R2-D2 Cross Stitch

I forgot how easy it is to cross stitch.  Of course, I'm not doing a bajillion color changes or anything intricate. And, I'm not showing the backs....it's a hot mess.

I finished R2-D2 last night completely and have C-3PO's main color all finished.

I'm attempting to buy as little as possible for these. So far, so good.  I'm just getting close on some of the colors and using what cross stitch fabric I have on hand.  That's why the droids are on red.  It was the only color that did not clash too bad.

Cross Stitch for Christmas

I always try to make Christmas presents.  I succeeded fairly well in 2014.  This year I'm wanting to try something different from sewing* or knitting, so why not cross stitch.

There are so many fun and hip cross stitch patterns on Etsy.  I just bought several patterns that I had been eyeing.  The shop (Wee Little Stitches) is running a 20% off spring sale. I struck while the iron was hot.

I bought 2 Batman (heroes and villains) sets, Star Wars, and Harry Potter, Hermione, and Ron set.  My brother is getting a single Batman. If I feel generous I will add the Joker.  My daughter is getting Batman and the Riddler (her favorite).  My sister will be getting, I think, C-3PO and R2-D2.  I might add, "These aren't the droids you are looking for."  Probably not though.  I can see myself still working on these on Christmas Eve.

I just remembered this Halloween pic, but I'm keeping my dogs below still.

I don't think I'm going to cross stitch for my parents.  I probably will get them photo books printed of my daughter.

Since I just bought the patterns and haven't started, but blogs are boring without photos; here is a photo of my chihuahuas:

Roo and Tico

I guess I should add that this is going to be interesting.  I haven't cross stitched in probably 20 years when I was little kid.  I've embroidered some.  I'm hoping it comes back to me since I was never really taught in the beginning.  I just did it.

*Funny story.  I made my brother a lap quilt.  When I bought the quilt batting I just quickly grabbed something.  I had no idea I bought crib size.  Jokingly on Christmas morning I told him and his girlfriend, "By the way, it's crib size."  Now, they are saying it is a cursed fertility blanket like in the movie The Proposal since I am becoming an aunt in November! LOL.

Christmas time

I periodically get the crazy idea to make Christmas presents for everyone in my family.  I've skipped doing this for 2 years, but now I'm back to it.

I've made beaded bracelets for a few people, headbands, and sewn gifts.

It is difficult coming up with ideas for the men in my family.  I made glasses case with lanyard for my BIL, a heating pad cover for my daddy, and a blanket for my brother.

R is getting  a lot of handmade items.  Her big one from me this year is a Middie Blythe that I customized for her.

Last peak before being wrapped.

Along with the Middie is a collection of clothing and a carrying case.  I made her Blythe girls, Lisa and Coco, some outfits too.

Santa is bringing her a Mab Graves Pinkie and the baby dino cameo, and she is receiving a microscope, karaoke machine, and other odds and ends.  Her daddy is getting a necklace made from the shell of the bullet that killed her first deer this year.  Funny enough the shell has her initials on it.

I hope everyone who happens upon this post has a great holiday season!

Crayon Lipstick

Have you heard of crayon lipstick?  Search it on YouTube and you will find many DYI videos!  A friend of mine showed the videos to my 9 year old and of course she wanted to make some.

It was rather easy.  I watched the video once and grasped the concept.  Biggest question- are crayons really safe for lip color?  Honestly, I am not sure.  This is what I found on Crayola's website:  http://www.crayola.com/faq/your-business/how-are-crayons-manufactured-and-what-are-the-basic-ingredients/

And here is the list of ingredients that are not in the crayons:

http://www.crayola.com/faq/safetymsds/due-to-allergies-and-allergy-concerns-can-you-tell-me-the-ingredients-in-your-products/

And, they do meet the "acid free" standard.  This is more for archival purposes, but still good to know.  http://www.crayola.com/faq/another-topic/are-crayola-products-acid-free-and-permanent/

They are indeed toxic-free:  http://www.crayola.com/faq/safetymsds/are-crayola-and-silly-putty-products-nontoxic-even-if-ingested/

Now for the personal disclaimer, I have no further information than what was found on the brand's website.  I tried the lipstick on myself without any complications.  I cannot wear cosmetic lipstick....all brands I have tried make my lips peel.

