Little Progress

The biggest perk of setting your own work schedule is...Setting your own work schedule! Every once in a while census will be low and I will get called off. Trust me, I don't mind. It's like adding a whole new day to the week. I've got enough projects to keep me busy through the rest of the year. I've figured out how to add hours to the week, but not moolah to the bank account.

Yesterday, on my new "day off", I worked on some of the projects that I feel like are looming. Really important stuff like a rustic sign for over my kitchen cabinets- the ones I haven't shown pictures of yet. I'm in a race with the landscapers. I want to finish a certain number of my inside projects before they finish the outside. Once they are done I plan on planting my boo-tay in a swing for the summer and keeping the Kindle fully charged. That is, after I plant my tomatoes. Holy guacamole! and salsa! and spaghetti sauce! and BLTs with cream of tomato soup! All of my seeds sprouted and I have twenty four tomato plants. Trust me. No one is more surprised than me! I took pictures as proof and one of a diapered Buddha because he's good luck. Rub his belly on a regular basis and my seedlings sprout. I'm tellin' ya! I never had a green thumb before. The pics are in no particular order because all the time off is tiring! And I'm not lucky enough to get called off for the weekend.

You Spin me right round.

How do I tell you this story so I don't sound like a Goomba? I don't think I can. I'm too excited. My words and thoughts are all slumble jumbled.

The moral of this story is that I got a spinning a wheel!

Most of the chicas in my knitting group spin. It is a hobby that I've wanted to take up for a long time. I just couldn't justify it before. But now! Now that I've reclaimed a whole two hours in my day by no longer pumping, I think I can make it happen. I started looking into the craft and started slowly and craftily working on my Husband. Then, like Disney princess magic, a spinning wheel literally fell in my lap!

How it went down...

Mom works with Debbie. Debbie knits. Mom showed Debbie pics of my knitting from my blog. I saw Debbie when I met Mom for lunch. Debbie complimented my knitting. I said 'thanks' and somehow the conversation turned to goats and me mentioning that I'd like to spin. We leave for lunch. A few hours later Mom gets a message on her cell from Debbie. "Hey, I've got this antique spinning wheel of my grandmother's that is just collecting dust, do you want it?" Um, yes.

There are a few pieces that are broken and missing but she's in beautiful condition. Knitters are nice so there are a few women from my knitting group doing some spinning sleuthing to find out as much as we can about her. I hope to have her up and running soon.

It is as they say, the real McCoy. An antique spinning wheel from the late 1800's. Her name is Aurora. Wut? People name their cars. I named her after the dawn for she filled my life with sunshine. Not really, but she is named for the spinning wheel on Sleeping Beauty. Touch it and you die!

On the Road: Crafties Week 2

If no one pukes for twenty-four hours we are headed to Grami's in the morning. And if someone does puke, we're still headed to Grami's. It will just require more frequent stops along the side of the road. We are not strangers to the stretch of road between Northern and Southern California. Scrunch was three weeks old the first time I drove South with her by myself. Both my kids have made the trek along the 5 more times than I care to recount. Luckily, Grami's house is placed just so that when you think you can't take another mile, you descend from the Grapevine and you're there!

This week's crafties are a little bit of a stretch, but you'll see. I can work hot glue into just about anything, including a vacation.

This is where I confess that I'm a little bit of a freak when it comes to packing for Grami's.

When Scrunch was a baby I came across an idea somewhere in the blog-o-sphere for keeping kids occupied in the car, that works! For every hour that we plan on being in the car she gets a baggie with a snack and some trinket. I am a fan of Michael's dollar section and Dollar Tree. The key is to actually separate them into separate baggies. There is something about the anticipation of getting a new baggie that makes the time pass and for ten bucks I don't have to listen to Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang or Finding Nemo  over, and over, and over. Does this count as crafting? Probably not, but slap a sticker on it and it's practically scrapbooking.

