Life of a Domestic Disaster

Making a button

2011-01-02T15:39:00.001-05:00

I just need a copy of this photo on web, so this is a placeholder post....

Christmas Miracle

2010-12-22T11:34:00.000-05:00

I cleaned. Yep, that is my Christmas Miracle.


Before

During

After with cupboard open

After with cupboard closed

Please note. I did NOT just move the mess to another room. I put things away and I threw things away. Two grocery bags of trash/recycling. Took two hours. Hmm. Could I find the time to do this maybe once a month???

Oh, and if you are missing my posts here, be sure to check my FeltedWoolies blog. Most of my posts are there now.

Thoughts on crafting

2010-10-10T11:56:00.000-04:00

As I sit, unraveling and deconstructing wool sweaters and other wool clothing, I think of the people that put it together in the first place. Most of it, well, all of it, is made somewhere else. China is the most common place for modern clothing, vintage finds come from a greater variety of places. Perhaps I'll start making note of where each piece was constructed. Most of the sweaters are knit by machine, and sewn together with a chain stitch that is very easy to undo if you start in the right place. The tricky places are where lots of pieces meet--under the arms, top of shoulder, etc. I can imagine a woman sitting at the chain stitch machine who has done the job so many times she can get all those pieces to line up just right quickly and easily. I wonder what she is paid? A pittance, I suspect. I think of her as I try to price the items I make. Do I try to match the other prices on Etsy? Do I try to price under others? Does the value of my hat seem greater it I charge more? Does it seem "cheap" if I charge less?   It is the same hat--but marketing is much more about perceived value than real value.   Is my time really worth any more than the pittance that woman was paid?

I'm getting the raw materials I'm using for very little. I've had very good luck at church garage sales over the summer. I try to go during the last hour. Most churches are raising money for a service or mission project, but during the last hour they just want to get rid of the items left. I've bought bags full of wool for 2.00. That is pounds of yarn, or enough felt for 8 hat and mitten sets, with a lot left over for birds, ornaments, flowers, etc. etc.    So all I really need to charge for is my time and creativity. I'm not looking to get rich off this adventure. I'm just looking to make up for part of the pay I'll lose when, and if, I retire.   So, when I wait to contribute to the mission or service project so I can get the most wool for my few dollars, I feel a bit of guilt. It is more than offset by the virtue I feel as I reuse great wool--wool that is left behind after everyone else has been through the piles of clothes at the garage sale. I even have clothing from a church clothing give-away. A friend waits 'till the event is over, and saves the wool for me. She says nobody wants the wool sweaters since they can't be thrown in the wash as easily as synthetics. So, in a way, wool has a lesser perceived value than synthetic to the demographic that can't afford to send clothes to the dry cleaners.

The store that has purchased some of my things sits right across the street from the 10,000 Villages store in Columbus.   In a really really small way, I'm in direct competition with artisans from all over the world that rely on their crafting income for basic necessities. I'm just looking to supplement an adequate retirement check. (Of course, if I can supplement that check, I'll have money to spend at 10,000 Villages...) Now I'm starting to over think. So I'll stop.

Finally, I have a very real connection to the woman at the factory sewing machine, making a pittance, because she needs that pittance. That woman, or in my case girl, was my mother. My mother left school at 13 to do piece-work at home, and a year later, when she was finally old enough, she started work in a clothing factory outside Philadelphia. It was 1931. She gave her entire paycheck to her dad until she was 20. She finally left home and went to high school when she was 21. How much has changed in our world since then.    I choose to sit at my sewing machine. In fact, I find it the most soothing, satisfying thing I've done in the past few years. Well, second to playing the violin. If I wanted to work in a clothing factory, I couldn't find one. And I wouldn't be able to regulate the temperature, listen to the music I want to, take a break when I want, or fuss over which buttons to put where.

This is what I think about as I craft.

Moving the craft blog posts

2010-09-02T13:47:00.000-04:00

I'm moving my craft posts to a new blog!!! http://feltedwoolies.blogspot.com/

I want to try to keep the family stuff here, and the more general interest posts there. If you are following me for my crafts, you may want to follow the other blog instead.

Reindeer

2010-09-02T13:43:00.000-04:00

I've finally figured out how to make a reindeer that I like. The antlers have twisty tie inside, the legs have rolled up magazine pages inside. I'm going to try to make a set of eight, and link them together with red "harness" (yarn). I even have a sleigh somewhere that is about the right size. These take a long time to make, so I may not get eight done for myself... The antlers are the most time consuming part.

Fabulous vacation

2010-08-12T09:54:00.000-04:00

The domestic goddess and the domestic disaster show off our newly groomed toes

Reindeer 1 and 2

2010-08-03T11:40:00.001-04:00

I'm trying to modify the sheep pattern to make reindeer or just deer.
These are the first two. Head is still not right, but I'm getting good
ideas about how to make the legs, ears and antlers.

I also cleaned up my sewing room over the weekend. More to do but it
is nice to work in a clean space!

Corn

2010-07-31T10:25:00.000-04:00

I just ate the first corn from our garden. Yes, it was at 10:00 AM on Saturday morning. No, it wasn't a meal. I picked the first two ears that looked like they might be ready, and couldn't wait until lunch time to eat them. I also wanted that sweet, sweet taste of corn fresh from the garden. Dave had a few bites, but he eats at mealtimes. Corn at 1030 AM didn't appeal to him, no matter how fresh, no matter how sweet, no matter how delicious. The boys weren't interested either. Too bad. More for me!

The photo is from several weeks ago. The corn patch in the garden isn't pretty, only about half the plants germinated, or survived my weeding. I've worried that animals might steal the corn before I could get it, and they have eaten half of one ear, and trampled a few stalks. (I suspect Bambi did it, but I have no proof. )

The taste of that fresh, fresh corn makes it all worth it. Next year I'll plant twice as much!

Sheep version three

2010-07-27T16:22:00.000-04:00

I like this one. I may or may not make a furry cover for him. I think he is okay without eyes, for the young-no-buttons-allowed set. I could do the same basic idea with button eyes for older folks. I think he needs a tail.

This will be an easy pattern to adapt for a deer/reindeer at Christmas, a horse? a donkey?

A new Sheep

2010-07-26T15:50:00.000-04:00

Remember last summer--the sheep from Flutterby Patch that took a journey around the world and stopped to visit here in Dublin? I decided to try to create a sewn pattern, similar to the knit pattern from Flutterby Patch, to make with wool felt. After all, I can hardly call my shop "Felted Woolies" if I don't make any felted woolies...

Photos are of the first prototype. I know I want the head a bit bigger and the legs a bit shorter, but just a tad. I also have a new idea about how to make the hooves look better. I might have to add embroidered mouth and nose, especially for a lighter fabric. The sweater that made this sheep's "jacket" is perfect for the job. I may have to really look for others that have the right texture, or I'll have to knit jackets.

I have some work to do to "perfect" the pattern... Well, none of my patterns are ever perfect. I like to think that is part of their charm. But my sheep still needs some work. I think there is great potential!

Dinner with Alex

2010-07-21T20:40:00.001-04:00

Alex was playing with his dinner, then turned to me and said "look,
mom, it's a bed-head."

My Favorite Phone App

2010-07-19T23:00:00.000-04:00

You know I'm a geek. You don't need proof. But I found a free phone app that has knitting and crochet patterns! How cool is that. You are away from the computer and you want to try a new crochet flower, or get an idea for a baby gift... and you just search the Lion Brand yarn app. The same patterns are all online, but they are also right here, in my pocket.

I love technology. Not that I'm using any yarn from anything except a thrifted sweater.

Cool things I made this week:

A rug from a thrift store sofa throw. I'd felted it once last winter, and it lost half its size, down to about 4 by 6. I felted it again yesterday and it is now just about 3 by 4. It must be at least a half inch of sold wool. So wonderful. A nice neutral yellowish tan. Perfect to collect dirty, wet boots and shoes.
A new pin cushion. Basically a roll of wool felt with flowers and stuff pinned to the outside. I love it. It will be tinkered with over and over.
Finally, a very cool bird. Kind of a cockatoo with a fancy headdress and fancy tail feathers. I was just feeling really creative and bored by the plain birds I've made in the past.

