Newest Doll design! Winter Heidi! #093

Pattern coming soon! Winter Heidi pattern will be available half price during my Raverly group WE MAKE DOLLS KAL that will begin in the next couple weeks.

Newest Doll design

Drusilla and Raven

KAL going on right now on We make dolls on Raverly 

Poem I wrote about Spring

I need the smell of rotten twigs and wood chips burning free

I need the hint of trees on wind and leaves blowing in the breeze

I need the sound of birds chirping, their song heard so long ago

And the crack of a twig on a dirt brown soil

Waiting to turn green

The sprout of grass on a yellowed canvas the smell of summer song

The hint of fire, burning bright

The smell of all life's arrival

Bring forth to me the summer's breeze

Early in the spring's showers

I take with me the breath of life

And bring with me desire

The bird may chirp

My head looks up

And in that moment sun, I feel the heat and feel the life

Of spring ever sprung.

Poem about working hard for what you want and yet it being still out of reach

All My Timing

All my timing

Has been slightly off

All my planning

Has been a big laugh

I close my eyes and I see things

The way I wish had been

The times spent working away

And I hold my breath and continue every day

Only to be faced with distress

All my timing

Has been slightly off

All my planning

has been a big laugh

Working hard- I should have played

All my effort

spill milk on the floor

All my hard work

thrown out the door

Don’t listen to the bull that’s on display

All my timing

Has been slightly off

All my planning

has been a big laugh

Put one foot out the door

Hold my head up a little higher

Go trudging through the lie

Once again

Can’t deal with defeat

Wasn’t born to not complete

Keep believing with work

I’ll get the prize

Even though

All my timing

Has been slightly off

All my planning

has been a big laugh

Maybe one day

It will show

All my effort

Not the woes

And working hard won’t be a mistake

But for now I don’t know

Guess I have to see it through

Because I don’t know how to do it

any other way

I hope my timing

Will finally be on

I hope my planning

Bringing the fruit I long.

Deena Thomson

New Leaf poncho for neice of Friend

Girl child had a lot of compliments on her blue poncho I finished back in April and a friend asked if I could make her one for her neice. So I did but I don't like to do the same thing twice.

This time I took this pattern called Cables and Lace Afghan Square #7 and the leaf vines from Cables and Leafs pattern here. 

I cast on 112 stitches with worsted yarn and US 7 4.5mm circular needles placing stitch markers between the Cables and Lace Afghan pattern and the leaf vines from Cable and Leafs. The leaf vine is the middle section.

This time I did not do two pieces and then sew them together later since I wanted it to be asymmetrical like I did my blue one- for memory here is the blue Leaf poncho I finished in April

I knitted the piece flat until it was 60 inches long, folded it in half and left 12 inches again for the neck.

For the ruffles I did the same as the blue poncho - along bottom of poncho with crochet hook I did (2dc, chain 1, 2dc, chain 1, sc in second stitch, chain 1) repeat all the way around.

For the Collar 

Round 1- single crocheted around the opening of the neck

Round 2- single crochet through back loop

Then go to ridge created from sc in back loop and (2dc, chain 1, 2dc, chain 1, sc in second stitch, chain one) repeat. This creates a ruffled collar but won't touch the neck and lays nice and flat.

I think I am addicted to ponchos. Now I am making myself one - A pattern called Madison by Martin Storey. Stay tune for updates!

Hypocrisy

Hypocrisy

In a world of never ending happiness
Told deep in every lies
I heard the old man hollering
To the flowers that have died

He told them of their stories
Of hate and those unloved
Simplifying anger just to make a point

Can you see the trees and how they are the same?
Some are covered in orange leaves and some are covered in rain

Can you see the grass beneath the trees?
And the texture of their blade
All this anger built up
Yet the wind still makes them sway

Butterflies take to the sky
In all their different shapes and sizes
Singing songs of laughter and other songs of disaster

Up fly the moths with their grey colour cloths sings similar songs about their lot
Which one of them is the wiser? Which one is not?

