WIP Wednesday: Toasties & Kitties & Yarn, OH MY!

Would you believe that I have been so busy I haven't had my camera around my neck 24/7? Could it be?! I don't have photos of all my current WIPs but I can still tell you about them, right?

Ok, I finished up the knitting for my Seasons Round swap package. Don't forget today is the last day for sign ups! I do have to say that they came out so cute! I can't say what they are because one of you may end up my swap partner and I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise! I just need to gather a couple things from nature and my package will be set to go. I'm already dreaming up what I will make for the winter Seasons Round swap.


Toasties
I finally got around to blocking my toasties I knit last winter so they are all set for this fall in Oregon. I plan on finishing up my Odessa hat to go with them. These were the very first thing I knit for myself (and sadly, still the only thing I have knit for myself so far). I hope to find more time, somehow, to make things for myself a bit more.


Gotta love the colors

I've been working on a little yarn dyeing project for my friend Shelley and it's almost done and ready to mail.

My special pattern for our trip on the Oregon Trail came in the mail a couple days ago so I am mentally preparing to start on that and I am about to cast on K's birthday sweater. I found some super yummy malabrigo in the floral colorway to knit it up in (yes, C will have a matching one as well!).

Lastly, I thought I would share one of K's current WIPs. Her kitty bed. She has been pretending to be a kitty a lot lately. She needed a comfy place to sleep so she stole my laundry basket,some blankets and one of our wool rugs.


Voila! Instant kitty bed. The real kitties have been enjoying it too!

I will try and get pics of all the above mentioned for later in the week. On a more personal note, thank you again everyone for all your help with our house hunting. I still owe a couple of you e-mails and I promise to get back to you soon!! <3

Happy Creating!

Colonial Williamsburg - Our Good-Bye Tour

Mid-day parade


Garden beauty

We will surely miss this place. I can even remember coming here on vacation when I was younger with my mother. So there are lots of memories to be had here.
During our past 4 years of living here I have gathered so much inspiration from all the old buildings and learning from the re-enactments of the past. You want to learn about self-sufficient and simple living, this is definitely the place! Of course it's the 'old school' way but, honestly, that's how I prefer it!


This year's lambs

The sheep pastures are one of our favorite spots to visit. We hope to some day have a farm and sheep of our own. Imagine how great it would be to knit from wool off of your very own loved and spoiled sheep!


Tiffeni and K watching the lambs

My friend Tiffeni (from Kinderhaus toys) used to work in Colonial Williamsburg and she took the girls and I on a mini-tour of the pastures and gardens. It was a great day. She really let us in on many of the secrest of the area.
K skuuted along on her skuut bike with a bag on the front of it to gather nature finds.


K riding her skuut bike through some gardens



K really loves the lambs!


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C's fever has passed but now she is teething BAD so I apologize for my 'running on little sleep' post

a Sweet Surprise...and a little help, please?

Just to lift our spirits. Midnight Batsy (aka: Jabba the Cat) is almost as big as K! He actually does love K a lot, he's just not showing it so much in this photo!

C has had a fever the past couple of days so it's been a bit chaotic and cabin fever is setting in a bit. I hope it will be gone soon and we can get back out. My poor thing! Needless to say this will be brief.

I have to share the most amazing surprise that arrived at my door the other day. My friend Marina sent me this goodness -


yum, yum! Not pictured are some sweet pea seeds and yummy,yummy tea (the girls ran off with both on me)

Oh my goodness!!! Boy, does she know what I love, I am in Heaven! I already know what I am doing with the sweet pink mushroom fabric. I am just waiting on the pattern to arrive in the mail, but it will be something special for our trip on the Oregon Trail *wink, wink* Would you believe I have been drooling over all the different fabrics included in this package on Etsy?! How on earth did she know?! *faint*
Thank you, thank you Marina! I don't deserve such kindness, you are so incredibly sweet!! I don't know what I'd do without you!!


If you haven't already done so, please check out the Seasons Round nature table exchange. There are about 60 of us signed up now (the max is 100) and the deadline to join for the fall: harvest swap is this Wednesday the 15th. I already know what I am making and I am starting on it now so that I can mail it before we move.