Photos someday when I have the time. I'm still challenged to get good photos taken for Etsy. I love technology, but that doesn't mean I'm good at it.

New Bed-Head Photos

2010-07-14T12:33:00.000-04:00

More Bed Heads

2010-07-12T19:56:00.004-04:00

I'm making more Bed-Heads. Bed-Head Barbie is getting new friends. Maybe they will all be facebook friends. I'll post photos soon.

I need names for the friends--I'm making some that don't have the curly hair. Some with spikes, some with very neat rows of hair that is all the same short length, Buzz Cut Bob? Spikey Mikey? Give me some ideas?

Bed-head Barbie joined facebook! Be her friend!!!

Yum

2010-07-06T19:59:00.001-04:00

Went to garden but forgot a container. Lucky the produce this day fit
in my bike helmet. I rode home risking brain injury in order to share
the first beans and these tomatoes with the family. Should be nice
mess of beans ready tomorrow. Does everyone say "mess" of beans?

Antique Quilt Frame

2010-06-27T10:30:00.005-04:00

I went to church garage sales yesterday--my favorite Saturday activity this summer. I've found a lot of wool at great prices. Yesterday at the Columbus Mennonite Church rummage sale I found this antique quilt frame. $25. I was there during the last hour so prices were very low. I think this quilt rack is absolutely beautiful, and it works. It is exactly like one I remember seeing in an Aunt's home years and years ago. I like that it is narrow, that adjusting the tension for quilting is easy with the gears on the cross pieces, and that it is all there and in working condition.

I have my mom's quilt rack--the one dad made for her. It is essentially four corner posts made of heavy 4x4s. You start with the quilt at full size using four long pieces of lumber. The quilt gets smaller and narrower as you quilt. It is great because you don't have to baste, but it takes up the whole room at first. If any of the nieces or one of my sisters or sisters-in-law wants the four posts, I'll part with them now that I have an option. If no one wants it, I'll keep it, cause I can use it to baste a quilt before putting it in the "new" frame. Not that I'm planning to quilt any time soon, but I might, just to try out the frame.

Does anyone have any idea how old this might be? The hand-forged iron hooks make it look 19th century to me... But I'm no expert. Those are hand-forged iron hooks, aren't they?

My Demographic

2010-06-25T22:41:00.003-04:00

I just came home from street fair number three. Jen and I had a great time, again. I'm tired because it was hot and I was on my feet all evening. I was on my feet because people were looking at my things, and buying my things! I enjoy watching faces light up with a big smile when they focus on the mice and rabbits and monsters. The faces that are most often drawn to my table, and most often light up when they see my things are between 5 and 12. More girls than boys, but not by much--maybe 60/40.

Maybe that is part of why my Etsy sales are slow. 7 year old kids are not looking for toys on Etsy.

No worries, though. I had FUN! Sold all of my small bunnies, most of my bed head barbies, and a lot of owls, mice and birds. Sales were way up over fair number two! I'll be pleased if I do this well at the remaining three fairs.

McDonalds has a booth across from us and Ronald McDonald was there for part of the evening. He made a special trip over to my booth to look at the monsters and bed heads up close, and to tell me that he had been eying them all night and that he really liked them.

Should I add that to the Etsy site: Endorsed by Ronald McDonald??? Or does that just prove that my target audience is between the ages of 5 and 12?

Don't forget to comment on the post below for a chance to win your very own bed head barbie. I won't check your age.

First tomatoes and Special Olympics

2010-06-25T08:50:00.004-04:00

Two totally unrelated topics.

I found my first ripe cherry tomatoes yesterday. Four. I ate them in the garden. I don't think I even took two steps away from the plant. No sharing. No washing. Just warm, sweet bliss.

Joseph and Alex will go to the Special Olympics State meet today. Joseph competes in track tomorrow; Alex in gymnastics tomorrow. Both will stay in the dorm for two nights and come home Sunday morning. This is the first time Joseph will sleep away from both of us at the same time. It is time for this milestone, but it is hard for me. Joseph will probably be just fine as long as he has Bear. Alex has been to a one night school sleepover and a neighbor's for a sleepover, but two nights and a whole day will be a big deal. He has been clingy. Again, it is good for him to have some independence, but may be difficult. I'm not sure which I worry about more? Maybe I should just worry about me. We will go watch them compete, but will need to split up because they compete at the same time.

Revision to Give Away post

2010-06-24T14:15:00.003-04:00

Uh... I forgot to say that I'd do a DRAWING and give away ONE Bed Head Barbie. So, I'm honoring my promise to the folks that responded before I realized my mistake, but for the rest of you, you have a CHANCE to win a bed head barbie. I'll do a random number drawing to pick the winner.

What a domestic disaster moment!

Enter by July 4...

Bed Head Barbie: My first GIVE AWAY

2010-06-23T13:49:00.005-04:00

I'm getting ready for another street fair in Westerville this Friday. I made more birds, more owls, and I have the apples all ready. But I've missed making monsters. The trouble is, no one is spending that much on an item. Small items are selling, the large ones are not. So... I made a new kind of monster. Just about 5 inches tall, they are shapeless creatures with very flat feet and really bad hair. Hmmm.... what should I call them. I know, "Bed Head Barbie." Even Barbie is shapeless when she rolls out of bed in the morning, and in slippers her feet and flat and fat, just like mine.

And, what luck, I decided to have my very first give away. A "Bed Head Barbie" give away! Just post a comment below, and be sure you give me a way to contact you, and you will have a chance to win your very own Bed Head Barbie. (I'll even ship to you free!) Or if you prefer, I'll send a Buckeye Bed Head. (If you don't know the difference, you don't live in Ohio.) You can tell me which Bed Head is your favorite, but I can't guarantee that one will still be available when the give away is over. I'll try to make a new one like it. I'll do a random number drawing on July 5th with all the entries that I get by July 4th at midnight to pick the winner.

Barbie is made from recycled, upcycled, repurposed, reclaimed wool garments. She is stuffed with wool as well. Only the thread she is sewn with is new.

So, tell your friends and be sure to respond by July 4th.

Felt Apples

2010-06-18T08:34:00.001-04:00

I'm home. I worked hard grading from 8-5 for seven straight days. A
marathon of grading. But I had free time every evening to stitch.
These apples are my newest creation. I really love them, and they are
easy to make. They just take a bit of time.

Little Vacation/Work related trip

2010-06-10T12:56:00.003-04:00

I'm off on a little vacation aka work trip. I will be busy from 8 to 5 every day, but free after that. I've loaded the trunk of the car with projects. I'll be curious how much I actually accomplish while I'm away.

No meals to plan, no baths to give, no dishes to wash, no boys to entertain, no hugs, no kisses, no clothes to wash, no beds to make, no one to take care of except me. Sounds a bit like heaven and a bit lonely. I think I'll be really happy to return home to my crazy dysfunctional family. I'm not even gone and I already feel a bit lonely...

Maybe I'm just a bit nervous. We have to share hotel rooms. That could be okay, or it could be not so great. I've never met the person with whom I'll be sharing a room for the next 7 days...

Yermits

2010-06-08T21:27:00.002-04:00

I showed one of this artist's Yermits in my post from a week or so ago of Etsy favorites. I find myself wandering around this Etsy shop, laughing, admiring, grinning, and marveling at the creativity. So many shops, including mine, are full of cute animals. (Well, my monsters aren't exactly cute...) This shop is full of clever, funny, irreverent, creatures that provide a bit of social commentary and a whole different kind of cuteness. You have to read the bios for each doll. It is worth the trip.

Dave? Are you listening. One of these would be a great present for your loving wife...

Alex is in Middle School!!

2010-06-04T17:50:00.002-04:00

Today was Alex's last day of elementary school, and thus the last day of elementary school for our family.

It was bittersweet to watch him go through the ceremonies of the last day at our elementary school. DARE graduation was today also; that was different from last year. The children in the school line the halls and "clap out" all of the fifth graders. Each fifth grader is then given a chance to ring the old-fashioned school bell that sits at the entrance to the school. I think it is a great way to mark the end of the year and the transition from elementary school to middle school.

