Wood Fairy Tutu

The creature wearing this tutu seems like she should be skipping through the forest with sweet glittery wings, doesn't she?

She may have pointy toe slippers and a headband of flowers. She is a free spirit and full of happiness.
I hope the little fairy who actually wears this feels just that way.

My Very First Garment!!

Truly...I am not sure I could be more excited about this latest project. Not because it is the most spectacular piece of work but because it is a real garment. Now its a very simple garment but a garment none the less.

Last week I started to feel the crabby bluey blues seeping into my usually sunny disposition. Much to my good fortune, my beautiful hubby got home from work on Tuesday at 10 am. He saw the crabby blues in his typically chipper wife and immediately sent me out the door to yoga. After doing an hour and a half of soul-brightening body work, I headed straight to my local yarn shop with a mission... To purchase all the tools necessary to complete my first garment. I was so lucky to receive the guidance of the most lovely woman. She knew just what I needed and she got me all set up. Away I went feeling oh so zen with an attainable goal in mind.

Over the last week, I attended another yoga class and spent much of my free time knitting away at this lovely first garment. Needless to say, my mood is much improved.

Though the photos don't reveal them, I will admit that there are some mistakes. None of them seemed so dire that I needed to take it all apart. In the end, I am glad I just pushed through it. The mishaps are nearly undetectable and my spirits are soaring at the accomplishment.
Onward and upward my friends! I may just tackle something for me next.

Pattern: Little Girl's Shrug
From: Knitting Pure and Simple
Yarn: Cascade Superwash Magenta

A Burpie Baby Gift

Sorry, the light in the Nook is not very good. I wanted to share the little trio of burpies that I made for a friends new princess on the way. This is a quick and easy project and it results in a very unique and lovely baby gift.

Go check out this super handy tutorial and whip a few up for the new baby in your life!

The trio ready for gifting.

Homemade Ornaments

Check out our fun family crafting at Following Our Bliss!

Just Wanted to Share this Photo

Because I love it... that's all.

Vaughan in her red tutu looking up at her big cousin Gracie.

Oh the Possibilties

I found this book last week and I knew I needed it in my library. This is right up my alley since I love small projects like hats and gloves and embellishment is my thing.

I was working on a hat prior to buying the book. Once I browsed through the lovely pages, I thought the hat should have a little stitch work.

Vaughanie girl loves her new hat.

She happily modeled it for me.

Is she not the cutest little pumpkin EVER??

I Had To Do It

Its mine. I can't wait until its in my hot little hands. I am so tired of having everything I need for a knitting project except the right size needles. I have spent so much money on needles and I still never have the right size for that next project. Hopefully this little beauty of a system will solve that problem for good! Merry Christmas to me...again.

Addi Click Needle System

Been Doin' a Little Crafting...

Just haven't blogged about it.

I attended a gorgeous baby shower for an old friend of mine a little over a week ago. It was above Cartier on Michigan Avenue and, my goodness, was it lovely. There is a Women's Club there...who knew...only the elite Chicago society folk, I guess. Anyway, I was honored to attend and I had a ball making the gift. Can you believe I didn't take any pictures of the toile burpies and the diaper pouch that turned out fantastically? I also had to throw in a crocheted hat and a pair of booties. She loved them and I loved making them. Wish I had more new babies to craft for!

I made a couple of pillows for the girls' bed. Their birthday was Saturday. I had to make them at least a little something.

Ella is in love with her little hoot owl.


I even managed to whip this little beauty up for myself. It was quick and easy and it will get lots of wear for sure. I am becoming a hat wearin' kind if gal. Eliminates the need to do my hair...sweet! Free pattern from ravelry.



Christmas came early for this crafty-mama. I will fill you in later. All I have to say is thank goodness for knowledgeable friends!

Look What I Got Away with this Morning

Outfit number 2!

I know, I'm pushing it trying to complete an outfit with the girls awake and Baby Vaughan being here. Vaughan is napping and the girls have been very cooperative.


Since the girls are starting preschool...yes, its true...I thought I should complete this project. I mean, they have to be the most uniquely dressed girls at school, right? And you may be wondering if Gracie matches the bathroom curtain and the answer is YES. Might be a little strange if you happen to see her in the bathroom but since the odds of that are very slim, I decided it was OK.

Today's Naptime Project...

A knitting needle roll.


Since the knitting began a few weeks ago, I have somehow managed to accumulate quite a collection of needles. Me, buying like a mad woman?...Never. Anyway, they are threatening to wander off all the time so I decided it was time to tame the needle beast.
It turned out pretty well for a quick 2 hour project. Mama is a happy, organized knitter now.

