the mallory cowl pattern - adult version!

pattern: the mallory cowl (adult) -"buy now" 

yarn: cascade 220 heathers in colorway 7803

the mallory cowl pattern for adults is here!  oh my gosh you guys...i am so super excited to write this post!  i was so surprised by how many of you have loved the mallory cowl i originally made for my daughter and requested an adult sized one!  so awesome!  i'm just so glad you all enjoyed it!  i have to tell you that more than a few times i had looked at mackenzie's mallory and thought to myself that i need one of those too.  now i can make one and the best part is so can you!

this cowl is so squishy, springy, and fun to wear!  it's versatile for all seasons and a great knit for beginners and advanced knitters.  it's got a bounce that i wish my hair had!  mallory is knit with your yarn held double on large needles so it knits up fast and is super cozy!  i couldn't resist whipping this one up in a gorgeous magenta for the winner of our giveaway who requested jewel tones.  then i conned my pal rebecca into modelling it for me :)  i know...i'm mean..lol...but she just looked so purdy in it and i was soooo not in the mood to do my hair :P

i've worked really hard to get the stitches to have just the right amount of loft and the cowl to be a great length and for you ladies to have a proper gauge to go off of so you can swap out your yarns and needles at your leisure.  so after a lot of thought and some major handholding and hurrahing from my knitting pals i've decided to release this as a pattern for sale!

 you guys can now make your very own mallory cowls for only $1.99!  i'm scared, nervous but also super excited about it! 

click below on the "buy now" to purchase a copy of "the mallory cowl".   

*2 patterns for 1!!! This pattern also comes with the child version of the Mallory Cowl! Now you and your wee one can rock your cowls together!
 
 

the pattern is for sale through ravelry and you can find the all the details (& purchase the pattern) here on the mallory cowl ravelry pattern page!  i can't wait to see all the gorgeous cowls you talented ladies are going to whip up! i can only imagine the colors and the yarns you will be using!  if any of you have any troubles purchasing the pattern please email me at luvinthemommyhood@yahoo.ca and i will help you out or figure out an alternative way for you to purchase the pattern.  this is my first pattern for sale so bear with me...i'm still learning here :)

i heart this cowl so much i think that i'm going to need one in every color!  the mallory cowl is one of those accessories that you can wear with so many outfits through so many seasons!  i'm dreaming of a fun green one at the moment!

i want to extend a big thank you to my knitting pals for encouraging me to get this made up and for all you lovely readers for suggesting it!  you guys rock!  i hope you enjoy the pattern and i appreciate all of your support!  make sure to join our luvinthemommyhood ravelry group and also to share your lovely handmade pics in our flickr group!

so what do you guys think?  you likey?  what color would you make yours in?  what's on your needles at the moment?  i hope you all had a great weekend!  let's chat!

weekend wishes

that the mail i've been waiting for comes today...

image source - this is why i'm a geek

to snuggle up in a bed covered in quilts.

kate winslet's room in the movie "the holiday" via between naps on the porch

that knit night doesn't get cancelled due to snow...

Source: joannagoddard.blogspot.com via Meagan on Pinterest

that if the snow comes i can catch the kids loving it while i watch warm from the window...lol...j/k...ok kinda...

Source: theberry.com via Sara on Pinterest

and to one day wallpaper a wall in my craft room with this awesome knit stitch...

img src: fargerike

they are predicting snow here this weekend...ohhhhhh.....i'm excited, nervous and dreading it all at the same time.  don't get me wrong, i don't hate snow.  there is a time and place for snow for me.  i mostly just dislike snow.  i dislike grey, freezing, dreary, gloomy, icy, slushy and miserable snow that shuts the whole city down so i'm stuck inside for days on end but i adore fluffy, beautiful, blue sky, snowmen and snowball fights with hot chocolate kind of snow.  rarely do i get to experience the latter.

i grew up in a small town in northern british columbia where a good junk of our year was spent buried in snow.  burying your house out, your car out and yourself out of sidewalks and more.  sometimes you would get so much snow the windows would be covered.  as a child it was awesome...as a teenager and an adult i dreaded it and really just longed for sunshine and blue skies.  i don't ski (too clumsy) and am just not an outside snow kinda gal.  i'm the one who'd rather be at the lodge in front of the fire, sipping a hot toddy, knitting  whilst watching everyone else freeze.  but hey...to each their own right?

i do hope it snows...just a tad...for the kids.  they are super excited about it and mackenzie is def not her momma when it comes to snow.  she wants to ski and is very athletic.  i like to watch from our condo window as they frolic with the hubs in our parking lot making snow angels..yes, parking lot...we have no yard and when you live in a city in a condo that's what you get when it snows...lol.  i love the idea that i can go down and play for a few mins and then be the mommy who has marshmallows, warm blankets and hugs waiting upstairs to hear all their stories and to see the red cheeks and happiness in their eyes.  on the rare occasion though...i do make a mean snowball and will never, ever turn down sledding!  i love me a steep hill and a flying saucer!

due to the way our city handles snow i'm expecting the roads to close down and the sidewalks to be uncleared and us not being able to drive.  i'm so hoping it doesn't get this bad or the snow at least waits till sunday so i can go to knit night...lol and so my wee one can go to her soccer game...brrrrrr.....just thinking about all this snow has me wrapping a blanket around me and pulling my knitting out.  stay tuned next week...the adult mallory pattern is here and i LOVE it! can't wait for you to see it!

are any of you a gemini like me? do you only love half of snow...muahaha?  oh man..sometimes it's so hard to be a gemini...i can never make up my mind <3.  what are you all up to this weekend? whatcha working on?  whatcha making? whatcha baking?  whatcha planning?  come chat...let's use the heck out of the new commenting system.  looking forward to hearing from you lovely ladies and i'm wishing you all a warm, lovely, happy, hot chocolate or skinny mocha, cuddle filled weekend! xoxoxo

techie blues & crafty news

Source: honeypieliving - flickr.com via Becca on Pinterest

coffee's on...but my computer isn't :(  having some technical issues again all last night and this morning.  my poor laptop doesn't seem to be staying connected to the internet.  not sure if it's my wireless or my laptop.  gotta get the hubs to figure it out tonight.  in the meantime the post that i had planned for today will have to wait for next week which bums me out because i was super excited to show you all.

