greetingarts

seamless baby knits

Back in January, one of the first things I finished for 2010 was a slightly modified seamless kimono sweater for a charity group that distributes care packages to unwed mothers.  I couldn't figure out the bottom edge of the pattern as written (didn't try too hard, to be honest) so I just made something up and worked it back and forth rather than in the round (I think I was supposed to do that), and mine has two slits at the bottom sides.  Using a DK Kraemer Tatamy Tweed in Carnation, it worked up really quickly and was fun to do.  The I-cord "ribbon" took a long time, though, so next time I will probably just use a ribbon.  I love the knitted flower pattern, quite clever.  I'd like to make a million of those.  Well, maybe several dozen, with a green crocheted chain in between each, as a garland.

And another seamless baby sweater will be given to my nephew, Philip, born on February 5, 2010.  Little scrumptious cutie pie, I get to meet him for the first time in a few days, and I'm *excited!*  I sure hope I can get my sister, her husband, and my mom to let go of him for at least a little while.  I'm only going to be there for less than 36 hours or so, and I've got a lot of competition for snuggle time.  This cardigan was a test knit for the Cuddly Baby Cardi from Gardiner Yarn Works.  I used a size 7 needle, and Wool-Ease in Mushroom and Chocolate Brown.

Need to weave in those ends, do some blocking, then I'm on the hunt for the perfect buttons...

january finished

 
The January cloth is finished and blocked.  I like the background, how it's shaped like a top hat.  Now, on to February, though we've only a week left in the month!  Shocking how time goes on whether you're ready to move along or not.

let's focus on the lovely

On Valentine's Day, Rebecca woke up grumpy and lethargic, and by the afternoon had developed a slight fever and yucky stomach trouble.  Jessie got it about 24 hours later, and Rebecca stayed home from school yesterday, just as a precaution.  So let's just remember the fun stuff about the weekend, not the ugly...

I filled up two of those cute Target mailboxes (which seem to be on every crafty blog this year) with dollar store trinkets and miniature stationary cut with my Sizzix, and my husband spent the night before Valentine's Day watching the Olympics and punching tiny hearts out of scrap paper.

I was most excited about the toilet paper tube hearts, though, which I hung with some fishing-line-type stuff from their doorway.  I first saw the idea here (scroll down a bit) on Roots & Wings Co. (a fabulous blog by some amazing women), and knew I had to do it.  Jessica is fascinated by all things hanging in the stores, like the McDonald's coffee displays and Target banners dangling from the ceiling.

I taped them onto the door frame in the wee hours of Valentine's morning, so the girls would see it first thing when they woke up.  It was a huge hit, and I think they'll stay there until well past Mother's Day.

My husband brought home three gorgeous bouquets of flowers and beautiful cards, one for each of his Valentines.  Just looking at the blooms makes me instantly feel cheerful and I can't help but smile.

And to  put a smile on your face, too, here's a picture of Jessie at her sister's classroom party, held right after her own preschool party Friday afternoon.  Jessie kept saying it was her best day ever.  Two parties, goodie bags, Valentines cards, and a trip to Disneyland after school.  We even saw the fireworks show as we were leaving to catch the tram back to our car.  One of the best days for sure.

fortunate to have a sewing machine

In case you're wondering what I've been doing for the past few days, I have proof of craftiness for you right here.

With Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year's falling on the same day this year, who could resist the lure of the felt fortune cookie?  Certainly not me or Rebecca.  So with the help of my trusty Ellison machine (I have the now retired XL LetterMachine, similar to this) and a 4.5" circle die, I cut out 57 of these babies in no time flat, out of wool blend felt that I had in my stash.  I bought one roll of cute conversation heart satin ribbon from the craft store (99 cents), and in the back of a desk drawer had (for whatever reason I don't know) two boxes of steel ring key tags which I cannibalized, removing the split rings to use in this project.  Of course, me being me, I grabbed my needlebook, perle cotton and favorite scissors, settled in front of the television after my babes were in bed, and started sewing them by hand. 

About 21 fortune cookies later, as Wednesday evening rolled around, I realized this might not be feasible.  Hence, the title of my post.  There are at least half a dozen wonderful tutorials for felt fortune cookies out there on the internet, so I'm not even going to get into the construction here, but I do have a few tips.  When stuffing, I divided the filler into two small clumps, to make it easier to make a nice definition in the middle when you bend the cookie into place.  Also, it looks more realistic if the cookie is joined together more towards the middle, rather than too close to the tips.

By one o'clock Friday morning, tagged cookies for Rebecca's classmates, teachers, administrators and librarian and Jessie's classmates and preschool teachers were all present and accounted for.  

Tonight we're going out for dinner with my in-laws for Chinese New Year's Eve.  I'm looking forward to it, lots of good food that I don't have to cook, and the girls in fancy dresses.  I wonder if we'll be seeing any of these for dessert...

umi-ingenuity

My youngest is really into Nick Jr.'s latest educational kids show, Team Umizoomi, a math-related cartoon based on numbers and shapes.  I signed up to "Join the Team" and got to print out a multiple-page activity pack, with a poster and some stickers and things for Jessie.

She's currently learning how to write her numbers in preschool, so I thought this would be great reinforcement of that activity.  But how to make it last a while?

I'd just been cleaning out my cupboards and boxes the day before (okay, really I was trying to find something among the piles and stacks) and *almost* threw away the old, yellowing magnetic album pages (remember those things?) that I'd been saving for "something" someday.  And here was the perfect use for them.  I peeled off the plastic liner sheet, taped them together and used them to faux laminate the top of the poster.  Now Jessie can trace and circle numbers with a dry-erase marker, and just wipe off with a tissue.

Then I stuck the sheet that was supposed to be printed onto sticker paper onto the sticky leftover part of the magnetic photo album page, and had some instant stickers.  Well, almost instant.  I did have to cut them *all* out first.

All finished and taped up on the wall within twenty minutes.  And I didn't spend a penny.  I don't think this will be the last of the Umi crafts, though.  Jessie *really* likes this show.