I let Alex pick our dinner for the evening. He wants to go to a fast food chain. Not my choice, but not my choice! Today is his day.

The photos are awful. I forgot camera and only had my phone. There was such a crowd I couldn't get a photo with Alex and the bell, just Alex and a tree limb. You get the idea--I hope.

End of year teacher gifts

2010-06-03T17:52:00.002-04:00

Thank goodness for the blog. I couldn't remember if I'd used felt
hearts as teacher gifts at Christmas. I checked the blog to find I'd
done cookies. So tomorrow the boys will take their teachers hearts
with hand made cards.

Preteens Love Hair Clips

2010-05-29T21:14:00.002-04:00

I couldn't resist taking this photo of Jen last night. This group of preteens swarmed her table and stayed and stayed and stayed. They loved her things, had money to spend, and were so fun to watch.

Made me glad for my boys...

Collage photo using Picasa

2010-05-27T21:25:00.003-04:00

I finally figured out how people make these collage photos for blogs. I like the technique, if not my actual set of photos. I've posted these too many times already.

I'll take a poll-- Big bunny has a neck. Small bunnies don't. Should I give small bunnies a neck? That will make them look more distinct than the mice... I guess I need to do it an post before and after photos so you know exactly what I'm talking about. But it really isn't that important. I think I'll work on a way to do it, 'cause every time I see a bunny in the yard the head is very clear.

Street Fair #2

2010-05-26T16:08:00.002-04:00

Friday will be street fair #2 for Jen and me. I'm optimistic that it will rain here on Thursday, making the weather perfect on Friday.

I have my sign ready, and more owls (the only thing that sold last time). Since the owls sold well, I made birds, mice, and rabbits at the same price point for this month. The bigger rabbits I have on the blog may go to the fair also, but for more $. I can make them much faster than I can make a monster, so they will not be as expensive as the monsters. My goal is to double my total sales from last month. I was sick last month, and barely able to stay standing for the entire evening. I'm really looking forward to enjoying myself this time!

I'll take the monsters--they would be mad if I left them at home. I think the right person will go for a monster--but, so far that person has not visited the Etsy shop or the street fair. I'm not discouraged. I feel as if I'm just getting started in what may become my second career. (Dave is a bit worried that I'll get so ticked off at work that I'll just quit and live in thrift stores. I've promised I won't do that, but he may have reason to worry!)

I think I've worked out a new way to set up my table so that it looks less cluttered. I'm having a hard time editing my display, but I realize that I need to make it look good to get people to stop as they walk by.

Don't worry--you will have to read all about it again after it is over!

Things I love on Etsy

2010-05-24T21:20:00.003-04:00

I can lose myself for hours looking at the beautiful things others make--and these are just things made with wool felt!

Wild Rose

2010-05-24T17:16:00.001-04:00

Wild rose blooming in a place where I cut out a lot of invasive
honeysuckle last year. It is a neverending job. But the rewards.
Ah. The rewards.

Hints for making your own patterns

2010-05-22T15:32:00.004-04:00

I'm having so so so much fun making bunny rabbits. But I've learned an important lesson about making my own patterns. Start with a pattern for a bigger animal, and shrink it. I've been going the opposite direction. (Because I didn't want to waste fabric on a mistake. If you knew how much wool was in my house right now you would laugh at that!) The bigger animals are so much easier to make, and it is so much easier to figure out how the details should balance. Obviously other things are harder with bigger animals, like it is harder to get the ears to be firm enough so they don't flop around too much. But I like the floppy look, so some of that is okay. If I ever get the pattern "finished" and have the patience to take the step by step photos, I'll share it with instructions.

I like how both of my first bigger bunnies turned out, but I melted something onto the ear of the red and black one with the iron trying to perfect the ear shape. Whoops. The domestic disaster strikes just when I think I am safe.

2010-05-21T09:15:00.004-04:00

I made a sign to use at the next craft fair in Westerville. (I kind of copied Resweater's idea of using cut out felt letters...) The sheep is patterned after the clip art sheep I used on my business cards, the labels for my yarn, and the "thank you" cards I include in the box with any Etsy purchase. I'm happy with how it turned out. I may try to figure out how to add it to the Etsy site.

FYI--wool felt is saving my sanity at work. Every time I think about the things that are making me crazy I stop myself and think about my bunny patterns. How can I make the pattern a little bit better? What happens if I make the body this way, or that way? Maybe bigger? Maybe different ears? Etc. etc. Again-- I'm having a very stressful time at work, and this new hobby/obsession/or whatever is helping me take it one day at a time. Just a few more weeks 'till summer break.

Garden mostly in

2010-05-16T19:28:00.003-04:00

I worked hard today to get most of the garden in. Rain expected next few days. Garden just opened yesterday.

It almost feels like cheating to garden in a community garden where a tractor plows the plot for you. No shovel needed. Just plant. We don't have enough sun at home to do a decent garden. This community garden is about 1/2 mile away. Free with a suggested 25 dollar donation to church whose property is used for the garden. If they plow, and they have water barrels full all summer so I don't have to haul water from home, I'm happy.

I didn't use the black plastic last year, but I got a double size plot this year and didn't want to spend all summer weeding. I observed the gardening techniques of others last summer. The black plastic seems pretty successful--especially if you get it secured well enough.

I'll post more photos as the summer progresses.

FYI 3 hills zuchinni, 2 hills pumpkin (new this year), 2 hills cucumber, two rows green beans, 14 tomato plants, 2 pepper plants, and soon four short rows of corn (also new this year). I'm also letting one of Joseph's helpers have about a third of the second plot. Unless I get really crazy and plant four long rows of corn! The raccoons might get the corn, so I think I'll start small. Anything I'm forgetting?

Harry and Harold

2010-05-16T19:14:00.002-04:00

These two showed up in my garden today. They are the brothers of the bunny with my favorite button eyes--I've named him Harvy. I think they are triplets. I put feet on Harvy so now he can jump around with his brothers.

OK--I've gone over the edge...

I think I'm in love

2010-05-13T14:05:00.002-04:00

Does he need feet?

I've been saving these buttons for somebody special. I found him. His body does look a bit like a fish... hmmmm.... I wonder if I could do better... I like the feet, but I don't like the ears yet...

I think I'll go add feet to the bunny with the pretty pewter/tin eyes.

Mice

2010-05-10T15:50:00.003-04:00

My latest creation is a mouse from my own pattern... I think they are pretty cute. What do you think???

DD Brownies

2010-05-10T15:45:00.002-04:00

The domestic disaster makes brownies from a mix...

About six months ago I left out the eggs while making brownies from a mix. Deep fried sugar and flour. Inedible.

Saturday I made two batches of brownies from a mix at the same time--well one after the other. As I mixed the second I realized I'd forgotten the water in the first. I decided to experiment to see what happened. I baked both at the same temp for the same time in the same size pan.

The batch without the water was chewier. I actually liked them better. But that batch was hard to stir. Next time I may try half the water.

The real question is why I have such a hard time following the instructions on a box when three ingredients are required.

Wild yarn

2010-05-07T08:10:00.001-04:00

The red and blue turned out crazy. A teen's or kid's hat??? The
original was a dull light blue with 5-6 knots. So I didn't ruin a
great skein of yarn. I'll make something for the boys?

Scarf done

2010-05-06T16:11:00.002-04:00

It is 7-8 feet long. I double it before I wear it. I suppose I could have made it twice as wide and half as long, but I like the flexibility of a long narrow scarf.

Looks nice with black, white, or the right shade of green. I'm happy with the light weight of the silk cotton blend. I wore it to work yesterday.

My second attempt at kool aid dying failed. The color never set. I suspect I didn't wait long enough before taking it out of the crock pot. My third and fourth attempts are hanging to dry. I'll post a photo soon. They didn't bleed and I'm fairly happy with the results.

Kool aid dye

2010-05-02T15:31:00.002-04:00

I have this fabulous fiber--70% silk 30% cotton. Perfect for a scarf.
I thought the color rather dull so I experimented with kool aid dye.
What do you think? I'll post the scarf when I'm done. A scarf is a
good way for me to fancy up a plain work outfit. I like a scarf better
than a necklace. Hopefully this silk cotton blend willl work during
warm weather. FYI the kool aid cost more than the yarn.

