bellevett

jan 4

last night:

 

one finished turkish bed sock. 

 

sometimes things just are

and they are hard.

and there really isn't a win win situation-

or at least there isnt an instant win win situation.

and you just have to do. and continue doing.

until things just aren't anymore.

and then they are just what they are, and you look back and it all didn't really seem so hard after all.

and everyone is happy.

and it all just becomes a small and good memory.

************

i am going to enjoy the journey for a bit, even though it doesn't feel quite right.

lets see what happens. 

************

i am a lucky girl:

to have good friends to drink the above beverage with after such days......

and a good, patient, and angelic husband who never comments on the dirty kitchen or tired baby or giant bag of dirty cloth diapers i leave him with when we all know that the above situation takes at least two (on a good day) to tackle......

and a nice sock.

and an almost second sock.

and also, sometimes, it feels good to just sit, and listen.

**********************

in retrospect, not a bad day after all.

 

thankful five- day 4: laughter

 

 

 

 

today is the day. 

today i am thankful for the people in my life who make it a life.

a life full of laughter and happiness.

family who can brighten the best days and the worst days.

cats that love each other.

dogs that will try on handknits and stick by you through thick and thin.

friends who can make you laugh.

and best friends who know when to make you laugh.

 

 

happy thanksgiving.

 

five days of thankfulness links:

day one

day two

day three

 

 

owlie.

a small gift for our best friends little girls first birthday: the owlie.

i finally got around to making this pattern. 

i changed it from a pullover to a cardigan.

i used my favorite buttons, and favorite color combo- red and teal.

i used swish worsted from knitpicks. worsted superwash merino.  perfect for a babe.

i think this colorway is fired brick.

i was so obsessed with the pattern and outcome of this sweater i wanted to keep it for if/when we ever have a girl baby, but i refrained- considering we have not an inch of space to store such beauty.

i started this sweater on thursday, knitted the arms on friday during a naptime, and finished up the body and finishing on friday night.  you could consider this a 6 hour knit.

oh my oh my adorableness at its best.

 

on top of old smoky, all covered in wool.

that explains our weekend.

 

(above: second 6 hour sweater from more last minute gifts, quick scarf for myself, and infinity scarf)

this past weekend, i pulled off an epic surprise for cody.  we had plans to go camping for the weekend with two friends of ours and their baby.  what he didnt know, is that for months now, i had planned on several more people joining us in the mountains for the weekend for a camping birthday bash complete with chocolate cupcakes with salted caramel icing. 

it was a lazy daisy weekend with lots of cast iron dutch oven cooking (new for his birthday) and delicious micro brews. 

it was a weekend of big fires, short hikes turned long by multiple treacherous creek crossings that claimed the life of a pair of sunglasses, and wool..... lots and lots of wool.  especially for the baby. 

and leaf eating in the sun of course.

 

finally i am in a place in my knitting life where most of my warmest clothes were made by me.  of course, as i have camped for years and years, i have loads of "name brand" warm outdoor gear from all the best outdoor stores.  but there is no warmth like wool warmth that was made yourself. 

heck, even the above shirt that crosby is wearing is an old merino wool icebreakers shirt of mine that i downsized to make into a long sleeve merino shirt for him.  it was the perfect next to skin wool layer for him, along with some merino wool nappy pants. 

i actually took no pictures the entire weekend. all of these pictures were thankfully taken by my good friend carah. 

 

 

the above hat is a new little hat that i made with some leftover spud and chloe outer that i had laying around.  it was the shroom hat pattern and it was free free and free.

oh!  and did i tell you i finally put some buttons on the adorable and awesomely warm levenwick??

i promise myself i will photograph those buttons.  vintage.  glass.  multi colored.  need i say more?

 

what a good weekend with good memories.  and good people.  and good food.  and good beer.  and most importantly good wool.

 

tie the knot

its been just a tad busy in these parts.

my june seems to be filled with travels and weddings and showers.

and gardening.

my best friend is getting married in a week.  i travelled to nashville to begin the celebrations last weekend.

weddings make you reflect. they just do. 

i went to a rehearsal dinner once, for my -now- sister in law, and heard who is now my father in law say a few words:  "thank you for sharing this day with us and renewing our faith in love."  i was there with my then-boyfriend-now-husband. 

after 4 years

a few hard times

many deliciously good times

one monumental memory

i understand this.

i can still remember the unique excitement that i felt around my wedding.

our wedding was untraditional.  i alloted many hours, but far fewer hours than most devote to planning a wedding.

about 40 people.

air travel.

buffets.

las vegas.

extra oxygen.

no sleep.

vows.

rings.

a few flowers.

a few pictures.

too much champagne.

backyard reception near the hoover dam.

