I will NEVER make that!

I had some time a few days ago to sit and work at my computer but not do WORK, so I ended up going through blog posts in my blog reader that I had “starred” with the intention of going back later to do something with the post. Bookmark it, look at a linked website, blog about it, whatever.

I was struck by the sheer number of craft-related posts I’d starred, apparently thinking at the time that the featured craft would be so awesome to make, that I am now looking at and wondering what on earth I was thinking.

A felt tic tac toe board, for example. I mean, there’s nothing wrong with that craft. It’s awesome. It’s cute. It uses scraps. Just… In MY life, when am I going to decide that THAT is a good way to spend my time? I have to schedule in time to make myself things, and I usually rush through it so that I can get back to inventory and orders. And when will I ever remember to pack it on road trips? And how long will we still have all the pieces? 5 minutes? My kids travel with notebooks, if they want to play tic tac toe, they’re going to have to do it the old-fashioned way.

Mini Cherry Pies? Looks yummy! After a second look, I decided I’ll stick to regular size pies. Just a good, half the time.

I think what happens when I read the craft blogs is that I get sucked into the world that they’ve created. A world where people have time to make these things and live lives where they’d actually be used. You know, the world that Amanda Soule lives in. I don’t live in that world.

This little adorable dress, though. I’m bookmarking that one for next summer.

Knitting Projects on my To Do list

Patterns are all in my Ravelry queue, if I have a pattern chosen. (link is to the right, under Sarah’s Links.) I own the yarn for all except the puppets.

These are all projects I need to finish up by Christmas.

Yikes.

Jack Skellington hat and/or stuffed doll for Wally for Christmas

Puppets for Genna for Christmas

Dollies from scrap yarn for Genna for Christmas, and for new baby

Winter hat for Genna (no pattern)

Longies for new baby

One more sweater for new baby

Socks for midwife thank you gift

Plans

Before you read this, keep in mind that, though I am a planner, I also strongly believe that when we make plans, God laughs. And then to keep Himself further amused, he changes our plans for us.

Currently, I plan to work on Made to Order items next week.

Week of May 29 will be pocket diapers and snack bags.

Week of June 5 will be All in Ones, though I don’t anticipate finishing them up that week.

Week of June 12 is MTOs again, and hopefully finishing All in Ones.

Week of June 19 will hopefully be recycled wool items.

Week of July 3 is MTOs.

July 31 Produce bags

August 7 Basic Covers

August 14 MTO.

I can’t plan beyond that, because my corkboard only goes that far, lol.

A toothpaste tube toothbrush holder. Love it.

From Crafting a Green World.

Christmas Crafting Update. If you have reason to think you might be getting a Christmas present from me (so, if we’re related) don’t read this.

Alright. Here’s where I’m at. (no pictures in this post, the relevant pictures have already been separately posted)

Ballet skirts and legwarmers for two nieces: Done.

Ballet skirt and bun cover for another niece: Half done. (skirt done, bun cover out with a friend)

Camera cozy and assorted fabric pouches for mother in law: done.

Camera strap cover for father in law: done.

(MIL and FIL are also getting a bowl from StellaJames and a picture of my adorable family.)

Slippers for sister in law: done

Tote bag for other sister in law: done. (this sister in law is also getting the gift of our presence at her wedding in March in Arizona. don’t laugh, it’s going to cost us over $1000.)

Slippers for nephews: done

Slippers for niece: done

Hat for soon to be brother in law: not even started.

Project for sister: not started, needed equipment is malfunctioning.

Twirly skirt for niece and sweater skirt for niece: done.

Two brothers-in-law are getting gift cert’s for massage. They could both use one.

That takes care of extended family. So I’m largely done there.

Immediate family:

Wally: knit sweater, knit sock monkey. Neither started.  New pants (hemp french terry, dyed). Sewn, not dyed.

Genna: knit jacket/cardigan, knit longies. Not started.

Randy: knit fingerless gloves to match his hat. Christmas ornament from Wally. Not started. (though the ornament needs to wait until the 24th, because the child cannot keep anything to himself.) I’m also going to get him a gift card to Itunes for his new Ipod Touch.

And I’ll be doing some crafting for friends and others, too. One of those projects is finished, one is started.

I need to figure out what to do for our postal carrier.

Handmade for the Holidays

I’m enjoying browsing through the last few weeks of postings over at Sew Mama Sew – they’re in the middle of their Handmade for the Holidays series. But sometimes I look at those projects and wonder who has family members who would appreciate the items shown. I mean, they’re lovely, but I guess maybe I wasn’t blessed with the appropriate gift recipients for many of them. I’m glad that others have been, though!!

Thinking Ahead

Goodness, we’re coming up on Christmas, aren’t we?

Well, OK, the answer is NO. But it’s getting to be time to start planning for what I’m going to make for Christmas presents. And this year, I have, well, pretty much no ideas.

I’m thinking maybe knitted, felted slippers. For the kids? For the grownups? Hm.

I think it would be awesome to figure out how to use my screenprint kit and use it for Christmas gifts, but unless I want everyone to have the same design, um, that’s a different screen for every person. Not really practical. So maybe some upscale, modern freezer paper stencil designs for adult Tshirts? I don’t really see the men in the family wearing those, though. I know Randy would, but my brothers in law and my father in law aren’t really the, um, Design-On-Tshirt type.

Hm. I’m never too impressed with my ideas for the guys, you know?

Five Alive

A total copy from MamaP

The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me. I will try to make these tailored to those five people. The restrictions and limitations:

*I will make no guarantees that you will like what I make.

*What I create will be just for you.

*You will have no clue what it will be

*The catch is that you have to post this as well, if you expect me to do something for you.

*I have to be able to afford the postage, if you live out of country.

* I (you) have until 2009 is up to complete

Please link to your blog, if I don’t know you, in case we are new friends.

Giving for Lent

I had posted at Facebook that I probably wasn’t going to give up anything for Lent this year – a first for me. (I’m not Catholic. I just observe Lent in my own ways.) Fasting isn’t really an option, what with the nursing newborn and all. I have traditionally given up something bad for me physically and something bad for me spiritually. (doughnuts and gossip, for example.) But, I’m so perfect this year, I have nothing to give up.

what?

are you chuckling?

OK, I just can’t think of anything.

And then one of my awesome Facebook friends suggested using Lent as a season of giving.

I started out by looking at the links posted at Amanda Soule’s Mama to Mama page. I have it narrowed down to either Little Dresses for Africa or The Dulaan Project. I’m not sure if it’s possible to just simply sew dresses and send them off to the Little Dresses people or if they have more requirements than that… I’m waiting to hear back from them.

Anyone local want to join in? Have thoughts on which project you’d like to do?

PS, regarding Lent, or really any traditional observance, “One man esteems one day above another: another esteems every day alike.  Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.  He that regards the day, regards it unto the Lord, and he that regards not the day, to the Lord does he not regard it.  He that eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he that eats not, to the Lord he eats not, and gives God thanks.”  -Romans 14:5,6

Fiber CSA

So, at Christmas, Randy (DH) surprised me with a share of a local fiber CSA. Willow Ridge Farm offers full and half shares of both yarn and roving. (He wanted to get me the roving share, too, but since I’ve yet to actually spin any yarn on my new wheel, I talked him out of it.)

Last week, my first delivery arrived. Six skeins of single-ply in a beautiful hand-painted purple and lavender color (which is what I chose). I also received a picture of Strawberry, the sheep who donated her fleece for my yarn. I’m looking forward to making socks and all manner of yummy things with this yarn!