Sawyer's 2nd birthday party!

and the real party!  Having a June birthday I think you are pretty much stuck having a pool party.  It's too hot here to do anything else that's for sure!  We had some family and friends over for food, cupcakes, gifts and swimming.  Good times!

mmmm....cupcakes

sparkler candle was really cute but slightly dangerous for a small child to be near shirtless! oops 

Sawyer still doesn't quite get the opening of gifts.  He opens one and wants to take it out of the box and play. Who needs more than one gift?!?!  Not Sawyer.

his betrothed Addie 

Kassie and Sam

favor bags

looking awful sleepy!

still munching at almost midnight!  What a little rock star!  

Thank you to all of our friends and family for coming to celebrate!

Guess Who is 2!?!?

Happy 2nd Birthday Sawyer!!

The actual day of your birthday we just had cake and singing at home.  You didn't really know what to make of all of it.  You were actually most obsessed with saying "hot" over and over and over!  Apparently you have learned your lesson with touching hot stuff!  

I wish I could tell you the cake looked great and you did this to it yourself, but yeah...your mom is no cake boss!  It did taste much better than it looked!

and of course in typical Nini fashion she has to ruin my kids with candy and soda.  

Dex's first bite of chocolate.

I am fairly certain you are screaming at your sister here...or maybe your brother for eating a bite of your cake.

Two years ago I held you in my arms for the very first time.  I cannot believe how fast they have gone by.  Every day you are learning more and more words and stringing them together.  Your favorite sayings, daddy truck, momma car, car, truck, chchtrain (because you can't quite figure out choo choo), Karly, Dex, and you finally said Nini after months of coaxing.   You say please and thank you for everything; it's the most precious thing.  I really need to catch it on video.  Sawyer you are such a smart and gorgeous boy.  You are definitely my most tender hearted child.  You complete me little man.  I don't think there are words to explain how much you are loved.

Happy Birthday!!

now quit getting old!

Corset Coffee Cozy Crochet Pattern

Corset Coffee Cozy

 final measurement approx 8" long and 2.5" tall

Materials:  H (5.00 mm) hook and approximately 20 total yards worsted weight yarn.  Acrylic or an acrylic blend is recommend as it provides a little better stretch.  Yarn needle and a few feet of ribbon.

Terms:

ch: chain

st: stitch

skst:  skip stitch

dc:  double crochet

 (  ): repeat around

{  }: total number of stitches

Instructions:   Ch 3 will count as a stitch toward final stitch count.

Row 1:  Ch 32, skip 2 closest to hook, dc across {30 dc}

Row 2:  ch 3, turn, dc in next space, ch 1, skip one, dc in next 25, ch 1, skip one, dc in last 2  {28 dc}

Row 3:  ch 3, turn, dc in each, dc in ch 1 space as well {30 dc}

Row 4:  ch 3, turn, dc in next space, ch 1, skip one, dc in next 25, ch 1, skip one, dc in last 2  {28 dc}

Row 5:  ch 3, turn, dc in each, dc in ch 1 space as well {30 dc}

Row 6:  ch 3, turn, dc in next space, ch 1, skip one, dc in next 25, ch 1, skip one, dc in last 2  {28 dc}

Row 7:  ch 3, turn, dc in each, dc in ch 1 space as well {30 dc}

Fasten Off; weave in end

Weave your ribbon in and tie a bow

 **this pattern has not been tested and was written down after I already made it :)  Please let me know if you find errors.

Sock Monkey Coffee Cozy - - FREE PATTERN

Sorry for only one eye :)  Will have to run out for a button later.

Sock Monkey Coffee Cozy
Gauge: 2 rows of 6 stitches = .5” tall x 2” wide

Materials: I (6.25 mm) hook, G (4.25 mm) hook and approximately 60 total yards worsted weight yarn. Acrylic or an acrylic blend is recommend as it provides a little better stretch. Yarn needle and a stitch marker. Optional: buttons for eyes

Terms:
ch: chain
st: stitch
sc: single crochet
hdc: half double crochet
( ): repeat around
{ }: total number of stitches

Instructions: You will hold two strands of yarn for the cozy portion. Mouth and ears require one strand only. Rounds will not be joined at the end; continue to work in a spiral Place stitch marker in the last stitch and move up each round. Directions in ( ) will not be completed each round.

