finally

Well it came. I've been waiting for this book for like for. ever. 

There are several blogs that I follow religiously. Humm, probably more than religiously. Every once in a while I take a mental health Sunday off of church. I don't miss my blog reads. Ever.

Alicia Paulson writes Posy Gets Cozy. I love to peek into her life and watch her create. She is also adopting a baby girl. I'm so excited for her and I love the little projects she is working on for her baby while she waits.

I thumbed through my book while I feed the Little Mister a bottle. I love this project using crewel wool. As you can see I got out my embroidery hoops and started planning.

Now, generally speaking, I don't get into any type of needle work in the Summer. It just seems too hot to sit with something in my lap. However. Summer skipped us down her in San Diego this year. Honestly, we have only had a couple of hot days and every morning is cold and overcast. And now that I have Alicia's book to get me in the mood, I'm considering a project. Something to do in the last few minutes before we call it a day.

Michael's Craft was having a sale on cotton yarn. I thought a light weight summer afghan would be just the thing to keep my fingers nimble. I picked these three bright fun colors and I'm planning on using double crochet to keep it loose and airy. I may try a zig-zag pattern to make it look like candy.

To be fair, I should probably just say that I might be full of a lot of crap and never even start this blanket. I've got, like, a kabillion projects going right now, two of which are needy little babies. I also have an illustration project that I'm working on that I simply can't wait to share when it's finished. And then there's SPARK. It's only a month away. I'm so excited to be teaching and I'm trying to plan a class that will knock your socks off. And the Winter Secondsister collection needs to be finished off. Hopefully, that will knock your socks off as well. Bring your cash stash from your underwear drawer.

I'm trying to keep up. I'm stressed and having fun all at the same time. Did you read the previous post? My life is a circus.

calling crocheters!

Rosie is a headband wearing type of gal. For Christmas I crocheted her a big blue flower. She had been borrowing mine that I bought from Emily Sparks.

I was able to duplicate it pretty well without a pattern.


Rosie went to an orphanage in Mexico on Christmas day. She distributed presents to the kids. She served them Christmas dinner. They played soccer.


Rosie wore her new headband.


The teenage girls at the orphanage loved it. They all wanted one but Rosie couldn't give it to just one girl. She wished she had more.


This gave her an idea.


She will be going back to the orphanage in Mexico and she wants to take a headband for each girl.


Do you crochet?


Will you help us make headbands?


Here's a closer look at it.



Okay girls.

I am not a pro by any means. I've never written a pattern before, but here it goes.


Chain seven and connect to make a circle.
Double crochet thirteen through the center of the circle.
Double crochet a second row on top of the first, doubling up to make twenty-six stitches.
Chain five, single crochet into every third stitch. Repeat until you go all the way around the circle.
Double crochet seven into each arch to create the petals. Single crochet between each petal.
Tie off.
Chain a length of sixteen inches.
Connect to back of flower every two chain stitches. Continue across the back of the flower. Chain ten inches on the other side of the flower.
Turn and single crochet eight inches up the first chain.
Chain two inches and connect to back of the flower in the same way as the center chain. Chain ten inches on the opposite side before connecting to the first chain and single crocheting to the end.
Turn and repeat the last steps to create the third and last chain.
Tie off.


I know this pattern totally sucks. But believe me, if I can figure out how to make one of these, any seasoned crocheter should be able to whip one out in no time.

Here's a much better pattern! Thanks Jen Renee!

Tis' the season for fiber arts! Come on girls! It doesn't require much yarn! Get those needles flying!


If you are willing to make and ship me a headband, please leave a comment with your contact info and I will tell you where to ship.


Also, if you can send me a better pattern to post to replace my gibberish, I'd be much obliged.


Oh, and while you're at it, make one for yourself. I've been lapping up the compliments every time I wear mine!

more fun with dick and jane

My great-grandfather was a elementary school principal. My father happened to go to the school that he resided over. The same school, incidentally, that I went to some thirty years later. The school itself was built around the turn of the century. It had ornate brass hardware and black and pink penny tiles in the girls bathroom. They tore down my school last year to make way for a new fandangled building which will have automated sinks instead of the charming little asterisk knobs for cold and hot water. I am bothered by the fact that the town I grew up in has so little respect for historic buildings.

