Everyone else is doing it...

Remember when I would post each month what I accomplished? Yeah, that didn't last long. Stupid blogger not accepting Word formatting! But now I see a "Remove Formatting" button so yay! Here's what I did in 2011:

Crafting  
January  
Spun yarn: lots and lots and lots of yarn!   
Scarflette x 2  
Luscious Mary Janes  
Cthulhu mask  
More yarn (4oz koi)  
Cupcake purse  
Ninja Turtle meets Hellraiser hoopla  
Cthulhu ami  
Wrist warmers  
Core-spun yarn, first attempt, 35yards  
More yarn (4oz Anthro 205)  
USPS hoopla  
Baby cocoon and hat set  
February  
Fabric/board box for Russ room x 10  
More yarn  
Ply yarn  
Comb Wool, lots!  
Spin combed wool  
Ladybug baby cocoon/hat set  
Cupcake purse  
Paper beads  
Frog and butterfly card  
March  
Cat swirly hoop  
Paper beads  
Comb wool x 100+  
Swirly jar  
Swirly stamp x 2  
Bookmark x 3  
Shark Triptych in hoops, “Come on in the water”  
Spin 4 oz February’s Diamond Club  
Spin more yarn, and then some, and then some more  
Granny Squares x 6  
April  
Granny square x24  
Mend: horse, shirt x 2  
Skeleton amigurumi x 2  
Dye, spin, Navajo ply ?oz  
Dye, card, spin, ply with Easter colors  
Storage Hammock x 2  
Start Mom’s quilt at her house  
Floral wreath  
Stamps: ladybug x 2, pig, Koi, frog, paintbrush, floral  
Poncho for Alice with Easter colored carded wool  
4oz Cashmere/Merino blend, Navajo plied  
Corner storage hammock  
Spin, Navajo ply blue and white Sheep Shed  
Spin 5.5oz Cashmere/Merino batt  
May  
130 yards of White wool with Pink cocoons  
Spin bobbin of Black, ply with Feb. diamond batt  
Mend skirt  
Card, spin, ply Citrus  
Spin, ply 4oz Polwarth with 4 oz BFL/Silk  
Tree hoop  
Kitchen curtains  
Ninni  
June  
Ninni x3  
3-Ply 300 yards wool  
Ninni hoop x2
2-ply wool, ~210 yards red/blue carded  4oz Merino, Navajo plied  
5 bobbins worth of raw wool, felted in washer  
Mend: pants x 2, dress  
Tree hoop  
Sheep to Sweater  
Spin ~200 yards Lux. Batt  
Spin more fleece  
American flag x 2  
July  
American flag x 3  
Woven crochet pot holder  
Ladybug hoop x 4  
Dragonfly stamp x 4  
Spin 8 oz BLF/silk blend, ply with 1oz wool, together  
Recover dining chair x 6  
Spin 4oz bamboo/merino blend/ Navajo plied  
Sheep to Shawl: crocheted and woven  
Spin, 2 ply, 4oz brown BFL  
Spin 4oz batt, ply with #10 cotton  
Granny square x 6  
Family Stamp  
Spin more, ply it all  
Marble maze  
Monster x 3  
August  
Cover journal  
Spin green, ply with old spun batt  
Spin 4oz blue/brown batt, ply with thread  
Crocheted stone necklace x 2  
Boxy cosmetics bag  
Ninni  
Monster  
Cape x 4  
Hungry monster pillow x 2  
Teesha Moore inspired e-reader cover  
Wonky star quilt block x 20  
Kerchief x 2  
Edge baby quilt  
Ugly quilted potholder  
Hungry monster hoop  
Paper-pieced ice cream post card  
September  
Wonky star block x 10  
Spin 111 – yards 2-ply Sari strips  
Spin – 95 yards Merino/Tencel N-ply  
Neck warmer lined with fleece x 2  
Felt fairytale finger puppet set of 4  
Wiggly pot holder x 2  
Crocheted leaf dishcloth  
Dishcloth  
Tie/bind lap quilt  
Dish scrubby x 2  
Paper-pieced post card x 3  
Quilted potholder x 2  
Mug rug  
Assemble/sash wonky quilt top  
Roaring ‘20’s lady monkey  
Earth stamp  
October  
Tree of life stamp  
Spin 80 yards rainbow local wool  
Clean some wool  
Roaring ‘20’s man monkey complete with fedora  
Alice’s birthday cake  
Unspin/respin/ply b & w wool x 2 bobbins  
Card/spin b & w & brown wool x 2 bobbins  
Carve heart stamp  
Quilted heart postcard  
Yoda robe  
Hat  
Shirt and pants  
Crocheted bookmark x 3  
Crocheted Jellyfish x 2  
Test tube stamp  
Beaker stamp  
Poorly etched mirror  
Luke Skywalker shirt  
Pants  
“Boots”  
Tie bookmark  
Black heart painting  
Han Solo shirt  
Vest  
Leia wig  
Dress  
Boot Toppers  
R2D2 candy bucket  
Tutu x 2  
November  
Sock monkey  
Crochet scarf  
Stitch marker x 8  
Crochet pair of socks  
Stamp x 3 – Ohm, skelly cameo, lightning  
“A” Hoop  
Wrap yarn ball  
Tea wallet x 2  
Fabric covered Styrofoam ball x 5  
Tangram-esque squares (set of 42) with matching bag x 2  
Broomstick lace scarf  
Crochet hat  
Spin ~350 yards 2-ply sock weight yarn  
Stamp x 4 –envelope guy, flower, leaf, speech bubble  
Beanbag x 15  
Bullfinch x 6  
Dodecahedron spiked ball  
Cat toy fish x 6  
Artist’s suitcase x 2  
Mug-rug x 2  
Assassin’s Creed French knot hoopla  
Stocking  
1” Apple cinnamon ornaments  
Fabric gift pouch x 10  
Small French-knotted “TV” hoop  
December  
Winter Ninni  
Bullfinch x 2  
Stuffed felt ornament x 3  
Apple-cinnamon ornaments + paint (4 batches)  
Maternity dress  
Happy cloud stamp set of 4  
Elements stamp set of 4  
Penis chap-stick cozy  
Pinecone fabric ball x 2  
Mug Rug x 2  
Mend: Alice’s new jacket (all functional buttons and then some)  
Pillow x 2  
Skivvies  
17” x 21” Pegasus  
Spin 8oz Merino/Angelina/Silk  
Denice blanket  
Dye, unspin, spin, N-ply ~173 yards [wool?]  
Dye, unspin, spin, N-ply ~112 yards [wool?]  
Fingerless mitts  
Coil-spin ~40 yards  
Core-spin ~105 yards  
Oversized snowflake doily with bulky yarn  
Small needle-felted ball x 4

