Roses Are Blue...

Love is in the air...

I'm going to take a quick break from the Christmas gifts to bring you some valentines! Wait, what? But it's still January...right? Yes, it is. It is still January. And I have valentines. You are probably sitting there scratching your head thinking that this is not normal (and you are right!) But I was sitting at my computer on Wednesday desperately trying to come up with an alternative to paying holiday bills and I spied the rubber stamp carving kit I bought several months ago. Perfect. I had already drawn a picture of Perry on one of the blocks (back when I was all excited to try carving my own stamps) so I pulled out the carving tool and got to work. 

Now, if you have ever carved lino blocks then you have the basic idea of how one carves rubber stamps. But the rubber is much, much, much easier to carve (much easier). It's like carving butter. The only drawback to the lovely buttery softness is that you sacrifice detail. Well, maybe you won't, but I did. It is very easy to accidentally chunk out a piece (or pieces) of your drawing and very hard to get thin lines and small bits. Still, it's a fun project with semi-instant gratification (and way better than paying bills...no matter how many eyes you accidentally chunk out).

Anyway, after I had Perry all carved out I thought he would make the perfect motif for some um, unique valentines. I mean, think about it. What says love better than a waving cockroach?  Honestly, can you think of anything?  It's like love defined...  So, if you happen to be the kind of person that can get away with valentines like these, they'll be in the Etsy shop.

Hooah Hoop!

I know how it looks but I promise you that this Christmas was not all about Willa.  I am reasonably sure there were some other people around here that day...but don't ask me to name names or produce photos (I have a bunch more of Willa though if anyone is interested!) 

Anyway.  Moving on.  I think the most fun presents I made this Christmas were the hula hoops.  And the most fun hula hoop was the tiny-sparkling-glittery-pink-and-black hula hoop that I made for Willa.  I have to say her reaction to the little hoop totally made up for her reaction to the pony jacket...

Willa would stand in the middle of her hoop and put her arms up and say "Hoop?  Hooah hoop?  Kahwaa?  Hoop?"  Then she'd stand there laughing and smiling while I spun it around her over and over and over (and over and over...)  As soon as it hit the floor she'd say, "again."  And I'd say, "again, pleeeeease?"  And she'd say, "again, pees."  And on and on it went.  Until one of us got tired of it.

Yeah, ok, until I got tired of it.

While (in another spectacular rookie move) I failed to take photos of the all of the Christmas hoops alone under the tree, I did manage to get a few shots with the hoops in the background.  This shot has some kid in it but you can see a few of the hoops back there shimmering in the tree lights...aren't they pretty?  Oh, I'm kidding.  This adorable elf is my nephew, Lowell, hamming it up for the camera.  All I can say without getting myself in trouble is that he comes by his hamming honestly.  But holy cow, could he be any cuter?

Happy New Year!

I really dropped the craft blog ball this year, eh?  But no more.  This year will be different.  I'm back in the game.  And I am starting it all off with a few of the Christmas presents I made this year.

This one, from the Sweet Wee Jacket pattern in Amy Karol's Bend The Rules Sewing, was my favorite for many reasons (So cute!  So easy!  So girly!)  I made it for my two-year-old niece, Willa.  I had been planning to make it for her for um, about 2 years now but I think the timing worked out well.  She is the perfect size for the pattern as-is.  Unfortunately, Willa has developed a mind of her own (in fact, they call her "Iron Willa") and she politely refused to try it on.  Actually, what I think she said was, "NOOOOOOOOO!  NOOOOOOOOOOO!  I DON YIKE IT!" 

A few days and several Jedi mind tricks later, I was able to get it on her but...I didn't get any photos...(I know, you probably feel like you don't even know me anymore).  I have put in a request for a few photos from Alana but in the meantime, or in case Willa won't wear the jacket again ever, (or in case I keep forgetting to send Alana her camera battery that she left here) trust me when I tell you that it was the very definition of Cute.