Knitting In The North

Little Birds

 

 

 

In the week before Christmas, I picked up the book Little Birds at our local library.  Although the combination of new job and end of school semester put an end to our plans for a completely handmade Christmas, I did still want to make a special little something for each of the kids' Christmas stockings. 

 

Liam is especially enamoured with peacocks right now, and when I saw the little peacock featured in the book, I knew I had to make one.  That, naturally, lead to a bluebird for Gwenyth, and an owl for Brian, and finally, a budgie for Katie.

 

 

 

 

I pulled out my small stash of wool felt, and got busy.  There was more handwork involved than I have been used to doing in the recent past, and I very much enjoyed myself.  The sewing was a nice accompaniment to sitting with the kids watching different Christmas movies in the days before the holiday, and I continued to stitch away in the evenings after my own little flock had gone to bed.

 

 

 

 

 

Traditionally, there is always a little face - a stuffed toy, a doll - peeking out of the top of the stockings on Christmas morning, and I would usually want those to be a surprise.  The kids did see me working on these little guys ahead of time, but it didn't seem to take away from their enjoyment of a soft, handmade bird of their own.

 

This project has definitely inspired me to do more like it.  Working with felt was really satisfying, and even more so, these little friends for the kids had exactly the feeling I was hoping for in giving them something handmade.  It has definitely encouraged me to plan and work more carefully for next year, so that we can achieve our handmade holiday goals in 2011.

 

 

 

 

Laying Plans

 

 

 

Liam is napping, the big kids are at school, I have an English assignment due Monday and a Psychology mid-term on Wednesday.  Obviously, the most important thing for me to be doing right now is thinking about Christmas!

 

Last year, when Stuart asked me what I wanted for Christmas, I told him that I wanted his commitment that this year, we would have a completely hand-made holiday.  No plastic toys, no stuff we don't need, just special, well thought out gifts, made by our own two hands (well, as much as possible - we agreed it is acceptable to purchase some hand-made things).  He said yes, and although I think it will really be too much for him, and that he will succumb to the need to shop, I'm embracing it wholeheartedly.

 

Here are some plans in the works:

• Stuart has only been asking for a cabled sweater for the last five years or so, and I think this sweater will do the trick.  I know I haven't made a huge amount of progress on it, but I'm busily avoiding schoolwork, so I'm sure it will fly along in the next few weeks.
• A Waldorf-style doll for Gwenyth
• A spinny speller, also for Gwenyth
• A counting fish set for Liam
• Either an etsy bought print, or a creation of our own, of a peacock for Liam's room
• A wooden display box for Brian's rock collection.  I'm picturing a box with divided sections, and a clear lid, so he can label and display his precious rocks.  I also purchased a copy of a Rocks & Minerals book this summer, to go along with it.  (Is that cheating?)
• A marshmallow shooter and ammo belt for Brian (although it looks so fun I really want one for myself...)
• Another sewing project for Stuart (but I can't talk about it, because he checks up on me here, and I would like him to have a surprise.  The "blanket" I'm knitting is kind of awkward to hide...)
• Katie, of course, is the tricky one.  She has reached the ripe old age of thirteen (birthday post to follow soon...), and I am now very uncool.  I would like to knit her a pair of stripey Noro knee socks, but am not sure I can have both the sweater & the socks done in time.  I am thinking of a messenger bag... and perhaps a purchased from etsy graphic tee?  Sigh.  If you have any bright ideas, please share.  (Thirteen, I am discovering already, is tough.  Very tough.  And as I recall, fourteen isn't any better.  Now, please excuse me -  I need to call my mother and apologize for being a teenager... again.)

 

Making Stuff

 

 

 

I have been working hard to change my thought processes this year - to ask myself, when I feel a need for something, if I can make it myself, before I run out to the store (or even the thrift store) looking for it. 

 

When Brian decided he needed a shield, then, it made me so happy to see that he wanted to make it himself.  Since he's the most like me in personality of all the kids, he started by making a plan.  To keep it official, it went down on paper (in List Form, naturally - there's nothing so satisfying as a good list), and then supplies were gathered.  This particular project is a collaboration between Brian & his dad, and it's so fun to see them working on it together. 

 

It's moving slowly - a little more every weekend, when the boys have time together to get it done, and I can't wait to see it finished, and out there helping Brian in all his adventures!

 

 

Mother's Day Crafting

I like to plan some kind of crafty activity for the days when I do daycare - it keeps the preschoolers quiet during nap time, gives me a tiny bit of creative outlet, and is generally a good, low-key activity for all of us.

 

I had planned to make some polymer clay pendants with the kids the week before Mother's Day, but the clay went missing the day of our project, and I was in a bit of a bind.  There were expectant little faces in front of me, waiting to do a project - what was I going to do?  I remembered seeing this post, and the day was saved.  A useful gift, made of nothing but some rocks (special ones, obviously, brought home from our lake visit) and wire?  That sounds like my kind of crafting!  

