New Blogger

Well, I printed out a whole year's worth of posts and comments before I switched over because I know someone who had lost everything. Kind of feels neat to see the pile — looks like a lot of work. Anyone know of a way to back up a blog electronically?

Six Surprising* Things

crisco
Originally uploaded by Green Kitchen.

Beata from Rose Hip tagged me for this one. This is a first for me. :)

I Used to Eat Shortening
When I was a kid I would take a spoon, scoop out a big hunk of vegetable shortening, and eat it. I liked it. I also liked that it grossed people out. I remember the feeling of my teeth biting into it. It's a good memory.

I've Been Known to Have Dirt in my Bed
When I asked my sister what was weird about me she said, "Well, there's the dirt in the bed thing. You're the only person I know that has had to sweep their bed out." Most of my life I've been a gardener, also a person who doesn't like to wear shoes, hence the dirt in the bed. I'm not one to wash my feet before bed. In my defense my sister said, "You know, it was real dirt, not crackers and stuff." Apparently dirt is better than crackers. I agree.

No-Shoes-Wearing "Weirdo"
I didn't wear shoes to highschool for a whole year &mdash a benefit to living in a temperate climate. The weird thing was that the adults didn't even mention it. The kids were totally bothered by it, so of course I kept doing it.

Tattoo You, Not Me
I don't have a tattoo, which is highly surprising for my age and location. I'm too much of a control freak to let someone else permanently mark me.

Daddy Dearest
My dad and I didn't talk to each other for six or seven years — I can't remember how long exactly. Recently we've reconnected and both act like nothing ever happened.

Billy Joel
I've been listening to the same Best of Billy Joel album in my car for at least a year. It's one of the ways I'm permanently damaging my four-year-old.

I'm tagging Blaize, Futuregirl, Bitter Betty, and Project Pink Suitcase.

* I changed it from "Weird" to "Surprising" because I think Juju had a valid point.

I *heart* futuregirl

Futuregirl Purse
Originally uploaded by Green Kitchen.

If you haven't checked out futuregirl go do it now. Alice is a talented gal. She has some great tutorials and a series of softies based on German film directors. I first commented on her blog because she made this fantastic felt octopus named Sigmund. Her guy, Andrew, took a most excellent photo of Sigmund in a cool setting with cool lighting. Alice also has a stuffed animal named Neville, named after the Gashley Crumb Tinies. Since I seem to collect friends with softies named Neville we were destined to be friends. Most recently she was part of an ornament swap that I organized. To reprise her most excellent octopus she created Octophrost: Santa of the Sea. I think she spent like eight hours per ornament. The detail is great. And, he's fun to hold — the tentacles are all wiggly.

Alice also makes and sells crocheted handbags. I am the lucky recipient of one, as shown in this photo. I sent Alice a drawing for sizing and she sent me a bag that fits me and my lifestyle perfectly. The super cool design is inspired by the fabric that she used for the lining. The details are great. There's a cell phone cozy, a key hook thingy, and an adjustable strap. You all should check out her Etsy shop. If you don't see something that you want, I'm sure she could do a custom order. Thanks, Alice.

Spaceboy on Planet Crepe

Spaceboy on Planet Crepe
Originally uploaded by Green Kitchen.

Here's my take on Spaceboy from Hillary Lang at Wee Wonderfuls. Spaceboy works up fast and easy — another enjoyable short-craft.

I'm not sure what the story with Planet Crepe is, but I'm sure Blaize can think something up. She knows all the best made-up-places stories, like Fryland, for example. Blaize?

To clear up some confusion: Spaceboy pattern by Wee Wonderfuls; theme, graphics, and fabrication by me; crepe by my hubbie.

Sad Cat

cat_bowl
Originally uploaded by Green Kitchen.


cat_window
Originally uploaded by Green Kitchen.

