You are currently browsing the monthly archive for December 2009.
My 101 Things in 1001 Days project is done. And I hardly noticed. My enthusiasm for, and awareness of, this project definitely petered out in the end. I knew it ended sometime in October, but I thought the date was later in October than it was and so my plans to do a few last minute things fell through.
That said, I really enjoyed the project. It inspired me to stop putting things off. It kept me from looking at my busy life and saying, “I’ll get to that someday.” It got me out of my comfort zone at times. It inspired me to look around and ask questions about what it was possible to accomplish and what I wanted from myself. The snappy way the numbers fit together was something great, too – a silly little mental hook to grab my attention.
On the downside, I’d say two main problems arose: it was too long a period and had too many scattered goals. All those goals in all sorts of areas of my life – they were hard to remember, and I had no system of checking in with them. As for the first point, 1001 days is a long time. I changed over that period, and the things that were passionately consuming me at the beginning weren’t always something I was interested in by the middle. I’m a passions and projects person, and so my enthusiasm tends to move topically from time to time. While I had left wiggle room by not completing the list before starting, it still left me with goals I wasn’t necessarily still committed to achieving.
In the end, I completed 48 of the 101 – - 47%. 14 are partially completed. I’m really pleased with that. I knew from the beginning that I probably wouldn’t get it all done and I wasn’t going to let my perfectionist tendencies get all harsh and judgemental on me.
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Some of the highlights:
- drawing every place in which we slept during our European sabbatical in 2008
- family downhill ski lessons
- having an entirely handmade Christmas gifting
- becoming a Lifetime member at Weight Watchers (50 pounds off!)
- running my first half-marathon in Budapest
- taking a watercolour painting class
- finally eating Thai food in a Thai restaurant
- planting more trees and bushes in the yard
- rereading all of Jane Austen
- doing yoga three times a week for 6 months
- talking about goal-setting, fear, and perfectionism with my daughter
A few of the failures:
- phoning my grandparents once a month. I just don’t like the phone. I wrote lots of letters, but they still need more from me.
- learning constellations – I still want to and I still look up often. Just didn’t get a few of the seasons in.
- reading certain books – I’ve learned a lot about myself and my reading habits. First of all, many of the books I wanted to read were unavailable at our small local library, even through interlibrary loan. I also read for a vacation, and most of the books I choose were ‘good for me’ rather than ‘a wonderful place to visit’. Lastly, while being a reader used to be a defining element of my personality, it now has plenty of other hobbies and interests vying for my spare time. And I have less spare time.
- I can’t believe I didn’t write the letter to the provincial government. I must have mentally composed it 30 times. I’ll write it this month. Stupid.
- the photo albums – Oi.
What I learned from this was:
- I need a shorter time period
- I like things grouped topically
- I need to pick a few important things
- I need a mechanism for checking in and reminding myself
I’ve moved the page for this off of my main tabs, but you can still find it off the About Us page. Here’s a direct link, too.
Stay tuned for my new version of goal setting tomorrow.
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This year I decided to give lemon sugar and dish towels to my friends. The local fabric store no longer carries dish towel cloth (can you imagine?), but they sent me to the dollar store (can you imagine?) where I found these vibrant towels just waiting to brighten the lives of people I love.
The lemon sugar was so simple to make and the whole house smelled of brightness, of summer, of energy. I’d been collecting sweet little jars as we finished the contents, and had a lovely assortment to use.
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I used a little double-sided tape to help the ribbon stay put. The tags were something that I wanted to be special – somehow I’m finally learning more and more to put the effort into the presentation of handmade gifts that I put into the gifts themselves – and for the first time in months I had the watercolours out. Little lemons on stiff paper, so minimalist and pleasing.
The dish towels did an admirable job of wrapping, and I loved the look of these stubby, bright cylinders in a row. It was hard to break up the set.
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I had so much fun embroidering these, looking at the black lines and trying to get my brain firing some creative neurons and imagining the possible colours. My mind is pretty literal and my ability to visualize is not strong. Turning black lines into colour and then picking the stitch that had the texture I wanted was playful and rewarding. I used a lot of split stitch, which is really the first time I’ve done anything with it. It’s a lovely, firm, well-behaved stitch.
