Anthropologie inspired dishcloth

Christmas is around the corner... Tryin to get a good chunk of projects done now.
These will be Anthropologie inspired dishcloths... Here is the Anthropologie link
Matrioshka nesting dolls made with special fabric from Aunt Beckie's St. Theresa's Textile Trove They still need faces and some other finishing touches. I am enjoying the machine appliquing. I really like the results. (why did I start doing appliqueing by hand for the baby's quilt? what am I crazy?)
Thinking of listing these on etsy when I'm done... What do you guys think?

Christmas

Christmas eve there was a huge crash and rumbling outside. Laney shot up and screamed for me - Ah the perfect opportunity....
"It's ok Laney. It was just the reindeer on the roof."
The gutter couldn't have fallen off the house on a more perfect day. :o)

Made a few sets of mini mitts and felted snowmen for everyone in the family.

Mom loved her shell tank. The vest fit Mike (sigh - of relief. Now I don't have to make another one unless I want to.)

Finished the Leaf Lace sweater, so now the baby can come any day now... Unless I have to finish the 3 piece set to beat the supersitition.

NYC

There is something about the city at Christmas.

We got to see the tree.

Walk around.

The boys went to Caroline's Comedy club.

And Delaney got to enjoy this....

Delaney's Christmas list

When questioned what she would like for Christmas from Santa she replied:

A new blue Cinderella watch
and
a real snake.


Yup.


She boggles my mind. She is a princess and a biker chick wrapped into one. She will pick the gaudiest, Vegas-style glittery light up shiny things and then act so tough you wonder how a 3 year old can be so brave.


Wonder what the baby will be like....

Advent 8

Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer - the 1964 version. It is nice continuing on with tradition and watching the same Christmas movies over every year. I enjoy the routine and can't wait to watch "It's a Wonderful Life."
On a side note: it is interesting to observe how politically correct or gender conscious or socially conscious we have become since 1964. Rudolph's mother was expected to stay at home while all of the MEN went to go look for him. There were other comments in the movie hinting that women were weak and subordinate.

I swatched and c/o for a present for my father-in-law. My MIL suggested he might like a vest, so I did a little research to make a very plain one (per her request), and here I go. I am going to make it out of the wool we brought back from Ireland. I am expecting it to go fast because I will be knitting it in the round.
I wish my own father would like to wear sweaters or vests, but it is just not his thing. He would rather be wearing a stinky NY Giants shirt. Oh well.

Baby is moving around a lot. I wonder when she will decide to be born. I hope before Christmas, I would love to just be home for the holidays and not have to work. I don't think that I am that lucky though. I am leaning towards one of the names, based on its meaning and uniqueness. Anyone have any ideas?
I can't wait to meet her!

Advent day 3, 4 + 5

3: Delaney and I set up some snowman Christmas lights up outside.

And I worked on Christmas presents on the same theme...

What are these? Santa and Father Christmas/Elf Needle felting kits for the class on Friday!

4: Decorated the tree.

5: Letter to Santa. We will also be sending our Holiday cards out to friends and family. :o)

Advent day 2: Tree

Got our tree from the Willimantic Midget Football League. Am and Delaney put it up. When I left for work they were letting the branches fan out from being tied. Hopefully all of the lights will be on by the time I get home. :o)
I also got a wreath for our front porch. The seasons are so much more enjoyable when you decorate for them!

December 1: Advent Day 1

Delaney pulled out the stocking from her advent calendar, so we hung up the stockings I made last month.
An elf also snuck in while we were sleeping the other night and left Delaney a Christmas tree for the kitchen table. I suggested that we make a tree-skirt for it. She wasn't too thrilled about it; but when I asked her how the elf was supposed to leave surprises if there was no tree-skirt, she quickly changed her tune.
(I'll update with pictures later)

Also, check this out!
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/delaneysduds/roley-poley-santa-ball-ornament

Class for it will be on Friday, December 5th at 5 pm. Yarns with a Twist, Chaplin, CT. You just pay for materials. It will be roughly $10-$15. Bring your needle felting accouterments.

Also, made him too...

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

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.

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.

later: found the link! http://linaloo.typepad.com/linaloo/2007/12/better-late-tha.html

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.