A Little Imagination and a Pile of Junk

7 sweet years and counting

Where did those cheeks go? My sweet Soren turned 7 last week and we've been busy getting the house and yard ready for his first big party. Birthday celebrations  are usually small family events but this year we are going all out for a real big kid party. And he has quite literally invited everyone we know. We're using the party as an excuse to tidy up our rather large and unruly backyard, a job that we've needed to do for--oh, how long have we lived here?--about 3 years. So while there has still been some knitting and sewing going on, there has been little picture taking and all I could find to share is this old photo I managed to dig up from the laptop.

It's an appropriate photo, though, with Mother's Day still so near to see how far we've come in these past 7 years of motherhood and childhood. And it's time for me to admit that I miss my babies. It has taken me 5 years to get to this point but I am ready to have another one. My husband has been patiently hoping for just one more for about 3 years and I just couldn't bring myself to willingly go back to the beginning when the kids are just now getting old enough to do things for themselves and I finally feel like I have some independence back. Those first few years are hard--precious, yes--but hard. Or at least they were for me. I love that the kids are growing and learning and becoming these neat people that I want to spend time with and get to know better. But the thought of never having another baby in our home makes me want to cry. So, we're working on correcting that. We'll see how it goes.

soaking in the sun

The weather has been just beautiful here and very Spring-like, especially compared to the almost 100 degree weather we had been having, so we've been spending as much time as possible outside and away from the computer. I haven't missed it a bit. All I seem to want to do is to sit outside and knit between little spurts of puttering around in the garden. The whole family has enjoyed it.

Unfortunately, we have not yet found a new home for Beyond, the rooster. And although I still have some sentimental feelings for him, I am more than ready to let him go. He has become so brutal with the hens that we have had to separate one of them. Chi-chi (above) was hurt so badly by his talons that we didn't think she was going to make it. Thankfully, after many tears and prayers from the kids, (God is so gracious in answering children's prayers!) she's pulled through. Now we let her enjoy a little free grazing while the bully paces back and forth protesting vehemently. The poor dog wants so desperately to sniff her butt but intuitively knows better than to get too close or he might just lose a nose.

What I've been working on: the scarf that had such a difficult beginning, but is now coming along rather nicely. Imperfectly, but nicely. I am recognizing my stitches from one another and knitting the knits and purling the purls. Mostly.

An earlier practice project: another washcloth. I found some nice knit dishcloth patterns here but I was almost finished with this one when I somehow ended up knitting on the wrong side of the fabric...?? Two rows of purl bumps where nice stockinette v's ought to be just sent me over the edge. Suddenly the gaping holes, extra 14--yes, 14!!!--stitches I added along the way and uneven texture screams to be frogged. I took a picture for posterity but next time you see this yarn, it will be woven into something altogether different. I do think I'll keep up the washcloths, though. Once you've used a hand-knit cloth on your skin, the once-so-soft-terry feels like sandpaper. Seriously.

I'll tell you about my final project a little later, but here's a peek. I'm using this yarn that I was able to find locally. It may not be designer, but I think it is scrumptious. Light & airy, soft and very organic feeling. The colors are nice, too. I think it would be perfect for a baby blanket. Actually, I wish all my clothes were made out of this stuff. But, back to the project at hand: it's my first attempt at stripes, making my own pattern and using circular needles all in one. Maybe a bit too ambitious, but fun.

Well. It's time for me to get back outside. I already have a headache from staring at the screen and we only have 2 more days until it is back to summer-like heat in the 90s. Have fun!

now you know what we're really like

I just have time for a quick post to show off my new pillow. I worked on it a few weeks ago but didn't get around to putting it together until today. I love these fabrics so much. (Don't I always?)Everything but the bird print was thrifted in Memphis. The floral is a vintage napkin--aren't the colors wonderful?

The color of the backing fabric looks a little off in the picture and the vintage buttons definitely seem to coordinate better in real life. Here's a close-up of the stitching and then I'm off to practice my knitting snuggling next to my sweetheart as a silent support while he watches the Final Four Championship game. I learned my lesson after I apparently spoke the wrong words during a big game and abruptly shifted the momentum away from our team causing them to lose the game. Really. A big Texas/Kansas State game about 2 years ago. Yeah, that was my fault. I really do have the sweetest husband in the world but the Longhorns are his team and, although he did apologize later, at the time all he could say was, "I know it is ridiculous, but I just can't talk to you right now." And he actually didn't speak to me the rest of the night. Yep. And he thinks I get crazy about my crafting. Speaking of crafting, here's the detail of that stitching.

