gifts

While on vacation we stayed with my aunts who lavished us with love, food and gifts. I love my new blouse with Mexican embroidery insert and trimmed with navy rickrack. My great grandmother made blouses like this to sell back in the day, way back.

I mentioned to my aunt that I had been making dolls. She told me that my great great grandmother used to sew cloth dolls and sell them door-to-door. I never met her but I did know my great grandmother and remember working on a doll with her. I feel really lucky to have had that experience and that I can still recall the magic of making something with her.


My aunt happily offered me a beautiful assortment of buttons and beads to use as decoration for dolls.


Felix came home with presents too. But, here’s something he picked up on his own: a polka dot tan on his feet.

vacation days

We planned on a two day vacation but stayed five. It was wonderful. I forgot my camera, and didn't pack the laptop. My friend took these snaps for me. We went swimming,


ate junkfood and lounged by the sea.


Went for walks, did some sightseeing, forgot about cartoons, and knitting;


went to sleep by nine o'clock and spent most of everyday out doors in the fresh air.

We were gone long enough to get home sick. I'll upload some photos later of some goodies I got from my aunt.

friday

I spent a scattered week hobbling together my projects, slowly; one sock (Fancy Silk Sock from Knitting Vintage Socks) managed to get finished. It’s a sweet old-fashioned lace sock. Or, what I imagine old-fashioned socks to have been like.


My head is elsewhere, looking forward to the weekend and our get away to the beach.


Another sock may get knit in the next two days, or not!

projects

Usually, after I finish a deadline I feel tired. This time was no different. I have things I really need to work on but instead I took this week to start three new projects. Does anyone else ever feel actual fear when they think about what they're SUPPOSED to be doing? When anxiety strikes, I get knitting!
What better way to relax than slip into the imaginings that come with making a child's toy? I couldn't resist knitting the unicorn from Dream Toys by Claire Garland. We have a little friend who I think will LOVE it. I'm thinking ahead here for Christmas presents.


From one of my favorite sock books Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush, I cast on for the Fancy Silk Sock. These too will be a gift, but for an October birthday. I'm working with Trekking pro natura yarn; really like the color a lot (#1605), but the yarn doesn't feel soft I hope it's not too itchy for my friend. Maybe it will soften up after a wash.


And finally, I started to design a lace shawl in a triangle shape. The yarn feels like a wool rayon blend. It's from a large cone I bought years ago and I can't remember what it is. I'm excited about this one; I just love knitting lace so much. My first knitting love is lace.

self portrait challenge

I've only participated once before in SPC. I don't remember what the theme was but I took a photo of myself in my bathroom. Weirdly, I was in the mood to do another SPC and when I checked on the theme it was: bathroom.
The bathroom has been a place of a few battles lately; since I've been trying to potty train my kid. His new argument against using the potty is "I'm Scared OF the MONSTERS".
It took me a long time to get used to this mural. It's been two and a half years now and I can honestly say it's growing on me. And the bathtub is fantastic. Maybe, I'll take a portrait there next week.
For more self portraits go here.

dolly

Yesterday, I made another doll. Felix asked me, "what's her name mommy?" I told him to come up with one and the first thing he said was Freddy. But, he changed his mind to Dimples. In the evening when we sat down for a marathon imaginary tea party and (imaginary) video game session with the dolls he decided on Dolly. Dolly it is.

Her little dress is made of two hand knit rectangles with a centered cable. Dolls don't have shoulders so I just ran a drawstring around the top ribbing to shape it. The hem is a crocheted shell edging. I was thinking about embellishing her some more with big heart hair ornaments and some beaded necklaces but Felix was opposed to the hearts. He grabbed the heart out of my hands and tried to rip it in half. Boys!

The best part of making these little dolls is when Felix plays with them. He wants me to talk to him through the dolls. He says "talk to the dolls mommy" which means make the dolls talk to me. I love that. Before I had Felix I didn't spend a lot of time around kids so I forgot what goes on during play time.