Friday, February 28, 2014

February Small Stitchalong done

Here is the ornament I stitched for the Smalls Stitchalong at Stitching Lotus.  Closer to Christmas I will decide who gets this one and personalize a backing for it and make it into an ornament.

The pattern is from a very old book I have.  The fabric is some leftover in my stash that I've decided I don't like very much.

In a fit of combined housecleaning and creativity this week I made this upcycled cat bed from an old sweater.

As you can see, Dumbledore is very cozy there.  In fact he doesn't ever leave his new nest.  You can find the directions at Aunt Peaches.  Very simple and quick to make.  The only change I made was to sew the sleeves together (she left a pocket for a heating pad) and I put a little batting in the base for some extra warmth.

At last we have some rain!  I can practically hear my garden slurping it up.  I hope it lasts a while and helps us catch up.

Have a great weekend.

Saturday, February 22, 2014

If you show your daughter you like Alice in Wonderland...

If you show your daughter you like Alice in Wonderland, she might grow up thinking it's fun to read fairy tales.

If she thinks it's fun to read fairy tales she might develop an active imagination.

If she develops an active imagination she might love going to Disneyland with you.

If she loves going to Disneyland with you she might meet Alice in Wonderland.

If she meets Alice in Wonderland, she might realize that Alice can live and breathe outside of her story.

If she realizes that Alice can live and breathe outside of her story, she might start to think up new stories about Alice.

If she starts to think up new stories about Alice, she might write them down.

And if her nickname happens to be Drama Girl, she might write those stories down in the form of a play, which becomes the school play, which she gets to direct.

And then you get to show your daughter all over again how much you like Alice in Wonderland.


I am so excited about this.  Drama Girl and a friend have written a play called "Wonderland."  I haven't had a chance to read it yet, but everyone who has read it is absolutely crazy about it.  Her brother and sister even auditioned and got parts because they were so excited about the script.

So this spring is all about Alice, in addition to all the excitement about college admissions.  I can't think of a more wonderful way to end her high school days.

[I couldn't find a picture of Drama Girl and Alice at Disneyland, so the photo at the top features a very small Wasabi Girl in pink watching Alice back in 2003]

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Needlepoint Santa Progress


It's not snowing here but it's dull weather nevertheless.  The kind of weather that makes me appreciate tea and slipper socks and curling up with needlepoint.  This project is still in rotation and I've picked it up again.  It's nice to work with wool - it feels so good and is very different from working with floss or quilting. 

Needlepoint is just ridiculously slow.  I still need to do all the details on Santa's face and the directions are tiny and a bit confusing.  So I'm saving that for later.  I'll make this into a pillow when I'm done. 

All the kids are at school, even though it's late afternoon.  Drama Girl and a friend have written the school play for this year and today is callbacks.  In a surprising move, both Jungle Boy and Wasabi Girl auditioned for parts.  This may lead to an interesting family dynamic since Drama Girl is also the director.

I've been reading a book about introverts.  I've always known that I  am one, but there's really a lot about it that I never understood before.  Wish I'd known all this years ago.  Would have saved me a lot of self-doubt and misery.  It's an extrovert world out there, and some of us really struggle to live in it.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Finally: That Fat Envelope from Hogwarts

Drama Girl is away at Outdoor School this week, leading a cabin of 5th graders as they explore nature. I think they've had a lot of rain to deal with.

Meanwhile another college acceptance envelope has come.  I couldn't help but smile at the picture they included in the corner.  It looks like a castle.   Do you suppose that's a picture of the owlery?

And now you've seen her mail before she has, but I think I haven't revealed too much about where it is.

It's not from Hogwarts - but it's the next best thing.

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Valentine's Day prep

Today was another day of rotating the quilts in the house.  My walls are always changing, as are the stacks of quilts around the house.  I haven't gotten to the point where we change the quilts on the beds with every season, but that can't be far away.

These are quilts from past years, and I always smile when I pull them out.

I also have a few wool projects:







Thinking cheerful thoughts today while the rain falls.  Wish it were a little heavier but we'll take whatever we can get.

Also finished up my scarf.  I love how it turned out:
On to the next project...


Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Infinity scarf progress


I've been working on an infinity scarf in my free moments.  I haven't done any crochet in a while so it's a fun change for me.  The lacy pattern goes quick and doesn't require much counting, so it's fairly brainless.  Wish I'd thought to make a bunch of these for Christmas presents!

Rain predicted for tonight.  It wont be enough to make much difference in our drought.  I think it's time to let the lawn go brown and reassess all our water usage around here.  Tough times for California!

Drama Girl has now received two college acceptance letters.  One she didn't care much about, but one is high on her list, so she's happy - and we're all a little relieved.  Still waiting to hear from her top two choices, but they're not scheduled to send letters until mid-March. 

This is all getting real now.  I probably keep saying that, but honestly, it's a weird time in my life.  As excited as I am for this stage in the growing-up process, I'm hopelessly sentimental for my sweet little girl who went to elementary school only a day or two ago it seems. 

This year is going to be full of so many firsts and lasts for her.  New things and places and people and lots of goodbyes.  I'm just trying to get through one day at a time.

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Slow Sunday Stitching: Fall Needlepoint


We finally have some rain!  Such a wonderful event that each of the sleepy teenagers commented on it when they got up this morning.  So it's a perfect day to kick back with some hand work and enjoy the drippy view out the window.

I've been working on this piece off and on for quite a while.  I know I'll love it when I'm done, but I'm really slow. Needlepoint seems to require even more patience than cross stitch.  So many color changes!

Slow Sunday Stitching

Thanks to Kathy for hosting Slow Sunday Stitching! 

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