Bugs, bugs, bugs, bugs...

Yesterday was so much fun!! Chloe was in a school production called Goin' Buggy. It's a really cute musical about bugs' rights. So her teacher asked me if I would do the makeup, OF COURSE I WOULD!! After my stupid job lay off I've been a little bitter towards the whole makeup industry and don't get me wrong I still am but doing makeup again was so much fun. I planned for a couple of weeks designed and tested looks on my kids. I think Chloe had glitter in her eyebrows that she couldn't get out no matter how many showers she took. But it all came together yesterday with some fantastic help from KnitVicious and my friend Allison. My fireflies glowed in the dark, my ladybugs were sassy, rocker bugs were rockin', honeybees were sweet and butterflies were pretty. I think it was a success and we did it all in a little over an hour. And we touched up in 1/2 hour. When we got home last night I was so tired but then I picked up the program and whose name was in it... MINE!! Yippee!!

Allergy Free Flowers

So I know that Mother's Day has come and gone but this was my idea for gifts this year. Being unemployed slightly limits my options. So I went into my stash and found some great yarns to make some cute flower pins. My daughters of course were very excited about them and I was let's say less excited. Well Mother's Day came and of course my grandma liked hers, my mom asked what it was and my mother in law wasn't there to get hers. So I'm thinking maybe the handmade gifts are a bit lost on my family. It's not like this is something that my grandmother taught me. I learned it for fun and they still think it's weird that I do it. I come from a multi-generational California family and they believe in real estate and surfing. Maybe a little gardening too but I guess it depends what you're growing.

Wristbands, Oh the Wristbands

I thought it would be "fun" to knit up some wristbands for my daughters' softball teams. Oh How "fun" it was. There are 13 players per team, 2 teams; you do the math. And yes I made enough for all of them plus a couple extra. It's a cute pattern though: Band Cuffs by Star Athena. And I had all yarn I needed except the maroon. For the maroon and white I did substitute TLC Essentials and Red Heart Super Saver because I couldn't find a maroon cotton. Let's just hope the players like them.
But now nothing is inspiring me to knit. I need a project. Any suggestions?

Yummy Cupcakes

Okay so I know that cupcakes are the big thing right now and I do love a good cupcake so if you are in the area and want a great cupcake that is extra super duper cute plus super friendly service you have to go to Icing on The 'Cup'Cake in Rocklin. I dragged my bestest friend KnitVicious there today and we both got the same 3 cupcakes: The Chocolate (which is a chocolate cupcake with chocolate buttercream frosting), The Pinkalicious (a chocolate cupcake with pink vanilla buttercream frosting) and a Red Velvet (a red velvet cupcake with cream cheese frosting). I can't wait to eat them. While we were there I sampled the Chai cupcake which was a spicey cupcake with a chai spiced cream cheese frosting-Yummy!!! So please if you are in the area support your local cupcake bakery and enjoy!!
Icing on the Cupcake 5065 Pacific St. Rocklin, Ca. 916.315.9500

An Afternoon of Applique and Iron-On

While browsing through JoAnn the other day I came across these super cute patches and iron-ons to jazz up my daughter's jeans and t-shirts. So since it's crappy and rainy outside this is how I spent a small part of my afternoon. Since I had coffee this afternoon I have also done several loads of laundry, dishes, knit a large portion of a sweater and cut and colored my hair. And it's early still...

Knit for Me?

So I got a few replies to my last entry wondering what I knit for myself. Well the answer is absolutely nothing. I will admit that I don't much knit for me. I either haven't had luck with fit or I just don't finish the items because it seems so much more gratifying to knit for others. I know, I know, get over it already right? Well at least someone knits for me. My most fabulous friend KnitVicious knit me up these great glovelettes with the most wonderful yarn (and she gave me what was left so I could attempt socks or glovelettes...look out size 2 needles here I come). I must say she knows me all too well and when I said I didn't want to see another pair of fingerless gloves I only meant on needles. And don't miss the other fantastic item she got for me, my very own coffee sleeve, which doubles as a wrist cuff when not on my coffee and came with a matching little wrislet bag to carry my necessities. With a friend like her who needs to knit for themselves.

Gift Knitting Complete

I'm always up for knitting some gifts for people in my family but this year I was trying to cut back slightly due to time. Well of course when asking my mother for gift ideas she says she want a long scarf in peaches and greens. Peaches and greens? Well okay. So off to Ravelry I went. I didn't find a pattern I wanted but I did spot a yarn; Patons SoyWool. Thanks to KnitVicious I found a pattern for her scarf which I proceeded to knit incorrectly because I didn't write it down but it worked and I like it. It is done but I was so excited to get it wrapped and under the tree that I'll have to post of picture of my mother with it on.
Then I realized that we didn't have enough for my mother-in-law and since we are on a budget I decided that I would go into my stash and find some yarn and then find a pattern. So where did I go? Ravelry of course and found this cute pattern from the winter 07 issue called Tudora. Perfect!
I couldn't forget about my dad, his wife and my little sister so Fetching and Dashing it was. I bought yarn for his wife, Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran, but had yarn for him and my sister, Cascade 220 Superwash.
This was unfortunately not the end to my Fetching though, my husband decided it would be nice to give his sister a pair. Luckily I had more yarn, Cascade Pastaza. After that I don't think I want to see another pair of fingerless gloves, ever!
This probably doesn't seem like much to some of you but I really hadn't anticipated so much knitting to go along with my baking, cleaning(we're hosting Christmas dinner for 17) and working. maybe next year I'll just assume there to be a lot of handmade gifts and start early. What a novel idea.