Vacation

Yes, I know--that title is just the essence of creativity.  But, it is nonetheless descriptive.  I've had this whole week off of work.  (I decided to use some of my vacation time to create my own "October Break".)  It has been fabulous!  I've been getting all sorts of things done.  I will now leave you with a list of random samplings from my week, as well as some pictures.

This week I've:

• Made a hat for Nephew T
• Washed my car (Lucy's first bath!  Except then it sounds like a child instead of a car, but you get the point)
• Made something else that will remain a secret for another, eh, 2 weeks
• Made up my own pattern (if you really want to call it that) for a crocheted flower

Isn't it cute?

•  Got some new music
• Sewed (most of) a skirt
• Watched a few movies (Penelope, anyone?)
• And organized my yarn stash

Guys, I think I'm turning into a yarn hoarder.

Yes, that entire basket is full.

These wouldn't fit in the basket.

This was a gift, and it all fits in the original bag so nicely...

My current project--in yet another bag.

Eep!  Soon it won't all fit in my closet!

Welcome to the Space Jam...

In honor of my lovely friend Rhonda's birthday, I will finally post about mine.  Haha.  

So, this year I turned 23.  How did that happen?!?!  I don't feel 23!  When I woke up, I found this outside my bedroom:

 Gotta love those siblings!  There were more hearts and a poster outside on the garage door (and on the steering wheel of the car I drove), but I didn't get a picture before the rain washed them away.  Whoops!

Sadly, I had to go to work.  I guess that made me feel like an actual adult--working on my birthday.  As far as work goes, it actually was a pretty nice day.  I had gone out to lunch the day before, so I didn't do anything fancy for that.  Around 3:00, my mother and sister-in-law showed up at work with a big box of brownies (the Pillsbury ones you get at Sam's Club--my weakness).  It was like the day at school I never got--you know how you always got awesome treats on other people's birthdays in elementary school?  Since mine was in the summer, I had never experienced that first hand.  (Not that I'm complaining--a summer birthday is awesome!)  Let's just say that my cubicle was suddenly very popular...Thanks Mom and Jaimee!

After work, we did the traditional Joe's BBQ/Krispy Kremes run, but family-style this time.  (This is possibly the first year my parents have come along for this--usually it's just me and a sibling or two.)  Want to know something horrible?  Krispy Kremes was out of hats!  I know, scandalous, right?  So, we didn't get to take our traditional eating-a-doughnut-with-the-beautiful-hat-on picture, like this one:

*sniff*

Next year, my friends.

Since my birthday was conveniently on a Friday, I just extended the celebrations over to Saturday.  I had to make up for the 8 or so hours at work, right?  Right.  We had some family time (a.k.a. seeing "Cowboys and Aliens"--not really my first choice...) and that night I had some people over to partake in another time-honored birthday tradition: the watching of a really stupid movie.  Don't ask me why, but this is one of my favorite birthday traditions.  I'm weird.  This year's winner was:

Picture courtesy of Amazon

 Oh yes.  It's stupid, and it has Michael Jordan in it.  (It was my Michael Jordan birthday--#23 and all.)  Perfect!  Again, I forgot to take pictures, so...just take my word on it.  People came.  

Like these ones!

And this one!

And we watched the movie.  And mocked it heartily.  Yep, that about sums it up.

Ooh, ooh, want to see one of the cool presents I got?  (And then I'll be done, I promise.  I forgot to take pictures of all of my other presents--I love them too, though, family and nearly family!)  

It's a holder for my crochet hooks!  And fancy new bamboo hooks!  And it's cute!  I am so excited!  (And such a nerd, I know.)

And so, that was my birthday.  Now I can post about new crochet projects!  Yay! 

Frankenbear

At the end of March/beginning of April, I decided I was going to make my nephew's birthday present.  After all, he was turning 1, so if it turned out completely hideous he wouldn't care.  I forgot to get a picture of the finished product before (and I'm a horribly lazy blogger anyways...), so now I'm making up for it.  

Behold: 

He looked kind-of creepy with just eyes, so I decided to call him Frankenbear.

See?  The resemblance is uncanny.

Ah, much better.

Almost done...

So, yeah, his legs look a little wonky, but...

...sitting down, he looks pretty good!

I couldn't really come up with name for him earlier, but I think I like Theodore.  Yes, a bit cliche, but he's got a fat belly like Theodore the chipmunk, so I think it works.  I'm not too attached to it, though--I know as soon as Nephew T can really talk he'll probably make up his own name for it.  I just hope the poor thing can survive the next few years with all his limbs intact....(finishing off is not my strong point)

In case anyone is interested, you can find the pattern here.  Thank you Lion Brand!

Warning: Possible Cuteness Overload Ahead

Now that I don't have to worry about ruining the surprise, I can finally show you the awesome stuff I made for my friend Katy and her new baby.  

Ahem ahem ahem.  Item #1:

It's a blanket.  (Just in case you couldn't tell--it is all folded up.)

This is the only part I actually did, lest you overestimate my talents.

Item #2:

Item #3:

For reals, aren't these the cutest things you've ever seen?!  I was practically squealing the whole time I was making them.  (I only have nephews, you see.  Pardon my enthusiasm.)  And they were surprisingly easy to do.  Yay for baby girls!