Paper Pie

A Candy Colored Christmas

Yesterday afternoon Rylie and I hosted a holly jolly gumdrop-wreath-making and holiday-toddler-dance party all in one! Whew! It was a flurry of activity and a visual feast. From little Nordic sweaters to arty kid book gifts. From the big bright Christmas tree in the corner to the inimitable How the Grinch Stole Christmas. And at the end of it all we had gumrop wreaths (and a gumdrop tree) to show for our efforts. Our space is small, but that made it all the more cozy amongst dancing toddler toes and chocolate gingerbread cookies. 

This group of friends has been coming over each Thursday afternoon for a little bit of toddler art and mama knitting/crafting. I mentioned it here, but I realize that I owe you a proper post dedicated to our group. We have done so many fun and interesting projects over the last few months, I can't wait to share that here. Coming soon, I promise. Anyhow, yesterday's holiday edition was admittedly a little more of a mama-focused craft. Oh, don't get me wrong, the littles definitely helped out and got involved. Only their participation was more on the sporadic side than the intense attention that us ladies were exhibiting. We made a lot of comments about how fun it was to kind of destress a bit from the holiday hustle in this way. This relatively mechanical and repititive task is the best kind of handbusying activity that facilitates mind-wandering, stream-of-concious conversation to emerge. So relaxing, so fun and so special to spend a few of these precious holiday hours with a great group of gals (and kids.) And while we plugged our little gumdrops into styrofoam, there was abundant dancing, pillowfighting, Charlie Brown watching, high pitched screaming, cookie snatching and your garden variety toddler tomfoolery happening.

If you are looking for something fun and easy to make yet in the next 10 days or so, I can not recommend the gumdrop wreath enough. Get a 12-inch foam ring at Michael's (although they may be sold out at this point, so call first) alternatively, you could check a less commercial source, like a local floral shop, they may have more selection than the supermega Michael's. The crafter's literally come out of the woodwork this time of year. So get a wreath, wrap masking tape around the spot where you will wrap a wire or whatever you coose to use for a hanger (I used heavy duty twine for the yesterday's wreaths) break a lot of toothpicks in half, I used scissors to cut them in two, and then buy like 4 to 5 pounds of gumdrops/spice drops. You can get them offbrand and pretty cheap in the candy aisle of your grocery or drugstore. You could also look at a store with bulk bins. Put the blunt end of the toothpick in the bottom of the gumdrop and stick the pointy end into the wreath. Repeat, repeat, repeat. When you are finished placing the gumdrops, pick out the perfect ribbon and tie a bow at the top. Put on a Christmas movie and settle in for some last minute, mediative crafting . . .  the very best kind, I dare say. 

Holiday Making (and Baking)

Well, it has been quite the flurry of hoilday goodness around here. I pulled Rylie's Advent activities together on December 1, because there is nothing like waiting until the last minute. During the entire month of November, I was contemplating if I wanted to attempt it or not, it wasn't until December 1 that I got a clear idea of what I wanted to do. Largely inspired by this post, I thought that fun activities both big and small would be a great way to fill our days leading up to Christmas. That way we are not filling our already brimming space with more stuff, and we get the fun of working on projects together. Here is what we've done so far and what we are planning to do in the next few weeks. I play parent perogative if I need to do a last minute switcheroo based on the rhythm of the particular day. I figure I have a few years yet until Rylie fully catches on to the concept :

December 1 - Make hot chocolate with all the fixins
December 2 - Get Christmas tree and decorate
December 3 - Make cookies
December 4 - Make salt dough ornaments
December 5 - Make snowflakes
December 6 - Downtown Christmas tree lighting
December 7 - Go out for sushi
December 8 - Hanukkah begins! Latkes and applesauce for dinner
December 9 - Use puppets for a bedtime story
December 10 - Indoor picnic
Decemebr 11 - Make gifts for Grandma & Grandpa
December 12 - String popcorn
December 13 - Holiday boogie with friends
December 14 - Wrap a toy and donate to charity
December 15 - Fancy dress for dinner
December 16 - Handmade gift tags
December 17 - Ice skating after dark
December 18 - Make gingerbread houses
December 19 - Make ice cream snowmen
December 20 - Christmas movie with popcorn
December 21 - Go out for a Christmas treat
December 22 - Go see Christmas lights
December 23 - Take a bubble bath
December 24 - Christmas Eve concert with friends

In other making news, I saw this and just could not help myself. As someone who hoards fabric, yarn and anything else useful for making stuff, it was extremely satisfying to put some of my scraps to good use. I went back to the thrift store last week and walked away with a much more respectable haul of yarn, after they had brought out more of their stock from the back. I got this chunky, variegated ropey wool that worked perfectly.

And in a fit of inspiration I began knitting a Christmas dress for Rylie last week after my initial visit to the yarn stockpile. I promptly went home, downloaded this pattern and began knitting with the one skein of Blue Sky Alpaca sport weight I had on hand and ordered more straight away. For some reason I didn't read the pattern though because I didn't order enough and I will definitely need to get more as this dress is EXTREMELY full! Like 332 stitches per row!! I have been burning the midnight oil on this one, knitting stitch by stitch into the wee hours in hopes that I can finish it by Christmas Eve at the very latest. The largest size on the pattern is 9 -12 months and Rylie is 29 months, but no bother. She is petite and last week I had her in a dress that was 3-6 months! I figure that she may be able to wear at as a sweater instead of a dress if it is too short, and it is so full, it really ought to fit. Fingers crossed . . . 

Oh, and those washi egg ornaments! Aren't they so pretty? My neighbor's mom, an expert washi egg maker, offered to teach me how to make one and I replied, "Yes, please!" They are delicate hollowed out eggs that you glue thin rice paper to and add a string and varnish. I felt a bit like a cartoon version of myself with massive and mostly uncoordinatd hands, but Nancy was full of grace and gentle guidance. She even sent me home with more hollowed out eggs and paper all ready to make more. And you know I will.

Rylie's Baby Blanket

I knit a blanket! A blanket! A whole (baby) blanket! This was a straight easy knit, just row after row, but that does not make it any less satisfying to have it completed, even if Rylie is well into her third year. I wrote a bit about what brought me to knit Rylie a blanket a while ago. I love the way it came out. I dug into my stash and knit and knit, not even paying attention to details like waiting until the end of the row to change yarn colors - who can be bothered with such fuss? No, not me. Instead, I switched yarns right in the middle of the row and I think it is rather charming that way. I didn't plan for this per se, it was more my dogged determination to use every last bit of my yarn. I can imagine when Rylie grows up and pulls this blanket from a box, those little quirks will make her smile or laugh out loud, either way, I'm pretty proud right about now. It is fun to breakthrough my knitting comfort zone like I did when I knit her a sweater.

I went to the thrift shop that I mentioned on Monday and there were boxes and boxes of picked over novelty yarn stuff. When I asked the manager if she had more in the back she said yes but that she was only putting out a small amount at a time lest it all get snarled into a big yarny mess. I told her that I would really love to see the rest of it and she held tight to her rationing strategy. I did get a few skeins though. One of which is the perfect shade of dark cranberry red. I bought this pattern and I am going to attempt to have it done in time for Christmas for Rylie. I need to stop typing and cast on for crying out loud. I am thinking as I write this that it may be wise to have a second dress on back up just in case. Not sure, Sometimes the absence of a safety net is an awfully effective motivator (and anxiety producer.)

And what does Rylie think? Well, she is in the unique position to have the opportunity to verbally express her opinion of her own baby blanket. She says, "Mom made that," and then promptly pulls it off her bed and gets to jumping!  


I'm linking up for Ginny's Yarn Along and sharing what is on my nightstand. I feel that Rylie's blanket project has come full circle since I originally bought the yarn with the intention of crocheting a baby blanket when I was pregnant, but as you may recall that was sort of a dismal experience. But I've held on to that desire to learn to crochet and picked up this book because I think it will be a good foundation. So far it seems the only thing that knitting and crochet have in common is yarn and needles! Oh brother, wish me luck!

Oh December

This time of year seems to sneak right up, doesn't it? I was quite ahead of the game a few months back and started working on gifts and projects, plans and ideas and that energy has slowed a bit in the past few weeks. But here we are, December 3 and it feels like a whole lot needs to be pulled together, this week especially. I did get the advent calendar done, albeit on December 1st! We are doing activities this year instead of gifts. You may remember our bonanza from last year. The weather is finally (and beautifully) cooperating with my cozy, staying snug-in state of mind. After a long (and I mean at least 3 months) string of 90 degree heat, our rainy season has finally kicked in and I have been hearing the smack-a-pat-pat of the water dripping from the gutter on the roof the last few days - all weekend really. It has been wonderful weather to make comfortable meals like chicken stew and drink a mug of hot cooca. Rylie, busy as she is, will stop right in her tracks when she hears the rain and declare "What's that? It's rain, mama?" Despite the weather sending me obvious cues to stay put right on the couch with the above mentioned mug of cocoa, cheesy Christmas movie, and my knitting, we did venture out and pick up our tree yesterday. We are trying new lights this year, they are old fashioned with really huge bulbs. They look great but the tree is BRIGHT, brighter than I am used to but I think I like it - so far.

Speaking of knitting, I have something very exciting to show you, maybe later this week? Here's a hint to hold you over. I got a text of the best kind from my dear friend Jill on Saturday night:

You must go to council thrift on Pico at La Cienega - some yarn shop gave them huge boxes of yarns, really expensive, good quality stuff. They have more in the back, ask to see it! $1 a skein for stuff like Noro, Debbie Bliss and Blue Sky Alpaca.

Needless to say, you know where I'm going today right now!

Jenny Smith,Teddy Bear Artist

Back at the beginning of June, Mandy and I attended Patchwork, an indie art & craft fair that was just around the corner from my house. I remember lots and lots of steampunk, letterpress and jewelry. I picked up a bike bell for Ryan for Father's Day and I loved the super fun jewelry at Pollyanna Cowgirl. But it was Jenny Smith, a teddy bear artist, that stopped me right in my tracks. Who knew there was a plush niche known as teddy bear artistry? I had no idea, but I am so glad that I discovered Jenny and her amazing work. Her dedication to her craft is inspiring. She does more plush than teddy bears these days, and her animals caught my attention from a mile away.
And imagine my delight when I realized that she had used my Domestic Bliss on some of her guys and gals. I introduced myself to her and told her that I designed some of the fabrics she was using. She proceeded to tell me that she used some of my fabrics on a giant (30 inches!) stuffed lion that will be used as a prop in a forthcoming movie starring Robert DeNiro. The lion will appear in DeNiro's character's childhood bedroom and my fabric was a great fit because it is supposed to look like it is from the 60s. Jenny sent me these photos:

Isn't he as creative as he is adorable? I love him! I can't wait to watch the movie. It really is a magical moment when you see something that you've made put into action, especially on something so cool as Jenny's plush! I read on her blog that she will be at Renegade this weekend and I am pretty sure that I am going to hustle right down there and bring home one of those stuffies. They are way too wonderful to pass up a second longer.

While Dreaming . . .

. . . it is important to lay your head on something pretty and these embroidered pillowcases really fit the bill. I started them in a mad dash before last year's trip to the lake so that I could have a project to work on while sitting on the dock. I had grand plans of finishing them there, I brought both cases with me with outlines ready to go. That was a two-legged trip to see family in Michigan and Pennsylvania and included a 3 hour drive to Chicago to jump on a plane to Philadelphia and then a 3 hour car trip into the country on the other end. I thought surely with all of that driving time, airplane time, and summertime relaxing that I would have these babies done long before it was time to come home. However, that is not the way it happened. My baby turned one year old on that trip and kept me extra busy. It's funny how  consistently overambitious I am. Shoot for the stars, right?

Fast forward almost a year and I got these lovelies back out and worked on them every spare second I had until they were finished. Though, I did not get them done at the lake vacation, I did bring them on this trip and made lots of progress at night while Rylie was dreaming. I should mention that the pattern is from Alicia Paulson's lovely book. Embroidery is not an instant gratification pursuit. It is slow and quiet. There were many a time that I just wanted the pillowcases to be done already especially during the french knot marathons. But I kept at it, poking myself here and there. Now, when I see them on my bed, I am filled with pride and an unnatural amount of love for pillowcases. And, I'm not the only one.

And Finally, A Baby Blanket

Can I still knit a baby blanket for Rylie even though she is no longer a baby and has just jumped out of the bathtub, running to me all on her own as I write this? Hmmm... well, since baby blankets serve primarily as heirlooms and their functional aspects are rather void here in Southern California, I think I will go ahead with it and reminisce about when my girl was a tiny one. Way back when I was pregnant, I bought a bunch of yarn to crochet a baby blanket. Nevermind that I do not know how to crochet, that was just a pesky detail. Lo and beold my first attempts at crochet looked something like this. I put that yarn away so fast, there was no way I had the clarity of mind to learn to crochet at 9 months pregnant. Now and again, Ihave busted into the stash for other baby projects, here, here and here. But I have never gotten the gumption to jump into an entire blanket. I mentally filed this post away and thought it would be an easy blanket to knit, though it would take a while. This past weekend I did just that and began knitting away. The knitting is easy, the kind you can do while waiting for oatmeal to cook or at really long stoplights (no joke.) Here are the other colors I am going to mix in. Just one big thick chunky stripe after another, I quite like that the blanket is at once bold, simple and feminine. Linking up for Ginny's Yarn Along from last week. I have breezed through The Four Agreements after picking it up at the library on Friday. It's been around a little while, I think it was written in the late 90s, but I have never read it until now. I'm not sure why it has never come to my attention before. It is clear, concise and powerful. Sometimes I feel like I really just need things spelled out for me in regards to positive habits, and that is exactly how this book is written. A super fast and profound read.