 

 

My Lovely Girl

Katie has taken a real interest in creating her own look of late, which brings me joy in so many ways.  When I came across this video tutorial I knew it was just the kind of thing she would like, and could do all on her own.

 

A quick trip to the thrift store for a couple of $1 t-shirts, and she was off into the wonderful world of repurposing. 

 

It's really rewarding and exciting (and a little scary) to watch my girl begin to change into a young woman - to develop her own sense of style, to express herself in her own way.  To see her incorporate some of my values into her own, to know that I haven't been talking to a brick wall all this time, is even better (even if she still thinks I'm pretty strange most of the time).

 

Less Than a Cup of Coffee

I often hear marketing that suggests the value of a product by comparing the price to a cup of coffee.  You know - "this skin care system costs less than a cup of coffee a day"!  That kind of thing. 

 

The other day, I found my kind of value.  For less than the price of a cup of coffee, I had all kinds of entertainment, sorting through...  this!

 

 

Talk about value - who wants skin care when you could have a scrap bag?

Can You See the Heart?

A little late to be showing you this now, I know, but here is what Gwenyth made as a Valentine gift for her favourite (local) people.  Salt dough is fast becoming one of my favourite kids' crafts - it's easy to mix up, requires few ingredients, and is a dual-benefit craft.  It keeps everyone busy to make it, and once it's dry, you then get to decorate it. 

 

 

 

We rolled balls of dough, squished them relatively flat, and then used our thumbs to make thumbprint hearts.  I usually dry our salt dough creations for about an hour in a low oven, and then leave them for a few days on a rack to air dry. 

 

 

 

 

Can you see the hearts?

 

 

Spring Flowers

There are days that are busy - so busy, I start to wonder where on earth is a little space for me to be creative.  I've been really working on finding windows, even on the crazy days, for me to make something, try something new.

 

I can't remember where I first saw a zipper flower, but the idea caught my attention, and this seemed like a project I could fit into one of those hectic days.  It did involve some planning ahead - I picked up the black zipper and a clear plastic bangle at the thrift store.  I also had my hot glue gun at the ready, knowing my moment would come.  That seems to be a big part of making creative time - being organized.  Planning ahead.  Watching for the window. 

 

 

 

There are lots of different tutorials out there for zipper flowers - I ended up following Martha's.  I used an approx. 8" zipper for the flower.  I was looking for a black bracelet to use, but ended up with this clear one instead. I found a strip of vinyl and glued it around, because I felt that the black zipper on the clear plastic was too harsh, and this seemed to bring it together. 

 

The whole thing took me about 15 minutes during an otherwise highly energetic, kid focused day, and gave me a sense of peace and accomplishment at a time when I really, really needed it.  A flower from a zipper may not be the spring blossom you might expect, but these days, I'll take what I can get.  And enjoy each window as they come.

At Long Last

Have you ever seen something - a sweater, a purse, knitted, sewn, whatever, and just felt like you had to have it?  Who am I kidding - of course you have, right?  One day last fall, I saw a woman at my workplace with the most perfect looking messenger bag.  It was sewn up in fabulous fabric, and was exactly what I think a messenger bag should be.  I asked her about it, and she told me she had made it using an Amy Butler pattern.

 

 

I went searching for it, naturally, but was thwarted by high shipping costs, and poor exchange rates.  A little while ago, I came across a great fabric sale at Pink Chalk Fabrics (seriously, wonderful selection and GREAT service!), and when I saw that they carried this pattern, it clinched the deal for me.  

 

 

And, what is better than having a fat, squishy package arrive at your door?  I was so excited, I didn't even mind that I was still in my pyjamas when the postman showed up!  These goodies have been washed, dried and folded up neatly, waiting for me to cut into them.  Some are earmarked already (the two on either end of the top photo are for my dream bag, the orange in the second is for another, top secret bag for Katie, and the pink polka dot, is, obviously, for Princess Gwenyth, who very badly feels she needs a new dress.  Again.)  The rest is for plotting and planning and dreaming. 

 

What are you plotting and planning and dreaming about?

Colourful Recycling

I've been talking to the kids lately about the Three Rs  - they know we try to live this way, but I want them to get the whys as well.  To make it fun, find some more colour, and keep the big kids quiet during nap time, I turned to this tutorial. 

 

In our great art cupboard clean-out earlier this week, I pulled all the broken bits of crayons.  All I needed for this project were these,  and a couple of silicone molds (I've seen people use all kinds of things for molds, though, from candy molds to paper cups).  One is a mini-muffin pan, the other an Ikea ice cube tray we discovered at the thrift store just yesterday - how amazing is that?  I love it when that happens.

 

 

 

 

I would suggest breaking up any bigger bits of crayons ahead of time, as the 4-year-olds found the snapping up part difficult, and decided this project was a lot of work.  All the work was worth it, though - they loved watching the crayons melt through the window in the oven door.

 

 

 

I'm planning a "Rainbow" themed birthday party for one of the kids this year, and I'm thinking a set of crayons like this would be an awesome take-home gift for the guests - what do you think?