Serendipitous Crafting

Wow. The sickness has finally left our house and it feels really good to get back to normal. You know, just the molar teething and summer allergies....without the poop factor. Thank god. Anyway, I have had a bit of time here and there to do little projects and I realize that it really has become a definitive factor in my life, this creating/crafting. I am not one to be an original creator, I mainly find and follow patterns that I love or crave. But I must be doing some craft at some time during the day. Otherwise I feel not complete, not whole.

I have been reading The Creative Family, a book by the lovely Soulemama. I anticipated this book for a long time but did not pre-order. Books seem to fall further down on the list of things that fill my 'me' time. So when I finally did receive my copy I told myself to sit and read, put down the needles and read. So very glad I did. She writes about creating and the need to do these wonderful and engaging things with her children. The thing I loved was the feeling of permission that she bestows on the creator/crafter.

That we have to nurture that part of our selves and let our children learn to create also. I always feel vaguely guilty for crafting these days, as if the time should be devoted to something more important. But my boys already love the sewing machine, are fascinated with the gorgeous colors of embroidery thread and want to hold my knitting needles. I guess that is a good start to the future invitations I would like to extend for them to be involved in these things I so love. And just because they are boys does not mean I would limit this exposure, rather encourage it (between all the make believe sword fights and car pushing that I know will ensue).

But for now this is them wearing the fruits of some very satisfactory labor on my part. I love these little shirts and find that a small project like this can go outside with us, they run up and touch the hoop and the stitches and really try to go for that needle. And I get little bits done here and there. Fun for all.

I had a moment of true serendipity this week. There is a book, Weekend Knitting, that I have owned for years. All of my first projects came from this book, I would pore the pages, dreaming of learning this or that technique. One piece always held my attention. It is the Cache Coeur Bergamo by Veronik Avery. I have always loved Avery and her unique designs and innovative construction.

The first time I read the pattern it was pure gibberish. Slowly it began to make sense, then I finally understood. But then I never had a chance to actually do it. This weekend I was cleaning out a stash of long forgotten yarn and found bags (yes, bags) of yarn from a sale at the Yarn Lady.

My first sale, when I knew very little about yarn and its properties. So I bought bags of yarn I have barely even touched. And this was at least four years ago (might be having a giveaway round these parts soon).

And then it clicked....that bag of purpley pink Bergamo yarn...hmmm. Where have I seen that name before? Pulled out WK, turned to the pattern....oh, look....Cache Coeur Bergamo made with Bergamo yarn...I had exactly 7 balls, exactly the amount needed for the size I would knit up. Ah, Serendipity. How I love it when you visit. Sufficed to say all other projects fell to the side and today I have the back and sides done,

waiting on a very lovely and intriguing border to be tried, and I have a feeling this will all come together just right. Whether for myself or another, it feels good to make an adult piece and a beautiful one, at that. Stay tuned for finished pictures.

And, (jeez, this is stretching it out a bit, don't you think?) I have a very old project that I wanted to show because I recently realized how very much I love it.

This afghan was a labor of months of love. I learned the very simple stitch from the wife of a patient, right before I left my job to travel to South Africa with Tim and a few others. I actually brought it with me and carried it for months in my cramped backpack. It grew and grew and I crocheted and crocheted. The bulk was done in Portland, Oregon while Tim and I snuggled under its growing dimensions, freezing due to lack of proper heating in our Victorian building. It has been passed back and forth from our bed to my brothers' room (they seem to really love it) and recently back to us.

Perfect summer weight when laid over our sheets. Made up with good old Red Heart Soft, 100% acrylic. Has lasted an unbelievable amount of use, abuse, washing and wear. Still looks pretty good, wouldn't you say? I anticipate it will last a little longer. Hope so.

The final thing I've got is this great bag from Bend the Rules Sewing (from here on out BTRS, I have a feeling you will be seeing more from Amy's great book).

The pleated Beauty Bag caught my eye on Flickr and I had to try it. Love it. Still working on the sewing part. But I love the roomy nature of this bag (It is BIG, people) and find it can stand in as a diaper bag/purse quite easily. Fun and easy sewing, very pretty.

I used linen and some more Heather Ross fabrice for the bag then glanced at my 'real' diaper bag and realized it is the exact same color scheme. Predictable, am I not?

So, apparently, though I used to feel a little guilty crafting, it sure did not stop me. And now with full license to craft, who knows how much more I can get out. Just kidding. I think. There are a few more cute pictures of the boys here and here. In action, you know. Mason looks like he is on the war path because of his teeth. Owen is just stinking cute (though not literally anymore now that the pooping has stopped...1 box of Costco diapers in a few days, people. That is a lot of diapers.)

Oh, learned a great tip for diaper rash. Put the cream on then sprinkle with powder. Holds it there better. Thanks, Gina.

And as a little teaser....someone might be getting a little space of her own and a little personal redo this week. We shall have to wait and see, eh? Hope all is well out there in Blogland. Leave a hi if you have a moment, been feeling a little lonely round here.