Missy B

Gifts for you!

   Today is my 30th birthday!  I find it hard to believe that I am any older than 21 and have a son to boot!  As a gift to all of you who continue to check in here even though my posting is spotty at best I thought I would share some cute photos of Joaquin in handmade items.  But before I get to those I wanted to say thank you for all the wonderful comments you all have left here on the past couple of posts.  I really appreciate it.
  This first photo doesn't feature any handmade items but it was taken by my best friend Jenni when she was out here a few weeks ago.  She currently lives in Chicago but on July 1st she will be moving to Japan for a year and she will be sorely missed.  I'm going to save my sheckles and try to go visit her while she is there.  My consolation to her moving so far away is that it is only a year and then after that her and her lovely husband are thinking of moving her to the bay area.  I can't tell you how happy that makes me.

  This next image was taken over a month a go when we were having some cold weather.  My mom came over to give me a hand while I taught a class and this is how she dressed Joaquin.  The next picture shows the hand knits better but I thought this was a funny face.  The hat was hand knit and sent to be by a friend in North Carolina.  The sweater is 'Baby Mine' that I knit in Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino.  I made it in the newborn size and Joaquin was two and half months at this point.

Here is a better picture of the hand knits that my mom took.  I never did block this sweater!  The flannel quilt was my by my friend Kayte's mom and features monkeys on a lot of the blocks.  The one you can see on the right has monkeys swimming in intertubes.  Very cute!

   This is a blanket that one of my kniting students made for Joaquin.  She used Crystal Palace Yarns Puffin which is like stripes of microfleece and is washable. 

Aija made this beautiful hat for Joaquin.  I love it.  Whe Joaquin sleeps it's not uncommon for his lips to pooch out like this.  Funny, no?

   This blanket is incridibly important to me because it repsents the love and generosity of a lot of friends.  My friend Jill made the original suggestion here (Rav link).  Then Maia naturally dyed 2 oz bundles of superwash merino that was gerously donated by Julia who then had the fun task of laying the blanket out ant the not so fun task of sewing the blocks up.  This picture doesn'y do the individual blocks justice but it does give you a sense of the liveliness of the blanket.  The little white tags were put on so I knew who knit and spun what.  Wait!  I forgot to mention that part!  All these blocks were hand spun and then hand knit!  So awesome.  Thanks again to everyone who participated!

   Here is a picture from when we were presented with the blanket.  Look how small Joaquin was then!

And that wraps up the pictures I have of Joaquin in handmade love.  There's more to share but I need to take pics first!

And if you would like to help me celebrate my birthday we will be having a picnic in Tilden park at the carousel starting on Saturday (the 25th) starting at 11am.  This is where my first birthday was celebrated so it seems fitting to go back there for my 30th.  I would love to see you there!

3 Months

   If I wait any longer he won't be 3 month any more and who knows when I'll post next!  Here we are three months into the motherhood adventure and all is well.  Can you tell it was bright out today when I took this photo?  Joaquin is a joy and we are all having a good time getting to know each other. 
  I have some cute pictures of Joaquin in hand knit cuteness but this is all I can manage today.  I think that he is going through a growth spurt because we are on day two of almost non-stop nursing. 
  Sorry for the fly-by blogging.  I'd like to be writing here more often but it often falls to the bottom of the list.  I am reading blogs, however, while nursing.  So I am keeping up with all of your goings on!
  Here's to the next 3 months and all that it brings!

The Early Bird Gets the Baby?

Introducing Joaquin Alexander!  Born on December 27th at 6:58am by c-section.  The short story is water broke on Christmas Eve at 10:30pm but I wasn't in labor.  Went to the hospital and confirmed water breaking.  Next morning the doctor tried an external version and could only turn him an inch or two.  So I stayed in the hospital for two more days pregnant, leaking amniotic fluid, waiting for the steroid shots to help with lung development.  Had c-section first thing Saturday morning and now I'm a mom!  Totally crazy. 
  Even though he is 4 weeks early (I was 36 weeks on Christmas) Joaquin is a happy an healthy baby.  He weighed 6lbs 1.8ozs and was 19.5in at birth.  Thankfully he got the hang of breast feeding right off the bat and continues to eat like a champ.  Needless to say we are all in love.  I'm going to keep this short since we are all still recovering and getting used to this new schedule but I will try to post more soon! 

