Queen Lorena Knit Doll Pattern!

Remember her? Baby Cat's original design for a fairy-tale queen doll took a First Premium and a Best of Division ribbon at the Multnomah County fair last year. Now, you too can capture her magic with a doll of your very own! Feel free to switch up the yarn and use your favorite colors to create your own queen or princess. The pattern is available in our Etsy shop and Baby Cat's Ravelry shop. 

-Baby Cat

SEAHAWKS WOOBIE

Recently Momma Cat's Big Brother Cat celebrated his birthday.  So Momma Cat made him a Seattle Seahawks blanket (woobie) for his birthday, then she mailed it to him.  

A couple of days later he called to tell her how much he liked it!  This is what it looked like.

Everybody needs their own Seahawks woobie!

Even more recently Momma Cat's Brother-in-law Cat had triple bypass heart surgery!  So again, Momma Cat thought, what can I make for him that might make him feel better?  He loves the Seahawks too, so Momma Cat made him his own Seahawks woobie and is shipping it off to Hawaii on Monday when the Post Office is open again. 

Making a blanket (woobie) is easy.  You just buy 2 1/2 yards of your favorite fleece, cut off both the selvage edges, then turn under a 1/4 inch all the way around (you can do this as you're sewing) and baste.  Then turn under another 1/4 inch all the way around and stitch.  You will have a nice sized light weight blanket to use on those chilly fall and winter days while you're watching the game, or reading a book, or whatever you like to do.  

A lot of people buy the no-sew fleece throw kits because they don't like to sew.  They're nice because then you get a double layer blanket.  I make my woobies my way because they're lighter, and you can always double-up if you need more warmth.  Us cats always tend to be a little hot-blooded!

GO SEAHAWKS!!!!!!!!!

- Momma Cat

DIY BRIDEMAID AND MAID OF HONOR GIFTS

Baby Cat kept her bridesmaid gifts a secret until now to avoid spoiling any surprises before the wedding. Now that the wedding and honeymoon are long over, there is no reason not to share them!

Baby Cat knit these little purses for each bridesmaid to keep her wedding-day essentials in. They are the wedding colors, of course!

A silky royal blue lining complements the shiny silver yarn!

Baby Cat picked up these gorgeous blue glass bottles as potential gifts last summer. 

Aren't they the perfect color?

These cute labels from collage made the perfect nametags for everyone.

Using Illustrator, Baby Cat designed custom nametages for each bridesmaid (and one bridesman, Baby Brother Cat, who also received one of the Tuxedo gift bags!)

After filling each bottle with yummy lavender bath beads and attaching the nametags with a jewelry chain and a "made with love" charm, voila! They are done! 

Baby Cat also made this magical faery dust necklace for her maid of honor. Wonderful bridesmaids deserve special handmade gifts!

-Baby Cat

GO DUCKS! BLANKET

A couple of days ago I went to JoAnn's with Maureen Cat to look at stuff.  That's my favorite past time!

Anyway, we were really interested in looking at all their fall and Halloween items.  I have been watching those items come in the store week by week, and it finally got to me! Maureen Cat was pretty impressed too.  

We also went for some more practical items like yarn, rotary cutting blades, stuff like that.  

One thing I was NOT looking for was some U of O fleece.  But, I was in a weakened condition, and I saw it there, on the shelf, looking all soft and cuddly.  So I succumbed and bought some.  Now, generally I'm not a big fan of camo fabric, but I think this is really cute because of all the yellow and gold, and the Duck foot, of course!

Then I went home and swiftly and quietly made this sweet little blanket.  Basically, all I did was trim off the selvages, then I turned under a 1/4 inch on all sides, basted it, then turned under another 1/4 inch on all sides, then I sewed it.

GO DUCKS!

Now, when we watch the Duck's play on those cold fall days, we can wrap ourselves in our little blanket and be warm and cheer on our favorite college team.  GO DUCKS!!!!!!

- Momma Cat

HATS FOR ALL!

Back in May or June, Baby Brother Cat asked Baby Cat if she had time to make him a hat. Baby Cat could make no promises before graduation and the wedding, but after that, of course! Baby Brother described the kind of hat he wanted and the kind of yarn, and Baby Cat found the yarn and wrote a pattern that was just right (after 1 do-over). Here is the result!

If you like Baby Brother's hat, you can buy the pattern at our Etsy shop or at Baby Cat's Ravelry shop.

