Enchanted Mama

Around here::

Yesterday was a busy one.  

One where you run as soon as your feet hit the ground.  I wasn't rested.  Neither was the big daddy.  We attended to our littlest ALL NIGHT LONG.  

She's not sick, well maybe a small cold nothing more.  She was fed.  Changed.  Read to.  I wonder if there is such a thing as baby insomnia because that may be what she was afflicted with last night.

 Around 2:30 a.m. she was fed again...banana to the rescue.  Finally about 4:45 a.m. she fell asleep.  My other children up and ready for action around 6:30 a.m..  The whole "it's light at six o'clock" doesn't help.  

Tired? yes.    

Plus, I've been attempting to "BE" a morning person.  Not working for me a self proclaimed night owl.  A workout at 6:00 a.m. just isn't getting more fun the more I do it.  I thought you were supposed to feel more rested when you exercise!!???! right?  

It's about forming new habits, I suppose, and those are never very fun. It gets easier? Yes? Say, yes.  

I literally stumbled from bed toward a latte.  The likes of which I hoped would have miraculous qualities.  After the second latte...yes two is what it took.  I felt better.  If not a bit jumpy.  So, I put it to good use and finished flip flopping my children's rooms.  Two were already moved, mostly.

The big daddy carried the tools and moved the heavy things while I cleared shelves, bedding, toys, etc. etc. etc.  

By 5:00 we were finished.  Or rather we were done for the day.  Two more children in their new spaces.  The two of us on the couch sipping Kombucha.  Legs elevated.  Wondering when the dinner fairy would arrive to make a scrumptious meal.  

She never came!

 

Typically, around here, I don't attempt to completely rip the house apart each day.  Just yesterday.  Which is good.  Exciting.  Exhausting.  Full of adventure.  

I look forward to having a day of writing and laundry today for it will, no doubt, seem easier than yesterday.    

How is your day going?

 

 

It's Official::

Yes.  It's official.  

I've figured out that by simplifying my life I might in fact be making it harder.  

I mean I'm sitting here sewing felt eggs...enough said.  Of course, they are felt eggs that have a secret little pouch inside for treasures so....

The intention was to move away from the plastic egg idea into something warmer and potentially more beneficial for mother earth.  Something we could use again and again.  Something fun and easy.  Easy.

Anyone going to step in here?  What I may need is an intervention.  Someone to pounce on my sewing machine and tell me to "slowly back away from the machine".  Alas, that has yet to happen.

 

And then, to make matters worse I decided on new bags.  

This seemingly innocent bag has been time consuming.  Yet, I continued.  I wanted something smaller to make the smaller gifts and treats seem bigger in the bag, you know.  Sitting next to the machine as we speak are three more bags cut out and ready to sew.  

Simple right?  Next year, it will seem easier/simpler.  At least that is what I say now....

So unless someone makes a move here I'm headed back to the studio to finish those other three bags.  

Yup...I am...I'm going now....I'm walking...I'm walking...  

Well, if you change your mind and have a moment in your day you know where to find me.  

I asked a friend of mine recently (A friend that I will NOT tell you is in the process of making the very same felt eggs) whether she ever felt that her life was harder because she was attempting to make it "more simplified"?  

Her response was...EVERYDAY.  

Anyone else out there? 

 

Hidden Messages::

We have a bit of construction going on at our house right now.  The old storeroom chocked full of stuff has now been emptied and is undergoing a transformation.  Walls are appearing and insulation soon to be applied.  A doorway and soon another room for one of our children.  

It's been quite an adventure already as construction invariably can be.

 

The other night we had a lot of fun though.  Our children were allowed to draw on the walls....oh my.  They were able to use crayon and write messages and this mama and the big daddy just smiled.  Can you imagine?  

So our children were all about the giggles and laughter while we covered every square inch of the walls with hidden messages.  Messages tucked into the walls that will bring forth the love in which they were drawn or written.

 

I remember doing this with my mom and three brothers in the new kitchen.  Things like great meals made here.  Love in the kitchen.  You know, important things.  

The intention being the biggest and most crucial element.

My love really is to see what each person decides is important.  I love that this is his.

 

 

And, his.

And, hers.

