tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-125273752024-03-08T17:30:38.346-07:00Six swans flyingThe ramblings and photos of a fairytale-loving, spinning-, knitting-, beading-, weaving-, felting-, embroidering-, writer-, Montessori-passionate, fulltime-working-mom and wife, among other things. Who am I kidding? I'm never going to have time to post.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716532234516213986noreply@blogger.comBlogger117125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527375.post-71411813565386897912016-05-01T08:44:00.000-07:002017-10-16T05:27:46.470-07:00Make a Bead Embroidery Pendant class<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After a bit of a hiatus, I'm teaching bead embroidery classes again! The first one I'm offering will be on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/224295157939673/" target="_blank">Sunday, June 5, 2016</a>, at Reframe Creative Reuse Center, 10230 W. 26th Ave. Unit 5, Lakewood, Colorado, 80215 from 1-5 pm. The cost of the class is $50 and includes a <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/65314237/bead-embroidery-kit?ref=shop_home_feat_2" target="_blank">bead embroidery kit</a> (size 15 or size 11 Japanese seed beads depending on your preference) and all the supplies needed to complete the pendant (chain is not included). You can make a pendant like the one shown here or design your own. Sign up by calling Reframe (303) 233-3506 or emailing me at <a href="mailto:amy@amyclarkemoore.com">amy@amyclarkemoore.com</a>.<br />
If you're interested, but live too far away to attend--I offer you this tutorial. Also, I can work with shops and guilds in your area to offer classes closer to you--contact me at <a href="mailto:amy@amyclarkemoore.com">amy@amyclarkemoore.com</a>.<br />
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<br />Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716532234516213986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527375.post-13628653325889652912014-11-26T10:32:00.000-07:002016-05-01T08:45:23.317-07:00Making wrapping paper from children's drawings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sew pictures together using the zig zag feature on your sewing machine.</td></tr>
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I have a hard time throwing things away--especially the drawing that my daughters make. They are amazing! I love them! But, I've filled three bins with drawings and at this rate, we'll need additional space if we're going to keep them all. So, I've started figuring out ways to reuse them (here's another way, <a href="http://sixswansflying.blogspot.com/2008/12/making-your-own-gift-bags.html" target="_blank">Making Gift Bags</a>).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can also make envelopes by folding paper and sewing it closed on one end.</td></tr>
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Making wrapping paper out of the drawings is super easy. The hard part is getting your children to agree to let their artwork be used in this way. We went through the bin together to choose pieces that could be used as wrapping paper. I explained that this was a great way to share their art with people they love and also recycle.<br />
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To make wrapping paper out of children's drawings (or any paper you want to recycle, for that matter)--set up your sewing machine for a zig zag stitch and thread it with the thread color of your choice. As the paper gets bigger, roll it up so that it will fit through the sewing machine. Trim your threads (or not, depending on the look you're going for), and then wrap presents.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You could use glue instead of sewing the pictures together, but I found the glue a little harder to work with--also it doesn't fold as easily as the stitched seams.</td></tr>
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<br />Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716532234516213986noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527375.post-7537706437568775612014-06-04T05:43:00.000-07:002014-06-04T05:43:31.718-07:00Vote on buttons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pocket for my Ginny's Cardigan from the Unofficial Harry Potter Knits.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nearly finished cardigan with the owl buttons.</td></tr>
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A bit of background: I started spinning this yarn in July of 2012 on my Lendrum spinning wheel using the fast flyer to make a fine, thin yarn. I finished spinning the 8 oz of dyed Polwarth that I had purchased from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/wildhare">Wildhare on Etsy</a> during <a href="http://www.spinzilla.org/">Spinzilla 2013</a>. I plied it shortly after Spinzilla and started knitting Ginny's Cardigan from the <a href="http://www.interweavestore.com/the-unofficial-harry-potter-knits-2013?cid=2500&CAPCID=36955907510&cadevice=c&gclid=CJGw7aKd4L4CFa1cMgodzgIAFQ&CA_6C15C=400009260000180550">Unofficial Harry Potter Knits 2013</a> on December 6, 2013. <br />
On May 15, 2014, I had finished the cardigan through the yoke, buttonbands, pockets, and buttonbands. However, when I tried it on, I saw that the buttonbands needed more stitches per row to lay flat and that I had an uneven number of stitches on either side of the pattern on the back--making it skew to one side. I decided to frog it back to the beginning of the yoke to fix those mistakes. I still need to decide what buttons to use when I finish it--I have a number of great options. Maybe you can help me decide. I first thought it would be the owl buttons all the way (it is an owl cardigan afterall!), but I really am having a hard time deciding now that I've laid the buttons on the cloth. The owl buttons are a bit heavy (in weight and color). <br />
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The contenders: <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vote on buttons in the comments!</td></tr>
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1. Iris buttons from<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/RobertWGilmore"> https://www.etsy.com/shop/RobertWGilmore</a>. <br />
2. Vine buttons purchased at Shuttles Spindles and Skeins, Boulder, CO.<br />
3. Three crane buttons from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/RobertWGilmore">https://www.etsy.com/shop/RobertWGilmore. </a><br />
4. Owl buttons purchased at Shuttles, Spindles, and Skeins, Boulder, CO (no longer being made, sadly).<br />
5. Snail buttons from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/RobertWGilmore">https://www.etsy.com/shop/RobertWGilmore</a>.<br />
6. Green leaf buttons purchased at Shuttles, Spindles, and Skeins, Boulder, CO. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This felt tree with pockets was a gift--but it would be pretty easy to make if you're handy with a sewing machine. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our advent calendar with ornaments ready to hang.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We made ornaments using polymer clay and photos. </td></tr>
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Each year we add family and friends to our tree. Since we have a miniature tree, we make tiny ornaments.<br />
I've posted about it <a href="http://www.sixswansflying.blogspot.com/2008/12/making-things.html">here</a> and <a href="http://www.sixswansflying.blogspot.com/2009/01/more-ornaments.html">here</a>. This is fun and easy--but takes a few days (mostly because I only get a couple hours out of a day to work on projects--but also because the glaze needs time to dry). And of course, most of my spinning and knitting projects take years--so this is fast in the context of what I normally am working on.<br />
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<b>Materials:</b><br />
Digital photos<br />
MS Publisher (or a similar photo editing program that allows you to group photos on one page and crop and size them to the size you need, then print to a printer with photo quality paper)<br />
Scissors<br />
Sharpie<br />
Cookie cutter in the size and shape you want for your ornaments<br />
Polymer clay in a selection of colors<br />
Oven or toaster oven <br />
Non-food cookie sheet<br />
Rolling pin or pasta maker for polymer clay<br />
Wire for earring posts<br />
Wire cutters<br />
Needle nose pliers<br />
Sculpey glaze<br />
Paint brush <br />
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<b>Steps: </b><br />
1. I use a template I made in MS Publisher to make the tiny photos of our family and friends. I print it on my Sony photo printer, and cut out the photos.<br />
2. We use small cookie cutters to get the star shape--I trace the cookie cutter around the photo to make sure that the photo will fit on the ornament. I trace the shape with a sharpie, then cut out the photo.<br />
3. With a rolling pin or pasta maker to make thin sheets of polymer clay, cut out the ornaments with the cookie cutter.<br />
4. Insert a wire with a loop in the top for hanging the ornament--this can be an earring post, cut it to the length needed. It should be imbedded inside the polymer clay for at least half the length of the ornament so that it will stay in. <br />
