My New Favorite Thing

I found a new (to me) yarn shop relatively near by. I needed a nice yellow wool for a crown special order but just had to have this gorgeous ball, too. It's Poems from Wisdom Yarns. The puppy (who we named Olivia, BTW) chew up the label so I don't know which number of the Poems line it is. But when I saw I immediately thought of watercolors and knew I had to make something Kaiya's birthday with it. And within the hour I had this doll all planned out in my head. I just can't quit pulling her out and looking at her and holding her when Kaiya isn't around. She is my favorite creation in quite a while. I really hope Kaiya loves her as much as I do. I went ahead and put her in the shop. Obviously she will be made to order. I just can't wait to go back to the yarn shop and get some of the other colorways.

Have a lovely weekend!

Lazy, Lazy, Lazy

The girls and I spent the day doing not much nothing. We slept late...

But not as late as miss Kaiya would have you believe. This is her "snoring". We had to tickle her out of bed. My sneak preview of her as a teenager.

And the rest of the day was spent snuggling on the couch. I don't know if they were feeling abit under the weather or just had a bad case of the lazies. Either way, it's nice to have a quite, snugly day every now and again.

I still don't know what she was laughing at. She just kept saying 'Laugh louder!'.

Now I think I'll spend the evening cuddling with hubby. Happy snuggling to you all!

Gnome Place

I just finished up Kaiya's playscape and I am so happy with how it turned out. I don't do alot of needle felting but I do enjoy it. The mushrooms beside of the pond are vintage spun cotton. I purchased them some time ago from Etsy seller Caramelos and have been looking for an excuse to use them. I hope she loves it!

Shhhh....

For Kaiya's birthday, coming up on the 31st. These are fun to make. But I didn't like the roof on the red and oatmeal. The pink and blue is just right. I have lots more to make before the big day. I'll show you more later.

TTFN!

Instant Gratification

I dig them! (And, yes, that is a basket full of laundry waiting to be put away.) I didn't, however, really dig the pattern. There are several things I would like to change about them. I think for the next pair (of course there will be a next pair) I'm just gonna scrap the pattern and do my own. Like, why in the world was the top part not crocheted in the round? Silly, needless seaming. And I was not impressed with how the heel came together. I'm thinking of making a pair for the mother inlaw for Mother's day and my little sister has requested a pair next week's payment. But, this is what I love about crochet, instant gratification. I'll have time to whip up several pairs before Mother's day, and my mom was just here, saw mine and said "oh, I'd wear those...if I had a pair"..hint, hint.

I have convinced Tait to let us keep one of the puppies. So sweet! We haven't named her yet, but Kaiya wants to call her Dora. We'll see.

Happy Thursday!

One Tired Mama

My little Kaiya has been working up a cold for the past couple of days. She generally comes into our bed in the middle of the night but when she's sick it's sleepless nights all around. And last night her little cold finally came into it's own and..oh. I'm so tired. Now she's snuggled up on the couch eating her cereal and watching Sesame Street. It's so hard watching your little ones feeling poorly, even worse to be so exhausted it's everything you can do to be patient and attentive. These are the cloudy days of parenting (it doesn't help that it really is cloudy and rainy and dreary outside and they haven't been able to go out in days).

I have so much I need/want to do. The sewing room is a wreck...again. I'm thinking I should just bring my sewing machine out here into the dining room. That way a)I don't have to deal with the disaster that is my sewing room and b)I don't have to take the girls in there or wait til hubby gets home to sew. I have so much to do to get ready for a craft show in Asheville next month. But, the thing is, I've been spending most of my crafting time making stuff for the girls, Kaiya's birthday, the house, even me. And I think today I'm going to start in on these: Aren't they cute? I got it into my head this morning that I wanted to crochet slippers and these fit the bill perfectly. And then after that I will work on....you know, work stuff. The part that pays.

OK, I'm off to be productive!

