Colorful Birthday Memories

A few weeks ago, we Arizona Joneses celebrated our little niece's 2nd birthday from our house in the desert far, far away from her. I was so sad to miss this special milestone in her little toddler life!

We wanted to send something a little special, because she has gotten to the age where she understands that things are made especially for her. And she definitely knew this was her birthday and it was going to be a very special day that all her loved ones celebrated Katie Anne with smiles, gifts, and cake.

I thought back to my childhood and a flash of a memory came to mind. I remembered a special book that my grandparents had printed especially for me, as a Christmas gift, I think. The book was a treasure to me--after all, it was written about no one other than ME!!! The story told of "Trisha" doing this, and "Trisha" doing that. I remember sitting in my bedroom floor, reading and re-reading and re-re-reading that book forever. Carlton jumped on the idea to find a book that Katie Anne might enjoy reading. After all, her birthday was all about her. Why not read something all about herself too? We found an adorable book telling the tale of Katie Anne on her own little adventure, counting lots of animals.


And then it happened. As soon as the book was ordered, I found something else! Of course. I had to sprint out to Michaels and Joann for supplies right away! Being the Blogger stalker that I am, I came across Inchmark, a fantastic crafting blog that posted a beautiful how-to on creating color flash cards that could also work as a flip card memory game. These were so adorable, I just had to make them. (You should really check her out... she used to do some sort of work for Martha Stewart, and her projects are super. And the blog is so pleasant to look at!) Plus, Martha Stewart had been telepathically urging me to purchase one of her fabulous punches for creating pretty paper crafts. (I already had one, but why not get a second to make pretty trims on the edges of paper projects?) I know, I know... Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart, MARTHA STEWART! But it's not only me... another blogger, Eyelet Sage Studio, has also just recently discovered these marvels.

Joann will cut a sample of fabric for you from any bolt you wish. However, they will charge you for it. They cut a sample the entire length of the bolt, so you've got a length of fabric about 54" long and about 2-3" wide. Each will only cost you a few pennies, because they count this clipping as a fraction of a yard. But this project was totally worth the hassle! Sure, I had lots of long fabric scraps lying around my drafting table, and the pup didn't know what to think of the stinky glue I used, but the final product was precious.

All this project required was some cardstock, scissors, some glue, and the fabric scraps. I embellished the project by using the fancy MS punches for added character and a dab of cuteness. Inchmark also debated laminating her cards. She opted out, so as to not cover up the feeliness of the bright fabrics. I opted in, and just cut the hole with an xacto knite--not a perfect job, but it was alright, and the lamination should hold up a little better for Little Miss I Am Two.

First, I cut the cardstock into the size I needed for the cards. I wanted 16 cards total to create 8 card matches. This meant that I needed 32 pieces of cardstock cut. Then I punched the scallop-edged hole in the center of 16 of the cards (these were the fronts). After that, I punched the lacey edge onto all 32 cards. Zip on over to FedExKinkos to laminate the fronts and backs separately. Zipped back home, glued on the fabrics to the backs of the cards. Then I used my xacto knife to cut around the inside of the hole in the center of the front, where the fabric would be positioned. Glued the fronts to the backs, and trimmed around all the edges once everything dried. This all sounds kinda complicated, but it was actually quite simple, and very fun to create. Take a look at the final product! (I know, a few pictures to show exact steps to finishing the project would have been nice, but I was in a creating frenzy and couldn't bare to stop long enough.)

I set aside all the materials for a condensed overview of what materials the project involved.

This is the entire set, laid on the kitchen table upside down, ready for memory card turnover:

Found two!

And here are all the pretty colors of the rainbow:

Katie took a sweet little video of Katie Anne playing with the cards as flash cards. "Katie Anne, what color is this?" "Puh-ppl." "Good job!" My goodness she's getting big. We are so happy that Katie Anne had such a happy birthday, and I'm very glad that Katie Anne has already enjoyed her gifts!

My very own "Trisha Do" list

I've been shopping around and have found just a few projects I really want to accomplish this year. Most are, of course, knitting projects, but others involve other crafty endeavors. And some things are just things that I want, which will in turn lead to more projects to complete. I don't have any set timeline for finishing any of the projects, I just know that I've found quite a bit of new materials and inspirations and must chronicle them as they are checked off my list.

1) What started this was a simple internet search through a fantastic knitting "blog" site I am a member of - actually, I'm more of a silent stalker. I don't post there, haven't presented any projects there, but have found lots of great knits and have been very inspired. My very own Desert Rose was a pattern purchased from the site, so it's obviously a trustworthy place to shop around. Lots of knitters post at Ravelry.com and tell how easy or hard a project is, share their likes and dislikes about the patterns, and even offer their own custom changes to many knits. So, I found this summer sweater that I'm head-over-heels for, and absolutely must knit.

It's very me, with some white linen pants and yellow flats... for some reason. I followed links for search for the original pattern to the sweater and found myself at this site where the pattern is located. Along with the pattern to the sweater I was originally searching for, I also fell in love with at least half the other pieces and have decided that this book is most definitely number one on my list of things to do this year.

2) Not only am I a silent stalker on Ravelry, but my Ravelry silent stalking was a spill-over effect from the same silent stalking practices here on blogger.com. I know, I know. I have been embarrassed to actually click the "follow" button on so many blogs, I have just bookmarked them and check them as often as I read up on my regularly "followed" blogs. One of these blogs was a recent find, and I am so obsessively all about backtracking and reading up on every single one of her knits! She knits a lot, and for her little baby girl niece as well as her two yorkie pups. And for herself, of course. As I was backtracking and looking at older posts of hers, I came upon this post with these:

My house will be littered with these... in jars, on shelves, in bowls... for the rest of my life, and you can count on that. I. Must. Make. These.