Rug update and new basket

2010-04-27T12:51:00.002-04:00

I've always liked these big tobacco drying baskets. I finally found one. I nearly had a wreck driving past an antique store Sat. The basket was part of a display outside the store--and I made a quick turn into the parking lot to get a closer look.

Mine has a couple of my owls nestled in the bottom. The ones in the Pottery Barn catalogs never have cute owls in them...

Also, here is a photo of the rug. I've not worked on it for about a month. It is still about a third the size I hope to make it. Perhaps I'll have time to work on it this summer.

First Street Fair

2010-04-24T09:15:00.004-04:00

I summoned all my available energy, pumped myself full of adrenaline, and Jen and I went to the "Fourth Friday" street fair in Westerville, OH last night as planned.

We had a blast, but I'm feeling pretty shaky this morning.

I didn't sell as much as I hoped, but the woman next to us selling jewelry said that business picks up as the summer goes on. She thinks the people just look the first month. We saw a lot of people. People seemed to like my display, and my monsters. Especially the children. I loved watching the young faces as they walked by, spotted a monster, and stopped. Or at least the head turned as they followed the adult walking in front. I think my table looks a bit too busy, and we have enough room that we will bring a third card table next time and spread out a bit more. And I will edit what I bring next time.

We both paid for our space and made a bit of profit. We had free hot dogs from the fire department stand just down the block, saw some folks we know, and enjoyed a pretty spring evening.

My favorite moments:

A little boy, maybe one, in a stroller reaching for my scariest monster on the top of the display. And hugging it like it was his favorite toy when I let him. His brother and sister put ornaments and gift tags in the mouths of all the other monsters. The mom was kind of embarrassed that they made a mess of the display. I was glad to see kids enjoy the toys. (Mom didn't buy, but she might come back...)

A girl, ten or so, whose face lit up when her dad said she could buy an owl. The feel of wool is addicting!

A college age couple--out on a date. He bought her an owl. She agonized over which one to pick. I like to think that it will be a treasured object in her world--and will last at least as long as the boyfriend does. Maybe she will keep it for years to remind her of a special date. Maybe it will be thrown away in a few months along with other trinkets that remind her of a soured romance. In any case--that little owl has flown the nest and has new adventures ahead.

Jen and her table look great!

I have a lot of new ideas for next time!

A lost week

2010-04-22T21:35:00.003-04:00

I've been sick for a week. Tonight I feel better than I have at this time of the evening for about 10 days. What a relief. I take my health so for granted.

If you want to know how sick I've been consider these two facts:

I've not eaten chocolate for 7 days

I've not drunk coffee for 5 days

If you know me, that tells you more than any thermometer, blood test, or blood pressure cuff ever could.

All those medical things have not yet figured out what is wrong. Might be tick related, so I'm taking antibiotics, might be a virus (but not flu) that is thankfully running its course, and it might be something else, yet to be determined.

Some quick thoughts

1. Bless family that takes charge when you need them to. Dave was a champ. And Jen stepped in on Saturday and took the boys with her so I could have a quiet house. She doesn't know that I was in tears about an hour before she called 'cause I didn't know how I was going to make it through the day.

2. Food shows on TV are really weird when you aren't eating anything at all. I knew I was starting to feel better when the food made me hungry.

3. My normally disasterish house looks like a tornado hit.

4. The dog could sense I was not myself and didn't beg for a walk.

5. My children knew there was something wrong and begged for all the attention they could get. I resorted to hiding in order to rest.

6. I really hope this is over and that it isn't the start of something nasty. I thought a lot of my friend Lynn Anne and what she has been through the last 12 months. I don't know that I would have the physical or mental stamina.

Deer with chickens

2010-04-13T20:57:00.002-04:00

It is not a good photo. I took it with my phone, before the deer noticed the dog was with me. The blob next to the deer is a rooster from the neighbors yard. It was pretty funny to look out and see this deer (a very young buck) grazing with about 3 or 4 chickens and roosters. We live in an interesting neighborhood.

The DD Cleans

2010-04-10T12:36:00.003-04:00

This is a post designed to make you feel better about yourself!

It is never pretty when the Domestic Disaster takes on a home keeping task. We are the lucky recipients of wonderful hand-me-down clothes from cousins. I really only have to buy about 10-20% of what the boys wear. But everything is always one or two sizes too big when we get it, and keeping the things that fit separate from the things that don't and the things that are in season from the things that aren't is a huge challenge for me. This morning I decided to tackle the problem. I brought everything into one room. Sorted into throw away, give away, keep to wear now, and keep for next fall. Put the current clothes into the dresser (what a concept) stored things into the closet, and give away things into bags. What a relief!

BEFORE:

DURING:

AFTER: (The current clothes are already in the dresser--This is the store and give away stuff) (And yes, I should do a better job making the bed...)

And a photo of boys, one who is grumpy, on Easter Sunday.

The Miracle of Spring

2010-04-01T10:36:00.003-04:00

We lost many large branches from our crab apple trees during the heavy snows of February. I brought bare branches in the beginning of March, and now I have apple blossoms inside while the trees outside are still barely in bud.

Happy Easter!

Niddy Noddy

2010-03-26T09:17:00.002-04:00

I went to the hardware store yesterday, spent a whopping $5.75, and
made a niddy noddy. You can find directions online at many different
sites. There are beautiful wood niddy noddies available online as
well, but this is functional. It works like a dream, once I figured
out the rhythm of it. It is used to wind yarn into skeins for washing
or dying. I added end caps and rubber washers to hold the yarn in the right spots.

I love it!!! (The !!! are for you, Sarah.)

Uptown Alive

2010-03-24T14:04:00.002-04:00

"April 23:4th Friday Season Kick-off: Uptown Alive, 6-9pm, Historic Uptown Westerville. Everyone is invited to this family-friendly community event! Experience the unique atmosphere of Uptown, with all its quaint shops, art galleries, restaurants, ice cream parlors and charming architecture. Enjoy live music, food, children's activities, street vendors, special displays and extended hours in the Uptown shops."

Jan and I have signed up to share an 8-foot table at this street festival. We will be "street vendors." The event is held every fourth Friday evening from April to September. I'm working on little things--ornaments, coffee cozies, pop can cozies, etc. that will be inexpensive. I'll take some of the things from my Etsy store that have not sold well--like my monsters. Probably put a lower price on them to see what the live customer thinks. Since it is six months in a row, I plan to adjust my things according to what sells, and add things like mittens and hats in Aug and Sept.

If anyone has advice, let me know. This is a brand new adventure for me. Mostly I think Jen and I will just have a good time! Dave is excited. He has done so many computer shows and education shows--I've done a few with him--and he loves interacting with passing crowds. If I have trouble selling, I may have to hire him to come help me.

Grandma's Buttons

2010-03-24T10:19:00.003-04:00

Jen gave me a whole box full of her Grandma's buttons. I made her this piece. It may turn into a wall hanging, it may be part of a pillow. I'm going to ask for her input before I finish it. I'm thinking maybe even a frame.

I don't know much about old buttons, but these are old!

Something New. Wool Longies.

2010-03-22T14:48:00.001-04:00

I'm not showing the inside. It isn't pretty. But for my second and
third attempts, pretty good.

I may be giving up on baby shoes. Too little and detailed for me. I
like my rug because it is, by definition, rustic.

Happy Spring

2010-03-20T16:00:00.002-04:00

Happy first day of spring, which is also our wedding anniversary. Seventeen years. We agreed this morning that not much has turned out as we thought it would. I hardly recognize the two thirty somethings in our wedding photos. Though we were older than most when we married, I look back and think we were very young when we started this adventure together.

Bless his dear, dear heart Dave said that on that day long ago he expected to be married to me after seventeen years!

I'm a lucky woman to have such a great man by my side.

I spent the afternoon taking care of the (big) branches of crab apple that broke under the weight of all that snow a few months ago. Hard to imagine snow today. It is warm and sunny and absolutely beautiful.