5. Press the photos into the clay and cook them at a low heat following the directions on your polymer clay package. I cook mine for 15 minutes at 275 degrees.<br />
6. Allow to cool.<br />
7. Paint the ornament with sculpey glaze allowing it to dry on each side thoroughly before turning over to do the next side. This part of the process takes a couple of days--it takes some time for the glaze to dry all the way.<br />
8. With the wire trimmed from the earring post and the needle nose pliers, make a small ornament hanger. <br />
9. Hang on your tree.<br />
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Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716532234516213986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527375.post-91107127248094119712012-04-16T17:11:00.004-07:002012-04-16T17:25:08.441-07:00Bidding for Good<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OyXYClhNQTE/T4y2MAlu0oI/AAAAAAAAGrM/YxZJ2oKcfqc/s1600/Two%2Bapples-white%2Bedge.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 310px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OyXYClhNQTE/T4y2MAlu0oI/AAAAAAAAGrM/YxZJ2oKcfqc/s320/Two%2Bapples-white%2Bedge.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732156743168742018" border="0" /></a><br />I've donated a few items for a good cause--Compass Montessori in Golden, Colorado is a charter public school (pre-K through 12th grade) with a learning farm and a vibrant fiber arts program where they are teaching the kids to spin, knit, weave, felt, dye, crochet, and sew as part of the daily curriculum. The school is hosting an auction--many people have donated many wonderful things to help raise money for the school.<br />You have a chance to bid on: <a href="http://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/item/Item.action?id=160651746">Two Apples</a> --a bead embroidery piece.<br />I also put together a few gift baskets:<br /><a href="http://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/item/Item.action?id=160783823">Jane Austen Knits Gift Basket</a><br /><a href="http://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/item/Item.action?id=160783855">Spinning Gift Basket</a><br /><a href="http://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/item/Item.action?id=160786662">Beaded Embellishment Gift Basket</a><br /><br />I'm also knitting up a scarf from the yarn the kids spun from one of the alpacas on the farm and dyed with indigo--as soon as I finish it, I'll upload it to the bidding for good site.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716532234516213986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527375.post-13353880423065184992011-07-08T05:57:00.005-07:002011-09-20T13:51:08.094-07:00More words, glorious wordsWhen <a href="http://sixswansflying.blogspot.com/2007/02/words-glorious-words.html">Hannah was 21 months old</a>, I made a list of words that she was saying. Something triggered the memory and today I went back and looked at it --and thought I'd do the same for Sarah.<span style=";font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tADf7Vn33cE/Thb_X1OOM_I/AAAAAAAAGlY/cqJulpBjW18/s1600/DSC04357.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tADf7Vn33cE/Thb_X1OOM_I/AAAAAAAAGlY/cqJulpBjW18/s320/DSC04357.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626965569334817778" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-size:100%;" >All done!, all gone, Amy (mi-mi), baa (sheep), baby, ball, banana, beep (microwave), Ben, belly, birdie, boobies, bottle, Bri, bye-bye, cake (Happy!), cat (Meow!), cookie (tootie), cry, Daddy, dirty, Dog (woof, woof), down, duck (quack), eye, Granddad (Gan-dad), Grandma (Gaa-ma), go, Hannah, hat, hello (he-woo: said into a phone), hi!, hot, huh? (means—what?), juice, Julia (says Daddy-a), Kelly (Ke-wee), kiss (tiss), knee, mama, mine!, mommie (means "I want it!"), more (mo), night night (nigh nigh--means sleep and bed), no!, nose, one </span><span style="mso-bidi-;font-size:100%;" > (counts: one, two, three)</span><span style="mso-bidi-;font-size:100%;" >, open, outside, owie (means band-aid and hurt), pee, please (pease), pocket, poopie (means underwear as well as bottom), shoe, shoes, swing (means slide and park), teeth, toast, that, three, two, uh oh, up, wow, yay!, yeah.</span><br />She also has lots of phrases that are all run together:<br />There you go (der-you-go), Here we are (ear-we-are--she says this when we arrive some where she recognizes), All done, all gone, I want it (uhwan-tit), There it is (der-it-is), There he/she is (when she sees someone she recognizes), I want to swing (uwan-ta-wing), I want juice (uwan-juuuuu).<br /><br />More new words as of 8-1-2011: Duckie, knee, Sarah, why?, Happy Birthday (sounds like Happy Doo-day!).Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716532234516213986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527375.post-69729588298548495892010-12-09T09:40:00.008-07:002010-12-09T10:41:26.194-07:00A visit from the GrinchSo, this morning as I was pulling out of the driveway to take Hannah to school, I noticed a hole in the ground where before lived a sweet little dwarf pine tree.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/TQEG56psRzI/AAAAAAAAGdI/9FVFZSGgemY/s1600/December%2B2010%2B030.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 215px; height: 161px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/TQEG56psRzI/AAAAAAAAGdI/9FVFZSGgemY/s320/December%2B2010%2B030.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548723807963596594" border="0" /></a><br />Here's the hole, and here's one of the remaining trees that the missing tree looks like. It appears that the Grinch visited us in the middle of the night.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/TQEG5XonABI/AAAAAAAAGdA/BkoTWx0eUJU/s1600/December%2B2010%2B035.jpg"> <img style="cursor: pointer; width: 190px; height: 142px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/TQEG5XonABI/AAAAAAAAGdA/BkoTWx0eUJU/s320/December%2B2010%2B035.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548723798563815442" border="0" /> </a><br />Here's the trail of dirt left as the tree was yanked from the ground and pulled through my garden and into the street.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/TQEG6LAx_lI/AAAAAAAAGdQ/3rqhA-tXQvU/s1600/December%2B2010%2B032.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 208px; height: 156px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/TQEG6LAx_lI/AAAAAAAAGdQ/3rqhA-tXQvU/s320/December%2B2010%2B032.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548723812355407442" border="0" /></a><br />The strange noises that invaded my dreams last night, but didn't wake me up, now make sense.<br /><br />Somewhere, there is someone using our little pine tree as their Christmas tree. It is hard to imagine the joy that they'll get out of this--it makes me sad for them. They must be pretty desperate people to commit a crime to decorate their house for the holidays--what a lot to risk for something that they'll most likely discard, rather than plant (even though they ripped it out by the roots).<br />I'm also thinking that this was premeditated. They had to have scouted out the neighborhood, selected the tree they wanted, and then arrived with a truck, a chain and a shovel.<br />I'm actually thankful that I didn't wake up enough to really comprehend what was going on. We might have run outside in our pajamas to try to stop it. At the very least we would have lost sleep and been cold, and it is possible that we could have been hurt.<br /><br />So what started out as a sad moment, disappointed in the poor choices of a fellow human(as Hannah put it, "They made a really bad choice, didn't they mama?"), got me thinking about what I'm thankful for. I found myself humming the Welcome Christmas song from the end of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas . . . welcome, welcome fahoo ramus, welcome, welcome dahoo damus, Christmas Day is in our grasp, as long as we have hands to clasp. . .<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/TQEHHKsPAsI/AAAAAAAAGdo/9aI--WLfYaE/s1600/December%2B2010%2B020.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 184px; height: 138px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/TQEHHKsPAsI/AAAAAAAAGdo/9aI--WLfYaE/s320/December%2B2010%2B020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548724035607528130" border="0" /></a><br />I'm thankful for my sweet husband who took this in stride. I'm thankful for my daughters who bring me so much joy every day. We've been having fun making gingerbread men and decorating our house for Christmas.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/TQEG7CsbdUI/AAAAAAAAGdg/D7bidgJaflI/s1600/December%2B2010%2B004.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 227px; height: 170px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/TQEG7CsbdUI/AAAAAAAAGdg/D7bidgJaflI/s320/December%2B2010%2B004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548723827302430018" border="0" /></a><br />Hannah has been going through her toys and selecting gifts for her cousins--things she thinks they'll really love. She wrapped this gift very lovingly for Sarah.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/TQEG6-ml0bI/AAAAAAAAGdY/uKDiEXJTv90/s1600/December%2B2010%2B005.