Birthday Package

Hi, everyone! I received a birthday package from Amanda last month, but never got around to posting about it. Even though my birthday was in June, Amanda waited to send it later because she wanted to include goodies from SDCC 2014.

She got me two books from Brian Kesinger's artist table at SDCC as my main gift. He is a fabulous steampunk artist who is known for his tea girl illustrations.  Amanda got me his Walking Your Octopus and the companion coloring book. She even got them signed!!!

She got me lots of posters, buttons, and excerpt booklets for upcoming novels as freebies from SDCC.

Also included in the package was some lovely Sentimental Circus stationery in a watercolor pattern, an adorable bunny magnetic page marker, and some crochet goodies, a button and a yarn ball brooch by All About Ami. She even made me a mini multicolored star amigurumi brooch. I have added it to the little bunny amigurumi brooch she made last year.

The card and notes in the package were handmade and featured kawaii pandas. I love the colors of the cards!

Thank you darling for all the goodies!

Until next time >____<

Farewell Party and Chill Pills

One of my coworkers is transferring to another department.  We held a surprise pancake party for him in honor of his transfer. I will miss his crazy humor and all around good cheer, but I know that the next department will benefit from his expertise.

I took a picture of the banner that was made for his party.

As a parting gift, he gave us some wisdom for the grueling months ahead and something quite funny, a bottle of chill pills in cases of emergency. 

Front of Bottle

Back of Bottle

These bottles were a great parting gift though he needn't give us anything. I have mine sitting on my desk at work. Hopefully I won't need it anytime soon!

Wishing my coworker lots of good luck at his new job!

Until next time >____<

Football Game - USA vs MSU

Yesterday, my sister and I went to a football game with our friends downtown at Ladd Stadium. It was the first time our college, University of South Alabama, has played a SEC team. The game sold out which is amazing! 44,000 people! Egads!

I took a few pictures of the marching band when they came out on the field. I used to play in a marching band when I was in high school so I have a fondness for all marching bands.

My sister's friends from work had a small cookout before we walked over to the stadium. Claire makes some amazing sausage balls with cheese!

I think we were unprepared for the barely tolerable heat at the stadium. We had thought it was going to storm yesterday as all the weather reports indicated 60% of rain.....but we received sunny skies with only a few clouds to shade us for a moment or two.

It was so hot that many people around us were leaving the game early to go home and watch it on TV or listen to it on the radio. I ended up going back into the breezeway/concession stand area of the stadium to sit in the breeze because of dizziness. I wasn't the only person sitting out the game because of the heat. Claire saw someone fall out in one of the concession lines and one of the USA cheerleaders was taken off the field for heat exhaustion. Yucky southern weather!!!

I joked with my sister that next time we need to go see a game in late October because at least by then the south might be in the midst of fall weather.

Sadly, we didn't do well in the game, but I think it is a learning experience for USA and I hope they do better in the future.

Go Jags!

Until next time ^____^

Panda Cards

Lately my friend Amanda has been sending me some adorable handmade cards in the mail. She and I share a love of stationery and the giving and receiving of letters. I thought I'd share a picture of her cards. I love the little panda embellishments!

Don't you love the octopus tentacles in the card on the right? Someone save that panda!!!

Ever since I've known Amanda, she's been making handmade things. She is quite a talented young lady. I can't wait to receive more cards in the mail. Her friend recently gave her a Sizzix Big Shot die cut machine for her birthday so I know she'll have fun playing with all the possibilities it offers in card making!

Until next time ^____^

Artwalk Thank You and Yarn Question

Hi, everyone! I hope you're having a good Sunday before the work week.

I wanted to say thank you to everyone who came by our table on Friday night at the LODA Artwalk. Several of my amigurumis found new homes! Kiki, Kyo, Sir Maxwell, and Suppie found new owners which is fantastic.

I had a girl come up and ask what type of worsted weight yarn I used. I was so surprised by the question that I didn't give her the correct answer. So here goes.....I use a medium 4 size yarn, almost always Caron Simply Soft unless I see a color of yarn that Caron doesn't carry.

When I first started to learn how to crochet I used Red Heart Super Saver yarn, which is a worsted weight yarn. Once I found Caron Simply Soft, I couldn't go back to using Red Heart, which I found to be too coarse. Not to say, that you can't soften Red Heart yarn because you can. I've seen tutorials online for soften the yarn before use.

I hope that answers your question!

Until next time ^____^

Kero Amigurumi

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft mango and white
Hook: size H
Notions: 10mm safety eyes, yellow felt, and DMC 310
Start/Finish: 9/8-10/2014

Dreaming of pumpkins

I don't know about the rest of the population in the South, but I tired of humid weather and high temperatures. Where is the cool weather? I have a feeling it won't happen until October.....maybe we will get lucky and it will come sooner than later.

With thoughts of the fall season in mind, I found a cute drawstring crochet pattern today that I decided to try and make. 

When I saw the pattern I knew I could change the colors and have a cute pumpkin. Perfect for fall goodies!! 

Pattern: Mini Drawstring Bag by CJ

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft orange and green

Hook: size H

Notions: 3/8" Trick or Treat ribbon

Start/Finish: 9/7/2014

For my first drawstring bag, I think it came out well. I was able to get some help from aunt with my stitches. I started my tr stitches incorrectly because I was doing them as if I was stitching in a row instead of in the round. Luckily she spotted the mistake before I was too far ahead. 

Until next time >___<

Rapunzel - let down your hair - OUAT September block

Start/Finish: 9/1-6/2014

My favorite motifs this month were the birds and the flower basket. I wonder what fairy tale will be featured in October?!

Until next time >___<

Panda Bday

My friend Amanda's birthday was this week. I had sent off her package last Saturday. Here's what I sent her. It was a combination package of some Easter candy that I hadn't sent earlier this year and goodies that I picked up in Atlanta and Peterborough during the Canadian trip in addition to her birthday presents.

I think my favorite might be the Starbucks mug. I love how each state has it's own mug with various state landmarks illustrated on it.

I hope you liked everything and that you had a wonderful birthday!

Until next time ^____^

August Recap

Read:

1. The Doomsday Vault by Steven Harper
2. Severed Souls by Terry Goodkind
3. Codex Reborn by Jim C. Hines
4. The Curious Case of the Werewolf by Gail Carriger
5. Things Seen in Japan by Clive Holland (1924)
6. A Geek in Japan by Hector Garcia
7. The Constantine Affliction by T. Aaron Payton
8. A Wonderlandiful World by Shannon Hale
9. Kitsune-Tsuki by Laura Baugh

Stitched:
1. OUAT August Block

Crafts:
1. Konkon amigurumi