March Makes

I finished off a few more works in progress the last part of March.  I still have a fair pile of WIP's mind you, but I'm happy to have something to show.

These needlebooks were a long time coming.  I have been working on these forever!  I have since added a running stitch down the side of the spine, but this picture is much better.  It also took me forever to decide which one I wanted to keep: in the end I opted for the purple and yellow one because they are my favourite colours.

Next up is a little hedgehog from Helen's Bustle and Sew newsletter.  I have been subscribing for a couple of years now, but this is the first thing I have made.  He is made from a thrifted sweater and wool sport coat that I felted.  His eyes are agate beads.

And finally I crocheted the Windowpane scarf  - a free pattern available on Ravelry - with some pretty Malabrigo yarn.  I have never crocheted with such a fine yarn so it was a bit of a challenge at first.  It wasn't so bad and now I have two more scarves in the works using lace-weight fibres.

I have done no cross stitch this year for Easter at all.  This time last year I remember I was stitching up a storm.  I think the fact that March has been so cold and Easter is early this year is the reason I have no  real excitement for the holiday.  Usually it's my favourite time of year but this year I don't even have the decorations up yet!  I did put a wreath on the door a couple of weeks ago, but it fell off and broke and since then nothing has replaced it. If Time would just slow down a little bit I would really appreciate it:)

Next week I'm celebrating a birthday:  one of those "Big ___-0" ones.  I'm excited!  Birthdays are like my New Year and I get all ambitious and eager for things to come.  Hopefully by then Spring will have decided to arrive and then there will be extra good feelings all around.

Have a wonderful Easter - I hope the Easter Bunny is good to you:)

March Break

We are having a slow and lovely March break from school this week.  There have been sleep-overs, and swimming at the public pool, and crafts and lots of Playmobil and Lego creations being made.
Yesterday was the ultimate though:  it was cold and sunny so pyjamas were worn well until after lunch.  No one was planning on going outside if they didn't have to. The kids and I snuggled in my bed in the morning looking over the latest Playmobil catalogue and telling our favourites. I spontaneously decided to make a cake, much to everyone's delight.  Spontaneous baking really is the best.  Chocolate marble bundt cake - yum!

My Favourite Girl has been wanting some time just with me; for us to create or do something without little brother wanting to as well.  I suggested some easy soap making and bath fizzers and that fit the bill for her quite nicely.  

My Favourite Boy wanted to make some too, so I said he and I would make it after his big sister was finished hers.  No one had any problem with that so we set about making dinosaur soap too.

Later on I sat at the kitchen table in the sun and hooked away with some bright colours of yarn.  It was one of those moments when your heart gets all full-feeling: seeing the kids happy creations and hearing their little happy noises around the house; the smell of something good and homemade in the air and the bright sun making everyone feel so positive and hopeful for spring.

Today is a different sort of day.  There are errands to be run, and school projects to think about.  There has already been some friction between two people and the sun is not shining.  Workdays are again looming up and Things Need To Be Done.  I am always so grateful for days like yesterday; those ones that feel like they are encapsulated in a magic bubble of domestic and family happiness.  Those are the days to keep in our hearts until the next one comes along.