Rhymes with Shawl - A Knitting Pattern

Well, while I haven't been blogging much, I have been knitting.  This month I released a new pattern, Rhymes with Shawl. I think this is one of my favourites! 

It is knit in worsted weight yarn and sized from 6 months to 10 years.  My favourite part of it is the endless possibilities of color combinations. Talk about major stash buster!

I am incredibly indebted to the 13 wonderful women from across the globe who test knit this pattern for me.  Check out their projects, and others that are being created, here:

You can buy this pattern directly by clicking here: , or heading over to Ravelry and purchasing it there.

The Women in my Life

Lately I've been stressed. Really stressed.  I feel like I need to find reasons to be grateful, because I know I have a wonderful life, but through the piles of paperwork to go through, and the houses we need to sell, and all the other stuff that we are going through right now that we can't do anything about, sometimes it's hard to remember to enjoy the moments.

So, today I am going to remember the women in my life; the women who have shaped me to be the person I am; the women who I know have gone through moments just like I'm going through now where they felt that things couldn't get much worse; women whom I look up to more than they will ever know.  In no particular order, and for a myriad of reasons each, these are the women that I am grateful for today;

My mom and sisters, Cheryl Evans, Alice, Megan, Shannon, Joan, Holly, Chloe and Phoebe. Love them more than life. 

My grandmas, Edythe Jackson, whom we lost in 2010, and Betty Evans, who has blessed my life in so many ways.

The list isn't long, but my BFFs, the girls who are truly my kindred spirits: Adrienne, Cheryl, Sarah and Nicole.  I know that no matter how many miles and years may be put between us, these girls will always be my besties!

My sister-in-law Renee, who supports me in ways no one will ever understand.

My mother-in-law Barbara Wiebe, and the example of kindness, obedience and love that she is to me. And her mother, Granny Hudson. I don't know if other people love their grandma-in-laws as much as I do, but I do!

The women who for whatever reason have influenced and helped me along the way: Carmen Pearson, Marilyn Bennion, Diane Ryman,  Lizzie Ryman, Mindy Gallup, Irina Jamieson, Jewel Govern, Erin Wallace, Janine Zuk.

The list can go on and on.  I am so grateful to be surrounded by women of character and strength.  I am so grateful to know that I'm not alone in my struggles.  I love all these women and feel lifted by them today.

Love Day

 I know Valentines Day is over, but I did want to share my cute wreath before I take it down and put it away for another year. I had my Christmas wreath still up at the beginning of February, so I decided I had better replace it before Valentine's Day. I went on Pinterest to find a brilliant idea and headed to Michael's with a vision of the greatest Valentine's wreath EVER.  The problem with having your heart set on something you see on Pinterest is that somehow other people have access to materials that no matter how hard I try, I can't seem to find.  I had three wreaths in mind and I couldn't find anything to make them with.  So, mustering all my creativity (not really), I bought a pre-made heart wreath and a wooden dowel and headed for home. At least I'd get something up before Valentine's Day was gone.  I painted the dowel white and while it dried I made the heart arrow and feather out of felt.  I cut out the heart, hand stitched with embroidery floss all around it, except for where the dowel would go in, stuffed in a little bit of polyfill, and squeezed in some white glue to stick it to the dowel.  Then I popped it on the end of the dowel and  jabbed the dowel through the wreath.  To finish it off I glued the "feather" onto the other end of it.  Perhaps not the masterpeice I had envisioned, but I promise that it was better than leaving the Christmas wreath on for another month!

Okay, this picture is only wonderful because of my sweet Silas hiding in the window.  Love that boy!

I'm not good at this growing up stuff

Eli lost his first baby tooth on Sunday, and I somehow felt like I lost a bit of something, too.  There goes a bit more of my baby, you know?  It was exciting though. It happened just as we were trying to rush out the door like mad men, because Jared was speaking in church; but, you can't rush a moment like that.  So, we stopped for a minute to celebrate, we carefully put the tooth in a safe place, took a quick picture of his new gaping smile, and then rushed like raging lunatics to get to church.  Jared walked up to the pulpit just as the meeting began.

Seeing as this is my first child's first tooth, we don't have a lot of knowledge of the comings and goings of tooth fairies.  We didn't want the tooth to get lost under his pillow, or for the tooth fairy to wake Silas up, whom Eli shares a bed with, so we put the tooth in a jar on the bedside table.  Then Eli decided he had better write her a letter to leave with the tooth, just so she knew who's it was and how appreciative he was that she would give him money.

