Berlin's Whimsy

Doilies.

Found at the thriftstore today----enough doilies to create a "pond" full of doily lily pads.

Doilies... Created by the hands of others, they are one of my favorite thriftstore treasures. Is it the memories? Visions of my Great Aunt's doilies gracing the back of her couch or cradling flower pots throughout her farmhouse... Or is it my appreciation of the patience I lack to create doilies--- all those intricate stitches, so intimidating.

I collected them even before Amanda made them so beautifully famous but she graciously opened the door for the doily's graduation from Grandma's parlor to bags, quilts, and so much more...

The Creative Process---Embellishing Knits

Have you ever noticed that when the same exact recipe is prepared by two different people, it can taste so differently? I have.

Each of us has a unique way of going about things----our own ideas, our own techniques, our own tools and know-how. Moreover, I'm fascinated by other people's creative process---how did they come up with that design or that sewing pattern? Or even that recipe? Often, it's a amalgamation of experimentation, alterations, unique concepts, or even just serendipity.

I like to take things a bit further, to expose the parts that create the whole. In that attempt, from time to time I'm delving a bit deeper in the creative process. To explain more than just show and this is my first post.

I knitted up a simple hat pattern out of one of my handspun yarns. The colors are so spring-like (variations of green and brown). I decided to take that spring effect and go with it. Flowers are opening up all over the place----how about a flower on this spring wool hat?!

Here's how to embellish your knits with a simple little flower---bring a bit of spring into your life, too.

First, choose a color family for your embroidery---one in which you have two similar yarns in different hues (that is, choose a main color--- as in red, blue, yellow, etc----and alter the hue a bit). For this flower, I chose a reddish color which led me to a reddish orange and a peach---both from the same "family" but differing enough to draw attention to both. Some other color combos could be differing hues of green (moss and pea) or yellow (sunflower and wheat).

Use the more subtle color of the two for the base stitching. Stitch large stitches in a donut shape to lay out the initial design---focus on large stitches. Don't pull these stitches too tight for you want them to stretch along with the knitted fabric.

Once you have laid out your initial shape, switch to the more dramatic color (darker) and begin stitching petals to your flower. The petals are stitched using a large chain stitch over the subtle base stitching. Don't overdo the chainstitches---you don't want to completely obscure your foundation stitching, just enhance it. In addition, you want these petals to extend out past the base stitches so they pop a bit. Again, don't pull these stitches too tight. I might briefly wash my hat just to felt it enough to adhere the embellished stitching to the knitted fabric underneath...

Voila!  A spring wool hat for that in-between time of year---a time full of promises of warm summer days but still whispering remembrances of yesterday's cold embrace.

Now off to line the hat with soft cotton jersey knit...

Priceless.

The fundraising adventure all went very well. My children were "servers" and they looked resplendent in their black & white clothes (thank goodness for the sale rack at Target) and little white waiter's aprons. They even served water from a large glass water pitcher with one hand formally placed behind their backs. Amazing.

It's what I love about my children's school: they believe in children. Many teachers & schools do and it's one of the things I look for. Kids are amazing and I believe in the old cliche of children living up or down to your expectations.

I helped with setting up auction items and a portion of the items were created by the students themselves.

Frankly, I was amazed at the artwork represented by the students. One student's B & W photos, especially, were very impressive. I wish I could have photographed the artwork but the lighting was so bad my representation wouldn't have done them justice. Alas, you'll have to settle for another one of my own photos.

And the best part? My own children recognized the talent and beauty of the students' work.

Their school is blended in ages and I have always loved that educational style. It allows for mentoring of younger children by olders and aspirations by the youngers of the olders.

Both of my kids pointed out various paintings and tile mosaics on auction by the students and it was with a tone of pride and respect. I also had to laugh when I noticed the "value" of the students' auction items, written in by the students themselves: "priceless." Yes, perhaps so.

Single Mom Reinvention.

This reinventing yourself thing is difficult. It's not like I walked through a door as a married woman and walked out the other side as a single mother. Technically, yes----emotionally no.

Take today, for instance. It's the day of a large fundraiser for my children's school and I'm slated to help out for most of the day. Not only do I feel out of place because I'm usually one of the people that is organizing school fundraisers, but I'm now a single mom with limited resources and many complications.  With a long story.

That story is difficult for me. It's not like I can just rattle off a line about my husband & I separating; or a story about my husband losing his job and sparking our quick financial downward spiral; or a story about being forced from our home and moving; or my multiple failed attempts at finding an adequate job----I can't because they are all true and to tell all of it requires a preface of, "Pull up a chair...!" I'm also not someone that likes to have people feeling sorry for me with that look of, "Oh, you poor thing." The entire story usually results in that look (or the bewildered look of fear as if my bad fortune will rub off). 

