Happy Halloween, my crafty ghouls!

From October08

I used templates for the Halloween garland from The Toymaker.

From October08

Orange fish?

From October08

Not fish. Someone is peeking out.

From October08

Many are peeking out.

From October08

Wide awake.

From October08

This is the nightmare that woke them.

I wanted to take one more picture of the eyes but my boy wouldn’t have it. The eyes are reverse appliqued onto a t-shirt. I shamelessly copied it from The Creative Kismet. I only have one– no! –two warnings: they are creepier in person, and don’t be surprised if your sensitive-skinned child rips it off faster than you can say seam ripper. Make a tee for yourself instead!

Crafting is going really slowly now. My daily schedule changed when BC started kindergarten and I don’t have as much free time. That seems backward, I should have more free time with him in school.

I have made a little progress on my quilt top using the rose fabric.

From October08

And I knit the Galway yarn till I ran out.

From October08

Then I felted the piece. You can see from the dog’s feet that it shrank quite a bit.

From October08

I washed the rectangle piece two times in hot water (with regular loads of laundry… trying to be moderately green). I am really pleased with the texture of the Galway felted yarn… so nice and nubbly, and not too frizzy.

I made a banner for MrC’s birthday. I’ve seen several versions of banners all over the crafty and noncrafty web, and I was hooked. But I wasn’t hooked enough to sew a fabric banner. Here is my version of the newspaper and craft paper banner:

Start with a pile of newspapers and pretty craft papers. I made a triangular template (not shown) to trace on the paper.

From October08

I used scissors to cut out the paper because I was too lazy to change the blade in the rotary cutters (I have blades for fabric and blades for paper)… a craft knife would work as well. Put the template on the fold of the newspaper to make a diamond shape when it’s unfolded. Cut out enough for your banner message (I used on diamond per letter).

From October08

At some point, change your mind about the design because you don’t have enough colorful paper to finish the project. Instead of using the colorful craft paper, use plain white paper instead. Use your template to cut out triangles (you don’t need diamonds for this step).

From October08

Glue the triangles to one half of your newspaper diamond.

From October08

Break out some colorful markers, and write your message in bold print.

From October08

Find some twine long enough for your message… attach it to the wall, or the curtain rods, or the roof… wherever you want that message to be displayed.  The folded diamond slips over the twine and hangs by itself.

From October08

Wait patiently for hours and hours for the recipient of your message to come home and read it… and be AMAZED you have that much time to make banners and homemade-out-of-this-world cupcakes (sorry, no pics of the cupcakes… but they were GOOD!).

From October08

I don’t have a picture to show but BC and I wrote birthday messages on extra triangles. We nudged the letters together to make room for them. I think that was a better idea than the original banner message. MrC plans to save his notes.

I have had this pretty rose fabric for a while now.

[This photo doesn't really show the colors very well. The rose fabric is pretty close but is prettier in person.  The solid fabric is a light yellow that coordinates with the background yellow of the rose fabric.]
I was looking for the “perfect” project for the rose fabric. It sat in the closet for a long time. I realized that there is no “perfect” project, and that any project was better than no project. I broke out my beginner quilting book and picked out a pattern.

There was one critical criteria for the pattern… I only had 1 yard of the rose fabric. I could have cut it up and used it in a scrap quilt but I really wanted to have something that showcased this fabric. I found a pattern, bought some coordinating fabric, and started chopping and sewing.

I didn’t get too far along before my back started screaming. I don’t have a very good set up for sewing. I sit at the dining room table on a dining room chair. The ergonomics are excruciating.

I tried adjusting the sewing machine height with yoga blocks.

It was better but my back still hurt.

After much research, I ended up putting the sewing machine back on the table. I put the yoga blocks under my feet and a lumber pillow behind me. Raising my feet and supporting my back was a 80% improvement. I think the final 20% will require tilting the sewing machine somehow and using an office chair. Also, better lighting would be lovely.

And, just in case you think I’ve forgotten how to knit, I started working on this:

I don’t know what “this” is going to end up being. Does anyone else ever knit for the sake of knitting? No pattern just knitting? I do have some ideas for it but it is definitely a “I love to knit for the sake of knitting” project.

The pillows on the couch were all wrong once I painted the living room walls. I created new pillows to make my couch and my walls a harmonious blend of cool, calming colors. I also put up new curtains (no pictures until the wrinkles fall out!).

