many crafts of may

This May has been filled with a little bit of everything for our family. David had a show to attend, the Janesville Renaissance Faire, and his preparation kept him busy in the weeks leading up to it. The rest of us? Well, we spent a lot of time in the garden, writing on the sidewalks, cutting shapes out of paper and fabric, sewing, knitting, gluing, painting...

My favorite project of the month goes to Esme. She made a very creative and lovely fish windcatcher. She colored two sides of a fish, cut them out and glued them together (back to back), and then glued orange, plastic newspaper bags to the tail. She also cut strings to attach to the fish's mouth and hung everything from a pencil.

And while Esme's fish started things off with a bang, this next project is perhaps a bit less exciting. Last month, a friend of mine birthed her second son, at home, as planned. She is an avid breastfeeder, so as a mama gift for her, I made a few pair of nursing pads with waterproof backing to help prevent leaks. I chose a soft, pretty tie-dye print cotton for the side against her skin, a couple of cotton layers inside for absorbency, and a layer of PUL on the outside to prevent any moisture from leaking onto her clothes.

With so many new babies on the way, I spent a few hours here and there knitting tiny, striped newborn hats to crown the little heads of all the new arrivals. This turned out to be a lovely stash-buster of a project, and is still continuing with a pink and gray hat that is halfway complete. As it turns out, I was pleasantly surprised with some of the color combinations on these hats, including one for a happy Gryffindor supporter!

Summer is here, unofficially, perhaps. But with its arrival also comes free time and opportunity for family crafting. We all have a list of things to get done, and my own list is only getting longer. One things is absolutely for certain: getting dirty and clay covered together sure makes for a wonderful way to spend summer vacation!

this moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

. . . . . . . .

knitting in progress

It is only the first week of May, and already eight brand new babies have arrived, born to friends and family. Eight! That means a whole lot of baby caps and sweaters. And busy knitting needles.

As of now, I have three wee projects in the works. The first one is the pattern Puerperium Cardigan by Kelly Brooker at knit.so.quaint, a simple sweater designed for new parents to easily dress their newborns in the weeks after birth. Done in stripes of green and white cotton, this little sweater will be a fresh layer for cool spring mornings.

I have been hem-hawing around in my stash, looking for some luscious yarn that would make a few  unique newborn hats. Requirements? Something ultra soft, sturdy, rich, and surprising. Modern. And textured. Move aside, rosy pink and powder blue! Make way for something more rowdy. Maybe that is not exactly the right word. But take a look at what I came up with:

Oh, I love the colors! Next? A pattern hunt! I narrowed it down, and decided to go with Jared Flood's Turn a Square. The pattern has been on my to-do list for ages, and with a few simple alterations to the pattern, will make a lovely little newborn hat.

Using a nice grey in Bamboo Ewe, I cast on 56 stitches to size 7 US needles. Here are my notes:

Knit 2x2 rib for six rows.
Continue in stockinette stitch, knitting until hat measures 4" from cast on edge.
Place stitch markers every 14 stitches.
Work decrease rows and continue pattern as written.

The first hat turned out perfectly. With the next one, I might consider knitting 3 3/4" before beginning the decreases, just to make a slightly smaller, more fitted hat.

Only two more wee gifts to go. For now!

french press

Slippers are a must-have. They make wonderful gifts for friends and family, for birthdays, for new mamas, for no reason at all. One thing is for certain, though: every mama needs a favorite pair of slippers to keep her toes warm and comfortable on chilly days and dark nights.

My favorite slipper pattern is Melynda Bernardi's French Press, a felted wool design which knits up in no time at all and is then felted in the washing machine in less than 15 minutes. Pairing this pattern with my favorite felting wool, Cascade 220 in 9421, these are the second pair of French Press slippers that I have knit. This time, I followed the pattern for a size 9/10, and, after felting, they came out to be around 8.5. The pattern leaves quite a bit to personal interpretation and inspiration, which is why I love it so much.

I really like the look of French Press knit up in natural, earthy tones paired with metallic buttons, but this pattern has such wonderful potential with vibrant colors! The very first pair of French Press I made was done in a darker blue with neon green buttons. This time, though, I wanted to make something very springy and light, which is why I chose this clear sky Hawaiian blue.

The most difficult part of making these slippers was picking out the buttons. Bubblegum pink popped against the blue wool, and purple was a wow, too. But I fell in love with the contrast of the yellow against the vibrant blue. It is so simple and so lovely, and reminded me of the bright sun shining in a clear blue sky.

