Heirloom Baby Blanket Ensemble

I sure am getting a lot of practice making baby blankets and stuff especially for someone who really doesn't like children.
I'm not Cruella DeVille like some people think, I have children of my own, but I don't necessarily enjoy being around other people's kids.
Actually, now that my boys are grown, I find that I actually have something in common with them other than being there mother.

Anyway, I was asked by a precious co-worker to make an heirloom blanket for her granddaughter who was due to make her arrival in February.
I got all caught up in the "oohs and ahhs" as this paneled blanket was taking shape that I decided that clearly, this granddaughter was going to need some socks to go with her blanket. We can't have her little toes exposed, now can we?

So, once I finished the socks I thought, well a good southern girl will need a hat to complete her ensemble. So I whipped out my crochet hook and two hours later, the child has a hat fit for a beauty queen.

I washed and blocked the blanket, socks and hat...stood back to admire my handiwork and thought, "What in the world are you doing?" Honey, I'm surprised that I stopped when I did before I knitted a onesie outfit or dress, because I most definitely had been looking at patterns!

Here's a few pictures of the project. But I would appreciate it that if you should see me making a stupid baby blanket again, that you will remind me that I DO NOT LIKE CHILDREN!

Pirate Princess

My BFF Renee has a very old black short-haired miniature Dauchsaund named Schatzee. Renee and I were new friends when she brought Schatzee home and our sons were in first grade. Now our sons are in college and Schatzee is still with us, giving unconditional love to Renee and thinks I  love her too.

Schatzee doesn't know that I'm not a dog person. She thinks I'm just wonderful. She crawls in my lap and licks me as if I'm part of the family. I am more than happy to point out what a smelly, stupid dog she is but because the tone of my voice says anything but, she just knows that she is my favorite. After all these years, there is no point in telling her differently.

Living on Alabama's Gulf Coast, Renee has a love of the sea, sailing and the freedom it brings her, therefore, she considers herself a pirate at heart. (Renee and I also have a Johnny Depp fetish where Pirates of the Caribbean movies are concerned. But I digress...)

I was browsing through knitting patterns for some ideas when I ran across this pirate dog sweater. I knew instantly that I had to make it for her. I didn't buy any special yarn, I just used what I had in my stash which consisted of some off white baby yarn and ball of black acrylic. I found some pearl beads in the bottom of my beading tray, strung them on the baby yarn and sewed it around the collar.

I call it, Pirate Princess and hope that it's not too long, too wide or too garish for Schatzee's taste.