See how I glossed over the big jump in blog time like it didn’t happen? That’s because I’m pretending it didn’t happen.

This is the last in the series of “I did this” posts.  I did do more stuff but I don’t have pictures of the remaining projects.  Also, I like working in the present.  Next post, what I’ve started doing recently!

BC started kindergarten 4 weeks ago… he has brought home 3 viruses (there is some dispute where the second one originated but let’s say it was school).  I think he has missed more days than he has attended.  This last virus is rough… I think it’s the flu.  He gave it to me.  All crafting (and housework) has come to a grinding halt. I’m actually nodding off right now…

Before my head hits the keyboard, I’ll show you a little bit more of what I did while I wasn’t posting:

My living room before:

From September08

My living room after:

From September08

Not quite done but the color change was huge. I liked the golden color with my last couch… this newer couch looks much better with the robin’s egg blue (and have you noticed that everyone’s version of robin’s egg blue is different? … No? … Ok, don’t mind me and my fever riddled brain… just rambling… must find tissues!-).

Hi!

I’m Mouse.

I want to show you my threads… or rather,  my yarns.  This outfit was handmade for me this year.

From September08

The inside of my jacket is not lined… I thought it should be lined but the designer couldn’t be swayed.

From September08

From September08

Raglan detailing with shoulder button closure.

From September08

The back looks as good as the front.

From September08

Take a closer look at these buttons! Cute!

From September08

Thanks for dropping by… take care!

From September08

Stash busting happened while I was away.

I was knitting this… thing?… while sitting with my mom in the hospital. One of the nurses was really enthusiastic:

“What are you knitting? It’s so PRETTY!”

Really?

Pretty?

Really?

You be the judge:

From September08

Either that nurse was the nicest lady in the world, or I don’t want to see her non-work wardrobe. Just saying…

The recipient of the… thing… chose not to show her face:

From September08

Do you blame her?

I’m sneaking in… thank you all so much for your well wishes.  The cheesecake, both virtual and real, was fantastic.

I made a tote!   An old client requested it, and I didn’t want to disappoint her.  I already had the machine out for another project so I made the tote.  Here it is:

From September08

And the inside:

From September08

I’ve done some other projects too. If I can track down the pics (or take new ones), I will post them.

If you are reading this, please send cheesecake…

Things have gotten really screwy these past few months… here’s the tip of the iceberg:

1. we “adopted” a rescue dog — I use quotes because it’s not a real adoption, we are her permanent family but we don’t own her outright.  She came to us underweight and sick.  She is also afraid of loud sounds (like thunder and 5-year olds).

2. our air conditioner broke down sufficiently that we had to replace it — did you know that ac’s are very, very expensive? (I’m a naive homeowner).  Picking someone to put a new one in was difficult… wading through their sales stuff, evaluating them as a company, etc.  I live in muggy, hot Florida… there is no way I can live without ac.

3. our car has 3 expensive repairs that need to be made (and aren’t they all expensive?)

4. one of my cats has kidney problems

5. the other cat has become so allergic to fleas he lost most of his fur and has sores (ick).  He moved out for several days the last time I tried to treat him, I hope he doesn’t repeat that when I treat him again this weekend.

6. the siding on our house was rotting something awful.  We tried to hire someone in December but he disappeared.  We tried to repair it ourselves but after 4 brutal weekends, I begged for mercy.  Hiring a contractor to do the job has been an awful experience too. It isn’t over, but I wish it was.  I also have to caulk and paint the new siding (because we already spent all our money!).

7. my mother just had a mastectomy for breast cancer.  I can’t put into words how this news has affected me. Just know that I am very sad.

I have so many things conflicting with each other right now, I can barely focus on doing what I can do (does that make any sense?). My mom overshadows all the other things but those things are still happening, you know what I mean?

I don’t want to leave you thinking that are entirely bleak:

I planted a garden this year for the first time in ages… it grew beautifully.  The garden is winding down now that it is getting too hot and humid but I will keep doing it now that I’ve started again.  Gardening really does my soul good.

My son grows beautifully too.  I had my son late in life, and I can’t describe the incredible energy I get from watching him develop into his own person (even if that person is occasionally contrary). Motherhood really does my soul wonders.

I’m still knitting.  At some point, I’ll take pics of all the projects I can find and post them.  I’ll also do Sandra’s meme.  Knitting and other crafts (especially sewing) also have a place taking care of my soul.

Keep crafting.  I’ll be back.