Get Hip to it: Run Amok

One of the most excellent fringe benefits of helping plan the No Coast Craft-o-rama each year is meeting all the talented and so-friendly local crafty types. I am always completely blown away by how welcoming and open everyone is, and it really makes all the work of planning big events worth it.

Enter Oona, the talent behind Run Amok. Not only is she super-talented, but she cracks me up. She says "aces!" She doesn't drive. Her mom is one of the sweetest moms I've ever met. She's just one of those people who gives me warm fuzzies every time I see her, and I want to see her become rich and famous beyond her wildest dreams. So, I asked her to write a tell-all autobiography and I agreed to publish it on my blog. I was dying to know what her craft space looked like. What books does she read? What inspires her?


Oona says: I keep my knitting needles (and typewriter ribbon tin collection) in the diningroom.


Oona says: My favorite fabrics.


Oona says: I love my green chair.


Oona says: A view from the door with piles of things that need finishing.


Oona says: I love my (moms) Bernina. A lot.

What's inspiring you now?
A random collection of things I guess: photos of fair isle knitting, 1950s sewn vinyl toys, Japanese craft books, the Organized Collections pool on flickr.


Oona says: Pincushions to be finished, and the never ending sock. This is only the first sock, and its taken 5 weeks to get to the heel, I can't believe it at this point.


Oona says: Cottons on the left, vintage kimono fabrics on the right.

What books are on your nightstand?

Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace and the Emperor and the Wolf (bio of Akira Kurosawa and Toshiro Mifune) . I think each one is about a million pages, and that’s why they’re both constantly on my nightstand, but both are well worth it.


Oona says: Sorted buttons for making bracelets.

What are your favorite places to shop?

Right now it’s mostly Blue Moon Fiber Arts for yarn, United Noodle for unusual snacks from Japan, and thrift stores for everything else.


Oona says: Some of the (mostly handmade) doll collection I have, mostly bought or traded for on etsy.

What are your plans for Spring?

I’m starting to get a little stir crazy, so basically anything that involves being outdoors would suit me just fine. I’d love to be walking home from work, or sitting in my backyard most of all. Also, I need to spray paint a massive light fixture so I can place it in a thoroughly inappropriately small room, so that’s pretty much tops on my to-do at this point.


Oona says: Some of the dolls I've made.

What websites and blogs do you visit?

F*** You, Penguin is the funniest website ever. Ever!

Fine little day is lovely.

The Selby takes amazing photographs.

Ravelry is the knitting equivalent of crack and should be illegal. I’d like to visit other things on the internet, but I can’t seem to stop looking at the ravelry.

Thanks for being so totally "aces" Oona! And thanks for sharing your crafty space. It looks like you've got quite the set up!

The Best Laid Plans...

Mr. Pumpkin and I had it planned perfectly: a trip to Milwaukee and Chicago sans toddler. We anticipated three full days of catching up on reading, being lazy, eating leisurely dinners without need of carset, booster seat, highchair or stroller. It was going to be great. We researched, we made reservations, and then, got horribly, horribly sick. So sick that after 1 day of travel, Mr. Pumpkin dropped me at my parent's house (who were taking care of wee Pumpkin) to recover and he drove all the way back home (5 hours) to see a doctor. Today, I finally made it in to see the doc and I've got a sinus infection to add to his double ear infection. We're a sad, pathetic lot!

Strangely, I wasn't really surprised, and the weekend wasn't a total disaster. We had breakfast with our friends at our favorite Madison joint, Monty's Blue Plate Diner. We did make it to Milwaukee for one night out with our friends. We visited Fischberger's Variety Store and the Paper Boat Boutique.



For dinner, we chose Cafe Centraal and Mr. Pumpkin even had some beer (can you tell he's really sick in this photo??) The food was great, but my inability to talk made it a slightly awkward dinner. That night, exhausted yet hopeful that it was "just a cold" and that with a little rest we could tough it out, we fell into our beds at the lovely County Clare Inn.



