Kleas

yet even more cowls...

Even though spring is starting to make it's subtle appearance, I'm still busily making more cowls.  I just love this simple, quick and beautifully textured pattern.

I got a little crazy experimenting with this super chunky yarn mixed with this super soft Rio wool.

I liked the results...it was a birthday gift for my mom (Happy Birthday Mom!!)  She looks so pretty wearing it, so I'd like to try working this combo again.

The red one is for Julen and the third for a friend...I just can't get enough of this stitch!

many, many thanks...

thank you so much for the birthday wishes...they all warmed my heart

I had such a lovely day, and how could I not?  All of my dreams came true...among them were these...

a new book from my mom, written by an old friend

10 preschoolers singing Happy Birthday to me

carrot cake cupcakes

lunch out with Julen

a painting from and created by my sister

green curry dinner with the girls

calls from my guys in Spain (who for the fifth year now have gifted me a very fancy Custo jacket-almost too fancy for me to wear)

and a beautiful full moon

I feel quite blessed.  xx

mosaic monday-happy birthday to me

1. gifts wrapping, 2. Untitled, 3. blooming, 4. Chocolate birthday cake, 5. Red Balloon, 6. Cake Bunting Tutorial, 7. Blow, 8. Confetti, 9. stepping stones, 10. Untitled, 11. Full moon rises over the mountain., 12. At home

This is a nice collection of things that are making me very happy today.  I like to think of it as my virtual birthday party...and there is even a full moon tonight...hope the skies are clear so I can get a peek at it.  Happy Monday friends!!  I'll be celebrating another trip around the sun all day today!  xx

initial stitching cards

This was a fun project the kids did at the preschool this week.  I wanted to come up with a simple stitching craft that would give me an idea where the children are with their understanding of sewing.  It also helps me see how their fine motor skills are improving.  

I thought they would enjoy stitching the first letter of their name...and I was right!!  They were thrilled at recognizing which initial was theirs.

• I started by roughly drawing the letters on squares of cardboard (these pieces came from the back of pads of paper and were just the right weight of cardboard for stitching) 
• next, using a screwdriver, I just roughly went around the letter poking holes about an inch apart
• before class I had pre-threaded blunt-tipped darning needles with yarn tying a big knot in the two ends of yarn, thus securing the needle
• after a brief explanation of how to do this stitching, "front-to-back, back-to-front", and to make sure they were pulling the yarn all the way through the hole before making the next stitch, I just let them get started

As usual, the kids all impressed me with their patience in working the stitches around the letter.  Some chose to go around twice filling in all the gaps, others were satisfied with just the running stitch.  I was also thrilled that the older kids who finished first, helped the younger ones who were struggling just a bit.  Well, I think it's time to get them started on their nature pouches! 

mis amores están en barcelona

I have been on pins and needles since saying good-bye to papa and my eight-year-old...waiting to hear if their flight to Spain went well.  I don't know what it is about this trip that has made me feel like my stomach is in my throat...my sweet boy, my first born having this first great adventure that I am not a part of.  But I am thrilled for him, and of course for papa who gets to finally introduce his boy to all his friends, show him around his old neighborhood, eat jamón, turrón and panellets not made at home, speak spanish and learn more Catalan.  

So today after school when I found these photos in my email, my heart ached with joy.

three pretty vintage dresses

I just fell in love with these three thrifted dresses.  The fabric is nearly disintegrating in some places, they have been around so long.  I love every stain and gentle tear and all the little hand-stitched parts. The blue one comes with a bonnet and a row of tiny buttons.  Under each ruffle of the white satin one is a layer of tulle.  It also has a one-upon-a-time pink satin ribbon that split in two when I tried to tie it. They are all lovely and screaming to be made into something new...kind of Ann Wood like. 

mosaic monday-round

1. Untitled, 2. world pillow #029, 3. Preparing citrus for Blood Orange Marmalade., 4. the winter garden, 5. napperon, 6. …, 7. all three completed!, 8. Silence, 9. Round crochet cushion complete, 10. alpaca yarn, 11. white bowl collection 001, 12. Love Shack

Round and round we go.  Winter is starting to get on my nerves.  The melt/freeze/melt/freeze cycle we've been stuck in for a month has made for super slick sidewalks and lots of chopping of ice.  It's hard not to feel a wee bit optimistic for spring though, as the days are getting noticeably longer.  

