waldorf mama

this moment...

a friday ritual (inspired by soulemama). a single photo capturing a moment from the week. a simple, special, extraordinary moment. a moment to pause, savor and remember. if you're inspired to do the same, share a link to your 'moment' in the comments!

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

this week, i am grateful for...

:: fun travel games (this one is nutty nuts, by blue orange).

:: finding my favorite cotton yarn on sale - 60% off!

:: cooling off in this texas heat with homemade popsicles.

in gratitude,

shelley

wip wednesday :: noro rita

on a recent trip to my favorite austin yarn shop, a most beautiful noro children's sweater (that someone had knit up) caught my eye. i knew, right then and there, that i had to knit it for maya. i've always been drawn to noro's variegated, colorful yarns and actually have several noro items in my knitting queue, but i had yet to cast on for one. now i have. and let me tell you, i'm hooked. this noro rita sweater pattern (pictured on the cover of noro kids and authored by the amazingly talented jane ellison) called for a slightly smaller gauge yarn, aya (worsted weight)...but i cast on and got gauge using this this bright and colorful taiyo (aran weight). and i am loving it!

by the way, i am bypassing the black and gray colors in this colorway and i'm very pleased with the results. this sweater is knit in pieces, starting with the back (which you see close to completion here)...

this is a very simple 4-row lace pattern which, in my opinion, is looking quite intricate and impressive. i can't wait to see the finished product on my girl.

now, for a colorful noro yarn stash update (including this taiyo yarn)...

noro taiyo, color 17

noro kureyon, color 102

happy creative wednesday! what are you working on this week?

shelley

washcloths and dishcloths...

my recent stretch of summer knitting has consisted mostly of cotton washcloths and dishcloths. i've now made a little stash of peachy-pink washcloths and a little stash of rainbow dishcloths...

with many more to come, no doubt!

shelley

rainbow fort...

last night, maya solicited some help in building a 'rainbow fort'. now, mind you, this is an often requested activity here at our house and there is no telling exactly how many rainbow forts have been constructed, organized, outfitted, played/lived in, and then deconstructed...with every item being carefully put away until the next time. it's all about creating that special 'dwelling' space. that special 'home'...

some of my favorite memories as a child are of making these kinds of 'forts' to play in. i remember one time in particular when my parents let my twin sister and i create a huge fort out of the entire living room area in our house. what magical and timeless memories. i relish the thought that maya is creating those same kinds of memories each and every day.

here's to the joy and magic that is childhood...

shelley

this moment...

a friday ritual (inspired by soulemama). a single photo capturing a moment from the week. a simple, special, extraordinary moment. a moment to pause, savor and remember. if you're inspired to do the same, share a link to your 'moment' in the comments!

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

this week, i am grateful for...

:: funny faces!

:: fireworks.

:: cotton yarn and summer knitting.

in gratitude,

shelley

beauty in wood...

i've written many times here in this little blog space of mine about the beauty of handmade wooden toys and the reverence for childhood that they speak to. i'm reminded as i take a look around our physical space here within our home (as the weather has been a bit rainy outside of late) of the beauty that surrounds us and i am grateful, once again, for the choices we've made as a family...

for the beauty of the environment we have created for our daughter as we go about our daily activities...

for the beauty of the playthings that she engages with as she imitates our daily rhythms...

and for the beauty of the time taken and the mindfulness that goes into each handmade, wooden work of art.

in gratitude and beauty,

shelley

wip wednesday :: summer knitting

in an attempt to decide upon some refreshing and enjoyable summer knitting, i pulled out all of my cool cotton yarn and rediscovered this all-time favorite colorway of araucania patagonia nature cotton! oh my, how i adore this pinky-peach colorway with a hint of golden yellow (surprise, surprise). so much so that i bought skeins and skeins of it when it was on sale many moons ago. i'm planning on making a really large throw blanket out of this ever-so-lovely yarn, but in the meantime...i thought i would test it out on this simple waffle washcloth/dishcloth pattern. or it might just become a doll blanket instead? who knows...

for my yarn update for the week, here are a few of the colorways i have in this beautiful araucania patagonia nature cotton:

here's to cool and comfortable summer knitting! what's in your summer knitting basket?

shelley