while they play...

summer, where art thou?

2010-08-24T15:45:49Z

oh my, where did the summer go? I blinked and it was gone, just like that.

seeing it slip by made me especially sad this year because I knew it meant that I would be sending my 5 year old to Kindergarten FOR THE LAST TIME.

I did it with Zoe when she was 5 and with Zach when he was 5. you would think this old gal was used to it by now.

But she is not.

I think what makes it so hard this time around is that my little guy is such a home-body. He doesn’t mind staying at home and kicking back with mom. He loves waking up and flipping on the xbox and having the entire couch all to himself, without the intrusions of his siblings.

And I must say, I’ve grown to love this little routine we had together. But it’s ending.

The thought is rough. I haven’t yet accepted it. Just give me time…. how ’bout ONE MORE year????

“Dear Kindergarten, I’m NOT ready yet. Come back next year. Or maybe the year AFTER that!”

*sigh*

How did you get through this transition, Veteran Moms???

Coco-NUTS!

2010-08-05T04:52:47Z

Bobby Flay’s 6 Layer Toasted Coconut Cake

Well, hello there! Don't you look sweet and tasty? Why don't you let me slip you out of that cumbersome glass domed lid.

Aaaaaaaahhhhhh.... That's better.

ChompchompchompchompnumnumnumChompchompchompchompnumnumnum.........

gulp.

Xmas in July….

2010-07-10T06:46:28Z

Hurry, Early Bird Xmas Shoppers!!! Sale ends the end of the month!!!!

Love,

on my needles…

2010-06-25T18:15:32Z

I have been totally smitten with this pattern lately. I picture it all finished and blocked layed out over a crisp white bedspread, as a Coverlet. Oooh…ahhhhh….

A Bed spread may seem like an odd knit during the cusp of summer but someone’s Hubby likes it frigid in the bedroom at night. Bbbbrrrrrr….. This is the perfect (AND prettiest!) compromise.

It is a nice “mindless” knit and is done on size 10′s, so you see you’re progress quickly before getting bored with the pattern. Only problem…I’ve ran out of yarn. I hate it when that happens! If only I had little “sheepy” friends roaming around my back yard, who could help me with that dilemma.

Hemlock Ring Blanket by Jared Flood (aka Brookyn Tweed).

FREE on ravelry.

Living…

2010-06-21T18:36:34Z

well hello there blog world! remember me??? no? oops. well, let me remind you…

i’m the girl who pops in every once in a blue moon to share this and that with you and to see what you think. now do you remember?

oh bother.

anyway….what has been going on this whole time? well….life. you know that bothersome big thing that keeps pursuing all of us on this large spinning globe?

over the past 6 months i have been finding myself (literally) heavily saturated in creating things again. mainly knit things. ooohhhh…just typing the word “knit” sends happy little tingles down my spine!

it started 6 months ago because that is the afternoon that my husband and I decided to go out to lunch together in the middle of our work days and not 60 seconds past the end of our driveway, a nice lady from out of town decided that she could not be bothered with noticing the posted stop sign in front of her and kept on going her merry way right through the intersection and plant her bumper directly into the side (my side) of our vehicle.

*sigh*

this is where my little world turned a bit topsy-turvey. and not necessarily in a good way.

i had been working part time at a local embroidery shop for the world’s best employers. and now i’d found myself right smack in the middle of the biggest “little” battle of my life. feeling normal again…physically AND emotionally.

for the past 6 months, i have had the pleasure of waking up every morning (not to mention, 5-10 times before that during the night) with my arms and hands completely asleep. i quickly lost nearly all of the strength in my wrists and fingers and had the added joy of frequent migraines and on top of everything else….depression.

depression. i find that word, even now, so difficult to type. i can’t even look at the screen and stare the WORD in the eyes. i have never once in all of my life experienced it. perhaps the occasional case of the “debby-downers” or waking up on the wrong side of the bed. but never anything like this.

i guess when you are restricted (physically) from returning to your normal duties that your “job” outside the home requires AND restricted by the seemingly menial tasks related to being a mom and a wife, it does a number on your head.

not being able to tear open an oatmeal packet, grab the keys or cellphone from my purse without dropping them on the floor.

leaving the house only to drive myself to my doctor’s appointments.

things i had always, up to this point taken for granted. they were all now weaving a large web slowly inside of my fragile little head. i guess the only way i could try and un-burry myself from all of this gloom and doom that i had suddenly seen as my life, was to pick up my needles and spin a new web. one of my own design.

take it from the world’s self-professed “#1 Perfectionist”. when you feel the reigns of your life slowly slipping and no matter how hard you keep gripping them, you can only watch them,almost as if in slow-motion, fall through your fingers….

well, you have a bit of a….breakdown.

suddenly, you no longer have control. of anything. even your own thoughts.

but beneath this thing that had become bigger than myself was still me. the me that my family relied on. loved. took care of. and the me that at one time saw the beauty in everything. even the ugliness that i now thought of as my life.

i had to somehow pick up the reigns again.

and i did. or i am. it’s a process, so i’m finding.

over the past few months, i have busied myself with what comes naturally and what i truly love.

creating.

and now that i have shared this all with you and being the Perfectionist that i am, wanting so badly to click “delete” on this whole post as opposed to “publish”, i will again, tighten my grip. as best i can. because without all of you…my dearest friends, my readers, my family….i couldn’t go on doing what means the most…

living.

love, kalurah

Ten Years….