super troopers cross stitch from pixel people

i'm going to spend this extra "unplugged" time working on trying to find some way to choose my hat and mitt patterns for the "warm up to winter" knit along.  i keep changing my mind over and over again.  so many patterns, too small a yarn budget..lol.  i made a promise to myself that i would have to use my stash and i have to stick to it.  i'm also still trying to get done my cross stitch of super troopers from pixel people for the hubs bday this month.  we'll see how that goes and i'm super excited that i'll also be working on this....weeeeeeeee!!!!

sunki by figgy's

that's right....sunki is in my house!  so excited to make this dress and i have the perfect fabric for it.  i'm making it in harper's size and can't wait to show you all in my upcoming pattern review for figgy's. i also decided on a quilt pattern for mackenzie's quilt.  i'm waiting on tad more fabric and then i'm whipping out my old frenemie the rotary cutter.  let's all cross our fingers that this time the cutting goes much smoother :)  hopefully hers won't take me as long as harper's did to complete because my quilt has been waiting patiently for me since xmas of 2010.  i'm making it out of dream on and my bedroom has been waiting for it forever!

we're heading over to a friend of mine's today to pick out some fabric for a custom designed laptop bag and a new wallet!!! eeeeeee!  gotta a love a little fabric party! my pal is uber talented and makes the most fab bags!  she's going to be one of or newest sponsors and i can't wait to tell you all about her but in the meantime i'm keeping it hush hush until the big reveal :P  so even though my computer is acting up at least i can drown my frustrations with technology with some good ol' sewing, yummy fabrics and cozy yarns!  and the icing on the cake - snuggles from my 2 cuddly girlies!  best thing to brighten up my day!

what are you all up to today? did you all notice that blogger has enabled threaded commenting now!  i am soooooo excited! now i can reply direct to each comment! as a blogger this makes my life SO much easier.  wordpress has had this functionality for ages and it's about time blogger got it too.  now to find out a way to get my numbered comments back....anyone figured out a new hack yet?  i've got a giveaway coming soon and need me some numbers :)

hope you are all having a great day!  fill me in on what you've been working on.  are you sewing or knitting? have you chosen your pattern for the kal yet?  are you joining in?  let's chat!

Warm up to Winter Knit Along!

it's here!!!!! the "warm up to winter knit along"!!!! yippee!!! rebecca and i have been so excited to announce the new kal to you talented ladies!  the latest knit along is dedicated to hats and mitts!  let's cover those noggins, hands and sometimes fingertips!  choose some luxurious yarn, pick out a bright color or hit your stash and stick to a neutral...no matter what it is there is sure to be a project/yarn for everyone in this kal!   this one is near and dear to my heart because i LOOOOVVVEEEE toques (hats) and fingerless mitts! love em'!

now don't stress out...you don't have to do both a hat and mitts but you can if you wanna.  we are all for knitting up a storm :)  rebecca from the blog nook and i have partnered up again for this kal and we thought we would leave that part up to you lovely ladies.  make both if you get your groove on or make just the mitts or just a hat...the important part is we want you to pick up those sticks and get knitting with us!  i'm sure some of you will make 3 hats and 2 mitts...lol..(hannah you know who you are...hehehe). hats are a great beginner project so don't be scared if you are just starting out!  there are also a ton of great beginner gloves and fingerless mitt patterns out there as well.  whether you are using 2.25mm needles or 8mm, fingering weight or chunky yarn let's all have some fun and learn to embrace and warm up to winter!!!!  honestly...who doesn't look awesome rocking a cool slouch hat and cabled mitts?  i can't think of one person!  i get sad when i can't sport my hat on a daily basis cause the weather warms up.  we've got lots of fun posts planned (some starring you guys of course) and even a few prizes! woot woot!

pattern: yarn basket by pickles

 the ravelry group thread is a super fun place to come chat, share your project pics, ask questions and just have a good time.  ravelry is like facebook for knitters but way better :)  it feeds our addiction..lol.  it's free to join and if you haven't already you should.  it's a great resource for knowledge, patterns and inspiration.  you can find me under "luvinthemommyhood" and my partner for this kal rebecca under "gundyknitter".

need some inspiration?  here's some of the patterns i'm currently drooling over!  i've got some yarn in my stash that i am looking to get through so i'm trying to decide which one to make based on my yarn stash and my hat/glove needs :)  ravelry is what i use to find patterns and yarn most of the time.  it's a great way to find patterns based on your yarn stash.  using their advanced pattern search section you can whittle down patterns available based on the yardage you have, weight of yarn, free/not free, size, age...and the list goes on.  i'm addicted to it.  or you can find a pattern you like and then click on the tab above it that says yarn ideas and see what others have been using and what their projects look like if you're in need of some yarn inspiration.  but make sure when you're getting ready to start to check your gauge.  i know....a lot of us hate swatching but it's important....here's a handy post on gauge and on yarn choices. ok...you ready...here's my top 9 for today...seriously...they change daily. too.  many. awesome.  patterns.

hats.....

1. here and there hat 2. warm winter pom pom hat 3. simple slouch hat

4. modern rib hat 5. dottie  6. kathleen

7. norby 8. waffel hat 9. rosebud hat

mitts......

1. muckle mitts  2. camp out fingerless mitts  3. sabrina mitts

4. podster gloves  5. catching butterflies  6. fallberry mitts

7. grove 8. nalu mitts  9. commuter fingerless mittens

 wanna join in?  here's the deets....click the link below to enter the knit along:

warm up to winter knit along sign up

start date: january 11, 2012 (but you can join in anytime before the deadline)
finish date: february 8th, 2012
* please note you must sign up to be entered into any giveaways.

all posts can be found here and the thread for the knit along can be found in the luvinthemommyhood ravelry group here! 

when you are done your hats and/or mitts please post your finished pics in either our ravelry group thread or our flickr group so we can drool over your fab work!

also don't forget that one of my besties rebecca from the blog "nook" will be guest posting and helping me out here and there throughout the knit along.  she'll be assisting with helping answer questions in the forum and on the blog.  so feel free to ask her anything that has to do with all things knitting!  she's a knitting instructor and one smart cookie!  make sure to pop on over to check out her roundup of hats/mitts today too!  a big advance thank you to her for helping me out with the kal - i appreciate it my dear! luv ya to bits!

and grab a button to show your luv here or from the sidebar.

