ornaments 2010

memory ball ornament!

I LOVE this! I wrote down good special memories for the past year on little slips of paper then slathered a clear glass ornament ball in mod podge and placed the memories on top. Then slathered much more mod modge on top. 12 hours later it was on the tree with a year tag. I hope to do this ever year.

crochet baubles!

I had planned to make the girls daycare teachers some quilted ball ornaments until I saw this little gem. Not only are they so so so pretty they take no time at all and I was able to use up some yarn I wasn't sure what to do with. (my yarn was a bit thinner than the tutorial yarn so I did an extra round before dropping my ball in)



family ornament

The girls (still can't get over that there are two girls now!) put their thumb prints into a flattened ball of bakeable clay. Then Lills jazzed them up with paint and I sealed them with modpodge.


Here is our activity advent. Envelopes made from cardstock holding each day's activity. We are having so much fun with this and Lilly has been practicing recognizing double digit numbers, bonus!

big butt baby pants

I'm addicted, it is an easy, fast, cute pattern. That always makes me giddy with how cute the finished pair is!











Two pairs of that pile my friend Jess made for Jane and included matching onesies!

(m is for our last name)

Thanks again Jess!


I have plans for many many many more baby pants for Jane, I have a new stack of fabric AND a NEW SERGER!!!!! Gregg got me a SERGER for Christmas!! A SERGER!! big big big points. He did all the research and surprised me with it on Monday! (imagine picture of me hugging said serger here)

Jane's Stocking

Well this stocking was supposed to be for Jane but now it is mine and she get's my green one from last year. I had planned to make her a red stocking but I didn't like any of the reds at the yarn shop and Lilly was driving the yarn shop owner mad with her touching all the yarn (I can see her point of not wanting the yarn to get messed up but Lills was touching the yarn much like we all do when in a yarn shop!) So I felt extremely rushed to get the stocking yarn and get out. I love orange, forgetting Jane might not be such a fan for her Christmas stocking. Then the finished stocking turned out to be a bit smaller and weaker than Lilly's stocking and my green one. I think the two girls should have the biggest baddest stockings...thus the switch.

This is my 2nd time knitting from a purchased pattern (the first I have yet to show) and I must say I was expecting purchased patterns to be flawless. Neither of them were, mistakes, and/or poorly written instructions. I really was disappointed to pay for something that I had to think extra hard about what the heck to do next.

Pattern: Snowflake stocking from Ann Norling #1020 ( I bought mine from my local yarn shop)

Yarn: berroco vintage (such nice soft washable yarn!) cream is patons wool


(look how nice that yarn is!!)

Oh, Happy December! We started up our advent calender yesterday! We also added in a new calendar where we get to do a Christmas related activity every day. Such fun so far!

McCall's 5925

McCall's 5925

I set out to make version B with short sleeves. But then I realized that making myself a dress while I am nursing didn't sound very convenient. So I skipped the pockets and shortened the hem to more of a tunic length. This is a very loose fitting pattern and I felt that that combined with the brown/orange fabric just wasn't a good look. So I brought in the sides and added a fabric belt and I love the result. I still have to take the belt off to nurse but at least I am not hiking up my dress. I have worn this out and about twice now and I love it! It looks great with my farmer's market cardi too. The pattern also has lots of nice finishing techniques that hide most of the raw edges. This fabric frays like crazy. I found it in the shirting aisle at Joann's but after I got home I noticed it has some stretch to it and was heavier than I thought so really I have no idea what fabric this is other than that it is a polyester/rayon blend. Next time I go to Joann's I will have to hunt it down. But this fabric doesn't seem to wrinkle which is a huge plus to a lazy girl like me. I should be able to wear this tunic to work too...maternity leave is over tomorrow...oh the highs and lows of a working mom...

catch up

holy moly, it's been awhile! Two kids are a lot of work! I have been sneaking in some crafting here and there. I also figured out how to knit during some nursings. I am working on another sweater for me, a tea leaves cardigan. I really don't know why I am making myself another sweater. All I want to wear is my farmers market cardi...those pockets! I am trying to prepare myself to get spit up and snotty nose drippings on it, it's going to happen. I am also glad Gregg knows me so well, I asked him if he was sick of my farmers market cardi yet (he even knows the name), he said he was fully aware he would see it often this year.

