holiday handmades--Hannah's pink sweater

Here's Hannah's Christmas sweater.  Actually, this one was wrapped and put under the tree with needles still attached.  I had only a few rows to go, but it just didn't get finished in time.  I finally sewed the buttons on just yesterday, and Hannah was so excited to wear it!

I used this pattern...so darling!!  And I love the gorgeous baby alpaca yarn from Kamille's.  So so soft!  Love!!  To go up one from the largest size in the pattern, I used a size 11 needle, and made the armholes a bit bigger than the pattern instructed.  It turned out nice and roomy, and I think Hannah will be able to wear it for a couple of years!

These little girls wanted in on the pictures...

And this guy too...

Cute things...

I looove seeing them all bundled up in handknits.  

And on the not-so-chilly winter days we're having, wool vests are just the thing for running around outside.  Not too much bulk, but just enough warmth to keep them nice and cozy.

Hooray for handknits!!!

And happy weekend to you all!

january days

Winter has finally arrived around here!
These chilly January days are for...

*staying by the fire in our pj's
*watching the snow fall through frosty windows
*peppermint tea and toast
*boiled wool slippers to keep our tootsies warm
*blooming paperwhites for a touch of nature indoors
*cozying up with wool
*drawing, planning, making
*creative type-written notes
*casting on.

And of course there's room for basketball practices and games, snowboarding, classes, horse lessons, etc.
But most of the days we spend all cozied up indoors.  And I love it.

Slow and simple.

holiday handmades--Eliza's gray vest

Here's Eliza's Christmas sweater.  (I never got around to blocking it...thus the rolling of the neck and bottom a bit.)  I love how it turned out.  And so does Eliza.  She wears it all the time!  Hooray!

I used JCasa's neighborly pattern again.  Here's the first neighborly I made for little Sarah last Christmas.  Such a simple and darling pattern!  I used my new favorite yarn...Rowan's Cocoon.  80% merino wool, 20% kid mohair.  It's warm and so so soft, with a slight fuzzy halo.  Such a joy to knit with!  Love!  One of these days, I'll get around to posting my projects on ravelry too.  Favorite place to browse knitting patterns.  Favorite!

Much of this vest was knit on the sidelines of fall soccer games and practices, resting on a blanket, with late summer sun beating on my back, and cool evening breezes whispering the coming of a new season.  And the rest was knit while listening a great audible version of Dickens' Little Dorrit, and then watching the 2008 mini-series film version.  Excellent, excellent rendition!  Loved it!

These memories of scenes playing out all around me as I knit a particular item, are what has endeared me  to this (relatively) new hobby of mine.  I bring my knitting bag wherever I go, and in all my spare minutes, I knit.  And each finished sweater, hat, shawl, or sock carries with it the reminder of so many special moments of this beautiful time of my life...this busy, sweet, full, active time of mothering and nurturing the little people in my life.  And then to see these littles romp around in the special bundle of stitches knit up just for them...it's bliss, I tell you!

Oh, and for those who asked, the clogs are from Crewcuts.  Sven brand.  On sale :).
And FYI:
Leggings and shirt are from Mini Boden.
Skirt is from Olive Juice.
Cute blue eyes are from grandma!  :)

toys, un-toys, and purging

I snapped this picture of Hannah's corner of the couch during our school time yesterday.

Four different craft projects and a math book.

So much going at once!

Like mother, like daughter...

Today's cleaning day.

We need to do a big purge, and de-junk this place.

Our Christmas decor is finally all boxed up.

And the house feels empty.

It makes me want to clean.

The kids' rooms (ahem...and mine) are in disarray.

So are the closets and bookcases and baskets.

So much fun holiday partying leaves little time for organizing and cleaning!

I've been thinking a lot about Kyrie's un-toys post, available here.  I love it.

And I read this fantastic article in December.

Such a great reminder that kids don't need a crazy assortment of plastic junk toys 

to fill up space in our homes and in their lives.

My kids' favorite toys (or un-toys) are the great outdoors, books, craft supplies, and odds and ends for making stuff.

And that's pretty much all we need.

Plus some wooden blocks, a few dolls, and a small play kitchen with some little dishes.

Oh, and legos and balls for the boys, of course.

I find that they are more creative with their play, when they have less to dictate that play.

And with lots of free time during the day, they are really good at thinking up things to do.

I also believe that unscripted toys are best for childrens' imaginations.  Toys that talk or have directions come with limited use, and also limit the child's opportunity to create his own play.  Dolls, fabric, building materials, craft supplies, etc. are all unscripted and can be used in so many ways, according to a child's imagination.  

So, off I go with my big black garbage sack

to gather up toys to be donated and tossed out!

I'm hoping to take some time this weekend to sort through the other clutter in my life as well.

The clutter in my schedule, in my mind, and in my soul.