<a href="http://www.luvinthemommyhood.com/search/label/mommyhood%20KAL" target="_blank"><img alt="luvinthemommyhood" src="http://i344.photobucket.com/albums/p330/shannonandjeremy/kal.jpg" /></a>

so excited to see all the lovelies that you guys are gonna whip up!  i can only imagine the patterns and yarns already!  becca and i hope you all have fun!  so grab a cup of coffee, grab that fave hat or mitt pattern and get swatching...it's knitting time!!! go kal go!

moments in the mommyhood - technical difficulties

we had some technical difficulties around here yesterday.  or i should say my laptop did...and then some pictures i needed got lost in the abyss called "recycle bin" by accident so the hubs got to pull a superhero act and redeem himself for deleting them by rescuing them and also my laptop.  i made him watch the bachelor for half an hour as punishment...lol.  poor guy.  in the meantime while i work away on the posts that were supposed to be ready here's some pics of the hubs and the kids latest adventure.  please note that these were taken on an oddly warm day and that's why the kids aren't in winter parkas...lol, and yes, mackenzie's hat is too small for her head.  it's a baby hat that she refuses to NOT wear anymore. ah the joys of kids :P

getting ready to get into mischief...

bouquet for mommy!

the expression on harper's face kills me in this shot.

time for laundry...hahaha.  yep, they always come home flush faced, laughing and very dirty.  that's what outings with daddy are for.  i have never been able to let that go....i always envision the cleaning and laundry while they are doing it and can never refrain myself from stopping them...i know, i know, it's good for them but that's just something that mommies are for i think..lol.  someone has to maintain balance right?

hopefully my laptop will behave today and i'll be back tomorrow with the announcement of our newest knit along!!! woot woot!  anyone have any guesses on what it's gonna be?  oh and quick question...do you guys prefer to add pics to the flickr group and/or ravelry group or would you like for me to set up one of those link party things?  my only worry is that i think you  need a blog to enter the link party as it links to your post.  how do you guys feel about that?  i guess those who don't blog could enter their pics to flickr/ravelry instead? ok, so excited!  can't wait!

so ladies are you a "try to keep the kids somewhat clean" or a "let them get as dirty as they want" kinda mommy?  got any tips you can share about  how us sticklers for staying clean can let go a little bit?  i'd love to hear them!  happy tuesday!

makin'it in the mommyhood - dress up crowns!

Tutorial: Dress Up Crowns by We Wilsons

Fabric: 1001 Peeps, Villagers Lavender by Lizzy House

right before christmas i couldn't resist whipping up the girlies some dress up crowns.  the tricky part for me was a) sewing even just a little bit on the machine with my back and b) making these right in front of them without them figuring out what they were.  i did it though!  mack was very curious but i managed to persuade her that it was something for a project for the blog and i didn't know what it was going to be...lol.  she sure was surprised to see it on christmas morning! 

i had pinned a dress up crown tutorial from we wilsons and it just got stuck in my mind.  it took me a few months to get to it but i never forgot about it.  i've never been into sewing crowns but for some reason her lovely aesthetic caught my eye and i knew i had to make them.

i'm sure glad i did!  the girlies love them and so do i.  i have been known to sport one here and there....every girl wants to feel like a princess every once in a while...lol...in fact i just may make myself a mommy sized one :P  you guys won't tell anyone right?

i used the lovely 1001 Peeps Villagers Lavender  by lizzy house that the girls love.  they think it looks like aladdin and princess jasmine :)  and who could resist putting some pretty lace trim adorned with pink princess beads?  not me!  i stitched the lace on before finishing up the crown and when i was done all my sewing i hot glue gunned on those beads.  those puppies ain't going anywhere.  i don't think i ever glued something so much as those beads..lol.  hopefully they will last at least a few months :P  so far harper hasn't noticed they are on there which is what i was going for.  a subtleness that mack would love and harper wouldn't pull off...lol.  just perfect to be worn while dancing, singing and telling secrets to each other in.

and if you can believe it i had to show these pics of harper....it looks like she is sad/mad but nope, she's quite happy she's just busy emoting...lol.  this is what she looks like when she is singing.  i swear the kid gets right into her music, she is giving it her all in these pics.  jer and i just die laughing everytime she gets in her "groove" - she even uses her hands.  so cute!

here's some shots of the dress up crowns....

my favorite part is the jewel in the princesses head wear.  i couldn't resist doing that and only did it on mackenzie's.  this was one fun project to make and the nice thing is the tutorial over on we wilsons also has many different templates you can use to make crowns...even boy ones!  i loved it!

are you into dress up crowns?  have you made any lately?  share some pics!  i'd love to see them!  i hope you all had a great weekend!  fill me in...whatcha been up to?

weekend wishes

to get my sewing mojo on...

img src: luvinthemommyhood

to learn the low down on lenses...

img src - kevin & amanda

to get lost in my rocky coast cardigan at knit night...

img src: luvinthemommyhood

 to get to play with these...

img src: luvinthemommyhood

that my new yarn swift will be arriving soon...

img src: anikarenina

and to get outside and move now that i can walk again.

img src: lululemon

so excited it's the weekend! woot woot!  i've been missing the hubs like a school girl.  it was so nice having him home and i really found the transition from the holidays to real life tricky this year.  i can't seem to get back on my regular sleeping schedule.  i keep staying up way too late at night watching bad movies and knitting..lol.  needless to say i definitely need coffee in the morning :P

i got some happy news from my physiotherapist this week....i now get to try to do a few things without wearing my belt 24hrs a day!!!! woot woot!  closet here i come! i've been wearing the same 3 shirts the last few months to try to cover the horrible contraption and all the "rolls" that come along with it.  i've been enjoying the few hours a day now where i can wear my normal clothes and feel like i lost 20 pounds..lol.  i can't do too many things yet but i am able to sew in small amounts and i am allowed to walk again.  exercise here i come!  it's gonna feel so good to be able to get out moving again.  it's been way too long since i've been able to walk around/stretch and do anything involving exercise.  i have to baby my back and still take it easy but it also means i'm on the way to recovery! yippee!

i will be whooping it up at knit night this weekend.  i haven't been able to go for like a month and i have BAD withdrawal.  i cannot wait to see my ladies and have a night out with some good laughs, chats and of course - knitting.  we'll also be working on some more early spring cleaning in our house that didn't get finished over the holidays and spending some time playing some games and having fun.  i've got some more goodies coming your way next week as well as the announcement of our next knit along! so stay tuned!

i'm wishing you all a wonderful weekend filled with blue skies, coffee, family and lots of good times!  what are you up to this weekend?  what did you get crafting this week?  any good news that you've received since the new year?  let's chat...it's friday!

