Happy Holidays!

  I just got a box in the mail this week from my Mother back in the east.  I had no idea what it might be, maybe some early presents for the boys.  I opened it up and read her note...and cried. It's a good thing-by the way! It's not that it says so much, but in it's few words it says everything that matters about the holidays.

These are made using some of my Grandmother's knitting patterns from the Shetland Islands.

   "Hi there everyone- About six weeks ago I remembered what you said in your blog last December, Fiona, about not having your box of Christmas tree decorations with you. So I decided to gather the troops together and make a few for you to use this Christmas.
   I had hoped to get them sent to you a bit earlier than this but the last ones were just dropped off to me on Saturday- so here they all are!
   I hope you like them and that you feel the love from us all as you take them out of the box.
   We'll all miss all of you this Christmas and hope you feel our love emanating from the decorations on the tree!
Much love to you all, Mam/Granny xxxx"

   Ohhhhh.....It's so simple and perfect, don't you think? It makes me cry because we are far from our families this year, but this note and package reminds us that we are never that far apart. I pass by each one on our tree and I can picture each family member, young or old(er) so vividly!
  Beauty, handcraft, love and family....Gosh, just how much sentiment can these ornaments hold... they are like tiny little concentrated capsules of emotion!

  I've organized group projects/shared gifts like this for so many others- this is the first time I've been on the receiving end, and I can't believe just how touching it is. As others have said that received them- I feel so loved!

  Just wanted to share my gift of warmth with you! And wish you all such warmth, whether your families are near or far!
Have a joy filled, peaceful holiday!
Warm wishes,
Fiona

Wool Felt Hearts Tutorial

Living Crafts is featuring my tutorial on sewing wool felt hearts on their blog.

"These wool felt hearts have been a Valentines mainstay in our family for years. The hearts made their first appearance when my sons were quite young, starting a tradition of them coming downstairs in the morning to find a Valentines neck pocket each, hanging in the doorway and filled with little treasures. After discovering what was hidden inside, the boys would wear their hearts as necklaces all day and look more sweet than any Valentines candies have ever been.

We have made variations over the years; quilted cottons; knitted yarns; wet felted wool; folded paper….but always come back to these felt lovelies!"

The tutorial includes the pattern plus instructions on sewing them up to create neck pockets, pin cushions, bean bags and wall hangings. 

Enjoy!

Fiona

Candlemas

Candlemas has always been a special celebration in our family.

Marking the time on the calender halfway between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox, and also the time when the days start to feel appreciably longer.

We celebrate the day as a time to start bringing all the thoughts and ideas that have come forward during the quiet, contemplative time of winter, into a period of germination. Just as the plants are starting to wake up underground; as the sap is starting to flow again through the trees;  the young animals are growing within their mothers, preparing to be born, so are our hopes and visions. Becoming aware of Candlemas, many years ago, also led us to take a greater pause through the winter; to be sure and slow down and use that time for meditation and clear thinking, so that we are ready to grasp the strength of spring renewal and shoot forward towards our goals.

Each year we plant a Wish Garden, sometimes with close group of friends, some years as a community party, and some years, just as a family.  We usually dip candles in our own beeswax from our hives and prepare a planter filled with earth, through the day. That evening, before we start our evening meal, we write out our wish for the year. When the boys were younger, they would draw a picture to represent their wishes.  We each dig a little hole in the pot, fold up our wishes and plant them deep within the hole, then cover the wish with a spring bulb or some seeds, and some more earth. Then we plant our candle on top and light it, representing the returning sun warming the earth so the seeds can came forth and flourish. The wish garden sits in the middle of the table, alight, and we leave the candles burning in the planter, until they burn down completely. 

 Then the planter stays in the kitchen where we can watch and wait and as our little plants start to sprout, coming into full growth 4-6 weeks later- for Spring Equinox.  A warm welcome to spring and it's renewal.

