Happy Memorial Day! In Special Memory of Henry....

No Friday Favorites this week. Instead I wanted to say happy Memorial Day and thank you to all those who have sacrificed for our country and freedom.

This year we remember my father-in-law Henry. Father, grandpa, husband friend who fought for our country in WWII and passed away last August, 2009. Thank you Henry, we love you and miss you!

“A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” ~Joseph Campbell

I never took you for the "type" to knit...

First, I want to invite you all over to my other blog Misc. and Etc. You can get there by clicking on the button to the right. My friend Chris and I are starting to do some inspirational blogging and would love to have you visit for encouragement and share with us!

On Mother's Day weekend. My daughters and I were passing the time in a little Gulf Coast town called Port Lavaca in Texas. While moseying around, we came across a cute little yarn shop called 2 Sisters Knit. Because Katie and I are both big lovers of color, I took the girls in to see all the pretty yarns. The owner and her sister happened to be sitting on cute little wicker couches knitting away. One was knitting a trendy little handbag, the other a scarf. While we perused the different yarns, I struck up a conversation with the owner. I was reminiscing about how my mother knitted and that I had two of her afghans and how much I enjoyed them.

(Moms knitting projects.)

In the meantime, Katie picks up a cute little colorful scarf knit from eyelash yarn and tosses it about her neck. The ladies exclaimed how cute the scarf was on her and that it was for sale. Turns out buying a hank of yarn and needles was cheaper than the scarf... Did I mention, my mother taught me how to knit? It was like riding a bicycle after 30 years. I had to have the owner demonstrate how to bind off as my Mama always did that for me, but soon I was on my way to making Katie a scarf.

Here is where I mention for the benefit of my friend Aamie that it is going to be 94 degrees in Houston this afternoon and hardly the weather for a scarf so here is Tallulah the cat modeling in the comfy airconditioning of our home...

On Mother's Day, I sat around the table with my inlaws, visiting and knitting away when one of my brother-in-laws piped up to say he never took me for the knitting type. I happen to know a few knitters (Marie!) and kind of giggled. Just what is the knitting type?

After arriving home from our weekend I was prompted to go to Hobby Lobby so Nikki could pick out yarn for her scarf. Here is the lovely Tallulah modeling for us again...

I have really enjoyed making a couple of washcloths this week (see below) and am hoping to do some more advance projects sometime soon. An afghan would make a lovely Christmas gift don't you think? Katie has already asked for one!

So what about you? Do you knit? Do you care to try?

I'm being featured today...

I am being featured today at Scraps and Scribbles! Courtney has posted a lovely write up. I really enjoyed answering all her questions. You can see the post here. While you are visiting. Take a look around Courtney's cute blog and tell her I said hello! :)

Friday Favorites (5/21/10)

Oh my goodness! So many projects caught my eye this week. I cannot wait to share!

If you have been featured here or on any other Friday, please feel free to grab and "I was featured" button to the right.

Mini Rootbeer Cupcakes at Gourmet Mom on The Go

Simple Birthday Garland at Ready, Set, Craft

Strawberry Tiramisu at Joelen's Culinary Adventures

Zippy Laudry Room Decor at Made by Nicole

Picture Perfect Teacher Appreciation Gift at Skip to My Lou

Colorful Coasters at Art is Tree

Clothespin Wreath at Return to Simpler Times

Beaded Plant Hangers at Embellished Bayou

Painted T-shirts at Art du Jour

In case you are wondering how I pick the Friday Favorites. I have many, many blogs I follow and subscribe to. I am totally in love with colorful projects and gravitate towards them the most. I think it is because they are eye candy. I would love to add you to my list of blogs I follow. If you are interested, please just follow me publicly in Google Friend Connect and I will follow you back. You never know when your project or recipe might show up here!

Friendship

 I just love this picture of my youngest when she was 1-1/2 years old with one of her playmates. So precious!

Last Day of School T-shirt Tutorial

Each year, I make my girls a "last day of school" t-shirt. I wanted to post this now so you would have time to do your own if you like.

I had to post the above picture because... well, because it's pretty! Look at those colors! They just make me happy! (It helps that they were only $.99 each too.)

Okay in all seriousness let's get on with it.

Materials needed:

• Child's size t-shirt in desired color and size
• T-shirt form (optional)
• Fabric paints in assorted colors

Simply put the t-shirt over the form, smoothing out the wrinkles (I did this after I took the picture), and paint away! Let item dry overnight before painting the other side.

This is the back of my 4 year old's t-shirt.

This is the front.

This is the back of my 7 year old's t-shirt.

