Enchanted Mama

Just something little::

 

Doesn't it feel good sometimes to have a small purse?  I lug around such huge bags full of everything I or my children would possibly need at any moment.  Some days though...some days I wish I had a little clutch to carry with a few dollars and some lip gloss.  Nothing else.

 In my youth I carried just such a bag.  Maybe it had a few more beads and definitely some fringe, it was the 70's after all, but essentially it was the same.  Small.  Compact.  Lovely.  And, when I was carrying it I felt on top of the world.  

As I created this yesterday I had that feeling of being light and free.   Knowing this would never carry everything I needed and being totally okay with that.  

 

A few days ago I found the closures/clasps at my favorite Fancy Tiger store.  I began pulling fabrics immediately upon arriving home.  And, with a few moments yesterday I threw this purse together.  

Since, all the directions were written in Chinese...I had to be quite creative.  I had a pattern and that was it.  I used some Kaffe Fassett fabric that I had found this past summer.  It takes hardly anything for this bag.  A great stash buster.  

So, with a small amount of fussing and wishing I read Chinese it finally came together.  Voila, small clutch.  

I have plans for a few more.  Whimsical, festive, and useful.  Just the things I love to have in a purse/clutch.  

Great gifts for the holidays don't you think?  

And, ummm....I get to keep the prototype right?  Please say yes, please?

Our Hero Returns::

The big daddy has been on an adventure in the rain forest.  He met with the indigenous people and was part of their ceremonies.  For him it was an amazing journey.  

We were so happy for him to have this opportunity but even more grateful to have him return home.  It was the longest he and I have ever been apart and the longest we have gone without talking.  At almost two weeks it seemed like a looonngg time.  

Late Monday night he burst through the door and was welcomed home with cheers and hugs.  Mostly form the dog and I as the children were snug asleep in their beds. 

He came in bearing gifts.  As though just having him home wasn't enough.  This mama was certainly ready to give up her "only" parent title.  As he pulled my gift from his bag, within minutes of arriving home, I realized how well my guy knows me.  

While exploring the town of Peguche, Ecuador near Otavalo, his group found this fabulous woman.  She sold all things wonderful, including hand-spun, natural hand-dyed yarn.  Oh, did he have fun.  He couldn't chose which yarn he thought I would love the best so he packed ten spools of this "delicious-ness" into his bag.  At $2.50 a spool it was quite a deal.  Knowing that "this here mama" was going to love it.  He couldn't keep a smile off his face while I opened it.  I loved it of course and boy, does he know me or what?  

He puffed out his chest like a proud conquering hero which I, of course, totally got.  If I had found this woman who showed them how she went from raw sheep wool to the colorful spools I would have done the same thing.  Really the only question now is how will I ever decide what to make with this delightful yarn.

How, I ask you?

 

 

 

Oh, he did bring treasures for the little ones too.  Two rain sticks for the boys.  Woven shawls for my girl and I to share.  Friendship bracelets for the family.  And, woven headbands from the indigenous tribe that my children wore all day at school today. 

Adventure is great.  Knowing how others live throughout the world is enlightening.  Having memories like this one is what makes my guy so interesting.  But having him with us in our home well, that is the best of all.  

Felt Fun::

 

 

 

 

My six year old can be heard everyday saying, "Mommy I want to do a craft."  He's not kidding either.  Everyday he is looking for something to create.  Something to cut.  Something to finger knit.    I think this happened overnight.  Now, that he's six he is finding that he loves to craft.  He told me the other day that, "he just doesn't know what happened but all he wants to do is sew and finger knit."

For his birthday celebration at school his teacher gave him his first sewing kit.  A box "all his own", filled with felt, thread, needles, pins, and scissors.  I had to fight against the intake of breathe when I saw those sharp, pointy scissors.  But, he has been so conscientious.  So aware.  It is a beautiful thing.  

