Monday, October 27, 2008

Advent Update, first crochet, Halloween projects

I have been working on the advent calendar with some regularity. It is so exciting thinking of all of the little activities we will be doing.

hot cocoa - make marshmallows and cocoa

cookie - bake cookies

plain tree - go pick out tree

sequins tree - decorate tree

stockings- hang 'em up

pinecone/cardinal - make pinecone birdfeeders - thanks for the idea Deb!

Christmas tree light- Constitution plaza? or look at neighborhood decorations.

I also made these Halloween wall hangings based on one hanging in my mom's house. I made a couple of variations of the smaller one.

Baby Bubble sweater... This pattern looks so intricate, but is so easy. I am loving it so much it is hard to put down. I finished the front or back (however you look at it) last Monday.



1st Crochet project!!! found here on ravelry.com http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fan-bookmark

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Bakerwoods, a sugar shack and Hurst Farm

Yesterday Delaney and I went to Bakerwoods. What a wonderful time we had. Chickens, geese, ducks, roosters, bunnies, horses, goats, pigeons. Most of them just roaming free. As you know, if you've been following, she wants nothing more than to hold a baby bird. You are not allowed to pick up the birds, but she got to pet them. She was very excited.
They also have a gnome trail. There is a scavenger/I spy to spot all of the gnomes things. We had such a lovely time looking for signs of gnomes as we walked around the pond. The leaves were beautiful. I can't wait to go back.
http://www.visitbakerwoodsfarm.com/index.html
On the way to Bakerwoods, we stopped at a sugar shack/honey house. We visited for a bit and got to sample some delicious hot maple syrup. The owner, Bill, was a great host. :o)
http://www.riversedgesugarhouse.com/
Today we had a school field trip to Hurst Farm in Hebron.
http://www.hurstfarms.com/index.php?main_page=index
We took a hay ride to pick turnips and then continued along to feed them to the bulls and goats. Next off to the pumpkin patch to pick a pumpkin! The kids had a snack of apple cider and cookies and then ran around a corn/haystack maze. The cutest part about the whole thing was that Delaney and her friend, Ella, held hands the whole time. They were adorable. It was so cute to see this budding friendship.

I didn't bring my camera along for any of this because I really just wanted to sit back and enjoy. I am feeling so crazy ( I hope that it is just related to being pregnant and not certifiably crazy. Sometimes I wonder.)

Saturday, October 18, 2008

baby bubble


I just started the Baby Bubble sweater! I am going to love it. The pattern looks very complicated, but is very easy to memorize.

Project Runway


I liked Korto the best, but congrats to Leanne.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

ghastly ghostly ghoulies



Made with Flynn fleece from my in-laws. I washed, sorted and drum carded by hand.




Monday, October 13, 2008

Steve Songs, Christmas bulbs, my walk to work

Surprise Delaney!


We went to his concert yesterday. The best moment was when Steve started singing "Fast Monkey" and the whole crowd of kids screeched. It was so adorable that he has such a loyal following.
http://stevesongs.com/
Steve is Delaney's favorite. When I asked her what she would like to bring into school to share with her classmates, she wanted to bring in Steve. So we brought his Marvelous Day cd. His songs are great! Entertaining for adults too. Every time we listen to the songs, I hear one more funny thing. He lives in the same hometown as my parents and lives down the street. My parents invited him to their "Deck-warming party" and Delaney was out of this world.

I have been making more goodies for the advent calendar... I will teach this Christmas Tree Light at Yarns with a Twist in Chaplin someday (maybe end of November/beginning of December).

I started Abby's cowl from http://www.knitty.com/.

Here's a picture from our first time with a raw fleece. After I washed and dried it, Delaney helped me run it through the drum carder. I made an attempt at dyeing the wool today, but did not get the results I wanted. I was trying for yellow, but got more of an apricot/orangey color.

Took this on my way to work today. God, I love fall.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Project Runway Finale!

