Quince and Quire

Multi-tasking

It wasn't my most brilliant idea: knitting a three-yarn scarf while at the hospital, attached to an IV pump and automated blood pressure cuff, bringing the total number of cords and strands in my lap to five. Things got tangled rather quickly. But what else is one to do when the holidays are approaching and one must sit through a three-and-a-half-hour appointment to receive one's infusion of medicine? You see I had no choice. Oh, please don't tease me about the gold yarn. It is, at least, Italian (that makes everything better, doesn't it?) and was the specific request of the recipient. One does what one has to!

Favorites for my son

I know it's blurry . . . the point of this photo is to show the hat in motion. You saw the hat coming, didn't you? It's a new one, made just for my little guy. I just really needed to make that red pom. The pom made my week. 

I've been thinking about the stages of reading. The New York Times had an article about how picture books are falling out of favor; kids are outgrowing them, or being encouraged to move on to chapter books, at an earlier age. How depressing! I have never outgrown picture books, and in fact look forward to reading them every night with my kids. Sure, the 6-year-old likes her chapter books too, but why would anyone rush away from the sublime format of image and word together? For me it all goes back to Blake, and book arts, and the unity of idea and execution that can be so brilliant in a good picture book. Bah. Do not rush your child through childhood. (You can find many interesting ideas about stages of childhood--and some ideas on peaceful parenting and intentional homemaking--here, at one of my new favorite blogs.)

I wanted to share some of the books I've been reading with the almost-three-year-old, who seems to be in a major moment of transition in his life: behavior, skills, interests, and temperament: all are evolving. (I need that red pom pom on the hat to keep track of him.) Many of the books are not new, but are beloved nonetheless: the Tom and Pippo series by Helen Oxenbury; the Maple Hill Farm books by Alice and Martin Provensen; Polo and his many adventures by Regis Faller; the hapless duo Boo and Baa by Olaf and Lena Landstrom. What strikes me is that nearly all of these books--with the notable exception of Polo (which provides fantastic and reality-defying feats on every page)--recount very ordinary events. I guess there is something comforting about seeing our daily lives reflected, in an artful way, in literature--no matter what our age.

Flowers from my mother

When I was ill this summer my mother and I spent many evenings together; while watching over me she occupied herself making tiny crocheted flowers from bits of leftover yarn--some Noro, some Rowan summer tweed, a nice unbleached linen--using patterns from this sweet book. 

My children love these flowers; they have become props in all sort of imaginary play with fairies and castles and the like. 

The Girl With A Thousand Hats pleaded for just one more, using one of the new flowers. The yarn is something soft and lovely from the stash, a mix of silk and merino, I believe (I need to pay attention to these things someday), which I knit in the round with no particular pattern. It fits beautifully! I'm sorry my model wouldn't show you . . . 

Spectra

Thank you for all the greeting card enthusiasm! One feels a tad bit compulsive as one hunches over the table, punching out tiny holes again and again in order to make a one-inch design. One loses perspective when focused at such close range. My husband thought I was nutty--but then again he spent the same amount of time hunched over his iPod, so who knows which activity is wackier.

I don't know about you, but I am feeling both the excitement and the stress of the impending holiday season. I also have four very special birthdays this month. Oh, the crafting that must be done! The party favors to invent! The invitations to make! This post helped me regain some perspective. That, and a little bit of purposeful procrastination, in the form of some spectrum analysis. Not this kind. Nor the kind my husband used to do. Just some simple knitting as a way to contemplate the notion of a prism, a spectrum, a varied and full life that we make stitch by stitch, calmly. 

Simple shawl, in progress, using Schaefer yarn. I'll share construction details when it's done. (Could be awhile!)

Child's hat, with no pattern to speak of, made from Kudo by Plymouth yarn. A nice mix of silk and cotton. Kind of a rainbow, but not quite in order, which I love. A bit like Noro in the color variations, but without some of the jarring combinations.

Add in a little time with Thomas Merton's Contemplative Prayer, and I feel ready to face my to-do list again!

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Be sure to check out my blog's updated sidebar categories. I have added many interesting and new-to-me blogs on the "good blogs" list. I have also jumped on the "inspiration" bandwagon by posting inspiring things from other blogs--only I call mine "weekly favorites." I've got so many things in the little right-hand column now that I am thinking it's time for some blog reconfiguration--but that will have to wait until after the holidays . . . . .

Warmth for my children

My daughter wanted a plain hat, with a wool felt flower. Blue hat and red flower, I was told. This was a nice project for a week of slow thinking and reflective mood. The yarn is O-wool Balance, a soft blend of cotton and wool that comes in lovely saturated colors.

