the joy of yarn

All quiet here except some new haircuts and new teeth.

I've been trying to get a true snapshot of Fiona, but while those teeth grow speedyfast since they made their first appearance, I have only been getting big photo smiles, which is good, too!

I was thrilled after cutting Lewis' hair a few days ago, which had been growing out for four months. This time he agreed to having it quite short and I just love to see his handsome big boy face like this. I apologize for the distracting pink, which is the haircutting robe...

These days he seems to have grown so much and he is indeed getting real close to his 10th birthday. I find the older my guys get, the harder it seems to get a good picture. This next shot, which I am very happy with, was taken yesterday after he started grumping with me. I guess when I grabbed the camera he could not keep his expression too serious!

I have not been up to a lot of crafting or knitting, progress on another boardbook album (how-the-girl-lost-her-front-tooth) has been slow, but with pleasing results. Again, I have used the green stack (12x12) by DCWV, 70% recycled, my current favorite, combined with some sheets from Robin's store, that coordinate very well (Daisybucket Designs).

Most of my recent knitting was done on our trip to Arizona, Wyatt did most of our long distance driving, so I got to knit and finished this (size 3-4T).

It is waiting for the skirt to be shortened and sewed on to the cotton top.

My focus these days is on finishing some stuff for the Hip Stitch craft show coming up beginning of May, mainly girls dresses since it should be nice and warm by then. I am working on a new series with recycled adult skirts and dresses from rayon fabric, which gives the dress a nice drape.

So, if you are in ABQ, mark your calendars and stop by at Hip stitch Friday, May 1st between 5 and 8 pm or Saturday, May 2nd between 10 am and 4 pm .

I have yet to explain this posts title.

Check out the amazing story of this earthquake survivor in Italy:

A 98-year old lady was trapped for 30 hours before she was rescued. How she got through those long hours? - She crocheted!

What a story...

Incomplete Friday

Friday is not complete without digging in the past.

Today I found some shots, that are probably very rare and I find them truly exceptional and fascinating. I believe they were taken by my aunt Kaethe (or one of her friends?), while she was on a cruise from Naples through the Mediterranean to the USA in 1933. Location is Algiers and that is all I know. Enjoy.

breakfast with Denzel

About six weeks ago my family headed south for a weekend trip, amazing White Sands included.

On our way we visited White Oaks, a former ghost town which is now - like so many other places - rediscovered by artists. Off season and quite deserted in February we got the idea of how it used to be like!

We thought this mansion could easily have been the background for "Psycho".

Close by Carrizozo was quite a bit more charming, because there was Roy's.

Sundaes, milk shakes and a real cool vintage flair, we loved it all.

And Roy also told us what it was about all the weird construction on the main road and the kinda important looking people on bikes, that were a little too casually cool dressed to be construction workers or builders. They were working on the movieset for "Book of Eli" with Denzel Washington, mid March they were expecting the film crew for the actual shooting! You could almost see them hanging out at Roy's already - I'm sure they loved that place - so authentic!

I was not aware of the fact that Denzel Washington was continuing the shooting of the movie after that in New Mexico until this morning. That's when I had my breakfast with Denzel. No, of course I did not meet him, sillies, he was in the paper after donating quite a large amount of money for the Roswell's Boys and Girls Club.

This guy is here for work, certainly quite stressed, that's how I imagine the movie business, he watches a local newsreport about the club's financial problems and whips out his checkbook. Now how cool is that for a famous actor, I'm asking you??

Yeah for Denzel Washington, you rank even higher now on my personal list of great actors - for being a generous, kind and thoughtful person as well.

And "Thank you!" from the little me for supporting that Club, which will now be able to survive!

Sweet nothing and Arizona

Spring break. Lots of time to do nothing special.
Just hanging around, letting the laundry piles grow, munching the first strawberry pie of the season outside in the backyard,



enjoying the sun and being silly,

cruising some yard sales, good finds for boys/pilots included,

crafting and finishing a long abandonned embroidery project, a pin cushion (have I mentioned yet that I love the 70s??),

some more scrapbooking with a recycled board book:

And then there was our first family trip into Arizona.
A loooong drive with snow and dust storms, then the beautiful scenery of the Flagstaff area, a great yarn store in town (Purl in the Pines), amazing Indian ruins in the most incredible locations,

peaceful and offering a glimpse into the past.

I was touched by the respect with which numerous remains of Hopi vessels were gathered (possibly by tourists?) and placed on rocks at this site to be enjoyed by all visitors.

Spring break was good.

Vintage Photo Friday

These photos have been in one of my albums for about 20 years now. I found them in the dumpster of a nursing home in Germany, where I used to work, maybe the previous owner had passed away.

It has since made me sad, that it is lost forever, who this happy family was and where the photos were taken. Or was it the aunt with some cousins? Mother and son with neighbor friends? I always thought they were shot in Florida, but who knows.

They have fascinated me immensely and still do.

Even though someone did not care and threw them away, to me they will always be special.

mail fun

The mail brought two unexpected surprise packages today.
First was a blog win from generous and talented Sarah at incaknits, some gorgeous handmade cards with pictures of her handknits. Thank you so much, Sarah, I love them!




Then there was also this:

A mini Japanese sewing kit from my sweet friend Mitchi from Maryland.

And the little bell on the front flap really works! Thank you, Mitchi, I love it!

Fiona received her last piece of art for the kid's art swap (find the flick group here) and boy, did we all love this one! It arrived in a thoughtfully picked envelope with the most beautiful stamp I have ever seen.

Mister Django did an awesome job with his artwork, too, and sent his greetings with the biggest grin ever.

Note to myself: I really want to go to New Caledonia one day.

And I want to ride a horse.

The two are not related.

Even though it might be nice to ride a horse in New Caledonia, who knows...

done

Well, the rubberband-covering-title-problem ended up being not quite that bad. A trip to Joann's brought black, but also golden rubberband in various widths.
So after I picked up the kids from school we enjoyed the spring warmth with a little smoothie picnic in the courtyard in front of the house, where the sun hits just perfectly in the afternoon. With banana-raspberry smoothies the finishing of the little book with the skinny golden rubberband was quickly done.

I also finished the cover of my new little calendar, just glued some paper on and added the extra hooting owl with the year stamped on it. Here as well I added rubberband to keep it together and used little flower eyelets.

The paper came from "The Green Stack", 70% recycled paper, my latest favorite. Warm, earthy colors and the cutest designs ever.