Twilight Weather

I just got back from a walk, and i had to write about it.

I was supposed to leave Texas on the 17th to go back home, but my sister, the new mom, wasn't ready for me to leave. So here i am, on the 21st, still in Texas.

We went for a walk tonight, and it felt so good outside.

The sun was just setting, twilight was settling in. If I'd closed my eyes, i could have been on Kaua'i. Of course, there are no palm trees here, or beaches -- and by beaches, i mean ocean, and by ocean, i mean two minutes walking distance to the ocean.

It was barely almost just too hot for a light jacket but still perfectly comfortable if you had one on.

There was a breeze, and the trees were rustling.

It was, to put it quite plainly, perfect.

Now we're back inside, and I'm stirring pudding on the stove, grateful i got to come to Texas and help coach my sister through the birth of my nephew and get some of this twilight weather.

But let me tell you something. I can't wait to get back home to that beautiful sweater weather.

Besides, I've got a craft fair coming up.

Texas Fall 2012

I am back in Texas. I've just downloaded the blogger app in hopes that it will get me to blog more often... And maybe not ramble quite so much.

I am working on stuff for the Doctor Who swap on Craftster. The send out day is Monday, and i do not know if I'm going to make it... I doubt my partner will see this post, but just in case, i can't post anything about what I'm making yet. Let's just say the most important and time-consuming project... is about to send me over the edge. The size is just... off, and i don't know if my heart can handle starting over. Not to mention, i really don't think i have the time. I'm powering on, though, and crossing all my fingers and toes that i can pull this off.

I brought a few more presents for Jack. A camouflage shirt, for example, because my brother-in-law is in the Army.

He's due in 6 days, but we would all be fine if he decided to come out and play now.

Gifts for Jack

My sister was here a few weeks ago, visiting one last time before flying is no longer safe for her and Jack-fetus. While she was here, we had a couple baby showers for her.

I made her some gifts because... well, i just figured she would be getting enough stuff from their registries. And, yes, okay, because i don't have money.

First, i asked anybody in the immediate family who knows how to knit if they would like to help make a baby blanket. So, my mom knit several squares, my sister-in-law knit a square, and my brother started a square but didn't have time to finish it before leaving on a trip.

At first, i decided to do mustard yellow and dark grey, and then added light yellow and light grey. Because i love how mustard and grey look together. And i thought my sister would like it, too.

But as more and more squares were being knit, i realized she probably would not like the color combo.

We nixed the greys and changed to blues.

The front.

You might notice that some squares are maybe a little larger than others. Well. That's what happens. Move on.

The back.

I was kind of surprised we finished it in time.

Oh, but wait. I needed something for the second shower. Luckily i'd already started on them... before finishing the blanket.

I already knew what the first one was going to be. I call my future nephew Jack, and he's due in October. So. I'm sure you can kind of guess where i'm going with this...

I'll give you a second. Go ahead.

Did you guess something to do with jack-o'-lantern? Good. You're right.

I crocheted baby Jack a jack-o'-lantern shirt and a pumpkin hat! Are you dying? I'm dying. I can't wait to see them on him. I just hope they fit...

But wait! There's more! Since i also sometimes call him Bowtie, and they live in Texas, and it's always hot there, i crocheted him a cotton shirt and booties and knit a hat and mittens. And the bow tie. So dapper.

Again, i am just crossing my fingers and praying all of these things fit him.

The mom with the booties.

I made the booties at a softball game. That's just how i do!

So. That's what i've made for Jack/Bowtie so far.


P.S. Here is a picture of my sister and me at the farmers market with Poopy and WeeWee. Please note that i am knitting. I am knitting Jack's mittens. Right in front of her. HA! LOKI'D! Not really. I just... really wanted to say that.

Pages, Cozies, and a Phone

In an effort to move forward with this blog, i've added pages to the top. Ooh... All the cool blogs do it.

I have crocheted a bunch of colorful cozies in the past week and just had a photo shoot with them. Will be adding them to the ol' Etsy soon!

Doesn't the green and purple one look like a flower? Even if it doesn't, just tell me it does.

Oh, and i got a new phone! It's a Samsung Galaxy S Blaze, which is funny because the phone i had before Lefou, the Blackberry, was named Blaze. He's a touch screen, and he's very handsome. I can finally play Scramble with Friends and Draw Something on my own phone!

Now i need to name him. Since the last phone was named Lefou, my iPod is named Lumiere, i may go with that theme (Beauty and the Beast, if you're lame and didn't know). Mayhaps Gaston or Philippe? I'd love to hear ideas, anyway.

In his new jacket.

25

For the first time a few days ago, somebody asked me how old i was, and i answered, "Almost 25." 25.

I know 25 isn't old. I know that. But... this is a landmark birthday.

