Notice something?

I haven’t written a blog post since the end of March 2014!

I gave birth to the most wonderful baby twins in mid-May of 2014. Coincidence? I think not. LOL

Yes indeed – most of my crafting and other stuff, such as writing a blog, has gone to the wayside. Especially the experiments with new stuff. The pottery wheel has been replaced with a diaper-changing table, the sewing machine with a hot wheels track, and glue is only used to put pictures in a toddler scrapbook. Sigh! I did get to keep the knitting needles and crochet hooks, and I manage to get a little bit of yarntime in during lunchtime at work. Or very long call-in meetings. A big “BRAVO – WE HAIL THEE!” to the people who drag on and never get to the point in those meetings.

So what have I been able to actually make in the last couple of years? A bunch of baby-hats and toys. But also potholders, various gifts, charity hats, and mostly little stuff – all documented on my Ravelry page. Here are some pictures:

 

Do I miss all the crafts and experimenting? Yes. I also miss coming home after work and having a nap, as well as randomly watching hours of mindless television.

Would I do anything differently? Yes. I’d start a couple of years earlier and have 5 kids instead of 2! Because having the minions in my life is the greatest thing ever. Yeah I know – sounds cliche, but that’s what it is. Kids are awesome! And I’m beginning to understand why Octomom is collecting them (though she’s insane!).

So until next time then! Off to new adventures. Hopefully I’ll have something to write about before 2018!

😀

PS: I did get to keep the sewing machine too – it’s just packed away. And I never really owned a pottery wheel, but certainly don’t have time to go to the studio!

Gold Medal Knitter!

Every other year there are either summer or winter Olympics. This year we had the winter games in Sochi, Russia. During the Olympics there are also the lesser-known, but more-exciting  Ravellenics games (OK – maybe more exciting is not true, whatever!). The goal is to get knitting/crocheting/weaving/spinning projects completed in the the Olympics timeframe. So this year February 7th through the 23rd knitting needles all across the world were clicking away.

I joined Team West Hollywood SnB  and entered in 3 categories:

1. Event Hands

Project: “Look Ma, no fingers!”
Pattern: Fingerless gloves, written up by Ellen
Category: Mitten Moguls (Any items for your hands: mittens or gloves, with and without fingers.)

2. Event Hat

Project: “Going Big!”
Pattern: Slouchy hat, Cordova
Category: Hat Halfpipe (Any hats and headgear: berets, tams, skullcaps, slouchy hats, headbands, etc.)

3. Event WIP

Project: “February Mystery”
Pattern: Baby cardigan (Puerperium Cardigan)
Category: WIPs dancing (Any project that was started before the Games that is finished during these Games qualifies .)

Looks much better on the model:

BUUUUUUUUUUUTTTTTT:

Best of all, thanks to our awesome team leader Laurie Ann, I was able to take home Ravellenic Gold! 2 medals! Yeah! I don’t care what they say – it IS all about taking home those medals!!!!

Mood School Student!

Last Saturday, Lisa (veteran Mood-school graduate), Sarah, and I took a one-day class at Mood: “Sewing 101: The Basics of Sewing By Machine”

It was a fairly basic class and our project was an envelope purse with a button. There were some very interesting tidbits of information (Yes! I’m talking to you Gütermann thread spools – I know your little secret!), something brand-new I’ve never done before (automatic button hole – awesome!), and mostly a lot of fun and good times with Lisa and Sarah!

If you ever have a chance to take a class at Mood – go for it. It’s just fun being there. I love the store, even though there is a lot of snootiness going on. Still fun!

She did it again!

Remember my friend Deb who made the amazing Kaffe Fawcett blanket? She unpacked the sewing machine again!

A few weeks ago she mentioned that she was planning on making a wallhanging based on a photograph  for a friend’s birthday. Plus the friend is just starting to sew, so she was also going to make her a pin cushion to inspire her. So I’m thinking that the wallhanging is going to be amazing, though I have no clue how she was going to recreate that picture. And a pincushion – nice thought.

Today I saw Deb – the wallhanging is still in the works (looks amazing so far), but the pincushion is done. And it blew my mind! I’m not sure what I expected, but I whatever it was – I should have known better. This is Deb we are talking about! Well, here are some pics of the pincushion. I hope it inspires the recipient, not intimidates her! It’s pretty awesome!

(Please note that the flowers on the side are handmade from plain ribbon and then attached. Pincushion is about 7 inches in diameter.)

My new BFF

A few days ago (December 31st) I lamented over how I only had one post last year because I didn’t try out any new things to write about. Well – HELLO NEW YEAR! January 6th and I already experimented. And it’s all because of my new best friend ever, Miss Julie Taboulie.

OK – maybe this is one-sided and she doesn’t consider me her best friend. Or know me all too well. Or know me at all. Very likely she doesn’t know I exist, BUT I see her on TV all the time now and that makes her my new best friend, right???

Anyways, “Cooking with Julie Taboulie” is a fairly new show I recently discovered on “Create TV” (one of the PBS stations). As the title states, it’s a cooking show; specifically Middle Eastern and Lebanese cuisine. I don’t usually care much for cooking shows – or for cooking – but I really enjoy watching her. And I want to try things. According to my friend Julie it’s quite simple.

Last Sunday I watched the “Street Food Stars” episode, dashed over  to the local Middle Eastern store, and then went to work to make some Kaftas!

Adjustments:

• Couldn’t get mint, so I skipped that.
• Don’t like lamb, so I ground up some spicy Italian sausages and used those as the meat base.
• Didn’t have skewers, so I just skipped them.

Results:

• Came out really well and was delicious.
• Definitely a “keeper” recipe.

Lessons learned:

• Well – my friend Julie made all of the food in during the show in less than 1/2 hour. Took me a bit longer – more like 1 & 1/2 hours. Who would have thought!!!

The masterpieces:

1) Caramelized veggies:

2) Tahini sauce:

3) The meat:

The Kafta:

Sooooo gooood!

Thank you Julie!!!