My sister once made a comment that my children only wear new clothes when they go to Grami's and now it's turned into this thing. I usually buy clearance a season, or two, or year ahead and I use Grami's house as opening day on a new season of clothes. This includes crafting because little chicas are surprising hard on head adornments, so the week before involves making bows/hairclips/headbands to coordinate with new clothes. I'm a freak, I know it. And it's contagious. I've called Jess twice? thrice? about clearance sales and she doesn't even know what she's having. Keep the receipt. It's either a girl or a boy.

I will need some good mindless knitting. Husband isn't going, so no knitting on the drive. I almost considered taking the train to remedy this, but chickened out. Knitting time will be limited to between movies, Wii tennis, and slices of hummingbird cake. Hemlock Ring and my recently frogged Citron should work.

There's a snowball's chance in hell I might get a quilt quilted while I'm there, but it's not likely. It's about time for a new lake quilt.

That's the plan Stan. On The Road crafting links.

Sippy Cup leash    I might have time for this...

 Please, mom? Whatever will I do if I drop my sippy cup?

Bows, bows, and more bows. If you can tie your shoes, you can make a bow.
Car Seat Organizer

Last week's Crafties

I already posted pics of the Baby legs and owl V-day stuff.

f.i.n.a.l.l.y. Scrunchs' nighstands are painted.

Owl Softie and hairclip- A birthday present.

Hoo! Loves you.

I used to have a craft day at my house every week. When Porkchop was born it just didn't jive with the schedule anymore, so I had to call it quits. Then Amy moved. Then Katie. And my weekly craft club dwindled down to just Scrunch and I and a glue stick. I didn't realize how much I missed it until I went a'craftin with a few ladies in the neighborhood and bingo! A fire was lit under my non-crafting slacker butt.

So, here's my plan. I'm going to have an on-line weekly craft day. That way Katie, and Amy and anyone else who wants to join can play and we can work on our goods while the kids are asleep, while wearing our husband's flannel pajama bottoms, and watching Candice Olson on HGTV. Or something like that.

I will have a theme each week with links to a variety of crafts that range in craft type and skill level. And then the next week I'll post my pics with the next theme/links. Follow? If you want to play leave me a comment as well as if you're willing/want to "host" a week by coming up with the theme and links.

This week I want to finish the Valentine's Day gift for my kids. It was inspired by a Tootsie Roll tin lunch box I found on clearance and this commercial.



Hoo! Loves You!

Knit owl by Amy Gaines
What a Hoot! Applique
Baby Legs from Socks
Chocolate Owls
Marshmellow Pops
Owl Hairclip
You're A Hoot Card
Owl Bunting

This is just a jumping off place. Do your thing...

This past week..A little lovin' in the doorway.

Cali. Another of this week's theories. Two parts.

First...

No one I know from California actually calls it Cali. And every time I hear it, it reminds me of Tyler- the 17 year old boost to my 13 year old ego. He was the dude that stopped me on my walk to church to ask me for my number. I refused, but somehow he called me later that evening anyway. I'm not sure what possessed him to call someone he knew that he thought might be in my Ward. Creative little punk-ass. Persistent too. I was so flattered. Looking back, I should have been totally creeped out. Let that be a lesson you. 14 year old girls, even smart, mature for their age ones, are dumb when it comes to boys. Hear that Scrunch?!?!?! Mama's got your number. You can't kid a kidder.

Second...

You move TO California, not away from. And no your serenely looking scenes of a white Winterland do not entice me to change my mind. Snow. Yuck! Can't stand the stuff. It's hazardous to you health, you know. I think I was twelve when my mom drove us up to my Uncle's cabin so we could go skiing for the first time. We flew up in her little red Honda after work. It got dark and the weather was bad. At one point we could hardly see and we momentarily lost control. I prayed, and prayed, and prayed, and the car stopped. The next morning we could see where the car tracks ended and they were way, way, way too close to the edge. I spent the rest of the day on my butt in the cold. I love Bear Lake! Add snow and I don't care if I ever see the clear blue lake again, thank you very much.

Now, I recognize that not all of you do not see the world through my often skewed, but can't help but be right eyes. Some of you will have the gumption to move away and take my girl's besties with you. And I guess I'll forgive you. I'll even do my best to sew you a custom poof hat so you'll keep your ears if you decide to go out in that stuff.

