Impressed with Mom Again!

Mom and I didn't always get along. I guess that's typical of all moms and daughters though. We were different in a lot of ways. I seem to be gaining more of her habits. I now have my nails done for example.

We have always had some similar interests. We both love the theater. And attending sports events. But especially crafts. We love crafting. There is hardly a craft out there one of us didn't try. And we both spent/spend a lot of our leisure time crafting.

Mom loved cross stitch. I am lucky to have several beautiful framed pictures she did that I hang every Christmas. And ornaments. Cute Santas and ornaments to commemorate Pat and Chris's birth and early years. They were so cute that I HAD to buy some of the kits myself And I inherited the kits she hadn't finished.

The problem is, I'm not so good at cross stitch. And I'm slow. Anything tedious seems to remain unfinished in my house. I had an adorable cross stitch snow man that needed just a little more stitching. It aged for many years! This week I finally finished it! In the meantime some ribbon and a little charm had disappeared but all that crafting meant I could find what I think are suitable replacements.

I am never going to become a cross stitcher, never mind as talented a cross stitcher as my mother. That is one of her habits I won't acquire as I age. In fact, I almost decided to get rid of the remaining cross stitch kits. Almost. They really are so cute!

Cute one!

Perhaps the pins and sequins are what attract me most. Or perhaps they are just fairly quick when I have a lot going on. Here is a really cute one. Velvet ribbon on the bottom, velvet ribbon ears, lots of sequins with tiny plastic beads, a chenille stem tail and those adorable whiskers.

There are supplies for 3 more in the package - 1 more with white sequins and 2 with pink sequins (pink mice?? really??). I have to figure out how to get all these extras to people who would enjoy them.

Spring Training Gnome

We spent most of last week on our annual trip to Phoenix for Spring Training baseball. It was a terrific trip. The weather was sunny and in the low 80s. We went to 3 games; the Mariners won 2. Of course spring is more about practice than winning. The 2 games they won started with a few innings of awful defense - bad infield throws, missing catches, etc. They both ended with exciting innings to come from behind. The third game almost was won in the last inning. All in all fun games to watch.

I knew I would have to make an ornament that I could take with me. Pins don't work. Beads are difficult. Painting is out. Knitting seemed to be the ticket. I have a few knitting kits. I love this one but it might have been the wrong choice. After about 2/3 of the knitting, I realized I needed stuffing and had to wait until I got home. But, I did get it done yesterday.

This was a kit from Churchmouse Yarns called the Jolly Wee Gnome. An apt description I think. It's made with Rowan Fine Tweed. I used size 1 double point needles - a bit smaller than called for since I'm a loose knitter. I think I found the right size to make a nice fabric. It was a quick and fun knit. I have yarn left to make more - I might make another one in red with a green scarf. But not this week. It's probably time for more pins. Or maybe beads.

10 weeks 10 ornaments!

A pinterest idea executed!

I thought I'd make the 2nd Czech blown glass bead ornament kit I had. It stumped me! The kits come with directions in Czech - no, I don't speak Czech! - but there are diagrams. They were easy to follow for the other kit I did but this time not so much. I hope either the people at 32 North can help or I have a flash of brilliance!

 I decided instead to complete a project I had pinned to my ornament board on Pinterest. Simple, but a bit time consuming with all the pins. It starts with a styrofoam ball which is then covered with plastic beads secured with long pins with pearl heads. I think it looks quite nice!

9 weeks, 9+ ornaments. So far so good!