Many uses of a cake plate

Hello friends!  We have been busy here on the Hillside.  I think I told you that this house needs lots of TLC and we have started the process of relandscaping.  You know how they say things have to get worse before they get better?  I totally believe that statement now.  We have removed tons, (ok technically only 2,380 pounds), of landscaping.  I know this because we donated it to the local landfill to become mulch.  Anywho, in the process I found lots of bulbs popping little shoots up through old, lumpy mulch.  I dug out every little bulb I saw and transplanted them into pots for now, but I could not resist the temptation to bring some indoors and force them into bloom.  That brings me to Cake Dish Use #1:

These hyacinths are soooo lovely!  They have always been one of my very favorite flowers, mostly because of their beautiful perfume.  I had no idea how many of these would actually open into such full beauties and it's been fun watching them day by day.  Now our dining room has the most wonderful, delightful scent.  I can't help but stop and put my nose into these flowers each time I walk by. 

And the color!  Wow, so vivid. 

 

I really do wish you could smell these beauties...

Ok, so on to Cake Dish Use #2.  In getting ready for spring and Easter I have been pulling cute little bits out of boxes and dusting them off in hopes of giving our home a lovely spring-y feel for the little ones, (and us big ones, too).  I also have been getting some very important little feet ready for spring, as they are starting to cruise around and spend time outdoors.  So I had to find some new girlie baby shoes that are not just cute but good for new feet, too.  That's how I found Pediped.  Maybe others already know about Pediped, but they are new to me and I am in LOVE with them.  Look what we found:

Is that not the cutest little thing you've seen today!?  And from what I have read and choose to believe - they are good for little feet, too!  Can you believe it?  You can check them out at http://www.pediped.com/home/home.aspx

 So I have this cutesy little painted cake dish sitting with some paper grass in it and on one of my trips through the house I just plopped these little cuties in the dish.

When I walked past them again I thought they are cuter than candy!  I just had to share. 

Well, I do hope you are able to enjoy some of the little changes that come with the season.  Hope you are able to find some little springy flowers popping up near you.  I know it's too soon for some of you - still getting snow - but close your eyes and imagine the smell of the blue hyacinths above.  And with that smelly thought I wish you all well and leave you for now. But I will be back to share the new hooky creation that's soon to be complete! xo

Giant Granny Square Completion

I promised I would share these new giant granny square blankies I made.  It all started when my little man asked me to crochet him something new.  Can you belive it?!  My little man asked me to crochet for him!  Yippee for me!  Off to the yarn store we went to pick out guy-ish colors for this blankie pattern I had seen on http://www.lionbrand.com/.  The pattern that caught my eye was called 'pansy patch throw'.

 So he tossed his colors in the cart and I was all set to begin.  One problem though...

I was so not inspired by his colors choices.  Do you ever have that problem?  I mean, I love, love, LOVE to play with yarn, but it usually is something that speaks to me, sings to my heart!  Not so much this time.  Anyway, it is for my special guy, at his request, so on with the hookin' I went. 

He truly loves it.  I think I must have asked him on three different occasions if he really liked those colors?  Are you sure you want this blanket?  Yes, Yes, Yes, he would say.  And so here it is and he does love it and he went straight to put it on his bed all by himself.  Ahh...  What a guy.

So then I had left over yarn...  (giggle - giggle).  It was the purple color and some white.  I happened to have a bit of pink in the same yarn type left over from another project...  hmmm...  I'm thinking this same blanket in girlie colors in a smaller size for my little sweet girl.  Yes, that did sound good.  I just needed some contrasting color, so off to the yarn store I went and found a great green for the border.

The original pattern was for a 'throw' size and I made it quite large for a big little man to get properly cuddled up in.  So for my sweet girl I made it much smaller.  And I found that it does quite resemble a pansy with the green trim, although I didn't actually use the above mentioned pattern.

For my next trick I will be trying to find some patterns to help use up some yarn stash.  So for now, consider yourself all cuddled up in a gaint granny blankie! xo