Books Finished  
January  
Exodus  
Leviticus  
Numbers  
February  
The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff  
Deuteronomy (Doooo… The Right Thing?)  
Joshua  
1 Samuel  
March ? ^ or V?  
2 Samuel  
1 Kings  
2 Kings  
April  
1 Chronicles  
2 Chronicles  
Ezra  
May  
Nehemiah  
Esther  
Job  
Fablehaven Book 3: Grip of the Shadow Plague by Brandon Mull  
Fablehaven Book 4: Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary by Brandon Mull  
Fablehaven Book 5: Keys to the Demon Prison by Brandon Mull  
June  
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and  
Psalms  
The Winter Queen by Boris Akukin  
July  
Proverbs  
Ecclesiastes  
Song of Solomon  
Girls by Frederick Busch  
The Quiet Game by Greg Iles  
August  
Norwood by Charles Portis  
Isaiah  
Jeremiah  
Between Shades of Grey by Ruta Sepetys  
Lamentations  
September  
Ezekiel  
Daniel  
Hosea  
Joel  
Amos  
Obadiah  
Jonah  
October  
The rest of the Prophets in the Old Testament  
The Old Testament!  
Matthew  
Mark 
November  
Luke  
John  
Acts  
December  
1 Corinthians   
2 Corinthians  
Galatians  
Ephesians  
Philippians  
Colossians  
1 Thessalonians  
2 Thessalonians  
1 Timothy  
2 Timothy  
Titus  
Philemon

Home Improvements  
January  
Paint front room  
Paint Russ shelves, prep for install  
February  
Rearrange Russ room/install shelves and boxes  
March  
Clock puzzle – finish – Hang  
May  
90%+ sprinkler system 
December  
Blow in insulation (hired) 

Not really all that exciting, eh? But hey, it is literally the story of my life for the past year, vaguely. Raising the kids and getting pregnant might be part of that story, too, but would those go under Crafts or Home Improvements? i just don't know!