Speaking of the move, we will know soon exactly when it will be. I haven't mentioned it on here but my husband Kevin has been gone for the past 2 months for schooling. It's just been the girls, fur babies and I. He comes back next week and as soon as he does we start the fun 'out processing' on base. That's when we'll find out our exact moving date. More than likely it will be early August, though.

I've got to get back to my sick little one but I will leave you with how I found her napping the other day.


Notice her C baby way up at the top of the bed... that's where I left C when I put her down for her nap. When I came to check on her a little bit later she was all the way at the end of the bed, passed out, happy as could be.


Sweet little feet, just because!
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I'm starting to freak out a bit about our move and not having a place to live when we get to Oregon. Does anyone know of any real estate websites for Beaverton and it's surrounding areas (and happen to know what areas might have waldorf families?)? Thanks in advance!

WIP Wednesday: Celebrating - Seasons, Rhythm, and COMPLETION!

Tea party, anyone?

We'll start with K's summertime table cloth. We sewed that up quick during C's nap the other day. Both girls love it. Short and sweet and a good meditation for me, not to mention it helped to satisfy my hunger for sewing, at least for a little while.


The rhythm of our day

This is a little project I started on painting day last week with K. I thought it would be nice to have our waking, nap time, and bedtime verses by our bed to look at. While K worked on her blue paintings (we do 1 color at a time with our wet on wet painting until she is a little older), I did 3 mini paintings, one for morning, one for the afternoon and one for evening. After they dried I used a marker and wrote our verses on the appropriate pictures. Being my usual critical self, I am going to re-do them. I don't like the thickness of the marker, nor my handwriting.


Pulling the stem through the apple

Lastly, (you knew it was coming) the never ending project. I am very happy to say that I have this pretty much done. Just some finishing touches and off it goes in the mail. I am waiting on a response from our organizer before I mail them out, as well. We are sending extras for a charity auction and I need to see if I need to make one more or not. I am thrilled to not only be a part of this project to begin with, but to help out those who need it with my simple craft, as well.

Thank you, again, everyone for your responses about our move. I am thrilled there will be an airshow somewhat near us! We still have a month before our move, but I am mentally preparing myself now. Please keep all the wonderful and inspiring information coming!

Happy creating!!

Soon to go, into the wild blue yonder...

C all ready for some planes
Wow!! Thank you, thank you everyone for your comments on our move. I feel so lucky to have all of you visit our little place here and take the time to help us out. Please know how grateful I am for every one's kindness. I am now even more excited to get to Oregon. We will be moving to Portland area. Kevin's job will be in Beaverton. I have to admit, when I first found out I was excited but disappointed,too. One of our options was Maine and I was really hoping that's were we would move to. Both of our families are up in the north east and I just miss the snow and having all 4 seasons so much. But there are so many amazing things about Oregon (a lot that you all mentioned) that I had no clue about. I really can't wait now. I hope we get lots of snow!!!

One thing that we have mixed feelings on with the move is that we will not be near any kind of military base. That brings many good things as well as bad. I know for K, the biggest thing she will miss is the USAF Air Show every year. You might remember how much she enjoyed last year. It's almost her favorite time of the year. This was the first year C got more into it, too. I'm sure our waldorf school, her new friends and everything else wonderful about our new home will help her get by, though :)

I have to get back to knitting my WIP so I leave you with a few highlights from this years air show. I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend!


Thunderbirds leaving


C's Air Force diaper


Heading home-Leaving fighter country
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Sorry for the type-os! All fixed now :)

Are We Ready?

Oregon here we come!

...For our cross country move? It's already July which means we only have about a month left. Eeeeek! I think I can safely say that I will never be fully ready for such a thing. I have made cross country moves before but not with 2 kids (who can't stand the car),2 cats and 2 dogs. It will be interesting to say the least,but I look forward to the change. We will be moving from Virginia to Oregon. Our location in Oregon will have us near, not 1 but 2 Waldorf schools. K is excited beyond words to finally be near a school. C, on the other hand, has no clue what is about to happen to us in the near future. She's such an easy going girl she will be ok with whatever comes her way, though.



My mom is giving K a raincoat for her birthday this year, which is perfect for our move. We have been told by just about everyone that it rains A LOT there. I figured C needed one, too. We try to stick to natural materials at all times but that's rather hard when it comes to something like a raincoat. So our compromise is a 100% cotton lined raincoat. I found this one for C at the Hanna Andersson outlet while shopping with my mom. C is in love with it.




