I don't think I can stay here if it's going to be this hot

I finished my "Disneyland queue knit project" yesterday. I always like to bring a little knit project to whittle away in the queues at Disneyland. I created this little chapeau for Maggie. It's a pattern I've adapted .. I replaced the single Knit Rib with a bobble for fun and more texture. This is made with Noro Silk Garden though I forget what colourway.

Maggie was so excited it was done, she didn't care it was 75 by the time she left for school wearing it (it's 103 today... bleh)

Third Grade

Special day today... today is my mom's birthday. She would have been 72.

Today is also the day that my baby begins anew at school and enters 3rd grade.

It was exciting (and a wee bit disorienting - see "looping") lining up for first bell in a new line, with new classmates and walking to a new classroom! Our school "loops" for 1st/2nd grade and 3rd/4th grade which means they have the same class/teacher/classmates for two years.

Maggie's teacher is Mrs. Pennybacker and meeting her first thing in the morning I knew we had won the lottery. She greets the kids every morning with a handshake as they walk in to start the day off right. Our class mascot is The Bookworms! Which is right up our little family's alley as we are certified book nuts.

Speaking of books... I am reading the most quirky, amusing book right now. I highly recommend this book!

Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming.... The year promises to be an incredible one filled with new ideas, new learning and .... cursive! Haa! We sure miss our 2nd grade teacher Ms. Rivas but Mags already found her and gave her a hug on the first day.

What was really cool was waiting to see Mrs. Pennybacker after school... a couple of newly minted 5th grade gals popped by to see her and asked Maggie if she was in her class. When Mags said yes, they both heaved an emphatic "you're soooo lucky.. you're going to LOVE HER!!!" You can't get a higher endorsement than tween girls, in my humble opinion.

Still, a little part of me is the tiniest bit sad that we're inching into the "upper elementary" years and soon ... middle school. Sigh. Time really does fly when you're having fun.

click to view larger

Happiest Place on Earth

Shakespeare had it right when he wrote "Summer's lease hath all too short a date". Where did the time go?

To celebrate the beginning of a new school year, we had a last summer hurrah in the Happiest Place on Earth or as Maggie says "we're home" :o)

Here are a some photos from our fun times in Disneyland and DCA. Click to view larger.

Babes for the Brave - Flo, Liberty & Drake

Save for the remaining itty bitty lace skivs I'm knitting for Flo... ze Babes et Dude are feeneeshed. I must say I find them tres jolie and I'm very excited to be sending them imminently.

Below are a few photos of the Babe friends. I was a little miffed at myself that Dude Drake's shirt doesn't close, but he looks so surfer I figured that was cos he wants to show off his surfer washboard abs. I should probably give these kids some noses. I almost always forget that part.

Maggie presents Babes for the Brave!!! YAY!

~ Fin ~

Babes for the Brave - Meet Drake

Mags loves to name the Babes for the Brave. I think she has a good eye for naming their personalities! We introduce Drake!

This is the last of the 3 Babes for the Brave I am knitting for this first batch. Drake just needs some clothes as you will see.. I'll be working on that next! Yes, that is Drake above behind a wild fig plant that has sprouted in our garden :o) How very cliche, I know, but innit it cute?

I had a hard time coming up with a mouth cos I'm used to making heart shaped girl-babe mouths! I think his expression is pretty good though. Maggie likes him so much she'd like me to make a Dude for her next! I'm rather fond of his unruly surfer-dude hair.

At any rate, I hope Drake, Flo & Liberty make some kids happy. These are pretty addictive to make so I'm sure I'll be making more to send to Ronni after I finish some other projects. Wouldn't it be wonderful if like Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium... the Babes and Dude come alive?

And as Mr. Magorium says...... Your life is an occasion..... rise to it!

Update - August 18: Made clothes for Drake over the weekend .... though he's a surfer dude and hip, he loves to keep current on scientific discoveries.

Let us eat cake!

