Scribble Pillows and cat piles

Everyone I know is either getting sick, sick or getting over some kind of flu bug. It's such a hard way to live. I always feel guilty for staying home or complaining so I avoid it at all costs but man, I feel like crap. It's probably my fault, I didn't take the entire bottle of antibiotics that were perscribed earlier this month when I had a terrible cold, so it's come to bite me again. The sore throat and cough that keeps you up at night. No green liquid medicine can even penetrate the illness. Blurg!

I'm also getting to the point where winter is no longer fun, the gloomy grey Michigan skies are depressing and knowing that we still have weeks of cold left is anything but encouraging. It's about this time of year I think there is something wrong with me but then realize that everyone in a cold climate probably feels this way!

So instead of beeing blue, I think being bright and scribbly is better! Below are some shots of the scribble pillows I've been making. The white is my favorite and first - I made it as a special Christmas gift for my mom (although it is probably torn to shreds now from the cats) I think she liked it!

I can't take credit for the entire pillow, the cover and pillow are store bought, the design is mine though. Made of wool roving, I needle felted these squiggles and then toughened them up with some water, an iron and my dryer. Still delicate but somewhat durable!

One good thing about not feeling well is the sympathy and care given by those you love. Tcakes and Kaycee are my two favorite people. Here are some pictures of our evening last night:

This is the angle from above -it's a cat pile on top of tcakes!

The beautiful face that always makes me smile.. aww my little pooper!



Finally, momma's angle - she's sprawled out on my legs which are sprawled out on top of my warm tcakes! Ahhh, relaxed!

That's all for now - take care!

Knit-Wit

Before Christmas I was getting ideas for projects from the Martha Stewart magazine. In one of them she used a tool, the Knitwit, to add beautiful delicate flowers to hats, pillows and scarves. I was so impressed (though I should know that my talent cannot reflect hers). I decided that I too would add beautiful flowers to my pillows and scarves etc. I ordered the knit wit and found out that her article was such a hit it may take weeks and weeks to actually receive my little kit.

After two months, I finally got the tool - I've only used it a couple of times because it's actually very difficult to create these little flowers. With practice I think I can master it though :) Here are a couple of exampes. The flash is so bright but you get the idea :)

Also, with your order you get the pompom makers. Cute additions to slippers or mittens or hats! Here is an example of those:

Scrappy Monday!

Phew - What a couple of weeks. Mom was in town visiting and then next thing you know, I'm down with a cold for three days the next. Back in action now and feeling much better!

I have been wanting to craft so much the last few days but with all of the homework hanging over my head I just can't justify it. :) Need to change this soon!

Tcakes gave me one of his old favorite sweaters a while ago, I've been using it for projects ever since. I made a keepsake box for his dad and new wife when he was married in December, I made mittens and finally have used almost all of the material. With the little pieces I made petal shapes and started a garland. I ran out of petals before the garland was finished but it makes a nice over the door hanging!

I also used scraps of tcakes sweater for a little roundy scarf. He is the model in this example :) Again - all hand stitched since I don't have a sewing machine. All projects have that kid made look, I would love to make them look more professional.. sigh... someday! :)

Blue stocking & blue sweater

Hi! So I've been working and taking classes again - this semester it's 2 instead of just one at night. It's not much of a load for most but for me, it is an adjustment. The homework and keeping things organized is a lot.

I've been really lucky the past few semesters taking one class at a time, the professor usually doesn't give much homework or your occasional faculty strike that gives me only 10 weeks instead of 14 per semester. Not so lucky this time, which is fine - I like a challenge and I need to graduate - this life long undergrad degree is killing me. I'm going to be 27 for god sakes. If my plan goes as I hope it should, I'll be finished in December!!

Plus, like I said it's not that much of a load. I know a girl who just graduated from my program who had a full time job, a 1 year old, a husband, was pregnant and had a FULL CLASS LOAD! She's alive and well. If she can handle all that and not pull her hair out - I should be able to manage ok. :)

Unfortunaltey this takes away from any crafting that I was doing to cope with stress, I may have to work that in the schedule on the weekends. Luckily - I completed a lot of projects before this semester started so I can start my little bloggy blog back up with some fun pictures to boot!

So I purchased this beautiful sweater from Resweater's shop- one of the blogs I try to stalk a lot. It was huge and colorful with a navy back. I had so many fun things planned for this but decided to make some stockings! It was Christmas time and tcakes didn't have a Christmas stocking so now we'll have matching stockings for next Christmas.

The original sweater had a zipper down the middle. It was a mens Large and felted really well. I cut the stockings from the chest of the sweater along the seam which gave me one less side to sew. The toe part of the stocking is actually the shoulder of the sweater! With the left overs, I made a pair of mittens for my friend Eve. Turned out pretty well, I think!

Note: I do not have a sewing machine in my teeny tiny little apartment so everything is sewn by hand which takes FOREVER! Even if I could afford money and space for a machine, I don't know how to use one at all!! Something else I will learn to do in this life though - I promise you that :)

Just verbin away

I've found a new hobby that has been very good at keeping my creativity flowing, I find that isn't always the case at work so I have to do it some where. I think I'll start posting my new hobby of recycling wool here, with the other tid bits of life and lessons learned.

how awesome are you?

I have been extremely not interested in updating this blog. busy with work and worrying about my parents pretty much sums it up. also, I've been following a slew of other people's blogs and could be considered as a facebook addict but I have come to realize something. somethings.

1. myspace, facebook, twitter, bloggings etc is usually an outlet for people to boast themselves and brad about their worlds. this is fine. but I now understand that if I don't know you...I really don't care.

2. facebook has been a great outlet for me and many others to reconnect to long losts. but I only know about a quarter of the people that I am friends with on fbook. and out of that I probably really only care about a quarter of them.

3. I don't believe half of the stories that people write on their blogs. I decided to follow quite a few when I first started this stuff. but now, I just don't believe them. period.

4. or the stories just gross me out. I read yesterday that someone would burn the American flag for a million dollars. who says that?

either way. I think I'll retire the blog until I have something important I need to remember in the future, like getting married, buying a new car or having a baby. because other than that, it just doesn't matter. to me, what matters is just being happy and enjoying my laughs and hardships for what they are. even if they are boring to you.

bitter is not a good look

sorry about yesterday's post. I was feeling pretty bitter at the entire world and that truly isn't who I am. but I needed to vent and where else then the bloggity blog.

I am worried about my family but that shouldn't be excuse enough to forget about all the good stuff and how grateful I am for what we have.

my family will get through this, just as we have before and just as many families are doing right now.

my apologies. I'll try not to use fuck in my blog anymore either.