I'll share one last shot that usually wouldn't make it to the blog but I'm deciding to get real and give you a peek into what it is really like in my home, at least while my attention is on other things.

Oh, who am I kidding? This is everyday life at the Cooper house, except I had just spent all day cleaning and you can't see what the dog just puked up in the corner. (Let's keep a little bit of mystery here, please.) But there behind the couch is my child. The one with the underwear on her head. The underwear she had previously been wearing...elsewhere.... Yeah, well. I'd better be off to tend to my knitting. For real this time.

pillows and a torture tool

A couple of new pillow covers I've just added to my Etsy shop.

I've got to come up with a better place for taking pictures. Have you seen Malka's amazing designs? Her fabrics and quilting are drop dead gorgeous but her photos make me want to redesign my entire house around one pillow.

The top pillow cover now reminds me of this bag, but I had almost forgotten about it. Actually, I woke up in the middle of the night with the idea to chop up this wonderful vintage Swedish dish towel/table cloth I had just found. This same person who hoards stacks of fabric and paper too pretty to cut into chopped up the thing without a second thought. And I'm glad I did. I really love how it turned out, but it doesn't go with a thing in my house. Plus, we might be getting close to the exceeding the appropriate number of pillows you can have without making your home look like a fluffy showroom. Not quite there, but almost.

Speaking of not quite there, but almost: behold my second completed knitting project. I call this one washcloth. Don't you love her? Beautiful (okay, I admit, that might be pushing it) and functional.

She made her appearance last week and has been caressed by every member of the family. No one seems to mind her less than perfect appearance or the fact that this is a freaking washcloth, people, that took me a week to make! I don't know how I'll ever be able to knit an actual sweater or blanket for another person. Unless I tie them down and make them watch the entire process (I'm picturing something like A Clockwork Orange here) so they know exactly how much hard work went into it. Even that, maybe I'd have to poke them in the eye with the knitting needle every few stitches so they can really feel how hard I worked. Sounds fair to me.

ta-daaa!

There she is! My first knitting project. Not exactly a FO (finished object), more like practice. But I like to call her: bookmark. Oh, yes. I am one proud momma and hardly even notice her imperfections--as a new momma should. When I gaze upon her, my eyes don't naturally go to the gaping hole in her middle, the sloppy stitches or the weird impromptu tied corner (It took me a bit to get the hang of binding off). Nope, I hardly even remember they're there.

I'm actually near finishing my second knitting project so I guess the old Stitch 'N Bitch is doing the job pretty well. My honey, who I mentioned was sweet enough to buy me the books, was initially turned off by the name, but then I showed him this project.

I might have mentioned something about wearing this when I knit. But, now, he's anxiously awaiting the development of my skills. The sweetheart! It is so good to have a man who encourages your interests.

keep on moving

I was so thrilled and inspired by sweet jessie's recent tour of her sewing headquarters. But that is pretty much the complete opposite of what I have to show today. God willing, all this mess will be out of my house by the end of the day and I can start on phase 2 of the Big Purge of 2008: redecorating.

As of now, there are boxes and piles in every room of the house. Here we have cast away toy bins no longer needed because the toys will be going to someone else's home. Bye-bye!

Too many blankets, sheets and pillows, unfinished paintings from high school--the Van Gogh-ish period, Christmas decorations still out from two Christmases ago. Bye-bye!

Books, books, and more books. And we still don't have enough shelf space! This is where we have the conversation about building a library versus hanging on to beloved books that we may actually read or use as a resource again in our lifetimes.

But we're not even talking about the stuff already outside awaiting the World's Largest Garage Sale Ever.

We've all given until it hurts (I'm talking about a huge box of perfectly good fabrics, people.) and the thing is that I know we'll have to do this again, we'll call it phase 3, to get rid of anywhere near the amount of stuff I envision getting rid of.