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 187px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/TQEG6-ml0bI/AAAAAAAAGdY/uKDiEXJTv90/s320/December%2B2010%2B005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548723826204201394" border="0" /></a><br />Sarah delights in the lights and loves to show me all the things that she finds.<br />I'm thankful for the roof over our heads, the food on our table, the jobs that sustain us, the loving family that surrounds us. I hope that the little tree does provide some peace and joy for a family who must not have much.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716532234516213986noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527375.post-73217817325900306682010-11-14T06:48:00.004-07:002010-11-15T07:12:26.817-07:00Winter weavingSomeone said something at <a href="http://www.interweavesoar.com/">SOAR</a> that rang true for me (actually I imagine lots of things were said at SOAR that rang true for me, this one I happened to hear). Denny said that her common response to the remark "Oh, I just don't have the time to do that," while she's spinning or knitting in public is, "We all have the same amount of time." <div>It's so true. It is just how we use it. I do like sleeping, but sometimes, getting something done feels so good.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/TN_pUBfVQYI/AAAAAAAAGcM/BZuuzT0NrGk/s1600/DSC09806.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539402596895506818" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/TN_pUBfVQYI/AAAAAAAAGcM/BZuuzT0NrGk/s320/DSC09806.JPG" /></a> </div><div><br />Amid the toys and the wonderful chaos of work and children that is my life, I made some time this weekend to warp my loom and start weaving some scarves. This is a delicate 2-ply wool handpainted yarn that I won as a door prize in 1996, I think. I've been using it here and there, and this weekend I used a big chunk of it!<br /></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/TN_pTcNck0I/AAAAAAAAGcE/DyWVgNVsY5M/s1600/DSC09803.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539402586888377154" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/TN_pTcNck0I/AAAAAAAAGcE/DyWVgNVsY5M/s320/DSC09803.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div>Hannah helped me wind the warp onto the loom. Sarah wanted to help and sat on my lap as I wove. </div><div> </div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/TOE9wm1u79I/AAAAAAAAGck/moy69zvUYCc/s1600/DSC09807.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539776921911357394" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/TOE9wm1u79I/AAAAAAAAGck/moy69zvUYCc/s320/DSC09807.JPG" /></a></div></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716532234516213986noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527375.post-85009153269583336822010-09-12T18:07:00.004-07:002010-09-12T19:45:11.194-07:00Hair!<div> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/TI2ONoH_MNI/AAAAAAAAGa4/b-Orqh7ZI2g/s1600/DSC08729.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516221483359088850" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/TI2ONoH_MNI/AAAAAAAAGa4/b-Orqh7ZI2g/s320/DSC08729.JPG" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/TI2OOPIyGeI/AAAAAAAAGbA/KCc8seYXUGs/s1600/DSC08732.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516221493831408098" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/TI2OOPIyGeI/AAAAAAAAGbA/KCc8seYXUGs/s320/DSC08732.JPG" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/TI2OOrwvdGI/AAAAAAAAGbI/f0BvWqBbD7Y/s1600/DSC08740.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516221501515199586" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/TI2OOrwvdGI/AAAAAAAAGbI/f0BvWqBbD7Y/s320/DSC08740.JPG" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/TI2OPKyCpAI/AAAAAAAAGbQ/U1zVSmbPgNQ/s1600/DSC08742.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516221509842150402" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/TI2OPKyCpAI/AAAAAAAAGbQ/U1zVSmbPgNQ/s320/DSC08742.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/TI2OPcVjGgI/AAAAAAAAGbY/7zpPeD_-zQA/s1600/DSC08745.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516221514554481154" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/TI2OPcVjGgI/AAAAAAAAGbY/7zpPeD_-zQA/s320/DSC08745.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><div><div>So when Hannah was nearly two years old, I finally cut her hair. It was after she pushed it out of her eyes in frustration exclaiming, "hair!" I didn't wait quite so long to cut Sarah's hair. </div></div></div></div></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716532234516213986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527375.post-10809699161383311662010-05-01T08:27:00.004-07:002010-05-01T08:40:33.515-07:00Zap<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/S9xK1tzcTiI/AAAAAAAAGZs/aSmY7fQM4ME/s1600/DSC04114.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466326334409821730" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/S9xK1tzcTiI/AAAAAAAAGZs/aSmY7fQM4ME/s320/DSC04114.JPG" /></a><br /><div><br /><br /><div>Hannah is sitting here next to me, watching a movie while I do a bit of work online. She just told me that her feet are feeling zappy--and then she held them up to her ears to see if she could hear the zapping. I think that they fell asleep, and the zapping is the tingling sensation. I never wondered before if you could hear it. Made me laugh. </div><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/S9xK1OLW-3I/AAAAAAAAGZk/XNN-hE35mNI/s1600/DSC04116.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466326325920201586" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/S9xK1OLW-3I/AAAAAAAAGZk/XNN-hE35mNI/s320/DSC04116.JPG" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>Also, this week I kept finding little pieces of toilet paper by the toilet. I kept picking them up and throwing them away. Then Hannah saw me doing it and she was distraught. Apparently, she's been leaving these little bits of paper for the mice (no, we don't have any--neither pets nor infestations). I don't know what she thought the mice were doing with the paper. </div></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716532234516213986noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527375.post-76746184841255983692010-04-23T13:23:00.003-07:002010-04-23T13:45:07.880-07:00Spring Snow<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/S9IB2x9jiTI/AAAAAAAAGZU/ksmGIAiTg9g/s1600/DSC04124.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/S9IB2x9jiTI/AAAAAAAAGZU/ksmGIAiTg9g/s320/DSC04124.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463431338589915442" border="0" /></a><br />Our beautiful spring shower turned into a beautiful spring snow. Hannah (home from school today because a cold) and I put on our coats and boots and stomped around in it for a second when we went to pick up the mail and I took some photos.<br /><br />Sarah's getting big--she'll be 7 months old in two days.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/S9IGeFxtwiI/AAAAAAAAGZc/ZRx-EmN5ttY/s1600/DSC03989.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/S9IGeFxtwiI/AAAAAAAAGZc/ZRx-EmN5ttY/s320/DSC03989.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463436411970372130" border="0" /></a>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716532234516213986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527375.post-7264680432587030502010-01-04T06:55:00.001-07:002010-01-04T07:07:30.476-07:00What Joy Is This?Life is good. My babies are growing up so quickly. The New Year has started. I had time to spin and knit while off from work the week between Christmas and New Years--and (more importantly) the energy to do it!<br /><br />Here's Hannah on Christmas morning.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SzbMYyxX3lI/AAAAAAAAGUk/w6xIusTzH04/s1600-h/DSC02567.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419743927904755282" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SzbMYyxX3lI/AAAAAAAAGUk/w6xIusTzH04/s320/DSC02567.JPG" /></a> <br />Here's Sarah--smiley girl--happily cooing while Hannah and I made gingerbread men on Christmas Eve.<br /><div><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419743117671992994" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SzbLpoa1DqI/AAAAAAAAGUc/K8y6-qa5WAk/s320/DSC02561.JPG" /> </div><div>In our very urban neighborhood as we arrived home from Christmas Eve services late at night, we saw two red foxes paused on an embankment covered with snow--it was pure magic.</div><div> </div><div> </div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716532234516213986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527375.post-19217312542359820552009-10-02T19:43:00.000-07:002009-10-02T18:43:25.622-07:00Welcome Sarah Helen MooreI keep thinking I'm going to have time to write this post--and here it is a week after Sarah was born and it is still sitting in the draft folder. Sorry for the delay--but you know--new baby=no sleep and choices like, should I eat or shower today? Today I chose eating instead of showering. It was a good decision.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SsOIp4aaJqI/AAAAAAAAGSg/HS7iYVdyqEU/s1600-h/DSC01247.