The Audrey Dress - Violette Field Threads Pattern Review

Pattern: The Audrey Dress by Violette Field Threads

Fabric: Lark Charisma Blush by Amy Butler (from Stitch Simple)

i was finally reunited with poppy the pfaff over the holiday break and boy did it feel good.  i missed sewing soooo much and i especially missed poppy (pfaff amibtion 1.0).  it was really hard to go that long without sewing a stitch on my machine.  when my physiotherapist gave me the green light to do a little bit of sewing i jumped right into my stash of new amy butler fabric (from my awesome sponsor stitch simple) and got to work making the audrey dress from the uber-fabulous shop & sponsor "violette field threads"!  it was the first pattern that caught my eye when i visited their awesome & oh, so pretty website.

something about the simple lines with a modern edge that still had that feeling of retro to me drew me in.  it was definitely a must make for me.  mackenzie had been super disappointed that i wasn't able to make her a christmas dress to wear this year so i whipped this bad boy out the night before xmas eve so she could sport her new dress for all the family in town the next day.  it seriously was so fast to make and super easy.  a great beginner dress for all you new sewers out there and definitely a fun/quick sew for the more advanced.

i think she likes it...lol!

i've made a few things in my past for mack that have gone unworn except for one occasion but this wasn't the case with this dress.  she loves it.  it's right up her alley.  super comfy, stretchy, flowy and nothing that bugs her.  she's pretty picky about seams and feel of things on her body.  the only mods i made to the dress was to only use 1yard of fabric.  i made the sleeves a tad shorter than what the pattern called for to accommodate this.  i also could have made the elastic on the sleeves tighter but that would have bothered her for sure.  she tried it on and told me where she like it. 

i also did a double top stitched hem and added my little label.  i have a soft spot for those.  gotta love a little bit of detail here and there. 

the pattern instructions were very clear and easy to follow.  there are also pictures all throughout the instructions to clearly show all the steps which i'm always appreciative of due to being a visual learner.  i also find these types of thorough details great for beginners who don't always know "the lingo" of sewing.

 
the pattern size ranges are also fabulous.  almost all of the violette field threads patterns go from toddler to older child.  the audrey dress covers 12mths to 10yrs!  you seriously cannot beat that for the price.  i plan on making this more than a few times over the next few years :)

so pop on over to violette field threads to check out their awesome collection of patterns ranging from tops/bottoms/dresses to accessories & flowers!  so much eye candy!  it's hard to choose just one:)  i'll be making another one of their patterns soon and can't wait to show you all! 

some of our xmas pics

did you make any holiday dresses for your wee one?  have you made any violette field threads patterns yet? which one is your fave?  what do you look for in a dress when you have a "picky preschooler"? let's chat sewing!  it's so nice to be back!

mustache cup cozy tutorial

would you like some 'stache with your coffee?  a little mustache luv to dress up your coffee cup?  remember movember and the mustache that invaded my home for a month? yep, that's right...the giant caterpillar like one that greeted me every morning and night on my hubbies cute face, well...it was so fun to tease my hubby in our house about the 'stache that i decided to gift him a little pressie at christmas so that we can always remember "the 'stache".

 

i had pinned a cup cozy with a mustache on it months ago and finally got around to making one.  so no, this isn't my idea..but i couldn't really find a tutorial that i liked to make one so i figured i would share a little template and mini-how to make a mustache cup cozy of your very own! 

you ready to rock the 'stache?  keep those hands toasty warm in style! let's get making!

||  WHAT I USED  ||
Yarn: Patons Classic Wool (worsted weight/10ply) in colorway 240 (green)
Brown Felt & brown embroidery floss

||  MATERIALS  ||
felt in color desired for mustache (approx. 5"w x 4"h depending on desired size of mustache)
embroidery floss
sewing needle
scissors
yarn
knitting needles

||  INSTRUCTIONS  ||
1. Following the "mug hug tutorial" (from one of my besties rebecca) or any knit/sewn cup cozy pattern of your choice, knit up your lovely cup cozy using your desired yarn color - I personally think bright colors look much more fun for this kind of cup cozy :P  I used a thicker worsted weight yarn for mine.  This is the fun part where you can let your creativity go wild! Go handlebar, or curly or do a caterpillar style like mine!

2. Print out this template for the 'stache (don't scale the image) I used or sketch out a mustache of your choice.  Cut out your felt and fold your piece of felt in half lengthwise.  Cut the paper mustache out and pin to your felt along the center line shown on the template.  Cut the mustache out of your felt.  I used brown floss for my mustache.

3. Using 3 strands of embroidery floss held together stitch the mustache onto the center top area of your mug hug using a running stitch (or any other decorative stitch you may desire).  Trim your ends stick that bad boy on your starbucks and admire your handiwork!  This cup cozy is a guaranteed conversation starter...so much fun!  Best part is the hubby can still sport his 'stache....just not on his face :P



don't knit?  don't worry...check out this post from my pal buffy on how to paint a 'stache right onto your coffee mug! so cute!  or you could simply use the felt mustache and attach to a sewn cup cozy of your liking.  whatcha think?  you likie?  i think i'm gonna steal it and use it too.  i think a few more are on the horizon at our house :)  i think mine should be pink though...lol.

happy knitting and stitching!!!  i can't wait to see if you guys make any!  please add your pics to our flickr group so i can get a looksie at your wonderful handiwork!  any questions just shoot me an email at luvinthemommyhood@yahoo.ca

moments in the mommyhood - the party is over...

happy new year's everyone!  i can't believe how fast the holiday season went by. we had a great christmas with family and i hope yours was awesome as well!  i'm going through a bit of the melancholy post holiday blues the last day or so...lol.  the hubs is back at work today and boy do we miss him. i am seriously going through hubby withdrawl.

