Flight of the Dragon

A couple of weeks ago the kids spotted some really cool giant kites at Costco and decided that mama just had to get one for them. They actually wanted one each but I managed to get them down to just one and home we came with a very colorful dragon :)

When I said giant I wasn't kidding either! Just getting the thing off the ground with its 6 foot wing span was a two man operation with one holding the kite so it was ready to go when the wind gusted and the other was in charge of tugging the line and guiding it up into the air.

It took us several failed attempts to get the hang of coaxing our dragon higher into the air and finding out the hard way as it nose dived back to earth that we were going to need a much windier day to really get it high up but when it did soar above us it was so much fun :)

After about an hour and a half of running and laughing we had snow in our boots or soaked running shoes in my case from trodding through the field and the little guy even fell over at one point tripping on the uneven ground as he took his turn pulling the kite. Thankfully he didn't fall into one of the many cow patties that littered the area like land mines *grin*.

With all of us tuckered out and getting cold we spent the rest of the afternoon warming up in front of the fireplace and munching on warm cinnamon buns that my mom had made and shared with us. Mmmm, now that's one lovely way to spend a Sunday :)

Hugs,
Rosina

Fluffy Tissue Easter Chicks ~ Kids Craft

Easter time's a coming, Easter time's a coming.... *grin*.

I loved making these fluffy tissue chicks when I was a little girl, twisting little bits of tissue paper on the end of my pencil and sticking them onto paper in the shapes of hearts, chicks and other animals. I'm seriously just like a little kid when it comes the crafting! I can't wait to get in there and cut and paste along with the kids no matter what the occasion LOL.

Since Easter is actually just about here I thought we'd better get going on some special crafts! Out came the construction paper, odds and ends bits of tissue paper, pencils and glue and we got cutting :) This is such an easy craft with such cute end results that you've got to try it if you haven't before!

Cut any color of tissue paper into a whole lot of little 1.5 - 2 inch squares and then cut an egg shape out of construction paper or cardboard for each child plus yourself :) Next take one square of your tissue paper, place the eraser end of your pencil in the center of the square and pull up the sides of the paper and scrunch it all up around the end of your pencil.

Dip the end of your pencil into the glue...

then press your pencil end with the gluey paper down onto your egg cutout and repeat :)

You just keep squishing and sticking your scrunched up tissue paper to your cutout until you've filled the whole thing up and made yourself a fluffy little chicky :) We made ours look like our chicks were popping out of their shells on the bottom but you could even decorate them like easter eggs with different colored polka dots or waves and so on all over them. They make fantastic fronts for Easter cards to. So fun!! I just love the great 3D texture you get from all that tissue paper :)

I had a bit of yellow ribbon in the cupboard so I punched a hole in the top of each of them and threaded the ribbon through to hang them up in our family room window :) It was a good thing I wanted to hang them as it gave me incentive to finally take down the cinnamon stars that were hanging there from Christmas! I know I'm terrible aren't I *grin*.

Have fun making some :)

Hugs,
Rosina

Pixie Hat

Oh man am I having fun knitting *grin*.
There was a slight change in plans though. Remember that gorgeous fall colored merino wool that I started with? Well apparently I can't read a pattern properly or maybe I was just to excited to get started but I goofed up and was supposed to knit with two strands of wool instead of just one. So long story short, I ripped out half the hat, started over with adding in some mossy green wool and voila I have a new look! The bright orange tones of the first wool are still there but much more muted now. I'm still loving it though and the double strands have given the hat such a thick and yummy weight :)

The main body of the hat is finished complete with a little pixie top which is so cute :) Now I just have to finish the ear flaps. I had never 'picked up' stitches before so that was interesting to say the least but I think I've got it all under control now *grin*.

Hugs,
Rosina

First Blocks Done

I started cutting my first blocks today for the paintbox quilt :)
I had to do a little improv with the instructions as they call for 2 1/2 inch strips of the solid colors but I only had yardage in the solids and the patterned fabrics were supposed to be 10 inch squares but of course mine happen to be in strips so I'm working all the blocks in reverse *grin* It's all working out though :)

I decided to go with the classic blocks since they are the easiest to assemble and sew together in just a couple of minutes.

So here are the very first two in contrasting colors. I can't wait to get some more sewn up! I just love the bright color combination :)

~ Rosina

Heirloom Dresden Block Quilt

There is something so incredibly peaceful about hand sewing. I don't get to spend a lot of time experiencing this as pretty much all of my projects are done on the sewing machine! I have to say I'm envious of you ladies that crochet, knit or embroider for the majority of your time as you can take it anywhere. When was the last time you saw someone using their sewing machine at the bus stop or waiting outside their child's art class?! LOL.

This is one of my grandmother's quilts that my mother was so fortunate to be able to save before my grandmother was moved out of her home many years ago. I love the playful feel you get from all of the colorful fabrics and isn't the dresden quilt block just fabulous?

My grandmother belonged to the Women's Institute in her time and with the help of her fellow members they hand stitched hundreds of quilts for charity and hospital residents :) My mom has told me that she had spent many hours ironing pieces for her quilts and joyfully stitching them together, loving every moment of it.

This quilt isn't finished yet, just the top is completed and we actually have the backing that she had purchased to go along with it. I hope to be able to complete it in her memory. Perhaps I'll get the chance to create one of my own one day to... all by hand :)

~ Rosina