You Creative Types

Every Monday my teenage sister comes over and cleans my house. Scrubs the kitchen and the toilet, mops the floors, dusts. The whole nine yards. I pay her when I can but usually she accepts goodies from my shop, time with my camera...things like that. And she's very good. Up until a year ago my mother had her own business cleaning homes and my sister worked with her for a few years. Now, me? I really abhor house work. Not necessarily the process, but the time it takes away from all the other things I'd rather be doing. So you stick to the floors a little. So the laundry is overflowing. So there is dust and crumbs and dirty socks everywhere. So what? Not that I don't want the house to be clean. Some days it makes me crazy and if there comes a week that my sister is not interested in my bribes I do indeed break down and clean the blasted thing myself. One way or another it is clean for at least one day a week. But most of the time I spend very little time cleaning, lots of time crafting and with the girls .
I've actually never really thought about any of this but today my sister said to me as waded through dirty dishes and sticky counters in the kitchen, "You know, you creative types just never want to take the time time to clean. All you wanna do is knit and make stuff. I've cleaned for people like you you before. You're all the same." OK, so she has a point. I really don't want to take time out from the good stuff to clean or do laundry and yes, sometimes this means you have to dig through a laundry basket full of (clean) clothes and sometimes you hear the crunch, crunch of cereal underfoot.
But I do try to do a whirlwind pick up right before bed and the dishes are washed after supper about 90% of the time. But then you find us spinning around the living room dancing like a whirling dervish, trying not to trip over toys. Or you may find me digging through piles and piles (and piles and piles) of yarn all over my desk and everywhere else. But.....that's OK. I do wish I had more hours in the day so I didn't have to choose what's more important to me. But I don't and laughing with my girls and having picnics everyday and dreaming and creating...that's the important stuff...to me.
Sigh. No one ever said a creative life was a tidy life.

Tagged by SaraSophia

I've been tagged. It's been abit since my last and the first of this new blog, so I'll play along.

#1 What is your current obsession?

Waldorf toys on Etsy.
I'm scouting for Kaiya's birthday, coming up at the end of this month. I want everything....for her, of course. Like this sweet board game from Wishes and Whimsies. I wanna play, too!
#2 Who was the last person you hugged?

Kaiya, as Tait took her off to bed.

#3 What’s your favorite dinner?

Currently? Ummmm....I guess I would have to say anything my husband makes, since it means I'm not cooking!

#4 What was the last movie you saw in the Theatres?

Eeeks, that doesn't happen very often. Let me think. Ok, let me ask Tait...... Oh, wow, we're both coming up blank on this one. Note to self: go on a date, see movie somewhere without a couch.

#5 What was the last thing you bought? (to wear)

A rust colored, flimsy, hippyish dress. I bought it just a few days ago at the thrift store. I forgot about not having access to my breasts (for the leaches, I mean nursing children). It doesn't have buttons but if I wear a tank under it I can just pull off one of the straps when neccessary.

#6 What are you listening to right now?

Crickets chirping and Zoe breathing softly on my shoulder.

#7 What is your favorite weather?

Bright falls days!

#8 Say something to the person who tagged you.

Hi Sara!

#9 Tea or Coffee?

Coffee, unless it's chai.

#10 What did you want to become as a child?

A doctor

#11 If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?

Now I'm thinking to a movie theater. And I would see this

#12 Who do you want to meet in person?

Alice Hoffman, my favorite author or Noami Aldort. I could really use her advice.

#13 What is your most challenging goal right now?

Learning to let go when it comes to my girls.

#14 What is your weirdest obsession?

Stuffed animals

#15 Why did you start a blog?

I first started a blog to promote my shop but now I just really love it. I love writing and getting know so many great bloggers.

#16 What's your blog about (give me the 2-3 sentence elevator pitch)

Living a creative life.

#17 Which blogs are you obsessed with at the moment?

Soule Mama and Blue Bird Baby

#19 If you could change professions or careers, what would you like to try? (realistically speaking)

If it were not for my girls I would love to be a lay midwife.

#18 What is your dream job? (realistic or unrealistic)

To be running my own B&M shop with my crafty things and things from other local artisans.

#20 Who is your favorite designer of the moment?

Noone, I am completely un-fashionable.

#22 One thing that you would snitch out of someone's closet, with no regrets.

I've never really thought about it. See, I am totally un-fashionable.

#21 What's your favorite brand of jeans?

I'll let you know when I find them.

#23 What designer piece of clothing would you most like to own? (new or vintage)

See answer #22

Ok, that's it. Now this is the part where I am supposed to tag so many other bloggers but I rally hate that part. So, play along if you like and let me know if you do so I can check your answers out.

Rachel, You've Won!

Doesn't she look excited? My dear friend Rachel has won the radish giveaway. (Winner chosen randomly on Random.org) Those will be heading your way shortly, Rach.
Today the girls and I are going to have lunch with my mom. We do it every Friday. I think afterwards a little thrifting will be in order.

Happy May Day everyone!