With the needles

Pattern: Capucine

Yarn: Malabrigo worsted merino, Deja Vu, a little more than one skein

Left off the tassel in the back.

Loved the pattern, love the yarn. Not sure if I can actually pull off wearing it. Maybe I'll get brave.

In the meantime I had to pay Ethan to model it for me:



He was thrilled.

Wax on

Thank you, kind readers for your words of support. I just meant to post a photo and it turned into a whine session. Guess I needed to vent.

This weekend I was able to squeeze in some craft therapy, between soccer games and parties. Thanks again to pinterest for inspiration.


While on a walk last week, I even stumbled (almost literally) on a large supply of crayons at a yard sale. Brand new and dirt cheap. With this project in mind, I snapped them up quite happily.

In fact, Keith stopped by a flea market later in the week and brought home even more crayons for me. Total and irrefutable proof that this project was meant to be!

I had an old canvas of Grandpa S's in mind. I'm quite sure this was not one of his intended uses for this surface. Definitely more Bob Ross than Degas. Sorry, Grandpa!



Ethan wielded the hair dryer for the first five minutes or so. The boys gathered round and oohed and ahhed.



The wax cooperated and began melting quickly although it took many minutes more to melt the whole crayon. I taped rather than hot glued the crayons on because I wanted to remove them after the melting. This had the effect of insulating them which prolonged the process.



Next time (!), less dark colors (as suggested). When the melted colors mixed, they turned out a little darker than I really like.


Otherwise, a masterpiece!

Lonely as a cloud

By some freak of nature, I actually won a book this summer. Kids' Crafternoon Sewing, part of a craft series for kids, thanks to a giveaway on Floating Ink. Pretty exciting stuff!



It's a colorful, fun book full of great beginner projects and ideas. Hopefully it will inspire Sadie to try out her nifty sewing machine someday.



Or the boys, if they so desire. It's just easier to think of in a far-off, dreamy sort of way. Everything is possible in the future. Just don't ask me to teach anyone to sew TODAY. I can barely wrap my brain around tonight's math homework.

I did give the cloud pillow a whirl. Just looked fun to me. Whimsical and weird enough.



I like to use 100% wool stuffing rather than the poly-fill stuff for some projects. It feels a thousand times better. I buy mine from a Mennonite farm in PA. Over the phone (how quaint!) but they are reasonable and shipping is quick. (Earl Woolen Mill: 717-859-2241)

It looks like what clouds are made of.

Sew, a needle pulling thread

This summer I became the owner of a brand new sewing machine. Brought to me by birthday money and Craigslist. During a hasty exchange at a random gas station, a woman about my age took my cash and handed over the box. She told me with a look of mild disgust that the machine had been a birthday present to her. Her birthday loss, my birthday gain.

A few days ago, I finally got the chance to try it out. It's a Singer, like my old machine and a pretty basic model but definitely an improvement. It's smooth and quiet and has a few more options. I can't believe the difference it makes.

My first project was simple, basically just sewing pieces of elastic. The tutorial found here. (thanks for the inspiration, Shannon!) I was reminded of this idea while going through Sadie's old clothes. Old tights become knee-high socks. Simply by cutting and sewing elastic at the top.





A couple weeks before my Craigslist find, I dug through debris at a nearby estate sale to uncover a beauty of another sort. No one else in the family currently sees its potential. I'm hoping Sadie will someday will agree with me. Because it's for her.

I showed it to her today.

Not the reaction I was hoping for.



First she attempted to poke out her eye.



Next, she sampled the antique thread.



It's missing a needle but supposedly it really works. I hope she gets some use out of it someday.

More fun than...

I have a new blog favorite. Young House Love with all of it's DIY charm and intrigue. Inspiring and depressing as all good websites tend to be.

Clicking around the site I found a post in which the couple learned to make their own rain barrel. I've wanted one but never thought of looking into workshops. Behold, I did a search and there was one within reasonable driving distance.

