SouleMama

Sponsor Giveaway :: Starr Strung Jewelry

Starr Strung Jewelry Design is an Indiana-based shop owned by Starr Keller. Starr is a Mama and jewelry maker of unique and funky everyday-wear pieces. You can find Starr's Etsy shop here, and follow along in Starr's creative endeavors at her blog.

 From Starr Strung Jewelry Design:
"Avah: Pretty Citrine beads all piled up and wound together to make this bracelet, measuring approximately 8-inches. Finished with a double toggle clasp, of sterling silver. A lovely piece design that's easy to put on and take off as well.
(Also included in the giveaway - just for fun - a hair clippie as pictured in the second photograph.)

If you'd like to be entered in today's giveaway, simply leave a comment in this post. Comments will be closed at 12pm EST on Sunday. I'll announce the winner shortly after. 

In addition to the Giveaway, Starr is offering a discount for SouleMama readers visiting her shop - 10% off all shop items with free shipping as well! 

Thank you Starr Strung Jewelry!

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Comments closed. And the winner is...

oh, WOW! love that bracelet... must go check out this shop...
Posted by: Melody | Feb 28th, 9:06am

Congratulations Melody! And thank you, Starr!

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SoulePapa Blogs :: The Wearing Away

The light slowly creeps back into our days with little fanfare.  Each day extending a minute or so until dinner is, once again, accompanied by the sun.  Those extra moments of heat nibble away at the heavy blanket of snow which cloaks our corner of the world.  Some fog and a rain shower continue the elemental assault on frozen water but winter, she is stubborn and freezing and brings new snow despite the growing resentment from some of its recipients.  Slowly, the ice wears away toward bare ground.  Ever so slowly. 

Your mind can rush ahead and imagine what will be...Days of Spring.  Light, warmth, growth.  But change plods along unaware and patient. 

This morning I found the oldest, awake in his bed, flipping through photo albums.  He chronicled his journey in relation to each of his siblings' births.  He is old enough to place himself within the context of time, growing, amongst his family and friends.  Watching them grow.  Imperceptible by day, undeniable by season, they change.  He views each picture, thoughtfully.  Not quite sentimental about the past and not particularly anxious about the future, I try and learn some of this practicality from him.  

I find it exponentially more difficult to live in the present while feeling responsible for so many futures.  Then I'll see something reminding me that time and change come together now and, if I can appreciate that, the future will be just fine.

scenes from the market & f o u r !

 

 

 

 

 

at the Cabot Mill in Brunswick, Maine.

So very much for the eye to take in amongst the piles and stacks at a flea market. I could wander there all day dreaming of what once was and what could still be...

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I've just realized that this week marks four years of blogging for me here in this space. FOUR years. 4. Oh my, that just sounds kind of wild to me. And I really don't know what to say about it, besides a humble 'thank you,' and a hearty Cheers!

Harper's vests

I think we're about due for another installment in the baby-in-handknits series, don't you? Let us proceed, then.

This pattern, I must tell you, is one that sent me straight from the online pages of Ravelry to my basket of yarn to see what I could start it in immediately. Because I knew Harper (and his Mama) needed this vest in a big way. Now that it's done, I do believe this vest on that belly makes me want to kiss him about a hundred thousand more times a day than I already do. Which was already about a hundred thousand kisses a day. So there you go.

The vest pattern is Pebble (a Cobblestone-Inspired Manly Baby Vest) by The Thrifty Knitter, generously offered as a free pattern on her site. I knit it up in a mere one half skein of Rowan Felted Tweed. The pattern works up to be a true 0-3 months size, so I knew it's time on Harper was limited. My solution? Put it on him nearly every single day that it does fit, and...

...cast on immediately for a bigger one. This second one was knit with some handspun from Chili (Thank You, Marcela!), and with wood buttons from Peace Fleece.

Ah, it's such a relief to know that the baby-belly-in-woolen-vest will continue for many more months to come. Yes!

a bit of sewing

Thank you so much for your warm welcome of Handmade Home! I cannot wait to show you the inside. Soon!

Yesterday, as I was thinking about all the sewing in that book (there's some paper and wood crafting, too!)...I realized it's been a while since I've visited my sewing machine. I do think the rocking chair cushion pictured above may have been the last thing I sewed....over two months ago! It's made from a cutter quilt I found two years ago, with a piece of foam in the middle, and linen bias tape for ties. Simple, sweet and super comfy (as if I needed more of an incentive to sit and rock).

The rest of that pretty old 'cutter' quilt found it's way to Adelaide's room, where what's left of it is hanging on a rack.