Now Husband Cat saw Baby Cat working on the hat and asked to put in a request for a hat of his own. He didn't have a specific style or yarn in mind, so he and Baby Cat searched Ravelry until they found this pattern, called "David's Hat", which was available for free on Ravelry.

The patterned band around the hat was fun to knit and adds a nice decorative effect to the hat.

While looking for a hat for Husband Cat,  Baby Cat became enthralled with this adorable Elf Hat pattern, which she adapted slightly to make this Flower Faery hat. Now we will both stay warm and look super-cute as the cooler weather moves in!

 

-Baby Cat

FASHION DOLLS, J-DOLLS, AND THE FAT BABY CHALLENGE!

Last week, Baby Cat, Plush Pussycat, and I went to the Crossroads Doll and Teddy Bear show at the National Guard Armory in Portland.

As usual, there were many things that we liked and were tempted by.  So many that it took several hours for us to look at everything, make our choices, and finally make our way out the door.  In fact, we went out the back way so we wouldn't be tempted to buy anything more on our way out!

Baby Cat was first to make a purchase.  She found a cute little J-Doll that she just had to have.  Here are two pictures of it:

Cute Face, huh?

She has accessories and a stand

I bought this J-Doll last time I went to the doll show, but mine didn't have any shoes.  I tried to find some cute ones for her this time, but all I found were these boots, which are plastic and not that nice.  But, at least she has some shoes for now, until I find something I like better.

Momma Cat's doll

Plush Pussycat found a little doll too, but I don't have a picture of her.  Hopefully she will put one on her blog, so you can all see it.  Both she and Baby Cat found some miniature rugs they liked for their doll houses.  Plush Pussycat found some other miniature food items that she liked, so she bought those too.

I also found two really pretty fashion dolls at this doll show.  The first was this one.

Tiny Kitty Collier

 She's a tiny Kitty Collier.  I thought she was just gorgeous and so very classy looking. This close-up doesn't really do her justice.  I fell in love with her.  She reminds me a little bit of a young Grace Kelly.  Look how classy her dress and shoes are!

front view

   

back view

She's clearly my favorite right now.  What do you think of her?

Here's my other doll, Gene.  When I first saw Gene, she was naked, and I thought about buying her and making her some clothes.  But, I looked around for a while and another vendor had several outfits that were made to fit this doll.  So, I bought the doll.........

 then I bought her this lovely outfit.

Gene's beautiful red dress and all her accessories

The doll is a "Gene" doll, and she was made to represent the big film stars of the 30's and 40's.
Look at how pretty the back of her hair is!

I think Gene is very lovely and her clothes are so nicely made.  I'm glad I bought her.

NOW FOR THE FAT BABY CHALLENGE!

Baby Cat and I saw two cute, fat, baby dolls when I was buying the outfit for Gene.  The dolls were adorable and very inexpensive, so we decided to buy them. Then we came up with what we call  "The FAT BABY CHALLENGE"! We each have to design and make an outfit for our respective dolls and have them ready to sell at the St. Agatha Holiday Bazaar in early November.  We can sew, knit, or crochet, or any combination of the three, an outfit, with or without accessories, for our dolls.  But, we can't tell or show each other what we're making.  Also, we have to sell them at the Bazaar when we're done! No keeping, no matter how cute they turn out!

Here are the two babies as they were when we bought them.  We'll show you how they look when we're done.

 

Momma Cat's Doll

Baby Cat's Fat Baby

I think Baby Cat's doll looks sad, don't you?  Poor baby!  But, she is awful cute. I'm sure someone nice will adopt her in November.

Momma Cat's doll looks anxious, like she can't wait to be fed or picked up.  Who will be the lucky one to take her home?

We'll keep you posted! (no pun intended)


-  Momma Cat

MY NEW FRIEND, ZED

A few weeks ago,  I went for a nice long walk with my neighbor cat, Pam.  We meandered through Johnson Creek Park, and then Westmoreland Park, which, if you didn't already know, have both undergone some extensive re-planting, and other major upgrades.  Johnson Creek Park is getting a new bridge soon, but it hasn't been completed yet. Westmoreland Park has gotten a lot of new plant life, a new boardwalk, and there's a new playground still under construction.

Anyway, I left PamCat on Milwaukie Avenue, so she could get to an appointment, and I wandered back through the neighborhood so I could meet MaureenCat at Starbuck's. 

MaureenCat and I had a nice chat while enjoying our iced coffee and tea, then we walked over  bought a few odds and ends at New Season's Market for our dinners.  