In the morning, after a sleepless night, we realized we had to head home. We stopped first at Hotch-a-do for some breakfast, and although pretty slow, the food was good. My latte was great! As we sat and discussed plans gone awry and what we needed to do next, this truck pulled up outside with a sign that made me laugh out loud: Who gets sick when it's convenient? So true. Who does get sick when it's convenient?



Afterwards, we headed into the little market in Beans and Barley to pick up some tea and what-nots. I love that place. I also love that they have an Art-o-mat!



Despite the colds and earaches and all, we still managed to have fun. I witnessed several signs of spring, including the first 50-degree temps of the new year, a robin sighting and going outside without my coat! We're going to try a mini-trip again in April. Wish us luck!

Molasses Chocolate Chip Puff-Cloud Cookies

My wee one and I stole a few moments alone together this morning while daddy ran some errands. Kiddo's under the weather, so we stayed indoors and "winged it" on a batch of cookies. I dragged my wee one's little table into the kitchen so he could reach everything and I let him "dump" all the ingredients into the bowl. He loved running the hand beater, and also enjoyed banging all the measuring spoons and cups against the bowl. And, much to our delight (and my surprise), the cookies turned out awesome: a "happy accident" in the words of the late, great Bob Ross. They are light, fluffy, a little spicy and chocolatey-riffic!

Molasses Chocolate Chip Puff-Cloud Cookies:
Makes approx 2 doz.

1/3 C. vegetable shortening
1/3 C. butter
1/2 C. sugar
8 T. molasses
1 egg
1/3 C. whole milk
2 1/3 C. all purpose flour
1 t. baking soda
1 t. ground ginger
1 t. ground cinnamon
1/4 t. ground cloves
1/4 t. salt
1/2 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350. Cover cookie sheet with parchment. Cream shortening, butter and sugar together. Add the molasses, egg and milk and beat until smooth. In another bowl mix all dry ingredients except chips. Stir dry mixture into wet mixture. When it forms a soft dough, add the chocolate chips.

Drop by tablespoonfuls onto cookie sheet. Bake 15 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

These are best enjoyed warm!

What's cookin' at your house?

Vacation Planning: Kid-Free Adventures!

Oh, it's been a long time coming. After 19 months of non-stop, action-packed parenting, I'm ready for a break! Not just an 8-hour break spent in my cubicle, or a quick trip out to dinner with a babysitter at home (of which there have been only a few), but a real, true, grown up overnight drinking eating leisurely dinner out spending time in stores with breakables having adult conversation and relaxed cups of coffee vacation! WAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOO am I thankful we have a set of grandparents within driving distance to give us a much-needed respite. And I can't forget our friend Jeff, who is doggy-sitting. No barking! For several days! Ah, the finer things in life...

I feel like this is it. It's my one chance to really live it up, maybe for a long time. I know it's silly, that really I could do this more often if I wanted, but it's still got me all wound up about making the very most of every second of the trip. Where will we stay? Where will we eat? What shops must I visit? And really, I MUST get that new flash for the camera before I leave so that all the photos are just right (Photos of cows! Millenium Park! Photos of food! So many photos!) . Now, you'd think I was headed to Hawaii, or the Bahamas or somewhere exotic. But, we're just going to Milwaukee. Seriously, Chicago is as far as we'll get. And we've been there literally about 10,000 times. But this time is different. Much more important.

I've already done tons of research. I found it particularly difficult to find information about unique and unusual lodging and dining. I thought I'd compile my list of lodging options here and solicit feedback. Any other ideas where we should definitely stay or go or see? I'd love to know your must not miss southern Wisconsin or Illinois hot spots! Maybe another day I'll post the ever-increasing list of must-eats and get your feedback, too!

Milwaukee Hotels:
Hotel Metro
Knickerbocker on the Lake
Iron Horse Hotel
County Clare Inn and Pub

Chicago Hotels:
Monastery of the Holy Cross (stay with monks!)
James Hotel
Inn of Chicago
Indigo Hotel

In my searches, I also found some really cool Frank Lloyd Wright lodgings in and around Wisconsin. Check these out!
Whistling Swan Inn (Door County)
Seth Peterson Cottage (up north, Wisconsin)
Muirhead Farmhouse (Illinois)

Where else is fun to stay?

