Bliss Beyond Naptime

Every day is Mother's Day...

... is what my mama says. We had to say goodbye to her visit yesterday. It was so awesome to have her stay with us and get reaquainted with Edie. The days went whizzing by (oh yeah, Edie's pretty much potty trained right now). It was a blissful ten days. My mom loves her coffee like me so she understands the importance of downing one before anything else can happen at least without the same fun levels, she loves Edie so she played with her pretty much constantly allowing to get vast amounts scratched off of my to-do list and she loves sewing so was able to give me a tutorial on making the Olivia dress.

Gawd, it turned out so cute and Edie loves it. She always refers to her "petitcoat". "Can I take my petitcoat off?" she says. So dang, darn-it cute. Makes me kick myself for quiting the talking with an English accent around her plan because that would have been just too precious; "Mummy, may I relinquish my knickers, frock and petticoat, please?" with a little bit of a Von Trapp child's accent sprinkled in.

The dress making was kind of a tag team effort. "Kind of" because it started out with my mom cuts this while I sew that, then I cut this then she sews that. But it turned more into I put this down to nap and you finish that. But though I was MIA for the last bit of construction my mom was good at filling me in on short cuts and tips and tricks that her decades of seamstressing has taught her. Of course, above all it was nice to just hang with her all day long over coffee, beer and Edie and laugh lots and open myself to her motherly advice and unconditional love.

Enjoy the Greenery

Pics courtesy of my dreamy guy. He's a wicked photographer and thrives out-psyd. Some corners of my world these days. Have a green weekend!

Whipped, Slipped and Stitched

Whipped is for whipped cream which paramour-ed the gigantic coffee cake we made last night for dessert. It has been so awesome having my mom here though he days are going so fast. Edie is so blissed out playing with her all day long and when Edie's happy, mummy's happy. I'm so impressed with my mom's energy levels. It's full on imagination play and my mom's all over it and doesn't even need a nap afterward. Edie on the other hand is sleeping like a rock from all the action. While I'm cooking they're going hiking, swimming, birthday parties, car rides, doctor visits all within the confines of our 100 square foot living room.

I've been bestowed some free moments to get caught up on unfinished projects such as these puppies which were a screw up from a pair I attempted for a friend; too big so adjusted for another slipper-less buddy. I made an elastic strap for some Mary Jane action. Yay! They're done and stick even to my skinny dogs. Finally. Slipped is for slipper.

And stitched is for this hat I started a month ago and would probably take most knitters a movie to make. I did almost finish it a while back but Edie looked at, shook her little curly head and said "too big".  I was going for an ethereal hair net look but it came out more shower cap. Bigger needles next time. That's what I've been up to, how 'bout you?

Boots Boots Boots

I did not knit the dolly. I knit the booties for my friend's newborn. Welcome to the world, Ally! It's our turn on the meal drop off ring tonight and I'm going to stuff these puppies inside a banana bread muffin as a cereal box prize type surprise. The patterns from Stitch n Bitch Nation. The One Hour Baby Bootie pattern. True to its name, even for me, the world's slowest knitter.

I have not been feeling much myself the last three weeks. I was so low energy wise, with a spacey feel and stomache cramps for a couple days, then a funny fighting cold like feeling, tingles. A couple of pregnancy tests and conspiracy theories later I'm finally back to my old self and am so thrilled. I missed me! The bug or chem trails or whatever it was put a damper on my travel plans. I was suppose to go visit my mom in Calgary but Edie got sick with a 24 hour thing the day we were to leave and my mom came out here instead. My Mom's here! Lovely how thing turn out.

I was planning on making my mom's famous Arroz con Pollo Peruvian-style for Ally's family but that did not materialize. Instead, my mom's making it right now, and probably tastier too, as I get a luxurious moment to blog. Thanks, Mumsy!

Swap and then Some

Some deliciously sweet packages arrived this week! Some of it's gone already, couldn't resist. The remainder of the organic dark choco bar is facing a meltdown tonight to be infused with some juicy organic strawberries. There were once upon a time three pairs of original Sulu earrings but I birthday gifted my friend Peggy one already. They're so gorgeous her earrings. Check out her site to witness her photography coupled up with an ear-bangle-y creation. So inspiring! This, of course, was part of the swap we brought together. What fun, thank you Susan!

And then, out of nowhere, a "was just cleaning out my stash and thought of you" gift pack from the ever-talented crafting Diva herself, Leya. Oh, yeah. Fabrics, buttons and owls. Everything to build me up a cozy nest to squeeze out some crafty eggs. Thank you, Miss Fee-yonce.

