I worked on this scarf for 2 hours yesterday, and it'a almost finished! can you believe it?
I did most of the work while watching 4 episodes of "Rhoda" on Hulu. THECUTESTSHOWEVER.
I'm making a Fidget. It's my go to holiday gift because it moves quickly, and I LOVLOVELOVE using Misti Alpaca Chunky yarn!!! Every time I find it for a good price, I buy a truckload. If I am going to knit gifts, I want to at least enjoy it a little and this stuff is a dream to work with. I remember touching it for the first time at Loop in Philadelphia and I almost cried. It's nicer than any cashmere. I swear. It really is absolutely my favorite yarn. Gah!
Last week, this precious littlw mushroom showed up on my doorstep! I won a give away over on Thompson Family Life (one of my favorite blogs) and this was the prize. I love it to bits!
These mod inspired ornaments are created by Karen of Midwest Maude and I would squeal with delight to have any of these accompany my new mushroom on the tree!!!
We got our first Christmas cards in the mail today! Of course, I tore the house apart looking for the clothespin wreath I made last year to hold them all. That led to digging through every box and taking out a little decoration here and there. Which led to cleaning the entire bathroom, so I could start to decorate it.
The Dreampet deer and the pinecone tree were gifts from my awesome boss and his lovely lady, Paula. The wreath was a really good find from a thrifting adventure last Christmas. We already discussed the record and I've had the snowglobe for AGES!!! Hilariously enough, this lil' vignette is on the back of my toilet :-)
I decided to decorate the bathroom first because it's easy, and some of my favorite decorations hang out there.
I really do try hard NOT to participate in the Black Friday madness, but working in retail definitely doesn't help. I heard that the store next to mine had Fuji Instax Cameras for 40% off and I rushed over to make sure that I got one. I shivered with anticipation while I was standing in line; I've wanted one of these cameras for so so long...
I plan on using it sometime next week during our tree decorating party, so stay tuned for that!
Today was such a long day! We ate dinner at around 7pm yesterday and didn't get home to almost 10pm. I knew I had to go to sleep but I just couldn't! I tossed and turned until about midnight, and then I had to be awake by 3:30am to be at work by 4. It was a rough morning; believe me! I should have taken it a little easier on the red wine. With the help of some pumpkin spice coffee and fun music, I somehow made it through the morning.
And after work, I came home to most wonderful things in the mail!!! Four skeins of Lamb's Pride AND some vintage velvet ribbon for a very top secret long term project I intend on beginning in January. All that I can really say right now is that it is VERY exciting and that it will require a lot of hard work.
Being a grown-up is so strange, especially in the middle part.
I remember being a kid and sitting at the kitchen table making stuffing, while watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade on a little red television. I would stand on my knees to reach the bowl and squish up all of the bread while stealing tiny bits of sausage. It was such a lazy day, I could stay in my pajamas if I wanted to. I could watch TV all day. I wasn't expected to eat a ton or forced take leftovers back to my house where they would eventually be forgotten about.
Being a grown-up on Thanksgiving is so much different! I have to get up early and put on nice clothes. I have to stop at the liquor store, so we don't arrive at people's homes empty handed. I have to wear fancy shoes that hurt a little and engage in conversation with the adults.
While I don't mind these things, I'd love to be be able to stay at home, make my own stuffing and watch whatever I want.
This morning I did get to watch the parade and it brought me to tears (the happy kind). As the giant balloons and floats made their way down 34th street, they brought so many memories of Thanksgiving's past with them.
After taking the time to recapture the nostalgia that made Thanksgiving so special before, I had a pseudo-epiphany.
Thanksgiving isn't so bad after all!
I get to eat good food and spend time with family that I don't see very often. I don't have to wash dishes or stick my hands in the turkey butt.
Paint and I have a terrible relationship. Paint never listens to me. It does what ever it wants. It gets all over the kitchen floor and in my hair. I find spots weeks later. I always get fingerprints all over whatever I'm working on. I use wayyyyy too much or far too little.
It's weird really. You'd think that a crafty fella like me wouldn't wince at word like "paint", but I do. It's the worst.
I really should re-frame my thinking and approach the potential gloppy mess with a" can-do attitude". It would probably be reflected in the finished object.
But, I just can't.
I.
Hate.
Paint.
That being said, I do intend to give this wrapping paper another whirl, because I really really love how cute in looks all wrapped up under the tree on the Create Love blog.
I started making this lion for the Softies for Mirabel Auction but, I'm so afraid that it's not going to be finished in time. I sourced mostly vintage materials on Etsy and I'm still waiting for a few things to arrive.
.
I have to decide on a nose and mouth and how I'm going to make the mane. There's a pompom maker (my pompoms are awful, I hope it helps!) and some vintage velvet ribbon floating around America, waiting to to be plopped on my doorstep by our reckless mail-person and I only have two weeks to wrap this lil' guy up AND to have him shipped safely to Australia!
I have no idea if I'll be able to get him ready in time. I really shouldn't have drug my feet in getting all of the supplies together, but I guess that if I don't finish him in time I could always donate him to a local charity that accepts handmade things. Are there any?
Keep your fingers crossed! If you have anything ready to go, or you work faster than I do you should send something!
When I first read James and the Giant Peach as little guy, I feel like I may have missed/misunderstood alot of Dahl's humor and aesthetic. Upon approaching it as an adult, I found a sort of Dickensian charm mixed with a little of Tim Burton's macabre imagery.
Honestly, in the 115 years that have elapsed since the first time I read it, I forgot a lot about the story. I remembered James and the peach (of course), and his awful aunts, but not much else. While reading this time I paid close attention to the habits and demeanor of the insects; perhaps looking for some kind of correlation or symbols? idk.
The grasshopper takes on the role of James's father. The centipede seems friendly and jubilant, clearly James' best bug friend, possibly a brother. The earthworm is pessimistic and bleak; but also sacrifices himself to save the peach and it's inhabitants. The ladybug could have been a symbol of good luck? I still can't figure out the significance of the 9 spots. The spider and the silkworm are the work-horses of the entire operation, busily creating the strings needed to "lasso" the seagulls.
The bugs create a nurturing and diverse environment for James to grow; a family. In the wake of his parent's tragic (but kind of funny) death, James is still able to reap the benefits of kinship during his journey. Roald Dahl's "it takes a village" theme did not go unnoticed this time!
Re-reading kid-lit with an adult perspective really is rewarding! I'm so glad Pip chose this book as the first installment of the retro-readers club!
The Amy Sedaris book "Crafts for Poor People" and our lack of Thanksgiving decorations inspired this kitschy indian corn tutorial! It's pretty much self explanatory really, but I'll guide ya, anyway; just for fun.
I know every is knee-deep in Christmas projects but, I couldn't bear to skip over a few Thanksgiving crafts. I look for any reason to wield a glue gun. It's true.
Step 1: Unroll a portion of paper twist and cut rectangle large enough to accommodate three pompoms with two inches of extra paper at the top.
Step 2: Rub glue across the bottom inside of the rectangle. Roll the edges toward the center and secure with yarn, twine or raffia.
Step 3: Put all three pompoms inside of the "husk" you've created. Push them close together. They don't mind. It's cozy! You can glue them if you want to.
Step 4: Draw another line of glue about a half inch from the pompom at the top. Cinch the husk and secure with yarn, twine or whatever.
THAT'S IT!!!!
This couldn't be easier!
So, go make some corn!
(and don't forget to send me pictures! my contact page works now!)
I haven't had a migraine in quite a long time. I cut out caffeine for a while and it seemed to do the trick. However, yesterday I jumped back on the horse full throttle. By about 8:30 I was three cups in and I couldn't have been happier! I really missed that stuff!
Unfortunately, today has blessed me with quite an awful migraine. I took tylenol. NOTHING. I tried the ice pack thing. NOTHING. I got desperate and went back to my post from a few months ago with all of the remedies that everyone had shared. A lot of them seemed to be preventative, but Lea offered the suggestion of a heating pad. I, too, hate being cold more than anything (except wind. I really really hate the wind.) So I decided to give the heating pad a shot.
The only problem was that I didn't have one.
I rushed into the craft room and cut a scrap of flannel (kinda) straight and sewed as quickly as I could. The migraine seemed to subside a little, so I took the time to mattress stitch the opening closed. Can you believe it? I'm minutes from vomiting all over the couch and I took the time to properly finish the heating pad.
I stuffed it with beans that we use as pie weights, so they kind of stink. I threw in some whole cloves but it didn't make enough of a difference.
After 2 minutes in the microwave, I was ready to go. It was such a relief! The heat really seemed to help!