Firsts: Snowman

This winter has been full of firsts for our wee one: first steps, first trip sledding, first real "words" and now, first snowman! We've had plenty of snow this year, but this week we had the first "wet" snow that really makes snowman construction easy. So we made some snowballs (Pumpkin can say ball now) and grabbed a few sticks for the arms and a pine cone for the nose and some charcoal for the eyes.

Even though we worked pretty quickly, wee Pumpkin was in tears by the time the camera made it on scene. He definitely prefers the solid, uneven ground of the sidewalk to the snowy backyard. We're working on making him a bit more outdoorsy. The problem is that he loves being outside, but he often just stands there, afraid to move. Ah, well...someday (we hope) there may be an end to the snow and cold. Right now it seems endless, but I still have hope.

What's the weather like near you? Ready for daylight saving time in a few weeks? I am!

Cake and Choo Choo

This past weekend was a bit of a birthday bonanza at our house, with both an auntie and a grampy having birthdays. We celebrated at our house, so we didn't have to travel, which was nice. It did mean we got to do all of the cooking, which I will gladly opt for rather than a long drive with an antsy toddler. I hustled around the kitchen to make sure everything was *just right* and I think it was. I made some sun-dried tomato and chevre scones, a gorgeous cake out of my new Dorie Greenspan book, and we put a pot of white bean and ham soup on the stove to cook all day (which was the easiest and yummiest thing I've eaten in a long time...basically throw two hamhocks, 12 cups of stock, 2 quartered onions and two bags of navy beans in a pot and cook on medium low). Yum!


To get out of the house, we loaded up the entire family and headed to the Twin Cities Model Railroad Museum to see the miniature Minneapolis and St. Paul train system they had set up. It was pretty remarkable, and even included a hobo campout on the sketchy side of town under a railroad bridge. Right now, through February, they're doing their Saturday "Night Train" exhibit where they turn off all the lights except the train lights after 6 PM. I wish we'd seen it, but it's too late for our wee one -- by that time he's usually finishing up dinner and getting into pjs. I do want to try to get back there for the circus trains, though. Cool. And man, that place was filled with nerds. We were in our element, being nerds ourselves!

What's going on in your neck of the woods? We're gearing up for another snowstorm and hoping it melts quickly!

My Starbucks Wreath -- for Spring!

It might be a bit of wishful thinking putting out a spring wreath just a day after we got four inches of snow, and when the temp outside is just hovering around 16 degrees, but it felt good. It felt hopeful and cheery and optimistic about the fact that winter has worn out it's welcome. We're ready for the crocus to bloom and the sun to warm the grass into greeness.

I stole this idea from my friend at McSmithleyville who made this gorgeous wreath, apparently a spin-off of something Starbucks had over the holidays. I didn't have time to make a Christmas wreath (and in fact I have an old standby white button wreath I use each year), so I made this one to grace the door and usher in the Spring.

We had a busy, birthday bonanza weekend and I'm still reviewing all the photos. I am now officially wiped. Did you have a relaxing weekend? I hope so!

Life with Babes

My sister went back to work this year after 7 years of stay-at-home-mommyhood. She had a hard time interviewing because people kept asking her stuff like "tell me about a time recently when you've had to...use technology to yaddayaddayadda..." I think she felt kinda stuck with referring to a time when she had to carry a screaming toddler out of a grocery store to avoid a complete and total scene, or explain how the birds and the bees work, or whatever. I mean, totally relevant work experience for some jobs, but not so much for others. In the end, she took a job as an assistant at the school her kids go to. She said that at least with that job she felt like she could apply the vast amount of knowledge she'd gained in her most recent 7-year career.

