Multibeavo's World

Kawaii Teddy Bear Bento

2011-09-17T12:52:00.000+09:00

I love this bento box shaped like a teddy bear head.

I used the cutest little sandwich cutters that also have a piece you can press into the bread to make an animal face. Adorable! :)

Slouchy Hat

2011-09-17T12:34:00.000+09:00

Here is my latest crochet creation. A black and silver/gray slouch hat for a friend. :)

Made using April Draven's pattern.

More Kiddie Bento Goodness

2011-09-12T04:53:00.000+09:00

Washing the grapes.

Hello Kitty sandwich cutters.

Bento box all ready to be packed up.

Semi Aquatic Egg Laying Mammal of Action

2011-09-06T02:14:00.003+09:00

It's PERRY!!!!

Healthy Bento for Kindergarten

2011-08-20T23:43:00.001+09:00

Super cute Hello Kitty Bento Box :)

Kiwi, Blueberries, Carrot & 2 Japanese Jellies

4 Tiny Hello Kitty PBJ Sandwiches & a Winnie the Pooh Egg

I got the bento box and egg mold in Okinawa and lucky for us my friend went to California and brought us back 3 big bags of the Japanese Jellies (like Jello). Yum!

Back to School Bento

2011-08-17T08:06:00.000+09:00

Strawberries, carrots and Japanese jello. Yummy!

Star shaped egg and Hello Kitty sandwiches. :)

She loved it and ate every bite!!!

Super Kawaii Sandwiches & Cheese Bento

2011-05-30T03:43:00.001+09:00

Made for my daughter using cute little sandwich cutters with faces you can press into the top of the bread. I also used letter cutters to cut her name out of cheese. She LOVED it!!! :)

Summer Pinwheel Hairbows

2011-04-29T04:39:00.000+09:00

I used the tutorial here to make these!

I made about 15 or so all at once. Now my daughter chooses a new one each day to wear to school. Very easy to make and so darn cute!!

Teddy Bear Tissue Box Cover

2011-04-19T06:34:00.001+09:00

I bought this pattern on etsy a year or two ago but it appears the shop is no longer there and I cannot find the "Amigurumi Sweet Crochet Company" who sold this pattern.

Therefore I sadly cannot post a link to where you can buy this pattern.

But I am glad I got it when I did!

I made this as a birthday present for my friend.

I hope she likes it!

I made one for myself a while back and it is one of the only items that I have made and kept for myself!

The kids and I love using it!

Does Absence Make the Heart Grow Fonder??

2011-03-03T07:06:00.001+09:00

To my blog followers. I am sorry I have nothing new to post. I recently went back to college full time and it has left me with no free time to crochet or craft. But the good news is my creativity has another outlet!

Through my classes I am able to play around with my photography! YAY! So I may not be posting here as much, but I hope to be posting periodically on my photography blog located here :http://nikkipaigephotography.blogspot.com/

Wish me luck in school! So far it is amazing and I am so glad to be back at it and SO glad I took most of my prerequisites when I went the first time! :)

Valentine's Day Surprise for My Kids

2011-02-16T04:37:00.000+09:00

I knew the kids were gonna come home from school all sugared up with more candy & treats in tow so I decided not to get them a box of candy or Valentine treat. I decided to make a fun heart shaped dinner for them to celebrate Valentine's Day and to show how much I love them. My homemade heart shaped pizzas were a huge hit! They loved the pizzas and the thought that went into preparing them.

Here's how to make some special super easy heart shaped pizzas for your kiddos!

Preheat oven to 375-400 degrees.

Take flour tortillas and cut them into heart shapes.

Lay tortillas on a baking sheet and spread them with pizzas sauce.

Sprinkle pizza cheese over top of the sauce.

If you wanna get fancy, like I did, cut the pepperoni in to heart shapes. I used a tiny "cookie" cutter that I usually use to make bento box lunches. I then took the scraps of pepperoni and hid them under the cheese and placed the cute pepperoni hearts on top of the cheese.

Add any other toppings your kids like to the pizzas.

Bake in oven for 5-8 mins. Keep a close watch, the tortillas brown up quickly.

And ta-da! Heart shaped pizzas!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

Amazed by a Four Year Old

2011-02-04T03:02:00.000+09:00

Last night Bella just sat down and went to work with her scissors and crayons. She made this on her own NO help from anyone! Yet again, I have been amazed by my four year old!

Yummy Vegetarian Goodness

2011-01-28T09:43:00.000+09:00

So I've been meatless for 8 months now and LOVING it! I just tried out a new recipe that was so yummy! It is in the Taste of Home magazine's October/November issue. It is called Moraccan Vegetarian Stew. It was a bit spicy, but I'm a wimp when it comes to spicy. ;) It includes zuchini, chickpeas, butternut squash, potatoes, tomatoes & carrots! A meal full of healthy yummy goodness!

It's FAH-REEZING Outside!!

2011-01-22T01:05:00.000+09:00

So we finally made it to Oklahoma. We are getting settled in our new house, yay! It has been super cold and Bella so loved my hat I made from April Draven's convertible hat pattern that I had to make her one! I used Sensations Rainbow Classic Pattern yarn which is soft and thick. I have been wearing the one I made myself and I love pulling my hair through the top! It looks so cute! Anyway, here is the hat. It only took me a few hours since it was for a preschooler. :) I highly recommend this pattern! It is super easy and the hats look so nice! People won't believe you made it yourself! :)

Thanks for looking! Hopefully I will be posting a lot more now that we are settled again. :)

Ramune aka Japanese Soda Drink with Marble in the Bottle

2010-11-25T15:26:00.004+09:00

A description of the origin of ramune is here. But basically the one I got tastes like Sprite. It comes with a plastic plug looking piece that you press into the top of the bottle. This releases a hidden marble into the bottle. It also caused mine to fizz like a volcano all over my counter top. :) It is difficult to drink at times because the marble blocks the flow of liquid. But the kids loved playing with it. It is a pretty cool novelty drink although it was way too sweet for my liking. The marble, apparently, is extremely difficult to remove without breaking the bottle. I used pliers and couldn't budge the plastic top. But I'm pretty sure the movers packed my bottle for me! :) So atleast I got a cool souvenir!! :)

Bottle after removing the plastic wrap that covered the cap.

Bottle with plug sitting on top just after I popped it. If you look closely you can see the clear liquid puddled around the bottle.

See the marble covered in bubbles?

Tilted so you can see the marble.

Chug it Bella!!

Chug Chug Chug!

I love the tongue sticking out while looking at the marble!