As you can see!! She begs for me to put it on her at least one time a day.

WIP Wednesday: Deadline Met & Outtakes

Wow, I'm just noticing how much bigger I look in these pics. Eeek! We'll just carry on and ignore that for now...



Time to celebrate! I got my prototype, pattern and photos in Monday night! So I managed to get them in a day early, that's a first for me! Now to just finish up all 7 of them. I got my tripod working and my camera timer up and running. Not the best pics taken, but they will have to do. These outtakes cracked me up!! K was all over the place.` It was fun taking them.

I'm embarrassed to say we are just now getting around to making the girls summer table cloth for their little table in the living room. K picked out this fabric and rickrack trim. I just washed it and will sew it up soon. That's a nice fast and easy sewing project. Perfect for in between my knitting madness.



So see, now that the 1st deadline has come and gone my WIP posts will slowly be moving on to other things :)

Check out the WIP Wednesday pool on Flickr and get inspired! Happy creating!

Scissor Happy

Ah yes, the age of three.

Cutting with scissors is fun, isn't it?



Especially when it's your own hair! As you can see by her goofy face, she's quite proud of what she did.



This happened the other day while I was putting C down for her nap. K even put the hair she cut into a jar with some pieces of paper she cut up.
I guess they all have to try this at some point, right? I think she could pull off the Bettie Page bangs(unlike me!)....We go to get it fixed this week ;)

A True Hero

"I want to fight until the day I am no longer able. Fight for what? For the world, for life, for happiness, for fresh air, for songs, for the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea."
-Jacques Cousteau

Ever since I can remember I loved Jacques Cousteau. I was always so fascinated with his ocean explorations as a kid. His study of sharks is what really got me to love him, though. (You may remember the mention of my shark obsession in my WIPster interview.) He really worked so hard to destroy the fearsome man-eating image most people envisioned when they thought of sharks. He taught people to see them for how amazing they truly are, and respect them. He reminded the world that without sharks, humans would not survive. He did all of this in his amazing lifetime and that is just barely the tip of the iceberg of all his work.



"We must not only defend sharks because they are useful and beautiful, but we must protect the sea that feeds them. And also restore the balance of the great ocean's ecosystem, of which sharks form an important link and on which we ultimately depend."
Requins, Innocents sauvages, J-Y Cousteau et Yves Paccalet, Ed. Robert Laffont 1997.



Even though he has left this earth he will forever have my admiration. So you can imagine my excitement when I found the Cousteau Society headquarters *almost* in my neighborhood. I kid you not, it's literally a 7 1/2 minute drive. I am so happy I discovered this before we moved! The girls and I drove there on Tuesday. They had a tiny museum filled with some of the most amazing things. The girls were not as excited as I was, although K really liked the mechanical shark. If only we lived here while they were older...


Life size mechanical great white shark

I could have spent hours in that tiny museum but they let me have about 45 minutes. I think we reached a good compromise! (That is one of the keys to parenting, wouldn't you say?) I learned so much about his life and his amazing family. I look forward to the day when I can share my love and gratitude for Jacques Cousteau with my girls, and have them fully understand. Until then I can continue telling them stories of his expeditions and teaching them to respect and care for our oceans and planet. I think that's what he would want us all to do.


From the Calypso


Underwater camera from the late 1970s

WIP Wednesday: Mini Yum Yums

For the latest installment in my never ending project may I present...



a pear fit for a fairy. That's all I can think of when I knit these tiny things. K is in love with them. I think once this is all said and done I will have to knit extras for her Ostheimer animals to have in her farm.

6 days left to finish up the pattern details and photos. I don't know how, but I have somehow managed to forget how to use my tripod for self portraits. I guess it's been at least 5 years since I've done a self portrait. I don't know of anyone near me who knows how to work my camera to take the pics for me. I pretty much have about 1 hour each day to figure this out (while C is napping and I have good lighting). I guess we'll see what I come up with. Anyone have any good reminders or pointers they want to share with me? Help jog my memory,please!

I have to say, when I am knitting I become ecstatic, almost giddy like. Knitting is definitely my much needed release from such crazy, hectic days. My dogs are usually the only ones that witness my silliness while I knit,(which is probably a good thing).


Paw Paw

As you can see they think I am crazy.