A Sweater For Pink Baby

Hmmm... I read once that you shouldn't apologize for your absence from your blog - your readers are just glad that you showed up! So without apologizing, I will say that summertime is awfully active around here, as is my soon to be 2 year old. Really? Rylie is going to be two this Saturday! I want to be in this space more often and I am going to make a real commitment to that goal. Ever since Rylie was born I have been trying to figure out exactly what I want this place to be. Most of all I want it to be a record, a document of our days and our creative pursuits. So here's to new resolutions and new habits! Our friends went to Paris last fall and brought Rylie back this super sweet doll. She can even go in the bathtub though we have yet to bring her in there. Rylie calls her "Pink Baby," quite fitting don't you think? I made her a few diapers which are nothing more than a simple cut from felt and a couple of velcro closures on each side. Rylie loved this and is always insisting that Pink Baby needs a diaper change. I saw a simple pattern in this library book for a halter sweater for a stuffed animal and modified it a bit to fit Pink Baby. I just knew that Rylie would get a kick out of seeing her in different clothes. Admittedly, my knitted embroidery needs some work but it was fun nonetheless and Rylie says "haut, haut" and points to her chest. I should mention that I have recently begun meeting weekly with a few fellow mama knitters and it is such fun to have a little knitting circle of sorts while the kids play. We are going to start setting up art projects for the kids, too - I can't wait. We are likeminded parents and really have a desire to make creativity a priority in our everyday lives.


I've got quite a bit to catch up on here and I also need the sort of daily vacation that this wonderful outlet of blogging provides. Rylie is getting big and is a full blown toddler. With all of that miraculous physical growth (and lots of new hair) comes all kinds of emotional and cognitive growth as well. Not to mention lots of chaotic fun and some big challenges too. I need a spot to write all of this down.

More Baby Knits

Yes, more baby knits. Can you ever have too many? I don't think so. It is such a joy to knit up tiny yarny things. This hat and bootie pair is for my darling nephew, Kyler. He is already 2 months old! What?? Can't be. But, alas, he is growing by the day. My sis says he loves his new knits and I think you can tell from this photo she sent me. The hat pattern is from this book and I used both Cascade Eco Alpaca cafe au lait and Debbie Bliss Cashmerino in off white. It knit up quite quickly. The booties are the Stay On Baby Booties from Knitting For Baby. I have knit the other booties in this book, the Beginner Booties, several times but this was my first time with these booties which are done on double pointed needles. They were quite straightforward and fun to knit. I also knitted a warm and snuggly hat for another very special baby yesterday. This one id the umbilical cord hat from Stitch and Bitch. This is a chunky 100% wool by Ella Rae in a beautiful gold heather color. Ryan has been teasing me about only knitting brown, gray or brown-gray items. But, I'm kind of into nuetrals right now which is pretty unusual for me. Baby wardrobes are bombaded with pink, blue, yellow and green. Why not change it up a bit and let the texture and feel be the main attraction.
Linking up for Ginny's Yarn Along. I am reading Little House in the Big Woods, because (Gasp,) I have never read the Little House series. I have always wanted to, so I'm starting it now so that as soon as Rylie is ready I can gently nudge her in the direction of all of its pioneering adventure and spririt.

Unrelated: We have two huge obsessions around here at the moment, this and this. Both are really knocking our socks off.

For Little Toes

I knit up a couple of pairs of booties (from this book) for two special brand new people this week. My friend Heather's daughter Eleanor is already 7 months! Good thing those booties are stretchy. And our lovely neighbors made a wonderful addition to the neighborhood with baby Lukas back in March. When I packaged up Eleanor's booties I used this cute cat bag that I have had for so long and was waiting for just the right occasion to use it.

Now, I'm working on more knitted bits for baby toes - this time it's socks for a very special baby that lives far in distance but close in our hearts. I am reading Make Your Place by Raleigh Briggs. It is a beautiful little volume about how to live more simply and includes lots of DIY stuff like how to make your own all-natural cleaners. The entire book is written by hand and illustrated by the author. I am especially getting into the chapter about gardening since I plan to plant some seedlings this weekend. Joining Ginny's Yarn Along here.