Trip to Oregon in Photos: Part 1, The Pumpkin Patch

This weekend we went to see B's sister, her husband and their children in Oregon. It was a whirlwind visit, but we had such a blast. On Saturday we went to a great pumpkin patch/farm.

Our first stop was the pumpkin launch. With each paid admission, you get to launch two pumpkins.

My nephew Oscar, 3, very seriously watching how it's done while waiting his turn:

Making a plan (B and J):

The pull (B and N):

The release (Chris and Oscar):
Next we went to the pony rides.
My niece Isla, 17 months, watching the ponies:

My cowboys :) (J in front, B and N in the back):

Next we had a yummy lunch while listening to live blue grass music. Then on to the petting farm which included goats, a sheep, chickens, rabbits, turkeys, pigs, donkeys and a llama.

Oscar feeding a goat:
Isla trying to feed a rabbit:

The next stop was the hay pyramid. If you look closely, you can see B, N, Chris and Oscar. J was up there somewhere but can't be seen in the picture:
One of our many attempts to get a good picture of all four cousins:
J and Oscar had a blast on the pyramid:
Next we did the pyramid maze and then took a hayride out to the pumpkin patch.

The pumpkin patch (N is in the foreground and the rest of the crew is farther away in the background):
Oscar with his giant pumpkin:
Each paid admission includes one pumpkin of any size.

Another attempt at a cousin photo:

A group shot while waiting for the hayride back to the rest of the farm:
So much fall farm fun!

Dolls!

Last night I finished my final, for now, Black Apple doll. All four pairs of legs and arms are sewn and stuffed, their dresses, faces and hair are cut and sewn, their faces are embroidered, arms and legs are attached, bodies and heads are stuffed and seamed. They are finished! And they are adorable! I love them all.


For my nieces, Mary and Madeline:
For my niece, Isla:

For my niece, Lizzie:
My next step will be to knit a little cardigan for each doll. I have to create my own pattern, but I still think they should knit up pretty quickly. And, yes, Audra, I will record all knit pattern details here :). So exciting!

Once the sweaters are done, I will begin work on gifts for my four nephews. I am making my oldest nephew a stuffed Yoda. My other two Virginia nephews will get boy dolls--I'm thinking a construction worker/Handy Manny type and maybe a pirate. Still deciding on my Oregon nephew. I get to see him this weekend so I will hopefully come back inspired.

Happy crafting, everyone!

More Painting Fun

Last night I went to another fun night with friends from my neighborhood moms group. This one was at Sip N' Doodle, a really cool painting place. We each picked the painting we wanted to do and then the two artists walked us through the process. First we did the backgrounds. Then the artists helped us chalk in the design. Then we painted in the design and they helped give us suggestions for the details and finishing touches. I was very impressed with both the Sip N' Doodle artists and the women I went with. We all picked totally different paintings and they all turned out great.

This is my painting: I made it for the boys' bathroom. They both loved it. J was especially excited.

In fact, we were both so excited that today during N's nap time, J and I PAINTED!

This is J's painting:
I chalked on an outline for the elephant and lion cub (his request), but he did all the painting. I am so impressed with him and he was really excited too.

This is my painting:
Both paintings are going in J's room. After Halloween, I'm making him a new animal-themed bedspread.

I am so excited! After only one night, I feel like the women at Sip N' Doodle really taught me so much about painting. I can't wait to go back! And, I can't wait to paint more with J.

Knitting, my true crafterly love

As much as I have enjoyed all my sewing recently (Halloween costumes and dolls), knitting remains my true crafterly love. I am cruising along on my Salina sweater and have already completed the back, most of the left front and the right front up to the armpits. Am really loving how this sweater is shaping up and think I will get a lot of use out of it. The wine purple color is a change from my usual gray and I think it will be a nice one.


As always, while I have one knit on the needles I have multiple knits on the brain. My latest urge is to design my own sweaters.

Next on the needles will be some tiny little cardigans for the dolls I am making my nieces for Christmas. These dolls are pretty small so I'm just going to design as I go using some yarn from my stash. I was reading over my copy of Barbara Walker's Knitting from the Top and I am so inspired. She has some amazing ideas and I want to try them all (rules of thirds, short row shaping, invisible cast-ons, lots of SEAMLESS knitting).

I think I also might knit gifts for two of my nephews: one of these robots for Oscar and something Star Wars related for Michael. The other six gifts will be sewn because it's faster.

I've also been thinking for a while about a striped pullover inspired by Jared Flood's Turn A Square hat. I bought yarn a while ago and need to do some swatching next. I will use Barbara Walker's instructions once I choose a needle size, figure out gauge and decide on design features.

In other inspirational news, I finally started cutting up a pile of old t-shirts yesterday to make these:

I was inspired by a Knitting Daily post from back in April and have been wanting to do it ever since. I'm not sure what the smaller balls will be become, but I think the larger one (made from parts of 5 t-shirts) will become a boatneck sleeveless top. I got a lot of ideas about executing this idea from perusing Barbara Walker's Knitting from the Top. I just found this blog post and am inspired to make more t-shirt yarn using that technique. There will definitely be more posts on these projects as I have time to do more with this recycled yarn.

I am just feeling so inspired these days. Not sure if it's my extra free time now that both boys are in school two mornings a week or the cooler weather or watching Project Runway, but I am ready to design and knit my own sweaters. But first, I have to finish those Halloween costumes, Christmas gifts and Salina sweater. Wish me luck!

Cavorting with Polar Bears

And covered with with polar bear fuzz to prove it.


Still working on N's polar bear costume. I have hope that it will turn out okay.

Still obsessing...

My sister finally weighed in on doll fabric options and said she really liked the cupcake fabric, but didn't like the leg options. So, being me, I had to spend more time playing with fabric. Cat, any thoughts?Cupcake/Black with Tiny White Polka Dots


Cupcake/Red with Small White Polka Dots


Cupcake/Pink and Yellow Stripes


Cupcake/Black with Small Pink Flowers


Cupcake/Black with Small Yellow Flowers


And this one doesn't really go, but my sister said my niece is really into purple:
Cupcake/Purple Stripes


I promise I will stop obsessing over doll fabric soon. At least that's the plan :).

Rescue Pack

J decided a while ago that he wants to be Diego, the animal rescuer, for Halloween. All of the Diego costumes I found were really cheap looking, but cost over $30, so I decided to buy a few pieces and make a few others to create our own costume. J decided the three things he really needed were a vest, a Diego watch and a field journal. I ordered a vest and watch and started making a field journal.

Then yesterday he decided he really needed a rescue pack. Fortunately, I just bought an orange fleece remnant last week and I had some foam sheets with my craft supplies. After about 15 minutes of planning and 10 minutes of sewing and another 10 minutes of cutting out craft foam:


The Rescue Pack is finished!

It's not as functional as I'd like (I didn't make sides, just a front and back so it's really shallow), but it will hold a few small items and J is really excited about it.

Next up, trying to make a polar bear costume for N. Wish me luck!