And I can guarantee they aren't using Dick and Jane readers anymore. They probably threw those out like so much trash. Little did they know their worth. A vintage Dick and Jane reader sells for hundreds of dollars now. The same readers that I learned to read with. The same readers that I wrote little hearts on and doodled my name.

Most people that learned to read with Dick and Jane are my parents age. But my little town didn't more out of the fifties until the early nineties. And so I have a soft spot in my heart for Dick and Jane and Sally and Spot and what was the cat's name? Fluffy? No Puff.

I started a little project yesterday and I'm almost finished.

I pieced the top and I'm crocheting around the edge. My scallop edge isn't as "scallopy" as I'd like but it'll do.

It's not as girly as the other things I've been making for our baby, but it will match our new stroller that Ben ordered. It came this morning and I was able to assemble it even with my melon brain.

I was so proud of myself I took myself out for sushi.

couch crafting

Tell me. What is about cold weather that makes me want to needle craft? Is is that my work bench in the garage seems such a cold place to be? Is it the warmth of a project laying across my lap? Is it the quiet pull of the string that reminds me of the snow falling softly on my parents home in the mountains?

I'm not quite sure where I'm going with this embroidery project. It will most likely end up incorporated into an apron.

If you are interested in vintage embroidery, there are many free patterns to be found online. This little scottie dog appeared in Women's Weekly on October 30th, 1937.

I started this baby blanket on the ride to Utah. I'm thinking of adding a little embroidered squirrel to one corner. If I'm lucky, someone I know will have a baby next fall to gift it to.

just monday

Because on Mondays, I really need a good laugh:

You gotta love his enthusiasm. And now to another little matter. . .

Dear Miguel-

After this weekend, I feel that I owe you some sort of apology. It is true that in the past my patience for you has been somewhat lacking. I am prone to making rash judgements and jumping to conclusions. For this I am sorry. It is something I grapple with continually.

I first realized my err when I found out that you weren't able to mow for a week or so because your mower was broken. I hope the repair bill didn't cost too much. I was further shamed when you complimented my work with the succulents I was planting in the pilaster pots. I was a little startled when you appeared behind me and said , "Es muy bueno, Aprrrillll. Muy bueno." I turned to see you standing there in your Home Depot cap and secondhand glasses with a wide white smile on your brown face. I didn't know you wore glasses.

I hope I wasn't over bearing with my questions about how your family is doing. I felt awkward facing you after my unjustified judgements. You further solidified my new opinion of you when you replied that your son is "crecimiento mismo de la grasa y muy lindo". In my book, any man who brags how cute his kids are, must be principled and decent.

In the future, I will cut you more slack when you miss a week. I will inquire more about your personal life. I can see that it makes you happy to talk about your wife and son. In short, I will try to reserve my judgments to corrupt politicians and people at the DMV.

Sincerely,

Mrs. M

P.S. Please don't mention to any one that you saw me drinking a Red Bull and eating a Reese's peanut butter cup while I was planting. Nobody really needs to know.

broderie anglaise

When I just can't look at another bead or piece of silver, I come in from my work bench, put on my pajamas and break out the needle crafts. I have been working for some time on two crocheted blankets for Mei Mei. I love the rhythm of crochet. The in and out of the needle, the pull and tug of the yarn. I like to nestle in the corner of my large sofa and watch Nova or Project Runway, crochet and snack on things I shouldn't be eating at night- like sour patch kids or milk duds.

Sweet Pea Blanket

Spumoni Blanket

Recently, I have been dabbling in English embroidery (broderie anglaise). I find it very relaxing. My work tends to be less English and more modern American doodling. For my next project, I want to make a watch with an embroidered band. Keep an eye on my etsy shop!

Keep a green bough in your heart, and a singing bird will come!

-Chinese Proverb