Aren’t they just the cutest little batties you have ever seen? I made them for the girls. They hold the bats by the wings, pull and giggle. Good thing I sewed the wings on tight!
Craft Hope
Last week I ran across the Craft Hope. Jade is an amazing lady who finds various groups who need crafts made for good causes. You can read all about the current project, but the short version is: making quilts for homeless kids.
Remember how I told you I had bought some fabric on the way to Beth’s? I picked up a pack of 20 strips (2 1/2 x 42 inches) a pack of squares (5 inches square) and a few quarter yard (18 x 42 inches) pieces. I started at Beth’s, between teaching her and eating pizza. This is what I had when I got home.
A very enjoyable weekend
Back in March I went to my friend Beth’s wedding shower and presented her with the presents seen above. They were both from her registry, a large self-watering planter, and a book “Sewing for Dummies”. Inside the book was a note saying she would also receive a day of sewing lessons from me. This is a decent gift, as I used to run a university costume department and teach sewing and pattern making.
It took a while to come up with a time we were both able to spend the day together. This Saturday was it. I drove to her place in Pennsylvania, a bit of a drive, but worth it! I stopped at the craft store on the way and picked up a cute little apron kit and some pre-cut strips and squares to make a quilt for craft hope, I’ll write more about that in a bit.
Flower Hexagon Granny How-To
In my search for a hexagon granny to make blankets for my girls, I just couldn’t find one that I really LOVED. Then I realized that there were some gorgeous crocheted flowers with six sides, and I could make a hexagon granny from one of those. So this pattern was born.
Flower to Hex Blankets
Thought I would update you on my progress with the blankets. I had started by making the hexes without the last round. It started getting a bit monotonous. A stack of hexes is pretty and all, but by no means is it very blankety. I started to think, “what’s the use of the join-as-you-go method, if you don’t join AS you go, but wait ’til the end?” So I started connecting hexes. It was so satisfying.
I do so adore seeing all those hexes lovingly snuggled up to each other.
All Together Now
1, 2, 3, 4, can I have a little more? 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, teeeeeen I love you! All together now…
Guess where we went today?
John Lennon!!! The exhibit was in Montclair. I love going to Montclair, it’s a great city, with awesome art and stores. So it was not surprising that they ended up with the exhibit. It’s only up for the weekend.
Pieces of my day
I love Wednesdays. Every other(ish) Wednesday morning is started by going to visit my friend, Jenn. Her girls are 3 1/2 and 4 1/2, wonderful playmates for my 2 year old girls. The four girls play in the playroom, and Jenn and I sit in the living room, chatting and crafting. Most of the time knitting or crocheting. When we don’t go to Jenn’s we tend to have PJs day at home. The middle of our day goes as most. In the girls eat dinner by themselves, we play a bit, read, and off to bed they go. Now on Wednesday evenings Doug does not get home until after midnight. Don’t get me wrong, I love my husband, but I love my me time, also. So once the girls go to bed I make myself a dinner without the restrictions of what Doug will (or won’t) eat. I just love my Wednesdays!
This was a Jenn day! Today Jenn worked on her Christmas-y colored dishcloths, while I worked on my flower/hex blankets. It was a very nice morning chatting and yarning, with the occasional little one wondering in for a kiss or some attention. We then returned home for a nice lunch of leftovers, and naptime for the little ones. I got some cleaning done, and then got to play a bit more with my yarn. The flower/hex blankets will take a while, but here is more to admire!
Yummy Baked Goodness!
I try to keep a stock of homemade mixes, so when I want to make something, it is quick and easy. Last week I ran out of both my waffle mix, and my banana bread/muffin mix. So into the kitchen I went. I hung my label from the cabinet handle. You may think the format of the label is a bit odd, but it is made to wrap around a jar. I tend to give my mixes as gifts.
I measured everything into my trusty food processor and gave it a quick zip. I found this is the best way to get it well mixed. Before you zip it up, take a moment, look at the pretty layers.
A good day with another GREAT find!
Today was a nice day. I’m getting over my cold, and for the first time in a while I woke up without feeling like a zombie. After showering, I felt the need for a yummy breakfast. So…
Yes, that is my precious morning coffee, and that lumpy batter is just waiting to become…
