Gnomegarden

Had a busy week. Had a nice visit with my sister and her girls. Had a couple of days off from school for the poppets. Had breakfast in bed a la Marigold. Delivered a bunch of stitch markers. (Thanks!) Here, see for yourself.

my waitron

the appetizers ( cheerios with powdered sugar and or nutella on them — ok for weight watchers, she says– plus something to play while I waited)

the breakfast

the tea

and Rosemary showed up with chopsticks and tooo much lipstick, as usual.

ALL this plus I practically finished a sweater–

and these are hats that Jim is going to get if he doesn’t LOOK OUT!

The awesome skeletoque aka skeleclava from Instructables ( a site I am growing very fond of…) Here you can learn how to eat a banana LIKE A MONKEY AND how to grow a square watermelon!! Things that you have probably never thought you needed to know how to do– but I bet you’ll find something you fancy there! You’ll see.
See the skele-slide show here.

I suppose it is a breezier version of the Knitty Jekyll & Hide which is underway, but slowly.

Then there’s the truly wacky beard-hat. I can just see him on the train in this one. You can buy one in Brooklyn for $135.00– or just wait for the pattern. Jim may want interchangeable mustaches, I will have to consult.

Goodnight hb.

More as it happens.

A big THANK YOU! to all of those who have responded to my stitch marker post, and especially to those who placed orders!!! I really appreciate it. I am also very thankful to my friends who have been kind enough to tell others about my markers. I am very excited about this budding little business. Just Thank you, Thank you , Thank you!!

So, SICK. S-i-c-k. Siiiiiiiiick. (sik) adj., sick·er, sick·est.

1. 1. Suffering from or affected with a physical illness; ailing.
   2. Of or for sick persons: sick wards.
   3. Nauseated.
2. 1. Mentally ill or disturbed.
   2. Unwholesome, morbid, or sadistic: a sick joke; a sick crime.
3. Defective; unsound: a sick economy.
4. 1. Deeply distressed; upset: sick with worry.
   2. Disgusted; revolted.
   3. Weary; tired: sick of it all.
   4. Pining; longing: sick for his native land.
5. 1. In need of repairs: a sick ship.
   2. Constituting an unhealthy environment for those working or residing within: a sick office building.
6. Unable to produce a profitable yield of crops: sick soil.

n. (used with a pl. verb) Sick people considered as a group. Often used with the.

idiom:sick and tired

1. Thoroughly weary, discouraged, or bored.

[Middle English, from Old English s?oc.]— answers.com

Aren’t you just SICK of it?

My kids were snortling and rattling again this week. And my dear sister who was coming to visit has another variety of sick in her tribe. And it’s just E-V-E-R-Y where, it seems. Jim sent me this last night, and I had to laugh. Click on here and you will go to the order form where you can admire such lovelies as PLUSHY versions of the common cold, flu, strep and yes, even BLACK DEATH. ( and there are maaaany others.)

Right from their germ-filled pages—

Welcome to GIANTmicrobes!

We make stuffed animals that look like tiny microbes—only a million times actual size! Now available: The Common Cold, The Flu, Sore Throat, Stomach Ache, Cough, Ear Ache, Bad Breath, Kissing Disease, Athlete’s Foot, Ulcer, Martian Life, Beer & Bread, Black Death, Ebola, Flesh Eating, Sleeping Sickness, Dust Mite, Bed Bug, and Bookworm (and in our Professional line: H.I.V. and Hepatitis).Each 5-to-7 inch doll is accompanied by an image of the real microbe it represents, as well as information about the microbe.They make great learning tools for parents and educators, as well as amusing gifts for anyone with a sense of humor!

Yes…. Anyone with a sense of humor. I have lost that completely for SICK. I am not sure even a plushy– even the petri dish version–would save that. Perhaps I should start a germ knit-a-long on Ravelry!

I think a knitting update is on the pile for tomorrow, and maybe some family art. Stay tuned, and feel better to those dealing with sick! xo

Hedwig and I have been SO very busy with a new batch of stitch markers, and I am very excited about them!

I have updated the stitch marker page at right, please have a look. There are also 2 *new* pages– the *NEW* markers ( yay!) and a Logo-marker gallery. Please check them out and let me know what you think.

Happy Valentine’s day! (aaaannnnd Good night.)

Here’s Hedwig. Yep, we put her in the light box. She LOVED it. I think.

She loves to hang out with me while I work on markers. Sometimes, she’ll suggest beads… other times she’ll throw markers all around the table in a bird-fit. She’s wonderful, lovely and sometimes moody. ( Sigh. Aren’t we all?) Look at this smile–

The recital went so well! Marigold played so well- even had her first big performance “moment”. We were so proud. The capelets got finished for both girls and they looked so fab. Here are a few pictures from the day–

and a special treat for you…. Sorry about the crappy video. More news tomorrow.

Is probably one of my favorite songs ever. (You can listen to it at that link, if you don’t know it.)

This Friday, it seemed a good theme.

I broke my favorite sugar bowl yesterday. Sad, I am. And, I am a freak for old sugar bowls, preferably with the little spoons. You need a good place to keep your sugar.

Putting a little sugar in your bowl seems a good metaphor to me for making sure you get the sweet things in. In life. Not just the occasional hunk of chocolate…. but the really good stuff. The stuff that feeds your soul and your mind and informs your life. As Nina says- ” I ain’t fooooolin’. ” I feel so much better when I squeeze a little time in to do SOMEthing nourturing. For some reason I always have it as a footnote on my compulsive list of things to do in a day. When I make time for it, I feel more centered and happy. I am a better mama, and just generally a nicer person to be around. I don’t feel so empty and ruled by the ” but I have tos”. I watch it affect my family the same way– Jim is held afloat by his creative work these days, and the kids are so happy when the spend time doing what they should naturally be doing anyway. When you have to say MSA, shmem ass eh… go sew, or play with the Star Wars guys, or climb in that tree without a coat even though it is below 40 degrees.

However small, I am trying to make room for a little sugar each day.

Jim sent me this sugar. I thought I’d share it.

Cute gnome sugar–

and this list from Sister Corita

“When you think about pop art and counter culture, in all likelihood, you don’t immediately think of a convent in Los Angeles in the 1960s. Sister Corita Kent was a nun at the Immaculate Heart Convent in Los Angeles, as well as a teacher in the art department at the Immaculate Heart College. She was also an artist whose screen prints garnered world-wide attention. “

This just in from the Old Days…. Still soooooo true. This and that, never bored.

wow.

Threw my back out. That’s all you get.

Please see STITCH MARKER page at right for new detailed pictures. Please contact me if you are interested!

Well I think it’s working… I looked outside a few minutes ago and this is what I saw—

She had her own comment on Magritte–

Here are the makings of family art night:

Jim’s “Early Water Tower”. Click to go to his site and see more detail and other works in the Water Tower series.

Here’s Marigold’s painting for a sick friend “Opening Night”:

Also– she was inspired by our musical inspiration– Adam and the Ants.

Rosemary painted “Turkey Coop” and “Mudsuckle” and “Honeysuckle the Unicorn”

Lastly I did two for people I love. The first is an homage to Magritte and my dear Jim.

The second is for my dear WitchHazel, who is growing older tomorrow. Happy birthday!! I love you, wee sprite. You will be getting a treasure chest from us this week!

If you didn’t see this NPR bit on knitting, check it out. There are some really nice images in the slide show. Plus, it’s gotta be a great day any day that knitting is on NPR, right??

http://www.knitknit.net/