Hallowe'en!!!

I loooooove Hallowe'en... it's my favorite holiday, really, even though that is based more on childhood memories than actual current celebrations. My fondest memories of childhood always include Hallowe'en: roaming the streets in a pack of kids (after dark!), getting to dress up as a fairy princess in public, pillowcases filled near to the top with way too much candy to ever finish... Kids don't get to do all this much anymore- it seems that the majority end up at parties, school functions, etc., which I'm sure is fun too... but it couldn't possibly be as fun. Or maybe I'm just suffering from nostalgia overload.

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Believe it or not, I didn't finish all the decorating I wanted.

Hallowe'en Tree.

Yes, I have a tree for pretty much every holiday.

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Bat & pumpkins knitted this year.

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Candy Bucket.

I made this last year to hang on our door after we went out.

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I'd decorate the whole house if I could, but my laziness always wins out in the end.

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Close-up of the wreath.

I made it with a cheap grapevine wreath, a black feather boa and a fake crow from the craft store.

I like white pumpkins... they're like the ghosts of orange pumpkins, and therefore scarier. Right?

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I will hopefully have pics of my costume after Friday... not of Chris's though, as he is a big party pooper and never dresses up.

Top 5.

My Top 5 Pets...

as in, the top 5 that I don't have, but want desperately.

As in, I can't actually talk Chris into bringing these home...

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(in no particular order)

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Pygmy Hedgehog

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Fennec Fox

(That's right. A fox. That you can keep as a pet. I KNOW.)

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Miniature Pony
(They're dog-sized! Ahhhh!)

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Bunnies
(one Angora)

(...and one Dwarf)
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Sheep/Goats
(I put them together because they're pretty close, really...

except personality-wise... sheep pretty much hate people.

Mine will have to get over it. Because I will hug it. Daily.)

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And I leave you with this:
In case you haven't already died from cute.

(All pictures from Cute Overload)

The 2nd Annual Mills College MFA Table-Tennis Mac-Off Tournament of Champions Winners!

We won one part!

Last Friday, I won the Mac & Cheese cooking contest for Chris...
(Mine's in the pink casserole)

As you can see, there was some pretty stiff competition:

Not only is that a baked tower of mac, it was also set on fire. That's right. Fire. Every entry was fantastic, though. I pretty much could have eaten all night long. Altogether, I think there were nine entrys, including one plate of bacon. Just bacon. It took fourth place.

Unfortunately, neither Chris nor I were any match for Doug's prowess in both the Table Tennis and Pellet Shooting arenas... Congrats, Doug, on winning Master of Arts!

The lovely and amazing Gina took these pictures... thanks to her for that and the use of her oven for reheating the mac I carted from Sacramento. Speaking of, there were some recipe requests, so I've posted it below... The original recipe came from Kathryn (thanks Kathryn!), but I modified the hizzy out of it. Here's my version:

Serious Mac & Cheese
16 oz. pasta (I like mini penne) - cooked al dente
2 cups cottage cheese (whole) - creamed
8 oz. sour cream (whole)
3 eggs - slightly beaten
1/2 of a whole nutmeg - freshly grated
salt & pepper - to taste
6 cups cheese (I like 1/2 & 1/2 sharp cheddar and
gruyere) - freshly grated*
*I avoid pre-grated cheese in general because
of the extra additives and weird texture...

Preheat your oven to 350°. Mix the cottage cheese, sour cream, eggs, nutmeg, salt & pepper in a large bowl until well blended. Mix in the grated cheese (reserving 1/2 to 1 cup for the topping), then the cooked pasta. Top with the remaining cheese. Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour - until top is nicely browned. Eat, eat, eat.

That's it! You don't even have to make a roux! Yaaaaaay!

For Olivia!

Our good friends Beth & Jim are due in 4 weeks!

Beth's shower was yesterday and these were part of her present:

Mossy Jacket (modified to make newborn sized)

Seed Stitch Baby Jacket

I winged it for the matching hat pattern. Beth choose the patterns from a stack I gave her, and the colors, for the most part... the Mossy Jacket was supposed to be green & orange, but the orange just wasn't working with the green I had started with. The bunny buttons are all me- I hope they don't mind! They're very minimalist in style and are going pretty unisex for baby stuff... an idea I love, but unfortunately bunnies + pink = irresistable for me.

Fair Trade.

I commissioned this painting:

by Doug & Kathryn's lovely daughter Hailee.

I loooooove foxes, and the painting!

We traded for a custom Totoro hat… she wanted one like this one, but the knitter had unfortunately not taken any notes or anything, so I had to try to figure it out.