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(the little doodle beneath is from the flowers set from the same company)
owl
the blue around the eyes bled on this one so I made the butterfly for my friend and kept this for myself instead
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This was a really rewarding set of gifts to make. Each stitch had me thinking of colour, of texture, of the way these would transform something usually mundane into an act of experiencing colour and remembering friendship.
It is such a wonderful gift to the giver when the process is so full of emotion and anticipation, isn’t it?
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A long-term project worked on a) in secret and b) when I had time and brainpower to work on something that needed attention.
Yarn ordered on sale in March. Cable book ‘casually’ looked through together in April. Swatched in July. Began knitting in September. Freaking out October through November re: sizing, gauge tightening, saddle shoulder eating the cable at the wrong point. Finished in December.
And…he likes it! It fits!
Relief in December.
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Cable: Panel 35 from “Cables Untangled” by Leapman
Sleeve cable just a mirrored version of the cable in the centre of the main panel.
I was really concerned that the saddle shoulder would crop across the top of the cable panel before it was done and so modified the shoulder shaping at the beginning to be more raglan-like. It makes the back look very zig-zagged, a look he really likes.
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I have to say, the whole process of the seamless saddle shoulder, from “Knitting Without Tears” by Zimmermann, was fascinating and clever. Really rewarding. Next time, though, maybe a secret project involving complex cabling shouldn’t also involve a new shoulder method.
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Minimalist Cardigan but maximalist knitting – probably all me. Not the pattern.
I did swatch. Really. But all summer I had problems with gauge being too loose. It was like I was saying, “Ah, knitting is so relaxing,” every time I sat down to knit and making everything floppy. Was I stressed this summer? I dunno.
Finished knitting it before my sister’s August wedding, happy in the knowledge that I’d be wearing this sleek, perfect for fall sweater in September. I don’t normally knit things in pieces, but I decided to give it a go since I really liked the look of it. Nor do I normally knit things to have positive ease and have no waist shaping, but I decided to go for it since I liked the look of it.
And then I blocked the pieces and measured them and they were huge.
I waited a month, thinking. Then I started asking friends. One (PrairieKnitWit) had the great idea to use some embroidery floss and a running stitch and just get the pieces to hold together so I could try it on. Great idea. And it was indeed a good sweater – more ease than I’d bargained for, but ease is certainly part of fashion these days.
So just before Christmas I decided to get on with it and I sewed it all up. Only to discover that the length of the sleeves was such that it looked like I was wearing a dumpy blazer from 1992. Consulted the minds at Ravelry and Cuteknitter helped me undo the seam, pick up stitches, knit a new cuff (on considerably smaller needles this time), and cut off the extra length.
I found it really hard to stay in a row when picking up the stitches in the moss stitch, so I ran a red thread along the purl bumps for a guide. Simplified things considerably.
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I then proceeded to wear it all three days we were staying at my parents. The 3/4 length sleeves are so practical for someone constantly working at the table/cooking/writing/knitting that I may just make that my default sleeve-length for all my sweaters now. The drapey sheen of the Andean Silk from Knit Picks is lovely. The shoulders are bearing a good deal of weight, though, and I think I may stitch some ribbon across the shoulders and back neck to act as a stabilizer. The open front is really comfortable. I’m really happy with this sweater in the end. Thank goodness!
This year, Mom unveiled a dream of hers. She’s been buying gold and silver decorations on sale after the last few holidays. This was the year to put them all together. A gold and silver tree with matching wrapping paper.
We’re a modest family that doesn’t have many flights of fancy, and Mom, like many mothers, doesn’t often stand up and say, “This may be somewhat frivolous but I want it.” I’m delighted for her.
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We’ll pack up our car on the afternoon of Christmas Eve and head over. They only live 15 minutes away, but we sleep over. Waking up alone on Christmas makes the whole thing rather pointless. It’s the special people that make it a celebration, after all.
Rainer makes sushi and I make side dishes. This year miso soup and sesame-crusted tofu over spinach. It may be odd, but nothing says ‘special’ like a platter of sushi in our family. Everyone dresses a little fancy. (A little. This is a tai chi/yoga/counter-culture family after all.) There will be a walk, games, talking. My sister and her husband will be there too, although they’ll arrive after the food and games. Just in time to stuff stockings and sleep, actually.
