mr. monkeysuit

red bolero

A pretty quick knit from Erika Knights, Simple Knits for Little Cherubs (book listed on the side bar). Of course it is red and of course it is for Cissie. I know I've said it before but red is really her color. The pattern does have an error so if your planning on giving this one a go email me first.

I used Debbie Bliss baby Cashmerino. I just love that yarn, normally I am all about completely natural fibers but I have to make an exception for this blended yarn. It just knits up so nicely, keeps it shape well and wears well too. Much better, in my opinion, than the Rowan equivalent Cashsoft but the colors that Rowan come in totally rock.
Have you seen this new craft magazine? Living Crafts. I am so in love with it, I just ordered the first back issue and a subscription. Crazy cool crafts like the flower child that I am currently making for our spring table. It seems to have the perfect balance of crafts for kids and adults, great lists of suppliers and the projects are just at my ability level. It is a brand new magazine so if you are one of those 'collector types' (ahem) you can still get the first ever issue and then you'll have a complete set....you know...if you like that kind of thing.
Did I mention there are links to all kinds of blog crafts and tutorials too?
Alrighty then.
One last thing. If you are determined to feel some spring loving despite the weather then  Martha's Easter Workshop  is up and running with some amazing spring crafts.

Have to, *HAVE TO* make this basket, complete with mohair chicks.

And I *so* want to have a go at making these chocolate eggs inside real egg shells. It gives directions on how to sterilize them but am I the only one who would be a little squeamish about giving these to kids?
And just in case you suffer from the same compulsions as me...
real moss and pre-blown real eggs
Happy Spring?

Burpdays

We always have this decoration out for birthdays. Always. And as it was Andy's birthday just last week it has made yet another appearance.

It wasn't hard to make but kind of time consuming. 13 letters. Lucky I had an extra pair of hands.

We backed the fabric for making the letters with double sided interfacing. Hot ironed it on to the backing fabric then stitched around each letter. The backing fabric then gets made into a sandwich with heavy weight timtex in the middle and another layer of fabric at the back. Iron all these pieces together, stitch around all the sides then trim.

We hang ours on grosgrain ribbon with mini clothes pegs. Or you can buy a similar version from here.

Of course, I prefer our homemade version, increasingly tattered edges, and all. I love that with each passing year we have more and more small family rituals. Decorations, activities, holidays to the same place, games and ceremonies - all these things help create a bank of family memories to draw on because let's face it with a memory as bad as mine I stand no chance of remembering all these cute and wonderful things. 
Happy belated birthday love.

I've said it all. Now for the repeats.

It's official. I have, in fact said everything I have to say. I have nothing new to report. I know this has to be true because in my third ever post I made new kitchen curtains and told you about them and here I am just under two years later talking about the very same thing.

I made new kitchen curtains. I had to. I never really loved the old ones. Too spotty. Too colorful. And they didn't hang quite right.
I love, like really love, these ones. They make the whole kitchen feel like a calmer place.

I used natural linen and the radish and pea fabrics are from Superbuzzy. I don't think they still carry them though. These curtains have been on my mind for a while now so I am totally relived, yes actually relieved to have them finished. Do you know what I mean? I love crafting, really love it. But there are times when it can feel overwhelming and honestly, almost stressful. There are so many things I want to make all the time. It has gotten to the point where I can't read craft books before I go to bed. I makes me feel anxious. 

*Anyway*. Back to the curtains. I wasn't sure about what to do with the top but a quick look through the brilliant Bend The Rules Sewing by Amy Karol convinced me that twill tape was the way to go. I never would have thought of it but I think it suits these curtains perfectly. That book is full of smart ideas that can actually help you *finish* a project (no I am not going there again) and a ton more to inspire you to start one. It has totally become my go-to book along with Denyse Schmidt. These two books are totally my desert island discs.

Well guys it only took me two years to get through everything. Now you'll  have to make do with the re-runs. Does this look familiar to you?

Vintage craft book.

I promised some more info about this book when I made winter boy. I think this vintage craft book has been doing the rounds pretty steadily on the craft blog circuit because I see lots of things inspired by projects inside. The great thing about this book is that it is cheap and easily available Amazon. And when I say cheap, I mean a couple of dollars.
It has lots of different sections on doll making including basic doll making techniques, simple dolls, advanced dolls, clay dolls and of course softies. One word of warning, don't expect all the projects in there to be as cute as the following pictures. The projects range from adorable to weird to down right scary. Ahh the seventies.
Here we go then...

Simple cute squishies, perfect for baby presents. One thing I realize looking through these old books, is just how much better the fabric has become. I don't necessarily mean fabric designs (though I'd like to think things have become a little more, um, subtle) but the quality of it. Like fabric for making softies, is actually soft now and rather less flammable.

Cute door stops.

??

Winter boy pattern, which they call  'snug and cozy', clearly somethings were better in the seventies.

Mini softies. OOhhh these would be cute as present toppers/gift tag thingies.

And this last one for spring.  Because I am a firm believer that it is out there somewhere.
Just in case the Amazon link doesn't work the ISBN is 0806954485.
Happy crafting.

Happy Valentime's Day

Mr. Floyd calls it Valentime's Day, I never correct him. Just like how he always calls it goo instead of glue. I like it.
We started the day building a pirate ship.

But we had to take a break because we have to think about how to make the necessary modifications. It must have a gang plank. Floyd got this tool box for his birthday last year. What a great gift. He has loved it and loved it. We set up a small work bench in the kitchen for him and sometimes he likes to just sit and drill holes though bits of wood. Must be some kind of primal male instinct.
I must say he really is very responsible with it all and can manage all of the tools by himself pretty well now.
We moved on to making a gazillion valentime's cards for all his friends at school and then made some cookies to go with them. Floyd and Cissie both love being involved in cooking. It is just that I don't always love them being involved. Cissie ate quite a large amount of flour today and Floyd insisted we needed to use the barbecue tongs for the cookies. All in all though they came out delicious.
While the kids are napping I ate decorated them so they will have a nice little treat when they wake up .
Recipe from  Martha, pirate ship from Jo-anns.
Happy Valentime's day to all of you, from all of us...

We've been kind of busy

Too cold for anymore sledding so I'll try and get my act together and be back with some more red stuff later this week.

again with the placemats, again with the red

Not a lot to say about these really. 

But these ones, I am keeping.

I can not believe it is February already.

Clichéd but true....time really flies when you have little ones. I always feel like I am trying to hold on to a particular minute, so I can say 'yes, this is what they are like, this is what are lives are'. But the truth is it all moves so fast, it is never stagnant enough to capture that. I thought I might try taking a picture a day for a year. Claire did it for a year then had a big show at the end and invited all her friends to see it. I was lucky enough to be in England at the time. It was very cool. Soph did 365 and of course Soulemama is doing a month of photos.
It seems like a good way to crystallize what is going on round here. Maybe I need another blog? hmmm thoughts please.

This month is set to be a super busy one. Lots of boring stuff but some super cool fun stuff. A birthday in the house, some new curtains, a refurbished third floor and *joy of joys* maybe even a little sunshine getaway and of course hopefully lots more crafty goodness.

Happy February!