2 More Dresses

Well, it appears that my side is indeed crunker!! lol!  I feel like I'm on a roll.  Must keep it going.  I made this between all the rest of things I do every single day!  Hope you're good!

April 13

Dear Emilie,

It looks like it's been a while since you've been around.  I do hope that things are going well for you and your family over there on your side.  I'm still in the clearing out/purging stage of this move.  I've been able to let go of a lot, thankfully.  As I sort through all my clutter, giving away the usable and throwing away what isn't usable, I'm also thinking about my personal, emotional and interpersonal clutter. The poem I read/shared earlier today is playing over and over in my head.  I'm releasing....making some choices about my life. :D

Well, I've decided.  As I sit here in my creative space (which also dubs as the classroom, library, collection room) that I'm going to pull out the fabric I kept and said I'd make things from and MAKE some things.  My first ideas are to make a few sun dresses for my pretty girl.  Since she is the eldest, she usually gets the first batch of "hand me overs" which are then past on to sweetie-pie.  She is also the one who gets the brand spanking new items.  Well, I've been wanting to make her some things for awhile.  I normally wait until I'm at my mothers and we both sew together (it's such a nice thing!).  But I don't want to wait for another trip, especially now with the move.

I'm also thinking about making some bags.  Not that I need any more bags, but I've been wanting to make some as gifts.  We'll see.  Oh, I can make myself some reusable bags for shopping.  I purchased a set of handmade produce bags last week.  They're really nice and would be easy to make myself.  Hmmm.  I'm getting some more ideas here! :D

Of course I need to think about something to make for The Boy as he'll be sure to ask me why I'm not making him something.  He's still at the stage where he WANTS me to make him something, so I'd better take advantage of this time and not miss out!  What do you think?

Hopefully by the end of the day I'll have ad least one item finished.  And if so, I'll update this note with a photo or two (or 3 or 4--you know me!)! :D

We've been busy the past few weeks.  Yesterday I spent most of the day in the kitchen--cooking mainly and cleaning, sorting, purging.  Got the pantry looking lovely.  Organized my table cloths and napkins so we can get to them quickly and easily.  I even want to do some embroidery on my cloth napkins.  See, I just have too many crafting interests! lol

I'm very interested to hear all about your daughter's sewing classes.  She should be designing and putting things together on her own now, huh?  Or am I imagining too much passage of time here?  Another question is what have you been up to, craft-wise?

Wishing you time and space to create!

=================
(8:28pm)

Well, here is what I made today.  Between cooking and encouraging the children to straighten up their rooms, and answer their questions.  I was hoping to have completed two.  But one isn't bad!

 

Making It Happen!

Hey Emilie!!
Look at my new scarf!!!

Isn't it lovely??

I've decided that EVERY day I'm going to take time to work on some knitting, crocheting, quilting, and/or sewing project.  Since making and completing those preemie hats, I've already established a little routine for myself.  No, it's not habit...yet!  I figure if I can keep the kitchen clean, feed people and animals, keep a cleared path to/from the doorway daily I should be able to craft each day too! :D

I still have a good bit of this yarn left, so I'm planning to make a matching hat.  Will share photos of that when it's done.

I hope that you're taking time for your craft as well!  LOVE YOU!!

Project(s) & Life Update!

Dear Emilie,

I just have to share with you some of the things I've been doing since the last time.  Surprisingly, when I step away from the computer I get soooo much more done.  (Go figure!)  As I shared previously, I was asked to knit a preemie hat for charity.  Well, I want to make two--and I've done that.  Then I decided that I'd make one for each of the full-term babies I was blessed to have. 

The first pattern didn't work for me so after frogging it and restarting (using a compilation of two other patterns) I was able to complete it.  I think it's nice.  It does sort-of look like a "first."

The second one I simply did what I do--knitt my ear.  LOL!  I think it's adorable!!

I'm not working on my third, which is a nice deep blue.  My hope is to have it done by the weekend so I can ship them all off on Monday.

