mama urchin

I finally got to the bookstore this week and got a hold of a copy of Larissa’s new book Knitalong. Longtime readers of my blog may remember that I knit some hats and my first socks ever as part of two knitalongs Larissa hosted to prepare for the book. Then she asked that I send the holly hat to be included in photos for the book. So I was hoping that there was at least a photo of it in there — for no other reason than to brag to my mom and mother-in-law. Well, now you have to hear me brag too because it looks like I have two photos in the book as well as two mentions. Hee hee, I’m almost famous. Okay, not really. But I have to say it’s a great book with that meathead pattern I get asked about so much as well as a bunch of other awesome stuff. So get your hands on a copy.

Before Christmas Martha asked me to make her a fishing set for her son O. We decided to do a little swap. She was really busy with her ACC appearance so she recently made some clothes for Tristan and the timing was perfect for our trip to California. Martha loves this denim and we do too — as you can tell by all the clothes the kids have in it — so the pants were loved immediately. I love that the pants are denim but were still nice enough for a family event. Lots of comments were made about the green button on Tristan’s shirt, I even wore a green dress — sorry for the mediocre photo, we obviously weren’t paying attention to the person with our camera. And speaking of coordinating, Katrina wore her denim gather halter dress so the two of them were matching without being too matchy-matchy. As you can see we had a wonderful time. Thanks Martha for making the urchins look so good.

We’re back from sunny Southern California. We even got a little sun on our necks and dipped our toes in the ocean. Now it’s back to blustery weather and winter coats. All in all we’re feeling a bit like this:

Once I dig out from all the laundry I’ll be back in this space ready to share again. Our mailbox has been brimming with goodies.

You guys know I love a good granny square afghan. Well, that grandmother of mine is turning 85 next month and my dad and his sisters are throwing a little family party for her. My mom and I have been working on a blurb book to give her full of family memories and this photo is going in it. I hope she likes it, I knew you guys would.

So Emily is hosting Green Week this week and as you know, I love green. I mean really love green. Like I love it so much I want to steal Hannah’s sheets. My friends know I like green and here’s some proof that recently arrived in my mailbox.

Melissa made some of her awesome boxes to put in her granny gift stash back in January. I jokingly told her to put my name on the bottom of this box, and guess what? She did! Thanks Melissa.

Anina sent me this fabric and yarn as a thank you for helping her knit her very first sock. I’m thinking of knitting and felting a bag from the yarn and then lining it with the fabric. And don’t you just love this fabric? Thank you friend, I expect to see lots of handknits on your feet in the future.

Edited to Add: The fabric is by Shannon Lamden.

A few weekends ago Papa and I spent some time in the garage. Ours is a two-car yet both of our cars are in the driveway. If you have a garage you know what I’m talking about. With a little bit of work we could easily get one of the cars in — there is a disassembled Christmas tree in there that needs to be put away taking up a lot of space — but one side is full of boxes including a whole bunch of save stuff from my childhood. I’ve been reluctant to go through these boxes because I knew there was a whole lot of stuff in there that there was just no good reason to continue to store but that I still felt like I couldn’t throw away. I find that just the fact that something was saved, even with no intention, somehow makes it harder to get rid of.

So I did get rid of a lot of stuff, A LOT, and that is nice but I also found some stuff I didn’t even know was out there and that was even better. One of those things was this set of dolls that my grandmother made for me when I was about Katrina’s age. I had a matching dress and bugged my mom to search for it last summer but I had totally forgotten about the bag of dolls. I’d have liked to have the dress too — we’ve determined it’s long gone — but the dolls are better. After a nice soak they were nice and clean and ready for some play. I can’t wait to [over]hear their adventures.

Your sewing machine engines that is. Today I cut twelve fat quarters and packed them up to send. That can only mean one thing… the Virtual Quilting Bee is about to begin. My quilt is going to be first so I can be the guinea pig and work out any kinks in the system — as well as work out some participant nerves. So let’s talk about the quilt I’m hoping to have come March 1.

