Not to copy Amy's scarf-related post, but....

My Red Scarf 2008 is all done.  Well, it's been done for a few weeks now- almost since I started- but I didn't weave in the ends until last night.  I was having trouble finding my yarn needles since I haven't knit since before the move.  In desperation, I used a BOBBY PIN to weave in my ends last night!  Not recommended, but I only had about 8 ends to weave in, so it was bearable.  And, while frustrating at times, more efficient than a runt to the craft store.  :-)  Now I need to wait until Sept. 1st to mail it, and come up with some other goodies to include in the package.

Mamamade 2007

The ball is rolling for Mamamade 2007! Looks like the date will be November 17, so keep your calendars open. We've got permission to use the basement coffee bar space at New Song Woodbine. And, with added square footage, there will be more room for more creative mommies to participate in the sale. Contact me if you're interested and I'll pass along your information to the organizers. Last year was a hit, in my book, and with this year's new location (a church), we will be able to widely publicize the event without worry that creepy people will be traipsing through a private residence (last year's open house was kindly held in Chelle's beautiful home).

I still have some handmade items from last year, but I'm hoping to make more new and different. Paintings went well last time- they all sold (and quickly). They were reasonably priced and framed; who can beat that?! Maybe I can do some more painting and block printing here soon. The ideas are always flowing, but the time is not. I'll keep you updated. :-)

Made in China

"Mom, have you ever noticed that EVERYTHING is made in China?!", said Grant one day recently.

Actually, he's noticed it before, but just the other day he said it in a very exasperated tone. Like, he'd been turning toys upside down and secretly wishing to read a different country's name just for variety sake.

What I find funny is that he couldn't have brought up the subject at a more appropriate time. Not only is he right, but it's as though he's been running off to his room to read the Current Events from the newspaper instead of building Legos or riding his skateboard (both probably made in China).

This has nothing to do with country pride or racism. The greater issues at hand are the people of China, who, most likely, are not paid much for their labor and the question of safety for all those who purchase goods made in China, entirely or in part.

A very good post/article, about what we can do as moms and dads is over at angry chicken. It addresses the problem and gives thoughts on what we can do in the choices we make. Maybe we can all start purchasing more responsibly, or not purchasing at all.

First day of Second Grade

When ever I say "first day of _____ grade", I always think of the Twippo song. Now I've found a link to all the lyrics and I'm cracking up all over again. Thankfully, no doctor's bills here!

Our eldest, Grant, started Second Grade this week. This is quite the big deal for our family, as he attended our church's homeschool academy the past two years. We've moved into a better school district, our family dynamic has changed a bit with Lael being an "intense toddler" (isn't that a nice way of putting it?), and we feel really good about Grant thriving and growing in public school this year. "Each child, each year" has been our mantra- evaluate each child, each year and pray about where they should be. Eric and I both are excited about this school being the right place for Grant this year and there is a wonderful peace in knowing that. :-) Actually, this will also positively effect the whole family.

Isn't he quite the handsome seven year old? ;-) This was taken during our morning photo shoot. Each first day of school, I make sure to take pictures- some at home, some at school. Backpack on, walking to the car, going into the classroom. Eric drove him to school, and was sweet enough to appease me by toting my small silver camera along for some shots once there. It was a good first day (in fact, its been a good first week). I picked him up that first day in the car line and two moms tracked him (heads fulled turned), and then remarked to me "He's beautiful!". I beamed. Anyway, here are some less goofy shots:

"From" vs "Born In"

I'm a girl, so I think I'm always perceptive of the way something is worded and not just the face value of the statement. Aren't all girls this way? Anyone who has had a disagreement with a girl would probably say so. "It's not what you said, it's the way you said it!" I know I've said that. Tone is everything and word choice is sometimes everything.

That is why I have little mental hypothetical conversations in my head about this adopted daughter we'll be having. Eric and I both agree that she'll just be *ours* and that her appearance and heritage will just be a part of her and not who she is. But, that doesn't mean other people won't draw attention to that more than they should. So, I kind of want to arm myself with how we'll handle strangers so that our child will be confident, secure, and a whole heap of other things that we desire for all our children. I really thought this entry was a good one, and the comments equally insightful. At first, it seems nit-picky to make such a big difference between some bitty words. But, those bitty words may mean the difference between a person who feels like a foreigner her whole life, and a person who knows she was born in Taiwan but doesn't wrap up her whole identity in that fact. Kind of like no longer using the term "orphan" for a child who has been adopted. They are no longer an orphan! They have a family!

Red Scarf progress

It feels sooooo good to knit again! I haven't knit anything since December when I was clickity-clacking away at my olive green, brown, and cream "Red Scarf" for 2007. I cast on about 25 stitches on US 8s with Patons Samarkand Aran in shade 8011. (LaDonna, this is the same red/ rust/ pink charcoal gray that I knit your ruffle scarf out of years ago) I'm doing what I'll call "offset 2x2 rib". I knit 2x2 rib for about 4 inches and then swap the knits and purls. The result is a flatter rib with a very subtle "stripe" at the change. the edges bow out at the change point, too, in a way that reminds me of paper Chinese lanterns similar to the kind you make in grade school with a cylinder of construction paper and lots of cut slits. Like this. Such fond memories of those- especially the ones coated with white school glue and heaps of glitter.

[Speaking of school- Grant is all registered as of today and begins public school this month! I'm thrilled and nervous all at once. This is going to be completely different from the homeschool academy, I'm sure.]

But back to the scarf. Its about 18 inches already with just one ball. So, I should be able to make a very generous scarf with the 4 remaining balls. And it will definitely be done by the October 15 deadline! No guilt intended for you slackers that aren't comitting to the project yet. Especially you, Mary- I mean...is having your third child any week now *really* an excuse?! ;-) Ha.

Red Scarf Project 2008

I participated in the Red Scarf Project 2007, knitting a scarf for a young adult in college who had aged out of the foster care system. Red Scarf Project 2008 is collecting EARLY, this year, and all scarves are to be sent in between September 1- October 15, 2007. I plan on making at least one scarf, and will happily teach anyone how to knit so they can make one also! (I'm sure crocheted scarves will be accepted, too!)

"Beautiful Dress"

My darling girl has a new dress! She says, so sweetly, that it is "B-yew-tiful". All of the fabric came from stash, and the design is completely my own. The size is one larger than she needs so that it can be worn for some time, or with a turtleneck underneath in the fall and winter (I'm guessing it equates to a 3T or 4T). The avocado green used in the waistband was the same fabric that Grant's crib skirt was sewn out of by his Grandma- before I was very good at sewing. I made my niece, Riley, a dress with the blue floral fabric ages ago when she was only 1 or 2 (and now she is SEVEN). And the brown, well, who knows- I always have brown around as it is one of my favorite colors. Brown goes with anything! Construction is only the best for my sweet daughter, too: fully lined and hand-finished, ribbon tie closure, subtle bow embellishment. Treated with care it should last for our next daughter to wear. While already at it, I cut out a second set of pattern pieces from other fabrics and plan on stiching it up in the near future. My plan was to put dress #2 in the shop, but if I keep it for Lael, no one will hold it against me, will they?

There's been a lot of this lately