I Spy Projects

Kate,

I'm really starting to love the idea of these "I Spy" projects you have been talking about at our crafting sessions. One of the blogs I follow posted this cute featuring the same "I Spy" theme. Very cute! And great way to use up those old scraps of fabric filling up our bins.

http://crafterhours.blogspot.com/2010/03/i-spy-completed-quilt.html

Happy crafting,
Laura

Another Quilting Project in the Works

Kate,

This is probably a bit ambitious for me. But I'm on the brink of crazy because of a toddler who refuses to nap. And right now I'm tired of her waking her brother (since they share a room) and I'm tired of her in my bed, so I had a brillant idea. How about a sleeping bag all her own. V loves the one at Gamas.

This bright idea led me to spend precious naptime searching the internet for great ideas and tutorials. I found a tutorial no problem. Now here's the tricky part, I fell absolutely in LOVE with this quilt from Moda Bake Shop (one of the many blogs I stalk). I'm thinking it would be awesome to incorporate this quilt into a sleeping bag for V. It would be even better (and probably a little insane) to complete it for Easter. It's perfect, we read Princess and the Pea everyday. It's one of her favorites. And this is too adorable for words.

So the question is, am I absolutely insane to think about another quilting project while I'm still needing to complete R's first birthday quilt?

I can't wait to see you Saturday so we can start sewing R's quilt. The cutting of fabric is complete. Now it's time to work our magic!

Laura

Parenthood

Hi Laura,

Just a quick post about the new show Parenthood. I loved it! It reminds me of the movie The Family Stone- which I love. I also love Lauren Graham (from Gilmore Girls) and evidently I have a thing for Craig T Nelson. Who knew? Not me....

Check out the houses too. They are wonderful, I can only hope that one day I will have a house like that filled with a family that disfunctional.

I love it. Watch it and let me know what you think!

http://www.nbc.com/parenthood/
Kate

Busy Bee

Hi Laura!

Wow what a great post! I have to tell you that I really like the pillow sham you were planning to use as the center of R's quilt. To be honest I really liked the texture of it, nothing else screamed out at me. So if you think its the wrong choice, then we can design something new.

I have to warn you this one could be long. I have a lot to talk about.

First, I have a confession.

I craft with other people! I know, I know. It's just that you live so far away and sometimes I have needs. You know the crafting kind. So I craft with other people sometimes. Please don't hate me. Just so you know, these other crafter's are very talented and have helped me improve my technique. So I would like to show off some of their efforts, all of which are gifts I happen to be very grateful for.

These were made by friend Amy, they are for my hope chest. Just in case we ever have kids. But I like yours and hers for that matter, so for the time being I will just plan on babysitting.

Get this, the carrot is a rattle! So cute right?

Amy also made me this pot holder set, just cause she could. What a great crafting friend. The patterns for the pot holders, bibs and carrots can all be found on the Lion Brand website.

http://www.lionbrand.com/content-crochetPatternIndex.html

Laura, this is the cutest thing ever! It's a measuring tape of all things. My dear friend Laverne made this for everyone in our knitting group. She's got talent. She also happens to be my sock therapist. Here is the best part, the pattern is free so you can make it too. They have a lot of other great free patterns. http://www.spudandchloe.com/blog/

Speaking of the SOCK! We did have a bit of therapy and as you can see we made a bit of progress. I have to give most of the credit to the sock therapist. She really knows her stuff!
Secondly, I am working on some sewing of my own. One is a gift, so I can't show you until its been given and other is still in it's early stages. But here is a pic, just to wet your whistle.

And finally, I have been doing a bit of knitting.

I made this bib and burp cloth for a co-worker who is expecting this summer. I know how impressed you are that the gift is done in advance. The burp cloth is from the Mason-Dixon knitting book. Its an amazing book, every knitter should own a copy. The bib is from http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/bevs-washcloth-bib.html

Your prior post guilted me a little, so I whipped up the knitted version of the kitchen scrubber you made. Here is the website with the pattern and a tutorial. Sweet, right!

http://1870pearl.typepad.com/myweblog/gratis-knitting-patterns.html

I love how much time we are spending together.Its awesome!

See you soon...Kate

P.S. I told you the pillow case would be awesome! And in 20 minutes no less!!! I bet I know what everyone is getting for Christmas ;)

Birthday Projects and More

Kate,
Wow! I'm embarassed at my lack of contributions this month. It's been almost a whole month since I've posted. But I promise I have been busy with crafts. Thanks to your help these past two weekends, I've actually boosted my productivity. The craft day at your moms helped me jump start and almost complete the fabric dollhouse (almost 6 months after starting it!) and meeting up at JoAnns in Columbia this past Friday made me fall in love with R's first birthday quilt idea all over again. Thank you!

So here's what I've been up to....

Scrapbooking
No pretty bragging pictures or anything. But I promise, I set up shop right next to our large living room window and watched the blizzards come through and hubby shoveling the snow, while I organized pictures and got cracking on R's pregnancy journal, baby book and completing journaling V's baby book. Very productive, I am very proud of myself. I still have alot more to work on, but here's to hoping it might actually be completed before R's first birthday party!

Valentines
V and I actually worked on V day cards. You wouldn't believe it since they were never completed and only 2 went out (one to each set of grandparents). I still have them set away in a drawer, hoping I'll completing them so more family members can have some, but I'm having doubts since we're almost hitting easter! I thought it would be a quick and easy craft to do while snowed in, but instead V was easily distracted and only wanted to do a handprint or two at a time. We spent time setting up paper, paint and paper, covering our clothes to prevent stains, just to stamp two handprints, then have to clean it all up again (all while R was napping, because I knew it would be a disaster if he got a hold of any of the paint). So needless to say, we were not productive.

Fabric Dollhouse
The fabric dollhouse inspired by this blog posting http://uklassinus.blogspot.com/2008/08/fabric-dollhouse-tutorial.html is finally in it's last stages. I had put this thing together before Christmas (it was supposed to be V's christmas gift), but realized it wasn't working correctly, so ripped it all apart to start over. Thanks to the craft day at your mom's two weekends ago, I was able to concentrate on it again without kids as a distraction and got pretty far. It's in it's final stages, only needing the handle and button closure. So next time we meet up in a coffee shop (hopefully next weekend), I can quickly hand sew it together and be done. Looks like it's going to be V's 3rd birthday present :)

R's First Birthday
I can't believe we're already starting the planning for R's first birthday. It seems like not that long ago we were doing this for V. I'm super excited about the Dr. Seuss theme. Thank you so much helping pick out coordinating fabrics. I've been playing around with the fabric and the layout possibilities while V is at church and R is napping. I'm thinking about not using the pillow sham I originally was going to use as the center, and instead use the cat in the hat from the fabric. I just wasn't liking the blue color of the sham. I can return the sham to Pottery Barn. What do you think?

I'm hoping to start cutting the squares soon (once I make a decision on the layout). And then I can start sewing this thing together!

V's Pillowcase

Of course, my little girl has grown fairly found of the fabric store, since we visit it a little too often. So when we were picking out R's seuss fabrics, she decided to pick out some of her own. She fell in love with this cute ice cream print. And of course, Kate, you persuaded me to get it and make something. I was hesitant about the pillowcase idea. But it really was SUPER EASY! I was shocked. I'm tempted to make more now. I used this tutorial http://littlebirdiesecrets.blogspot.com/2008/07/novelty-pillowcase-tutorial.html . I completed it in 20 minutes tops and that's while juggling two kids who were eating breakfast. I even added a third fabric for the trim, it's leftover from V's first birthday strawberry quilt, it's the pink satin. It's adorable and goes really well in her polka dot bed.

Dinosaur Print

I am still smitten with that dinosaur print we found at JoAnns. I'm still on the lookout for something to make with it. I did see this cute reversible pant (http://madebyrae.blogspot.com/2010/02/guest-post-fold-up-cuff-pants-tutorial.html), but that might be too big of a project for me right now. So any ideas, please shoot them my way. I am dying to use it!

I promise more crafting and pictures soon.

Laura

Snow, horses and someone elses crafts

Dear Laura,

I realized the other day that you would think with all this snow I would have lots to show off. Well I don't. Its sad and embarrassing really. The thing is I got so busy doing snow things, that I was (get this) to tired to craft! I know its crazy, but what can a girl do?

Let me tell you what a girl can do, she can provide pictures of her friends crafts.

I am sorry the pics are poor, my camera and I are working on our relationship. As you can tell we might need professional help.

These items are for charity. I sent a box of machine made sweaters (and a handmade cowl) to the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Their group on Ravelry is currently doing a collection for babies, toddles, children and adults. So pretty much everyone. I sent another package with the hats and bibs went to their OB ward for the babies. I am working on another package with toddler items- see this is me trying to redeem myself.

Here are Amy's projects: a cute white sweater and matching bib.

And a few cute hats. The tiny one will be sent to JHU for their NICU hat drive via Ravelry in March and April.

The Adult Cowl, I made from some left over Lion Brand Woolease. In grey. You can find the pattern here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/knit-cowl

I also sent along the little blue hat from my last post and the brown bib.


I do have pictures from my parents house after the second snow. The horse is my aunts. He is very pretty from rolling in the snow. Oh, there is nothing better than horses in the snow. My sister, E, wanted to knit them all legging so they would be warm. I told her to go right ahead. Lets see what she comes up with ;-)


I have lots more to post, once I get some decent pictures. If you (or anyone) has any questions or would like to participate in one of charity efforts, please let me know.
Kate

P.S. The sock and I need professional therapy. This I know for sure. We are going tomorrow. I am sure we will experience progess.

A little respect

Hi Laura,

I can totally respect your commitment to use your stash (and green your home). Its a fantastic mission, which I completely support.

Immediately after I read your post, I found this free pattern for using your scraps to make an awesome pillowcase. Below is the link , they also have cookie recipes! http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/ec27af6b#/ec27af6b/87

I love your scrubbers. I have made the knit version before as gifts, I actually never thought to use them in my own house! I have little yarn they use and how quick they knit up.

I am in the middle of a few things. I hope to make a lot of progress this weekend- assuming the snow starts again. Pictures then.

Keep warm!

Kate