Wednesday, October 29, 2008
plaid mittens
I made these mittens for a friend's birthday. I had a skein of Rowan Plaid in colors I thought she would like, and found a simple, free pattern from Alison Hansel on Ravelry. More knitting progress, and some sewing progress, coming soon!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
hats for twins
Actual knitting is taking place! These little hats were crafted for twins that should be arriving into our extended family sometime in the next month or so. One is a boy, one is a girl. I based this loosely on the Cabin Fever Colour Me Bright hat pattern, and turned the i-cord strands into a flower topper on the purple hat.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
banners
We have a new tradition in my family -- every Christmas we make a family banner in honor of a special 'retreat' we have as a family called Kid's Christmas... We are really into banner making. Usually with felt. The inspiration for all the banner making is the summer camp we went to as kids and young adults in our family. We have been lucky to continue having our family 'retreat' at this camp, located in the Litchfield Hills of CT, the past few winters. When we were kids, each 'conference' we went to in the summer would make a conference banner, and all the kids would sign, and then the banner would be hung at the camp for posterity.
One of our friends from camp days is getting married this weekend, at the camp! My sister Anna came up with the idea of a banner to put in the dining hall at the camp, signed by all the guests, as a way to remember the special occasion. We thought Tibetan prayer flags would be special and colorful.
We whipped this up this past week while my sister was staying with me. Got to use my sewing machine in the basement -- this totally reminds me of my mom's sewing area in our basement growing up!! TV and everything! Wow.
One of our friends from camp days is getting married this weekend, at the camp! My sister Anna came up with the idea of a banner to put in the dining hall at the camp, signed by all the guests, as a way to remember the special occasion. We thought Tibetan prayer flags would be special and colorful.
We whipped this up this past week while my sister was staying with me. Got to use my sewing machine in the basement -- this totally reminds me of my mom's sewing area in our basement growing up!! TV and everything! Wow.
Friday, August 1, 2008
seascape shawl and aran pullover
Here is the progress for my Seascape Shawl from knitty. Looking pretty shimmery with the Rowan Kidsilk Night yarn! I am taking my sweet bippy time with this one -- won't be ready to wear this for several more months?!?
And here is the aran pullover from Knitting for Baby that I am working on for Mr. A... knitting in the 2 year old size so it should fit him for a while. This is in Rowan All Seasons Cotton. I wasn't sure if I would like the marbled look of this yarn, but I do! Another fun cable pattern that knits up pretty quick.
Both of these are up on Ravelry.
And here is the aran pullover from Knitting for Baby that I am working on for Mr. A... knitting in the 2 year old size so it should fit him for a while. This is in Rowan All Seasons Cotton. I wasn't sure if I would like the marbled look of this yarn, but I do! Another fun cable pattern that knits up pretty quick.
Both of these are up on Ravelry.
Friday, July 18, 2008
craft time
Today I spent part of my day off finally sewing again -- I made some bags to use for knitting projects, lunch, or other small things. My sister Daeva and I made some bags like this one year when visiting my mom in Texas. This is when I learned how to make french seams and love them. Some pretty waverly-esque fabric from a thrift shop. I making some napkins, too...
Here are some random thoughts for a Friday...
Craft time restores your soul.
Here are some shots of me and my family in 'craft' mode, both times making easter eggs, first in the early 80's and then in 2003 at my old studio apartment in Brookline, MA.
And here is a shot of my mom in a sweater she made which I now have... too hot to take a photo of me in it, today, though.
And of fun times with family in NH last weekend. I did some knitting in the car which I'll post eventually.
Fun times with family also restores your soul...
Here are some random thoughts for a Friday...
Craft time restores your soul.
Here are some shots of me and my family in 'craft' mode, both times making easter eggs, first in the early 80's and then in 2003 at my old studio apartment in Brookline, MA.
And here is a shot of my mom in a sweater she made which I now have... too hot to take a photo of me in it, today, though.
And of fun times with family in NH last weekend. I did some knitting in the car which I'll post eventually.
Fun times with family also restores your soul...
Thursday, June 26, 2008
My day
Here is a glimpse at my day on June 26th as a working mom. Most days, I get some walking in, some knitting, some work (obviously), and lots of rushing around.
It starts between 6-6:30 (Ethan (husband) is already on his way to work at this point). I get out of bed and get myself ready in 10-15 minutes.
