Mama Tote

I am so excited to share this sewing project that I've been working on. It's an over the shoulder tote that I'm hoping will fit all of the junk necessary items that always seem to stretch the capacity of my current bags whenever I venture out with my growing brood. The front and back panels are from a woven baby wearing wrap and the rest is twill. The colors are so deep and rich and the bag it's self is so soft, especially filled with fluffy wraps, that I just might snuggle it as a pillow!

{this moment}

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{this moment} ~ Following along with Amanda's Friday ritual.  A single photo - no words -  capturing a simple, extraordinary moment.  A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.  

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Strengthen

At Lydia's request we went camping for New Year's Eve, right here in our own living room. Wood was acquired, sleeping bags rolled out for the festivities. We have really enjoyed spending the recent holidays close to home and beginning our own simple family traditions. I look foreword to seeing how our traditions grow and evolve along with our family in the years to come.

I came across a post the other day that inspired me to start a new tradition of my own for the coming year. After pondering the possibility of several different words that I might select for the year, I've found just the right one. Strengthen. This word feels like the perfect direction to focus my thoughts and engery as I explore all of the different ways I can incorporate this idea into my life. 

~Wishing you and yours all of the very best in the year ahead!

snow

For the first time since having children of our own, we stayed home and enjoyed a cozy Christmas with just our little family. It was a lovely day, full of all the joy and wonder I remember feeling as a child myself. The best present of all that day was the beautiful, and very belated for the season, snowfall that lasted most of the day. This girl of mine had a grand time frolicking in the frozen flakes.  My heart is full of joy for these simple and oh so precious moments. I look foreword to many more in the coming year as our family continues to grow.

{this moment}

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{this moment} ~ Following along with Amanda's Friday ritual.  A single photo - no words -  capturing a simple, extraordinary moment.  A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.  

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{this moment}

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{this moment} ~ Following along with Amanda's Friday ritual. 

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Yarn Along :: an experiment

I finished knitting the little hooded cape a few weeks ago, but still need to weave in the ends and sew on the toggle that I finally got for it this week.  There are a few mistakes, but that's how one learns, right? I started knitting this to use up some yarn that I wasn't terribly fond of, and I think perhaps I should have done a larger size, as there is quite a lot of extra yarn left.  Maybe a little vest to go with it? 

My oldest daughter has long been requesting mama-knit hat, so I figured that would be the perfect project to start on next. Plus, I can't seem to locate my size 1 DPNs for the little socks to go with the baby hat I knit last week. The Shibui baby hat pattern is so quick and easy to knit up that I decided to try my hand at sizing up a pattern.  So far I'm very pleased with how it's turning out, and hopeful that it will fit at least one of my girls. I'll share details next week once I finish and figure out if I need to make any adjustments. 

Even thought I hadn't gotten very far in reading Home Education, it was due back to the library.  I'll definitely need to get my own copy so I have time to really savor and digest it's pages.  While visiting a friend the other day she surprised me with a  couple of books that she had discovered on her shelves and thought I might be interested in. Yes please! Toymaking With Children has been on my list of 'want to read' books for quite sometime. It has given me just the motivation I needed to sort through our toys and organize a more kid friendly play space. I'm anxious to try out some of the patterns in this book.

~ Following along with Ginny. Happy knitting!