of these. 

Along with the birdies came two very special gifts and the sweetest note.  Though the girls tried their best, these are still with me, and will stay in my room.  When I saw the hearts before, I already thought they were beautiful, but the photos don't do justice to the texture and detail, or the way the beads sparkle.  And the up-cycled doodle pad is brilliant, I love the way the pages have been assembled, so that both sides are usable.  Rebecca's really got her eye on this one.  Regina's cover art has her mesmerized.  After I gently but firmly pried it away from her fingers and stated it was mine, she smiled, took it back, and then generously offered to share it with me.  It's currently sitting on my nightstand, but I'm sure the negotiations have not ended.

Thanks so much to all the wonderful ladies that participated in this exchange, and most of all thanks to Regina.  I know the swap was a lot of work, and everything you sent is a treasure.

wii missed it

Greetingarts turned 3 on Wednesday, and I totally forgot.  So sorry, blog!

But wii've all come down with the Wii bug, and Daddii, Mommii, Beckii and Jessii (well, Daddii not so much) are trying to get healthy with Wii Fit.  Nothing cracks me up faster than seeing Jessie doing the hula wiggle.  Only a video would do that justice, so no pictures.  Just trust me.  It's one of those things I hope I never forget.

There's also Dora Saves the Snow Princess for the girls, and Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party for the adults.  Wii're hooked.  So if I don't do the laundry or vacuum or remember anniversaries, just blame it on the Wii.