A Little Corduroy?

Girly Skirts

Perfect End to a Perfect Day

Today is a dear friend's 40th birthday. To celebrate, yesterday we met for lunch, wandered in and out of some fabulous shops and ended the afternoon with a massage and facial at her favorite spa. Needless to say, I came home feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. I thought I would have a hard time pulling it together to get dinner made and the kids to bed but it was quite the opposite. I made matzo ball soup and salad for dinner and then felt inclined to whip up some peanut butter cookies with the kids. My patience was endless and my demeanor was calm and loving. I typically find baking with toddlers trying at best.

I have never had a facial before and just a couple of massages. I have to admit that I was feeling a bit guilty for indulging in such pampering but when I got home, my sweet husband told me that that is why he goes to work everyday. So I can go to the spa??? I don't think so but, my goodness, does he know how to make a girl feel good!

At the end of the blissful day, I sat with a glass of wine and a knitting project. Perfect. Boy do I feel the blessings!

Cutie Patootie Pants

It finally got chilly enough for Sammy to wear his new wool pants. I picked up this fabric at the Goodwill a while ago. I believe it is 100% wool so I had to line them for comfort. That was quite an undertaking! The patch pocket is made from a piece of vintage plaid wool. The patch was apparently meant to be a part of a quilt. Who wants a wool quilt?...not me. I "won" a box of wool fabric squares on ebay. This was one of those lessons learned. Don't bid on items that are not thoroughly described. The description said "large lot of vintage fabric". It wreaked of cigarettes so much so that I had to leave the box open and not go near it for months. (BTW, I "won" a box of buttons that had the same stink problem.) I now make sure the items I bid on specify that they come from a non-smoking home!

Anyway, my mom laughed at me and wondered what the heck I was going to do all of those wool squares. Well Ma, I did find a use for at least one square:) I must say that some of the pieces of fabric are pretty cool.

Fruity Hat Pattern

I am sorry that I left the pattern link out. I was in a rush and couldn't find it when I was posting. There are many similar patterns out there but since I am a beginner, this pattern seemed the simplest.

Go ahead and make one for the little sprout in your life!

A Shower Gift

Not sure if the baby is a boy or a girl so I made a tomato hat. This knitted up really nicely. I hope the recipient likes it and her little sprout wears it often!

Been Sewin'

For the last couple of weeks, I have been doing quite a bit of sewing. My machine is on the frits so it has been a lesson in frustration patience. I took it all apart and cleaned it today hoping that would help. I felt pretty cool doing that but sadly, feeling cool was the only benefit. I think the problem is that my bobbins aren't fitting properly but I bought the kind my machine calls for so hmmmmm. It probably time for a tune up...phooey. Or....do you see the wheels of my evil mind turning? The sewing expo is this weekend. Perhaps its time for a new machine. HEE-HEE-HEE (wicked cackle).


Today's sewing: Psychedelic Swirls

Just love the colors of the fabric with the pink Chuck Taylors.

Ella liked this little number so much that I had to fight with her to take it off. Not yet, my dear. I have to finish sissy's outfit before we go trashing yours.

Got more to show you but you'll have to wait.

Oh, the Inspiration

I was surfing the blogosphere the other day looking for crafty inspiration. I don't know why I am constantly surprised at the new and beautiful things I manage to stumble upon. By clicking through a couple of blogrolls, I found myself here. These arm warmers called to me and since I have been inclined to tackle about anything these days, I decided to give Toast a go.

I had never used double pointed needles to knit in the round before but with my trusty video tutorials, I was cast on and knitting in no time.

I am wearing them right now and I can tell you that I they will get plenty of wear. I am always cold and I love how they look. I have a few 3/4 length sleeved sweaters. Pop these on and voila, toasty arms. Had to throw in a pic of my new jacket. I got it at the worlds larget rummage sale a couple weekends ago. A huge group of area churches got together and used the fair grounds to house a barn sale. It was pretty amazing. I went the last day so this was $25. Brand new condition military jacket. Score and a half!!

Mittens Complete

It wasn't easy... well it was after I took all my lumps and fixed all my mistakes:)

And look what you can do while wearing your new mittens.
Make super silly funny faces!

Gotta admit that the lovely thumbed mitten of the previous post turned out to be practice. Since finishing the inside-out, way too big mitten, my skills improved. I had to make 2 more to have a wearable set. What a great skill I have now though. I'm off to make 2 more pair for the other munchkins.