I read this great article that made me think of my sis, and also of my hubby who someday will have to go back to work. As much as a potential employer may not have ever experienced stay-at-home parenting, or parenting at all for that matter, these are what I thought were some effective ways to describe the skills it takes to be a parent. It's true for me that I've never been as good at time management as I am today. Luckily I've never been a perfectionist, so I don't have to worry to much about that. But prioritization, yep, had to learn it.

What about you other parents? What skills are/have you learned?

Happy Heart Day

I had a lovely little date with my boys on Valentine's Day. We picked up pizza and frosted our valentines cookies. I gave the wee one a bath and let him play extra long. The highlight of wee one's day was when we spotted a helicopter outside our window. Oh, the joy and excitement! Hubby and I did what we usually do -- played on the internet, watched some TV, made fun of a couple on HGTV and went to bed by 10:30.

Today we all ended up at the Mall of America by accident. Wee one wore his new "Kid Banz" that we got him at Pacifier (and which he loves and mama loves, too, because they actually stay on). The wee one was enthralled by all the roller coasters inside the mall. He kept pointing and saying "choo choo!" He could hardly be torn away, and had absolutely no interest in Lego Land. It was all about the choo choo.

Ah, the domesticated life. Did you do anything fun? Sounds like some lucky souls have the day off tomorrow. Not this poor sap. I'm back to the office again, jiggedy jig.

Newly Most Coveted: Tammis Keefe Textiles

Ever since my mom, sister and I opened our vintage shop on Etsy, I've been crazed. You'd think I'd want to be selling, selling, selling. But, no. I want to be finding, shopping, collecting! It's terrible! My mo discovered this great textile designer named Tammis Keefe who I'd never heard of, but is my new favorite. There's even a Flickr group dedicated to photos of her hankies and tablecloths and things.

Current favorites:
Home is Where the Heart Is
Japanese Design
The Circus
High Street
Whimsical Insects

Feather and Fan Knitting for a Cause

I am finally doing it! I am finally crafting for a cause! I have this great blanket in the works that is coming along well, and the pink hat is up for sale in my Etsy shop (buyer gets to pick the charity of their choice for 100% of the cost). I'm feeling so productive! I hope I can finish up my blanket so I can start knitting something for wee ones soon-to-be boy cousin. Weeeeeeee! Maybe this year will be my year of knitting!

The blanket pattern is called Merino Stripes Feather and Fan. I'm not knitting it in a self-striping yarn. I'm just using some acrylic yarn I have around. Bundles of Love requires non-wool yarns, presumably so they may be washed easily. If I knit something for them again in the near future, I think it will be a sweater. I think it'd be much less time-consuming to finish. And, hey. I'm an instant gratification girl, but at least I know that about myself.

Got any good knitting projects going on? I'm addicted to Ravelry and cannot stop adding projects to my favorites!

Fun on Ice

We took a cue from our friend at Tapir's Poop today and visited the Art Shanty Project. It's basically a bunch of tricked out shacks set up out on one of our suburban lakes. At one, we gave confession to a carp and at another we opted not to take a dip in the freezing waters and get warmed by the sauna ice house. It was, as we knew it would be, a quintessential Minnesota experience, chock full of hipsters, old hippies, kids, dogs and those who just love winter and/or love the challenge of building and surviving out in the cold. Just as we left we saw someone start unloading big boxes full of hot dog buns. Dangit, I guess we missed the ice-side cookout.

If you want to see more about the art shanty project, check out the search I ran on Flickr.

Vroom Vroom Goes the Pillow

My little one is absolutely and totally obsessed with vehicles of all sorts. I know, that's so typical. But I had no idea how strong a boy's affinity for cars, trucks and tractors could be until having one. Oh, and don't forget diggers and dump trucks (dumpa dumpa in our house).

I made him some flannel pants with trucks and diggers on them, and immediately when they come out of the wash he grabs them and runs around the house with them, going "vroom vroom!" Tonight when I took off his shoes (which have cars on them) and put on his pajamas, he grabbed the car shoes and tried to put them on over the footie pajamas. He's just nuts. And don't even get me started about the toys and books. There's no such thing as too many. It must be something in boy genetics that makes it so.

