Ms. Ellaneous crafts a life

Sunday?

Not that W lovingly suggested that, maybe, I could just let this project go, and I will.  As soon as it's done.  Just kidding! (not really)  (Doesn't the table look really, really long from that angle?  It's not that long really.) 

Camp Open House

Nothing like a Open House to make you wash and iron the couch slipcovers and buy half of IKEA.

In December, the directors of the kids camps contacted us to see if we would host an Open House for prospective campers and current campers in our area.  I was delighted and enthusiastically accepted.  "Oh, won't that be fun!", I thought.  I will let you in on yet another very important character flaw now, who I am in my head does not exactly match who I am in the world. 

In my head, I can throw a party that rivals Ms. Martha Stewart.  I can organize enormous get togethers, 30 families invited, at the same time I pick the children up and help with homework.  All this hustle and bustle hardly disrupts my cheery disposition, causing the children to chorus, "Can we have a party every week, it's so fun!" I can welcome perfect strangers into my home with grace, making them feel comfortable with just a few well chosen words.  I make relevant and heartfelt toasts and speeches in front of the aforementioned strangers with ease and everyone seems to wonder, "How does she do it?"

In reality, I have gone on an IKEA binge to re-decorate the entire house, and everything still seems like we just moved in.  I have no idea how many people are coming because no one seems to want to RSVP anymore and I forgot to put my e-mail on the invitation.  I have been freaking out about that many people I don't know coming to my house.  I have been in such a grumpy mood, that the children are avoiding me, or I may just be paranoid.  I don't know what to have for food, or drink, and I don't know how many cars we can fit in our very icy driveway.  I also tend to say the wrong thing when under pressure, causing me to awkwardly smile and back out of the room.  When I do have to make toasts or speeches, I ramble and ramble until I get so uncomfortable I just stop, and drink.

Now, the creative "To Do" list.  I need to finish the blue painting, embroider some pillow cases I bought at IKEA, embroider the guest bathroom towels, knit a runner for the new behind the sofa bookcase, cover some lamp shades, and hand paint some tiles to install behind the stovefor a back-splash.  SO... the Open House is on Sunday.  Wish me luck!      

Blue

Some of the things happening in the studio today.

 

The hat's done

(Sorry about the light, I finished it as they were doing their homework)

One more ski hat done.  I hope this one doesn't get felted!

Cast cozy

So, the cast cozy turned out to be a little big but the color was perfect and she was so happy to have something to cover up her plain, white, cast.  I think I might try to make her a cover out of an old T-shirt too.  That way, if it got dirty she could just throw it in the laundry.  It might be fun.  The embellishment possibilities are almost endless.

I also started another ski hat for A2.  His last hat, the orange one, was tragically felted.  Boy, that Mongolian cashmere is so soft when it goes through the wash.  Occasionally, I just rub it and picture a huge blanket knit out of it.  I know, but winter is long in the Northeast and I'm prone to fiber fantasies.  I guess I'll just have to settle for the little bit on his new hat. 

Experimenting

There has been some experimenting going on around here.  I'm still working hard on my "project" and also experimenting with a new pattern.

It's a cast cozy.  A friend from Bunco had surgery on her hand and because of budget cuts she had to get a plain old white fiberglass cast.  She is not the plain white cast type.  So I am knitting her a chic, red, slightly sparkly bamboo cast cozy.  It may be too big.  I didn't get the measurements.  Not such a good thing when you are knitting something that is supposed to fit something else.  I guess we'll see when I deliver it.  I also thought of sewing one out of an old black t-shirt.  I think that could be very fashionable as well.  Back to work!

I'm up!

Thanks to a dose of Advil and a couple of days of rest.  Well, as much rest as you can get with four kids, a snow day, and a husband away on business.  So, I guess it's the Advil.  I have been working on my "Big Plan" or more like my "Big Plan, for me".  (In terms of plans, it's relatively small, something alot of people are already doing, but like this blog, new to me)  Here's a picture...

This is part of it.  For all those who know me outside of the blog, you know I have been talking, talking, talking about things I want to do, for...EVER!  So, as the new year begins and I contemplate turning 40 Gasp! Sigh!  I am attempting to stop talking and actually do something.  Thus, the big plan(for me).  The only thing is, it's really scary and I'm full of all these doubts and it's way easier to just talk, talk, talk.  Do you know what I mean?   I need daily doses of self talk, "Give it a try.  If not now, when?  If you don't like it you can try something else."    Anything to keep me from chickening out.  I'm just about to, "I'm good enough, I'm strong enough, and gosh darn it people like me." (I couldn't find an actual clip)

I hope everyone out there is finding the courage to face whatever is challenging right now. 

I'm down

I seemed to be the only one over the holidays to not get the cold making its way around our family.  I started to feel a little cocky, "It must be all the working out, the vitamin c and my great attitude." (LOL)  Well, how far the righteous fall.  All it took was a couple of late nights and a few mimosas and I'm down.  Feeling like this...

(our dog L under the big pile of laundry)

I'm hoping it won't take too long to recover, because I have, "BIG PLANS, BIG PLANS, I SAY." (This book was recommended by SS, and now everytime I have a plan I have to say it like that) 

I hope everyone had a lovely weekend.

Happy New Year!

I love the energy around the new year.  It's the same feeling I get when I look at this...

Excited, nervous, and sensing a new adventure.  May everyone have the courage to pursue their dreams and "paint" the picture they want to see.  Happy New Year!