He's getting so good at writing, and is always excited for an excuse to write anything.

On the inside he wrote: "I wish I could see you."  So sweet.

 And, when he woke up in the morning, not only did the Tooth Fairy leave him money ($5!!!) but she also left behind something magical blue and sparkly in the tooth jar, and a tiny note, just for Eli.  We knew she came in through the window, because there were sparkles all over the window sill with tiny foot prints in them. 

On the back of the note it said that loosing your first tooth is a special thing, and that's why this time he got five dollars.  What a lucky, toothless boy!

Seven Months - A Knitting Pattern

I've had this little gem ready for quite a while, but just haven't had the chance to publish the pattern.  This tunic was knit as a direct response to the years of stuffing huge fluffy dresses into snowpants, as a child. It never turned out well.  And, with at least seven months of snowpants weather in Canada, there were a lot of opportunities to crumple my favourite party dress long before I got to the party.  With this tunic, any little girl can look darling, without having to worry about being cold or under-dressed.  

The pattern is written for girls 18 months to 10 years of age.  It has options for sleeveless, 3/4 length and full length sleeves, and for tunic or dress length. It was test knit by 11 amazing women across the globe.

As usual, it can be purchased from Ravelry, or you can purchase it right her, right now, but clicking this little button:   You can also check out all the other projects made from this pattern right here:

Catching Up

I started blogging almost three years ago. We were living in Spokane, Washington, in a dirty little duplex, for only four months. We drove home to Calgary almost every weekend while we were there (because compared to Michigan, an eight hour drive to make Sunday dinner at Grandma and Grandpa's was nothing).  We didn't unpack anything.  We lived out of boxes, with our mattress on the floor, and folding chairs and a plastic table to eat upon.  It wasn't as bad as it sounds. Spokane is really a lovely place.  I met some incredible women and we had a lot of fun while we were there.  Still, I did find myself with a bit of time on my hands, and so this blog was born in my boredom.

Last night the boys and I spent an hour or so checking out those early posts, gooing over how cute Silas was as a baby, and how much Eli has grown.  It's no secret that I don't handle my kids aging with much grace, so it was actually a little sad for me.  Still, while I've become one of those annoying bloggers who never updates, I sure am grateful that I have documented what I have, because my journal writing and scrapbooking and any other memory keeping skills are even worse than my blog skills these days.

It did make me think about all the moments that have passed in the last few months that I have not documented anywhere, that, if I don't get down somewhere, will be lost forever.  Like, for instance, the rest of our Summer Adventure Journal.  Adventure we did! I even took pictures to prove it.  I need to write it down so in three more years we can look back and enjoy it all over again.  Or, when Jared was called to The Bar and became a real lawyer.  Or, when the Calgary Temple was completed and I got to take so many of my friends through the open house to learn a little more about what I believe, and when I got to go through with my boys and Jared and sit together there and get a glimpse of what heaven will be like. Or when Jared's parents left on their mission in Halifax, and how exciting it is for us to talk about them, and pray for them, and learn from their great example.  I can go on and on, but instead I'm going to try really hard to catch up on some of these important events, the things I want to remember, the things I want to be able to look at down the road and enjoy. So bear with me for the next bit while I play catch up.  It won't take long, and it might not entertain much, but get over it, this is my blog!

On the First Month of Christmas...

What? Christmas is over?!? But did you know what? It's now only 12 months away.  Did you hear me people? 12 months!!!

Every year I hit November and realize how much I want to get done for Christmas and don't ever have enough time to do it.

2013 is going to be different. This year I am going to think ahead, prepare, do things differently. 

So, for the next 12 months I am going to finish at least one thing for Christmas every single month.  I have more than enough unfinished, untouched crafts in my basement to fill all 12 months, but more than that, I am going to try to get presents finished, planning done, and even a little money saved so that when Christmas comes around again I will be ready!

So, on this, the first month of Christmas, I competed one lovely Christmas decoration which will so beautifully deck my halls next Christmas season:

Here's to the next 12 months of merriment and joy.  I've got plans for a beautiful season next year, and a whole lot more room in my craft room as I clear out all the half finished and broken decorations. 

Merry Christmas to all in 2013!