-Christmas Bunny-

I finished up Samantha's Christmas bunny.  I have been working on this project on and off for several weeks, and it was really enjoyable.  I ordered the kit because I wanted the felt colors to be just right, and I love the Liberty print for the dress.  Doesn't she look like such a respectable and well groomed bunny?

There are such lovely little details- like the cute little knitted cape.

The boots were the most fiddly part to put together.  I have to be careful with hand sewing because I seem to get tendonitis in my thumb of all places if I do too much.  I made one boot and had to wait a week to make the other since my thumb started bugging me again!  Who knew crafting could be so dangerous? ;0)

I dipped the whiskers in liquid starch to help them stand up better, and I put a little bit of creamy blush on her cheeks.

Now, of course, my older girls are asking for their own bunny.  Maybe for Easter...

I hope you all have a very merry Christmas and have finished your own Christmas crafting! xoxo

-last week-

Finishing up some school work.  Ah...math.

Jesse Tree Ornaments (from this etsy shop). I purchased the multi color set, and they are so lovely!

Ornament crafting.  I found this cute little ornament craft at Target for $3. My kids loved it, and we attached them to our cookie gifts for neighbors.

Lots and lots of cookie baking.  I think I gained three pounds over the past three days.  Shouldn't Christmas baking be calorie free? *sigh*

Special Christmas toy playing.

This has inevitably all led up to the annual Christmas sickies.  We all have horrible coughs.  Pooh.

-shawls-

I thought I would share a few things I have completed this year- starting with these shawls.  My crafting time is mostly spent knitting vs. sewing now.  It is easier to pick up here and there.  I knit while we do school and while watching T.V. at night.  I find knitting a good way for me to slow down.  I am always looking to the next project, but I do also enjoy the slower pace it takes to finish.

The first shawl is a pattern called "Windward".  I started this back in May while on a trip, and I was plugging away at it until I came to a point where I kept miscounting and making mistakes.  Ripping and re-ripping.  So frustrated- I put it aside.  Then I picked it back up in November and finished it in no time.  Funny how projects go like that.  Sometimes you need a little breathing space.  This was a fun pattern overall because it keeps changing and gives a lot of variety instead of the same six rows over and over again like the project I am working on now. ;0)  I  used Knit Picks Gloss Fingering in a pretty teal color.  I liked this yarn.  It has a nice sheen to it because of the silk, and I would definitely use it again.

The second shawl is "Ellison Bay".  This was the first shawl that I attempted, and I wanted a beginner pattern.  I loved the mock cable edging on this shawl, and it was a simple and easy construction.  I used Andean Treasure (an alpaca yarn) in a kind of orangey gold color, and I like how soft this shawl turned out.  However, the joins in the yarn kind of made some awkward lumps, so eh...the yarn was kind of a disappointment. 

Yarn Along

I am joining in on Ginny's Yarn Along.  It was actually seeing all of her beautiful knitting that finally clinched it for me that I needed to learn.  I love all the lovely things she makes for her kids especially.  Now if only I didn't live in sunny California where winter is definitely the shortest season.

Right now I am working on a shawl that I hope to gift this Christmas.  Hope is the key word.  This pattern is And So Are You.  It is an easy pattern to memorize, but I have gotten to point in the shawl where every row seems so very, very long.  Why should that matter?  I don't know, but it does.  I guess I really do have the attention span of a gnat sometimes.  I am using Knit Picks Capretta yarn in Platinum.  It is a soft, barely gray color that I really like.  I love all things gray though.  I would probably choose some sort of gray or blue for all my projects if I could.  

Currently, the only thing I am consistently reading is this book for Advent, "Come, Lord Jesus". I found this book via Jessica's blog, and I am so glad that I did.  I was really looking for something inspiring for this Advent season, and this definitely hits the mark.  Her writing is uplifting and yet spurs you on to love a little more and try a little harder.

"Let these precious hours of Advent be given to wonder.  When we feel depressed by our faults, let us wonder that God can forgive us so much: let us be filled with wonder and praise that God goes on believing in us, hoping in us, and trusting that we will somehow yet realize his dream of us."

-tap, tap-

Hi. *waves sheepishly*  It has been awhile since I have checked in here.  I am still sewing, knitting, etc.  Once you stop blogging for a bit it is so much harder to get back into posting again.  So much was going on and it made sense to drop this, but I miss sharing projects and just being in this more personal space.  Plus, I fear I am boring people on Facebook with my crafty shares. ;0)

I always seem to have like twenty projects going on at once.  I am so easily distracted.  One of the things I am working on is this little bunny for Samantha for Christmas.  This was my first time making a hand sewn toy, and it wasn't as difficult as I thought.  Now I am just working on Miss Maggie's accessories.  I love that you can buy other little patterns to accessorize her further.  I definitely want to knit her the little coat.  I love everything Alicia Paulson.  She has such a lovely aesthetic.  

