Knitting In The North

Just Swingin'

At the end of a long day, there is not a whole lot of crafting energy still hanging around.  However, there are still things to be done, and still children who need a bit of mommy time - finding the right crafts, that will be fulfilling for the kids, and yet not completely draining for me, has been the big thing here lately.

 

When I came across this book, Creative Play for your Toddler, I knew right away there were one or two things that Gwenyth in particular would get a real kick out of.  I was surprised, though, when she chose this little swing as the project she wanted to work on together.

 

Wonderfully simple, sewn from some thrifted fabric, with a bit of dowel for support, and some sparkly yarn for hanging, this seat has seen stuffed toys and dolls in regular rotation, and spends most of the time inside, hanging from the corner of the bunkbed.  Every now & then, on a freak warm day, it gets out to this little branch, to give whichever toy is in favour that day some "fresh air". 

 

This is definitely my kind of sewing project - straight lines, quickly finished, and useful in the end.  Now - back to my secret Christmas knitting; there's not much time left...
 

Handkerchief Bag

I did it!  After thinking and thinking and thinking some more, I grabbed a window of opportunity, some fabric & a zipper I'd picked up at the thrift store, and sewed up this little holder.

 

As I mentioned the other day, when I saw this bag for storing hankies, I immediately felt the need for one of our own.  It took me a while, though (just a few months), to screw up my courage and have at it. 

 

The bag itself works quite well - it has a 4" opening in the front for pulling a handkerchief out, and a zipper (gasp!) in the bag for quick reloads.  Now that we're using it, I wish I had made the strap a tad wider, and the bag itself a bit longer (we have more hankies than I originally thought).  Still, it's functional, it looks good in my kitchen, the kids love pulling out their own handkerchief, and it has a zipper.  My very first one!  Which I put in, without the aid of a zipper foot!  (I really, really need to clean up my studio.)  Phew, all this excitement has tired me out - time for a cup of tea.

 

Just in case you're not getting the idea of how exciting this bag is, here's a picture of the Very Exciting Zipper for you to admire...
  
 

Odds & Ends

 

 

I'm feeling all over the place these days; work is busy, daycare is busy, Christmas is only 39 days away (Yep, I said it.  Whatcha going to do about it?).  Here are some things floating around at the moment:

 

• It snowed a whole bunch.  The weather forecast is for rain this week, which means a lot of melting, messy slush.  For the moment, I'm going to ignore the thought of rain, and enjoy the fluffy white stuff.
• Feed Your Soul - an amazing art project with free downloads.  There is some fabulous work there.
• Spiced candied nuts.  They sound yummy.
• I needed a plan to get everything done this year for Christmas.  Organized Christmas has a Christmas Planner that saved the day for me.  There's nothing I like more than a useful list. 
• A bunch of free printables to tuck into kids' lunchboxes.  Or wherever.  I think it would be fun to stick these into rolled socks when I'm doing the laundry.
• I need a bag like this for holding our handkerchiefs.  Right now they're in a pile in the dining room, which is not ideal.  Do you think I can manage to sew in a zipper?  It seems scary to me.  

 

So - what's floating around in there for you right now?

Oh, Balls!

Liam has a great love of balls.  Ball was, in fact, his first word (far sooner than Mommy, or even Mooom - not that it bothers me or anything), and balls of all kinds hold his attention for ages.  He likes, as many babes do, to hold them and throw them and roll them and toss them at your head.

 

For Christmas, then, I decided Liam definitely needed a collection of felted balls.  I plan to stuff his stocking with them, so he can happily take them out and throw them at his siblings' heads, while they are busily sorting their own loot. 

 

The pattern, Baby's First Ball from the book  Knitting For Baby by Melanie Falick (oh, how I love Melanie Falick) and Kristin Nicholas, is wonderful.  Easy to memorize, so even when you're sick or overwhemed or grumpy you can still manage to work a few wedges on the latest ball.  I'm using four colours, and am shooting for six balls, although I'm enjoying the knitting so much, I might need to keep going.  We may well be buried in felted balls by Christmas.  I'll let you know.
  

The Bare Minimum

 

 

This week has been all about the bare minimum.  On the weekend, the kids & I took Stuart to the airport, where he flew off for a week of training in another city.  The day before he left, I was finally felled by the nasty cold that everyone else had last week.  Not to sound whiny, but being on my own with 4 (healthy, energetic, bouncy - thankfully) kids, while I crawl around feeling miserable is not my idea of a fun week.

 

It was good for me, though, as these things often are if we're willing to learn the lesson hidden inside.  Because I had to let go.  Let go of my wonderful meal plans, clean house ideas, crafting goals...  Admit that I'm imperfect, yet again, and that that's okay.  I'd venture to say, it's better than okay, actually. 

 

I came across the quote posted on my fridge over at Perfect Sentiment, just when I needed to read it.  It says, "The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak."  Exactly what I needed to hear, and my nice clean fridge door (about the only household project I accomplished all week) is just the reminder I need. 

 

Unnecessary:: Perfect meals, spotless home, exciting activities, doing it all "perfectly"

Necessary:: Lots of tea, snuggling in bed with 4 kids & a dog, reading good books (still), watching an old movie or two

 

How about you?  What's necessary for you right now?  What's not?