And Happy Mother's Day to those who are. This shot, I probably shared with you before but because it's my favourite from that crazy weekend, was just about an hour before I was. We're so blessed.

"E" Cozy

I know I already posted about the May Day parade but a writer for the local paper forwarded us this picture of Edie wearing THE tea cozy on her head she insisted on not leaving the house without. Too funny. I did at least score this t-shirt for my contest entering efforts anyway:

This is my "Oh, no, no, no. Do not take a picture of me... Okay, take it now."

Finally! I finished Edie's spring 2007 sweater. Gawd! That took forever it seems. It was a labour of love with an extra splash of Mommy effort in for colour. That just means I used the skein I handpainted at the Threads Guild and the pattern is Duo from Knitty. So this:

Turned into this:

I like how it bunches up and gives her mini tatas. I think I totally blundered the neckline and I haven't had a chance to block it yet either (Yet. Ha, ha! That's a good one). Oh, well. She digs it. That's all that counts.

Anemic

This post has been brought to you by the word "anemic" because you would guess from the photo there is a lack of iron in my life. This is just a snippet of my score from the annual Yard and Yardage sale at the local Threads Guild here. What scores. There's more though they're missing from my camera suspicously. It's like the camera's so disgusted by all the wrinkles it just retained nothing. I will iron just not now. Maybe before the twentieth hour right before cutting up the stuff. Ironing grosses me out and I don't have an iron board too. Just the fumes from this stuff from the seventies is mildly creepy. It smells like seventies drycleaners to me. Imagine the chemicals they used back then.

Speaking of chemicals, this weekend pumped out another May Day parade here (oh my god, have I've been blogging here for a year already?). It was raining all week then on parade day the sun poked out. Ironically too because of the purpose of the parade to celebrate water.

All the locals came out and the party went on till late in the evening. I stayed home after naptime,  sewing a bit, got tired, knit a bit, finished Edie's spring 2007 sweater. I'm so tuckered this week, but the munchkin was all over going back after super and stayed out dancing until 11:00. Perhaps her new boyfriend Torren has something to do with her turning into this crazed rebel, rebel dancing queen?

Swap It Already

Thank you, thank you, Patricia! I received this gorgeous package as part of a swap for slippers and I'm just so blown away. I was gifted with some retro goodness, vintage fabrics, art yarn, fancy teas and a slipper kit for Edie! Wow. Thank you, Sweetie.

I'm going to get on your slippers, Sweetie, as soon as I'm done with this issue; getting the garden established with raised beds and deer fencing before the season's over. I'm getting help with the fence from my buddy, Peggy, so shouldn't take much longer this part. I have an itch to felt again something fierce! You should have seen this mess before. Well, it was the same I guess but just arranged differently.

I have been able, in between gardening attempts and Do Be Cleaning, to get out Sulu Design's slippers based on her Original Intent series; her gorgeous jewelry being lovingly spooned by wicked photos, all created by Susan herself. What an artist. Her blog is such a source for daily inject of eye candy.

So, asking for her favourite tootsie colour (oh my gawd, I totally shoulda caught her feet depiction for you. It's too cute. An outline of her feet all dolled up with psychedillia font inscribed inside. I'd run now to take a pic but I hear the munchkin stirring.) she sent me this graffitti photo she took and I tried to capture the illegal urban angst essence embodied in the piece (I'm saying this in my head of course with my best Thurstan Howard from Gilligan's Island voice if you're old enough to catch my drift).

Fuzzy, Muddy Fairies

The fuzzy picture kind of depicts my head space lately. I had a touch of the flu this weekend, following Craig's bout earlier in the week. I think the stress and last minute decision making has been hitting us in our wellness keepers. We're all feeling  better now and it feels good to be able to post something after a long absence. I have much to share but seems like no time no grab the camera. The above picture was the best I could do lately. It's a delightfully rainy day here (oh my god, did I just right that? See, I'm still not completely right in the head, yet) so trying to capture my floaty fairy on the camera was tricky; especially with the Monkey wanting to follow me up on the kitchen table paparazzi style.

I took a roving fairy making class at my favourite store in town last week and this is who I came home with. So fun, quick and fairy grati-flying (even my puns are weak these days). I'm in love with the doll-making process so want to make a bunch of these now - maybe I'll try to come up with a tutorial. I've been tackling the garden (or at least trying to establish a garden, that's what me and my shadow are going to work on today) and I'm thinking, I'm sure though this will not make any sense, using these fairies like little garden gnomes. They'll get all soggy though right? Fairy's make good compost perhaps?

And, we started digging. At least to move the neighbour's water line over once we find it. That's what Dada's been busy with while Mama's been recouping and trying to keep the home fires burning calmly and muddy laundry laundered.