We're going to miss you Kikara! Don't forget your California Gurls!

I also realize that linking to Snoop Dog and Katy Perry might be a tad inappropriate because, well...just because it is. But I think we could all use a break from the Christmas music about now and it's a great song for cleaning the bathroom, or cleaning just about anything really. I've spent too many minutes on YouTube watching these guys, please don't let me be the only one.

One of a Kind

I am a lightweight.

Three cupcakes has given me a wicked hangover. I'm not sure if it was the pink food coloring, the sugar, or the whole caboodle but I'd like to spend the day sleeping in a dark room. Or at least on the couch watching Dalmatians, Nemo, and a little HGTV if I can sneak it past her. Thankfully it's raining, stew is in the crockpot, and Scrunch didn't get anything that involved making music or flashing lights. And if she did it would promptly be packed and sent to Grami's house. But she didn't. Thank you to you all for that.

I'm not a huge fan of flashing lights, neon plastic, and noise for the sake of noise in general. One of the biggest decisions of the year was to go plastic on the Christmas play kitchen. No joke. Hours were spent reading every play kitchen review in Cyberspace. I'm glad I did because already it has seen it's share of non-plastic food and crayons. I am a sucker for Legos, books, puzzles, more books, art supplies, and wooden toys. Ahhhh. Quiet toys. Maybe that makes me a mean mom. Or mabe it just makes me an appreciator of those things that will become family heirlooms. The one-of-a-kind presents you don't ever forget.


The easel Gramps built is a perfect example of that.

Or the hobby horse mommy made for her.

We could have swiped a card at good ole Toys R Us, but a whole lot of love goes into something like this.

What's the definition of insanity again?

Doing the same thing over and over expecting different results.

See, but I'm not crazy because I am still getting different results.

What's insane is thinking that my kid might be taking a nap while I do this. Or that pop-up books might last more than three minutes.

What I'm Loving or Made Me Laugh (Today)

Buh- Bye builder beige. Hello Bengay.

You could get a sunburn sitting in my kitchen year round. I love that. Maybe because I'm a Leo.

The kitchen has been painted and is now re-taped awaiting a re-paint job. I am more in love with this green.

The friend's Facebook update proclaiming this as the most WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR! Girl Scout cookies being sold now!

I told Scrunch to put her toys away so we could shower. We go and I'm about to stick her in the shower with me when she points to my belly and tells me, "Put your ball away!"

Fingerpuppets. I'm wishing I'd made more so Scrunch could keep a couple.

The e-mail in my Spam. From- Mr. Steamy. Subject- Removes wrinkles instantly. So wrong on so many levels and yet so funny.

What are you loving or made you laugh today? (I'd love a good roomie story here Miq. Or a crazy student story Jess. Or a crazy anything anyone.)

If the days were twice as long, and I had four times the energy

I would have all this cute Christmas stuff done.

Heather Bailey's Yo-Yo how to for my garland.

Embroidered Felt Ornaments

May own take on this modern Advent Calendar.

And an oilcloth tree skirt like this one on Etsy, but from Anna Maria Horner's new line.


Don't forget the stockings.

Instead, we will be going with a theme. You know how I love themes.

We will be fully decked out as the house from whence the Grinch stole Christmas.

And poof, I've beaten you to the Holiday decorating.

Lest You Think I've Been Slacking

While I was working full time, I still kept Fridays off. They were fondly known as my "do nothing day." As in do nothing but knit, craft, sew, nothing...whatever. A couple of times we even went out for donuts for breakfast. Get it? Do-nutin'. Donut. Any excuse will do for donuts for breakfast, but a pun? Mmmmmhmmmm.

So Fridays were THE day. These days there isn't so much of a do nothing day, but do nothing moments. minutes. It's better that way. When I add up all these little do nothing moments sprinkled throughout my week, it looks like a lot more than I would have gotten done in a single day.


Made this for Scrunch's bathroom. But she doesn't have a bathroom. But someday she might have a bathroom and you have to be prepared for these kinds of things.

