Category Archives: WordLily

Baby knits, part 2

Posted on May 16, 2012 | 8 Comments

Word Lily knitsI knit two sweaters for Sprout while he was in utero. They’re both still too big for him, so no modeled shots today. Hopefully they’ll fit him well once we get back to cooler weather this fall/winter.

I knew I wanted to knit something from handspun for the little guy, and this is it, so far (I’m sure there will be plenty more handspun handknits for him in the future):
cardigan
I spun the main yarn used for this Baby Beau several years ago, with no particular use in mind. The blue is Lion Brand wool and the green for the button bands is Cascade 220.

This sweater is made from cotton yarn reclaimed from an old store-bought sweater.
hoodie
I knew I wanted to make a cotton sweater. When stash-diving, I found this yarn and decided I wanted to use it for that piece. And then the pattern hunt began. I first tried a sweater vest, but I couldn’t get the gauge to work (it had an animal on the front, using intarsia, so I couldn’t just fudge the gauge). After abandoning that vest idea, I had some trouble. But eventually I found this pattern that included the hood option. I modified it (as many others before me) to be a pullover rather than another cardigan.

Just one more post of baby knits left: blankets! And speaking of baby, he just woke up.

Ta!

→ 8 Comments

Posted in knitting, WordLily

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Baby knits, part 1

Posted on May 13, 2012 | 18 Comments

Asa Anders Nielsen was born at 6 p.m. April 28, 2012.
He weighed 7 pounds, 6 ounces and was 19.5 inches long.

Word Lily knitsA much-delayed post of baby knits.

One advantage of my tardiness: You can see at least some of them modeled. :p

Let’s start with the one fibery failure, shall we?
These booties, while super cute, simple and quick to knit, were too small for wee Asa when he was born. They’ve a place in the nursery decor for the moment.


These booties/socks did work, though, and they also have a matching hat.
[Age: 2 weeks]

Then there’s the hat you’ve already seen.

[Age: 1 week]

I’ll have two more posts of baby knits for you when I can get them drafted.

→ 18 Comments

Posted in knitting, WordLily

Tagged , ,

Bloggiesta, Ole!

Posted on March 30, 2012 | 9 Comments

I had declined to join the Bloggiesta (a blogging fiesta, a fun time to work on your blog while others are working on their blogs), but now it’s here and I can’t stay away. I’ve got some bloggy projects that I was planning to tackle today anyway, so what the heck, right? My list is pretty short, partly because I don’t want to guilt-trip myself. But also because I think Saturday and Sunday are going to be pretty busy as-is.

To do

  • update sidebars
  • update links on Books Read
  • write post for Saturday

  • update pages
  • rewrite About?
  • draft, schedule baby knits post

There’s plenty more I could add, but like I said, I don’t want to overwhelm myself. If I get extra ambitious, I’ll add things here and cross them off as they’re completed.

(Bloggiesta, created by Natasha, is being hosted this time by Suey and Danielle. It’s not to late to join in the fun!

→ 9 Comments

Posted in blogging, WordLily

Tagged

The Nursery: Unveiled

Posted on March 14, 2012 | 37 Comments

You asked, and I respond. Nursery photos!

Sprout's nursery 1

As seen from the bedroom door. The two walls aren't actually different colors; the color in the corner is more accurate than the color on the near wall. Ah, cameras.

Sprout's nursery 2

The wall the door is on.

Things are getting a bit more organized every day. (The rocking chair now has a cushion on the seat.) It’s a small space, but I think it will work pretty well.

→ 37 Comments

Posted in WordLily

Tagged , , , ,

Ramblings

Posted on March 7, 2012 | 7 Comments

I wanted to write a post today, but I was undecided about what it should be about.

• I’m planning a post about knits for Sprout. Actually, I might end up dividing it into two posts, there’s quite a few photos …

• And Trish requested a post with photos of the nursery (which I’ll plan on once it’s ready, which should be less than a week now).

