Knitting Sandwich

naptime catchup

so i find myself sitting during naptime with the computer within easy reach!  

 that's a pretty rare happening of late, so i figured i better jump on it and get some computering done!  i made a quick round to a few blogs, just to see what i've been missing (it's a lot by the way, y'all have been busy in my absence).  

i've been using blog lovin' to keep track of blogs and while i don't mind it on the computer i really don't like their mobile app.  it's frustrating to me when i'm on my phone, which is much more likely to happen during naptime, and then i never get around to checking the blogs like i want to.

so tell me - what service, if any, do y'all use to keep track of your blogs?  and do you find it mobile device friendly?  i need a new system so i can keep up with reading posts from my phone.

 this photo, which while showing how sweet thora is when she sleeps, also serves to show you why i'm on the computer and not crocheting... my crocheting is just out of reach... that little spotty pile of baby blanket in the background... also i find crocheting a little harder to do while holding a sleeping baby than knitting.  so this most recent crochet blanket is going slower than it might.

 this is an older photo of the project (an annie baby blanket - rav link) that i found on the computer (since i obviously can't get up and take a picture with a sleeping baby and a computer on my lap!).  i'm guessing that i've got about twice as much done on it now as when i took this.  i'm loving this pattern, it's so sweet and reminds me of those candy dots from when i was little, that came stuck on the paper in rows and you always ended up eating almost as much paper as candy (or was that just me?)

i feel that perhaps i've rambled on enough here, i've covered topics from blog reading to paper eating, so i think we'll call it good for today!  i was just so excited to have the computer and some time to use it i figured i should pop in and say hello!!

-melissa

 

The stars at night are big and bright....

We have been reveling in the quintessential spring Texan stuff going on here recently.

Rodeo

Yes, that is a small child riding a bucking sheep.  No, Sabrina didn't participate.

This ride was more her style

-speaking of style, she enjoyed the rodeo bling

We also reveled in the explosion of bluebonnets

We are enjoying being ....deep in the heart of Texas.

So what are some of your favorite spring happenings where you live?

-Lindsey

 

2014 Unblogged

Happy New Year!!

I was looking at last years pictures on my phone and found a lot of blogable photos.  So in the spirit of closing out 2014 here is some stuff I could/should? have blogged. 

The birth of a new quilt

 

The birth of a sewing room

 

A growing pile of blankie

 

The most fun craft project inspired by a children's book.  (I might actually get around to writing a review of this book with the project, the book is THAT good!)

Finding inspiration a MFAH

More inspiration at the Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair

And even MORE inspiration at the International Quilt Festival

All that inspiration led to a new super hero: RAINBOW GIRL

Here's hoping for an inspired 2015!

-Lindsey

the 9 3/4 party

lillian's 9 3/4's birthday was november 17th, and to paraphrase the immortal words of hagrid, "it's not every day your young lass turns 9 3/4!"  a potter-themed party was definitely needed to celebrate.

the invitations:

 the house decorations:

the last was a photobooth set up for people to pose and take pictures all night long... lots of silliness was found on that camera, but this one, of my goofball husband, is my favorite!

we had to have harry potter themed snacks as well...

lily made the broomsticks and snitches herself!

and what birthday party would be complete without a cake?  "made it myself, words and all... i may have sat on it a bit."

everyone came in costumes:

 from left to right we have: neville longbottom, hermoine granger, fleur delacour, harry potter, draco malfoy, luna lovegood, and ron weasley!

the grownups dressed up too:

 again, from left to right: minerva mcgonogall, hagrid, professor sprout, bellatrix lestrange, madame hootch, albus dumbledoor, professor trelawney, rita skeeter, severus snape, and the minister of magic cornelius fudge.

everyone had so much fun!  but especially lily, which made me especially happy!

 -melissa

europe trip: of interest to knitters

one more vacation-themed post... things that might be of interest to other knitters/crafters...

like sheep in a cathedral in rome:

or a tapestry in the residenz dedicated to sheep sheering:

 the timing worked out so that i got to go to a sheep and wool festival with claire while i was in germany!

 lots of travel time equated lots of knitting time and i finished my matchy-match sister cowl (also known as rhythmic (rav link)) while in germany!

 then i cast on for my *8th* annual red scarf project scarf (this one's a 3x3 slip stitch scarf (rav link)):

 while in london, we made a pilgrimage to the holiest of holies - the cath kidston store:

one of the most amazing parts of the trip was getting to meet up with anna of anna's creative corner and her adorable son luke while we were in london.  we had lunch and then chatted while the kids played in a play yard.  this was our first time meeting in person, but it felt completely comfortable, like catching up with an old friend!  

