Go Blow An Egg

We tried to blow eggs once when I was a kid. It was traumatizing. The taste of raw egg, the pain in my nose (when I blow most of it comes out my nose and hurts, that is why I never blow up balloons.) I remember one of my sisters crying in frustration. Needless to say I don't remember trying to blow eggs more than once.

Well, I have some semi-elaborate plans for egg dying this year so I thought I would try it, the trauma having worn off a bit. If I am going to do semi-elaborate I'm not going to be cracking my work. Besides, I barely like hard boiled eggs, and really don't like them when they are discolored because of Easter egg dying.

So I started with our breakfast eggs. Martha Stewart's website says to use an exacto knife, I couldn't do it without cracking the big side when trying to get the whole on that side. A pin works best. Insert it, and gently chip around the little hole until your hole is the right size. The hole on the big side needs to be a little bigger to allow the egg to shoot out. Make sure that you poke the yoke and wiggle the pin around a bit to break apart the membrane, otherwise you will crack the bottom the the egg.



Use a snot sucker, baby blue bulb thing. I read about a few suggestions, one being a syringe without the needle on it (I was going to try the medicine measure syringes from Target.) But the snot sucker worked before I needed to try anything else.


We had four eggs in our omelet this morning, with some basil, tomatoes, chives, and cheese. And, now, I have four blown eggs.


You do have to close the holes before you dye the eggs, otherwise the dye goes in the holes and you get a huge mess. You can use melted wax, or white glue.

Shrinky Dink Take Two

It WORKS! number 6 recycle with a PS underneath. about three minutes at 325. We were very excited, okay, I was very excited, Reuben was the same.

So the coolest thing is you could trace if you aren't comfortable drawing your own things. (Hamilton Deli uses the right kind of clam shell if you are here and want to try it.)

If it turns white while it is curling up its the wrong kind of plastic. The right kind wrinkles up (not curls up) and then flattens out again, and it stays clear.

Dec. 8: Make ornaments

Today's activity was supposed to be the tree lighting at Madison Square Park, but with the boys and myself sick we tried to make shrinky dink ornaments. I must have had the wrong plastic (it was hard to tell if it was a 6 or something else) or I didn't heat them right.It didn't phase Reuben, he had great fun.

The matching hats

The leaves are turning. The wind is blowing. The weather has been lovely. Not cold enough for hats, but the time is coming.

Made a hat instead of had a baby this weekend.

The pattern I used:
http://www.steigerbeat.com/patternvb.html

Cupcake by Lionbrand (Thank you Jessica!) Color Lemon Drop
Bernat Baby Sport

I did dc instead of hdc so I wouldn't have to work so hard to figure out the gauge. (except for the contrast, I kept that hdc.)

completed projects

My first crocheted baby blanket. I don't know if I like it or not, the big holes are a little distracting, but it only took one "big ball" of Bernat Baby Sport. Crocheting was a nice change for me, as I've been a little knitted out.

And finally, the matching hats for the boys. Justin's and Reuben's fit pretty well (they are a little big, but not too big to look huge.) If Simeon's head is as big as Reuben's was and we should be fine.

We have made a huge change in our bedroom, and ordered some plastic drawers for the baby clothes. So now we are down to the kitchen and bathroom, and packing for the hospital. The girl that was due a week after me had her baby this week, she had a few complications so I'm not jealous, it just makes me think I better be ready.

Blueberry

When I finished this hat, Reuben said, "Oh! that is BEAUTIFUL!" Since it is for an infant it doesn't fit him, which was a huge disappointment to him, but it was so easy (and fast) I'll make one for him next.

I used this pattern. With the slight change that I changed colors when I got to 4 loops, and changed needle size when I got to the I-cord because the yarn went from worsted to sport. I have to admit I'm pleased. I'm thinking I might need some orange yarn and do ribs for a pumpkin hat this fall.

Throwing Pots

Mine is the not floppy one in the last picture. The floppy one is Courtlin's.

Hand-made Ornament

Hours and callouses later. Next year I won't sign up for a swap, and I'll start in september, and then I could fill a whole tree, instead of a door frame.

The Froebel Star tutorial can be found here.

Callouses

I signed up for a hand-made ornament swap on a whim. So, I am crocheting like a mad woman and developing callouses.

I don't like them. I only get one callous when I knit, on my right hand pointer finger from pushing the needle. But crocheting gives me three callouses. Maybe its the size of the thread and how it rubs against my finger. I like the product, but not the process.

I'm to the point where I am making up and modifying patterns. I like some better than others. Is it bad that I plan on sending my not favorites to the swap people?

I found some Elmer's glue after going to three drug stores, and 3 dollar stores, and 2 house ware/hardware stores. It was at the dollar store farthest away. I've been looking for pretty (read microfine) glitter. I can't even find glitter, let alone the pretty kind that would just add a little shimmer.

I read about Lion Brand opening a yarn store on 6th ave. I wonder if they will sell their stuff at regular prices or 6th ave prices. I am hoping for regular prices. It would be nice to not have to order yarn because I'm not willing to spend 15 dollars a skein. My wish is flexible... either be able to afford the high end stuff, or live in a place that allows for being on a budget.

