Year Of Making- Looking Back

         When I started out on my Year of Making journey about a year ago I had no idea what I was in for. I had vague notions of knitting a sweater and possibly sewing a portion of my own wardrobe- no clue how important making had become in my life. Over the past year I have learned so many things as I made things carefully by hand- along with learning how to knit button holes I discovered just how intrenched being creative is in my daily life. If a day goes by that I don't work on a project- no matter how small- something feels to be missing- it just does!

       One major lesson learned is how no matter how slowly my consumerism may be it still exists. I have just switched gears- slowed it way down and most importunity become so much more aware how my daily decision of what to wear is so important. Making much more of my wardrobe than I thought is possible- creating a thoughtful closet full of pieces I love. Creating small garments that are slow and made with love for my Littles- walking just as softly on my earth as they do on my heart.

         When I sat down to pull this post together I thought perhaps I would use a project from each month- I was very surprised to see how industrious I actually have become! No way I could only pick twelve of my favourite projects- many of them didn't even make it onto the blog- simply thrown into rotation immediately- on my bod or in the laundry!

       While 2015 is all wrapped up I am looking forward to continuing my making ways- perhaps a life of making instead of only a year- so limiting! I have a stack of projects on my sewing table and in my knitting basket- so much goodness coming in the months ahead! So knitting needles at the ready lets get ready to rumble!!!!

Year Of Making: Baktus Scarf

          In amongst all the gift making, cookie eating and bouts of croup we sunk in some time at the beach to frolic in the pale winter sunshine- to celebrate the longest night of the year and also this striped scarf! Quite awhile ago I admired this striped goodness over on Christine Chintis' blog- OK I may have stalked this scarf for some time until I found the perfect wool - Madeline Tosh-over the summer in Portland at Knit Purl. The pattern was traced back to the Baktus Scarf pattern a quick and easy knit indeed!

         Those who know me in person can attest that this little bit of softness has been in constant rotation since it came off the needles- a comforting weight on my shoulders as the days get cooler. I love a good stripe- some say I may have a problem as there are just so many stripes in my closet! I am nothing if not consistent!

        Once again in my knitting journey even the most simplest of patterns has taught me something- with this Baktus Scarf I learned about knitting with two colours of wool.  Something I really struggled to wrap my brain around- thanks You Tube for helping me figure that one out! Now that I am able to knit my beloved stripes there really is no stopping me - perhaps instead of store bought striped socks I will knit my next pair!

PS- no I did not knit my hat- a hat for myself is in my queue
PSS- I am not sure how much more Pacific Northwest I can get here- feel free to mock away at the Buffalo Plaid- black rimmed glasses- Blundstones ect ect!
PSSS- thanks to my Mr for taking these pics- I love that guy!

Year Of Making: In Threes

        Part of the radio silence these past few days has been all of the knitting I have on the go- my hands are otherwise engaged making my knitting needles fly! The more projects I complete the more confident I am becoming as a knitter- I remember not to long ago writing a post about how I didn't consider myself to be a knitter but I so wanted to understand the language. I feel like I can now say I am indeed a knitter!

      One of the small items that has recently come off the needles is this wee little short sleeve cardigan for my little Miss. The perfect thing for these funny in between days of fall- a great layering tool. The pattern is In Threes and really was so simple it only took a week to complete. I seriously love this pattern so much and feel the need to figure out how to size this up so my girl can have another when she grows again!

    As we are deep in Slow Fashion October and one of my goals was to address my wool stash I pulled a skien bought long ago. I am not sure of the brand but it is the softest and silkiest wool I have worked with yet- obviously I loved the colour because I have 2 more skeins of the same shade! I think another benefit of Slow Fashion October is taking a look at my children's wardrobes with the same critical eye as I look at my own closet. I have started to focus my energies on building each of them a capsule wardrobe with easy mix and match garments that can transition between seasons which means getting the most wear out of a single item.

    Incidentally my little Miss is wearing her brother's hat from a past season- what I love about making things for my babes is they are always happy for hand me downs. I have never sewn or knitted something for The Boy that my Girl isn't happy to receive- batman shorts, bucket hats, vests- you name it and if big brother has worn it she is happy to take it on. These are simple- hardworking clothes that are made to be played in- gotten dirty- and adventured in- these are the layers of childhood!

