Handmade Favorites #5: Rainbow Afghan

I've been desperately wanting this rainbow afghan crocheted by Becky of Strumpets Crumpets for many moons.  I was going to ask for it for Christmas but forgot.  I thought I was going to have to wait for my birthday.  Then Chainsaw asked what I wanted for VD (Valentine's Day sounds cooler to me when referred to simply as "VD"), I knew immediately that the rainbow blanket would be MINE.



(I swiped this photo from its etsy listing.)

It now lives on my couch, where Felix and I fight over it.  It's super soft, super huge, and loved by all animals and people in the Butter household.



Felix doesn't hold very still when he's modeling.



I found this awesome dog panel at Joanne in the clearance section and sewed these dog pillows right up. Their names are Susan and Lilly (that's what the panel said), and they look adorable on my couch.  Felix tries to steal them.

Anyway, thanks to Becky for making such an awesome afghan.  Thanks to Chainsaw for loving me so much that he can't resist my rainbow blanket pleas.

Handmade Favorites #4: Wedding Hair Majesty by Kris

My stepmom Kris used to work at a flower shop and has mad skills with the blooms, yo.  (Sorry, I'm currently in gangster training.)  When the Chainsaw and I decided to legally unite our spirits, she ever so kindly did the flowers for us, including this pretty flower crown for my hair!



She also made awesome bouquets for me and Laura.



Katie didn't get one because she's mad scared of bees, and I went with the ol' ONE maid of dishonor and that's it routine, but really Katie should have had one made of fake flowers for being awesome.  Anyway.



My glorious little crown hangs next to my dirty magic mirror in the hallway by my bedroom.  I could clean the mirror, but I'm a little afraid that might remove some of its magic.  I recently called Kris for advice on making my own fake (Katie approved!?) flower crown, and she is a genius you guys.  I made one so far, and it's pretty cool!  I'll be sharing soon.

Kris is going to go work at the flower shop this weekend to help them out for Valentine's Day!  Good luck jumping back into the thorn infested VD pool, baby girl!

Also, five minutes before I started to write this I busted a little handmade favorite double cat action going on on the couch.

Handmade Favorites #3: Graduation Quilt made by Laura

My breast friend Laura made me this awesome photo quilt for a graduation present!



I really should have ironed it better, but I didn't feel like getting forceful with it.  I'm having a busy day.



As far as I remember, Laura made this with the help of our very favorite English teacher Darth Bater, who is not only a teacher, but a quilter, weaver, sheep lover extraordinaire, etc.



I was totally surprised to receive this awesome quilt of friendship and love.  She had asked me for some pictures, and I was expecting a scrapbook, which our friend Liz was a total badass at creating.  I got her a pink sapphire ring because she was hankering for a flashy jewel!

I'm heading to Vegas this weekend to meet Laura and her sisters!  I'll be back next week kids.

Handmade Favorites #2: Box Made of Pine (from New Zealand)

My dad made my sister and I these pretty pine boxes for Christmas in 2004. No, I did not just remember that off the top of my head. He was so nice as to include this clue for me:





This box is pretty fancy. I think I recall him spending a whole bunch of time making these perfect! I'm sure he'll relate more of the story on facebook after I post this. It had a pretty blue moonstone pendant in it, which is still one of my favorite necklaces. I get tons of compliments on it. In some new Scooby Doo movie, Velma finds a moonstone on the beach and turns into a witch, so Felix gets a little nervous when I wear it.



It currently contains a bunch of movie tickets from the same year I received it, a receipt for our favorite cheap place to stay in Paris, and a letter Laura wrote after I told her I was working on my hugest creation project ever (Felix!).

I'm making a place on my dresser for all my jewels, and I think I'll use this box to house some of them. Funny how I didn't wear much jewelry for a long time and now I have an exploding collection of it. I picked up the jewelry box underneath it for a song at the thrift store.

Anyway, thanks to my Dad for the glorious pine box made of wood from New Zealand! I'm pretty sure I inherited my craftiness from him.

Handmade Favorites #1: Granny Square Afghan

It occurred to me recently that I have several handmade items in my home made by friends and family. I'm going to try to feature one of these items once a week. Enjoy!

My grandma Donna's mom great-grandma Cora made my sister and I each a pretty granny square afghan when we were young. The only way to tell them apart was by their borders. Mine is pink and red and Andrea's is green (I think!).



It appears to me that she was finishing tiny balls of yarn on these beauties. Can you imagine weaving in all those ends? Yikes! Grandma Cora also knit pretty cotton dishcloths, later inspiring me to do the same! I crocheted mine though, knitting isn't quite as forgiving as crochet.

I've loved this blanket for years. I was most likely at an age where a blanket would be a somewhat unexciting present, but it spent many winters piled on my bed. It has found it's way to Felix's bed, a guest bed, my bed (as an adult), and currently resides on the couch, where it can be used as both a cat bed and a lap warmer. It has also been used for blanket forts and a colorful cape (All hail king of the granny square!). I think it could use a repair or two from such heavy use.

We love it with all our hearts in that special way that you love things you use everyday. Grandma Cora isn't with us anymore, but I remember her dearly when my granny square afghan is keeping me warm!



This afghan is also good for impressing your fancy, poodle scarf wearing guests.

What's your favorite handmade item in your home?