On the road off the needles

I took a road trip last weekend.  Before I left I was scurrying around the house to grab the last essentials.  You know, a good book and knitting of course!  My husband assured me that I could travel quite well without either.  He usually sleeps on a plane, so I don't think he quite caught the sense of my emergency!

Even though I was in a conference all weekend I managed to whip up "Jane" for my middle daughter.  An easy, one skein knit that satisfied the bill.  Easy and portable.

She has decided it is an indispensable part of her wardrobe!  Love it!

My project raveled here

Odd Socks

 When knitting for a 10 year-olds upcoming birthday,

you don't necessarily have to follow the rules or have things match!

 So I put aside my A-type personality,
which likes things "just so" sometimes

And embraced the fun side of these socks,
that I am sure my oldest daughter will just love!

Her sister "approves" of mom's choice of blue and lime green too.

I am thinking it should be a good birthday present!

Ravelled here

button play

I had one package of button hanging around.

Think I won it as a door prize somewhere.

I also had a little time,

mixed with a little creative juice.

So Papaya and I decided to be a little creative.

We snipped the backs off the buttons so that they were flat.

Added some hot glue and a thumb tack.

 Presto!  Super cute, super easy, super fun push pins.
Super girly too...

Here's another way to make them.
About a month ago I made a dozen using brads, which you can find at scrapbook stores.

I just broke the back metal pieces off,

added glue
and a tack.

Voila!
So much cuter than the regular push pin!

Maine morning mitts

Here is a great project to keep you busy for just a little bit.

It's easy!

It's fast!

And you can talk and complete it at the same time.

Important things when travelling with husband and kids!

So when we left on holidays at the end of March,

that was just the kind of project I wanted.

I knit one mitt on the last leg of the first day.

Didn't I say it was fast?

If you are looking for the pattern it is on Ravelry.
I used Jasper Berroco. 

It knit up perfectly!

Really you won't be disappointed.

celebrate your love affair with knitting

Below, I have included a section from Interweave's Knitting Daily message for today. I thought that all of us who love knitting (and other crafts) might understand....

Celebrate Your Love Affair with Knitting

When most people talk about their Valentine, they're usually talking about a person. Well, one of my Valentines this year is going to be to my knitting! I love it so much, let me count the ways:

1. It fills my life with color

2. It encourages my creativity

3. It keeps my hands busy

4. It introduces me to new people who share my love for the craft

5. It loves to travel

6. It likes the same TV shows that I like

7. It keeps the same schedule as I do; if I want to knit in the middle of the night, it's there for me!

8. It likes to change bags as much as I do!

9. It challenges me

10. It keeps me company, even when I'm cranky

home ec 101

Only Papaya and I were at home this afternoon. Two of her sisters had a play date and her Dad was off doing some things as well.

Over Christmas she got a Karito doll named Pita. She has been mentioning that she would like a doll quilt for her. I had told her that she would have to learn how to make one.Today seemed like the perfect day. Contrary to the complaints in the southern states, we were too warm today to do much of anything outside. The snow was melting, everything was slushy. So sledding, skiing and skating were pretty much out of the question.

Plus we had a lovely basket of scraps, compliments of a friend (thank you S!) that she had been eyeing for a while.
So we got her comfortable, which meant propping up the electronic foot so she could reach it.
Then we started reviewing the basics. She had sewed a skirt in the summer. But she hadn't done anything since then. At first she felt like things were going really slow. That changed really fast though as she started to get the handle of things.
After she knew what she was doing, I really resisted the urge to take over. Okay, if you must know, I kind of "sat on my hands" for a while. Reminding myself it was the process, not how fast it got done. Hadn't I kind of just said that to her? So I decided to get a book and a chair and read. When she had a question, I answered it. When she needed help, I guided instead of doing it myself.
By the "end-ish" of the quilt I went downstairs to help her sister make supper. Doesn't that sound nice? One sewing, one cooking! I was kind of startled by the transitions that are slowly happening in our home.

She did call me upstairs when the thread came out of the needle and she couldn't get it back in. But she was quite content to go it alone. When she said "I can do it Mom", I realized she really wanted and needed to.

Here she is with her finished doll quilt top. Completed in one lazy, for me maybe, Sunday afternoon.

So proud of her!

P.S. After posting, I realized she held the quilt top with the wrong side to me for the photo. How funny that neither of us realized!

a beary world

Boo-boo has been learning all about bears, both real and imaginary. So yesterday in school we made a little bear of her own. She wasn't being very cooperative when it came to taking pictures.She looks mad in this picture but she wasn't. I think she wanted to just go and have some quiet time with her new special friend.

~

I helped her cut the bear out, using big sharp scissors. Then she stitched around the whole bear and stuffed it. At supper time she finally picked out the eyes she wanted and we gave bear a little face.

~

A fun snowy day craft!

explain the unexplainable

Do any of you, can any of you, understand or explain the phenomenon of craving fiber and textiles? Really I spent an hour tonight on Ravelry drooling over various yarns and fibers and thinking of all manner of things that I could create with them. While on vacation, well over a month ago, I saw a new line of fabric from Moda that I loved! Wanted! Even walked away from! But I still keep thinking about it!

Crazy? True!

Then I walk into my craft room and realize that I still have things to knit, things to sew, things to quilt. Projects undone with my girls!

Why does the new call so much? I really REALLY try to use up, rethink, recycle but I still have more! Trying VERY hard not to give into my urges for a new project. Perhaps these are just the unexplainable urges of a crafter!

fairy-sized watering can

My oldest, who is quite creative, made me a fairy-sized watering can. I think it is absolutely adorable and positively love it! I put the quarter beside it so you would have an idea of the size. As well, you can realize the detail she put into such a tiny can.

~~~~

It has found a happy home on my kitchen window sill.