:: Looking Forward ::
August 12, 2009 at 12:25 pm | In When I Create... | 4 CommentsAs I am getting back in the groove around here, I am also learning to prepare ahead, to the season coming up. There are many things in the works around here to plan for the colder season. You’ll get a sneak peak of a few over the next few days.
The very first of the winter-wear for the season:
Adelai’s Winter Hat
I did this with no pattern (because I couldn’t find what I wanted) and it turned out okay. I pretty much just measured his head and did a swatch until I got it right and then knit until it fit over his head the way I wanted it too.
I put a double ribbed stitch at the beginning and the end and then folded them over and weaved them together. The one thing I would have done differently is.. well, not been so anxious about it. I couldn’t find my darning needle so instead I crocheted the sides together. It looks fine but I should have held out until I could get out to buy a new needle. But I didn’t.
Working with my hands has become something so natural. I feel strange sitting anywhere for any length of time without a project of some sort in hand. I have been crocheting for a few years now and love it. Knitting is something I’ve wanted to do but it just felt so much harder than crocheting… all that blocking, and swatching, and gauging… but after this post I really dug in my heels and sought people out who would watch and correct. I have come a long way since that post. My plans are that it will pay off this winter. But the truth is that every time I sit down to knit, I breathe a little deeper, listen to what’s around me, slow down my mind and relax. It really is one of the healthiest things for me (since I tend to be a little high-strung. 
). How do you prepare for a new season? Is there a craft or hobby that helps you relax? I love to hear the way others do things!
Hope there’s a happy Wednesday in your future!
Crochet Goodness!
July 9, 2009 at 2:33 pm | In When I Create... | 4 CommentsBailey has found her new favorite spot in the house.
This is my rug I mentioned here. I had so much fun working on this. I used the tutorial from this fabulous lady, bought sheets from goodwill at $1.50 a piece and went to work. It is a double crochet stitch with a really big crochet needle. What you see is three different sheets. I’m going to keep working on it in my free-time (what free-time!?!?) and make it pretty big. I think it would also be pretty easy to make it a rectangle instead of a circle. This is a great ongoing project, super easy and a super inexpensive homemade rug! Let me know if you do this!
Getting Creative with Flashcards!
June 17, 2009 at 3:23 pm | In Ramblings, When I Create... | 2 Comments
These are a great alternative to those boring flashcards you buy at the store. Scarlet had so much fun making them and now we look at them every day. You could do this with older kiddos for their times tables or anything that needs reciting.
Here’s what you’ll need:
:: pastel chalks (you can buy at any craft store and they’re great to have around)
:: white card stock
:: special pastel eraser (Scarlet liked rubbing with her fingers and it wipes of easily)
:: Hairspray
:: scissors
1. Take the scissors and cut your 8×10 cardstock into four cards. We folded to one side and then folded each one again and then cut.
2. Use your pastels like crayons and you or your child can color the background first and then add the detail overtop.
3. This is when I gave it to Scarlet to rub. She likes to watch the colors swirl and blend together. She would switch between the eraser and her finger. I think she felt like she had more control with her finger. I helped her a good bit so that it didn’t end up smearing the letter completely away.
4. After you get the picture exactly the way you want it you can hold it an arms length away from your hairspray and spray. Coat the whole picture evenly and let sit until dry. (if you get it too close your picture will run) This puts a slick surface on the card so that the picture is set and won’t smudge.
Have fun with this! This is a great way to get a little creative and add some color to your teaching.
~ A Girl After My Own Heart ~
June 16, 2009 at 2:53 pm | In Sring, When I Create... | Leave a Comment
Scarlet loves our many trips to the fabric store. She’s gotten quite used to jumping out of the car and into a cart. Adelai usually goes into the sling and off we go. We browse every aisle like we’ve never seen it before. The above picture is typically what Scarlet looks like before we leave.
Yes, we share this love for pretty colored fabric and we both touch it all and love all the different textures. She sits with me at the sewing machine and pulls the pins out as we go. She is always happy to try stuff on and spin circles for me. Yes, she is certainly my girl.
Mr. Nobody did it!
June 12, 2009 at 1:31 pm | In When I Create... | 1 CommentTags: motherhood, sewing
I feel as though there is some little elf that runs around stealing all things having to do with my camera. Mama used to say his name is Mr. Nobody. He is the guy who is responsible for all those things you KNOW you set in this exact spot and all of the sudden they have vanished from the earth. This time he has stolen my camera charger and refuses to return it. And of course there is no store that sells them in this area. So, I have two choices: 1) search until I am so very upset at Mr. Nobody that I could throw something at him. (But he never shows his face) 2) Spend the extra cash on a new charger. (oh I hate to do that when I KNOW that it was just here). Until I decide what to do I have been using Gran’s camera on her phone whenever we’re with her. So these were taken in her yard a few days ago.