Turn Baby Turn!

   First of all, thank you for all the lovely notes and advice left in the comments!  They mean a lot to me.  On the baby turning front, I have a call in to the chiropractor, the acupuncturist and have been spending time on my hands and knees multiple times a day.  Yes, I've managed to do it in bed without waking up my husband, much to my surprise.  No, I haven't resorted to doing it in public, yet.
  Also, happy solstice and Happy Hanukkah to those who celebrate!  I always thought that mother nature was brilliant to have the days start getting longer early in winter.  For me, it makes the cold weather and overcast days way more tolerable knowing the days are getting longer. 
  As for the promised pictures of baby knits, here are a few.  I still need to take more pictures but we have been having rain off and on for the past few days.  Today is clear so we will see if I can find a dry spot to take a few pictures.  The first sweater is Baby Mine worked in Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino.  This is the newborn size.  I have a feeling that my child will fit in this for all of about a week or two before growing out of it.  That's all right though since it was a lot of fun to knit.  Since taking this photo I've added buttons (wooden apples) but still haven't blocked it.  This is an ongoing theme in my handknitting life.  When will the blocking fairy visit me?
    Then I went on to make Baby Yours, also in Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, in the 6 month size.  This was another fun knit since all the pieces are different (execpt the two sleeves obviously).  I've misplaced the buttons for this sweater but I have high hopes in finding them while we are rearranging and cleaning our house in preparation for the new arrival.  You will note that this sweater is also unblocked.  Surprise, surprise.
  Last up for this instalment a pair of Baby Bell Bottoms in sport weight superwash merino yarn from Tactile.  I made these in the 24 month size since I had two skeins of this color way.  I modified the pattern and knit it all in the round.  I would like to make another pair of these in a smaller size since I think they are so cute.
  I've put baby knitting on hold while I work on a few things for the holidays.  I'm more than a little behind considering it's already the 22nd but it wouldn't be the first time I've given half finished items for Christmas.
  I've got a busy day ahead so I must be off!

 

The Big Little News

Yep, I've been very remiss in announcing the exciting news that I am pregnant!  This picture is from a week ago when I was 34 weeks along.  So now I am 35 weeks and, frankly, I can't believe that my due date is so soon.  January 22nd to be exact.  Not like babies are prone to listening to due dates and tend to show up when they are good and ready.

I went to the OB today and the baby is breach.  It wasn't a big surprise however.  I've had my sneaking suspicion for a couple of weeks now.  Plus I had a dream that the baby was breech.  Now I have to work on getting the baby to turn, turn, turn.  Otherwise I get to try an external version and if that doesn't work then it is c-section land for me. To say that would be a bummer is a big understatement.

At the OB we talked over some of the things I can do to try and encourage the baby to flip around.  One of which is to get on my hands and knees when the baby wakes up and is active.  So if you are in the Bay Area and come across a woman on her hands and knees in the middle of the grocery aisle it might be me!  Just kidding...maybe.  Regardless, think turning thoughts for us!

I have been doing some knitting for the baby and so have some of my crafty friends.  I will be sure to share these things in the days to come!   We have been very lucky to receive such beautiful things made with such care.  It makes us feel very special and I know the baby will too!

