Happy 5th Birthday Lela!

My first-born is now FIVE years old!  

Of course more pictures will be coming soon, hopefully tonight. 

Happy Birthday Lela!  Momma and Daddy love you so much!

WiP - birthday sweater down-to-the-wire

Lela's birthday sweater is still in-progress.  I had a four day stall where I was trying to figure out the heart motif.  I ripped it out FOUR times!  Sadly, this is going to be too big for her.  But I'm hoping with a little ribbon or yarn to gather the neckline, she won't mind.

 

I think I have need about two more repeats before I through with the length.  My plan is to finish that tonight, including the bottom ruffle.  Then tomorrow pick the sleeves up and add their ruffles, with blocking tomorrow night.  All in time for the birthday table on Friday morning.  Whew!

Thankfully there is plenty of Arnica in the house for my wrist!  My right wrist, as a lefty knitter, has been getting more action now that I'm knitting continental.  Though I must say that I could never have been so speedy doing English. What a learning process this has been!  Many, many firsts here. 

More birthday surprises to come!  

Peace, 

Carrie

beautiful friday

Today we spent the day at the nature preserve with wonderful friends.  

Playing naturally-inspired mancala.  
Stump jumping!  
Building fairy houses by the creek.  
Walking in the warm February sunshine.  
Enjoying our time together.

I hope you are enjoying loving adventures with wonderful friends!

Peace,
Carrie

WiP Wednesday - birthday sweater progress

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 ~ my new computer and WiP in our little workspace ~

I'm making great progress on Lela's birthday sweater.  I have finished the yolk, put the sleeves on waste yarn, through the garter division and am now starting on the lace pattern!  Of course, it is a 18 row repeat and I am having to check the pattern frequently, so things have sort of ground to a halt.  I'm sure it will speed up as I become more familiar and after I am through one repeat.

I'm so excited about this project - my first "big" one and my first major garment.

And here's a little teaser picture of my next post.:

 ~ wife/husband Valentine's Day Eve card creating collaboration ~

Peace,
Carrie

a big thank you.....

....to my sweet, sweet sister Rebecca!

She made me this banner and I'm so very excited about it!  We're working together to create the perfect one for my blog.  These are her pictures - she is a budding photographer and I will just have to share some of her lovely work here. 

Thanks and I love you, Sister! 

Didn't she do a great job?

In Peace and Gratitude,

Carrie 

WiP Wednesday - birthday sweater and mittens

I'm still finishing up the mittens for the girls.  These are Lela's and using her requested yarn - some Lion felting wool we dyed.  I added another strand of cream for more warmth.  These were quick and satisfying to make - see here on Ravelry.

(One of Liv's red and blue mittens was promptly and accidentally washed.  Though it is still wearable it just won't do, so there will be a 7th mitten cast on this week.)

Also pictured is Lela's birthday sweater - she will be 5 in a few short (very short!) weeks.  How does it happen so quickly?  This I will never understand. 

This Sweetheart Cardigan is on size 6 needles with Cascade 220 wool.  My friend Haley helped me (read: she did it all) adapt the pattern for the larger yarn and needles.  So even though my tiny 4#15 baby will be 5, this is the 2T size.  I hope to put up more details on Ravelry as soon as Haley tells me what she did. 

Happy knitting!

Peace,
Carrie

an inspiring rainbow giveaway

Hillary at Healing Hillary is hosting a sweet giveaway! She's offering a copy of Beyond the Rainbow Bridge as well as a bookmark, handmade by her. Please hop on over to her blog post to enter your name into the giveaway.

I haven't read this book yet, but it has always been on my "list".  I don't think I can ever be inspired enough when it concerns my children and their well-being.  The first Waldorf book I ever read was Oak Meadow's Heart of Learning - I am rereading it now as a matter of fact.  Taking time to digest the words again, noticing phrases I didn't before, integrating it at an even deeper level. 
 
Peace,
Carrie

healing buttons

A moment when two of three sisters wanted to play together, at the exclusion of the third, doesn't happen terribly often around here. I'm grateful for that. When it does, and a heart is broken and devastated, special time with Momma is not only appreciated, but necessary. 

While her sisters played together under the bathroom sink, Laurel toddled (this three year old is still a tiny 25-pound toddler) behind me up the stairs, with the promise of a special and fun activity.

So I pulled down the Mason jars of buttons, all from the drawers of my great-grandmother's 1916 Singer.  They are dusty and in need of a thorough cleaning.  But we will save that for another day.

While she threaded, I sorted and inspected.

Some are quite old and used.
  

Some were downright used up!

This large metal one is my favorite.

Some were made of shell.

Some were painted.

Threading with a thin, metal tapestry needle offers satisfaction without pokes.

Of course it ended up becoming a family affair.  And quite a lovely one at that!

The musty buttons had healed the broken heart of a 3-year old.  Each button, fondled in their tiny, soft hands, offered the potential of rhythmic and soothing threading. 

A beautiful finished product was the byproduct of the healing.

At the end of it all, I once again had three daughters, three sisters, who were together again.

The buttons that have passed through five generations - they are still appreciated and necessary.

I hope you are finding healing and rhythm and joy in the simple activities of your home.

Peace,

Carrie