Hat, Mittens, Scarf for Kari

This is my model, Skye, wearing the scarf, hat & mittens I made for my sister, Kari. The yarn really changes more gradually than this picture makes it look in the scarf...

Pumpkin

A pumpkin I made for Halloween. There is a smaller one that looks exactly like this one. Only smaller. :)

Here is the pattern.

These hats were mostly made by me, except for the very cute pumpkin hat and the equally cute little pillbox hat in the back. All hats are for sale at Little Bird!

This is where I got the pattern.

My Two New Beautiful Reasons for Living...

No words are necessary...

Table Skirt for Cash Wrap

I also made a table skirt for the shop, from a piece of fabric from Ikea. It has a lot of birds on it and is in our colors. I thought it came out pretty good, seeing as how I was winging it. Sewing is not my strong suit.

Pinwheel Baby Afghan

I made this pink and white afghan for a friend of a friend. I really liked the pattern, so I gave it a shot, then the friend never got back to me about it, even though I called her several times. And it's been months now, so it's going in the shop! It's made using a tunisian crochet stitch, which I love doing. The result looks more like knitting.

Little Bird Handmade, Consignment and More!

I haven't posted anything for awhile because we have been busy working on the opening of our brand new Handmade & Consignment Shop, Little Bird, located in beautiful downtown Oviedo!

Our logo, designed by the brilliant graphic designer, Loyd. :)

Inside the shop:

Pillowcase dresses, by Cori's Closet:





















Carol's hats:
















Our sign lit up at night:





















http://thelittlebirdstore.com/

Home from the DR

I want to thank everyone for your prayers and support of this trip. I could feel God’s hand keeping me going through your prayers. We had such a great trip – all my prayers were answered and more than answered - pressed down, shaken together, running over!

My granddaughter Skye was fearless. She went without any electronic devices- no cell, iPod, DS or TV! She jumped right into the construction, wielding drills, hammers and paintbrushes with grace. And into the facepainting, her medium of choice.She made friends with the kids on our team and in the villages. It was so much fun for me to watch.

Your prayers also helped build this chapel in the small village of Pica Pica, about an hour and a half away from where we were staying in Santo Domingo. We got to spend the entire day there, building and playing and eating with the families. It was very satisfying.

The team that came after us did their ministry in the chapel we built. About 15 or 17 kids raised their hands to pray the prayer of salvation so Pastor Carlos is starting a new Bible study for these kids.

When we got home Skye told her mother Mary (my daughter) that we could “totally live there! We don’t need air conditioning!”

Blessings,

Carol & Skye

Knit Washcloth

This is a washcloth I made from cotton, using a pattern from "Knit Dishcloth Sampler."

Crochet Scrunchie

I got this crochet scrunchie pattern from a blog - The Art of Crochet.

Stuff I've Been Working On This Week

...with links to patterns.

Blue on Blue Bookmark:

Blue on Blue Cross Bookmark:

Pink Baby Headband with Flower:

Crochet Flower Headband

More Bookmarks

I know it seems like all I've been making lately is bookmarks, but they are quick to make and put in birthday cards. I am also working on some other things, but they're not done yet.

Bookmarks

Here are some more miscellaneous bookmarks that various people will be getting in their birthday cards. (You know who you are. ;)

This is the book I have been working out of. I am slowly making my way through every bookmark, which has been fun. I've never made every single pattern in a book before!

Pond Friends Stacking Toy

I made this stacking toy for a friend of ours, who had a baby not too long ago. The pattern was free at Lion Brand, which has a lot of great patterns, besides having some nice yarn. It doesn't take very much yarn to make, so I just used whatever yarn I could find in my stash.

This little guy is supposed to be a frog, but my grandson Josiah calls it a snake, which fits with the "pond" theme, so I'll just let it go at that.

The base should have been blue, with green lily pads, but I did it wrong and didn't want to do it over. So it's a green pond with blue and pink lily pads.

This little guy is a dragon fly.

This is a lady bug. I think I like they way this one came out the best.

Mr. Bee:

Apart:

Together:

Baking Bread

So today I got the urge to bake some bread. I used to bake a lot when the kids were little, but after we moved to Florida and I started working full time, it kind of fell by the wayside. There is something very satisfying about baking bread. I love kneading the dough, watching it rise, smelling the baking bread smell and, especially eating it. Toasted, with butter. mmmmmm.....

Mixing the dry ingredients, bread & whole wheat flour, salt, yeast....

My trusty bread recipe book. I've had this book for at least 25 years.

This is "the recipe." When I used to bake a lot, I would make 4 loaves at a time.

The dough...all kneaded and smooth, set to rise in a warm place.

Split in 2 and set for the second rising....

Ahhh...beautiful!

It came out just perfect! And tasty!

Grandma & Skye's Craft Day

Skye spent the night with me a week or so ago and we did crafts:

My Sweet Dad

My dad passed away on January 2nd. Since his passing I have been overwhelmed with feelings of gratitude to have been born to Don and Dian Schliesman. Thank you God that I was born to parents who knew what You require, to do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with God.

3 More Bookmarks

Made a bunch more bookmarks while I was in Ohio recently. I used my favorite, 3 Dozen and One Bookmarks.