A little bit of short-craft to follow up the long-craft baby blanket. Nothing like a project you can finish in an evening or two — sure beats four months, no? Not really better, but it is a refreshing change. Influenced by this, this, and this. I was going to add a cigarette, like this, but decided that I didn't know how I would explain it to my son. He knows that his uncle lost toes to gangrene (green green, as he calls it) complicated by cigarette smoking, so there's a definite say-no-to-smoking thing going on at our house.

P.S. Thank you all for the blogiversary love. :) Here's to another crafty year. And, I'm still going to do a Christmas recap, really.

Blogiversary

Blogiversary
Originally uploaded by Green Kitchen.

Yep, I'm using that word even though my sister said, "Did you just say blogiversary?"

So, I'm sitting here tonight, have finally gotten the kids to sleep (the sick one for the second time), and I'm not feeling great. I say to my husband, "I can't think any nice thoughts." Sometimes I'm like that. It's been a rough week/month of fevers, rattly coughs, and lots of snot. I'm a bit of a pessimist, on the negative side, for sure. This combined with taking care of sick kids really gets me down, turns up my inner hypochondriac. I worry. I'm not feeling the joy.

Then, I remember I have an idea all set up for my blogiversary photo and there's still a little time and energy left. So, here it is — a stack of my favorite tins — a craft cake of sorts. A little bit of joy on a dark night.

Art Blakey said, "Jazz washes away the dust of everyday life." I feel that way about craft blogs. Thanks everybody.

What Happened to Heather?

Anyone know what happened to Heather at Making Time? Her last post on her blog was in August and she's not been writing on Whip Up either. We miss you Heather — hope you're just taking a blog break.

Rainbow's End, New Beginnings

log_cabin_rainbow
Originally uploaded by Green Kitchen.


log_cabin_mandarins
Originally uploaded by Green Kitchen.


belly_cast_blanket
Originally uploaded by Green Kitchen.

I've been trying to get my year-end post together about the holidays and some fantastic swap goodies, but sickness invaded our house for a third time in December. So, I'm going to wait until I have more time for that one — maybe combine it with my blogiversay, which is coming up January 6th!

Since today is a new beginning I wanted to post this blanket I made for my friend Sara's new baby, born December 24 at about 2:20 in the afternoon. Now, this isn't just *any* new baby. This is a baby that I got to see come into the world — a first for me! Sara made it look so simple. She's truly an amazing birther — it's her special power. Me, I take up to seven hours to push out a baby; she took FIVE MINUTES! I heard Silent Night on the way to the birth and it made me all teary about mothers and babies.

Sara's a relatively new friend, about a year and a half. We were destined to meet. We have about ten different ways we are connected (husband, brother, craft fair, homebirth, etc.), but it took about 35 years to get together, even though we grew up and live in the same town. If I had known her just a little bit longer she would have been at my son's birth last May. She did fulfill the special job of making my belly cast for me. You can see the belly cast in the photo with the rolled blanket. Thank you, Sara, for all the good birth juju. I really didn't mean to invite myself along to your birth. ;)

I started the blanket back in August or September. It's definitely the longest knitting project I've ever worked on. I'm sure you all recognize it from Mason Dixon Knitting. I knew Sara wanted rainbow colors for her blanket, and, just happened upon the MDK book while I was with her. We both loved the example of the garter stitch log cabin that had the rainbow divided by warm and cool colors. What could be easier than an all garter stitch blanket? Ha!

The Mason Dixon book gives the basic instructions for how to make the knitted log cabins and leaves it up to you to choose the yarns, size, layout, etc. I picked all washable yarns: Superwash wools (Bazic Wool,Primo, Cascade 220 superwash, and a couple others); Wool/Acrylic blends (Lion Brand Wool-Ease; Plymouth Encore); and a couple of thrifted acrylics because I wanted the bright colors.

I finished the blanket a few days before the baby came. I'm really happy with it. It's got a nice drape. It feels snuggly. Welcome to the world Avalon.