  This has been a wonderful tradition to share with others....one of my favourite occasions was one Candlemas that we invited everyone we knew from our different social circles to come and join us. The house was full of children and conversation and laughter. We dipped candles, had a potluck meal,  and each family created their own wish garden to bring home with them. Just before the end of the evening, all the gardens, alight,  were together in one room- a shared community wish, full of light and warmth. It was a sacred moment.

This year, Candlemas also marks the day we take over our new property. We don' t have our bees yet, so bought candles and walked up through heavily overgrown paths to a special spot under an an Arbutus tree. As dusk fell,  we planted our wishes and our candles right in the earth, our earth,and appreciated being together in our own place, and all that the coming seasons will bring.

Several books we found to be great resources while establishing our family seasonal rhythms and traditions are Circle Round , Celebrating the Great Mother, Festivals, Family and Food, and The Children's Year.

Sunday Gratitudes

Creativity and inspiration can come from a sense of wonder and awe, and we can only feel that  through gratitude and appreciation. Valuable emotions to foster.

There are some things we've been meaning to do for a long time in our home. Some small changes that make life all the more simple, and more rich. And while small, these are sometimes the hardest changes to make. We've been wanting to take a moment at the beginning of each evening meal to express gratitude- one thing from each of us that we are thankful for. Simple, yes? But with the tumult of getting dinner on the table, and at a time of day when all of us are at a low ebb, it just hasn't happened, although those feelings make the exercise all the more pertinent!

That was, it hadn't happened with regularity until this week. It was another small change that also brought this one into being. We sat down as a family, and talked about one thing we could do a little differently this week, that would make life better for the whole family. And then pledged to try and act on that one difference, paying attention daily. Using this as a platform, it was an easy step to start expressing what we are thankful for also.

beautiful books made locally with recycled paper

 We each picked out a gratitude blank book. And on Sundays we sit down before dinner and talk about what behaviour or action we are going to work on for the week, then write it in our books. On each day of the week, we add one thing for which we are grateful. Our family list has so far included- "I'll listen more", "I'll put myself in another persons position to understand better" , I'll try not to get angry so quickly", "I appreciated going to the beach to drive my toy car", Oh! I appreciated that too!", " I appreciated finishing building my stone structure- for the sense of accomplishment and seeing a project finished"....

 Another expression I am making is to make a gift for someone that may not often get handmade gifts themselves, or chose to make something for themselves.  It started out in the idea of making for the makers in our lives, but has actually manifested in a gesture of appreciation for someone, who perhaps least expects it. My list of such people is full- not necessarily of my closest friends- but always people who have helped me, always so willingly, without expectation. I need to recognize them with a gesture of handcrafted love.

  I'll be sending out one box in each month of 2011, and this week I sent out my first one.

Nicole has helped me on several projects- at the last minute, when I was stuck, and I so appreciate her help.

 For her, I made a baby size hat from the Living Crafts Childs Hat pattern (baby sizes coming!) for her new babe on his way. And a little Love Gnome, for each of her two girls.

 And most important- for Nicole herself, a wool felt lamp. I made one for her, similar to the one on the right. I don't have any single pictures of the lamps illuminated in this way- but this gives you the idea! The lamp is carved with an image of a full moon and stars over a shadowy landscape, chosen to celebrate Nicole's baby moon. The light that passes through the wool is so soft, soothing, warm and glowing- just right for long night with a new baby.

packaged and ready for mailing

 It feels so good to think through and pay attention to that which we are grateful for, both daily and within the broader scope of our lives- the people, places, things and events that enrich us. 

I do believe that this opens up our creative mind to experience wonder, delight and awe.  Hearing about what others appreciate also helps us to see our own worlds through different eyes. I'd love to hear what you appreciate or are grateful for this week! Please leave a comment!

August 17, 2011

Note: The wool felt lights are now available in my Etsy Shop: Kattikloo, in the new Kattikloo Kids section!

I'll be adding finished Love Gnomes, make your own felt light kits, and more felt toys and accessories for children over the next few weeks! Thanks for visiting! 

Warm wishes,

Fiona

Tree Project- ready for the holidays!