If you try this at home, you take responsibility. :)  Now that I covered that, onto the product.

I'm not going to post a how-to.  I just want to share the outcome.

I let R choose the colors which she based on the video she watched on YouTube.  I did most of the work since it did involve the stove and a pan of hot water.  I allowed her to stir the mixtures, but I did all of the pouring into the containers.  I do suggest clean up with paper towels to prevent color transfer, and having the pouring/prep on a cookie sheet.  It helped with not getting color on my granite.  You do have to clean the bowl and funnel between each color which was tiresome.

The brand of Coconut Oil I used.  It isn't the cheapest, but not the most expensive either.

The colors used....that is Orchid.  R forgot the r.  I think Strawberry is really Wild Strawberry.

Christmas and Fair

Yes, it is that time again already.

Christmas-

I have just geared up, or panicked rather, my Christmas knitting.  It is nearly August and I don't have even one gift finished. BAH!

Here is the line up:

Momma- socks
Ronda- socks, + an extra ?
Rick- ?
Daddy- 30 bottles of wine, in the make right now
Brent- neckwarmer
Joe- duck?
R- Weasely sweater?

My mom's socks are about 45% finished.  The easiest project so far has been the wine because Joe did it.

Joe expressed interest in a knitted duck.  Now, I have to decide if I want to wing it (no pun intended) or buy the pattern.  I think I will embellish it with needle felting.  Why did I just start needle felting? It is wonderful! Maybe I will put a zipper in the duck so it can be a money-stasher or something.

Fair-

Last year I busted my rear for the fair.  This year I am going to finish the projects I am on and if they fit into the categories great, if not oh well.

Potential projects-

Fawkes Socks
R's socks
Snakes cabled sweater
R's sweater
Stag bag
Kellylnch blanket

I might come up with some others.  I thought about knitting a hat or something in addition to these.  Overall this is it.  I am more worried about Christmas.

In addition to these items I am stash busting.  I just finished off some yarn that has been hanging around the house and in the process of getting rid of some more.  It is Plymouth DreamBaby DK.  I bought it on super sale at LYS about 2 years ago.  I had about 7 skeins of it.  I am now down to 2! Which is going to be used for R's birthday cardigan!

Here is some of the yarn:

The eyelet pattern is from Some Cloudy Day Legwarmers that I adapted into R some pants.

R just got finished with a pb & j sandwich...

Christmas Success

I made it another year. I hand knitted all of my family gifts. My mom and I were finishing the boys' slippers on Christmas Eve all in a rush, but they got finished! I asked her since I was in a time crunch to help me sew the zippers in by machine. She sewed and I did the finishing. I finished up somethings for R too.

Next year I think I am going to broaden my handmade gift idea. I am running out of practical gift ideas for the boys. I am thinking I should design t-shirts for them and screen print them. I will leave the making for the summer. It is so cold in my house the paint won't dry right now. Plus, I need a break.

Okay, here is some sentimental mom stuff. I have been mildly emotional this Christmas over R. She is 5 and I guess the end of the year always marks the fact she is getting older. She was so good and well behaved it was just amazing. It was a rough Christmas because this was the first year my grandpa was gone and having her here made it better.

Some of these unexpected emotions come from the fact I had a permanent birth control procedure in November. It is now final, she is my only child. Of course, adoption has been an option for me for awhile.  Right now we are not financial stable enough for another child in anyway.  Who knew I would get hit with this stuff at Christmas.

Anyways......next time I will hopefully have more knitting info to share with you... I am just worn out on knitting at the moment.

Thinking about...

I have been thinking about the color orange.  Not particularly my favorite, but I can appreciate it.  I keep wanting to use orange for a knitting project--  pumpkins, specifically. I think I have fall fever.  Today, I have been wasting time looking through Etsy Collections people have created.  Everyone seems to be thinking about the end of summer or fall.

Something else I have been pondering is squirrels.  They are some of the most unsual creatures.  I encouter them all the time on my way to work and from work.  They have lost their fear of people for the most part and I can walk right up to them.  Squirrels are a classic case of ADHD.

