Saturday, January 19, 2008
gifts for little girls we love
My little friend Sydney turned five years old today. Sydney is bold, beautiful, full of ideas and enthusiasm and she loves to offer my (very shy and unwilling) son ample hugs and kisses.
Sydney LOVES the color red (which illustrates her very good taste). To help her celebrate I made her this little handbag. The fabric for the body and lining came from the beautiful little fabric store in Taos. Someday, I'll use more of it to make napkins. The straps were made from some gorgeous golden yellow fabric that I bought in Paris years ago.
"See mommy, I'm thinking about Edie."
For Christmas, he wanted to make her gift himself. We began a friendship bracelet, but it quickly became clear that I would be driven insane by all the mind-numbing knots and hopelessly tangled embroidery floss. I didn't want his memory of the project to be of me losing my mind and destroying the tangled, beloved friendship bracelet in a fit of rage.
Instead we turned to the trusty potholder loom, for which he showed a particular affinity when he was four. He wanted to make potholders for everyone he knew. I remembered seeing a great feature in a Martha Stewart magazine years ago, in which she used her potholder loom with yarn to make sweet little squarish objects. We watched a great tutorial video by Noreen Crone-Findlay, here to learn how to warp our loom and weave. Don't you love the internet?
And the boy was off! It does my heart so much good to see him finding satisfaction in things he can do with his hands. I helped with some of the stitching around the little purse, but it was entirely woven by him and he was very proud. The lovely yarn he chose from my stash, was some of Scout's superwash worsted in the color Orchids.
Wonderful things can happen when a boy loves a girl.
Sydney
My little friend Sydney turned five years old today. Sydney is bold, beautiful, full of ideas and enthusiasm and she loves to offer my (very shy and unwilling) son ample hugs and kisses.
Sydney LOVES the color red (which illustrates her very good taste). To help her celebrate I made her this little handbag. The fabric for the body and lining came from the beautiful little fabric store in Taos. Someday, I'll use more of it to make napkins. The straps were made from some gorgeous golden yellow fabric that I bought in Paris years ago.
Edie
My big boy is in love with a little girl named Edie. Today he drew a picture of himself with a thought bubble above the drawing of his head and inside the thought bubble was Edie.
"See mommy, I'm thinking about Edie."
For Christmas, he wanted to make her gift himself. We began a friendship bracelet, but it quickly became clear that I would be driven insane by all the mind-numbing knots and hopelessly tangled embroidery floss. I didn't want his memory of the project to be of me losing my mind and destroying the tangled, beloved friendship bracelet in a fit of rage.
Instead we turned to the trusty potholder loom, for which he showed a particular affinity when he was four. He wanted to make potholders for everyone he knew. I remembered seeing a great feature in a Martha Stewart magazine years ago, in which she used her potholder loom with yarn to make sweet little squarish objects. We watched a great tutorial video by Noreen Crone-Findlay, here to learn how to warp our loom and weave. Don't you love the internet?
And the boy was off! It does my heart so much good to see him finding satisfaction in things he can do with his hands. I helped with some of the stitching around the little purse, but it was entirely woven by him and he was very proud. The lovely yarn he chose from my stash, was some of Scout's superwash worsted in the color Orchids.
Wonderful things can happen when a boy loves a girl.
Labels: crafty kiddos, sewing
¶ 8:35 PM 5 comments
Sunday, January 06, 2008
some cute
As I mentioned in my last post, this Christmas season was filled with gift-making at my house. I cannot really express how much I enjoyed this. It was satisfying in a way that shopping just isn't.
I liked doing it so much that I fear I'm losing sight of the fact that the people in my life might not actually want handmade gifts. Perhaps there are people who secretly roll their eyes and think, "Oh lord, Molly is making things again, what is it this time? A hand-felted oven mitt?. Perfect. Just what I was hoping for."
I myself, would love to get a hand-felted oven mitt, but for some people handmade gifts of this nature have too much in common with macramé plant hangers or Christmas wreaths made entirely of wine corks.
