First Finish - Finn Approved

So happy to share a first finish for 2014 with you.

It's Finn's Christmas present, luckily he won't know it was a tad late due to a running out the door mistake (I'll explain in a minute).

If you've been following along on Facebook you'll have heard and / or seen a bit about this project.

It started with this gorgeous gift of a scarf from Finn's Onkel Rolf. I was already working on a new winter hat for him but quickly set it aside for this project. I already had all the right colors .. and more (yes, I'll confess .. in a minute). 

To make a long story short, it's a hat with many trials and errors, but in the end persistence triumphed and I honestly couldn't be happier. Finn wore it to the store tonight and was already getting compliments. As in he, the wearer. Not momma, the maker. But that's ok .. I was (maybe not so secretly) glowing with pride, and besides I know who made him ;) wink!!

I think my favorite part was the pompom. I was so excited to put Finn down for his nap yesterday. Lucky ducky momma me .. he's a dream at naptime and most bedtimes too. Give him a kiss, say g'night, tuck in him and he *sings* himself to sleep. Honestly the sweetest thing you've ever heard. One day I'll get it on tape. All this ... so momma has a few minutes (or TWO hours!!!) to do stuff. Like Make Pom Poms!! I did the math, it's been at least 30 years since I made a pompom. I seriously want to make more.

So .. I gathered all my supplies. And went to town. Just like I remember doing a few donkeys years ago ... my template? The outer measurement the base of a water glass, the inner a large sewing machine bobbin. Done. No compass. No hunting. Just Making a Pompom!!

If you've never made on and / or need a few tips. Google it. There are a lot of people out there who are willing to show you how to make one. I think the most important trick is to wrap and wrap and wrap to fill up that inner hole as much as possible. Then cut between your two layers of cardboard. I know scarey. Just use sharp scissors and go slow. See why I waited until Finn was in bed. Then thread your doubled-thread through and pull very very tight. Voilá!! Last but not least trim to your heart's desire.

I am pleased to report that this pompom was Finn approved.

You can find this project on Ravelry here.

hmmm, oh. yes . that confession.

Ugh .. this happened. And I almost left it. 

But then we went for a walk. 

In daylight.

Lesson learned .. before running out the door to spend Finn's first Christmas with friends and family in Germany. Check, double check, re-check your double check and check again that you have the right ball of almost white yarn. You know. The one that is the same as you started with. 

But still, he's adorable, right?
And that scarf!
 He is one very lucky.
Very spoiled. Boy. Indeed.
Thanks again Onkel Rolf, kisses from Finn

And with that I say goodnight. 

And hope that our little friends aren't running fevers tomorrow because we've scheduled our first ever get-together with friends from the NICU. 

At our house. 

On this * little * farm. 

After such a long time.

xox J

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Sweet Nothing

That is exactly what I have been doing.

 

No sewing and very little knitting .. there just isn't time to squeeze it all in. 

I have 2 free hours between each feeding to eat, shower, tidy up, edit pictures and document Finn's every move.

I do have a room in the hospital just down the hall from him ... *and* I brought my featherweight, but it's still in it's little case. 

Maybe tomorrow, I keep saying.

In the meantime,  Finn reached two Milestones this week...

Yesterday he crossed the 2 kilo mark on the scale.

He's wearing one of the hats I knit while I was pregnant,  I ravelled it here and there are also lots more pictures here.

Today Finn is 8 weeks old.

out-takes of this photo shoot can be seen here

Finn is pictured here with "Sophie," a gift from one of my dearest friend ... Do any of you remember Sophie? I think I had one when I was little. If you've never met a Sophie before, she's 7" tall.

Maybe one day I'll sew again ...

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Stitches, Sad and Happy

Yes, I know they're not quilting stitches

but stitches they are .. lots of purls and knitting.

It's the best project for picking up and putting down.

For taking back and forth to the NICU.

I whipped up these two little hats for Finn's first girlfriends 

- twins A & E are his roommates in the NICU -

Sweet little things.

Their parents are lovely ... it's been wonderful to find kindred spirits in the same boat.

We've met a few other parents, most have already "graduated" and moved into stage 2 of the NICU.

But tonight my heart and soul are with the family of H.
That is, after I dug it out of my throat ..
it was a hard day in the NICU as I snuggled my lovely Finn
while H's parents ushered in their family one at a time
.. to say good bye..

I don't know if she'll still be there when I visit tomorrow ...

I've watched my little guy jump hurdles, lose a few grams,
gain a few back but all the while thriving ... we are so lucky.

We are so blessed.

Today he is "30 weeks"

This is the hat I whipped up his first days in the NICU .. 

all the others I had knit "while waiting" were much too big ...

Of course I like him best without his hat .. that hair is so darn adorable!

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Please Come to my Party

WHO?

you! my fellow quilters and friends

WHEN?

now, all week, until I finish something else

WHERE?

your house, my house, the zoo, the park

why everywhere of course!

WHY?

cuz I *finished* a quilt, I'm over the moon and I have to share my excitement.

