The Story of the Bodhi Tree

Creative mojo, where are you?

I am feeling uncreative these days. I am even unsure of what to knit! I always have knitting on the go. I want to be productive but it seems like perhaps I need a quick break in order to be inspired again? I have lists in my head (sound familiar Shael?) of what I have to do. Trades, gifts, things so I can open up my etsy shop, stuff for the baby, pants for Bodhi.

This pregnancy is really exhausting and so maybe that is adding to how I feel. So I guess I should let the lists pile up while I take a rest, because I know that I always get it done in the end. Actually, that is how I work best.

Finishing up WIP's

I will confess to having piles of things that I have started to make and then left for months and even years. It always feels good to finally complete something that has been hanging around!

This is a wrap style dress from a pattern I got free online. I don't remember where it was from, but to be honest I found it difficult to follow and would not do it again. The yarn I used was... can you guess? Fleece artist. I had knit the whole thing up sometime last winter and had never sewed up the sides. Last week I blocked it and yesterday I sewed it up!

This is a wrap wool soaker that sat in my half done pile simple because I did not have buttons for it. Today when I made my trip down to the fabric store just for the buttons, I ended up not getting enough! The pattern is from little turtle knits, and the wool is just plain new zealand wool.

wool soakers

We cloth diapered and practiced elimination communication with Bodhi. He was out of diapers completely at around 16-17 months. I really enjoyed using this combo. My first batch of diapers were mother ease one size fits all. They are an "okay" diaper, but way too big for little babes. As B got older I discovered the large amount of wahm diapers online (a great way to support other working mamas). The diaper hyena and the diaper pin are great resources to find out about the different ways of cloth diapering and to see what is out there as far as diapers. We have a fair amount of diapers now, and it seems that all of my favorite "brands" are hard to come by now! This time round we will mostly do indian prefolds since they are easy to use while practicing elimination communication.

One of my favorite things about cloth diapering is using wool! How great is it that wool soakers work as a diaper cover? Most of my covers are either homemade knit longies + soakers, or sweater pants + soakers.

I was turned onto this wool soaker pattern by Fern. I like how it knit up, though I did do a newborn size and it still seems quite big. I used some fleece artist yarn that I had kicking around and it is nice and soft for a babes little bum!

Indoor activities

This winter Bodhi has more activities than he ever has before; school, swimming, and art class. I do not believe in having too many things outside of the home, but I have to admit that with this cold rain that keeps us indoors it is great to have something for B to look forward to. This is especially so, since he no longer naps.

Today was a school day, and after that we were indoors. Most of our home activities consist of crafting, art making, cooking, baking, having baths, reading books (over + over again), playing with toys, and playing hockey or soccer in our hall way.

Most days I have to insist that we have a "quiet" time were I lay down and he plays in the room. So far this has worked really well, and I am so thankful for the opportunity to have a rest.

Before we had our quiet time today we did some painting and chalk drawing with B's easel. We have a lovely set of blackboard chalk. The colors are really nice, though they break easily and are a little messy.

What are some of the fun things that your household does on rainy days?

As Bodhi gets older it is not as easy to convince him of certain things. For instance, he always used to wear wool longies, hats and mitts. This year he declared wool to be "too itchy". He will wear wool socks, and if his hands are really cold, he will put on a pair of mittens. So now we have a huge amount of beautifully knit items that never get used. He has also stopped wearing any pants that are not made by me (how flattering, but challenging). Last week I made him a pair of flannel monkey pj's and he has barely taken them off! He is also a picky eater... but last night I had carrot sticks and cucumber out and he actually ate them (I was literally over the moon). I love watching his fiery and energetic personality emerge, he is constantly reminding me to embrace my wild and free spirited side!

new pj's (I always just make my own pattern up)

posing for the camera

This is the sweet baby cap that I was working on. It was a great pattern and I found it quick and easy to knit up. The only thing I have to complain about, would be that the sizing is a bit off. I knit mine in the six month size and it is more like a newborn size.

front of hat

side of hat

Beautiful Gifts

Today we had a good day with friends. Bodhi and Cedar have lots of fun and keep us on our toes!

