Many thanks to Grandma Val and Grandpa John for the renewal of the Ranger Rick subscription and the Colgate ballcap and shirt!
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Ethan turns 11 at 2:41 p.m.
This is Ethan's birthday cake. He asked for a Harry Potter cake. So, I decided to take some creative license with that and made him a Golden Snitch cake. It's not very fancy, but he was thrilled!
Many thanks to Grandma Val and Grandpa John for the renewal of the Ranger Rick subscription and the Colgate ballcap and shirt!
Many thanks to Grandma Val and Grandpa John for the renewal of the Ranger Rick subscription and the Colgate ballcap and shirt!
Monday, February 1, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Ravelry - 2009 Christmas Swap
Last year I joined an online knitting/crocheting community called Ravelry. It's been such an inspiration. Some of the groups I joined involve swapping. The first group I joined was 2009 Christmas Swap and I was partnered with a woman in England who's online Ravelry ID is Jayneybella. We did a Christmas in July swap, and October/Halloween swap, and then the big on in December.
This is the package I made for her for Christmas. The argyle stocking was my first attempt at knitting argyle. I hated to part with it, but I sent it off anyway. The other items I'd made for her for the previous smaller swaps didn't seem to measure up in time spent, etc., so I wanted to make sure she got something I worked very hard on. And this is what I chose for my handmade item.
I also included some chocolates for her three children, some locally made candy (Aplets & Cotlets) for both her and her husband, some treats for their rabbit, and homemade biscuits for their dog. I also made her a pair of footies to wear with thong sandals, or just walking around the house in the summer. She likes pens, so I sent her some CM pens, as well as a fun bird pen. The Tinkerbell keychain came from Disneyland when Daryn took me for our anniversary. The zipper pull I found at a local gift store. I also sent yarn, and patterns, and lastly, homemade stitch markers in her favorite colors. I also sent (but not in the picture here) an emergency knitting kit ... a glass ball with toothpick needles, homemade needles toppers that looked like balls of yarn, and a mini skein of sock yarn. The instructions that went with it: in case of knitting emergency, break glass. it was a cute ornament for her tree.
This is the package I made for her for Christmas. The argyle stocking was my first attempt at knitting argyle. I hated to part with it, but I sent it off anyway. The other items I'd made for her for the previous smaller swaps didn't seem to measure up in time spent, etc., so I wanted to make sure she got something I worked very hard on. And this is what I chose for my handmade item.
I also included some chocolates for her three children, some locally made candy (Aplets & Cotlets) for both her and her husband, some treats for their rabbit, and homemade biscuits for their dog. I also made her a pair of footies to wear with thong sandals, or just walking around the house in the summer. She likes pens, so I sent her some CM pens, as well as a fun bird pen. The Tinkerbell keychain came from Disneyland when Daryn took me for our anniversary. The zipper pull I found at a local gift store. I also sent yarn, and patterns, and lastly, homemade stitch markers in her favorite colors. I also sent (but not in the picture here) an emergency knitting kit ... a glass ball with toothpick needles, homemade needles toppers that looked like balls of yarn, and a mini skein of sock yarn. The instructions that went with it: in case of knitting emergency, break glass. it was a cute ornament for her tree.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Amber's 9th Birthday
Today we celebrated Amber's 9th birthday. I can't believe she is nine! Yesterday she was learning to walk and using sign language because she couldn't talk yet. Now she's a non-stop chatter box.
All the boys wanted to get her a Webkinz, but we limited it to two, a baby penguin and the Daisy Tortoise. I also indulged her by getting her the Schnauzer (below). It's the Webkinz for the month of January.
This is the sweater I am making her. But I ran into a few problems with the pattern, which put me behind and now the sweater is not completed. So, I gave her the book (signed by the author) and the sweater as it is right now, and now I can complete it without having to work late at night when she can't see it. The book was written by local author Debbie Macomber and the yarn purchased at her yarn shop, A Good Yarn Shop. The book is called "The Terribly Horribly Wonderful Sweater my Grandmother Made." 