Ethan was going to accompany me but sadly gave in to the lure of video games and stayed behind. Probably for the best since I got turned around about a hundred times on my trip, anxiety climbing almost to driving-in-Boston levels. Almost.

My biggest surprise, upon arriving five minutes late, was that no one even noticed. People were milling around, moving freely from one station to the next. No one was tapping their foot, pointing at a watch, sighing at my tardiness. Such are the fears of the neurotically punctual.

Armed with the world's worst cell phone camera, I managed to document the work of my helper who did virtually everything for me.

I picked out a barrel and put my initials on it. That's it. I overheard rumors that the barrels originally housed pickles or olives. Or both? Either way, for $20, they were a steal.



My young helper first covered the top with a screen.



Then he covered the back of a spigot (listen to my jargon!) with caulking (again!) and screwed it into a pre-drilled hole.



Too bad you can't actually see it. Just use your imagination.

Next, he asked where I would like the overflow hole to go, depending on where I planned to put it in the yard. Um, just put it...there. Whatever.



That was it. Done!

And then I was accosted by an inquisitive couple on the way to my car asking why I had that barrel and what I planned to use it for. DUH.

At home, Keith promptly hooked it right up to its final resting place.



Some statistics that might make you jealous of my new acquisition:

"After just one inch of rainfall, the average roof will collect more than 500 gallons of fresh, naturally softened water."

"An average family can collect 45,000 gallons of rainwater a year."

"Rainwater runoff can carry harmful chemicals, fertilizers, and pesticides into our city sewers. By collecting rainwater and distributing it on dry, summer days (when plants need it most) you are helping to keep our rivers and lakes clean."

Happy, Al?

A curious ancient pastime

Goal: Freshen up this old, incomplete croquet set, found free beside the road in our ol' Birmingham days. A little crazy. Just an aside, people make their own toilet paper. I'm not so bad.



And nothing's crazy when you are stuck with four kids and no car for far longer than is decent. With the possibility of many more car-less days. Thank you, competent people of the mechanic world.



Although I actually kind of like the old muted colors, I thought some fresh paint might be fun. Transformation brought to you by paintbrushes, a rag and a rubber band.












Next step: learn the fine points of croquet. And make some hoops.

Try, try again and again and...

Visual-spatial skills. I wish I had some. It would probably help a lot with the 'ol sewing ventures.

A few months ago, in time for Drew's graduation I managed to pull off a major sewing feat. Ties (purl bee pattern) for each of the boys and a dress and bonnet for Sadie. All in the same lovely Joel Dewberry(Chestnut branch eggplant) fabric.

That was before we found out that Drew would be wearing a "robe" of sorts (a white dress shirt of Keith's) for the ceremony. I still haven't photographed them all together.





The bonnet turned out to be pretty small (not to mention Adam's tie being a little large--that was on purpose, though) so I set about modifying the pattern to make a new one. How hard could it be? Just make the lines around the current pattern a little bigger, right?

Wonky. And still a little small to be truly functional. Cute, though.




A few days ago, I attempted the 90 minute shirt from Made. Only problem is, you make your own pattern.

I tried using a couple old t-shirts of Keith's. First try was a disaster. The arms were a puzzle to me. I stared and reread and stared at her detailed tutorial without comprehension.

I forged ahead. Behold:


Finally, on my second attempt, it clicked.



Not perfect but better. Also, a serger would help.





In the words of my wise A&P professor, "You don't have to be smart to be successful. You just have to be persistent."

Anticipation

We've got a lot to look forward to around these parts. Spring break starts tomorrow and hopefully, very soon, spring itself will pay a visit. One can always dream.

Ethan just finished winter soccer and will start the busy spring (did you hear me, spring?) season soon. Drew is excited to be playing micro soccer as well. I'm fairly confident he is ready, unlike the last time we tried. 4 days a week of soccer! I'm going to pretend that makes me really happy.