all curled up with their quilts

i'm sad all the late nights and family time is done.  we spent a lot of time just hanging out and enjoying each others company.  there was a lot of coffee drinking, treat eating, game playing, family visiting, snuggles, knitting, playdoh making, coloring & lots of fun!  we also started doing a very early spring clean.  clothes were sorted, toys were cleaned out to make room for new ones, boxes were packed and the christmas tree was taken down :( 

on the weekend we moved our baby girl into a big girl bed.  she's now in a bunk bed with her big sissie.  the transition has been good and the one taking it the hardest has been me.  i admit, i cried.  the sight of that empty baby crib and knowing that i will never have a wee babe fill it again still brings me to tears but on the upside it's been awesome having our bedroom back to ourselves again and harper has sure loved being in her very own big girl bed. 
 

all in all i'm exhausted but it's a good exhausted...lol.  having fun can be tiring :P i'll be getting back into the swing of things around here this week but today i'm taking it slow and easy with my two cutie pies while i miss my hubs.  there will also be some knitting for a prize winner...that's right...the winner of the luvinthemommyhood thank you giveaway is.....

kristy fiona!!! yay!!! congrats kristy!!!  i'm so excited you won!!!

"I love them both, but if I had to choose ... the Mallory cowl, in a lovely heathered jewel-tone.I hope you and your sweet family are having a lovely Christmastime, my dear! <3"

and for all of you out there crossing your fingers for an adult mallory cowl pattern stay tuned...i'm knitting it up as we speak :)  yay for cowls!  also i have a lot of sewing goodies to show you as well...that's right...i got to sew!  my physiotherapist gave me the go ahead to do a little bit here and there.  i'll take it :)  i've also got some knitting goodies to show you as well as the announcement for our next KAL coming up too.  so stay tuned!!!  2012 is gonna be lots of fun!!! i can't wait to share it with all of you!

so....how was your holiday?  let's catch up..i've been missing you all!  coffee's on.....

weekend wishes - christmas edition!

that you all get to enjoy the pretty christmas lights in a whole new way...

that you eat lots of yummy guilt free treats and goodies over the holidays...

that the grinchies stay away from you and yours...

that your wee ones can handle a bit of sugar better than my little reindeer can...

that you let yourself get lost in the magic of the holidays...

that you got some handmade decorations done with your wee ones...

and that santa's elves come and clean up all of our ironing board monsters before christmas morning.

it's almost here!!!!! christmas is right around the corner!!! woot woot!  bring on the food, the friends and the family - we're almost ready!  i can't wait to see my babies get lost in the christmas excitement this year.  mackenzie is really into it this season now that she is older and harper is even more excited as it's all pretty new to her still.  it's gonna be fun and i think i'll be the most hyper one on xmas morning.  i love me some christmas morning!  we're gonna have the music playing, stockings to open, handmade goodies to share, a big breakfast to eat and some snuggles and playing to be had.  weeeeeeeeeeee!

i'm going to be hosting two big dinners and a brunch so cross your fingers for me that my cold magically disappears, my house cleans itself, the food cooks itself and fun is to be had all around and i'll wish the same for you :)  wouldn't that be an awesome xmas pressie?

this momma will also be taking a break peeps.  i won't be here much for about a week.  i'll prolly be back on the 4th of january. i'm taking some much needed time off (the boss ok'd it..lol) to spend some time with my hubs (who is also off) and the kidlets & maybe, just maybe get some rest.  i  may pop in with a pic or two but we'll see :) what i can promise is that 2012 is gonna kick butt! i can't wait!  i've got so many exciting things planned that i cannot wait to share with you all!  i also can't wait to see all the fun and inspiring things you are all going to be creating, cooking and writing about this upcoming year as well!  so much fun awaiting us all!

thank you to each and every one of you for being such a wonderful and amazing group of people.  you all fill me with joy, strength and happiness each and everyday and without you i would not be here in this little neighbourhood of mine doing exactly what i love - so thank you.  i'm wishing you all a super wonderful holiday season and a very merry christmas with your family and loved ones!  happy new year's and i'll see you in 2012!  now go sip some egg nog and get your xmas mojo on ladies! much luv....xoxoxoxox

what are your weekend plans?  what's your fave treat to make and serve on xmas?  are you doing turkey or ham?  c'mon take a wee break from your wrapping and let's have one last chat :)

*all images copyright luvinthemommyhood

winner of the fairytale frocks & lollipops giveaway

ohhhh...who was the winner of the fairytale frocks & lollipops giveaway?  was it you????

commenter #3 - nest full of eggs

"Figgy's Sunki is amazing !!!"

commenter #37 - twins squared

I would love to win either the Oliver & S Family Reunion Dress or the Sis Boom Shannon Dress. Thank you so much for the chance to win.

commenter #55 - luch

Holy patterns batman! With two girls to sew for, I could spend hours looking...! I do love that Molly jacket...especially in that beautiful Kelly green. Violette fields patterns are lovely!
Heather

congratulations you guys!  happy sewing m'dears!  fairytale frocks & lollipops will be in touch soon about your prizes!

you can find all things fairytale frocks & lollipops on their website and on facebook.  thanks so much for the giveaway terri and happy sewing to all of you :)

makin'it in the mommyhood - colds & crafts

it's done!  i finally got my deirdre shawl xmas pressie finished!  

i LOVE it.  so pretty and acutally quite a quick knit for lace.  my problem came with the blocking.  i really need to get myself some blocking wires.  i tried my best but the blocking could have been way better.  you live and learn though.  i still think it will look gorgeous on the recipeient and i cannot wait to see her in it!

pattern: deirdre by linden down

yarn: ella rae lace merino in teal (love this yarn!)

www.mr.yarn.com

 i also couldn't resist sneaking a shot in here of the lovely and oh so yummy yarn that my fabulous pal hannah of ummashin's goodies (her shop is so great - go check it out, my girls wear their hats all the time) sent in the mail for me! what an awesome surprise! if my back hadn't been injured i would have done cartwheels.  i mean look at that color..and malabrigo...drool!!!!!!!!!  thank you so much hannah! and thank you mr. yarn for your awesome packaging! i love the sticker and magnet...so clever!