In any case, I figure nobody is ever going to tell me that they hate getting handcrafted gifts (unless they get really drunk before opening gifts), so I'm free to please myself and continue making them.
This post is devoted to three crazy-adorable things I made this year.
Beware, the cute is strong.
These slippers were a Christmas surprise for my little boy, who refuses to wear socks and is always complaining that his feet are cold. I made them with gorgeous, super-thick handmade wool felt that I bought from A Child's Dream Come True.
They are lined with charcoal gray cashmere that I felted from an old sweater. I figured the shape out, and created the pattern. The ears and eyes were a last-minute inspiration and were sewn in place at 4:30 am on Christmas morning. Ouch.
Now that they are done, I wish I had just googled felt slippers and found a pattern online. Had I done that, I might have some slippers that were cute AND actually stayed on the boy's feet.
Aw well, at least they are cute.
I plan to improve their functionality by sewing the wrists from the same gray sweater into them, thus turning them into little boots. I hope it works.
I made this little bunny for my sweet friend Skyler. It was outfitted with a little loop at the top and meant to hang from her Christmas tree, as this was Skyler's first Christmas. I also sewed alphabet beads in Skyler's name on the bunny's rear.
Skyler's bunny was inspired by a pattern of a little bear by Lynn at Molly Chicken (You want to talk about cute. Holy freaking cow. You will find so much cute on her blog, your heart swell many times its size inside your chest. seriously.)
She is incidentally, also the genius behind the mousies and their beds which we made a few months back and have been enjoyed so much around here.
And finally, meet Gillian Bear. She is also a Christmas tree ornament and (surprise) was made for little Gillian. I used the wonderful book The Knitted Teddy Bear by Sandra Polley and the pattern for Molly, Toby, and Jake. Parts of this little bear were a bit tedious to make, especially because she is so little (about 3.5" sitting), but the results were adorable and I love that the arms and legs are movable and the sweater can be taken off.
Had it been a bear for me, I would have chosen different colors, but this particular 4 year old girl is very fond of pink and purple. My big boy chose the buttons. I think they are perfect.
Too much cute can overwhelm a person, so I'll stop there. Until next time.
¶ 7:49 PM 3 comments
As I mentioned in my last post, this Christmas season was filled with gift-making at my house. I cannot really express how much I enjoyed this. It was satisfying in a way that shopping just isn't.
I liked doing it so much that I fear I'm losing sight of the fact that the people in my life might not actually want handmade gifts. Perhaps there are people who secretly roll their eyes and think, "Oh lord, Molly is making things again, what is it this time? A hand-felted oven mitt?. Perfect. Just what I was hoping for."
I myself, would love to get a hand-felted oven mitt, but for some people handmade gifts of this nature have too much in common with macramé plant hangers or Christmas wreaths made entirely of wine corks.
In any case, I figure nobody is ever going to tell me that they hate getting handcrafted gifts (unless they get really drunk before opening gifts), so I'm free to please myself and continue making them.
This post is devoted to three crazy-adorable things I made this year.
Beware, the cute is strong.
These slippers were a Christmas surprise for my little boy, who refuses to wear socks and is always complaining that his feet are cold. I made them with gorgeous, super-thick handmade wool felt that I bought from A Child's Dream Come True.
They are lined with charcoal gray cashmere that I felted from an old sweater. I figured the shape out, and created the pattern. The ears and eyes were a last-minute inspiration and were sewn in place at 4:30 am on Christmas morning. Ouch.
Now that they are done, I wish I had just googled felt slippers and found a pattern online. Had I done that, I might have some slippers that were cute AND actually stayed on the boy's feet.
Aw well, at least they are cute.
I plan to improve their functionality by sewing the wrists from the same gray sweater into them, thus turning them into little boots. I hope it works.
I made this little bunny for my sweet friend Skyler. It was outfitted with a little loop at the top and meant to hang from her Christmas tree, as this was Skyler's first Christmas. I also sewed alphabet beads in Skyler's name on the bunny's rear.
