Eggcellent

First off, thank you guys for any and all comments you've left! I've discovered that since I switched to the new blogger, every comment I've received says "no reply" for email. Aaack! I usually try to email anyone who comments, but this has added just enough of an extra step to the process that I've really failed with the email lately.

I did a little test, and discovered that my profile also was producing "no reply" for email. I had to change my profile so that "show my email address" was checked, and now I think I've fixed this issue for myself. So, if you're leaving comments on folks blogs and not getting email, check out your own profile and see what it says.

I wish I could say I've finished umpteen fabulous things to show you, but alas this is not the case. Things like cub scout stuff, helping children with (insert anything here), having a sick child etc. have lowered my productivity. However, today I won a whole wack of Swarovski crystal flatback rhinestones. Go to Jerry's Beads to enter and win some yourself. There is irony here! At Monday night's Knit Knight some classy folks were discussing/questioning the whole bedazzling thing after I (jokingly) suggested that Jody's skull bag and needle case could benefit from red rhinestones in some of those eye sockets. I'm not one to put crystals on quilts, but they are kind of fun to put (sparingly) on note cards, Christmas ornaments, little boxes etc. (Or even needle cases.)

So what's so eggcellent about this post? There's no school today, so we've had a little egg dyeing, and I've thrown in some crocuses.

Springing Forward

Sunday I went over to Frederick to check out the Rose Hill Manor Quilt Show. Imagine my surprise (and delight!) when I realized that I'd won Best of Show with Grotto. I'm still pinching myself!

The crocuses started blooming on Tuesday. Then it snowed on Wednesday (yesterday). Oh well, I've always wanted to take pictures of crocuses blooming in the snow.

Tuesday

Wednesday

School was cancelled (???). I won't question the wisdom of the School Board as I'm sure they had good intentions. It did afford me the opportunity to make some eggs ala Martha with the able assistance of at least one of my children. My workspace looked a little messier than Martha's but I'm pleased with the end result. Note that I haven't applied a coat of Mod Podge to the outside yet to seal them.

Origami covered eggs

As you might guess we have a little more fabric lying around here than fancy origami paper, so I tried out some of that as well.

Fabric covered egg - ostracized by the other eggs because it isn't as smooth as them

The fabric egg looks OK, but I prefer the origami ones. It was harder to get the fabric to lie flat. This particular fabric was hand painted and I think that helped to keep it from fraying during the gluing process.

I made a very cute tote bag last week to give to a 7 year old girl for her birthday. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of it as the camera was already with Team Doran Racing (at the Pinewood Derby) by the time I finished up the tote. (Aside: I'm finally hip and cool enough to have a camera on my phone, but not hip and cool enough to remember I have it.) Anyway, it was so fun and fast that I'll probably be making another one for an upcoming little girl's birthday and I'll be sure to take a picture of that one.

Happy Spring!

Raspberry Vest

Here's a better picture of my raspberry vest. (No qualified photographers were in house, so I had to do it myself.)

We're still on First Crocus Watch. The neighbors across the street (on the sunny side) have lots blooming, so I'm hoping we'll have one soon with this balmy 56 degree weather.

Have a great weekend!

Lorelei

My neurotic point matching on my quilt means I need a stress buster. Lorelei is it! Here's an in progress pic.

I'm using Gedifra Korfu (discontinued) and love it - it has a lovely sheen. Lorelei is from Lisa Shobhana Mason's book Yarnplay. The great thing about this knit is I can pick it up and knit a row while waiting for a child to put on his shoe or do his homework, and I'm seeing real progress on it. I'm about a third of the way through the bottom section and I haven't really sat down and knit on it for any extensive periods of time.

We're officially on First Crocus Watch here now that it's March 1. I'll be sure to alert the media when it's found.