Keep Calm Craft On {crafting on}

The act of creating, in one form or another, preserves my sanity amongst the chaos of life. This explains why I always have more than one project going at a time as well as why my housework tends to fall behind. I enjoy seeing what others are working on and keeping calm with, too. What are you creating? What is keeping you going? Snap a picture or two and share it with the rest of us by leaving your link below.

After we found out the good news, I had a few days before the morning sickness kicked in. I took advantage of that time (knowing it wouldn't last long) and started drafting a list of all the baby knitting I wanted to do. I do so love baby knitting! Of course my list is impossibly long but I hope I can get to a few of the things on it.

One thing that I knew I had to knit was the Klickitat nursing shawl. I already had the perfect yarn for it, some I had stashed away years ago just in case we had another sweet blessing. I don't know the name of the colorway but it reminds me so much of the peachy-pink lazured walls of Waldorf early childhood classrooms. Steiner chose that color specifically for small children because it resembles the womb, which is very soothing and comforting to little ones. I am taking my cue from him for this shawl. I mean, what better color to wrap my new baby in as s/he nurses in church (or any other place I feel the need to be a bit more discrete)?

What are you working on?! Happy creating!

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Keep Calm Craft On {crafting on}

How we told them

I thought I would share how we shared the news of my pregnancy with our children. As you all know, my children were feeling pretty sad and thinking they would never get another sibling (something they all wanted so badly), especially my K. So as soon as I found out I made Kevin promise not to tell the children because I wanted to plan some special way to tell them (he would always be too excited and blurt it out with my past pregnancies). After some pinterest searches I had an idea and planned it out with Kevin.

The next day he took the children out to run some errands while I made dinner. Nothing out of the ordinary so they had no idea what was going on. When they came back I told them we had a surprise for them but that they would have to figure it out. We gave clues while eating our dinner and then they went into another room and wrote down their guesses afterwards. There were a few crazy guesses mostly coming from Little L like, "There are Bhaktis (our cat) growing in K's garden?". But both K and C were spot on with their guesses. I told them all that our dessert would give them the answer. Then I went into the kitchen to get my camera set up and Kevin led them in to see the awaiting fruit baby in it's pram. Although my rendition looks more like a fruit alien or a fruit bat unlike the beautiful fruit babies on pinterest, he,he. K caught on first (you can see her face is the first to light up) then Kevin explained it to C and Little L. Oh the joy that was in our home at that moment! I shall never forget it. I am glad I caught the moment with my camera. Their little faces in these photographs are priceless to me. You can see how genuinely over the moon they are, as are we!

p.s. - THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for all of your congrats and well wishes via blog comments, emails and facebook. They made my weekend.

How we told them

High Expectations

May light stream into you that can take hold of you.

I follow its rays with the warmth of my love.

I think with my thinking's best thoughts of joy

On the stirrings of your heart.

May they strengthen you,

May they carry you,

May they cleanse you.

I want to gather my thoughts of joy

Before the steps of your life,

That they unite with your will for life,

So that it finds itself with strength

In the world,

Ever more,

Through itself.

 

- Rudolf Steiner, Prayers for Parent and Children 

I wanted to wait to share this news (to be absolutely certain) but I just couldn't contain it any longer - We are expecting!!

I am at a loss for words over this and an (ecstatic) emotional mess, crying tears of joy at the drop of a hat. Something I deemed as impossible became possible. I fully admit I had lost all hope and forgotten to trust that God's plan is much better than my own. That is, until I opened up to all of you and your support and love brought my hope back. I know that your prayers and well wishes played an important role in this miracle. Thank you, truly.

After my very raw post on this subject I almost feel guilty (yet again) sharing this because I know so many of you were/are in situations similar to mine, longing for a child. I hope that this news doesn't discourage you but lifts you up and brings hope that all things are possible. I have kept all of you that shared your stories with me in my heart and prayers and I shall continue to do so.

love,
Nicole

p.s. - In case you were wondering, cute newborn sock info on Ravelry.

High Expectations

Keep Calm Craft On {crafting on}

The act of creating, in one form or another, preserves my sanity amongst the chaos of life. This explains why I always have more than one project going at a time as well as why my housework tends to fall behind. I enjoy seeing what others are working on and keeping calm with, too. What are you creating? What is keeping you going? Snap a picture or two and share it with the rest of us by leaving your link below.


I found an old project from many years ago that I never completed. I think I might be able to manage it now if I just take it one stitch at a time.

What are you working on?! Happy creating!

An InLinkz Link-up

Keep Calm Craft On {crafting on}

still dreaming

My children are still dreaming about butterflies so I have been finding simple, easy crafts they can make themselves. You know, ones that don't require a lot of planning and thought for me, especially while I am not feeling my best. These butterfly sun catchers and headbands fit the bill.

Now back to bed for me. I will explain more later when I can. Until then - Have a happy father's day and summer solstice!

still dreaming

Keep Calm Craft On {crafting on}

The act of creating, in one form or another, preserves my sanity amongst the chaos of life. This explains why I always have more than one project going at a time as well as why my housework tends to fall behind. I enjoy seeing what others are working on and keeping calm with, too. What are you creating? What is keeping you going? Snap a picture or two and share it with the rest of us by leaving your link below.