I was getting rather hungry at this point, so MaureenCat and I  both headed toward our respective homes.  On my way down 13th Avenue, I spotted a sad looking little zebra in the window of Sweetpea's, (a second-hand children's clothing store), and I had to go in and check him out.  

Good thing I did!  He was just about dying of boredom, and was a little parched after sitting in the store window for God only knows how long!  So I rescued him and brought him home for some water, food, and a nice long nap.  

I named him Zed, and I think he really likes it!  Here he is in all his glory!

Zed, just awakening from his nap

Now, Zed is a pretty laid-back guy.  In fact, he has a really hard time sitting up on his own.  But, he has promised to model for me when I try to make my own crocheted zebra pattern.  Isn't he a swell guy?  

In the meantime, Zed is planning to hang around to add a little color and fun to the place.  

Welcome to your new home Zed!

- Momma Cat

IT'S CURTAINS FOR YOU, MY LITTLE PRETTY!

Oh my gosh!  Why is working at JoAnn's so much fun?  I'll tell you why!  Endless rows of fabric, that's why!  If you like to sew, and I do, then it's sort of a blessing and a curse.  

It's a blessing because you get to see all the great stuff before anyone else does!  It's a curse because you end up spending most of your paycheck on fabric, now matter how much you try not to!

Last winter I bought a whole bolt of fabric which I planned to make bedroom curtains out of.  But it wasn't quite enough for my bedroom, so I chose another fabric, and bought a bolt of that.  

A whole lot of time passed, then I saw the first fabric again!  So, I bought a couple more yards of it!  Now I'm in the process of making it into curtains because I'm going to turn Baby Cat's old bedroom into my sewing/craft room.  

Here's the fabric that I bought.

 

Red and Orange Poppies!  It'll match the room perfectly!

 

Isn't it pretty?  I love it so much, and it will keep my sewing room bright and cheery on those long winter days when I'm working on all my projects!

Now, here's the second piece of fabric, which, as you can see, has already been made into bedroom curtains for Momma Cat and Daddy Cat's bedroom!

Our new bedroom curtains

I am planning to buy a little more of this fabric to make some pillow cases, and maybe enough to start a quilt for our bed!  Daddy Cat and I really like this fabric.  It's got my favorite color (red), it's got a white background to keep the room bright, and the black just adds some depth.  There are many gorgeous fabrics that will coordinate well with it, so making a quilt will be a lot of fun!

-  Momma Cat

PAPER LANTERN WEDDING DECORATIONS

Baby Cat's wedding has already taken place, so this blog entry was started before the wedding and completed just today. Sorry for the long delay, but we've been busy!  Hope you like our decorations!

Baby Cat saw some cute paper lanterns on Pinterest and got to work making a sample for FutureMom Cat and me, so that we could help make them for her wedding.  Little did we know what we were getting into!

Our box of paper flowers and other important supplies

 First we had to punch out and assemble about a MILLION paper flowers.  They all had pretty little silver beads in the middle of them.  We used tacky glue instead of hot glue, because we both hate hot glue, so things took a little longer to set up. We added some silk leaves, and then some blue lace on the bottom.  Then we left them to dry.

Here's FutureMom Cat working on one right now!

See how happy she looks!

Momma Cat adding decorations to her lantern

Here they are drying.  We had to prop them up because they roll!

Here are all the lanterns waiting to be taken to the wedding.  Baby Cat and Fiance' Cat are going to be so happy!

They are ready to be hung up on the light strings at the wedding!

 

 

These lanterns represent countless hours of work, and endless volumes of love.  They turned out beautifully and Baby Cat and Husband Cat were able to give them to the bridal party and some of the other guests after the reception.

- Momma Cat

WEDDING BASKETS

While Baby Cat was making her cute Bridesmaid hair clips  I made the wedding baskets that the Bride, Groom, and flower girl will carry.  The happy couple wanted something to put their wedding favors in so that they could pass them out to all their guests when they greeted them at the reception.  So, voila!  Momma Cat got out her spray paint and went to work.  First I got a couple of really nice baskets.

Bride's basket

Groom's basket

I took them outside where I set them on a table and sprayed them with a primer coat.
After they were tacky-dry, I sprayed them with a few coats of chrome paint, just like Baby Cat used on her ring box.


 

After several coats of chrome paint, drying in the sun

Then we decided to do the same thing for the flower girl.  I used an Easter basket that was painted yellow.  First I had to remove all the trim and glue that was around the edge.

