Enchanted Chameleon

~ a knit for knit's sake ~

Sometimes a knitter's gotta do what a knitter's gotta do.  There has been so much business plan writing, and Juice Caboose scheduling around here that there has been no room for knitting, or crafting or really any kind of handiwork, save some baking a cleaning.  Cleaning, bleh!  So the other day when the urge struck I went with it instead of around it.  It didn't matter the pattern, the yarn or the colour.  It just had to be easy and now.  It just had to get my hands moving so they didn't go too long without needles and wool, that they might forget what they were doing. It was a knit for knit's sake.  And now, my former Cabbage Patch now baby Hunter to C is a little bit warmer and cooler for having done so.  And Georgia doesn't seem to mind either, as long as the knits are not for her. This pattern, found here, is a free Ravelry downloaded pattern.  XO.  S

~ r2d2 ~

It's strange that I had all these completed projects and I thought I had so many posts to write and yet I was completely away for a few days last week in this space.  Well, said projects had to get to their new owners first.  And to be honest, I'm not sure that the above R2D2 hat has even arrived at my brothers house or head yet, I can't wait anymore!!!

I made an R2D2 hat!  There I said it.  

Free pattern found here on the Excessively Diverted blog.  I didn't make it exactly and to get the colours that matched R2D2 I didn't use real wool.  I made the whole thing in the round cause that's how I like it. And instead of knitting the different colours and details of R2 I sewed felt pieces on instead.  I like how it turned out.  In fact, I think it's pretty awesome.  However, if I were to find those exact colours and size of wool in REAL wool, oh, the hat that would be made!  I'll keep my eyes out if you do.  Of course, the little one wants one now too.  I don't blame him.  

Hope you had a great weekend.  XO.  S 

~ princess, fairies & a gnome ~

We met our little friend D when we first joined the Waldorf School Parent and Tot program.  We live close by to each other and she connected really well with C.  They've been great friends since.  As have I and her parents.  I've gotten to know them quite well and I consider them part of my community.  I've had the pleasure of making her handmade presents for the past 3 birthdays now.  It's been a real treasure that she enjoys them so much.  This year at the Christmas Fair in the Market I caught a glimpse of little D trying on a felted princess hat.  In true Suzanne fashion, I thought, "I could do that".  And even though the felt was still drying in the birthday bag upon arrival, I did in fact do that.  

The pattern is a free knitting pattern that is later felted that I found a very long time ago when I first joined Ravelry found here.  I used Debbie Stoller's Full 'O Sheep for the knitting and some really special scraps for the veil.  Each piece of fabric is from something of mine.  The blue tulle is from a petticoat that I wore in a play, the velvet is from my princess costume this past Halloween and the lace is from the dress I wore to my friends wedding in the fall.  It just worked out that way beautifully.  

For this particular occasion though my knitting projects don't end there.  As this was not only a birthday party but a Fairy and Gnome birthday party, C also required something to wear.  My inspiration was your every day, garden variety, Garden Gnome.  

So yes, the beard is knitted.  I found this free Santa Beard pattern, also on Ravelry and knit it up with some random boucle type yarn that I had sitting around.  It knit up in an hour.  You'll see that I made modifications to the pattern as this beard is much smaller.  

As for the hat, this pattern is from the book More Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson.  I've been wanting to make this hat for a while.  I bought some Bernat Roving in Cherry which turned out great for the Garden Gnome but as you can see authentic hand spun roving wool as pictured on the cover of the book make for a truly beautiful gift and hat.  I will definitely make this one again in the future and will keep my eye out for exceptional yarn to do so.  

My friend Jen did such a lovely job decorating.  It was like walking into a Martha Stewart birthday party photo shoot.  Very pretty and classy.  

And as always after D's birthday, the countdown to C's birthday begins.  I'm excited.  It will be anything but pretty!  XO.  S

I Kiss You!

Happy Valentine's Day!  

 

Ours is pretty mellow and simple, the big event is actually planned for next weekend (Jeff and I will be taking off for a night to a yet to be determined location for a night away from the babe - the first night away for the babe for me I might add!)  But for today some pressies exchanged, some leftover heart cookies from yesterday's playdate and some grocery shopping after this will more than suffice.

 

I had promised Suzanne's Breastfeeding 101 today but it slipped my mind that it's Valentine's day so I figure one more day without my breakdown on breastfeeding won't hurt anyone.

 

Instead I'm going to focus on some little treasures of mine.

 

Treasure #1

Cillian and Nicholas had a random invite on the way home from Family Place yesterday to come and sit in a digger.  

 

Treasure #2

Our collection of Valentine's Day artwork displayed in the kitchen.

 

Treasure #3

The boys pretending to sleep, sporting their new matching hats that yours truly knitted.

 

Treasure #4

I got out the hair straightener and actually did my hair for the first time in forever and my hair is longer and it looks great!

 

Treasure #5

BIRTHFEST 2009

If you haven't seen or read the news that I've flashed all over Facebook yet then here it is.  Fruitcakes (my raw food company started almost a year ago) will be making it's first appearance this year as a vendor at Birthfest.  Why Birthfest?  First thing:  I love Birthfest.  It's awesome.  There is music and tons of awesome local businesses set up for families and new time parents all in one big room for a day.  Second thing:  A lot of the businesses are Mompreneurs (as will I be) so I'm feeling very comfortable and confident about being there whereas a food event might be much for my first time out there.  Third thing:  I love sharing the good news about raw foods with moms.  I love going to Family Place and having them ask about the green stuff in our glass.  I love bragging that my kid drinks the green stuff.  And as of about a week ago, I love the idea that raw foods is for everyone and you don't have to be 100% raw to benefit from them.  I'm really looking forward to sharing that.  So stay tuned, I will keep you updated as I prepare for my first big event, 1 month today!  

 

Treasure #6

I KISS YOU!  This is something that Cillian says and then of course, proceeds to kiss us.  And sometimes it's not just us but he kisses our arms, or he kisses our bellies or he kisses his baby beluga or kisses the table or he kisses our bum bums.  Whatever it is, it's pretty adorable and I love his kisses.  For a kid that's going through the developmental phase of hitting his associates, he's still very lovable and affectionate.  

 

So Happy V-day Friends.  I KISS YOU!  Suzanne