   

Year Of Making: Birthday Dress

            Last month when my girly turned six all she wanted was a nightgown- this is something I can do I thought to myself. In my mind I had a fixed image of the nigh gowns my sister and I used to wear in the summer heat- light and airy- slightly old fashioned. It was with this vision firmly planted that I dove into my fabric stash to see what I could come up with- voila a metre of organic cotton from Maiwa was produced as was the perfect antique collar for at the neck.

            When birthday morning rolled around and my newly minted six year old opened her package she was pretty happy and quickly declared that this frock was too pretty to be saved for bed time- and I have to agree. This lightweight, simple shift was perfect for the end days of summer! I took these photos the last time we were in Peachland- the Okanagan sunshine streaming down on our shoulders- catching in her hair as our bare toes sunk into the dewy morning garden.

         One week into our rainy season and we are already missing these easy days of the summer season- no jackets or socks or even shoes were needed. So with cooler days the birthday dress has become a birthday nightgown- sunshine tucked into the seams to keep my girlys heart warm through the rain!

Year of Making: Nordic Wind Shawl

           I may be a little late to the Cabin Four Nordic Wind Shawl Party but I sure am glad I joined! Lately I have been really struggling to complete my sweater- I have just gotten super bogged down in all the tedious rows that go into making such a large garment. I needed a really easy win- a quick and satisfying knit that I could be wearing with in the week. Yes I realize how ironic it is that I am having a crisis of knitting during a heat wave but it is what it is!

         I decided to knit the Nordic Wind Shawl in the exact colour way that was suggested in the pattern- I plan on making another more colourful version but for my first shawl I wanted something subdued that would go with my wardrobe for everyday wear. This shawl is reminiscent of the colours and textures of my life- the sand and rocks of the shores we visit so regularly- of bleached out drift wood and brisk ocean breezes.

       Incidentally this year of making that I have embarked on has become bigger than anything I could have ever imagined. Each purchasing decision I am faced with has become an internal wrestling match of want vs need- and can I make this item and would it be even better. This increased awareness in my consumerism was my initial intention- little did I know how it would effect every aspect of my life. So as I continue along in this slow- slow year of making I am filled with gratitude for all the makers in the world- all the artisans who create goods with love and slow intention.

In The Studio: Texture

               The more I work in the clay studio the more cognizant I am becoming about texture- the more I realize how inspired I am- consciously or unconsciously - by texture. My paintings have always been really texture heavy- possibly to make up for the lack of technique- it's always been something I am attracted to. With eyes wide open inspiration is abundant and free for the picking- and so I start to record the textures of my life daily.

        Low tide on the sea wall reveals new ideas for glazing- weathered wood inspires a mug- the shape and feel transcribed through the idea of weathered wood rather than a literal interpretation. My work is still very rough and new- fresh hands on the clay- still rather awkward- many chunky plant pots have emerged. Still each time the kiln is unloaded new surprised are revealed- I made these things! Also can I really ever have too many plant pots? Can I ever have too many succulents?!

Year Of Making

        My year of making is marching on- so many projects and so little time! Often I will finish a project and it won't even make and appearance here because I am faced with a decision- blog or make more things- so these days blogging is losing out! At any rate I thought I would offer an update on the sweater I started knitting back at the beginning of February- yes I have been knitting this for almost three entire months- turns out I am an extremely slow knitter- and also all the other projects are just getting in the way!

         Currently I have the back panel finished and the front panel approaching the halfway mark- as mentioned I am a very slow knitter- or perhaps I am easily distracted- squirrel- but every time I sit down to knit even a coupe of rows I can see the final garment- I can see the end! The end might be sometime this summer- I may be wearing this sweater next fall ad I am OK with that- this is definitely a garment from the slow fashion movement.

        Last fall I had a very specific sweater in mind that I wanted- but every where I looked were cheap items made over seas. The beautiful ethically made sweaters were priced way out of my budget- and I understand why- hand knitted sweaters are worth every penny. For me this ethical dilemma was what drove me to start my first large scale knitting project- and happily even if I just look at my basket sitting by the couch I feel like I am part of the solution. So while our days might be warming up I know one day soon this sweater will be finished and worn every single chilly day possible!

