moments in the mommyhood - i just couldn't resist

this is how my daughter looked when i picked her up from preschool yesterday. yes, that is my kid. not an avatar..haha. there were no butterfly cheeks, or hearts just paint...everywhere. i was quite taken aback. there is something about her face painted that weirds me out. she just doesn't look like my kid and i can't help but stare at her in awe. her teacher said mackenzie was proud of her face painting and spent most of the class working on her own face. mackenzie asked me to take pictures of her when we got home and luckily upon seeing them asked to have a bath..haha.


it was hard to do her paint job justice. it was her on her neck, hair, arms clothes etc...and hopefully not my car, clothes, carpet :( it was one of those moment's this week that was too adorable not to post. she also said this one liner to me the other day when we were, as normal, running late for something. i had asked her to help me carry something and she turned & looked at me with her hands on her hips, a 13 year old trapped in a 3 year olds eye roll and said "mom, just HOW many arms do you think i have...i'm not an octopus!". i just about died laughing. picture rachel zoe saying it and you'll get the idea of the inflection she used. priceless.

we've also been out seeing a lot of this......

and a lot of rain, wind storms, and a random huge pumpkins growing on the side of the road - only in canada i tell ya!


in other news, one of my favorite times of year is upon us - handmade holidays on www.sewmamasew.com! love it! i bookmark it every year and use it as handy reference even when it isn't xmas. i was over the moon, jig dancing and squealing with delight when the lovely ladies from sewmamasew asked if i would jump on board and help them find all the lovely tutorials (along with gabrien & georgia) that make up the month of november on their wonderful blog. ummmm, hello, of course i would!!!! so here's lil'ol me's board member introduction (see my pretty badge on the sidebar) pop on over and check it out. it's a mini interview with me. oh, and get ready for handmade holidays....it's gonna be a good one! i promise!


what are your plans for halloween? any ghoulish activities planned? hope you all have a spooooky weekend filled with ghosts, goblins, costumes and of course as my daughter likes to say "fairy princess unicorns"!

p.s. for all you victoria folk, i'll be on c-fax 1070 tomorrow morning at 10:30am (PST) on "real parenting" with amy bronee dishing the dirt on "make-it yourself moms". if you aren't local, check out my about me page next week and you can find all my radio segments on there.

City Cowl Vs. Country Cowl Patterns by Guest Anneliese from Aesthetic Nest

whenever i'm in need of a little inspiration whether it be knitting, sewing or crocheting i head over to the aesthetic nest. anneliese has been here before and i love having her guest post. i also love emailing her to whine and share in the joys of mommyhood. she's got 3 gorgeous girls, one of which is a new baby & she still manages to paint, craft, create and throw a darn cute party!

so when you need to stare and drool at some eye candy, find a new project, get inspired and just sit in awe go say hi to anneliese. tell her i sent you and give her a virtual high five for being such a fab mom! but be prepared to want to get out your hooks, needles or sewing machines because for sure you will leave the aesthetic nest with a need to create something handmade.


now let's hear from anneliese.....

Nothing makes my day like an email from Shannon at luvinthemommyhood, and the one titled, "You're gonna hate me..." was no different. I was laughing before the text even loaded on my screen! It didn't disappoint. Shannon was inviting me to participate in a quintessential Fall battle: to sew or to knit?

Of course I couldn't pass it up! She had me instantly. But picking sides was another story.

Call me wishy-washy. Call me conflicted. This is my dilemma every Fall. I am shocked out of my summer projects by cooler weather and the realization that, yet again, I didn't get a jump on things. So then the question is whether to hurry and crank out some sewing or settle in to a knitted project? Do I invest the time in the luxury of a handknit and hope for one or two completed this season? Or do I satisfy my compulsion to cross more things off my list by sewing steadily through the months? There's nothing more frustrating than being forced to chose between two great things!

Well, I usually try to do both. And so it is with this battle. I do kinda hate Shannon ;-) because I have not one, but two projects I'm submitting! Too hard for me to pick, so I'll let you: do you sew a "City Cowl" or knit a "Country Cowl"?

Here is what you should consider. The City Cowl is sleek and a bit sophisticated in the skin print (zebra velboa). It adds some comfy warmth but maintains a bit of an edge.

