Every time a child says, "I don't believe in fairies," there is a fairy somewhere that falls down dead.
James Matthew Barrie, Peter Pan

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

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!

Sunday, July 29, 2012

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.

Friday, July 27, 2012

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!

Thursday, July 26, 2012

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!

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

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.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

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.

Monday, July 23, 2012

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!

Saturday, July 21, 2012

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!

Friday, July 20, 2012

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.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

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.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

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.

Monday, July 16, 2012

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.