Sweater, Snowman and a Pond

February 8, 2010 in Cross Stitch, Knitting by Silverlotus | No comments

Bliss! I had about nine hours of sleep last night: to bed at 9:30 and up at 6:30 (because the husband had an early appointment), with only one small cry from Baby Man.  He slept until 8 and didn’t want much of a nap today.  Hopefully tonight goes well too, but I’m not expecting it.  I think it is better for me to go to sleep early and expect to be woken up at 3am than for me to go to sleep at my regular time and expect to sleep through to 7am.

In my sleep-addled state (can you die from lack of sleep?), I did manage to get a few things done.  First, I finally seamed up the Baby Kimono (from one of the Mason-Dixon knitting books) on Sunday morning.  I think it turned out quite nicely, even if I didn’t do the best job seaming.  It was knit using Bernat Cottontots in colourway Wonder Dreams.  I used some white Berocco Touché to seam it because the Cottontots isn’t piled very tightly.

Baby Kimono

I also finished up the Kris Knits January Dishcloth KAL.  It is a cute snowman on a very large dishcloth.  We have decided it will become a Baby Man Wiping Cloth, since we go through so many paper towels trying to keep him clean.  It knit it using Sugar’n Cream in colour Light Teal.

Kris Knits January KAL

And I have even found a wee bit of time to cross stitch.  I’ve been working on Chatelaine’s Egypt Garden for the Long Jump category for The Wagon’s Stitching Olympics.  The scoring for that category is based on the number of complete 10×10 squares that have been finished.  And, with all the work I’ve done, I still haven’t finished a single square!

Egypt Garden

Happily, the Tacky Box for Beads that I ordered arrived in the mail today. That means I can tackle the beading shortly.  Tonight, though, I think I will work on Sewing Seeds, since that needs some attention.

Finished Heather and a Single Sock

February 5, 2010 in Cross Stitch, Knitting by Silverlotus | 4 comments

Baby Man is not sleeping.  In fact, we were up at 4:30 this morning.  The stress of dealing with a 2-year old on little sleep combined with all the nights I’ve spent sleeping on the floor has lead to a very, very sore back for me.  At this point I am running on fumes and back medication.

I have managed to finish one of my Francie socks.  I only did 1 1/2 repeats of the leg pattern because I prefer short-legged socks and because the yarn I am using, Crystal Palace’s Panda cotton, doesn’t have a lot of yardage.  (Once the sock was done, I saw that I had a enough left over that I probably could have done at least another 1/2 of a repeat, but I’d rather I have extra at the end then not enough.)  The foot shaping on these socks are is really cool. It is a lot like the shaping on the socks I finished last month, but with the addition of ribbing and a little  better transition into the toe.  This is, by far, the most comfortable sock I knit so far.  I can’t wait to have a completed pair.  In fact, I’ve already got started on the second sock! Yay me!

A Single Francie Sock

I’ve decided to take part in the 2010 Ravelympics and knit Crafty Diversion’s Carmen Bolero.  (FYI: Anne is offering a cupon code for the Ravelympics.  Use code CDRavelympics2010 when buying any pattern on this page and get 20% off.  I’m thinking about the Eleanor Roosevelt hat and Lillian cardigan.)  Of course, this will cut into any time I planned to spend stitching for The Wagon’s Stitching Olympics.  But, honestly, I have no chance of winning that, as much as I would love 20 skeins of Dinky Dyes. :)  However, it is entirely possibly that I could finish knitting a hooded cardigan in a couple of weeks.  (Yes, I do live in a dream world.)

And speaking of stitching, I have managed to cross something off of my WIP list: Heather by Serendipity Designs.  It was not a pleasure to stitch as it is full of French knots and partial backstitching  on Aida.  I know that I should have changed the fabric that came in the kit, but I didn’t bother and I paid for it.  Nonetheless, the finished piece is lovely.  I think I will probably end up making it into a bag if I ever get up enough energy to pull out the sewing machine.  (The fabric is plain ivory Aida.  The weird colouring is a shadow.  It is dreadfully dull here today, so the picture looks awful.)

Heather by Serendipity Designs

I also wanted to mention that Pauline of A Stitching Frenzy is having another giveaway.  This time she is offering a copy of Jill Oxton’s Cross Stitch & Bead Weaving.  There are some really pretty projects in this issue.  I had actually thought about getting a copy of this issue, but never got around to it.  (The best of intentions around here don’t amount to much when not getting sleep.)  Head over to her blog to enter.

And I just came across this new Chatelaine design: Midi Online 2 – Rajasthan Lotus Temple Pond. It would be an understatement to say that I want to stitch this design.  Time to save my pennies.  The chart isn’t released until May 1st, so I have some time.

February 2010 Goals

February 1, 2010 in My Life by Silverlotus | 2 comments

So far, February is off to a much better start than January.  Baby Man slept through the night again last night (a wee bit of crying at midnight, but he was back to sleep right away), and he even took off his pants and diaper and sat on his potty.  He didn’t pee, but since he did all of that without my prompting I’m very impressed.

