Thursday, March 31, 2011

Beautiful Day, Beautiful Purse….. Almost.

Song of the Day: Walking on Sunshine by Katrina & the Waves
Wow! What a great day out today! And tomorrow is supposed to be even nicer. Here in Northern Ca, we are having our first real feel of spring. I think it was 77 degrees out? And tomorrow it’s supposed to be 80! The windows are all open, my plants look pretty happy now that they’re not dying anymore, and even the dog wants to be on the patio. J We had a great picnic at the park today, too! Me and the girls met up with some other moms and had a fun time, and are going to make some fantastic cupcakes at E’s friend’s house tomorrow. I think we are definitely spending some time out on our cleaned up patio today. J

Now, if I can just get this stinkin’ purse finished.  Here’s a little back story: One day, I went to lunch with my awesome mother-in-law. We had a delicious meal at Red Robin, then went to Teavanna at our mall. Somewhere between the two, my favorite Tinker Bell purse went missing (I’ve already laid my sadness, to rest, sung a dirge, and spread the ashes.) Happily, I didn’t have anything in it. I mean NOTHING. I had my wallet, phone, iTouch, and keys in my jacket pockets. Why, you ask? I have no idea. A stroke of luck? A God-appointed happening? I don’t know.

So, instead of buying a new one, I decided to make my own. It’s troubling. It’s distressing. I can’t seem to figure out why the directions don’t work. Oh, right! Because they are incomplete. I really love this purse pattern, too! It’s a quilted circles purse pattern from the book One Yard Wonders, but I’ve never quilted before, and the book failed to tell me to use a heavy-duty needle (I’m a newbie sewer and didn’t think about this when starting) and I broke the needle. And then another one. I finally got a heavy needle, and it works ok, but now I’m supposed to add bias tape (made my own, thank you very much) over the already thick part of the purse and, I gotta say, I’m thinking of skipping it and just pinking the edges.  What would you guys do?

Other than this, I’m really happy with it. I’ve made a few minor changes to the original design like using a button and loop instead of a magnetic closure, and I really like how it looks. I'll be able to show you all tomorrow. :)
I still have to put the purse handle on, but that will happen tonight. And do the bias tape on the inside. Or not. We’ll see.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

King of Babies Lion Beanie!!

I know it’s been a bit longer than I expected to post this pattern, but here it is! I give you……


The King of Babies Lion Beanie!!!
This beanie is just too cute for words. ;)


King of Babies Lion Beanie
Note: This beanie started life as a Bernat Bear Baby Beanie. I have changed the yarn size, and thus, most of the pattern because of it.
Size: 18 months
Materials: You want something chunky like Homespun. You will need two colors – a main color and a contrast color. You will not use a whole ball of yarn for either colors.  You will also need a size 5 mm hook (US H or 8)
Note: Ch. 2 at beg of rnds does not count as hdc throughout.

With Main Color, ch 3.
1st rnd: 8 hdc in 3rd ch from hook. Join with sl st to first hdc. 8 hdc.
2nd rnd: Ch 2. 2 hdc in each hdc around. Join with sl st to first hdc. 16 hdc.
3rd rnd: Ch 2. *1 hdc in next hdc. 2 hdc in next dc. Rep from * around. Join with sl st to first hdc. 24 hdc.
4th rnd: Ch 2. *1 hdc in each of next 2 hdc. 2 hdc in next dc. Rep from * around. Join with sl st to first hdc. 32 hdc.
5th rnd: Ch 2. * 1hdc in each of next 3 hdc. 2 hdc in next hdc. Repeat from * around. Join with sl st to first hdc.
This completes the head part of the beanie. Continue in the same Main Color for the first chin strap.
Chin Strap:
 Ch 2. 1 hdc in each of next 7 hdc. Turn. Leave remainng stitchess unworked.
Next row: Ch 2. [Yarn over hook and draw up a loop in next st] twice. Yarn over hook and draw through all 5 loops on hook – hdc2tog made. 1 hdc in each next 3 hdc. Hdc2tog. Turn.
Next row: Ch 2. Hdc2tog. 1 hdc in each of next 2 hdc. Hdc2tog. Tie off.
Next row: Ch 2. 1 hdc in each hdc to end of row. Turn.
Repeat last row (if necessary) until chin strap measures 2 ½ inches.
This completes the first chin strap. To do the other one, join w/ a slipstitch on opposite side of beanie. Repeat instructions for previous chin strap.
Front Ears (make 2).
With Alternate color, ch 3.
1st row: 7 hdc in 3rd ch from hook. Turn. 7 hdc.
2nd row: Ch 2. 2 hdc in each hdc to end of row. Join MC. Turn. 14 hdc.
3rd row: with MC, ch 1.sc in each of next hdc to end of row.*Fasten off.
Back Ears (make 2).
With MC, work as for Front Ears, omitting color references.

