Missy's Triumph!

For so long now, Missy has wanted to crochet!  EmBlem, Polly and I have been crocheting as much as possible lately to help a certain friend raise the fees needed to commit to the child they want to adopt, and Missy has felt rather left out.

Polly sat down with her again this last week and helped her try to hold the yarn and manage the hook correctly.  This time MISSY DID IT!! See the chain she is holding?  She did that all by herself!  She can even start the chain by making a slip knot by herself.

Missy even helped on her very first crochet project for Reece's Rainbow.  She made the foundation chain for this cute little guy:

He's up for grabs right now, for a very limited time.  Only eight entries are being accepted, at $10 each. Paypal dannovit@gmail.com if you want to participate!!  This should be the last time I send you to that paypal address.  My friend Colleen should be able to officially commit to her daughter this week and she'll then have a tax-deductible account to use!

My Newest Project and Randomness

I've been in a crocheting mood, as I often am in the winter. As usual, that means I am making a scrap afghan. I may donate this one to the Hidden Treasure auction in February to benefit Moses, Noah and Jacob's adoption, should it get finished. I have been known to start a project or two and not finish them, despite my good intentions.

We're going to be doing a deep clean of the house this week. I created a nicely detailed list for each room so that we don't forgot any minor areas. I'm shooting for it to take three days or less. The Lambies are excited. /sarc

Why do I always get itchy to de-clutter right before Christmas?

My Honey is such a great handyman! It seems that there are more and more fix-it projects around here keeping him busy. I'm so thankful for the many skills he has and that he is passing them along to our oldest son.

Kittens grow fast. Where did our Baby Ohren go?

Children grow fast, too. My oldest daughter can go get her permit as soon as she feels ready.

I love that all our Christmas shopping is finished already.

I've been gluten free for 12 weeks now. I have had gluten accidentally a couple of times and purposely a couple of times. I don't feel deprived. I don't miss wheat in general. I do miss English Muffins once in a while. When I do, I eat one, then have a sugar coma.

Almond flour and coconut flour are indispensable .

Troubles loves Crinkleroot. I truly wish our library had more than two of his books.

Cross-lateral movements seem to be working wonders for Missy. She is talking noticeably better; in full sentences and clearly. She is progressing slightly in reading, too.

Larry-Boy!

Yesterday Polly made this funny little creature with her play dough. I thought it looked a bit like Larry-Boy in disguise.

Innocence Update

It's been a while since I posted pics of "Innocence". Here it is, with my iPhone for scale.

A close up of the beautiful focal point.

Here's a close up of where I am currently working.

ETA: Did you see the error in this section? When I sat to work again, I found it and had to remove a single stitch. You can click the picture to see it bigger, then click again to magnify even further.

Handicrafts

I guess I should get back into the habit of this daily blogging, huh? I'll try today.

Polly and Troubles have taken an interest in plastic canvas in the last couple of days. With some help from big sister EmBlem, Troubles completed his work, "Female Lion". The design was done freehand, without a pattern. Polly should be finished soon, and if she wants, I'll post her project, too.

Pillow Mess

Jack is surveying the extensive pillow construction that went on today. EmBlem, GirlofGod and Trixie constructed pillows with all of the younger children. Everyone has at least one pillow keepsake of the great time they had together. Even Missy and Troubles got to help with the sewing!

Sculpty

Several of the Lambies created with Sculpty Clay this afternoon. We've got a trayful of beautiful cakes and other objects to bake tomorrow. Can't beat it when kids create their own toys!

Precious Moments

This cross-stitch compilation was stitches in 1995-1996 to decorate my first baby's room. See the little football player on the upper left? My husband changed the pattern colors so he would be a 49er.

The Castle

Here's another cross-stitch I did years ago. It was finished in 1993. It's called "The Castle" and was designed by Teresa Wentzler. Here's the detail shot:

I made a small error while stitching this, that I didn't notice until after it was framed. I mentioned that fact one day to some of the Lambies. It's turned into quite a competition to find the error. So far, no one has found it!

Christ At Heart's Door

Here's a cross-stitch I made back in 1998 or 1999. The date is slightly blocked by the frame. It's called "Christ at Heart's Door". The original is a painting by Warner Sallman. He also painted the famous "Head of Christ" and "Christ at Gethsemane". Here's a detail picture:

I don't know how many times I stitched the left eye. It looks ever-so-slightly crossed to me. Happily, it's hard to see when looking at the overall piece.

No Touchy!

Love her "no-holds-barred" attitude!

3/4 Done

We watched three episodes of Jericho tonight and I got this far on another crocheted sock. I will be done with it in less than an hour tomorrow.

2011 Heritage Skill Part One: Complete

My three-part Heritage Skill is one third of the way finished. I decided that I would like to learn to make socks for my family, if need be. The project is three part: learn to make crochet socks, learn to make knit socks (this will require me to learn to knit!) and learn to spin wool fiber into yarn.

Since I have crocheted since I was a little girl, the crocheted socks weren't too hard. I used this pattern. If you use it, make sure to read the comments section for clarification of two points of difficulty in the pattern. I'll be making this pattern next.

I have learned the knit stitch fairly well and am working at purl. I have a friend that has llamas and spins their wool into beautiful yarn. She has agreed to give me spinning lessons beginning sometime in the spring.

It Has Begun

Here's a little sample of what I've been working on lately. My 2011 heritage skill is a three-parter. This is part one.