The past few weeks my days have all looked the same. Something like this:
Wake up. Nurse. Breakfast. Clean. Nurse. Try to get out of the house for a bit. Lunch. Naptime for Scarlet while I… Nurse. Cut fabric and prepare pattern while bouncing baby in sling. Nurse. Cook dinner. Bounce baby while eating dinner. Daddy and Scarlet time while me and Adi sew. Nurse. Put Scarlet to bed. SEW SEW SEW. Nurse. Sleep.
Yes, my sewing schedule is VERY flexible but I seem to be getting stuff done. Such as: (since I seem to be the queen of lists today… yet another)
:: mastered making wool soakers for the babe
:: found a skirt pattern that is perfect for me. Now I’ve gone “skirting-making crazy”
:: my first stuffed animal is in the works!
:: between me and Grans urges to sew Scarlet has a whole summer wardrobe.
:: have a small surprise I’m working on. It might just be the first item I put up to sell!! We’ll see!
I feel like I dream about, think about, talk about sewing constantly. I am LOVING having two babes! But I have found the perfect way to clear my head and turn my focus from the babies for just a sweet small piece of time. (that is, when they let me )
Hopefully there will be pictures of some projects to come. I still have to post from Easter huh… oops.
A few of my favorite things…
April 8, 2009 at 2:24 pm | In Sring, When I Create... | 1 CommentTags: crafting, homemade play-doh, montessori learning
What’s going on around here? Well see, lots and lots of crafting. Spring just seems to be the crafty season, or maybe it’s because this gigantic belly doesn’t allow much getting out. As I am busy with making this and that (a post about my super cool crocheted rug is on it’s way!) the girls have found new ways of keeping busy themselves.
Homemade Play-Doh! This was quick to whip up and they loved the bright colors.
Coloring Veggies. Scarlet has started to sit still for quite a while to focus on coloring. These veggies got cut out and used in other artwork they were working on. Since this picture we’ve invested in a VeggieTales coloring book. They LOVE VeggieTales!
Bean Pouring! This has quickly become Scarlet’s favorite thing to do. Macky is typically busy washing dishes (her new favorite thing to do), which really is pouring water instead of beans. Scarlet reaches for them at least a few times a day and sits for almost an hour each time and pours beans from one place to another. She concentrates very hard on not spilling them.
This is just a few things going on around here in the midst of getting ready for Easter, getting ready for a new baby, cooking and freezing for after the baby arrives… and the list goes on. Creating and watching these babes create is such an amazing way for me to keep my cool in the middle of everything else going on around us.
Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Passing the Time
April 7, 2009 at 2:52 pm | In When I Create... | Leave a CommentTags: pregnancy, sewing
It is official. I have 3 weeks left. If I have the baby anytime after 3 weeks then I will be able to stay at the Birth Center and not be transfered to the hospital. That is something big enough to celebrate! It also has caused a little anticipation about having a new baby join our family. I am trying my best to stay calm and patient. What better way to stay calm than to sew!
These are Scarlet’s new pants from Amanda Soule’s pattern in The Creative Family. Instead of using a T-shirt, like she did, I used a pretty blue linen I found in the remnants pile at JoAnns. The trim was done with some fabric I just had lying around. This is the first pair of pants I’ve ever made. I am super happy with them. She will probably end up with many more pairs. The linen is perfect for the hot weather coming up.
This skirt I threw together last night. Believe it or not, I had a more difficult time with this than I did the pants. I got this from Oliver + S Lazy Days Skirt Pattern, free on their blog. The fabric was taken from my pile of extra fabric, mostly found in the remnant piles, my favorite place in any fabric store. I love the end result, but there were a few times I had to walk away and come back with some chocolate milk in my tummy.
There has been some other sewing projects going on around here for Easter. It’s become a combined effort between me, Gran, and Grandma. Cant wait to show you pictures of Easter!
Nesting for life…
January 11, 2009 at 7:50 am | In Baby News, When I Create... | 1 CommentTags: baby, crafting, nesting, pregnancy
So, I read this article in one of the back issues of Martha Stewart Baby. (Super cool baby ideas -btw) It was about pregnant women that start “nesting” and never really stop. It said that a lot of women before getting pregnant never really cared about handmade items for their baby. But statistics of women becoming crafty during their pregnancy is astounding. This is super interesting to me. I have watched this happen so many times. I think it is the neatest part of the process of becoming a mother. It is the sweetest thing to a new mother to be gifted with handmade gifts. Creating something completely unique for your sweet baby, that is made straight from your heart, is one of the greatest thrills of motherhood. I remember crocheting Scarlet’s first blanket. I would sit in the rocking chair in her room and watch my hands move while wondering what she would look like, or how it would feel next to her skin. Then, when she was born, it was one of the first things she was wrapped in. It’s an amazing feeling to see your new babe wrapped in something “momma-made.”
