I'm just wishin' y'all a....

***Merry Christmas!!!***

I must say it has been hard focusing on Finals these first few weeks of December. I love to celebrate things. I've just been itching to pick up some scissors and cut a few snowflakes, crochet some hats, and put Christmas lights on everything. Luckily, I never got around to putting away most of last year's Christmas decorations, so they keep me company now as I study late into the night.

I also was able to spend time with my family and relatives making cookies because of the topic I chose for my science fair project for my Science Methods class: "Why Baking Recipes Don't Always Turn Out." It was fascinating and fun, and completely worth all the work I put into it. I won first place out of my class of about 25, so it was pretty exciting. And, now I can make my mom's chocolate chip cookies almost perfectly! It's amazing how many things go into making the perfect cookie- it's no wonder I've not tasted a cookie like her's from anyone else's hand. She's had years of experience and experiment! I'm starting to see the scientific things all around me, and I am feeling excited about investigating other problems and conducting more experiments for fun. I am still full of misconceptions about science and don't know much besides that, but at least I'm excited to learn!

Later, when I get my poster back, I'll add a picture of it here- I made it look like a giant cookie sheet with cookies on it. I also brought a batch of cookies to the science fair to help illustrate how delicious they are and why it would be interesting to know how to make them. It has secretly been nagging me that that was what won me the trophy. But I think I did a great job on everything else and I'm proud of my work. The funny thing is that usually I think I'm underachieving on school projects and am worried I won't pass, but then I show up to class and the teacher just raves on and on about my work. It's actually a little frustrating, because when I do go into class thinking I am prepared and will do a great job, it seems it's only ho-hum to others. So, hmmm... I don't know what to do about that!

I am planning on going to Ballet West's production of "The Nutcracker Ballet" next week with some friends. I love Tchaikovsky's music and I love the story of the Nutcracker. Tie that in with some great dancing and beautiful costume work and I am in Heaven! I've seen many versions of this ballet over the years and have started making it my own personal holiday tradition, whether anyone wants to go with me or not. I also started collecting nutcrackers a few years ago (I look for either very nice-looking/handsome ones, or very funny/creative or creepy/wierd ones). I also watched the cartoon version of it, which I grew up with, tonight and laughed quite hard at the slapsticky cartoon parts about Princess Perlapants and the Rat Queen. So, yep I'm excited for next week!

(The Images above are: The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies!!! (Some of the felt dolls I sewed this summer)

Girl's Night in October

I hosted the October Girl's Night, and I intended it to be on how to make sock animals, but... all three girls ended up wanting to make different things.













Daniela made a crazy/creepy/cute looking sock elephant; Sarah made a cute felt owl pillow; and Abi began making a felt doll like the kind I made over the summer, but to look like one of the little old Argentinian grandmas she knew on her mission.














It was a little crazy running around trying to show them each what they needed to do and to consult with them on their designs and color choices, but it was fun, and each girl got to make something they wanted to. I think we had a pretty good time, even though it took a lot longer than we thought it would. I forget that I've had a lot more crafting experience than most people, and so some things that seem simple and easy to me can be quite tricky for those who haven't fiddled around with them before.

My mom, being so wonderful, bought us pizza and pop to enjoy while we made our crafts. I also lit my Christmas lights around the wall to make it magical!I'm so glad I hosted this, because it forced me to do some much needed cleaning and organizing in my studio, and now it feels great in there! With just a few more decorating adjustments I'll be able to say I am satisfied with how it looks.

Okay, so I'm going in a new direction with this blog. I finally got a laptop to aide me in the gaining of education at the University of Utah, so there will be more time/comfortable places/fewer distractions for me to write! Yippee!!! So, I'm going to stop trying to post under sections and just post random things. We'll see how it goes. I am up to a lot more crafting projects these days, so I have so many fun things I want to show off!

Also, my sisters-in-law, a few friends and I have begun a little bi-monthly DIY club, where we each take a turn teaching each other how to do something. So far it's been really fun! We got together for the first time a few weeks ago and Abi (my brother's girlfriend) taught us how to make some meaty empanadas, fried plantanos, and delicious, nutritious salad-o. Having seven brothers, it was good for me to just hang out with some girls for once! I get to teach the next club how-to in a few weeks. I think we'll have a "where the wild things are" party and I'll teach them how to make stuffed monsters and animals out of socks, amongst other things. I have a million ideas that I absolutely look forward to following through with. I'll soon post some pics of our club meetings and pics of what I did over the summer break :) For now, I just have a picture of the first felt doll I ever made:

Since she looks so much like my little cousin, I named her "Natalie". So far, I have 3 other dolls I've made (each a little less shabby than the last), 3 more more in the works, and a variety of clothes and accessories for each doll. I had a lot of fun learning how to embroider with these and I think they turned out cute. I just have to take pictures of the others now!