Oh please, old man who speaks
Tell me what is true?
Why is passion and opinions always hiding behind dispute?

Can it be from what you see?
Everyone needs a victory
Regardless of the message, regardless of the Hypocrisy

Old man sits down on a rock
Holds his hands out to the Sun and the clock
Simplifying matters is as foolish as it is not
He sighs at the coming rain and the pebbles glistening in the stream
Whispers words to the Northern skies of hope forever lost

It is true, the flowers of blue
There will never be an end
Not when one and the other will not see they are the same.

He lays down his weary head and turns away from sight
Wonder what will become of those silly flowers that died.
~Deena Thomson~

The View Outside

The View Outside

I look out this window

At the great big world out there

And I really have to wonder

Is there anyone left who cares

The years of life keep passing, each day and each year

And with it, I can’t help it

Is this growing, knowing despair

Can it really be, this ugly?

Is there no kindness anywhere?

Is mankind always hateful, no matter who we are?

Can this be? This reality?

Humanity crashing down on its knees

Over zealots people overjoyed by other’s dark deeds

I sit back from the window with my heart beating low

Darkness all around me chills me to the bone

I wonder where’s the happiness gone and if it was ever there

And I shutter by the coldness of all that hate steals

Can it be? This reality?

Humanity crashing down on its knees

Hopeless, hateful people

Saturating every once of air we breathe.

A small hand reaches up from the darkness

Holds a necklace made of weeds

Here’s a dandelion promise

That I will be good and work hard to be kind

Don’t let the darkness suck you up

Don’t let the hate win

Take my hand Mommy,

We have to try again

It can’t be? This reality?

Not all humanity is on their knees

Hopeful, loving people are still trying to breath

Stand up

Close the window

Hold the hand of the Jeweler

I can’t stop the hateful

But I can change my view for his future

~Deena Thomson~

Scarlett's Moppet sweater

My friend Serena wanted a sweater from a popular pattern that I have eyed myself for some years. She really wanted one for her new daughter Scarlett. The problem was the sweater she wanted didn't come in the size she wanted which is size 12-18months. This isnt' really a problem but a good excuse for me to tackle the sweater and see if I could come up with the same look all on my own. 

I enjoy these challenges. In fact I kind of OCD on the idea that I can make the item based on just looking at it. It's like my crack.

Now the thing we both really loved about this classic swing coat, is the pattern on the bottom trim of the coat and sleeves and around the hood. This was really the only challenge to create the look we wanted, since I was going to use the pattern Moppet By Norah Gaughan that I found free on Raverly to actually construct the sweater. I would then add a hood instead of a collar at the end.

Interestingly enough it didn't take me long to find the stitch pattern on several free patterns to create dishcloths. It's a simple yet very effective Basket stitch. 

And so I began. I have to say I really am pleased how it turned out and really wish I could try it on a 1 yr old asap!! But alas I don't know any 1 yr olds near me right now, so I will just have to wait till Scarlett is old enough to fit into her Moppet with a hood sweater.

Think I may do this for my girl but alter the Libby pattern by leslie friend -- I would want it much longer than the Libby pattern. But there are a few swing coat patterns out there I really like. So who knows.

Here are my notes of what I did to to achieve the sweater.

Basket stitch

Row 1 (wrong side): Purl.

Row 2 (right side) k3, slip 1 with yarn in back(wyib), k3, repeat from to end of row.

Row 3: , slip 1 wyib, k2, slip 1 with yarn in front (wyif), k3, repeat from to end of row.

Rows 4 and 5: Repeat Rows 2 and 3.

Row 6: knit.

Row 7: slip 1 wyib, purl.

skirt section

Repeat Rows 2 – 7 for 6 repeats ending with a Row 5. 
Next Row (right side- knit)until total from cast on measures 8 inches decrease 10 stitches evenly across- every 17 rows or so. for a total of 10 (165 stitches) 

Starting on WS 
about 1.5/2 inches of basket weave before arm 
11 inches arm to bottom counting hemline (total skirt area around 11 inches.