• And then there are books. I don’t think I’ve actually reviewed any of the 16 books I’ve finished so far in 2012 (although a review for one is scheduled for later this month). If you want to take a look at the list and express your desire for what I review (first), please feel free. It might be more likely to actually happen if you ask a question or two, also.

I’m reading Catch-22 by Joseph Heller right now. I think I started it on March 1, and I’m still not close to done with it! I keep falling asleep. But it’s a good book, as I expected/knew it would be. This is why I placed it on my list of must-reads for 2011. (And yeah, I’m aware it’s 2012; about half of the list rolled over.)

It feels like crunch time around here, trying to get stuff done before Sprout’s arrival. Lists have been made and lines are slowly getting crossed off.

Hm, that’s about all I have. I guess I’m no good at this rambling thing. Have a great day!

I am an Amazon Associate and receive a small commission on sales through my affiliate links.

→ 7 Comments

Posted in blogging, WordLily

New studio

Posted on March 4, 2012 | 13 Comments

With the impending birth of the little one, my yarn room had to move. What used to be the yarn room is now (in process of being) set up as the nursery, and what was the home office has now all but disappeared and been replaced by my studio. It’s not perfectly organized, not neat and orderly, but it’s mostly reached the point where I can find things, which took awhile.

Wanna see?

Basement studio north

The north wall of the new studio space, what you see from the doorway.

Basement studio east

The east wall of the studio, to the right of the entry way.

It does get a decent amount of daylight, especially for a basement. It was a bit difficult to get photos, actually, because the windows were completely blowing out!

On the west wall is a couch, which serves double duty as a guest bed.

Oh, I almost forgot: A bookshelf in the next room, right next to my usual knitting spot, has my reference books and patterns.

It’s not perfect, but it’s functional, which is better than perfect. I’m so thankful for all the hours Paul put in getting it all moved, the floor painted, and helping me get it semi-organized. And it’s *done enough* that we’ve been able to focus on other things the past few weeks, which has been a necessity.

→ 13 Comments

Posted in WordLily

Tagged , , , ,

Ye Old Interview(e) Game

Posted on February 1, 2012 | 5 Comments

My Friend Amy posted about this right before Christmas, and I took her up on the chance to be interviewed. I asked her a question, and she sent me five to answer here.

The official rules (this feels a bit of the way-back machine):

  • Leave me a comment saying, “Interview Me.” Please include your e-mail address if it is not in your profile. (lol how old school)
  • I will respond by emailing you five questions. (I get to pick the questions.)
  • You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
  • You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
  • When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

Amy asked:
1) Describe your ideal book.
Wow, that’s tough. How about this? A compelling story lyrically told, with real characters, who face thing(s) that force them to examine their faith/walk. Not too long.

2) You’re having a baby! What are some of the books that will be essential in your child’s library?
Actually, I’ve kind of struggled with this! I don’t seem to remember much of my reading (or being read to) before I was reading the Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew or Madeleine L’Engle books; I remember appreciating the phonics books we had when younger siblings were learning to read … So! What read-aloud or whatever books should I add to my library?

But if you’re asking about books for when he’s older, hrm. Most of the ones I own (we were heavy library users back in the day) seem a little girl-centric: Anne of Green Gables, Caddie Woodlawn … Obviously that doesn’t make them bad, but my collection’s still more than a bit scant.

3) Have you ever read a book at exactly the right time?
I’d say the books that coalesced on a theme for me last year were read at pretty much the right time. :) I’m sure there are other, more precise instances, but they’re not coming to mind at the moment.

4) What is the best thing that’s changed about the book blogosphere since you started? What’s the worst?
I love that there are so many book bloggers now. I think this makes it easier to find one’s bosom buddies — or a collection of people she overlaps with on various genres/subjects — than it used to be. I also think it’s excellent that bloggers now have at least some respect or recognition from publishers.

As for the worst, I hate that so many bloggers now just quietly submit to the increasingly tight hoops that are being placed as restrictions by some publishers (not most) on bloggers (for review copies). I fear they may act as a noose, and it seems to me that these bloggers have little sense of self to allow themselves to be pushed around in these ways. Of course, I also tire of the never-ending drama between bloggers.