If you want to really go for the glamorous look it is generous enough (17"x40") to pull up over your head. Perfect for a walk to the office, or the mailbox!

Wear it over a sweater or as an accessory to your tailored coat. It's not too bulky to tuck in around your neck and easier to manage than a scarf if you're running around town.

But, then there is the knitted Country Cowl: Put it on and it feels like the weekend. It makes you just want to snuggle into the couch and slow down. Who doesn't need that? It's like wearing a big hug. And its chunky yarn, rolled edges and textural pattern make a big handknit impact without the commitment a sweater requires.

Plus, I've included a knitted drawcord to up its versatility. Weave it through the holes and you can wear it a bunch of different ways. It can be funky, vintage country, such as this layered sweater collar...

...or cinched under your chin country-Victorian...

...or cinched a bit looser, which may be my favorite.

Both cowls are pretty easy and won't take too much time away from the rest of your to-do list. Decided or not, you can find the full tutorials over at my blog, Aesthetic Nest.

Thanks to Shannon I can have my cowl both ways this Fall--sewn and knit. I guess I'm luvin it!

thanks so much anneliese! i'm so glad i "kinda" made you hate me...hahaha. love the cowls and can't wait to try them out! giant hugs to you my dear!

you can find anneliese on her blog and on ravlery.

round four - comfy sews VS cozy knits clothes & hats roundup

image source

today is the last round for comfy sews & cozy knits to battle it out in the ring. i'm sad, but also excited. it's been so much fun organizing all of this and i cannot wait to see who is going to win. this week's round started out as pillows...i got bored..haha. no offense to pillows, but my mind is on clothes at the moment. maybe it's because i've been on the hunt for cozy & comfy clothes for the winter.

after vetoing pillows i kept finding myself leaning towards cardigans. i wear a cardigan almost everyday, unless of course it's 32degrees. i think cardigans are an essential staple to any girl's wardrobe. so i started digging and then cardigans turned into clothes and then of course - hats, and since there a gazillion tutorials/patterns out there here are some of my personal faves. so here you go...it's a tough one. i think i'm tied this time round...again :)

COMFY SEWS

1. karen cardigan 2. circle top

1. she's a lady cardigan 2. amy s.

1. wrap sweater 2. ruffly cardigan 3. tunic dress 4. undercover hood

1. cardigan 2. josephine tee 3. draped cardigan 4. drawstring cardi

1. elana 2. cloche

1. earwarmers 2. fleece hat 3. cap

4. happy hat 5. recylced hat 6. tshirt hat

1. tommy shorts 2. pj pants

VS.

COZY KNITS

(all the knitting patterns below are located mostly located on ravelry for convenience. if you aren't a member of ravelry, it's free - you must join - it rocks! if you are already a member or do join, you can friend me here.)

1. garter yoke cardigan 2. abalone

1. juliet 2. idlewood

1. cloudy sunday 2. lilas cardigan 3. snowbird 4. oatmeal pullover

1. vines 2. owls 3. shalom 4. buttony sweater

1. something with a bow 2. anthropologie inspired braided headband

1. pasha 2. lina 3. star crossed slouchy beret

1. wurm 2. meret mystery beret 3. felicity

1. leggings 2. unmentionables

ok, the referee has rung the bell and it's time to score the round....enter your vote in the poll below. the poll is open till november 3rd, 2010. happy boxing!

(in case poll is not showing up, please click here to vote directly on the poll link.)

if you're having fun & enjoying the match, feel free to sport our button on your blog! you can find the code on our sidebar. if you've written a post about "comfy sews VS cozy knits" or made one of the tutorials from this theme month please leave a comment with a link below - i'd love to hear about it! and make sure to get your entry in for any free knitting pattern from ysolda teague!! click here to enter!

what do you guys think? who's it gonna be? comfy sews or cozy knits? the match is on! have you all been having as much fun as i have? would you like to see this box off once a year? i'd love to hear your thoughts! come say hi!