Yarn Club & Tactile Update

  We were lucky to be invited to join a fun new yarn club called 'The Color Co-op.'  The concept of this yarn club is a little different than others out there.  The yarn will be sent out every other month and each time you will receive yarn dyed by a different dyer.  Each installment will be dyed based an inspiration photo submitted and voted on by the members.  There are six dyers involved in this fun project:  Us, The Unique Sheep, The Sanguine Gryphon, Macek Designs, Mama Llama, Miss Babs.  If you're interested, you can find out more at the Color Co-op Blog and there is a Ravelry group too.      
  In other shameless self promotion news, we've done another large update on the Tactile Store.  It was a big one!  We added merino/tencel top, merino/bamboo top, wool/soy silk top, dark bfl undyed top, carbonized bamboo undyed top, merino/linen sport weight yarn, drop spindles, and a learn to spin kit.  We also added more colors to the superwash merino fingering weight yarn, merino/tencel fingering weight yarn, and merino top.  Lots of fun things! 
  If you've been interested in trying tencel, bamboo, or soysilk but been a little intimidated these blends are a great way to try them out because the wool makes them easier to spin.  Each of these fibers have there own shine but they are all made with renewable resources.  That's not all.  They're made using no petrochemicals and using 'cradle-to-cradle' technology.  Regardless, they're beautiful fibers and fun to work with.  Enjoy! 

Sleeping Lady Resort

  The reason I had to leave GGFI early was to fly back to Seattle (twice in one month!) in order to go out to Eastern Washington to celebrate my step-father's step-monther's 85th birthday.  We spent a long weekend at the Sleeping Lady resort.  They have their own organic garden and use what they harvest in their kitchen.  The picture at left is standing in the garden looking back at the Cascade mountains.  It's amazing how much drier it is even though it is only about two hours outside of Seattle.  I guess the mountain range keeps the clouds from heading East.
  The resort is right outside the town of Leavenworth.  Called, "Your Bavarian getaway" on the website it reminded me more of Disneyland than a German village.  It does have a yarn shop however!  Wooly Bully yarns is a small store but they do have quite a selection of yarns and patterns.
  I'm knitting the 'Russian Lace Scarf to Knit' from the May/June 08 Piecework magazine in the Jade Sapphire Mongolian Cashmere 2-ply yarn that is called for in the pattern for the birthday girl.  I started it too late to be able to finish it on time but I've got about 1/3 finished.  This is a fairly straight forward lace pattern but it's taken me a while to get into a rhythm.  The yarn is super soft and easy to work with.  Now that the Tactile website is up I have to focus on getting this done.
  Overall the trip to Eastern Washington was lovely.  I got to meet some of my step-father's family members who I've never met before, which is always nice and the location was lovely.  Thank you Barbara and Happy Birthday again!

GGFI

  Towards the end of last month I was luck enough to join Morgaine and a whole host of other wonderful people for the first ever Golden Gate Fiber Institute.  It was held at beautiful Point Bonita YMCA Camp.  The picture at left was the view, once the fog burned off, from the area where I had class in the morning.  Unfortunately, due to prior commitments, I couldn't stay the whole time.  So, on Thursday afternoon Maia came and took my place for the rest of the week.  I'm thankful for the flexibility of the teachers to allow us to switch mid-week.
  Speaking of teachers, what a wonderful collection of teachers.  I took a natural dyeing class from Darlene Hayes of Hand Jive Knits in
the morning and a knitting class on shawl knitting techniques from the town of Haapsalu, Estonia from Nancy Bush in the afternoon.  Both classes were great.  A lot of people asked me why I was taking a natural dye class if it's what I do all the time.  Darlene uses whole dyestuffs while we use extracts.  Also, I've only had two natural dyeing teachers.  It was great to learn Darlene's tips and tricks.  Unfortunately I don't have any thing to show for the class since all the yarn is at Maia's house.
  As for Nancy's class, it was a look at shawl techniques that are specific to the city of Haapsalu in Estonia.  Apparently Haapsalu became know for its mud baths and the Russian upper class would visit to take the waters.  The women of Haapsalu saw the Orenburg shawls worn by the women from Russia and said, "We can do that!"  They would knit all winter and then sit at the port or train station knitting and selling shawls from their basket that sat at their feet.  Thus the shawls were not part of the traditional folk costume but they developed specific patterns and techniques unique to their work.
  The sample above features the lily-of-the-valley pattern as the center motif.  The nupps (rhymes with loops) are made with 5, 7, and 9 stitches starting from the bottom.  The edge is picked up and knitted on afterwards.  This is a more modern method than the traditional method of knitting the edging separately and then sewing it on.  I have the pieces for the sewn on sample almost finished.
  The other cool thing about Nancy's class is that we got to see the samples from her upcoming book Knitted Lace of Estonia.  If the samples are anything to go by the book is going to be wonderful.
  The sign up for the next GGFI in January will be open soon.  It is a great event that I highly recommend if you can swing it.  Wonderful teachers, beautiful location, and great food.  What more could you ask for?