Over the weekend he took his sewing box everywhere.  I knew exactly where he was at all times.  All I had to do was follow the trail of felt scraps.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

He created an owl from the pattern his teacher gave him.  Since then he has taken the owl to school and his teacher put on a puppet show with him.  I love the waldorf school.  He was so proud.  He wore the biggest smile all day.  Other than threading the needle for him he did everything else himself.  I am amazed in the leap of his abilities.  

To have more finger puppets for a show at home he has created two gnomes, a toadstool, fishing poles with hooks, a star, and a saw.  All items for a woodland puppet show.  He has taken to carrying them in a small box with him so that he can put on a puppet show at the drop of a hat.   

 

And we also had a visitor watching from above when we were crafting outside.  Is it?  Could it be Mr. Squirrel?  Very interested in the finger puppet making.  Maybe appearing a wee bit nervous about the owl finger puppet. But, I think there might have been just the slightest smile when he saw the mushroom.  I know I certainly smiled.   

Any crafting fun that your children are taking on these days?   

Over the Weekend::

 

 

--We stocked up at the last farmers market of the season. 

 

 --We started long-term holiday projects.

--We ate scrumptious dinners from the veggies we collected at the farmers market.

--We, meaning I,  tried to keep things in perspective.  

--We played outside in the almost short sleeve shirt weather...Hmmm, blizzard last week and this week??

--We did a lot of felt crafting, more on that to come this week. 

--We danced.  My little one came and said, "Meer mama, dance."  How could I refuse?  

--We found a new place for the gnome beard.  

How was your weekend?

Pinecone Gnomes::

 

 

Our school has a winter event every year.  Celebrating the coming of King Winter and the holidays.  There are crafts for the children such as felted soap making, building fairy houses, and making candles.  The fourth grade class is in charge of pulling together the children's store.  No parents are allowed!  The children love this.  They are guided through by angels, moms and dads in disguise, to help shop for their family members.  All the items in the shop are handmade.  Handmade by those same moms and dads in disguise.  It really is a beautiful thing.  The children feel so grown up.  

Maybe a pine cone gnome wouldn't be your first choice of a gift for the holidays but when your child hands you that wrapped gift bag, that they picked out, well let's just say your hearts melts a little more.  

So, we moms and dads are in a flurry to create items in this next month for the big event in early December.  I thought it would be fun to bring to you some of the group projects we are working on as well as the items that I myself am creating.  Plus, I thought I would show you how to create your own so you too can have some pine cone gnomes sitting in your home this winter.  

A "wee gnomie tutorial" if you will....

 

First things first...Find pine cones that sit flat.  Or don't and have some tilted gnomes like we did.  The off kilter ones actually became some of my favorites because they each end up wtih their own personality.  

Then, find either hazelnuts or acorns for the heads.   Attach with a glue gun.  You may need to clip off the top of the pine cone to create a flat space. 

 

Then, the beard.  Use fleece or roving for the beards.  I had some un-carded fleece from two sheep in Washington that turned out to be loads of fun to use.  The curls and the "organic-ness" of it created quite unique beards.  Again, attach with a glue gun.  Watch your fingers here.  Glue guns are hot.  I seem to always need to remind myself of this a few times before I stop burning myself.  

 

On the the hats.  I recommend wool felt if you can find it.  There are lots of sources on-line as well as some local fabric stores that carry it.  Cut out the right size for your gnome.  Fold in half and then sew together.  

Then, use the glue gun again, last time I promise, to attach it to the hazelnut or acorn.  I found that a dot of glue inside the front of the hat and one inside the back was all it needed.  Then you don't get the smashed down glue look.  

Loving that each one ends up with its own distinct personality.  Some wear their hats with a more jaunty style.  While others really have long, fluffy beards.  Gnomes pride themselves on their beards I've been told by my children.  

 

When you're done you'll have a sweet little gnome for your nature table at home.  Or make a few and you'll have a village.  