So a two month break. It may not seem like much, but I do think it's the longest I've gone without sewing something since...well, as long as I can remember. The past two years have been full of an enormous amount of sewing as the production of Handmade Home has happened around here - on top of the regular house, clothes, and shop sewing. Yes, that sweet machine has had a workout of late. But round about December, after the Solstice jammies were done, and this quick little cushion was made, that tired machine was sent off for a tune-up, and I sat down for a rest. A rest to knit. A rest to sit. And a rest to stare at sweet Harper Pie...and Adelaide, Ezra, and Calvin, too of course.

Breaks are good, I think. From lots of things and for lots of reasons. Sometimes, especially, from that which you love. So I've been waiting, knowing that someday soon, I'd be quite inclined to sit and sew once again. Lately...I've been feeling the beginnings of such an itch - just the beginnings. This weekend, when a few rare minutes of quiet settled on the house, and the sun had settled long enough on my current 'studio' space to warm it up a bit....I wandered out there. Cleaned off the piles of 'stuff' I've been stashing on my work table all winter long. Flipped through my patterns. Touched some fabric. And put some new spring love up on the inspiration board.

That red light and sound came out of the baby monitor telling me my time was up before any sewing could happen, but that's really okay. Maybe that's for next time.

I do believe some sewing is in the forecast for spring!

 

coming soon :: Handmade Home

I am very, very excited today to show you the cover of my next book, Handmade Home: Simple Ways to Repurpose Old Materials into New Family Treasures. Handmade Home will be released on August 11th, but is available now for pre-order!

My ramblings on about this book are probably best left for later days - when we get a bit closer to the publication date. There is so much I want to say, and so much I want to show you about this book when the time is right. So I'll just say a little bit today.

Even though this is my second book, it doesn't negate the surrealness of this part of the process. Looking at that little book cover image above, I see a representation of a solid year and a half of my life. The research, the writing, the patterns, the projects, the photography - all of it stretched me in new and exciting ways on this book project. Sometimes that "stretching" was more graceful than at other times (and thank you, sweet Steve...for holding my hand through the other times). I learned so much as a seamstress, as a writer, and as a photographer while making this book. And I am so very excited - and nervous, naturally - to send this 'baby' of mine out into the world, with all of my dreams and hopes for it. Because it is my hope that this book will inspire. Inspire you to make something new from something old, to create something special either for or with the little ones in your life, and to 'make' your home a little bit handmade. All created with your precious time, your budget, and the earth's resources fresh in mind.

Like most book cover designs and photographs, I'm learning, this one had a long journey to becoming what it is now. I made many attempts at a different photograph - each with their own adventure and story (like the ones I tried to take with me in it while 9 months pregnant...trying to not look pregnant? That was interesting). In the end, the designers - who do what they do so very well - steered us all towards this photograph from within the pages of the book. It feels so very fitting, now that all is said and done, that this be the cover. On the day I took this photograph, I had just finished making the "dream" banner (out of a thrifted wool blanket and fabric scraps) over Adelaide's bed. As I hung it, she excitedly noticed the birds appliqued on each end and started naming all that she knew. I remember her snuggling that cat of hers tight (made by Hop Skip Jump), and drifting off to sleep - and to her own dreams - humming, 'chickadee-dee-dee-dee-dee'.

A fun, thrifty craft project. A sweet, simple moment with my little one. And my home made just a little bit cozier with the touch of something handmade. That's just exactly the kind of thing I hope will come from these copies of Handmade Home - wherever they may go.

You can read a bit more about Handmade Home on the Shambhala Publications website. The book is available for pre-order there and at Amazon. It will be available everywhere on August 11th.

i love weekends

{photo by SoulePapa}

Thanks for all of your kind well wishes these past few days. We're all feeling a bit better and much more like ourselves.

I hope you, too, have a bit of 'sunny, comfy, and restful' in your weekend!

Sponsor Giveaway :: Eddy & Edwina

Eddy & Edwina is a shop run by German artist and mama Karin Kramer. In her shop, you'll find whimsical art prints, handmade jewelry, some very adorable little monsters and more. You can follow her creative adventures in her blog.

 

From Eddy & Edwina:
(first photograph) "La Maison des Oiseaux - The House of Birds, in French. A man is living on a house at the hill, feeding the birds that visit him. The print is one of a limited edition of 60. Print of an original pencil, coloured pencil and watercolor drawing. It is signed and numbered."

(second photograph) "Erbsenzaehlerin - Peacounting Woman, in German. Shows a woman in the middle of peas. In German in means to be pettifogging if you say somebody is 'counting peas.' Also of a limited edition of 60 and made of an original pencil, coloured pencil and watercolour collage drawing. Signed and numbered."

Today's giveaway will have two winners - one for each of the prints above! If you'd like to be entered, simply leave a comment in this post. Comments will be closed at 9am EST on Sunday. I'll announce the winners shortly after. 

In addition to the Giveaway, Karin is offering discount for SouleMama readers visiting her shop - 15% off all shop items for one week. Simply enter the code soulemama at checkout.