2010-04-07T14:54:00Z

i carry your heart with me
by e. e. cummings

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart) i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)
i fear
no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

Happy tenth, Babe! I love you with all of my heart! Always and still.

“Thoroughly” New Knit Pattern!!!

2010-02-27T09:25:24Z

I don’t know what it is but I’ve been craving romantic twenties fashion lately. The chic sophistication that screamed “empowerment” for women over 80 years ago still does it’s job in our modern world.

“You’re a ‘Modern’?” “Thoroughly!”

We certainly aren’t living with the same dated views and archaic expectations that were prominent in the roaring twenties but we still have strong women who stand out and make a name for themselves.

I am surrounded by them everyday. And as silly as it may seem, this was the inspiration for my newest knit design. I tried picturing some of the most inspiring women in history and then melded them with women who have touched me personally.

My friend,who despite working a high-stress MA job, still manages to make it look effortless and maintains beauty and grace while doing it. At the end of the day, she is still a loving mother and wife and lucky for me, a wonderful friend!

My mother, who showed me by example what it means to be strong and independent. She never held me back and never told me I couldn’t fulfill my dreams.

My sister, who just had to simply roll her eyes and watch her big sis continually trod down the wrong path only to welcome her once she came back. Never judging or scolding. But always there to support and love….and forgive.

A cousin and friend, who doesn’t let her current health condition get her down. Doesn’t focus on the negative but relies on her strength to upbuild her and so also upbuilds those around her.

I could go on easily.

But there just isn’t enough space. Not on this page. Not even in the smallest font.

Who inspires you? Strengthens you? Who makes you want to be the best you can be?

through the woods…..

2010-01-19T10:54:17Z

Over the river and through the woods
To Grandmother’s house we go.
The horse knows the way
To carry the sleigh
Through the white and drifted snow, O!
Over the river and through the woods
Oh, how the wind does blow.
It stings the nose
And bites the toes
As over the ground we go.

Meet my latest design…. “Through the Woods”!

“Readers, Through the Woods.”

“Through the Woods, Readers.”

This pattern has been a long time coming. Just ask my friend and co-worker, Amy. Who has endured the torment of listening to me go on and on about the various ideas I had in an attempt to create this design.

Or ask my dear husband, who had to witness the horror that is repeatedly frogging yard upon yard of “CO 100. No, wait! CO 120. Purl 4, Knit 4. No! WAIT! AAAAHHHH!!!!!!!”

I may at one point, have found him tucked away in some dark corner chanting, “Make it stop!!!” But it may or may not have been deafened by the sound of my thrashing knitting needles.

At any rate….. let us just say that this pattern took some time and effort and a couple hundred of my precious brain cells.

But alas, she was born! And isn’t she precious??

Yes, she is a girl. Just because she is so darn pretty. I think by far, this is my FAVORITE pattern to date! What do you think, dear readers???

You can purchase the pattern in my Etsy shoppe for $5.

And I would like to also mention that through the end of January, 10% goes to the Haiti Emergency Relief Fund and another 10% goes to the Susan G. Komen Foundation to support Breast Cancer Awareness.

Hoping you all have a wonderful week!

Love, Kalurah

Congratulations, Emma!

2010-01-16T22:27:45Z

There were many great comments to choose from and I just couldn’t bring myself to decide on my own, so I drew a name randomly.

Congrats, Emma! I hope this news makes your day a little brighter and makes a difference in your day!

Thanks to all of you for entering! Hoping you all have a wonderful weekend! :)

Small packages…

2010-01-16T20:12:40Z

while they play...

summer, where art thou?

Coco-NUTS!

Bobby Flay’s 6 Layer Toasted Coconut Cake

Xmas in July….

on my needles…

Living…

Ten Years….

Happy tenth, Babe! I love you with all of my heart! Always and still.

“Thoroughly” New Knit Pattern!!!

through the woods…..

Congratulations, Emma!

Small packages…

I received a special little something in the post over the summer and I am quite proud of myself for keeping it secret for this long!

My very FIRST published pattern!!!

A very proud moment for me. One that I hope to repeat many times over! :)

Of course this special moment would not be complete without having a Giveaway in celebration…..HELLO!

The prize…..

Your very own copy of the 2010 Crochet Pattern A Day Calender!

Just leave a sweet little comment on this post to enter. This time around, I am selecting a winner based on one simple question:

What/Who inspires you and why?

Comments will remain open until January 15th, midnight PST.

Have a splendid 2010 everyone!!!

Love,

kalurah