And for my son, slippers from Satch and Sol. Our local children's clothing consignment store carries these handmade, fair trade felt wonders, so I was able to get them with our store credit. 

I wonder if any of you are making felt slippers for your child? I am thinking that maybe I should try a pair.

Little cap

Rumors are emerging from Los Angeles that a much-anticipated baby is going to be born sooner than later. This baby is beloved by many already, and his east coast "auntie" is in a fix. Sure, I've sent books for the mama and books for the baby; I've offered my suggestions (solicited and otherwise) on midwives, doulas, and names. But have I gotten together an heirloom-worthy array of handmade gifts? No! And why not? Performance anxiety. 

You know, it has to be perfect, because the mama-to-be is one of my old college friends, a fellow world traveler, and an independent spirit who inspires me every day with her courage, creativity and authenticity. She is a woman who gets things done, who doesn't waste time, and who is thoroughly organized--three things I am not so good at!

There was also the problem of color. My friend doesn't like green. Don't use green? That, for me, is like saying don't eat chocolate. No green? Ah, but she likes yellow. And blue, if it isn't too baby blue. 

And so my hands have made this humble little hat, in colors that I hope will please the recipients. It's made from soft cotton for the balmy climate. It is simple and not fancy. But I hope it will carry to my dear friend across the miles my love and excitement for her baby, her first baby, at last.

And I do hope to get a few more things finished for the baby before he makes his entrance. . . .

hot

It's been warm here, at last. Not crazy 107 degrees warm, the way it was in Oregon when we visited, but upper 80s with humidity warm. Consume too much lemonade and ice cream kind of warm. On the one hand, it's nice to be warm, given our six months of winter. On the other hand, it leaves me feeling underpowered. I have so much to do, and none of it is getting done!

What better time to get out wool yarn and wool felt? I am teaching my daughter to knit, and we are working on a little red scarf for winter. (Will she actually wear it? Who knows.) This project is interesting because my daughter likes to sit in my lap and hold the knitting needles with me, so that we are literally knitting (and knitted) together. 

I am thinking about felting ideas for this week's Outdoor Art Day. The petite felted pouch was made for my daughter by my friend Katri.

And just when we needed it, an exciting package arrived from Australia this weekend! Addressed to Miss L! Wrapped and with a painting included! She is one lucky girl. I'll have more on that tomorrow.

Thank you to everyone for the nice garden comments from last week. I am so happy to hear from all of you, and happy to welcome new readers. I am looking forward to featuring some of the great work I am finding on your blogs. 

Felted bag: finished! Maybe.

You saw the preview last week . . . here is the final report.

I knitted this bag in a class I took at a local yarn shop. The store's owner, Hickory O'Brien Lee, created the knitting pattern; the stripe sequence was something I came up with at the last minute, when another idea didn't look the way I wanted. It was fun to make and helped me overcome some of my novice knitting anxieties, like reading (and obeying!) a pattern. I used Lamb's Pride Worsted, 85% Wool/15% Mohair, in the colors seen above--the darker color is called Chocolate Souffle; not sure about that grey-brown shade. The yarn has a nice luster and was easy to work with. The photo above shows the project, which was designed to be felted, before it had a turn through the washing machine.

Here's what it looked like after. I like it, though I kind of miss the stitch definition in the original. It is a more practical size and heftier weight post-felting. 

It works nicely for holding yarn. I am also thinking of adding a fabric lining with pockets to make it a handbag. We'll see . . . 

On a related note: I'm sure all you knitters know about this man. I love his stuff! See his version of the manually-striped Noro scarf!

Catching up

You may have heard about the current rain situation in our region. The fickle, festive, itinerant rain; the rain that comes and goes and returns again, with moody sky and heavy brow and sudden fervor. We had a lot of that rain last week, right when my husband's family was visiting from their own notoriously rainy part of the world. It made for an interesting combination. And the puddle boots got a work out. 

We did get some blue sky and pink-tinged clouds.

The back yard--such as it is--decided that it is now located along the equator, and sprouted accordingly. 

The rain brought mossy friends for our chives.

The delphiniums relied on our smokehouse for a little support in all that rain.

We had enough sun for my intrepid family to go tr(ash)easure hunting on our property. Who needs a flea market when you've got 200 years of farm implements and kitchen utensils hidden on 10 acres, just waiting to be found again? The coffee pot above caused a lot of excitement; I think we'll have to plant something in it. 

My mother-in-law tutored me on the Kitchener stitch, so I am one step closer to being finished with this little project. I'll have details and more photos of the final, felted bag next week.

Tomorrow: walnut and quill!