On Christmas morning the traditions are quite firm. There’s no free-for-all with paper flying and no one certain exactly what gift attaches to which tag. That sort of thing focuses entirely on what you’re getting, rather than the giving.
We grab our stockings and take them to the table. We go around the circle, drawing out the little things. In the toe of the stocking, always, is an orange. Then breakfast. I’m sure part of that is shrewd mothering on my mom’s behalf and part of it is her diabetes that doesn’t much like a change in schedule.
Only then do we start the presents. Again, we go around the circle. The kids used to work together to be Christmas elves, but Sandra (ever taller, ever funnier, ever more mature) has passed full responsibility to Matthias. Everyone watches while the present is opened. We all exclaim. The recipient gets up and hugs the giver. Then we move on to the next gift.
Takes forever.
Isn’t that the best? Christmas day has plenty of time in it, after all. No one’s rushing anywhere. Everyone has been looking forward to the giving and the getting. So why hurry? Last year it took us til about noon to completely empty the bottom of the tree. Our four had made everything by hand, stocking stuffers included, and it was a big show.
This year we’ve bought a few of the presents, but the focus was still on making them. I’m so pleased by this. I noticed last year how much more than usual the focus was on giving; how excited the kids and Rainer were to see others unwrap the handmade secrets. It’s nearly time to unveil them again, and we’re nearly done. We consulted the big family check-list again last night (which has boxes to check but isn’t the list of what we’re actually making) – and after a little collective sewing before bed we have but one present left uncompleted. And I am so happy to say it is a present for which I have no responsibility.
A very merry of merriests to you all.
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Taste. Touch. Sight. Smell. Sound.
We’re entering a week of sensory play. I’m offering up pictures, words, and links to let you into some of the things that are stimulating my senses in the last 48 hours.
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It’s a big day today. Cookie platter delivery day. Last day of Christmas School. One week til all the gifts must be made and all the secrets come tumbling out.
Dark, dusky fumes rise from in the kitchen as the chocolate hardens, competing with the bright notes of orange zest.
Defrosting, tempting. Oh, pity that poor son of mine, having to resist these!
Tempting crumbles come off and sit upon the counter entreatingly.
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A new variation – this year we tried putting crushed candy canes in a portion of the dough. Such colour and fancy. A definite possibility for future batches.
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Rhythm of the Home – a lovely new online magazine centred on creating mindful environments for our families. A treat. I particularly enjoyed the thoughtfulness stirred up in me by the article on celebrating An Authentic Christmas.
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4 wooden snowflakes painted white last year and only this year bedecked with glitter and hung on the front gate.
St. Martin’s Lanterns. They may be a November part of the German winter celebrations, but they were too good a project to pass up.
Here’s a link to a small gallery of wonderful pictures I used to teach about German Christmas celebrations, including three with the lanterns. The gallery covers topics that include pictures that let me talk about the invention of advent calendars, Christmas markets, Christmas pyramids, and the Christmas tree, complete with pickle – a custom Rainer has never, ever heard of. This article suggests rather convincingly that it is a well-sold myth.
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Thanks to a wonderful notion from Christy, I’ll be getting some battery operated tea lights so that the kids can use theirs (sans carrying stick and wire) in their rooms at night.
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Rare quiet moment in the morning. Crazy hair. Purposeful energy.
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Here’s what Christmas School means for us:
Every afternoon for 2 weeks we’re getting together with another family to share in the excitement and craft-anarchy. The afternoons have themes and a basic outline (rather than a schedule).
The afternoon looks roughly like this:
- 30-60 minutes teaching time
- planned craft
- learn a song
- recess and snacks
- open crafting and storytime
The teaching time alternates between the two moms. Our themes look like this:
- Mon & Tues: Biblical Christmas story
- Wed: History of Christmas celebrations and symbols
- Thurs: from St. Nicholas to Santa Claus
- Fri: All crafting all the time
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- Mon: Christmas in Germany
- Tues: Christmas in Mexico
- Wed: Kwanzaa
- Thurs: Hanukkah
- Fri: all crafting all the time
There are a couple of interesting things going on here. For one, they are deeply faithful Christians and we are not. Dealing with the Biblical story and the history of Christmas could be the death-knell for a friendship in those circumstances. But these are special friends. Another important point is that neither family has ever pretended that Santa Claus is real. This makes dealing with the history of Santa simple – and fascinating.
