Daisies, Tulips, Carnations & More

Thank You! We received these lovely flowers from Grandma Betty (Leo & Lulu's Grandma).



7 Days Old. We are so glad he's a part of our family.

Reverting Backward? Taking up the pacifier that she never liked as an infant now she likes because Baby Brother likes his... and playing with rattles I took out for Leo too.

Bouncing Baby Boy. Literally bouncing by Big Sister's hand, we had to make sure he wasn't being catapulted.

Felted Hat. Made this hat in almost 3 days for my mom... but then Leo arrived and I ran out of red yarn.

Bella's Hat

I think the hat turned out amazing!

Morning Smiles

Every morning when I change her diaper she's all smiles, coos and giggles when she sees the baby mobile spin above her head.

Lion head baby rattle.

I started working on this little rattle yesterday afternoon. I think it turned out quite adorable! I need to wash and keep felting it to make sure the ears and mane stay intact but I should have it for sale in my Etsy Shop before the weekend is through (unless I go into labor).

Thanks for all the calls my friends! I swear I will let people know when I have regular enough contractions that I go to the hospital... don't feel bad for calling though, I didn't think I would be still holding onto this baby either!

40 weeks & Eyeball Rattle

40 weeks and no baby.

We took this picture on the way into the clinic this morning... it'll be the last visit (I am hoping, praying, and doing all the other things to make contractions begin).

I am holing up in my house from now until the baby comes. I just can't take the questions anymore, and the advise on what everyone else did to make labor start. I can see the pitty in peoples eyes and it makes me anxious because I am already built that way!

If baby isn't out by the 10th we'll induce.

In the meanwhile, I finished Little Dub's Eyeball Baby Rattle!

In my weird twisted way, I think it's pretty darn cool! I couldn't figure out a way to put on muscle attachments from the eyeball to the optic nerve... without making a choking hazard.

The Cultivator's* best friend and wife have sent gifts that arrived yesterday... very, very cool! Onsies, receiving blankets (never enough, or so I hear) a first aid/health kit for babies and and a DadGear diaper bag which is REALLY AWESOME! I didn't think we'd actually get one! My sister got me a Jeep diaper bag which is really great, but after a few weeks I noticed the lack of pockets on the inside makes my organization worthless... so I bought a 'Roll-n-Go diaper bag organizer' online today (http://www.lafbrand.com/ro.html) which you can convert any bag into a diaper bag, but I just want it for my Jeep bag. Chances that I'll carry more crap than he will is pretty inevitable!

Friday fun...

I reassembled the baby mobile and added Wendel the book worm to balance the Saturn and butterfly... I love it now.

We're having fun watching the Penelope singing "Here Coming Peter Cotton Tail"

Gerry & Pops have been working on a master bedroom closet... should be done tomorrow.

Something for Baby

So far in all 26 weeks of pregnancy I haven't made anything for our own baby! I had intended to make a baby mobile for quite some time, but wanted to make it using some natural wood from our woods, but it's been too cold and after the melt too awkward to meander through deep snow pregnant. Plus I would have to dry it and figure out how to check for bugs, then seal it... all which can't be great chemicals to be huffin' while preggo.

Then a couple weeks ago I came across this "photograph mobile" and though it would be perfect. It's probably a bit busy looking from this angle, but when laying under it it's pretty simple with lots of nice colors. It's not quite done, I still need to balance some of the heavier arms like the one opposite Saturn, and the one opposite the butterfly. Later as the baby sits-up and up I can take some of the layers off so it's not reachable... and I can redo any part of it that I get sick of! Something I couldn't do with a store purchased mobile.

We've been playing the baby classical music that The Violinist* picked out when the baby's ears were supposed to have deleloped (so the books say). It's pretty cool, the baby moves most during the violin concertos and piano sonatas... so it either loves it or hates it, who knows? In any case, I figured it would be better to get a set of speakers for the iPod than a classical (Einstein) baby mobile since the baby is already use to the music we've been playing it, the selection is more diverse, and because I ran across this pretty cool Munchkin iCrib, and not for a bad price either!

Well that's about it... progress in bathroom is pretty great, almost ready for a sink (faucet problems), and I am working on the library this week. My intension is that while the baby is small enough to be in our room the library is the warmest room in the house and it will be comfortable for feeding/bonding time. Then sometime after we pick up borrowed stuff from my sister we'll finishe the baby room.

Felting 4 Sale

It's been nearly a month since I have posted anything. We are now 14 weeks along, and I've been having the regular pregnancy M/S, plus the cold that keeps going around my house (sister's kids). I've been working a lot of hours and when I am not doing that I've been felting the cute baby rattles above that I finally got posted for sale on Etsy. Of course I've been doing some pottery also, but mostly commission work.