I hope you are all having fun on whatever you may have in progress!

Happy Summer Solstice (and Father's Day)!

Flaming light,
Shine so bright,
Flaming light,
Give your might,
Make us strong and make us bold
Turn our world to living gold.
- M.Meyerkort

Hope everyone has a great one! We are on the tail end of a wonderful week filled with visits from our dear friends and my mother. <3


June

Outer banks find


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We threw this together fast so it's not looking all that great right now,not to mention my not so great pics! Sorry!!

WIP Wednesday: Are You Sick Of This Project Yet?

Time for a happy dance! I have the prototypes all done, patterns complete and I'm on to the picture taking phase, then I just have to knit up a bunch more and mail them on their way. I'm so happy I am finally at this stage! Hopefully I will knit up the rest fast and then you guys won't be sick of hearing about this project ;)
Can I just say the little 'accessories' for the basket are turning out so cute! They are the size of a dime!!
My project really ends up being very simple and I think even the beginner knitter will be able to make this. I just hope now that it's good enough to make it in the magazine. I am working with the most amazing and talented women ever known. Honestly, it's just an honor that I was able to participate in such a wonderful project. I can't believe I have to wait until the winter for all of you to see the beauty of everything everyone is making. I will keep you all updated on it until then, as long as you don't get sick of it!



Happy creating!

For the Birds

*a little warning- this was typed up without coffee in my system!*


'Daddy' mourning dove keeping the eggs warm while 'Mama' is away eating

My dear friend Cat just posted recently about the loss of life on her farm.
Although, it's all part of nature it still saddens me.

The girls and I have become quite fond of our bird friends in our yard. We feed them daily, along with our squirrel friends. We truly love watching and admiring them throughout the day.

We watched 2 mourning doves build their nest in our tree twig by twig. Every day we would peek out our window and check on them. Then the mama laid her eggs, and we would watch them delicately move them around in the nest to re-adjust. We even saw the babies hatch. Then something went wrong. I checked out our window to see how the babies were doing and both parents were gone. Flies were buzzing around the nest. I knew that couldn't be a good sign. I confirmed that one of the babies had died. I went outside to look for the other baby and oh my, I can't tell you how happy I was when I found that sweet little guy alive and moving under the tree. I quickly picked him up and got some old blankets and rags together to make him a temporary home until the emergency vet opened.



K loved watching over him and making sure he was warm enough. He was a very tiny thing, his eyes weren't even opened yet, but I hope they are able to rehabilitate him. We have our fingers crossed. These vets are amazing. Last month I had to bring in a male blue jay to them. I saw the poor guy get run over by a car. The technician thought he had a great chance though. The girls and I choose to have hope that our feathered friends will be ok. It may sound silly but seeing what these animals have to go through really makes me cherish what little time we have.

WIP Wednesday: a Tisket, a Tasket....

Wow. It's that time again. It seems like I have only been able to post on Wednesdays lately.
I am very, very happy to say that my lack of enthusiasm towards knitting has gone to the way side, and I'm back in full force! *happy dance time* I don't have the chance to knit during the day anymore but at exactly 8:05 every evening (OK, maybe give or take a few minutes) I am in my living room with both dogs knitting like a mad woman.

After being reminded many times over why I never did like math equations, I finally got my pattern figured out for the magazine project. I still have a lot to do, but knowing that I conquered that silly issue has me elated.



That is a pre-felted sneak peek of what I've been up to. I have until the 30th to finish up my instructions/patterns for every part of the project, and get pics of my prototypes in. Then I have until the end of July to make about 6 more of them. If we weren't moving cross country that would be a piece of cake but I admit I am spreading myself a bit thin here. I think it's well worth it though!!
Happy creating everyone!

Featured WIPster? Who, me?!

I had to share with everyone how honored and amazed I am that I am the June featured WIPster. You can find the info HERE
Thank you Shelly for the honor.

I have been a bit absent this week from the computer. The girls and I have been keeping ourselves rather busy and I am still a bit stressed over figuring out my pattern for that project. I have been able to work online only after they have gone to bed, but I have found myself rather exhausted by then too. Plus, I do have to admit it's hard to resist this sweet dirty sleeping face



and this kitty butt in the air!



Have a great weekend! This is Pirate Festival weekend for us!!