QL Slouch by wooly wormhead

and here's another peek at another xmas pressie i finished and blocked.  love the way it turned out!

i also finished harper's quilt!!!!!!!!!!!  all bound, washed and dried!  love it! so comfy and cozy...i can't wait to curl up with it after xmas.  i'll post more pics of the whole quilt soon!  i also got a last minute gift done for both girls that allowed me to get on poppy the pfaff for a few minutes the other day and boy did it feel good!!! can't show you yet though, there are too many eyes around :)  i also am freakin' excited over a project i made for the hubs yesterday that he doesn't know about so i can't show you pics till after xmas but it's killing me.  i'm dying to show you all!

but in the meantime this is what we are up to.  kleenex, orange juice, coffee, halls, vicks, tv and knitting.  i'm just hoping the river that my nose has turned into goes away before christmas and that my little girls are both better soon too.

what are you all up to?  are you surviving?  what projects have you gotten done?  any left to finish?  show me your pics - i'd love to see :) 

luvinthemommyhood handmade thank you giveaway!

1. mallory cowl  2. carefree cowl

*this giveaway is now closed. thank you for you entries!"

can we say giveaway time?!! woot woot!  thanks to all of you wonderful readers we have reached over 2,000 likes on facebook! i decided that is definitely worthy of a giveaway with a prize handmade by me! fun!!!  i wish i could make a cowl for each and every one of you - you all mean so much to me and honestly help me to live out my passions each day....THANK YOU so much!

after chatting in the facebook group about the prize i think we all decided on the winner getting to choose which cowl they would like.  the winner will get to decide between the crefree cowl and the mallory cowl (child or adult sized).  you also mentioned that you would LOVE an adult mallory cowl pattern so your wish is my command - it will be out after the holidays sometime.  the winner will also get to choose an approximate color for the cowl of their choice (subject to availability).

so to all my lovely, wonderful, talented, inspiring, uplifting, comforting, hilarious, touching and special readers i adore you all and am so grateful you continue to read my little blog each day.

the deets & lowdown:

to enter the giveaway please leave me a comment below telling me which cowl you would like to win and in what color tone to enter (ex. greys, whites, brights, etc).  that's it folks! easy peasy :)  one rule...you must have a valid email in your comment or you will be disqualified.  giveaway is open until december 27th, pacific standard time.

but wait...i have other news to share with you all.  over the past few weeks i have been a busy bee designing and launching my good pal jane richmond's new website and blog.  it's been so fun and creatively exciting! i had such a blast and thank her so much for trusting me and letting me jump right in!  i think it looks amazing and just like jane - beautiful!  there's an awesome new pattern page and shopping cart so you can buy direct from her site as well as a handy contact form and other interactive features!  make sure to pop over and check it out and also to enter her launch giveaway!  a chance to win her entire pattern collection!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wowsa! run..don't walk over...lol.  tell your knitty friends!

good luck and happy knitting! 

moments in the mommyhood - just breathe

i'm taking it easy today.  i've got 2 kiddos with colds and now despite my best "i'm not gonna get this efforts" i've got the cold too. we're going to rest up and keep getting ready for the holidays.  my family is due to arrive in town tomorrow and we're very excited to have them here for christmas.  it's been a long time since i've been able to celebrate christmas with them and we're very excited!

i've got 2 big family dinners to  plan as well as a christmas day brunch, baking and holiday snack making and we're still decorating...lol.  i've got xmas pressies to finish making/blocking and shopping for!  and in the meantime we've been making sure to stop and take time to be thankful to live in such a beautiful place to see views like the one above.  we stopped and watched this cloud/sun formation for at least 15 minutes on the weekend and i swear it soothed my soul.  it was like a warm, soft energy that was more calming to me than anything i could think of.  i made the hubs jump out of the car and take 100 pics of this gorgeous cloud over our giant ocean with the soft creamy glow softly whisping down from the sky to light up and bronze the dark, cool waters below.  it was magical and soooo what we both needed to see.

i hope you are all able to find a sense of calm amidst the craziness of the holiday season right now.  take a minute to envision a "happy place" of your own and try to remember to take a breath and enjoy some of it.  i know it's tough cause i'm just as much of a stresscase at this time of year too but honestly, i just keeping putting this pic up on my screen and trying to remember to just soak it all in and breathe.  just breathe.

what are you all busy crafting?  are you getting the week before xmas crazies? remember you can come and chat in our facebook group, here in the comments below and also in our ravelry group for "christmas knitting 911 - your holiday crafting support group".  we're all in this together :)  coffee's on....wanna chat?

Fabric Christmas Tree Ornament Tutorial

are you guys getting in the festive spirit yet?  we are!  with the hubs finally done his exam we crammed all the xmas goodness we could into our weekend.  it was lots of fun and pics of our adventures are coming.  in the meantime i thought i would share this fun fabric christmas tree ornament tutorial with you all.  i wanted to put together a cute ornament using some amy butler scraps along with some button love and hand stitching - thus the tree was born.  we had a lot of fun in our house making a few of these and we plan on making a few more!

you ready to get making some ornaments?  grab the kids and jump into your fabric scrap stash...i love digging around in mind looking for treasures and so do the kidlets!  let's get making!

Fabric Christmas Tree Ornament Tutorial:

Materials:
- scraps of fabric
- batting
- glue gun w/glue
- brown felt for stump (approx 3"high & 1"wide)
- button for top of tree (optional)
- embroidery floss
- sewing needle
- pinking shears (optional)

Instructions:
*Please note I will be giving you directions to make "1" tree.
1. On a piece of paper draw and cut out 3 triangles in 3 different graduating sizes going from large to small to form the tree.  Play around with your sizes.  My tree was about 5" or so high not counting the stump when finished.  You don't want it too big if you're putting it on the tree or it will be too heavy. I do think a large one would look cool on a door as a hanger or on the wall as well.  Have some fun with it or even better get the kids to draw the triangles for you!

2. Get out your fabric scraps and fold them in half so they are equal to or more of the height of the triangle.  Once you have your triangle templates cut out place them on your fabric scraps (you could also make this tree out of felt as well).  Place the bottom of the triangle on the fold of your fabric so that way you only have to sew up two sides of the triangle after stuffing them (hint: your triangle will look like sort of like a diamond when you open it up).  We're all about fast here :) Cut out your triangles.  I pinked along the edges of mine with pinking shears so they didn't unravel and also because it reminded me of a tree but this is optional.  You will be cutting out 3 triangle pieces only.  Each triangle you cut will fold to form a 3 dimensional triangle.

3. Get your brown felt out (or whatever material you choose to use) for the stump.  You will cut out a rectangle that is 3"high by 1"wide.  This will be attached later.

