SouleMama

Welcome to Typepad!!

Yeah, you made it over!

So here we are....I imported all the archives from blogger, but a lot of the formatting got lost in the translation, so things look a little wonky (I love that word). Sorry.

I love the  "photo albums" feature on the right sidebar--very cool.

A regular post coming as soon as I can finish these crazy pants I'm making today.

The Safe Spot

Finally, the pics. So this is Calvin's "safe spot"! I wish I had taken a "before" picture of those horrible particle board sliding doors, and the MESS that was inside the closet, but perhaps it's best I didn't. ;) One half of the closet is shelving (which I'm currently cleaning and making room for baby stuff again), and the other half has become Calvin's "safe spot" as you can see. He's been spending lots of time in here snuggling and reading and being calm...and he's starting to ask for it in moments of stress. Hallelujah! It's a success! The curtains:

The Boy:

Inside:

And my favorite picture from an old german Elsa Beskow book that I adore, and seemed perfectly fitting for the one picture in the spot.

I do have one more thing to make for the safe spot, which is make the "flag"....here's a pic of the ones that Land of Nod sells--where I got the inspiration to make it for Cal's spot.

And here's where the whole inspiration started...with a gorgeous pillow Jessie made for Calvin's Birthday. Isn't it sweet?

The Mad Fabric Stash

So, I've been on a fabric buying spree lately. And I've almost been making things as fast as the fabric is coming in. Whew. So first, the stash....then the results. From JoAnn's, these fun fabrics. The polka dots and flowers will be a handbag or two. And the red/pinkish seersucker is for "beach pants" for the boys. (Calvin picked out the fabric).

And then, from Marden's in Lewiston (Thanks for the tip, Jessie! I LOVE buying fabric at $2 a yard!! WooHoo!!). A whole bunch of stuff--some handbags, some for the kids art wall hanging/quilt thingy, Calvin's "safe spot" flag, and the blue with flamish dots is for pants for the kids.

And also from Marden's.....This is the fabric I used for the "safe spot" curtains, and will make window curtains out of for the boys' room. I got this at Marden's for $3 a yard, I think....it's the same fabric I've seen online at Free Spirit Fabric, and LOVED (you must check out their amazing designs).

And very last, some Munki Munki fabric from Sewzannes. This "worm" jersey will become beach pants for both boys, and hopefully a tank top or two as well. I adore the Munki Munki prints, and just checked to see that they're about to come out with the new line. Yay!

The Itchy Sweater

Get ready for a week's worth of backed up photos..... So here's the "itchy sweater" as it's come to be known by my sweet child. I made this for him almost two years ago, and it just fits him now (Yeah, Debbie Bliss pattern sizes SUCK!!)..I think it's so cute on him! It's from Quick Baby Knits by Debbie Bliss, and I made it with Lamb's Pride worsted weight, 'casue that's pretty much all I knitted with at the time. I don't think the sweater is actually itchy....but my mom said to him about a year ago when he was wearing one of my sweaters, "Isn't that itchy, Calvin?" and since then, ALL the sweaters I've made him are "itchy"...even cotton ones. Thanks mom. Anyway....I still think it's adorable....perhaps Ezra will wear it?

Another Calvin Name

Huckelberry

Whadya think? ;)

Baby Names

So, I'm waiting for a new usb cord for the camera (I'll get it as soon as I can get both kids out on an errand--not in this snow today!)...so no new pics until then. In the meantime, I've been busy working on curtains for Calvin's "quiet spot"...pictures coming soon!

You've got to check out this amazing web site I've been spending (way) too much time on lately...it's so much fun! (note: it requires Java).

<a href="http://babynamewizard.com/namevoyager/lnv0105.html">Baby Name Wizard</a>

Inspiration

So I started this blog totally intending to use it share daily creations with online crafty folk. BUT....in recent months, my creative spark has gone kaput (It's gotten so bad that I've been watching movies WITHOUT even knitting!! Oy! What has become of me?). Thank goodness I've got the boys to fill the blogging void in the meantime. :) In the meantime, while *I* haven't been crafting, I have been watching others--and am totally inspired by my daily check ins at: Craftster Wee Wonderfuls My Paper Crane Thimble Knit Happens So, to spark my interest, I recently ordered some of my favorite yarn from my favorite seller at www.handpaintedyarn.com (thanks for the link, Trina!).  And finally, the yarn arrived yesterday:

Is it not luscious??? I can't wait to dive in--not sure what to do with it yet. I was thinking another Sophie bag, but wouldn't this make a beautiful BABY blanket, with some Rowan kidsilk mohair added in? Ah, dreamy. I'm hoping the inspiration continues and that this means a beginning to the end of this terrible first trimester. I've spent enough time hanging out on the bathroom floor--I'm ready to do some knitting!!!

1978

Another one I found from the "I can't believe it's not Ezra" files.

Sweetness....

This morning, as I laid in bed feeling pretty damned miserable (when will this first trimester be OVER?!), Calvin was busy making and bringing me one "flower" at a time to make a "bucket of flowers to help your heart feel better, Mama". How sweet is that?

A Snow Fort

We're still buried in snow here--and still trapped behind that falling tree on the power lines! Here's what Steve and Calvin have been doing to pass the time out there: A Snow Fort! Complete with a snow bench, table, and flag, of course, "to tell the pirates what kind of a fort we are".