Frosted Glow Cowl Pattern with Guest Melynda from French Press Knits

we've got another knitter in the ring today! please insert my squeals of delight here...i'm super excited to have melynda of "french press knits" here with a new pattern for us all!!! wowsa! now, first off, i have to mention that melynda's infamous french press felted slippers have been haunting my dreams for about a year now and i still have yet to make them. i adore staring at the picture of them in my ravelry faves, posting about them on the blog and just plain daydreaming about wearing them on my chubby toes. in fact, i love these slippers so much they are on my new year's resolution list for 2011.


but don't just stop at her gorgeous slippers. this talented, and might i add gorgeous momma to be, yep, she's preggers with her first baby (due very soon) has a heck of a lot of other goodies to knit up as well. need a cowl, hat, or wrap, french press knits has got you covered. modern, stylish and yes, COZY. it's all about the cozy today folks. so go brew yourself a cuppa tea...curl up on the couch and get a knittin.....


now let's hear from melynda.....

Comfy Knits vs. Cozy Sews. Nothing fires up designers and crafters more than a good old fashioned blog 'battle royale.' I can't tell you how excited I am to be here today. As a knitter, summer is my training season- I've spent months preparing for my time in the ring.

Of course, as a knitter, I already feel like we have the 'one up.' You see, knitting allows us to create our own fabric, taking one dimensional natural fibers and creating two or three dimensional garments. And with just one simple knitted garment, an entire ensemble can so easily be endowed with a touch of luxury.

Let's jump right in, shall we?

Today I have prepared a pattern that is perfect for the colder weather lurking around the corner. Even on a drab day, this 'Frosted Glow Cowl' will be sure to add that touch of luxury (not to mention warmth) to your outfit.

What You'll Need:

1 skein Rowan Alpaca Cotton

Size 8 US needles

Buttons

Needle and Thread

Scissors

Gauge: 4" = 16 sts

Abbreviations:

K: Knit

P: Purl

k2tog: knit two together

yo: yarn over

ssk: slip slip knit

rep: Repeat

RS: Right side

WS: Wrong Side

Cast on 27 stitches.

Rows 1-6: Work in moss stitch pattern (*K1, P1, rep from * to end)

Row 7(RS): K1, P1, K2, *k2tog, k4, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1: rep from * to last three stitches, K1, P1, K1

Row 8 and every following WS row: K1, Pl, K1, purl to last 3 sitcthes; K1, P1, K1

Row 9: K1, P1, K2, *k2tog, k3, (yo, k1) twice, ssk, k1; rep from * to last three stitches, K1, P1, K1

Row 11: K1, P1, K2, * k2tog, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, ssk, k1; rep from * to last three stitches, K1, P1, K1

Row 13: K1, P1, K2, *k2tog, (k1, yo) twice, k3, ssk, k1; rep from * to last three stitches, K1, P1, K1

Row 15: K1, P1, K2, *k2tog, yo, k1, yo, k4, ssk, k1; rep from * to last three stitches, K1, P1, K1

Row 17: K1, P1, K2, *k2tog, (k1, yo) twice, k3, ssk, k1; rep from * to last three stitches, K1, P1, K1

Row 19: K1, P1, K2, * k2tog, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, ssk, k1; rep from * to last three stitches, K1, P1, K1

Row 21: K1, P1, K2, *k2tog, k3, (yo, k1) twice, ssk, k1; rep from * to last three stitches, K1, P1, K1

Row 22: Purl

More of a chart person (me too!)? This one's for you:

Repeat rows 7- 22 until scarflette measures 24". End how you started, with 6 moss stitch rows, and then bind off.

Add buttons, you can use the yarn overs within the pattern as buttonholes.

If you are on Ravelry and want to add this to your project page, you can find "Frosted Glow" here.
You can also take a look at my project page for this project done in a different yarn/gauge for more ideas. While you're there- make sure you say hi!

you can find more about melynda on the following:

blog - http://frenchpressknits.blogspot.com/

ravelry - http://www.ravelry.com/designers/melynda-bernardi

twitter - http://twitter.com/frenchpressknit

facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hartland-MI/French-Press-Knits/81531969165

and you can find me on ravelry (the best knitting website ever) here.

a huge thank you to melynda for coming to join in the battle, you're the best. it's been so fun chatting with you and so exciting to have one of my favorite knitting designers on the site. best wishes for your new baby and a wonderful birth experience for you and the hubs!


ok folks....are you knitting? inspired yet? i hope you've been finding lots of patterns to whip up this month whether it's knitted, sewn or both. we've got our last round of boxing tomorrow and it's a big one so stay tuned!