4. Grab your embroidery floss in a co-ordinating or contrasting color and using three strands held together start to sew the largest triangle shut (right sides facing out - wrong sides facing each other) using the running stitch or whichever decorative stitch you desire that will hold the triangle closed.  I am a crappy hand sewer but I like doing it so mine is not perfect, don't worry about perfection here - it's supposed to look handmade! Once you get to about half way done the last side get your batting and stuff that little triangle.  Not too much though, just enough for it to be softly poofy.  Continue to stitch your triangle closed.  My daughter loves to help stuff crafts so this is her official job in our house :)  Do this step for the middle triangle as well.

5. Now we're going to stitch up the top triangle.  Start stitching the triangle closed along your first side then when you reach the top stop and place in a piece of embroidery floss the size you would like your ornament hanger to be that is folded in half to form a loop.  Place the two ends of the floss inside the top of the triangle and stitch over the top of the triangle (I backstitched a few times here to make sure I secured the floss) and then continue to sew down your other side taking care to stop to stuff this triangle as well - stitch the rest closed.

6.  Now get that glue gun heated up ladies!  I forgot how much I love using a glue gun.  Mine has sadly been ignored for quite some time but my little girl was sure pleased to have seen it!  She thought it was pretty cool.  You're going to take your piece of brown felt and fold it in half gluing the open ends together along the short side (1") ends so it forms a loop of sorts.  Then place a line of glue along the outer side of this same edge and glue to the bottom of the largest triangle. *I chose to have the side where you could see my stitches be the "right side" of my tree as the back of this tree is not as pretty as the front :P

7.  Glue your tree together.  The easiest way to do this I found was to dollop a line of glue along the bottom edge of the medium triangle and stick that puppy on the largest triangle where you would like it.  Wait for this to dry then using the glue gun touch up any spots that are loose or wobbly so that the triangle is very secure.  Next do this for the top triangle and attach it to the middle triangle.

8.  Now it's time to add your button! This is my favorite part.  I looooove me some buttons.  I let Mackenzie have her way through my button jar to pick her faves out for the 2 trees we made.  Once you've found your button simply glue that puppy on to the top of your tree or if you so desire you can sew it on.  I preferred to just hot glue mine though - the kids were getting restless :)  *I hope all the steps make sense..if anyone has any questions send an email my way to luvinthemommyhood@yahoo.ca or let me know if you feel like it would be better to have some illustrations showing you what I did.  My kiddos are both sick with colds today but I can always add them in for you later.

you're all done!  go hang your pretty ornament or tie it on a lovely wrapped gift as a special little pressie!  mine have gone to 2 lovely homes of 2 lovely women :)  i hope they like them as much as we did when were making them.  i'd love to see your trees if you make any -  make sure to add all your crafty goodies you've been whipping up into our flickr group!  happy making!

what is your fave handmade ornament to make?  do you agree that amy butler fabric makes a great pop of color to add to any tree?  which fabric would you use if you were to make one?  hope you all had a wonderful weekend.

weekend wishes

that the hubs does awesome on his exam today...

Source: wallpaper.goodfon.com via Becca on Pinterest

to remember these three things when things get tough...

Source: terri-2.tumblr.com via Kamme Fred on Pinterest

to get some serious blocking done...

http://www.knittingdaily.com/blogs/howto/archive/2009/05/06/using-blocking-wires-to-block-a-lace-shawl.aspx

to sneak some "adult drink" into my eggnog and coffees this weekend...oh man do i need that...

eggnog milkshake from babble.com

and to have as much determination as this cat to fight my battle with google adsense.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/expresident/pictures-taken-at-exactly-the-right-time

it's been a long week.  i''m hoping my little girl get's over her cold soon and feels better and we're also super excited that the hubs will be done his schooling for a bit.  i cannot wait to have him around more just in time for xmas.  i will be battling google adsense this weekend like nobody's business - they seem to think my account should be disabled due invalid activity. i appealed and they denied my appeal.  i am forever banned.  hello? since when did traffic from a wonderful company promoting me in their holiday newsletter become invalid activity? seriously. and of course there is nobody to speak to, nobody to help me or to ask questions. typical google. why am i not surprised. unfortunately they are a source of income for me that my family depends on and now it's gone.  everything they owe me.  merry xams. ho, ho ho.  jolly times.  but i digress...i won't be giving up, at least not yet.  i don't think it's fair so i will rant my little head off till someone out there in the big ol'google world helps me out & reinstates my account.

in the meantime i'm trying to stay chipper and focus on the happy things about this time of year.  my family will be in town soon and lots of good times are ahead.  i'm feeling thankful for what i do have and hopeful that 2012 will be my year and yours as well.  thank you for all your support this week my lovelies and i'm wishing you all a wonderful, special, eggnog filled, xmas tree loving, holiday music and family laughter filled kind of weekend.

what are your plans this weekend?  do you have any special weekend wishes you want to share? coffee's on and i'm always happy to chat!  c'mon..pull up a chair....it's friday :)

p.s. don't forget to get your entry in for the fairytale & frocks giveaway!

christmas knitting 911 - in the home stretch

 hi all....i'm taking care of a wee one who's not feeling so hot this morning so one of my besties and partner in crime rebecca from the blog - nook is here to guest post with some christmas knitting 911 goodness!

now here's becca...

only 10 days left! how are you feeling about it? i'm surprisingly not stressed! because you  know, you've all been working hard (me too) :) and just the fact that we're all giving handmade in some form or other will be so appreciated. well truth is, i'm trying not to be stressed :)

Source: images.search.yahoo.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

i've been so impressed and inspired by everyone's drive to the finish line in crafting. though i've been a little slower getting my butt in gear... last night was my first late night session. i stayed up until 1am. !!! and i know there will be a few more late nights. not because i'm stressing, but well it's just where we can slot time, right?  so here's the first thing i wanted to chat about....

christmas gift list from woodland christmas

our lists.... how many times have they been tweaked? are you having to change them now, knowing we're into single digits until the big day? does it bother you to have to change your list? one thing the tweaking of lists is not supposed to do is to add stress. really really, the important thing is that you are still enjoying the process of a handmade christmas... right? (or just some handmade gifts).

