laeroport

under wraps

Tim and I have been spending our evenings on the couch watching defunct TV series straight through from the beginning.  We watched a few seasons of the X-Files.  Now we are up to Season 4 of Lost.  We usually knock out three or four episodes a night, and during that time, I need something to do with my hands.  So I have been crocheting.

Last fall Aidin and I found a partial afghan at the thrift store.  It was obvious that whoever started it got bored and quit.  It was a simple pattern - single crochet one way, double crochet back.  The pattern just ended in the middle of a row.  Still, it was big enough for a lap blanket for Aidin and the colors matched the stripes in her summer bedspread, so we picked it up.  Then I was in the yarn aisle at Walmart and noticed the same variegated yarn on the shelf.  It was just Red Heart yarn, but bought some and started adding on....

 

Six skeins later plus a contrasting border and she's got a blanket big enough to cover her bed.  To commemorate my first completed afghan - even though I didn't start it - I made it a label.

 
And since I *still* can't sit still in the evenings, I've started one for Eliot.  He picked out all the yarn and I'm looking forward to seeing it on his bed.  But until it's finished, I'm keeping the details under wraps.

 

new

new town + new friends = new tote bags

 
 
 

val-en-tiny

It's Valentine's Day, and after reading Erin's post the other day I got an idea.  Mother daughter valentine skirts, like this.  Easy peasy.  All from the stash.   I've had this fabric forever and always thought it looked valentiny despite it's lack of hearts.

 
And what a glorious Valentine's Day it has been.  Sunshine and 60 degrees.  And tonight, dinner out and Sunflower Showdown part deux.

 
I hope your day has been equally great.  Happy Valentine's Day!  You're sweet for stopping by.

blingy

I made a new cowl for myself recently to add a little bling to my everyday.  I started with a pattern in my new crochet book and made it long enough so it would drape.  I like that I can wear it a variety of ways.

Wide and folded over:

 

long and drapey:

 

tucked in and standing up:

 
I made it with two yarns held together: Caron Spa Bamboo Blend in Misty Taupe and Lion Brand Vanna's Glamour in Platinum.

 
A little picot around the edge to finish it off. 

Blingy cowls are the new necklaces, don't you know?

birthday embroidery

Grandma Dolly had a birthday on Saturday.  Grandma Dolly is Tim's mom, so named by my kids because of her enormous doll collection.  (Her husband is Grandpa Train - yeah, you guessed it.  He likes trains.)

Aidin has been busy doing some embroidery for a Girl Scout project.  With three snow days last week, she was ready for a new project.  She drew portraits of Grandma and Grandpa which I traced onto the fabric (with my light box) and she did the rest, from threading the needle to tying the knots, all by herself.

And what a fantastic job.

 
I finished her work into a pillow.

 
Aidin chose a neutral tan floral for the backing and I added a bit to the front to create a flange edge. (Is that what that is called?) 

Her embroidery completely overshadowed mine.

 
I bought a kit with two linen towels off e-bay a very long time ago, with the intention of stitching them for Tim's mom.  They were fun to do and the fabric was such a beautiful weight, I was almost sorry to finish.

 
I showed you the back side of the horn last week.... Grandma reads the blog, so I couldn't show you the front.

 
I always enjoy making something for Tim's mom because she always appreciates it and seems just tickled to receive something handmade from us.  There was another birthday this weekend... with more embroidery.  But I'll save that for another post.

What are you working on?

before and after

I've done two little wardrobe modification projects in the past few weeks.  The first was a very long, lined  Gap wool skirt I picked up on my New Year's Day thrift excursion. I chopped it off and wore it to Tim's Great-Aunt's funeral. 

  
Much better, but I think I may shorten it even further and add a little embroidery to the hem.  Grey wool skirts at any length could use a little excitement.

My other alteration was for Aidin.  Tim's band played at a local retirement community's  Winter Ball.  We all went as a family to listen to Dad play.  And a ball certainly requires a fancy dress*.  We started with a dark green stretch velvet dress that Aidin got as a hand-me-down a long time ago.  It seemed a little short.  And not fancy.  I added some fabric from an old sari (leftover from making our shower curtain) and voila! Fancy!

  

I wish I had made the skirt ruffle a little fuller, but used what I had.  And suddenly, someone felt fancy enough for the ball.

 

I hope you're having a ball this weekend.  xo ~L
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* There was a woman at the ball wearing a hand-pieced elongated hexagon skirt.  It was like a quilt top with a waistband.  I had a lovely conversation with her about it.  I wish I had taken a picture.  Now I can't get elongated hexagons out of my brain......

hello, February

January ended and February began the same way.

Snow days,

 
embroidery,

 
crochet,

 
baking,

and more movies than I care to admit.  There was also a big kitchen clean-up and cracking the whip over Aidin's science fair project. 

 
I have several things that I have wanted to blog about, but putting my thoughts together with the appropriate photos is beyond me at the moment.  But soon.  I have some alterations and a blingy cowl and a bit of menu planning to share.

Ciao for now, friends!  Stay warm.