Next I go in to wake or pick up AJ who is either stirring, 'talking' or crying a little to be freed from the crib. After nursing, I get him ready, get all his food and supplies ready for 'school' (daycare) and we're there between 7- 7:15 most days. Sometimes we have a few magic glimpses at the wildlife outside.
Some of the food that goes with AJ to daycare.
A turkey hanging out in the backyard.
Next I'm in the car for 40 -50 minutes, depending on traffic. I wish I wasn't commuting. But for now, this is reality.
I arrive at the parking garage, and head out for my 15 minute walk to the library.
Get in to my desk between 8-8:15. After email/calendar/blogreader checking, I do a little work and then pump between 9:30-10, depending on meetings. Today I get out of a meeting about online finding aids at 10.
The pumping room is really just an alcove in a storage room several flights down from my desk... see my pump bag in the distance?
I try to relax while pumping - knitting, (currently working on the Seascape shawl from the latest Knitty with my favorite yarn - Rowan kidsilk night in Macbeth), reading, and sometimes doing work.
Now I'm back at my desk. Most of my work is on the computer. Makings sure the 'systems' I manage as a systems librarian are working. I consult with a staff member from the cataloging department on some records that don't look quite right. I make some updates to configurations for a vendor who is changing their urls for certain databases. I check some log files on the server.
Quick lunch break around noon. If I don't have a lunch meeting or lunch date, I usually eat at my desk, but I do get out to grab some food and some coffee, usually.
Today I run into a good friend on the street. After a quick chat, I grab some soup at Au Bon Pain.
And then take a quick stroll to the main entrance. For a little inspiration. This building is beautiful.
Now some review of documents and notes while I eat lunch. Today I am gathering notes for a system upgrade for one of our database systems.
At 2-3, I go downstairs again to pump.
Then back up the stairs for some work testing out some changes to the library opac, and some research of some online training opportunities since it is quite difficult for me to go away for training given my non-work mama schedule.
Between 4-4:15 I'm leaving for the walk to the car. Feeling a little worn out today. A little sullen. Maybe it is the weather -- grey all day and kinda humid. But a good walk to the car with time to meditate on the day and where I'm 'at' will do some good.
I have a 35-45 minute drive, where I arrive at daycare and collect the boy. Some days Ethan gets him since he doesn't have class in the summer, or we both get him (we can walk there, it is very nice!). We try to soak up as much time with AJ as we can. The 2 hours with him each night never feels like enough.
Get home, nurse, visit the cows, play in the living room/kitchen, feed AJ dinner, give AJ a bath, put on PJs, read books, nurse, put AJ to bed at about 7 (he either goes right to sleep or we have to 'shh' him and sit in the room until he falls asleep. I usually get my clothes for the next day together once he is asleep.
Saying goodnight to the cows
Papa in his comfy pants, sneaking in a mid-week load of laundry
Ethan and I usually eat dinner after AJ is asleep -- and wash bottles, dishes, pumping parts. Prepare AJ's food for the next day. Prepare pumping bag for the next day. Then spend 30 minutes to an hour relaxing -- watching tv (lately the Daily Show, the Colbert Report, So you think you can dance, and soon, Project Runway), talking, checking computer. Sometimes a little more knitting... depends on how exhausted I am. Also, more lovely glimpses of the scenery outside. Dreams of having more time to be creative...
After a shower, and sometimes a little reading, it is lights out between 9:45-10:30. AJ is up once or twice a night for a quick nurse.. and then it starts again!
It starts between 6-6:30 (Ethan (husband) is already on his way to work at this point). I get out of bed and get myself ready in 10-15 minutes.
Next I go in to wake or pick up AJ who is either stirring, 'talking' or crying a little to be freed from the crib. After nursing, I get him ready, get all his food and supplies ready for 'school' (daycare) and we're there between 7- 7:15 most days. Sometimes we have a few magic glimpses at the wildlife outside.
Some of the food that goes with AJ to daycare.
A turkey hanging out in the backyard.
Next I'm in the car for 40 -50 minutes, depending on traffic. I wish I wasn't commuting. But for now, this is reality.
I arrive at the parking garage, and head out for my 15 minute walk to the library.
Get in to my desk between 8-8:15. After email/calendar/blogreader checking, I do a little work and then pump between 9:30-10, depending on meetings. Today I get out of a meeting about online finding aids at 10.