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SsOIp4aaJqI/AAAAAAAAGSg/HS7iYVdyqEU/s320/DSC01247.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387299832364410530" border="0" /></a><br />So! Sarah! She's beautiful. She was born at 8:55 am on Friday September 25th via C-section. I had to have a C-section because of multiple previous surgeries--the doctors feared I'd have a lot of scar tissue that would cause problems. When they got in there they discovered that it was fine, in fact there was very minimal scaring. They did joke about installing a zipper, though.<br /><br />I'd like to avoid any more surgeries if I can--this one was eventful because the spinal didn't take properly and when they started to cut me open, I could feel it--it was very strange. It wasn't like the last time, where I could feel my body moving, but really couldn't feel any sensations below my chest. This time, while it wasn't painful, I could feel instruments moving against my skin, my skin relaxing as it fell open, and things being moved around inside. It was very, very uncomfortable. They decided that they had to put me under completely. I was very sad because it meant that I couldn't see Sarah right away--but there was nothing to be done about it. I was tensing my abdominal muscles and it was making it hard for the surgeon to do her work. They said it went very smoothly once they put me under.<br /><br />Sarah weighed 8 lbs, 6 oz at birth, measured 20 1/2 inches long and has a 14-inch head. She has a head of dark hair (that her sister Hannah can't stop touching), and blue eyes that will most likely change to hazel like Hannah's when she's a bit older. She has a powerful cry--at times I worry about our ear drums. Fortunately, she doesn't cry much.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SsOIqV79mEI/AAAAAAAAGSo/SIKljwNEePg/s1600-h/DSC01254.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SsOIqV79mEI/AAAAAAAAGSo/SIKljwNEePg/s320/DSC01254.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387299840289773634" border="0" /></a><br />We have had an issue with weight loss this week--sadly hers, not mine. She's lost 16% of her birth weight (she got as low as 7 lbs, and is now back up to 7lbs, 3 oz) and that is cause for concern. She looks healthy--so one theory is that she gained superficial weight right before the surgery because they loaded me up with fluids (3 bags full). But we still need to work on getting her body weight up. My milk is slow coming in--so I'm working closely with a lactation nurse at the hospital (she's absolutely wonderful) who is helping me increase my milk supply and also we're supplementing with formula until I'm producing enough milk to feed Sarah adequately. It is hard work--this mommy business!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SsOIqjqjO9I/AAAAAAAAGSw/4oMSxxTzJ94/s1600-h/DSC01358.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SsOIqjqjO9I/AAAAAAAAGSw/4oMSxxTzJ94/s320/DSC01358.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387299843974839250" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I've decided not to attend <a href="http://www.interweavesoar.com/">SOAR</a> this year because of the risk of traveling with a very small baby during such a bad flu season. I'm very sorry and will very much miss seeing everyone. I'll look forward to hearing the stories and seeing photos.<br /><br />I'll post more photos and stories soon.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716532234516213986noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527375.post-51726657503683975702009-09-25T03:48:00.003-07:002009-09-25T03:56:57.173-07:00This is it!We're headed to the hospital today for a C-section at 7:30 am. Can't wait to set eyes on our little baby Sarah!<br />Here's a photo of me and Hannah in the girl's newly redecorated room. The Raggedy Ann Curtains are from my childhood--my mom made them for the room my sister and I shared in Ann Arbor, Michigan when we lived in married student housing while my parents went to school at the University of Michigan. We're standing right next to where the built in desk used to be. It was a good decision to remove the desk--there is a lot more room in the room and more flexibility for arranging all the furniture.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SrygU9grNmI/AAAAAAAAGSA/lD84H3K6Rs8/s1600-h/DSC01168.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SrygU9grNmI/AAAAAAAAGSA/lD84H3K6Rs8/s320/DSC01168.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385355536397710946" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I finished the blanket for Lindsay--but haven't taken photos of it. I'll do that and get them posted.<br />Okay--gotta go! I'll let you know how it all goes.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716532234516213986noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527375.post-59061033302441817962009-09-05T06:44:00.005-07:002009-09-05T10:50:30.399-07:00Nose, roof, and deconstruction, oh my!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SqJsLPMyPcI/AAAAAAAAGRE/qj9hAL-xTkU/s1600-h/DSC00752.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SqJsLPMyPcI/AAAAAAAAGRE/qj9hAL-xTkU/s320/DSC00752.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377979845348310466" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SqJsLsLfNZI/AAAAAAAAGRM/vZjsuH08C4s/s1600-h/DSC00869.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SqJsLsLfNZI/AAAAAAAAGRM/vZjsuH08C4s/s320/DSC00869.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377979853127497106" border="0" /></a><br />Hannah's nose is all better (here she is a few days after the accident, and here she is two weeks later)--in fact we found out later it didn't actually break--only because her nose hasn't fully matured yet--so there really aren't bones to break. I'm still having dreams about Hannah getting hurt, though. Last night I dreamed that we were hanging pictures and a really big framed painting fell down and grazed her nose. I thank our lucky stars that this is our biggest trauma since she was born (that was <a href="http://sixswansflying.blogspot.com/2005/08/hannah-rose-moore.html">traumatic</a>).<br /><br />We have a new roof since the July 21st hailstorm. My garden is still a pale shade of what it was before the storm, but it will be fine next year and I'll actually be able to bend down and do work in it--which I'm not able to do right now.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SqJt3E09vaI/AAAAAAAAGRc/Aba7XDU5oDA/s1600-h/DSC01114.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SqJt3E09vaI/AAAAAAAAGRc/Aba7XDU5oDA/s320/DSC01114.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377981697989918114" border="0" /></a><br />And now we're deconstructing Hannah's room--well, Kelly is, that is. Here he is taking out the built in desk that was taking up too much room and not allowing for enough flexibility in the room.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SqJt2nDM9UI/AAAAAAAAGRU/HVYrybLAW7o/s1600-h/08-27-090+35+wks++4+days.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 232px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SqJt2nDM9UI/AAAAAAAAGRU/HVYrybLAW7o/s320/08-27-090+35+wks++4+days.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377981689996571970" border="0" /></a><br />We're getting the room ready for Hannah's sister--due September 27th. Here's her pudgy, little face. I'm looking forward to meeting her. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SqJt2nDM9UI/AAAAAAAAGRU/HVYrybLAW7o/s1600-h/08-27-090+35+wks++4+days.jpg"> </a><br />That's what's going on with us right now. I'm working on finishing the blanket for my sister's baby--it is nearly done and I haven't been able to do much beading this summer because the pregnancy has been difficult and I've had to spend a lot more time than I like lying down. I suppose that's to be expected when you're forty(!) and having a baby! Anyway--there will be plenty of time for beading later and I'm so looking forward to welcoming little Sarah to our family.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716532234516213986noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527375.post-41207507127453849782009-08-04T11:47:00.003-07:002009-08-04T12:01:30.690-07:00Hannah's broken nose<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SniDKFU7f7I/AAAAAAAAGH8/Dc1N1Tndxl8/s1600-h/DSC00750.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SniDKFU7f7I/AAAAAAAAGH8/Dc1N1Tndxl8/s320/DSC00750.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366183165263839154" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We had an exciting night last night—and not the kind you want. Hannah and I did our normal nighttime routine, pjs, brush teeth, and read two books in bed with me and we both fell asleep. Kelly usually comes up a little bit later and takes Hannah back to her bed. At about 10 pm, Hannah who was asleep in the middle of the bed next to me, suddenly turned and pitched off the bed face first in an acrobatic move we can only imagine. She landed face first on the hardwood floor. I can’t remember how I got by her side, but I woke up pretty quickly and even saw her feet going over the side of the bed. Kelly came rushing upstairs to see what the commotion was, almost falling himself in his hurry and stocking feet. I lifted Hannah off the floor—she was crying instantly-- and I saw that both her lips were bleeding, right after that her nose started bleeding.