Yellowbird Yarn Room

Fun and funky baby knits

When my second son was born, we were gifted a pair of baby booties knit just for him.  They were chocolate brown with a colorful and fuzzy trim and blue gingham ribbon ties. 

I.  Loved them.  I put them on him every chance I got, and they received almost as many compliments as my son. 

But not quite as many.  'Cause both my boys got game from the get-go.

Shortly thereafter I dove into knitting with a vengeance and have since delighted in spreading the joy of hand knits in miniature form.  Booties are perfect for new parents because they are used farthest away from all areas of possible messiness.  This makes them least likely to need washing and therefore most likely to actually be used. 

Of course, sometimes knitting booties also calls for knitting a coordinating hat.  With ear flaps, of course, because babies need ear flaps to be all warm and snuggly, right?  Especially babies of cold and snowy climates.  Like Pennsylvania, where my cousin lives.  My cousin who just had a baby. 

I had spent months pouring over patterns after I got the news.  I wanted something special, personal, and fun.  Something that would put a smile on her face every time her baby wore it.  Because new moms need that.  I thought I might find something turtle-related because my girl likes turtles, but I didn't have any luck there.

Then, I found them.  The ultimate fun and funky baby knits.  I give you "Baby 'Chucks' and Brainmonster" as captured in the wild outside of River City.

I offer my heartfelt thanks to those responsible for these patterns, for I could not love them more.

 

The only changes I made from the original Baby "Chucks"pattern were to (obviously) use ribbon for the laces and to crochet loops to help hold the tongue in place.  The ribbon both looks better, in my opinion, than I-cord or crochet chain and also serves as an homage to the pair that started it all.  And the tongue looked like it had potential to be pesky to get on squirmy, kicky little feet without something to keep it in check. 

The pattern I found for the Brainmonster, however, was written for an adult and so was used as more of a guideline, really.  I took my favorite baby hat pattern, made the ear flaps seed stitch instead of stockinette, and did a band of 1 x 1 rib around the base.  I made sure to factor in room at the forehead for the teeth, which I made smaller than in the original pattern so they didn't hang in baby's eyes.  For the Brainmonster's eyes, I opted to first sew on a black button, then use some industrial strength glue for the googlies. 

 

Please be aware that if you head to River City in search of your own Baby "Chucks" or Brainmonster, you will not find them there.  These were made specifically for my cousin's new little man.  If, however, there is a new little one entering your life that you feel must have some hand knits of their own I would be happy to talk to you about my knitting services!  Call or stop by River City any time for more information.

My pet cause

Three years ago, I started teaching an after school program for first- through fourth-graders at my sons' school.  Once a week, I teach the students who sign up how to knit and they spend the year knitting 7" x 9" squares "Warm Up America"-style.  At the end of the year, I assemble these squares into a blanket, and this blanket is raffled off in support of the Copley Police Department's Share-A-Christmas Program (a wonderful program which provides Christmas presents for less fortunate children in the area).

You may have noticed the very colorful picture over there in the "Artists Spotlight" album, the one with all of those fantastic squares...

 

This is a close-up shot of the blanket, and you can see how beautifully creative the children get!  I am terribly proud of them, every year, and hope that they know how much good their efforts do.

For those of you who live in the Akron area, you will find a nice picture and write-up in the Leader on page 3.  You may all see the online version here.

The blanket is currently on display at River City, right next to my booth, and will remain so until December 8th and the drawing takes place.  Tickets for the raffle are available at the register at $1 per ticket or $5 for 6 tickets. 

Please come on in and show your support for this heartwarming cause, and for all of the work the children put into knitting this one-of-a-kind blanket.  After all, you cannot but smile when you look at the blanket and imagine the kids as they knit it.  And while Christmas morning may yet be a few months away, we can all understand the importance of a child's smile then. 

I really should be cleaning...

But I'm not.  I skipped lunch today and just can't seem to get my head straight.  So, while I'm waiting for my dinner of leftover pizza to reheat I think to myself "hey, why don't I check in on my friend Heidi's blog and see what she's been up to."

Big mistake.  This is not a site you want to visit when you're hungry.  Especially when you're hungry, have a terrible sweet tooth, need to be cleaning (not making baking-related messes when you have no dishwasher and parents coming), and there's no bacon in the fridge.

What?  Sweet tooth and bacon?

Yes.  Sweet tooth and bacon.

Heidi and her sister, Cynthia, have been coming to Open Knit most Thursdays for a few months now.  While they know they don't have to bring goodies, Heidi is a wonderful baker and knows she has a highly appreciative audience.

Here's the spread they laid out for us last Thursday:

And that's not all!  In addition to the scones and peaches and marmalade and rose petal jam, there were cookies.  Special cookies.  Bacon cookies.  Peanut butter and bacon cookies, to be exact.

When I talked to my boys that evening, I told them about the cookies and they made me promise to get the recipe so they could make them as a surprise for their dad.  I did accidentally let the cat out of the bag over the weekend, though, so now we have to make them or my husband will never forgive me for having a bacon cookie and not bringing it home for him instead!

I will make those cookies very soon.  Then, the bacon toffee.

A romantic view of history

I really am such a sucker for history.  And needle arts.  Combine the two, and I'm likely to be awed and tongue-tied on the subject for days.

It is for that very reason that I have not yet posted about my visit to the Hower House on Friday.  I tried.  I sat at the computer, typed a sentence or two, deleted and typed another sentence or two, deleted and walked away with my coffee.

This was a much longer process than it sounds.