You can find the toddler mitten pattern here.

Look Ma, I Made a Thumb!

Go ahead and laugh. No really, its ok. The fact is that I couldn't be more proud of this little thumb. This thumb was no easy task but I did it. Truly, I feel like a preschooler who needs her mama to say "Good girl! Great job!"

If you look closely, you can see that my poor thumb is on inside out but I don't mind. No, perfection is not critical this time around. Simple execution is enough for me. Why am I so excited? Well, I have never been "taught" to knit. I am purely self taught through books and online tutorials. This little thumb required me to pick up and knit, knit 2 together, break off and bind, sew a seam. Quite a big lesson in such a little thumb.

Truthfully...this mitten was meant for my 2 year old. As you can see, it fits me. Oh well, like I said, perfection is not on my radar right now.

In other crafty news, I stopped by the most adorable little shop yesterday. I have driven past it many times in the past few months but wasn't sure what was in it. All I could see was the sign outside. Its called My Eclectic Mess and the logo is a dress form wearing a polka dot skirt. Enough said. This is the place for me.

I did a bit of online research and came across the shop's website and blog. Yes, its a bloggy mama that owns the shop. Even better!

Look at the lovelies that followed me home. I was looking for some fabric for the girls fall wardrobe. Beth suggested these fabrics from Joel Dewberry's Aviary collection. I could not be more excited to make something from them. A little jumper I think. If I could just work up the courage to cut them....

Go check out Beth's site. Also note that she offers her amazing fabric selection in an Etsy store.

Ahhhhh, Completion

I have been in a bit of a funk lately. I feel scattered and ineffective. I have not been able to get a handle on anything it seems. I set the goal of "finishing" the current, and ever-growing, laundry pile everyday this week and all I could muster was a load or two. The house looks like a bomb went off but no matter how long I spend picking up, it just never looks any better. The day before yesterday I decided that it was time to take back control. My way of doing that was to hunker down and finish something. Here it is:

I am in love with this bag. It is perfect for the fall and I adore the color of the yarn. I used the Stitch and Bitch pattern but changed out the ring handles for these vintage wood ones. You may remember my good fortune of acquiring these handles. They make me happy just looking at them. They are chunky and heavy and feel good in your hand. If you ask me, they are a huge improvement over the cheap-o bamboo rings I originally bought for this project.

Half of the fun was choosing the broach that compliments it best. I have quite a collection now and I had such a ball sorting through them, trying them all on and selecting one. I'm a huge dork, I know, my hubby just reminded me of that. Good thing he loves me anyway!

Since deciding to kick the funk to the curb, I have managed to finish my book, finish the laundry and get the house reasonably clean. Sometimes you just have to muscle through and say NO to the cloudy funk. Its amazing how great I feel today. I think I may head to my local yarn shop for some group knitting tonight. What has gotten into me??

Pattern: fat bottom bag

Bathroom Rehab

This home improvement project was supposed to be a quick and simple task but it turned into a huge ordeal. Don't they all seem to go that way?

Since we moved into this house 3.5 years ago, the half bath has been a dark shade of grey with chinsy black fixtures. The paint the prior owners used was textured with grains of sand. Even though I hated this room, we never got to it because we weren't really sure how to deal with the textured paint. Being the super savvy home decorators that we are (not), we decided that the best way to handle it would be to put more textured paint over it. I mean, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em right? No, not right.

We ended up with a huge, gloppy textured mess. See below.

I stopped Brian midway through and told him to put the brush down and walk away. Upon doing some research on the dreaded textured paint, I decided that the best plan would be to prime the walls with 2 coats of heavy duty primer and then do 2 coats of flat paint. Small job turns to huge job.

Here is the old color with the new textured paint on top. Yeeew...no double yeeeew!

After putting the new plan in action, we completed the job. The new half bath is light and airy. The light fixture makes the room literally glow. I found the mirror at the Hobby Lobby on clearance ($45.00). I made the curtain from fabric in my stash, whooo hooo! Nothing like decorating while stash busting. I'm glad that I found a place to use this fabric because I simply adore it!

Once I got the sewing machine humming again, I couldn't stop. I just had to make a cute hand towel. I made the towel out of a thrifted table cloth and embroidered a little humming bird and flower. Do you ever color with your kids? It's really soothing and mindless. I feel the same way about these simple embroidery projects. Soothes the soul.

Project complete, thank goodness. Even the kids can't get over the transformation. They keep wanting to go potty in the "new" bathroom. Can't say that I blame them.