Today is the first Valentine's Day card exchange of Big B's public school career. As always ahead of the curve, Big B wanted to explore creating his cards digitally--and I gave him free reign. For his eighteen classmates, he created six designs that he printed and cut in different sized heart shapes, carefully selecting the right match for each friend.
We were left with a collection of eighteen hearts, each with its own unique signature. And I have a budding digital artist on my hands, all he wants to do is paint!
I've been a knitting fool lately. We've experienced record lows here in the Sunshine State, and as Rose says, there's just something about chilly weather that makes you want to curl up on the couch with a couple of sticks and a ball of yarn. I knitted a total of eight gifts for the holidays. They flew off the needles so quickly I didn't even catch some of them to take their pictures. Here's what I did manage to capture.
The standard K2,P2 rib pattern hat was a staple of holiday gifting. I used variations of Alex Zorn's Hot Head pattern from the original Stitch 'n' Bitch book for each of four hats. Here's one I made for PawPaw using super chunky yarn. I adapted the pattern to include about an inch and a half of garter stitching at the base, to keep it nice and snug.I made the same hats for Big B and little b using the colorway I used on my very first knitting project for Papa.I also made a hat for Noni using this pattern, but in a gorgeous homespun green yarn. The same yarn also contributed to a simple stockinette hat I made for The Girl's second birthday. I didn't get pictures of either of these, but I had so much fun knitting with the homespun!
For my stepsister, who lives in a colder place than I do, I made these awesome fingerless mitts. I used chunky yarn in the interest of time, and though I absolutely LOVE the color, I think next time I'll use a worsted weight yarn--and there will be a next time, because I must own a pair of these for myself!...and my latest completion was this scarf for Grammy, made with 2 skeins of Angel Hair yarn--easily the most luxurious and soft fiber I've ever worked with. It was such a pleasure to knit this scarf that I may just have to make another one. I didn't use a pattern, but CO 28 stitches onto size 10.5 needles and knit until it was the right length for her. I also made my first fringe, which was so easy and gratifying I must do it again!!Now on the needles is a red chenille hat for Mimi. I got nice and familiar with chenille when I made a black neck warmer for my next door neighbor a couple of weeks ago (the eighth gift, also not pictured). Working carefully with this brittle yarn is worth it; the results are velvety smooth.
Not to worry, sewing machine, I will visit you soon...there are quilts to be finished and baby gifts to make. But for now, I will soak up the cold weather, curl up on the couch, and grab a couple of sticks and a ball of yarn.
Happy New Year everyone! Our family could not have started the year off on a better foot, throwing our annual New Year's Day party and surrounding ourselves with family, friends, food and football. What could be better?
The backdrop to the overwhelming abundance of food was an altar of prosperity. The collection included fertile and promising pomegranates, rich, sweet tangerines, and a candle to bring happiness to our home. Guests were given blank strips of paper upon which to write their wishes for the coming year. Some of the wishes from guests of all ages:
--to be happy --prosperity, joy, wellness, love --joy, abundance, health, deep peace --a more positive perspective --good job, good grades, good love --to discover my passion --to be a knight --that everyone is safe and sound and happy --to find beauty in every moment
Now our cozy home has fallen back into the daily routine, with two beautiful exceptions. The first is this gorgeous book, given to me as a gift of gratitude. I decided to use each page to express the gratitude of our family, for things great and small, each time we site down together for a meal in 2010. We may not write every day, but we will get into the habit of noticing the little things...and celebrating our togetherness in one more special way. The second difference in our home happens each day around 4:00 pm. Because of the awesome rainbow maker given to us by Big L and little l, when the sun comes through our dining room window, rainbows dance all around our house for about twenty minutes. It has had an amazing effect on our afternoons! May your wishes come true in 2010, and may each rainbow you chase be yours!
My sweet little b has made two trips around the sun, and has brightened our world each day of the journey. Today we celebrated his birth and his life with special touches, our wonderful family, and good friends.
Little b awoke to his mama's singing, a warm house, and his birthday bunting hanging over the back doors.It didn't take him very long to discover the wooden toy box I found at a yard sale, refinished with vintage record jacket graphics, and filled with a ton of those really big Legos from Goodwill. We played all morning with those, and with other special and thoughtful gifts from Papa and friends.
I sang him the song that I sang throughout my pregnancy with him; magically, I thrifted this songbook just yesterday, and opened right to this page. For a perfectly cool and bright mid-morning adventure, we headed to our local Children's Garden, one of our most favorite spots. We were blessed by the company of many friends. There little b fed fish, jumped from tree stump to tree stump, pulled wagons through tunnels and chased kitty cats. For him it was a perfect birthday morning.This evening we continued the celebration at an All-American burger joint with Grammy, Papu and Noni, who brought little b these bright balloons. Little b, Papa and I thank you for choosing us to guide you, and for choosing Big B to be your staunch companion. We thank you for your laughter, your funny faces and your funny voices, your award-winning snuggles, your determination, your intuition, your sense of self, your made-up words, your kindness, your sweetness, and your ability to make every single person in your world... HAPPY. We wish for you the same happiness in return, a million times around the sun and back again. Happy birthday little b!
The Winter Solstice holds a special place in the hearts of our family. Today's activity on our Advent Calendar was to make Solstice Crowns, celebrating the rebirth of the Sun King and allowing our boys to feel connected to the cycle of the seasons.
Ironically, last week my dear friend Rose posted about her own Advent Crowns, which are so beautiful I was inspired to follow her lead. I found this tutorial and collected my supplies. I finished the crowns with each little Sun King's initial and let them go to town with glue and sequins. It is very cute, I might add, to hear little b say "bling." I think the results are darling.Happy Solstice to all of you, and may the spirit of rebirth bring you great blessings and abundance in the coming season--fit for a King! An exceprt from The Yule Faeries, A Winter Solstice Story:
The Old Wise One touched the baby's cheek with her wrinkled hand. "This is the great secret of the Winter Solstice. Every year the Sun King must come to the sacred grove during the darkest days of winter where he dies. I take his spirit to the Mother who gives him new life again. This is the way for all creatures, not just the Sun King."
"You mean everything lives and dies and lives again?" the Faeries looked down in wonder at the baby Sun King, nestled in the arms of the Mother.
" Yes, Little Ones," answered the Old Wise Crone. "There is never an end to life. This is the great mystical secret of the Winter Solstice."
Today is the first Valentine's Day card exchange of Big B's public school career. As always ahead of the curve, Big B wanted to explore creating his cards digitally--and I gave him free reign. For his eighteen classmates, he created six designs that he printed and cut in different sized heart shapes, carefully selecting the right match for each friend.
We were left with a collection of eighteen hearts, each with its own unique signature. And I have a budding digital artist on my hands, all he wants to do is paint!
