blue knitted pants

I just finished a pair of soaker pants for my friend Talia's little boy. Actually, they still need elastic in the waist, but I couldn't wait to post the picture. So adorable.

I used the Picky Pants pattern from Little Turtle Knits. It's a fast and super easy pattern with loads of different variations on the basic pant theme. It's meant to be knit in wool yarn to use as a soaker for a cloth diapered baby - I used Plymouth Galway yarn from my stash. I think it would also be really cute in cotton yarn for regular pants.

Henry at Dinner

His laughter is contagious.

Stitch Markers

I have been knitting with boring plastic stitch markers for far too long, and I have a rather large Paypal balance at the moment, so I ordered these...

Wizard of Oz stitch holders, customized to my specifications (in silver with blue glass beads) by SeahorseDesigns at Etsy. Beautiful work!

our easter eggs

I found this Pyrex split vegetable dish at the thrift shop last Monday. The perfect thing to hold all our pretty Easter eggs.

knit carrots

For the Easter baskets...

I don't remember what I was looking for on Ravelry when I found this pattern, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't knit carrots.   My big stash of yarn is currently on a boat headed for the mainland, but, fortunately, I had kept my small stash of Reynolds Saucy out.  I found the perfect orange and green, and I knew it was meant to be.

Gwyneth loves her carrot and is already coming up with ideas for things I could knit next year!

gnomey hat

I can't wait to see this hat on an actual baby (knit for my cousin's almost-here baby)!

It's the Gnomey Hat pattern from Hello Yarn. I used 2 different colorways of Cascade 220 held together and my gauge was right on (the pattern calls for a bulky yarn). I love this little hat. Seriously quick and seriously cute!

felted slipper socks

For my cousin's soon-to-be-born baby girl.

Before felting...

After felting...


Coincidentally, while I was knitting the pink slippers, I found some blue slippers in my knitting cabinet that I had knit-up but never felted, hmmm.

So I felted them...



They were larger than the pink pair and a perfect fit for Henry....



I've made this pattern several times before, but I think this is the first time I've taken pictures. The pattern is from Baby Knits Head and Toes. I've loved every pattern I've tried from the book, all adorable and very well written.


Edited to add: Look what I found when I was uploading pictures to Flickr! This picture and this picture. So, it looks like I knit these booties sometime around Henry's first birthday. Hmmm, I still don't remember knitting them or if they were actually intended for him. I'm pretty sure I didn't knit them with the intention of saving them until he was 4 1/2 - what luck!

sewing napkins

I've been meaning to learn how to use the rolled-hem foot on my sewing machine to make some quick dinner napkins. Lately, it seems, we are always running low on napkins, and some of the older ones need replacing. I'm pretty sure a rolled hem will simplify the hemming process. So, my goal, this week, is to get out my manual and figure it out.

I've had this tablecloth for years, most recently its been residing in my fabric stash waiting to be transformed into dinner napkins...

...once I figure out how to make a rolled hem. Wish me luck!

island patchwork

A few days ago I was saw this beautiful scrap quilt at Pleasant View Schoolhouse and I fell in love. I am so drawn to the utility, frugality and simplicity of scrap quilts. Why have I never made a true scrap quilt before?

I immediately began making plans for my own amazing scrap quilt, but I had one big problem. No scraps. I'm just not a saver - I don't like having things cluttering up my space for "someday". So where to find a nice bunch of somewhat related fabric for a great scrap quilt. The thrift shop, of course! I ran by my favorite little goodwill store yesterday afternoon and waiting for me was this wonderful stack of island print scraps! Yes, I really do believe that they were waiting, just for me!

A small sampling...



There are 35 different prints (many are the same print in different colorways) and each scrap has enough fabric to cut four 3" squares...there are at least 4 (and as many as 15 or so) scrap pieces for every print. This is the perfect simple project to work on as we pack up the house for our move, and it will make a great keepsake of our time in Hawaii.

Oh, and I'm on the lookout for a something big and cute to keep my sewing scraps in for future scrap quilts...

living with less

It's been a little over a month since I wrote this post about making do and not buying new. Somewhat surprisingly (to me at least), this little challenge is bringing lots of peace and joy into my life.