Looking for the marble. :)

Reminiscing (2005)

2010-11-13T19:06:00.002+09:00

We are nearing the end of our stay in Okinawa. It has been an amazing 5 years. This is home to our kids and is a part of their lives they will never forget. We decided to go back to where it all began. Our 1st duty station, our first overseas tour and our 1st military house. 1319 Chatan

*current family photo at the old house :)

Happy Veterans Day!

2010-11-11T08:56:00.003+09:00

A Veteran is someone, who at one point in their life, wrote a

blank check

payable to the United States of America for an amount up to,

and

including, their life. That is beyond honor. Today is the day

we salute you!

Support the Troops.

*(photo of my husband's return from one of his many deployments with all 3 of the kids)

The Kids in Their Costumes!! I ♥ Halloween!!

2010-10-31T09:13:00.001+09:00

Princess Kitty meow!

Eeet's a ME! Mario!

Chewy/ Wolfman

Last Halloween in Okinawa :(

Halloweenie Pumpkins

2010-10-30T23:05:00.000+09:00

Today the kids and I carved our jack o' lanterns. I asked them what they wanted on theirs. Chan did his own cause he is old enough to be trusted with a knife. Bella wanted Dr. Barber from the Flapjack cartoon. I wasn't sure I could do it, but I think it turned out rather well. And Toph wanted a grunt from the Halo video game. That one looks okay, but I didn't know what they looked like. We googled it and it was really complicated, so I did my best! Here are our pumpkins! :)

For those of you that don't know, this is Dr. Barber.

Halo Grunt

Mr. Pumpkin Head

All of our pumpkins! :)

A Sad Day

2010-10-29T18:25:00.000+09:00

Bella had her last day of preschool at Koza Seibo Yochien today. The move is coming up soon and it was time to say goodbye. Her class sang to her, then they each told her goodbye as they left for the day. The class also made her a scrapbook to remember them by. Each child drew her a picture or wrote something for her. Her teacher told her Sayonara many times and kept coming back for just one more hug. She was crying the whole time, which of course made me cry. I have never been so sad to leave a school or a place before. The love they have shown Bella is amazing and heartwarming. It is something we will never forget. And hopefully someday we can come back to visit Okinawa and her wonderful little school. :)

Bella and her teacher Atsuko

A page from the scrapbook they made for her!

Another Spectacular Hat

2010-10-28T18:50:00.001+09:00

I used April Draven's pattern for the convertible hat. I was running low on colors that I liked so I just mixed and matched these yarns. They are all the Vanna's Choice yarns. I really love this yarn. The colors are great, it is super soft and a bit fluffier than Red Heart worsted weights. I seriously had a 6 inch scrap of the purple left when I finished. If that's not cutting it close, then I don't know what is! I was going to make this hat as a gift since I had already made myself a hat for this winter, but now that it's finished I'm thinking I may need 2 hats this winter! ;)

Kawaii Onigiri!!!!

2010-10-28T18:41:00.000+09:00

I made this as a gift for my daughter's teacher. I really like it! I think I'll have to make more! :)

Benimo (Okinawan Sweet Potato)

2010-10-26T17:18:00.001+09:00

B's class went on a field trip to the sweet potato farm. They got to go out and dig up as many as they could fit in their bags. She had quite a few, her bag was too heavy for her to carry. I didn't want to waste them so I tried some different ways to cook them.

The benimo look like normal potatoes, but when you cut them open they reveal a gorgeous deep purple inside. The Okinawans use them to make ice cream, tarts & sweets.

I tried at first to fry some, like french fries. That didn't go so well. They were just kind of blah. So I cubed and boiled some. Then I mashed them with some butter and a bit of salt. YUMMY!!

What they look like after just being dug up.

I peeled these.

Peeled and cut open to show color.

Water after boiling benimo.

Steaming benimo hot off the stove.

Mashed with butter & salt.

Mashed again.

Visiting a Japanese Elementary School

2010-10-20T20:39:00.002+09:00

I got a chance to chaperone my son's field trip to Jogaku Elementary in Naha, Okinawa. It was such a neat experience. We started off walking in circles and when the music stopped we would introduce ourselves to the person in front of us. We all tried to do it in Japanese, while they tried in English.

Then they taught us some Eisa dancing. I was NOT coordinated enough to do it correctly, but I tried! :)

Then we all had a lunch of curry, corn dogs and salad. Once lunch was over we got a quick tour of the school before we had to hop back on the bus. I had chance to chat with one of the Japanese moms and she told me that the kids all clean the school. They put them in groups and each group cleans a certain part or does a certain "duty" as she called it. They even clean the bathrooms! Out of respect I'm not posting any photos with the kids' faces in them. So there are only a few photos and I also only had my son's point & shoot, so the photo quality is pretty sub par, but atleast the compositions look good! ;)

Super Sexy Green Slippers

Cubbies full of slippers.

Drums they used to teach us Eisa dancing.

My partner's legs & drum.

Super tiny bathroom slippers. Look out! It's BIG FOOT!!!

A classroom.

My son thought it was really cool that at his school they have a Japanese classroom and at this school they have an English classroom! :)

And last but not least my son getting ready to Eisa dance! :)

A Scarf for My Girl who Prefers Boy Stuff

2010-10-19T10:35:00.002+09:00

I already made her the cupcake hat, so I figured why not a cupcake scarf to go with it? She had asked for Bowser & Princess peach, but I didn't think I could make one small enough with those characters. So I made her a cupcake scarf. Yeah, so when I gave it to her she says, "Where's Bowser & Princess Peach?". I nicely told her that I couldn't fit them on there. We'll see whether she wears this scarf or not. She did like the cupcakes, she just REALLY wanted some Mario Bros. characters like her brothers got on theirs.

Hmmm... it was a free pattern, but it seems within the past few days it has changed and is no longer free. :(

Cute Bentos for the Kiddos

2010-10-19T09:07:00.000+09:00

I decided to go super cute with the bentos today since B only has 4 more bentos until she is done with school. The Hello Kitty egg was colored using food coloring and Q-tips. It took a little more time than usual to make the bentos, but I think once we move I will have to better organize my bento making supplies.

T Wearing Hat, Scarf & Arm Warmers

2010-10-17T15:21:00.000+09:00

I made all of these for him to wear when we move, so he won't freeze. :)

Something Yummy, Something Hilarious & Something Iffy

2010-10-17T14:17:00.001+09:00

The kids and I went out shopping this morning. We headed over to the Farmer’s Market, the 100 Yen Store and then to Max Value. We scored some interesting stuff. First we found something yummy! My favorite rice at the Farmer’s Market!