Why am I making such a stink about finishing this quilt? Well because it is FINISHED ... I cannot remember the last time I finished a quilt so I am celebrating this. BIG TIME!

This quilt started as a class sample 10 YEARS ago. It's a colorwash and a bargello. They were quite the rage 10 years ago. Decidedly not modern today. I'll be honest too .. colorwash *and* bargello are both styles that don't speak to me. Not a word. Just not interested. But asked to teach the class I was and if there's one thing that makes this style of quilt successful it's color. I think I did ok with this one. I love the transitions. The way the dark and light ribbons of color play against each other. I see a bubbling brook full of fish flowing through a cool forrest. Haha ... yeh, I get carried away sometimes. But ...

I LOVE this quilt. It rocks in my living room - against my blueberry stain walls. Yes, there will be pictures in situ soon ... first I have to cut the frame for it. See those corners on the back of the quilt? Instead of a hanging sleeve I opted for corners so I could mount it as flush to the wall as possible. And keep it square .. hopefully. I'll report back on this plan later. On my last trip to the NW (3! years ago) I left this top with Barb Dau (Everett, WA) and asked her to quilt a bubbling stream through it. When a friend from here flew back to visit her family last fall she kindly brought it back for me .. along with 3 other quilts I'm embarrassed to say that I still haven't shown you. I am also embarrassed to discover that I consistently write peak when I mean PEEK, yikes!

The finished quilt measures 35" x 48" / 89cm x 122cm. It hangs portrait style with the longest side going up and down. Most bargellos hang the other way - horizontal but not mine ... nope, mine has a stream running through it with fish so lengthwise it is. But you'll get to see that better when we hang it.

So I hope you'll PARTY with me 

... a cupcake, glass of wine ... a nice piece of fruit ...

Whatever it takes to make it a party for you! 

I am soooo very excited and thank you for joining me in one big 

Hip Hip Hoooooraaaaay!

Sticking with the color theme and finishing mode I can also tell you ...

that I am just an inch away from turning the heel on Axel's SECOND sock! Yes, ma'am that means a pair. Considering I've knit 5 socks in my life and only one pair that is indeed another reason to celebrate.

AND I pulled out this sweet little quilt and chose binding for it.

So ... there might be reason for another party very very soon!

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(who says) ...

... socks don't grow on trees

I know, I know.

This pic was in my WAW mosaic from yesterday.

But I just love it and had to give it it's own post.

Besides it's Saturday!

And I get to do anything I want

~ wink ~

The socks are ravelled here and here.

The tiny is for a little friend due in September. 

The biggy is for my husband's giant size 48 / US13 feet.

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All About Frogs

Frogs, frogging, frogged. 

It's been a theme here in our little household for a few days.

Friday afternoon Axel and I both had dentist appointments. In Germany - the little town where we used to live. We set out in time to just reach our destination in the allotted 2-1/2 hours. We would have left sooner but I've learned to make good use of the ladies' before any car journeys. We were counting our lucky stars to be going in our direction as the oncoming traffic was at a stand-still going into Antwerp. Ha! Just after crossing the border with The Netherlands traffic came to a stop and sat still for an hour. Thank goodness for my knitting basket ... Eventually we got turned around and headed home ... leap frogging our way through towns an villages across the countryside to avoid the jam-packed Friday afternoon motorways. Two bad the weather was so crappy and I left the camera at home. We saw some beautiful bits of Belgium by accident ... five hours after our original departure we made it home. We'll try again next Friday but plan to leave in the morning ...

To kill some time during the busiest traffic time we popped into the grocery store and stocked up for the weekend. I convinced the honey that Whisper needed a new "big" toy. We've rotated small squeaky toys in and out but she's had "the pig" for nearly three years.

What a hoot! Instant entertainment for the entire family all weekend. Painting our kitchen ceiling was punctuated with many "look at her now"s ... she nudged, whispered, yipped and bounced all around that silly frog all weekend.

Now if I could just apply some frog theory to the rest of my life. 

I've been struggling the last couple of weeks. Which explains some of the quilting slump that I'm in. What's next? I don't know and it's bugging me. I'm normally in a planning and doing mode ... not lately.

If only I could frog the last couple of months and be oh so happy again. 

Or how about a leap frog ahead to see what's in store? I wouldn't have to stay ...

... but a glimpse would be nice ... and comforting ...

In the meantime I've been knitting more. A few things I had started before, frogged and started again. My knitting always includes a fair amount of frogging ... I knit, then frogged this a few weekends ago.

It has since been re-knit (and combined with this) and turned out wonderful but now I'm on the hunt for the perfect yarn to crochet a sweet edge. I can hardly wait to wrap it around my neck next winter.

And I started this about four years ago. It took me two years to get 2/3 through the pattern (bah, made one for my sista in just two weeks! - how is that possible?) Then I realized that my 2nd ball was a very different dye lot. I ripped, ribbit, frogged that thing. Started again, alternating yarns. Made a mistake so frogged again. And again, and again ... gave up on that pattern.  It's now on it's way to becoming a Holden.