       And also how could I not add these beauties at the end- we are at the tail end of the blossom season here in Vancouver but these are just so glorious! Our school yard looks like a magical floral land with trees bursting with colour- of course this also means that my girl needs to stop and collect all the flowers on our walk home.

PS also can I just say that friends who special deliver yarn are theeee best! Thank you Andrea!

Year of Making:Ceramics Part 2

          A few weeks ago I wrote about the ceramics class I have been taking- I showed a sneak peek at some things I was working on- those things are now glazed- fired and in daily rotation. Our class has drawn to an end and after much practice and a few successes I have decided to continue on with my adventures in clay. Once I got the hang of things throwing things on the wheel became quite addictive- I love that something that started out as a clump of clay was turned into a functional object- by my own hands. I am now a member of the clay studio- much excitement!

            Over the past month I have learned to slow down- that creating in all mediums does not need to come naturally- some things need to be learned. There were many times in the beginning when I truly thought of throwing in the towel- not going back to class- I was intimidated and didn't want to fail- once I got over myself and just relaxed thing started to work. For me starting a new job this month was pretty intense and so being able to sit down at the wheel and just kind of zone out really helped. Some people jog- I apparently make vessels out of clay!

          Going forward I am excited to start replacing mugs and bowls that have no meaning to me- big box store items that were bought in a moment of necessity- are no longer needed. My plan to fill our home with meaningful- hard working- beautiful objects looks like it is actually obtainable. Slowing down and curating our space in a world that often feels out of control in something I need right now- focusing on the beauty of imperfection- made by my own hand.

Year of Making : Soap Making

          At the beginning of March my friend Andrea and I decided to take a soap making course- we are both a little "crunchy" OK maybe quite a bit and really wanted some control over what we use on our skin as well as on our children. Fuelled by the wish to learn more we both signed up for a one night workshop at a favourite local shop- The Soap Dispensary. Using all natural materials we would at the end of the evening walk away with a box of handmade soap.

          While it is true that we could have just followed a recipe we both wanted to learn from someone well versed in soap making the why and the how. For me my desire to make soap has always hit a wall whenever lye was discussed- I always wondered could lye be avoided- it sounded like such a dangerous material. Our instructor was really straightforward in her explanation on lye and it's role in soap making- there is no such thing as a lye free soap- it's necessary. She showed us how to safely and properly handle the lye- completely dispelling any remaining worries I had about working with the material.

           As promised at the end of the evening each student walked out the door with a Chinese take out container full of fresh soap- carefully wrapped in a towel to keep a consistent temperature as the soap worked it's magic over the next 48 hours. I waited patiently and finally unwrapped my new soap- carefully sliced it up into three even bars which now sit curing in my art room for another week.

         I'm really happy I took this little workshop- it's one thing to read about something in theory online or in a book but I learn best by doing- seeing how the soap changes and comes together is only something that can be experienced in person. With my new found soap making knowledge tucked firmly away I am looking forward to making more soap this coming fall- for our family as to give away as gifts. All natural and made by me!

Year Of Making: Ceramics Part 1

        I know things have been a little quiet around these parts- my studio updates have all but ground to a complete halt- the good news though is that the radio silence is not all for naught- wait s that a double negative? I don't care- sounds good. What I am trying to say is that most of my "spare" time which to date has been spent painting is currently being spent in the clay studio! This year in my year of making I decided that instead of buying boring store bought plates I would first attempt to make myself some really unique pieces for daily use- bowls and mugs mostly. I had some big plans for some plates but at this point I am realizing just how much skill potters need to trow a really nicely balanced item- so I think I will be sticking to bowls for the moment!

              Perhaps I was overly confident walking into the clay studio- I have never met a craft or art material that is not totally intuitive- I wedged my first piece of clay like no bodies business and then sat down at the wheel to centre the piece- it was then that things got awkward- real fast. This was the first time in a very long time that I struggled to grasp a concept immediately and it was humbling wen my cylinder refused to not collapse. Several classes later I have grown to accept the long journey laid out by clay in front of me- this is something that takes time and a peaceful heart- clay will not be rushed.