<br /><br />Kelly took her to the bathroom while I went to get ice. By the time I got back upstairs, it was clear that her nose was probably broken (it was swollen to twice its normal size and an odd shape). Kelly called the doctor, I tried to get ice on her nose (we were never successful with the ice or icepacks, though eventually we were able to put a wet wash cloth on her nose)—and held her while we waited for the on-call service at the doctor’s office to call us back. It seemed like an eternity, but it was only ten minutes, and they told us to take her to the ER.<br /><br />Hannah did a good job of calming down (our brave little girl) as much as possible (as did I and Kelly—we both had our moments of needing to pull it together). She cried the whole time, but was not hysterical.<br /><br />At the ER, the thing that she did not like the most was when they tried to take her pulse and oxygen with the little thing that goes on your finger. She did like the bracelet they put on her arm for identification (and didn’t want to take it off when we got home). After that, she did a good job of letting them look at her lips and throat and nose, and in her eyes to make sure she didn’t have concussion. We had the option for a CAT scan, but they said it would only be if we wanted to do cosmetic surgery in the future and wouldn’t change her care for the night—and it would expose her to a lot of radiation—so we opted out of the CAT scan.<br /><br />They gave her Tylenol with codeine and Motrin to help her sleep and reduce the swelling. We got home a little after midnight. On the drive home, she was a bit loopy from the medication and talking and talking about all the strange things she was seeing driving home at midnight. She slept well. Both Kelly and I got up several times to check on her and I had nightmares all night about Hannah getting injured.<br /><br />She woke up cheerful and ready to tell everyone the story of the adventure from the night before. She helped me get the blood out of her pjs with hydrogen peroxide this morning. The swelling has gone down but, I expect she’ll have two black eyes soon. We’ll see how her nose heals—the doctor at the ER said that we’d have to wait for the swelling to go down to determine if it was broken (he thought it would be three days or so). Little kids don’t have a lot of cartilage in their noses, so with luck, it’ll be fine.<br /><br />We'll revise our bed time routine--even though I think this was a freak accident as she's never fallen out of bed before and mostly sleeps in one spot all night long--I don't want to take the chance of it happening again.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716532234516213986noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527375.post-47900988255663356512009-07-21T06:31:00.003-07:002009-07-21T06:55:14.683-07:00Shredded gardenLast night we had an intense hail storm. So, here are the before photos of my garden shot on July 10th.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SmXD7w2VZVI/AAAAAAAAGA4/VT9ZoLugwug/s1600-h/DSC00211.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SmXD7w2VZVI/AAAAAAAAGA4/VT9ZoLugwug/s320/DSC00211.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360906362946938194" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SmXD7LoXygI/AAAAAAAAGAo/QWUzdG7_2Tk/s1600-h/DSC00208.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SmXD7LoXygI/AAAAAAAAGAo/QWUzdG7_2Tk/s320/DSC00208.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360906352956262914" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SmXD7bT2T-I/AAAAAAAAGAw/dxNdNRREkSg/s1600-h/DSC00213.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SmXD7bT2T-I/AAAAAAAAGAw/dxNdNRREkSg/s320/DSC00213.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360906357165150178" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And here are photos from 6:30 am this morning--several hours after the 11 pm storm last night.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SmXF6DfXgDI/AAAAAAAAGBQ/lszu0MPBdWw/s1600-h/DSC00504.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SmXF6DfXgDI/AAAAAAAAGBQ/lszu0MPBdWw/s320/DSC00504.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360908532614398002" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SmXF5SyfwGI/AAAAAAAAGBI/CI92t8B3v3E/s1600-h/DSC00502.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SmXF5SyfwGI/AAAAAAAAGBI/CI92t8B3v3E/s320/DSC00502.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360908519541293154" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SmXF5MUSNQI/AAAAAAAAGBA/KsoptRQnFPQ/s1600-h/DSC00500.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SmXF5MUSNQI/AAAAAAAAGBA/KsoptRQnFPQ/s320/DSC00500.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360908517803963650" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I'm sure some of the garden will bounce back--but there is a lot that won't be back this season. I held Hannah during the storm--it was so intense and I worried that the hail was going to break our windows, it was blasting our house so hard. The power was out for two hours, but everything else seems to be okay--no big branches in the yard or power lines down as far as I can tell. After it was over she told me that she never wanted it to hail like that again. We have leaves plastered to the second story window, and the trees are stripped of their leaves. I have a feeling it is not going to be so nice and cool in our house for the rest of the summer. I'm sad to see my garden so decimated, but I know that it will bounce back eventually.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716532234516213986noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527375.post-68396880370500917202009-06-22T06:19:00.006-07:002009-06-22T06:45:58.253-07:00I'm still here--really<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/Sj-GINzSWUI/AAAAAAAAF3E/WOl3CgmhmdQ/s1600-h/DSC00005.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 207px; height: 276px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/Sj-GINzSWUI/AAAAAAAAF3E/WOl3CgmhmdQ/s320/DSC00005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350142358041286978" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/Sj-J5EByYrI/AAAAAAAAF3M/Gr2daUdOdTQ/s1600-h/DSC00010.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 232px; height: 173px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/Sj-J5EByYrI/AAAAAAAAF3M/Gr2daUdOdTQ/s320/DSC00010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350146495766225586" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/Sj-GH-xv90I/AAAAAAAAF28/OMQn5lwD0qo/s1600-h/DSC00013.JPG"> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/Sj-GH-xv90I/AAAAAAAAF28/OMQn5lwD0qo/s1600-h/DSC00013.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 206px; height: 274px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/Sj-GH-xv90I/AAAAAAAAF28/OMQn5lwD0qo/s320/DSC00013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350142354008307522" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I didn't mean to disappear on you like that--sorry! This spring just got so busy--too busy to post updates. Thanks to nearly daily rain for what seems like months--my garden is glorious--the iris are just finishing up and the lilies are starting in (none are blooming yet, but they promise to, soon). Daily rain--that's just not a phrase we utter much in Colorado--and certainly not with the words months. I guess it is further evidence of global warming--disturbing as that is--it sure has been nice.<br /><br />For those of you who participated in my brother's auction to raise money for his film, Id and Emma--thank you! The editing is going well--here is a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UkvPKJC69c">trailer.</a><br /><br />Hannah turned four--can you believe it? I can't. On her birthday, I went into her room to wake her up and she was still groggy, but said, "Momma! I've got a surprise for you!" And I said, "Oh! What is it?" And she stuck her feet out from under her covers and said, "Look, my foots is bigger!"<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/Sj-KzNYRHzI/AAAAAAAAF3U/HrVPeABxnFQ/s1600-h/Hannah+turns+4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/Sj-KzNYRHzI/AAAAAAAAF3U/HrVPeABxnFQ/s320/Hannah+turns+4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350147494708846386" border="0" /></a>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716532234516213986noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527375.post-90331463443033979482009-03-09T10:08:00.009-07:002009-04-14T15:44:01.515-07:00Art auctionMy brother Ben and his friend D.W. Alexander are working on raising money for their next film production, <span style="font-style: italic;">Id and Emma</span>, which they will begin shooting in April. They have asked artists that they know to donate artwork for the auction and we’ve listed them on ebay (see the links below).<br /><br />They are also donating 20% of the money raised from the auction for the Colorado Sickle Cell Foundation to honor a friend who is fighting the disease.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SbVNrHVs4_I/AAAAAAAAEho/wDoCBsSADcg/s1600-h/Dale+and+Ben+Filming+at+East+High.