Kid Clothes Week: Day One

My first item for Kid's Clothes Week- a Roller Skate Dress!  This is a new pattern from Oliver + S.  I have seen so many popping up in their Flickr group and for good reason.  This is a quick sew, and it looks so cute!  

Not only that but I squeezed a size seven out of one yard of fabric!  Woot!  Nothing like a little creative placement. ;0)  I have had this fabric in my stash for about five years!  It is floral by Anna Griffin.  I have always loved it, and it was just waiting for the perfect project.  She said she looks like a garden in this dress. ;0)

There are just two pattern pieces, which makes it easy to cut out and put together.  I love that it is lined as it t makes it feel very sturdy.  The instructions were flawless.  I already have another one planned out!

Also, she is looking so grown up!

-little projects-

I made another In Threes sweater.  This time in pink and for another baby.  I love this shade of pink.   It is kind of dusky and not pink, pink!  There is neon everywhere right now, and I admit that I am just not a neon girl.  I have had the hardest time shopping for my kids this spring.  Everything is so...BRIGHT.  I don't mind it in bits and pieces, but well...where are my pretty pastels??

I haven't been knitting as much lately because I have been dealing with horrible tendonitis.  I was working on a cute little baby dress in a fingering weight, and it just did me in.  I am half way done, and the dress is turning out so, so cute.  I don't know if I can ever work with fingering again though.  Thankfully, this is worsted weight, and so it didn't bother my hand and shoulder as much...whew.  I made another little peasant dress to go underneath.  I used a sweet little flower fabric from Hunky Dory that I have had in my stash for awhile.  Perfect for a little baby, yes?

I also made some fun Foldover Clutches.  I have been wanting to make some of these for awhile.  The envelope clutch I made last year was starting to look a little dingy, so it was time for a little something new.  One for me and one for a gift.

These are super simple, quick sews.  However, the touch of leather gives them that perfect touch.  Very satisfying! ;0)

Kid Clothes Week starts tomorrow.  I don't know if I will be productive as I was last fall, but fabrics and patterns are picked!  Fingers are crossed!

-spring-

A birthday, Easter, and a First Communion.  Life is good and busy. And no, I didn't make anything for her First Communion.  I feel a little bad about that, but I just didn't have the energy.  However, she is wearing my wedding veil, and I gave her the same necklace my mom gave me on my First Communion.   She had a wonderful day, and we are so proud of our big girl.  Juliana made her first quilt (top) for Samantha for her birthday.  It is for Samantha's doll.  They were both pleased.  Also, it is so hard getting a picture of all four kids together.

-first birthday outfit-

My sweet Samantha turns one next week.  Talk about a year going by fast.  She is the tiniest little thing you have ever seen.  People are often surprised how old she is.  She just now is starting to fit into nine month clothes.  She may be tiny, but she is surprisingly independent.  She already yells at us to do things for her and knows how to push her big brother's buttons just right.  She doesn't seem to have any interest in walking just yet, but she crawls everywhere and gets into plenty of mischief.  

For her outfit I knit her the "In Threes Cardigan".  This was my first little sweater, and it was so much fun and went together fast since it uses a worsted weight.  I already have another one planned for another baby.  The yarn is Knit Picks Swish worsted in Wonderland Heather.  The dress is the Molly Peasant Dress.  I have made this pattern lots of times, and it is a great basic little dress that you can change up and personalize.  For the diaper cover I used Dana's free diaper cover pattern.  Super quick and comes in a variety of sizes!

Now to go finish that quilt I started her a year ago...! ;0)

-rag quilt-

The Celebrate The Boy posts by Rae and Dana made me think of this little rag quilt made for my newest nephew back in December.  I bought a set of boy fat quarters from the Children at Play line back before whether I knew whether Samantha was a boy or a girl. (I thought she was going to be a boy.)  So, I was just waiting for another baby boy to make his appearance to use this darling fabric.  I decided just to make a simple rag quilt with minky.  I love using minky for baby quilts.  It is so soft and seems to add that perfect soft touch that babies love.  I didn't use any batting in between the layers, so it is a little more like a blanket than a quilt.   Now to finish Samantha's baby quilt now to be her first birthday quilt! ;0) 