           Slowly I am making things- cylinders- shapes- bowls- they look like real things- at the very least I will have several containers to organize my pens and pencils into! This year of making is a long process- my projects are not short ones. I knew this going in but now that I'm in the thick of knitting a sweater and throwing bowls one thing is abundantly clear- I take for granted how easy it is to walk into a store and just buy things. I always thought I knew the importance of and values the cost of stuff- but at only three months in I am realizing I have really underestimated what it takes. So the next time I am at a craft market or artisan sale I will not question why a hand thrown mug is $35- because I know that sometime that artist was where I am now- struggling to keep their cylinder from collapsing!


PS a big thank you to Andrea Walker- Collins for taking my picture in the studio!

Intention- Also Known As A Post About More Knitting

             Whenever I knit something for someone else I always find the process in fact turns out to be more of a meditation on the relationship- I fill each hand knit piece full of intention and blessings before sending it out into the world. I have not knit many things for other people- mostly hats for my own kiddos- a few baby hats for cousins here and there- knitting for little ones is so fast and easy- it is never very difficult to fill those wee garments full of love and sunshine.

            Knitting for adults is another story- these pieces are larger and take longer- giving me more time to meditate over them as I rip out stitches or pick them pack up- figure out new  processes- and think about my relationship with the end recipient. Enter into the picture the slouchy hat I have been working on for friend Erin- this was a really fun knit- I actually learned a lot for this project- for example how to shape a crown properly on a hat!

           It is only natural that this hat is filled with pieces of our friendship- not just a hat to keep one's head warm- but a hat pre filled with wonderful memories. So to share a bit of that here with you- this hat is filled with many trips to the beach- muddy forest walks-green Hunter boots on city sidewalks- ice cream affogatos and Spring- the promise of Spring and warmer days. Not shown are more lattes than you can shake a stick at-  they definitely played an important role in the making of this hat!

P.S. Sadly after almost 5 years my green Hunter boots have been permanently retired- I am still struggling to decide between black and navy!

P.S.S- because I know my mom will ask- an affogato is ice cream and espresso- because we needed another reason to drink more coffee and eat more ice cream!

Year Of Making

            There is a lot of activity happening around our coffee table these days- from projects made by little hands to Momma getting a few minutes to knit and draw during the day. I have so many works in progress right now- my sweater is about a quarter of the way finished- it's in a few pieces- it's very slow going- tiny needles- I might be wearing this sweater next fall at this rate. So every once in a while a break is needed- this week in the form of a soft hat for a friend. Cast on in lush yarn from Tanis Fiber in pretty Dove colourway- its coming together fairy quickly- mindless knitting in the round is just what I need right now!

          Of course I have a few sewing projects on the go- all in various states of progress- none at all nearing completion- of course I'm already looking around for my next pattern I want to start! There are just so many things I want to make! Meanwhile I am also busily filling my sketchbook- this morning a sweet snowshoe hare happened- drawn directly from the pages of one of my birthday gifts- this wonderful vintage book on Canadian Mammals.

          The sunshine is streaming through our windows this morning- I'm starting to think about clothes for warm weather - light and fresh pieces for my kiddos. This has been an unseasonably mild winter for Vancouver- I'm hoping it isn't a false Spring- I'm hoping that we just gently move on into March with this ridiculous weather! So today Im going to set up my sewing machine in the sunshine- finish a wee little dress for my girl- something inspired by all the daffodils and cherry blossoms that are sweeping the city.

Keep It Simple Silly- Valentines

  Keep-It- Simple-Silly! Having children in school has taught me a number of things- first and for most that parents love to show their affection and dedication to classroom life through providing treats and prizes at key holidays- Valentine's Day being one. As much as I love the massive influx of holiday themed pencils, crayons and smelly erasers I don't feel we need to add to the flotsam of classroom treats- trust me when I say that we will never need to buy another pencil again. It was with this in mind that my Littles and I gear up for tomorrow's festivities- we wanted something SIMPLE- heart felt and easily recyclable.