For many years, I have been exploring the idea of voluntary simplicity, choosing to live with less. I've made some effort to let go of "things" that don't matter, and I've been working towards having a home that contains only useful and treasured possessions. Now, because I have limited what I will allow myself to acquire, I'm finding myself more appreciative of what I already have and more discerning about what really matters. I'm finding it easier to let go of things, and I'm paring down even further. I'm getting closer to my ideal of a simpler life with less stuff and more joy.

I do have to admit that I haven't been completely true to my resolution. I promise to come clean at a later date about my few contraband purchases. But for now, let me just assure you that every "thing" was well considered, filled an actual need, and, most importantly, makes me smile.

And...in the interest of avoiding a post without a picture, I'll share something else that made me smile recently...

sandwiches are back

I finally tried the sandwich roll recipe from Gluten-Free Baking Classics by Annalise Roberts...it did not disappoint. The texture was a little different than a regular white flour sub roll - in a good way. The bread was more dense and it had a distinctive nutty flavor.



My only complaint about the recipe is that it only made three sandwich rolls. Next time I will be double the recipe. Sandwiches are back on the menu!

favorite thrifts from monday

I spent a good part of Monday at the Savers' President's Day sale with my friend Talia...half off everything! Here are a few of my favorite finds.

Vintage cafe curtains (two panels) - our house search will now involve finding the perfect kitchen to hang these in!



Vintage twin sized fitted sheet - I'm torn between using this on Henry's bed or using it as a cutter...



Cute purses - one for when I'm feeling like getting a little fancy...



and one for everyday...



Six matching vintage glasses (jelly jars?) and of course...some Pyrex!



Talia is a long time thrifter, and she managed to piece together this whole outfit from her finds, she definitely has a gift!

sunday dinner...

by candlelight...



The candle is at the end of the table because Henry couldn't resist blowing it out. He did manage to contain himself until dinner was almost over...

couldn't resist another seven

I was going through my kitchen cabinets this afternoon, looking for Pyrex that had never been photographed, and I found more stuff to get rid of - now I have some room for more Pyrex, ha!

Seven more things from the kitchen...

seven things on sunday

more toys...

valentine's outfits

Gwyneth picked her outfit yesterday - all the heart clothing she owns...



Henry decided on a toga with a splash of color.

seven things on saturday

Plastic from the kitchen - a few more than seven...

the nature of school

One of the reasons I teach at home is because I don't want my children inside of a building all day. I want them to be a part of the real world, especially the natural world.


Despite living in a climate where the daytime temps rarely dip below 70, we sometimes spend the entire day indoors. I have the best of intentions, but I often put off outside time in order to get "school" done or to finish chores up around the house.


Ironically, quite often, my kids are cooped up all day, experiencing nature only through an occasional glimpse through the window or in our tiny fenced-in backyard (surrounded by two-story homes). The problem, of course, is that I am not making nature time a priority.


Once again, I found inspiration from SouleMama. Her Winter Manifesto No. 4 really struck a chord with me. If she can get out there every day during a Maine winter, then I really have no excuse. I needed this gentle reminder.


I've never wanted to "do school at home". I want school to be a natural part of our day for the most part, and I want that day to include the natural world. So, I'm making outside time a priority, and I will "get out there" every day, even if only for a few minutes. We started today, with a walk around the neighborhood. Henry and Gwyneth were enthralled by all of their discoveries, and I was reminded of why I teach my own.

Lots of little treasures were found, and I finally set aside some space for a nature display. Something I've been meaning to do for a while now...

seven things on friday

Stuffed animals...

seven things on thursday

From the kitchen...

creating a peaceful play area

After yesterday's seven things of toys, I decided that I am no longer going to put off creating the calm/peaceful play environment that I want for my children. It's going to be a process that won't be completed until we are settled into a house in Tucson, so, for now, I'm documenting my starting point and verbalizing my goals.

Pictures from the play area...





Aside from two small baskets in the living room with blocks and cars, a few random stuffed animals in the kids rooms, and a few outside toys/games, these are all of our toys. I feel like the volume of toys is under control, although I do still want to pare down a bit.

My goals:

1. Replace all the plastic storage with more natural/attractive containers. I'll start thrifting for bags/baskets/wooden boxes for storage. I think this alone will make a huge difference in the feel of our play area. Any other natural storage ideas I might be missing (remember, I'm not buying anything new this year)?