 

And, his.

It's made me wonder why is it that we don't draw on walls more often?  It's such a lot of fun!  

Except for that pesky "its-so-permanent" thing.  Oh well.  

 

Weekend Surprise::

A surprise trip into the city to see the Peter Pan ballet.  

There were four excited children.  A delicious meal at a retro modern diner.  A chance to dress-up.  Time to walk by moonlight in the city before heading home.  

A great time was had by all.  

 

 

 

Her smile::

I can hardly resist her smile.  Or smiles I should say as there are so many different ones.  My goodness I do believe there is something magical about the eighteen to twenty-four month age.  Don't you think?  

There is just a certain level of cuteness and words and smiles and cuddles that are impossible not to be charmed by.  

 

I started this post to tell you about this dress.  It's out of the yarn I used for the leg warmers last week.  Fun yarn I tell you.  

Plus, there is something about it that seems to make it fly off the needles.  Which is good when you seem to be knitting and knitting with nothing but half sweaters to show for it.

Nice to have a sense of accomplishment once in awhile.  

 

So the Dress is actually modified from this top.  

I added some length and increased stitches to create an A-line dress.  What I love is.... I used one skein for the whole thing.  

It will be great for Spring as the mornings range from cool to snow on the ground.  It's just hard to know what the weather will do.  

The versatility of this dress will be just what we need for that.  

 

The best part of the photo shoot with this girl was that I kept telling her we were done taking photos and she kept saying, "No, one more." 

Hmm...ham anyone?

 

 

Play Well::

Sometimes they play so well together.  

They laugh and create worlds with forts.  They help one another and find endless things to talk about.  They share and imagine great things.  They are surprised when the day is over. 

Sometimes that happens.  

I'm really glad when it does.  

 

So She did..::

"She Believed She Could So She Did".

My girlie had her first handmade market debut two weekends ago.  The annual holiday fair at school.  She's been determined to do this for over a year.  Absolutely set on pursuing this dream.  

It happened a few summers ago when we sat side by side in front of my mother's Elna sewing machine teaching her the basics and letting her press the pedal and send the machine whirling through the fabric she had chosen.

Freedom.  

The smile on her face and the learning she did in that first summer were immeasurable.  I, the teacher, wanted her to know the basics, the stitches, the way the machine worked.  How to thread the machine and how to finish it off when done.  She bore this beautifully, in fact she seemed to absorb everything I had to teach her about sewing on a machine.  

Then, she was on her own.  My fabric stash at her fingertips.  Yet another opportunity for me to let go.  To appreciate the thoughts running through my head. "Oh, I was going to use that fabric" or "That one is supposed to be a...." or "No.  That I'm saving for..".  To hear those thoughts and struggle to breathe and say, "Yes, you may use whatever you wish".  

To recognize the girl in me that loved when my own mother had said those same words to me.  To be less concerned about what all the fabric WAS going to be and more interested in what the fabric COULD BE now.  

 

She started slow, tentative.  Reluctant to push the machine very fast more comfortable to amble along stitch by stitch.  Today?  Well, that girl can fly is all I'm saying.  

So with the Winter Faire approaching she and another friend spent days together side by side sewing for their stand.  One sewing bracelets.  One sewing bags.  Both happy to be doing something on their own yet willing to ask questions when they were stuck.  

For me it was delightful. Freeing. Beautiful.  My girl sailing through the fabric stash, ever respectful and helping me breathe and let go...breathe and let go.  

My child as my teacher, again.  

 

And so she did.  She made 86 bracelets to be exact.  There may have been a few days at the end that required some reinforcements.  A late night "ribbon stitcher" along with the big daddy as head "button guy". 

There were looks across the room at one another with this daughter of ours, head down, sewing in the middle.  Smiles were passed and looks of awe.  Her tenacity.  Her drive to create something and follow through.

Her label---completely her design and idea.  Of course, this enchanted mama deemed it just the right name for her.   

 

Then, the big weekend happened.  She rose to the occasion.  She smiled.  She answered questions.  She stood on her feet for hours at a time experiencing "retail".  A challenge at best.  

The weekend flew by and then she packed up her bracelets.  Tired but excited about her first foray into the handmade world.  

