Lattice Background Card

For my June Paper Capers cards, I replicated a fun design by Stephanie.  I purchased the Lattice Background stamp in anticipation of the Stretch Your Stamps class that begins in a few weeks.  Yes, I realize the irony of buying new stamps for a class that is encouraging me to use my old stamps.  But such is the life of a crafter.

 

I used Basic Grey paper from a 6″ by 6″ paper pack.  The paper ribbon on the envelope is from Basic Grey too, a freebie I picked up at a scrapbooking crop.  Always love to use my freebies.  I used my white Picket Fence Tim Holtz marker to create the dashes.  A paper doily in the center.  And the “thinking of you” stamp set is from an old Hero Arts frame set.

After making the first set of the lattice background, I did not want to make any more.  It takes time to cut those little pieces.  But I stuck with it.  I do not know how my friend Pam does it all the time. I need to work on my patience as a paper crafter. 🙂

Handspun Hat

Now I usually do not share every knit or crochet item that I finish on the blog.  I almost always share the bigger projects, but the little hats and dishcloths that I create sometimes usually just stay on my Ravelry page.  But this simple hat is extra special.  This is the first time I knit with my own handspun yarn!  It is the Monmouth Cap spun out of 100% Norwegian wool (130 yards = 4 ounces).

I really hated spinning this fiber.  I thought my final product was uneven and too “thick and thin.”  But then I started knitting with it and everything changed.  It was magical knitting with it!  It really is true what people say about knitting with your own handspun – there is nothing like it.  I had no idea it was going to stripe like it did.  And that it would be so even in the end.  A real joy to knit.  I knit this hat for the charity donation sponsored by Cephalopod Yarns.  It is a great deal – knit a hat for Afghans for Afghans and receive a coupon code to the shop.  Win win!

Magrathea Shawl

Today I am showing off the Magrathea shawl, my first project in the Camp Loopy 2012 series.  The basic rules for this month included:  buying yarn from The Loopy Ewe at a discount, creating a project with at least 400 yards, and using a pattern with a designer from a country other than your own.  So I used the opportunity to create a gift for a professor that I have worked with throughout the years.  She truly deserves one of my knitted items.  And since I know I will be busy next year, I am getting ahead of the game.  There is nothing worse than gift knitting at the last minute!  Now I am just ahead.  🙂

 

 

Knitting with black yarn requires a lot of light, but the silk in this yarn was nice to knit.  I am always faster at my knitting when I have a deadline.  Now I need to go finish a sweater that has been on the needles for over two years.  Before I start the sweater I am going to knit next month for Camp Loopy Project #2.  Crazy much?

Baby Shower Craftiness

This past weekend I helped host one of my best friend’s baby shower.  She was part of the “wedding trifecta” from two years ago (I was a bridesmaid in three important weddings within three months).  So this time instead of wedding shower craftiness, it was time for baby shower craftiness!  The entire theme revolved around books because my friend is a kindergarten teacher.  And the nursery theme for the baby is going to be rabbits and bunnies.

First, I made the invitations.  My friend saw the idea on Pinterest and I recreated the look.  I printed the actual library card on my printer with the American Typewriter font.  The entire pocket was stitched together on the sewing machine.  And the quote label was created with a Sizzix die.  I am very pleased with the results and proud that I had these done early!

 

The favors were another Pinterest idea.  I just created the labels for these.  Always glad to have my circle punch and scalloped Quickutz dies handy.  A little bit of Stickles made them glittery.

Centerpieces for each of the tables contained a book with corresponding decorations.  Her mother put all of these together.

 

Then our other best friend made the best diaper cake with books.  How cute is this thing?

And here is just one of the fun treats created for the appetizers.  We stuffed ourselves on veggie pizza, fruit, taco dip, and homemade cupcakes.

My gift for the shower was a baby blanket with a matching bunny hat.  I was also happy to have these done the week before the shower.  No last minute knitting here!

And finally I created a set of thank you cards for the new mom to be.  I used the same paper as the invitations.

Overall, a great success.  I had everyone fill out a scrapbook page with baby advice and well wishes, so I will be working on finishing the album this summer.  It will be an excellent gift when I return home to visit the baby!  She is due in early August and I am really looking forward to being a godmother.  In the mean time, I have to resist casting on too many baby projects until we know how big she is going to be!

Peas in the Garden

Time for a garden update!  This is my second year with a garden and I learned a lot from last year’s endeavors.  First, trying to grow seedlings indoors is just not my thing.  Either it is going in the ground as a seed or I buy it as a transplant from my local greenhouse.  Second, the few peas I planted last year did really well.  So I planted several rows of peas this year.  And I planted them three weeks earlier because of the wonderful weather we have been having.

 

Can you see some of the pods hanging?  After the flowers bloom and the pods start growing, it can be tricky to spot them.  But it is such a treat to find them.  I love watching the plants climb up the poles (next year I need a trellis) and toward the sun.  Look at my first harvest!

There is nothing like the taste of fresh peas out of your own garden.  I love it.  I am wondering if I could get a fall harvest out of peas this year, that is how much fun it is to grow them.  Very low maintenance and the bugs leave them alone once they grow tall enough.

Here is a sneak peek at my tomato plants.  Last year I only had one and enjoyed the tomatoes immensely.  I invested in the tomato cages this year and I think it will work out well.  I am all about the low maintenance.  There are lots of varieties this year:

Here is a photo just for fun of our plastic owl.  His eyes glow and his head freely spins.  A little creepy at night!  We originally bought him to keep the birds away from the grass seed in another part of the yard.  But now he watches over my garden.  And probably startles people driving down the road.

And then here is a stargazer lily I bought as a bulb last year that has really taken off.  Multiple blooms this year!  I love the color.

That is it for the garden update this time of year.  I am looking forward to watching the tomatoes grow and replacing the peas with peppers.  I do have some other smaller plants growing, but we will see if those make it.  First time for summer squash.  Hope your gardens are growing well!