Valentine's Day Hair Bow

I am finally back on the hairbow bandwagon since my poor little girl only has about 100 mama made ones!  Really, the ones she has are starting to look a little worn, so I'm trying to expand upon my bow making capabilities.  Enter..........spikes!!  I followed this tutorial on youtube.  I like the way it turned out for this bow, but I think I want to try to make some flatter spikes the next time (these are folded in half).  Next I want to make a bow with those little loopy surround bow thingies (yes, that's the technical name).  

Just have to learn how first!

Linking this up to Made by You Monday on skiptomylou.org!  

 

Crafty Goodness Completed!

Well, I'm able to cross a thing or two off my crafty to do list, but, of course, I've found more projects that I need to add.  I'm hoping that the kids will entertain themselves a bit today so that I can get in some crafty time, when in reality, I should be cleaning!

The first is the hook case for my all my crochet tools.  I used some fabric I bought last year from an online shop (I think it was superbuzzy)  that specializes in Japanese fabrics.  I only bought a small bit, so this was the perfect project for it.  I teamed it with some tan linen and a pink ribbon closure.  I'm not crazy about the ribbon I chose, but it works!

 

The next project I finished wasn't on my list, but I love it so much!  I crocheted a cape for Mallory over New Years out of pink Cotton Tots yarn - I won't even show it to you now it looks so awful!  The yarn is so soft and pretty when you start, but before you are even done with a project it looks dirty and worn.  Also, I used a pattern I found on Ravelry, but it was done in the treble stitch, which I am not in love with.  

After searching for a new pattern and not finding exactly what I wanted, I decided to make my own pattern and the results are exactly what I was looking for!  Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures yet of her wearing it, but I will get some soon!

 

And last, but not least, my in progress scarf that I am attempting to knit!  It only has one dropped stitch (so far), but is curling terribly on the ends.  I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong, as I am following the pattern, but I think I will just go with it for now.  I'm hoping to finish and wear it at least once before it gets hot again here in Florida!

 

I linked up my cape to Made By You Mondays on Skip to my Lou!  Check it out Here!

Projects I want to try in 2011....

Instead of making resolutions for the new year, which I've never been very good at keeping, I think I will use this post to keep track of craft projects I want to make in 2011.  In my spare time spent surfing the web, I come across so many ideas and projects that I want to try, but as quick as I find them, I move on and they are lost to me on the vast internet.  This way I can keep a running list and cross of the ones I succeed in making.

Today is the perfect day to start, as my dear husband took my two lovely children to my in-laws for the day, leaving me with 8 hours of free time to start crossing things off my list.  I will keep adding things as I find them.

1. Learn to knit - I'm taking a one hour private lesson today at 2:00 p.m. - that's a great start!     I'm still learning, but at least I've started!
   
2. Make these for Mallory's room and finish hooping all the other embroidery work I did for her room.  I think I will embroider words like "sweet" "playful" "sassy", or do action words like "play", "smile", "pretend".     Embroidered words 
3. Crochet Hook Case, similar to this:  Hook Case See results here!
4. Valentine Heart Garland on Two Shades of Pink Heart Garland

Best Friends

I don't suspect times will always be so peaceful, but for now these two kids get along famously.  I have been worried about the age gap between them since before Mallory was conceived, but it has actually been great.

Mallory has become quite a busy toddler.  I can't remember anything that Spencer ever climbed, but put a mountain in front of Mallory and she will make it look like a mole hill.  Today she climbed on the kitchen table and was standing in the middle of it in a matter of seconds.  Then the coffee table.  Then to the top of our large playground while I turned my back for about 10 seconds.  If I had a 3 year old to deal with all day too, I'm not sure if I could handle it!  So in that regard, the age gap has been fabulous.  I was able to spend tons of time with Spencer before Mallory arrived, and now I get to spend tons of time with Mallory while Spencer is in school. 

I hope to be back in the next day or too with some of the crafty things I've been up to.........until then I will leave you with a picture of Mallory talking to the birds at the zoo............

and Spencer posing with his wax Florida Panther in front of the Manatees (excuse his drowned rat look - he went on the log flume twice!)

Oh What A Busy Day!

That is how I have felt a lot lately, but in a good way! Meanwhile, my poor blog has been lonely and calling out for a new post.

I was initially derailed by our trip to Disney - 5 nights/6 days at the happiest place on earth! Weather was beautiful, kids were troopers, and my drill seargent travel companion (aka, my wonderful husband)was fairly reserved in his tactical approach to the World. Usually he drags us out first thing in the morning and won't hear of leaving before dark - not an easy thing to do with a 10 month old!

Other than that, we have been busy with all kinds of activities. I belong to the best Mom's group on the planet, I swear! This group is so active and friendly, and on any given week, we have multiple activities to choose from. Most of the kids are younger than Spencer, but he doesn't mind. And it will be great for Mallory and I when he goes to K next year. There must be 8 other babies that are right around a year old!

Just this week we hosted a pretzel making play date at our house, had a beach day with our group, and went to a play date at another Mom's house where the kids listened to a story, did a craft, and had a snack! We also managed to squeeze in a trip to the park and baby time at the library on our own.

Another great thing about this group is that I'm discovering new activities and places that I never knew about, like the beach we went to the other day. It's 35 min. from our house and is a super short walk from the car to the beach, which makes it easy for me to take the kids on my own. Yeah!

This is the only Mom's group I've belonged to, but I feel like it must be more active than most. Do you belong to a Mom's group? What is yours like?

Follow Me Fridays @ Trendy Treehouse

I am participating in Follow Me Fridays @ Trendy Treehouse this week.......go link up and join the fun!

Easter Overload!

We had a busy week here.  We spent Thursday making Resurrection Eggs, which Spencer really enjoyed.  I didn't manage to take a picture yet, but it was a fun, worthwhile activity which gave him a better understanding of the story of Easter.

Friday morning our playgroup had an Easter party at a local park.  They had egg hunts for different age groups, including the babies (there are probably 10 babies under the age of 1!).  What does an egg hunt for a group of babies look like?  You place all the babies on a blanket, then dump about 100 plastic Easter eggs in the middle - they had a blast!

I realized VERY late in the game (like on Saturday afternoon) that Mallory didn't have a cute Easter shirt.  So I quickly surveyed her closet and found this shirt, which she has almost outgrown.  I freehanded a bunny outline, traced it onto Heat & Bond, ironed it onto chenille, cut out the bunny, ironed it to the shirt, and stitched around it.  Total time = 15 minutes.  It would have taken me 5, but I spent 10 minutes trying to find my heat & bond!  I didn't get a great picture, but here is one I shot at our family Easter gathering.

Saturday evening we dyed Easter eggs on the patio.  I attempted to use stickers on a few before dyeing them, but the results were less than perfect! 

And of course the Easter Bunny visited overnight and left lots of goodies!

Then it was on to our celebrate at my sister's house with most of my family.  Mallory had fun hanging out in the shade....

....while the rest of the kids hunted Easter eggs! 

Spencer made out like a bandit.  We dumped out all his eggs today - he managed to score 2 huge plastic cups full of candy and $9.69 in change!  Daddy took him to buy a new Lego set tonight - he is not much of a saver! 

I hope everyone had a nice Easter!