I Want You To Know

 ... that Craft Hope has posted project 8 - washcloths and hand towels for the Gulf Coast oil spill. They will be used to help clean the dolphins and sea turtles that have had the misfortune of swimming through the oil. Deadline is July 3rd. They ask for nothing fancy - these will be discarded after a few uses.

(photo from Nancy's Notions)

... that there is another great opportunity to touch lives less fortunate. I bet lots of you are familiar with Nancy's Notions but I would gander that few of you (like me) didn't know about Little Dresses for Africa. My boys frown upon wearing dresses so my opportunity to sew them is limited. I don't know when I will get to this project but thought it was too good not to share. Here is a link to a kit that Nancy sells.

... that Heather Jane is gearing up to host another great summer of Go Local. She plans on having guest bloggers sharing their tips, recipes, and I'm sure some not so funny at the time stories (she is gladly accepting offers of those who wish to write a post). This year is all about using your bounty. I'm really excited for this year's Go Local. I desperately want to learn how to can and if nothing else this summer learn other ways of preserving and creatively eating our loot.

(logo from Mister Linky's web site)

... that I finally did it. I figured out how to get Mister Linky's Magical Widgets to work. Check it out on my most recent Turn the page ... Tuesday post. The holiday weekend had us all a bit off kilter - there are some links that were added on Wednesday. And yes, for those of you who have been Mister Linky proficient for some time ... I am utterly embarrassed how simple it is. sigh.

(logo from Goop website)

... that I now Goop? I stumbled upon it a while ago, thought I had subscribed to the newsletter, and then forgot all about it (obviously I hadn't subscribed). I don't remember what brought it to my mind again the other day but I thought you might be interested too. This time I did get on the email list. I was intrigued by the recipe that arrived in my inbox but have not gotten my act together to actually make it ... but lo and behold - someone else has. I'd say I'm going to have to try this one out real soon.

... that over the next few weeks I plan to dig into my 'drafts' and share posts that somehow never made it to publication. I'm cleaning house. I hope you enjoy my random thoughts.

.... that's all. Feel free to share with me anything you want me to know ... I love to be in the know :-P

Felt So Good

Heading to the post office today was not a chore. No. It felt so good.

I was mailing my package for Craft Hope - Liberia Orphan Education Project.

I had a few bumps in the road while making these bean bags (I tried embroidering them first) and had lots of help along they way ...

Yes, those are aquarium pellets. Everywhere.

And yes, those are "embellished" bean bags ... that will teach me to leave my puffy paint out. I should have known that my little guy was itching to get his hands on some again after our last time.

I also realized at.the.last.minute. that I had not included all the colors suggested and that I misspelled 'grey'. An email to Jade (the mastermind behind Craft Hope) quickly eased my anxiety and got me straight. I had time to add some more colors but could leave my color interpretation as is ;-)

I had forgotten that working with felt was so easy. Oh my. My boys are itching for me to make a set for them. And I will happily oblige. They wanted these for themselves. I had to explain more than once that these were going to boys and girls who didn't have a school like they did. These boys and girls needed mommies to make these so they could learn. A hard concept for little ones who haven't known such hardships. Lots of questions and much discussion ... and many prayers for those little ones 'to be able to learn'.

I was able to use some stashed fabric, bias tape and rope to make the bags. I cut the bags 12" across by 14" long (cut on the fold to avoid a bottom seam) and 2 strips of bias tape/rope each 31" long for the ties. I followed this simple tutorial for a drawstring bag and made french seams.

No matter the what the color or shape ... this project felt good indeed.

Knock Knock

Knock knock.

Who's there?

Knitted.

Knitted who?

Knitted knockers that's who!

Another great cause to pick up your needles or hooks!

Did you know that a prosthetic breast can cost $300-$500!!!!!! I don't know about you, but forbid I ever had the horrid experience of cancer and lost a breast I would much prefer something soft and more natural than some silicone thing that any moment could spring a leak (there goes your $$$).

I haven't made one yet - I'm going to try the crocheted version. We have a cancer center here and I'm going to pass the information on to them. We have lots of wonderful volunteers here in our city that knit hats for babies ... maybe they'd be interested in knitting some knockers too ;-)

Edit: In my haste to post I forgot to add the original link to the Knitted Knockers! Sorry about that. Want to give credit where credit is due. Now go on ... you know you want to make some knock knocks ;-)

I Succumbed To Bribery (For A Good Cause)

It's happened. My big fella gets the gender divide. It took a lot, and I mean a lot of coaxing, bribing, and pleading to get him to try on this skirt for Sewing Seeds For Haiti. I needed to make sure that it would actually fit a little girl that was his size. You should have seen what he did when I got the camera out ...