Thank you Eddy & Edwina!

Good luck and Enjoy your weekend!

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Comments Closed! The winners are....

oh, what fun! giveaways are such a treat!

posted by: Elizabeth | Feb 21, 10:32 am

Chuckin' my name in there!

posted by: heather jane | Feb 21, 10:13 am

Congrats to the winners, and thanks to all for playing! Special thanks to Eddy & Edwina for the giveaway!

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the comfort of shawls

So I've had my eye on a shawl pattern - one that's a bit intricate, and definitely out of my knitting comfort zone. Therefore, it's one that will surely take me a very, very long time (this one, for those interested). Before committing to such a project, though, I wondered if I'm really even a 'shawl person' at all. Oddly, I wear shawls in the summer but never winter months. Would I wear a wool shawl? In the winter? I wasn't sure. And I knew it was a mystery needing solving before I spent such time (and precious yarn!) on a lace pattern.

And so this was my Test Shawl to determine just that. It's the Simple, Yet Effective Shawl (pattern available for purchase here), knit in just one skein of Noro Silk Garden sock yarn. It was a ridiculously quick and happily mindless (or maybe - mindful?) project. And I love the way the pattern calls for the stripes to stripe themselves. That's right, they 'stripe themselves,' just like magic. Two sticks. Some yarn. And a magic word or two. Voila.

And it turns out - I am indeed a Shawl Person. How could I not be? Lover of baby toes, rocking chairs, woodstoves, knitting, and kneading bread. Seems almost obligatory that shawl-wearer fit right in there, doesn't it (not that any of those things must go together, of course)? Since I cast off, I don't think I've been without this shawl for at least some part of everyday. And during the past week in particular, it hugged tight around my shoulders keeping the fevery chills at bay.

Oh, shawls. They are good for so very many things. Not only around the Mama's shoulders, but sometimes....they're just right as a quick nap blanket for a little one who's fallen asleep in the middle of the day.

Yes, I think I do see more shawls in my future.

Wishing you all a lovely weekend!

tap shoes, not soup

For the first time in a week, there were three of us at the dinner table last night. Progress!

Oh my. It's been a crazy eight days. Crazy, like in The Little House on the Prairie when they all have Malaria (or what they called "fever and ague") and are unable to do anything besides moan in misery in bed beside each other. (Does anyone know what I'm talking about?) It felt like that. Sure, it was the flu and not Malaria. And yeah, so we had electricity and all that. And we never actually feared for our lives. So maybe it was nothing like Little House at all. But six of us all sick at once? It was indeed epic in it's own way, I tell you. Epic.

When my appetite returned, it returned in the middle of the night with a holler for chicken stew. Chicken stew with lemons and ginger. So I made some (and liked it) and had every intention of sharing my recipe with you here today. It was all written up and ready to go....until this morning when I mentioned that intent to the boys. They gave each other a sideways glance.

"What?!!" I asked.

"Nothing!" they replied and giggled knowingly to each other.

Turns out they didn't like my chicken stew. (It also means that someone has actually been hearing me when I plead with them, "Please don't say 'yuck' when dinner is on the table." Who knew they were listening to me?) And since there were only three of us at dinner, two of whom give it a thumbs down, I'll give this stew a few more rounds before I send the recipe out of our house (I loved it!).

Instead, I'll tell you the one remedy we did all agree on: Tap Dancing. Singing in the Rain, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, and Gene Kelly (on rollerskates!), and on and on. (Because oh yes, the TV made it out of the closet this week.)  Really, you just can't help but feel a little bit better after watching those guys dance. I think when this thing finally clears, my boys have grand plans of taking their tap-dancing show on the road. And I think there are two pair of tap shoes buried deep in the dress up basket that will fit them just right. Just as soon as this headache clears, I'll look...

a little break

We are deep in the trenches of high temperatures, popsicles, orange juice, and fevered hallucinations. It's a crazy place - especially with six (six!) of us in it at once.

I'm going to take a few days off from posting here - I'll be back when the fevers are gone and the air has cleared.

Wishing you a lovely and healthy start to your week!

~Amanda

handmade hearts

 

 

There's been a tiny bit of heart-shaped crafting happening here this week. First, with the making of some Valentines for a swap with homeschooling friends. Guiding three little ones (with another strapped to my chest) through a craft project was an exercise in both coordination and patience. So we kept it simple - heart cutouts, cardstock, fabric, paper and glue. (The glitter? I must confess that it scares me.) The typed heart messages were the kids' idea - I love them.

 

I squeezed in a little Valentine crafting for the kids, too. Because isn't every gift-giving holiday just an excuse for new art supplies? I thought so. Using the Photo Journal Tutorial from Five and a Half, I made some simple little journals for the kids (and one for me!). These were ridiculously fun (and easy) to make, and a great way to use some of those piles upon piles of paper that I save for just this kind of thing. Scattered throughout the journal full of blank pages, I tucked a few little surprise love notes to them too.



