greetingarts

first folds

We've been enjoying every moment of summer.  Mostly out and about, traveling, swimming, scootering in the park.  But once in a while we'll just stay home and pull out the crafts. 

Chronicle Books sent me a copy of Party Origami by Jessica Okui of Zakka Life, and the girls and I had a fun time checking it out and making some of our first origami projects ever.  Now that they are a bit older, and are more precise with their folds, it's a lot more fun and everything they attempted was successful.  One of these bird placecard holders was made by me, one by my 8 year old, as her first origami project ever, I think.  Can't really tell which is whose, can you?  Honestly, I don't even remember.

The book is in a cute little format, perfect as a gift because it includes the beautiful two-sided paper and is basically a little kit.  There is a *lot* of paper, 75 sheets, which is important for people like me who tend to hoard the "good stuff."  In this case, I don't really have to worry, because there is plenty to go around.  Good diagrams, simple.  It could have the potential to get someone started on a paper folding kick...

See Jessica's name there in the corner?  That's so cool. 

felt froggy

I made a little gift for someone special at the school last month.  Literally, little.  It was just under 4" tall.

It's hand stitched, and the pattern is in the book Lovable Mini-Dolls.  I picked it up ages ago, when I first started blogging and there was the whole Japanese pattern book obsession.  I'm so glad I got this one, I can't remember how much I paid for it but all the patterns are really cute and pretty simple.

summer reading

Summer vacation started last week, and we're already staying up late, getting up late, and packing in as much as we can.

Of course, we wasted no time in signing up for the summer reading program at our local library.  Rebecca is a voracious reader, and I've got quite a few books I'm looking forward to diving into, too.  You can see what's currently on our bookshelf over in the left sidebar.

Anything you think we need to add?

advanced reader copy

Have you (or your child) read the Mysterious Benedict Society books (Amazon link to an amazing price for all three!)?  I read and enjoyed the first two books with Rebecca, and she read the last one on her own.

Last week, I brought home a surprise from work for Rebecca.  One of the benefits of working in the book industry is that I have access to advance reading copies, books the publishers send out to generate buzz and interest months before the book is actually published.  Sometimes they even have typos, or incomplete illustrations.

But do you see that?  Rebecca is thrilled to be reading something four months before anyone else will even have access to it.  She even showed her teacher.  And now I'm definitely the coolest mom ever.  In Rebecca's book, at least.

no more SSS

Single Sock Syndrome.  Most sock knitters I know have been afflicted with this at some point or another.  You make one sock, and then... you're over it.  You're either tired of the pattern, or you've forgotten to write down how many rows it took to get the leg up to 6 inches, so... you're left with a single sock, to lose in a drawer somewhere, totally useless.  But you spent a lot of time on that sock, and the yarn was really great and now you have another ball leftover.  What are you going to do with that one?  So it all just sits there, wasted.

 
Well, I don't think that's going to happen to me any more.  I've had this book for a long time, and finally was able to give it a try when Jessie asked me to make her a pair of green socks (she wants me to put eyes and smiley faces on them, too, but we'll have to see about that...).  It worked great!  I used size #1 Options Harmony Wood fixed circular needles from KnitPicks in the 40" length, and loved every minute of my knitting.  And when I was done, I was truly *done.*  With both socks.  At the same time.  And Jessie could wear them right away, and they fit great!  And with the second book, Toe-Up 2-at-a-Time Socks, you've got every single pattern contingency covered.  Amazon even offers the book on Kindle!  No more excuses for SSS, unless you're knitting for a one-legged person, in which case, I meant no offense.

at the close

Two weeks ago, Rebecca finished the last page of the Harry Potter series, and I had to make something to mark the occasion.  I used this free pattern and scrap yarn, holding a glittery chain yarn (no ball band) together with a Berroco Smart Cotton (in Butterscotch) for the body of the snitch, and just white Sugar 'n Cream for the wings. 

It was a joint effort, with me reading at least a chapter out loud every night, and Rebecca reading for hours on end at every spare moment.  She absolutely devoured the huge volumes, and now, understandably, feels a little bereft.  Suggestions for a new reading obsession are welcome!

awesome winner

And the winner is...

Comment number 5!  Jamielynn, please email me (link in the upper right underneath the Search box) with your mailing address and you'll be receiving An Awesome Book of Thanks from Dallas Clayton.

Thanks for playing, sorry if you didn't win this time.  I'm going to be doing more giveaways in the very near future, so there will be more chances for fun stuff.  But right now I have to get over this nasty cold that three out of four members of the family are suffering from...

Hope Rebecca manages to stay germ free, though I don't know how she will with all the coughs and misery flying around this place!

awesome book of thanks

Right before the holidays hit, Dallas Clayton sent me an advance copy of his latest book, An Awesome Book of Thanks, to review and comment on.

