W is for Wands and Wings :)

 

This week's letter lesson is going to be lots of fun. We're learning all about W. W, as in wands and wings and all sorts of wonderful things :) We'll be painting with watercolor and and making stained glass butterflies. It's going to be pretty cool.

Today we started off with fairy wands, which we made out of chopsticks and fancy bows. Nora had fun using hers to tickle Claire. To even the score, Claire got one of her own ;) She learned to use it quite efficiently. I was proud.

V is for Vampire Bats!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! Thanks to Hurricane Sandy, Trick-or-Treating has been postponed. However, that didn't stop us from celebrating here at home :) Nora and I did another letter lesson. We learned that V is for vampire bats. We decked out some Hershey's Bars with a craft idea I found HERE. Then we made our very own pumpkin patch on paper. A little later on we got a visit from Gam, which prompted a goulishly fun pizza party. It was such a blast. The only thing missing were the costumes. But Nora and Claire will get to show them off soon enough. Trick-or-Treating is this Sunday :)

Girlies :)

Q: What the heck is a button snake?

Mothercraft: Button Snake Activity

Shaded Ripple Afghan

A: I have no idea!

At least, that's what I would have said about a week ago. But thanks to Vickie Howell, I know better now. It's a cute, easy, super fun sensory activity for kids. Being the craft-loving (and super tactile) person that I am, I couldn't resist making one during nap time. Now I'm just waiting for my lovies to wake up so they can play with it. I can't wait to see their faces. I can see them getting really excited about playing with this toy!

I also thought I would share my "completed" afghan with you. Although, thanks to my husband, it isn't really done. He can't quite stretch out in it so I'll need to add some length. I guess it's back to the yarn basket for me..after a short intermission. I'm enjoying this weather too much to be cooped up indoors with my hook ;)

Free Pattern: Cinnamon Bun

I've been dreaming up some new patterns for fall. Here is my first one, a gift from me to you :) I hope you find it simple and rewarding. Be sure to let me know if you stitch up one of your own. I'd love to see some photos! So, without further ado, here's the how-to:

 

Cinnamon Bun 

By: Sarah Mancini

Skill Level: Easy

You Will Need:

•  Lion Brand Fisherman's Wool in Oatmeal and Nature's Brown
• Crochet Hook: US G6 (4mm)
• Blunt tapestry needle
• Scissors

  
Abbreviations: I have used American terminology for this project.

• Ch: Chain
• Dc: Double crochet
• Hk: Hook
• St(s): Stitch(es)

Directions:

Pastry: Using Oatmeal
Using Oatmeal colored yarn, ch 77.

    1. Dc in third ch from hk and in ea remaining st. (75 dc total)
2-4. Ch 2, turn. Dc in ea st. (75 dc total)
        Fasten off and weave in ends.

Cinnamon Swirl: Using Nature's Brown
Using Nature's Brown colored yarn, ch 67.

    1. Dc in third ch from hk and in ea remaining st. (65 dc total)
2-4. Ch 2, turn. Dc in ea st. (65 dc total)
        Fasten off and weave in ends.

Finishing:
Left align the layers of fabric, placing the Nature's Brown on top of the Oatmeal colored one. Stitch the aligned ends together then slowly roll them forward, into a swirl. Sew the ends (which should align after rolling) securely to the side of the bun.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Enjoy :)


*Disclaimer: This pattern is for personal use only. You may use this pattern to make items for charity or for gifts but you may not use it to make items for sale.

Breakfast Garland Crochet Pattern

There is a brand new pattern in my shop. Be sure to click on over and check it out. So far, I've listed it on Etsy. I'll be listing it on Ravelry soon :)

Summer Reading Wish List

As with everything else, I am behind on my reading. Like way way behind. Let's just say that by the time I get around to a book I'm interested in, my friends have already finished reading it, book clubs have already discussed it, someone has already made a movie about it and said movie has been out on video for months (okay, years). And that's just when I manage to get started. After that my progress is always slow, a page or two here, a chapter here or there. Sadly, I can't tell you the last book I've managed to finish. It's just been way too long to remember.

There once was a time when I was constantly reading, each and every spare second of my life. I would devour whole novels, ingest collections of poetry, constantly consuming more and more. Those were my college days, my working days, my first pregnancy/new mommy days. But now it seems my days are always full, full of mothering, housekeeping, working, blogging, crocheting, sleeping... Somewhere along the way, my beloved books got left behind. It's a bit shocking when I think about it. Books have always meant so much to me. They were my daily dose of art, pop-culture, escapism, self-awareness, depth, entertainment, companionship. It has been a bit lonely without them.

I don't recall when I started reading The Swan Thieves (sometime before Christmas?) or Water for Elephants for that matter (last spring or fall maybe?) but I haven't managed to finish either and I'm pretty annoyed with myself in that regard. I've been downright neglectful of my collection. But they are loyal friends, these books of mine. I know they'll be waiting for me when I find the time, right on the shelf, where I left them <3