This is what crafty people do while watching t.v.


Mojo keeps stealing the cats toy meeces.....so I made him some balls.

look how happy!

I love that they won't break anything in the house when we throw them....

Birds and Blooms

We have had such wonderful weather, our yard has just taken off.

Look at some of the pretty blooms...






Our basil was full so I hacked it all down and made 2 pounds of my basil butter to put into the freezer...click here to get the recipe, etc.

Look at the empty pots...nothing left but these little sticks.....they'll be full again soon though. I love how basil flourishes the more you cut it.


The birds are back and have taken an interest in the tomatoes.
I'm glad I planted several...along with more basil and some bell peppers.



I watched two lovely birds investigate the birdhouse.
They took turns checking it out throughout the day Monday and began furnishing it Tuesday.
This is the male, he has a lovely crest on his head.




Here is the female checking out the box:


I'd never seen one before but looked them up and found out they are Great Crested Flycatchers:


Aren't they pretty!

We are also thrilled because the hummingbirds and red headed woodpeckers are back this year.
As a special treat we've also got bluebirds and Texas house finches here right now.

Monkeying around...

Lately I've seen so many cute crocheted aprons that I decided to make one.

I used some leftover yarn from a sock monkey blanket I made 3 years ago.....look how CUTE!




I used the Happy Hooker's Crochet Stitch n' Bitch book for the monkey face pattern.*


I had just enough yarn to finish it!

If any crocheter is interested in how I did this...here you go:

For the body:
I used an "I" hook and crocheted 8 granny squares. (I did one solid so the face would show up.)
I attached the squares with slip stitch.
I went around the entire apron with sc to give it a nice edge.
I did NOT make a waistband.

For the ties:
I chained 130 for the first tie and then crocheted across the top of the apron, attaching the chain as I went, like how you did in the shamrock garland.
Then, I chained 130 on the other side for the other tie.
Turn and sc across.
Turn, sc across. I would have done it three times but ran out of yarn.

*For the face, I used an H hook instead of the one listed in the book.

I found these sad looking little gnomes in the dollar bin at Target. They've been there for about a month...maybe longer. Noone would buy them because they so sad (and ugly, too....)

Who wants a sad gnome?


But then yesterday, I noticed they were marked to 50 cents so I took them home and gave them a makeover.

Now they look like this:

Better?

I think so....and here is where they live for now...


The fairies don't mind...such hussies!

Gee, I wonder what my next YOE theme will be?

Year of Enchantment, May

May's theme was the mermaid and the challenge was paper.

Here is what I created for Ramie. She already got it and loves it!

It is rather large but I truly love how it turned out!


Here is the rest of the package. I tried to keep everything within the theme.
I crocheted a journal cover out of the softest yarn I've ever felt...and luckily found the perfect little shell shaped button for it's closure.

I also made some bath salts and a mermaid bookmark with pretty yarn.

I included the baubles because she likes to craft with them. The beads are for those days when she puts on her suit and plays mermaid in the pool. The seeds are my favorite so I just had to share some!
I found the oyster shell and it was so pretty once cleaned...thought she could use it somehow.


I thought the quote on the shell was wonderful! It reads:

"When a person knows who she really is,
Once she understands her wild, oceanic self
She discovers her old mermaid self..."


This is the wonderful package I got in return.....

Isn't she AMAZING! I love her 'lady parts' and hair!

Ramie also sent me a starfish candy dish and yummy chocolates (which are in the freezer getting hard again)....a sweet mermaid pouch with jewels...see it on her wrist?


some mermaid papers...much too pretty to use!



Fun fabric...and....a wonderful toadstool panel!



I love EVERYTHING and feel so very spoiled.

Ramie, THANK YOU!

Graduation day....

Look at that SMILE!


Curly Girl graduated from 6th grade! We are VERY proud of her. She has a folder full of accomplishments...impressive!

A few of us went to Chili's for a little celebration lunch.......

We started out with 5 people at a table and kept on adding more and more people. By the time we ordered we had 3 full tables! The poor waiter is on the right in the photo. Don't feel to badly for him though, we made sure to give him a good tip and the girls fawned all over him.

Tomorrow we take the teachers their gardening baskets.....

Curly Girl made the cards all on pretty card stock....but we got the idea from Tammy. I just didn't have time to crochet the flowers!

and on the inside:

Watch out Junior High... yikes!

good mail day...

Last week, I came home and had 2 packages waiting for me!

I was in Shawnee's latest apron swap.
Solidia pulled my name and created this amazing apron for me and included a fun cooking magazine:

the apron is FABULOUS and I adore it!

Thank you so much Solidia!!!

I also got Kim's package from YOE and about fell OVER. I was totally overwhelmed!

The birdies she made me were lovely....


but she also sent these ornies....


along with TONS of other goodies...too many to mention....stash bits, candy, baubles for mosaics, stickers, vintage papers, candles, appliques...


all lovingly packed into 2 of her hand made ornament boxes!

oh, and don't think I forgot the APRON you saw under the 2 birdies!

Isn't it adorable! Thank you SO much Kim!!!!