Is it any wonder I can't get things done?

This is what happened yesterday as I was trying to knit on some socks...


Isn't she so helpful? The problem is, she is so cute I have to stop what I am doing to hug and kiss her!

I know I've lost my momentum...

Last Friday would have been my mother's 51st birthday. It was also 6 months since her funeral. Dealing with that has just sucked up all my emotions and energy. I have been knitting some because that is something I can do while sitting upstairs with my kids. Anything else has required too much thought, and my brain just isn't working very well right now. (On the positive side, my dad came over and fixed my sewing machine so it is working again. Yea!)

I did make these Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-long Blog Wristers. I found the pattern on Ravelry and thought they were fun and funky. Plus it was a quick project, always a bonus.


The brown yarn was a worsted wool left over from Jacob's sweater and the buttons are made out of coconut shells.


Bring on the fall weather. I am ready!

Day 29: sort of...

So I figured out why I haven't posted anything for a few days. I don't want to end my challenge! I seriously have a sickness when it comes to not finishing things... how sad. I have been crafting, and starting some new projects but the finishing drive is gone. I am going to try for something amazing to finish off my challenge and hope it carries over into the rest of my life, I need finishing power there too. Putting the laundry away after it's been folded. That sort of thing....

Day 28: Something I haven't done in forever...

Thread crochet bookmarks. Why? They are quick and fun, and I haven't crocheted for awhile. I did get a replacement light bulb for my sewing machine tonight so hopefully tomorrow I can get back to it. 24 hours in a day just isn't enough time to get all the crafting done that I want to.

Day 27: Jacob's Sweater and an explanation...

This weekend has been very busy for me, I've been gone more than I've been home. And on Friday I was gone from 9 am until 5 pm running errands. By the time I got the groceries unloaded and put away, the kids fed and bathed and in bed it was closer to 9 and I was exhausted. I took my machine back downstairs (I had lugged it up to my cousin's the day before) and was setting my sewing table back to rights. When I plugged it in there was a blue flash and loud pop! The light bulb gave up the ghost after more than 35 years of faithful service. Not the end of the world perhaps, but it's made my life hard to not have my machine. I kind of feel like my right hand has gone missing. Fortunately my machine was built by my dad many years ago when he was a sewing machine mechanic, so I don't have to go far for help. Tomorrow it shouldn't be too hard to find a replacement bulb and be off and sewing again.

In the meantime I have focused on finishing this sweater for Jacob that has been sitting in my knitting basket waiting for one sleeve for the last four or five months...


But it wasn't as easy as just knitting that second sleeve. I tried it on him and the body fit fine but the sleeve was skin tight and about an inch too short. Yikes! I had to rip the first sleeve back and start them over. But it was worth the effort as he looks very handsome in it and I think we should be able to get two years wear out of it, barring an unforeseen growth spurt. (I'll have to get a shot of him modeling it tomorrow since I finished it at 2 am and he was, of course, sound asleep.)


*edited to add: No I didn't wake him up to model the sweater, this is his GQ, "I am too cool for words" pose. The thumbs up is his ringing endorsement for my knitting abilities. I know he liked the sweater because he gave me a quarter. Nice.

Day 26: Sandwiches fixin's

I went to my cousin's house today (kind of on a whim...) and we made this fun play food out of felt. Those are the fixings for either a meat and cheese sandwich or a peanut butter and jelly, not purple meat like everyone in my knitting group thought. And please ignore the fact that my banana is naked, the peel has ended up being a little more error than trial...
It was a lot of fun though, the kids got to play with the cousins and it's always fun to have some else there to bounce ideas off of.

Day 25: Brian's socks

Each one of these socks are almost 2 ft. long from toe to cuff. That is a lot of stockinette (i.e. boring) knitting. But I love my hubby so it was worth it. He is happy with them. In fact, when he tried them on he said, "I'll take 12 more pairs." Yikes!

Day 24: felt food

Have you seen these online anywhere? There are some seriously yummy looking play foods out there. It inspired my own sad first attempt above. (They are supposed to be sweet rolls if you can't tell...) I am hooked though. I want to make much, much more of this fun felt food for my kiddos. Tea party anyone?

Day 23: A new tradition...

I made this sash out of a scrap of satin and painted the lettering with a stencil. I wanted to start a tradition of having my girls wear this each birthday. Evie thought it was awesome and made her look like a princess...


I can't wait until she is 12 or 13 and is rolling her eyes at me as I pull out the "birthday sash" and make her put it on for a picture.

Day 22: Baby shower gift

Have I mentioned lately that I love the combo of pink and brown? I was excited when I was asked to make this rag quilt for a baby shower on Brian's side of the family, and I found out they are expecting a little girl and her nursery is done in pink and brown! So much fun for me. I had enough fabric left over to make some raggy burp cloths and a taggy toy.