This is the doll cake she requested, vanilla with chocolate frosting. The rest was up to me. Daryn made a chocolate ganache and it was quite bitter/cloying. All the kids liked it. Perhaps I'm losing my desire for chocolate (one could only hope). Daryn reduced some raspberries and sugar yesterday so we could tint icing white. So, I made a plain vanilla icing today and then colored it pink by putting in the raspberry reduction (which was very much like jam, minus the seeds). It had a wonderful delicate taste and was the perfect shade of pink. It's not my best efforts, but it was a yummy cake nonetheless. Amber and her two friends, as well as the rest of us, enjoyed and finished half of it. Doesn't go far with 8 people!
Grandma Val and Grandpa John always give the kids a subscription to a magazine. Amber is now getting a new magazine, American Girl. The first issue arrived a couple days ago, just in time for her birthday! Inside there's a great article about dogs.
Grandma Val and Grandpa John also sent a cute little teapot. Amber likes to have tea with mommy, so now she has something in which to brew her favorite tea ... candy cane!
All the boys wanted to get her a Webkinz, but we limited it to two, a baby penguin and the Daisy Tortoise. I also indulged her by getting her the Schnauzer (below). It's the Webkinz for the month of January.
This is the sweater I am making her. But I ran into a few problems with the pattern, which put me behind and now the sweater is not completed. So, I gave her the book (signed by the author) and the sweater as it is right now, and now I can complete it without having to work late at night when she can't see it. The book was written by local author Debbie Macomber and the yarn purchased at her yarn shop, A Good Yarn Shop. The book is called "The Terribly Horribly Wonderful Sweater my Grandmother Made." I also made her this little sweater/bolero for her Bitty Twin doll.
This is the doll cake she requested, vanilla with chocolate frosting. The rest was up to me. Daryn made a chocolate ganache and it was quite bitter/cloying. All the kids liked it. Perhaps I'm losing my desire for chocolate (one could only hope). Daryn reduced some raspberries and sugar yesterday so we could tint icing white. So, I made a plain vanilla icing today and then colored it pink by putting in the raspberry reduction (which was very much like jam, minus the seeds). It had a wonderful delicate taste and was the perfect shade of pink. It's not my best efforts, but it was a yummy cake nonetheless. Amber and her two friends, as well as the rest of us, enjoyed and finished half of it. Doesn't go far with 8 people!Saturday, December 26, 2009
Merry Christmas!
Traditionally the kids get to open one gift on Christmas Eve. Additionally, it's always something homemade, like a set of pjs, etc. This year they are all in a sewing class and made their own nightshirts (only Ethan hadn't finished his, and Ian just doesn't have his on in this photo). At any rate, these are the pants I made for them. I sneaked into their scraps and took pieces of their remaining cloth to individualize each pair.
The rest of these photos are out of order, but I don't think it really matters. Daryn was away for the first part of December, but found this cute hat for Amber while he was in Japan. It's a bit big, but she loves it.
Grandma Val made Amber a knitting bag from a place mat and sent an assortment of knitting accessories as well. She felt like she hit the jackpot!
Grandma and Grandpa also sent the kids new bathrobes. The kids have exclaimed they are comfy, cozy, and quite warm!
I was making a crocheted market bag for Mom and my sister, Jo, and Daryn saw me working on one of them one evening and said it was something he could really use because he goes to the commissary frequently while at work to get stuff for lunch. He would rather have something reusable than the plastic bags he ends up with each trip. So, while he was in Japan, I found some cotton yarn I thought he'd like, and made one for him, too!
These are the socks I made Daryn. I was working on these in July when we made our trip to and from Idaho!
These are the socks I made for Ian (left) and Evyn (right). They are supposed to be mismatched. They are called Dobby Socks. In Harry Potter, the house elf, Dobby, made socks for Harry. One had a snitch and the other had broomsticks. I had intended on all three boys getting a pair, but I ran out of time!
Ethan, however, ended up with my first ever pair of socks made at the same time on one needle. I used self-patterning yarn. I'm not sure if he was thrilled, but they sure fit his feet well. He's also wearing the hat I made for him.