Today has been lots of moving, unpacking, and organizing baby goodies. I am moving right into the nesting phase. But as I read this article and looked back over my time since becoming a mother, I have realized that “nesting” has never really stopped. I am constantly creating something, organizing another thing, making this better or that easier. Really that is how I live and it came with Scarlet, who made me a mother. Every handmade gift is cherished. She gets surrounded with as much “momma-made” stuff as possible. I have begun to work harder at being sure this baby gets the same wonderful treatment. Today I bought a beautiful new (well – thrifted – new to me) blue quilt from Suzy’s. (Oh, someday there should be a whole post about Suzanna’s Antiques. Super amazing place.) It fits perfectly on Scarlet’s bed. It was exactly what was missing in her room. Believe it or not, it was on the”before the baby comes” list. Actually, many of the things on the list have more to do with her than the baby. All in all, by the time we have a new life there will also be a beautifully organized home. That is the plan.
So, for all your pregos out there (and there are quite a few), don’t be afraid to spend this sweet time (time that you’ll never get back – might I add) to learn something new. Create. Ask for handmade love for your baby. You might just be surprised how much it means to you when the time comes to adorn your most precious baby in “momma-made” goodies. Get to nesting!
Could life get any crazier???
May 21, 2008 at 7:54 am | In Ramblings, When I Create... | 4 CommentsWell, first off… I have to say that I adore my sweet little family…
Life is awesome. So awesome, in fact, that I needed a break. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
First there was band practice for this girls conference thingy…
(my sweet niece, Kayla will be leading a song with Joseph!)
Then, we spent Saturday morning at the Farmer’s Market…
(I got me some goodies!)
And Saturday night some very close friends of ours got hitched!
Congrats Larry and Bev!
And now for the best of all (to me anyways)…
Today I got so very tired of running around like a crazy person that I decided (in the middle of laundry and dishes, dinner and well… bedtime) that I was taking off to spend a couple of HOURS in the fabric store and make some of the things I have been dreaming of making for a long time. I know you think I am the silliest thing, but when I dream of anything… its always making things. Weird, I know. Most people dream of BUYING things, for some reason I dream of being able to get everything in its rawest form and creating it myself. Anyways, on to what I made…
New Bib and Dress for Scarlet!
New bag for ME!!!
I learned something from Joseph tonight. I absolutely LOVE handmade things because they are someone’s hard work. Someone put their whole heart into something just for me. I love to hand make things for Scarlet because I know that I put my heart into it. She has something that no one else in this world can get. I realized tonight that when I see someone else’s work and it isn’t perfect I have always thought it gives it character. But when I mess up I fall apart because it isn’t perfect. The point in it being handmade is so that it isn’t perfectly done. The things I made tonight have many small mistakes, ones that I learned from. From now on I want to be able to look at what I make and see my mistakes and be okay because I know that someday I will have a collection of stuff that has progressively gotten better through the years. I will look at these things and see how I have grown.
Sorry if you are one of those people that really loves me but doesn’t get me and my weirdness… this is just three a.m. rambling. You’ve heard how you shouldn’t drunk dial? Well, maybe I shouldn’t deliriously blog either…
A Book For Me!
April 4, 2008 at 3:39 pm | In When I Create... | 2 CommentsTags: blogs, books, children, crafts
Yesterday I finally got out of the house to pick up Amanda Soule’s newly released, “The Creative Family.” It is by far the best book I have ever seen on the subject.
I always thought that I had the weirdest ideas about what being a parent and a family means. Amanda is the only person that I have been able to understand and the way she is a parent to her children. I immediately connected with ‘the why’ in the way she does things. She believes in raising children to understand how to use their imagination. So many toys now do all of the thinking and all of the creativity themselves. It’s amazing to me how many children would rather play with the box the toy came in instead of the toy itself. My heart is to teach all the children that come into my home how to love life, live an adventure, and thank God for all that we have. I have seen so many children (I was one of them) who have forgotten or never knew how precious life is, how fun life can be, and how God created it all and wants His children to be grateful.
In her book, Amanda lays out different ideas about how to become a creative family. How to teach yourself creativity or, for myself, pull it back up from my past. All children are born with the most amazing imagination and creativity. Most of them, along the way, trade it in for wanting to be just like the others in their class instead of embracing the unique ideas God gave them. My goal is to raise mine to be all that they can be and all that God wants them to be. At this point, this book is my manual for doing so.
This morning Scarlet sat in her basket (a Grandma idea, apparently I spent a lot of my learning how to sit up in a basket) and I worked on a project for Macky to start on Monday. I decided we will learn the basics of sewing. My book gave me this wonderful way to teach her.
I made pictures out of cardboard and punched holes in them. Macky will use yarn and a blunt-tip tapestry needle to work these. I will let you know how it goes!
Happy Friday!
Sponsors
Bookshelf:
-
Flickr Photos
More Photos -
share this blog
Blog at WordPress.com. | Theme: Pool by Borja Fernandez.
Entries and comments feeds.