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Christy made simple log books for each kid by stitching together plastic page protectors along the flap. Each day the kids can work on these during the teaching part – either colouring something we’ve printed out or making art based on their interpretation of the theme. Lyrics from the day’s song also go on there. Then they just slide their work into the plastic and it’s protected and charmingly official. It’s been so interesting to watch the different ages and personalities unfold: Sandra’s doing a fascinating and beautiful work with silhouettes of shapes using patterned paper on solid backgrounds, for instance.
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The crafts sometimes match the theme and sometimes are simply gifts or decorations we think they’ll enjoy working on. We’ve done felt mitten ornaments, glitter cards, and freezer paper stenciling, for example. Our goal was to give them a chance to make a few gifts and a few decorations, and to enjoy the feeling of accomplishment that is such a wonderful part of creating.
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Recess and snacks hardly need explaining, do they? Unfortunately it’s been the bitter kind of cold that makes outdoor play difficult or dangerous. When the weather forecast starts with the phrase, “Exposed skin freezes in X minutes…”, you know they’re going to run around in the basement.
Open crafting and storytime – that’s what we do with any time and energy left. Sometimes we’ve had no time, or the kids have had no patience. But the idea is that they can choose from any number of craft choices (embroidery, polymer clay, crocheting chains, etc.) while the mom who didn’t teach that day reads Christmas stories. A time to get more done and enjoy the many picture books our two families have collected.
Last week was amazing – every kid eager to start everyday, the moms enjoying the companionship and the different perspectives, the feeling that they were learning important ideas and skills, and the relief that comes with feeling like we’re still ‘homeschooling’ even though we’re having such fun at a time of year when it can be hard to find motivation to do tablework.
I’m sure we’ll be doing it again, with different themes, and perhaps with a few more families, next year. Every time I flip through The World Encyclopedia of Christmas I find more things to fascinate me.
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cutting. sewing. ironing.
knitting. counting. grafting.
measuring. snitching. baking.
shovelling. walking. building.
talking. laughing. anticipating.
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On the theme of being nice, four sets of ideas for you:
1. I gave to myself this weekend – I scheduled a massage for the middle of the gift crafting and cookie baking season. Then I told her I’d been knitting a lot and she should pay attention to my forearms and hands. Ahhhhh.
2. I was inspired by this interview about the power of 29 gifts. Then I clicked over and watched the video and read the information on the main page and was even more inspired. I usually avoid all online videos like the plague since the internet sucks enough of my time as is. But for some reason I clicked play, and it touched me and I feel better about the world – good payoff.
3. Inspiring photos from Flickr.
1. John’s Mice, 2. Gingerbuns!, 3. Coffee sleeve with handle, 4. Paper Ornaments – Diamonds, 5. Martin, 6. Coléoptère, 7. Santa(s) Number One., 8. Frosty!, 9. Baktus #2, 10. IMG_2493, 11. Peppermint Brownies, 12. Snow in Takoma Park, 13. embroidery, 14. Color vs. Texture, 15. chipmunk, 16. december 1, 2009, 17. all stitched!, 18. Santa #5, 19. holiday mice, 20. Felted sweater and blanket ornaments–red and white button snowmen, 21. Arts and Crafts Fair 2009, 22. Flock of birds…, 23. Monkey Socks, 24. doubledouble mittens, 25. Embroidered Journal Cover
Created with fd’s Flickr Toys
4. Creative links:
Simple, elegant paper teardrop ornament.
Printable set of advent calendar houses. Sweet.
Build simple textural stamps out of yarn and wood and then make wrapping paper: yarn stamped paper.
Elegant yet rustic, simple tealight holder that would be pretty speedy to whip up for a last-minute gift or decoration.
Thirty days of sewn gift ideas from the Sew Mama Sew blog.
Free embroidery pattern for a sweet sweater-wearing bear on skis.
Wonderful elf embroidery pattern.
