still around

i haven't posted in a bit. I've been busy. I did four more trades/partial trades in the past week. It worked out really well since three of the four only required time ,and the one that did require materials is a partial trade so I'll still get money to cover my materials as well as receive my trade items.
I did some photo editing for one family and will receive some great car decals. I've been wanting a stick figure family for a while, and now I get one! I'll probably also go ahead and buy a cloth diapering one, a homeschool one, and a breastfeeding one. Her shop is here : http://hyenacart.com/distinctivedecals/index.php?viewall=1

Then some computer graphics/ animated advertising for two more mammas and will recieve toys from both of them in return. From one I will get an I-Spy bag for Joey to play with in church, and from the other I will get a wooden puzzle.

Finally, I did some custom dyed yarn and will get paid half in cash and half in crocheted toys.

I'll show pics of all my goodies when they come in. If I get permission from the one lady, I'll also show the photos I edited, it was a challenge, but fun. I actually beheaded two people from one shot and put them into another shot. the man was easy, he had his head in the same pose in both pictures, but the little boy had his head turned away so i had to get rid of that, then paste a new head that was facing the camera, he had really wild curly hair too, so i ended up having to hand paint some hair in so he did't look cropped.
anyway, heading for my mom's house tomorrow for the weekend.

Christmas gifts.

I've been able to make or trade for a number of gifts this year which has certainly helped the budget. I haven't been able to trade for Joey's computer games (Tycoon upgrades/ expansion packs), but Jessi wanted play kitchen stuff.

This is a pocket friend for Joyana. She loves all things ladybug. I got some little pocket friends last year from Lisa at Winsome Whatnots and this year I asked about getting a custom ladybug done and she obviously did a great job. It is about 4 inches or so, little enough to fit in Joy's purses, and big enough to not get lost. It is hand crocheted and washable.
Play food ham sandwich, complete with bread, ham, cheese, lettuce, tomato. Also from Winsome Whatnots.

A petite four cake I sewed from felt.

Felt pizza slice- I made this and the following felt foods.

Felt sugar cookies with sprinkles

felt gingerbread lady cookie.

I have more felt food in the works and a big felt treasure map for Joey.

I also was able to trade for a bunch more crocheted food from Tiffany of Fair Trade Family, and she was kind enough to get me some kitchen tools from Ikea since she has one local to her and I do not. From Tiff I got some great Icecream cones, cupcakes, and a few other things.


I also want to get Joey an I-Spy bag from All 4 Kids to play with in church.

I have some other things in mind too, if I can arrange trades for yarn. I used to be able to trade with my applique'd shirts but I just don't have time anymore.

On my "covet list" are toys from Anne Moze, Happy Squash and Doohickies

Please consider buying local or handmade this season and help support the American small business.

More pictures

More pictures of the kids.

Jonny Jumbo showing off his grins and his chins.

Hands. Hands are SO cool. I love hands.
I took these tonight... can you stand it?

Jonny and Jessi chilling in bed.

I think I forgot to show pics of H'ween. We had a Princess, a Knight, and two little dragons. Don't mind the daddy, he's just holding one of the dragons.

The dragons. By the end of the night, they were both pretty beat.
Just hatched dragon baby.

RARRRR, I'm a big, Scary, DRAGON!

who happens to wear pink crocs.

dancing princess

With her BRAVE knight

recent yarn

These were both custom colors I did up for two different customers.

The first is for a newborn set so she wanted nuetral colors and she likes earthy colors. This is a variation on the Desert Turqouise colorway I did about two years ago.

This one is for a mamma who wanted pink and brown to match winter coats for her girls. This colorway is so simple, but it turned out gorgeous! I looks like neopolitin (sp?) ice cream. I made it to be self- striping so as it is being knit, it will make bands of the pink, natural, and brown. I love doing custom dye jobs, it's so much fun to see what people come up with and then it's a fun challenge to interpret that idea on yarn.

The photo shoot

While Julie was here, we took the kids to the park to get a bunch of photos. I'll be posting later the finalists for the christmas picture, these are just some of the ones that were taken in the process.

Joey, aka, GQ modelsilly kids
Jonny Jumbo wondering what his shirt tastes like.

Laughing Jonny

Shy Jonny

Bubby and Joy

Jessi and Jonny

Brothers

Peek a boo!

Wheee

I made this little outfit for Joey before he was born. unfortunately, I didn't get it unpacked in time for Jonny to wear it. He's in it, but the bottom won't snap.

Little Gypsy