P.S.  Check out the wonderful hats Julia made in her class!

Earthues Wholesaler Conference

  Mid-July Maia and I flew up to Seattle to spend a week at the Earthues wholesaler conference.  Basically we spent the week dyeing, eating, sleeping, and taking the bus.  It was great.  Tiring but great.  We dyed using every extract that Earthues offers on a wool/mohair and a silk yarn, mordented in either just alum, alum and cream of tarter, or adding a small amount of logwood grey to the dye bath (which has the effect of 'saddening' the color because it has a little iron in it).  We also dyed some 'trend' colors which were blends of dyes to get a color that Michelle, the owner of Earthues, had determined are up and coming colors.
  Besides dyeing, Michelle showed us images from her work with Aid to Artisans.  Her images were just beautiful and very touching.  As Aid to Artisans says on there website, "Aid to Artisans (ATA), an international nonprofit organization, is a recognized leader of economic development for the craft industry. By linking artisans to new markets and buyers to culturally meaningful and innovative products, ATA provides needed economic opportunities to artisans while preserving the beauty of global handmade crafts."  Michelle travels to countries
like Laos and Cambodia and helps artisans create items for the international market that allows them to continue to practice their traditional crafts.  It was very inspiring since this is one of the way that natural dyes ties us to people half way around the world.
  It was fun to spend a little more time in Seattle even though we had very little free time.  Earthues is located in the Ballard neighborhood and boy, did we eat well.  There was a sandwich shop, called Other Coast Cafe, just a block or two down that made the biggest, yummiest sandwiches.  I'm drooling just thinking about the hot grilled veggie sandwich.
  We also rode the bus the whole time we were there.  It only cost us $1.50 each to get from Sea-Tac airport to downtown Seattle.  That was great for the budget.  Unfortunately it wasn't really on time but for $1.50 we didn't mind.
  It was a great week.  We got a lot done that had we done it by ourselves it would have taken for ever.  The dyed samples that we came away with are invaluable.  You can see that they really run the gamut from neutrals to brights.  Can you believe that lime green isn't from a acid dye?

 

4th of July in LA

   Since I'm so behind on blogging I figured I'd just hit the highlights from the past couple of months.  Why not start with 4th of July in LA?

  One of my husband's sisters lives in LA so we converged on her along with various other family members to take advantage of the fact that my in-laws are here visiting from Mexico.  Boy was it hot!
  I'm only child and I married a man who is one of ten children.  My in-laws have 25 grandchildren.  When we get together with his family, even if it a just a few of them it is always a rambunctious time.  It can be a little overwhelming for me but my husband is absolutely in his element.  This trip was no different.
  While we were there we took my husband's parents up to the Griffith Observatory to see the view and check out the Hollywood sign.  I'd never been up there myself so it was fun to wonder around both inside an out.  Since then I've seen the observatory as a backdrop in a couple of movies that I hadn't noticed earlier.
  On the night of the 4th we didn't even bother going to see any one specific fireworks show.  There was no need.  I have never seen so many different professional and neighborhood fireworks at the same time.  We just stood out in the street and spun around looking at on explosion after another.  It was crazy.  If you are in to fireworks LA is a great place to spend the 4th of July.