One Row Handspun Scarf

I'm so glad that I finally finished this scarf for my daughter.  It seems like it took forever, but in all honesty I started several patters then frogged them because I ended up not liking them with the yarn she chose.

I ended up using the One Row Handspun Scarf pattern from The Yarn Harlot, and loved it.  I added a hole for easy wear by a kindergartener.

Items used: 3 skeins Bernat Baby yarn (pink, yellow, purple)

Items already owned: knitting needles, tapestry needle for weaving in ends

Verdict:  This is a super easy, very pretty pattern.  If I'd do it again, I'd make the wrap hole smaller, and make the wide pink stripe thinner.  The scarf is a little long for her, but needed to be that long to make my stripe pattern symmetrical.

Car Seat Canopy with Window

I bought this material a while ago to make the Carseat Cover I tried back in April. Needless to say, I didn't get around to making the second cover. And I'd been looking for a tutorial with a window.

And, TA DA! I found one! This comes courtesy of Kat's Out o'the Bag and is almost her tutorial for the Carseat Canopy with Peek-a-Boo Window that Kat made back in February.

I say almost, because she's obviously more talented with the sewing machine than I am, and that's one of the reasons I chose this tutorial. It's a simple project with some flair. I pieced fabric and for the first time did binding, which, following her instructions, was easier than I thought it would be.

Since I used fabric out of my stash, I used one yard of each fabric, so I had to cut out some of Kat's coolness. I used ribbons instead of sewing up those great straps. I think it turned out pretty well!

Items used:
2 coordinating fabrics, 1 yard each (G St. Fabrics)

Items already owned:
Sewing machine, velcro, ribbon, button

Verdict:
In retrospect, I'd have made the binding wider so to avoid those gaps. But I had run out of fabric, and used all of my fabric in those two colors. I think I'm going to put another button at the top of the window, so that I can pin the window open as well as closed. All said and done, this was a great project from a great tutorial. Thanks Kat!

Them's fightin' words.

Oh no they di-int.


This may begin to explain why I have 8 tomato plants and no tomatoes.

Birthday Wreath

I found this project on a 'Great Ideas' post over at Tatertots and Jello - and it really is a fun idea. Since my oldest was about to turn 3, I hopped over to The Silly Pearl for instructions.

First I made the party blowers. Just a heads-up, the blowers have to sit rolled-up overnight. If if wasn't for this, it could have definitely been a 1-hour project. All of my paper was the same size, I have no idea why I got fewer blowers out of the middle paper.

I used a hot glue gun to affix the blowers. I know Silly Pearl says not to because of the stringiness, but... I tried a couple other methods of glueing, and they didn't work. Fabri-Tac worked for the ribbons but not for the paper. Double-sided tape and Elmer's glue didn't work at all. (DST worked for the printed 'Happy Birthday' and the '#3s', but promptly fell off when the door started to open and close, so I took them off, and I think it looks just as good without them.)

Happy Birthday Sophie!

Items used:
1 fat ribbon and one skinny ribbon, Michaels - from the sale bin
3 sheets scrapbooking paper, Michaels - $0.55 each

Items already owned:
Cardboard circle (cut out of an Amazon box)
Straws (originally from the Dollar Store)
Happy Birthday Hat (Party City? From last year)
Fabri-Tac, hot glue gun, Elmer's glue, rubber bands

Verdict: This project was a lot of fun, and really quick! I wish I had used a prettier background ribbon instead of a sale one, because it didn't occur to me that it would show so much.

What to do with those outgrown rainboots?

Why, plant flowers in them of course!

This idea comes via Pinterest, I tracked down the original poster Rosy Posy and added her to my favorites.

I took out the insoles and poked drainage holes with a screwdriver.

Boots: outgrown rainboots, originally from Target.
Flowers: impatiens, from Home Depot
Potting Soil: from Home Depot

Bandwagon.

I don't think I've ever mentioned how much I like being told what to do. Seriously. I didn't used to be this way, but now I totally am. I look for crafts with tutorials. I use patterns for my knitting projects. I rely on book bloggers and my online book club members to tell me what to read. I don't have the time or the patience to screw up, or to read bad books. Except for Eat Pray Love which I forced myself to finish because a good friend told me it was AMAZING and the only thing I learned from that experience was to never read books she thinks are amazing.

And when shopping online, I always, always, always sort by rating. Sure, that's a great way to fall in love with things you can't afford, but nobody really needs to eat lunch EVERY day.

It all started when a blog I read linked to a tutorial of how to fold a fitted sheet. My first response? Now that's hilarious. Who cares! Then I went over to check it out. Then I tried it*. And I swear, angels sang. Then it dawned on me. If I'm going to take the time to do something, like fold a fitted sheet, I might as well do it well. And there really isn't any need to reinvent the wheel, is there?

So how excited was I to find http://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/? How to arrange a bookshelf! How to put flowers in a vase! How to appear to be a talented awesome person while putting forth only the minimum effort**!

*Step 1: Turn the sheet inside out.
2: Hold the sheet up longwise, putting your hands INTO the fitted pockets (I know this sounds weird but you gotta try it.)
3: Bring your hands together, and fold one pocket over the other pocket. You now have one hand inside 2 pockets.
4: Repeat step 3 for the other side. You now have both hands inside 2 pockets.
5: Bring your hands together, and fold the pockets from one hand over the pockets on the other hand. All your pockets are together now, and your sheet should be in a rectangle.
6: Fold over as needed to fit in your storage space.
7: Give yourself a gold star, because they're shiny.

**Seriously, some days I'm just excited if I get to leave the house without spit-up on my shirt and play-dough in my hair.

French Braids, done in Hearts.

I can't remember where I saw this idea, but I just loved it. To start, divide the hair into 2 sections like you would for pig-tails. Pick up your first section a couple inches in, and braid forward, turning the braid at the forehead and low past the ear. After you finish both sides, join them up to complete the heart.
After a little trial and error, I figured out that the shape stands out much better with an inside-out braid, pulling the section of hair up instead of down - essentially braiding backwards.

And there you have a heart in your hair!