Have a great weekend and loads of fun creating.  See you on Monday. 

***By the way, Maya*made just put me on her "Enjoy" category.  If you haven't seen her fabulous blog please do check it out.  She also has an Etsy shop full of treasure.  Thanks Maya!***

In the workshop::

 

 

 

 

My boy loves his workshop.  He loves to build and to create.  

I found this amazing workbench in an antique shop in town.  It was love at first sight.  It is from an old school house in Iowa from the 1930's.  Broken in, but sturdy and usable.  There are saw marks on the vice grip and dings and dents out of the rest of it.  I say that makes it "just about perfect".  

We have collected his tools over the past couple of years.  A friend of mine found the old crusty, red tool caddy which is put to much use.  I found the old wrench and tools in my thrifting.  

The pieces that come off his table are treasures in our home.  

 

 

The small boat with sail was my birthday present from last week, with glitter I might add.  His creations include boats, houseboats, bows and arrows, boxes for "stuff" and the occasional airplane.  

What I love about his work is the use of all types of supplies.  One is wood doused with glue and topped with felt.  Another is bark with popsicle sticks, covered in glitter.  Another is painted with rubber bands wrapped all around it.  Sticks from the garden become masts of ships.  Leaves and sewn fabric make pillows for his small houses.  His imagination has no bounds.  

But, most of all I love that there is something he really enjoys.  He is my teacher and my opportunity most days.  My full of energy, "impish wonder".  He keeps the big daddy and I on our toes.  

Sometimes though this work area allows him to shift out of that into a more quiet place.  A creative place.  A place where he makes the rules.  Okay, other than, "you have to wear goggles" and "watch your fingers when you are hammering".  Other than that it is "his" workspace. His place to let the artist-creator-builder-engineer loose.  He needs that space.  

 And, that I understand completely.   

Gift Making::

 

 

Sometimes there's nothing quite so fun as making birthday gifts secretly.  I love when you can sit with friends and just listen.  Listen and watch.  And find just the right creation for them?  I do.  I love that one of my dear friends had a birthday awhile ago.  Mostly, because I am so glad she was born but also because it meant a nice dinner, movie, time to knit with friends, and be "out" for the evening. So as her birthday approached I watched, I watched very carefully.  

My friend is a knitter as well, hooray, and I had noticed that the bag she carried her extra supplies in such as scissors, needles, etc. was not quite what she wanted.  So, I headed to my fabric stash and pulled out some fabric.  The corduroy is recycled.  The buttons collected over a lot of years.  The rest of the fabric and yarn was in my stash. yeah.

In no time at all I had created a knitting supply bag.  It also served as a gift bag for the yarn store gift certificate which my other dear friend, and fellow knitter, and I gave as the birthday gift.  

The birthday girl loves orange.  So, of course there needed to be lots of orange.  If I'd had orange corduroy I may have used that too.  I think it turned out to be usable and roomy. 

I love that she loved it.  Each time she uses it I smile, because she tells me again how much she loves her bag each and every time.  What a nice friend.  

Do you enjoy making gifts secretly for family or a dear friend?  What did you make?  

New Projects::

 

New projects are gracing my sewing table today.  I have folded the halloween fabric scraps or I should say, thrown them in a basket.  I've wiped down the table and here I stand ready to start something new.  Ready to create some holiday cheer and start on that "serious real estate" type of knitting.  The big daddy's project is on the table but I am sure others will wind and weave their way in between now and the time I finish his gift. The stockings are already in the line up.  And, a few other projects for the children are skipping through hoping to be noticed.  

More than anything it feels good to stand here rubbing my hands together saying to myself and you..."Where should I start first?"

Where are you starting on this beautiful Tuesday?  

A Story::

    Once upon a time,  a small girl cherished the hand knit stocking that her grandmother had made for her.  It featured a jolly snowman, bells, wreaths and holly scattered here and there. But, more than that it was the memory of her grandmothers hands as she knit and pulled colors to create the very stocking that she now held in her hands.  A memory.  An heirloom.  

