Toques for the kids

Sadly winter is creeping closer, and toques will soon be a wardrobe staple, in fact a light hat is already necessary for my bald baby most mornings.  For a couple years I've made Ashton a 'fun' winter hat.  Last year he requested a hat with Shrek ears, and the year before I had fun making him a sock monkey toque.  This year he requested a minion from the movie Despicable Me.  Really easy to knit in a soft, chunky yarn, although a reminder of why I prefer crocheting in the round to knitting in the round...too many needles to juggle.

I knitted the goggle strap, but the eye is made of layered felt glue gunned (is this an actual verb? If not, it should be) together and mattress stitched to the hat.

Olivia's hat was crocheted using Paton's Grace, a mercerized cotton that I really enjoy using, comes in gorgeous colours too!  I lined it with fleece cut from a throw I purchased from Ikea for $2.99.  (going back this week to pick up a throw in all the other colours...can you say cheap PJ's?) The fleece was stitched to the hat using a mattress stitch as well.

So now my kids' heads will be nice and toasty this winter...even if the almanac is correct in saying it's going to be REALLY cold and REALLY snowy...sigh...I think I'm ready for spring now!

Mr. F and Miss E

Had some fun taking a few pics of a friends kids the other day, and showing her some photoshop ropes.  I'm thinking I need to record a high key action, but not sure how it'll work since every photo needs specific tweaking...any suggestions?

Library Book Box

When I was younger, we had a weathered old crate aptly named the 'Library Book Box' to keep our substantial stack of borrowed books in. Since Olivia has discovered that books are good teething material (ewww) I figured we needed a Library Book Box of our own.  Luckily, Michael's was clearing out their crates, and coupled with the online 50% off coupon, I got a crate for a pretty good deal.  Of course it was boring, but that's easily remedied!  A splash of antiquing vinegar solution (described here in a bit more detail) and some transferred letters (explanation of that process in the same link) and we have a lovely vintageish crate to store our library books in! I didn't go over the transferred letters with paint this time, so they look a bit more weathered than the Roald Dahl sign.  Here's a close up:

Crocheted Hats

So here's some crocheted hats that I sold to a local kids clothing store.  If you're in the area why don't you go check them out ;)  I'm also working on some hats and other odds and ends which didn't sell at the spring market for the Ladies Nite Out in Edmonton, as well as winter hats for the kiddos, a crocheted hoodie for Olivia and a knitted dress for Olivia...and a sore wrist...

Here's some of the hats closer up:

Ashton's Jet Pack

Yes, I've been Pinning again.  For Ashton.  When I saw this homemade jet pack, I just couldn't resist making one for my little man.  And by the looks of the pictures I think he enjoys it!

I made a few changes to the original:

I used Pringles cans covered in duck tape (duct tape, gaffer tape, whatever you choose to call it. But it was originally called 'duck tape' and invented for the U.S. army in WWII to seal ammunition cases...who's been watching Mythbusters?!?!) where was I? Oh yes, covered Pringles cans in duck tape, attached them together (see below) and taped on a couple lengths of elastic. Red, orange and yellow streamers taped on for the 'fire' and we're all set!

To attach the tubes I just used 2 strips of tape folded in half (sticky side out) on both sides.  Seems to hold together quite well.

So Ashton seems to enjoy it, although it adds quite a bit of noise around the place, which entertains Olivia, so I guess I can't complain too much...

6m photoshoot for Mr. B

So Mr. B is 6 months.  I did his first photoshoot (you can check out the pics here) and now he's all grown up!  Check it out: