I’m not usually one for talking about the weather (I have a thing with small talk – which is why I am such a wall flower), but this morning’s weather came straight from a storybook. Owl At Home, by Arnold Lobel to be exact.
As I sat here looking over my emails & drink my tea, the front door burst open, & there in my living room was poor old winter! He had let himself in with a gust of wind.
I just love it when the kids at school are so willing to share . . .
This week my children brought home with them strep throat & have been ever so generous in sharing it with dad & I. My day Wednesday was cut short by a teeth grinding migraine. Thursday found me with a lingering headache & a flaming sore throat. My daughter was up the entire night crying with an earache. You know it’s bad when your 9 yr old is waking you up every hr with crying all night long. Friday morning we went to the doctor first thing when the office opened. The poor thing has an ear infection & strep throat. She finally did sleep – most of the day, which was great because then I too could catch up on knitting, sleep.
I have found that I have a love-hate relationship with illness. On one hand it isn’t any fun to feel crummy, but on the other hand, I love the slower pace that it allows for. I don’t one bit, mind laying in bed for a day knitting & drinking chai tea. I don’t mind how my children find it within themselves to “get along” in order to help mom. And, I certainly don’t mind being left alone in my quiet room to knit I mean rest in order to get well again. Today, I am feeling much better.
Since this is the time of year when people seem to feel under the weather, I though I would share a recipe for my favorite chia tea concentrate.
What is your comfort food for days when you are feeling under the weather?
With snow covering the ground, I have been spending more time with my needles in hand. I’ve enjoyed creating a collection of patterns & designs that have inspired my winter knitting. What has inspired your knitting this season?
1. Heliconian by Pam Powers
3. Thrummed Mittens by Helene Driesen
4. Montera Embroidered Button Jacket by Pam Allen
5. Seed Stitch Tall Cowl by Diana at Knit & Bake
6. Shades of Winter by Ewa K. Andinsson & Ingalill Johansson
7. Ondori Winter Knitting Goods
8. Small & Clever by Pickles
9. Cottage Sock Slippers by Lion Brand Yarns
10. Bird House by Marie Claire *french pattern
11. Malabrigo Loafers by Julie Weisenberger
12. Bulky Hat by Eveli Kaur
As I look to the dawning new year, I find that I am full of hope and excitement over the possibilities the year has to offer. One of my new years resolutions for 2013 is to spend more time working with my blog. I’ve kept a blog off & on for some time now, but I’ve never taken what I was doing very seriously. I was just having fun figuring out the ins & outs of the blogosphere while my children were young. Now that they are older & require less from their Momma, I’m finding that I have the time & energy to pursue blogging a bit more aggressively. For years I have been collecting inspiration & project ideas for a time when I can devote more time to my creative spirit. Now is that time & I am excited to be sharing this with you.
I hope the coming year finds you full of inspiration and bravery
as you move forward in your own personal endeavors.
Cheers!
. . . slip some needles under the tree, for me
I’ve been an awful good girl
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight
This year for the holidays I am introducing these fabulous Santa Knitting Needles to the shop. They are fantastic. Each set has been masterfully crafted using Blood wood & Maple to create a striped effect. Each set includes 1 needle with a Blood Wood cap & 1 needle with a Maple cap.
There are only 8 of these special edition knitting needle left. So place your orders now!
Also, on Monday, Honey over at Mondorfment is hosting a give away for one of my portable weaving looms. If you would like to have a chance at winning one of these, make sure to remember to hop on over & sign up!
1. Circular Needle Holder by Sevenannine
2. Row/Stitch Markers by Scarletfoxfibers
3. Silver Knit Ring by Aimeepawluk
4. Yarn Sewing Needles by Lesliewind
5. Vintage Figurine by Northwestnesters
6. Large Knitting Bag by Simplesmiles
7. Knit Notes by Papersheep
8. Knit Mug by Finnish Design Shop
9. Handspun Yak Yarn by The Rocking Yak
10. Knitting Needles by Joe’s Fiber Tools
11. Knitting Needle Bracelet by Sewnewthings
12. “Because I Love You” Tags by Lonelytreedesign
Today I was inspired by the words of Elizabeth over at The Sitting Tree as she shared with her readers the reasons why she has chosen to live a handmade life. She wrote:
“I know we each have our own individual, deep seeded reasons why we buy handmade gifts each year, but I wanted to share what has inspired us to live a handmade life….
*I live a handmade life, because… I have to create. Like I have to breathe. Or eat. To survive. When you purchase handmade from us or someone else, you’re allowing an artist to carry on. To nourish the soul. To find joy. Achieve dreams.
*I live a handmade life, because… I know exactly where my money is going. No middle men. No giant corporations. Just people trying to make a difference in the world. To real families, like us, who are paying the bills, putting food on the table, and reaching goals.
* I live a handmade life, because… I believe in quality over quantity. Purchasing high quality, well made items, means they will last for years, sometimes even a lifetime. Attention, detail, and a lot of love is infused into each item that passes through our hands.
* I live a handmade life, because… I want art to be unique and original. I love that when I wear one of my husband’s Tree Branch Necklaces, I know I’m never going to see anyone else wearing it.
* I live a handmade life, because… I care about the environmental impact of mass produced goods on our earth. From manufacturing, transporting, and disposal; the destruction is astronomical. All our items are either made of recycled materials or are organic material and can be composted back into the earth.
* I live a handmade life, because… I value connection. Through this blog and our shop we’ve met folks from all over the world. Becoming a part of each other’s lives, in some small, significant way is one of my favorite parts of living handmade. “
My husband & I chose to have handmade holidays when our children were born. We love the traditions that we have made with our kids involving them in making gifts for others. This year will be our first year having an entirely handmade Christmas. I have already enjoyed the challenge of finding gift ideas big & small that I can make to give away. I’ll be sharing some of these ideas over the upcoming weeks.
How have your holidays been handmade?
I was going through my stash of yarns and came across 4 skeins of this fabulous yarn from Manos del Uruguay. I love how the colors match the trees outside my windows. I had made a sweater with this yarn shortly after my son was born over 7 years ago. I wore the sweater a few times before my sweet husband placed it in the drier while helping me with the laundry. Of coarse it felted, so I passed it on to a good (much smaller than me) friend. It became her favorite sweater that was well loved & I was happy to have given it to her. I hear this yarn calling to me again.
Here in Indiana the autumn leaves are changing as the air turns cooler and the days grow shorter. Preparations are being made for the colder months. Handmade gifts are cast onto knitting needles, menus are being planned, and travel arrangements are being made. As much as I love this time of year, and everything that comes with it, this year I find that I long to be in another place on the other side of the planet.
The Rocking Yak is moving into a busy season. The villagers are coming in from working the fields. The yak fiber is being purchased & delivered to our precious spinners. The mountain sides are being combed for natural dye materials, and soon days will be spent dying, washing, and balling yarn. It is a lot of work for the few living and working on the Tibetan Plateau and I wish I was among them.
artbycarriejoy.com 