I decided that the wee one could probably start using a pillow now that he's a year-and-a-half (how the heck did that happen??!). I used up the rest of his "vroom vroom" flannel fabric and some scrap cotton, as well as a pack of rick rack. I've been really purging lately, so it was pretty pleasing to get rid of some stuff. I can't wait to give it to him when he gets up in the morning and see what he thinks!

We finally hit above 30 degrees today, so when I got home from work I took the wee one for a little walk. He LOVED pointing out the moon, and we even saw a few airplanes. He didn't like walking on the snow, though, so I had to carry him over the sidewalks that weren't yet melted clean. I think I probably looked pretty awesome with two dogs on leashes in one hand, a toddler in the other arm, trying not to fall down, and trying not to loose the poop bags or otherwise soil ourselves in dog sh&t. Ah, yes, I am certain I was looking cool.

I was imagining my neighbors spotting me and saying "Well hasn't she got her hands full heh heh heh!" or some inane comment like that. In reality they were probably saying "I hope she doesn't fall on my icy sidewalk and sue me." And I was just hoping not to smear sh&t on myself or my kid, or loose a dog in the street. Well, either way, it felt good to feel a bit of sunshine! And I'm pretty sure we all remained poop free.

Boobs Making the Rounds

I originally started blogging because I wanted to write about crafts and crafting and my craft sale and all kinds of craft-craft-crafts. I was craft-obsessed. Then my son was born. Now I'm kid-obsessed and on the side I craft. So, I bring you, dear reader, yet another funny photo of my child.

BUT! But but but! There he is, wearing HANDMADE, CRAFTED slippers I bought on Etsy. They are the greatest boob slippers ever made, by Piddies! My kid likes the boob slippers just as much as his dad.

See, I'm still writing about crafts. Duh. But really, who has time for crafting anymore!? Shoot, I barely have time for my fifth glass of wine tonight...but I'm sure I'll squeeze it in somehow.

Finishing up the Pixie Hat

I finished knitting the pixie hat -- tiny little yarn on tiny little needles so it took me LOTS of hours. All good times, though, spent in front of the television. And I still cant't decide if it's in fact pink, or not. Ho hum. Well, my kid does not need another winter hat, so I think I might either donate it or sell it and donate the money. As much as I'd love to slap some nipples on it (suggestion compliments of my favorite nipple-crafter, thanks!) I think it's got to go to some good cause. I gotta get my karma juiced up this year so my whole new life plan comes to fruition for me. That's how that stuff works, right??

Well, new life plan or not, lately I'm just feeling really darn lucky to have a job at all. And really lucky I have one that's good enough to support all three of us. Yikes, it's ugly out there. I'm taking the approach of not turning on the TV or opening the newspaper. I just don't want to know sometimes. I am "cautiously optimistic" which seems to be a phrase I hear quite a bit lately.

Anyway, I started knitting a new baby blanket for charity, which is really just my lame excuse for sitting and watching loads of bad TV. And drinking wine. No harm in that really, right??

Reform the CPSIA

Hi everyone...I wanted to pass along some information about a proposed set of laws called the Consumer Product Safety Information Act (CPSIA) that will basically close my Etsy shop, or at least the part of it that contains clothes for kids. Take a minute to read the law as it's been proposed if you are so inspired. Although we all want our kids to be protected from what can be harmful to their health (duh), this law has some serious flaws.

Now, I'm no lawyer, but from what I hear, even libraries will be affected by the law, which wil require them to test all of the books on their shelves or ban kids from their libraries. I won't be able to sell my tiesies or kid's clothes as of February 10 unless I have each item independently tested. Quoting the below-linked Forbes op-ed: "As of Feb. 10, it will become unlawful to make or sell anything intended for use by children under 12 without a program to test the goods for lead--even if no items of their kind have ever been found to pose a lead risk, even if you make and sell only a few inexpensive items a year, even if you've sourced their materials from the most conscientious local suppliers and even if they're items toddlers seldom convey into their mouths, such as dartboards or bicycle tires."