5) What’s your favorite Christmas song?
It’s really hard for me to pick favorites of anything, and this is no exception. I tried making a list of my top 10 Christmas songs — in December 2010 — and I still haven’t gotten it figured out. I’m sad, though, that I didn’t hear Mary, Did You Know? even once this past Christmas season.

If you want me to ask you questions, let me know! I won’t ask anything too invasive or personal, promise.

→ 5 Comments

Posted in blogging, books, WordLily

Tagged

Empaths and prophets

Posted on January 26, 2012 | 6 Comments

Most of the media experiences (not just books, although mainly books) that really struck me this year have a couple things in common. I learned something about myself, particularly through their confluence. They’re all about being an outsider, working on something that others don’t really understand. And yet this work is something that drives [the person], that it’s impossible to ignore. A calling, even.

Although perhaps not traditional (and certainly not all-inclusive), this is my greatest hits list for 2011.

ANGEL

I think the first one was from the TV show Angel. Along Angel’s circuitous journey, one of the guys who assists in his mission of helping people is an Empath demon. Backstory: The demons in this narrative (that starts with Buffy the Vampire Slayer) are various races and/or individuals with special skills or giftings. Taken as a whole, they use these abilities to further their bloodlust and rage, but there are a few here and there who’ve chosen another path.

This particular Empath demon uses his ability to feel other peoples’ pain to help them. Later in the narrative the gods see fit to give the empath ability to a human, and it very nearly destroys her. (Actually, I’m not sure I’ve seen the end of that story line. I know it comes close, but I’m not sure if it eventually does or not.) She should die because a human can’t bear that burden of feeling so much the pain of others.

THE RELUCTANT PROPHET by Nancy Rue

The Reluctant Prophet illuminated what I’d seen in Angel, if that makes any sense. Allison has been asking God what she’s supposed to do, and when she begins to follow through on what she hears, the members of her church aren’t exactly thrilled. It’s a serious examination — in the form of one fictional woman’s story — of what a life of faith looks like and the risks it entails.

It’s a well-written story that I read at exactly the right time. It rings authentic, and I can’t wait to crack open the next book in the series, Unexpected Dismounts. I’ve also been enjoying Rue’s (@NNRue) blog.

THE FALLING AWAY by T.L. Hines

The Falling Away is a truly excellent book (it won the INSPY in December for Speculative Fiction).

This quote will, I think, illustrate how The Falling Away fits into my list: “we’re almost magnets for pain and suffering, but because we have ways to control it, there’s a design to it all” (page 97).

WINTER by Keven Newsome

Winter isn’t really of the same calibre as the aforementioned books writing-wise (or editing-wise), but it does dwell in the same vein, of prophecy. Enough so to earn a place here. It may not speak to everyone as it did to me — the appeal of the others is probably more broad — but that’s not necessarily the point of this list. So.

Switching directions a bit, Passport through Darkness: A True Story of Danger and Second Chances by Kimberly L. Smith (2011 INSPY winner for Creative Nonfiction) also deserves a spot on the list. It doesn’t quite fit with the others in that, while the others taught me something about myself and showed a bit of the way I should go, Smith voiced so much of what I’ve felt leading up to this time. It’s almost like her words were echoing what my soul had been crying out. Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t been working in Darfur unbeknownst to you, but I did find significant parallels.

Summary: Several books I read in 2011 seemed to coalesce around a theme, enough so that it made me sit up straight and take notice. Through these books, plus the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, God spoke to my identity, my place/role in the Body of Christ. I don’t have it all figured out yet(!), but it was encouraging to learn. One piece: an implementable way to channel my empathy.

So, there you have it. Not a traditional best-of list — I read lots of other terrific books — but the ones that most stood out to me.

I am an Amazon Associate and receive a small commission on sales through my affiliate links.

→ 6 Comments

Posted in books, Christian Fiction, fiction, memoir, nonfiction, speculative, WordLily

Tagged , , ,