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SbVNrHVs4_I/AAAAAAAAEho/wDoCBsSADcg/s320/Dale+and+Ben+Filming+at+East+High.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311236738653152242" border="0" /></a><br />In this photo, D.W. is filming from the tower at East High School in Denver, Colorado, which will be a location in Id and Emma.<br /><br />Please take a look at these items for auction, bid on ones you like, and forward this link to your friends and family. We really appreciate your support!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Updated 04-14-09--thanks everyone! So far, Ben and D.W. have earned $220.00 as well as $60 for the Colorado Sickle Cell Foundation.</span><br /><br />These paintings are still available and have been relisted on eBay:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/ScbZ60DlpyI/AAAAAAAAEi4/0qaQi4riRMQ/s1600-h/DSC04150.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 164px; height: 116px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/ScbZ60DlpyI/AAAAAAAAEi4/0qaQi4riRMQ/s320/DSC04150.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316176014586783522" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=120406491815">El Pueblo</a> by Patricia Barr Clarke.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/ScbZ6bYDFKI/AAAAAAAAEio/18nE7H2sEJA/s1600-h/DSC04132.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 111px; height: 230px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/ScbZ6bYDFKI/AAAAAAAAEio/18nE7H2sEJA/s320/DSC04132.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316176007961711778" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=120406492012">Rainbow Shell #8</a> by Tanya L. Hayes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/Scbat8pnlAI/AAAAAAAAEjI/nTQkZUz9cj0/s1600-h/DSC04155.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 155px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/Scbat8pnlAI/AAAAAAAAEjI/nTQkZUz9cj0/s320/DSC04155.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316176893067105282" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=120406490284">The Reading Room</a><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=120406490284"> </a>by Benjamin Sherif Clarke<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/ScbatAp1G4I/AAAAAAAAEjA/LMcwsRUY0s8/s1600-h/DSC04152.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 127px; height: 120px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/ScbatAp1G4I/AAAAAAAAEjA/LMcwsRUY0s8/s320/DSC04152.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316176876961864578" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=120406490960">Figure Study</a> by Benjamin Sherif Clarke<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=120395794616"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 146px; height: 109px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/ScbauDf52aI/AAAAAAAAEjQ/yNEr_y3CKZg/s320/DSC04158.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316176894905407906" border="0" /></a><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=120395794616"><br /></a><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=120406490765">Not Just One or the Other </a>by Laura Brady<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/ScbczcOogoI/AAAAAAAAEjo/TJ0S7smp8Lo/s1600-h/DSC04161.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 131px; height: 98px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/ScbczcOogoI/AAAAAAAAEjo/TJ0S7smp8Lo/s320/DSC04161.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316179186466456194" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=120406490525">Stirling Castle</a> by Noell Custer<br /><br />Books by Mark A. Clarke, Barbara Dobson, and Sandra Silberstein<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/ScbfgdQjU7I/AAAAAAAAEjw/FaKTpp_sk2w/s1600-h/Reader%27s+Choice002.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 91px; height: 117px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/ScbfgdQjU7I/AAAAAAAAEjw/FaKTpp_sk2w/s320/Reader%27s+Choice002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316182158860309426" border="0" /></a><br />One copy of the 5th edition of<br /><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=120406494492">Reader's Choice</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/Scbg4J4X0DI/AAAAAAAAEkA/nHykzUcxuj4/s1600-h/Choice+Readings.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 115px; height: 117px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/Scbg4J4X0DI/AAAAAAAAEkA/nHykzUcxuj4/s320/Choice+Readings.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316183665487106098" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=120406494053">Choice Readings</a><br /><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=120399197421"></a><br />Books by Mark A. Clarke<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/ScbhXGawPEI/AAAAAAAAEkQ/_peisaLQBws/s1600-h/A+Place+to+Stand.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 87px; height: 133px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/ScbhXGawPEI/AAAAAAAAEkQ/_peisaLQBws/s320/A+Place+to+Stand.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316184197133515842" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=120406492601">A Place to Stand</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/Scbg4N0NSGI/AAAAAAAAEkI/NRgLjRDF4Lc/s1600-h/Contested+Territory.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 85px; height: 123px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/Scbg4N0NSGI/AAAAAAAAEkI/NRgLjRDF4Lc/s320/Contested+Territory.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316183666543380578" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=120406493003">Common Ground, Contested Territory</a><br /><br /><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120389995013"></a>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716532234516213986noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527375.post-13605258156115299402009-01-26T06:50:00.006-07:002009-01-26T07:32:20.287-07:00Too big, too small...what about just right?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SX3EGYcSZiI/AAAAAAAAEZ4/qhXtA8Ex5V4/s1600-h/DSC03885.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 218px; height: 163px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SX3EGYcSZiI/AAAAAAAAEZ4/qhXtA8Ex5V4/s320/DSC03885.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295604350776927778" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SX3EG1uJxlI/AAAAAAAAEaI/3ZRiwGxmQpk/s1600-h/DSC03894.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 219px; height: 163px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SX3EG1uJxlI/AAAAAAAAEaI/3ZRiwGxmQpk/s320/DSC03894.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295604358636488274" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SX3EGjY4i0I/AAAAAAAAEaA/k-vopSElxKQ/s1600-h/DSC03887.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 219px; height: 163px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SX3EGjY4i0I/AAAAAAAAEaA/k-vopSElxKQ/s320/DSC03887.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295604353715440450" border="0" /></a><br />I decided to full the hat--it is still a bit big, but wearable. Here it is before and after fulling.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SX3F7PY1ZdI/AAAAAAAAEaQ/sSUrLA5uyiw/s1600-h/DSC03806.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 149px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SX3F7PY1ZdI/AAAAAAAAEaQ/sSUrLA5uyiw/s320/DSC03806.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295606358391219666" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SX3F73tCV1I/AAAAAAAAEaY/SymBXm9xrdQ/s1600-h/DSC03884.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 198px; height: 149px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SX3F73tCV1I/AAAAAAAAEaY/SymBXm9xrdQ/s320/DSC03884.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295606369213372242" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SX3JA757MFI/AAAAAAAAEa4/8zz8AXqwCuE/s1600-h/DSC03913.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 203px; height: 152px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SX3JA757MFI/AAAAAAAAEa4/8zz8AXqwCuE/s320/DSC03913.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295609754775400530" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SX3F8es5J-I/AAAAAAAAEao/WoRYhSsMLJk/s1600-h/DSC03914.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 199px; height: 149px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SX3F8es5J-I/AAAAAAAAEao/WoRYhSsMLJk/s320/DSC03914.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295606379681753058" border="0" /></a><br />I also started one for Hannah. The first one I cast on, I over compensated and made it too small, so I had to frog it and start over. The second one fits her pretty well--though it doesn't cover her ears completely. I'd show you a photo on her, but I'm not quick enough to photograph it before she whips it off her head. She does say she likes it and will wear it when it is cold out . . . we'll see. We got some lovely snow last night, so we'll have an opportunity this morning to try out our new hats in cold weather.