I had already crocheted these three characters before, but it had been a long time. In fact, Jake was one of the first things I ever crocheted. I realized a few weeks after I had finished that first Jake that I had crocheted the whole thing inside out! I made a Finn counterpart for Ben’s birthday one year, but wasn’t entirely satisfied with how he turned out either, so I was a little nervous about how I was going to improve upon both designs.

I was also incredibly nervous about our trip back to Florida. It was just me and the kids on the long flight there and back and I knew there would be a lot of scheduling and organizing upon our arrival as we wanted to see as many people as possible while we were there. I also knew there would be a lot of conflicting emotions and that it might be especially difficult for my son Jhonen who definitely misses his friends and family and the familiarity that comes with calling a place home for your entire life.

As usual, I didn’t really need to be nervous. The flight there went amazingly well. We enjoyed lots of Disney time, pool time, and family/friend time. We wore lots of sundresses, sunhats, and flip-flops. We rode horses, built sandcastles, posed for photos with Alice in Wonderland, and, lazed in a lazy river. We had so much fun spending time with the people we’ve missed for months, though I noticed Jhonen excitedly talking about his new California house and friends, too.

When we weren’t out on our adventures, I was crocheting these new Adventure Time buddies:      It was hard to say our “until next times” to Florida, but we are happy to be back in California, a place that really is starting to feel like home. And just as we were settling back in on the West Coast, I had to ship my new and improved Finn, Jake, and Lumpy Space Princess right back East.

It was hard to say goodbye to them, too…though I hear they love their new home. And starting next week, Finn and Jake will join Lumpy Space Princess in my shop. Hopefully these guy’s counterparts are going to have tons of adventures with wonderful new people…from coast to coast.

Now that you’ve been properly introduced to Chub Cat, I’m going to say goodbye for about two weeks. We’re headed to Florida to visit family and friends. Although super nervous about the plane ride with the kids by myself, I’m looking forward to alone time by the pool while the kids get grandparent-spoiled, a visit with Mickey Mouse who I have dearly missed, and a mango vanilla swirl Jeremiah’s Italian Ice.

Expect more from Happy Handmade Headquarters in June!

Brody, the kids, and I went to Crown Memorial State Beach recently. Being a Florida girl, it feels pretty weird to wear closed-toed shoes and sweatshirts to the beach, but there’s something charming about it, too. The kids got filthy, Brody enjoyed watching the parasurfers, and I took lots of pictures. We loved it.

       In case you were wondering, under that volleyball net is the San Francisco skyline…something else I may never get used to. It still delights and surprises me every time I see it.

Brody flew across the country to Florida to check out Jacksonville’s warm waves. The kids and I will be headed that direction soon, too, on our first trip back since we moved. I look forward to digging my feet into that familiar, soft, white, Florida sand after kicking off a pair of flip-flops…but for those two weeks I’ll miss the California rocks and those misty, curving Bay area hills.

Standing at an adorable three inches tall and nearly four inches long, this sturdy, yet squishy feline would love nothing more than a pat on the head from you…and maybe an eclair.

She is new Happy Handmade buddy number 31 in my Etsy shop! Oh, and if you’d like a different colored kitty, let me know!

“It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important.” -Antoine de Saint-exupery, The Little Prince

 Photos taken at the Berkeley Rose Garden

Ms. Sheep is now available in my Etsy shop along with nearly 30 other Happy Handmade buddies…and more on the way including a little white cat and a very smiley lion!

I rode in pony shows as early as two year’s old and, every Thanksgiving, took part in the Turkey Trot riding my Grandma’s beautiful spotted pony, Windsong. My family didn’t have the money or the energy for our own horse and we lived too far from my Grandma Pony’s house to ride in shows more than a few times a year. In middle school I took horse-back riding lessons and it was there that I met Sally the Palomino…the sweetest, most beautiful horse I had ever met. And she was for sale.

I had never wanted something so badly, even though I knew what a HUGE financial responsibility and personal commitment it would take for me to have her. I begged for her even though I knew I shouldn’t. She was just so….perfect!

I remember my Mom telling me that it broke my Dad’s heart that he couldn’t buy Sally for me. That it wasn’t even the cost of the horse, itself, but keeping her fed and healthy and boarded at a barn for the rest of her life. I remember feeling very guilty for begging and also crushed that I couldn’t have her.

It was only a year or two later that I stopped taking riding lessons altogether. I was busy with piano and flute and babysitting and homework…I think about that decision sometimes. What if we had bought Sally? Looking back now, the decision not to buy her was a more meaningful decision than I had ever realized at the time. I think, in many ways, the entire course of my life would have been completely different if we’d purchased that palomino.

Now, in a crazy circular life event, I find myself crocheting a palomino for a brand new member of my extended family, baby Jordan, (I’m going to have to think hard for a while to figure out how we’re related). I used to visit baby Jordan’s family with my Grandma Pony for family reunions and I remember being so intrigued by baby Jordan’s mother with the beautiful blonde curly hair, who wrote country songs and had her own horses…including her own palomino. And soon Baby Jordan will have this crocheted palomino that is supposed to be based on her family’s palomino…but, to me, will always be Sally, the palomino I never had.

I love how this Sally turned out – exactly how I hoped she would and I had fun painting her little barn that is based on one of my favorite places here in Oakland, Tilden’s Little Farm.

Sometimes your parents have to tell you no so you can get (or, in my case, make) the palomino you’re supposed to get…even if it’s not the one you want at the time.

I’ll have more new Happy Handmade buddies to introduce you to very soon, including a palomino and a sheep!

But until then…