2. Eliminate all the "junky" plastic and commercial toys. We have some plastic that I am okay with and some that I think is absolute trash...I'm planning a future post to show what stays and what goes.

3. Replace plastic toys with wood/cloth when possible. When replacing the toys, I will make an attempt to find used, but I am going to allow myself to replace plastic toys with new handmade toys...I think one-to-one replacement honors the spirit of my "nothing new" challenge. I already have a list in my mind of what I want to replace...I should probably write it down, ha!

4. Replace the shelving with solid wood shelves. These laminate bookcases are ugly, ugly, ugly! I'm seriously considering donating them when we leave! I'm hopeful that we can find a house in Tucson with some built-in shelving where we can keep the toys. If that doesn't happen, then I will need to start the hunt for some solid wood bookshelves/storage pieces (used...no exceptions here!)

I'll be sharing my progress...feel free to share any suggestions!

edited to add: Opps, I forgot about the Legos! We have lots of Lego kits but they're not in the pictures...

seven things on wednesday

Kids games...

seven things on tuesday

Children's toys...I could easily do a few more days of just toys (and I might do just that!) These are getting put away in my closet for now, to play with after all of our household goods get packed up in a few weeks (we will be living in the house with temporary furniture, and few belongings, for about a month). I will donate them when we leave.





In the past year, I have been making an effort to pare down the toys to the bare minimum and to get rid of the most of the plastic (I love Legos and we have a pretty good-sized collection...so we won't ever be totally plastic free!) I'm determined to get the toys down to a manageable size before we get to Tucson. I'll try to share my progress over the next few weeks...

seven things on monday

We're getting ready for another overseas move. I realized the other day that all of our military moves have been across oceans...Texas to Germany to North Carolina to Korea to Hawaii to Arizona (soon) - that's Atlantic, Atlantic, Pacific, Pacific, and Pacific (soon!). But, I'm getting off the topic here so let me start again...

Every time we move, my decluttering mode goes into overdrive, and I want to get rid of just about everything in our house. Maybe an attempt to make the painful process of packing up the "things" (and the even more painful process of unpacking the "things") a little less grueling?

So, I thought it would be fun to share some of my decluttering. I've challenged myself to get rid of seven things a day for one week and to post about it (I think I've seen this done before in blogland but I can't remember where, so I can't give credit, sorry!) Oh, and the challenge to me would be in posting regularly and not the purging (that's the easy part)!

From my bathroom - eight things!

new pants

A pair of men's pants from the thrift shop...

Pattern traced from a pair of boys pants and cut out...

A new pair of pants for Henry...

I hemmed the pants the same way I did here. The pants are a little short waisted because I cut them high up on the leg in order to salvage the existing side leg pocket - the red flap in the above picture is the zip-tab for the pocket. Cutting so high up didn't leave me quite enough fabric for the waist because I could only cut up as far as the front pockets. Henry loves the cute side zip pocket and doesn't seem to care that the waist sits a bit low - so I think it was a good choice.

today

A dozen eggs, all boiled, with no cracks - I finally learned to bring the eggs to room temperature before slowly lowering them into a gently rolling boil.



Looking lovely, in my current favorite, thrifted, small, Pyrex bowl.

thrifted quilt

We have been using this blue and yellow quilt on our bed for a couple of years now. It's just a cheap mass produced quilt that we have had since we were married, and it is literally falling apart at the seams. I've never really loved it, but I haven't been able to find anything else that I did "really love" and/or was willing to spend the money on.

What I really wanted was a simple/neutral quilt or coverlet. A couple of weeks ago I found this pretty whole cloth quilt at a thrift shop.

I wasn't really in love with it at the shop, but it was in excellent condition and, for less than $20, I figured I could find a use for it. When I got home, I washed it and put it on my bed. Well...I love it now! It fits perfectly (the old quilt was actually a little small for our bed), and it is a nice neutral/calming color. It looks almost white in the picture, but it is actually a beautiful pale green.

the turtle

I forgot to post a picture of the turtle I made to go along with Sora's quilt. The green polka dot fabric was also used on the quilt, and I cut up pair of thrifted pants for the legs and head. This is another project from Bend-the-Rules Sewing.



I gave up in frustration when trying to turn the tiny piece of fabric intended for the tail so this turtle is tail-less. Of course the first thing Gwyneth said when I showed it to her was "What a cute turtle! Where's it's tail?" Seriously!?