a little craftiness

Yesterday I finished eighteen little cloth napkins. I bought quilting quarters at Joann's (on sale for $1 a piece), washed them, ripped each in half, sewed the right sides together, turned them, and top-stitched. All told it took about a month because there was ironing involved, but I love how they look. Next I just need to crochet a little basket for them to sit in on the table.


Oh, and here are my new crochet books. I have yet to make anything but I like to look at the pretty pictures.

Finley's new hat

I crocheted a super cute hat for Finley the other day. Of course, when it was time to photograph him he cried because I put him down.




I bought Rowan Handknit cotton for this project and it is amazing to work with. After working with Lion cotton, which I still like because it's inexpensive and easy to find, the Rowan was just SO smooth and easy to work with.

cookies, Kindergarten, and crochet

DSC_0264.JPG
Originally uploaded by walrissa

We took C to a 2 hour session at the German Immersion school today. It was really interesting and informative. "Taught" by two of the Kindergarten teachers, the preschoolers who came were primarily spoken to in German with lots of pictures, sign language, etc. to give them connections to the words. The teachers were really sweet and patient with our little guy who, though he was interested, refused to participate. He said he loved it there though and can't wait to go back! :)
We're looking at a bunch more charter/optional schools too before the lottery in March.

I made more of the Ginger Spice cookies I found on the Our Best Bites blog last month. These are the best cookies ever. They are easy and delicious. I could eat them for the rest of my life.

Ginger Spice Cookies
recipe by Paula Deen

3/4 C Butter flavored Crisco (don't use plain butter!)
1 C sugar, plus more for rolling
1 large egg
1/4 C molasses
2 C flour
2 t baking soda
1 t ground cinnamon
1 t ground ginger
1/2 t ground cloves
1/2 t salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Whip together the shortening and sugar and cream until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes). Add the egg and the molasses and beat until fully mixed.
Whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and salt. I've been using fresh ginger though (well, fresh from the jar) out of the fridge so I add it separately from the other dry ingredients. I think it has more flavor than dry ginger.
Roll the dough into 1 inch balls and roll in sugar.
Place of cookie sheets and bake for 8-10 minutes.
Don't overbake because you want them nice and chewy. 8 1/2 minutes is almost too much in our oven.

SO good. You have no idea. Well, you will have an idea if you make them yourself.

I need to take a picture, but I finished the hat from my own pattern. It's a tad big though so I need to take out an increase round but it's pretty cute. I'm not completely sold on the brim yet.
I'm making a visor beanie for the baby and have only to finish the brim. He's going to be so stylin'.

fitness

DSC_0319
Originally uploaded by walrissa

We watched an hour or so of the women's 10K at the U.S. Cross-Country Skiing Championships this afternoon. It was incredible to watch these women at the top of their sport and made me very motivated to go to the gym afterwards.
I did day one of week three in the Couch to 5K program and wow, did it feel good to run. I can't wait to run for longer periods of time without fear of hurting myself. I wish I'd found this form of stress relief earlier in life, but I honestly hated running when I had to do it in high school during lacrosse season. Now I love it. I look forward to it.

inventing something "new"

DSC_0314
Originally uploaded by walrissa

I've made a lot of hats over the last couple of years and finally decided to make up a pattern myself. It's not that hard, really.
I know what kind of stitch patterns I like, how to increase/decrease to make the hat fit, and what kind of yarn I like to work with. So far it's coming along well and it should be done tomorrow, if not tonight.
I've reached the brim and may need to study a couple of examples to make sure I have it just right (I've already froggied the brim once this evening) but it should still finish up easily.

Psychedelic Crochet

DSC_0304.JPG
Originally uploaded by walrissa

Yeah, well, I didn't learn to knit well in 2009 though I did try again.
I did make this amazing little spiral granny square though. It's crazy to make because all of the yarn is attached at once but I really enjoyed it and it was quick to make.
I'm considering making a bunch more and stitching them together into a scarf. A weirdo tie-dye crochet scarf that will be super cool so I can be the envy of everyone.
I need more patterns like this. Seriously.
http://www.crochetme.com/patterns/granny-spiral