A Journey to a Simple Happy Life

WIP and other things

I have one finished project and another one on the needles. I am getting motivation by my decision not to cast on anything until I am done with it.

The Baktus turned out as beautiful as I thought and I love the feel of it : soft and squishy. A little someone already claimed it for cold days.

I am also knitting a Little Dots for Layla with some Blue Sky Alpaca Worsted Cotton that I got locally here. If you're in the neighborhood you have to visit Angelfire Studios, it's such a warm welcoming store. Justine is the owner and she's an amazing woman. She just single handedly designed/photographed and cataloged all of her yarn and opened an online store.

Meg @ Elsie Marley has just started the most wonderful group ever: A Kids Clothes week! The rule is pretty simple for a week we have to sew kids clothes for an hour. It will be during the second week of May. You can cheer us on or just ooh and aahh here ;o)

It's exactly the nudge that I need to tackle all those patterns/fabric that I wanted to sew for my children. And if that wasn't a good enough of an excuse, you'll get motivated by the button it is soo cute.

I was awarded a Honest Scrap by the Clever Mommy. How cool is that!  I really love it when you take the time to comment or show your love for this little space of mine. The rule is that I have to share 10 things about me and pass on the love to 10 other blogs. I am working on it, more about it on Friday.

For now I'm gonna have to say bye and go cuddle a very mad little miss.

Crafting a Blog and a Giveaway

When I started blogging less than a year ago I had no idea what direction I wanted my blog to take. I had a private blog where I posted pictures and little stories about our daily lives but I felt the need for something a little different.

I always enjoyed writing. I remember very young writing little stories with illustrations, older having a journal and then being the editor for the MOMS Club newsletter. It was my first experience having my writings read by strangers and it was exhilarating. I loved thinking of a subject, doing some research or just sharing my experiences with fellow moms.And to be honest I loved when people told me how much they appreciated my work.

It took me some time before I decided that I should begin my own blog. At first I struggled with the question of why people would want to visit me and hear about my life journey, my creative endeavors and the struggles and happiness of being a woman and a mother. Moreover I struggled with the idea of creating something worthwhile for people to visit again and again.

I immersed myself in reading other blogs, perfecting my photography and finding my voice. Part of the process was understanding what would make my blog prettier and what were the tools to achieve that.

I spent a lot of time looking up books at the local bookstore and library but most of what I found was technical stuff CSS, HTML...Very interesting, useful and someday I plan on learning about it but not what I was looking for. I wanted to learn how to illustrate a subject, how to take a picture, how to make a post scannable or how to enable feeds..

Diane @Craftypod posted about a Craft Blog Tune-Up class and I thought that would help. And it was all I  was looking for and even a little bit more.

In her class Diane shares her experience and knowledge about blogging. I enjoyed every step of the class and learned many things. Wednesday Diane will be launching a new session of Craft Blog Tune-Up and guess who can win a spot in it? Yes, you lucky ladies.

So if you would like your blog to be prettier or attract more readers. If you are interested in marketing your craft business you definitely should take this class.

Leave a comment by Tuesday March 16th and you will be entered to win a spot in this wonderful e-course.

The winner is

meg said:

"I'd love to see what her classes are like! and my blog could use a little tune up"

WIP Wednesday

The picture is totally unrelated to the post but you have to humor me. It's been snowing all day, gray skies and lots lots of snow. 8 inches can you imagine!!

I know some of you are snickering right now, especially if you live up north but that's a LOT of snow for New Jersey.

That  said I love being stuck home because of the snow. All of us at home with nowhere to go, so we got ourselves busy. A messy kind of busy.

:: We made chubby crayons. I read this post from Mackenzie a while ago and wanted to try. The boys were fascinated by the melting crayons in the oven. I hope that doesn’t give them ideas about melting other things.

:: then I remembered this post by Deena and I wanted to try. I wasn’t patient enough to let it really melt. But I still love the end result. It is so cute.

:: then this very cute boy asked his mama for pink ice cream. You see penguins need ice cream!!

:: Do you know a better way to taste ice cream??

:: And at the end of the day some TV time. Because I’m out of ideas and because they really laugh loud at Babar’s tricks and just because…

:: I was able to work on my Layla's poncho. I found the pattern here and I totally agree with Grace. I will make it long enough to cover the hands. I am knitting it with a lovely Lorna’s Lace Shepherd Worsted and guess the name of the colorway…Valentine. After the February sweater finished just in time to be worn in February, I’m making a valentine poncho for my little sweetheart.

Tomorrow we most likely stay home too and I hope to finish it.

