The AFTER pictures.

You know I'm a bad blogger, right?

I never take before pictures even though there's always this moment where I go "you know what self? You should take a before picture." and then I go "NO! That's too much pressure! Why are you always PRESSURING ME?!" and then I'm all "CALM DOWN, WEIRDO."

Do you see what I'm dealing with here?

Anyway - here are the after pictures of my spray painted thrift store frames - I think they look awesome!

And last, but not least - my husband, J.D. was nice enough to Vanna White them for me:

What d'ya think?

Another mandala potholder

I got tired of only having this one, so I made this one:

Netbook, Kindle or Nook Covers & Boutique Bags

Here is a Boutique Bag that I made from this pattern, and modified to so it can now carry my Kindle Fire (or Bella's Nook, when she steals it)..

I thought about adding a pocket to the front for my phone, but I like what the stitches look like so much that I just left it naked.

This is the first one I attempted using Tangled Happy's pattern:

Obviously, I have to make another one now, because the girls think anything pink belongs to them. Which is true. Duh.

Giant Granny Square - Work in Progress

My newest project - a giant granny square blanket. I plan on making this one big enough to snuggle up under on the couch.

The black yarn is not reclaimed, but the teal/aqua colors are reclaimed from a sweater (that I did not get pictures of because I am a bad blogger). Here's a picture with Jack to show you the scale. And by 'show you the scale', I mean 'show off my cute red-head'.

Crazy Lady Throw Progress

Haha.. lets sit for just a second and think about the traffic that this title will attract.

Ok. That's enough.

I have been working on this throw for, like, ever. At least a year. Every time I think I'm done with it, I come across it and remember how much I like it and decide its not actually done after all.

I like to work on it whenever I have anxious energy, or something on my mind, or am being particularly neurotic about something - which is often.. hence the name.

It is made out of yarn scraps from other projects, so I think it's kind of cool to look at and remember which projects I was working on at that part of the blanket. I'll keep updating as it grows.. eventually it will be bigger than my house!

How I ended up watering flowers at 6:30am

Jack: "Mommy, our flowers are droopy!"

Me: "Ok, we won't forget to water them today."

Jack: "but Mommy, they're really REALLY droopy."

Me: "Ok, we'll remember, I promise."

Jack (walking away, under his breath): "I think I gotta go pee on them."

Me: "Jack! No peeing on the flowers!"

Jack: "BUT MOMMY THEY'RE VERY-VERY DROOPY AND SAD! I HAVE TO SAVE THEM!!"

Me: Filling up watering can at 6:30am.

Funky Dresser Redo

I found this super cute dresser at Goodwill for $20 and couldn't pass it up - I loved it so much I almost kept it for myself.. the dresser before:

But, you know - kids and all. The girls room is sadly in need of a major upheaval, so that's my focus right now. Here is just a peak at what it will look like when I'm done - the dresser after!

Project 'Yarn Avalanche Avoidance' is underway.

So my yarn stash is .. a bit out of control.

It may be time to start some kind of organizational systemish-type thing soon..

I mean, it really is overflowing from every nook and cranny.

Yesterday I was cleaning out the pantry and found a whole bag of it. I'm not even kidding - I don't even know where this one came from.

..So when Jorden from CSN Stores emailed me and asked me to review one of their products, I set out to find something to solve my yarn 'issues'.

CSN Stores has over 200 online stores, so you can find anything from modern dining room furniture to funky craft supplies, so it shouldn't be too difficult to find something to help me avoid this potential yarn-avalanche.

Stay tuned for an upcoming review of something magical and wonderful that will clearly change my life. Or at least organize my yarn - same diff, right?

Sweater frogging time..

I scored this sweet sweater at the Goodwill:

Your dad had the same one too, huh.

So anyways.

This is what I have now:

YAY - NEW/OLD YARN!!

My First Attempt at Amigurumi

A tiny wiener dog! This one is going to yet another of my Pay It Forward people - I bet if she sees this she'll know its for her..

Another skinny scarf

Another skinny scarf made with reclaimed yarn..

Pay It Forward 2011

About a week ago, I posted this on my Facebook wall:

Pay it forward 2011: I promise to send something handmade to the FIRST 5 people who leave a comment here. However, to be eligible, you must repost this status, offering the same thing to 5 other people. The rules are that it must be handmade by you and it must be sent to your 5 people sometime in 2011. Ready, set, GO!

..and now I am working on 6 handmade creations (yes 6 - I like breaking the rules).

Tada! This crunchy, wooly scarf is heading out tomorrow as my first PIF2011 surprise!

The white is reclaimed from a sweater and is big, fat, crunchy and soft, and the skinny purple yarn has just a touch of shiny shimmer in it - cute!

Noodle Hat!

Bella models my newest project - The Noodle Hat from Haakpoes:

Made with reclaimed yarn!

YO.

I'm over here today, bragging about my man.

Granny Square Pillow

I had an ugly pillow that was desperately in need of a new look..

Jacks' Window Bunting

Fancy schmancy window bunting..

Santa's elf hat..

Jonny modeling Santa's little elf hat..

Mandala Potholder

A crocheted potholder from Crochet With Raymond's pattern..

Crocheted Earwarmers

Here are 3 earwarmers I made as Christmas presents from Tangled Happy's pattern..

Halloween Projects (some gone awry)

So Jack wanted to be Elmo for Halloween, and I had this great/awful red sweater that looked just like Elmo fur.. so I frogged the whole thing and made this goofy Elmo hat..

Yes. Thats the best picture he would let me take. He has decided that when people point cameras at you, you should close your eyes and droop your face.

Then Veronica said she wanted to be a puppy (which later turned into a zombie puppy), so I did these..

And then I got all big-headed and tried to make a Cookie Monster hat..

..and that went horribly awry. Horribly, horribly badly awry.

Skinny scarf!

A skinny scarf made with reclaimed yarn..