Fantastic Felt!

Since I made the children the Bucilla stockings last Christmas - I've really enjoyed browsing for other felt crafts - mainly to sell on etsy. This week I made a Santa, also Bucilla. Here he is below - not very cost effective as took forever to make and can't really sell him for much!

So now I've been hitting google on an hourly basis whenever I think of a key word! Of course I started with Christmas  searchings, as I love anything to do with it! But now I'm thinking start now - the beginnings of Autumn are upon us and Halloween is just 7 weeks away! I needed some simple designs to look to and tweak as my own. These are my favorites so far:

And back to Christmas - I'm loving these simple but stunning ornaments:

I'm also working on some new baby hats to sell.. I think it's too soon to start gearing them to be elf-inspired so a few in lovely pastel colors to start - then the red and white stripes come later!

well then...

I passed my driving test! So happy. Finally I feel independent after 

9 years in America relying on others wooop!

good news..

So the tests were all clear - so that's a hurdle jumped - a few more to go! Children start back at school tomorrow so I'm in full on organizing mode - mixed of course with full on 5 1/2 months pregnant so I'm tired mode ugh. Have my road test in the morning too, and although I'm definitely trying to be more breezy about passing or in my case - failing! - it's still nerve wracking to know I may have to start the whole process again. Anyway - not a long post as I have mountains still to do before I can officially relax for an early night. Oh I did buy an owl candle holder and some glitter paint and had the children collect acorns on Saturday - so the hint of Autumn is just around the corner - and I'm loving that thought!

waiting... and waiting

So I wait and wait and then I wait some more and all the while I feel a nervousness building up inside me that tears me to shreds. It's now been 10 long days since I had my blood drawn for the Down Syndrome test. 9 if you don't count the actual day of the draw - but 10 is a round number so I'm going with 10.  I've set out to accomplish greatness this week - anything to take my mind off the waiting game. But although I've done much it seems little. The laundry still sits waiting to be put away, the breakfast dishes still wait to be done int he sink - and my bedroom - after nearly a year here still waits to be painted.  So you see everything is on hold right now. So while I try to get a lot done to avoid thinking about waiting - everything else waits with me. I've stared at the damn phone around a million times this week, and even though the genetic lady told me to call Friday 4.30pm I left a message at 2pm. To no avail of course But there is a limit to my patience and I reached it ooh 4 days ago!

being patient

Patience is a virtue, and certainly not my strong point! SO while I wait for test results and future tests I am knitting. a hat and half a cardigan so far this week.  Like any mother I look forward to getting the nursery ready for the baby, but this time I'm trying not to even think about it until after we have the heart scan the end of September. By that time I'll be approaching 7 months, so it'll be all systems go! In the meantime she will have a full wardrobe of cosy knits - just right for any winter bambino.

thinking positively...

So of course with great joy, a baby, comes some amount of niggling worry. At least it always does for me. We had our anatomy scan yesterday and the Dr saw 2 markers for Down Syndrome. One was a 2 vessel umbilical cord, the other a bright spot on the heart. Apparently these on their own are not a huge cause for concern, but together they could signal a chromosomal issue with the baby. I did some blood tests which take a few weeks to come back - which will tell us if the baby has Down Syndrome - that with my stats of a 1 in 250'000 chance isn't likely. Then in 5 weeks I'm having an fetal ecg to check for abnormalities in the heart. If that's clear then all we have to worry about is the cord issue. I'll also be having a growth scan on that day. After 30 wks I'll have fortnightly growth scans and non stress tests etc. At 37 weeks I'll be having an amnio for lung maturity and if all well delivering then to avoid any further cord issues. It's going to be a long 4 months, but here's hoping at the end of it - a healthy baby girl will come into this world and into this loving family who are all praying for her safety.

Autumn Jewels & Tuxedo Collections launching!

