WIP - Cross-stitch

Technically, this cross-stitch is done. But not framed or hung up on the wall. Still WIP (sigh.) I'm so pleased with it. It looks even better in this photo (I'm used to looking at it one quadrant at a time).

Felt Growth Chart

This is for you Gina! Needs more leaves, and some bunnies. Those both seem like good winter day projects, I just haven't gotten to them while I can go outside and play.

Kitty Cat Privacy

Picasa and Blogger don't seem to be talking to each other on my computer this week, but here we go.

Closet door in the bathroom. This is a utility closet and access to plumbing.

Now it is also our cat privy.

They actually don't seem to like the curtain, I may have to switch it out for something easier to push aside and hide behind. WE like the curtain.

Little Pink Hat

This fabulous llama wool was gifted to me by a friend - the llama is now gone, the yarn lives on. It feels delicious - warm, fuzzy, with lots of body. When I showed her the hat I was making for J, she promptly requested one for her daughter and here it is. I remembered to take a shot before giving it to her, but only one, so this is it. I made up the pattern in the car based on the purple hat, since all I had were needles and yarn and no pattern to use ... it came out better than expected! I love projects where you are really just knitting to enjoy yourself and keep your hands occupied, but then the outcome turns out great. MUCH better than those projects where you are kntting fast and furiously for the prize and for one reason or another it doesn't come together the way you envisioned.

Grammy Crafts - Toddler Fitted Sheet

From a thrifted twin sheet set. So cute!

Purple Hat

I guess I'm waaay past the kids clothing week challenge end, but here is an addition, finished in the front passenger seat of the car on the way to West Virginia camping.

Fix-it Friday: Railing WIP

So. This was a big stinking project. When we moved in here a year and a half ago, with two toddlers (one just learning to walk) this railing scared me to death and I thought "that will be the first thing we do." Well, after a lot of research, a lot of talking to old guys in hardware stores, a lot of deciding and worrying (and freaking out every time the littles draped their arms over it and looked down at me in the stairway), and a whole lot of prep work out in the shed, the railing is finally mostly up and done. I'm happy to say it is not only rock solid, but it doesn't look as crappy as I worried late at night that it would. Mr. Sycamore gallantly says it looks like it has been here as long as the house has. A note to myself, twenty years from now - "remember that railing project? raise a glass! you did it!"


Previous teeny tiny railing. This railing is 20' high, comes up to a toddler neck and a grownup mid-thigh. The idea was to raise it to 38"

Pickets going up. Because we don't have a drill press that can do square holes (and because the railing was custom ordered from a local mill that eked it out of odds and ends to save us money) we did two long pieces of 1/4 round and many many short pieces of lattice in between the pickets, to make square slots the pickets fit into. Glued and nailgunned together. The pickets were first screwed into the existing railing with two-sided dowel screws, like the kind you use on Ikea table legs. I have a lot more experience with Ikea table legs.

Once everything was glued and the ends screwed (into the framing (see the hole in the plaster?) and the newel-post screwed into its base) the whole thing cannot be shaken. I'm really tremendously proud of the final project. The pickets echo the bannister below and let light into the stairwell, while keeping toddlers out. Or me tripping carrying a big load of laundry. The stain almost matches - the top railing is a bit darker - but they are definitely in the same color scheme.

80% done. Now to fix that hole in the wall and sand down those countersunk screw holes.. lick of paint, final coat of shellac, and (several months from now) we'll be done.

Off now to the woods for some fall camping!

More Mittens

Kids Clothing Week Challenge IV. Lavender! A hat is not far behind!

Pine cones for fall.

Color Cards

The kids helped cut out and glue paint samples to a piece of white painted lattice strip. Lots of games, ordering, stacking. Lots of fun!