Gifts of color and comfort

First, two beautiful gifts created by my amazingly talented friend Katri. She doesn't have a blog, but you can see the sorts of lovely things you'd get to look at every day if she did. The top photo shows a pretty and fanciful purse that she made for my birthday. (It has a strap, too). She used my favorite colors and was generous with the flowers, because she knows how much I love such things. The second photo shows a petite rainbow pouch, no more than an inch tall, that my daughter received for her birthday. Inside it was tucked a tiny red flower ring. I'd like to show you the ring but the wearer of the ring refuses to let me photograph it--it's far too special, she says. She's probably right. 

My mother crocheted two sweet blankets with organic yarn for my daughter to use. They are both small, and one is meant for my daughter and one for her doll. My mother modeled them after the original Blanky that my daughter received at birth, a blanket that still exists but is so beloved that it is riddled with holes and frayed at all edges. It is becoming too fragile for use, and I was surprised that my daughter was willing to give it up for the new blankets, which she now adores. They are so soft and comforting. My mom, bless her, doesn't have a blog either. She's too busy in the real world. 

And thank you for your nice comments on the fairy crowns yesterday! I appreciate your kind words.

Lovely mail, plus things for you

Here's the first package, with a hand-cut bird stamp next to the return address.

Did you guess? That's right, it's the gorgeous bird scarf from maya*made! 

I'm sure you all know about Maya's shop, and her sustainable approach to art and life. She has inspired me to look around at materials I already have--rather than buying yet more stuff--to create things. I love how she transforms vintage lace and linen, as well as newspaper, burlap, and old t-shirts, into upcycled beauty! Thanks, Maya.

Now for the second package that I received this weekend. . . 

My wonderful mother-in-law made this gorgeous sweater for my son from Mission Falls yarn. She chose three different glass buttons for the neck placket. I love it. (I think I'll plan a future post on all of the many things she has made for the kids. She's amazing).

And finally, the third package contained . . . 

. . . three sweet dolls made by Rebecca Hewitt. Rebecca lives and works near Seattle, Washington. She chooses not to use a sewing machine for any of her work, and makes these lovely dolls (as well as a line of baby blankets) entirely by hand. She combines new fabrics with vintage materials to make original little cloth people. Each doll is given a name, favorite color, and occupation. Above you see Norah (occupation: trapeze artist), Priscilla (occupation: tree doctor), who is my son's favorite, and Caroline Rose (favorite color: lavender). Rebecca just wrote to me to say she has started a website where you can see her work.

That was a great mail day, don't you think?

I am working on things to send to you, so check back this week. 

Family Portrait

These are (some of) the hats I've made for our family of four. Do you see a theme? Maybe stripes? Maybe simple, quick and easy? Yes, I like to knit hats for relaxation, not for pushing my creative limits. I realize, looking at them gathered together, how much personality each hat has for me now. The little blue hat, which I made for my son's birth, makes me tired (in a happy way!) just looking at it. My daughter's red striped hat has the same energy that she does. 

I thought, since spring had come, it was time to round them up and give them a gentle wash before they go into storage. But we're not quite there, with temperatures still dipping into the teens. Maybe next week, maybe next month . . . Maybe I will finish this hat in time for another portrait.

Not quite what I had in mind

It's not like I'm new here: we've been on the east coast for seven years now. And yet the tricky business of getting through March has not gotten any easier. Yesterday, we had a sunny 60 degree afternoon. This morning: the lovely dusting of snow under a grey sky that you see above. Pretty, but cold. And dark. And not the right weather for going sockless, which is my goal. But my son and I enjoyed the walk on our trails anyway.

After the burst of enthusiasm about reclaiming my tools and workspace, things here are occupied with kid stuff. My son appears to be cutting five teeth at once, making for grumpy days and long nights. My daughter and I are arguing over whether she is going to brush her hair--as in, brush it ever. To console myself, I am knitting . . . .

. . . another hat! This one is made with a cotton-wool blend from O-Wool, which I purchased while on vacation at a lovely new yarn and fabric store in Washington state, called Stitch Craft.  

Someday I will knit something other than hats

This is a winter hat for little Dylan that I finished while traveling last month. Dylan still has three weeks of winter to wear it! (I suppose he'll have some opportunities for cold spring weather, too.) I made it from Terra yarns, using a pattern based on "Kim's Hats" in Last Minute Knitted Gifts. The hat features my first pom pom! I think next time I'd make a bigger pom; this one is cute but looks a bit like a single gum drop on a cupcake--the scale isn't quite right.

Scarflette

My friend Katri made this gorgeous scarflette for me, in my favorite color (from a skein of Lamb's Pride, color name unknown, alas) and embellished with a vintage bird button. It is making the last month of winter a little easier to weather.