Paper Pie

Woodland Dress

I was off on a tear when I started this dress. I got all the way to the smocking in 2 days and then I messed up and it was all off. I attempted to rip out the stitches to get back to the part where I didn't mess up and it was a mind-numbing, painstaking process. So I frogged it. The whole thing. Actually I threw it aside (literally threw) and started from scratch with a new ball of yarn. This time I was beyond confdent in what needed to be done so I took off on an all night knitting party (that's what Ryan calls it) and got to the smocking part in less time. On this go round I knew what I was doing and made it through the smocked part in 2 days. I knit the straps in a day. Went to the fabric store and got buttons the next day and sewed on one of the straps. I also blocked the dress and the straps in there somewhere, too. Probably the day I went to the fabric store. So, I had it all done less the other strap that needed to be sewed on. Sewing on the second strap would have taken 30 minutes tops. But I didn't sew on the strap. You know what I did? I put the all-but-finished dress in my knitting basket and cast on for a blanket for Rylie. I did a few rows on that and then put it in the knitting basket, too. And then do you know what I did? I started sewing with fabric instead of yarn. I was on a roll with that for a while forgetting all about the projects in my knitting basket. I even mentioned to Ryan from time to time about how I hoped the dress would still fit Rylie once I finished. Well, last week I finally pulled this dress from the basket and sewed on the final strap and finished it up. Just in time to put my babe in it on Mother's Day. She brought me to Descanso Gardens for the day and, I didn't know it when I was knitting, but this is the perfect woodland dress.

It allows trail walking in relative ease.
When the contemplative baby inevitably brushes into twigs, leaves and bark it can be picked clean in a jiffy.
Sitting in the dirt?
Sure, it's brown.
Digging in the dirt?
Yep! Playing peek-a-boo?
Of course!

And forest floor exploration is a breeze.


Not bad, for one dress. I sure am glad I finished it. Oh, and it definitely fits her and will for a while as it is quite stretchy. I ended up criss crossing the straps in back because they are too long for her right now. So I think she can wear it for a long itme yet as a dress and then probably even as a shirt after that.

** Adding this to yesterday's post to join in Ginny's Yarn Along. I am putting that frogged dress to good use as a pair of booties for a very special baby. And I just picked up this book at the thrift store today called Country Life in America. It has a collection of quaint essays, poignant poems and beautiful photos from the likes of Emily Dickinson and Laura Ingalls Wilder and many others. I mean, how could I pass it up?

The Casual Organizer: Covering Cubes

Somebody stop me! I've been indulging in some major Springtime spruce up over here and covering everything in the house with fabric. The arrival of spring coupled with the fact that I absolutely love looking at something new and fresh in a space - even if it is a fabric covered tissue box - has got me on a sewing rampage.




I whipped these up the last two nights. It was much easier the second time. The first one was a little short so I had to add the trim at the bottom for the proper hem. All in all this was so easy and I think it looks much better than the usual hokey Trader Joe's tissue packaging. That being said, it is custom fitted for this one box size, so hopefully they never change it up. Now, I can wipe my babe's nose or dry her tears and smile a little when I see the box (which is very important, ya know?)

I also recently picked up this rather banal, navy blue, cheapie microsuede ottoman at Target and made a bright and fun slip cover for it from some extra aqua corduroy I had on hand.

This was constructed in much the same way as the tissue boxes only larger. Getting the corners crisp and sharp was the hardest part. I've made stuff like this before, like the storage bins in my studio. Doing those 3D corners is a challenge and a great skill to learn that takes practice so I was pretty happy with the way these two projects turned out. It works well with the colors in the living room and the most unexpected part is that it has become an excellent storage space for my shoes which are usually errantly strewn about the house, no two alike within the same proximity. Now, they are all here, pairs and all, and I can easily find what I am loooking for and go. Rylie loves to open it and remove all of the shoes and get inside. I'm glad to offer her a new shape and space to explore. She is not the only one in love with the ottoman slip cover project.


Zipper found the upholstery to be quite comfy when I was measiuring and cutting. I tell ya, I turn my back for one second around here and this is what happens.

A Sweater For Rylie

I did it! I have successfully knit my very first sweater! I am definitely excited over here, can you tell? It took me a little longer than I had planned, and quite frankly, I was worried that either the baby would get too big or the weather would get too hot before I finished. But here it is, early Febraury and Rylie has her first mama-made sweater.

