Hang Tags for Hats

These are for my dreadlock hats. What do you think?

Barn To Be Wild ~ Or At Least Pretty

This year's theme at the Kenai Peninsula State Fair (or biggest little fair in Alaska) is Barn To Be Wild. Mermaids have nothing to do with barns, but they are born to be wild, not domesticated and definitely NOT kept as pets. Or are they? (That quilt isn't finished yet.)

This quilt was auctioned off as part of the annual fun raiser, and is going home with Angela, or perhaps to Angela's business as her logo is a mermaid.

I actually took her to the fairgrounds before getting pictures. That's how excited I was about the event. It was our second year having a celebrity waiter dinner. It went great thanks to the wonderful waiters, the generous people who donated desserts for the silent dessert auction, and the guests who freely spent their money to support the fair.

But back to the mermaid... She was caught decorating her hair with fish eggs. Don't judge - different culture, different standards of beauty. Besides, I like to think she's doing her part for environmental diversity by keeping some of the eggs protected. :) Here's a close-up, though sadly, since I had to make do with the lighting at the event, the fish eggs don't show up very well.


(Click on any picture to see a larger view.)

I have been creating...

With one mermaid complete I altered the pattern again and made another. This one went out in a swap. I had planned to have her hiding a gift behind her back under all that hair, then I decided the box would be in front filled with pearls, but with time running out her gift became a string of pearls.










The first mermaid was fuller of waist, hip, and tail. Which one looks most like she'd be found in Alaskan waters? Hard to say. I know my inclination is to put on padding for warmth. But this one reminds me of an arctic eel and a beluga whale and I have no doubt that she's lived lifetimes without being spotted, except for a flash of her tail as though she's any other beluga touring Turnagain Arm. Her sister however has probably been the cause of more than one accident on Seward highway, while sun bathing on a rock.



I also sewed up an apron for myself, the day after ruining one of my favorite shirts while cooking. I love aprons, especially unusual aprons, and yet I had never taken the time to just make myself one. This one is reversible but my husband complains that the green side is blinding. : )

My daughter received fat quarters for her birthday from several generous sewers and while I sewed up my apron, she made one for a Barbie - on her very own birthday sewing machine. I was a little worried as tiny curves are harder to sew than large, but she really wanted to do it and did a great job. The only part she didn't like was hand sewing the inner neckline. Here is the first thing sewn on her sewing machine. (It also gives you an idea of how fantastic I look in mine.)

Whales like attention too

I do wish I'd gotten better pictures of Whale before he went out the door to the baby shower. He, Mr. Moose, Starfish, and Seagull were decorations on a branch for a little baby-to-be. They are also toys-to-be for when the little one is older. Mr. Moose may have his antlers and curly legs going for him, but Whale has his tail. (Seagull has feathers and Starfish character, but sadly they didn't get their pictures taken.)

What's in a blog name?

Everything, if you're like me. "A name? I have to pick a name? Will I have it forever or will I be able to change it later, and how much effort and time would that take and will I lose data? " If I'd had to choose my own name upon reaching a certain age - forget it. The stress alone would have done me in. Happens I love my name so that ended well. And as for my blog name, time will tell.

Here's a moose I made for a baby shower. I'm now preparing kits with hand dyed wool felt, patterns, and instructions for Mr. Moose, Whale, and a mermaid who I believe is behind the disappearance of the digital camera all because she doesn't have her hair on yet and doesn't want me taking pictures. How am I going to show the steps along the way if I can't take pictures of her until she's completely done? Ooooooh, that's like a major life lesson coming at me from a doll I created. Can't think about it too much, must stay sane.