We are going out to dinner tonight--somewhere we can watch basketball. Doesn't that sound romantic???

Rug Chapter Four

2010-03-17T12:48:00.003-04:00

I want to take another photo--because it looks better. I've added four rounds since the last photo. I'm not doing it. I want to do about four more before I share. I will tease you and say that the bigger it gets the better it looks. The random pattern is more balanced as it grows.

I've tried to get a handle on how long it takes to do this. I spent about 2.5 hours this morning lacing the four new rounds. Probably 2.5 yesterday braiding, and a couple hours tearing and sewing the strips to prepare last week. So--a total of 7 hours for 4 rounds on a 2.5 by 5.5 rug. The time investment is well worth it for me, 'cause I'm doing it for myself. Like a true handmade quilt. Not worth it for money, but sometimes time ISN'T money. Sometimes creative time is just that--creative time.

Rug. Chapter three.

2010-03-11T12:03:00.000-05:00

A random pattern instead of the stripes of most braided rugs. I want
this one to be big. I hope I can make it lie flat on the floor. That
is the trickiest part of rug braiding for me.

Found at Goodwill

2010-03-05T09:55:00.001-05:00

Yesterday while looking for rug wool at the end of winter sale at
Goodwill I found all of this fabric. Perfect for quilting. All solid.
Guess how much I paid?? Does any one want it? I'm not really
quilting right now.

Third time's a charm

2010-03-03T13:38:00.003-05:00

This is the third pair of slippers I've made for myself in the last three months. The first pair was way too big. I made them with a Martha Stewart pattern, and never finished the second slipper.

The second pair was a different pattern, I forget where it came from. They were okay, but I stitched them by hand because the wool was VERY think. Also, bottoms were slippery. The stitching didn't hold up and then the dog chewed one to bits.

Finally, using the Martha Stewart pattern but in a smaller size, using Resweater's tip to add a bit of stretchy ribbing to the top (click here to see her instructions), and using a layer of reclaimed suede on the bottom, I have a pair of slippers I will try not to let the dog get into her mouth. The orange suede is kindof ugly, but?? Who cares.

I'll try some child sized slippers with this pattern next.

A Braided Rug Chapter 2

2010-02-27T13:43:00.001-05:00

All done!!!!!

Living up to my Domestic Disaster name

2010-02-23T21:19:00.002-05:00

Today is Dave's birthday. He has been SO busy of late. Working working working working. We didn't have time to invite family over. He didn't even expect to be home for dinner tonight, so I didn't make dinner. Boys and I were either going to eat leftovers or frozen dinners. (I know, frozen dinners are gross, but they are so easy and my boys love them.) Well, at 6:15, while I sat at Special Olympics basketball practice that would last until 7:00, Dave shows up and tells me he will be home for dinner after all. Uh... We are having frozen dinners... Uh... Sorry honey, it is your birthday, and you get a "meatloaf" dinner in a plastic tray.

Truly a domestic disaster moment.

A braided rug Chapter 1

2010-02-23T15:59:00.002-05:00

I've long wanted to make a braided rug. I started last week, the day a box arrived in the mail holding the metal "braidkins" that help you fold the material before you braid it and the metal "bodkin" that helps you sew the braids together. I had already started tearing the strips of wool and sewing them together. I'm putting this one in front of the kitchen sink, so I'm using brown, a variety of yellows and golds, some black/gray herringbone, a gray/brown/yellow plaid, and probably some plain black before it is all done. All are colors from the counter top in the kitchen.

The middle is a bit "puffy" but so far the learning curve for this project has not been bad. I've pretty quickly figured out how tight to braid and how tight to pull the lacing twine. I have a blister on my index finger from pulling the twine.

I'd love to watch an experienced rug braider work. I'm sure I'd learn much more quickly. Anyone know such a person?

Oh, and you don't need to tell me that I have 15 projects going at the same time. I know it.

P.S. Kris from Resweater--The yellow I'm working with in this photo is from your blanket!

A new wall piece

2010-02-20T16:53:00.002-05:00

Here is another small wall piece. This one is some kind of hybrid quilt patch, penny rug, button mania. I'm thinking of making another similar piece to make the whole thing twice as big. As it is it is about 9x10. I think a piece 18x10 would look nice in that corner.

I've also started a braided rug. I stumbled across a $1 coat day in Goodwill a few weeks back and bought a few 100% wool coats. One thing has led to another, and I'm now about 5 rounds into a rug for in front of the kitchen sink. I dream of making a rug big enough for the family room--but I know with my attention span, a project that big might just be too much.

Progress

2010-02-11T11:12:00.002-05:00

So, here is a work in progress of which I'm actually proud. I decided to wait on the BIG wall hanging for above our fireplace until I had a better technique figured out. For this small piece (15X15) I used fusible interfacing. I was trying to do the whole wall hanging with reclaimed stuff except for the thread. It just didn't work. Nice interfacing made this MUCH easier to sew, and thus, a much more successful final product, I hope. Not quite done yet, I ran out of thread and can't find the 6 spools I bought a few weeks back when Joann had a huge sale on black and white thread. I want to put a 1 inch border in the darkest green. Photo taken with cell phone, so color isn't great.

Resweater Giveaway!!!

2010-02-10T19:49:00.003-05:00

If you have been thinking about wool felt, and want a chance to try it without actually ruining one of your own sweaters, or venturing out to a Goodwill store to buy one, check out this great giveaway at ReSweater-- Click

Here (http://resweater.blogspot.com/2010/02/another-good-karma-giveaway.html)

If you win, you get to pick any sweater she has in her shop!!! I think you have until the 13th of Feb. to enter. Good luck!

Alex Twirlling Posted so I can find the video

2010-02-10T10:52:00.002-05:00

Progress on my wall hanging

2010-02-03T14:41:00.005-05:00

But I'm still not sure I know how I'll finish it... I have all the strips cut except the blue. I need two blues if I follow the colors of my model exactly. (See previous post for the Amish quilt that is my inspiration for this project.) I have never seen a thrift store sweater in the right color blue for the second blue. I have a nice royal, but the second is like a light royal blue... I have a lot of different shades of blue, but none are right. I may go with a slightly different blue than is in the model. Note that the colors of all the strips is way off. The strips in the foreground of the photo are black and green...

I've sewn the middle section, and the next set of strips. If nothing else, I've discovered a cool way to make a beautiful scarf. I think the middle part with the black, brown, and pink would make a fun scarf.

I still have to figure out a more secure way to finish sewing the piece. I may put it on a backing, or I may do hand sewing, or I may try another layer of machine sewing somehow. My original idea to hand sew the pieces to a backing one at a time didn't work at all... I may have to get the quilt frame out to stretch it onto a backing piece in order to do the hand sewing and keep it all square. It isn't coming out perfectly square the way I'm doing it now, so...

I just hope that someday you see a photo of the finished product hanging above the fireplace, and NOT a photo of the whole thing being burned IN the fireplace out of frustration. I just keep looking at the photo of the original, and thinking how cool it will look, and how it will be fine, even if it isn't "perfect."

2010-02-03T09:15:00.000-05:00

Second and Third Attempts

2010-02-03T09:13:00.001-05:00

I won't even show a photo of bootie #1...

They are getting better and I'm learning how to sew with suede. (My best tip that I didn't read elsewhere on the internet: Hold it together with little clothes pins, 'cause you can't use regular pins....and that seems easier than the binder clips others suggest.)

I'm still fiddling with the pattern and the design. I want elastic in the ankle part, but that is easier said than done.

The green one looks better, but in fact, it isn't put together in a way that will make it easy to put on and off, so... Back to the drawing board.

Baskets

2010-02-01T12:27:00.003-05:00

I spent last week's crafting time playing with baskets. I made a few that I like a lot. I spent a lot of time on one that didn't turn out very well. I don't have a photo of it here. The basket above is one of my favorites. The bird's nest is also a favorite. This week I'll be playing with baby/toddler shoes. I found suede jackets for .99 this week. I've wanted to make slippers or toddler shoes but needed suede for the soles. Now I have some.