This pair of French Press slippers is destined for a friend. And I have already started knitting my third pair of French Press, to hopefully be finished very soon.

oh, spring!

The garden is in bloom. Everything is green and thriving. The sun is shining and the wind is blowing. Birds are busy building their little nests. Neighborhood children are playing hop-scotch and the sidewalks are littered with chalk. A herd of bikes graze the front yard of one house, soon to migrate to another yard. Projects are making progress as the days grow longer still. Spring is here, and it is beautiful.

My birthday has come and gone with perfectly soundless fanfare. Friends and family surprised me quietly with little gifts hidden here and there for me to find. Love and laughter filled my heart as I held those dear to me, and they whispered, "Happy birthday to you, Shana!"

spring knitting

Today, I bring you a recently knit project. I wanted to make something sassy for my five year old to wear with her trademark leggings and spunky shoes. Using the pattern Girl's cap sleeved spring shirt by Shellee Floyd at Soulfulhues, I chose Loops & Threads Cotton Club in Wild Rose for a lighter-weight sweater as we head into warmer days. 

It seems I always have to make a few variations from the pattern as it is written. With this sweater, I lengthened the body slightly to be more of a tunic and only used one size needles throughout. Also, instead of doing a rolled hem along the bottom edge, I opted for a cleaner look with a band of ribbing.

My notes:

CO 92 sts. Follow pattern for medium sweater.
Begin changes: Sixth row (or so) after underarm joining, increase three additional stitches under each arm (104 sts). Do not switch needle sizes.
After piece measures about 16 inches, begin bottom hem with following:
Row 1: K2 P2 until end of round.
Row 2: Knit.
Repeat these two rows for about two inches, then bind off.

I loved how this sweater turned out. It's simple and comfortable and darling. Esme loves wearing it, and it's the perfect weight for long spring days. And perfect for a sassy little girl!

potter in polymer

My oldest daughter, Evelyn, is currently reading the Harry Potter series. "It's really good. And really funny!" was her response when I asked her what she thinks so far. Evelyn is quickly making her way through the series, one book at a time, and then watching the film (with me!) after she finishes the book. Even though she has already seen the movies before, she is still enjoying the comparison, but, like the rest of us, maintains that the books are much better than the movies!

Evelyn inspired me to work on some new Harry Potter art. I have been dabbling in polymer clay lately, and thought about how cool it would be to make some little figurines. So I had a go and my attempt did not turn out too bad at all.

Starting out by making a flamboyant little Dumbledore, it struck me how much of a perfect contrast he would be paired with a tiny, red-eyed Voldie (who is as cute as Voldie can ever be). Love! 

 

The only time these two characters met face-to-face in real time is at the end of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, for the best battle of the entire series. Now they will be ever side-by-side as complete opposites. I cannot wait to make the entire cast of Potter characters. Next up? I'm not yet sure. Perhaps a scruffy Hagrid or a greasy Snape or maybe even a rough Mad-Eye?

a day on the town

The whole family was together for a wonderful day, which we decided to spend out on the town. The sun was shining and the weather was perfect for walking and wandering and looking, so we spent a good couple hours outdoors.

We wandered in and out of a few shops and stopped in a cafe. In one little shop, we came across some crazy finds, which the girls heartily tested out right away. Evelyn found this crazy bejeweled feather ring.

Think that's good? Check out Esme's gawdy green flower ring! And the headband sets it off perfectly.

We also went into a woodshop where David picked out several different woods to work with on upcoming projects. He found walnut, a couple types of rosewood, yellow heart, sycamore, and red heart. Most of these blanks will become hand-turned handles for whips.

So what makes for a perfect day out? Being together with my sweet ones. Laughing about the little things. Hugs. Warming cups of yum. Sweet smells and dabs of whipped cream. Colors. And charms. Dirt, evergreens, and long sidewalks. Fashions and finds. The sun and the smiles.

sweet baby things

Knitting projects! It seems like I have a dozen going all at once. And sometimes I am very bad and do not take pictures of those that are finished. This weekend turned into a catch up of sorts -- time spent finishing the last few rows on this project, sewing in ends to that, attaching notions on yet another, and photographing the latest of many baby gifts. 