We're so cliche

This is hysterical. Lacking inspiration (particuarly for boys names) I picked up yet another baby name book. Cool Names for Babies, by the same authors as the Beyond Jennifer and Jason books. Anyway, so I'm browsing, and I come to this chapter called "Sophia: Bobo Cool Names" which includes the following descrition:

"There is a certain segment of the upwardly mobile yet politically correct population so cleverly known as bobos--Borgeois Bohemians, in the parlance of David Brooks' book Bobos in Paradise. Bobos like distinctive things but abhor ostentation; they have good taste but disdain convention; they appreciate the classics but like them with a modern twist. Most but not all of the names they favor are to the left of the most popular list, but far to the right of most choices in this book. You'll see them on the rosters of upscale nursery schools, hear them in the playgrounds of affluent neighborhoods, and you may like them yourself. And why not? They're good names, classics as well as cool, embodying style along with history. The only problem is that you may hear them far more than you want to in the years to come."

So, it goes on to list about 25 names for girls and boys each, and there's BOTH Calvin and Ezra! Along with ALL our other top name choices. I got done reading the list aloud, and Calvin came in from the other room saying, "those are all the names of my friends!"

We are so NOT cool. Sigh.

Baby Names from Calvin

1. Lucy...the ONLY name he wants for a "sista".
2. Michael. (as in Michael from Mary Poppins)
3. Zoltar.
4. Fischer. ("So I can call him Fisherman")
5. Captain.

So there you have it. Should we let the four year old name this baby? More to come, I'm sure.....

What's up with the firefighter thing?

Just when Calvin was (finally!) getting over the firefighter obsession...little brother starts in. I just want to know WHERE it comes from?!!! Anyway, here's the Fire Chief ("I just tell the other firefighters what to do.") and his fire crew:

More Amy Butler Bags....

How boring, another bag. But I just LOVE this Amy Butler fabric! And sadly, this is the end of my stash. :( This one's a gift for a friend turning 40 this weekend. The inside pocket is very specifically designed for her: a sippy cup, and a cell phone pocket! The boys were oh, so patient this morning--both having a musical parade around and around the house while I made the bag.

Genes

So I've been saying that I think Ez looks a lot like my mom and I, but I didn't realize how much until I found this old pic of my mom. Then I dug and found one of me too. Wow!

My Mama:

Me:

And Ezra:

Felted Kids Hat

Just finished this fun pattern from Pick Up Sticks that I found at KnitWit on Congress Street (the newish cafe/yarn store). I used the recommended yarn--Cascade 220, which I'd never used before, but really liked, particularly the price tag ($6.50 for a skein!). I bought several combinations of the yarn colors so I think I can get quite a few of these hats out of them. This one might be for a baby hat swap on Craftster, if Ezra doesn't claim it first. ;) Here it is, pre-felted:

and here it is, after slight felting and adding all the french knots:

and here's a fuzzy pic of it on za za's head:

Doggers

I'm still having HUGE guilt about leaving the dogs out of our holiday photo card this year (I know, I suck as a dog mama!).....so here's one for the doggers. Mow will be 14 in a few weeks, and Luka's 7 next month. They're so cool.

Amy Butler Bag

I finished this Amy Butler InTown bag last week, and really love it. I used her fabric from the ginger bliss line, and got it on sale at www.fabric.com. I did alter the pattern in that I added some heavyweight interfacing to make the bag sturdier. I'm on a search for some ribbon to make a closure with these cool vintage buttons I have.  As soon as I'm done with a few other projects (um, a CHRISTMAS present I'm STILL not done with), I'm going to do another one for sista Kate (so, do you like it, K?). and....I really love the inside fabric best:

Recent Finished Projects

My fav....the SpiderWeb Capelet from Stitch N Bitch Nation, done in kettle dyed yarn from Ebay seller sanfelipeysantiago (love their stuff!). I still need to do some more blocking on this.... And then, the baby booties from Knitting for Babies by Melanie Falick, knit with a local handpainted yarn. I love these booties--they totally stay on! These ones were traded with a friend for some kick-ass pottery of his. I'm very happy with my trade. Here's my favorite felted bag pattern, the Sophie from MagKnits, first, prefelted: and then, after, with my favorite vintage pin to liven it up. Done in the same yarn as the capelet. (am I obnoxious to keep going? I've been busy, okay?!) On to sewing.....here's the Amy Butler Cafe Apron. I really like this pattern, but next time I'll be sure to actually measure my waist instead of assuming I'm 3 inches smaller than I am. Oops. I won't show you the big gap in the back. And, here's the Amy Butler Runway Shoulder Bag. I like how it came out, but I'm not so fond of the side zipper feature on it, so I don't think I'll really use it. Damn. and the inside: And the Amy Butler Nappy Bag (even though I'm not british, can I use that word? cause it's soo much cooler than diaper). I used some fabric from www.reprodepotfabrics.com that reminds me of Elsa Beksow. I really like the bag, but it's HUGE! It was quite an undertaking too... Here's a slightly silly, but totally loved by my mom bag....from the Stitch N Bitch DIY Tote Pattern, and with an iron on transfer of a pic of the boys. Aww.