Skyler's bunny was inspired by a pattern of a little bear by Lynn at Molly Chicken (You want to talk about cute. Holy freaking cow. You will find so much cute on her blog, your heart swell many times its size inside your chest. seriously.)
She is incidentally, also the genius behind the mousies and their beds which we made a few months back and have been enjoyed so much around here.
And finally, meet Gillian Bear. She is also a Christmas tree ornament and (surprise) was made for little Gillian. I used the wonderful book The Knitted Teddy Bear by Sandra Polley and the pattern for Molly, Toby, and Jake. Parts of this little bear were a bit tedious to make, especially because she is so little (about 3.5" sitting), but the results were adorable and I love that the arms and legs are movable and the sweater can be taken off.
Had it been a bear for me, I would have chosen different colors, but this particular 4 year old girl is very fond of pink and purple. My big boy chose the buttons. I think they are perfect.
Too much cute can overwhelm a person, so I'll stop there. Until next time.
¶ 7:49 PM 3 comments
Monday, November 19, 2007
The Paper Christmas Hat and Mr. Robot
We had a chaotic little trip to Hobby Lobby this morning. We were there to find Christmas hat essentials (feathery garland, sparkling baubles, tacky glue). This (as you can imagine) was entirely the big boy's idea. The inspiration was found in The Outrageously BIG Activity, Play and Project Book, but I must say that my little friend had far more spectacular results than those featured in the book.
We are feeling very Christmassy around here and I'm also recently inspired by adorable advent calendar ideas over at Kid's Craft Weekly. I subscribe to their lovely newsletter and I'm inspired by it on a regular basis.
Meet Mr. Robot. You may remember when we were inspired to bring him to life many eons ago. Finally, he is able to sit and relax on the sofa. He was entirely designed and cut by the big boy, who also sewed on many of the buttons. I was just the grunt. When we began making Mr. Robot, the little boy was just a baby and did not require one of his own. Now, it seems a glaring oversight that only one robot lives in our house. Luckily Mr. Robot is BIG and could conceivably be enjoyed by both boys at the same instant...(Yeah, right!).
Labels: paper crafts, sewing
¶ 4:12 PM 4 comments
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Mousies at our House
My big boy was looking over my shoulder yesterday as I drank my coffee and gazed at the computer. He spotted the adorable mice over at Pink Chalk Studio and an expression of wonderment filled his face.
"Can we make one of those for me and one for my brother?"
Well, in this house, you don't have to ask twice to make irresistible projects with the sewing machine. I had laundry to fold (A LOT of laundry), dishes to put away and litter boxes to clean, but I went immediately instead and pulled out the sewing machine.
There may be a day not too far in the future when they would both rather ride their bikes or play hockey than sit with mom and sew diminutive mousies.
The mousies were created using the original pattern and tutorial by Lynn over at Molly Chicken. I had admired them there before, but the Pink Chalk Studio version really put us over the edge.
The tiny pillow pictured above was the big boy's idea and was sewn entirely by him.
As I write this, both kids are playing elaborate, make-believe games with their mousies. These are definately on the list of great gifts for other kiddos too.
I've been in a toy-making mood ever since I came across this wonderful knitted toys blog.
Some toys I love:
The Sleepy Snake and Mischevious Mouse over at Mochimochi Land. Another great toy that inspires imaginative play. It's also an adorable little introduction to the harsh realities of wild animal behavior. It's like a soft, cuddly version of a Nature Channel special.
I've also been drawn to sweet, traditional toys. I recently bought The Knitted Teddy Bear and I would love to find time to knit my little boy an alpaca or cashmere bear for christmastime.
The list grows...
¶ 10:37 AM 5 comments
My big boy was looking over my shoulder yesterday as I drank my coffee and gazed at the computer. He spotted the adorable mice over at Pink Chalk Studio and an expression of wonderment filled his face.