This article is fantastic.  The principles in it have helped me so much over the years.  

There's more about this in her book as well.  It's excellent!

Lots to think about as we enter a new year.

But what keeps coming back to me is

...simplify!!

Hope you all have a simply lovely weekend!

And we'll see you back here next week with photos of the girls' Christmas sweaters and some knitting links.  Fun!!  

on a sunny winter's day..

three little princesses went out to play.

Their noble brother-princes aided them in constructing a safe (and pretty) shelter,

and made a fire to keep them toasty warm.

Then the brave princes went off to practice other chivalrous pursuits.

And they all lived happily ever after.

The End.

Feels like summertime around here...

we kind of like it.

holiday handmades: the dresses

I really, really tried to talk myself out of making holiday dresses this year.  Our December had gotten so busy, and I had so many other projects in the works.  I really needed to simplify.  Besides, I could just make winter dresses in January, right?  But I had made dresses almost every Christmas since the girls were little, and I just couldn't let it go.

So...I woke up early the morning of Christmas Eve, and since the presents were wrapped, and I had almost everything ready for Christmas, I decided to go for it.  I would sew all morning, and I could have them finished by noon.  Then there would still be plenty of time to brine the turkey, make lemon curd for the neighbors, finish knitting the Christmas sweaters, and cook our yummy seafood dinner.  So, I went for it!

I used this Japanese sewing book, and this pattern.  But I couldn't figure out which pieces to trace again, so I just upsized the pieces of the size 5 dress I had already made for Sarah.  I used some beautiful, soft fine wale corduroy in three colors, and lined them with contrasting small-print 30's fabric.  Not super "Christmas," but very holiday festive.  I love how they turned out.  Simple and classic.  And the girls loved them too!

December favorites and happy new year!

With the Christmas thrill and magic winding down, we're enjoying a slow and relaxing week-after, hanging around the house together.
I keep reflecting on our beautiful Christmas season,
feeling nostalgia and gratitude,
and decided to make a list of favorites,
so as not to forget what made it so wonderful:

• Stockings hung by the chimney with care.
• Lots of knitting (photos of the Christmas handmades to come!).
• Making aprons from tea towels...super easy and fun!  (thanks for the great idea, Mindy!)
• A new nativity in the mail from my MIL.  I love it!  Thanks, Mom!
• Making gingerbread, caramels, and lemon curd for friends and neighbors.  Yum!
• Seeing the lights at Temple Square.
• A traditional family viewing of It's a Wonderful Life.  Love!!
• This beautiful short film.  Such a special Christmas gift to the world!
• A live nativity in our neighborhood...dressing up as shepherds and following Mary, on her donkey, to the stable up the street.  Then visiting with neighbors over hot chocolate and barrel fires.
• Hosting a great (and sticky) marshmallow fight (due to a lack of snow for a snowball fight), complete with PVC pipe launchers. 
• Piano and violin recitals, giving a feeling of good 'ol pride to this mama's heart.
• Surviving the beginning of basketball season, with three players in three different leagues.  (I knit almost an entire sweater vest watching my boys play in December!)
• Christmas parties and celebrations.
• An office party up at Park City's Olympic Park.  Dining with great friends while watching the US and Russian ski teams train and perform amazing jumps live.  Wow!
• Deciding I just couldn't go a year without making holiday dresses for the girls...on Christmas Eve morning!
• Seeing the girls twirl around in their new dresses and swedish clogs before our Christmas morning Church service.
• Hearing the children of our neighborhood sing "gloooooria in excelsis deo" at the top of their lungs from the pulpit.
• Watching a brave 10-year-old son sing a solo without flinching, even though the Church was packed to the rafters.  He sang the verse, "Come to Bethlehem and see..." with such power, that I was convinced he would have been the one running through the town, telling everyone to come and see the newborn King, had he been there then.
• Taylor's confident recitation of Christ's birth from Luke 2 at the pulpit.
• Caroling to friends and neighbors.
• Having another turkey dinner, with ham and all the trimmings, on Christmas Day.  And having Mom and Uncle Todd here to eat and celebrate with us.
• Lots of happy surprises on Christmas morning.  Joy!
• Feeling coziness and warmth as we gathered as a family by the woodstove, cherishing our time together. Soaking in the magic and wonder of the season.  Together.

I always get a little nostalgic as we welcome in a new year.  I have felt so much joy and happiness this year.  I have felt so truly blessed.  I have had some amazing experiences.  I have learned so much and grown in so many ways.  I have been blessed by so many wonderful friends.

However...

there is so much more to be learned.  So many new roads to travel and paths to forge.  So many opportunities on the horizon.  It's time to begin a new season of growth and learning.  And I'm ready to go!

Welcome 2012!

And a Happy New Year to you all!!