These are my assistance. They weren't much help with picking fabric this morning though. This guy was to busy making blue prints in his head of what his next link-n-log fort would look like to help me.

And this one told me I was being rude because I was interrupting her conversation with her imaginary friend(Deeda) who lives in her mouth. I'll have to share that story some other time. So it was left up to me to make the hard choices.

Decisions

So here comes the part I have a hard time with. The final decisions! But I think I'm almost there. I'm going to go with a natural colored linen for these adorable pants. I'm using the Katri linen pants out of Ottobre design Spring '09 magazine. I thought about other colors but I decided on the neutral bottoms because it goes with everything.

I'm going to make this cute little shirt and if there is enough fabric left I may make the bag to match. I'd give you the title of the book but it's in Japanese so I have no idea what any of it says. This shirt is suppose to tie in the back but I am thinking about sewing up the back seam most of the way and then placing a button on top. I have visions of chacing my daughter around all day tying her shirt.

I still have a stack of patterns and fabric so I'll be posting more projects in the days to come. I'm glad I started blogging because it is really motivating me to finish my projects(in a timely manner). I feel obligated to do so even if no one comes to my blog.

This is the skirt and Capri's I have completed for my daughter's birthday along with the fruit from the previous post.

handmade birthday

Ever since I started crocheting again 2 years ago I wanted to make play food for the kids. I printed patterns off all the time(who knows where they went) with good intentions but never made it on to actually crocheting anything. Sooo, for my daughters birthday coming up the first weekend in April I decided some play food was in order. All she has is the plastic kind that is falling apart from being crushed and chewed upon for a year or so. And I finally succeeded in making some fruit and a market tote for her. She will love them I'm sure. I hope to make a lunch kit as well. I have completed some clothes for her but my computer is not cooperating with uploading pictures right now so this one is all I could get. I used all free patterns that I found with google. I am happy with how they turned out. My plan is to complete one or two gifts every week until I have enough but if all else fails I will be making a mad dash for walmart or target the day before her birthday(this is what my husband would predict in my future). But I have faith that I will complete at least a couple more things! More pics to come.

All Aboard!

Trains, trains, and more trains. It always amazes me how the kids will go for ever with out playing with something and then out of the blue it's all over my living room for two or three days. I have gotten a lot accomplished in the last couple days thanks to Thomas! This train set has been the center of attention. The look on there faces at night when it's time to clean up is of utter disappointment. Sooo, I let them leave it on the floor last night.

They don't even know I exist today. They are so absorbed in there land of pretend. I hate to do it but I have to pull them away to get our homeschooling done but I'm sure they will be right back at it after lunch!

More sea life and dishcloths

The first dishcloth is a waffle stitch. I found the pattern at http://www.ravelry.com/. The second one is your basic seed stitch model. I love the seed stitch because it makes a nice texture which helps when scrubbing those stuck on pots and pans. I used some bright colors to add to my kitchen since I am starting to feel the winter blues! Needed a little pop of color in the kitchen!
The seed stitch cloth has given me the opportunity to work on my continental knitting skills. I have always been a righ hand knitter but knitting left handed when doing seed stitch definately increases my speed. I was suprise how fast I feel into a rythm with my left hand. I would only have a quarter of this cloth knit if I were using my right hand. hmmm might stick with my left for a while and see how it goes!

Seed Stitch Cloth Pattern
Worsted Weight Yarn
Size 7 or 8 needles

CO 30 to 50 stitchs(depending on how big you want it, I did 40 sts on mine)
Always cast on an even number of stitches
Row 1: K1,P1
Row 2: P1,K1
work to desired length and bind off

It's that simple and it looks and works great!

Here's what I have finish so far. Some starfish face cloths to go with the fish washcloths for the kids. I think I'll attach a piece of ribbon to each one for hanging. I got this pattern from the Mad Quilter blog. I have here link listed in my side bar if you are interested. I didn't not use the washcloth pattern. I wanted something smaller and used the coaster pattern instead. I used a size H hook instead of the G and they turned out the perfect size. I love these and I might even make some for myself!

A School of Fish

Here are the first set of washcloths. I just love these fish and I think my kids will have lots of fun with them in the tub. I started with a free fish pattern at http://dishclothcorner.blogspot.com/2008/06/fish-washclothdishcloth.html. I can't ever seem to stick to a pattern exactly so here are my modifications. I used size H/8(5.00MM) hook because I crochet a little tight and I find the cotton I am using feels much softer on a large hook. I increased to 18 stitches then work 7 rows of 18 stitches. I decreased to 8 stitches and then increased for the tail to 18 stitches. I also added a chain at the nose while I was edging the fish so that it can be hung on a hook. I love how these turned out. I'm considering making some small sardine shaped fish for the kids to use for washing there faces in the morning. And possibly a fishy shaped wash mitt. hmmm so many possibilities! I can't wait to start a new pattern. Hopefully some new pics tonight or tomorrow.

Making these fish got me thinking about the bible story where Jesus multiplies the loaves and the fishes to feed thousands. I'm always amazed by that story! I think I'll sit down and read it with the kids this afternoon and then give them there fish washcloths. What a great reminder of the wondrous things God can do!

Create-a-long

I'm joining in a create-a-long this week with Melissa from Day to Day. (there is a link to her blog in my side bar) She's making washcloths and I have tons of cotton yarn that I can use. I think I'll start tonight while watching the super bowl. I'm going to start with some fish shaped washcloths for the kids and maybe some to set aside as gifts for family birthdays. It will be a break from all the crochet hearts I have made the last couple weeks for Valentines Day!

Oven roasted sweet potates

4 med. sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2 in. cubes
1 1/2 T. Olive oil
1 1/2 T. Honey
1 t. dried rosemary, crushed
1 t. sea salt

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place sweet potatoes in a baking dish or baking pan. Add olive oil, honey, rosemary and sea salt. Toss to coat. Bake for 20-30 minutes.

makes 4 servings

Even my kids like this recipe!

Snow much fun

Here is our snowman from yesterday. The kids don't seem to care how cold it is they just want to play in the snow. They stayed outside till I dragged them back in a couple hours later. Thirty minutes was enough for me! I watched them from the window. Jerry decided to change the oil and rotate the tires on my car. What a day to decide to do that! It didn't seem to make much difference to him though.

Fisher finally gave up on me throwing his ball and dropped it for the snowman to throw. Once he figured out that wasn't going to work he went and plopped it on Jerry's wrench.

A cozy snow day

I came in the living room this morning to find my daughter curled up and looking cozy in a small round laundry basket. I don't believe I can remember ever fitting in a laundry basket but I am sure at some point years ago I could. Anyway I snapped a pic of her and of my son looking out our front door watching it snow. It's just one of those lazy snow days with not much going on. I sometimes miss the days way back when I had nothing better to do than to curl up with a good book and read the day away! At least my kids now get to enjoy it.