Then at the 100 Yen store, the funniest thing! A set of appliqués (stickers) for the toilet that have faces on them and say “Mission Success!” and “ Relax your head. Relax your face good…” Yeah, when we move into our new house, these are SO going on my toilet!!

Next, at Max Value we found some almost tasteless gelatinous blobs that you roll in a powder that smells and tastes kind of peanutty. I did NOT care for these, but my daughter who will eat any kind of Japanese food LOVED them.

Boys Arm/Wrist Warmers

2010-10-16T21:53:00.000+09:00

One pair of Mario & Luigi Arm Warmers to match the Mario & Luigi scarf.

And one pair of plain black arm warmers for the Iron Maiden fan!

Headphones Fixer-Upper

2010-10-14T21:08:00.002+09:00

When we got my daughter a leapster it was obvious that we needed to get her a pair of headphones. And by obvious I mean she would turn the volume all the way UP and even after repeated requests to turn it down, the volume always seemed to creep back up. I told my husband we should get her these nifty kid safe headphones. The volume can't go past a reasonable level making them safe for kids' ears. Perfect, or so I thought! They work great, but had this flimsy foam around the ear parts. Notice i said had. Needless to say, within 2 days the foam was ripped off and she had deemed the headphones "broken". The husband was NOT happy with my purchase and I was not happy because she was now refusing to use them. Well, I decided to try crocheting her some covers for them. The crocheting part was easy, the fitting the covers to the earphones was the hard part. I had to unscrew 4 screws on each side and then tie the cover underneath and screw it back together. I am hoping it holds together because she is gonna need these things for the move. So here is my handy work. I used DMC thread in 2 colors and a tiny hook.

A Wee Bit of Me Wednesdays...

2010-10-14T18:07:00.001+09:00

From this blog

{one} have you ever milked a cow or a goat?
A cow. It was really weird.

{two} what sound does your alarm make when it goes off in the morning?
Well, my alarm clock is WAVE 89 (which I can't stand), but it wakes me up. Or I get woken up by my other alarm clock that pokes my in the shoulder or face and says, "Wake up Mama. It's morning!".

{three} chocolate milk or hot chocolate?
Chocolate milk, but I prefer the store bought rather than plain milk that I have added chocolate syrup to. :)

{four} what is one of the quirkiest things about you?
I like to have my living room spotless before i can relax for the evening. I can't relax with toys and junk all over the place. My husband thinks I'm nuts, but the clutter/mess stresses me out. So I have to clean up before I can sit down to watch tv or crochet or whatever after the kids are in bed.

{five} are you more like your mom or your dad?
Both. I have traits and qualities from both, I don't feel like I lean more towards one than the other.
And I actually think I look like my dad, but I have my mom's hair & eye color.

{six} do you sleep with the tv on?
Nope. I need the white noise like fan and no radio or tv.

{seven} if you were a crayon, what color would you be?
pink or maroon.

{eight} ross, joey, or chandler?
Definitely Chandler!

{nine} do you play any musical instruments?
Nope.

{ten} what’s the worst thing you’ve ever cooked/baked?
A dinner that I just threw together thinking I could do it without a recipe.... NOT GOOD!

let’s see your answers!

Yet Another Light Scarf

2010-10-13T21:02:00.000+09:00

This scarf is perfect for Okinawa. It is cute but not too heavy. I am still loving making and using pom poms. :)

I used this free pattern, but I didn't like the bottom ruffles. So instead I made the pom poms. :)

Finally Found Some Time to Crochet!!! YAY!

2010-10-09T15:58:00.001+09:00

I desperately need (want) to make some really nice gifts for the kids' teachers and for family. Finding the time to do this has been challenging lately. I have to have the kids' teacher gifts done by atleast mid November before the movers pack us out and all of my lovely yarn has been sent on its way. But between the kids having multiple days off of school and just life in general, time has not been on my side. But I was able to sit down and crochet 2 really nice scarves this week. The first one is made from some very thin fuzzy yarn (mohair or something like that, I scored a GIANT cone of it from the thrift store) and the second is made from an acrylic/wool blend. The second smelled not so great and the packaging actually said that it might have an odd smell. But I soaked the scarf in the washer with snuggle and now it smells wonderful! Anyway, here are my 2 scarves. I plan on making as many of the 1st scarf that I can from the giant cone of loveliness. Plus I want to keep one for me cause it is so soft and beautiful!! :)

Thanks to my awesome son for modeling. I told him I would cut his head out of the pics if he wanted, but he said he didn't mind. :)

Just Doing a Little Destashing....

2010-10-08T17:52:00.001+09:00

I was just doing a little destashing when the cheesiest kid I know got in the picture!

Welcome to Today's Edition of Preschool Pockets

2010-10-01T14:42:00.000+09:00

For My Little Packrat

2010-09-30T08:33:00.001+09:00

My daughter is obsessed with finding bags, purses, backpacks, SOCKS, anything to put her tiny animals (mostly little pet shops) in and carry around with her. I had started making this little bag as new cup bag for her for school. But I soon realized the handbook said it had to be sewn and a certain size, well I had already started this one. So it became her new animal/rock carrying bag. I am in love with the pom poms. I have only made a few recently, but I think I need to add them to everything now! ;)

I didn't use a pattern, I just kind of made it up as I went along. :)

Photos from the Weekend

2010-09-27T18:21:00.000+09:00

She was watching the fishermen.

Chucks on the beach.

Daddy long legs and Baby short legs. :)

Smile :)

Hubby's shadow.

Checking out the tide pools.

Low tide.

This was so cool to walk on and see all of the sea life.

More tide pools.

Safe from the sun.

Shisa on a bridge.

Shisa on the other side of the bridge.

Shisa up close.

More Exploring Okinawa

2010-09-26T22:09:00.000+09:00

In case anyone is interested, I posted more photos from our family exploration of Okinawa this weekend. We drove out to Hamahiga Island.

It was beautiful.

The rest of the photos can be seen here.

Not AGAIN!!!!

2010-09-22T14:56:00.002+09:00

Yep she did it again.

The boys never brought me bugs, in fact they don't even want to touch these.
But my sweet little girl just grabs them up like nobody's business!

Unsure if the bug is a beetle.
But she did tell me that she "Squished it REAL GOOD!".

And this time I got a dead bug AND a snail shell!

Score!