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716532234516213986noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527375.post-65350408031864138072009-01-19T07:30:00.007-07:002009-01-21T15:17:45.723-07:00This is what I get for feeling so clever<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SXSPXmpN8aI/AAAAAAAAEXM/o0hB16e7RyI/s1600-h/DSC03785.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SXSPXmpN8aI/AAAAAAAAEXM/o0hB16e7RyI/s320/DSC03785.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293013097740366242" border="0" /></a><br />As a reward for finally finishing my dad's sweater, I'm making myself a hat. I chose this <a href="http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/index.php/component/content/article/60-winter-2008-patterns/164-fourth-grade-hat-by-abby-franquemont">one.</a> I read on Ravelry that some versions were coming out a little bigger than expected--so I followed the gauge for a smaller hat. I do have a head that measures on the larger side of things. Yep, 22 1/2 inches--this is usually the last size on hat charts for women.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SXSPXQ2aAGI/AAAAAAAAEXE/nklguSW8Z7M/s1600-h/DSC00054.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 206px; height: 154px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SXSPXQ2aAGI/AAAAAAAAEXE/nklguSW8Z7M/s320/DSC00054.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293013091890102370" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SXSPX4sQrZI/AAAAAAAAEXU/vWB52ZcFjxM/s1600-h/DSC03787.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 205px; height: 154px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SXSPX4sQrZI/AAAAAAAAEXU/vWB52ZcFjxM/s320/DSC03787.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293013102584966546" border="0" /></a><br />I spun one singles from this lovely Bluefaced Leicester from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5116640">Dragonfibers</a> on etsy and the other singles from <a href="http://bonkersfiber.com/">Bonkers Handmade Originals</a> Tencel/Merino that I bought at the <a href="http://www.estesnet.com/events/woolmarket.htm">Estes Park Wool Market</a> this summer.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SXSX3D4eu4I/AAAAAAAAEYE/sIyINjJvA88/s1600-h/DSC03837.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 211px; height: 158px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SXSX3D4eu4I/AAAAAAAAEYE/sIyINjJvA88/s320/DSC03837.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293022434257976194" border="0" /></a><br />I was feeling clever because I had not only figured out how to do <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entrelac">entrelac</a>, but I was also <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vT-u3MBGFtI">knitting backwards</a> to make it go faster. All weekend I was wishing that someone who knew a thing or two about knitting would stop by and notice that I was knitting backwards. But sadly, no one noticed. And even when I pointed it out, they didn't seem too impressed.<br />And, since I was knitting from singles, I had devised a portable lazy kate to hold a single bobbin. This is apparently too much cleverness for one person.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SXSQnquJeLI/AAAAAAAAEXc/Y13zO487HQA/s1600-h/Too+big+hat.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 230px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SXSQnquJeLI/AAAAAAAAEXc/Y13zO487HQA/s320/Too+big+hat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293014473224321202" border="0" /></a><br />So this is what I get for feeling so clever.<br /><br />Options at this point:<br />1. Start over.<br />2. Keep going and finish, then full it until it is the right size.<br />3. Make it into a bag.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716532234516213986noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527375.post-11685460780773346432009-01-13T06:46:00.003-07:002009-01-14T15:14:42.303-07:00Project completed!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SWycA__XKXI/AAAAAAAAEOY/BuCpHgMUkrM/s1600-h/DSC03772.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SWycA__XKXI/AAAAAAAAEOY/BuCpHgMUkrM/s320/DSC03772.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290775203244616050" border="0" /></a><br />Yes, it is true. This is a photo of my dad wearing his sweater, started in <a href="http://www.knittingdaily.com/blogs/daily/archive/2007/11/12/amy-clarke-moore_3A00_-the-ten_2D00_year-cardigan.aspx">November of 1996</a>, completed this weekend and delivered to my dad on Sunday. He and my mom are taking turns reading books to Hannah, doted-upon-grandchild-that-she-is.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SWycAsZ7JUI/AAAAAAAAEOQ/iDZ7HCJFuNo/s1600-h/DSC03766.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SWycAsZ7JUI/AAAAAAAAEOQ/iDZ7HCJFuNo/s320/DSC03766.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290775197987317058" border="0" /></a><br />Dad asked to have me holding the knitting needles in the photo--I've already cast-on a hat for myself as a "you-did-it!" reward.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SWycANDv4MI/AAAAAAAAEOI/aeCDK9qL-yU/s1600-h/DSC03748.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SWycANDv4MI/AAAAAAAAEOI/aeCDK9qL-yU/s320/DSC03748.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290775189572804802" border="0" /></a><br />I was worried that the sweater was going to be too large, but it turned out to be the kind of sweater that looked good on several people of different body types who tried it on and it fits my dad perfectly. He said he's never going to take it off now that he has it. We're a bit prone to exaggeration in my family--but I like that he liked it so much to say something like that. <span style="font-style: italic;">I wonder if I could, like, fit the word </span>like <span style="font-style: italic;">into that sentence one more time. Like, that would be really funny.</span>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716532234516213986noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527375.post-78930624855298589322009-01-08T07:34:00.003-07:002009-01-08T10:57:09.687-07:00Seaming the 10- (ahem 12-) year cardigan<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SWYPaGe1iEI/AAAAAAAAELs/vUEurDWxlqU/s1600-h/DSC03732.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SWYPaGe1iEI/AAAAAAAAELs/vUEurDWxlqU/s320/DSC03732.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288931753484191810" border="0" /></a><br />I'm nearly done seaming my<a href="http://www.knittingdaily.com/blogs/daily/archive/2007/11/12/amy-clarke-moore_3A00_-the-ten_2D00_year-cardigan.aspx"> Dad's sweater</a>. I really shouldn't be talking about it until it is blocked and on his back as every time it seems like I'm close to finishing I discover things--like that the back was 2-inches longer than the fronts, or that I had run out of yarn (fortunately, remedied when I frogged the back!). I guess there are reasons why it is a 12-year sweater.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716532234516213986noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527375.post-10682102425008986832009-01-04T08:00:00.006-07:002009-01-04T09:07:56.945-07:00More ornaments<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SWDQEqXyhoI/AAAAAAAAEKw/TyTAVqRHdQ8/s1600-h/DSC03683.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 371px; height: 277px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SWDQEqXyhoI/AAAAAAAAEKw/TyTAVqRHdQ8/s320/DSC03683.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287454741045085826" border="0" /></a><br /><br />First off--Happy New Year everyone!<br />I'm still in an ornament making frenzy. My Aunt Lise gave us the cutest Christmas tree wall hanging a few years ago with a little pocket for each day of December until Christmas--to count off the days. It came with candy--one candy in each pocket, one piece of candy for each day until Christmas. That's a lot of candy for a baby (or anyone for that matter)--so this year I placed a small ornament in each pocket and Hannah and I had great fun counting the days and putting an ornament on the tree each day.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SWDeqdmefGI/AAAAAAAAELI/WL36fxaFGlQ/s1600-h/DSC03717.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 385px; height: 287px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SWDeqdmefGI/AAAAAAAAELI/WL36fxaFGlQ/s320/DSC03717.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287470783614844002" border="0" /></a><br /><br />But I had an idea--and for next year I'm making 25 ornaments (well, now I have 30+), each with a photo of our family and friends on a star shaped ornament (I used a toy cookie cutter)--and we'll decorate the tree with their wonderful faces.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SWDQEIceznI/AAAAAAAAEKo/dbrNie13Uso/s1600-h/DSC03421.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 194px; height: 145px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SWDQEIceznI/AAAAAAAAEKo/dbrNie13Uso/s320/DSC03421.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287454731937959538" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This idea meant that I needed to buy more polymer clay.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SWDScsV3qEI/AAAAAAAAELA/mW8HhXF83hk/s1600-h/DSC03703-1.