So what is your favorite activity on a snowy day?

WIP Wednesday with a glitch

I seriously need a new brain,you know the kind that works, doesn't forget things and doesn't make you wonder what the heck you came into a room for. I wrote this post yesterday and was all happy to share my latest project with you and I forgot to hit the "Publish" button. Duh...How long do you think I can get away with the mommy brain excuse??

You  will have to forgive the posting of  WIP Wednesday on a Thursday ...

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I did it again. I am knitting a pattern by Elizabeth Zimmerman again. Despite the fact that my first attempt is still waiting for a second sleeve. I started a new sweater using one of Elizabeth Zimmermann's patterns.How did I get here?

My plan was to make a kimono vest for Layla but the pattern was for babies. So I thought why don't I pick a thicker yarn and larger needles. Sounds easy no? Well, a baby hippo could probably have fit in that jacket but for my human child...So I got frustrated, I want to be able to know more, tweak patterns and modify them. And who's the best teacher Elizabeth Zimmermann of course.

So frog the kimono and Cast on the Two needles sweater aka February Baby Sweater and I love it. It is easy to knit and even a half brained (maybe less), sleep deprived mama like myself figured it out. I have used a Cascade 220 Heathers and the color is really beautiful. Too bad there's not enough sun around here to make nicer pictures.

I have to thank Grace for encouraging me to do it. And I love it so much that I might knit one for myself.

And that is all I have to show for a week worth of crafting. My new year resolutions to sleep earlier has been eating up my crafting time. Sleeping early has done a lot of good to my energy level but I need to find a balance between my need to craft and my sleep. They are both equally important to my sanity.

Wednesdays has become my favorite day of the week. We stay home in the morning, do our weekly baking and in the afternoon we visit our public library.  This week the boys insisted on decorating cookies and I was happy to let them try.

I thought it would be a good exercise to spread the frosting for Samy because he refuses to touch gooey stuff at school. He did an awesome job. Tarek was more excited about the project but I suspect that it's because he was licking the sprinkles at first and then shoving them in his mouth later. Layla was in a sugary heaven, I never heard her complain so loudly about not getting more food.

I had the best team ever: a master spreader, a master eater and a master licker! Aren't we a great team.

And now I have one more reason to look forward to wednesday:  I finally found a KNITTING GROUP!!!

I walked into Barnes&Noble to meet friends for a mama's night out coffee and I saw them. A group of women sitting together and knitting! I amazed myself by walking right up to them and asking if I could join. I am pretty shy and not very comfortable asking people I don't know but a knitting group.I just couldn't resist.And they were so sweet and welcoming, I can't wait to tell you about my first ever knitting group meeting!

Making

I had great plans of showing you everything I made for Christmas, I only overlooked one major detail. A very special boy is turning 5 in 2 days and Mama has a lot of things to finish off for him. I am drawing my inspiration and ideas from Michelle, Skip to my Lou, Grace and many others.

This year we will start a birthday tradition that I hope to carry into the next years and who knows maybe my children will too. So it all takes a lot of planning and making. I promise to share everything with you after the birthday party.

I have everything under control except one thing. The birthday cake!!! Samy requested that Mama “makes” it and he wants a chocolate one. Simple you would think…but I am not a baker, really I have the equivalent of a gardener’s black thumb but in baking. Despite my best efforts my cakes always come out lopsided , charred or undercooked. So if you have an idiot proof recipe, please send it to me and spare me the humiliation ;o)

Made with Love

My crafting/knitting has been in a funk lately. Nothing I can explain really, just a series of miss happenings: mistakes, kids playing with yarn or inability to start something. Just a weird phase…I hope!

So yesterday I put my knitting aside and focused on my ornament for Kelly. I was trying to come up with something really beautiful, something she would like. And I saw this on Michelle’s website and I knew that was it.

Making it was a meditative process. I thought about Kelly , Matt and Ari. I wanted to send them positive energy and hopes for better days to come. So in the eve of Christmas and the Solstice, I wish your dreams and hopes come true.

Working on this ornament was exactly what I needed.Thank you Nicole for a chance to be part of this wonderful endeavor.

Sew in Love

Most of my evenings right now are spent working on my Christmas gifts. Not that it is helping much because I can't really stay awake for a very long time but that's another story. Tonight after everyone was tucked in bed and I was ready to start working, I was tempted to change all of my plans. Can you imagine 9 days before the D-day...

It is absolutely not my fault but the blame should be put on Meg and Rashida. Seriously ladies!! You just made me want to start over all of my holiday gifts.