Anyway, enough about the toilet habits of my 2-year old.  I would like to say thank you for the encouragement and kind words I’ve gotten over the past couple of days.  I appreciate it very much.  It is always nice to be reminded that I’m not the only person in the world going through this, and that is soon shall pass. :)

So, February goals.  It is a short month, and The Wagon is having the Stitching Olympics again, which means I will be focusing on my project for that.  With that in mind, my goals are:

  • Finish Francie socks (I’m aiming for a pair a month right now, I think)
  • work on my husband’s socks
  • work on Egypt Garden for the Stitching Olympics
  • work on Sewing Seeds
  • seam up that baby jacket I had finished for my dad’s co-worker
  • repair my Enchanted Dreamer pillow which Baby Man tore the beads off of
  • chart border for Kitchen Blessings

I think that is pretty good.

In other areas of my life, I’ve made a few promises to myself that I’m not yet ready to share in case I fail miserably.  And believe me, there is plenty of temptation.  I do want to write more, and get back to eating better.  Beyond that, I am just not sure.

January Goal Review and SALSuffit

January 31, 2010 in Cross Stitch by Silverlotus | 3 comments

January, we hardly knew ye.  You started out cold and a little mean (a handful of baby sick, thanks), you warmed up a little in the middle and got better.  Now, at the end, the weather is cold and windy.  Snow is beginning to fall again, and we are reminded that it is a good time to be indoors working on accomplishing our goals.

Non-crafting-wise, I didn’t do so well this month.  I had one great week back on my eating plan, and then when things got bad with Baby Man not sleeping, everything went downhill.  I also did well for a few days working on writing exercises, but that was also put aside when things got rough.  I think that I have learned something important this month: while it is important to be true to myself and not just become “Baby Man’s Mom”, I also need to realize that until he is older, he is my major priority even if it seems like he is growing up.  I’ve also learned that writing takes a lot more energy and mental power than cross stitch or knitting.

So, that brings me to my January goals.  They were:

  • crochet Planet June’s Sea Turtle for Baby Man’s birthday
  • make significant progress on socks for my husband
  • make significant progress on the wedding gift
  • clean out Baby Man’s closet and toy box
  • Establish a weekly writing practice

Let’s see… I did finish the sea turtle and I cleaned out Baby Man’s toy box and closet.  I didn’t get to the cedar chest in his closet, but that is a whole different project.  I tried writing, and I will get back to it.  As for the socks and the wedding gift… well, no.  I haven’t been knitting on the socks because they are being made with wool yarn, which causes me to feel ill and since I haven’t been feeling well I thought it was a good idea to leave them be.  As for the wedding gift, I just forgot about it. :)

I did accomplish a lot though, considering the small amounts of sleep I have been working with.  There was the Sea Turtle, and the Groundhog, the Pyroclastic Socks, and the crocheted Swiffer cover (which is fabulous!).  I made some really good progress on Kitchen Blessing and Sewing Seeds and on my Francie Socks.  And I kept up with the Kris Knits KAL, even though it seems Kris herself has fallen behind.

And, I did get around to my SALSuffit for this month.  I spent the afternoon framing two pieces that have been waiting for my attention for months.

Black Hatter by Sue Hillis Designs

Halloween Fairy by Mirabilia

As for my February goals, I need to think about them a little bit.  The Wagon is holding the Stitching Olympics again, and I plan to work on Egypt Garden for them.  And of course I will continue on with Sewing Seeds.  I’ll post what I decide tomorrow.

Progress on Love

January 30, 2010 in Cross Stitch by Silverlotus | 3 comments

We’ve had a small victory here: Baby Man has slept through the night for the last two nights! Yay!  I’m not fooling myself into thinking that things are back to normal yet, but this is a good start.  And this means Mommy has had some sleep, which means that I have felt like stitching.

After a walk yesterday I managed to get in a bunch of time on Sewing Seeds.  Baby Man has tired out, and just wanted to play with his cars and trains.  I’m certainly not going to complain about that.

Sewing Seeds

Sewing Seeds

The heart in the middle is so very pretty!  A picture doesn’t do it justice at all.

Sewing Seeds Heart Close-Up

Sewing Seeds Heart Close-Up

If you are taking part in the SAL on the TW board, please post your progress pictures.  I will be doing a draw for a small prize tomorrow evening.

Thank you, also, for the comments on Roses are Red.  I really do like the fabric choice, so I think I will look for a darker brown GAST or similar thread the next time I get to my LNS.  I would really like to make this design work on this fabric.

Groundhogs Instead of Sleep

January 28, 2010 in Cross Stitch, Knitting, My Life by Silverlotus | 3 comments

In the past two years or so I’ve been surprised by the deep reserves of energy I have found.  In the first weeks of Baby Man’s life I think I had no more than three or four hours of sleep a day, and yet I was able to function, keep the house tidy, cook, and occasionally pick up my needle and thread.  These last few weeks though, when Baby Man has decided to stop sleeping through the night, I have discovered that the energy reserves are no longer as deep.  The lack of sleep is begining to wear on me, and I’ve even come down with a sore throat.  But as all you mothers know, there is no rest for Mommy no matter how badly she needs it.

I’ve been a bit like the walking dead for the last little while, and have chosen to read or do less taxing crafts instead of my beloved cross stitch.  I did actually put needle to cloth the other day to start La-D-Da’s Roses are Red, but I think my fabric choice is totally wrong.  One of the thread colours blends into the background too much.  I don’t have the heart to pick it out right now, so it will rest for a while, until I get some rest of my own. The fabric is a very dark Days Gone By from Silkweaver, and doesn’t look anything like the other piece I have.

Roses are Red by La-D-Da

I did manage to finish up the crocheted groundhog the other day, while Baby Man was napping.  (One of the funny things about being so very tired is that sometimes you are so tired you just can’t sleep.  So, I craft.)  I think he is super cute.  And, according to Baby Man, groundhogs says “grrrrrr!” Now you know.

Groundhog by Planet June

I have also started to work on the heel flap of my Francie socks.  I think they are coming along quite nicely, and I might have the first sock done by the end of the weekend, assuming I don’t lapse into a coma. (Oh, how I wish!)

Francie Sock

Today we took one of the sides off of Baby Man’s crib in hopes that that will help with the crying-in-the-middle-of-the-night-because-he-wants-out-of-bed problem.  Of course, he may just end up crying at his door.  (He has mastered doorknobs, but the door to his bedroom sticks, so he can’t get it open.) With luck, all of us will sleep through the night tonight and I will feel up to picking up my needle again.

Oh, a few things I thought I would mention:

  • The Stitcher’s Village is offering a Krazy Kitties for Haiti chart to raise money for charities helping out over there.  The chart is $5.50, and all money after PayPal fees is going to charity.  The chart is of a cat nurse and doctor in the style of Janie Hubble from The Cat’s Whiskers Design Studio.
  • Ravelry has set up a way to help designers who want to donate some of the proceeds of the sale of their patterns to Haiti relief.  Log into your Rav account, click on patterns, and then click on the Help for Haiti link.  I bought a couple of patterns, including Francie, that I have been eyeing for a while.
  • If you donate to Doctor’s Without Borders and are a knitter, send a note to the Yarn Harlot to let her know.  The Knitters Without Borders total is now over $1mil.
  • And, while not related to Haiti at all, I thought I would point out the cute new series Lizzie*Kate has released: Green Flip-Its.  I am so in love with them, but I can’t justify another new project right now. :(  You can see them here on the Stitching Bits and Bobs site.

Trying to Do Good One Sock at a Time

January 26, 2010 in Knitting by Silverlotus | 2 comments

Yesterday the husband and I took Baby Man to the doctor for this 24-month well baby check-up… in the pouring rain.  Yes, a good old downpour on January 25th.  It hit a high of 6°C here yesterday, which is exceptionally unusual for January.  And because Baby Man gets car sickness so easily, we had to walk.  Thankfully the doctor is close, and Baby Man had a great deal of fun splashing in all the puddles.  (The doctor also offered a solution for his car sickness. Yay!)  Baby Man is doing fine.  He is a bit tall and a bit thin for his age, but he is perfectly healthy and on track developmentally.

Beyond celebrating Baby Man’s birthday (thank you for the good wishes) and the doctor appointment, I haven’t had too much free time.  Really, when do I have much free time?  However I did manage to cast on for a pair of Francie socks.  Through Ravelry’s Help Haiti system, the designer of this sock is donating $6 to Doctors Without Borders from every pattern sold until the end of February.  And, if you finish a pair before the end of February and send her a note on Ravelry, she will donate another $1.  These socks have been in my queue for some time, so I figured this was a good time to knit them.  I’m using Crystal Palace’s Panda Cotton in colour Powder Blue.

Francie Socks by Rebekkah Kerner

Francie Socks by Rebekkah Kerner

I’ve also put in some time on Planet June’s Groundhog.  Yesterday afternoon Baby Man helped me stuff the body.  The husband insists it looks like a seal, but I think it will look more like a groundhog once all the limbs are attached.

Groundhog by Planet June

Groundhog by Planet June

Okay, in that picture it doesn’t even look like a seal. Really, it is much cuter in person.  And I have a good reason why there is in earring hook in its nose: you are supposed to mark the nose to help with eye positioning and embroidering in the nose later.  However, I have misplaced my package of stitch markers and just used what I had on hand.

As for cross stitching, well, I haven’t had the time.  I’ve been reading a really good book, Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture by Ellen Ruppel Shell, which has got me thinking quite a bit about where the things I am buying come from and just how is it that they can make it all the way here to Canada and be so darn cheap.  As an extension, I’ve also been thinking more about where the food I eat comes from and what sort of chemicals I’m using to clean my house.  I have a feeling that some soul searching and some big changes may be in the works shortly.

But, on the other hand, how can I say I care so much when I knit with bamboo (rayon) and acrylic, both of which are created through processes that aren’t exactly environmentally friendly.  *sigh* It really is hard to know how to do right in the world today.  But, I suppose doing something is better than doing nothing at all.

And, since we are having yet another dull and cloudy day here today (but it is more seasonable at -1°), I thought I would share some fun pictures of Baby Man playing with me on the sofa.

Baby Man

Baby Man

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