Graham at T-ball

Mandy and her kids came to watch Graham play T-ball last week. Of course she brought her camera! Here's Jayden and Graham. They are such buds.
I love this black and white one. His feet don't even reach the ground. So cute!

I think this one is my favorite. Look at this sweet little 4 year old watch the game...he's such a sports fan.
SAFE!

So sweet

Here's another beautiful picture Mandy took. Everything about it is so sweet. When she's 15 I bet she'll be glad this photo was taken. Have you ever heard the country song "Stealin' Cinderella"? Not sure who sings it, but this picture reminds me of that song.

Some new Mandy Pictures

Hi Everybody! Here's some new pictures Mandy took of a few little angels wearing my hats. Thanks to Mandy and these two adorable families for including my hats in these amazing moments.

My Passions

Hi Everybody, I seem to be passionate and spend most of my time on 2 things these days...kids and crafts. So here's one of each for you to peek at. Poor Fin doesn't get to escape me very much so here's another one of him with his cowboy hat on. A little known fact about me is that I'm a wanna-be cowgirl. I think it sounds like a great life. I have this really cool cowboy hat and wear my cowboy boots with pride. In my real life I gag at the smell of horse poop and my back couldn't stand 5 minutes of riding one of those beautiful animals. A girl can dream, right? Here's the hat I just finished. It's from my sock yarn that I had left over. I love the colors and it's so easy to work with.

Pics

Check out Mandy's blog for some new pics of those cute sisters in their hats. Also, tons of cute pics of twins Mac and Ozzie. My friends, Jill and Chris, are their proud parents.

Happy Monday

Hi Everybody, have to share the pic of Fin this morning out on the deck...what's up with it being so cold he has to wear a hat?!?? I guess I shouldn't complain since that is what I sell, but I'm ready for some steady sun and warm days. Can't wait for the days when the boys just leave their swim trunks on all day long. Hurray for less laundry, paper plate picnics and watermelon stained faces.Here's the rainbow we had Friday night. Have a great Monday.

Baseball

This is the first year where both the older boys are on teams. They are so excited...I can't tell if it's the outfits or actually getting to play. It's so fun to watch them. It's not nice to laugh, but it's the funniest thing I've seen in a long time! They'll run to first base and then immediately back to home plate. Or announce in the middle of a pitch that they need to go hug their Mom. It's priceless. I think the funniest is when, in the middle of an inning, you see the coach take half the fielders to go potty.

Sisters

These spring hats are for 2 sisters that are having their picture taken by Mandy soon. I can't wait to see what they look like in them!

Baby Grand Mainstreet

My son, Graham, has this chenille blanket I special ordered at Baby Grand years ago. It's almost in shreds so I'm hoping to order a new one. It was so fun coming across this picture of a newborn in one of my hat and bootie sets while shopping on Baby Grand Mainstreet's site. Mandy took this picture. Soon when you go into Baby Grand Mainstreet in Hopkins (their other store is on Grand Ave. in St. Paul) you'll see all her amazing canvas pics on their walls. Can't wait to see all those babies.

Tenley in her hat

Hi Everybody! Here's Tenley in her hat. Her Momma is so great about getting me pics to share with all of you...I love it. It's my favorite thing to see little people or as Graham would say, "Little Humans" in my hats. I feel lucky to get to do what I love and then see the results!

Hi Again!

Hi Everybody! It's been too long since I've taken the time to share what I've been up to. It's been getting so nice outside that my computer time is now bike riding and park time. We have been waiting for so long...I'm glad spring is finally here. I love baseball and t-ball practice, the smell of grills going, the frog noises, and I don't even care that the deer are eating my lilies. Here are my new bags for Susie Knits. I love how they turned out. Simple with a statement. Inside these bags are Misty and Holly's orders. Ladies, I'll let you be the first to see. :)
Have you seen these? My Mom bought me this great knitting contraption. I can take my projects anywhere since my yarn becomes like a bracelet. The skein of yarn doesn't get twisted since it swivels. So cool.... These are the socks I'm working on. Aren't they great? I love the ruffle at the top. Size 1 needles tho...ugh. I'm using those Hiya Hiya 9-inch circulars. Check them out if you haven't already. They are a great option instead of double points. I bought the yarn and needle at Amazing Threads. Ask for Tina. She's great.
Here's Fin's new favorite thing to do. If he can't be outside he's talking to the birds in the feeder.
Does this look familiar? I made the exact same hat again for Tenley since someone swiped her other one. Little do the thieves know that I can always spot one of my hats...I rarely make two of a kind. I better not spy them out and about...we knitters can be pretty tough. :)
My "spot" has been compromised! After throwing a load of laundry in the other day I walked into the room seeing this...my project dragged across the floor, coffee spilled on the carpet and who knows what Fin was thinking of measuring. Probably the size of my brain for leaving all of my stuff out with a 1 year old around. Rookie mistake!
Here's my amazing niece as a "Floral Artist" at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts "Art in Bloom" Exhibit. I heard first hand that her arrangement was magnificent. She is officially the youngest participant in the history of the event. Congratulations Yemi! We are all very proud of you.

Yippee!

Hi Everybody! I just got my new labels. I LOVE them! They are so tiny and sweet. Mandy did the logo in Photo shop for me...thanks yet again, M! Better go...Fin's eating dog food.

