Wednesday

Mending beloved rags and scraps

by Phoebe
Here I am at the sewing table with a rag stocking puppy doll who is losing his left ear. I told him not to worry because Mother is really good at mending soft toys with a needle and thread. Also, the first thing she ever knit for Father is this scrappy striped garter stitch scarf, which is over 12 years old and knit from her great-grandmother's wool stash. As you can see, it is beginning to unravel. Good thing she is handy, as this is Father's most favorite winter scarf. Life can get really busy sometimes. And it is nice to just stop once in a while and spend time taking care of your favorite things.

Monday

One thing finished...

by Phoebe
After a lot of literal (and literary) loose ends around here, I wanted to show you a photo of something totally finished- Brother's "Archie Vest." Mother knitted it out of some nice sock weight yarn called wildfoote, and it is in heavy use as Brother is a pretty busy little boy these days. It is the perfect layer to keep him warm as we are having weather in the teens and even in the single digits this week. Brrr!

Saturday

2010 Fiber Fun Fest

by Phoebe
Today our county's 4-H program hosted a really fun event at the fairgrounds called the Fiber Fun Fest.  I spent the entire afternoon there with an amazing group of fiber artists, yarn producers, quilters, teachers, weavers, spinners, and other helpful volunteers.  While Sister took a needle felting class, Mother had a nice time visiting with her friends, buying yarn, and learning more about wool, fiber production, and other crafts such as lace making and basket weaving.  I got to visit with a very interesting angora rabbit named "Chocolate Mousse."  Not only is this rabbit very special because of its beautiful soft fiber, but it is one of only two angora rabbits in the entire country with beautiful red eyes.  My favorite part of the day was hanging out at the Brown Sheep Company booth.  I am knit from Brown Sheep Company yarn, so I felt quite at home with all of that cozy colorful wool nearby!


Friday

Dollhouse days


by Phoebe
As I have mentioned before, we seem to have a lot of homemade dolls and toys here at our house.  Sister in particular loves to make dolls of all shapes and sizes, with mother's help.  Recently, she made a most favorite toy- a  shoebox dollhouse, which is just the right size for her little handcrafted walnut shell family.  Last summer she received a book called Green Crafts for Children as a birthday gift, and has made about half of the projects from it so far.  All you need to make the shoebox dollhouse is some cardboard boxes, scraps of fabric and wrapping paper, glue, paint, and a few other odds and ends.  It is in heavy use these days as it has been a most favorite toy this month.  She really enjoyed sewing little pillows for the couch, and making a little fabric coverlet for the bedroom.  I think it looks rather cozy and comfortable, don't you?

Wednesday

First knit night


by Phoebe
I went out to knit night tonight with a great group of women mother knows. I guess I have actually gone a few times before, as a project in a basket when I was being knitted, but it wasn't quite the same that way. This is a really special group of women mother has been knitting with for years, some longer than others, and even one who just learned to knit and is now in love. Once a week, mother quickly hurries out the door after dinner, and now I know why. What a neat group of people! A teacher, a dancer, a fiber artist, a doula, a domestic goddess, a dental technician... but they are so much more. They are also mothers, knitters, overcomers, and dear friends. I even got to play with a really fun little girl just my size. Her name is Gigi and she pulled on my ears a little bit, but that's okay. It was worth it.

Tuesday

Shearing day at Ewe Bet Ranch!

by Phoebe
A little while ago I was lucky enough to go to sheep shearing day at my friend's ranch here on the Colorado Front Range. This is a fun place to go watch the veterinarian (animal doctor) shear the thick wool off the sheep. For a sheep, getting sheared is just the same as getting a haircut. A year's growth of wool can weigh as much as 30 pounds! Then the ranchers can have the beautiful wool cleaned and made into roving for spinning or into yarn for knitting, weaving, or crocheting. I loved watching the baby lambs skip and play and then run back to their mothers. If you want to learn more about sheep shearing, you can read about it here at a website called Sheep 101.

Monday

Reviewing color proofs


by Phoebe
At the press we are reviewing color proofs this week. This means that the printer who is printing books has sent a few sample pages in the mail and we need to check the colors they have printed next to father's original illustrations and make sure they look the same, not too green or too orange, or too light or too dark. This is something people do when they make a book. I am learning a lot about books as I watch this process unfold. Pretty soon I will get to go to a lot of fun stores with mother while she signs books and meets people. I am a little shy, but I think I will have fun doing this with her. I do look forward to travelling somewhere new soon. Mother has out some patterns and fabric, I wonder if she plans to make me some new clothes for my next trip?

Wednesday

The book goes to press

by Phoebe
After many months of hard work and late nights, extra cups of coffee and batches of evening cookies, mother and father's first book is off to be printed! I am so proud of them, and think the end result is really beautiful. It is a full-color illustrated children's picture book which includes a set of patterns to knit from the story. Phoebe's Sweater, by Joanna and Eric Johnson and published by Slate Falls Press, launches in early spring of this year. I can't wait!

Monday

Two favorite snowy day places

by Phoebe
Now that I am safely back home, we are having beautiful snow, perfect-star-crystal storybook snow. I got to go to two favorite snowy day places this weekend, our local library, and the most wonderful German bakery. I found a neat book to read about a big cat, and saw a long, long curved glass bakery case filled with Valentine's Day treats and pastries. What's better on a cold, snowy day than a good book and a tasty baked snack? Not much!

Saturday

My roadster show adventure!

by Phoebe
Last week I went to California with my grandpa. He is a pinstriper, which means he paints long skinny and fancy decorative lines, swirls, flames, and letters on incredibly cool and fancy cars. Here is a news video about his work, which is pretty neat to watch. I was fortunate enough to tag along for his most recent adventure. I watched a charity art auction, hung out with some clever car folks, had my first pinstriping lesson, and even got to sit with TV Tommy Ivo in the biggest racecar I have ever seen!

Thursday

Artista

by Phoebe
Here is a page from sister's sketchpad. Mother found it a week or so ago. She asked sister if it was okay for me to share it here in my diary, she she said, "Yes!" Sister has drawn me with my own little matching friend. I really like the hooded sweater she designed for me. It is a lot like the one mother designed for the Phoebe's Sweater book. I especially like the little shoes, which look fancy enough for a party or special outing!

Monday

Finishing Touches

by Phoebe
Over the weekend, father put finishing touches on the illustrations for the new knitting picture book from Slate Falls Press, Phoebe's Sweater. I am so proud of him, as he has squeezed time from his evenings and weekends to do this project. Father is an artist, mother is a writer, it just made sense to them to make a book together, and I think it looks great. What do you think?