I think it turned out pretty well…

These pics of Hailee (& Trixie!) were taken by Doug.

This the most complicated colorwork I’ve done,

mostly because I’m not usually a fan.

But I am a fan of Totoro! And Hailee! So there you go...

It was meant to be.

Lovely gift from Kathryn & Doug:

I knew she had to come to me someday... Or maybe K&D just read the title of this post...

Old School

I made this a few years ago for a class.

It’s a wire armature with handmade felt and needle felted roving for covering.

It’s about 2 1/2 feet tall and has a hollow cavity in the stomach area.

It was inspired by the Venus of Willendorf.

White Pumpkins

More for Halloweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee'en!

Knit with Patons Classic Merino. Pattern here.

I had some major problems with the pattern... for the life of me, I have no idea why I had to knit all of the seperate sections of the pumpkin (and then seam them!) when the pumpkin shaping is made entirely in the felting process. Bah.

It’s a very cute pattern, though… just go ahead and knit it in the round!

Mods: I altered the smaller pumpkin to make it even smaller & altered the stem piece on the larger one to make it bigger. I added a leaf to the top of the larger pumpkin.

Beverly's Pincushion Contest

I won!

For this:

Thanks Beverly's!

Lil' Brown Bat

For Halloweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee'en!

Pattern here. Knit in Patons Classic Merino & Cascade 220.

I’m making some pumpkins from a different pattern to go with him…

He’ll go into my woodland pals display when he’s not

Hallowe’en decor!

Labyrinth Lux Scarf

This has been my carry-along purse project for a loooong time, but it's finally done...I call it the Labyrinth Lux Scarf because this Noro Aurora colorway has always reminded me of the set design in the movie Labyrinth... it is mostly shades of brown, shot with other color highlights, all wrapped with an iridescent thread that makes it appear slightly glittery (almost in a snail trail sort of way).

The solid brown stripes are Louisa Harding Grace, another favorite yarn of mine- it's 50/50 wool and silk with a gorgeous sheen, drape and feel.

Winter Hare

My version of the genius Hansigurumi's latest pattern, the Jackalope:

I just left off the antlers to make it a hare...

She's part of my growing woodland display!

Muuuuuushrooms!

I knitted some.

Free pattern here.

Blood Drive Thanks.

The Blood Drive was a huge success! Thanks to everyone who gave, and to Richie's Aunt Judi for setting everything up. If you couldn't make it, you can now donate in Richie's honor with his

Bloodsource Donor Club number: P869.

Richie & Tiffany's Wedding Day

Chris and his Smarty Pants.

Chris starts his classes at Mills College today!

Yes, they have co-ed graduate students.

He's studying art (emphasis in Photography) and

is a genius, if I do say so myself.

Wish him luck!

New Sewing...

Oddly, I did not have a pincushion, soooo...

A strawberry pincushion...

I made it with vintage and new velvet, and wool felt.

The pink baby strawberry is filled with emery, for sharpening needles.

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And the Bag to end all Bags (Hopefully.)

It's the Birdie Sling pattern from Amy Butler,

with Amy Butler fabric for the main panels.

I added an additional panel with pockets to the inside to divide it,

which turned out to be much more difficult than it sounds...

lesson learned, I suppose.

I love it- I can fit all the usual junk,

plus knitting and reading material!

It's a little ridiculous trying to find my keys in it, though.

Blood Drive for Richie!

My brother Richie needs a kidney...
but if you can't give him one of those, how about some blood?

United For Richie Blood Drive
Sacramento Airport: Terminal B
The Bloodmobile will be in the hourly parking lot across the street
from United Airlines, on Aug 27th from 8:30am-12:30pm.
Please make an appointment if you can,
but walk-ins are heartily welcome, of course!
http://bloodsource.org/
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Richie is truely one of the sweetest people I've ever met, and I'm not even being biased when I say that. We are all trying our hardest to get him a kidney, but until then, dialysis and alternative medicine are keeping him very well. He has received some blood transfusions, though, so we would love to give back... join us if you can!

Richie with our dad.

Barn Owl!

Yup, I made a Barn Owl.

It's another Hansigurumi!

It's the Horned Owl pattern, without the horns.

'Cause it's a Barn Owl.

I love all things tiny.

So awhile back I saw the most adorable miniatures on wee wonderfuls from a company called Re-Ment. After drooling for awhile, I ordered a few sets on Ebay and began hoarding an all new obsession...

I made this set it's own little shadow box because,

yes, I really am that nerdy.