New Photos of Okinawa

2010-09-18T09:07:00.000+09:00

New photos from a day out in Okinawa are posted on my photography blog, check em out!

http://nikkipaigephotography.blogspot.com/2010/09/american-village-in-okinawa.html

Women's Winter Hat

2010-09-18T08:37:00.001+09:00

Title is kinda boring and I was unsure of how this hat would look when I started it. I made this for a friend who is also moving somewhere cold after living here in Oki for 3 years. I love it so much I think this may be the hat I make for myself for our move!

Onto the photos. :)

Free pattern available at http://www.caron.com/
it is called Tri-Color Cloche but as you can see I only used 2 colors.

While I Appreciate the Recognition....

2010-09-14T08:51:00.001+09:00

I love that people read my blog. I mean, after all that is WHY I blog, to share my stories, triumphs and photos. If you like my blogs and the things I make please feel free to share a link to my blog. Is not okay however to post MY photos on your blog. Please do not take my photos and post them anywhere or use them for anything. I just saw my photos posted on someone's blog and while there was a link back to my blog, it is not okay to repost my photos. Please be respectful of my blog and all my hardwork.

Thanks!

Nikki

With Sprinkles & a Cherry on Top

2010-09-13T18:28:00.000+09:00

Continuing with the theme of making things to keep the family warm when we move from this tropical island in December, here is my daughter's winter hat. I used this pattern as the basis for the hat. That pattern is for a small doll hat, but I enlarged it to fit a 4 year old. Also I had to make up my own scalloped edge for the middle of the cupcake. I tied small knots in different colors of yarn and tied them on to make the sprinkles. I also made the cherry from homespun yarn. My daughter was unimpressed with the hat until I added the sprinkles and cherry then she was thrilled! :)

Not sure what is going on here with the evil look and crazy karate hands! lol

New Tshirt & Hoodies...It's About Time!!

2010-09-12T12:27:00.000+09:00

I had purchased some plain tshirts and hoodies LAST year to paint for my boys.

Umm, yeah about that.

The shirts now are only big enough to fit 1 child, the older one has grown so much that he is now taller than me!

Yikes.

Well, better late than never, plus the younger son is more likely to wear fun stuff made by mom than the teenager! ;)

So here are the shirts.

Star Wars? or Topher Wars....

Mario hoodie

Goomba hoodie

Thanks for looking!

BTW all of these were done with freezer paper stencils cut by hand.

More Goodies from a Preschooler's Pocket

2010-09-10T14:51:00.000+09:00

Some of you may remember a while back when I blogged about my daughter bringing me home "gifts" from the playground at school.

Today I received another present from my daughter's pocket.

Once again, as soon as she got in the car after school she dug around in her pocket for my gift.

Last time, if you recall, I was presented with a beetle in approximately 4 pieces, because he fell apart in her pocket.

Today the gift stayed in one piece, much to her delight.

Here is today's present.

Thanks B! I love it!

Free Crochet Pattern Super Mario & Luigi Scarf

2010-09-08T18:10:00.001+09:00

I told my kids I was making them scarves since we are moving in December to a cold place and we have been on a tropical island for 5 years.

We've become pretty acclimated to Okinawa and I have a feeling we are going to freeze our butts off. :)

So I asked the boys which Super Mario characters they wanted on their scarves. T chose Mario & Luigi. So here they are. I think it turned out pretty well.

The color changes are a PAIN, but well worth it when you see the end result. I don't like to carry the extra colors along because I don't like when you can see them through the top color, so at each color change I cut and tied it off.

This left MANY MANY ends to weave in and was probably the most time consuming part of this project. But if you are up to the challenge, here is my attempt at a pattern. You should know how to do color changes and hdcs in order to complete this scarf. It can be kind of confusing following the chart when you turn and are coming back across the character as you will go left to right and then right to left to make the character. I don't know how to explain that part any better, but once you start working on it, you should see what I am talking about.

Materials

worsted weight yarns

Size H crochet hook (hook size will determine size of scarf)

Chart of characters

patience :)

With main scarf color chain 23

Row 1 Hdc in 2nd chain from hook. Hdc all the way across, then ch1 and turn.

Row 2 Hdc in all across, ch1 and turn.

You should have 22 stitches across. The character at it's largest is 16 stitches, so start with 3 hdcs in the main color then start the chart.

After the character is finished do as many rows of the main color in hdcs as you want until you get your desired length, then start Luigi chart.

After Luigi is finished add 2 rows of main color hdcs and finish off.

The blue around the charted characters indicates where you would do the main color of the scarf. Your scarf will not look exactly like my scarf does in the middle. I improvised with an hdc, ch1 skip 1 stitch, but I was unsure of exactly what I did, so I just suggest in the pattern to hdc across, but if you are more advanced you can change that part of the pattern to suit your needs.

I hope this is clear to anyone trying to make this scarf.

This would not be a good pattern for a beginner with all of the color changes and chart usage.

Any questions or comments welcomed.

Enjoy!!

Monster Cupcakes

2010-09-04T13:34:00.003+09:00

We just used what we had on hand to make these little guys!

I cut strawberry shaped gummy snacks in half for the horns! :)

Handmade Iron Maiden Lunch Bag

2010-08-29T18:56:00.002+09:00

One of my son's Iron Maiden shirts ripped, so I told him to keep it and I would make something out of it.

It has been sitting in my craft closet for months.

School is about to start and he wants me to pack him a bento for lunch.

He has a double bento and a tupperware for a salad, so it is too much to fit in the bags that are supposed to hold bento boxes.

Plus he didn't really like any of the bags he saw.

Mom to the rescue!!

He now has a new lunch bag made from the old Iron Maiden shirt!

Sweeeeeeet!!!

Goomba & Shy Guy Scarf

2010-08-26T20:14:00.004+09:00

Since we are moving back to the midwest after 5 years on a tropical island, I am making scarves for the kids.
I hope it keeps them warm this winter. I asked them to pick some Super Mario Bros. characters.
C picked the Goomba and a Shy Guy.
I think it turned out pretty awesome!

Here is the scarf and then C modeling it for me. :)

Heading Home

2010-08-15T21:44:00.000+09:00

Soon our tour of Okinawa will be ending. It has been a great 5 years and we hope to return again someday. This is pretty much home to our kids. They have grown up here. B was born here and is confused when I say that we are going "home", I mean this IS her home. Although we are sad to leave, we are excited to be moving back closer to home and our family. Anyway, I just found a photo of our 1st Easter in Okinawa, we had been here a mere 7 months and the boys were so little. I just had to post a before and after shot of how much the kids have grown since we moved here.