    Twenty five years later this same small girl was now a mother.  She knew that one day she wanted to knit stockings for her own children.  With the enthusiasm of the naive she took a class.  For she had never turned a heel on a sock ever before.  This class went smoothly and spurred her on to buy enough yarn for at least twenty stockings.  Two stockings was the goal. 

    She went home with a smile and her fully loaded bag and proceeded to spend weeks planning the designs.  You see this girl was a bit of a perfectionist.  Although, she would never admit that then.  She knew that these stockings were going to be heirlooms, just as hers was to her.  And then, gulp, she realized what she was doing.  

The pressure of the situation descended.  She felt that she could never get them quite right.  Even so she knit and knit and knit.  Stockings a third done, lay next to the same exact design of another half done.  While her needles began yet another in the same design.  Perfectionism at work.  They were never quite right.  The color work too tight.  The color choices too dark.  She fretted.  She worried.  She sat with stockings piling up in her lap and yet none were "the ones".   

    Months past and she couldn't finish in time for the holiday merriment.  Christmas eve brought new determination that next year she would finish.  Next year she would know what to do and just do them.  Here enters her third baby. 

 In September with renewed determination she started again.  She did not know who this third baby would be only suspecting that it was a girl.  99.8% sure the baby was a girl.  She finished one stocking.  Finally.  Her beautiful baby boy was born in October.  So, he used the finished stocking in December.  That was okay.  But, she wanted a stocking that would fit his personality for the next year, and the next and the next.  A stocking that he would not question later, as to why she had put so many hearts on his stocking?   The other two had at least three versions....none that would work.  

    Next holiday.  She started again in July.  Determined that this would be the year.  Before her children went away to college they would have their hand knit stockings.  So, she knit and knit and knit.  The colors were too dark.  The pattern too long.  Every excuse in the world to continue putting the stockings down.  She almost threw in the towel wondering if she would ever get it right.  That year her littlest had a stocking with knitting needles holding the end closed.  Her middle son had a version of his done but not embellished, no name, no details.  Discouraged she packed them away yet again after the holiday.  

Then, in November of this year she pulled out her own stocking that her grandmother had knit for her.  Studying it she realized that it was not "perfect" as she had always thought.  There were mistakes here and there.  But, she had never seen them.  She had only seen in her own mind that it was made just for her.  By her grandmother.  And, used for years.  That is what had made it perfect.  That is what made it special.  

So, gently she set her stocking down and examined the others.  Tears ran down her face as she realized it was not the outcome but the process.  Three years she had sat with these stockings in her lap only to realize that her children would love them no matter what.  This is when something changed. 

She no longer had to have them "perfect" as she had always thought.  Because "in imperfection there in lies the beauty".  No more thoughts as she picked up her knitting needles and began to knit.  Colors pulled from the same worn basket that had intimidated her before.  Colors that now brought a smile to her face.  

And, now she sits by the fire on a cool evening knitting because she wants to.  Not because she has to.  

And she knits, with her new yarn bowl from two dear friends, happily ever after....

The beginning.  

Happy November::

 

November represents::

--the calm after a full October month and the rest before the activity of December.   

--A time to officially start the holiday knitting projects, of course the ones I haven't already started in July, wink. wink.  

--A time to play with ideas but feel no real pressure to finish anything.  

--A month to remember to cherish those around me.  

--A time to gather with extended family, friends, and my own children and husband for a sweet and simple meal together. 

--A time to notice how the season is stretching its boundaries--fall..winter..fall...winter.  

--And, seeing the beauty in both.  

--A time to speak out loud what I'm grateful for.

--A time to appreciate an extra hour of sleep...hopefully.  

--And, a time to breathe the fresh air that a new month brings. 

What does November represent for you?