"Can we make one of those for me and one for my brother?"
Well, in this house, you don't have to ask twice to make irresistible projects with the sewing machine. I had laundry to fold (A LOT of laundry), dishes to put away and litter boxes to clean, but I went immediately instead and pulled out the sewing machine.
There may be a day not too far in the future when they would both rather ride their bikes or play hockey than sit with mom and sew diminutive mousies.
The mousies were created using the original pattern and tutorial by Lynn over at Molly Chicken. I had admired them there before, but the Pink Chalk Studio version really put us over the edge.
The tiny pillow pictured above was the big boy's idea and was sewn entirely by him.
As I write this, both kids are playing elaborate, make-believe games with their mousies. These are definately on the list of great gifts for other kiddos too.
I've been in a toy-making mood ever since I came across this wonderful knitted toys blog.
Some toys I love:
The Sleepy Snake and Mischevious Mouse over at Mochimochi Land. Another great toy that inspires imaginative play. It's also an adorable little introduction to the harsh realities of wild animal behavior. It's like a soft, cuddly version of a Nature Channel special.
I've also been drawn to sweet, traditional toys. I recently bought The Knitted Teddy Bear and I would love to find time to knit my little boy an alpaca or cashmere bear for christmastime.
The list grows...
¶ 10:37 AM 5 comments
Monday, August 13, 2007
cutting the grass with scissors
This evening I watched my 5-year old son carefully cut the grass in our backyard with scissors, then gather it up and lay it, in little piles, on the sprawled cat. This is one of those moments recently when I wished that I had been ready with the camera.
This past weekend we went to Taos. Just the four of us, on a perfect family getaway. We stayed in a little casita with clean white linens, luminous plaster walls and a patio complete with kiva fireplace. We drank Spanish wine and gazed at millions of stars in the clear Taos sky. The best part: we saw no less than 6 shooting stars as we lay there in our loungers.
Vacation moments that filled me with regret over not having my camera:
I also bought several yards of fabric to use on kitchen projects and christmas gifts at A Common Thread, a stunning fabric store. I was inspired by Molly's Handmade Napkins on the purl bee, and I plan to make some of my own with these delicious fabrics. I'm mostly doing the project because I can't wait to get my hands on the bias tape maker! Have you ever heard of anything more wonderful?
My absence lately is turning this into the longest post ever. If you're still reading, here is your reward:
stay tuned for itty bitty sock news...coming soon.
This evening I watched my 5-year old son carefully cut the grass in our backyard with scissors, then gather it up and lay it, in little piles, on the sprawled cat. This is one of those moments recently when I wished that I had been ready with the camera.
This past weekend we went to Taos. Just the four of us, on a perfect family getaway. We stayed in a little casita with clean white linens, luminous plaster walls and a patio complete with kiva fireplace. We drank Spanish wine and gazed at millions of stars in the clear Taos sky. The best part: we saw no less than 6 shooting stars as we lay there in our loungers.
Vacation moments that filled me with regret over not having my camera:
- I bought both boys really cool sunglasses in Taos. The big boy wore his a lot and during a walk along a dirt road, my husband said that he looked exactly like the guitarist for Cheap Trick. This reference was meaningless to me (I have no idea what the guitarist for Cheap Trick looks like) but his comment made me stop and enjoy the odd details of my son's outfit. He wore a cap, cowboy boots, red shorts with racing stripes, his hand-drawn rocket ship t-shirt, and his new blue fish sunglasses.
- I knit a lot on the trip up--indeed, whenever we were in the car. I finished the last few stiches of my lacy malabrigo scarf just as we drove in and parked at the Rio Grande Gorge. It was windy, and I held my little boy close as we walked across the bridge that spans the 800-foot-deep crevasse. The view sneaks up on you--the ground suddenly and dramatically falling away from the plateau as you approach the bridge. My children were silent and wide-eyed. The effects of vertigo and whipping wind made it necessary to hold onto the railing. For warmth my little boy wore my just-finished scarf, and it made him look like a savvy, handsome, European traveler as the scarf billowed about his beautiful face. I wish I had a picture.
