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!

Some new hats...

Hope everyone had a great weekend! Here's some new hats I did this past week. I think this is one of my all time favorite boy hats. I like to use cream as a "buffer" separating darker colors.

This hat is for a baby girl who's nursery is decorated Winnie the Pooh.

Avery

Hi Everyone! I had to share this amazing picture Mandy took. I think it's my all time favorite. The hat, the background and of course...the baby! I love how her cheeks hit her chest and look at her eyes. She looks so friendly and open. It's proof; that's how we all start out!

I'm always looking for new inspiration. When I saw this hat I couldn't resist trying to hand knit it. I'm looking through my stitch dictionaries to see what I can come up with. I may have to get some advise from my crocheting friends.

Avery

Here's Avery in one of my hats compliments of Mandy. Isn't she so sweet. I wonder what she was thinking with that cute look on her face.

Sam

Here's a picture Mandy took of Sam in a recent hat I made. I love the way this hat feels. It's so soft and squishy. Thank you to Mandy for sharing the pic and Maria for sharing her little angel.

For all you knitters, I just dropped the main color when I knit in the popcorn yarn. I didn't want to take the time to figure out what the double strand would do to my gauge. Then I just picked up the main color again after one row and snipped the popcorn yarn. I'm a bit of a trial and error knitter so I was happy my short cut made it simple (and less ends to tuck in!).

A New Hat...

Graham, Fin and I made it home yesterday. Anthony and Gav had to stay in FL because Gav came down with influenza and ruptured his ear drum. He's on the mend; thank God! We had a couple scary nights. It was so hard deciding who would come home to the good heath care (in case the little two got sick) and who would stay. I have a new appreciation for living in Minneapolis and having access to wonderful hospitals and Doctors. We hope to have them home in one week. We miss you already guys!

Here's a hat I did using a thumb gusset technique from a mittens pattern. It was fun!

A little vaca...

We are off to Florida! Everyone have a great week and I'll have much to share when I get back.

More of Mandy's pics...

I feel silly posting my own crude pictures after seeing these. For those of us who don't have a clue about taking good pictures it's even more mystifying... You can see many more of Amelia and Rachel on Mandy's blog .

Oh my word!!!

If there ever was a day for you to check out Mandy's blog it's today!! You have to see these adorable twin sisters, Amelia and Rachel. The pictures are priceless. Here they are in the bunny hat I made. I found this free pattern on the internet. Look at that belly!

Fin

Mandy took this pic of Fin yesterday. I had to run to the Dr. with Graham so she graciously watched him for me. Babysitting and perfect pictures!!?? I am sooooo lucky...thanks Mandy!

One of my favorite things...

One of my favorite things is going to get my toes done. I bring my knitting and just relax. I went into the salon yesterday and there was an infomercial on with the volume turned up. I was bummed because I knew I couldn't relax with the man/woman team shouting at me to buy a mop(seriously, who buys these things?). People looked like they were watching but I decided to walk around anyway and ask if it was OK if I turned it off. Everyone said yes. I'm glad because I ended up having a perfect time.

Andrea and her Hat

Here's Andrea with the baby hat she made. Didn't she do great? It sounds like the baby may come a couple of months early. My oldest son was born early and very tiny, so I know that can be a scary time. I wish them the best. My son's hand knit hats were on display in his isolette until he was big enough to wear them. The nurses went crazy for them and we found comfort that they all would say, "Oh, he'll be in these in no time!" In the meantime, my Mom went home and used an orange to size his first hat. He takes it out every once in a while and can't believe he was that small. I can't believe it either!
We thought the flower needed a bead in the middle. Sometimes with the silk flowers you can see the plastic where it's held together so a bead is perfect. I think it adds a nice touch too.

Knitting Club

I love the nights when it's my turn to host Knitting Club. My house full of knitters chatting and sharing projects. Each woman has their own story. Many of us only have knitting as our connection initially and then as we get to know each other we find we have much more in common. The fact that knitting brings people together is one of my favorite aspects of it. This is Melissa. She's an amazing knitter. Can you believe she made this sweater she's wearing? Before she had kids her hobby was flying planes. We are happy she switched to knitting; it's probably not much cheaper though! :)

Here's her brand new baby boy, Carson. I was selfishly thrilled when she gave me the news she was having her 3rd son. We get together when we can and chat about knitting, kids, husbands...life in general. I think it's the secret to staying sane when you're a Mom. I know if I didn't have friends to chat with I definitely would have a twitch (some of you have seen my impression of one :) Melissa made the blanket on Carson. I love that it's orange. Sometimes it gets boring seeing light blue for little guys.

Sorry about the blurring picture, but I had to share another sweater Melissa made.

Here are the ladies knitting and crocheting away!

More knittin'

Pink Hat

This hat is a wool/bamboo blend. I love how it has the weight of wool and the slight sheen bamboo gives. This one would be cute for pics outside collecting eggs, since Easter is so early this year.

Anna's Hat

Here's the hat I made for Anna. Her Mom came over with her winter coat for next year (great deals right now at Lands End) and we went up to my yarn stash and found this popcorn yarn. I just love it...can't wait to see it on her. When you touch it it has this chenille feel to it.

Part of why I love knitting so much is because you really never know how the piece will look until your done. It's a very satisfying feeling to look at a finished project that started as a single strand of yarn. I could get WAY more philosophical about it, but I'll spare you...for now. :)

She's so lucky!

Good Morning Everybody! Look where my Mom gets to do yoga in MX. This is her friend's roof top overlooking the ocean. Just seeing the woman in the tank top makes me ache for spring.

Ava in her hat

Ava came over to play on Sunday so I had to get a picture of her in her hat. It was nice to get a chance to chat with her Momma while the kids ran around and played.

Craft Night

It was my turn to host craft night last week. It's great to see what everyone else is creating. This is a rug in progress by Michelle. I am fascinated by this art! Her Grandmother is a rug hooker and she passed it down to Michelle and her sister.

Here's Kerrie and Angel working away.

Kerrie found this project already started in her knitting bag . She was laughing because she doesn't remember when she started it. I know I have lots of those.

Here's Mandy with all her fabric for her burp clothes. She has a great eye for picking fabric. Isn't her shirt cute too?