Hopefully no more slipping

A few months ago I got myself a real scare when I suddenly slipped on one of the steps in our stair case. Then and there I decided that I would mount anti slip tape on each step. The only challenge was to get a hold of transparent anti slip tape here in Norway. I looked far and wide with no luck…after finding and not being able to get it shipped to Norway I gave up looking for transparent tape.
I got a hold of some black anti slip tape…but just wouldn’t get myself to mount it. It would just show too much on our pine colored stairs.
But to my surprise I came over transparent anti slip tape @Biltema while looking for something else! Yay, I quickly bought myself 5 rolls…they came in 3 meter rolls. Today I gave the staircase a once over with soap and water before adhering the tape.

before	after (the tape is very discrete, just the flash reflecting a lot)

Now I ‘m hoping for days ahead with no slipping…

BabyS seems to be very happy with the finished result

- have you ever slipped on your stairs?
- how do you prevent slipping accidents?

In a galaxy not so far, far away…

An evening not so long ago I saw one of the Star Wars movies (The Empire Strikes Back for those of you wondering). On one of my surfs around the web I was inspired to do a Star Wars themed baby gift for one of my expecting friends…as the babys father is a huge  Star Wars fan….

Today I got the SMS that their little trooper had arrived…and tonight I finished her gift, a Storm pooper beanie..

In the lack of a small head teddy bear Gunnar had to model the beanie for a picture…

Happy Birthday to baby Isolde!

The beanie was super easy, pattern from Garnstudio here.
The text I put together using a knitting alpha I found online, here.

Poor Gunnar looks a little tired…but not shabby for a 30 year old teddy. He was actually DaddyOs teddy when he was a kid…

- have you combined simple knitting patterns to make a great product?
- have your old teddies survived the wear and tear over the years?

Talk about knitting

As I mentioned in an earlier post….baby blankets for all my friends who have given birth lately. A few have still yet to be given their rightful owners…but I thought I would post these pictures while BabyS was sleeping and I don’t forget…

The pattern	The result
I used my favorite blanket pattern by Pickles http://www.pickles.no/p-veg-helseteppe/ Knitted in Babyull by Viking
I wanted to make a stars and stripes blanket, but couldn’t find a pattern. As I couldn’t decide which color I wanted as the main color I wound up making this one a reversible on, like the one I made for BabyS. Also knitted in Babyull by Viking
I’ve wanted to try out the pattern for Mor Signe blankets – knitted diagonally in stead of strait up… While surfing, I came across this beautiful blanket. Knitted in Ullteppegarn by Gjestal.
And my latest creation, a simple blanket for sweet baby Maja. This is a reinvented version of Garnstudios pattern Bundle of joy. Instead of the blackberry pattern I stayed to plain garter stich (I think it’s called) To make the name part, I found a cool font on my computer, typed up the name and saved it as a picture. I then converted the picture into a pattern with knitPro – this is a super online tool! Makes a pattern from most pictures. Don’t remember who tipped me, but thank you!

Hope the newly made families appreciate the blanket they receive. After making so many blankets the past few months I’m taking a break from my blanket producing days. For some reason I tried out the game Candy Crush Saga and I’m totally hooked!

- have you knitted any blankets lately?
- which model is your favorite?

So off to get me some Candy Crush….

Phew…

Sorry for my absense latetly. Last weekend BabyS turned one year old. According to Chinese customs it needs to be celebrated, big time.

The last two weeks before the big day were spent om planning and organizing. With a control freak like me, nothing was left to chance. With my latent fear of not having enough food, large amounts of food were bought.

At the last minute I had decided to make tapas for BabyS celebration. Which in the beginning sounded like a good idea. I could make much of it advance and if the guests had any preferences they could just eat more of what they liked. With the big family dag being on Saturday I had my hands full on Friday with chopping and wrapping and frying and baking and so on…shortly put, I might have bitten a little more than I could chew…When I went to bed at midnight I was about halfway.

Despite a stressful morning at CasaR the celebration went of without a hitch. I just totally spaced and forgot to take a picture of the finished food…and the cakes. Have asked DaddyO to make a mental note, remember to take more pictures! Sorry BabyS, MommyS totally spaced….but you and everybody did enjoy yourself!

Some of my friends wondered about the food that was served, so here is a recap…

Tapas:
Foccacia (receipe here, thanx Gunhild for the link), I made mine without olives or sundried tomatoes
Baconwraped dates, note to self: use a whole slice of bacon instead of half a slice as many recommend
Pork nuggets
Chicken nuggets
Mozzarella with cherry tomatoes
BBQ chicken wings
Oven roasted potatoes, with tex mex herbs
Feta cheese
Garlic and chilli marinated scampi, plain and simple – marinated overnight
Bratwurst, barbequed
Knackwurst, barbequed
Fried rice ^w/chicken, my safe bet for children attending (thank you mummy for the help with this one)

Dessert:
Minipavlova, with cream, custard and all the strawberries, blueberries and raspberries you could eat
Pandan chiffon cake (see my earlier tries here)
Chocolate swiss role
Fruit screwers with marshmellows

Hmmm while writing this post it sound so little, compared to the work I put in…

The second celebration day for out little BabyS we added sushi and cupcakes to the menu.

Thank you friends and family for making BabyS one year birthday a wonderful experience. Love you all!

- bitten of more than you can chew lately?
- does your family have any traditions when it comes to babys’ first birthday?