I'll make free shoes/slippers for the first FIVE readers or facebook friends that send me the length of their baby or toddler's foot. In return you must give me honest feedback. What do you like or not like about the design of the slipper/shoe. I'll post a photo of what I have in mind once I get them made.

Sunday fun with sweaters

2010-01-25T13:53:00.002-05:00

I must be reading this blog too much--http://resweater.blogspot.com/. She sells sweaters online, and goes "sweatering" every Sunday. Yesterday I thought I needed to go to the Goodwill to look for new potential felt. I already have more than enough, but wanted an outing. I've read many fun blog posts called "Sweater Sunday" at the above-mentioned blog. There may be brainwashing going on there!

I checked out a new Goodwill, a bit further from home than I normally go. Ten whole miles away. Alex did not want to go with me, so I had a few quiet hours to do with as I pleased. I was in the store for about 15 minutes before I saw the xeroxed sign posted to the end of a rack of sweaters. All sweaters .99. Today only. Well, it turns out the special had been running all week, but I've not seen one of these specials since I started this adventure with felt, so I've been paying 3.29 each for my sweaters. I had such a blast. A whole cart full, 32 in all. Some great cashmere, almost all 100% natural. Several that I plan to unravel to reclaim the yarn. Most will be felted. And two I'm going to wear. One, a cotton cardigan from Lands End, was washed this morning and is being worn right now. Another is 100% wool, hand knit, from Ann Taylor. I planned to unravel it for the yarn. A nice dark navy blue. But when I looked at it again this morning, I decided to try it on. It fit. Not perfectly, but well enough for around the house on a cold day. The size is marked S. Yes--those of you that know me will laugh. I've not worn anything marked S for a very long time. If the size was that far off on this poor sweater, no wonder it landed in the .99 sale.

It is fun to rescue these natural fibers from the shredder and the rope machine. I don't worry about an Acrylic sweater ending up as rope. I do hate to see beautiful wool end up as "fiber unknown" rope.

Instead it can become a new monster friend...

Ideas

2010-01-19T20:04:00.005-05:00

Here are three ideas I'm thinking about for the wall hanging above the fireplace. I'd do the pattern in wool felt, sewn with blanket stitch, or overcast stitch to a backing. I might add embellishments, like the ones in my previous post, or not. I'd build the first layer and then decide. All three of these come from this web site:
http://www.pbase.com/brownsf/amish_quilts

The bottom one is my current favorite. It was made by Ada Gingerich, Arthur, IL circa 1930.

The top one is also very cool. Info the web site has says: Triangles crib quilt, Kalona, Iowa circa 1930 41"x33"

I like the middle one also, but not for our family room. Colors are not right. The info there is: Broken Dishes crib -Holmes County,OH c.1930 37"x32"

Morna Crites-Moore

2010-01-14T12:04:00.004-05:00

I found a fabric artist on Etsy and the internet that does BEAUTIFUL work with wool felt. I am so inspired by her things. She combines my old passion of quilting, with my new passion of wool felt. Here is the link: http://www.mornacrites-moore.com/

I've wanted something to hang above our fireplace. I thought about an Amish-insipired wall quilt--even bought the fabric in the colors I wanted to use. But it just didn't sing to me. This woman's work sings to me. I still have to decide what pattern--I want to stay with a traditional Amish pattern--and then collect the sweaters and felt I'll need. I think I may not do the buttons. I hate to copy someone else's ideas--but I prefer to think of it as being INSPIRED by someone else's ideas.

More and more and more monsters

2010-01-12T13:52:00.003-05:00

Two of these are spoken for, but the one on the right will go up on Etsy today... I am finding more control and more detail is possible by hand sewing the faces. So, I plan my face then sit in front of the TV to do the actual stitching. Takes longer, but I'd be wasting time watching TV in the evening anyway...

ETSY!!!!

2010-01-07T09:53:00.005-05:00

I took the plunge and started an ETSY shop for my monsters. I'm not trying to make tons of money, and I will still make these for free for friends and family, but I'm having so much fun making them I'll have a houseful and no where to put them.

I'm also just curious to see if they will sell. I'll have to do some promotion to get people to the site. You can see that some ETSY sites have lots of things listed, but no one buys anything. I bet that happens more often than not. The folks that have a lot of sales must do some serious marketing--otherwise your stuff is the 500th item listed, and no one will ever find it.

So: Go to ETSY, Felted Woolies! http://www.etsy.com/shop/FeltedWoolies

Mittens Mittens Mittens

2010-01-05T10:21:00.002-05:00

I'm hardheaded

2010-01-04T14:10:00.002-05:00

Yep--Just ask Dave. Stubborn as the day is long.

I got the ultimate proof yesterday when I dented the front bumper of my car. Yep, my head vs my car and the head ended up in better shape than the car. Okay, it is just a little dent, and I can't even get a good photo of it, but it is a dent in the front of the car made by my hard head.

I toppled over backwards while bringing groceries into the house from the garage. I just missed the step and went down... hard...

I spent the next few hours "shaking it off," but feel just fine today. Alex announced to anyone that would listen that "Mom fell down like an old lady."

My adventure with felt continues

2009-12-31T20:57:00.005-05:00

It is getting pretty funny--because it is getting out of hand. No you may NOT see my sewing room. It is a true DD.

Here are my mittens. I've been wearing them everywhere. Alex and Joseph have some, too. Now Dave has asked for a pair. I've also been trying to perfect a pattern for an owl. My favorite is the one in the middle. Buttons are taken off the sweaters I've used for all these projects. The football shaped buttons are from a vintage sweater--a beautiful brown with a small green stripe and some delicate green embroidered leaves. I've not decided just what to do with that one... but the buttons are perfect for owl eyes.

Just let me know if you want mittens--or a hat--or an owl!

Happy New Year and Merry Christmas!

2009-12-31T20:51:00.002-05:00

The photos are from Colin's birthday party. Santa visited. I like that Joseph signed thank you to Santa. You can't capture a boy saying thank you to Santa in a photo, unless that boy is signing!

Sarah's blog made me think about how old we would be in 10 years-- 64, 63, 22, and 21. Oh my---We have a lot to do in the next 10 years! However, I think we have done a lot in the past ten, so I guess we will make it.

Six Hats and one Monster

2009-12-18T14:15:00.003-05:00

and it is only a little past two in the afternoon. That is a pretty good days work for this elf. I reached the limit of what Mom's sewing machine can do with the last monster. Each one of these monsters broke at least one sewing machine needle. But, I now have four monsters all ready for gifting! Although they are pretty cute all together--it will be sad to see them separated. I'm NOT naming them before I give them away. I'm having a hard time picking which two will stay here with Joseph and Alex.

Two of the six hats will stay with us. The other four are gifts. The one in the front right and the one in the rear left of the photo have a piece of cashmere lining around the bottom. You can just see that on the photo of the hat in the front. It makes the hat very comfortable. The bright yellow one will be mine. The stripe one is for Dave.

Teacher tokens

2009-12-17T15:03:00.004-05:00

I won't call them teacher gifts, because it is just a cookie. However, I like to remember all the teachers, aides, therapists, etc. that work with Joseph and Alex each year. For Joseph the list includes 11 names, for Alex 10. We do a gift certificate to Dave's company for the lead teacher for each boy as well.

These photos document the process this year! I had a bit of trouble with the cookies. The first trays were under baked--then I forgot to set the timer for the second set, so they were overbaked. I ended up making a second batch of dough. Now we have extras for ourselves. Dave actually likes these this year. It is the first time in seventeen years he has liked my sugar cookies.

Monster!!

2009-12-10T13:00:00.004-05:00

Should this Monster be under the tree for Joseph or for Alex this Christmas? I'll make another for the other one--so it doesn't really matter.

