Crafty thoughts

Heehee :). Are you ready?
Perhaps this should have been titled "A crafter's thoughts" or "Thoughts on crafting" or just "Crafts"... or maybe I should have went with "Promised knitting post" (Tori made fun of all my "Promised" posts when she was reading over my shoulder yesterday!)... but I like titles where you don't know where they are going to lead, haha ;).
First off, I was actually thinking of writing about making Emmi's birthday present when I first promised this post, but I think I'll be adding some bits of other crafter's items of interest now that I actually writing... especially since I found this really cute pattern yesterday, am about to try to convert this dog into a dalmatian fire dog for one of our "family of friends" baby that is due soon  (fire hat included, if possible... I think it would be adorable, I just have to see if it's do-able...), and the fact that, thanks to an interesting wee incident that happened the other day, I needed to clean up and reorganize my crafting supplies (which I accomplished this morning, yeah!!! Not that the reorganizing didn't need done before that "incident" (read: run-in with Abbi), just it actually needed cleaned up, too, afterwards, haha! I have this trick of keeping my craft stuff *clean*- but *unorganized*, so I have to reorganize before I start another project so that I know where everything is! I'm trying to work at it... but we'll see if I ever get over it.).
Well, as for Emmi's present... I finely decided on the kangaroo. But then I was faced with a small problem: by then, I had about two weeks left in which to work, and had to learn four new techniques!!!
I was able to complete the baby kanga just in time. As in, it was the last present she opened, and I finished sewing it together and wrapped it while she was opening the rest. I felt kind of bad for cutting it that close, but I am sooo glad that she got it on her birthday ;), and I was glad it was accomplished without staying home from the zoo. I would have felt worst if I had missed her birthday celebration outing! The Mamma will follow at the earliest time possible. Lesson in all this: I under-estimate how long something is going to take, or over-estimate the time I will have to work on it. Either way, I need to start remembering that when planning a dead line for projects!!!
Yesterday while I was going through my yarn, I realized that I have way too much, lol. It's like the crafter's biggest problem; you always have way more yarn then you know what to do with! Most of my yarn was given to me by the lady who taught me how to knit. Some was given to me by my Grandparents, and some I've bought. All of that yarn won't be hard to use up. I can make small stuffed animals with the larger ones, hats with the largest, and then with what is left I can make some multicolored afghan squares or something. The main problem is all the baby yarn that was left from the multicolored baby blanket I made last March!!! I used about one and a sixth balls of each color. Now I have about five sixths of at least four colors left! I think it is time to start doing something I have wanted to do for a long time- I would love to make some baby blankets to donate to a Crisis Pregnancy Center.
And then there are all the projects that I have started and not completed, or the things that need repairs- that equals another drawer full of space. I would have so much more space to use for things that need more room if I could empty that drawer! I don't think it would take too long to make the repairs, it is just that sewing legs on rabbits is my least favorite part of crafting ;).
 So, I have a couple goals that I hope to meet in a year's time: to use up all the yarn that I've been keeping "just in case" (and then start collecting more like any other crafter, of course ;)), and to empty my "to work on" drawer. And to start making sure I have presents done at least the day before they are needed!

* Bethi's birthday post is up on our family blog!!! Emmi's will follow shortly, Lord willing. Bethi would love for you to read her's... she is so excited that she got to "publish" something on the blog ;)!
* Tori also has a couple posts up on her blog, "Tori's Stories" after taking a blogging break, I'm sure she would also love that you check it out. I think she plans on sticking around for awhile now ;)...
* I think I have caught up on comments on my blog. If you've asked a question and it never got answered, I'm not ignoring you on purpose! Feel free to ask again! Thanks!
*Oh, and the caterpillar shown in this post? He was found in our kitchen for the fourth time since Monday night this morning. I think he thinks he is a pet!