my crafty eyes are bigger than my... stomach?

I have a very good excuse for not posting in a bajillion days: time seems to slip through my hands. I've worked at two fundraising walks over the last two weekends, written media materials for a press conference this Wednesday, prepped a co-worker for a live radio interview. I've got another event in 2 weeks, and then I'm taking a break.

Despite the fact that my crafting time has shrunk of late, I keep adding to my list of projects to be completed. I keep buying yarn, including full bags of Berroco Love It, Queensland Collection Invito, and South West Trading Co. Bamboo. Great sales that I couldn't pass up, but when the heck am I going to use them? I still haven't made a dint in the yarn I bought at Stitches West. I have started on a vest using the Love It (Classic Elite's Vine Lace Vest), but my eyes are glazing over at the 4x4 ribbing.

There has been another crop of babies in the last few weeks. Please welcome Baby Spencer (born to parents Ryan & Sara), Campbell (daughter of Stephen and Lea, and little sister of James) and Jacob (baby #5 for Ben & Katie!). So the quilting continues! Here is my version of a Stacked Coin Quilt (mostly taken from Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts, but a bit improvised towards the end):

yes, that is my very messy desk. I told you I was busy.
And yes, that is a mini-fridge under my desk.
I use it so I don't have to keep pumped breast milk in the public fridge in the kitchen.
It just seems more private this way.

Richard picked out the fabrics, as he does for most of my quilting projects (he has a great eye for color). I'm starting on the next one already, an applique quilt - my favorite. Not as complex as the Pumpkin Quilt (still languishing unfinished), but it will hopefully be finished before the baby's 1st birthday.

I just have so many projects that I want to make: a couple of dresses of my own design for Vivian, a few simple tops for me, an Emmeline apron, any one of the several Stitch Diva patterns I have in my collection. And that's not counting those projects started but not finished: my Victoria Bolero, my Crochet Mesh Jacket, my Juliet Sweater (which really just needs to be blocked and have the buttons sewn on).

Grr. Why aren't there enough hours in the day? Why are my crafty eyes bigger than my crafty stomach?

This girl is going places

Vivian is up past her bedtime
Originally uploaded by Handy Crafts

Please pay no attention to the dust under my entertainment center. But I need to, because, all of a sudden, Vivian is VERY mobile. So dust under the entertainment center sometimes becomes dust in her mouth. She took a pretty long time to learn to crawl (she preferred rolling), but this week, it's been like a light switch was flipped in her head, and now she is crawling everywhere FAST.

Yesterday, she started standing up by pushing on Richard and I when we sit next to her on the floor. Standing. Standing!

Richard and I are now in panic mode over baby-proofing. I want to concentrate on going over the living room and her bedroom and starting first on the things that could result in death. Then we'll move on to those things that could just hurt. It's all about priorities.

Flickr

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Hug Me!

I hate talking toys.

Especially when it's 11:45 p.m., Vivian's asleep, Richard's out of town, I'm washing dishes in a quiet house and, all of a sudden, I hear sneaky laughter, and then a cheerful voice calling from the living room, "Hug Me!"

Talking toys creep me out.