I wanted a little something sweet and sassy in my gift giving this time around, so this little sweater made it on to my needles. For a baby girl, I chose hot pink and hot orange in my color choice. The pattern is Kids Seamless Sweater by Soulful Hues. I used Lily Sugar'n Cream -- a solid cotton that will be great for springtime wear. The pattern was a breeze, though I made a few alterations in order for the sweater to fit a wee one (see my notes at the bottom of this post).

The sweater came together smoothly and quickly. I paired the sweater with a lovely ruffly skirt in the same hot pink. What a lucky find for this little baby girl! And now, we will shower her sweet mama in love and gifts as we wait none so patiently for this little baby girl to join us.

***

I altered the Kids Seamless Sweater by Soulful Hues in order to fit an infant and it worked out perfectly, ending up at a 3-6 month size. My notes for a striped sweater, using a main color (MC) and a contrasting color (CC), are as follows:

CO 52 stitches on in MC using size US 7 needles.
Work 10 rows of K1P1 ribbing in MC.
Change to CC. K one round, complete one round of increases as described in pattern (K2 M1). K three rounds, complete second increase round (K2 M1) [approx 116 stitches]. K three more rounds.
Change to MC, K three rounds.
Next round:  K14, put 29 sts on waste yarn, K29, put 29 sts on waste yarn, K15. K six rounds in MC.
Change to CC, K 10 rounds.
Change back to MC and finish bottom of sweater as per pattern instructions, with K1P1 rib for 10 rounds.
Arms:  Place 29 stitches back on needles. With MC, K2tog right under the arm (where you will have to sew up the tiny hole later) then complete seven rows of K1P1 rib in MC. Do the same for the second arm.

heartbeat artistry

About a year ago, my husband began stepping away from the corporate world and integrating himself into an artist lifestyle. He now spends many of his days in his studio or office, creating more and more artwork. As he has began building up quite an inventory these last few months, I have been spending most of my spare time developing an online presence for his artwork.

David's artistic experience goes back quite a few years. In 2001, David established his business, Heartbeat Artistry, primarily focusing on drum making and professional drumming. Between 2001 and 2008, David's drums were featured in our shop at the Bristol Renaissance Fair in Kenosha, WI. Other businesses began carrying his drums, as well, including WardBrodt Music in Madison, WI, Lakeshore Music Conservatory in Racine, WI, Schmitt Music in Racine, WI, Astor Street Dance Studio in Milwaukee, WI, Absolute Music in Fairborne, OH, Sheepish in Racine, WI, and Parana Gaming and Mega Bites in Racine, WI.

David's drums are incredibly unique. With a ceramic body and fixed tuning, the drums have a full, rich, resonant bass tone, called the "doum," and a crisp, clear, solid high tone, called the "tek." The colors are vibrant and fresh, not only the body of the drum, but also often in the tie-dyed heads. 

Why ceramic? Ceramic has a clarity and distinction that tends to be absorbed in wooden drums and a depth that is lacking in metal drums. The sheer enormity of the sound of a ceramic drum is quite unlike anything else you will find. Over the last decade, David has further developed and refined his drum-making techniques to maximize the natural properties of ceramic and skins, and perfected the art of selecting the exact perfect skin for each drum.

David's drums are based on traditional hand-drums from the Mediterranean, North African, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. His best-selling styles are based on the goblet-shaped doumbek, the larger djembe, and the Persian zarb.

Having taken piano lessons starting at three years old, and playing trumpet once he turned seven, David has always had an ear for music. He went on to study Jazz Theory, taught instrumental music, and performed trumpet and percussion at events across the country. Once David got into drum making, other artistic mediums just began rolling. David has expanded his artistic repertoire to include sculpture, watercolor and ink, and woodworking. Much of his artwork is featured in studios, galleries, homes, and restaurants around the country.

In 2011, combining his love of wood-turning with his long-time hobby of whip-cracking, David took up whip making. As they are made of nylon paracord, David's whips can be cracked in adverse weather conditions without being damaged. His preferred style of whip to work with is based on the Florida Cow Whip because of the unique inserted thong allows for a variety of handle sizes and styles. David hand-turns his handles on a lathe in a variety of exotic woods.