This is the garter stitch cardigan from Knitting For Baby by Melanie Falick and Kristin Nicholas. I used Cashsoft DK weight by Rowan in Cashew with vintage buttons from my stash. I love this book, it is really comprehensive and easy to use. It not only has timeless and adorable patterns for babies, but it is a nice guide for the novice knitter with very thorough directions.

I wasn't sure if I had a sweater in me, and I must admit, part of me thought if I ever did get it finished it wouldn't fit right, one arm would be longer than the other, and it would unravel upon Rylie's first touch. A sweater seems so daunting, so big and so . . . visible. But here it is - a sweater - finished! It fits my little babe well right now and I think she will be able to wear it for a while yet. Admittedly, it has a few issues here and there, but really I'm quite proud if I do say so. I started this project at the beginning of November and much of it was knitted in the car going here and here. The very best way to pass the time on a road trip, if I do say. This little sweater got put on the back burner to make way for all of our Christmas festivities. I love to knit and when I get on a roll I really can't put it down. If I do put it down for a few days, I get out of the rhythm and forget about it for a while, which sort of happened with this one. Once all of the pieces were knitted and only the seaming was left, the stalling kicked in to overdrive. I was so nervous about attaching the sleeves, but really it worked out better than I imagined. Once it was all sewn together, I had to pick up and knit an edge stitch around the entire garment. It took a while to figure out and this is the one place the book was a little unclear. This video saved me.

Rylie seems to like it and what is better for helping Daddy fill the bird feeder than a warm and cozy sweater knit by mama?


And guess what? I've already cast on my next project which is an adorable smocked dress for my girl from this book. Gotta keep the momentum, ya know? Especially with this little confidence boost I'm sporting today. What's next? A ravelry page? Oh dear, I hope so.

And for Ginny's Yarn Along, I am reading the chapter on feeding toddlers in The Baby Book by Dr. Sears. Rylie has become, shall we say, a bit more scrupulous with her food consumption these days. I found a great tip in here about preparing a nibble tray. Essentially, it is an ice cube tray filled with many different finger food options. Set out on a low table, little ones can nosh as they wish while running back and forth on their relentless explorations throughout the house. Toddlers are typically more into grazing at this age as opposed to sitting still during an entire meal at the table. This certainly describes my little one.

The Casual Organizer: Pencil Roll

I always have a hankering to reorganize, refresh, and restyle things this time of year. I think there is an implied quiet, calm, and slow pace to January that points us to new beginnings. A fresh slate, a new calendar and a need to shed what does not work and replace it with what does, or at least, what works right now. With the holidays, our little getaway, and all of our sickness around here, things seem upturned to the point of no return so why not start new.

I have a few projects in mind that I'd like to do around the house to see if these small changes might help things run a bit more smoothly. I have the tendency to get a little hyper-organized which stresses me out and is definitely something I want to let go. Why not try  something new - a relaxed approach. I'm thinking of doing a little series of posts this month (maybe longer) aptly named The Casual Organizer in an attempt to solve some of our bottlenecked, frustration-inducing hot spots in our home. It seems that the minute we have a system or something is "figured out," another challenge pops up. Or we find our system is faulty from the get go. Or Rylie's needs change, etc. This is a constant, evolving, living and breathing organism, this household of ours.


I made this pencil roll last night after looking for Rylie's colored pencils and not finding a one.  I was also prompted by our increasingly "active" dinners out as of late. Rylie is very busy and not content to sit in a highchair very long. Maybe, if we dedicate one set of colored pencils for bringing with us to dinner, and maybe if they are contained in one place, that would help. I used the basic composition from the project in this book and added a large pocket at the end for a mini sketchbook. The book is a reused calendar page from last year and I cut and folded copier paper for the inside to size. Then I ran a stitch through the middle to hold it all together.




Rylie's reaction to her neatly displayed pencils was a little more reserved than mine. Although, she did like removing all of the pencils from their individual slots and putting them back in again; which means the pencil roll serves two functions! Ah, efficiency, could it be better than organization?

A Happy Wanderer

I am the guest blogger over at A Happy Wanderer today. Brew a cup of tea, head over for a giveaway, and to learn how to whip up these simple felt holiday cards.

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. Amanda Soule 

The Knitting of a Sweater

I've only ever knit 4 things before: this chunky scarf was my very first project from Stitch 'N Bitch: A Knitter's Handbook by Debbie Stoller.


These baby booties from Knitting for Baby by Melanie Falick and Kristin Nicholas.