Here are some articles on the topic:
Forbes, part 1
Forbes, part 2
Bloomberg
National Bankruptcy Day

Please call your congressperson or senator to give your feedback. I appreciate it!

Giving Him a Complex

Picture this. I'm sitting on my couch, night after night, for about 3 nights. I'm knitting and watching TV. The knitting project is going great. A pixie hat for my son. Then, my routine changes. I take the knitting out during a Saturday naptime. In the light of day, I realize something is wrong. The hat, which I thought was orange, is pink. Now, I am not that opposed to putting something pink on my son's head. Well, I guess I sort of am. But my husband really is. So this hat is almost done (and it took quite a while using this sock weight yarn) and I have no idea what I'm going to do with it. But damn it's looking cute, wouldn't you agree? I even thought about donating it to my newfound awesome local crafty charity, Bundles of Love, but they don't need any hats! Bah!

Suggestions?

If I had unlimited time in a day, I might try yarnbombing. I did a quick Google search for "Yarnbombing" and I got 139,000 results. I am imagining my cubicle getting yarnbombed as I speak, and it is a wonderful thought. Down with tan mystery fabric, up with yarn!

Seeing Green

Don't know about you, but I've had about enough of winter. My skin itches. My hands are always cold. The snow isn't white anymore, it's gray. It matches the sky. Indoors is starting to feel like an ever-shrinking cage. What's left to do but start coaxing spring by bringing the gardening indoors.

Last weekend we went to our local garden shop and picked up a little "pick me up" that I think is working. It was really inspired by our wee one's desire to help water all of our plants. I showed him how to do this last week by putting just a bit of water into the watering can and setting the plant on the floor. He does a pretty good job of carrying the can all the way across the house from the sink to the pot on the floor, but at that point he pretty much ends up watering the floor. It could be worse, though. And it's only water.

The first purchase at the garden store was a microgreen planter and some arugula microgreens. Totally fun and totally edible. Yum! I'm hoping wee one gets a kick out of eating what we planted together. Currently he's getting a kick out of using the sprayer to water them each day. I just learned that you can also just throw microgreens in a mason jar with a cup of water and rubber band some cheesecloth on top. After 24 hours, pour out all the water and the little things grow (I guess!). If you try that method, please share results! I paid for the little grower but I'm sure there's a DIY method.


Then, we bought rosemary and basil to plant in pots. Tonight wee one "helped" me repot them. Strangely, he was afraid of the paper bag I tore up to put under the pots. It wasn't until I threw that away that he would come and water the plants. He also wanted nothing to do with the replanting, but that may have been due to the "paper bag monster" that crinkled and made weird noises.

It's looking so green around here, now! If only it wasn't going to be a good three months before we see any green OUTside. Boo hoo!

Future's So Bright

We watched a new president take office today, and it was so bright the little dude had to bust out the sunglasses. Actually, in reality the little dude was totally annoyed that I spent 15 minutes watching the replay on TV when I got home from work today, so he went through my purse and took off up the stairs. Perfect way to get mom's attention, right?

But wow, the inauguration was all anyone could talk about today. That and the continuing scary saga of the stock market. But I avoided it all by eating leftover quiche and sewing. Oh, and working. Unending conference calls don't allow for much quiet contemplation, and that's probably a good thing.

What happened in your world today? Are you ready for spring yet?

Quiche Me!

Okay ladies, try not to hate on me, but my husband is the absolute best there is. He does the grocery shopping. He cleans. I never do laundry. He takes care of our son five days a week (and he sticks around for nights and weekends!). But the best thing is, he's a super good cook. His pizzas are the best I've had. The quiche he made tonight...mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Here's how:

Greek Quiche
--4 eggs
--1 C heavy cream
--1 C milk
--a bit of bread crumbs
--handful of fresh spinach, steamed
--handful of kalamata olives, chopped
--handful of feta cheese, cut up or broken up with your hands

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Butter or Pam a 9" pie pan. Spread bread crumbs around the buttered pan to coat it. Whisk together the eggs, cream and milk. Throw the spinach, olives and cheese into the bottom of the pie pan. Pour the egg/cream/milk mixture over the top. Bake 30 minutes at 400 degrees. EAT!

