We Can Pickle That! Subversive Cross Stitch

This Christmas, I suddenly had the urge to cross stitch. It's been years since I did cross stitching. I think my last project was a blanket for my oldest son, who is now twelve (pick me off the floor, because I don't believe he is that old). So, it's been a while.

But, I've been seeing those subversive cross stitch projects around, and it's hard to resist the juxtaposition of such a traditional looking project with such an unexpected message.

I searched through a lot of options before finding the perfect one for my sister. It's based on this Portlandia sketch. Although my sister isn't a fan of the show (I don't think she's ever seen it), she is a huge canner. I mean, she cans things. Usually out of her own garden, which she plants from seeds. That is some serious homemaking crap that I cannot keep up with.

The finished project (which she loved by the way):

You can find the pattern here.

I've started a new blog: Come follow my crafting adventures on my new blog. Find me at: creativeirony.com.

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

I spent it at rehearsals for Spanish Fork Community Theater's production of My Fair Lady. And then I performed in 8 shows of My Fair Lady. My part wasn't anything too big: a member of the ensemble, but David was cast as Colonel Pickering.

One of the funnest things about being in the ensemble was that I had nearly as many costume changes as anyone else. Five. While the theater provided three, it ended up that I offered to make two of mine: my dress for Ascot (possibly one of the most famous scenes for costumes ever) and my Embassy Waltz dress. For both of them, I didn't use a pattern. Edwardian style is stunning.

I've started a new blog: Come follow my crafting adventures on my new blog. Find me at: creativeirony.com.

Momma and Baby Knit Monsters

I was just about to start writing this post, and as some reconnaissance, I casually asked my daughter if she had a name for her knit monster toys. She told me no, and that she "didn't necessary like them that much." Ahhh, the fickleness of four year olds. And here I was, all prepared to rave about how much she loved these monsters. 

Direct quote after asking her about her monsters, "I'm getting super mad at you for not letting me [eat] anything." I'm sure I seem like the most horrible mother ever, making her wait 10 minutes to eat until dinner is ready. So, her dislike might have been influenced by her rumbling tummy and my horrible mommy meanness.

I love these monsters. If she doesn't like them anymore, I will start sleeping with them at night. I went to five different fabric stores looking for real wool felt to make their mouths. I carefully selected the yarn. I agonized over what type of eyes to use. I even had to use double pointed needles! Heck, I may even change out the yellow in my gray and yellow bedroom to pink and green to match, I'm so darn fond of these little monsters.

I've started a new blog: Come follow my crafting adventures on my new blog. Find me at: creativeirony.com.

Curtains in my Kitchen!

My sister moved a few weeks ago. I mentioned this in my last post. When she moved, she and her husband ditched a ton of their stuff. Which means, I got a lot of their stuff.

One of the "stuff" I got was the curtains that were in their living room. They just happened to go perfectly in my kitchen.

This is the before shot:

This is what they looked like before I hemmed them. Yeah, way too long:

And the completely finished after:

I've started a new blog: Come follow my crafting adventures on my new blog. Find me at: creativeirony.com.

Sunshine Paisley Embriodery Pattern

Oooohhhh dear. Pinterest has done me in again. I kept seeing all these beautiful embroidery stitches and projects. Which means, of course, I have been embroidering a lot lately.

I had so much fun trying new stitches. My favorite site is this one, which has the best directions and such beautiful work and I used a bunch of stitches I learned there on my paisley.

I'm very proud to share my very first embroidery pattern. I have a thing for paisley. My sister doesn't get it. I think I may be talking her around with my unrelenting love, but she always compares them to a certain male reproductive cell. If she hadn't just deserted me and moved to St. Louis, she would punch me in the arm for telling you that. I'm sure the comparison has already occurred to you. If it hasn't, my apologies for putting it into your brain. Hopefully my pattern is so awesome that you will now forget about it.

I made five different squares and my recent activities (here and here) may give you a clue as to what I did with them. But, that's coming a different day.

I've started a new blog: Come follow my crafting adventures on my new blog. Find me at: creativeirony.com.

Graham is here!

Yesterday, we had Aubriana's birthday party, even though she won't be two until Friday. Melissa was getting induced, going into the hospital at midnight and asked me to take some pictures. So, I present before and after photos.

BEFORE:
AFTER:
Sorry about the cruddy camera phone photos. Aside from that, I can't believe those photos. He looks so old. I have similar looking photos of Maxton at six weeks. He's so dang sweet. I could hold him for hours.

I've started a new blog: Come follow my crafting adventures on my new blog. Find me at: creativeirony.com.

A bunch of pictures

Sorry it's been so long since I updated. Our internet went down for a while and in the middle, David and I went on a trip to Las Vegas, without the kids (thanks again, Mom and Melissa). David had a conference he had to go to, so his work paid for our gas to drive down, the hotel and David's food, so it was a opportunity we couldn't pass up. Mostly we walked around and ate a lot. We went to see Leatherheads, which was so good, very cute movie and the theater was HUGE and completely empty except for us. The next night, we went to Spamalot, basically the Broadway musical version of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. That was the highlight of the trip! It was so hilarious. The songs were great and I'm going to download the soundtrack as soon as I get a chance. While David was at the conference, I staying in the room, relaxing, making jewelry and scrapbooking while watching reruns of America's Next Top Model.

I've started a new blog: Come follow my crafting adventures on my new blog. Find me at: creativeirony.com.