Craftylilly

If you find my voice, give me a jingle

I'm still sick.  I felt pretty normal yesterday.  Sure, I didn't have a voice, and experiences the occasional wracking cough, but I felt on the mend.  Then I worked at PQL's school.  You can imagine the state of affairs at the end of the day.

I just woke up from a two hour nap.  I think it's telling that I woke up in the exact same position that in which I fell asleep.  My voice is still AWOL too.  Wish me luck and good health everyone.  I have to work again at the school on Monday and have a week long trip to prepare for.  *whimper*

Another holiday, another wreath

I'm fighting off a cold, and so I plan on spending the day on my couch, knitting and watching bad TV.  I've got to get better as I'm working at my kid's schools in the next week, and I've got a Thanksgiving week trip to get ready for.  However, I thought I'd share with you another ribbon wreath I made, this one for Christmas.  This wreath I added some small gold tone bells and I really like how it turned out. 

From summer to fall in 24 hours

It's gotten cooler here in the Bay Area.  I'm happy for the cooler weather.  I'm thankful for the rain we've seen in the past week.  I'm marveling at how the weather seemed to change on a dime.  One day it was in the upper 80's, and the next it's dropped 20 or more degrees and I'm pulling out the handknit sweaters.  The poor trees don't know what to do with themselves.  Some are turning the brilliant russet colors of fall, and others, and unsure. 

I've been rather uninspired crafting wise of late.  I have completed four washcloths for teacher gifts.  I'm planning on using the washcloths to wrap some pretty soaps inside.  I have been trucking along with my Cassidy.  My big plan is to have it ready for Stitches West at the end of February.  Right now, I'm feeling like I need to concentrate on small projects.  Small project completion is making me feel more productive.  It's also been helpful in terms of getting some holiday gifting done.  The financial pinch that I think many of us are feeling is translating to making more gifts, and limiting how much we as a family are buying.  Overall, I think more handmade gifts is a positive trend that I'm happy to do more of this year.

Along with making more gifts, I've been charity knitting a bit more too.  My next project is a baby hat or two for the Knit One Save One campaign.  I'm using some stash Sirdar Domino yarn for it.  It'll make a cute hat and will make a sweet little baby noggin warm.  It does a heart good I tell you.

I thought I'd leave you with a picture of the Craftylilly kids all ready for Halloween.  I love my little super heroes.

We came, we saw, we trick or treated

Halloween was a resounding success according to the Red Ranger and PQL.  The Red Ranger dressed up as a Jungle Fury Red Power Ranger (of course).  PQL dressed up as ... wait for it... Iron Man.  My dear daughter is a tomboy.  No princess costumes for her.  She wanted the muscley Iron Man costume, and is still in it as we speak.  She was so excited about her costume that she explained to every person who came to their front door that she was, "Iron Man!" making muscles and growling.  Hilarious I tell you. 

We did end up making the pumpkin pie.  It was fun!  The kids took turns measuring out the ingredients, pouring them in, and stirring.  The finished pie was delicious.  PQL's preschool teacher suggested that next time I stew the pumpkin instead of using the canned pumpkin.  Yeah, I don't know.  I have a hard enough time to find the time to do any crafting.  I'm not sure I want to stew my own pumpkin for pie. 

Two fun things I'd like to share.

1)  I got my preordered copy of Franklin Habit's It Itches.  What a fun, funny small book!  It would make a great stocking stuffer.  The cartoons are cute and hilarious, and his short essays are fun too.

2)  Look what kits are being offered at Knitpicks.  I've always wanted to knit a Sheldon turtle, and to get the pattern and yarn for costumes?  Genius.  Unfortunately my crafting plate is so full, I'm thinking this may be a Valentine's Day project for my kids.

Today I'm hoping to knit a bit, and perhaps go to a Rock and Mineral show today.  We'll see.  I'd appreciate a slow, relaxing day as befits a first day of Daylight Savings.