Broomstick Lace

So much for being a Family, blog, eh? I haven't even posted Halloween! It was awesome, FYI, even if I don't like Star Wars.
Today is TNT Thursday over at Happy Quilting Melissa. I tried something new this week! Broomstick lace. That's right. And I even used a broomstick. We were having a good discussion about it over on the Spun to Finished thread on Craftster and how anything that uses a broom is considered housework, right?

Here it is! A broomstick lace scarf. Not much, I mean it only used about 100 yards of yarn, HANDSPUN yarn in this case, but it is still New to me and when you TNT you need to start small, right? *snort* I need to remember that more often.

 

Don't miss the other New Things Tried on Happy Melissa this week!

2 day passion

 

I am not a canvas painter, but I was this week! I started this Monday and finished Wednesday. If only I could be this passionate about things in my life that really matter! Go check out my Craftster post for more info on it and progress shots!

Thanks Melissa for encouraging me to do a "Try New Things" post. This definitely was new for me!

Step 1: Pregnancy Step 2: ? Step 3: Fundraiser

Dear everyone I know,

We're pregnant! Did you know that? Did you know we get our sonogram on Friday? We will be 20 weeks (4 1/2 months, 1/2 way there!) on Saturday. Did you also know that we are trying to raise money for the ALSA? You should have known that part. And the Walk for the end of said fundraiser is on Saturday? Do you see where I am going with this?!

We're taking "bets!"

Here's how it will work: You make a donation to the ALSA via Kimmy's ladybugs (web.alsa.org/goto/kfmladybugs) and then send me an email (messy_mcspud@hotmail.com) with your donation amount and your prediction for what is growing in my womb. Winners: Whoever bets right I will match all of their donations in one of my own for the final donation for our walk team. Example: if 3 people each bet $25 that there is a girl in there and the "sonogram specialist" at Rio Pecos agrees with them, I will donate $75 on Friday evening. Now, someone I ran this idea by told me that's not a great prize so, in addition to the aforementioned "prize," if you "win" I will also make you cookies (or other baked good of your choice), if that is in my capacity to do. If you want me to.

Rules: Sorry, we have to have them.
1) Donation has to be at least $5. Only $5 works, but let's say at least that amount.
2) You must donate at the team website. web.alsa.org/goto/kfmladybugs You can sign up and donate under your own name or donate under another team member, whatever, but checks and cash are not accepted at this time for the betting process. If you want to make a cash or check donation, that's cool, but it will not count towards the betting.
3) "Bets" accepted from now until I get home from the doctor's office Friday afternoon. Our appointment is at 3:30 MST so we'll say I have to have the email by 5pm my time Friday for the bet to count. If you have already donated this year, it doesn't count towards your "bet."
4) Email must include:
    -donation amount that matches amount donated on website.
        -if you donate under someone else, including yourself, note that as well.
    - your prediction! 4 choices:
        -girl
        -boy
        -twins
        -undetermined, meaning the sonogram lady tells me she is <85% certain of the gender
5) We will only match donations up to $400 total. So feel free to "bet" $400, but we can't go any higher than that on our matching.
6) As always, recipes for donations! If you donate $25, you get Kimmy's Cookies Recipe and for $50 you get Cookies recipe and Kimmy's 3 favorite recipes of Mom's, which are all totally worth it. Also, if you have already donated a little this year and you make a bet that raises your total donated for the year to one of those levels, it counts and you get the recipes! (Example: If you donated $15 a month ago and donate another $10, you get Kimmy's cookies etc. Also, you already rock for donating.)