**Using red yarn (upper most stripe)

Round 1: ch 30, join with a slst to the beginning (be careful not to twist your chain)

Round 2: sc in each {29 sc}

Round 3: sc in each {29 sc}

**Switch to cream/white (middle stripe)

Round 4: sc in each {29 sc}

Round 5: sc in each {29 sc}

**Switch to brown (face color)

Round 6: sc in each {29 sc}

Round 7-15: sc in each {29 sc}

Fasten off; weave in tail



Mouth: G (4.25 mm) hook

Ch 12, skip 2 closest to hook, hdc in first, sc in next 8, in last chain hdc, hdc, ch 1 [you will now work bottom side of chain] sc in first-same space that has the 2hdc-, sc to end. Continue to sc around until you reach the desired size. If your ends curl up chain 1 in between sc. Fasten off, leave a tail long enough to sew mouth to hat.

Using your yarn needle to stitch your center line. Sew mouth to hat.

Ears: G (4.25 mm) hook

Round 1: Starting with a magic circle, sc 6 times {6 sc]

Round 2: (2sc) {12 sc}

Round 3: (hdc) {12 hdc}

Fasten off; leave tail and sew to head


***this pattern has not been tested and was created with 2 small children pulling my in every direction.  If you find a mistake please email me at innerhooker@hotmail.com

If you'd prefer to download this in document form you can do so for free at Inner Hooker on Ravelry. If you take the free pattern and plan to sell for profit please send me a completed one in return to help supply the bombs :)

Yarn Bomb Round 2

I seriously think I am addicted!  Hey, it’s good clean fun so it’s ok right?!?!  Next bomb is planned and coming very soon!  I’d love for you to join in with me whether making and sending something my way or planning your own.  I had mentioned before, {in this previous blog} that I’d love to do a few of these along the my trip this summer.  Being in different cities does make it a little difficult to plan anything too specific though.  I’d love to do one in the Phoenix area {Surprise, Mesa, Ahwatukee, Chander, whatever}, La Jolla, California, and Camarillo, California.  If you live in/near these locations and want to play with me shoot me an email! 

Back to what I was saying… yarn bombs.

A lot of people are not fans of yarn bombs.  They feel they are the same as graffiti (even thought they are completely removable) or a waste of yarn that could be used for something useful!  I think I have an idea to accomplish combining both bombing and something useful and even tackle my challenge of bombing in areas that I have no way of really knowing a good bomb spot.  The next bomb(s) will be Starbucks (or other coffee shops) with coffee cozies!  Don’t you think it’s awesome?!?!  How fun would it be to be one of the lucky first customers of the day and get a free handmade cozy!

So what do you say??  Are you with me? 

Now for the specifics.  The first one will be here in my town….soon.  If you want to help jump start this one you’ll need to get a cozy in the mail in about 5 or 6 days!  For the most part an average yarnie could whip these up in very little time.  I will continue to need them so if you can’t get them that fast it’s ok, your cozy will just live in another state. My mom will check my PO Box for me and forward them to whatever destination I am at.  Just think of your work in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona or California!  Pretty neat huh?  I love it and can see the smiles on people’s faces already.

So what do you think?  Yarn, creative, useful, can be done anywhere.  

Yep, pretty sure I reached all my goals for this one.

Feel free to use any pattern you’d like or make your own up as you go. I am going to link up a few cute ones that I find with a simple search of the internet.  Cozies can be crochet, knit or even made from felted wool!  This is great option for people that don’t knit or crochet that still want to play.  

Please no sewn fabric ones since it doesn’t really jive with the whole “yarn” aspect of it. 