Start instructions for sleeves but use 12 month instructions for sleeves binding off but 18months for length)8.5 inches for sleeves not the length given in Moppet pattern

added hood by picking up 55 stitches starting from front openig- (5 stitches) then 6 across shoulder, 33 across back, then 6 across shoulder and 5 across front

two repeats of basket weave in font shaping face, 
in mid center repeated increases 4 stitches every 3 or 4th row until I had 67 stitches total then knit unti piece measured 9.5 inches turned it inside out and did a 3 needle bind off.

I hope that makes sense for anyone interested in achieve the same look!

Chapter 14 of The Last Boy

Chapter 14 of The Last Boy is now up! HERE

 

Also my other book Poppies is availble to download as  free ebook HERE

Little Princess hat DONE

I finally finished my third attempt at the little princess' bonnet, just in time to see several version online already. That is ok, I needed to get my ocd out of my system and I knew I could construct this bonnet if I tried. Since I was half way done with this final hat I decided to add my own twist to it and not worry about it being exact.

 

Here is what I did

3-6month (this fits a newborn but stretches to fit up to 6 months)

Sock yarn of choice (I used  Patons Kroy sock yarn in FLAX)

Five 2.75 dpns

I am not going to be really formal here since there are more than one pattern out there and growing. 

THESE  are my notes in the rough. NOT a offical pattern.

Bonnet

Provisional Cast 40 stitches--

Row 1- knit

Row 2-knit to last 13 rows place marker, knit 1, purl 2, knit 3, purl 2, knit 3, purl 2

Row 3- knit 2, purl 3, knit 2, purl 3, knit 2, purl 1, knit remaining row

Row 4- knit to marker, knit 1, purl 2, knit 3, purl 2, knit 3, purl 2

Row 5- knit 2, place working yarn in front, slip next stitch as though to purl, purl 2 stitches, slip slip stitch over, last two purled stitch, (PSSO), knit 2, slip next stitch as though to purl, purl 2 stitches, slip slip stitch over, last two purled stitch, (PSSO), knit two, purl one, slip marker knit remaining rows

Row 6- knit to marker, knit 1, purl 2, knit1, y/o, knit 1, purl 2, knit 1, y/o, knit 1, purl 2

Repeat rows 3-6 until piece measures 8/10/12 inches

Cut yarn and leave stitches on spare needle

Go to top on side of hat (cables will be horizontal now and at the top- in center pick up 17  stitches above the cabling

With separate dpns pick up 20 stitches on either sides of the 17 middle ones

Knit back and forth for 30 rows- (you can k2toger on end of row for each side but I found one side had nice ridge and other looked messy every time I did it so I decided to seam the sides together instead and make sure I had a nice even ridge on either side.

Pick up the remaining stitches on provincial cast on stitches-40/17/40

Starting on WS- knit one stitch then  knit in st st for 6 more rows then purl one row knit in st st for 6 rows cut yarn very long and grab bottom of stitch where front band began and put tapestry needle through first stitch on needle pull off and repeat till end so that hat brim is folded and sewn together

Cast on 4 stitches, icord for 10 inches do not cut yarn

Pick up 45 stitches on bottom of hat (pick up the little bump ridges caused from the garter stitch) with needle holding 10inch icord continue to do I-cord bind off across the 45 stitches, then I-cord another 10 inches for other side of strap

Cut yarn and weave in ends

That's it! I hope it makes sense! It doesn't look that great until it is on a head then it is adorable.