I have mixed emotions about this. I framed my great grandmother's doily, but I also sliced my foot open with the glass.


Totally terrific tutu for a two year old. That my friends is what we call alliteration. Nothing says alliterate like the word tutu. And matching ballet slippers.


Because clearly my daughter is lacking in head adornments, so we had to make more.

I cast on some socks and this sweater.

And look! I get to check something off my to-do list. Double check that alliteration means what you think it means. Check.

Plans for the rest of the day? Nothing. Just like I like it on a Friday.

Some thing's gotta give.

There are times when I get to the end of the day and wonder what I've done for the last fourteen hours that has left me entirely wiped out. Oh yeah. I kept a kid alive. MUCH harder than it sounds considering we learned how to open the front door today.

But besides that- I can either clean or craft, but not both. And if I do attempt both (like say last Saturday) I didn't shower and then proceeded to sleep through Sacrament. We're still blaming it on fast forward day. In fact anything that goes wrong or irritates for the next six weeks will be blamed on Day Light Savings.

For the remainder of this post pretend to care. Or don't. I don't have a counter or Feedjit stalker anymore so I won't even know if you ignore me. For all I know only two people read this.

I would like to fully endorse the HGTV concept of cutting out brown paper the shape of your frames, taping them on the wall, AND THEN hammering the nails. Holy crap! It works. And I have fifteen fewer holes in the wall.

I started the handmades for last week's contest.

***Spoiler alert***

It's a diaper wipes case in case you were wondering.

Oh, dishcloths. Booooooring knits. But fast. Not for the contest. The angle looks funky, but it really is square.

And bunny bean bags for Scrunch's Easter basket. It was from an idea I stole from some other poor blogger who likes to take pictures of random felt things they waste their time with and then take pictures of on the sidewalk.

Follow all that? Whatever. You don't read any of this crap unless you see pictures of Scrunch anyway.

Are you game?

Come on, you big chicken. Buck, buck, buck-awe. That's a chicken sound typed out. I think. And that is me calling you out. Bring your A-game baby, because we're going to have some crafting fun!

ARE YOU GAME?

The first three people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you.This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2- What I create will be just for you.
3- It'll be done this year.
4- You have no clue what it's going to be.
5- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.
The catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 3 people who do the same on your blog. The first 3 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me! Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!

Who's in?

Thank you to Angela for starting this. When she mentioned it at knitting group, I knew I was in. Hellooooo? She makes jewelry and spins. And her newest pet is made of baby camel and silk!!! Does that sound like something I'd be interested in? (The jewelry and spinning part.) She can keep her camel. The rest of you are stuck with whatever I come up with.

Thanks Flickr.

Thank you cards.

Craft projects like this rank way high up on the list of reasons to have kids.


These are our new thank you cards. Slap this baby on a blank card and "walah!" Totally not my idea. If you get one in the mail, pretend you haven't seen them before.

And meet "Bananas". He is the newest permanent fixture around our home. He is also Scrunch's best friend. Watching her crawl around saying "ooooh,oooh" like a monkey when she's looking for him and watching her give him "loves" is also in the running for highest ranking reason. But nothing beats being the recipient of a specially-made hand-blown Scrunch kiss. That is by far the best reason to date to have kids.

Everything I know, I learned from my mom.

When I was little and we would sit coloring I would ask her, "Mommy does this color match?" "What color should I color this part?" And I would listen and color it the way she told me to. I learned the color wheel without even knowing it.

When the x's of the cross stitch weren't in the right direction she taught me how to unpick days worth of work so it would be just right. I finished my first two large stitching projects when I was eleven. They are Hummel's and they hang in my daughter's room. I can point to you the exact spot where on one of them I didn't cross the x's the right direction and decided not to show Mom.

She taught me that if you want to do something, learn something, be something- you just do. When I was twelve we drove all over Southern Utah, the Grand Canyon, Four Corners and Colorado on a road trip. I wanted to learn to crochet so she got me a book and I did. Later in college I wanted to learn how to knit, so I bought myself a book and did.