She sold quite a few.  She still has some left.  She wants to do it again.    

I know as her mama that more than anything it was a success. She set the goal, pursued the goal and learned a few things in the process.  As much as I would have loved to tell her all about "my retail experience" I tried to let her learn in her own way. Knowing it's better that way.  

 

So I learn to let go of the very children I want to protect and hold so tight.  Recognizing that every time I do they are able to fly more freely.  

I believe that in the end I will have learned more from my children than I ever could have taught them myself.

For now I will smile at my own bracelet, that was made "just for me", from my girlie and love her even more than I did yesterday.  

 

 

Halloween 2011::

A "Jingly Jangly" Gypsy.

An Aviator who flies bi-planes.

A courageous Knight.

A Flower Faerie.

 

"Mommy, why don't you hold my shield I've tamed enough dragons today."

"I think maybe I'm done trick-or-treating because I don't want to get cavities."

"Here daddy you can have this piece of candy I know how much you love it." 

"I'm courageous out here in the dark."

"This is the best Halloween EVER!"

 

Just a few things I wanted to remember...

 

 

 

Halloween Glimpse::

Hope your day is "Spooktacular"!  

Happy Halloween to you all.  

 

 

 

A new dolly::

A new dolly found her way to us.  

We attended the Gypsy Faire, which I told you about yesterday, on two occasions this past weekend.  The first with my girlie in the Ergo carrier and my seven year old boy.  We leisurely walked the aisles amazed by all the creative's gathered and appreciating their wares.  

Then, it happened.  

My girlie saw THIS dolly and started to do the squack, ma ma ma, arm out hand beckoning wave only a thirteen month old could manage.  At first, I didn't know what she was talking about.  Then, I saw her and all her purple hair glory.  

We smiled.  We laughed.  My seven year old handed her the doll.  Big mistake, maybe.  She pulled that dolly in for a BIG hug and a little pat pat pat on the tush. There were oohhs and aahhs mostly by this mama and the creative who made her.  Then, my girlie brings it home with a "aaahh baby."  

I'm sorry but that would have sold it for even the most toughest of characters.  Yet, I'm in the "no need to accumulate more stuff place" and after that moment passed I said, "Okay, lets put the dolly away".  

Um, wrong answer.  The girlie screamed, began the hand beckoning wave again as we walked away.  I know, even writing this I'm feeling a little bad. But, the plan was to look, not cart home more stuff.   I had to stay strong.  

We walked a bit more and having found a "worker guy" old metal lunchbox for my son who needed one, we made it out of there with little damage.  

The next day my daughter, wanting to see what the faire was all about, accompanied us for the second time.  

That's when it happened, again.    

We walked past the booth, with the dolly, this mama oblivious to it all and my girlie starts the hand waving/beckoning thing, again.  Only this time she is serious.  There is an increase in the volume, speed of hand waving, etc.  

I look over to see what she's looking at because folks that dolly was not in the same place she was yesterday and there she was.  Sitting so sweet, in a small chair on the ground, smiling up at us, the picture of innocence.  

I. had. a. moment.  

Okay, my girlie is thirteen months old.  Her responce was the same albeit louder and only to this particular dolly.  There were piles of delightful dollies there.  All of them cute.  All of them smiling their "darn-dest". 

I mean really, what's a mama to do?  

Well, I'll tell you what she does.  She leans over, picks up that dolly and she smiles at the woman who made her.  That's what she does.  The creator smiles and says, "It's always nice to know when they go home with the right child".  

Just like that.  I hand her some cash and we're off.  My head shaking in disbelief that my little one knew that was her dolly.  My girlie happily pat pat patting her new dolly's tush saying, "aahhh, baby" and giving her big wet smooches.  

And, that's the story.  

 

This dolly has yet to be more than a foot away from my girlie since.  She just knew.

So if you want to see for yourself all these darling smiling dollies here's their site.  
You will be supporting a delightful mom and daughter team and providing hours of play for your little ones.

So here's to finding "just what we want" today.

For me, I want to laugh.  Geniune belly laughing.  The kind where no sound escapes your lips because you are laughing so hard.  That's what I want today!         

What do you want today?