All of David's artwork is handmade, from start to finish, at our indoor-outdoor home studio. While much of his works are sold online in Heartbeat Artistry's Etsy store and through our ebay store, David often attends events across the country, whether it be as a guest instructor, a performer, or a vendor. As for the business end of things... well, that is where I step in. As I said before, much of my spare time lately has been dedicated to developing an online presence for Heartbeat Artistry. Weekly blog updates, ebay auctions, and Etsy listings are a few tasks I have taken on. It makes me feel like I can be a part of my husband's work when I advertise it for him. And hopefully it shows him that I support him and his creativity.

Running a family business is difficult and challenging, but it also gives us so much. The children love going to events and helping out in the studio. They are more than happy to dive right in to a bucket of clay, get covered in paint and glaze, and pick out colors for the next whip. They are proud of the work they do and boast about the projects they had a hand in. Running a family business has helped to bring us closer together.

Visit Heartbeat Artistry at our blog:  http://heartbeatartistry.blogspot.com

Visit our Etsy shop:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/HeartbeatArtistry

Visit our ebay store:  http://myworld.ebay.com/heartbeatartistry/

In addition, we are offering readers free shipping on all orders in our Etsy shop placed by February 28th. Use code SHIPME at checkout.

surprise, surprise

This week has be filled with beautiful weather. Sunshine! Temperatures in the 50s and, yes, even 60s! We opened windows and doors to air out the house. One mild night, we slept with the bedroom window slightly ajar. It was refreshing! Even though it is still early, some of the trees are starting to form the starts of buds, hoping springtime will arrive with a flourish.

On Thursday, when I got home from a very busy day, I walked in to set my bag down by my desk, and there was a big package, plopped down on my desk chair. A package? For me? Surely it was for my husband, and he had just set it down in a hurry. I checked the label. Nope. My name. I checked the return address. Cambria! Ah! A surprise from my friend! My insides jumped with excitement. I literally threw down everything I was holding and tore open the package. So. Fast. Inside was a beautiful, hand-made quilt in vibrant colors. "Oh." It was all I could say. 

I knew said friend was working on something special for me. And I have something in the works for her. But I did not expect that it would be something so perfect. It is everything I envision. Bright colors and patterns. Lovely and beautiful.

My friend and I have been going back and forth for a few years now, sending surprises and swapping art and crafts back and forth. But this quilt has so much to live up to. I am working on something unique as revenge, and I started it months and months ago. But life has kept me busy and it is not yet ready. I pledge to buckle down and finish it soon so that I can ship it off for a surprise my friend will never expect.

Thank you, Sam. Your work in incredible. 

a light winter's day

Winter finally made her presence known over the weekend when she caught us in a good sized ice storm. The children were able to enjoy a full afternoon of skating on the ice, all bundled up in their cold weather gear. I finished knitting a pair of wool mittens for Evelyn just in time for her to wear them into the cold. She took off with them before I could even capture a photo. Here are a couple post-worn-in photos:

Monday turned out to be a nice relief from the harsh cold with a surprise day of sunshine! As it turned out, the ice did not last long. The muck from the ice storm over the weekend melted before morning was over. All three of our cats curled up in the windows and enjoyed the bright winter sunshine that has been almost rare these last few weeks. Nova claimed the sunny spot on the window seat in the dining room garden, a perfect place to keep guard over the yard as well as indoors.

Tea, hot chocolate, and freshly baked cookies were absolute musts for the girls, even though the sun was shining. Esme proudly made her very own cup of tea in the Japanese butterfly mug she picked up for a whopping 15 cents at the thrift shop.

Snow-covered, sunny winter days spent curled up with a blanket and a good book next to the fire -- there really is not much better than that. Hopefully we will find ourselves snow-covered again soon.

retreat

It seems with every season change, I am ever more aware of the ticking of the clock, the passing of another year. With each holiday, I get caught up in the joy and celebration and love of our family and friends. But once the holiday is gone, I need time to stop and reflect, to remember, to share. I want to linger in the memories and embrace the traditions we cherish. 

What sweet memories do I carry away from this holiday season?

  * Exchanging cookies with family and friends

  * Classic carols sung and favorite books  read over and over

  * Cold, quiet nights spent sitting around the fire while sipping cups of tasty hot things

  * The handmades -- dyed yarn, ornaments, hats and scarves and gloves, clothes and bags

  * Snow in time for our celebration with my in-laws -- a white Christmas

The holidays are over. Tomorrow, we all go back to the normal grind. I will miss the coziness of the house decorated for the Yuletide season. And, again, 2012, I welcome you and the wonder of the new beginning you promise us.