She is self taught in floral arranging, home decorating, just about anything classified as crafty or homemaking. My mother knows everything. It comes as no surprise that we are on the phone all the time.

I call her to ask, "What color should I make this quilt?"

"Where would I go for that?"

"Is it normal for Scrunch to...?"

"Go online. Look at this. What do you think?"

My relationship with Mom has been on my mind a lot this week because she is off traveling the world. She went to Singapore with my Dad for a whole week! No cell phones. I only get occasional blurbs here and there. A text message about a tat that I misinterpreted as cat, but that's about it.

I've been crafting like crazy this week and it's weird to not to have Mom a phone call a way.

"Mom, what is this missing?"

"What color should this be?"

When I would have just called her from the baking aisle in the grocery store, this week I had to stand there for almost 15 minutes, ultimately coming home with four different boxes of sugar- none of them labeled confectioners sugar, which is what I was looking for. (I learned later from my sister who ironically learned her cooking from Dad, that it is powdered sugar. I already had that.)

A few months ago I was standing in the mirror with my sister and said, "Gosh, I look just like Mom."

"Well, I wasn't going to say anything," was her response.

My sisters and I often tease each other of who is turning into Mom more.

In Sleepless in Seattle there is a line Tom Hanks uses to describe his wife Maggie. "She made everything beautiful." I think that is the greatest compliment ever paid. Except lately I'm thinking it is, "You're just like your mom." Except I want to be the younger brunette version.

Grami, we want you to come soon. I need you to tell me what you think of this.


She also taught me to win all Ward Thanksgiving Dinner centerpiece competitions.

Well I'll be!

Say it with a drawl. It sounds better.

Anyway...

Sometimes you have a mental picture of how things will work once you make them. Sometimes it comes out just how you planned, and other times not so much. In this case, not so bad.

Paper crafting is growing on me. I am by no means a scrapbook-er, but I now own a circle cutter and I dulled my paring knife scoring a hundred paper circles.

All this stuff is for a party for Scrunch. If you don't know what we're celebrating then I guess you weren't invited. Just kidding. It means I probably don't have your current address (the last batch went out today), and you should send it to me so you can come see this stuff in person. Way cuter in person.

Families are Forever Banner


Initials booklet to write cute messages and notes in.


Paper globes for the tables.

And party favors. Cuz it isn't a party without favors.



For pictures. Obviously. (This one WAY cuter in person.) But now you know my child's first name. Don't tell any weirdos on the internet. I'm teaching her not to talk to strangers just in case.

Speaking of Scrunch, what was she doing while mommy was getting paper cuts and paint all over her hands and the dining table? Don't worry. She was just fine.



And gum paste flowers. How could I forget the gumpaste? My palms are pink from making flowers for cupcakes because Micheal's is less than two blocks away, and I can. Seriously. If I had to, I could walk to Micheal's. I just don't know how I would get all my stuff home.


Now you want to come don't cha?

Saturday is a Special Day...

...it's the day we get ready for Sunday.

Mom makes our bows...


and embroiders our booties.

And plans parties. (Even down to the cupcakes.)


And makes (starts) centerpieces.


And does everything except clean the house, shop at the store, wash the clothes, shine our shoes, trim our nails, shampoo our hair or anything else to get ready for Sunday.

So I guess, we'll have to pick a different song.

Dumpster Diving

When I was in elementary I remember one move where we were collecting boxes from the dumpsters behind stores. We called it dumpster diving and when I was six, it was cool. I remember running down the street yelling, "Yay! We're going dumpster diving!!!" I was quickly shushed so the neighbors wouldn't hear. There may have once been a social stigma attached to flea market finds and "found" decorating, but today it is totally in. Go figure.

I found this sitting by the dumpster this weekend. It's a perfectly sized doll house. Holy Crap was I excited! I almost wanted to come home early from our Halloween party to start working on it. Only the candy corn colored cheese cake kept me there. Can't you just see little embroidered wall hangings, mini yo-yo quilts, and the little furniture. My dream house. From the dumpster. Go figure.



My fixer-upper.
Check out the cute cellophane printed windows.


If you stare at cheesecake long enough you can almost taste it.