April 2006

June 2010

and little Miss who was born here. :)

(photo taken Aug 2010)

Preschool Souvenirs

2010-07-12T23:38:00.005+09:00

It began a few months ago. I would pick my daughter up from school. Now and then she would dig into her uniform pocket as we pulled out of the school parking lot and present me with a most precious gift, a rock. It has pretty much become a daily ritual, one which I have come to treasure. She misses me so much that she finds me "gifts" at school. How thoughtful! So each day as we arrive home, I pull out a small jar and place my treasures inside.

Today's ride home was a tad unusual. Here is the conversation from today's trip.

"Get in your seat and buckle up", I said to her as we pulled away from the curb.

"But, I've got something for you", she replied.

"Okay, give me the rock and then BUCKLE UP", I answered back.

"I found you a dead bug Mommy" was what I heard next.

"What?!" I squeaked as I whipped my head around to see.

"It's in my pocket. I'll get it for you." she said excitedly.

"In your pocket? You have a DEAD BUG in your pocket?" I said in disbelief, although I knew it was true.

This child LOVES to touch bugs!

"I found it on the playground, but I DIDN'T show my teacher." she said as she fumbled in her pocket.

"Here you go Mom." she said as she forced her cupped hand at me. At this point, I was still driving, so I quickly grabbed my "junk" bin from between the seats, "Put it in here."

After digging in her pocket many times, she produced a beetle in approximately 4 pieces and about 6 rocks.

AWESOME!

A short discussion followed about how we should probably NOT put dead bugs into our pockets.

I think there will likely be many more that make their way home in her pockets. :)

C'est la vie!

Dinner

2010-06-26T09:42:00.002+09:00

Grilled eggplant with olive oil, garlic and basil. Mmmmmmmm.......

On the Patio

2010-06-20T12:22:00.001+09:00

B looking at her snail friend.

B's snail friend.

My two goofballs, they make me smile. :)

Teacher Gift

2010-06-10T15:57:00.001+09:00

So the school year is coming to an end and I LOVE T's teacher this year. So I decided to make her. Yes HER! I made an amigurumi of his teacher! It turned out really well and I cannot wait for him to give it to her! :)

Thanks for everything Ms. Roy!!!

New & Improved Dwight Army of Champions

2010-05-31T09:39:00.003+09:00

My Aunt commissioned me to make 3 Dwight Schrute amigurumis for office pranks! Sweet! These are even better than my 1st attempt located here. Check out my Dwight Army of Champions!

I crocheted the bodies, hand stitched the briefcases, made numerous accessories and had my husband help with the glasses. All in all ALOT of work, but they are so awesome!!!!

1st Preschool Bento (or I made Octodogs!)

2010-05-06T09:21:00.002+09:00

B has been begging for Octodogs! So for her 1st bento of the school year, octodogs it is! They were very easy to make and super cute!

Cutie Monster

2010-05-02T10:45:00.001+09:00

Here is the link to the free pattern I got from craftster.org

Cute Monster Free Pattern

This is so freakin' cute! I must make many more in many colors!

Excited!!!

2010-04-27T15:02:00.000+09:00

I finally got my new lens!!!

My 100 Yen Store Treasure of the Day

2010-04-20T15:16:00.000+09:00

Everytime I go into a 100 Yen store I come out with atleast 1 large bag full of goodies. The 100 Yen store, for those who are unfamiliar, is equivalent to the American $1 Store. Well, equivalent may not be the word I am looking for. Almost everything in the store is 100 Yen which, as the rate fluxuates can be a little more or a little less than 1 American dollar. But the quality of the goods sold in the 100 Yen store far surpass that of the Dollar Store. You can buy nice Japanese dishes, bento boxes, hello kitty trinkets, and the kitchen supplies...WOW! We went to the Yen store to find a scrubber for Bella's school thermos and left with no yen and a bag full of goodies.

Yesterday I hit the kitchen supply section and hit it hard! We had recently broken our whisk, found one. I also got a rice scoop/spatula for use with the rice cooker, it stands on it's flower shaped bottom for "sanitary purpose" , atleast that is what the label says. I also found smaller rice spatulas for use in making onigiri and other shaped rice balls, which I will soon be doing for Bella's bento lunches. I also purchased a spatula holder that suctions to the side of the rice cooker, brushes to scrub clean Bella's school shoes, an extending scrubber for her thermos, and my treasure of the day.

The kids and I LOVE edamame beans. But they never taste as good as a restaurant, even when I follow the directions on the package and boil them for 6 mins. They just aren't as tasty. So I found a magic bowl yesterday, well, it's really not a magic bowl, but I definitely am amazed that I paid 100 Yen for this little container.

You put in roughly 6 tsp of water, add the beans, put on the lid and toss it in the microwave for 2 mins. The beans were super tasty and not overcooked! The kids and I ate an entire bag with dinner last night. Seriously! I was amazed and thrilled with my Yen Store purchases as usual! :)

*Also apparently when you eat the beans you need a giant foamy beer. Hey, I'm just sayin'...*

1st Day at Koza Seibo Yochien Preschool

2010-04-15T16:00:00.000+09:00

more photos located here:

http://nikkipaigephotography.blogspot.com/2010/04/1st-day-of-preschool.html

Preschool Necessities

2010-04-03T15:21:00.003+09:00

So I took B's list for preschool to the store and showed it to an employee. It was a drawing of an eye (sleep) mask with some kanji written by it. He proceeded to direct me to the craft section and point to the elastic. Hmmm..... Just the elastic. So I gathered from the drawings and the fact that I was directed toward supplies that I was supposed MAKE her mask & the pouch to keep it in, plus the cup bag and the jump rope bag. I took B to the San A and let her pick from the kawaii fabrics. She chose cute little bunnies. So here is what she got. :)

Cup bag

Mask & Pouch

Mask in pouch

the pouch

Glass Blowing in Okinawa

2010-03-19T16:10:00.003+09:00

This was a really cool experience. Ryukyu glass began after the war when they used tossed out alcohol/beer bottle from the US base to recycle into new glassware. We went on a tour and were able to each blow our own glass to take home. We each got a turn to blow our molten glass orb and then shape it into a drinking glass. What an amazing afternoon.

C's finished glass

T's finished glass

Big C's' finished glass

Finished glasses

If you get the chance I highly recommend this tour! :)

Sibling Valentine Love

2010-03-19T15:38:00.001+09:00

Topher wrote a haiku for Valentine's Day. It was about Bella. And just about the sweetest , cutest thing I've ever seen!

Bella

Little, Sweet

Sharing, Laughing , Playing

A funny little girl.

Sister.

