Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Froggy Banquet & WIP Wednesday

Last week, about 2 days into our torrential rains, we discovered that Philip's beanbag frog, which had been the subject of several manhunts (or is that froghunt?) over the last few days, was sitting in the backyard atop the play structure. I sadly informed the kids that when beanbag frogs get left outside in the rain, it's generally death to the poor froggy. When he was finally retrieved during a break in the rain, they saw that the poor froggy was bursting at the seams, quite literally, with sprouted beans. Philip was briefly sad, but his sister immediately set to work finding the exact same fabric in our scrap stash and cutting out a new froggy friend.


When the frog was sewn together and stuffed with non-sprouting beans, Elizabeth decided a celebratory banquet was in order. Yummy felted food for all! She wanted a dinner candle for their silky table (yet another use for last week's rainbow cape), as has become our autumn/winter dinnertime custom, but mommy had to inform her that open flames on silky tablecloths on the carpet are probably not the safest combination, especially with a 2.5 year old brother on the loose. She quickly came up with an alternative solution with a few pieces from Paulie's Snap Circuits kit, including the small lightbulb.


Grilled cheese and tea! Yum!


As for WIP Wednesday, I'm now finished with Paulie's Christmas blanket, save tucking in a few loose strings. Yay! I think I only have one or two small items left to work on for my handmade Christmas.


I'm also more than half-way done with Finn's scarf. I was thinking of possible adding an embroidered detail, maybe out of wool felt, to either end. Ideas?


Over the last few months, I was thinking it might be fun to have a knitted Santa hat for the kids to play around with during December, but couldn't find a pattern that I liked and also thought would work well with natural fibers. I found this white baby alpaca yarn and hand-dyed red wool at a destash sale so I'm kind of winging my own version of a Santa hat. If it works in actuality as I'm envisioning, I'll post the pattern.


Same story for this prototype of a Christmas bell ornament. I'm not quite finished with it, but if it works, I'll post a pattern for it as well. :)


I'm loving all this Christmas and winter knitting! What are you crafting right now?


12 comments:

  1. Oh my - so funny that he sprouted (though not to the kids I know). There's a science lesson in all of this too, eh? I can't wait to see the santa hat!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm thinking about crafting right now. I keep putting off knitting because I'm such a beginner but I think I'll just go for it.
    Love the sprouting froggy story! If only more toys could actually sprout.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh my gosh, that is so funny - a sprouted froggy. I'm sure it wasn't funny to the kids, but it made me laugh out loud! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ahhh....Elizabeth is such a sweet sister!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh my goodess!! The sprouting... I needed that laugh, but yes the poor kids!! I am so glad everything was fixed and taken care of though!
    I am loving all you are creating, can't wait to see them done.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm giggling thinking about a sprouting frog. What a great learning experience. :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I have become a bag lady. I'm actually sort of kind of hoping they don't sell, because there is nothing better than a big ol fabric scrap hobo, if you ask me...

    ReplyDelete
  8. I can't believe he sprouted! Poor little guy. Once again, I'm blown away at how creative you all are!

    ReplyDelete
  9. your gifts are beautiful! Do you do an entirely handmade christmas?

    ReplyDelete
  10. We don't do an entirely handmade Christmas, although I do as much as possible. This year, approximately 25% of our gifts (including extended family and friends) will be made by me, another 55% will be purchased from etsy or other handmade artisans. I feel good about our handmade vs not this year. :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh your blanket looks lovely. I have been "learning" knitting for years now. I am to chicken to move past scarves. Your knitting inspires me to try other things. Finn's scarf looks so warm and lush and the Santa hat looks so festive. I can't wait to see when you finish it. The bell is very charming as well.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'm amazed at how many projects you have going/finished! When do you do it all! I cracked up about the sprouting seeds!

    ReplyDelete

I love to hear what you think!