(I'm half way done with a baby sweater for my former roommate's niece. It is CUTE! Eyelet rows in the yoke, simple but pretty. I'll have it done before we leave for New Mexico.)

In other news Shutterfly is printing our Christmas picture. I wanted to do one of those cute layouts they have but wasn't willing to pay the extra 75 cents per card... so I downloaded some freebie digital scrapbooking kits and made my own and ordered the 4x6 matte prints. Now we just have to find envelops... amazon here I come.

Ice Queen Cowl

Another project from my birthday yarn stash. I learned how to put beads in. I wanted something to pull over my mouth and nose, this won't work for that, but it is pretty, and will be great under my pea coat. I finished it in about a week.

If I did it again, I would make it longer than the pattern says.

Oh, Christmas in October!

When I was in 4th Grade I got a snowflake from a secret Santa. I loved that thing. I didn't pack it away with the Christmas stuff and kept it out all year.

So, I decided to see if I could make one. I borrowed a book with instructions on how to crochet, and found a pattern online. Ordered a hook, and some thread from eBay, and last night I tried while we watched Laura.

And I did it! That's the actual size. I need to block it, and stiffen it (time for a trip to Target to buy some Elmer's glue because I have no idea where to get liquid starch and won't pay for shipping.)

I can't wait to hang as many as I can make in our house! And will try some different patterns as I go.

First Lace Scarf

I finished it, and after I blocked it I was taller than me! Sept. 5 to Oct. 10th. Size 2 needles, Itty bitty yarn.

Reuben Bug, Mommy Bug, A Boy, A Baby, and An Angel

I decided we would really really have a treasure hunt. We walked all over the park, and searched around trees, and in bald spots in the grass. We did find some rocks, and dug most of them up with our treasure sticks. We brought them home and washed them. Reuben put half of them in his potty while I was looking for a towel to dry them off. Then we painted them. Okay, I painted, Reuben picked out the colors for the ladybugs and then got distracted. After they were done, Reuben named them all. It was such a hit we might try and do it again.

Reuben played with the bugs for the rest of the day. Screaming and yelling "Ah! a bug crawling up my _______." for every body part he knows the name of. He was excited to show daddy when he came home, and repeated the same names when he was telling daddy what each rock was.

I knit a sweater!

It was like three months ago, but I hadn't felt motivated to post it. Talyn knew I was doing it and is currently working on the same pattern. So, when I was babysitting for a friend I seized my chance.

The pattern is here. I did it without the hood (I think Talyn is doing the hood.)

I've been working on an afghan. Its almost finished, but its too big to work on while it is so hot because there is no way to keep it off of my lap.

It'll fit in the fall...maybe

I knit a vest! I must either be really bad at determining gauge, or a lot worse with numbers than I ever thought.

Its too hot for Reuben to wear right now anyway.

Pattern: Cable Vest

Yarn: Lion Brand Cotton Ease Lime and Lake

Time: Bus ride to and from Washington, and Unaccompanied Minors (don't recommend it.)

Knit Booties and Bonnet

One of my favorite gifts that I got for Reuben's shower was a quilt that my friend made for him. It was so touching to know that she spent time and thought on the gift. And it was the perfect size for the car seat.

So, I decided that I'd try a handmade gift for my friend Natalie (who had a shower today.) I hope Natalie doesn't have a baby with a head as big as Reuben's was for two reasons, first its not fun birthing a 37 cm head, because Reuben skipped the whole new born hat phase because none of them fit him.

I finished the bonnet in one day. I learned how to do a scallop edge which I think is really pretty, and I think the fact that you can see the hair through the holes will is pretty great... because I wanted to show off Reuben's hair. The booties were a little harder for me, but I think they turned out cute.

And now I know I can make both. And that makes me happy.

I used Christine's Baby Booties Pattern and the little shell lace baby bonnet pattern

Palindrome Scarf

He may be sick, but he is still sweet and funny.

I made the scarf for me, but Monkey is a cuter model that I am. It looks the same on bothsides, which doesn't happen when you just do cables. The patttern is really easy, and I think it looks lovely in white.

Ginger I do remember you! I'm glad you check the blog, I loved your mad piano skills, and your sweet boys.

Dear Jordan Look at Your Hat

I finished a hat for Jordan... she bought the yarn and started a hat, but didn't finish it. So when she left the yarn in Minnesota I decided to take it and finish a hat for her. It was the first hat I tried to do a lace-like pattern... and I must say it turned out pretty darn good for a first try. I think it might look better on Jordan's head, but I use the models I have, and it looks funny on Justin's head.

I'll put a link to the pattern I used when I find it again. I want to make one for me, but need a better scarf to protect my lungs from the wind.

Trying to Follow a Pattern

Here are the results of my attempts. The mittens are all right if you don't look at the thumb o the point. The hat has a few Brecken-has-a-huge-headache mistakes.

For the hat I used the Thorpe pattern. I'm supposed to crochet around the edge, but I don't know how, and I don't have a crochet hook.

For the mittens I kind of made it up, and that would be why they are kind of funny. I looked at several patterns, and then because I wasn't convienced my gauge would make them the right size I used what I read to make these. The second one did work better, but I think I will do something other than a mitten for a while.