And remember the legwarmers from Never Not Knitting?

Here are the same legwarmers in action just last week.
A while ago, I knit this hat from Knitting for Baby in anticipation for our trip to Chicago and Michigan.
On that trip, Rylie promptly removed the hat from her head, tore the pom pom off and distributed it evenly all over the backseat of our rental car. I'm contemplating replacing the pom pom or deciding to let that one go.

Zipper, not worried about being perceived as cliché

And now the sweater. Wish me luck. It is going ok so far, I've realized that stitch holders would probably have made things much easier for me instead of using double pointed needles with scrap yarn tied around the ends. Right? Well, necessity is the mother of invention, even half-baked inventions. Is there something else I could use for stitch holders instead of buying them? Despite my inexperience, and dropped stitches here and there, I am so motivated to knit right now. When I get out of bed in the morning, I put the coffee on, grab my sweater and knit a row. When I am nursing Rylie, I knit a row. When I am the passenger in a car, I am knitting a row(s), and at the end of the day, Ryan and I relax side by side with a cup of tea - he reads, I knit. Despite all of my other projects, despite all of the email I need to catch up on, despite the proximity of Christmastime, I sit and knit and it is restorative and satisfying, especially as I notice some semblamce of a sweater taking shape.

"Oh yes, that is the armhole isn't it? And this is where the buttons will be sewn on, uh huh, I see."

Whenever I start on a new knitting project, I am surprised by my gusto and how industrious my thoughts can be. I need to be honest with myself and realize that I will never finish all of the projects that I think about. I dream about knitting a blanket, not just for Rylie, but for every expectant mama I know (a lot) and pillows, and cotton towels and stuffed animals and more sweaters and cable knit and this sweater, oh I think about this sweater a lot. 

I read a passage in Knitting For Baby that said essentially every inch of the yarn passes through the knitter's fingers when knitting. Every inch of this sweater/hat/legwarmer/sock has been touched by mama. A lovely thought that each inch is infused with my touch and love. I often find myself daydreaming about when the sweater is finished and how it will look, how Rylie will like it, and what she will think when she pulls it out for her own baby some day. That is, if Grandma doesn't knit her grandbabies all the sweaters they could ever use beforehand. Big plans I tell you, big plans...

**P.S. I just found Ginny's Yarn Along. Perfect timing!

Hello From Sunday

What are you up to today?

Birthday Boy

This past weekend our nephew, Liam, turned 4. I once again marvel at the passage of time. It seems like only yesterday when he was a cuddly little baby.

Inspired by Maya's project in this book, I used Eucalyptus seed pods, or gumnuts, dipped in ink to stamp the wrapping paper for his gifts. I love how they turned out, and it was very satisfying to give a grocery bag new life, instead of adding it to the pile to be recycled. Read more about this fun process here, here and here!

But, perhaps, the highlight of the evening was his amazing Star Wars ice cream cake! He was beyond excited . . . Happy Birthday sweet boy!

Party Time

This weekend, we attended not one birthday party, but two! On the same day! Lots of fun, with lots of friends all the way around - we are so blessed. Our friend, Leo, turned 3 and had a dirt party, which was so wonderful and creative. There were a bunch of activities for the kids centered around, you guessed it, DIRT! There were mud pies, digging for treasure and play dough to name a few. I met Leo's incredibly creative and inspiring mom when she contacted me about buying fabric scraps for her projects. We kept in touch via our blogs and learned we have lots in common, and have become pals. There are wonderful things about this era of connectivity, aren't there?

After Leo's party, we had to change clothes and head to Henry's 1st birthday party. Henry is Ryan's creative partner's son. He and Rylie are only 7 weeks apart. Here they are about 6 months ago; Henry enjoyed eating Rylie's foot that day.

Henry's party was at Trails Cafe in Gritffith Park and was decked out with owls, foxes and other little woodland creatures. Oh, and let's not forget this strawberry rhubarb pie. No, let's never forget that. Ummm . . . I mean . . . C'mon. It was possibly the best pie I ever ate.

Rylie loved a spin in Henry's new wagon!

"Two parties! Too tired!"

The party favor even matched Rylie's dress - nice!

We made Henry a Buddy, a project from this book. Rylie absolutely fell in love with him and now I know what is next on my crafting plate. I snapped these before we wrapped him up.

Buddy and I had a little coffee talk before saying good bye? What did you do this weekend?