 
The kids and I already have and enjoy Dallas' other Awesome book, so it was no big surprise to discover the treasure awaiting us in this new one.

 
The illustrations are done in Dallas' signature style, brilliantly colorful, fun, and creative. 

 
I especially love the way he uses both pages in one spread, not worrying about the page split.  It makes his message bigger, stronger, louder (in a good way).  But the illustrations are just half of the book, the poetry is very meaningful and great for night time read-alouds.  It reminds us to be thankful for everything around us, the living and non-living, the good and the bad.

 
What better way is there to end your day than thinking about all that you're thankful for?

I'm thankful that Dallas gave me the chance to read and share his book with all of you, and guess what?  He also offered to do a giveaway for one of my readers.  One of you will get your own copy of An Awesome Book of Thanks.  A comment will be chosen from those left on this post, and if you click "Follow" (there in the top left sidebar), you can leave an extra one for a second entry.  I'll pick the lucky person next Friday, January 14th. 

Good luck, but even if you don't win, please be sure to get your hands on this book and read it at least once.  It really is a gem.

what a haul - maybe - for you and me

What would I get if I had $500 to spend at Chronicle Books?

 

1.  Cake Pops by Bakerella.

 

2.  Kyuuto! Japanese Crafts!  Wooly Embroidery: Crewel Work, Stump Work, Canvas Work, and More!

3.  Create your Own Planet! Doodle and Draw by Todd Parr

 

4.  Around the World with Mouk by Marc Boutavant

5.  Alphabeasties Amazing Activities by Sharon Werner

6. Whip Up Mini Quilts by Kathreen Ricketson

 

 

 

 

 

7.  Ivy and Bean's Secret Treasure Box by Annie Barrows

8.  Ivy and Bean Boxed Set 2 by Annie Barrows

9.  Ivy and Bean: What's the Big Idea? by Annie Barrows

 

10. Moleskine Memo Pockets (at least five of them - in different colors!)

11. Sublime Stitching by Jenny Hart

12.  Embroidered Effects by Jenny Hart

13. Kyuuto! Japanese Crafts!  Fuzzy Felted Friends! by Saori Yamazaki

14. Kyuuto!  Japanese Crafts!  Amigurumi!

15.  Girl's World by Jennifer Paganelli

16.  Cath Kidston Masking Tape

17.  My Listography by Lisa Nola (2 of them, one for each daughter)

18.  Listography Journal by Lisa Nola

19. Spot 7 Christmas

20.  Party in a Cup by Julia Myall

21.  Artful Accessories by Jo Packham

22.  Daily Doodle 2011 by Taro Gomi

23.  Ants in Your Pants by Yukiko Kido

24.  Artful Jewelry by Jo Packham

Wouldn't all of that be just so much fun?  Chronicle Books will be choosing one blogger and one commenter on that blog to win their Haul-idays wish list.  So if you and I have similar taste in books, leave a comment here on this post and we might both be winners!

Updated on 12/15/2010 to add:  Oh well, they chose their winner and it wasn't us!  Too bad!  It was fun daydreaming, though...

first day for both

It's the start of a new era. 

 
My two kiddos both started school today.  New principal, new rules, no dawdling to take photos, no walking the girls into their classrooms.  I was okay with it, and it probably made it easier on them and me, but I was a little upset at not being able to catch a meaningful photo.

 
I sent the kids off with the traditional first-day-of-school mascots, knitted pencils this time, tucked into their backpacks so they'd know I was thinking of them all day long.  The moment I laid eyes on them in Anna's  Knitting Mochimochi, I knew I was going to make the mini pencils for the girls' first day.  So fast and easy, and *adorable*!  If you remember, I made Rebecca a crocheted one for the first day of first grade, and was already thinking of doing a knitted version this year.  But now I didn't have to do any of the brainwork.  I used fingering or sport weight stash scrap yarn (pink and yellow- cotton, beige and grey - wool, double strand of embroidery floss - black) and #2 double pointed needles.  Took less than an hour or so each, I'd say.  I wasn't crazy about the way I embroidered the eyes, so I glued on little 5mm half-ball eyes that I had in my stash.  A review of the book should be up on A Crafter's Library within a week.

 
And four teachers got faux apples to celebrate the first day with the students.  I saw the directions here and knew they would make quick, easy, and inexpensive treats.  I didn't spend a fortune on Jelly Bellys though, I got some red candy-coated peanuts (I think they call them Boston Baked Beans?!) in bulk at a grocery store, and it was less than a quarter of the price I would have paid for the Jelly Bellys.  I put the candy in snack-sized baggies, folded the baggie in half and turned it upside down (so the zip part is hidden on the bottom).  I cut up some green bendy straws for the stem, inserted them in the middle (where the fold is) and tied a green ribbon bow. 

I hope it will be a good year.  Nothing like 101 degree weather (and tomorrow is supposed to be 104!) to say "Welcome back to school!"