of course my list is tweaking... always is :) but now that we've made plans to travel to see family in the new year, i've got a few more weeks... because even later christmas gifts are just fine! who says it has to be on dec. 25th? right? we'd love to hear what's left on your lists! are you stuck on any projects? need ideas for that one person you just don't know what to make for, or having to change to a faster pattern? some great last minute, quick gifts are:

 kiddos:

source: 1. "kid lid"by edgebrook covenant church 2. "forecast: la nina" by sarah gresbach

women:

source: 1. "carefree cowl" by shannon cook 2. "shannon" by jane richmond

  men:

source: 1. "bulky knitted hat" by kristin omdahl. 2. "mug hugs" by nook :)

but in all honesty, we're probably pretty resigned to what we've made, and how much needs to be done... and that leads to other planning....

do you still have baking to do? are you entertaining guests for the holidays? do you have your christmas dinner all planned out? personally, i love to entertain. it's so fun! but it really does add to the work load for sure... especially when i really need my hands to be knitting away :) i've found a few great snacks/treats that will help to keep your guests happily munching away while the turkey is a cookin'.

1. nuts & bolts!

who doesn't love to snack on these?? and our very own shannon of "luvinthemommyhood" has the. best. recipe for it! it's very easy peasy, and your house smells ah-mazing while it's cooking away. seriously. go make it. you can find the recipe here.  and this yummy recipe was also just recently featured on "sweets and treats christmas countdown".  i promise you it's uber yummy! and you'll probably find lots of other goodies on that site too!

2. peppermint bark!

three layer peppermint bark from orangette

i made this last year, and it's so refreshing! if you're a peppermint and chocolate fan... make this! it's very easy, and it looks soo pretty! munching on this with hot chocolate is sooooo good!!! you can find the recipe for it here.

3. turtles!

turtles from misocrafty

ok. so i haven't made these...yet. but i've been meaning to! don't these look just ah-mazing!? and they are very easy to make... you can choose to glaze the top with the extra chocolate, or not.. i bet either way they'd look and taste sooo good! you can find the recipe for them here.

and there you have it! some easy last minute patterns to go to, as well as recipes to keep those hungry in-laws happy!  we're so excited that christmas 911 has had such a great response..we've so enjoyed seeing your FO's and chatting about patterns, yarns, lack of sleep... lol!  christmas is getting here pretty quick, that's for sure.. and we're so happy we have you lovely ladies to chat with!

what are your fave. recipes? last minute patterns, anything during this busy and crazy time? do you have many more items on your list? i've got the biggest pot of coffee on... and later today there *might* be a little bailey's involved... wanna share? xo

thank so much for coming on becca! you can find more of rebecca on her blog nook, facebook page & etsy shop - luv ya girl!!!!  and all you knitters taking part in christmas knitting 911 make sure you get your pictures uploaded into our ravelry group here or our flickr group here...you just may be up on the blog next week..wink wink!

makin'it in the mommyhood - we're getting close

we're busy crafting away over here today....stars for a mobile from some fun scrapbook paper...
(edited to add: here's the origami tute i used to make our stars - http://www.craftideas.info/html/tutorial_origami_star_b.html)

and i'm madly trying to finish hand sewing the binding on harper's quilt for xmas. i have to tell you i've been having a love/hate relationship with sewing the binding on.  i only have to do one side as an awesome pal of mine machine stitched (cut & sewed my binding too) the other side on.  what i've learned is that i am not a great hand sewer (no surprise to me there..lol) and that i really, really need a thimble.  any recommendations you guys? there are so many out there but i really want a good one for quilting with.  hopefully i'll have pics to show you soon of the quilt all washed, dried and crinkled up with love & quilty goodness.  i love that part :)

the back

 i could not resist trying out my machines alphabet sewing capabilities even though i didn't do a perfect job..it was my first time doing it after all, i love that her name is on it :)  warms my heart.

i've also got to get a hat and shawl blocked and get the hubs hat on the go.  what are you all up to?  are you starting to get a little panicky like i am that xmas is only like 10 days away??? oh my! anyone else finishing up some handmade pressies? 

p.s. christmas knitting 911 will be up on a diff day this week :) and i'm super thrilled to be mentioned in the "knit and crochet now" christmas gift guide newsletter yesterday! what a thrill to see the mallory cowl in there i tell ya!  thank you knit and crochet now! if you haven't seen their show start watching - it's awesome. i mean how can you go wrong with a show all about knitting & crocheting? LOVE it! :)

moments in the mommyhood - view from the daddyhood

daddy and the camera have struck again..lol.  j took the kids out on the weekend for a good ol'run around at the park.  this is the evidence of their fun.  eating dirt, jumping in mud, swinging their hearts out, and just plain good ol'daddy & me time.  i love seeing these pics and they are even more fun to find on the camera later when i don't know they are on there.

our little harper is sure a mischievous one just like her big sister.  that humorous spirit runs strong in this one...lol.  she's always looking and watching and soaking it all in......

and mackenzie, well she is mackenzie.  always up for a good adventure, some fun and lots of laughs.  she never ceases to amaze me with her energy and her big smile!  always up to mischief this one..but good mischief.

we've had a rough few days around here.  you know those days where little things just keep driving ya nuts or going wrong? yep..had a few of those around here.  oh well...i figure after a few days of that must mean some good things are coming my way! i had to pull a few sarah jessica parker moments from "how does she do it" scenarios but we survived and i feel a bit proud of myself for making it through...gibbled back and all.  now to make it to the weekend.

we're coming up on jer's exam on friday and boy am i counting down the days.  it feels like this last module of studying he's been doing has taken forever.  crawled by to be exact.  i managed to get almost all of my xmas cards done yesterday though...a miracle as i had to address them with both kiddos helping and trying to allow them to be involved without destroying my cards or pictures.  what an adventure that was to say the least.  now to finish the holiday crafting/shopping.....hopefully :) i can't believe it's only like 11 days left till xmas! seriously?  when did this happen?

how's your week been so far?  any of you having "one of those days" too?  let's commiserate together..lol.  have you been holiday crafting? what are you making?  let's chat, this momma could use the company today.

p.s. thank you to all my loyal and lovely readers for being there for me this morning.  you all know who you are and i wish you could all know how much your comments meant to me.  i love this blog and i love all of you and i hope we can continue to be honest and open with each other and that this remains a happy place to share in our good days and bad days of mommyhood :)  big hugs to you all!