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 235px; height: 354px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SWDScsV3qEI/AAAAAAAAELA/mW8HhXF83hk/s320/DSC03703-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287457352914020418" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Hannah made ornaments, too. They are portraits--the yellow one is Hannah, the green one is of me.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716532234516213986noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12527375.post-83574876578471998062008-12-22T08:17:00.013-07:002008-12-22T15:07:45.256-07:00Make your own gift bags<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SU-w21DF4MI/AAAAAAAAEFA/uQsWspC9JUw/s1600-h/DSC03441.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SU-w21DF4MI/AAAAAAAAEFA/uQsWspC9JUw/s320/DSC03441.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282635343928352962" border="0" /></a><br />My 3 1/2 year old daughter often comes home from day care with lots of paintings--they are great and I love each one--but they are starting to pile up. I had an idea for a way to use them so that we could share them with family and friends. We're making them into gift bags this holiday season!<br /><br />The bonus is that this is an easy project to do with small children--just make sure they are safe with the scissors and not eating the glue. When I was making these with Hannah, I did the folding and she did the gluing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SU-w3eYQUCI/AAAAAAAAEFI/M7AitUkXWoM/s1600-h/DSC03442.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SU-w3eYQUCI/AAAAAAAAEFI/M7AitUkXWoM/s320/DSC03442.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282635355022970914" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Materials:<br />Paper to recycle (the larger the paper, the larger the gift bags--so 11x17 inches and up is nice if it is available)<br />Glue stick<br />Scissors<br />Paper craft rope<br /><br />Rim<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SU-w35AarNI/AAAAAAAAEFQ/tSWbjweLUyc/s1600-h/DSC03443.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 227px; height: 169px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SU-w35AarNI/AAAAAAAAEFQ/tSWbjweLUyc/s320/DSC03443.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282635362170744018" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SU-0nY2iVCI/AAAAAAAAEFY/L46m5_Yz5As/s1600-h/DSC03444.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 169px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SU-0nY2iVCI/AAAAAAAAEFY/L46m5_Yz5As/s320/DSC03444.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282639476707972130" border="0" /></a><br />Start by creating the top edge of the bag along the long side of the paper. Fold in 1/2 inch and glue closed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SU-0ntsV4fI/AAAAAAAAEFg/QTJaLy_RTCc/s1600-h/DSC03445.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 191px; height: 142px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SU-0ntsV4fI/AAAAAAAAEFg/QTJaLy_RTCc/s320/DSC03445.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282639482302358002" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SU-0oDu4QhI/AAAAAAAAEFo/LPKGS3GevFQ/s1600-h/DSC03446.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 190px; height: 142px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SU-0oDu4QhI/AAAAAAAAEFo/LPKGS3GevFQ/s320/DSC03446.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282639488218579474" border="0" /></a><br />Next turn paper so that the rim is on the left edge and start folding the sides--the first side will be about 4 inches wide, then the face of the bag (about 6 inches wide), then another 4-inch wide side, followed by a 6-inch wide back.<br /><br />If your paper has a lot of paint on it, it might tear when it is being folded--simply glue a patch to the inside of the bag with a piece of extra paper.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SU-2gBVK3BI/AAAAAAAAEFw/1KkPzEoXLbA/s1600-h/DSC03447.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 135px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SU-2gBVK3BI/AAAAAAAAEFw/1KkPzEoXLbA/s320/DSC03447.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282641549158177810" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SU-2goJUskI/AAAAAAAAEF4/Ee4MEg1WFXI/s1600-h/DSC03448.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 182px; height: 135px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SU-2goJUskI/AAAAAAAAEF4/Ee4MEg1WFXI/s320/DSC03448.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282641559577473602" border="0" /></a><br />Last fold 1/2 inch overlap flap and cut off the excess paper. Save the excess paper for glueing in the paper rope handles later.<br /><br />Glue the paper flap around the corner of the first side that you folded. Now you have a rectangular tube.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SU-2hBo9byI/AAAAAAAAEGA/yKHf6kLSAfA/s1600-h/DSC03449.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 209px; height: 155px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SU-2hBo9byI/AAAAAAAAEGA/yKHf6kLSAfA/s320/DSC03449.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282641566421053218" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Bottom of the bag<br />Create the bottom of the bag, by cutting along the folds of the bag on the bottom about two inches in.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SU-7KbDfTEI/AAAAAAAAEGI/cGMfS4K-sYw/s1600-h/DSC03451.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 155px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SU-7KbDfTEI/AAAAAAAAEGI/cGMfS4K-sYw/s320/DSC03451.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282646675664358466" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Fold in the flaps, then apply glue to the two long flaps and fold them in and secure the flaps.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SU-7K7tnxmI/AAAAAAAAEGQ/0H2AdEsFnV8/s1600-h/DSC03452.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 209px; height: 156px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SU-7K7tnxmI/AAAAAAAAEGQ/0H2AdEsFnV8/s320/DSC03452.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282646684431009378" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SU-7LRpPEYI/AAAAAAAAEGY/TRXHPruODYE/s1600-h/DSC03453.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 211px; height: 157px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SU-7LRpPEYI/AAAAAAAAEGY/TRXHPruODYE/s320/DSC03453.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282646690318193026" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Trace around the bottom of the bag on a piece of the extra paper and cut it to size. Apply glue to the underside and place it inside the bag on the bottom.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SU_AvDIYTII/AAAAAAAAEGg/mmbIGN8UsIw/s1600-h/DSC03455.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 192px; height: 144px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SU_AvDIYTII/AAAAAAAAEGg/mmbIGN8UsIw/s320/DSC03455.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282652802455719042" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Handles<br />Make a paper flap to hold down the handles with the excess paper. Cut 2 3 x6 inch strips and fold in the two edges as pictured and glue down the folded edges. Apply glue to the back.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SU_AvuwFyBI/AAAAAAAAEGo/F8StvmpTXbc/s1600-h/DSC03456.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 183px; height: 136px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SU_AvuwFyBI/AAAAAAAAEGo/F8StvmpTXbc/s320/DSC03456.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282652814165002258" border="0" /></a><br />Cut two 6-inch pieces of paper rope and bend to a rounded, handle shape.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SU_AwMpnQjI/AAAAAAAAEGw/Rg0Svw0E_vY/s1600-h/DSC03457.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 179px; height: 134px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SU_AwMpnQjI/AAAAAAAAEGw/Rg0Svw0E_vY/s320/DSC03457.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282652822190899762" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Glue to the insides of the bag with the paper flap, pressing firmly around the paper rope so that it stays in place.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SU_Blv9_FEI/AAAAAAAAEG4/ftR205gvkIQ/s1600-h/DSC03461.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 159px; height: 118px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SU_Blv9_FEI/AAAAAAAAEG4/ftR205gvkIQ/s320/DSC03461.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282653742204654658" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Allow to dry, then fill your bag with goodies to give to your friends.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SU_ChbEmjvI/AAAAAAAAEHI/Jo52Cf0FXEk/s1600-h/DSC03462.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 209px; height: 279px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kjE4vr4UfDA/SU_ChbEmjvI/AAAAAAAAEHI/Jo52Cf0FXEk/s320/DSC03462.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282654767387414258" border="0" /></a>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716532234516213986noreply@blogger.com2