Skull obsession

Yesterday I found myself a new obsession for the week. This is not good, because I really do have a ton of other things I need to be doing. However, I have decided that it's very important that my Brownie girls learn about Day of the Dead at our next meeting. And to do this properly we need to make Sugar Skulls. Doesn't that sound high priority to you? Anyhow, I went to mexicansugarskulls.com and they have a bunch of different molds. These are the two that I got. I can't wait to get them! I'm also very excited about the Frida skulls. I love her. Everything about her inspires me, what better way to celebrate your favorite artist than by eating a chocolate mold of their skull? Next I'm looking for Frida rubber stamps, I've seen them, I just haven't taken the time to hunt them down yet. Anyhow, I'll be planning this week on how to do our meeting next week. I have to be careful not to offend anyone religiously, which can always be a challenge. I also want to work in one other craft, a story about why this holiday is celebrated and a treat of some sort. I'll have one hour to do this in. I'll post updates at some point.

Why I love knitting

First of all, has it really been a whole week since I last posted? What's up with that? I suppose part of it is that my crap digital camera has officially died. It's hard to scan cupcakes and candy filled mummy paper bags and attempts at making other things. I can't do a post without a picture, so I've neglected my poor little blog. I promise I will pay more attention to you this week!

Today my little miss 7 year old finally finished her scarf that she's been working on since last Spring. I am so proud of her. It's over 4 feet long with fringe and everything. I love knitting. There's such a primitive joy in it. I love knowing that it's something women all over the world do. That women going back hundreds of years have done this. That I could go sit in a room of females of all ages and languages with some needles and have something in common. I love the usefullness of this craft. How it helps warm my family. How it's so affordable. I love knitting.

Not sure...

what to do with this yet. I made it today while watching General Conference. It was fun to just have an easy project to whip up in a couple of hours. I'm not sure how I'm going to finish it off yet. Also, I think I may have to redo the lambs face, it looks somewhat like a small hairy piglet right now. Things to ponder.....

Menagerie

I just heard that there was another huge toy recall. I know I am doing the right thing with the China free Christmas. I really hope that some crazy thing never happens and China self implodes or sinks into the middle of the Earth. We are so dependant on them for everything. I'm actually quite amazed at all that I've been able to pull together so far. At some point I may make a list with links and pictures. Someday when the baby isn't crying and the kids aren't fighting while I'm posting this instead of vacuuming etc...etc..etc..
Oh, these are some wooden animals I made to put up as magnets on the fridge. I just used cookie cutters as my patterns and cut them out of poplar with the scroll saw, then painted them and gave them 7 coats of high gloss varnish. I love varnish. And laminating. Everything looks so much better when it's all shiny.

Quilt squares attempt

With my injured thumb, I've been severely limited on what I can do craft wise this weekend. It's painful to knit, I popped the blister trying to embroider, so I thought I'd give these quilt squares a try. I found the tutorial at ibbybeequilts.blogspot.com. I swear someday I'll figure out how to do the whole link thing. Anyhow, she has a great page and easy tutorials. These squares are really fun and easy to make.

Justa little FYI for ya. I found out that Step 2 toys are made in the USA. This is wonderful. Now I will be able to get the slide and teeter totter for the baby for Christmas- hooray! By the way thank you so much to everyone in bloglandia for the support and encouraging words regarding my Made in China Free Christmas!

I am thankful for my thumbs

My camera is on the fritz, so no new pics for a while. However, here is an applique I did not too long ago on a little girls jean skirt. She's got a shell button in her hand. I love how the lines in the material for her hair make it look all chunky and textured.

The other day while using the glue gun on my sons party favors I gave myself a nasty 2nd degree burn on my left thumb. It's horrible. The entire pad of my left thumb is now one huge nasty blister that keeps oozing painfully. This is making it difficult to knit, do embroidery, make bread, get the baby dressed, wash my hair, etc... I am thankful for my thumbs and that I have them to do the daily things I need. I can't wait until it's working properly again!

American girl dolls

Apparently American girl dolls are not made in America. How much sense does that make? I have to say that I'm not surprised. I found this out after calling the customer service # today. They do this to keep prices low and competitive. I'm sorry, but to me 90$ for a doll is not "low" and "competitive". I love the doll we got our daughter last year, but it looks like we'll be making the outfits for her this year!