Knitting Frogs

I've joined a sweater knit-along.  A KAL for short in the yarn world.  We're knitting this sweater.
This is what mine looks like.

Please pray I finish.  Those of you who knit will know what I mean by "knitting frogs."

Back to casting on - again.

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

All Bets Are Off - I'm Mobile! A Post from the Real Baby

Things have changed for me this week, and my whole world has opened up!  I can crawl!  This allows me to chase after Paddy and his toys!

I have found lots of new things to get in to.  Baskets to pull over, paper bags to play with....

And can you say "YARN?!"  I like the way it feels between my fingers.  I can see how Mama gets all wrapped up in her projects.  This stuff is fun!

All this new activity has made for some early nights for me, too.  Luckily I have a soft place to rest on Daddy's belly.

And did I mention that my top front teeth are breaking through? It's been a big week!

That's all for now!

The Real Baby of Sheboygan County

Sidewalk Sale - Remember When?

Mary-Claire and I went "sidewalk saleing" today.  Yes, we live near a little town that still has a vibrant downtown, and it was just as I remembered small town sidewalk sales to be.  Tables upon tables of "stuff" that was either in the way, out of date, or in some cases, just going out of season.

I got lucky, though.  My favorite local yarn shop, Magpie's Cottage, was in on the action!

And they had good stuff!

I started by loading up the baby!

And, she wasn't that crazy about it!

So, we packed up our "stash" and went on our way.

Phooey on the sidewalk sale - until next year, that is!

Do you remember what a big deal your hometown sidewalk sale used to be?  I remember Stephenson's Toggery and even used to help organize the tables when I got a bit older.  Maybe Mary-Claire will get to work the "sidewalk sale" when she gets older!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

The Hat Parade - A Post by The "Real Baby"

My mom has finally started knitting again.  I guess she's finally getting the hang of having me around.  She made me this pretty pink "Baby Squash Hat" from 101 Designer one-skein Wonders, and she says that she's making the "Pink Tweed for Baby" cardigan to match.  She better hurry up, because I'm growing like a weed.

This modeling is tough work!

She also made me this hat from Last Minute Knitted Gifts.  

I'm growing so fast that's it's almost too small.  I guess I will send it to one of my new cousins who will be coming soon!

Thought I'd show you my "baby blues."  Just like my dad's!

The next hat is still a little big, and it's my mom's favorite color.  Not sure where she got the pattern, but it's just an easy baby hat, knitted in the round.

My mom says I look like "Mushmouth" from the old Fat Albert cartoon.  

Sometimes when I babble, I  do sound like Mushmouth, so I guess I won't take offense.

I also got my first big girl sports equipment this week.  Daddy is so happy!

His friends at Titleist made this Bullseye putter just for me!  I'm sure it won't be the last club my Dad gets for me.  He is a great teacher, so I'm sure we'll have lots of fun together.

Poor Paddy has been feeling a little left out lately, so we've been trying to give him a little extra love.  He sure does like to lick me!

My mom will be back next week posting about her Dinner On A Deadline project.  She got off easy this week, as my daddy was only home one night!  We missed him, but I think I saw her eat a peanut butter & marshmallow creme sandwich for dinner last night!  She did have a glass of milk with it.

Have a great weekend!

The Real Baby of Sheboygan County

Future Yarnoholic

My name is Mary-Claire and I'm a future "yarnoholic."

My mama can't stay away from the yarn shop, and I know I'm going to get "hooked."  The crochet hook is already clenched in my little fingers, and I know the knitting needles will be next.

Woe is me!  This is hard work!

Enough already!  I surrender!  

Have a great weekend and a Happy Mother's Day!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

What I've been up to this week!

I haven't posted on the blog this week until now, so I will do a wrap-up of what I've been working on.


The Anniversary Scarf:  Jim's anniversary present - almost done

The yarn is Jarbo Garn Duo, purchased at Urban Arts & Crafts when I was back in Kansas City over Christmas.  It's acrylic, but very soft, and should wash well.  It's a very simple pattern that I got from the Ravelry website called "Simple Textured Crochet Scarf".    It's hard to find something that is "manly" sometimes, and I thought this pattern fit the bill.


I also made a scarf for myself, inspired by this tutorial on the Make It and Love It blog.  Here is how mine turned out - not perfect, but I've worn it twice already.  Next time I will make it a little shorter, I think, but will try this tutorial from Sew Much Ado with the rest of my material.  If it turns out, I might make some for my nieces.  P.S.  You can also barely see my anniversary gift - the Tiffany heart necklace.  I love it, as it's so lightweight I barely know I'm wearing it and I love the way it looks.

Finally, I got some new yarn on impulse yesterday as I was cruising through JoAnn previewing what was going on sale later this weekend.  I loved the color, so bought a couple of skeins and will make a Moebius Cowl (similar to this one) for myself.  I'm not sure the photo does the color justice.  As you can tell, I like to work on many things at once, or I get bored!

I'm still working on the baby blanket, I hemmed two pairs of my husband's jeans this week, and will probably try to clean out some of my magazine clutter over the weekend.  Hubby has to work this weekend, so I will have plenty of time to craft, daydream, watch the birds and play with the dog.

I hope you have had a good week!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

Baby Blanket for the Little Girl

I have decided to work on a baby project next.  This will be a crocheted baby blanket with stripes and popcorn stitches.  A sample of the popcorn stitch is shown on top of the yarn.  This will be my first attempt at something larger, so I will be counting lots of stitches! I have decided the baby's room will be brown and kind of a seafoam blue/green, so I thought this yarn would be nice.  Once again, it's from Magpie's Cottage in Sheboygan Falls.   The seafoam colored yarn has some variation in it, so should provide some nice interest in the piece.

This little tray is the inspiration for the color palette for her room, as well as the theme.  It says, "Follow your dreams, for as you dream, you shall become."  I hope she will always keep dreaming.

'Til next time,

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County