Sunday, February 27, 2011

On the mark....

Kade just finished the winter session of Cocoa Club at our local library and had such a great time! The kids get dropped off, get read to while enjoying warm cocoa and then do a related craft.

The parents, on the other hand, get to walk down to a local coffee shop and chat for an hour. I was perfect and I am so grateful that Kathy, one of our local librarians, let Kade participate (he is a little younger then recommended but a good kid).

As a thank you I made this book mark for Kathy, and it honestly turned out better then I thought it would. I hope she likes it and knows how much we love her!



The pattern for this book mark can be found here.

Lucy's Birthday Gifts!

Kade has been invited to one of his classmate's birthday parties in a couple of weeks so I spent some time this weekend getting gifts ready.

The older kids in Kade's class have been learning to sew and Lucy is a pro. So I decide to create for her a sewing kit. I grabbed an old mason jar and filled it with all things needed in a sewing kit.



I pulled everything out of the sewing kit to show you what I put in it!



You can put what ever you can get your hands on in your very own sewing kit.

On the top of the mason jar lid I made a pin cushion! I did this by stuffing stuffing under the piece of fabric and then using hot glue to stick it tight!

Any, because every girl is a princess on her birthday, I also made her a pink crown!



You can find the pattern here to make this crown or I could make one for the little (big?) person in your life!

I wish I had a girl! I love my little boy very much but there a so many amazing things that can be made for girls!
Thanks for stopping in!
Melissa


Updated!

I've entered this post in The T-Diaries Upcycled Awesome Linking Party! Check it out! And if your coming from there....Thanks for stopping by!



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Saturday, February 26, 2011

This is what I came home too!

Last night I had to work late at The Blue Frog. My job is fun, sometimes stressful but always fun. The hardest part of working late is spending time away from Kade. When I checked on him last night after getting home this how lovely he looked. Just thought I would share!

Monday, February 21, 2011

Socks!

Here is a picture of the socks I've been working on! They seem to be taking forever!

This week has been pretty uneventful in the way of crafting. I was working on a wrap that was a great pattern but the colors (which I loved) just didn't work. I'm okay with it...I will use the wool to make socks.

Anyways, I'm hoping this week will be more productive the last.

Happy family day!
Melissa

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

And they grow and they grow!

Recently Kade found the Sea Monkey's he got for christmas and the boys in my life decided they would set it up and get it going. To be honest, I had no idea what a Sea Monkey was and kinda wish I didn't know what they are! We've had them for about a week and they are just now becoming visible. I will try, when they get a bit bigger, to snap a picture of them. For now enjoy the pictures of my loves!



Alex discovered that if you hold a solid piece of paper behind the tank, you could see them better.

"These are Kade's Sea Monkey's" a direct quote from Kade!

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Birthday Bliss!

I had the most wonderful birthday!

Alex and I slept in (Kade was a the grandparents place), we went out for breakfast, and I got to talk to my brother, twice. Then I sat on the couch and crocheted for a few hours before we headed to my mother in laws for a wonderful dinner made by my brother in law. Thanks everyone over on Facebook for your birthday wishes!

Here are some pictures from my lovely day....

White and dark chocolate covered raspberries....so lovely!

Kade enjoying said raspberries! (Kade called me 'birthday girl' every chance he could today!)

Birthday dinner (care of Nick). Bacon wrapped chicken, steamed veggies, boiled potatoes and stuffing filled butternut squash! So good!

Birthday cards and a nice handmade gift from my good friend Sam (check out her blog). Also, check out our orchids, they are doing so well!

Ice cream birthday cake! So good but way to much dairy for me.

Some birthday gifts. Yummy Godiva chocolate from Nick and Cindy and Bamboo yarn from Marianne!

Last but not least, a birthday napkin that my mom has had since I was a baby. On the back of these napkins is the year that they were printed....1983, the same year I was born. Happy 28th Birthday Napkin! It's been a good one!

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Mail Bag and Birthday Gifts!

This morning while Kade and I were getting ready to go to Cocoa Club at the library, we decided to take some pictures of his new mail bag. Kade wanted a bag like the girls have at school but I wanted to do something a little different. I have such a hard time finding cool projects for little boys but love this bag I just made Kade. I'm going to type up the pattern and have it for sale on Ravelry.







And, when we got home I had a birthday surprise in the bedroom! Alex found this wonderful handmade and hand painted blanket box at the Re-Store in town. It is very lovely and will go great at the end our bed when we have a bigger bedroom. For now, it will live on the living room and hold our blankets.

Some may not find this a very romantic birthday gift but I do! Alex knows how much I love handmade goods and it's nice to build our life together! I'm very excited!





Thursday, February 10, 2011

Baking and Brussel Sprouts!

I will be the very first to admit that I am no good at baking!

My parents met in baking school 30 years ago and every single attempt I've ever made at baking has gone wrong. Alex says in don't have the patience for baking and I am starting to agree.

But this evening, after a glass of wine and putting dinner in the oven, it seemed like a good idea to use up some of the muffin mix I had laying around. I can really only bake from a mix if there is any chance if it turning out and I through in some left over cranberries from the holidays.

They turned out great but part of that had to do with the fact that I didn't leave the kitchen the whole time and jumped up when the timer went off!

Enjoy, I know we will....



Brussels sprouts, pork chops and local potatoes (you have to use local potatoes in Alliston or they will throw you out!)







Hearts!



Part two of my school crafty creations are crocheted hearts for the boys and the girls. The pattern is simple (and can be found here). Once I was done I knew I needed to do something more with them, so I got little backing so the boys could pin them to their shirts and the girls could clip them in their hair....here they are!