Any questions? Comments? Concerns? Let me know! I'm here. Email, phone, and house calls are always cool by me!
-Jessie Hansen

*Subject line courtesy of my dear husband G.

Donate fabric, earn prizes. I am totally doing this. Have you read my post about my stash yet? Shyeah... I totally need to send some to do some good.

And suddenly I quilt?

So I got the bug, that's right, suddenly I have begun making quilt blocks. 

Why?

Well, it started off by just following blogs for their giveaways... I love me some free stuff! 

First, I started following Happy Melissa because Sew Mama Sew told me to. And after all the big Giveaway Day stuff was done Melissa kept having giveaways so I kept following her!

Enter Sew We Quilt. Madam Samm has started a Want To Be Quilters campaign that Melissa blogged about. Basically, if you are not a quilter, you get a sponsor (see Melissa for that), follow the Sew We Quilt blog, and check back each day to see the new giveaway. She has like 3 months worth of giveaways going on, one each day, M-W-F for Want To Be's, T-Th for actual quilters! So I started following and posting M-W-F and then had a conversation with her where I learned that while I'm not really a Quilter per se, I am a "sewer" (manic giggling at the term) so I actually qualify for the T-Th giveaways and not the M-W-F. :( But whatever, I already have a machine and needles and all kinds of crazy fun sewing stuff, not to mention a stash like nobodies business (more on that later) so whatever, man.

Well, shortly thereafter Melissa started a Quilt-A-Long! And if Madam Samm considers me a quilter I may as well do a QAL, right? Yay! She has been posting about 2 blocks/week and all those participating make however many blocks of each they want, post them on Flickr, and when all is said and done and we all have our tops assembled, there will be a winner! Yay! Another giveaway of sorts! Of course I'm excited to join. Each block has 5 different sizes for the inside block to be (before sashing) and she's posted 5 of the 6 blocks thus far. She's doing 6 of each block but that requires me to make more choices so I've decided to make 1 of each size of each block so in the end I will have 30-12 1/2 inch blocks. My quilt top before sashing will be 5x6 feet, whatever size bed that fits is beyond me but that's what it will be. Yes, I have made all 5 (25 total) blocks so far and get this (this being where the size of my stash comes into perspective): I've made them all using Only scraps, Mostly (98% maybe?) PINK scraps. If I have that many PINK SCRAPS, what does the rest of my stash look like? I'll tell you one thing, I really don't like pink all that much. I'll tell you something else though, much of my stash is hand-me-downs. So what does my stash look like? I won't show you. Tempting to photograph it (in the multiple rooms that it's in) but no, that means I would have to make some order of it first.

I have a Flickr now, only for posting to the QAL. I think my handle there is Mamajes. It's nothing special, just my quilt blocks, and not very good photos of those at that, but I have it! 

Oh, and Melissa is having a giveaway right now, too! For some threads, for quilting! Haven't actually started the quilting part of quilting yet, but I have a dream... A dream that will never happen... Involving my in-laws, Christmas, a quilt frame, and a happy extended family that enjoys each other company. *sigh* Like I said, not likely, but a girl can dream...

Oh, what do I plan on doing with this quilt? Well, if it's not too ugly when I'm done with it, and if I get it quilted before April 2012, I would like to donate it to the ALSA Flowers silent auction, After all, I did get a bunch of quilting stuff from that same auction this past April. And I really want to do something that will make a difference to someone with the stuff I make. I'm kind of growing tired of swapping for others (and in return for myself/my kids) and just straight up crafting for myself. Dorothy claims I have too much time on my hands and I say no, I have time for what I want to have time for.

And if you're still reading this, our ALSA fundraising team is raising funds again, if you're interested. You know what you get for donating, right? Well, for $25 you get Kimmy';s should be famous Cookie Recipe and for $50 you get That recipe + Kimmy's 3 favorite recipe of Mom's: Texas Beef Brisket, Jalapeno Poppers, and Mom's Potato Salad. So what are you waiting for? Go donate so you can make your family a real dinner that they will really like!

Yer Mom

There, I said it.