Check them out this weekend over on Bramble Boutique's etsy store:

 http://www.etsy.com/shop/brambleboutique

et voila

I didn't mean for it to have short sleeves, although that is one of the options on the pattern.. I just realised a few rows in that it wasn't knitting but gartering or whatever you call it! Regardless it'll be a warm layer over a white sleepsuit - lovely.

again

Gutted to say that I failed my road test for the second time this morning. Once again I was more than ready and yet did not make the cut. I felt devastated again.  This time more than a little angry also. When coming up to the intersection which has a stop sign, I slowed down ready to stop at the line, but the inspector on seeing me pass the stop sign braked for me yelling that I wasn't going to stop and there's a bus coming and that would have been the end of us yadda yadda.. it is a long intersection, and the same one that last time I pulled up to the line and paused, in the inspectors opinion too long when I could have gone. Feels like I can't do right for doing wrong. It does however feel very wrong that personal opinion of different inspectors takes over from the facts of safe and legal driving.  More points were given when we were driving down the street and she started yelling slow slow slow so I slowed right down from 20 to just above 10mph she then shouted at me that she had wanted me to parallel park back there... wouldn't the right thing to say have been "stop here I want to do a parallel park"? As I say can't do right for doing wrong. Another inspector on me stopping when they said slow would have said I shouldn't have stopped when they said slow because I could have caused an accident - sigh. So it is with a heavy heart I continue my day of cleaning and laundry. I feel like crawling in bed and sobbing myself to sleep - but with 4 small children I have to carry on as if nothing happened.  I will try again, but the next test date isn't until mid September, so another long wait and with it feelings of frustration and nervousness continue - ugh.

knitting again

So after the success of my snowflake hat (even though I didn't listen to the pattern for knitting in the round so have a pearl row where it should be all stockinette!) and the gorgeous tulip sleeved cardigan, I'm knitting again. This time its a lovely cardigan sweater for a newborn I got from ravelry - details here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/puerperium-cardigan I'm using a very pretty brighter pink and whte combo yarn and have some sweet little buttons for when its done.  Pictures to come on completion!

New Bramble Boutique Collection!

My excitement at the upcoming change in seasons has extended to my store Bramble Boutique - http://www.etsy.com/shop/brambleboutique I'm very happy to be switching up the color palette I'm working with - and adding lots of deeper, more mysterious hues! The preview to the new collection "Autumn Jewels" is a gorgeous teal velvety open rose with a heavily jeweled center - and I've had lots of positive feedback already!

I'm really looking forward to the launch and hoping for lots of sales to get me through to the Holiday rush.

bring on the pumpkins!

I am so ready for Fall at this point. New York in the Summertime always starts as a jolly affair of ooh what a long winter yay sunny days. But around about the end of July when you know there is still at least a whole other month of 90f left that I long for Autumn.  The turning leaves, the crisp mornings, the burning bushes and red maples, I want it now! Then there's switching out my Yankee Candle summer scents for pumpkins, apple crisps and Autumn wreaths, baking, buying the children cosy clothes, and planning the Holiday season for my store Bramble Boutique. 

This change of season brings an even more exciting prospect - the upcoming birth of baby numero 5! I am so excited to start getting the nursery ready, and to go through all the tiny clothes from the girls that I packed away "just in case".  So while I know by sometime in March I'll be praying once more for summer - right now I'm wholeheartedly shouting from the rooftops - bring on Fall!

ah hah

It must have been the euphoria of completing the cardi that got me thinking what's next? A hat is what's next. But this being the first time I've tried double point needles lets just say I'm on my 7th go at even starting it argh! A good soak in the jacuzzi tub fixed my gloomy mood and late as it is I'm determined to at least get past the first use of the 4th needle. More tomorrow - hopefully!

et voila!

The 5 hour/5 day cardigan is done - added some fancier trumpet style sleeves and the sweetest snow bird buttons to complete it and it looks beautiful:

I will definitely be making another one - but this time remembering the whole, no pun intended, knit into the back not front to get the holey lacey effect you want for girlish style. But as it is I love it. Can't wait to see baby wearing it with a little sleepsuit underneath. Perfect for chilly winter days! Next on the knitting agenda is a hat using Martha Stewart's yarn range, available at Michaels. I'm switching the colors a bit and doing a soft lilac instead of the green - I think it will be beautiful. Will update with a completed pic when it's finished.

laundry days

In light of not being able to stand much to paint my bedroom, which is next on the reno list - my thoughts have turned to my dingy messy laundry room.  Right now it is dark with bare pipes, the boiler and water heater exposed. A concrete floor and a clutzy mess of shelving and unpacked boxes.  My intention is similar to this picture. I'd like to put curtains up to hide the storage shelves and bare pipes, then have a nice folding table and space to iron. Not sure what to do with the floor but maybe an outdoor rug would be appropriate and bring much needed warmth to the room.  With 4.5 children laundry is something that is never done/finished/sorted - and I'd really like to be more on top of that especially with a new baby on the way.

Spider Woman

Just as I'm getting back in the swing of things after all the renos in the house, and the scorching temps, and my son's 2nd Birthday bash - I get bitten by a spider. And of course I come out in a massive burning lump that blocks my vein and causes my whole leg to swell up! Off to hospital I went to be told I'd had an allergic reaction. Gah! Thankfully just another few days of "elevate and ice your leg" and I should be up and about again. From now on though spiders and me well we don't see eye to eye anymore put it that way! Oh I did however find out that the lovely Valley Hospital, which is where I may or may not deliver, more of that another day, anyway every time a baby is born they play a lullaby throughout the whole hospital - it's just the sweetest thing!

driving miss crazy

I'm heading out for a driving lesson this morning.  I can drive, have done for a long time, but failed my US road test in June. To say I was devastated doesn't say enough.  Worse was I could feel how disappointed my instructor was with me because he knows as well as I do that I should have passed! Argh! Nerves got the better of me on the day, as they do for lots of people, doesn't help that feeling of failure though. I have my next road test in just over a week and I am terrified! Not of the driving, or the maneuvers which are just checking off boxes as you go, signal, mirrors, blindspot, etc.. I am terrified of failing again.  I get a knot in my stomach thinking about it. So off I go for a lesson and I hope to do a couple more before the road test - just to get some more experience so maybe I won't be as terrified.  Time will tell!

It's a girl!

Had the ultrasound yesterday and a consult with the Dr afterwards - and delighted to say she told us we are almost out of the woods with the Parvo virus exposure - in 2 weeks they will do a doppler on the baby's brain to check for anemia - but as its going on 2 months since I had exposure she highly doubts we will have any problems.  Also found out for sure that baby numero 5 is a little girl! So excited to have another ballerina join the gaggle.  With my last daughter 4 years ago I was in a yellow stage - so I'm very happy to be thinking pink this time! I'm about half way done with the supposed 5 hour cardigan.. I say supposed because when you have little minions interrupting your knitting flow every 15 minutes - 5 hrs turns into 5 days pretty quickly! Also I realized this morning the reason I haven't got the lacy hole pattern and instead the stripe - which is really aimed at the boy version - turns out when I've been "making one (M1)" I was knitting into the back of the stitch thus not giving the hole. Oh well - by the time I finally do the few last lace holes to the bottom of it and add the little mushroom buttons I got - I'm sure it'll be perfect.  I'm very excited to be having a Christmas baby - it's going to be a lot of fun knitting for her. Happy times ahead.

eventful days

So yesterday we were hit with a giant lightning storm! It was very scary - a branch took the power line down for less than an hour - luckily the power company were faster this time than when we moved and were out for 6 days! I was hoping today would be calm - and still do - but I'm off for an ultrasound to check on the baby for signs of anemia etc from the Fifth Disease.  May even find out if it's a girl or boy today! Which is exciting and I hope that distracts me from the gloom of if something is wrong, which is praying on my mind.

it's never an easy road

Each pregnancy for me has brought with it some challenges, be it preterm labor or dealing with a tremendous amount of back pain.  This one is proving to be no exception. I caught Fifth Disease from my daughter, which apparently most people have had by adulthood, not I.  Also it has no real harmful effects for children or adults - unless - of course - they are pregnant! So now I have to have regular ultrasounds to make sure the baby is not becoming anemic which could then cause heart failure. I'm heading into my 16th week - so far all is good, crossing fingers that it stays that way.