 

I was very luck to receive a preview copy of Meg McElwee's book "Sew Liberated" and  Rashida Coleman-Hale "I Love Patchwork".

Saying that I love books is a major understatement and when it comes to craft books it is way more than love. But as for all relationships the recipient must deserve the love he gets ;o) As my collection expanded I have become quite finicky about my new acquisitions. But these two are definitely worth  the money, they were on my wish list. In the interest of full disclosure, you have to know that I will never recommend something I would not buy myself.

"Sew Liberated" is the debut book of a very talented Mama , Blogger and an early childhood educator. Her blog is one my daily reads as she shares her creative endeavors, the everyday moments of her life and her knowledge as a Montessori educator.

The book features a set of sewing projects, each embellished with appliqué. The sewing skills range from beginner to advanced and you can also use the book as an inspiration to customize your own things.She managed to resurrect the art of appliqué in a very modern  creative style .What a wonderful way to use all of those scraps that we all keep just in case.

I found the instructions to be very clear even for an absolute beginner like myself. Full size patterns are included with the book which I find very useful. Seriously who likes to drag 3 kids to Kinko's to enlarge a pattern. Don't look at me!

Some of my favorite projects are:

• The jersey garden skirt

• The Blossom Blouse

• And the Camera Bag

I really love this book and highly recommend it.

My other love today is "I Love Patchwork". I personally find making a patchwork quilt quite intimidating but this book is about to change my mind on the subject. The projects included are very sophisticated and combine linen and print fabrics in the popular Zakka style. With the added benefit of being written in English ;o)

Zakka has been described as the "art of seeing the savvy in the ordinary and mundane" and Rashida sure transforms the simplest objects into art. With step by step directions and very  clear diagrams the projects are fun, functional and easy to master for beginners and intermediate sewers and quilters. She also offers tips on how to buy, work with and care for linen.

I personally have favorite projects:

• The button calendar. The boys were so excited about the advent calendar that I plan on making one to use for the rest of the year.

• The appliqué pillow

• And the cutest little lamb ever…

So after spending hours perusing those two beauties I will go back to my unfinished work with even more motivation. For one to see the joy of my little ones when the open the gifts mama makes and two because I will be able to start some new ones ;o)

If you can't wait to get your hands on these books, you can get a taste on Stitch magazine.. One projects from each book is featured:

• Meg's Baby quilt is available as free pattern here.
• Rashida's Travel Sewing Kit.

Or follow their blog tour.

Let the fun begin...

The house is decorated. The tree is up. Let the fun begin...

I will make plans.

I will dream.

I will not thrive for perfection.

I will enjoy the journey.

I will try to succeed.

I will have fun.

What are you making for the holidays?

Rhythm of the Home

I was supposed to be sewing stockings tonight but instead I've been admiring Rhythm of the Home. I was so excited when Heather announced the launch of her new online magazine that I couldn't resist talking about it.

Heather is one of those people you seldom meet but when you do you want to be their friends. I started reading her blog, then got to know her better through the Vintage Swaps she organized. I have never met such a generous and gentle soul. Although we're blog-buddies or bloggies (did I just invent a word?), I can't wait to meet her in person. Who knows???

And guess who is contributing too, another of my friends Valarie. She is another talented person, she could make an ignorant love books. Seriously!  She cooks well and reads good books a girl after my own heart. I have a special connection to Valarie because she understands the challenges of raising a multi-cultural family.

So back to Rhythm of the home, it's a free quarterly magazine based on the seasonal rhythms of Montessori and Waldorf philosophies . It is a space for parents, artists, educators, writers and photographers to share ideas, projects and recipes to enhance each of the seasons.

I was already familiar with the Montessori philosophy and started  reading a lot lately about Waldorf education. I am in the process of changing things around here, in small incremental steps I feel like I am connecting the dots in my life and I couldn't be happier to welcome this new magazine.

Enough talk, head over there and enjoy!!

Some inspiration for the weekend

_{Photo by Margarida Sardo}

I had plans to start sewing a skirt this evening. I opened up my computer to check my feed reader and that was it... I got lost in cyberspace.

Here are some of the wonderful places I visited. They are sure to inspire your weekend crafting:

• A quiet felt book from Homemade by Jill.
• Stunning necklace from i make stuff.
• Ninja Tree Decorations from Lilley's Handcrafted Lovelies
• Tiny Pumpkin playset from Frugal Family Fun Blog
• Cereal Box Stencil for Halloween from Alpha+Mom
• Fabric Owls from Calico

Have a wonderful crafty weekend!