How do you put such a collection of skill and tenderness into words?  Okay, I realize this question may sound a bit dramatic to most people, but when you think about the hours of work put into handmade pieces both artful and useful with loved ones in mind...

I'll admit it.  Walking through the house, my eyes got a little misty a couple of times.  Particularly when looking at the quilts that looked like those I slept under at my grandparents' house when I was little.  The ones made by great grandmothers and great aunts I'd never know, but were heavy like a hug and made you feel warm and cozy on a cold winter's night. 

And then there were the finely crocheted and tatted edgings.  And the embroidered vest and dressing gown.

And the crazy quilt that was started by one lady during the year she was married, and upon which she had embroidered the initials of her seven children.  Complete with sepia-toned pictures of the lady herself.

I would like to go back again before the exhibit ends in September.  I missed many things about the House itself by lingering to admire the linens and lace, and it is a spectacular House that deserves a capital "H".  Standing in the entry, looking up at the floors above, you imagine life as the Howers lived it and you wonder what future generations will find romantic about our lives today.

If you decide to visit the Hower House and see these wonderful heirlooms for yourself, don't forget to save your admission ticket for a discount at Yellowbird so that you, too, can make heirlooms for the ones you love.

Happy Anniversary, River City!

It's the River City Gift Shoppes' third anniversary, so come on in and help celebrate!  They've got a really fun promotion going on today:  pop a balloon to find out your discount!  It could be 10%, or it could be 25%...you don't know until you pop!

Also, the consignment boutique is getting ready for the change of seasons, so you can find some great deals on women's clothing, shoes, and bags.  Some of it even 50% off!

This event is today only, so get there while you can!

Note:  Until further notice, River City will no longer be open on Sundays.  Judy's Ice Cream hours will remain, however, from noon until 10pm.

While the mice are away...

The cat will play.  Isn't that how it goes?

My two beautiful, sweet, intelligent, loving, funny, wonderful boys are staying with their grandparents (several states away) for ten days.

Woo-hoo!

Ahem...so...anyway...

This means I had a little extra time last night and, on a whim, decided to tackle something I've been meaning to tackle for sometime now.

Facebook.

Now, I've been on Ravelry for about two years.  (For those of you who don't know, it has been refered to as "Facebook for knitters".)  Love it!  So easy, so perfect, a whole universe in and of itself!  Which I get!  It's all I can do not to spend half my day finding obscure patterns and laughing (in collaborative understanding) at just exactly what qualifies someone as a "knitting dork". 

And if you're on there, by the way, you can find me right here.

I tried Facebook a while back and just got frustrated.  Decided to table it until I had more time and a clearer head.  Like when my kids are gone.  For ten days.  And you know what?  It just might take me that long to get the hang of it.

I spent far too long last night trying to set up a page just for the shop, without making a personal one, which apparently you can't do, so I did what I had to.  Then I tried to connect the blog to the shop page, which it wouldn't let me do, so now I don't know what I did.

But I have a box!  Over there on the right.  Go ahead, click on it!  I think it works...

Please bear with me, though, while I stumble my way through the connections and forgive any misdirections.  I'll figure it all out eventually, I promise.   

Belated all day, but discounts for you!

Do you remember when I posted about my piles, and how I always have ideas to do fun things "someday" but forget until it's too late?  Well, this time I remembered!  It was my times that were off.

You see, yesterday was my birthday.  And from the time I met my husband there has been a particular annual event that he had to attend that just happened to be scheduled the weekend of my birthday.  Every year.

Only it wasn't this year!  It was the weekend before!  Yay!

So, in honor of the momentous occassion, I was able to pick the events of the day.  Anything I wanted to do, just name it, and it will be done.

 

And the one thing I really wanted to do was go to the Hower House and see their exhibit, Pieces of Life:  Quilts & Needle Arts Across Time.  (Hey, we were going to an Akron Aeros game in the evening, so I thought it made a nice balance on the day for my boys.)

I checked their site and learned that they do have tours on Saturdays and their hours are from noon until 3:30.  I did see the part about tours starting a half hour before closing, but somehow got it into my head that meant the last tour was at 3:30.  Don't ask me how. 

Needless to say we missed the last tour.

It was fitting for the day.  The burger place we had wanted to go to for a long time was gone and is now a wing place (good food nonetheless).  And the art museum closes at 5:00, so the doors will be locked by 5:02.  Just so you know.

But, hey, we had a pleasant walk around downtown Akron, checked out some sites, had some laughs, got out of our routine.  The Aeros lost in the 10th, but it was a fun game to watch.  It was, all in all, a very nice birthday.

Now, didn't I say something about discounts for you?

Ah, yes.  One of the reasons I had wanted to see the exhibit (aside from the obvious of, well, wanting to see it!) is that I am excited to offer you a really cool deal. 

If you find yourself at the Hower House anytime between now and September 25th, hold on to that admission ticket!  Bring it into River City by Tuesday, September 28th, and receive 25% off any Yellowbird items!  (This offer for vendor #2090 only and is not to be used in conjunction with any other discounts.)

Check out their calendar, they have a number of interesting things going on at the House during this time.  I, myself, am trying to figure out if I will be able to leave Open Knit in time to make myself a Victorian-style journal next week.  Because I think I need one.  But history has shown that time is not my friend.  Neither is gravity, but that's beside the point.

I will at least be trying again for the exhibit, though, as the kiddos will be staying with their grandparents all next week.  Maybe I'll see you there! 

I'll be the one who's not late.