I think I've found my medium for creativity. This wool felt is such a forgiving fabric. And making monsters is just my speed. If I make a mistake, it just adds to his monsterlyness. I was inspired by similar toys I saw on Etsy, so I can't take credit for all the creativity. If you can see his mouth, you may be able to tell that it is the pocket on a sweater vest. I stuffed him with scraps of wool felt, so even the stuffing is recycled. I love how soft he is. He should also be washable, since I already washed all the wool in hot water. He may gather lint, so I'll need to clean him off every once in awhile. I also like the fact that I made him in under two hours! Off to browse Etsy for more ideas. Well, maybe I'd better get everything else done that I need to do today before I let myself disappear into Etsy.

recycled wool felt Christmas stockings

2009-12-01T10:12:00.005-05:00

Yep, I'm getting a bit obsessed with wool felt. I made these last night. Dave and I have old stockings from our youth, but I think we need nice new ones. These will be perfect. The boys have quilted stockings I made years ago. I found this sweater at Goodwill yesterday. I thought it too beautiful to pass up, and decided on the way home it would be perfect for Christmas stockings. I even lined them with cotton so trinkets from Santa won't get caught in the yarns on the inside of the stocking. They are about 14 or 15 inches long. There is an old button sewn on by the hanger, but you can't see it in the photo.

FYI 3.29 for the sweater, and I have about a third of it left. 2.00 for the two "fat quarters" I used to line the stockings.

A flock of birds

2009-11-30T11:18:00.009-05:00

This is how I spent my Thanksgiving weekend.

I love my sewing room. Mom just gave me her 25-year-old sewing machine and I love it. I didn't think it would be that much better than my old machine, her REALLY old, 50-year-old, machine, but the "new" one is fabulous!

I love felting sweaters. If you have any old 100% wool sweaters, send them my way. Especially if they have interesting colors in them. I made the "robins" by using the part of a striped sweater that has brown and orange stripes. The robins are only shown on the photo of all of the birds... I'm not planning to keep all of these. I'm going to try to sell them at an event at Alex's elementary school--and donate the money to the school's holiday fundraiser.

If you want a bird, let me know and maybe I'll send one your way. Be sure to tell me which one is your favorite!

Felted Hat

2009-11-24T20:22:00.002-05:00

My second felted project is a hat. A different sweater, with beautiful cables. It felted better than the first one, and I couldn't bear to cut up the cables. It would not have made nice birds... But it made a great hat. Not ready for primetime, but very, very warm. It fits Joseph perfectly. I have the back of the vest to make a second hat for Alex. The boys don't often wear hats, they prefer the hoods on their jackets, and it just doesn't get that cold that often here. However, I may borrow this hat to walk the dog on cold nights. I may fuss to make the shape a bit better, or I may just let it be kind of "rustic."

I made a few more birds--I copied the pattern at 80% to make a smaller version, and I really like that one. I'll keep you posted and post a photo of the whole flock when I am all done.

Felted birds

2009-11-22T09:36:00.003-05:00

Here is my latest craft project:

I felted an old sweater. I knit several sweaters and vests 20-25 years ago. They have not fit for about 15 years, but I've kept a few favorites. I finally found a project to recycle/upcycle them. I felted the wool. Basically, shrinking the vest in the washer on purpose. See internet for information. I'm not happy with the way the process went for me to want to share. I'm doing my sweaters and vests one at a time, hoping I figure out how to make nice, tight wool fabric that won't unravel when it is cut.

Out of half of the first red vest I've made three birds. Two are shown here. I'll use them as decorations on the tree, I think. I'm not happy with the tails, but can't figure out a better way to do the tail, so for now, blanket stitch it is.

The pattern for the bird is from Spool. Maybe someday I'll have a whole flock and a fancy mobile like the one shown in the Spool link. The pattern is VERY simple and streamlined. Easy to make, but hard to make "perfect."

Bear essentials: Cute knitted bears - Knitting - Crafts - Canadian Living

2009-11-20T21:10:00.001-05:00

Bear essentials: Cute knitted bears - Knitting - Crafts - Canadian Living

Posted using ShareThis

The Mailbox is Ready to go Trick-or-Treating!

2009-11-02T11:37:00.002-05:00

"Mom, the mailbox is ready to go trick or treating!"

That is my Alex. I thought it was worth a photo!

He and Joseph wore their football costumes from last year. Alex's choice. Wow. That was easy and cheap!

The whole story is that Alex and I went out to shop for a costume a few weeks ago. He did NOT want a homemade costume, even though I encouraged him to consider that option and we stopped in at the fabric store to browse for ideas. So, I did what he wanted and went to the "Halloween" store set up temporarily next to the fabric store at the local strip mall. As soon as we walked in he got quiet. I was ready to spring for just about anything he wanted, as long as no weapons were involved. We were directed to the rows and rows of boys costumes, and he looked at everything--wide-eyed and silent. When asked what he wanted he stayed silent. He didn't even want to try one on. I've learned over the years that this silent, wide-eyed Alex is completely overwhelmed, overstimulated, and truly unable to make a decision or really to cope. So we left. I asked about six times as we headed to the car if he was sure he didn't want to look at the costumes more. If there wasn't something he wanted. He finally said he just wanted to be a football player again. He and Joseph could be football players again. So that is what we did. The pants didn't fit. The shirts just barely fit. The helmets were fine. Maybe we are starting to outgrow Halloween? Joseph wouldn't wear the shirt to his costume to school on Friday.

And the mailbox looked great!

Skull Session

2009-10-28T17:42:00.004-04:00

We went to the "Skull Session" at OSU last Saturday. This is where the marching band plays through all the music for the game--pregame, halftime, and postgame--while sitting in chairs in the old basketball arena. It is free and starts two hours before the game. It is a way to get the boys to campus on game day, hear the band, experience some of the excitement, but not actually go to the game. We have a dear friend who is training to be the Drum Major. She had to try out this fall for the chance to do everything with the band this year, and the chance to try out for the Drum Major position next spring. Here are the photos. We had a great time!

Pumpkins!!

2009-10-08T15:55:00.002-04:00

A trip to the pumpkin patch with Joseph--

Nothing is ever as you plan.

Yesterday was beautiful. Clear, cool, perfect autumn day. So, after school Joseph, Alex, and I headed to the pumpkin patch. It was a beautiful, short drive. I took the back roads to enjoy the day.

We, well I, decided we should walk out to the field to choose our pumpkins rather than buy the ones already harvested. Alex pushed the wheelbarrow. Joseph stalled. He didn't want to walk. He wanted to climb on the tractor, climb on the wagon, turn around and go back to the barn, but he eventually followed.

We made it the 1/8th mile or so to the field. Alex and I started looking at all the different choices, trying to decide how big we wanted. I took out the phone to get some photos. Well... about that time Alex notices that Joseph has grabbed the wheelbarrow and was heading back to the barn. Whoops. I grabbed the biggest pumpkin I could carry, and told Alex to run and catch Joseph so I could use the wheelbarrow for at least part of the trip back.

Thus ended our visit to the pumpkin patch. We had a great time. And I didn't have a chance to get annoyed that it was taking Alex too long to decide which pumpkin he wanted!

My only photo is out of focus and doesn't show Alex's face.

Hanging on--

2009-10-06T16:32:00.002-04:00

I'm having a blue period. Some of it is brought on by a medication that I took for three weeks, and don't have to take any longer. A big relief. That medication caused a real spike in my depression. For those of you who don't know, I have fought depression all my life. I now take medication for it, and I'm much, much, much happier. Life is just easier with an antidepressant in my system. I'm not "fighting" depression. I'm just being content, or being sad, or being happy. I'm not fighting to get through the day.

Taking that medication for three weeks reminded me of how I used to be. Not all of the time, but way too much of the time. I spent the last three weeks struggling to get through the day. Struggling to keep a smile on my face, not yell at my kids, not snipe at Dave. I don't have the patience for it any more. I now know that I don't have to live like that, so when I sink into it--even when I know that I'm sinking only because of a medication--I don't have the grit to fight it. I kind of let myself wallow in it. And I'm letting it be an excuse. Ah--there is a word that needs to be analyzed. Is depression an excuse or is it a reason?

Is depression a reason to set more modest goals for myself? Do I need to accept myself, as I am, and not expect myself to achieve, produce, etc. as a non-depressed person with the same skill-set could or would? Should I be proud of what I do accomplish in a day, despite my frame of mind? After all, I got out of bed... Some days that is a big deal for me.