We are also excited about a new girl cousin, soon to be born! Any day now, right Claire? I can't wait to see pictures, and someday meet her in person. In the meantime, making stuff for her is the best I can do.

Of course, I'm going to show you what I made. Musn't disappoint.

I finally tried out Christine's Baby Booties, a popular pattern kicking around ravelry and the knitting world for years. Wish I'd tried it sooner for my own babies.

















Had to make Sadie a pair after I finished these. They really do stay on better than any other sock or soft shoe she has. I used a combination of old stash sock yarn for Sadie's so they aren't beautiful but they are warm with room to grow.

Claire told me about a great product she had her eye on called a diaper clutch. It's a changing pad which includes a pocket for storing wipes/diapers and rolls up for easy portability. There are some really nice ones available on etsy and a whole lot of free tutorials and variations online.
























I decided to attempt one, using a very straightforward tutorial found here. I found I had some vinyl in my stash which seemed perfect for the changing pad side and paired that with a heavy-weight cotton for the outside.

I liked it so much, I had to make one for myself. Quick, easy, cheap and practical. My kind of project.

















Also much anticipated: Maple syrup, if we are able to gather enough sap. More to come on that if spring cooperates.

There will be tights!

Imagine my excitement at stumbling upon this tutorial a few days ago. Tights! For babies! Almost as good as leg warmers, baby socks or baby Uggs. Possibly better.
























A way to use up that old Benetton stretchy t-shirt I've had hanging around for years, waiting for magical weight loss to occur.

















I'm not kidding, these things are easy to make. I made them in 6-12 mos size with a little extra room in the toes for the couple months of tights weather we have left.


















I just might be able to dig up a few more garments that don't fit me anymore. Just maybe.

Nearer to Spring

"I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December
A magical thing
And sweet to remember.

'We are nearer to Spring
Than we were in September,'
I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December."

- Oliver Herford, I Heard a Bird Sing

(Felt candle holder-or "Felt Fire Hazard" as Keith refers to it--pattern, and poem found here.)

Bumbo: Day 2

Warning: pictures may cause cavities.






















A few years ago, I tried out this pattern as a gift for a friend's baby. I modeled the hat on Drew, with one or two seconds of success. It was surprisingly quick and simple and, finding some yarn left over, I decided to attempt it again for Sadie. With matching boots, of course, so she can show her face in this town.

I ran out of yarn halfway through the hat and then found out it was discontinued. Typical. Ravelry to my rescue, once again!

Without further boring details, I bring you, Sadie, baby Uggs and Bumbo. All in one perfect storm of cuteness, if I say so myself!





































Now if I can just knit myself a pair of these things.

The reason we hoped for a girl

Leg Warmers. That's why.

(pattern here.)

What I'm loving right now

The color that is coming:






















My recently completed Monteagle bag:






















It expands to hold a large amount of objects and is deceptively strong. I used some yarn I'd had in my stash forever (Berroco linen flax) but ran out on the handle. Only then did I discover this yarn has been discontinued. Thanks to a kind soul on Ravelry who was willing to sell me a skein from their stash.

This top-down bonnet for Sadie:















I made it a little big, remembering that this pattern tends to run small. Little heads grow so fast. Used Paton's silk bamboo which is nice and soft but terribly unforgiving yarn. I dropped (and fixed) a couple stitches and it looks like a Tasmanian Devil had a party in the dead center of the hat.

Ethan's schoolwork: (I love that soccer has become a coping skill)






















Finding the perfect color for Sadie's room. And making some progress there. (More to come on that soon...I hope.)






















Beautiful weather and a nature walk with Adam and Sadie: (with Sadie asleep)

















It's rare that I have any quality alone time with any of my kids these days. I'm trying to make it a priority. With Ethan and Drew in school, for a few mornings a week, I'm able to give more attention to Adam.






















We had fun searching for little bits of nature to bring back home with us.