Since we're finally painting the kitchen I decided some new dishcloths were in order ... Did you notice the floor under Whisper in the first picture? - that's my kitchen floor! Wild huh? Lots of pattern and busy-ness. Hence the new vanilla walls with green and black accents. But of course I need me some color so dish towels and cloths will just have to do. These are being test driven as we speak.

But knitting (or crocheting) only works up to a point. Like if I have to concentrate really hard on the pattern. Or can watch TV. Anything to keep my mind from wandering. Wandering is not good right now. That's why I'm avoiding my machine sewing ... but it bugs. I want to be sewing. Honest I do!

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Do You Mind if I Knit

To keep my hands busy but my head quiet in the evenings I have a new hobby ... of course I don't have a "stash" to support this crazy hobby (hmmm, could it be worse than quilting?) but I have been pinning loads of project ideas.

So yesterday I went with my iPad in hand to Stoffenidee in Gent ... and came home with this ...

We're still not 100% about the babies' sexes although I think it's safe to say we're not having two boys. Shopping when you don't know can be very interesting ... here in Belgium the neutral is beige, blech - lots of beige.

So I'm trying to cover myself in the case of all contingencies. Friday another scan is scheduled so hopefully we'll know more and I will stop the incessant worrying - or does that ever go away? Tomorrow we're HALF WAY - 20 Weeks already. I'm still waiting for someone to pinch me and say "ha, wake up, you were dreaming." 

I don't have anything to show for all my yarn yet but you can get an idea of what I I have in mind  here on Pinterest. Have I mentioned lately that I am addicted to Pinterest? ... oh yeh, and Chai :)

So now I have a weird question - do you think it would be weird to add yarn to my baby wish list? We already have oodles and oodles of baby clothes and are now saving up for the big ticket items like a stroller and carseats, cloth diapers and the perfect rocking chair. And I've gone a little weird and added a few of my favorite holiday cartoons to our Amazon wish list - but is it even weirder to ask for yarn? 

There are sooo many things I want to make ...

By the way if you're a user, you can find me here.

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The Tense and Waiting Game

the waiting game, a photo by Jovita's Patchwork Atelier on Flickr.

I saw this and knew I needed one too. It was harder than I thought but I'm glad I persevered.



It would have helped if the pattern correction had been included with the kit .. instead of me fighting with at 3am during a sleepless night.

I'm hoping it will dry by tomorrow so I can take it along to a friend's 50th birthday bash (outside) ... the evening will likely be cold because ...

it's autumn here ... although you won't find me complaining. It means I can dip into my shawls and sweaters and starting making random piles of pumpkins. Bought some today! Everything feels early. I snapped this picture after my purchase today.

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The best Medicine ...

... is a day with friends ... I guarantee they will chase away all the cobwebs and snarls.

And Wow - what a day I had!! Yesterday Axel and I jumped in the car for a quick (2-1/2 hour) drive to Germany. Before he went schlepping groceries for his parents, he dropped me off with a bunch of girlfriends who meet up every Tuesday.

I first met this crowd when we moved from England simultaneously into our storage-apartment in Geldern (about 45 mins from his parents) and back to the States. We knew we'd be flying over often enough that a regular place to stay would be important. It only took a little bit of research to realize this little apartment just a few minutes walk from one of Axel's best friends was cheaper than a storage unit in England. It meant I could sew and have a "normal" life when Axel was out touring and it gave me the opportunity to meet THE GIRLS.

They're all quite a hoot and keep each other in stitches. Somebody always has something new to share ... and more often than not there's 10+ things to show each week. They are a constant source of inspiration and ideas.

Gabi was working on her flower garden - isn't it gorgeous?  Every tiny little scrap of fabric is Kaffe Fasset.  The hexagons measure about 3/8" on each side.

I met Karin for the first time - a warm, friendly lady who can KNIT and I mean really knit.  Gabi knits too and was working on a gorgeous shawl, but she had already put her project away by the time I pulled out my camera.  Someday I'm going to get the two of them to teach me how to do this.  First I need to finish sock of my socks.  I have knit three, but still don't have a pair - the story of my life :)

And Angela dyes her own fabrics and makes the most outstanding quilts. She's been working on this one for a couple of years ... 9-patches made using the English Paper Piecing method.

It was a wonderful day ... packed with laughter, ideas, inspiration, friendship and best of all patchwork and creativity. I also showed the my GOT DOTS project and immediately "infected" three of them. I'll save those pics for tomorrow. I was exhausted at the end of the day mostly from trying not to mix up my German and Nederlands (which was pretty much a lost cause).

There was a semi (lorry) accident on our normal motorway so we came home via a different route.  Quite tired and too three four-legged critters that were happy to see us. Today I've come down with *another* cold, the shop is open, our village is getting ready for Kermis (the ferris wheel will be set up across the street - right in front of our bedroom window).

I want to do is stitch, stitch, stitch - I have a few more Got Dots blocks to show you, another snowflake and more.  But I need to take pictures of everything.

I hope you're happily stitching away!  xox Jovita Pin It Now!