The only reason he allowed me to do this is because I promised no head shot, lots of chocolate, and that I was doing this to help a little girl who lost all her clothes (guilt always works).

I made two skirts - one that will fit a little girl about John's size and one about Henry's size. I followed this tutorial to make them and since I do not have a serger I zig zagged each layer to finish it off a bit.

I hope the bright colors bring some joy to whomever wears it!

Snowed

I'm giving myself 10 minutes to write this post so I apologize now if it's a bit choppy. The natives are getting restless. No school again today due to ice. It's thawing a bit so I'm hoping they will make it in tomorrow. We haven't set foot outside today though, we are having wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour - well blow me over with a feather this weather is crazy!

I've decided for now to stay with the devil I know (blogger) ~ I've made a few changes to my blog (thanks for all your warm wishes and tips!). I wanted to simplify it's look. Clean it up a bit. I've added a few pages (just figured out how to do that!) and one is Do Unto Others. Today I was working on this little project:

I lugged my ironing board and cutting mat into the living room by the fire and went to town.


The boys were entertained by the tube (when we had power ... oh, did I not mention that we've had intermittent power outages today?) while I ironed, measured and cut away in between blackouts. I am making two skirts for Sewing Seeds for Haiti. I measured my boys so that way the skirts will fit two little girls about the same age.

I also cut four more pillowcases but these are for the 1 Million Pillow Case Challenge. I hope to have some time next week (when schools back in) to finish up these two projects. I do know they really need more pillowcases for the Operation Pillowcase if you have some extra time/fabric.

While we hung out by the fire over the weekend I worked on a cowl for me.



This baby is huge. It's going to take some getting used to but it sure is warm. I like how I can pull it up a bit to cover my nose - hmmm, toasty. The pattern is free from Lion Brand and I used two skeins of Patons Shetland Chunky in Leaf Green. In true Adrienne fashion I made this cowl not once but twice; and I don't mean I have two of these. I had to rip it out when I was almost done because I had my right and wrong sides switched (easier to understand if you read the pattern - it just didn't look right to me so I pulled it).

DH had the brilliant idea of getting a whole mess of Lego's for the boys (good thing we have 4 wheel drive) and I'll be darned if that hasn't captivated them for an hour at a time. Bliss.

We also have been making a mess in the kitchen. We've baked banana bread, white chip chocolate cookies (I cut the butter to 1 3/4 cup, the sugar to 1 3/4 cup, and used white wheat flour), and maple butter nut granola. No pictures, uh, the natives gobbled everything up! I actually bought the cookbook that the granola came out of. It's got some great recipes and tips on how to eat healthier (like how adjust a recipe using maple syrup vs sugar).

And speaking of recipes ... I've been cooking a whole lot with my crock - I've made these awesome recipes from Make It Fast, Cook It Slow: Creamy Corn
and Spinach Enchiladas, Lasagna, and Asian Peanut Butter Pork. Are you hungry yet?

Well, it sounds like elephants are clogging upstairs so I better say adios. I'm looking forward to a more 'normal' few days! I can't help but think of that old Staples commercial ... It's the most wonderful time of the year only picture the MOM wearing fleece and a down jacket with snow boots ... and of coarse her new cowl ;-)

Head, Shoulders ...

I finished my scarf for Craft Hope Project 6 and had a bit of yarn left so I thought I would make a hat too. Want to keep 'em warm ... it's the mother in me ;-)

Just as I got to the brim of the hat - I ran out. Good excuse to have to go to AC Moore I say. One for you ... two for me ...

For the scarf I used the woven stitch. I got the idea from Mary Grace's great tutorial. I chained 23 with an I hook and got to painting the town red. I followed the original pattern for the Durango hat (except with an I hook) but there is a very cute modification found at Simple Beans.

The yarn is Patons Sheltland Chunky Tweeds - Deep Red. Easy to work with which made this project even more enjoyable.

One thing that kept running through my mind while making these was this verse:

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6

I hope that this verse will touch a cord with the student who receives the scarf and hat I made. They have had more of their share of heart ache in their short lives (they are foster children who have beat the odds and made it to college). I hope they will feel wrapped in the love of a stranger and more importantly, the love from our Heavenly Father ... from their head, shoulders, and well yes, knees and toes too ;-)