Crochetdermy

Shane was concerned about my lack of new posts lately (sorry!), and offered up this set of pictures of craft "taxidermy" (all crocheted...no real animals were actually harmed in the making of this post) from here. Creepy, but kind of cool.

This is Cute...No Lion!

A co-worker sent me this for it's high cuteness factor. I couldn't agree more! I don't know how to crochet, but seeing this stylin' lion makes me want to learn how! You can learn more about him here.

Bedroom Makeover

Shane and I are back on the house decorating bandwagon. Woo hoo! We spent this past weekend painting our master bedroom, installing a new ceiling fan, and hanging our TV. Let's take a looksie:

Before
If you recall, this room had one full wall of ugly wallpaper, and then a border that went all the way around the room. The ceiling fan hung down more than 19", which was basically like having a third...very dangerous being..in bed with us. The walls were a dirty ivory color, and the ceiling was an even dirtier white.

After!
The color is Behr's Verdigris (in the Ultra Premium Plus line of colors). The ceiling fan is a low profile, so no more feeling like we'll be decapitated if we accidentally sit up in bed while the fan is on. We still need curtains (since I hate blinds!), a new bed skirt (in white), some lamps for the end tables (I want to do something with a bold color base, like orange, dark coral, or yellow...but we'll see what I can find), and some art for the walls.

Here's another view.

On the bigger dream to-do list, we'd like to change the wood floors to be a darker color and change the trim in the room (and the whole house...ugh!) to be white. For now, I think this is way better than what we had!

I'm an Olympic Medalist!

I know...you're amazed, right? Me...an Olympian? It's always been a dream, and thanks to the Ravelry, it's a dream come true. Every year, Ravelry does the Ravelympics. I've never entered, but this year, I entered my Fiona's top in to the Junior Olympics event, and by finishing, I made it to the podium. Below is my "medal."


The rules for the Ravelympics are simple: Challenge yourself by starting and finishing projects during the 2010 Winter Olympics. See: simple. I had actually started the Fiona top before the opening games, but during the opening games, I realized I f-ed up the whole thing. So I ripped it out and started over. Since this was done within the Olympics timeframe, I became a Ravelympian. I still have more projects to try and finish in order to enter, but my first medal is most precious. ;)

Shawl 3 of 10

In my "race" for 10 Shawls in 2010, I completed my third shawl. I actually finished it more than a week ago, but I got lazy on taking photos. Laziness be gone, and here is the finished project. I'll be donating this shawl and my last shawl to a friend who is doing the 3-Day Walk for the Cure. She is going to have it for sale at a craft sale and then use the money made for her $2K+ entry fee.

This is a modified version of the Ulmus shawl pattern. It's modified because I only used on type of yarn instead of two. With the color change, I thought adding a second color would be too much.

To make this shawl, I used my Harmony yarn, but double-stranded. (Sorry for the wrinkles!)

Here's one close up of the bottom.

And here's another.

One Down, Two to Go

Well, I crossed one thing off of the Knitting To-Do list, and I'm hopeful that it's the biggest of the three things I need to get done. The Fiona top/dress for my yet-to-arrive niece is all done, but I have to say, I'm not a big fan of how the pattern was written. It was OK, but there a few mistakes and it should've been written to knit in the round. I adapted it so that I could knit it in the round, but I didn't do it quite right (I should've eliminated a few stitches on the side since I wasn't seaming it). Still, in the end, I think it turned out pretty sweet....and springy!

Nothing Beats a Baby Model!

Back in the fall, I made a skully hat for Miss Shannon's soon to be baby boy. She wanted something tough, which turned out to suit Mr. Levi nicely given how tough he had to be during his few months after being born premature. Now he's two-months old and sporting the new hat. Come on...it doesn't get any cuter than this!

I hope that face isn't what he thinks of the hat....hmm.

Two Cheers for Shane's Birthday!

Hip, Hip...

Hooray!

(Neither one is Dex. I "borrowed" the picture from here.)

Bloom!

First, sorry that I've been MIA for a few days. I don't know what happened, but I've been super busy lately. Crafting has taken a bit of a back burner, but I promise to have fun things to share very soon.

As I was driving home from work yesterday, I was trying to think of what to post given the absense of all things crafty right now. And then it came to me! The Bloom Bake Shop!


In my little downtown area, a new cupcakery just opened. Given that I can't even eat cupcakes since I'm gluten-free, I don't know why I'm so excited about this place. But I am. For more than a month, there have been these elegant "coming soon" posters in the window of the shop. Starting last weekend, little bits of the window have been unpapered allowing for little peeks inside. I drive by Bloom four times a day (thanks to Dex needing to go out at lunch), and each time I see something new. It's like a little itty bitty present...and it's so pretty. And "Bloom" and baby blue? How can you not think of spring...even despite the fresh 9 inches of snow we just got. As they decorate more and start to display their cupcakes, I can't wait to drive by and see what's new. I really hope the Bloom shop makes it, if for nothing more than daily eye candy. =)

Pupdate

This week has been a tad insane, so I thought I'd end it with the guy (well, one of the guys), that I plan to snuggle up with this weekend and decompress. He's doesn't look like a puppy as much these days, but he'll always be my puppy. Have a good, relaxing weekend, everyone!

The Veggie Sweater Gets Modeled

Yay! The veggie sweater fits Miss Penelope! I think she's the perfect little model for it. (Look at those toes. I just want to eat them up!)

Piss Off, Punxsutawney Phil

Phil says six more weeks of winter, and for that I have one response: "Bite me."


Maybe I should knit me up the Godfrey the Groundhog and then every year MY groundhog will say spring is coming early. Just look at how cute giolou's (on Rav) project turned out (and sorry if I already posted this. I swear I did, but I can't find it.)

Cute, right!

But then her photography total makes this project.

It reminds me of the cartoon with the groundhog from when I was little. What was that? Frosty?

Killing me with cuteness!

Knitting To-Do List

I'm knee deep in knitting another shawl, so I don't have anything to show right now. However, I may need to put said shawl aside in order to get going on a baby gift for my brother and sis-in-law's baby shower at the end of February. This is their first baby and they are over the moon about the new addition. It's a girl, and I couldn't be happier that they found out since it makes baby knitting a lot easier--and a tad more fun.

Here's what I'm planning for the new little miss:

The Fiona Top, but A LOT smaller--and probably as a dress first.

Either these baby shorts from Debbie Bliss's Essential Baby...

... or these baby bloomers from the Purl Bee.

And last...but never least...shoes! Every girl needs matching footwear, and I think these booties will do the trick.

I just received the yarn from KnitPicks. I bought the Palette Yarn in a fingering weight. The colors are:

Sky

MaiTai Heather

I think I most excited about getting started on these because of the colors. The springy-ness of them is making me happy. The shawl I'm working on is very dark and muted--not that it's not pretty, it's just not happy and sunny like this yarn.

I'll keep you posted as I get the projects done.