Winter projects

Warning: Knitting is addictive! I've tried my hand at a few more things since my first knitting project, the tea cosy. Project #2 barely made it to the blog - I made a coffee cup cosy to practise what is called cable knitting (the twisted strands below). I discovered that I need to practise the basics of knitting a bit more to improve at the more adventurous stitches!

Winter project #3 was learning crochet. I made this easy head band and flower that I would like to name "the popsy daisy"...that is, if it was my own idea. But, alas, I stole the instructions from here and here. I would name it so, because you can pop off one flower, and pop on another. Pretty cool, huh?

The above head band was wrapped in that pink tissue paper and given to Eliana's friend for her 2nd birthday. I liked it so much that I made one for Lilah. Look at her sweet face. I get the privilege of planting a million kisses on those pudgy cheeks every day.

Winter project #4 was to practise the basic knitting stitch while making a coffee press (plunger) cosy for my love. I couldn't help but add in a new colour and practise what I think is called Intarsia knitting, or perhaps it's called Fair Isle (adding a pattern or picture with a different yarn). The heart can either represent my love for Nate, or his love for coffee :).

These projects are all being achieved because the girls go to bed at 7 and Nate and I have declared January to be a no tv/movie month, with the exception of a few Grid Iron/American Football finals. We are loving it so far!

For you, Mum.

My mother bought me a few things to get me started on knitting while we were in Australia in July. Six months later I picked up the needles to make my first project - a tea cosy. It's definitely not perfect, but we've got to start somewhere, right? One of my favourite things to do with my hubby in the morning is to sit down and share a hot pot of tea and read the Bible. We've tested out the cosy and it keeps the tea extra hot for as long as we need it.

I got the instructions to knit the tea cosy from here. If you're a beginner knitter, like me, you need to search the web to learn the basics of knitting (You Tube is helpful). Even better, you could spend time with your Grandma, if you're blessed enough to be able:) I also borrowed an excellent book from the library which explains some mechanics of knitting - it gave me a lot of 'aha!' moments :)

Knitter's Lib by Lena Maikon.

Thank you, my dear mother!

Caroling

Last night we went caroling with friends from Church. It is the first time I've ever done caroling outside in the cold - and it was everything I dreamed it would be.

Don't believe Eliana's face below - she loved being snuggled up to her daddy, going from house to house singing. I especially loved singing about the birth of our glorious Saviour to neighbours.

Lilah thought the singing was ok, but slept through most of it :)

Sewing fever

Sewing that crayon roll ignited in me a passion for sewing again. So the next day I finally made some new cushion covers. I learnt that I could use things in my home to create a cover, so it didn't cost a cent. I used the never-fail 'Google' and 'You Tube' combination to search "sew cushion covers" and used this tutorial.

For the first cover I used left over material from the (awesome) nappy bag my mother made while we were in Australia:

For the next cushion I attempted creativity and used scrap material, a belt and an old t-shirt. I used an old thin towel for the back:

For the third one, I used two different scrap materials and an old nighty for the white band:

Eliana seems to like them - she pretends they are new friends :) I'm now on the hunt for more things from our house that I can revamp in order to brighten things up over the winter season!

Crayon Rolls

Last night, Nate bought Eliana some crayons and a colouring book for Christmas. A friend had told me about crayon rolls, so I googled how to sew one (don't you love that google can be a verb!) I took the instructions from here. It was a very rewarding project - a great way to use up scrap material, and it didn't take very long - even for my novice hands. I made two in one night.

I made the one below first, but the size was for regular crayons, and therefore a tight fit for the big triangle crayons that Nate bought. I could foresee this causing frustration for Eliana (picture crayons going flying in the middle of church).

So I added an inch to the height of my next roll and a 1/4 inch for each crayon pocket (7" x 22") and it turned out to be a better fit (although the height could be 1/2" shorter).

I think I want one for Christmas too!

Happy Birthday, my love

All reading for the semester is due tomorrow. So - after a special dinner and chocolate cheesecake - this is how we are spending Nate's birthday. Tomorrow - we celebrate!

Solid virtues

I love being a stay-at-home mum. In fact, the only job I would rather right now is being a stay-at-home mum in Africa. However, there are certain things about home making that cause a sneaky question to creep into my mind: "Does this have any eternal benefit?"

It's usually times like when I finish cleaning the dishes, only to turn around and find the sink full of dirty dishes again. Or when I've finally folded the last pair of socks from a mountain of clean laundry, only to find the laundry basket full of dirty clothes by nightfall. I recently came across a quote that has greatly encouraged me as I go about the less-appealing-jobs of home making. It was written by a man who gave spiritual direction by letters in the 15 & 16oos, Francis de Sales. In one of his responses to a mother writing him about her concerns of the never ending tasks of home making he wrote:

"I remember you telling me how much the multiplicity of your affairs weighs on you, ... [This] is a good opportunity for acquiring the true and solid virtues" - Francis de Sales

It is not the only answer to the sneaky question that pops into my head, but it has certainly been helping me combat grumbling (as I clean the toilet) with thankfulness, absent mindedness (as my hands are plunged into another soap filled sink) with prayerfulness, and doubt (as I go about the lesser tasks of the day) with peace. If I wasn't faced with these - and bigger challenges - how could I practice the true and solid virtues? It's easy to be thankful when I'm going about the enjoyable tasks of the day!

So even the small things can be used to learn that "to live is Christ". May the Lord help me to die to myself and live for him in all my tasks and my attitudes.