Well,

This is a happy thing.

My day was made twice, believe it or not, by Kim over at Fiber Cafe, and by Nadine of Balkan Style. Thank you so much, guys. Last week was one of those weeks where everything went wrong, and so to say you made my week is somewhat understating it.

So there's the usual rules: the winner must copy this Award to their own blog, link to the blog from whence you received the Award, nominate a minimum of 7 other bloggers, link to the nominated on your blog and leave a comment about the award on the nominated blogs (Like Nadine, I'm skipping the last part). So, without further adieu, here are my biggest blogger influences:

1. Holly Jo of One More Row. She has such wonderful taste and everything is done beautifully. Plus, two years later, I'm still thinking about her Salina: red sweater, sky blue buttons. I finally bought yarn to do a similar button-color-that-stands-out sweater (I'm inspired, but not speedy).

2. Stacey of Too Many Scarves. She knits, sews, bakes, and any number of other things that occur to her (in her dreams, even). I love seeing what she'll do next. She's the one that first got me wanting to sew...

3. Stacey of Sheep in the City. Stacey heads up the weekly knitting group I go to and every week she has some must-cast-on-now project going on in some to-die-for yarn I hadn't heard of. Plus I'm pretty sure she has the largest stash in the tri-state area (and I've let myself be inspired by that lately, let me tell you).

4. Sue, aka Knitter Sue. I swear she turns out a couple of kid sweaters a week and they're all lovely. I have done projects because of her more than any other knitter, I think.

5. Cathi of In The Pink. She's not blogging so much, and she does a lot of sample knits, so her FOs just sort of appear on Ravelry out of the ether (to my mind) with the most amazing details in the finishing. Someday I hope to be that good.

6. Jen of Half Magic. She hasn't been blogging very long, but she's my....step-cousin? Is that a thing? and if she recommends a book, I will read it. If she recommends a movie, I will watch it. Good stuff.

7. To be complete, I have to put N and T on this list. Seriously, gingerbread business men? Suitcase cakes? Whenever I see a knitted bird, or one on fabric, I think of you, Nadine. And they always make me laugh. (Okay, now you can go nominate me again, 'kay?)

Okay then. : )

Since we're all being creative around here, check out what we've been up to.

I had visions of lovely hand-made valentines this year, with stickers and tags and punches and whatnot, but Iron Man (who the heck is iron man?) and those horrible Disney princesses won out this time. Liam did say to me, "Mommy, you can make my valentines if you really want to," and that's when I decided to take a step back. Instead we unleashed their creativity on some mailboxes.

Liam is also drawing elaborate plans to create a trap door next to his bed that leads to a platform that leads to a slide that will take him downstairs into the front entry. You know, in case we need him quickly for dinner or if something great is on tv. He got out of bed last night to have this conversation with me:

Liam: Mommy, do we have a saw?
Me: Yes, but I'm not cutting any holes in your room, Liam.
Liam, thoughtfully: Nooooo, I was thinking Daddy would do it.

Okay, that's enough creativity for now, thanks.

(There's been mucho knitting around here too, and sewing, but that will have to wait for another day).

Comments

[Jodi]

Congrats! I love your blog. :-)

Oh, that Liam is a hoot.

[Nadine]

I love how Liam has everything figured out. But to be on the safe side, hide the tools.

I'm honoured to be listed amongst such awesome blogs 'cause of course I checked them out! I am curious to see how long we can go back and forth nominating each other. It would certainly be amusing. Aw, let's face it, I get tired just thinking about thinking about it. I lost myself.

Oh, and I, too, lost out on the visions of pretty handmade Valentines. Beah's were a mix of old Polly Pockets and Disney Princesses. I swear to Todd, she pulled them out of her butt. I had never seen them before. Josh said she went to the basement and a minute later appeared with an old falling apart box of valentines. So weird.

[Mo]

I hit on the easiest Valentines one year and I am not ashamed to say we made them more than once. You cut heavy cardstock in a rectangle about 1.5 inches by say 6 inches. Whatever size looks good to your eye for ...you guessed it....bookmarks! Punch a hole in the top and pull through a piece of really narrow satin ribbon so it anchors itself. make sure its long enough that it will stay. Then use stamps to decorate....They can do it themselves.

Another one we made a couple of times was an airplane made with elastics, lifesavers and sticks of chewing gum. They have to be older though to be able to make them indedenpently. I got this idea from that kids/parenting magazine put out by Disney. I forget what it is called, but they have great Valentines every year.

Such fun. And I really like Liam's idea of a hole. Might have to get the saw out this weekend myself.

Mo

[KimK]

Oh, that conversation between you and Liam was TOO funny. I really did laugh out loud. I can't wait to check out the blogs you've nominated.

[KimK]

Katherine, would you mind checking the link for Too Many Scarves? It leads to One More Row.

[Kristin]

Connor wouldn't make Valentine's either. :( I tried and lost the battle. But, I did make one for him. :) And, I LOVE Liam's idea for his room. I'm really glad Connor doesn't read your blog though. HAHA!

[Stacey]

Wow.

Just wow. Thanks for the kind words. I've been a bit out of it these days and seeing this really cheered me up. I am so flattered that I impress you. Baffled, but flattered :)

[Holly Jo]

Wonderful taste? Seriously have you fooled. :) Thank you for the nice words though.

It was painful just to write the names on the Valentines. Can't even imagine them being homemade. The boxes are FANTASTIC - flood of memories. :)