Belle Bottom Bunny

I needed a toy that would whip up in a moment to finish off the gift my mother and I are putting together for a shower. I didn't want to add legs or arms and I didn't want to spend a long time knitting it. I also wanted to incorporate a bell I've had kicking around for a year or so waiting for the perfect toy. I wound up knitting Belle Bottom Bunny. She has a soft head, an i-cord loop for attaching a link, and a sweet jingle bell in her bottom. Best of all she only took 2hrs of furious knitting to make up.

Check out the video to hear her sing!

{this moment} :: Cheese

A moment from our week that I want to pause, savor, and remember

inspired by soulemama

feel free to leave a link to your moment!

Yarn Along

Stomper is reading through a bunch of books given to him by someone at the daycare. We spread the book love around some and gave some to Grandma, Mimi, and the daycare so that everyone can have new books.

I am reading though the Princess Academy a second time so that book two, that my library bought at my request, will make more sense. I love our local library. Specifically the children's librarian she's really good about keeping up with series. 

I am knitting a few baby shower gifts. I thought I had more time but when we flipped the calendar to January I realized that I only had a week or so. I quickly knit up a pair of booties so that at the very least I could slip a little money in a shoe and call it good enough. However, I was able to purchase yarn and pattern to make an adorable little dress. 

When I was test knitting Ichy Lock, a cute dress called Claudine was also being test knitted and I wanted to give it a try, but I was already committed. When I was looking for patterns to knit I remembered that I had wanted to knit it and so I hunted it down. It is coming along quite smoothly. My only complaint is that it doesn't specify how many rows to achieve two row bumps of garter stitch and there aren't any construction photos of where to pick up stitches for the sleeves. That being said, the instructions are clear enough that the dress will look amazing even with my guessing. 

I am also working on a beret for me called Star Crossed and it has been put on hold until the shower knitting is over. 

I have started a new pinterest board of all the projects I complete in 2013. I can never seem to remember how much I accomplish in a year and I thought this photo board might help me keep track. If you want to follow it you can find it HERE.

On the Mountain: Sledding

 

You can just barely see a sledder

When I was a kid we lived half way up a mountain in Weld. Winters were rough, but the one bright spot was  sledding down the road. The sledding was fast, long, cold, and perfect. When we reached the bottom a pick-up truck would scoop up what was left of us and bring us back to the top to do it all over again. 

As a teenager my friends and I were allowed participate in "Night Sledding". In the dark of night with only the moon's glow reflecting off the snow to light our way we would fly down the mountain. One by one we would launch ourselves down the hill in the dark. Alone with our sled we hurled through the cold. The wind would slam against any exposed flesh, work it's way under our clothes, and chill us despite our layers of protective clothing. The silence of the night would wrap around us and I often imagined an audience of deer, moose, and bear watching us like spectators at a strange sporing event. The only sound we could hear was our breathing and the sound of the sled gliding across the snow. Then suddenly we'd round the last bend and the head lights of the truck would greet us like a beacon guiding us home. Silhouetted against the head lights would be my father, grinning fiendishly as he watched us whip around the last corner. In a cloud of snow we would slide and twist to a stop. Breathlessly we would recount our adventures to him. We would regale him with tales of our near-misses and our lightening speed. He'd listen carefully, attentively, and when we had exhausted our stories he'd ask us if were ready to do it again.

Over New Years we were able to introduce the next batch of kids to sledding on the mountain. They aren't big enough to sled at night, not yet anyway, but before long they too will be braving the cold to sled. Until then they enjoyed sledding during the day going faster than they ever have before. I cannot wait until Stomper is big enough to take him for some "real" sledding, because after mountain sledding, nothing compares.

Embrace the Camera: Sledding

 

 

Took Stomper sledding. We had a blast! Papa took pictures!

Inspired by Emily

Year of Projects: Reboot

Over the past few months I have been thinking a lot about my list. It has been about six months since I wrote that list and Christmas has come and gone. Of course Christmas would not be complete with out half finished projects, and in this its case two socks with out a mate. Thankfully they are  my husband and he understands why he must wait.

I started a pair of socks this summer and thought I was going to give it to my FIL but I'm pretty sure that he wouldn't fully appreciate it and decided to give it to the hubs instead. The second pair of socks I started I was always planning on giving to the hubs, just ran out of time when I took on the project of knitting a Christmas Stocking on commission. I finished everything I needed for my son's Advent Calendar which included an angel, bell, sweater, and i-cord garland. I was able to knit plenty of girlie things thus filling the girlie knitting need I was having. I made a little dress, hat and cardigan for a bunny; a hat and a pair of mittens for a first grader; and sweater and hat for a 6 month old. I still want to knit something from the Expectant Knitter and I may do that for my cousin who is due this spring. Other than the socks I mentioned earlier I have another UFO, a pair of mittens for my Photography Teacher this fall. I have one done, I just need its mate. 

New on the list is a Valentines gift for a friend, Easter presents, hoods for my Mom and sister, and a hat for me. What is not on the list is the Milo Vest, something from the Expectant Knitter, a second Hunters Hat (it was for me and I don't need it right now), and some Advent ornaments (which I don't need).

I do not have any knitting photos at this time, just this one of the cutest boy on the planet wearing mittens his Great Grammie crochet for his uncle twenty years ago.

Updated List:


UFO's

Joni's Photo Gloves
Striped Sock
Green Sock

Due Valentines:
A Kitty for a friend maybe Susan's or maybe Linda's not sure yet.