We had a late gift exchange, which is always lots of fun.

These are the things I made for Cedar (crochet mushroom, wet felted egg shell, + needle felted orange)

Jane really out did herself this time! I have been eyeing all of her creations for so long (we are lucky to have one of her hand-dyed streamers).

Jugglers which are a HUGE hit so far!

Tree stump (love it!)

Organic towels with fabric sewn on (how cool is this?)

Yay for having such talented, like minded mama friends.

I first saw this hat knit up in the beginning of December when I had to make a trip to the yarn shop. I immediately fell in love with it!

It is a free pattern from a woman's blog in norway. It is called sweet baby cap. The pattern is very simple and I even did my first long tail cast-on. I had always shied away from trying this cast-on thinking that it was too difficult. I don't think I will ever go back to my old ways, long tail cast-on totally rocks! The yarn I am using is Louet Gems 100% merino wool in cream.

Winding the skien of yarn into a ball

On the needles and slowly knitting it up

Stashing yarn

Today I went to the three bags full "boxing day" sale. Oh my god, it was c-r-a-z-y! It is a small store and it was packed with people. Being almost 17 weeks pregnant and having to stand in line was a huge challenge (not because I am big, but because I get faint!). Anyhow, I did survive.

I found it a bit tricky to figure out what to get. Most of what I got consisted of blue sky alpaca + wool (my absolute fave) in different sizes.

Back at home, while I was searching for my knitty knotty (which was in fact right on my desk) I went through all my tupperware containers of yarn. When it is in those containers I forget about it.... but when I took it all out I had a pretty good laugh. I am such a yarn horder! Most of the wool I had completely forgotten about.

Here is a picture of only some of what I have!

Before my brother and Jules took off back to Tofino I took a shot of the apron I had made for Jules. It is the pattern from Lotta's simple sewing. It was a quick and easy pattern. The apron is a cotton/linen and the patch is the one I did in the summer.

All things wool

Wool is one of my most favorite fibers to work with. This holiday we were gifted some very beautiful items made out of wool. My studio is full of wool.... stashes of yarn, roving, batting, quilt batting, felt sheets, felted sweaters, wool fabric and the list could go on! Anyhow, here is a glimpse of some of the wool goodness we have been having around here.

A beautiful wet felted necklace from Kiki

A wonderful pair of sweater felted mitts from Ella + Arlo (Bodhi loves them!!)

A pair of the fingerless mitts that I knit up as gifts for big and little people (more to come, they are so easy to make!)

A pirate wee folk made out of felt that found its way into B's stocking

Last but not least, my first pair of knitted longies for the new baby (all the mitts and the longies were knit with Manos del Uruguay Yarn in black forest colorway)

Gifting

The past few weeks before Christmas, I was able to get in a large amount of time in the studio. I was busy, busy, and I had such a wonderful time! Making gifts for people gives me such joy. This year I made gifts for everyone in my family, close friends and Bodhi's best little friends. I have to admit that quite a few of them were gifted before I managed to document (now I am kicking myself!).

I really enjoyed making all of the things that were quilted, and it geared me up to start thinking about finally doing a quilt. I am sure it will take me a few more months of thinking before anything is created.

Anyhow, here is the low down on what I have accomplished! Three knitted cowls, two knitted neck scarves, two adult pairs of fingerless mitts, two child pairs of fingerless mitts, eight knitted dish cloths, four coffee cozies, one pair of adult oven mitts, one pair of child oven mitts, ten tissue holders, eight coasters, two headbands, one zippered bag, one apron with embroidery, one pirate eye patch, one doll sling, one toy tool belt, two felt wee folk, six wet felted egg shells, one wet felted grape set, two needle felted lemons, and a bunch of tree ornaments! If I only had this type of motivation all the time!

Tree ornaments (thanks Ella for letting me snag your idea)