There's been some heart-shaped knitting too. These little felted hearts (free pattern here) for each of the kids. Uh, yeah...so I have four kids, not two. Now you know what's on my needles today!

Happy Valentines - and Valentine's crafting - to you and those you love!

Winter Manifesto :: complete

A Winter's Manifesto ::

1. Follow the sun wherever you find it. Rejoice in the slowly-growing-longer days.

2. Make Stuff.

3. With gratitude for the labor of summer and fall, do everything in front of the fire. Morning, Noon, and Night.

4. Get out there everyday, no matter how cold or quick the visit may be. Through crunchy snow underfoot and breath-warmed wool on your face, remember the magic and wonder of it all. Try not to take it for granted.

5. Shake things up, change the scenery, and Get out of Dodge.

6. Wool. Flannel. Capilene. Know them. Love them. Layer them.

7. Gather often with friends. To commiserate. To laugh. To warm the spirit.

8. Savor the memories and bounty of past seasons harvest. Plan and dream for the one yet to come.

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And that, I do think, wraps up my little Winter Manifesto. I didn't realize it as I was writing them, but I'm pretty sure they could be applied to my year-round goals for living. (With a little more sand and maybe a new pair of shoes thrown in there too. How did I forget the uplifting power of new shoes?) We've had a couple of balmy days here - in the thirties. And while I know there are likely still blizzards and more snow and ice and cold yet to come for us this winter...those few moments of being outside comfortably, of opening the windows...it was just what I needed. A timely physical reminder that spring will indeed come again. But for right now? We have some more snow to play in and enjoy...and some cold days to cozily hibernate through. I'll be visiting my Winter Manifesto often for the reminders.

Thanks for listening and watching (I'm hoping those icy photos cooled some of you down in the opposite hemisphere!), and thanks for playing along if you did in your own way. If you've been thinking about this, too - tell me - what's in your Winter Manifesto?

Winter Manifesto :: no. 8

 

 

 

Number Eight ::

Savor the memories and the bounty of the past season's harvest.

Dream and plan for the one that is yet to come.

Winter Manifesto :: no. 7

 

 

Number Seven ::

Gather often with friends.

To commiserate. To laugh. To warm the spirit.

(yarn, wine, and/or ice cream make it all the sweeter.)

Winter Manifesto :: no. 6

 

 

Number Six ::

Wool. Flannel. Capilene.

Know them. Love them. Layer them.

Winter Manifesto :: no. 5

 

 

Number Five ::

Shake things up, change the scenery, and Get out of Dodge.

(In this case, "Dodge" being a simple hotel room with off season rates not far from home. With a pool, of course, because isn't that what it's all about when you're a kid?)

Winter Manifesto :: no. 4

 

 

 

Number Four ::

Get out there everyday, no matter how cold or quick the visit may be.

Through crunchy snow underfoot and breath-warmed wool on your face, remember the magic and wonder of it all.

Try not to take it for granted.

Winter Manifesto :: no. 3

Number Three ::

With gratitude for the labor of summer and fall, do everything in front of the fire. Morning, Noon, and Night.

(Fanciful hats and wigs not required - but very strongly recommended).

Winter Manifesto :: no. 2

 

 

Number Two ::

Make Stuff.

(I bet you saw that one coming.)

Winter Manifesto :: no. 1

Number One ::

Follow the sun wherever you find it. Rejoice in the slowly-growing-longer days.

(And more literally, choosing a cat nap over laundry is always a good idea.)

oh, February!

 

Oh, February, we meet again. We have a complicated relationship, this month and I. I know it's technically the shortest, but somehow it always feels the looooongest month of the year. It's a month full of grey and cold. The month where I find that the 'novelty' and fun of the winter season can get lost in the drudgery of it all. And the month where spring seems (because it is) a long, long ways off still - a far-distant dream of color and warmth.

But there's beauty to be found in February. Oh yes there is, I'm sure of it. It just takes me a little more effort to see and embrace it. And so this year, like years past, I'm dipping into a small little project here. In an effort to stay mindful and aware of the s February (and to avoid the dreaded February Funk), I wrote myself a little February Manifesto that I'll be sharing here over the next two weeks starting tomorrow. A Wintry Weather sanity-survival guide of sorts. Just little reminders - in words and pictures - of some of the joys that really are all around us this season. (Even if we have to look a bit harder that usual!)

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Oh, and psst...there's a picture over on Mama to Mama today that I think you just might love as much as I do.

Also today, I want to wish a warm welcome to February's newest Sponsors:
Eddy & Edwina
Starr Strung Jewelry

Cheers to February!