tmcknit

Danielle’s Birthday Bag (ok, so I’m a little late posting about it)

***Patons Classic 100% Merino Wool
Colors: Denim Marl and That’s Pink***

This is the Booga Bag I made for Danielle. It’s my second felted project. My first was a crocheted clog – can you say “yuck”? It’s in a landfill somewhere. I’m working on the Fiber Trends Felted Clogs now and like them much better. But I digress……back to Danielle. I made this in March for her May birthday but never blogged about it. In looking back in my Picasa, there are several things I still need to blog about so I’ll be doing some catch-up blogging. This was a really easy project and the pattern is free: http://www.blacksheepbags.com/booga_bag.html. Danielle picked out the colors – I designed the stripe pattern just randomly – she said she wanted stripes.  The first picture is obviously the finished project.

The second picture is the bag before felting – pretty already.

I then made I-cord handles. She told me how long she wanted them. I made them her desired length but she could have easily adjusted them shorter just by cutting them off if she wanted. She liked it just the way it was.

The last picture is the bag after felting, during the “stuff it and mold it and shape it and play around with it until it’s perfect” phase of felting. I put a box in it, which I had covered with plastic grocery bags, and the box was the perfect size so I was lucky.  I used the big box of Bisquick from Sam’s Club.

I LOVE felting and need to do more of it when I am done with Christmas gifts and my other works in progress.  Mark picked out another felted purse he thinks would be perfect for Danielle so………..that’s the one she’ll get for her next birthday.

WOW!

Here’s a picture of one of my sons. He looks harmless enough, doesn’t he? He is – trust me. However, he isn’t entitled to the rights most Americans are entitled to, such as marriage.

Another thing he’s no longer allowed to do: donate blood. Look at the shirt he happens to be wearing in this picture (from 11/21/04). He received that for donating blood. He started donating after 9/11. He was seventeen and a senior in high school and wanted to help so he donated blood. He has been donating regularly ever since (seven years). He is no longer allowed to donate blood because he is in a committed relationship (i.e. sexually active for those, like us, who were not aware of the “rules” of blood donation). He holds no anger about that – the Red Cross woman who had to break that news to him when he went to donate blood – she was really kind to him.

But let’s get back to gay marriage. Really, what are people afraid of? The “WOW” title of this post relates to a very touching and moving commentary by Keith Olbermann. Please watch this video and share it with others: Keith Olbermann on Ellen.

Thank you to both Keith’s:

To Keith, my son, thank you for being you.

To Keith Olbermann, thank you for being you.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

The first snowfall of 2008 – October 27, 2008 – how pretty is snow on leaves? Very pretty. This picture was taken the next morning when we were leaving for work – bright and early so it was still dark. The snow is so “crystal-y” and pretty.