Due Easter:
Pembroke Vest for Stomper

Little Lamb from Spud and Chloe at the Farm for my Sunday School Class kids (Stomper plus one other)

Promised Projects:
A hood for Mom
A hood for Little Sister, but with a symbol on the back
Christmas Stocking for myself maybe from an actual sock pattern
A hat for myself

For Stomper:
Squirrel/Hedgehog
Socks 

Pinned It

I use pinterest, a lot. It is an awesome resource for DIY Projects of which I am recently very fond. I made quite a few things for Christmas using pinterest, but could not share them with you... until now!

1. Mugs: I bought a ceramic pen (DecoArt glass paint marker in black at Michaels for about $4) to ensure staying power of what I wrote. The mugs I found from frequent trips to Goodwill, they were about $.99 a piece. I found cute and annoying sayings on pinterest and wrote them on the mugs.

2. Menu Board: My SIL had this pinned on one of her boards so I thought I ought to make it for her. I printed the menu off using word then had Stomper paint it pink (her favorite color).

 3. Penguin: My SIL has been asking me to knit her one, but my list this year was too long. Thankfully there is more than one way to make a penguin. Since I don't know how to use a sewing machine I stitched it all by hand.

4. I know I saw this art idea on pinterest, I just don't remember by who. You write a word in painters tape, have your munchkin paint over it, and then remove the tape to reveal the word. It didn't come out perfect, but everyone like it.  We did three: Mimi, Love, and Grandma. They came out really cute!

 5. Awhile back Stomper did some painting at daycare on giant pieces of paper. I saved them and cut them into 8x10 squares. At Christmastime I signed his name in the corner with the date and gave them out as presents. He was really pleased when we gave them away at Christmas he kept saying his name and pointing to the art when someone would open them. In these photos you can tell he is sick, he's such a trooper to let me take the photos!!

 

 

How about you? Did you make any gifts this year?

We..

enjoyed:: the snow falling down
snuggled :: a sick boy
thanked :: God for medication that makes us feel well
watched :: too much TV
drank :: tea and felt grown-up
knitted :: one final Christmas project
sewed :: other Christmas projects
napped and rested :: so we are healthy for Christmas
finished :: a few art projects
unwrapped :: our fake Christmas tree and thanked God for the kindness of co-workers
celebrated :: the birth of our Savior with many parties, gatherings, and family
started :: new traditions with Grandma
hoped :: for a bright and beautiful new year

Just Breathe

Its a little funny, ok maybe not so funny, that during this time of hectic running around I am reminded every four hours to just sit and breathe.

My asthma has reared its ugly head and looks like it will be here for the foreseeable future. Every four hours my breathing is labored and coughing makes it impossible to do most activities. 

I have an awesome husband. Yesterday morning, as I sat on the couch with the Dragon Machine by my side he looked at me and said: "I'm staying home to take the tree down, you aren't well." Despite his massive head cold he spent the morning yesterday finding every bit of cloth in our rooms and doing laundry. He washed the walls of our bedroom and purchased covers for our mattress and pillows to give me a better sleeping environment.

Our Christmas tree we lovingly brought home is sitting outside forlorn and discarded. Our living-room looks bare and un-festive. 

I didn't cry when I saw our empty living-room. I love Christmas, it's my favorite holiday and the tree is my favorite tradition. For me the tree is a memory. It is a visual reminder of the day we went out and chopped it down. The fun we had together as a family of three. I didn't cry because I know what really matters. Not the tree or decorations, but the God that gave us Christmas and the love we have for each other.

We are what matters most this Christmas. 

Today I printed off some gift tags and the three of us sat around the coffee table coloring. Later in the afternoon I made Christmas treats and the boys painted ornaments. There is no tree or pretty lights, but we have each other and we have our few stolen moments together each day.

Take a moment, look at your loved ones, take a deep breath, and know at the very least you have each other.

Oh, and take a big whiff of your tree for me and tell me how it smells ;)

P.S. I started this post yesterday. Yesterday afternoon Stompers Mimi stopped by with a gift from a co-worker because: "No two year old should go with out a tree for Christmas." I am so thankful, blessed, and floored at this gift. Thank you so much!

Yarn Along: Bits and Pieces

I am so excited to be finally finished the Christmas Stocking I was commissioned to make. It was a huge undertaking. I have learned a lot in the process. First, never under any circumstances knit a sock flat with the seam going up the middle of the heel flap. Looking back what I should have done was knit both sides of the heel flap at the same time, ensuring that I had the same amount of rows and tension on both sides. Finally, never knit a commissioned piece so close to Christmas. My list of to knit for Christmas has not shortened since starting the Christmas Stocking. Thankfully, I have an understanding family. My husband will be getting half a pair of socks, the second to be knit in January.

Other Christmas knitting is coming a long great. I have one mitten minus the thumb knit, a hat started, and a second mitten started. Stompers farmer is nearly done, I'll be finishing the final touch (eyes) and his mittens are missing one thumb (so I wouldn't give it to him early) so I will be doing those first thing next week.

I have been devouring the Rangers Apprentice series. Luckily my sister has all of them so as soon as I finish one I can start straight away on the next. It took me a little bit to get used to the writers style of writing. He bounces the point of view from one character to another and at first I found it jarring. Either I am used to his writing, or as he writes he improves because I haven't noticed it at much as the first book. The books are fast paced, but not at the expense of losing depth of the characters. My asthma has given me plenty of time to read as I sit with my Dragon Machine several times a day so I expect to read the last three books quickly!

Joining Ginny for the first time in a long time today.