Funnies

Hi Knitters,

My kids love the Sunday Comics. I did, too, when I was young. I grew up with 3 older siblings and every one of us read the funnies on Sunday morning. I would get them last but that was okay by me because it would take me forever to read them. I guess I studied the pictures as I went along. My kids pass around the comics section just like I used to with my brothers and sister. It makes me feel nostalgic for a time when there weren't computers and video games. It's a simple pleasure, I guess.

My mom's favorite comic was always The Family Circus. When I was little we used to read it together every Sunday and giggle. I am pretty sure it used to be in one of her ladies' magazines, too, maybe Family Circle? 

Yesterday, The Collector asked me if I had read The Family Circus yet and I hadn't. She told me it was a really nice one. She brought it over to me to read and it caught me off-guard. I won't say too much more about it. It made me tear up because I know that feeling very well. I may frame it. If you need to see it bigger just click on the photo to enlarge it. Could any comic ever be any sweeter?
The Collector also brought this comic home from school to show me. I'll save this one, too. She has a soft spot, that girl.
Continuing on with snow-people, The Collector and I made homemade playdough yesterday while the older kids were at a swim meet. I drew the lucky straw and got to stay home with her instead of going to the meet. Her friend came over later and they collaborated on this old snow lady complete with spectacles, a straw cane and an apron that ties in the back. We are letting her dry to keep. We also made goop. I haven't made either of these for a long time and I forgot how much fun it is for a little one to have the good homemade stuff.

Here are the recipes I used:

Playdough

Cook together in a saucepan on medium heat:

2 cups water

2 tblsp. oil

1 cup salt

food coloring

Add:

2 cups flour

4 tsp. cream of tartar

Keep cooking and stirring until the dough breaks away from the side of the saucepan. Take out of the pan and place on a cutting board and continue to knead until it is cool. Store in an air-tight container.

Goop:

1 box cornstarch

water to mix

food coloring

Place cornstarch in a plastic container big enough to get your hands in. Mix in enough water to make a goopy mix. This is a tactile, texture-y substance. Dig your hands in and feel it melt. Scoop some into your hands and watch it ooze away.

Easy and fun! Can't beat that. 
Time for some show and tell. I subscribe to Parents magazine since I have been contributing projects for them here and there. I like to keep up on the contents. In the December issue I got a nice surprise.
A few of the knitted toys from Itty-Bitty Nursery showed up on page 107. It is a funny feeling when you see something you made in a magazine and you don't know it is coming. It is like you have to rub your eyes and look again. Here we have an adorable smiley baby holding the Grumpy Ol' Bear, the Dotted Chicken is on the side and the Bunny Rattle is in the front. I love seeing knitted stuff out in the wild. This made my day.
This is the cutest ad ever. Sweetness rules.
Back to this book briefly. If you look here you can still see the old cover with my bunnies on it. That's kind of funny, right?
Here are the Organic Bunnies, pg. 28, inside the book. It is funny because the book is organized in chapters by the weight of the yarn. I used a heavy worsted weight Blue Sky Organic Cotton for the bunnies but they are in the chapter for Lightweight yarn. I know why they did this because when I knit toys I knit at a tighter gauge to get a dense fabric. That way you don't see the stuffing and the shape is held better. The gauge I used falls into the lightweight category but the yarn is definitely a worsted weight.

I think the bunnies should have been in the other chapter for medium weight. It is a bit confusing. If I had a skein of worsted weight and I wanted a one skein project I wouldn't look in the lightweight chapter to get ideas. Oh well, whatcha gonna do?

Here is a great baby project for some sport weight yarn. I have to make some of these for sure.

Have a great Monday and start of your week, Knitters.

best, susie