2008

This year was a complete blur. There was so much loving and cuddling with Baby C that time sort of stood still (until I look back and realize that its been a full year). We made our biggest move yet and now live again in the small town that we just couldn't stand to be away from. We are still settling in and this is where the nesting in anticipation of the arrival of baby #2 comes in to play (hmmm... a sister or brother for Baby C to play with). I completed my first and second quilts, and oodles of baby blankets for all our friends little bundles. We had a great year and I cannot wait to see what 2009 holds for us.

I've been good

I have been really good about my fabric purchases lately... until I stumbled upon the Olde Crow website and found that my local quilt shop was having a 40% off holiday fabric sale. Now how can you pass that up? They are practically giving it away! So I browsed and bought... and bought... and bought... I am so ready to get started for next years gifts I cannot wait!

What are we doing?

I was horrified when I checked my email this morning and saw a message from a friend clarifying that his son was ok and in fact survived and incident involving his vehicle and a large IED in Afghanistan. It seems that not a day or week goes by that I read of another Canadian, or American, soldier who has lost their life as a result of of this ridiculous war. The reality and devastation truly sets in when it strikes so close to home and I have to ask again (as I have been doing for years) - what are we doing? When will this end, when will enough be enough?

http://videos.canoe.ca/?fr_story=870afe8ffcb4f8479f4e71b8f018a8f1a5b41e72&rf=sitemap

http://videos.canoe.ca/?fr_story=870afe8ffcb4f8479f4e71b8f018a8f1a5b41e72&rf=sitemap

52 Books :: Week 2

I finished Parenting Inc. this weekend and pretty much enjoyed it. I really liked the author's message that its not what is bought for our children but what is done for and with them that truly matters. She goes into a lot of detail about the commodification of parenthood and child rearing which was a much appreciated reminder in this crazy commercialized month of holiday madness. I think this book had a lot of potential and perhaps missed its mark a bit. It read to me like somewhat of a run on sentence and had I not been so deeply interested in the topic, I have to admit I probably would have abandoned it in favour of some knitting. But all in all it was a worthwhile read.



For week 2 I have chosen a fun, quick read:

The Sugar Camp Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini (part of the Elm Creek Quilts series). I have read the first two books in the series and am not completely in love with them, but find myself wanting to read more. I can't explain it.

52 books in 52 weeks

I just joined the 52 books in 52 weeks group on Ravelry and I'm pretty sure that I'm not up to the challenge. Maybe 26 books in 52 weeks... but probably not even that would be doable... but I think it will be fun to try. I've always been a bit of a book worm, but with Baby C...and the soon to be new baby, and my beloved (and all too short) crafting time, my reading time has fallen by the way side. I'll try to post on Monday about the book I'm starting that week and hopefully by the following Monday I'll be able to post a new one. With the new baby coming in April this will be slightly comical and I'm curious to see when those Monday morning posts stop coming. I guess I shouldn't set myself up to fail. I'll be positive! I can' do this because I want to... there... if only I could believe myself!



I'm going to cheat and post book #1 already. Whatever... I can bend the rules a bit!

Parenting Inc. by Pamela Paul

Its done!!!

I had such a fabulous night last night. Mom and I sat around the table, and later together on the couch, tying and binding the memeory quilt for Grandma. It was so nice to hear stories of my grandfather (whom I never really knew), and Grandma and her sisters, and the odd story that Dad would throw in about his childhood. It was a really special way to finish a project so close to my heart. The technique is in no way perfect... but the quilt... it is perfect.

Additcted to Ravelry

Oh no... my invitation to Ravelry arrived today and I just realized how long I have spent on line... and I'm barely a knitter! This could be quite dangerous!

Call to Action

This morning I was disturbed when I came across this link on the Bee Handmade Stuff blog. Basically it talks about a piece of US legislature that will virtually ban handmade toys in an 'effort' to make toys safer for children. I agree that there should be some bans made and some legislation passed regarding children's toys... but focus on the major companies that are putting hundreds of thousands of contaminated toys on the shelves every day! It seems ridiculous to me to be going after small companies and work at home moms who care and take pride in producing a quality, safe, non-toxic toy for themselves and their customers.

I turned to handmade toys as a result of all recalls of lead infested toys. I am not concerned at all that Baby C's Waldorf doll (made of organic sheep's wool) contains lead or other toxins, but I do fear for every other toy she has ever been given.

This is of particular concern to me, as if this legislation is passed it will only be a matter of time before this happens in Canada too.

Lets do what we can to stop this madness!

Not so complete birthday crafting

Well... I was maybe a little too ambitious this year for holiday and birthday crafting... I think if it didn't take me so long to find wool felt (which I did at the Waldorf school store in Guelph) I could have actually completed Baby C's birthday crown. Unfortunately the crown will have to wait for next year but she wasn't completely undecorated. I remembered to snap a picture of her in her birthday bib minutes before she went off to bed (after a few "I'm so tired and sick" tears). Not at all the best picture, but it was all I could get - we were too busy celebrating to remember to take pictures!

Celebrating

Today we are doing a whole lot of celebrating. This sweet little girl is now 1 year old. What can I say about Baby C? She is curious, but cautious. Smart and quick to learn new things (unfortunately she only had to see me open the only cupboard door with no child lock once to figure out that it was fair game). She is quick with her hands and loves to move. She shares a love of music with mama and daddy (and even shares a few favourite bands with us too). She loves to dance and loves to move. She has quite the sense of humour (and shows us this all the time by teasing us with her food), and laughs from her belly. She is a pure joy and I feel so privileged to share my birthday with her - I couldn't have asked for a better gift. Here is to you baby girl!

Project #1... simple and sweet

Mom and I completed project #1 with our new embroidery machine (a Janome 350 E, I'm impressed and I haven't even read the instructions yet!) last night. Its a simple yet sweet bib for Baby C's birthday dinner on Sunday. I can't believe this sweet little babe is actually 1 year old. Some days I never thought I would survive, but I wouldn't have changed a single day. I am blessed to be able to stay home with her and watch as she grows, and discovers and develops into such an amazing little girl.





I still need to finish her birthday crown before the big day but it will get done (and in a more acceptable time frame than some of my more recent projects!).

Making time

Today I am making time for a sick little girl who just wants to cuddle on the couch with mama. No crawling, no walking, no getting into cupboards she shouldn't be... just cuddling on the couch with her snuggy blanket. Its a bit of a nice change of pace, I just wish she didn't have to have such a high fever and feel so terrible to get it!

It shouldn't be this hard

I am trying to find wool felt to make Baby C a birthday crown (pattern compliments of Soulemama's book the Creative Family) and do you think that I can find it anywhere in Guelph, or K-W? Not yet. I will be checking out the local Waldorf school's store on Thursday - I know they have wool felt I just don't know what weight it is. Either way it will be better then what I have found. I'm actually quite stoked to check out the store, I've never been there and just found out that they are a lot closer to us then I realized.

I'm beginning to run out of time, Baby C's birthday is on Monday and we had a terrible experience with a party hat on Saturday. Lets just say that she didn't get the concept and nearly ripped her little ears off while she frantically tried to remove the hat after snapping herself in the face with it.... I think her crown will be appreciated by all (and a little safer too!).