One Sock

Hi Everybody! This is my first completed sock ever! Graham was wearing it around for a bit today. Aren't the colors cute? I had so much fun making it and am almost finished with the second one. I understand now why socks are all the rage! They are so fun to make. I bought the yarn from Knit Picks. Have a great weekend!

Hangin' with the kids

I think it's so funny how when I sit on the floor it only takes the kids 1 second to notice and they're all tackling and climbing on me. I always brace myself and get ready for the hog pile. I know that will be one of the things I will miss when they're older.

Ann's I Spy Pillow Creation

Hi Everybody! You have to take a look at Ann's blog. She did this great pillow I think all kids should have. What a great baby gift! I bet my 6 year old would even love it if his 2 favorite things were in it...coins and animals.

Brynn in her flower hat

Hi Everybody! Sorry it's been a while...I've been having trouble with my computer and it's been so nice out I haven't been too sad about it. :) We have waited so long ...spring is finally here. Thank the Lord!

Here's Brynn in her flower hat. This is one of my favorite hats...the flower was so fun to make. The beading is my favorite part. You can see her priceless curls peaking out. Thanks for the pic Kristen!

My nieces

This is Yemi in her hat. She was outside playin' with Graham when I took this. She's our 7 year old (she would say "almost 8!") budding fashion designer. Her sketches are amazing! She loves to use as many colors, patterns and textures that she can. Gavin loves when she sits next to him and draws...he's in heaven when that happens.

And this is Elly in her hat. When she came over it didn't have a flower yet...I wanted to see the hat on her first. I couldn't find one I liked until I raided one of my bouquets on my fireplace. I guess no silk flower is safe as long as it's in my reach.

Elly is amazing. She's 12 now...I can't believe it. It feels like yesterday that her whole self would fit right on me for a snuggley nap. Now, she's darn near 6'0 and towers over all of us except her Daddy...watch out Lateeph, you're next!!! Elly is an amazing reader. She devours book after book and is quite the writer too. We went to one of her plays and now Graham runs around the house singing one of the songs. So cute!

Julie and Virginia

I love when Moms and Dads send me pictures like this!!! Here's Julie and Baby Virginia. Aren't they both gorgeous? Sometimes I go to my blog just to see the pictures again (and again). I love seeing these sweet, tiny human beings wearing a hat I made for them. I'm proud. :)

Kate!

Here's Kate in her hat. Her Mom sent me this picture; thank you Jamie! It's my favorite, favorite thing to see the cutie-pies in what I've made. Doesn't she look adorable?

Look at those cheeks...

Coasters

I made these coasters yesterday for my girlfriend who eloped recently. I LOVE them! Anthony said they were very "Grandma-ish" and that he didn't think she would like them (I can always count on him for the truth even when I don't want to hear it). I must be out of touch because I don't think they're old fashioned at all. The fabrics out there now are so beautiful. From start to finish I did 6 in one nap time. Perfect for a last minute gift. Just don't ask my husband if he likes them. :)

I got the idea from my friend Ann. She's a great sewer and always comes up with cute ideas. She's in Wisconsin now so I miss seeing all her projects.

Busy making hats...

I've been very busy making hats for a special project I'm doing. I love these two. They are so tiny and sweet. I can just picture two perfect little babies wearing them in the hospital. Newborn Baby Girl hat

Newborn Baby Boy Hat

Graham and Jayden

Mandy took these the other day at her house. I absolutely love them! Jayden and Graham have such a special bond. They're like siblings. They play, take care of each other, fight, laugh, protect each other...it's the sweetest thing. Mandy and I hope it'll last forever, but we know we may be asking for too much :)

Yeah for Spring!

Fin and I with my new spring hair cut. I highly recommend it. It felt great :)

Jayden's hat

Tenley's spring hat

I am so relieved and giddy that spring is here. I even chopped my hair! It seems everyone around me is cutting their hair and I got the bug. It's a nice change. My husband wasn't too excited about it though. :) Oh well. Good thing it's my hair to do with what I want!

It's so bright and cheery in our house this morning. I have the door to the deck open and Fin keeps coming in and out. He's babbling in pure delight. Hope you all get to enjoy your Friday and this beautiful weather.

More of Mandy's Magic...

Mandy took this pic the other day while I was in the kitchen with the other kiddos. She and Fin disappeared for only a few moments. Isn't she amazing? I have absolutely no idea how she got him to sit there. He needs to hang out in the laundry room more often so I can have some inspiration to get all the heaps of laundry done.

Mandy's Art

Here's some of Mandy's latest. Once again I'm tickled to have a small part in Mandy's work. Isn't she adorable dancing around like that? Kids are so fun to create for! They make art come alive. On second thought, they are the art and we just add to it. Have a great day....

Gav's Button Hat

I did this hat in the fall. I was bummed because before I could get a picture, it disappeared. Anthony found it recently when he was cleaning out a closet. It's amazing how many lost treasures we find when our closets get cleaned out.

For all you knitters....I expanded on an idea from Susan B. Anderson's Itty Bitty Hats book. I did her pattern for Fin first and then incorporated some of my ideas to this hat. I love how one creative thought can trigger so many more. It's exciting!