it’s big this year. i’m starting easy with Joelle Hoverson’s pashmina cowl only i substituted the cashmere and i’m calling it my alpaca silk cowl;

i’m not sure it was the best substitute as it’s a much finer yarn and really i should have waited for some smaller circulars but i’m following through with it mostly to keep my knitting momentum. i’ve got project goals!  those 5 skeins of charcoal are intended for a pattern i purchased long before i could really knit. i’m sure it was Alison’s fabric choice that sold me BUT before i get that on needles i have some other projects. i’m going to knit myself a sweater. i’m terrified but Jane Richmond’s Oatmeal Pullover looks easy enough for a beginner knitter such as myself.

i’m an all natural gal when it comes to fabrics and fibers so i opted for  some Groovy Dream In Color (funny name since i chose white).

if all goes well shalom is on the list in groovy grey;

for little M - a simple boat neck sweater in organic cotton;

Little A has his own lengthy list of quirky designs for me that i can’t wrap my head around. He’s not really fond of wearing knits so i’m having a hard time entertaining his ideas some of which are due for Halloween. instead i’m hoping he’ll be satisfied with something along the lines of organic face cloths in rainbow colors.  we’ll see.

there’s much much more on the list but i’m keeping the patterns simple in hopes that i don’t give it up. i’m digging ravelry. i especially love their pocket card chart for needle inventory - don’t go to the yarn shop without one.

on the sewing front; there’s some sweetness added to the shop;

It’s been an emotional few days with much drama and next to no eating or drinking to the wobbly point of no energy for play - he refused, claiming it hurt too much. aiii. instead he wanted to be in bed cuddling where he fell asleep, exhausted. Finally, day 3, and after much imploring, he let papa take the tooth out which was really just sitting there in his mouth. Whew. We were all relieved and much happier but he was still not interested in eating or drinking much. He said he wanted more than just money from the tooth fairy. This is our tooth gnome from Ketti.

Recently my mom came across an old note that my sister wrote which read, “mom, the fairy is not coming. Could you please take these 5 teeth and leave some money (or not leave money). ” I had such a good laugh about this but it also made me think that soon my little one’s  teeth might be falling out one after the other and so I’ve been making a rainbow of tooth fairy bags to have on hand. They’re perfect to hold both tooth and treasure as well as a small scroll note. For those of you with little ones yet to lose their milk teeth, i love this little poem. Please share other sweet poems if you’ve got any.

Well done my sweet! It was a really hard tooth to lose.

We’re on to the next milestone already as we’re supporting some chills and fever. He always comes out of it just a little bit stronger and wiser.

i took advantage of some sunny days and a boost of short lived yet well used energy to wash the woolens and get ready for little diaper bum (i’m sure i’ll coin a better nick name than that soon);

i used Eucalan this time but when the bottle runs out (and i imagine it won’t be long) i’m going to make my own wool wash with lanolin, baby shampoo and lavender oil;

if you haven’t heard of her already, check out Nikki McClure. i love her images and recently discovered these ones to hang in my planned birthing space;

ok all of you 2nd time mamas; i have a request for your insight and ideas. i would like to put together a “nursing basket” or “jar of ideas/projects/poems” that my little one can go to when his mama needs to be with baby. i want to come up with some surprises and things that he will be excited about, things he can do on his own or quietly near the nursing duo. i would love to hear your input. Something i found today that i love and will keep stashed are these coloring in pages from Yaelfran (i’m eyeing up some of her sticker books too);

your input here is greatly appreciated. xo.

it has arrived - super soft 100% Holland Wool Felt! i’ll need a week’s time to organize and cut into it but you are more than welcome to check out details here and place your order.

sunshine;

earthscape;

cherry blossom & crocus;

there are so very many creative projects to explore with wool felt. here are some of mine;

this little guys looks like nothing at all of what i imagined. in fact he’s so different that i feel like i’m staring at him in a similar way to when i first was meeting Little A out of the womb - i stared and searched for hours wondering, “what do you look like and who are you?” i realize the puppet reveals himself in the making. i’m not sure this is my medium but i have a deeper respect for some very special doll and puppet makers out there along with the great story tellers. i learned many wonderful things in this workshop re; language and speech with children, the dreaminess of vowel sounds as opposed to the awakening sound of the consonants, that a person’s larynx mimics a speakers vocal and energetic vibration (not the case in listening to a recording or tv). a reminder brought forth this weekend in regards to reading and telling stories to children is to’ give life and not emotion to the story’ - it’s a real art to capture a child’s wonder with a simple story and i think that in a person’s unknowing or discomfort that one might be more inclined to project themselves and their emotions into the story, becoming much more of an entertainer. there is absolutely no need for animation. a child’s wonder is pure.

there is so much to do with a puppet and this verse;

wee willie winky runs through the town

upstairs and downstairs in his nightgown

peeking in the windows, calling through the locks

‘are all the children in their beds?

for now it’s 8 o’clock’

Suzanne Down is a lovely woman and the director of Juniper Tree School of Puppetry Arts in Colorado.

from 1 - 86, the little one picked the number 60.

Malka will be mailed within BC to Tai and her 2 boys over at Small Wonder. it’s been such a long time since i’ve spent time perusing blogs, linking here and there getting lost and led to further inspiring sites. From Tai’s own inspiring blog i’ve tucked away a link to Enki Education for future thought and reading, i signed up (finally) for a year’s subscription to Living Crafts and i discovered Molly’s super sweet and awesome beeswax acorn tutorial. i’m certain there’s much more to explore so thank you Tai. Please send me your mailing address (my contact info is on my “about” page).

ps. a little sweetness over breakfast;

elves are lining up in our home as we prepare for advent and another event.

so i’m pretty burnt out from setting up in 2 locations in the same day but it’s done and over and it all went pretty smoothly with lots of help from good friends. xo.

i’m going to have a bath. the weather outside has been frightful.

Happy rest of the weekend to you.

i might be crazy but i’ve committed to 2 events in 1 day, this being the evening event. i don’t even mind if i don;t sell a thing - it’s just a really great time to hang with some good crafty mamas.

Head on over to Fawn & Forest for some Little Red Caboose dolls and crowns. (it’s fun to see how other people photograph my handmades).

There’s really so much to see and i was happy to find some other local forest finds like Tiny Warbler and  dress me up along with a familiar etsian who i admire and support; kiki & polly. i’ve also discovered some things new that are super awesome; cardboard safari & periwinklebloom. i don’t know about you but i’ve been perusing shops for  advent and Christmas ideas already. On that note, locals, come and see me and my friends set up at the Waldorf Christmas Fair on November 21st.