Little Yellow Easter Basket

Little basket being primed

 I sprayed it with primer, then with chrome paint. 

 After several coats of chrome paint it was ready to be finished.  

When all the baskets were done, I lined the bottoms with royal blue lace, and decorated the handles with blue lace, silver mesh, and blue roses!  And here they are!!!!

 

 Here's the flower girl basket (those white things in the background are the paper lanterns I will talk about in my next post)!

I think they turned out really well.  The Bride and Groom's basket will be filled with the wedding favors that FutureMom Cat and I made.  The flower girl basket will be filled with white and blue rose petals.  

- Momma Cat

MOMMA CAT AND BABY CAT'S FAIR ENTRIES

I've been so busy working and trying to make things for Baby Cat's wedding, that I almost didn't get my fair entries ready in time.  To be truthful, I had forgotten about it completely until Baby Cat reminded me, a few days ago, that we had to turn in our entries on Friday!

So, I spent the last couple of days before the fair finishing up my dress, which originally was meant for Baby Cat's wedding.  But, it's just a few pounds tooooooooo tight, so I decided that it was going to a fair entry this year.  

First Premium and Best of Show Ribbons!

It looks better this way

I made it out of bright red satin embroidered with a rose pattern, which I got at (you guessed it) JoAnn's a few months ago.  It also has a lovely rhinestone rose pin at the front waistline, which I purchase at the Mill End Store.  It was supposed to be a belt buckle, but I couldn't find one as lovely as this, and it just went with the fabric so well!

Too bad it didn't fit, but it gives me incentive to lose about 10 more pounds!  Naturally I forgot to take a picture before I took it to the fair, so these are pictures of it afterward.

I entered Baby Cat's wedding stole in the fair too.  It turned out so well, and it's probably the hardest thing I've ever attempted to crochet, so I just had to do it.  Here you see it displayed in a beautiful storybook box just as it was at the fair.  Baby Cat is going to look so beautiful in it! I'm going to give it to her at her Bridal Shower.

Baby Cat's Wedding Stole got a First Premium ribbon!

Rapunzel won't let down her long hair, but she got a First Premium ribbon!

Now we have Rapunzel!  Rapunzel is my favorite houseplant.  I started her from cuttings off of another houseplant several years ago, and she just took off!  At first, she just got fuller and fuller.  Then she started growing really long!  Hence the name, Rapunzel! Right now she's probably over six feet long if you could get her to straighten out her vines.  She's a very healthy and beautiful plant, and that's why I love her so! I wanted to take her to the fair so other people could see her too.  I think she deserves to be transplanted to a bigger pot soon so she can continue to thrive!

-  Momma Cat

I'm rushing to finish my thesis project by next week so this post will be quick. I entered my wedding gloves and cake topper and they both won 1st premium ribbons! I am very happy! ( I joked that the blue ribbons match the ribbon on the cake topper, so any other color just wouldn't do.)

Click these links to see the original posts of the cake topper and gloves. Wish me luck at school!

-Baby Cat

Blue Rose Bridesmaid Barrettes

One of my amazing bridesmaids agreed to braid everyone else' hair for the wedding, but to do so she had a very special request. The bridesmaids needed some beautiful flower clips to hold their hair in place. I tried looking at shops like Icing, and even my local pharmacy to find what we needed, but alas, I didn't find anything that fit the look I wanted and also had the kind of clip we needed to hold the hairstyle in place!

Pretty Flower Clip from Icing

I first bought these pretty off-white flowers at Icing, and considered Frankensteining (my new word for taking pieces from a couple different things to make something new) the flower with a different clip that had the right kind of backing. This probably would have worked fine, but I wanted to see if I could get the right thing with less work and less money.

As usual, JoAnn's provided the answer (I promise, they don't pay me to say this). I took a trip there with Momma Cat last week and found:

• An entire bag of the clips that I needed, with nothing attached to them, so no Frankensteining necessary!
• Some beautiful blue fabric roses that were much less expensive than the flower clips I got at Icing
• Some navy blue ribbon wide enough to cover the top of the clip and give the rose someplace to sit

Beautiful Blue Rose

I think the blue roses are even prettier than the first flowers that I liked. I glued a piece of ribbon to the top of each clip, cut the stems off the roses, and glued them on top of the ribbon. Voila! Now that's the last time I'll think it's easier to buy something in a store than make it myself!

-Baby Cat