One thing that has me jumping for joy is Leslie of Maz&Vale is hosting her third annual Handprinted Fabric Swap.  I participated in round one and round two and had so much fun that I'm going to do it again!  Leslie does such a great job of posting inspiration and tutorials and ideas for fabric printing on her blog, there is always something fresh and new to consider.  And of course there are always Pinterest boards to get tons of ideas from.

Sign ups for the swap continue until February 28th.  Go here for more details. (What are you waiting for?)

birthdays at the preschool

Over the past three weeks besides Julen's birthday, we have celebrated three more children's trip around the sun.  Here are the gifts I made for them.

For Corrine, small and sweet, new to our school, just turned three, yet is courageous and eager to play I knit up a wee little bunny (I love her tiny pouf of a tail).  I thought it would be nice for Corrine to be able to carry her bunny with her, so I stitched up a little pouch so she can hang her around her neck.

Next we celebrated Hattie's birthday.  This girl is soft and gentle, initially timid with the other kids but making huge bonds now.  She loves to play "kitty" so that seemed like the obvious thing to make for her, but I decided a sweet lamb was more true to her personality.

Then on Monday we celebrated Annika's half birthday.  She is a tiny package of a girl who has really big play.  She plays with boys and girls equally and is a really good friend to everyone.  She is our helper and we can count on her to aid in resolving conflict among the other children.  I chose to knit her one of my all-time favorite knits, a gnome doll that can also be used as a finger puppet.  I crocheted up a little pouch for this one too.  It's so nice to be able to carry a treasure around with you.  I needle-felted a big heart on front which is truly Annika-all heart.

Have a beautiful weekend friends.  xxx

happy valentines day!!

Here's how we celebrate at the preschool...

...by making paper plate hats...hearts and arrows of course!

We took a break from millet and brown rice for snack and got to have a treat!  These almond, date, cacao powder and honey cookies were delicious!  Also, they happily met all the requirements for the children with allergens and who are gluten free.  (recipe)

We read a special story...

...and the children made dozens of valentines to give to their famlies classmates.  (No picture!  I was too busy cutting ribbon, separating doilies, passing around the glue stick and helping with glitter.)  Such a mess and so much fun!

Before the children go home for the afternoon, I press a handmade heart into their palm.  In the past it has always been a stitched felt one but this year I painted on wooden hearts I bought at Michael's.

Parties are so much fun!

Then later at home, I helped my 8-year-old Star-Wars-obsessed boy help make his valentines for his classmates.  Good thing Anna did all the research for me.

Hope your day is sweet!  xx

one for my SIL

I knit up yet another scarf, this time a gift to my sister-in-law for her birthday.  The colors are so perfect for her.  She's wears a lot of soft pastels (as you can see by her yellow sweater in the above photo) and she also loves jewel colors.  This yarn was just perfect for her.

I had so much trouble with the edges curling up...this has never happened to me before.  No amount of blocking would help to set it straight.  I have to wonder if it's the yarn blend that is the cause of this. Who knows.  Anyway, I decided to crochet a little edge all the way around the scarf which did the trick to flatten down the sides so they didn't completely roll up.  (Before and after below)

I'm so happy she loved it.

Details:

snowflake scarf -free pattern at The Purl Bee

I used two skeins of Boutique Treasure wool/acrylic yarn in colorway Abstract

I used needle size US#10 and cast on 26 stitches, knitting until I used up almost all the yarn saving enough to crochet an edge around 

It was such a lovely pattern to knit and reminded me just a little of knitting the star stitch which I used used to make this scarf. 

No more scarves for now as I'm still working on Julen's leg warmers!