Nothing exciting to report for KCCO. Knitting seems to make me feel sicker right now so I have barely touched any of the projects I currently have going. I did, however, end up unintentionally cuddling with L's Flax today. I was hoping to work on it but fell asleep instead. Eh, oh well. I will finish it in time for winter.
What are you working on?! Happy creating!

An InLinkz Link-up

Keep Calm Craft On {crafting on}

goodness

my weekend consisted of:

-feeling quite under the weather (still feeling that way)
-the comfort and company of feline companions
-visits from a sweet little blonde headed, blue-eyed boy and his shark
-being tucked in bed by my oldest before she slipped away to make rice and seaweed for her siblings
-simple, mindless sewing for the above-mentioned feline companions (mending Simpkin's favorite toy)
-the joy of picking up a forgotten book and finding that it was just what I needed to read

Always goodness to be found.

goodness

For Miss Marie {asking for your help}

Do you remember dear Miss Marie? The sweet lady who gifted my girls with butterfly hair clips? Well, I do believe she is truly an angel in disguise, perhaps even my guardian angel. It seems that whenever I am having a hard time she somehow knows and finds me. The love she has for life shines through her kind eyes and you just can not help but be calmed by her presence. I am so thankful for her.

The other week after Mass she found us (again at a time when I needed her). She admired the girls' knit rainbow dresses and mentioned that she wanted one. I told her I would knit for her any day. We spoke a bit more about knitting, as we usually do, and then somehow or other we were on the topic of C's favorite saint - Saint Rita. Oh, how I wish you could have heard Miss Marie repeat her name in Italian with her beautiful accent. Santa Rita de Cássia. Her name just rolled off her tongue so delicately.

Saint Rita then brought us to the topic of nuns and Miss Marie said, " Oh I lived with a nun for many years in Italy." This piqued C's interest and she leaned in listening intently. Miss Marie saw C's interest and continued, "Oh yes, well during WWII I lost both of my parents and had to live in an orphanage for many years." Then she smiled her soothing smile and said, "That is why I love your knitting so much - it reminds me of knitting in the orphanage. We knit our own socks and sweaters all the time."

It took me a minute to find words to respond with. I was heartbroken over her childhood but she seemed to take it in stride. I also felt awful for a moment thinking about how my knitting reminded her of her life in an orphanage. But then I realized that it truly made her happy, not sad to see our hand knits. After we said our goodbyes (or Ciaos!) K and I both looked at each other and I think we shared the same sadness combined with love over what Miss Marie had gone through. I asked K what we should do because we both obviously felt the need to do something. We want to invite her to our home for dinners and really get to know her, but I wanted to do something more. Knit Miss Marie a shawl. YES! That is it. K and I could work on it together. Maybe even C could do a couple garter stitch rows. Then she could wrap herself in our love. That's seems like just the thing. But what do you think? I could really use your help here. Does a shawl sound like a good idea? Or would something else be better? Then what color and what pattern should we use? Something stylish (because Miss Marie is quite the stylish lady) but not too bold. Please do speak up and tell us what you think!

For Miss Marie {asking for your help}

Keep Calm Craft On {crafting on}

The act of creating, in one form or another, preserves my sanity amongst the chaos of life. This explains why I always have more than one project going at a time as well as why my housework tends to fall behind. I enjoy seeing what others are working on and keeping calm with, too. What are you creating? What is keeping you going? Snap a picture or two and share it with the rest of us by leaving your link below.


Somehow I managed to forget to take a picture of my current WIP so I thought I would share a finished project this time around. That way at least I had a photograph of something here. The cozy corner pillow is completed and in it's place waiting for children to snuggle up to it and read. I have a couple of other pillows in mind to add to this space as well but this big one is a good start.
What are you working on?! Happy creating!

An InLinkz Link-up

Keep Calm Craft On {crafting on}

Birthday {captioned}

Oh that sweet, special, hilarious little koala bear of mine. What would I do without her?! I never meant to take so long to share C's birthday week with all of you! Here it is almost two months later: {waking up after a sleepover in Grandma's hotel room {following her trail of hedgies...} {...out to the van} {all the hedgies she gathered} {birthday table waiting} {seven} {her place at the table} {decorating} {opening her gifts from K - this one is a tutu K made for C's hedgehog} {one of the birthday dresses} {she really loved it} {every girl needs a hedgie purse} {getting some fresh air in her birthday dress & queen bee legwarmers made by me as well as her headband made by K} {queen bee} {button details - really hard to capture} {hedgie pillowcase made by one of her very dearest friends} {sweet gifts including a hedgie pencil pouch K made for C} (a rainbow of creativity} {gifts and seeds} {birthday candles} {gathered around the cake} {sweet sister love} {her special hedgie cake} {so full of life and in a skirt sewn by her other dearest friend} {her usual silly antics making us giggle} {lighting her birthday ring and telling her story} {enjoying time with Grandma} {I see deep into her soul} {hedgehog cupcakes made by Grandma and the children} {birthday fun at Wahooz} {my little monkey} {K driving for the first time}

Details:
hedgehog breakfast board - from Jennifer
Queen Bee legwarmers - Luna Grey pattern on Ravelry
Ferby colored pencils, travel board (size small) and sketchbook - Nova Natural

If I forgot anything, let me know!

Birthday {captioned}