By: Topher

The Lime Moustache

2010-03-07T10:28:00.003+09:00

Date night with the hubby. Just using his p&s camera, but oh so funny!

A Cute Little Nun

2010-01-28T11:22:00.002+09:00

A special order cute little nun doll. :)

Some recent Photography

2010-01-01T15:03:00.004+09:00

I am now posting my photography at http://nikkipaigephotography.blogspot.com/. But here are few recent photos from a trip to the beach & park with the kids over Christmas Break.

Tube Sock Snowmen

2009-12-22T19:11:00.000+09:00

So my friend's son came home from school with one of these and we just had to make some. They were used as table decorations at the Christmas party. The one in the middle I decorated because my son decided legos were more important than snowman decorating. Basically we took a mens tube sock and filled it a bit with rice then used a rubberband to tie it off. Then you add more rice and tie it off again. Add rice once more and tie it off, then you can fold the top of the sock over to create the hat. (I was thinking next time we should paint or dye the top black to make the hats stand out.) We then hot glued the hats around the head to keep them in place and hot glued on all the accessories. Voila! Tube sock snowman!

Christmas Stockings

2009-11-23T21:40:00.000+09:00

I made Christmas stockings for the family. Bella's was made a few years later so hers is not an exact match, but it suits her personality. :)

Nikki Paige Photography

2009-11-07T14:45:00.003+09:00

I have created a new blog for my photography. Please check it out and feel free to comment on the photos. :)

http://nikkipaigephotography.blogspot.com/

Vampire Pumpkin

2009-10-17T14:42:00.000+09:00

I crocheted this little guy from a free pattern on plantejune's blog. Then I turned it into a vampire!

Beware the vampire pumpkins!

Tote Bag Free Pattern Link

2009-10-15T11:37:00.000+09:00

Someone asked where I got the pattern for this tote bag so here is the link.

http://www.freewebs.com/capscrochet/patterns.htm?blogentryid=4083355

Enjoy! It really makes a beautiful bag.

My Favorite Quilt

2009-10-13T09:40:00.004+09:00

This is my favorite of all of the quilts I have made. It is a baby quilt with prairie points. It was my 1st time doing prairie points and I love these fabrics.

Supa Cool Skull Hats

2009-10-12T07:33:00.005+09:00

3 Newest

2009-10-10T15:47:00.002+09:00

A Hawaiian girl doll, a soft squeaky baby blue and an ocotopus baby toy.

free pattern for octopus can be found here :

http://steffi-stitch.blogspot.com/2009/08/douglas.html

SQUISHY the SQUID FREE CROCHET PATTERN

2009-10-02T13:26:00.002+09:00

Squishy the Squid Crochet Pattern

pattern by Nikki Pedersen (multibeavo)

Abbreviations: sc = Single Crochet
ch = Chain
rnd(s) = Round(s)
dec = Crochet 2 stitches together (decrease)
( ) = Repeat stitches from ( to end of )
2 sc together = (increase) 2 sc in one sc

Note: This pattern is worked in continuous rounds; do not join and do not
turn. Use stitch marker to indicate beginning of rounds.

Materials
Worsted weight yarn
Size G or H crochet hook (other hook sizes are okay too, it will just
result in smaller or larger dolls)
Stitch markers ( I use scraps of yarn)
Yarn and embroidery needles
Safety eyes (optional)
Polyfil/wool to stuff doll

Gauge is not important, just be sure to crochet tight enough so that
no stuffing shows through.

Top of head/body
Rnd 1: Chain 2, then 6 sc into 2nd ch from hook.
Rnd 2: sc in next st, 2sc in next st.
Rnd 3: sc in next 2 sts, 2sc in next st.
Rnd 4: sc in next 3 sts, 2sc in next st.
Rnd 5: sc in next 4 sts, 2sc in next st.
Rnd 6: sc in next 5 sts, 2sc in next st.
Rnd 7: sc in next 6 sts, 2sc in next st.
Rnd 8: sc in next 7 sts, 2sc in next st.
Rnd 9: sc in next 8 sts, 2sc in next st.
Rnd 10: sc in next 9 sts, 2sc in next st.
Rnd 11: sc in next 10 sts, 2sc in next st.
Rnd 12: sc in next 11 sts, 2sc in next st.
Rnd 13: sc in next 12 sts, 2sc in next st.
Rnd 14: sc in next 13 sts, 2sc in next st.
Rnd 15: sc in next 14 sts, 2sc in next st.
Rnd 16: sc in next 15 sts, 2sc in next st.
Rnd 17: sc in next 16 sts, 2sc in next st.
Rnd 18: sc in next 17 sts, 2sc in next st.
Rnd 19: sc in next 18 sts, 2sc in next st.
Rnd 20: sc in next 19 sts, 2sc in next st.
Rnd 21: sc in next 20 sts, 2sc in next st.
Rnd 22: sc in next 21sts, 2sc in next st.
Sl st in next sc, fasten off leaving long tail for sewing.

Bottom of head/body
Rnd 1: Ch 2, 5 sc in 2nd ch from hook.
Rnd 2: 2sc in each sc.
Rnd 3: (1sc, 2sc together).
Rnd 4: (sc X 2, 2sc together).
Rnd 5: (sc X 3, 2 sc together).
Rnd 6: (sc X 4, 2 sc together).
Rnd 7: (sc X 5, 2 sc together).
Rnd 8: (sc X 6, 2 sc together).
Rnd 9-16: sc in each sc around.
Rnd 17: (sc X 5, 1 dec).
Rnd 18-30: sc in each sc around.
Sl st in next sc, fasten off.

Mouth
With white yarn chain 12.
Sl st into 1st ch to create a circle.

Legs/Arms (make 8)
Rnd 1: ch 2, 4 sc in second ch from hook.
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each sc around.
Rnds 3-35: sc in each sc around.
After last round, sl st in next sc, fasten off leaving long tail for sewing.
Arm/Leg of Tentacles (make 2)
Rnd 1: ch2, sc 4 in 2nd ch from hook.
Rnd 2: 2sc in each sc around.
Rnd 3-39: sc in each sc around.
Fasten off with sl st, leaving long tail for sewing.

Bottom of Tentacles (make 2)
Rnd 1: ch 2, 3sc in 2nd ch from hook.
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each sc.
Rnd 3: (1sc, 2sc together) X 3
Rnd 4: (sc X 2, 2sc together) X 3
Rnd 5: (sc X 3, 2sc together) X 2 , sc last 3 st.
Rnd 6: (sc X 4, 2sc together) X 2 , sc last 3 st.
Rnd 7: (2sc together, sc X 4) X 3 , sc last 3 st.
Rnd 8: (2 sc together, 2sc together, sc X 6) X 2.
Rnd 9: sc, 2sc together, sc , 2sc together, sc X 7 , 2 sc together, sc, 2
sc together, sc X 6.
Fasten off with sl st, leaving long tail for sewing.

