My darling nieces in Seattle missed getting Christmas presents when I was working around the clock over the holidays. Both their birthdays are this week and it's about time their aunt got her act together! At six Parker is already showing a love of arts and crafts. It runs in the family my dad paints oils, and my sister is an art director for Harper Collins. I can't wait to see her talents and interests evolve. At four Ava loves gymnastics and dance, spinning her way into our hearts.
It's easy to shop for both of them, I love getting together girly gifts. It's a refreshing change from the black clothes and high priced gadgets my teenage boys crave. I tend to pick up kits with lots of sparkles glue and mess (and my brother loves order, umm... too bad).
We only see them once a year and I needed to pack something more personal along with the purchased gifts. I cracked out my collection of Delta paints and made the plaques below for their rooms. I used small sheets of masonite that are primed with leftover latex. It would have been great if I remembered what color their rooms are but I hope I've added enough variation that they'll work with any decor.
While I paint, my friend Hannah's words ring in my ears 'keep it simple and quick'. I struggle with that, I always feel need to add layers oultine and highlights. All you scrapookers out there will have to excuse my lettering, it's the best I can do.
Painting with sunny colors is a great remedy for dealing with the miserable gray and stormy weather we've had. I'm so happy to get this in the mail.
I'm embarassed to admit it but yes this is my first attempt at knitting socks, and I'm hooked. I'm using my friend Amy's Spunky Eclectic super nova, she lives up the road from us and has just started writing a spinning and dying book. I'm following Chesley's truely 'Comfortable sock' pattern you can get it for free on her website theknittingexperience.com. She also clued me into the magic loop technique, which lets you knit the entire sock in the round on one super cool lace needle. The center cord is so flexible the extra length just slips out the sides. A good thing because I have a hard time wrestling with double pointed needles. I've also found if you set your work down the little needles are just too tempting, kids love to pull them out and poke things with them.
When my husband was questioned the time I'd invested on this little project, I stopped and slipped the sock onto his foot. His immediate reaction was "whoa that's comfortable!". Vindicated I returned to the peace and quiet of my knitting. It may not be the fastest way to warm your feet but it's fun to watch the self striping yarn do it's thing.
I'm one step closer to fulfilling my pioneer woman fantasy. I've mastered the woodstove, I can whip up a pot of soup and bake a batch of cookies in no time. The hundred inches of snow (total snowfall this winter mercifully we've had some melting between storms) completes the scene. As long as you block out the constant hum of the dishwasher and washing machine and the snowplow scraping outside the illusion would be complete. How did those women ever find time to make socks? I'm still exhausted with modern conveniences at my fingertips.
Family friends and colleagues will note that this is nothing short of a cyber miracle. I'm not going to admit how much help I needed from my husband and son to get this up and going. I can craft up a storm but the simple act of uploading a photo can frustrate me to no end. I'm so glad to finally enter this realm and look forward to connecting to fellow crafters.
I've been 'relaxing' the last two weeks after finishing my Simply Beaded Bliss photo deadline. I finally had the chance to get out knitting needles and put some leftover wool from Soft + Simple to use. I made Celia her very own Swing Jacket from the book. She couldn't believe I was making HER something. Everything I do usually ships out and can't be messed or played with. She's chose the buttons and I modified the pattern to incorporate them. Instead of making an icord tie, I single crocheted around the neck line and then made two eight stitch chain section buttonloops. It was so rewarding to make her something I'm itching to start something else.