During this time I've learned to crochet.  And let me tell you...I whipped out a scarf in less than four hours.  Crocheting is definitely faster.  Not sure if I really like the look of it (I do so love the look of knitting), but I am open to learning it more and making things for others--again, because it so quick! :D

I must say that I'm feeling very proud of myself for trying new things!  I used 4-5 needles on the preemie hats so now I'm ready to try a pair of socks.  This has definitely satisfied my need to create and give.  It's also made my crave out time each day for this--which I've wanted to do for some time.  I think this is a habit I want to make--so between sorting and packing and reading and cooking and cleaning and homeschooling and running errands and laughing....you'll find me either knitting or crocheting. :D

Oh, on my "break" last week, I found a yarn store.  Em, it was so good to be in that space!!  It was almost as nice as Knitch (the one we went to to knit in the ATL).  You can read more here (and see photos).  I thought about that commercial you shared with me...touch, touch, touch, touch, feeeeeeel!.  Yeah, I was doing a lot of feeling! LOL!  And I stumble upon another great little shop called Just Be.  This really spoke to me.  There were hand made items from local and national artists who inspire, encourage and share simply beauty with someone like me. :D  I'm looking forward to visiting again and getting a few of those pretty things.  (Perhaps we should plan a date there!?!)

We are definitely moving forward with "the BIG move" plans scheduled for mid-June.  Yesterday I got through most of the stuff in the office--turned storage room.  It's still in 'storage' mode but all the trash, junk and things to be donated OUT.  Melvin said that I'm welcome to back everything else up--which, I probably will.  However, I'm now thinking, if it can be packed up now, do we really need it--ever?  So, perhaps I'll have another conversation with him.  lol.  I've gotten two boxes of books together to donate.  Realizing that I don't have to HAVE every book.  We need to better utilize our library systems--this will definitely free up some space in my house and in my life!


I miss you.  We must get together soon!  What things are on your needles these days?

~leslie

Knitting for a Cause

Dear Emilie,

I just wanted to invite you to join me in knitting a hat for a preemie boy or a girl.  One of my dear friends, Laverne, invited me to join her in doing that this month.  I really want to do two, but am committing to one since, well, you know how my life flows over here. :D  I also know that you can whip one out in no time (perhaps the big girl over there can make one too).  You can read here to find out the particulars.  I know you've done this before, but this is my first time.  I mean, I knit because, but haven't done it for a cause! LOL!

Either way, just wanted to let you know what else I'm doing!  I'll definitely share photos when they're done (see, I'm speaking of more than one already!)

Have a great day!!

Knitting Lessons

Dear Emilie,

Yesterday I started the first of several knitting lessons I'll be giving over the next six weeks.  Take a moment to read this before reading on.  (I'll wait.  I'll even hum a little music for you. lol) ;-)

Well, let me begin by saying I made it through...and I think we are heading in the right direction.  I've ended up with three students in addition to my oldest.  The first lesson, which included her and her friend, didn't go as planned.  But I somewhat expected that.  That's why I'm thankful I'm flexible. (smile) The little girl immediately started pulling, very randomly, at her skein of yarn before I could stop her.  So, after I showed them different sized needles, different types of yarn, she (and her mother--mainly) spent the rest of our time untangling her yarn.  I had my daughter roll her skein into a ball and let this experience be the lesson for today!  We will learn on cast-on at our lesson next week.

The lesson I gave to the High Schooler went a bit more smoothly.  He was able to pick it up so that at the end of our hour and half session he'd learned to cast-on and the knit stitch.  He was so proud of himself.  He quietly asked me if my husband knew how to knit.  When I said no, he said, "Good. I'll know something he doesn't know."  [A little background: my husband has taken this student 'under his wing' for the past two years. He admires my dh greatly!]

While instructing the High Schooler, I got another student. One of the teacher asked if she could send her daughter over and I agreed.  Now this little princess (middle-school age I'm guessing) was a knitter in a former life.  She picked it up in about ten minutes.  I was blown away.  Now, she definitely has to practice it and learn about tension, but she can knit.

I gave them both the homework of practicing the knit stitch.  They each are going to be making a scarf.  Depending upon how much progress they've made and how things are looking we may move to the purl stitch.  I'll play that one by ear.

So, as you can see, things went really well for my first of many knitting lessons.  Perhaps after these sessions (and a few more) I'll offer my skills at a local Michael's.  We'll see.  Just thankful for some more possibilities!

P.S.

I did knit quite a bit over the weekend! I made 2 hats, and finished a scarf in seed stitch. I was amazed at how much I could get done when someone else is doing all the cooking and cleaning! I took pictures and I will send/post them soon.

Much love!