And on top of my depression, I wonder how much having "special-needs kids" is an excuse or a reason to have blue days, difficult days, grumpy days, lousy days? Do I use my kids as an excuse? Or are my kids a reason for me to have a tough time?

I'm not looking for sympathy or answers. I'm just articulating a struggle going on with myself.

I'd be interested in thoughts of readers that have similar struggles--for similar or completely different reasons.

And I'm interested in the thoughts of those of you who don't struggle with this kind of thing. Until I married Dave I didn't realize people existed that didn't have these kinds of struggles. Just as he didn't understand that depression was real until he married me. He thought all those depressed people were whiners that needed to "buck up!"

Thrifty or Cheap

2009-09-11T18:04:00.003-04:00

I get such charge out of saving a few dollars... I think I'm thrifty, but maybe I'm just plain cheap.

Macy's has their coupon sale today and tomorrow. 10 off 25. You are only supposed to use one coupon per person, but I used seven today. Yep, I spent about 120 at Macy's today, but I saved 70!!! I never tried to use more than two coupons at one time, and the clerks were all happy to split my purchases into two transactions.

I bought stuff I wanted, and a few things I needed. Everything I bought was already on sale, some was already on clearance. It was all at least 30% off, and then my coupons took almost 40% off that.

My best deal? Some fiesta plates, retail 17, clearance price 11, final price 4.59 after 40% off clearance and my coupon.

I was happy to see someone else in line ahead of me buy a big item, that didn't quite add up to the 25 needed to use the coupon but she was also buying a single washcloth. a useful item, but obviously purchased only to make the order total over 25 so she could use the coupon. A woman that thinks like I do.

Thoughts on Alex and adoption

2009-09-10T11:33:00.002-04:00

Adopting a child and adopting a dog should not use the same verb.

Since we brought Beebe into our home, I have tried to avoid the word "adopt" when referring to Beebe. But the shelter sent us home with a pamphlet and a DVD about bringing an "Adopted puppy" into the house. Alex can't avoid seeing the phrase.

So, how does it affect him? It seems it has brought some negative feelings to the fore, and allowed him to articulate some things he needed to articulate.

While driving in the car last week, he asked me, out of the blue, "Why did my other family give me away?" Okay. Let's talk. First of all nobody EVER gave you away. Your other family was supposed to take care of you just until we came along, until a family that was going to keep you forever could take care of you. Next he asks... "But what about the mom who had me in her tummy..." No, Alex, she didn't give you away. The grownups had to put you with a different family because she was too young to take care of you properly.

I think that is what I said. That is what I've practiced and thought about saying ever since we took adoption classes nine or ten years ago. One thing the classes talked about was having a way to explain the adoption that doesn't make it sound like it was in any way shape or form the "fault" of the child. I don't want to tell Alex that his medical condition was a factor, because that makes it sound like it was something about him... It is all these nameless, faceless, "grownups" that made huge decisions about your life over which you have never had any say...

Bless him. I hope this is all part of him learning to be more open with his feelings. I hope it is the beginning of the conversation, not the end. I pray for the right words each time I have the chance to talk with him about his past. I don't like to belabor the issue. I try to let him bring up his concerns naturally. I may have to look for more openings to say little things that reassure him, and give him the opportunity to ask questions more often.

Reading with Grandma is the best

2009-08-23T19:30:00.004-04:00

And she thinks she isn't doing enough around the house to help out!
(Grandma is 92. Alex is 11)

Summer Bounty

2009-08-23T19:27:00.003-04:00

I tried an unusual yellow/red striped variety this year. They are good.

The newest member of the family

2009-08-20T11:27:00.003-04:00

Announcing the addition of a delightful puppy to our family:

Beebe, aka Princess Beebe, 3 months, 20 lbs.

She is a true delight. She joined our tribe on August 1st. It is clear that she will be a very good companion for all of us. Dave is enjoying short runs with her, I'm enjoying walking with her, while Alex and Joseph have had a good time learning to avoid her playful doggie bites. I can't wait until I trust her enough to let her have the run of the whole house so she can cuddle with the boys by the TV or in the basement. So far, the training process is going well. She has even started bringing her leash to me when she needs to go out... She is learning to "come" "sit" "stay" and "fetch." Shelter says she will end up in the 50-80 lb range.

Visitors from afar!!!!

2009-08-13T14:11:00.005-04:00

The sheep from Flutterby are coming to visit us in Dublin Ohio!!!! I am very, very excited to have travelers who have been all over the globe stop by to see us here at DD. They are coming on an iceberg!!! I'm not at all sure how that will work, but I assume they will float down the Ohio river and then up the Scioto. Charlie, Kate and I will have to trot down to the river to pick them up when they arrive. As you can see, Charlie and Kate are waiting by the phone for the call that their friends are here. They won't let me use my phone at all!

Click on the link to read all about these sweet sheep and their travels. They have most recently been in Dublin, Ireland. I love the Flutterby Patch blog. I've spent a lot of time looking at her crafts, Christmas decorations, photos, etc.

Letter to my representative...

2009-08-12T18:07:00.001-04:00

Okay.... So I'm disturbed enough by the scenes on the news that I've been inspired to write my congressman. I think I may send the same thing to the two Ohio senators.

I support the health care reforms proposed by Obama and others in the Democratic Party.

If you need to raise taxes to support this effort, I would understand. It is necessary for us to fix some of the big problems facing our nation before our economy will ever recover.

I am the mother of two special-needs children. One is adopted. He has learning disabilities as well as emotional and social problems. The other is autistic and was born with a cleft lip and palate.

We are lucky. I work for xxxxxx, so I have access to great health insurance, although I pay a lot for our family coverage.

Please do not listen to the folks who are scared that changing our health care system will ruin our country. We are all worried about the economy, frightened by the incendiary rhetoric spewing from entertainers that pose as news commentators, and concerned about an uncertain future.

Thank you for your service to the people of Ohio.

More Sheep! (at the State Fair)

2009-08-02T10:06:00.003-04:00

The family had a great time Friday at the fair. We were on the fairgrounds for more than 7 hours. That is a great accomplishment for the boys--and for the parents. Joseph did great. He only ran away once or twice, and we were able to follow him easily. Of course he wouldn't leave the "lost kids" wrist band on his arm, so we had to be sure we didn't lose him!

We saw some real sheep. I should have taken Kate and Charlie to meet their bigger relatives. Also, I enjoyed the sheep with their cloaks on. I assume this is to keep a newly bathed sheep clean until it is showtime. I wonder if Kate and Charlie need capes?

Sheep!!!

2009-07-30T17:12:00.006-04:00

So, this morning Joseph saw a deer in the backyard. This afternoon, I walked out front and found these two little sheep eating my flowers. I brought them in the house and named them Charlie and Kate. I made Charlie a new coat, but Kate laughed at it, so I didn't make her one to match.

I found a wonderful blog "Flutterby Patch" with many beautiful dolls and crafts. Included in a post was a pattern for these little sheep. Others from all over the world have made sheep from the same pattern. It is a lot of fun to check all the variations that happen when everyone makes the same pattern using different bits of leftover yarn! Just imagine all the things that didn't get done today at our house!

Is it an improvement?

2009-07-21T17:54:00.045-04:00

Be honest. Do you notice the change in the kitchen, and do you like it???

I'm going to lose my DD license

2009-07-20T17:27:00.002-04:00

No, not my driver's license, my domestic disaster license.

We had dinner the other night with oven-fried chicken, cold cucumbers (from our garden), steamed green beans (from our garden), and sauteed zuchinni (from our garden). Three green vegetables on the same plate.

Nary a poptart in sight!

splash park

2009-07-16T16:07:00.003-04:00

Alex and I went with cousins to a nearby splash park this afternoon. I didn't know about this park. It is under 10 minutes from our house. Free. As a bonus we were able to stop at the farmers market in the same park on our way home. Alex is in the middle of the photo--can you find him?

video of Joseph

2009-07-08T20:06:00.005-04:00

This is a video from Joseph's school program a few months ago. Stick with it until the end of the chorus. He finally signs "love" with the rest of the students. He did a really good job sitting and standing with the class through the whole program--it was about an hour. They are singing "Going to the Castle" in "The Princess and the Pea."