Baby Booties

I live in sheep country. There is a Wool Growers Association here. My father-in-law, and his father before him, raised sheep in these hills. Our high school mascot is The Sheepherders. (You can't even make that up!)


I tried for years to come up with a project, a craft of some sort that I could make for all of my girlfriends and relatives who were expecting babies. (And I have a LOT of friends, and even MORE relatives!) I found the answer in the traditional baby booties.


It's perfect. It's simple. It's quick, which is particularly important when you get the informal, "By the way, we're gonna have a baby shower for so-and-so this Saturday. Can you come?" (Usually comes on a Thursday.)


The pattern is based loosely on a pair of woolen baby booties my aunt brought home from Ireland for my infant daughter. The pattern is tradition and unusual in these modern times, which makes it stand out at baby showers. Paired with a pattern I was already using I was able to make it my own. The upper portion is knit in one piece, then stitched down the back. The sole is a piece of fleece, leather on one side with fluffy wool on the other, which makes them non-skid and still super cozy on baby's feet! A ribbon through the eyelet row helps keep them on little kicky feet.





And, the most important part, I make them with Sweet Grass Yarn, the wool grown locally and processed in a way that allows the natural lanolin to remain in the yarn. And of course I package them in a custom, hand-painted box featuring (what else?) fluffy sheep.

It's a very personal gift that I am quite proud of. Hopefully I will continue to be able to use local wool and support my local sheep ranchers!

Blue Skies are Gonna Clear Up ♪

I painted a room! I know, you're thinking, "big whoop." But I have never done it before, so it is an exciting time for me! I've never really had walls that belonged to me before, so I can't wait to start on all the other rooms!

I started with my daughter's room. It is the smallest, and it actually had drywall to paint. (All the other rooms have paneling) I painted three of the walls white, leaving the wall that is wallpapered alone. (I think it's ugly, but my daughter doesn't mind the cutesy cartoon mice with pink and purple balloons, so whatever...)

But the big fun was in her closet. It's a nice sized walk in, and because she has about 5 items of clothing than need to hang, we've made the closet into a playroom of sorts, where she can set up her Barbies and Littlest Pet Shops in peace. So following this theme, I painted the closet a sky blue and sponged on fluffy clouds.

I think my first attempt at painting was fairly successful, and I can't wait to get my roller on all that ugly paneling...

Holiday Pause

Every year I think about all the cute, crafty things I can do for the holidays. And then I remember what they are actually like and give up. During the holiday season, Mom is luck if she gets to sleep a few hours a night, much less trying to get any crafting done. I always have grandiose ideas, but there just isn't the time.

Hopefully the crafting will pick up again now that they are over. Here's hoping!

Coming Soon:

• Still working on those socks


• Still working on those baby things. (Although they might be outgrown by then!)


• Have got a major painting project in the works...still in the planning phase