 -melissa

big red barn dance

the barn dance, silent auction, and local foods dinner was held last night and on all accounts can be counted as a huge success!

 the turn out was amazing and the silent auction received a lot of compliments and more importantly, a lot of bids!

 there was such an amazing feeling of community and joy, with children running around, people laughing and chatting, and fabulous music filling the night air...

 -melissa

barn dance ripple

it's finished!

 and with 10 days to spare!  the barn dance ripple is so named because it is destine for a spot in a silent auction at a barn dance party.

 the center for earth spirituality and rural ministry, where i am a volunteer and board member, runs a large community garden in mankato.  at the center of the gardens is the big red barn.  it is over 100 years old and a community landmark.

a year ago april there was a fire and the barn was severely damaged.  we were able to save the foundation and the finial, but the rest of the barn was rebuilt.  

 we decided a celebration was in order!  september 19th we will be having a plated local foods dinner, silent auction, and a boot stompin' old fashioned barn dance with live blue grass music!  i'm so excited!  everything is coming together (i'm the chair of the silent auction committee), there's a buzz in the community, and everyone is going to have a blast!

 that said, this ripple afghan (from, of course, lucy of attic24's neat ripple pattern) is my donation to the silent auction.

 as was also said, i'm the silent auction chair, and we're gathering up some pretty amazing items!  the focus was handmade and local businesses and i've been blown away by all the talent and generosity in my community!

 if you happen to find yourself in mankato next friday stop on by the big red barn for a knee slappin' good time!

- melissa

ps - i also designed the above poster, i'd never done anything like that before and am pretty excited about it!

i am, i am, i am superman...

...and i have found my kryptonite.

 

what?  

 

what is this strange power than can cripple my ability to crochet?!?!

you may have heard of it...

 

it's called the us open.

i can not knit (or crochet) while i watch tennis.  and i can. not. stop. watching tennis.

so this ripple of mine is still not done.  (because tennis, unlike football, is not overrun with television commercials amd over-abundant replays, which are a tv-watching crafter's paradise!)

do you have a tv-kryptonite that shuts your crafting down?!?

-meilssa

 

ps - oh mon dieu, monfils... my heart is broken that you could not close the deal on federer... i was with you every. single. step. of the way!

 

pps - earworm!!

 

nature center knitting

every tuesday night i volunteer at the elks nature center in rasmussen woods in mankato.  back when lily was in preschool the center was staffed full time and ran all different sorts of educational programs (we were very fond of "nature power preschool hour.") but due to city budget cutbacks the staff was let go and the center was closed.

in the past 9 months there has been a grassroots initiative to get the center back open and staffed by volunteers.  i scored a sweet deal where my girls scout troop can meet in the center if i volunteer. as the troop doesn't meet in the summer, i've been finding my past few months at the center to be a quiet, calming, enjoyable way to spend an evening.

outside the center it looks like this:

 the inside looks like this:

 isn't it fabulous?!?  it's such a fun place!  we even have a cougar!

 my personal favorite is the moose head!

my job is mainly to sit at the desk, be nice to the people,  answer any questions, and make sure the birds have seed to eat.  it's not very taxing.  i get to put on music, get out my knitting, and wait for anyone to show up.

 music + yarn  (because renaissance choral polyphony and game show hostess endorsed acrylic yarn go together like peas and carrots.)

it's a pretty sweet gig, and as much as i love my girl scouts they're seriously going to cut into my knitting time once meetings start up again!

-melissa 

treat exchange: us - uk

it all started when anna, of anna's creative corner, posted this photo on the instagram.  i made some comment about how i was jealous of all that black licorice, one thing led to another, and we had organized a us/uk treat exchange!

i had a lot of fun picking out treats to send:

 everything was from us companies and made in the us, with the exception of the mini chewy sweettarts, which are made by nestle... but they're my complete and total favorite candy, so i had to send them!  (the little red car was for anna's son luke.  that was part of the deal - a little something for the kiddos.)

when i got back from the lake i had this waiting for me:

i will admit to squealing and doing a small dance of joy before even opening it!  

anna most definitely did not disappoint:

 not one, but *three* bags of black licorice!!  those i kept for myself (mostly because lily and brian don't like black licorice, i would have shared a little if they had wanted...) but the rest i shared, and anna sent a london underground notebook and colored pencil set for lily (which she loves!)

can you guess which item i opened first?!?

 yummy!  yummy!  yay!!!

thank you anna for such a fun swap!

-melissa