I don't want to think about that right now. Instead, i'll just let you all know that i've made up a coupon code for  bananaleg designs! Until April 25th (which is one week after my birthday, i didn't choose that day because it's the 25th), use the code BANANA25 to get 25% off (that part was on purpose) your purchase.

Once more without the parentheses.

Until April 25th, use coupon code BANANA25 to get 25% off your purchase at bananaleg designs.

In other news, i started a facebook fan page. I don't like that it's called a 'fan' page. But if you are on facebook, and you feel compelled to check it out and 'like' it... i would like that.

In other other news, look at this elephant i made!

Isn't he super cute?

I used this pattern on Lion Brand's site. Easy peasy.

 

His lopsidedness adds character.

Green Bows

I've been working on things everyday, but have i taken the time to photograph any of it? No.

Well, that is, until a few minutes ago.

For St. Patrick's Day, i knit myself a green bow headband. Green bow(tie)s are kind of my thing. Also, saying something is "kind of my thing" is kind of my thing. Then i crocheted a couple for my nieces. When they came over, Poopy was really excited to wear hers. WeeWee, however, was offended that i even made her one.

I wish i liked knitting i-cord more than i do.

That's fine. I'm used to that.

Yesterday, Poopy came home from school and told me a little story about her day. She had worn the headband to school and apparently everybody was asking who'd made it for her. So she told them. "Poopy made it for me. My aunt Poopy."

I can't even tell you how proud i am.

I dread the day she becomes too old for Poopy. (It won't stop me, but it will make me sad.)

Oh, and i almost forgot! She came home with a present for me! She got a prize for being good in class, and she chose this for me. I. Love. It. And her. A lot.

Here's what i've been working on today.

I'm excited to get these things finished and in the new etsy as soon as possible.

Don't you just love teal? I do.

The Horse of a Different Color Slippers You've Heard Tell About

I had planned on writing about my day trip to Seattle on Saturday, but then i ended up having a pretty great day with WeeWee¹. She woke me up and we had breakfast. Then, as she does every time i see her, she asked, "Can we watch Wizarboz²?"

Well, of course. This is only the 34th time we've watched it since that first time two months ago.

As Dorothy was crying to her aunt and uncle about Miss Gulch, i looked down at my Scarecrow slippers³ and realized i hadn't yet made anything Wizarboz-inspired for WeeWee! Unacceptable. I quickly did a little inventory in my head and realized i had some white, purple, red, and yellow yarns that i could use to crochet her some slippers. She loves her some slippers.

By the time we got to the Horse of a Different Color, i had gotten to the yellow on the first slipper. Perfect timing. Well, good timing. Perfect timing would have been having both slippers totally finished.

I said, "WeeWee, look! It's the horse!" Of course she knew the horse was on the screen, that's her favorite part. I showed her the almost-finished slipper and said, "Look, it's white, just like the horse. She loved that. I asked her what color the horse would be next. After a second, she exclaimed, "Purple! Like on the slipper!" So i asked her the next color. Red. Of course. Then she asked, as she does, "When will the horse be yellow?" Well, WeeWee, he still hasn't turned red, so just hold your horses. Of a different color. What. That was bad.

After the movie had finished, and we'd watched all of the "If I Only Had..." songs again, her slippers were done. And super adorable, if i do say so myself. And i do. I just did.

I mean, little kid slippers are just cute, anyway. But when you add something that's special to both of you...






After Wizarboz, WeeWee had to take a nap. I asked her, "WeeWee, what do you want to do after your nap?" "Um... um... um... crafeth⁴?" "What kind of crafts?" "Um... OH! We can go outside and get leaveth! And then we can get glue and glue them to the paper!" I said we would see.

We watched some Little Einsteins... she napped... i crocheted... she woke up.

Time for crafeth. The leaves fell some time ago, so they're all brown. And brittle. Not the greens, reds, and yellows she was expecting. I suggested we pick up some sticks instead and make God's Eyes. We found some sticks, avoided a weird pile of sap in the grass... and headed back in.

We made one to match her slippers, but i don't seem to have taken any photos. She did not appreciate having to sit in my lap so i could help her. So she took her sticks, the yarn, and claimed her own spot on the floor. He God's Eyes turned out a little differently. Imagine twigs wrapped in yarn and cast aside.

While she was busy, here's what i came up with.



It's nowhere near as interesting as anything WeeWee creates, but we can't all be artists.




Glossary
1. WeeWee: niece number 2. Real name: Kalia.
2. Wizarboz: The Wizard of Oz.
3. Scarecrow slippers:

4. Crafeth: crafts. She adds -eth onto words when she wants to pluralize them... (In case you haven't figured it out, she has a couple little, adorable speech problems.) So instead of crafts it's crafeth. Leaves are leaveth.