First off, the quilt is going to be for our playroom. This is where we spend a lot of time but the room is in our basement and it can be chilly down there in all seasons. My crafty area is in this room too so happily I’ll be able to keep a close eye on the finished quilt. As you can see the colors are bright — really bright — and the mood is fun. I love the idea of all of you making a quilt to wrap around my kids.

As for the actual quilt, I’m up for pretty much anything as long as it will tolerate the washing machine. I love patchwork and appliqué; I think freezer paper stenciling is gorgeous; I don’t mind crazy patterns and textures. As for what I’m sending the group: the fat quarters are a busy, busy print from IKEA and I also included a 10″x10″ square of squash colored chenille. I’m planning to use the same chenille for the back. So, be inspired friends, I cannot wait to see what you come up with.

I’m a huge fan of the granny square and lucky for me I’ve got a real life granny who likes to make them. When each of her grandchildren went to college she made us an afghan in our school colors — that would be 9 twin sized afghans. Plus, I have two other twin sized afghans she made for me during my childhood. Assuming the same production for my siblings and cousins that’s 27 afghans for her grandkids alone. She is always making granny squares. So, last spring when she was visiting I hinted that both urchins would be in big-kid beds by Christmas and they could use some granny goodness to keep their tootsies extra warm.

Much to my delight the hint was taken. While the urchins opened their gifts I commented how the colors were perfect to which she replied, Well you told me what colors to use, Jenny — she’s one of the few people left in the world who calls me that. Okay, so maybe I did a little more than hint but sometimes it pays to ask for what you — I mean your kids — want.

Those of you who have been reading my blog for a little while may recall that my mom — aka Grandmom — has a tradition of making each of her grandchildren a bed quilt for their second birthday. Both urchins got their twin beds from Papa and I for their second birthday so the quilt giving is perfectly timed.

You may remember my goal with these quilts is that they be fun but not too juvenile and not too themed - cowboy, or fairy princess, or anything — because I want them to have longevity. Well, I think my mom made another perfect one. We decided on a log cabin pattern and we started with some fabrics from the Michael Miller Dick & Jane line. I wanted it to be very scrappy and not traditional log cabin blocks where one side is light and the other is dark — examples of what I mean here and here.

My mom decided to use a red square as the foundation for each log cabin and I think that was a smart decision. It brings some continuity to the quilt. She ended up using all kinds of prints and some solids. There are lots of cars and robots and cowboys and Indians and dots and stripes and plenty for Tristan to look at but I think when you stand back and look at it it looks less like a little boy quilt and more like a cool scrappy log cabin quilt — exactly what I was hoping for.

Grandmom sends these quilts out to be machine quilted — they hold up better with all the washing that way — and the woman who quilted it asked my mom if she made it from a kit or a jelly roll pack. Then when she met the quilter at the local quilt shop to pick up the quilt they laid it out on the table and everyone oohed and ahhed. We’re still oohing and ahhing too and enjoying the coziness of the new quilt from Grandmom.

You know, being in a crafty family really has its perks. One of those perks is the great gifts for birthdays and Tristan’s recent birthday was no exception. Nana and Opa are Papa Urchin’s parents and they brought some great gifts across the country in their suitcases.

Nana brought a new sweater. I know the yarn is plymouth encore but I’m not sure what pattern she used. I think it’s an older one. He’s worn this to church the last two Sundays and gotten compliments both times. She knit it a size up so it should fit him for a while too. Hooray for smart thinking Nanas.

Opa bravely checked this toy he made — you can also see some of the other toys he’s made. He handmade all those little figures — two have flags and one has a bike — and they are attached to the base with small pegs so they each have their own spot — I will be using this photo for future placement reference. I’m not absolutely certain but I think the difference in color comes from a variety of woods and that the pieces are glued together. The forms are obviously influenced by some recent trips to South America.

Thank you Nana and Opa for such great birthday gifts!