I can't wait to see who wins.
I really love Kenley's designs - classic, clean cut and funky at the same time. I sometimes agree with criticizms of her attitude and that she might be a one-trick pony. But after seeing her wedding dress, I can't wait to see her line - definitely leaves me curious. I think that I want her to win.
I also love Korto's designs. She has consistenly done a beautiful job and produced clothes that we have never seen before.
Leann did a beautiful wedding gown and bride's maid dress. I love the colors she picked.

I am glad that Jerell is gone. When Tim visited him, it looked like his line was WAY over the top with junk.

http://www.bravotv.com/Project_Runway/season/5/index.php

I wonder who it will be!

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Fun with Fleece

Round one of Fleecefest at my house has ended (photoless - I will take pictures next time). I thought that it was only one fleece, but after opening the bag, I think I got all 4. I got no enthusiastic volunteers to help me pick out all of the vegetable matter. Am said that I would love it more if I did all of the work myself. Gee, thanks, honey. I was thinking I would love it more if the whole family helped.

I followed Peggy's directions and am amazed that the fleece is a cream color! I never would have thought that caked on mud/dirt/poop and gross would have come off!


Know anyone with a drum carder? I am NOT doing all of this by hand. Thank you to Peggy for letting me borrow hers!

Pictures soon!

Monday, October 6, 2008

Finished (and updated) Objects

Sunflower Tam - quick knit - great results! The Manos color is 115 with red, rust and hot pink!



















Ameran's Durrow - I made this for him last Christmas and he still hasn't worn it. His excuse was that the neckline was too droopy. (ok, guys shouldn't wear scoopnecks.) So I did the Yarn Harlot's Crocheted neckline to fix the problem. http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2008/02/24/hooking_because_i_have_to.html Well, after reading the post, I did it my way, but similar. I was pleasantly surprised with how well this technique fixed the problem. I was hoping for a slight improvement, but it really fixed it! Yay! Am put it right on.














Also finished the cable and rib sweater from Debbie Bliss. I like how it came out. Now, who gets it?




New Fleece! My inlaws gave me a fleece. Um what do I do with it? I need to wash it first, but I plan to dye it and use it for needle felting projects. :o) Talked with the local fleece/spinning expert and she gave me instructions. Looking forward to doing something I have never done before!


Can't find that damn yarn to finish Notre Dame Pullover. Where the heck did I put it? Good news, I found it - I am not going crazy.

Advent Calendar

I know that it seems funny to be talking about Christmas already, but it will be here before we know it. Plus, with Baby due on 12/30, who knows what I will be able to get done as it gets closer. The good thing is I have some presents done already. :o)

Here is the start to our family's advent calendar. I have been meaning to make one of these for over a year now. The inspiration for this project came from a blog I saw a loooong time ago. I wish I could remember the name of it. She had a picture of a Japanese craft magazine on her blog and it had something like this on it, but in drab colored linen.


The calendar itself is about 33" square and the pockets are about 4" square. I used the fusable adhesive for the numbers and ironed them right on.

I am planning to hide a different surprise in each pocket to represent a holiday activity for each day.

I made the decorated Christmas tree and the Polar Express jingle bells. I have a whole list of brainstorming ideas for other little objects to go inside the pockets. Food for bringing donations to the local soup kitchen and food shelter, the Grinch for when we watch it on TV and a bunch of others....

Do you have any ideas out there?
If I can do about 2 a week, it will be finished by Christmas.
Also did a little stocking for our man, Baxter. Now to make them for the rest of the family. I wanted to do knitted ones, but sewing does go a heck of a lot faster.
Fabric purchased at Quilter's Dream http://www.quiltersdream.com/. I just fell in love with those cute little trees.

Pumpkin Patch




Fall is my favorite time of year. The leaves, the smell, the breeze, the colors. The sweater weather. Ahhh. (and a smiling daughter)