But even beyond all that is my pettiness in trying to be "perfect" and my avoidance of how messed up my life is. I don't think I've come to terms with the labels: single mom, broken home, divorced, failed marriage, ran off with a younger woman... etc, etc. It's not what I wanted and I don't feel comfortable with it. I don't know what kind of dream world I've been living in to think that if I ignore it, it'll go away, though.

I'm realizing that part of my reinvention needs to be an embrace of who I am now. I'm a single mom. I'm single. I'm a separate being from my family. I don't know that I was good at looking at myself this way now or before. So, I'm trying to look at myself through new eyes and to accept the visage--- accept the truth.

If only.

If only life was so easily mended...

and holes in hearts, too.

Tie a Ribbon.

Remind me of this when I forget...

Back when my children were toddlers and we were busy creating & discovering, it was a lesson in patience and child development for me. I worked at my children's Montessori style preschool. I spent long hours discussing life and children with our teacher who became my friend. With her knowing smile----gleaned from years of teaching and raising two daughters herself----she would remind me of children's stages of development and emotional needs. When I felt ready to burst with frustration from some of the things my children did (like pouring out ALL the homemade bubbles onto the grass to feel its texture only to cry in dismay when they were gone, or ripping out all the pages of a precious picture book) she patiently smiled and somehow explained things in a way that made me relax. Made me understand. My values and needs were not the same as my children's and I had to determine what mattered to me in relation to what mattered to them. A fine balance. I still felt frustrated but at least there seemed to be a purpose in it all.

Secretly, however, I longed for the days when my children would be more interested in creating something with me. Of building something rather than tearing it apart. Of developing their fine motor skills to the point of drawing, sewing, building.

But like so much else in child development, this doesn't happen overnight. It's not that children are ripping apart beautiful picture books one day and then creating them the next. Because of this, I tend not to notice the subtle changes---how quickly my kids have grown. I tend to go with the flow until something sparks my attention.

It was this: a felting needle. As I pulled the needles out of their package, my safety and school employee brain thought, 'Wow, those could be dangerous,' and I soon noticed the boldly imprinted caution sign. And it hit me. Though my children will be supervised while using these needles, they are old enough to use them. They are old enough to do many of the crafts and projects I always wished we could. And suddenly, I felt a rush of recognition, of nostalgia, of understanding how quickly time has lapsed since those days at the preschool and in the midst of everything else going on in my life right now, I could easily let their growth go unnoticed.

What I've heard other parents say is true for me, too, that every age is their favorite. Some of those stages had their moments of frustration but they all had their perks, too.

I'm nearing the years that many parents find so difficult, the dreaded teenage years. But I also remember talking to a teacher once about her 15 year old daughter. She was experiencing the usual adolescent induced difficulties but she also made a point of telling me what she enjoyed about her daughter's new maturity level, the fun things they experienced together. Things like trips to the gym together, little bits of time when her daughter spoke from her heart, unguarded. She was truly a burgeoning young woman and this teacher loved to be there to witness it. I remember feeling struck by this discussion----remember taking note that I must stop and recognize the good amongst the difficult. I'm not always good at doing that.

So, I feel as if I need to tie a ribbon on my finger and remember the parenting milestones---how far we've all come. Time marches on with or without us and there is no room for distraction.

{We tried needle felting for the first time. Though our "mushrooms" are not miraculous, the time we spent together was just that. Oh, and the only person to stab themself with a needle was me!}

Ah, Food again.

Ah, Food again.
Originally uploaded by BerlinsWhimsy.

I can finally contemplate food after a bout of the stomach flu. It's always interesting what sounds good and what doesn't after the flu. I know all about the B.R.A.T diet, but this time around I'm experiencing some rather odd cravings in consideration of how sick I was---how about french fries or a burrito with salsa?! Odd. I'm not running right out there and eating any of these things but rather just gazing at photos of this good stuff. In real life, I'll settle for a cup of soothing miso soup and perhaps an avocado...

Some interesting food related flickr groups I found are 'Food with Blogged Recipes' (very helpful!) and 'Food Porn' (G-Rated).

Picnic Bread Recipe---Again

***I've spent the weekend nursing two very sick kids and now I'm suffering the ailment myself. There aren't any words of creativity or wisdom coming out of my mouth right now so I'm re-publishing this entry from almost a year ago. This bread makes a wonderful contribution to a picnic and perhaps you are experiencing spring weather where you are!***

Okay, for those of you who requested it, here's the picnic bread recipe. It's not only delicious warm from the oven, but also for a day or two later (always a good thing to have on hand around this house full of "I'm hungry..." requests)! I found it to be a good thing to stick in the lunch box, too.

Picnic Bread

First, you need to make the bread dough. Out of laziness and ease, I make this dough in my bread machine, but you can make it by hand or mixer, too.

Ingredients for Dough:

1 C. water

3 C. Unbleached All-Purpose flour

1 T. butter (softened)

1 T. sugar

2 tsp. instant yeast (SAF instant yeast is by far my preference for baking---though I guess if I had my rathers I'd use fresh compressed but it just doesn't keep well. If you're going to use Active-Dry yeast you'll need to up the amount to aprox. 3 tsp).