I also have instructions for worsted yarn and different sizes

3/6/9 months

here they are!

with 3.5mm dpns

Provisional Cast 28 stitches-

Row 1- knit

Row 2-knit to last 13 rows place marker, knit 1, purl 2, knit 3, purl 2, knit 3, purl 2

Row 3- knit 2, purl 3, knit 2, purl 3, knit 2, purl 1, knit remaining row

Row 4- knit to marker, knit 1, purl 2, knit 3, purl 2, knit 3, purl 2

Row 5- knit 2, place working yarn in front, slip next stitch as though to purl, purl 2 stitches, slip slip stitch over, last two purled stitch, (PSSO), knit 2, slip next stitch as though to purl, purl 2 stitches, slip slip stitch over, last two purled stitch, (PSSO), knit two, purl one, slip marker knit remaining rows

Row 6- knit to marker, knit 1, purl 2, knit1, y/o, knit 1, purl 2, knit 1, y/o, knit 1, purl 2

Repeat rows 3-6 until piece measures 8/10/12 inches

Cut yarn and leave stitches on spare needle

Go to top on side of hat (cables will be horizontal now and at the top- in center pick up 15/17/20  stitches above the cabling

With separate dpns pick up  stitches on either sides of the middle ones

Knit back and forth picking up a stitch on either side of the 0 stitches until there are no more sitches

Pick up the remaining stitches on provincial cast on stitches-

stitches around face knit in st st for 6 rows then purl one row knit in st st for 6 rows cut yarn very long and grab bottom of stitch where front band began and put tapestry needle through first stitch on needle pull off and repeat till end so that hat brim is folded and sewn together

Cast on 4 stitches, icord for 10 inches do not cut yarn

Pick up 35 stitches on bottom of hat (pick up the little bump ridges caused from the garter stitch) with needle holding 10inch icord continue to do I-cord bind off across the 30/35/ stitches, then I-cord another 10 inches for other side of strap

Cut yarn and weave in ends

 Not sure how well the different sizes are going to work out. Haven't played with it enough and now my ocd is calmed and I don't feel like knitting on it anymore. That's what happens with me. I am all fired up until... I am not. 

HAHA! 

Probably some errors in there also but it's not an offical pattern. Just my rough notes.

Chapter 13 of the Last Boy

Chapter 13 of the Last boy is now up HERE

A bonnet fit for a Princess

Let me start off by saying this. I LOVE that BONNET. It is gorgeous and as a knitter I instantly want to knit one.

I love the blanket too but the bonnet is what I am attracted to more. I want it! I do not have a baby in my future to knit it for but that is besides the point. There are always going to be babies that need an adorable bonnet.

I really find moms are going back to the classics and this bonnet (and blanket) hit the spot. I haven't a clue what the new little princess' name is but her little knitted ensemble is to die for. A perfect gift for an expectant mother.


So that said, I was up till 2 am trying to knit this little hat up. I need to work through some quirks and I didn't pick a great yarn for the prototype- it looks like it would fit a 6 month old not a newborn but I think I am very close!


I am assuming eventually there will be an official pattern release from the real designer? I hope so. This little bonnet is a keepsake in the making.


Update! First prototype pictures- It fits a 6 month old, and I should have used different yarn, the model is a doll so the ears are pastic and stick out- also not sure if what I did for the cabling is correct as in the original. Can't think of what other type of cabling it would be??

Anyways here are the first pictures of my first attempt

Chapter 12 of The Last Boy

Starting to get to the good stuff in The Last Boy

Chapter 12 is upload HERE. Let me know what you think.

Chapter 11 of The Last Boy

Thought I would post two chapters today since it's been a while since I posted a chapter and chapter 10 is very short.

Excited to share one of the main and one of my fav characters, Kai and Lonnie.

Chapter 11 is UP! Enjoy

Chapter 10 of The Last Boy

CHAPTER 10 of the Last Boy is up!  Go on over and take a peek what is going on with the Folks of Newbury! It's all about Summer and Josh today.

This one is one of my favs

I remember when I felt the strong urge to write this poem. The words kept popping into my head urging me to write what was being told to me and I knew I had to post it right away on facebook. All these voices felt like they were inside me telling me it was important to write this down and share it immediately. So I did and it is one of my favourite poems I have ever written. I feel like I didn't write it, but was told the message to share it with those who needed it.

It's True

I'm sorry I had to go

I know you didn't want me too

Sometimes there's just no choice

I feel you calling me

I hear you cry for me

I know you feel lost

Please don't cry your tears for me

Darling

I am always right near you

Darling

Never far from where you are

Darling

It's true.

I am never far from you.

You felt me yesterday

Beside you, touching your face

It's true,

I was there, sitting right next to you

Whispering in the trees

That's me

Touching you with the breeze

That's me

Reaching out to let you know

I will never fully go

Don't you loose your faith in life

Darling

I am never far from site

Darling

I am always by your side

Darling

Waiting,

Watching

Loving

With you.

Just reach out your hand

Let the rain touch your palm

Let the sun soak up the tears

and warm your heart like a hug

Feel my warm embrace with the ones that are around

Feel the goodness in life

and know that I am sound

I'm sorry I had to go

I know you didn't want me too

Sometimes there's just no choice

This is not goodbye

Not when there is a sky

Reaching high above

I am the birds and clouds

Darling

The flowers on the ground

Darling

The tickle at the back of your neck

Darling

It's true

I am touching you.

Just reach out - feel the wind's embrace

Let the caked sand between your fingers break

Tumble free in solid blocks, like raindrops of all things lost

Take a deep breath of life

Let it fill your lungs, alive

You do not stand alone

Not when you can still see life all around………

It's true

It's true

Life is all bursting around you

It's true

I am always standing, watching, dancing too

It's true

With you.

~Deena Thomson~

Chapter 9 of The Last Boy is up on my The Last Boy Website.

The Last Boy Chapter 9

What is the definition of Family?

Recent events in my life have made me re-examine the meaning of the word family.

In the last few years but in particular recently  I have started to value the quality of life over quantity and that includes people in a life. Which brings me to what defines a family?

My husband and I both do not have large families and the family we do have we have not much contact with them. It's just really my mother who is extended family. I have no relationships outside of facebook friends who are biologically related to me. I have relatives of course, but I don't see them or interact much past a friendly hi and how are you? If I do it is rare, and usually something big has happened. My biological father's side I never felt welcomed and as an adult realized this was a correct assumption. On my mother's side the two people who seemed to like me have passed away. On my in-laws side, we see them for an hour at Christmas and Thanksgiving. I have a brother but he lives out of town.

So what defines a family? I am always told I have a large family based on the amount of children I have and I suppose in those terms I do have a large family. Six kids is not the norm now a day. But there aren't any cousins and aunts and uncles, grandparents and great aunt Martha's at any family events that my kids will experience as children. 

I am often questioned if this bothers me and although I know it should, for the most part it doesn't. I would love to have a family that extends past my front door but life doesn't always give you the picture perfect painting of what you think is a typical family. 

For better or worse this is the family I have and the bonus side is with six kids, chances are my grandchildren are going to have a blast growing up with so many extended family members. Fingers cross they want to be in each other's lives and I will be there to witness it all. 

There in lies the secret. When you think of the future whom do you picture there?

I picture my family I have made with my husband, our 5 sons and our daughter, my mom, my children's spouses and their children. I also picture my brother there... sometimes haha. Sorry Duane of course you will be there.

But I also picture some friends in the mix. Some old friends but most likely there will be lots of new friends and when I think of this it also reminds me that although I may not have typical family events I do have events where there are people around that I really enjoy and care for and I suspect they care for us too. 

In fact, I have the family I pictured in the future and it's still growing.

Which brings me back to recent events. Life is very short, a long life is not a promise, a given. It can be short and none of us know when our time is running out. It is important to relish in those individuals you cherish being surrounded by and not worry about what you do not have. It's illogical and the only thing it changes is enjoying what you have in front of you to the fullest extent.

My definition of family is the family my husband and I built- six humans that I can't even dare to think of a life without. Plus my mother who as much as she drives me to drink has always tried to be there and has been a life savour more than once since my younger kids were born. It is also the people who come into our lives during our lifetime and enrich it, even if it is only for a brief period of time. That is my definition of family.

