Fabulous Fuzzy Flip Flops!

Boy these are fast to make! I finished this pair during the first half of the Lost season finale tonight. It's just a single crochet around strap, thread the ends back through and you're done! I'm a tad disappointed on the fur though because mine aren't nearly as hairy as most that I see. But they are oh so soft and that's why I chose this yarn.

STATS: Bernat Baby Lash yarn in Precious Pink (one skein did both shoes); size K crochet hook

LEARNED: If I want the next pair to be more hairy I need to use the Lion Brand Fun Fur that the pattern called for and not go for soft!

Meeko and the Tribble

Shortly before Easter I found a pattern somewhere on the internet for a knitted "cozy" for the Cadbury Easter Eggs. I thought this would be quite cute and clever to give as gifts, so quickly made one. But when I set it on my desk we decided that it looked more like one of the Tribbles from Star Trek than a candy cozy! Tonight I decided to "waste not, want not" and turn it into a cat toy. I filled it with cotton balls and catnip, sewed it shut and called Meeko in.

He approached it warily, caught the scent and had a wonderful time! He fought it, flipped it and rolled all over it. Finally he wore himself out, lay back to bathe, purred real loud and fell asleep.

I'm A Gardener!

OK, I don't know if technically I can call this gardening or not, but it's the closest I've come so I'm going for it! I purchased the great shepherd's hook at Walmart for only $15 and the hanging plants, already planted so I had to do nothing, were $5 each. And I just love how it looks! (pay no attention to the wilting/dying shrubs behind the hanging plants....)

Valentine's Day Card

Looks like I'll finally get this card in the mail tomorrow. I made it at a crop on February 5 and was so proud of myself for getting it done early. It's for some incredibly dear friends of ours and the picture was taken 15 years ago when both our families took a vacation at Hot Springs, AR. But the very next morning was when Daddy died and I haven't been able to mail this card until now. Hopefully they won't mind receiving a Valentine at the end of May!

Mother's Day Gifts

Now that she's received it I can post it! I knitted a "Mom" wash cloth - hopefully the letters show up in the picture - from a mystery KAL pattern posted in my dishcloth yahoo group. And I'm really pleased with the card. It's a "vintage" image that I printed in black and white, then lightly colored with chalk. I loved the picture cause it could be mom, Gary and me.

Mother's Day Card 

Mom Washcloth 

My Crop Wall

The pictures below are the shelves above my crop table. I'm so happy with the direction they're going!

On the top shelf are my scrapbooking books and albums in progress, then a clear shoebox from The Container Store for my Dymo labelmakers (one is VERY old and will emboss metal!), a wicker basket with punches inside and a vase that James made me in art class (and some day will have a flower arrangement in it!).

Middle shelf are my fabulous ribbon boxes from Target, my FAVORITE thing of all - the mason jars with fibers, buttons and ribbons wrapped around old fashioned clothes pins (a better picture of the jars below the shelf picture), two more Container Store shoeboxes - the bottom one holds fibers gotten in swaps and the top one holds silk flowers (will soon be full of silk flowers from a swap!).

Bottom shelf has a candle holder sans candle at the moment (my candy jar with kisses is hiding behind it!), letter trays that hold photo paper, alphabet stickers and rubons, other stickers and rubons and a folder with ideas from the internet, Xyron, QuicKutz, a cool metal container that had dog treats (Joe's Christmas gift from my brother and his wife) but is currently empty, embellishments and eyelets.

Shelves 

Jars 

Recipe Swap Done!

YAY - I got the recipe swap finished last night! The theme for this one was desserts and I did Icebox Sandwiches. I haven't made this recipe since we lived in Broken Arrow and I was trying to be Supermom, but I do remember it was good. :)

Outside 

Inside 

Xback Begins!

During the race yesterday I cast on and knit to test for gauge for the XBack. I love working with the ribbon yarn (no splits!) and it feels really good on my hands. Only problem is that I bought a 16" needle like the pattern called for (technically it called for 16" or 24") and I find it very awkward to knit on these. My gauge is right, but I think I'm going to get new needles before casting on for real.

Start of XBack 

Opening Day!

Yesterday was "Opening Day" for our dishcloth exchange and Dawn sent me a beautiful dishcloth! I've emailed her to find out what the pattern is and I think it was knit with the Peaches and Cream Gumdrop color. All three of us loved it!

Exchange dishcloth