Book suggestions

Overall, I was very pleased with my booklist this past year. It was ambitious, I know, and I didn't get to everything, but I did get to most. I even read a number of books not on my list, namely the Mistmantle Chronicles. I guess they would be my first recommendation - I like them and the kids like them. Intrigue, excitement, humor and cute woodland creatures - this series has it all.

From the fiction department, I loved The Blue Castle and Julie. Both relative classics that I never got to read growing up and came with excellent reviews.

The Blue Castle, the story of what happens when a woman who's living on borrowed time starts to live her own life, was a relative quick read, mainly because of how engaging it was.

Julie is apparently somewhat autobiographical, telling the story of a family who moves to a small steel-milling town to take over the suffering newspaper and becomes embroiled in controversy surrounding the exploitation of mill workers and the eventual tragedy that overtakes the whole town.

It's hard to narrow down the non-fiction field, partly because it made the bulk of my reading list this past year, and partly because it was all so good. The one book I keep telling folks about is Just Do Something. In trying to "hear from God", people can get stuck - is it God or me? Is this the right thing, or that? Should I move here, take that job or make this decision? Rather than telling you what to do, DeYoung lays out clear biblical thinking in making wise decisions without depending on an audible voice from Heaven. It's straightforward, easy to read, and pretty funny, too. I did a lot of note-taking and underlining in this book, so should I loan it to you...sorry.

McCall's 5966

Eleanor is great to make for. She's little, so the projects don't require a lot of fabric or time, and she hasn't yet developed a particular taste, so she gets excited about whatever I make. Love that.

This is really just a trial run of the above pattern, made in size 3. It's big on her, which I wanted to check - the length is right, but around the body and the sleeves are too big. I think when I make it again in it's intended fabric (warm cord/cotton), I'll make it in size 2 but add some to the length.

The other change I made was to lose the zipper at the back and make it so it can be pulled over the head. Makes it easier to get herself dressed, and I'm all for toddler independence (to a degree, of course).

Taming the Hair Beastie

Three little girls means a lot of hair-type junk. Hair ties, clips, slides, grips, brushes, combs, headbands...ugh. For years we've kept it all (well, mostly) in a plastic food container. Occasionally, little fingers would tip it all on the floor and my blood pressure would hit the roof. But those days are gone! (Please don't burst my bubble - I'd like my blissful ignorance to last a while.) And it's all because of this:

I based it on this tutorial, with some changes. First, I wanted to store the hair ties on pegs, since we have so many. I used three, but next time I would add another for good measure. Also, I used just one strip of clear elastic for the clips, but again, I underestimated how many clips we have and wish I'd added another.

For basic construction, I stapled the fabric onto a cork board I bought at JoAnn's, after stitching the pockets on.Because of it's placement in the bathroom, it helpfully covers over the electrical outlet, which we rarely use. No worries about wet little fingers is a definite bonus.

Of course, this is only helpful if it's actually used, but it's so nice to be able to look and see what's where without having to make a mess to find matching clips. I think it will probably be used, for a little while anyway, even if only for the novelty factor. And it is exciting have a special, girly-styled organizing tool. Surely, I'm not the only one who thinks so!

On the tree

This Christmas has snuck up on me, though I suspect I say that every year. This year, it's really true. I haven't finished my shopping yet, even when I thought I had; even when I would normally be finished (except for the last minute "making") by now. And I definitely would have done more "projects" with the kids than I have so far.

Fortunately, some inspiration came from Sew Mama Sew blog in the form of the kids sewing some felt tree ornaments.

Ellie's creative juices are limited at the moment, but I foresee progress. First, though, she needs to not drop the sewing needle on the floor a thousand times.

I drew a tree in chalk on Noah's and had him outline it. It looks great, but it did involve sitting with him, holding the piece of felt and telling him where exactly to put the needle each time. It was totally worth it.

Anna went for a button theme. I love all the different styles she choose.

Abi wanted to do something with ribbon, so she hand-stitched the ribbons criss-crossed and the button in the center. I like the way she was so independent in her design and execution.

All that was left for me to do was stuff them and add a loop before sewing them up. I even managed to hang them on the tree the evening they were made - uncommonly quick finishing, for me - for the kids to find the next morning. And the best part was seeing how excited they were at being add a little something of their own creating to the Christmas tree. Me not feeling like a totally craft-negligent mother was (a close) second.

Halfdome

This hat took a little Noro Kureyon for the brim and exactly one skein of Noro Cash Iroha. Unusually, it's knit flat and seamed, rather than knit in the round.

Toby wears it all the time. I think that means he likes it. Thank goodness, too - it took ages to choose a pattern he liked.

Apparently, this hat is much preferred by bald men; I'm told this is because the hat doesn't cover the ears. I don't know what that has to do with anything, but what do I know? I'm not bald.

Little Jacques

This has been finished and worn for about a week now, but I've only just uploaded the photos. What can I say - time seems to run away from me...

So, this is the Jacques Cousteau hat. Notes and pattern links here. He loves it. He claims that orange is his favorite color (for now), and it looks really cool on him. Plenty of growing room (essential for a big melon), he should be able to wear this for the next couple winters. I hope.

Gratifiying

It has been so nice to spend some more time in my sewing room. This week, the girls have been the recipients of new dressing gowns (bath robes).

Everyone is outgrowing their stuff (still trying to figure out how to make them stop growing), so the little ones have hand-me-downs, but I wasn't in the mood to spend loads on new things for the girls. So, I took the dressing gown that Anna's outgrowing, cut larger pattern pieces based on that one, and viola! Warm, fleecy girls. I had the red for Abigail already (I think it was a remnant piece from JoAnn's) and bought the fleece for Anna in one of their recent sales (I don't remember how much it was, but I bought two yards and didn't use it all).

It was terribly easy to put together, especially since I serged the edges, rather than hemmed them. (For the unsure, a serger or overlocker is that scary-looking machine that sews with up to 4 spools of thread and creates that chain-type stitching you find in your t-shirt.) You could easily leave the edges unfinished, since the fleece is unlikely to fray, or you could use a wide zig zag stitch on your machine, or even blanket stitch by hand. Me? I'm all about speed.

I can definitely foresee making these more in the future. Sorry, Land's End and Mini-Boden, I don't think I'll be needing your dressing gowns anymore!

Gooseberry Swirl

Eleanor's hat was so easy and fun to knit. With more of that lovely Louisa Harding yarn, it was a pleasure to make. Of course, with just knit and purl and some decreases thrown in, it was perfect "looks involved but was pleasantly mindless"-type knitting. The only thing is that even though Ellie likes it and has worn it, I never got a picture with her in it. So Dan kindly filled in...

Abigail's hat was different - the swirl pattern was fun and funky (much like the girl herself), and fortunately, very forgiving (also like her). I made a ton of mistakes, but once it's on, not at all noticeable. Thank goodness! Yarn is Lorna's Laces, "Valentine". So pretty!

Anna's Beehive

Basically, I'm on a hat-making mission.

Everyone needs a new hat.

Dan's is done. Ellie's is also done, but photos

need to be downloaded.

So here is Anna's. Also known as the Noro, it's gorgeous. I made some modifications, but it was so fun to make, and the yarn is lovely - wonderfully soft, but really sturdy. Just right for kid heads.

Ellie's coming soon, Abigail's currently on the needles...

Costume day

We celebrate Reformation Day...by dressing up in Halloween costumes...

It's just so hard to get a good photo

of "wild animals"...