While he did that, I filed my nails, talked on the phone and watched TV. JUST KIDDING! I chased our toddler around the house. He has been really into helping out lately so we went around looking for chores, like letting the dogs out, watering the plants and throwing things in the garbage. Geez, it's like I'm a princess around here!

I've been crafting just a bit lately, mostly knitting. But, I did try out the yoyo tutorial I found here. Whatcha think? Should I make some more and sew them on a pillow?

Staying Inside, Reading Books

We have been cooped up in the house during the cold snap, but it hasn't kept us down. Tonight, feeling the need for a little comfort food, I made "the boys" a dinner of wa-chos. It's waffle fries, covered in a bag of frozen "tex mex" mix like black beans, corn, and peppers and then slathered in melted cheddar jack cheese. O.MY.GOD. You must try it. It takes 20 minutes to make, it's cheap, and it warms you up!

After dinner, wee one made himself a bed out of his books. He's really into moving things from one place to another and then moving them back. Repeat. For example, he could entertain himself for a good 15 minutes taking his crayons out of the baggie they're in and putting them back. Of course, it helps that I say "KA BOOM!!!" every times he drops one in the bag. It elicits lots of giggles.

I've got a new volunteer opportunity in the works. I'll be knitting up a storm for Bundles of Love. Turns out they make bundles of stuff for babies in need in Minnesota. They have a group that meets near me, so I'm hoping to crank out a few things for their next meeting. If you're interested in joining me for a little knit along, let me know. I'm trying to gauge interest.

Oh Snap! It's a Cold Snap!

Like much of the Midwest, we've been freezing our asses off for the last week. I woke up Tuesday and the indoor thermometer was at a cool 66 degrees. But it was the outside temperature that made me curse my chosen homeland even more. 17 degrees below is uninhabitable to me. Like, bring on the polar bears, this might as well be Anchorage, for crissakes.

But, what do Minnesotans like more than hotdishes, pierogies and their smug assertion that they're Minnesota Nice? Complaining about the cold! It must be our state passtime. I heard someone say at work on Tuesday "The high today was -4, and we're damn proud of it!" That about sums it up.

Anyway, when we're cold, we think of weird things to do to entertain ourselves, like crank the heat and put on our shorts and dance around. Or, build a pillow fort in the living room. Or, make clothespin dolls that look like Brittany Spears. Really. After our trip to the local indoor waterpark it was the perfect way to mellow out.





My nieces made some really great ones, and wanted to list them on Etsy. They've been sitting there for a couple weeks, so if you know anyone that might have a spare couple of bucks, these two girls would be thrilled to death. You can think of it as your charitable act for 2009. Cross it off the list and you can be greedy the whole rest of the year. Just take a look at Betsy Winterfresh and Turtle, wouldja? The girls even made up little stories to go with them. Precious!

What are you doing to keep busy?

Cribs Recalled

Take a look at the news item about Stork Cribs being recalled. Yikes! These were sold all over the place -- BabiesRUs, Amazon, Wal Mart, etc. Please pass the word!

New New New Year...Happier and Happier and Happier

I started the new year in a pretty ho-hum, parental sort of way: knitting whilst watching TV with the hubby, in bed by 10 PM. Not quite the party animal days of yore, in which I think each year involved dancing like a maniac, certain years involved whole bottles of champagne consumed entirely by me, and not always gracefully like an adult, but maybe more like straight from the bottle. Which probably cost $12 and caused a painful hangover.

This year, however, is a good year, started exactly the way I wanted it to. Quietly, but peacefully. Contentedly. With resolve. And hell, there was wine so it was fine.

