We met Picadilly!

And lightened her mom's load considerably . . .

Silk Azaleas

These were knit out of unspun silk hankies or muwata. The colors in this photo aren't great, the bottom one is red and the top one is red and yellow.  I got the kits from Out of Step Dyeworks at http://www.amyklimt.etsy.com/. They come as kits and make these gorgeous pins. We had fun making them and have one more kit to make for mom!

Today's Adventure

Today we tat!

Traveling Fun and Travel Gnomes

First, we took a couple of really long flights.  We did get to see Phoenix from the air at night and it was pretty.

Then, after what seemed like too short a night's sleep, we got up and had the loveliest tea and brunch at a local tea house.  They had gorgeous tea cups and tea pots and every conceivable tea accessory.  I bought the coolest infuser for pots and cups.  Mom bought me a lovely new tea cup and she had one that she had already bought for Miss M with Magnolia blooms on it.  The food was undescribably delicious and I really enjoyed the tea.  We bought some of the Orange Cranberry that Miss M had with her meal.

Then we visited an old wagon on the Oregon Trail.  Inside that building behind the wagon are several posters describing the trail and the trials and tribulations of early settlers of this area.

The gnomes really liked the wagon - they visited two but the other one had large oxen that were somewhat intimidating.

Then we visited Ontario . . . Ontario, Oregon that is!  We spent a lovely couple of hours in the Oregon Trail Museum learning about the history of this region and the peoples that settled it.  It's a lovely place and rich with history.  We met the loveliest lady at the museum who actually was sent to one of the Japanese American Internment Camps right after she graduated from High School.  How sad and terrible that we have that as a part of our history.

We gained an hour in an instant when we passed by this sign.  The Gnomes loved it and so did we!  The mountains in this area all still have snow on them and it's very different and very beautiful country.

Then we lost that hour we gained when we passed by this sign and the Gnomes loved that just as much as gaining an hour.  So did we.  We can now say that we've been in every time zone in the continental US in two days.

And then we headed home to see the Alpaca.  This is Encanto and Sonquo and you can just see the edge of Polo.  Cielito is shy and didn't want his picture taken.  After we gave them their treats, two of my nephews came over and we played games.  I had never played Zombie Fluxx before, but I can promise I will play it again.  I think I'm going to get it for my house.

 

Those Crazy Hats!

 The Memory Mender

The Day Breaker

These are those crazy hats I made from Anna Zilboorg's 45 Fine and Fanciful Hats for the play Still Life with Iris.  This is them as seen on the acters from the play after the last show.  They were fabulous because all the costumes were fabulous - the costumer did a spectacular job!

Cool Shoes!

So, there is this really cool website called Shoes of Prey.  It's a website where you can design your own shoes.  Not only that, after you design them, they will make them up for you - exactly as you designed them.  And then, after they are made, they send them to you to wear!  Seriously cool for the shoe fanatic.

Girl Far From Home fell in love with this idea. She went to the website and designed shoes.  She designed several pairs of shoes.  She kept coming back to one design or to some variation of that design.  Her loving mother entered some contests and won some gift certificates to Shoes of Prey.  So Girl Far From Home and Her Loving Mother took these gift certificates and used them to buy that pair of shoes.

I give you Girl Far From Home's shoes, designed by herself!  They are on their way to her now, as we speak.  Be prepared for a very loud squeal, that will likely be heard round the world, in the next few days!

Wow

Got some bad news today.

Then we saw this.

P.S. Happy Birthday to Dr Seuss and JoAnn

Dena

Ghost Buster!

So this little Ghosty belongs to a Pixie from Far Away.  This little Ghosty came to visit me because it was too cold Far Away and this little Ghosty had no clothes.  

I made this little Ghosty a sweater so the cold would be less bothersome.  I probably shouldn't have made a turtleneck since this little Ghosty has no neck - oops!  Now you see this little Ghosty out smelling the flowers. . .

and relaxing on the park bench . . . .

and helping me catch up with all the paperwork.  Oops!  The Ghosty ran off and left all the paperwork for me!  I guess I better quit knitting and tatting and spinning and get to it!

A Winner!

You might remember that Gina from Threads of a Tatting Goddess had a blogaversary in February - the day before Valentines Day, in fact.  She posted a picture of these adorable little Triangle gift bags that she was planning to give to eight people who commented on her blog post.  Well, I love her blog because its so inspirational and educational for tatting and I really loved the little gift bags - had seen them before - so I commented and my name was drawn from the hat!

The package arrived yesterday and inside is this adorable little triangle gift bag - cuter in person than in pictures!  (It has candy in it but don't tell the girls cuz I'm not sharing!)

And books!  There is a cookbook which one girl has already claimed as her own, a pattern for The Mystical, Magical Biscornu (a pin cushion that involves sewing and tatting - very cute), a Piecework magazine, an old Red Heart booklet - Woolies for Babies and the November issue of Tatting Times.  I am bringing the Biscornu pattern with me when I visit Idaho next week and we can make them.  The Piecework is an issue that has the most gorgeous knit lace shawls in it - I should have taken a picture of that page.  I've always wanted to see a copy of Tatting Times - and now I think I will order a subscription to it.  And the Red Heart Woolies for Babies has some adorable baby patterns in it that we might want to make for that new baby coming from China!

Gina was very generous with her prizes!  Also in the box were some flowery notepads with a matching pen, some rose bath petals, a lovely candle in a tin, a photo holder and a cute little ducky . . . funny but that ducky has also gone missing but I bet if I checked The Divine Miss M's room, I would find it.

And best of all, check out all the tatting stuff!  Gina sent me two butterflies that she tatted herself - and they are so pretty.  One day I hope to be able to tat half as well.  See those lovely lavender earings?  They are so gorgeous!  And there's some lovely thread - one is very fine and I think I will save it for a while before I try tatting with it.  Both threads are pretty - I love the colors.  And the little white silk bag had that gorgeous blinged shuttle in it!  Oh it's so pretty!


I just learned about the One World, One Heart Blog tour this year - it's fifth and final year.  It's a wonderful idea brought together by Lisa Swifka of A Whimsical Bohemian.  Go here and read all about it.  Then go visit some of the hundreds of wonderful blogs she has on the list.  I visited every one of them and it was a blast! 

Anyway, one of the ones I visited was Misty Moon Creations.  I was blown away by these animal eyes that she makes out of polymer clay.  Yes, she makes them.  That is my pinky fingernail in the picture - they are tiny and perfect.  I commented on how fabulous they are and I ended up winning her One World, One Heart giveaway.  Which included these eyes and they are even cooler in person!  You should go check out her tutorial on how to make these eyes even if you never plan to make them because it's just that cool!

She also made this lovely necklace - well it's the pendant part on a string.  My second daughter - The Divine Miss M loves it and I thought I'd put it on something so she could wear it around her neck.

And the last part of the giveaway was an artist's trading card.  Aimee (blog author of Misty Moon Creations) said she'd visit my blog and see what struck her before she made it.  This is what she sent!  I absolutely LOVE it and think we should somehow incorporate it into the blog . . .cool hunh?  I'll bring it when I come to visit.

And, I've been taking pictures on the back patio.  The Daphne is in full bloom and the scent pervades the entire backyard.  Taking pictures these days is a pleasure!