Finishing

Join Ears:
With accent color on top of main color, join with main color with sl st through both thicknesses and work 1 rnd of sc around Front and Back Ears to join. Join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off.
Attach ears to head: With MC, WS ears to hat in appropriate places. Tie off. Weave in ends.
Edging: Join A with sl st at center back of Hat. Ch 1. Work 1 rnd of sc evenly around, working 3 sc in corners of Chin Straps. At middle of chin straps, *chain 25. SC in second chain from hook. Continue back up the tie* and continue sc the rest of the round until you reach the middle of the second chin strap. Repeat from *. Finish sc around and join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off.
Mane: Cut 17 strands 10 in long in each color. Tie 6 strands of each color to side leading down the left chin strap, 6 strands of each color to side leading down the right chin strap, and the last 5 strands of each color across between each ear. Trim yarn to desired mane length.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Rainy, Rainy Day

Song I’m listening to today? Out in the Park by Sarah Slean. Awesome song!!
It’s raining. Again. And while I love the rain, sometimes it really stinks. But, and this is why God is so good, just when I think I can’t handle it anymore it stops. My husband gets home and I suddenly have an opportunity to get out of the house!
I thought, “Hey! I can go shop for more fabric!” I really thought about it. Then I decided that I have already bought enough fabric this month and decided I should go for a run instead. Sitting in the house all day with kids makes Mommy a crazy bear. So, I went for a run.
And I was so happy I did! Not only did I get some energy burned off, but it was the most beautiful run ever! There is a bike path that borders a wetland preserve right near our house. It is literally a two minute walk away. It was so beautiful and green - just like what I would picture Ireland or someplace like it looking like. Ironic, what with St. Patty’s Day being a few days ago. Anyway, it was gorgeous and I was gone for an hour.
After getting back home, I decided to go back again a day or so later (it was still rainy) and take a few photos. Here they are!



Note! I am totally going to visit Ireland one day. ;)

To tell the truth, I actually do love it when it is raining. Yes, it’s hard to get out and do stuff with the kids, but it makes for great crafting time! I was able to create my own pattern for a crocheted lion beanie! This size is for a 12 month old, but my 4 year old was still able to fit in it pretty easily. One of my closest friends is having a baby boy in May and the theme for his room is the jungle/Savanna. Her brother painted this beautiful picture from the Lion King that I just had to make something for! So cute!



Anyway, I will post the pattern in a few days, once I finish correcting a thing or two. J

Thursday, March 17, 2011

St. Patrick's Day deliciousness!

Ok, so I usually just do a potato soup deal for St. Patty's Day, but this time I went a bit bigger. Not much. Just a bit. But it was fan-freakin'-tastic!

So, yeah, I'm a pretty big Harry Potter nerd and I bought the Unoffocial Harry Potter Cookbook on my Nook a few days ago. I think it's just super cool how there's this whole fictional world but they use normal (normal for most Brit's and outer-islanders, anyway) foods. Then, somebody way cool comes along and collects these recipes, sites them in the books, and totally puts it into a droolworthy book.

Without any further ado, I give you *drumroll* Guinness Stew and Irish Soda Bread!

Are you drooling yet? And the best part? I have left over bread to make French Bread for breakfast tomorrow! Yum, yum!

And, yes, I did wear green today. Slainte and Eirin go Bragh!

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Wild children

Enya’s a Day Without Rain album has a song called Wild Child. I think this is absolutely appropriate. It encompasses so many meanings. My daughter, Eleorah is such a wild child. I am a wild child in God’s house. I am rebellious. I am wild. I am constantly testing limits, for good or bad. Yet, through it all, I am a child. God is constantly teaching me new and exciting things. I get to be a stay-at-home mom with my two girls. I think God uses children more than anything else to show us either how wise or foolish we can be. 
My kids constantly amaze me. Eleorah is the epitome of Wild Child.
Ever close your eyes
Ever stop and listen
Ever feel alive
And you've nothing missing
You don't need a reason
Let the day go on and on

Let the rain fall down
Everywhere around you
Give into it now
Let the day surround you
You don't need a reason
Let the rain go on and on
Elli is one of those children, like me, who would just dance in the rain on a cool summer night. She just closes her eyes and spins. If it’s raining, if it’s dry, whether inside or outside, it doesn’t matter. She does as she pleases. She imagines things and then she’s all-of-a-sudden apart of it. It is real to her.
M`aire. She is a beautiful piece of God’s work, too. She is my mellow child. I think she will be wild when she gets older. She is calm and peaceful; content to play with what you give her. She is also only 16 months old. She is such a treasure and has a passion for food. She loves all kinds and I love that about her. Eleorah is not adventurous when it comes to eating, but M`aire’s tastebuds surpass everyone elses that I’ve ever met. She wants Thai, Mexican, Chinese, and American all on the same night! I love it and pray that my tastes will develop more because of her.
I love both of my girls and my husband who provides for our family. It’s because of him that I get to do the things I love most; stay home with our children and watch them grow. And I want to create beautiful things for them. That’s one way I can show how much I love them. I can craft, sew, or crochet them beautiful things and teach them about beauty and God’s love. Eleorah has already told me she wants to crochet. It’s cute. She holds a crochet hook and a ball of purple yarn with a chain stitch already started for her and pretends to do what mommy is doing. Priceless. M`aire is content with unrolling said ball of yarn all over the floor.
So let’s let the day go on and on.