Method: Mix all ingredients together and knead for aproximately 10 to 15 minutes until you have a stretchy dough that is smooth and elastic. Make sure your dough is not too dry---you want it a bit wet! Let the dough rise in a warm place for aproximately 1 1/2 hours or until it has doubled.

Filling:

1-2 lbs Mild Italian Sausage

1 C. shredded Cheddar Cheese

1 jar diced pimento peppers, drained (or you could use roasted red peppers)

1/2 C. black olives, drained and sliced (or if you feel really daring and want a piquant flavor, add green olives stuffed with pimentos)

1 egg, lightly beaten

Make filling: In frying pan, fry sausage, breaking up the clumps, until done. Drain and cool. Mix Filling ingredients together in bowl.

To assemble the bread:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and place rack in center of oven. Line a half-sheet pan.

Roll the risen dough out on floured surface to a 14 X 9-inch rectangle. Brush the surface of the dough with the egg (reserving the rest) and spread the filling evenly to within an inch of the edges. Roll the dough up from the 9-inch side, and pinch the seams well to seal. Shape the dough into an oval and place seam side down on the prepared sheet pan---brush the top of the loaf with the rest of the egg. Cover the loaf and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes.

Before baking, brush the top of the bread with the egg wash, then slash the top of the loaf horizontally 3 times. Bake the loaf in the center of the oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the bread is brown (you can check the internal temperature to see if it's aprox. 190 degrees or above). Remove the bread from the oven and cool on a rack. Let the bread cool quite a bit before serving.

Makes 16 slices.

'Shear Spirit' & 'A Fine Fleece': Reviews

It seems April is a fortuitous month for fiber lovers. I had the opportunity to look through two gorgeous fiber books that were published recently. Both books tackle the subject of handspinning, fiber, and knitting but their approaches to the subjects differ.

Lisa Lloyd's book, 'A Fine Fleece' stunned me with not only its beautiful photographs but the knitted designs and patterns were exactly what I was craving but didn't realize it. It's a pattern book I'll keep for the duration of my knitting life.

The patterns are written with the handspinner in mind but they also allow for the understanding that not all knitters spin their own yarn nor have the availability of handspun yarns. Each pattern includes a photo of the project in both handspun and commercially available yarns.

The patterns are beautiful and timeless---absolutely exquisite. I especially loved this aspect of the book because if I take the time to handspin the yarn for a sweater, I don't want that sweater to go out of style anytime soon!

These are patterns that you will turn to over and over again for many years to come---they are works of art in texture. In addition, the resource page includes one of my longtime blogging friends, Jennifer of Spirit Trail Fiberworks!

The other book is Shear Spirit by Joan Tapper and photographed by Gale Zucker. This book differs from Lloyd's book in that it celebrates the source of fiber. Through warm and luscious photos, the reader visits farms from Maine to Oregon and cannot help but feel inspired to pick up yarn and needles or even take up handspinning! There are lovely projects within this book, as well.

I especially liked the Redwoods Earflap Hat.

This book is both coffee table treasure and pattern book. It's one to carry with you to page through in the sun, dreaming of visiting a local fiber farm or even moving to one yourself.

Both of these books are works of beauty and inspiration.

Softie Smiles.

Off my needles come little critters. They do feel like a bit of fancy---silliness, I guess---but when I see my kids carry them around in their pockets and tuck them into bed at night, they don't seem so irrelevant to our lives.

My son carries his little 'Bunny Foo Foo' around with him and he loves his newly knitted snail. He wants to knit one himself---perhaps a weekend project.

When these little projects near completion they provide me with a big smile, a spark of delight for my heart.

I don't know what the funk I've been experiencing is----perhaps another visit to that pity party I try not to participate in, although its allure seems inevitable sometimes. I think the most recent visit is over and I left the party with favors in the form of new plans and routines.

Sometimes I get too caught up in shoulds. I look around me and backtrack my life and the shoulds are not far to follow. I realize now how much of my creativity was suppressed all these years-----set aside for other things deemed more important for lack of a support system.

Now, I allow myself bits of whimsy here and there---even silly irrelevance. No, little softies sporting their own handspun and handknit sweaters won't save the world but they remind a couple sweet children that their Mom loves them; moreover, they bring a smile to the face of the Mom that made them.

***The little guy with the sweater is my own version of Margaret's Ornament Guy. The minute I saw him I knew I had to make one (or two?!) for my kids, so thank you, Margie, for sharing with me. Do check out Margie's 'Handmade by Me' Flickr set. Wonderful!

***The Snail is a pattern from Mochimochi. We'll probably have a whole "flock" of them soon...

***Have you looked at the entries for the Second Annual Softies Awards? They'll put a smile to your face...