- In Taos we discovered Twirl. I was dazzled. Even better than the indulgent selection of perfectly chosen toys, is the fantastic setting. It was like the backyard garden of my childhood fantasies. The ones where I discover that I'm actually a magical princess with my own jewel-encrusted trunk full of elaborate gowns, secret glittery treehouses with real kid-sized pots and pans and morrocan-looking bathrooms decorated with murals of exotic pink and orange flowers. If you have children and you are in Taos, go there.
I also bought several yards of fabric to use on kitchen projects and christmas gifts at A Common Thread, a stunning fabric store. I was inspired by Molly's Handmade Napkins on the purl bee, and I plan to make some of my own with these delicious fabrics. I'm mostly doing the project because I can't wait to get my hands on the bias tape maker! Have you ever heard of anything more wonderful?
My absence lately is turning this into the longest post ever. If you're still reading, here is your reward:
stay tuned for itty bitty sock news...coming soon.
Labels: life in general, malabrigo scarf, sewing
¶ 8:57 PM 7 comments
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Puppets are Magic
My oldest son is thoughtful and contemplative and he can be reticent when it comes to responding to questions like, "What did you do today?" or "How are you feeling?"
That is, unless he's talking to Guissepe the puppet (who is a sausage-maker from Naples).
When Guiseppe, in classic stereotypical Italian accent, asks my son, "What-a you do-a today-a my friend?" my son's eyes light up and he becomes animated and chatty. He can hardly wait to tell the puppet about his favorite toys and the details of his day-to-day life, like what his Batman toothpaste tastes like, how much he loves "puffy" pancakes, and how hard it can be to have a baby brother. He'll even open up about fears and disappointments we'd have to pry out of him if it weren't for our Neapolitan friend.
For nosy, chatty parents like me, a reserved child presents a special challenge: I will do almost anything to hear what's on his mind. Thank God for Guiseppe and his puppet friends.
You may remember that the puppet theater has been on the list since late last year. I finally made the time to do it.
I ask you, is there anything funnier than a puppet show by a 4-year-old?
The Surplice Lace Top has been s..l..o..w to start. The hunt for the perfect yarn has been a bit silly. I ordered what I thought was the perfect yarn from Elann, but alas, I wasn't paying attention and it was aran instead of DK weight. My latest brainstorm: I am making a huge mess unraveling peek-a-boob so I can attempt to get gauge with the eggplant Euroflax linen. I'm hopeful. I do love that yarn and I long to see it in a sweater that is not a miserable failure. When I finish unraveling the massive knots, I'll let you know how it works.
Meanwhile, I was hunting around online yesterday and I happened upon this loveliness:
The Cable and Lace Kimono-Sleeve Wrap @ Sweaterbabe.
My oldest son is thoughtful and contemplative and he can be reticent when it comes to responding to questions like, "What did you do today?" or "How are you feeling?"
That is, unless he's talking to Guissepe the puppet (who is a sausage-maker from Naples).
When Guiseppe, in classic stereotypical Italian accent, asks my son, "What-a you do-a today-a my friend?" my son's eyes light up and he becomes animated and chatty. He can hardly wait to tell the puppet about his favorite toys and the details of his day-to-day life, like what his Batman toothpaste tastes like, how much he loves "puffy" pancakes, and how hard it can be to have a baby brother. He'll even open up about fears and disappointments we'd have to pry out of him if it weren't for our Neapolitan friend.
For nosy, chatty parents like me, a reserved child presents a special challenge: I will do almost anything to hear what's on his mind. Thank God for Guiseppe and his puppet friends.
You may remember that the puppet theater has been on the list since late last year. I finally made the time to do it.
I ask you, is there anything funnier than a puppet show by a 4-year-old?