3) I want a special, nice, light birch or golden olive wood box to hold handwritten recipes. I want special recipe cards with embossed corners and my monogram in block letters centered at the top. It'll have its very own shelf in the kitchen, open without doors for easy access... but will be reserved for my hands only, and only for special occasions. I have no idea where this idea came from, but my mom has a special recipe box she refers to on only the most sacred of recipes - tea cookies, peanut butter cookies, pie crust, Christmas coffee cake. Some of the recipe cards are barely legible because they've been handled and used so many times, buttery fingers have moved them aside, flour has dashed across them. I want my own! In a very special box. On very special cards. Reserved for the very specialest of special recipes. And favorite recipes. I want holiday recipes and birthday cake recipes and old family recipes. I want to collect the recipes of those who are close and special to me, too. They'd all go in the box. Where will I find this box? Or, should I have this box made for me?

4) I need to have one of these rugs in my own home. I am in love. Wouldn't this one be perfect, simply butted up against an L-shaped sectional in a sort of nude-gray oyster color?

5) Knit a pair of socks in my size.

6) Knit a pair of house slippers.


7) Be a better player on this site.

8) Find someone who loves this hootin' sweater enough for me to make it for them, enough to wear it with pride and show it off exactly how it deserves to be shown. I love it, but I just can't see myself wearing it for some reason.


9) I want to organize my yarns, according to fiber, color, etc. in an open-front-open-back divided shelf like this one:


10) Figure out how the heck to make this bag for a few special ladies before 6 weeks have passed. Any help here?!?!!??

Knitaholics Anonymous

I just found something by accident, by clicking through blog links, and I have no idea how I actually got to this page. But this thing that I found... I need it... so... desperately!

http://www.theknitkit.com/

The only setback is, it doesn't actually include any actual knitting needles. I remember back when I first learned to knit. I wanted to bring my knitting supplies onto the flight with me, but packed them in a checked bag because I didn't want to get to bagage check and have them confiscated (the needles were a souvenier from Paris and I wouldn't let them go without a fight!). Then once we boarded our flight, I turned to my right and saw an itty bitty granny just a-knitting away. Crap. After a short amount of online research, I just looked up all prohibited items TSA's website and it says Knitting needles are ooookay!!!

I've been wondering what in the world I'll keep myself entertained with on the flights to and from Venice in May, and this would be soooo perfect! Dang, I could get an entire project finished on the flights!

Yeah, I'm geekin'.

Sweet Delivery!

Today a special package was delivered to our front door - a gift from Katie Anne! To Carlton, me, and "Puppa," this package was filled with candies made by a very special, thoughtful, and sweeeeeeet little girl!

I immediately brought the box inside after the doorbell rang (*delivery!*), and opened it right away. Heart-shaped chocolate candies for Carlton and me, and special homemade chocolate-dipped doggy treats for the little one all exploded from the box! A cute little embellished picture of Katie Anne said a nice little "Happy Valentine's Day" and I even got a special baggy of my very own! I opened it up and - low and behold - it's a handmade piece of art from KA! A little purple glittery pin I can wear to brighten my own day and those who get to see me on V-Day. Of course any homemade, handmade gift is glamor-fied by cellophane wrapping! But I must admit, one of my most favorite details was the cute ribbon that the ladies selected to tie everything up so neatly. Very posh!

Puppa immediately took a treat, carried it over to a pile of towels I was folding in the living room, and broke it up into *her* bitesize pieces. Then she pulled off a

funny little trick!

Vespa took the chocolate-dipped half of her first treat outside so I couldn't get to it!

Thanks Katie Anne and Mommy Katie for sending such a special gift! This definitely brightened our day!!!

She's coming soon....

Tonight I went into work after the store closed to celebrate with fellow employees the upcoming birth of Lilly Valle (pronounced "Vayeh"). I work with Cynthia, the mommy-to-be. Actually, I started right when she did, and so I have been able to watch that tummy grow... and boy oh boy, has it grown! She's the super skinny, tall type, who looks totally normal walking away from you... but as soon as she turns around, your eyes pretty much pop outta your head... WHOA! It's like she's got a basketball up her shirt!

We started off with a few games including "Guess How Many Squares" where we each had to guess how many toilet paper squares it would take to wrap around her tummy. She was so embarrassed! A couple other games followed, and then came gifts and cake. Only three AYW employees showed up other than Cynthia, which was a bummer. I was saddened that there wasn't more rallying around and celebration for Cynthia and the baby! There were lots of family and friends who came, though, and in all there were about 20 people at the shower.

Yesterday I found out that Cynthia had actually purchased all the decorations, plates, cups, and silverware for the shower, and on top of all that, she was making the cake for it, too! I was absolutely appalled and refused to let her make a cake to bring to her own baby shower. She finally gave in and requested a funfetti cake with purple icing, and that's what she got!





The baby blanket I have developed "knitter's pinky" over didn't get finished in time (imagine that, I didn't get a project finished in time for something important!), but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise that I wrapped some onesies, a dress, newborn hair accessories, and sunglasses (gotta have those in the AZ!) from Target. Patty, our store manager, crocheted a blanket, some booties, and a sweater. Sabrina, the other AYW employee who came, gave a fleece blanket. And one or two other blankets were given... I couldn't tell if the of them was a towel or a blanket. So one more blanket could have pushed her over the edge of blanket-opening! Plus, the baby kicked Cynthia when she took the sunglasses out of the box, so she must've liked them.

Bountiful booty:

The little dress with matching leggings I got her: