I recently knit this green and grey sweater for a baby girl--my good friend Tanya---is soon to be a Grandma! so I rummaged around my yarn stash and came up with this yummy wool/cashmere yarn and knit this little sweater. I love this pattern--so quick and easy. I have to admit, the instant gratification of small knitting projects like this is quite satisfactory....because they take so little time to finish. And mostly my life seems to be: "so many projects, so little time..."

THE YARN MADE ME DO IT ;-)

Babie Quilts and Grandbabies

Here is sneak peek #2 of Arams' quilt-in-progress.  I must say--I am not really a quilter--I just end up creating quilts by default because a special occassion requires one and/or a daughter wants me to "make a quilt with her" and I end up sewing it (while she cuts the fabric). I am no seamtress....I like to sew but much the same as with my knitting I mostly don't use patterns--but alter clothing---or if I use a sewing pattern I alter the pattern. I'm not much a linear thinker so complicated quilt patterns just confuse me. I thought a strip quilt would be easy though and it proved to relatively uncomplicated.

This is a true "patchwork" quilt in the sense that I just used green and blue quilt cottons I had already had (thanks to my traveling friend Carol --who gave me a good deal of her green and blue quilt fabric stash before she took off to travel the world...) instead of going out a buying fabrics that were all coordinated.  I like designing a quilt buy buying fabrics--but it is a different process than creating a quilt top just using your fabric stash.

At any rate here is Aram's quilt top--minus the border(s) which I have yet to design and sew on....seems a fun start though and his Auntie Serenity and I had fun getting this far along with it...

and here is my new grandbaby Aram with his brother Jasper and his Pappa. Welcome Aram Adrian Micheletti to our family---may he enjoy this quilt....

Our family has been blessed with 2 babies this month...Aram born June 5th and now Caden born June 22nd! yupp!  two grandsons in one month! Here is Caden--about an hour old....I watched him arrive since I was invited to be present at his birth. All babies and parents are doing great....

                             welcome Caden Asher Gray to our family...

(Scroll down to see the blog post about Caden's quilt.....)

  After all, Our lives are like quilts - bits and pieces, joy and sorrow, stitched with love.

Sneak Pre-view of Baby Aram's Quilt

Here is a quick sneak pre-view of baby Aram's quilt. Aram is due in about 3 weeks! and his Auntie Serenity and I have been cutting and sewing....

 so now we have about 2/3 of the squares sewn and cut (more than I am showing here)...think it will be nice! once it is all sewn together...and has a border. And it is especially nice to work on this project along with a daughter ;-)

of course I will post finished photos here once it is finished! so check back...

No Idle Hands

So, even when my brain is fogged by too much mucas my hands are not still. Seriously folks, I have been rather "under the weather" but still knitting--in fact busy hands and some mundane tv help to take my mind off how lousy I feel...so enough whining ;-)

When I am not feeling well, a small project which provides instant gratification is good, so here are some baby booties for little Jasper---he is growing so fast he was out growing all his other ones.

I used some of the new chocolate brown angora for nice soft, warm booties.

I just love this simple baby bootie pattern---which is by someone named Christine or Marilyn--bless her heart! I have 2 different sources for this pattern and they have different names for the designer...?

Because I think this is such a good pattern--- I am going to post the pattern here for everyone. I have made about 8 pairs of these booties now...and they all stay on good. I vary the size by changing the size yarn and needles I use (the bigger the yarn and needles--the bigger the booties).

Needles: size 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 double pointed needles (depending on how big you want the booties to be) you need 5 needles for this pattern.
Yarn: baby fingering, up to worsted weight--again the smaller the yarn size, the smaller the booties--I like to use wool, but cotton yarn is good, also if you want them to be washable in a machine.

Cast on 10 sts. Knit 32 rows (you are making the sole)
(you should have a rectangle with 10 sts on each end and 16 sts on each side)

Count 16 ridges. Pick up 16 sts on each side of this rectangle and 10 sts on the other end. Use a separate needle for each side and end (4 needles--you need the fifth needle to knit with)

Now make the sides of the bootie:
1) Join and knit one round
2) Purl 3 rounds
3) Knit 4 rounds
4) Change color (if desired--I like them in at least 3 colors) and knit one round
5) Purl 3 rounds
6) Knit 4 rounds
7) Change color and knit 1 round
8) Purl 3 rounds
9) Knit 4 rounds

NEXT ROW (make toe):
1) change color and * Knit 9 stitches (across the 10 sts end)
2) Knit 10th st together with edge st (edged st is on the long side needle that has 16 sts on it) TURN.
3) Slip 1st st, purl 8 sts, purl 2 together (the 10th st and the edge st). TURN*
4) Repeat * to * until you have 10 sts on each needle. 40 sts total.
(you are just picking up and knitting sts on each side of the rectangle to make the toe of the bootie)

NEXT ROW (make ribbing):
1) Knit 4 rounds
2) Knit 2 sts, yarn over, k2 together entire row
3) Knit 2 rounds, 40 sts total
4) Knit 2, Purl 2 for 15 rounds (or more--depending on how high you want the bootie ribbing to go)
5) Cast off

I-Cord (knit shoe lace)
1) cast on 3 sts
2) Put all 3 sts back onto left needle
3) Knit 3 sts
4) Put all 3 sts back onto left needle
5) knit 3 sts
Repeat step 4 & 5 until your cord measure 18 ' long

NOTE: You do not turn your work. You're working yarn comes from the furthest stitch left & it feels very wrong & weird. Just do it! (and magical I-Cord will grow...)

NOTE #2 : If you are using double pointed needles--you can just slide the stitches to the other end of the needle--rather than slipping them onto the other needle--but this is NOT turning your work.

Thread the "shoe lace" into the holes left by your yarn over row--and there you have it! lovely baby booties! now find a baby to give them to....

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Please feel free to copy this pattern and make as many baby booties as you like...CRAFTING IT FORWARD
crafting it forward means to teach others what you know, so they can then teach others...and the traditions and stitches of knitting (or whatever art/craft you are doing) get passed down generation to generation.

Welcome Baby Boy Jasper !

Jasper Killian Micheletti emerged into this world on August 19th at 7:30 am...his Auntie --Serenity---was there through out the whole labor and birth, with Grandma Aurora arriving soon after (1 1/2 hours later)---flying in from the Bay Area. Momma, Pappa and baby are all doing fine! Isn't he a cutie with all that thick dark hair?

So --I am in lovely green and moist (it has been raining--something it very rarely does this time of year in Berkeley) Portland, Oregon for a few weeks--helping out. I get to hold the newborn (such a treat!) and cook and wash clothes and dishes...and just be wise (old?) resident Grandma (!) who can answer all those new baby & breastfeeding questions.

I am going to be trying to blog more regularly for the few weeks I am here--so do check back for some nice images of the sketches I am creating for my SKETCHBOOK SWAP, and even some photos of Portland!

Oh--and do also check out the great new BLOG my son-in-law Dustin has started to write about his parenting/fatherhood experience...FROM OLD TO YOUNG. In addition to his amusing and witty take on new fatherhood--he has posted some nice photos of the baby and family members.

Life Journey's & Diaper Cakes

Hi everyone! I have been dealing with a personal crisis of sorts and a sudden unexpected move ---but since this is primarily a craft blog --not a personal blog---I 'm not going into it all in detail here....but I am glad to have my computer set up again so I am able to post here! hooray!



I have been wanting to share this wonderful "diaper cake"--created with all "green" diapers, baby clothes and toys--by my daughter Serenity for her sister and hubby for the baby-to-be....due to emerge (we hope) August 25th.

Cute, huh? I think she and her friend had fun creating this!

a great time was had by all--including the parents-to-be; the food was great, and they received nice baby gifts and loads of love!