No, I haven't been just goofing off...

I had a shower to go to. I made a duck with matching hat. It also got wrapped nicely with a little hand stamped card. Now, I have to go to work.

Successful hat attempt!

I tried making this hat for the Nuggie once before, but it came out way too big. Truth be told, it was actually too big for me as well.

This one came out nicely, though:

I must make these

Apple Hat

Froggy Hat

Panda Hat

1st Dress

I finished sewing my first dress. It is for Chelsea. The last time I tried to sew clothes was 8 years ago. It was supposed to be a pair of pajama pants (or was it a robe), regardless, it did not go well and I left making clothes for the more sewing machine skilled. What made me decide to give it another college try was I was at Hobby Lobby and saw this adorable fabric and then saw Simplicity patterns were on sale for only 99 cents. Must be fate, right? FYI- Simplicity patterns are 99 cents again :)

The dress has a zipper and a gathered yoke on the front and back. The close-up picture shows the gathering and also the fabric. The pattern on the fabric is a nursery rhyme toile.

Following the directions carefully (I don't think I even read them 8 years ago) it all went pretty easily. I was pleasantly surprised. I added the trim to the arms so that it would match the band on the bottom. I also had to learn how to do a french seam so the inside wouldn't look too horrible. I only wish I had asked Heidi (a master dressmaker) what to do about seams earlier.

Though she isn't smiling in the pictures, Chelsea like it and gave it a "too cute."

Can't wait to make another one.

Busy, busy, busy

I have done quite a few projects over the holidays. I made 4 scarves for the Moms (i.e. my Mom, Stepmom, Mother-in-law, and Sister). They were inspired by "Mommy" necklaces that have little people as charms. There is one for each child, and the girls have little triangle dresses, while the boys have rectangle or oval shaped bodies. I made the scarves with a Knifty Knitter, and crocheted the tassle children.

The ones for my Mom and Stepmom were the most time-consuming because they have 7 grandchildren - 6 girls and 1 boy each. Lots of little pink triangles. My sister's and MIL's didn't take quite as long as Nique' has 3 kids, and my MIL has 4 grandchildren. Like an idiot, I forgot to take pictures of my Mom's and my MIL's. Here are the ones of my Stepmom's and my sister's, though.

Then, scarves done I decided to knit a present for Adoxograph. I'm not posting a picture here, because I'll let her do that when it arrives. :)

I also made a few letters for little girls' bedroom doors as presents. Once again, the idiot factor kicked in and I forgot to take pictures before I gave the presents. I have the H still, so here is that:



Last,but not least, my little boy spotted me working on a hat, and asked me to make him one as well. I did that yesterday:

This looks interesting

A way to put our crafting obsessions to use to do some good:
Snuggles Project

New Year

I had a fantastic day yesterday, getting a tour of some of the better, more interesting and downright perplexing craft supply shops around Portland. I didn't get to have my own yarn spun at Yarnia but I did find some amazing insane old craft magazines at Knittn Kitten (expect vegetable bouquets to appear here in the near future), and some Very Hungry Caterpillar fabric at the Fabric Depot .

That's going to be my kitchen curtains. Seriously, it will be awesome.

But the most inspiring spot was Twisted. I invite all of you to visit me and we'll go there. There are couches, and tea, and wonderful people and they only have one (1!) yarn that has acrylic in it. I couldn't find it. They have patterns all over, books, you can sign up for lessons... and some sock yarn so stunning it made me want to conquer my fear of double pointed needles.

In between my new printer/scanner, my new camera, and the existence of Twisted, I am excited for what I can do this year. But here's the thing. I'm not going to assign myself anything. I'm not going to say now what I will and will not do this year. The only promise I'm going to try and keep is that I will finish the projects I start, in some form or fashion.

I have some old (1902) issues of Good Housekeeping magazine. So many articles and ads on how to keep busy with fabric and paint, home decorating and food. How lucky we are that these things we call "crafts" can be our comfort and solace, inspiration and meditation as they have been for generations before. I wonder if it isn't so much the finished project, but the work itself that is important. After all, how often is it that we keep the work for ourselves? But the time we spend in creation, that is ours, and ours alone.

Save some time for yourself everybody, and fill it with what you love. Happy New Year!