I've been so busy with the house that I haven't had time to think about it - which is probably a blessing, seen as I am the worlds worst person for patience and waiting for news.  I'm currently waiting for an appointment with a specialist at the local hospital who will then decide how regular the scans need to be, so of course I'm on pins waiting for that phone call.  Also it's been 3 weeks since my last scan, so I'm nervous to go in when the call comes - just in case something has now gone wrong.  The chances are very small - after the initial threat of miscarriage which I think is 10% has passed - it's now around 5% that have issues.  So 1 in 20 - which of course sounds much worse than 5%! I can't really start planning for the baby - preparing the little nursery off our bedroom, buying things I like as I see them, until after the 25th week - which as far as I can tell is when if you've had no problems arise the likelihood is slim to none of any further down the line.  But I am knitting.  The first cardigan I attempted went very wrong and somehow I knitted the sleeve backwards - don't ask! Now I'm attempting a new pattern.  There's nothing like a brand new baby in a hand knit goodie.  So I'm focusing on that. And nothing else.

a long time

Wow! I had NO clue it had been so very long since I posted anything.  I then realised I hadn't even officially announced we are having our fifth baby at Christmastime! I have been so busy ripping up floors and tiling, and painting and getting through the end of the school year that the time has flown.  We celebrated my 2 yr olds Birthday yesterday. It was lovely to have everyone here in our new home.  Today though chaos surrounds - presents scattered, dishes still to do.. I have a real feeling of home finally. Which is nothing but a good thing.

Happy Mothers Day

busy days of Spring

Yesterday saw me doing all the housework in 1 hour flat - so I could spend most of the day planting out all my perennial seedlings into the raised bed near the pond. 

 I placed them in rows - Lilies and Hollyhock at the back, then in front Lupines, then Daisies, then Catmint.  I've put some flashy silvery tape up with twigs to try keep the birds off until they are established.  

Speaking of birds - Liliana and I got to see a Robin take multiple baths in the pond yesterday, up close and personal! Fun days! Today I launched my new hair flower collection on etsyhttp://www.etsy.com/listing/98846034/cream-rose-bridal-hair-flower-clip Maribella Rose - is a smaller 3" version of some of my most popular hair flowers - available in cream, pink, blue, purple and red - for only $18 - I'm sure it'll be popular!

I'm running a competition on Bramble Boutique's Facebook page - submit your best bridal hair style pic and have a chance to win the entire collection! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bramble-Boutique/254860354589104

Off out now to tackle the front garden before the baby wakes up - then it's all over, as I'm sure ya'll know!

Jelloware Glasses

I am loving these retro looking jelloware glasses - when you're done you just throw them on the grass! Now to see who picks the idea up so we can buy them! They come from product design consultancy - The Way We See The World 

Made of seaweed extract agar agar, their so-called  ”Jelloware” can be flavored to complement a given drink in flavors like lemon-basil, ginger-mint, and rosemary-beet.

But if you don’t feel like gobbling up the whole glass, don’t fear: The uneaten portions of the glasses are meant to be tossed on the grass when your lawn party is over, as agar, which is made up of subunits of the sugar galactose, can be used to nourish plants. And they are bendy - bonus!

gone fishin

So my pond now has not just fish but tadpoles too! Very exciting. I put an Iris and a Cardinal Flower as marginals, and some creeping Jenny, and pond weeds in also. So far I've seen a couple of birds bathing around the edges, but no turtles yet.  Fun times

a whirlwind of a week

The week leading up to a holiday always seems to slip by in this household.  Luckily this mornings egg hunt went off without a hitch and the children were all pleased with their loot.  I had a rotten cold all week, which is still lingering, and a few of the monsters that gave it to me are still holding onto theirs.. so its been a week of kleenex and hand washing! The groundhogs are still eating my grass.. and have yet to touch anything that matters.. so I'm not about to kick them out yet.  Have a lovely Easter Sunday.

Phil?

Excitement broke out around 5pm in this household yesterday - over the site of our first groundhog of the year! Now yes I know this brings lets say complications to my gardening situation! But with them comes pure joy at seeing an animal I didn't have growing up in Scotland, and my children have not seen living in NYC their whole lives.  So hello Groundhog! And yes I took our male puppy Bear out to pee near my peonies last night and again this morning - just to try save them from Phils munching!

He's probably the most photographed groundhog in the whole of New York - but I think he's quite sweet! And here is a montage of my Spring pics taken yesterday.

warming up

So far today I have been out photographing the garden bursting open and not done much else - including some rather disturbing shots of my cut trees weeping! Thought I'd share them with you - first the tree - so sad looking!

So quickly onto the bulbs, branches, and bushes - all just on that very edge of a moment before they explode into Spring - exciting time ahead!