*************

 so yes, i did just spent a whole weekend revelling in all the happiness and excitement that surrounds a wedding.

 

and i cant help but say that spending a whole weekend in a presentable fashion, free of spit up dreads, wearing anything besides tank tops soaked with breastmilk and eating yummy food while your child is literally a precious cherub*; is just good for the soul.

*he is always a precious cherub, but he gets extra points for being hauled around from shower to shower and never making a peep in the dread of nashville heat.  except to laugh of course.

these pillows were made from the ideas of nikki epstein in the summer 2011 vogue knitting.

there is not a formal pattern on ravelry for some reason.  just pictures.

a bunch of icords.  and yes it was easy.

oh, and i made some contrasting pillows out of my most favorite fabrics to go with.

hooray for weddings!

hooray for lingerie!

speaking of the cherub, here he is, sporting his most bachelorette party esque attire. ironically given to him by the bachelorette herself.

and those shoes. those shoes!  made from the stardust shoes pattern with tan linen.

 

 

 

partay

the party for our (about to have a baby any minute) friends turned out as a success.  and it made me remember how much i enjoy the area behind our house..

 

 

i wish i had stopped to snap some photos while it was still light outside.  i was too mesmerized by these:

i love a party.  i really really do.

 

 

some highlights:

*bonfire

*a keg of locally brewed beer

*water with lots of lime

*a full taco bar with everything you might ever put on a taco

*some serious cake from an amazing bakery

*sitting around the bonfire for hours talking mindlessly with your closest friends without a worry

 

and that my friends is what kept me from the blog as of late.  (we made this party our deadline to complete several home improvements that needed to happen/be finished.)

and now you see the pictures to proove it.  and now on the the creations that are taking over my life.....

 

 

fall magic

all i really want to do is be immersed in fall right now.  like, thrown right in the middle of fall and i can just sit there in all of fall's amazingness.

we went over the weekend and bought some broccoli plants from our most favorite nursery here in knoxville.  and there is nothing like being around all of those plants first thing in the morning.  when you have no obligations.  it is the first step to accidentally spending all of your money on plants and an amazing garden idea that you probably cant possibly attain in your current housing situation.

we have finally painted our house.

we have consistently worked on our house for the past three years, since we bought the old hag.  i call it an old hag.  because it kind of is.  first, it is old.  second, it doesnt like change, and fights it every step of the way, making i harder for you to get things accomplished. third, it kind of smells old.  so, i wont even get into the major landscape renovation projects and what kind of nightmares that you might encounter if you have an old hag like us. 

this weekend, we are throwing a big ole party for our best friends who are going to have a new little baby in november.  we have been working working working, because there is nothing like a deadline to make you get things accomplished around your house that you have been putting off.  and going to a nursery first thing in the morning will make you feel productive and happy.  and if it feels nice and cool outside, you might even be tempted to buy some mums and pretend it is fall. 

partay invite

The all elusive birthday dinner.

 

these are the invites. 

 just dinner.  not a keg party.  

oh, and the recreation part, don't worry, i already found a croquet set.  hallelujah.

up next, jar lights.

tiny dress (for a tiny little girl)

Avery is 1.

wowee.  I cant believe how the time flies.  

here, I will show you how time flies!

in Cincinnati, doing what we did when Jamie was pregnant.... eat. and i apparently drank for both of us.

 

and we also tried on pretend bellies at motherhood maternity. we: meaning Jamie.
 

i made these to send to jamie to open when she found out if Avery was a boy or a girl..... 

 

and then we tried to make Jamie go into labor on new years eve.  because we thought that would be fun. Here i started trying to persuade avery to come out.  and she did in a few days after this.

   

and then she was a tiny baby.

 

lake time.
 

and then she is one at her birthday.....  (sorry Jamie. i apparently didnt get one of you with avery... darn it.)

and so i made her a dress.  with a friend inside.


    
       Pattern from Simple sewing for baby by lotta jansdsotter.