The pumping room is really just an alcove in a storage room several flights down from my desk... see my pump bag in the distance?
I try to relax while pumping - knitting, (currently working on the Seascape shawl from the latest Knitty with my favorite yarn - Rowan kidsilk night in Macbeth), reading, and sometimes doing work.
Now I'm back at my desk. Most of my work is on the computer. Makings sure the 'systems' I manage as a systems librarian are working. I consult with a staff member from the cataloging department on some records that don't look quite right. I make some updates to configurations for a vendor who is changing their urls for certain databases. I check some log files on the server.
Quick lunch break around noon. If I don't have a lunch meeting or lunch date, I usually eat at my desk, but I do get out to grab some food and some coffee, usually.
Today I run into a good friend on the street. After a quick chat, I grab some soup at Au Bon Pain.
And then take a quick stroll to the main entrance. For a little inspiration. This building is beautiful.
Now some review of documents and notes while I eat lunch. Today I am gathering notes for a system upgrade for one of our database systems.
At 2-3, I go downstairs again to pump.
Then back up the stairs for some work testing out some changes to the library opac, and some research of some online training opportunities since it is quite difficult for me to go away for training given my non-work mama schedule.
Between 4-4:15 I'm leaving for the walk to the car. Feeling a little worn out today. A little sullen. Maybe it is the weather -- grey all day and kinda humid. But a good walk to the car with time to meditate on the day and where I'm 'at' will do some good.
I have a 35-45 minute drive, where I arrive at daycare and collect the boy. Some days Ethan gets him since he doesn't have class in the summer, or we both get him (we can walk there, it is very nice!). We try to soak up as much time with AJ as we can. The 2 hours with him each night never feels like enough.
Get home, nurse, visit the cows, play in the living room/kitchen, feed AJ dinner, give AJ a bath, put on PJs, read books, nurse, put AJ to bed at about 7 (he either goes right to sleep or we have to 'shh' him and sit in the room until he falls asleep. I usually get my clothes for the next day together once he is asleep.
Saying goodnight to the cows
Papa in his comfy pants, sneaking in a mid-week load of laundry
Ethan and I usually eat dinner after AJ is asleep -- and wash bottles, dishes, pumping parts. Prepare AJ's food for the next day. Prepare pumping bag for the next day. Then spend 30 minutes to an hour relaxing -- watching tv (lately the Daily Show, the Colbert Report, So you think you can dance, and soon, Project Runway), talking, checking computer. Sometimes a little more knitting... depends on how exhausted I am. Also, more lovely glimpses of the scenery outside. Dreams of having more time to be creative...
After a shower, and sometimes a little reading, it is lights out between 9:45-10:30. AJ is up once or twice a night for a quick nurse.. and then it starts again!
Friday, June 6, 2008
Cool, grand, parents
AJ turned 1 this week!
He received some very special gifts from his paternal grandma -- his very own "1" shirts (along with matching shorts for the red 1 shirt). My husband and his sister had shirts for their birthdays with their age on them growing up-- isn't that wonderfully creative and special? And of course they were handmade by my very thoughtful and talented mother in law. I was so excited when she made AJ some of his very own!
I am very lucky to have very cool parents and inlaws, who now are also grand-parents... all inspire me with their talents, their lives and their care for the people in their lives.
Here's a picture of my very cool parents, from sometime in the late 1960's. What a couple! My dad is no longer here -- and today it has been 5 years since he left us -- but his spirit, his inner hipness -- lives on. Thanks DA. Here's to my cool, grand parents :)
He received some very special gifts from his paternal grandma -- his very own "1" shirts (along with matching shorts for the red 1 shirt). My husband and his sister had shirts for their birthdays with their age on them growing up-- isn't that wonderfully creative and special? And of course they were handmade by my very thoughtful and talented mother in law. I was so excited when she made AJ some of his very own!
I am very lucky to have very cool parents and inlaws, who now are also grand-parents... all inspire me with their talents, their lives and their care for the people in their lives.
Here's a picture of my very cool parents, from sometime in the late 1960's. What a couple! My dad is no longer here -- and today it has been 5 years since he left us -- but his spirit, his inner hipness -- lives on. Thanks DA. Here's to my cool, grand parents :)
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