Finishing Squishy the Squid
Sew on some eyes using yarn or you could also use plastic eyes, or felt. Whatever you think looks good. I have used 12mm cat eyes on
my orange version of squishy the squid.
Stitch the mouth onto the head.

Stuff the body of the squid. Make sure to leave less stuffing towards
top, in order to be able to sew the head to the body correctly.

Center the head onto the body and pin in place. Use the long end of
yarn attached to head to sew the head to the body. When you reach
the 2 sides, the head will extend past where the body ends, flatten
these sides and sew them shut. Then continue around until the entire
head is secured to the body. Fasten off and weave in loose ends.

Center tentacle bottoms onto the appropriate arms (the 2 longer
arms) and pin into place. Stitch pieces together just like when you
stitched the head to the body. Fasten off and weave in ends.

*Do NOT stuff any of the arms or tentacles.*

Attach the 8 arms to the body evenly around the outer bottom edge.
Fasten off and weave in all loose ends.
Attach the 2 completed tentacles to the middle of the underside of the squid body. Fasten off and weave in all loose ends.

You have a super cute squishy the squid! Enjoy your new friend!

*Please do NOT sell items made from this pattern. This pattern
is for personal use only and may not be reproduced or
redistributed.*

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No
Derivative Works 3.0 License. To view a copy of this license, visit
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/; or, (b) send a letter to Creative
Commons, 171 2nd Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, California, 94105, USA.

Really Neat Free Doll Pattern

2009-09-24T07:44:00.003+09:00

I happened upon this blog while perusing the new crochet projects on craftster. Someone posted a link to share this free doll pattern. It is really cute and I can't wait to make some!

http://byhookbyhand.blogspot.com/

Enjoy!

Diego Backpack

2009-09-20T15:09:00.002+09:00

Same as the Hello Kitty Backpack, just using Diego fabric! =)

CHEWY the Monster

2009-07-15T00:14:00.003+09:00

So I suddenly had this rush of creativity this evening and I went to work. I didn't even draw this one out! I just started cutting and sewing. Basically I just worked for 3 hours straight making sure he was just right. I am really proud of this guy. He is heavy because he is stuffed firmly and has pellets in his bottom so he sits right. I used fleece, fur fabric, safety eyes, a zipper and a few other odds and ends. I love the color combos on Chewy. And the fact that when you unzip his mouth there is room to store stuff in there. Not a ton of room, but a small bit. He is a one of a kind (OOAK) plush toy by me!

Super Cute Amigurumi Doll

2009-07-13T13:36:00.007+09:00

I had the pleasure of testing an amigurumi doll pattern for a fellow crafter/crocheter. She is sweet as can be and her pattern makes this adorable doll. This doll which by the way is now hiding out for a few weeks until my daughter's birthday. You can check out more of her work on her blog

http://www.twistyfishies.blogspot.com/

and her shop at

http://www.twistyfishies.etsy.com/

(If you happen to stop by etsy.com you should also check out my shop)

http://www.multibeavo.etsy.com/

The pattern is easy to follow and there are plenty of pictures along the way to help you out.

Check back to both of our blogs and shops often as we are both working on new projects, patterns and ideas.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Dinosaur Boy

2009-07-06T14:47:00.002+09:00

I used Owlishy's pattern for a boy in a dinosaur costume.

It turned out so cute!!!

I like to call him Dinoboy!

Purple Fuzzy Monster

2009-07-06T11:26:00.002+09:00

Fuzzy purple monster made with Patons Dreams yarn. I brushed his head to make his hair fuzzy. I used Roxycraft's "Chilly" pattern for the body.

He is soft and cuddly.

Back to the 80's.....

2009-07-01T18:18:00.005+09:00

I am working on a new crochet pattern for my shop. If you were a child of the 80's, you will LOVE this pattern. I'm not gonna spill the beans just yet, but I am hoping this turns out to be an amazing toy/doll. :)

More to come. Keep checking back!

Squishy the Squid

2009-06-30T17:32:00.005+09:00

My 1st original pattern is now free! :) Squishy the Squid is adorable and fun to make. Kids love to play with all his tentacles. So here he is....

Cutest Turtle EVER!!!

2009-06-22T16:55:00.003+09:00

I purchased the pattern for this turtle from:

http://www.roxycraft.com/

It is the best turtle pattern I have seen so far. I have made many turtles in the past 2 years, but this one is without a doubt the cutest!!

Hello Kitty in a Bunny Costume

2009-06-20T10:15:00.003+09:00

I made this for a friend's daughter for her birthday. The hood folds back so you can see the kitty's head. :)

Tiny Elephant

2009-06-16T18:21:00.004+09:00

This was a teacher gift I made from Wibit's free pattern at http://littlegreen.typepad.com/romansock/

Fixing of the Posts

2009-06-12T08:55:00.004+09:00

Some of the posts and photos are being revamped right now. Not to worry, they shall all return when I get them fixed! :) It may take a week or so, but they shall return.
*Please enjoy the peeping pons!*

Monkey Bread...Yummmmmy!!!!!!!!!!

2009-06-09T08:13:00.007+09:00

Monkey Bread is a tradition in our house on Thanksgiving morning. But the kids always beg for it all year long because it is so yummy! I found a new fun way to make it that is quicker and makes individual servings. It is still made the same way, just in muffin tins.

You need the rolls of refrigerated biscuits ( I use the cheap small ones )

cinnamon
sugar

butter or margarine

Grease muffin tins.

Cut each biscuit into quarters.

Roll each piece in cinnamon sugar.

Place pieces in muffin tins ( i put approx. 2 biscuits/8 pieces per tin).

Melt butter and mix in cinnamon sugar.

Pour a couple of spoonfuls of cinnamon sugar butter mixture into each tin.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15-17 mins.

Let them cool about 5 mins. Then turn tin over onto a plate, foil or tray.

Now you have individual servings of super yummy monkey bread!

Keep your mitts off my monkey bread!

It was all gobbled up soooo fast!!!

Baby Quilt

2009-06-08T08:31:00.004+09:00

Special order baby quilt. I keep forgetting just how LONG it takes to make one of these small quilts! I spent an entire Sunday "finishing" this quilt up.

