There's No Place Like Home

So I am finally home! It feels great. We were only gone for 4 days, but being away from home gets to me more and more lately. I don't like leaving the critters and really, a 10 hour drive with 3 kids is no fun.

We went to Kenai to visit The Yimmy's parents. We all get along really well and they were so happy to see the kids. The Yimmy and I even got a half hour to ourselves while grandma and abuelo watched the kidlets.

We stopped in Anchorage for some appointments. Stinker and I got to view the town on our own, so that made for a nice leisurely afternoon. It was cool out, about 40F, but really sunny and just all around beautiful!

Resolution Park, Anchorage, AK

Stinker at Resolution Park, Anchorage AK

Downtown Anchorage, AK


4th Ave. Theater Built in 1941

Stinker with a Stuffed (not real) Grizzly

An old Alaska Native Cemetary in Cantwell, AK. (I have this thing with old cemetaries, weird, I know.)

Isn't Alaska just beautiful? Now I know why I decided to stay here and start my family!

Anywhoo, not too much crafting going on. Getting readjusted to being home takes a while. I whipped up a hat/scarf/mittens set for Thing 1 to give a classmate for her birthday. I did it all this morning and the party started at 4. Nothing like waiting till the last minute. But really, I've always been that way. I don't see it changing anytime soon. And because I am such a procrastinator, I loaded up everyone minutes before the party started, and completely forgot a pic of the gift. Oh well.

These are the stuffed letters that I'm making for Stinker for Christmas. They are pretty basic, but seem to be good for little grabby hands. And who are we kidding, I have so much free time, that I thought hand embroidering each of the eight letters was a smashing idea. P.S....I'm only on the third one. I basically freehanded the letters to his name on the pages of an old calendar. I traced them onto some scrap fabric I had in my bin and a pair of his Daddy's too tight jeans. I am stuffing them with the insides of a ripped (and ugly) throw pillow. I then just popped them (or should I say just it?) into the washer/dryer and gave it the frayed edges. He has already stolen it more than once and so I think they will have to go out of reach until christmas!

And lastly I will leave you with a parting pic of Stinker in a hat I crocheted for him while I was pregnant. There is something so surreal about seeing him wearing it. I look back to just a few months ago, and I had no idea what he would look like, or if he was even a he. I couldn't be happier with the little chunklet that I had. He amazes me everyday. I crocheted that hat with A. Not really knowing how to crochet, just kind of making it up as I went along and B. the impression that it was much bigger than it is and that he would wear it next winter or so. I know now that there is nothing else in life that I would want to do or be other than being his mom. All the other things are just extra now, and frankly not nearly as important to me as I thought they once were. I love you Stinker Linker Poopy Tinker!

More for HannahBugs B-day

I just finished HannahBug's present. I decided to make her doll and her matching nightgowns. The print is kind of like a seersucker or something and was in my stash. The white was the part of a bedskirt that sits under the mattress. I used the rolled hem that was already on there for the cuffs. I coincidentally had green grosgain in my scrap bin to that worked out nicely. I even appliqued a little bird on both nightgowns. I have to say I am really pleased with how this gift turned out. I spent $0 and couldn't be happier with the result!

The whole shebang.

Close up of the applique. It's little birdie legs don't show up too well in the pictures, but they're there I assure you.

Well, I'm off to take a nice hot shower since Stinker is napping. AH....REST!

Peace
-Michelle

HannahBug's B-Day Gift

HannahBug's 5th birthday is just around the corner. For those of you who don't know who HannahBug is; she is my ex-husband's daughter. While we were dating and were married, I became very attached to her. I didn't have any kids of my own and I was around her from the time she was a bit over a year old. Leaving my ex-husband was hard, leaving HannahBug was worse.

On a lighter note, I don't get to see or speak to HannahBug except for maybe once a year when she is up here visiting her Daddy. She stays with him for a few months and last year her and I had a sleepover. This year, her Dad and I talked about her seeing me and we agreed that it was best to let her decide.

Since her birthday is coming up and money is VERY tight (and I am more than frugal), I wanted to make her gift. While her Dad and I were together, I made her lots of stuff, so I thought that it was fitting she got more handmade gifts from me. She was always very girly and has loved playing "Mommy" with her dolls. I made up this doll using this tute as a guideline. It came together super quick.






Beatrix, well that's what I've named her, has been made using 100% upcycled fabrics and even filling. The button eyes and bellybutton were from my stash as was the yarn hair. The body was a pair of The Yimmy's too small cargo shorts. I really like it with the cargo twill. It makes the doll really thick and should stand up to lots of rough dolly play. The stuffing came from a old throw pillow that has been sitting around waiting for a new life. The dolly quilt was salveged pieces from my constantly growing scrap bin. I used an old pilly baby blanket instead of packaged batting. Her little tiny doll mouth was embroidered on. I have to say that I'm pretty tickled with how it has turned out so far.


Obviously, giving a 5year old a naked doll is a major faux pax, so I will need to whip up some dresses or somthing. Since this has gone so quickly (both items made today inbetween dealing with a teething 4month old and making Taco Spaghetti Casserole, it sounds gross, but try it, it's really yummy and a total kid pleaser!) that I will be making like 5 more sets for the little ladies of our family.

Peace
-Michelle