Happy Halloween!

What is Pedro Doing?

He is doing a little of this

And a lot of this. 

I rebuilt his pride rock area and he now has a sunken bedroom that is about 5 feet off the ground and in the corner. He seems to really like it. 

Halloween in Cripple Creek

It was a beautiful day in the "Creek" today. We went to see the Halloween play called Haunting at the Old Homestead. As usual the players did a fabulous job. It will play through next week so if you get a chance to see it, it is worth the drive up there.

Baby Bibs and Burpees

I made a fast set of bibs and burp cloths for a baby shower at work one evening and delivered them to the party the next day. I did not remember to take pictures of those, but these are for a neighbor who is expecting her first baby and thought that she would not have any handmades because her family are not crafty.

Another neighbor crocheted a crib blanket with a train pattern in it and has gifted it. The girl was so excited.

These bibs and burp cloths will go with the hat and mitts. At least that will give her some handmades for her first little boy.

Am I Knitting, You Ask.

Yes, I am knitting. Over this month I have completed another cowl gift item and started the next one. No pictures here because folks are reading.

My fast knits have been a baby hat and hand mitts for a gift that will include bibs and burp cloths out of really cute duck print flannel. More on that project later this month.

The other knit is a convertible pattern that I designed. I will let you know when it is available at Ravelry. It is a great design for those who want one item to keep their neck warm when needed or as a hat when the weather gets wet and snowy.

Lunch Bag Reverses

In Walmart I found the cutest bandana with owls on it. I bought several because I knew I would find something fun to make with them.

Then I found the new Quilt-It Today magazine (premier issue is November/December 2012). In it is a pattern called It's Munch Time. It is an insulated lunch sack and is fully reversible. Armed with that pattern I went out looking for a fabric that would POP the owl fabric. I found that at High Country Quilts.

I spent the evening cutting out all the components for the project, then did the sewing over the next couple of mornings at 5 a.m. with my coffee.

It went to a lunch and learn in the same week, and I have carried it as a knit bag since then.

Another Apron Maker

Here is another apron maker, she is also one of my regular knitting students. We have lots of fun together.

In these pictures she is showing the apron she is making for her great-granddaughter. It is reversible and when she was asked to demonstrate the reversibility she shows us. It was too funny.

I have sent these pictures to the instructor and let her know the story too. As you may recall she is Gwen O'Leary who wrote the book, When Life Hands You Alzheimer's, Make Aprons. 

Leaf Mug Rugs

So, all those fabric scraps that I have created with my sewing spree, I had to figure out what to do with them. I googled around and found lots of ideas of ways to use scraps. This one rose to the top as the most fun to try first. I am glad I did because I will be making more of these soon.

I tried it with and without binding and think I like the binding better. And it gave me the opportunity to learn about binding cut on the bias to give it the stretch to go around the curves. Very interesting lesson.

The pattern is called the Scrappy Leaf key fob found on Etsy,  and the idea came from the Pink Penguin blog where she expanded the template to create a larger leaf. I had to do the same thing with the pattern but I think it turned out so cute.

Another Apron - Froggy Goodness

This apron was done for a co-worker who loves frogs and it was her birthday.

The pattern is the Four Corners Apron by Vanilla House Designs. It was one of the ones that were samples to look at when I took the apron class in September. I love the fact that it is reversible, as stated: "it has a working side and a serving side."

I have several combinations to make some more of these aprons for gifts. They are so cute.

Giraffe Update

The giraffe has found its home with the crib quilt that was the inspiration for the knitting of the giraffe.

This is one lucky little girl to have a grandmother who is so talented. I was so happy to be part of the gift creation.