Tag Archive | Minecraft

Happy Halloween 2017

Well October rushed by and it was Halloween in what felt like was the blink of an eye. This was not the year for the new handmade costume for the family. Rather a couple repeats, and some purchased pieces worked out to a rather nice looking group.IMG_20171031_215034_744

Echo was enamored with the movie My Neighbour Totoro, and since we could not find a chinchilla costume (her first choice), Totoro was a VERY close second. I ordered this one off Amazon. Ken whipped up an acorn bag and for the photos I lent her one of my handmade Totoros.IMG_20171031_220718_155

Trinity chose to be a princess this year. Again a dress off Amazon, and after 2 attempts, a tiara to match.IMG_20171031_220755_177

Emanuel is still a Minecraft fanatic. This year we went with an Enderman. Black sweats, black sweater and a mask/box I bought off Amazon.IMG_20171031_220830_455

The twins went for a repeat of wizards. Ken had made the capes and staffs and the hats were crocheted by me.IMG_20171031_220909_803

This is our second year trick or treating with our homeschool friends. Echo was over the moon to run the neighbourhood with Nate.20171031_181326

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Nate the Power Ranger

Nate the Power Ranger

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They didn’t do half bad on candy, which I sorted and bagged up. We will be eating these with some restraint. Stomach aches are not worth the gorging.20171031_203332

Of course Neko-chan had to get in on the fun. Though when we tried to actually WEAR her costume she balked and attempted to eat it. But still – adorable. I bought a dog costume hat, it worked!IMG_20171027_203930_229

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I had less of a costume and more of a comfortable slightly on theme outfit. (not the highly indulgent Irish sweater… I plan to live in it)20171031_141133

Of course the girls had to do a little photo session with last year’s mini witch’s hats… I love that Echo wore skeleton jammies under her Totoro costume.20171031_114157

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That week we did some fun Halloween themed crafts as well.

It was supposed to be thumbprints but with kids who hate getting hands dirty we used the eraser end of pencils.

It was supposed to be thumbprints but with kids who hate getting hands dirty we used the eraser end of pencils.

pastels

pastels

Meet Jerry

Meet Jerry

We also had a lovely special lunch on Halloween. We did good!20171031_115613

This entry was posted on 02/11/2017, in Uncategorized. 1 Comment

My First County Fair…

A little slow on the post but with Renee’s support (and ride to drop the items off) Emanuel and I entered our very first County Fair (well American one, I remember entering a fair way back in 4H as a child…). The Anoka County Fair. Very exciting. I entered 7 pieces and Emanuel one. There was no fee for entry (just if you wanted to come and see your entries while the fair was going on… we didn’t) and small cash prizes for placing. 

We didn’t expect much and were over the moon when Renee reported back that it looked like we had received some ribbons! In fact, what we thought was a participation ribbon for Emanuel’s was in reality THIRD PLACE !!! He did a unique creation… a Lego version of the Minecraft zombie villager. So very proud!!!

Yours truly entered (as I mentioned) 7 items, out of the 7 SIX placed either first or second in their categories! The only piece that didn’t place was my baby hat with beard and I threw that one in more because it was in my store and on hand than anything else! IMAG0407

Now for the pieces that DID place! I have to give design credit for TWO of my first place ribbons – Rapunzel and the zebra were both designed by Kristen’s Kords. I love her designs and have had the great privilege to test many of her pieces. You HAVE TO check out her Etsy store… she also sells the amigurumi she makes herself there HERE.IMAG0401

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My other two first place items are both up for sale CURRENTLY in my Etsy store! I was rather surprised that my baby sweater DID get such a high ranking, it is a relatively simple pattern. Ken says it was the adorable buttons… and the comments on the back of the card DID state that they WERE adorable! (Of course HE chose the buttons) The other is my lamb bag that I made a few months back as part of my stash buster attempt (successful I might add). I have multiple bags up for sale with differing flower colours. It was fun to make and I actually really love the final look! You can find the items for sale HERE and HEREIMAG0410

IMAG0409And now for my two second place pieces! First off my Blue, White and Red Granny Square. This was a bit of a surprise to me, a very simple single granny with colour changes. Though there was a suggestion to switch to a smaller hook size midway to keep the square shape more square that I need to research further (I actually like the pulled look. It looks almost 3D when stretched out). The other was a surprise to me as well – my dragon scarf… I have one up for sale in my store as well HERE and have made multiple versions of this. This particular scarf was Ken’s Christmas present last year! With how many scarves entered coming in second was certainly a bit of a surprise! Anyway those are my placers… next year I plan to enter more things!! Just… gotta think of them first…IMAG0414

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Happy Halloween… a Bit Belated

So I MEANT to post this the day after Halloween but got knocked out by some sort of mutant plague the kids and their Baba felt they just HAD TO share with me… so please enjoy (a week+ late) our costume fun!!!!101_9977

Youngest to oldest…. Echo’s was an easy choice. The dress was one of the super pretties that Grandma had given us before we moved down from Canada. It finally fits, all beads and lace. For photos only I paired it up with my original veil for a bride picture or two.101_9912 101_9917 101_9915 101_9921

Then it was on with the crown for a very pleased princess.101_9919

And wings for a fairy.101_9924 101_9928 101_9930

Day of we paired it all up with her big sister’s church coat. Our very own snow princess!!!101_9970

101_9931Miss Trinity was one we had been thinking about since LAST Halloween… the Disney version of Alice in Wonderland. With her lovely long blonde hair and the addition of some black shoes and a black hair ribbon the costume we bought online suited PERFECTLY! We had to adjust the apron as apparently a little girl needs a MASSIVE apron but that was a quick fix.101_9937 101_9938 101_9942

Emanuel was our big build of the year. One that Ken took on HIMSELF! I am so pleased with how healthy he has gotten… old Kenny would have NEVER done such a thing. Emanuel chose to be a Minecraft Squid and Ken completely copied the head piece pixel by pixel using cardboard and paint.101_9965

IMAG0223What a success!!! Time consuming but a huge success. And a huge number of people recognized it right away!!!101_9966

Mr. Gavin was a bit of a struggle. He changed what he wanted to be a couple of times but settled on a traditional ghost… with a pirate sword. So Ken (again!!) made a lovely scabbard out of duct tape and I sewed a toque to the sheet to keep it steady. Rather awesome.101_9962 101_9963 101_9964

Even Zander’s costume has a bit of a story. Originally he was supposed to be a ninja as a repeat runner but on our costume odyssey for the rest we came across a Dominoes shirt. Gavin hemmed and hawed but turned down the idea… it was not until we were walking in the door from shopping that Zander FINALLY spoke up and said that HE wanted to be the Dominoes delivery man. So the next day we had to make a running trip BACK to Goodwill hoping to find the shirt still there. Then a couple days before Halloween Ken called Dominoes and was able to get us a small pizza box to finish off the costume! Not bad not bad!!!101_9950 101_9956

We heard about free ice cream(frozen custard) at Culver’s if you show up in costume so we doubly spoiled the kids with the very rare DINNER out as well! They have some super yummy burgers there.IMAG0249 IMAG0251_BURST001

Our plans, as usual, had us meet up at the Novak’s for trick or treating. It was a brisk day and we had a third family with us. We were out about 2 hours (less than last year).IMAG0257

But our haul was huge!101_9982 101_9981

And we ended the evening with a nice long visit with the Novaks. Halloween well spent!!!IMAG0266 IMAG0271 IMAG0272

Sorry about the massive pictures but we had a great time!101_9976 101_9977

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