We spent Thanksgiving with the in-laws in Minneapolis, we had car troubles on the way down... it's good to be married to a gear-head. After a quick stop, and some Doritos we were back on the road.

A new felter...

I spent most of Sunday felting... finished an Single Scoop Ice Cream Cone, posted in Etsy now... then my Sis and I were felting rings. It was her first time, and I see that I've created another addict! I didn't get pictures of her rings but they were cute, she embellished them with beads (she has more patience than I do).

Fun stuff.

Saturday night baby crafts

Doesn't it seem like everyone is having babies but me? Oh well, I just love making baby gifts so it makes it all a little more fun (vs. sad and depressing).

I came across this 'Baby Bunch' on Martha Stewart when I was searching for alliums, and they had a how to video. I watched that sucker about 5 times and attempted to make my own, it's a little harder than it appears! This Baby Bunch a onesie, socks, bib, t-shirt, hand mitts, and a hat, with dark blue, yellow and red fake flowers... now the flowers are really cheesy because they were cheap, but I am thinking they'd get tossed so it doesn't really matter right?

Anyhow, changed it up a little and dropped this is very bright bunch it into the green bowl I posted last weekend, and stuck the Gerber spoon, fork, knife (green and blue handles pictured below) poking out the edges. It a little obnoxious, but I usually give pottery, fork/spoon and bib, and knitted cap... so it's a little more special.

Rattle, tat-tat... after that oh so cute felted flower rattle I had to make another. So here is the mushroom I finished tonight.

Friday I finished the switch plate. I have sketched out several designs to paint, I wanted to see how my ideas translate onto pottery. This one didn't turn out as I pictured it, but now I know what to do different. I do love the colors... Looking for a little input, anyone?

I had coffee with Jill, one of my favorite peeps in Park Rapids. We met prince charming there too... well Jill knew him, I only recognized him from the opera. I told My Peanut* "I met Prince Charming today" at dinner and he didn't seem impressed or threatened, maybe it was the big grin on my face (because I thought I was being cute). I did admit to the gentleman that I can't stop singing the Agony song... so darn catchy. If you haven't a clue what I am talking about check YouTube for Into the Woods.

a random August weekend

I went to the NLO Into the Woods production on Thursday night. It was great! I hadn't heard of the Broadway theater production, but they used fairy tails from Brothers Grimm. I was so caught up in the catchy, witty lyrics that I forgot to listen to The Violinist* playing too. Oh my I just have to say that the princes singing the 2 duets about 'Agony' is hilarious.

A complete set; I finished my knitting hat Friday night while I watched the news. It’s still a little big but I will add felt liners to the mittens and brim of the hat… and now I have something for myself for winter. Excuse bad picture of me... it was late at night waiting for My Peanut* to get back from NLO.

Saturday breakfast provided by our wonderful little Gold Stars. Then I was off to mowing the yard with the hand me down, time saving, riding Husky that my father gave me last summer. Oh, what a relief! The yard still takes 3 hours to mow, and of course that doesn't include what Farm Boy* mows with his MF tractor, but the old JD riding mower use to cause me lots of problems (steering wheel breaking off, screws falling out while I was mowing, engine parts coming lose, etc...) and this Husky mows well.

I felted coasters too this weekend too, I like that each is a little different. I did them all with roving wool and a needle.

I was cleaning the kitchen Saturday after making dinner for the family, and decided a hammer is the best solution for these 2 blue pottery blue pieces that have been setting around reminding me of my last glaze firing failure. I really should check into mosaics!

As I was typing the above, there was an incident in the yard... I got there packin' in time to see this pile of feathers and the chicken running back out of the woods. One dog was on the trail of the pesky fox, the other decided rolling in the scent of chicken feathers was more fun I guess, stinker (but the poor guy needs some surgery)!

So my coffee and me sat out in the yard watching, admiring the lovely Day Lilies by The Mechanic's* shop. These flowers take no maintenance... nor did I plant them, they came with the farm.

The shortest row in front is what I started stacking last night and finished this morning after coffee. The Logger* will be cutting more tomorrow I am sure. We are about 1/2 way ready for winter with the amount of wood split/stacked.

Well, I best get into the garden, since I discovered it doesn't weed itself.

Note: *101 names for husband

Felting

... Thanks Laureen for showing me how to felt, now I have yet ANOTHER hobby that I absolutely am loving and not sure how much time I can spend to create the things floating around in my mind.

...and at least this is a flower I won't be destroying.

Status on my Clematis... not so good. I watered it yesterday and the vines that had grown up the topiary (and actually bloomed this summer) are dried and dead. There are some leaves at the base still green, I will get some dried manuer and try and make it better.