Everything but nunchuck skills

I have grown tired of answering with a simple and lonely "reading" to the common question, "So what are your hobbies? What do you do all day?" (I can no longer say running and the answer "compulsive cleaning" doesn't exactly paint me as the non-crazy person people would like to get to know.)

So, I decided to tap into my family's extensive bank of creative knowledge and learn new skills. All of these skills, of course, require membership into the JoAnn's or Michael's clubs.

One of my new favorites is to crochet around the edge of baby blankets or burp rags. My mother and sister Diana taught me this skill.



Of course, I did the burp cloth to the left and Diana, who has a far better hand at this skill, did the blanket to the right.

The greatest family talent of all? Sewing. My mother (greatest seamstress on Earth) and all of my sisters have this talent ... I on the other hand was not patient enough to learn. Until yesterday. Being the magnanimous soul that she is, my sister Julia sat me down and taught me the fundamentals. With a tiny bit of help on my end, she and I made this blanket yesterday for Jane:

Is that not the cutest thing you've ever seen? You really need to see it IRL. It has the soft cuddly fabric on the back. (I sewed the parts that didn't need a steady and experienced hand ... Julia did all the cool stuff.)

So now I'm off to borrow one of my Mom's four sewing machines and practice. If I have half the talent that my genetics would suggest, then I should be able to piece together a dress or two for the baby.