Anyway, I was in the middle of binding off Jane's little sister dress when I went into labor. So it needed minimal finishing after she was here. I made it shorter than the pattern called for so I think its more of a tunic or shirt sweater. She should be able to fit into it soon! (see rav page for details)



I sewed Lills a circle skirt from Made's tutorial. It was so fast and I was so happy to have everything for it on hand. It seriously took a half hour. Lills and I have big plans for a light weight denim skirt next.



Here is Jane at 5 weeks wearing one of her dresses.


and she got some baby legs, the tutorial I used before is no longer and I tried to remember but I think I made the bottom cuff too tight so not sure how long she can wear them but these are so easy for diaper changes. Gregg thought they were all style and no function until he changed a diaper then he was a huge fan.


but currently I am addicted to sewing big butt baby pants, more on that later!

Jane's Grammie Blanket!

Thank you for all the nice wishes about Jane! We have been settling in as a family of four. Jane has been my little dress up baby, trying on all of the handmades on her! I am happy with most of them. I ended up not liking the fleece and wool diaper covers. They leaked pretty quick, as cute as they are I will stick with store bought PUL covers.

sweater described here

sweater described here

sweater described here

After the much anticipated Jane, I was very much anticipating seeing Jane's Grammie blanket!





My mom also made Jane's crib bumper. We chose different fabrics and I am in love with the two we chose and it still matches her blanket but not matchy matchy.



Thanks mom! We sure love them both!

Jane!

Jane arrived last Friday! Yay for Jane! and us, she is a pretty rockin' baby to have around!



August 13, 2010
1:52am
7 lbs 12 ozs
20.5 in



Lills is so proud to be a big sister. We made this freezer paper stencil shirt a few weeks back.

farmers market cardi

I am so incredibly happy with this knit. This sweater was a challenge for me! Many things about the pattern were 1st time attempts for me and that shawl collar!! Oh man, was that a doosey to figure out how to knit. But several rip outs and try agains later I got it right and I am so so so happy.







Last November, I scored the Patons yarn for this sweater from Micheals for $2.oo a skein! The sweater used exactly 6 skeins. And I mean exactly 6 skeins, I had to go buy a 7th for seaming! Can you believe that!?! so in total this sweater cost me about 16 bucks! This was my first time using Patons wool so I am a bit curious to see how it holds up with wear. This sweater was so much work that I should have thought about my yarn choice a bit more before diving in. I also wanted to knit this in a pretty pretty mustard color but made myself branch out a bit and pick this plumy color. A nice little addition of color to my wardrobe and I think my mustard crochet earrings would look really nice with it.



I do love it and am very much looking forward to some cool weather to wear it...while holding Jane in my arms!

Pattern: Farmers market cardigan, printed pattern in Interweave Knits Fall 2009; size 36 chest. (no mods; listed some suggestions/frustrations on my rav page)

Yarn: Patons classic wool in plum heather (6.2 skeins)

McCalls 6512

I didn't end up sewing myself any dresses like I had planned now that we are just days away from Jane (!!!), I decided to wait and make dresses that fit me without the Jane belly. But I sure had fun getting back into pattern sewing for Jane. Two versions of McCalls 6512. This dress has a wrap top with so many ways to finish the bottom skirt.


corduroy with bottom ruffle version


simple red cotton version



There will be more many more! I made these two in the small size which is supposed to be 13-18 pounds. I was hoping the red cotton one would shrink in the wash so as Jane could wear it a bit sooner but I don't think it did at all. So I am trying my hardest to not make any more versions until we see if Jane is a chunk or a skinny minny. I would hate to make her the jean version that won't fit until next summer. but oh I can't wait to make that one! or the brown butterfly one! or the mix matched yellow one! or the cute little diaper covers to match!