-go anywhere bag-

I made myself a new bag!  I love bags.  You should see my closet and how stuffed full of homemade bags it is.  I have even given tons of them away!  Doesn't stop me from making more though. ;0) This is the Go Anywhere Bag by Anna of Noodlehead.  I have had this pattern for a long time, and it was time to get to making it.  I am kind of at the in between state of needing a diaper bag and not.  This is a largeish bag, so I can still stuff in some diapers, nursing cover, and extra set of clothes.   I haven't been buying much fabric of late because well, I haven't been sewing very much, and it is hard justifying buying fabric when I have a whole stash that is waiting for me already.  However, I fell in love with both Architextures and this star fabric from Constellations., and I knew they would go well together in this pattern.  I didn't change much in this pattern except to use flat piping for the edge of the pocket, the back pocket I sewed a line up the middle instead of adding a snap because I feel large pockets often get floppy, and I used fusible fleece for the outside of the bag because I love the soft structure it provides.   I also quilted the main bag pieces because I love the look. The pattern went together quickly, and now I am trying to pick what fabrics to use for her new Divided Basket pattern!  

-knitting helps-

I have been knitting a lot lately.  I got sick back in July.  It was a sinus infection that lasted months.  I recovered from that and then a month later was so sick again.  This time was different.  Stomach pain.  It took me awhile to realize that things weren't going to get better.  In fact, things were getting much worse.  However, I got a diagnosis in January, and got put on medication right away.  I have also had to change my diet quite drastically, and that took a lot of thought into just how I should eat.  While this is a chronic autoimmune disease, I am hoping I will be able to keep the symptoms to a minimum.  

Slowly, I feel like I am getting my life back a little at a time.   I didn't even know how bad things were until I started feeling better.  I think as a mom you just have to keep going, and it wasn't until I got a more official diagnosis that I allowed myself to admit that things weren't going so well.  I feel like I am coming out from a fog, and I feel eager to embrace life again, but also a bit nervous that I will push myself too hard too fast.  I just can't wait to be healthy again!

 For me sewing was taking too much energy, so in the afternoon when I often feel the most tired I get to sit and knit.  God seems to send us little blessings to help us get through rougher times, and it feels a little silly to say but knitting has been that for me.  It gave me the chance to learn and think of something other than how my health was.  It is all about the little things!  

I have also missed being in this space, and I have really missed my regular sewing time.  I am hoping to catch up a bit and share some projects that I have done in the past few months.   

This is my second Millwater!  I loved the first one I made.  I knew I wanted a longer one for me.  I got a couple of Knit Picks gift cards for Christmas, so I picked out yarn for a few projects.  I used their Swish Tonal in Pearlescent.  I love that name!  The color is something in between white and gray, and I love have neutral cowls/scarves to go with different things.  This was a very enjoyable project,  Now  I just hope to get a couple more wears in before spring is officially here!

xoxo,

Meg

-2012-

I am a little late in writing my end of the year post, but hey...that goes for everything in my life right now. ;0)  This is the best picture we got of our kiddies on Christmas Eve.  So hard to get all four kids looking and smiling!  I made the two older girls' dresses using Oliver + S Playdate Dress pattern.  I have had this pattern in my stash for years, and I was glad I finally took the plunge!  I love how they turned out.  They are Christmas-y without being super fancy.  My kids are hard on their clothes, and it was nice to have washable dresses.  The hardest part of this pattern was the yoke...tricky!  Once I got past this part though, the pattern is pretty easy.

My favorite picture...my oldest and youngest.  I love these girls.

Here are some of my favorite projects from 2012.  What a strange year.  My sewing/crafting went through a lot of dry spells this year.  However, cross stitching and knitting saved me at the end of the year!  I was in desperate need to have more portable and put downable projects.  I loved learning how to knit.  I have wanted to learn for years, and I am having so much fun.  I will come back later this week to show more of what I have been knitting lately!

Thanks for stopping by and reading!  Here is to a wonderful 2013!

xoxo,

Meg

-january-

Amanda (MsMcPorkchop) and her friend, Ashleigh, have a super cute sampler happening for 2013.  Each month they send you a little woodland theme to stitch!  When I saw what the theme was I knew I wanted to jump in on this!  I had so much fun stitching the Winterwoods sampler and having a little something to stitch here and there.  This month's theme was little deer!  Aren't they adorable?  

For this sampler...

 I am using Cosmo floss, and I got the kit here.

The linen is 28 count Cashel linen: dirty, and I got it here.

You can sign up for the sampler here!  You can get it for $10 for a couple more days before the price goes up!