So what about you? Have you started your Spring cleaning yet? I promise, it feels great. Like losing 20 pounds overnight. And once the excess is gone, I can start beautifying the place with the new projects I'm working on. Or as my husband says, I can start filling the house I just cleaned out with more crap again. Ahem. But this time is different. Please, God, let this time be different.

there is work to be done

"It is not because food, clothes, wealth, and property are inherently evil that Christians today must lower their standard of living. It is because others are starving. Creation is good. But the one who gave us this gorgeous token of affection has asked us to share it with our sisters and brothers."  --Ronald J. Sider, Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger

Not much arting or crafting around here this week, but there's lots of work going on. We hauled a load of trash to the dump on Saturday and already have half a garage full again. As the downsizing keeps moving along, it looks like we're going to have the world's largest garage sale when everything is done. My very own junk market. And one that I'd prefer not to attend, but at least the kids are excited about it.

Soren and I filled 5 boxes or more of toys who need new homes. I was so proud of his willingness to let go of things I know he still enjoys. Each time he'd go through a box of hot wheels or plastic animals he would ask, "Is this still too much to keep?" and I'd say yes so he'd go through it again and again without complaint until the box was mostly empty. Maisey is having a much harder time as she--like her Momma--forms emotional attachments to everything she owns and, literally, everything she sees is her "favorite". The used-to-be blue plastic frog with no legs because the dog chewed them off is her favorite and she carried it around for the rest of the day to prove it.

Well, back to work for me. There is so much work to be done. At least there's no lack of inspiration.

i *heart* swaps

Yikes! That photo looks horrible! Hopefully, my photographs will be looking slightly better now that I'm back to a real monitor and Photoshop access. Just look at that white glow...I really need to read that camera manual.

 

So, happy Valentine's Day! I am thrilled to be a part of Lelainia's Valentine's Day swap this year. Her idea was to send a box of goodies that we loved to our partners to let them get to know us better. Such fun! These are the goodies I sent to Dawn. Papers, fabric, trims, buttons, handmade books--I get all giddy just looking at them! Unfortunately, the Canadian post being what it is and the Valley post being what it is, my box from Dawn hasn't yet arrived. But maybe today will be the day. You can take a look at all of the wrapped gifts and watch the unveiling at the Be My Valentine blog here.

There is still not much to see around here unless you like pictures of discarded empty suitcases, still yet unpacked suitcases, bags of trash, garage sale piles, and clutter covering every available surface. Sigh. I'm trying to clean, organize and cull as I unpack and, let me tell you, it is hard work. I will conquer the crap, though! And get rid of it. It is about living simply from here on out. Oh, how I pray I can actually accomplish this down-sizing and that it doesn't kill me first. Buried in an avalanche of paper and McDonalds toys is not the way I want to go.

home on the range

If there were any residual feelings of not wanting to leave Memphis, a week on the road living out of suitcases took care of them. We had a great time at our many stops on the long way home, but we are all very glad to be Home. We didn't get in until late Saturday night and that first night felt strange and unfamiliar. I'm going to chalk it up to being sleepy and road weary because waking up in our own beds and seeing our friends at church on Sunday morning made us feel right at home. A sense of humor didn't hurt either, especially when I heard this after briefly stirring from my early morning slumber:

"Did you hear that?"

"Um, what?" (long pause)

Er-Er-Eeeeerrrrrrrr!!!!!!

"That."

Oh, yeah. I've heard about that. Roosters like to cock-a-doodle-doo with the rising sun. But, wait. We're not on a farm. We're in suburbia. Grrreeeaaat. I've mentioned how we found out one of our laying hens was really a rooster, but I had forgotten about the crowing part until I heard it with my own little ears. Echoing throughout the neighborhood. The quiet, dark neighborhood. At 6:30 a.m. And 7:00 a.m. And 8:00 a.m. I'm thinking I blocked out all memory of the 7:30 awakening. I've never been so glad to bury my head under the covers. I fully expected the neighborhood watch posse to be pounding on the door any minute. That reminds me, anyone know any good chicken recipes? Because we won't be going through this for very long, I can tell you. I'm thinking we need to try out the grill this weekend with some good all-natural, free range chicken. Yum.

on the road

It was hard leaving Tennessee behind, but a short stay in the Ozark Mountains and playing in the snow on the ground made took our minds off it for a while.

Our soundtrack driving through the surprisingly beautiful Arkansas hills: