85 1/2 Days ...

Gabriella on her last day of school

Do you remember those magical Summer Days of your childhood?

I certainly do.

Days filled with sunshine and heat,

running through sprinklers with friends to cool off.

Riding bikes, playing hopscotch, swimming, swinging,

chasing fireflies until we were forced to go in,

sleeping at first one house then the next;

trying to stay up all night with each other.

The most wonderful thing was the pure freedom of it all and the feeling

that it just might never end.

I grew up in a neighborhood that was absolutely overflowing with kids.

They were everywhere and of all ages.

We ran around all summer long in packs.

It was glorious.

All of the moms were friends and kept an eye on each others children.

We darted all over with total abandonment.

Free and wild.

Sun up to sun down.

We took breaks only when we were called into to eat and usually we did that

back and forth at each others houses,

depending on whose mother was fixing what we liked best each day.

If one of us couldn't be found,

the phone network would start up between the mom's.

That was back in the good old days when the only phone we had

was attached to the kitchen wall

with a cord that forced you to stand or sit right up close to it.

If it was suppertime and my dad was already home,

he would just open up the side kitchen window and let out a loud whistle.

One of the neighborhood kids would holler out,

"Danette! I think it's time for YOU to go home."

The memory of those days of laughing and playing in the sunshine

still brings me joy.

I had a beautiful childhood.

Now I'm enjoying the delightful summers of my grandchildren.

I get to be a part of their grown up memories some day.

My grandparents were a huge part of my world well into my adult life.

Archer's first dandelion forage

As the weather warms up I look forward to another summer.

One filled with new possibilities.

Days of picking dandelions, blowing bubbles, drawing with sidewalk chalk

and sitting on the porch swing

with my grandchildren.

Parkers first sidewalk chalk artwork

When I picked Gabby up on her last day of school she was so excited.

She said,

"You know Grammy,

They say there's 85 days of Summer,

but we only had a half day today,

so really I think there's 85 1/2 days,

don't you?"

I think we'll go with that.

# Love This

Hobby Lobby is one of my favorite haunts.

This morning I made a trip over with my daughter Chelsea and my grandson Parker.

Of course I headed for the stamping aisle.

It's like a treasure trove of its very own to me.

I found these darling little tags that I plan to use for pricing

at my next Craft Fair.

The prices will be written underneath the stamped

#lovethis

{which I do just love}.

Parker felt the need to wear my jacket while we were there.

He was delighted with the length of the sleeves

but was certain the button holes were areas that were

"broken".

Both of my grandsons were at my house

for awhile early this morning.

Archer & Parker

They are so cute when they're together.

It's a good start to my day.

"I love music of all kinds,

but there's no greater music

than the sound of my grandchildren laughing;

my kids, too."

Sylvia Earle

Vacation... You're Kidding Me, Right?!

The last couple weeks have been spent in a fluffy flurry

of bunny making busyness around here.

Scott was on vacation last week, 

which means he didn't go to work

but I continued to knit and knit and knit 

and when I wasn't knitting ...

I was crocheting...

Because in the midst of my bunny making madness

I had a custom order for these.

They're Vintage Dress Potholders

that I crocheted large enough to be used as placemats or trivets

as the customer requested.

I actually had one already on my Esty Shop

in Raspberry Pink & Ivory, that she purchased.

She wanted three more.

They were so much fun to make!

But getting back to those bunnies...

I have another customer in Chicago who orders things from time to time.

Last year her first grandchild was four months old at Easter time.

So she ordered a Flop Ear Bunny Hat.

This year she contacted me again.

Her daughter, once again, is in need of ... not one but TWO 

Flop Ear Bunny Hats

She has a set of Twin Girls who, once again, are four months old at

 Easter time.

Can you even imagine?!

It would be like having three little triplet girls really.

God Bless that Mommy... and Daddy... and whoever else helps that household out!

These hats are made from Knit Picks Organic Cotton, which I absolutely LOVE.

This particular customer loves this organic cotton as well.

Last year I made hats, bibs, shoes... all sorts of baby goodies for her,

 using this same fiber.

If you've never used it, you have to give it a try.

It' so soft and has great yardage and, of course, has never been dyed or processed in any way,

 making it perfect for delicate baby skin or anyone with sensitivities.

There is, however, some slight shrinkage that you have to factor in when you are working with it.

And with all that being said...

Once more ...

I am back to MORE bunnies...

I still have one more bunny to make in time for Easter.

Remember the bunnies I started making for my grandchildren?

Well I got two finished then had to set them aside to fill orders,

plus I've been quite busy teaching private crochet lessons the last few weeks.

{not that I'm complaining about the work :-))) }

But...

Now...

I have another whole bunny to make.

This is what it looks like this very moment...

This is what it has to look like by the time I go to bed 

Saturday night.

I have a ways to go.

So you know what I will be doing.

If I don't check back in here until next week, 

I wish you all 

a 

Very

Happy Easter

With Love

Danette

A Bunny for Gabriella

I finally finished the bunny for my granddaughter

Gabby.

Of our four grandchildren, 

she is the only girl.

Therefore I wanted a nice feminine

girly

bunny for her.

The yarn I used can be purchased at Hobby Lobby...

Yarn Bee

Andes Alpaca

Fog

I held it double stranded on size 7 needles throughout so it would be nice and tight and there would be no stuffing playing peek-a-boo.

Wanting just an extra bit of foo~foo,

I crocheted a tiny rose using embroidery floss.

For an added touch of charm I dug around in my button and bead stash and came up with these 

heart shaped hematite beads for her eyes.

And of course she needed a soft pink embroidered nose.