         I have long wanted to try the Suminagashi Marbling kit- we purchased ours at Opus Art Supplies but it's readily available here. This kit does not call for much- a butcher's tray or shallow dish with which to hold about and inch and a half of water - a stir stick or like we used a plastic fork- and of course a sturdy paper- we used Opus Watermedia paper but any watercolour paper will do. This little project comes with easy to follow directions and once we got everything set up it didn't take long before the kids were pulling marbled paper on their own- which of course meant a few minutes of P&Q for Momma!

           Once our papers were completely  dried I took the time to quickly cut out enough hearts for everyone in both classes- yes the kids could have done the cutting but they had quite frankly moved on at that point- the excitement of marbling was enough- they were busy playing Lego. Once all the hearts were cut out my prodigies were back for the stamping bit- any time there is an ink pad and stamps to be used they are game.

           Because our cards were based on nice sturdy watercolour paper these little hearts can take any additional media quite nicely- we stamped a simple "Be My Valentine" onto each card and the Littles laboriously wrote out their To- Froms. This was such a great way to unwind on a rainy day after school- a craft with a purpose- sending our love out to all our friends.

 
            Realistically I know these Valentine wishes will end up in the recycling- or scrunched up in a backpack and then maybe under a bed. Children do not need much- this I know to be true- I think as parents we sometimes over complicate the matter when all that is called for is a simple- easy heart- a kind word. All that they really care about is how many cards are in their Valentine "mailboxes" at the end of the day- so save the cupcakes- save the pencils- just Keep It Simple Silly!

**just a note- the marbling ink does stain so do not use a tray or regular fork that you will be sad to get damaged- we used my butcher's tray which is my pallet and a plastic fork**

Simple Needle Felting- Valentine's Cardi

           I love Valentine's Day- what I don't really love is being told what colour to wear or indulge in on that certain day- and so when faced with another day of pink and red I decided it would be fun to change things up a bit! I love hearts and turquoise and I especially love my Littlest one wearing her heart on her sleeve - this Valentine's Day in addition to the red and pink we will have some little blue hearts. This adorable felted heart project was inspired by a post over on Design Sponge- hop on over to check out all the V-day fun!

            To make your own felted heart patches you will need one wool sweater- we thrifted this one- a small square of dense foam from any upholsterer- single barbed felting needles which we picked up local at Maiwa and some fun colours of wool roving- also from Maiwa- nothing like a visit to Granville Island for supplies!

            Decide where the hearts should be placed on the sweater- we chose the elbows- to mimic elbow patches- but this is a great little project to mend holes in sweaters and blankets. Once you have decided on placement slide the foam block inside the sweater- which allows the needle to go through the fibre and beyond without damaging the needle or the surface below. Working in small sections I started near the top half circle area of the heart and started the felting process by shaping and placing the wool roving on top of the sweater- the best approach to needle felting is a straight up and down with the needle. Start at one end of your shape and work your way around the shape- working your needle up and down integrating the fibres until you have one solid shape.

         Once you have achieved a solid felted piece remove the foam block from the sweater- separating the felted sweater and fibres from the foam. Again this technique is fantastic for fixing holes in wool blankets or worn areas on sweaters- like elbows. Weather for Valentines Day or every day this is a great way to perk up any tiered sweater from the thrift shop! Meanwhile if you need me I will be wiping up a pie with heart shaped crust!

Year Of Making

          My year of making is well under way- so much knitting to do- I am at this point fully and completely addicted! This little bit of knitting just came off the needles- it is to be a gift for a special little friend who is about to turn two. My girly- who agreed to pose for me- has decided she needs a matching knitted tie- good thing this was such an easy knit.

         Years ago I had spotted a lovely little knit tie gracing the pages of the beloved but now defunct magazine Organic Life. The memory of that adorable small piece of knitting has lingered over the years and so when faced with knitting a small birthday gift it immediately popped to mind. A quick search of the old Internets yielded a simple pattern from Martha Stewart- a day and a half later I finally had the perfect knitted neck tie.

         As I move forward with my knitting and making I have become even more mindful of where and how things are made- no longer does the sales rack interest me as I know those cheap deals come at a steep human and environmental cost. These days I look for classic- well made pieces- it is difficult to find pieces of textiles that are ethically made- that will stand the test of time. Even small acts of hand making- like this small knitting project- will add up over the course of the year- like drops into an ocean- into big change!