I am already planning for Halloween.  I always do this and then kind of burn out before it gets here.  This year I am not making a costume.  If I ever sew for myself again I am buying a dress form.  I never really did knit any Halloween items which is a bummer.  I still have time, but who knows where my fancy will take me before October.

I joined a Halloween swap so that has got me thinking about it.  I have one item made for it and a second in the works.  The second item is very taste specific so it may or may not be used.  They are really cool.  I have made about 20 of these little treasures.  I am making Jack Skellington faces out of shrinky dinks for buttons.  I have some micro ones for a Blythe sweater and some about the size of a dime.  I have been hand drawing them.  I hope to make R a little sweater with them also.

I made some purchases lately.  I bought 2 Shaun the Sheeps for R's birthday and Christmas presents, a cheapo swift ($28 from Overstock.com!), and a clone Blythe.  The clone Blythe is for R's "Santa" present.  I am unsure the quality yet.  I looked up some reviews before I made the purchase (she was really, really great price) and they were all really positive.  I did hear rumor about high lead levels with the clones and I am looking for some place to test the doll before I give it to R. She doesn't chew on her toys so I think it will be okay, but just to be safe.... 

As I was making new outfits for my Blythes this past weekend, I was pretty stumped on my Neo Blythe, Ginny.  I was going to get Simply Gauva in the future.  Now I am thinking about passing on her.  I really prefer the Ashton Drake Blythes.  I like the fact the faces are a bit more matt finished and they feel more durable.  I have one ebay that I am watching.  I am debating.  I have an angel and a devil on my shoulders.  The devil will most likely win.

I just got a text from my cousin asking for This is Blythe website.  She loved my dolls!  It is good to know that my dolls are liked by someone in my family other than a 4 year old.

More thoughts on Christmas gifts

I have been plotting more seriously about Christmas.

Daddy-

I have been enlisting the help of Claire (Knit Unto Others yarn shop owner) and my mom to help me with ideas for my dad.

These are my options:
             -thick socks
             -vest
             -stash moth

I don't really want to knit a vest.  I just do not see myself finishing it.

Momma-

I asked Momma is she wants something useful or a sit around.  Her response, "I think I deserve both." Okay, so maybe she does. 

These are my options:
                  -selkie change purse
                  -string bean frog
                  -reading glasses hanging case

From: http://www.etsy.com/listing/49103682/string-bean-frog-with-ballerina-and-mime

Husband-

He is such a butt. I ask him what can I make him, "Nothing, I have everything." THEN, he comes up with this "brilliant" idea of me making him a gun cozy.  Poor baby's hand nearly freeze to his gun, but he won't wear gloves!!!! I wanted to make him a pair...nooooo...I don't wear gloves. I told him no way am I knitting a gun cozy.

So, there is still no advancement on ideas for him.

R-

I am making her lady bug slipper out of Polar Fleece yarn rather than piggies.  I purchase pink yarn rather than purple.  I forgot that there wasn't enough purple.

From: http://www.polarknit.com/itoolkit.asp?pg=BABY

Saturday Knit Fever!

Okay, so it is Monday night, but any who.  I went to my LYS today and had my hubby spend too much money.  It was over our Christmas budget for each other... YIKES.  I am going to make it up by helping to pay for some of his credit card balance.  Oh and I bought him the Hangover.  We have not watched it yet-  kid is awake.

I have been knitting miniature clothing items.  I have shrunk the Hermione hat pattern to fit a preemie and an 18 inch doll.  I also made tonight a shrunken version of the Republic for an 18 inch doll.  R is getting a Madame Alexander (it is vinyl) doll for Christmas on Friday.  I have been purchasing doll clothing from Etsy and trying to make some things for her.  I am so silly, I think I am going to buy myself one of the dolls.  Much cheaper than American Girl dolls (which I love and own 3), I really want one for myself so I don't always have to borrow R's to do sizing.  I think if I introduce her as mine, R will be okay with that.

I hope to have photos soon of my doll clothing!

Merry Christmas everyone!