My Latest Obsession

2009-06-05T08:30:00.003+09:00

Check out Flight of the Conchords on Youtube and watch the hilarity ensue.

The Mohawk Gang

2009-06-01T19:52:00.012+09:00

They are kinda like the "Getalong Gang" but more fierce!

Hee hee hee

After Toph got his mohawk, his brother and their 2 friends decided they wanted them also. So this afternoon we headed to see Stephanie again for what could be referrred to as a MOHAWK PARTY. About 25 minutes later we had 4 excited boys with mohawks and lollipops.

Here is the mohawk gang consisting of brothers Sam & Michael and brothers Chan & Toph.

ROCK ON!

Splat! The weird freaked out thingie....

2009-05-27T14:41:00.004+09:00

Not sure what he is...But I like him!

My newest creation!

(above is his front)

(below is his back)

Mardi Gras Ninja Bunny

2009-05-22T19:49:00.002+09:00

Tomorrow is our monthly bunco night! YAY!

So I needed a gift to bring....What to bring to a Mardi Gras themed bunco...

Why, a Mardi Gras Ninja bunny of course!!!

She is a wild one! She already has 2 sets of beads...you know what that means!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

$40 for a Hello Kitty Backpack??? I think NOT!!!

2009-05-19T15:13:00.002+09:00

So my 2 1/2 year old daughter likes to carry about 3 beanie babies, some coins,a sippy cup and other various items EACH time we head out to run errands, which means that either I try and keep track of all of them the entire time, or we lose some and then there are tears! Sad baby tears.

So I told her I would get her a backpack, silly me asked if she would like a Hello Kitty backpack....You can see where this is going. We are in Okinawa and anything Hello Kitty, especially backpacks are ridiculously expensive! So we shopped all day long and the only tiny toddler backpacks with Hello Kitty on them were $40!! I refuse to pay $40 for a backpack my 2 year old may or may not use to transport her coins and dolls.

I checked for patterns online and only found ones that I had to pay for. So I decided that I would wing it and try to figure one out on my own.

I had Hello kitty fabric that had cost me $2 for about a yard (I only used 1/2 of it). I had interfacing, a zipper (84 cents), I cut a belt in half for the straps and I used D-rings that I had cut off of an old belt. The total project cost me less than $4. And although it isn't perfect, it serves it's purpose and my daughter LOVES it!

I still can't believe I actually MADE this on my own with no pattern!

Cheesecake the HUGE Monkey

2009-05-18T16:00:00.003+09:00

Meet Cheesecake the monkey.

She took a very long time to make, but was well worth it!

Made with red heart acrylic yarns and safety eyes.

Did I mention she is HUGE?!

She is 19 inches from head to toe!

She likes listening to Flight of the Conchords on her Ipod!

Super Sweet Nintendo Fabrics!!!

2009-05-17T11:54:00.006+09:00

So, imagine my surprise when I took a quick detour through a local fabric shop and ran across some amazing Nintendo licensed Super Mario fabric!! Of course I had to buy some! As I was sewing, I realized I had run out of interfacing. So, twist my arm, I returned to the fabric store, all three kids in tow. And as I am contemplating how much MORE Mario fabric to purchase, my son excitedly points out ANIMAL CROSSING fabric!!!! I LOVE that game!!!

So of course, I had to make room for some of that also. :) I don't think I have ever been so excited in one trip to the fabric store. I mean, obviously since I am a craftaholic, the fabric store ALWAYS excites me. But I think this is the coolest fabric I have ever found! So I decided to make some DS pouches for my online shop. I mean, since a DS is a Nintendo product, it seems fitting! :) So here are the mario, animal crossings and some sweet gnome pouches! Feel free to leave comments if you like!

Special Order Bunnies

2009-05-03T16:49:00.005+09:00

Toph's teacher from 1st grade, who we LOVE (she is so sweet), ordered some stuff from me this week. She wanted something the size of the ninja bunnies for a baby girl and a baby boy. I drew out a new pattern and these two cuties came to life! I really like them. The ears aren't stuffed, so they can flop down or make them easy for baby to grab onto. They are made with soft fleece and are embroidered, so they are completely baby safe!

So here are the newest bunnies.

Easy Cat Bed

2009-04-29T19:15:00.003+09:00

So I was trying to find a sewing pattern to make Miss Leia a cat bed and I came across this really easy super cool idea. All you have to do is take a sweater, sew the arms together and down the sides of the sweater. Then you stuff it (I used scraps of fleece from other projects and other scraps I had lying around) and sew the two opening ups and voila.....Instant cat bed. I had one old sweater in my closet and so I sewed it up and surprisingly Miss Leia LOVES it! I set it on top of the art cart, right near where I sit to use the computer. So she can sleep right by me. :) Here are some pics of her enjoying her new bed. Side note, it took maybe 30-40 minutes total to finish this cat bed. Not bad...

New Crochet Project

2009-04-23T12:50:00.003+09:00

I have been way busy with family and friends and haven't had much time to crochet or sew. (Also I may be considered a facebook addict, but who's counting?)

I have a HUGE list of patterns that I want to make. I have no idea what I am doing with them when they are finished. Selling, gift giving, saving for Christmas gifts...Not sure. But they are patterns that I have been dying to try.

So I started this cute monkey pattern. I LOVE monkeys. Plus I have more yarn than one person should EVER own at one time. So, perfect way to destash to make room for more yarn. (*insert evil laugh) :)

This pattern is super easy and although this monkey is HUGE (you'll see). It is working up fairly quickly. 2 nights of crocheting when the kids go to bed and voila, we have a giant monkey head, face and all. I used a barbie for size reference. Please disregard the fact that she is naked and also has an awful haircut. The haircut was done by my sister many years ago, the nudity was caused by Bella's need to undress EVERY doll she gets her hands on. Onto the photos. Here is my work in progress.

Giganto Monkey!

Remember this is JUST the head!

Bella's Summer Hairdo

2009-04-16T19:41:00.004+09:00

So summer time is awesome in Okinawa. This will most likely be our last summer in Okinawa, and so we are taking full advantage of the gorgeous beaches while we can. Well, not only is it ridiculously hot in the summer here, but each and EVERY time we hit the beach Bella proceeds to throw sand into her OWN hair and rub it in. Also, I have had it with me putting her hair in barrettes and ponytails only to have it ripped out moments later. So off we went to Miss Stephanie's wonderful salon and after a few tears, a sucker and some coaxing from Mamy and Me-April, she got the CUTEST haircut ever! It definitely fits her feisty personality. We probably had about 6 inches cut off, so it is a huge change! Here is my summer ready Bella girl!