The people, who make you laugh, celebrate, piss you off but you dust yourself off and get over it, cry with and worry that they are all right. They also worry about you too. 

That last part is really hard to find but there are people out there who will. There is always someone out there who will and it doesn't have to be many. It only needs to be one. This is why it is so important to let go of what you don't have so that you can embrace what you could have. Family isn't always about how you are related to someone, sometimes it's just the people in your life who care.

Family. It's such a powerful word. I love it.

Chapter 8 of The Last boy

Chapter 8 of the Last Boy is up on my The Last Boy website HERE

Sunny Day Pattern is finally available.

After nearly a year I am finally releasing Sunny Day pattern. Some patterns I can zip through in a few weeks and others take months. This is one of them. I feel really good about releasing the pattern after all this time.

The pattern can be found on Raverly HERE

The pattern can be found on Etsy HERE

The pattern can be found on Crafty Here

PHEW! Finally she is ready for others to create!

ENJOY!

Today is going to be a yoga kind of day

I never saw myself as a yoga type of gal. I eat meat, I like to drink wine and growers granny smith apple cidars. I am not granola at all and although I look like a curly head hippy, I am not one in the least bit. 

In fact I kind of rolled my eyes at people who were doing yoga, like they were self obsorbed idiots haha. I know, so not Zen of me. But that is the point I guess. I didn't think it would ever be my thing.

When I had my last child, the birth was very difficult and I ended up with a separated pelvis and dislocated hips. Both conditions don't just go away after the baby is born. In fact it took my pelvis nearly a year to heal (which it did with child #4 too) and my hips have never been the same. For 7 yrs I have had constant hip pain. The first two years it was really bad then it kind of dulled to a constant ache and if I did any hard workouts like running, I usually suffered for long periods. I have had to rest from running more than one time because of my hips.

My friend Sylvie kept telling me to try yoga and that it would help with my hips. I said yah yah, like the good friend I am and totally ignored her advice, until my left hip was once again injured from running. I was discouraged because it takes so much out of me to retrain myself to run again after periods of time off. I was desperate! I didn't want to restart yet again with running. Something had to give. Something had to work and the bottles of advil weren't cutting it.

So I gave it a shot. I went on youtube and searched out yoga for hips. 

Well the rest is history. Right away I felt better. Not perfect, but that was because I hadn't found the perfect poses yet that would work for my type of pain. BUT I DID, I eventually found the perfect video for me and not only did it dull my pain it took it completely away. 

Years of pain, years of having trouble walking was taken away with a 19 minute yoga video, 3 times a week. 

Now I am an addict. I try to do a little yoga every day. It has changed my  life in ways that I can't fully express. Erin Motz from Bad Yogi (erinmotz.com)is pretty much my fav day to day yoga that I follow. That and my miracle yoga for hips from Ekheartyoga.com. I have that video burned into my brain so I will never forget it. I even did it in Mexico every day when we went away this winter. I am serious. 3 times a week and no more hip pain.

Today I feel totally stressed out with my mountain of family home and super hyper because of all the Easter chocolate in the house. So I plan on putting on my fav yoga videos and stretching my stress away. 

It even eliminates my anxiety attacks and that is just mind boggling to me. Nothing has ever been able to do that. Nothing. 

Yoga is so simple too. You don't have to be in crazy poses to get the benefits of it.

It makes you calmer, breath better, move your body easier and just an entire full body and mind recharger. I love it and am proud to say I am one of those "yoga people". It has allowed me to take control of my body and life. I have ran consistantly longer than I ever have since I discovered yoga without injury. I feel stronger every day and it is all because of a little stretching.

I have to have half my thyroid removed because of inconclusive thyroid bioposy and the very first thing I asked was not, what if it is cancer but how soon can I work out after surgery. 

Yup it's official. I am a yoga gal.