You can see that I used three different backings....these were so much fun to make!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Sea Monkeys!

Kade got a Sea Monkey Kit for Christmas from my Mother In Law, which we just found today while going through some of his toys.

Alex and Kade got it started after dinner tonight and Kade wanted me to take a picture so we can share it with the world on my blog. Be prepared for updates!



(and yes, just in case you're wondering, that is our kitchen and not some diner!)

Ya Valentines!

If you don't already know, my birthday falls the day before Valentines Days!

Every single birthday party I had growing up had a V-Day theme and I'm just fine with that. I love love, and I can't think of a better thing in this world to celebrate.

Sometimes I go a little over board with celebrating....I'm not really into decorating but I love making things for people and giving them to them. Now that Kade has entered the world of school (Montessori, what what!) I get to make little things for the kids at school.

I'm going to be making these wonderful little candy filled hearts for the kids at school. If you're looking for something fun and cute for to make the one you love, follow the link below and make your own!

Click here for at wonderful tutorial!

Also, check out this new cowl I made for one of the lovely ladies at work!
(Yes, that's me in our messy little house!)



And, an orchid update!

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Dinner with boys (and one girl!)

Every Monday night since forever Kade and I meet our good friends at East Side Mario's for Kids Eat Free Dinner night! Becky (the Mama) and I enjoy not cooking and the Boys get to enjoy each others company.

Here are a few pictures from last night!



Kade enjoying some bacon.




Aiden eating the bottom off his ice cream cone. This kid amazes me. He never stops eating...he will even eat salad! Love this guy!




Kade enjoying his moose cake for desert.

I also finished my first sock....I'm going to hold off on the other one but are planning to have it done by the end of the weekend.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Heel turned, check!

Last night, with a large glass of wine by my side, I turned the heel properly. Not one hole or mistake and it was easier then I thought! Now for the leg part...which my mother in law wants to be knee high!



Kade got his train set back yesterday morning (last Sunday was a struggle with the train set) and spent the morning making a train around our coffee table with my mom...here is a picture to prove it (along with bags of clothes to go to the The Clothes Line).



Two of our four orchid plants are ready to bloom. Several people gave us orchids when we moved into our house 2 years ago and they were lovely. We've been waiting ever since for the blooms to come back and with the help of my green thumbed partner, they have put forth buds and are getting ready to bloom again. Here they are, for the whole world to enjoy!


Saturday, February 5, 2011

Sock up date!

Hello hello!

So I just thought I would take a few minutes to up date you on how the socks are coming along and I plan to take pictures of them tonight before bed.

I've tried once now to turn the heel but the boy was around and I lost count and had to tear back my work to start over again. He is going to bed now and I'm going to try this again.

I've also started the little valentine gifts I'm planning to make for the friends at Kade's schools. Many little crocheted hearts!

Check back tomorrow for knitting and orchid pictures!

Blessed bee!

Thursday, February 3, 2011

No socking around!

So the sock yarn is lovely and after a bit of a rough start I've managed to find the right needles for the job.

I will admit that I was a little afraid to start knitting again. Don't get me wrong, my hands knew exactly what they were suppose to do, I was worried that I would start knitting again fall out of love with crocheting....But don't you worry, crocheting my love, you are still number one in my heart! Knitting is ever so lovely, it is true but I've only just started these socks and I've dropped stitches and made all kinds of mistakes! Crocheting makes sense to me, knitting is to much work!

Here is a picture of what I got done last night! This was after 3 false starts...but not a bad start.



I also wanted to share some pictures of the Volunteer Family Tree at The Blue Frog where I work. Last summer, for our grand opening, I painted this tree on one of the walls in the cafe. It was really fun to do, and brings more life to the place....

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Warm socks for cold feet!

If you live in Southern Ontario like I do (Alliston, what what) you know we are expecting heaps of snow tonight and tomorrow! The last time we had such snow, everything in town came to a halt and I spent 2 days crocheting christmas presents.

So I couldn't have asked for a better day to receive a package full of lovely fingerling yarn from Knit Picks. This online knitting supply store is amazing! They have everything you could ever ask for and at really great prices. Not only that but they ship to Canada, which is a big bonus!

My mother in law asked me to make her a pair of wool socks because her other socks are bothering her feet. When we couldn't find all wool fingerling yarn in any of the big boxes in our area we decided to head online and found just what we needed at Knit Picks. We decided to go with Palette brand and she picked Delta colour for her first ever hand made socks!

The only snag....She would like them knit :( There is nothing wrong with knit socks, actually they are very lovely but I haven't knit in at least 2 years, maybe more and I while I still know how to do it, I don't like it. I have fallen in love with crocheting and would prefer to do it over knitting any day but you can't deny the beauty and class of a hand made pair of socks.

It took a long while but I've finally settled on a pattern (it can be found here) This pattern has good reviews and seems to make really nice socks. I'm going to be making the basic ones this time and may move up to something grander later. I will be using a set of 2mm double pointed needles which are sure to be "fun".

Oh, and I totally forgot to mention that for my efforts, my lovely mother in law bought me so wool of my very own. I am very excited about it but won't be sharing that wool and project for awhile...sorry to keep you waiting (only kinda!)

Here are so pictures of the yarn for your enjoyment (and envy) and of course my little boy got in there too. Can't wait to share with you this project as it unfolds!




Mittens!





My good friend Becky is still learning the art of crochet and is super busy, so when she couldn't get her christmas mittens done she asked me to whip her up a pair. I used the same pattern for these mittens as I made for Holly's (you can find the pattern here)

This pattern is fun and fast to make....so why not give it a try!
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