The rose covered ribbon was discovered on my recent trip to Hobby Lobby as well.

Much to my delight all of their ribbon was on sale...

50% off.

You know I did a tiny bit of restocking the stash on this one.

She also has a fluffy tail to show off her cute little backside.

Gabby will turn 9 in early April.

She has taken tremendous interest in every stitch I've made all of her life.

By the time she was 6 months old I had her on my lap,

chubby hands and fingers wrapped around my

knitting needles

or 

crochet hook,

feeling the yarn,

 so she would develop a natural love for it.

We are slowly, but surely working on her simple crochet skills.

Eventually we will add knitting as well.

She loves everything I make for her.

I'm excited to give her this for Easter...

I know the look on her face won't disappoint my heart.

Xo,

  Xo,

Danette

Added Note ~

One reason this Bunny required a little more time in the making is because about half way through the process she needed some

repair work...

After picking Gabby up from school one day,

I took her to the library.

This is something we have done together since she was in a stroller.

I live walking distance and the added bonus is my eldest daughter,

her beloved Aunt Hil {Hilary}

is a Librarian there.

So, not only does Gabby share my love of books and reading,

we get to have a visit also.

Anyway, back to the scene of the crime....

We returned home just in the nick of time for my son in law 

to pick Gabby up from my house,

which was a very good thing for more reasons than I first realized.

He had her whisked out the door before she saw what I discovered,

which would have ruined the surprise of her Easter gift from me.

I had rather absentmindedly left my knitting basket,

holding the already knitted and stuffed body of this bunny and two comlpleted bunnies

in the floor by my chair...

And Miss Phoebe the Naughty Weenie Dog,

who really loves her "babies" and really hates for mommy to be gone...

Had a Hay Day!!!

Archer's was untouched, thankfully.

But the other two were finally located underneath my bed 

on a bid dog pillow

where Phoebe hides all contraband.

It's the very first place I always look.

One bunny had just a loose stitch and needed a new tail.

Gabby's bunny had some chewing around the nose area that I was able to

 snip and tuck in due to the fact

I had used two strands throughout.

Plus I was able to tack it down and hide it with the embroidered nose.

So, at least she chose a good spot for her chomping...

I guess.

It Must Be Bunny Love

I decided a few days ago that my grandchildren need 

knitted and stuffed bunnies for Easter this year.

Actually, 

I made them some last year.

Just the tiny, stripey ones that I showed in my last post.

The ones I call

 "Pocket Bunnies" 

on my 

Etsy Shop

They love them and still carry them around and play with them.

Hilary told me Archer enjoys making his hop.

His way of making this happen is to fling it onto the floor

and then stomp it half to death.

Hilary assures me he is in his sock feet...not his shoes.

{In case I was bothered by this abuse}

I told her it doesn't matter, that it's his bunny now

and he can treat it however he wants to.

Archer will be 2 this September...

So you see he probably really does think he is making the bunny hop

when he does this ;-)

This year however, I went on the hunt for a bunny 

that looked more like a 

Rabbit

And after scouring Ravelry and Etsy this is the one

 I fell in love with.

You can find this absolutely adorable pattern for sale on 

a beautiful Shop called

MadAboutColourPatern

If you are interested just click this link to go straight to the pattern.

I won't be knitting these darling fella's up for my own shop though

because Joanne, the shops owner and creator of this too sweet pattern,

doesn't allow her patterns to be used for selling purposes.

That's okay by me. 

Not only did I really just want to make them for my grandchildren,

I have great respect for the talent and hard work of other people

and feel strongly about honoring their wishes...ALWAYS.

I'm just thankful to have found her shop and her patterns.

This was so well written and worked up just perfectly.

I'll be making more purchases from her in the future.

The first bunny pictured in the basket

{the cute fella seated on your left}

is the one who will go to Archer.... my little stomper.

It's the second

bunny rabbit I made.

Look at that tail... isn't it the cutest?!!

The one sitting on the right was my first one...

my trial run, so to speak.

And although I do like him...

I don't necessarily love him. 

His flaws are not readily noticeable in this charming layout I configured

for Instagram but I can see them when I hold him in my hand.

He's knit from a fiber blend of 75% Acrylic and 25% Wool
 held single stranded

and I can 

see through the stitches to the stuffing...eek!!!

And NO!!!!

Also,

I'm not totally crazy about the embroidery work on his face.

Therefore,

this sweet guy will not be going to one of my little sweeties for Easter.

Instead...

He is destined to live out his days 

much more gently

right here with 

ME.

The one I prefer was made from 100% Virgin Wool 

held double stranded...

nice and tight...

no stuffing peaking out there!

And I'm a bit happier with the face...

still a work in progress :-)

There are more to be made, so I figure each one will get a tad better.

At first I was worried about using wool, thinking they should be washable.

Even though I really wanted to use this particular wool because

I love the color for a rabbit.

Then I showed it to my daughters and they both loved it too.

They said,

"Go ahead, we don't care about washing them anyway."

Well, there you go.

I guess if they get too dirty in the whole hopping/stomping 

process of their lives

I can always make more.

XO,

   XO,

Danette

A New Little Monkey

Towards the end of May

we will have a new little monkey

in the family.

My sweet daughter Chelsea

is expecting her second baby.

She went shopping yesterday for this adorable outfit.

As it turns out we are going to have a

Grandson!!!

:)))

We are

SO VERY EXCITED!

Big Sister Gabby

{who, as you can see, is Grammy's biggest kitchen helper}

can hardly wait for her

Baby Brother

to enter the world.

She will be 7 just a few weeks before he is born.

They grow up fast, don't they?!

Ahhh...Grandchildren....what a BLESSING.