Evyn FINALLY got his quilt. Boy, this was a difficult project for me. My sister is the Quilting Queen in our family. This quilt took me 3 years (maybe 4?) to complete. I probably should have tied it more (in the center of the squares) but I just couldn't get myself to do it. I finally bit the bullet and sewed scraps together to make the binding and after sewing it on one side, hand-stitched it on the other side in hidden stitch. It was an emotional morning for both of us. He was so happy to get it, and I was so glad to give it to him!
Grandma Val sent Ian a knitting needle case as well and he was so glad to have it. I think this was once Mom's, which makes it even more special.
Mom also sent me a scarf she got when they had taken a trip to Italy. I love the color. I guess some would call it champagne; it looks like a bronze/gold to me. It went beautifully with the two turtlenecks she sent as well.
Grandma Judy got the kids "Life: Twists and Turns." She has it at home and is excited to come and visit and play with them here! The only down side is that it's only for 4 players, so we all have to take turns playing. It's fun! You don't know who's winning until the last play and the electronic device tells you!
Grandma Val and Grandpa John (Mom and Dad) visited in September and had an outdoor game called Ladderball. Everyone had so much fun playing it, that they bought another one and left it here for the kids for Christmas. We're all excited to get out and play it again!
Grandma and Grandpa also sent the boys mess kits for camping. They were so thrilled with these gifts.
Like I said, these are out of order. Here are the kids with their stockings.
These woven stockings are handmade and numbered. They were sent by my sister, Jo. She said that in the years ahead, she will send things that can go in them.
The rest of these photos are out of order, but I don't think it really matters. Daryn was away for the first part of December, but found this cute hat for Amber while he was in Japan. It's a bit big, but she loves it.
Grandma Val made Amber a knitting bag from a place mat and sent an assortment of knitting accessories as well. She felt like she hit the jackpot!
Grandma and Grandpa also sent the kids new bathrobes. The kids have exclaimed they are comfy, cozy, and quite warm!
I was making a crocheted market bag for Mom and my sister, Jo, and Daryn saw me working on one of them one evening and said it was something he could really use because he goes to the commissary frequently while at work to get stuff for lunch. He would rather have something reusable than the plastic bags he ends up with each trip. So, while he was in Japan, I found some cotton yarn I thought he'd like, and made one for him, too!
These are the socks I made Daryn. I was working on these in July when we made our trip to and from Idaho!
These are the socks I made for Ian (left) and Evyn (right). They are supposed to be mismatched. They are called Dobby Socks. In Harry Potter, the house elf, Dobby, made socks for Harry. One had a snitch and the other had broomsticks. I had intended on all three boys getting a pair, but I ran out of time!
Ethan, however, ended up with my first ever pair of socks made at the same time on one needle. I used self-patterning yarn. I'm not sure if he was thrilled, but they sure fit his feet well. He's also wearing the hat I made for him.
Evyn FINALLY got his quilt. Boy, this was a difficult project for me. My sister is the Quilting Queen in our family. This quilt took me 3 years (maybe 4?) to complete. I probably should have tied it more (in the center of the squares) but I just couldn't get myself to do it. I finally bit the bullet and sewed scraps together to make the binding and after sewing it on one side, hand-stitched it on the other side in hidden stitch. It was an emotional morning for both of us. He was so happy to get it, and I was so glad to give it to him!
Grandma Val sent Ian a knitting needle case as well and he was so glad to have it. I think this was once Mom's, which makes it even more special.
Mom also sent me a scarf she got when they had taken a trip to Italy. I love the color. I guess some would call it champagne; it looks like a bronze/gold to me. It went beautifully with the two turtlenecks she sent as well.
Grandma Judy got the kids "Life: Twists and Turns." She has it at home and is excited to come and visit and play with them here! The only down side is that it's only for 4 players, so we all have to take turns playing. It's fun! You don't know who's winning until the last play and the electronic device tells you!
Grandma Val and Grandpa John (Mom and Dad) visited in September and had an outdoor game called Ladderball. Everyone had so much fun playing it, that they bought another one and left it here for the kids for Christmas. We're all excited to get out and play it again!
Grandma and Grandpa also sent the boys mess kits for camping. They were so thrilled with these gifts.
Like I said, these are out of order. Here are the kids with their stockings.
These woven stockings are handmade and numbered. They were sent by my sister, Jo. She said that in the years ahead, she will send things that can go in them.
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