The Surplice Lace Top has been s..l..o..w to start. The hunt for the perfect yarn has been a bit silly. I ordered what I thought was the perfect yarn from Elann, but alas, I wasn't paying attention and it was aran instead of DK weight. My latest brainstorm: I am making a huge mess unraveling peek-a-boob so I can attempt to get gauge with the eggplant Euroflax linen. I'm hopeful. I do love that yarn and I long to see it in a sweater that is not a miserable failure. When I finish unraveling the massive knots, I'll let you know how it works.
Meanwhile, I was hunting around online yesterday and I happened upon this loveliness:
The Cable and Lace Kimono-Sleeve Wrap @ Sweaterbabe.Don't worry, I remain devoted to the Surplice Lace Top, but it's hard to stay focused in the face of such a convoluted start...
Labels: little tiny surplice lace top KAL, puppet theater, sewing
¶ 8:04 AM 4 comments
Sunday, April 15, 2007
3 things I want
I want Babydews! Babydews are one-of-a-kind vintage fabric head scarves for infants and toddlers. Have you ever seen anything so cute?! They are the brilliant idea of my friend Chris, who is super-stylish and talented, and makes each one herself. The beautiful vintage fabrics make them so special and many are embellished with little embroidered details that make me swoon. If only I had a little girl in my house...
I want this gorgeous book by Lotta Jansdotter. I can't stop thinking about it.
I want aluminum tumblers. Can't you just see them all frosty cold and filled with fresh-squeezed lemonade (who am I kidding? Margaritas.) on a hot summer day? They sell these beauties at the Vermont Country Store (purveyors of the practical and hard to find - a favorite site of mine). Unfortunately, they are a bit pricey, but I've spotted some on ebay. I predict I'll be sipping from them soon.
My big kiddo has been outgrowing his undies, and I fear the invasion of Lightning McQueen underpants. This will make me sound like a snob, but I have aesthetic issues with Disney-branded clothing. I adored the Wonder Woman Underoos I had as a child, so I understand the appeal, but I'm hoping to preserve an innocent state of brand-free undergarments just a little bit longer.
We made little patches with permanent fabric markers and I attached them to his plain old Hanes boxer briefs. The tiger and big black bird were drawn by him. In addition to those pictured here, we made shark, monster truck, caterpiller & whale undies.
We had so much fun and he loves his undies.
Speaking of mommy/kiddo collaborations, yesterday we began a very ambitious and important robot project (watch for details) and in our search for ideas, we came across Lizette Greco and her kids who create all kinds of inspired and ADORABLE things based on their drawings. They reminded me of our underpants and they make me want to decorate my own wardrobe and everything in my house with drawings by my kids! If you haven't seen her site, you must go.
Another thing I want:
A nap, all alone on my couch in the middle of the afternoon.
I want Babydews! Babydews are one-of-a-kind vintage fabric head scarves for infants and toddlers. Have you ever seen anything so cute?! They are the brilliant idea of my friend Chris, who is super-stylish and talented, and makes each one herself. The beautiful vintage fabrics make them so special and many are embellished with little embroidered details that make me swoon. If only I had a little girl in my house... 
I want this gorgeous book by Lotta Jansdotter. I can't stop thinking about it.
I want aluminum tumblers. Can't you just see them all frosty cold and filled with fresh-squeezed lemonade (who am I kidding? Margaritas.) on a hot summer day? They sell these beauties at the Vermont Country Store (purveyors of the practical and hard to find - a favorite site of mine). Unfortunately, they are a bit pricey, but I've spotted some on ebay. I predict I'll be sipping from them soon.My big kiddo has been outgrowing his undies, and I fear the invasion of Lightning McQueen underpants. This will make me sound like a snob, but I have aesthetic issues with Disney-branded clothing. I adored the Wonder Woman Underoos I had as a child, so I understand the appeal, but I'm hoping to preserve an innocent state of brand-free undergarments just a little bit longer.
We made little patches with permanent fabric markers and I attached them to his plain old Hanes boxer briefs. The tiger and big black bird were drawn by him. In addition to those pictured here, we made shark, monster truck, caterpiller & whale undies.
