Monday, October 17, 2011

Autumn Productivity

For some reason, autumn is a time where I’m just itching to be productive.  I get a creative bug and want to do all kinds of things.  (See this post on knitting and sewing.)  The baby blanket and felt birthday crown might be done, but those aren’t the only two projects I’ve got planned.  We went apple picking in Michigan and I’ve been making applesauce.  I would like to get at least two more batches of that made along with some apple pie filling for the freezer.  (And along those lines I’ve got things I need to do, such as make chicken stock and extra meals for the freezer, but those things aren’t near as fun as apple deliciousness.)   I put out all kinds of fall decorations.  I’ve also got scarves and hats to knit for winter wear and I want to make an activity advent calendar for Hayden this year.  In addition to that, I’ve got fabric to make living room curtains, which doesn’t match our walls and so equates to a paint job as well.

What is it about fall that compels me to bring out the sewing machine, cast on the knitting needles, and turn on the crock-pot?  Is there some innate sense that I must get ready for winter like a squirrel gathers its nuts?  It doesn’t sound at all fun or whimsical when I put it that way, but maybe its just a practical natural thing.  A time of preparation for the colder, less vigorous season of the year.  Of course, that preparation isn’t what it used to be in the old days. 

I knit because I enjoy it and love seeing the boys wear something I made, not because its necessary to our survival.  I love the simple joy of opening a jar of my own applesauce up to eat with dinner.  Seeing curtains hanging in my living room that I made would be very satisfying.  And watching Mason cozy up to a blanket that I poured my love into overwhelms me with its sweet tenderness.  Using my (albeit-limited) skills might be some internal instinct to prepare for the upcoming season, but that bit of homemade goodness adds just a little extra touch of heart-warming, home-filling affection and love.  And perhaps that is whimsical.





Saturday, October 15, 2011

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

So today is Saturday, but I've been wanting to add the "this moment" to my blog for forever, so here is this week's moment- on Saturday.


{this moment} Borrowed from soulemama

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Knitting, Sewing and Showing Off

Today has been a super productive day around here.  That productivity feels wonderful after both Hayden and I being sick for over a week, and as a result, we did nothing.  And I certainly mean nothing.  Now we’re getting back into the swing of things: doing circle time (a new thing for us), getting the house back in order, cooking meals, and… I finished two projects today.  Woot!

Well, to be fair, the knitting I finished last week while sick but today I finally washed and blocked it, so it’s now drying on the floor in our guest room.  My knitting project is Mason’s baby blanket.  This is the pattern I used, with a modification on the bind off I found on Ralvery.  I decided that it was time to get going on the baby blanket since I started it at the end of my pregnancy and hadn’t touched it since we moved.  I’m so glad that I switched colors frequently; otherwise I think the piece might have gotten tedious.  It was over 600 stitches around by the time I finished.  One thing I discovered that I need to learn: how to frog correctly.  There are several glaring mistakes in the blanket, but by the time I realized they were there I was afraid to unravel for fear of messing it up more than it already was.  But overall I’m proud of it.  It’s by far my biggest knit undertaking and just finishing it is encouraging.

The other project I finished today was a felt birthday crown for Hayden.  His birthday is coming up on Wednesday and I SO wanted to do this for him, but was afraid that I would run out of time.  This is the pattern I used http://juicy-bits.typepad.com/juicy_bits/2008/09/32-felt-birthday-crown-tutorial.html.  The instructions were easy to follow and I was so happy with how quickly it came together.  I’ll be honest, I essentially copied her design just switching the colors to Hayden’s preference and using the decorative stitches available on my machine.  I think it turned out great.  Now I just hope Hayden loves it as much as I do.  J  I’ll also post pictures of him in it next Wednesday.




I could have cleaned the house instead of spending that time on fun projects- it definitely needs it.  But there’s something incredibly relaxing about handwork, and it’s so satisfying to see the finished project and think, “I did that!”  The fact that the things I created are for my boys only adds to that feeling of satisfaction and pride.  So, here I am, shamelessly showing off.  ;-)