This is the front.

Word to the wise, buy more than one t-shirt form if you are doing more than one shirt or have a magazine handy to insert into the shirt.

I loved having my girls design the shirts with me and tell me what colors they wanted me to paint. I also loved that the shirts were only $1.50 each so this was an inexpensive way to make their last day of school this year even more fun.

If you were really brave you could hand the paints over to the kiddos and let them paint their own. I might do this next year, or make some fun "just because" t-shirts as a summer art project.

Happy crafting!

Monday Musings... Funnies

Because I believe we all could use a good laugh, especially on a Monday, here are some funnies to get you going in the right direction...

“I know that you believe you understand what you think I said,

but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.”
~Robert McCloskey

“I am so clever that sometimes I don't understand

a single word of what I am saying.”

~Oscar Wilde

“Before you criticize someone,
you should walk a mile in their shoes.

That way when you criticize them,

you are a mile away from them and you have their shoes.”
~Jack Handey

"I have six locks on my door all in a row.

When I go out, I lock every other one.

I figure no matter how long somebody stands there
picking the locks,

they are always locking three."

~Elayne Boosler

"The only way to keep your health is to eat
what you don't want,

drink what you don't like,
and do what you'd rather not."

 ~ Mark Twain

"Flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss."
~Douglas Adams

...Have a great Monday and don't take things to seriously!

Wordless Wednesday...

I love this cat!

She loves music!

Happy Mother's Day!

One video is a tribute to Mom. One is a tribute to my daughters.

To all mothers and children enjoy this special day!

Much love,

Saturday Feature, A Blog Swap with Pure Joy!

I am so very excited to have Jamie from Pure Joy here today!  Please be sure to check out Jamie's blog and Etsy shop. I promise you will not be sorry! She is very talented and has a heart of gold! So, without further delay, I'll turn it over to you Jamie...

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Hey there! Thanks for letting me steal the show for a day Lanie! I'm so excited to be over here today...let's get comfy and chat and get to know one another... I get a little wordy sometimes so bear with me!

My name is Jamie and I'm the woman behind Pure Joy! I've been blogging for 6.5 years! Yes, that's a little crazy. It started as a way to communicate with the kids in my youth group...it turned into a family blog and still is, but now it's a family blog with fun...crafts, giveaways, tutorials, photos of my cute kids, you know, the usual stuff.

My husband and I met in college in Wisconsin, got married after a year of dating and a two year engagement. We moved to St. Louis so he could attend the Seminary to become a Pastor in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. We were blessed with our first child Naomi during his last year of school. We moved to Texas were Greg received his first call to serve as Associate Pastor. Our cute little man, Micah, was born 10 months after we moved to Texas. I'm currently cooking our third child who will be another Texan and born sometime in the month of October. So, there's my family life in a nutshell.

I love staying home with my kids and am so blessed that my hubby works so hard in order for me to do just that. I also work as a photographer and have an etsy store to help pay some of the bills. In my spare time (when the kids are in bed) I love to sew, (mostly decorative stuff and clothes for my kids...I'm learning how to use patterns but I'm not a big fan!), I paint, I make felt food and just love to surf blogs and update mine!

Here is the most recent photo I have of all four of us together, from Easter.I worked on this name sign for a friend of mine.
She wanted something that represented
her husbands name and hobby!
I think it turned out pretty good.

I'd love to make one for you with your name and hobby!I love to make shirts and other fun clothes

for the little people in my life.
You can see the tutorial for this shirt here.And I love to make dresses for my daughter who wants
to wear a dress EVERYDAY!
I made this one out of a woman's skirt!
I also love to make felt food.
Although I'm not "officially" taking custom orders,
if there is anything you're interested in,
I'd gladly put you on my list!Thanks for letting me stop by and share a little bit
of the things I love with you here.
I'd love to hear what makes you happy,
what makes you smile, what you love!
Stop by my blog and say hello!!!

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Thanks Jamie for sharing with my readers. I am glad to call you friend!

Friday Favorites (5/7/10)

Looks like I've got a little spring theme going today! If you haven't noticed, I LOVE color!

If you were featured here or any other Friday, feel free to grab an "I was featured" button from the right sidebar.

Painted Rock Mice at Mama Jenn

Felt flower wreath at LollyChops

Forever Flower Tutorial at Happy Together

Tiered Terracotta Planter at Positively Splendid

Denim Fabric Flowers at Crafts by Amanda

Have a great Mother's Day. Hug your Mom close. If she has already left this earth, tell her you love her anyway. I promise she is listening.