Cake is what we ate... indeed! Sure it was 95 out yesterday and not really good baking weather, but Mags asked to have meatloaf for dinner and I usually try to honor dinner requests when feasible and it gave me a good reason to kill two birds with one stone and finally use our new cake pan! This is the Giant Cupcake pan by Wilton.

So that little pan, makes THIS wonderful cake!

Babes for the Brave - Meet Flo

Flo is done! Now I just have to make up the Dude and add some clothes and I can send them to Ronni!

Babes for the Brave - Meet Liberty

One down, three to go! I have one of the Babes for the Brave finished, the next is ready to be assembled and I only have the legs to knit for the Dude before assembly.

I found some sumptous Cashmerino by Debbie Bliss on Saturday while visiting my fave yarn shop in Pacific Grove - Monarch Knitting. I picked a lovely pale yellow to make soft blonde hair.

Meet Liberty! My hope is she gives a wonderful little girl a lasting friend which to tell her fears, secrets and hopes. I hope Liberty will give that little girl just one more iota of strength to fight cancer.

Napkins for Earth!

Indulging in my need for sewing has added benefits.

• Supporting local economy by buying lovely fabrics at In Between Stitches
• Perfecting my sewing skills
• Indulging my anal-retentive side with order and detail
• Providing clothing for the donated Babes for the Brave
• Making our own earth friendly reusable shopper totes (imminent project)
• Possibly finding something cool enough to sew for Maggie!
• Cloth napkins to lower our carbon footprint!

If nothing else, I feel like such a girl! :o)

Sew irresistable

Because I cannot seem to get the gather stitch right (one thread always snaps) I've taken to indulging the anal-retentive perfectionist side and have pinned pleats. Oh my how delightfully detailed this minutiae! I thought I was finished Friday night, but a little Sunday afternoon jaunt to Joann's proved otherwise. Maggie found this delightful lace edge to put on the end of Jessie's Tea Time Frock.

Yes, I also got inspired and made 8 new double sided napkins last night using Spring Petal Party Farmer's Market line by Sandi Henderson for Michael Miller. We're having some good friends over for fish tacos tonight and I wanted eco-friendly napkins to dress up the table :o) Wow... this sewing stuff is worse than heroin. Though this is supposition on my part as I could never stick a needle in my vein, but I CAN stick a needle through (repeatedly, and at high velocity) some fabric!

Old Tyme fun at Great America

Yesterday we visited Great America for the first time in about a decade. Our last trip Chris and I were "childless". I can remember my folks taking me and letting me bring a friend which is what we did yesterday. Maggie invited her friend Lindy. We had a really good time. Pictures to come later, but this one was sure fun to do with Maggie. Chris calls us Saloon Sally and Nasty Nell. I didn't realize those props were real! The gun was surprisingly heavy!

So here we are a couple of saloon desperados armed and defending our right to booze and gambling.. or something. Who knows?

Another dark rabbit hole!

Well, what can I say ... I am Alice following the White Rabbit (fiber arts). Because of these Knitted Babes need clothing I'm teaching myself to sew since I dont' want to knit every item of clothing. Each little piece I sew is getting better with experience.

Then I found In Between Stitches and I fear my return to normalcy and a singular fiber craft is over. They have the most divine fabrics.. my favorites like Amy Butler, Michael Miller, Anna Marie Horner. Its intoxicating the way yarn is. I am a Muggle drawn to the Dark Arts.. fiber arts.....not just one now, but two! And when you buy Fat Quarters (square 1/4 yard fabric pieces) it seemingly harmless. Just look at these little rolls of fabric art! They practically jumped into my waiting arms needing a home!


So far I've only sewn little clothes for the Knitted Babes, but as my confidence grows so do my aspirations.... I dream of making napkins and placemats... special linens for our tea garden... hankies... pillows... bags! ARGH! Even the little piece worked quilts are starting to look tempting. CURSES! Anyhoo... making something from nothing (essentially) is liberating and exciting. We'll see where this rabbit hole takes me.

Here is a photo of the latest couture I have sewn for the Babes.