Odd Dotty Dollymaker

Achy and Chicken!

What a week this has been already. Monday, the kids both woke up vomiting. Tuesday, we had a film crew in our house to film us for an infomercial about our builder. And now, Wednesday, I am on the down low all full of aches and pains and sore throats and general not-feeling-well-ness.

Fun.

So, I just wanted to pop in and say hi. Also? I kept forgetting to take a picture of the wonderful package I received in the mail from Monica last week sometime. The kids have been waiting with baited breath for me to take it so I could open up the candy yummies for them to try. I am such a mean mommy.

But I finally did it. And now? It has taken so long that I think they have forgotten that they are even there, so the candies? They are mine! ALLLL MINE!!!!

And? I finally have my very own chicken brooch! Woot! Thank you again, Monica!!

Wot's all this then?

A little known fact is that the boy's nickname is Gov'na. It's a fact that is little known because we only really called him that when he was a baby. But he remembers it every once in a while and wants to be called by his nickname. He's been on the Gov'na kick as of late, and the husband had some leftover self-adhesive foam from a project he had done, so he decided to make a mustache and beard and eyebrows in a "Gov'na" fashion.

Okay, the eyebrows aren't very Gov'na, but they made us all laugh.

Then the girl wanted in on the frivolity.

Who needs television when you have entertainment like this?

Happy Friday! Have a very merry weekend!

This. This is what happens.

What happens when you plan to spend an entire day scrapbooking, and you think you have it all planned out and someone to watch the kids while you go to your friend's house to do said scrapbooking, and your plans are ruined in one swift movement?

You make coasters. That's right. Coasters. Not just any coasters. Themed coasters. With reverse applique on the front:

And good ol' fashioned applique on the reverse:

These were fun to make, and I plan to make some for every season. And someday soon, I will scrapbook again, and get started on the boy's album. *sigh* I am a terrible mother, no?

A Tale of Two Hats

It was the best of days, it was the worst of days, it was the epoch of assuredness, it was the epoch of doubtfulness, it was the season of spring, it was the first frost of fall, I had the hat before me, I had nothing before me--in short, I started this hat twice before finally finishing it.

But I love it. And almost every time I wear it out, someone stops me to ask where I bought it. The pattern is here. It's the very last one on the page. The Tea-Cozy hat. And I think it is one of the most brilliant designs for a hat. Ever.

Hat worn with the hair down;

and with a pony tail pulled through the top opening.

By the way, it is really rather difficult to take pictures of yourself from behind. I had to look pretty ridiculous trying to figure out which way to point the camera.

Moving right along

The poppet! She is coming to life!

Know what I love about making dolls? They never turn out exactly how you envision them...at least they don't for me. They always come out a little bit different, but better because it's like they have their own personality. It's like having a baby. You don't really know what they are going to look like, or what their personality will be but you can make an educated guess...sort of.  And they are never exactly how you imagined them to be, instead they are so much better. They are their own.

That's how I feel each time I make a dolly. And this time is no different. I thought she would have had green or purple or pink hair. And I thought she would want to be a gardener. Instead? She has blondish hair and is a belly dancer. I know because she told me. Her name is Raksana, and she is my inspiration to get back into belly dancing this year. I miss it so!

And now? I must make her a proper dance costume.

Dog Park!

Dun! Dun! Dun-dun-dun! Dun-dun-dun-dun! DOG PARK!

I think it safe to say that Fred Fredburger loved the DOG PARK!

That last picture? That one was taken by the boy! I was quite impressed.

Body parts and cupcakes

Things are slowly but surely starting to get back in the crafty swing around these parts. And speaking of parts, here is what I have been working on for the past couple of days.

It's body parts to a Poppet. What is a Poppet? Well, a Poppet is only one of the cutest lil' dollies you ever did see. See here, here and here for just a taste of the craze that is the Poppet! I love love love this pattern, and am so grateful that the brilliantly talented Ms. Ghilie is so willing to share it with the world.

Also? The girl made another tasty treat the other night. Cupcakes!

And that right there? That's homemade from scratch chocolate frosting. Mmmmmmmmm...chocolate frosting. They were just a little bit good.

Yum!

One of the girl's goals for the new year was to make cookies all by herself. She wanted to make the basic dough for chocolate chip cookies and add whatever she wanted. I was a little nervous, but all she really wanted to add was swirled chips and almonds.

And although she has already checked this off her list, I am hoping she experiments further this year.

Looking back

I hope you all forgive me as I take some time and reflect on the past month. I finally feel as if I can breathe again, and I want to write down my thoughts and experiences now so I don't forget. Ok. So.

Wow.

That's the word that firsts comes to mind when I reflect back on December of 2007.  Second word? CRAZY! Third? Wow. But this time with a much different intonation. One that brings to mind awe and gratitude and humility. As maddening as some of the days were, I never lost the sense that we are extremely blessed and have been given so much more than we deserve. Needless to say, 2007 ended on a high note and I am ridiculously excited for 2008!

Moving into a new house the month of Christmas is not something I would recommend or would ever really want to do again, but I am so glad we did. We were able to spend the Holiday in our new home, and despite all of the chaos surrounding us, we were able to get some crafty things done. The girl finished up her gifts she was making from this post. She sewed all the bags herself with only a little help from me when her machine would jam up...stinkin' Singer! They were filled with little cookies that she and the boy helped make and delivered with somewhat success. Some of the recipients weren't home and so the cookies were subject to some icky weather...yum.

The girl, the boy and I sat down one evening and made little creations out of super soft air-drying clay. The boy's creations were mainly many colored balls which were then taken apart and put back together repeatedly and so did not survive. But, he added to mine, and I found that they made for a nice little sill decorations for Christmas as we didn't have time to put out all the decor this year.

This next one is my favorite. The girl made a little elf.

I also made some favors of fabric cones for a Christmas party, but I forgot to take a picture of them and I didn't take one home. D'oh! *sigh*

And then, I received this loverly little pillow crafted by the talented Ms. Deborah as a gifty. I LOVE it!! Thank you!

Suddenly, amidst all the unpacking and partying and pageanting and exchanging of gifts with friends it was Christmas!

Around 4 in the morning on Christmas both the boy and the husband awoke with ailing stomaches and proceeded to empty them. We think it may have been some sort of food related illness. Fortunately, it didn't really affect their moods all day, it just forced us to stay home in our jammies instead of heading out to my sister's for dinner. So, a quiet and relatively peaceful Christmas it was. In our new home. Praise the LORD!

More unpacking and settling in and putting pictures on the walls followed. We were trying to get the house somewhat ready for a New Year's Eve gathering. But! Then! The 29th of December had different ideas for us. More specifically the husband, who was feeling not quite himself all day after inhaling a generous amount of natural gas. That night turned into one of those nights you never ever ever EVER want to repeat. Without all the details, he ended up in the hospital until close to 7 the next morning. Apparently, it wasn't the gas that was making him feel all weird, it was the flu. And the flu mixed with his Meniere's Disease does not a happy couple make. So, no New Year's Eve partying for us. Instead, we watched Spiderman 3, the end of a countdown show and kissed each other...well, I kissed the girl. The boy and the dad were in bed. I made the husband kiss my sleeved arm. He is feeling much better now and we are both excited to see what the Lord has in store for us in 2008!

Personally? I hope it has a lot of crafting!!

P.S. This pretty much sums up how I am feeling right about now. *wink* Thank you, Ms. Anne!

Merry New Year!

What are your goals?