CROCHET PATTERNS

1.  super simple pattern from Hooks and Knives.  This would be a perfect beginner pattern

2.  Cuppa Joe Java Jacket from Teresa of Unravel Me

3.  Coffee Cozy by Dawn Toussaint

be still my heart I am in love with this one--more of an intermediate level

4.  A Coffee Cozy for Melissa by Sarah Cooper  

5.  Support/Awareness Cozy on CoatsandClark.com

6.  The Sitting Tree shares her pattern and includes both a crochet and knit version

Onto the KNIT patterns

8.  Kureyon Coffee Cozy on Another Knitting Blog

9.  The Caffeinated Crafter shares her knit cozy

10.  Sock Monkey Cup Cozy by Alejandra Quiroz  

{I also love this and may have to make a crochet version}

11.  His & Her's Coffee Cozies by Mindy Lewis

{another fave of mine..must learn to knit better}

12.  Coffee Corset by Lisa Ashby

{again, love!  may have to make a crochet one}

and for those of you that don't crochet or knit here are a few links on how to upcycle wool sweaters 

here is a great link for the basic felting process over at The Magic Onions

13.  Felt Coffee Cozy from LittleRedSaid

14.  Amber Dusick also shares her tutorial for a felt cozy

15.  New Green Mama shares her felted wool sweater coffee cozy

or google "felted coffee cozy" click on images and prepare to be inspired!

Please mail your cozies to the address below.  If you'd like a picture and shout out please include your info in the package!!
Scotti Oxford
PO Box 984
Flint, TX  75762

BOOM!

I may or may not be responsible for this yarn bomb! If I were responsible for it I would tell you just how fun it was!

I learned about yarn bombing a few months ago and knew I had to do it. I read a ton of blogs with tips and tricks and came to the conclusion that starting small was best…of course I don’t do anything small or as recommended. I picked a spot with {what I thought} was 60 parking meters to wrap. With International Yarn Bombing coming up I knew that would be the day. I decided since a small one was recommended first to get a feel for it I would just do 1 or 2 little things before…yeah, I never got around to it so IYBD was my first ever!

I posted a call for help on my facebook page with hopes of tons of them just pouring in. I did get some awesome wraps from some even more awesome women! I definitely got a whole lot less than I planned though. I had a few days of panic attempting to figure out how to pull it off when I was 40 wraps short. Yes, I said FORTY. I made some smaller wraps, fatter yarn, pompoms for some, etc. I was still feeling pretty good. I had 2 super sexy sleuth friends that joined me along with my daughter and her friend. We pulled up around 1am and were all a little nervous and anxious. I started cracking up when I realized the day I counted for the number of wraps needed I had counted parking spots….not meters! We still had about 40 to wrap and it turned out to be a blessing since some were only going to get pompoms. We had 1 wrap leftover that found a home on a large pole and hung the pompoms from trash cans, tree branches and a few meters with wraps got them too! It was a ton of fun! A few people were out and asked what it was, everyone that we encountered thought it was really neat.

I find myself wanting to drive down a few times a day to see if it’s still there! The kids and I drove up the following morning and it was still up! The girls may have done a little bomb in the bathroom of a local restaurant as well. I think we are all addicted now! I love that I was able to bring a little color to my town!

Ok, get ready for picture overload...

just a few hours I had to enlist ANYONE willing to help...ok he didn't help but how cute is he?!

Now for the real pictures.  I took these the next day.  Ciara did take pictures the night of, so at some point I am sure I'll be back with more from the actual bombing.

Already planning my next one!  Stay tuned for more info if you'd like to contribute!

Post Office Box for the yarn bomb!

I finally drug myself and my 2 littles to the post office to get a box!  Now most of you I would totally trust to give my home address, but posting it online is a bit much for me :)  I am getting really excited and honestly a little nervous about pulling this off!    Please get your wraps to me by the first week of June!  This will give me a few days to make whatever is still needed.  Remember wraps need to be between 6-7" to wrap around the pole and as long as you'd like.  Poles are 43" but you do not have to make them that long!  I've been making them about arms length or a little over.  Big yarn (or a few strands held together) and a big hook make it go pretty fast!  To read more about the yarn bombing CLICK HERE

Scotti Oxford

PO Box 984

Flint, TX

75762