At work a few years ago I was asked to take this "personality assessment" like many of us are asked by our employers, called Strenthfinders. First you answer a bunch of questions about yourself; annoyingly, it's timed so you have to think fast about whether you prefer to coach people or teach people, etc. At the end it churns out this report that sums up your inner workings in frighteningly accurate ways, in some cases. Well, my results shed light on the part of me Strengthfinders calls "Acheiver" which basically means that if I'm not constantly acheiving something--could be anything: dishes, a knitting project, folding clothes--I'm discontented. But it's also combined with another of my personality traits called Focus. This one-two punch means I'm never content and I'm always looking to the future. Essentially I sit around and fret about what's going to happen, and how I can get to where I want to be. Sometimes it's like motivation, sometimes exasperation. Strange that a little survey could be so insightful. I suppose I could have just asked my mother or my husband and they'd say the same.

So in 2009 I've made a commitment to move some things forward. We're going to move out of our house, whether it's to another part of town or another part of the country we don't know for sure, but we're moving outta this dumpy suburb f'shizzle. That's the big one. And, I'm going to start spending more time pursuing goals, instead of checking tasks off my to-do list. We'll see how it all works out, but I have the vision in my head, and now I'm ready to get it going. No more whisper of discontent, I'm moving and shaking. On day five of our new year, I got a promotion at work: a sure sign that things are looking up!

In other news, I'm downsizing. It's a hard thing to do, but the right thing to do if one wants to move and one doesn't want 29 PODS parked outside ones house. My mom and I opened a new Etsy shop called I Love Vintage Stuff just for, you guessed it, vintage stuff. Check us out, we've already made some sales which means more space in the moving truck for all my fabric (not being downsized)! Yay!

How are your new year's resolutions coming along?

Super G

I love giving and getting handmade stuff, don't you? I especially loved that Wee Pumpkin got a few handmade gifts this year, and not just from mama. He got this awesome Super G cape from our good friends in Iowa. I've seen a few of these on Etsy and thought they were so cute! Now the wee one can cruise around thinking he's the coolest superhero ever (which I'm pretty sure he is). He immediately went into our bathroom to check himself out in it.

His other new favorite tricks include writing on the couch with the crayons and going up to the oven and going "hah!" (translation: hot!) and retracting his hand in mock pain. I must have taught him that, right?

He does speak in sentences now, too. Pretty advanced for 17 months! Except that the sentences are "eh tata?" which, loosely translated, means "Where's that cool ceramic house that used to be on the mantle. You know, the one that lit up and had Santa coming out the chimney?" or more simply "Where's Santa?" Unfortunately many sentences are basically the same. "Eh dada?" is "Where's Dada?" and "Eh Papa?" is "Where's Grampy?" The only reason I even know it's a question is that his little hands go palm up and he shrugs his shoulders. It's pretty funny, but I guess you'd have to be there.

Anyway, I'll post more awesome handmade Christmas gifts as soon as I sort through all the photos!

Banana Republic is For Suckers

I really never shop at Banana Republic. I do own a pair or two of pants from there, bought at the thrift store where I can say that they cost me an amount of money that was pretty reasonable to pay. It's not that I don't like the clothes they sell. They're okay. But geez. Expensive! Ridiculously so, in my humble opinion. I feel the same way (sort of) about Anthropologie. I like the clothes, but would never buy them at full price. Even the sale rack is too overpriced. What can I say, I'm a tightwad.

But, like I said, I do think the clothes they sell are okay. I've seen people around wearing this cute hat that apparently came from there. Much to my delight, the good folks at Ravelry had several knock-off options to choose from, so I knit myself one in about 3 hours with a couple of (SALE) yarn skeins I got at Michael's. It's Lion Wool-Ease Thick and Quick -- a super bulky yarn that makes knitting something like this both super fast and super warm! The final is a bit short for my liking, so I might have to knit another and give this one away to a friend with a short head. Know anyone?

I'm all rested up from my nice, long vacation. Tomorrow it's back to the grind. Yuck. I plan to make an awesome vegetarian lasagna with artichokes and spinach tonight. Good food always drowns my sorrows!

I hope you had a wonderful holiday and a happy new year, too!