We had so much fun and he loves his undies. Speaking of mommy/kiddo collaborations, yesterday we began a very ambitious and important robot project (watch for details) and in our search for ideas, we came across Lizette Greco and her kids who create all kinds of inspired and ADORABLE things based on their drawings. They reminded me of our underpants and they make me want to decorate my own wardrobe and everything in my house with drawings by my kids! If you haven't seen her site, you must go.
Another thing I want:
A nap, all alone on my couch in the middle of the afternoon.Labels: sewing, things i want
¶ 8:42 PM 6 comments
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Gratitude
My sincere thanks to everyone for your generous comments about my Sahara. There's nothing like kindness from people who appreciate knitting as much I do. It is gratifying to know that my efforts were not only for me and my family, who have seen me in the sweater now about 150 times. I got lucky with the weather. Things have been chilly and it's a good thing, because I would have worn my Sahara 150 times regardless of the temperature. This way I didn't look like a crazy person.
I also owe a big thanks to Panther, a perfect stranger who found my plea on Blogger help forums and took the time to get my Flickr Badge into the right gutter of my page, where it belongs. Lookie! There it is! Can you believe that people just browse through the help forums offering up advice to boneheads like me whose eyes cross at the site of HTML code?
Do you like to cook, Panther? Maybe I can knit you a nifty potholder as a gesture of thanks...
Having issues with Blogger yourself? You can always find the link to Panther's helpful blog, Beta Blogger for Dummies, in my list of links to the right.
We took a road trip this weekend and I sat in the back seat and knit while the baby slept.
A little peek at a new secret project...
I also bought the new Interweave Knits and browsed at it during knitting breaks. Have you seen the Ruffled Surplice that's pictured on the cover?? Holy cow. Love it! I am very tempted. I also LOVE the Indigo Ripples Skirt.Other things I'm tempted by these days: Well, I'm dying to knit another Wendy Bernard sweater since I enjoyed my last one so very much. I am thinking seriously of making Something Red, except not red at all and with long sleeves. Maybe blue and brown.
I am also seriously smitten with Lelah by Christine at Knitting for Boozehags. It makes me want to show off my shoulders. I have some beautiful Euroflax Linen in eggplant that I used on a tragic disappointment that I like to call Peek-a-Boob.
It's looks stunning on me as long as I don't lift my arms above my waist. It hurts me to open my closet and see it there, and I finally feel ready to rip it out completely and make something sweet with it. Maybe Lelah. What do you think? Has anyone heard any horror stories about a Lelah elastic-band failing it's wearer? My wedding gown was strapless and I had a dream pre-wedding that I was dancing at my reception with an elderly uncle when, suddenly, out flops a breast. Thankfully, I was spared this humiliation at my actual wedding.Maybe I'm a candidate for straps.
I've been coveting beautiful needle cases at sites like The Organized Knitter for over a year and wishing I could justify spending $75 on one. I knew that if I just spent an afternoon making a huge mess at my dining room table, I could sew one that would make me proud, but time is precious and I just wanted someone else to do it for me.
My disinterest turned to inspiration when I saw the handmade needle case made by my friend Heather. She used old flour sack fabric that belonged to some ancestor of hers, generations ago.
(Am I over-romanticizing it Heather?)
Well, anyway it's adorable.
Here's mine.
Green Project Spectrum goodness.
My favorite new book: So Few of Me by Peter Reynolds. It's about a boy named Leo who is a busy lad. No matter how hard he works, there is always more to do (sound familiar?). Crazy things happen in the book that are meant to help him complete all the tasks on his endless to-do list, but poor Leo is overwhelmed by it all and he slips away to take a nap. When he wakes up, he is still savoring his dream and he says, What if I did less—but did my best?
Can you beat a message like that?
Have a good nap this week, and do less.
Labels: life in general, project spectrum, sewing, tragic knitting disappointments
¶ 9:40 PM 2 comments