  Ahhhh...the tree is fully alight now that we have reached the Winter Solstice. From December 21st on, we will light one less candle on the tree each night, as the days get longer....even if only by moments...
  We didn't bring our candle clips with us, but I found some beautiful ones second hand that I love even more then the ones we have stored away. I'm so happy to have them- the candles and their light is my favorite part of the tree decorating, and once lit, they generate such a peaceful ambiance for our evening activities. It's amazing how much light is cast, just by the candles. Enough for me to knit by one night...and that was so soul soothing- everyone in bed, just sitting quietly in the glow, knitting...Perfect!

Since my last post, we made two more sets of ornaments. First the Paper Folded Flowers, and then our wool felt ornaments, each individually designed. These are made with our Hand Dyed Wool Felts.

We sit at the table, with warm tea and homemade cookies- absolutely essential to the designing process! We each draw what we want our ornaments to be. Then refine them to become paper patterns.

We trace the patterns carefully onto the wool felt using either a soft pencil (4B is good) or a sharpie marker.

We sew the two layers together, using either blanket stitch or running stitch.

The Gingerbread Chicken is sewn together around the edges using running stitch, in white, to look like an icing detail.

The Felt Star Cut-out is sewn with blanket stitch, to make a neat edge, before adding beads for a little sparkle. Last of all the hangers are sewn in place- just a simple embroidery floss loop, ready to hang!

The Wool Felt Fairy has a special story that I will share tomorrow, along with the patterns for each of these.

We didn't make anywhere near as many ornaments as I thought we would. Our tree projects days drifted into one another, as each day passed, full of other activities and engagements. This is as many ornaments as we will be able to make this year....and it is enough. With the beautiful cross stitched cards my mother makes holding special places on the tree; with our handmade ornaments and our candles alight; our tree looks full and joyous.  Full of shared experiences, light and warm wishes from family near and afar....Warm wishes, I share with you, and your families.

Tree Project

  So we've just moved 5000km (3000miles) and we did bring only our absolute essentials. The things that make life pleasurable, and a place feel like home...like  a few toys and books, a chainsaw, our grain mill, two big boxes of wool, and espresso pot, all our cast iron pans...you know...the things you really can't live without!

  One of the boxes left behind ( for now) is our treasured box of Christmas ornaments.  Luckily I packed the Wool Felt Star pieces I designed for this seasons Living Crafts Magazine:

 

I knew we would want a few holiday decorations to warm up whatever place we found ourselves in for December. I never really thought much about Christmas trees and dressing them up.

In keeping with tradition we got our tree for St. Nicholas Day, and thanks to these Living Crafts pieces our tree is not entirely bare and forlorn, but definitely looks like it needs to be celebrated a bit more with some hand crafted ornaments.

We made a pledge to ourselves that everything we purchase or make here for our home must be the thing we have always dreamed of having. It has to be the *right* piece, not just something that will do in the meantime.  We're not in a rush- we are going to love each and every item we bring into our home.

On each day of the coming week, we will be making an ornament each to hang on our tree, most with tutorials to share. Please join us as we gather to make our tree resplendent, day by day....

Warm wishes,

Fiona

Handcrafted Traditions

  When our children were very young, we wanted to consciously create our family holiday traditions. In the same way we approached all of our parenting decisions- we wanted to chose with awareness, and to create a homelife that felt true to us. It is not an easy decision to live in a different way, but our holiday tradition choices have been some of the best we have made and strengthen our family bond every year. 

  On December 5th, the eve of St.Nicholas Day, we go out to find our tree. It comes into our home, and is left to rest for the night. The next day we decorate, with all our lovely handmade treasures collected over the years, plus many ornaments that have been given to us as gifts by dear friends. We use real candles on our tree, and light only one that evening. Through the night, Father Christmas comes, and leaves small gifts for the boys under the tree; traditional gifts like wooden boats, wooden trucks, small dolls, books, oranges, nuts and chocolate coins. It is all simple, and peaceful. Santa has never come to our house on Christmas Eve, and my children have never missed that. We explained that He has many names all around the world, and it takes awhile to get to all the children everywhere, which is why Father Christmas visits us so early.  We chose to spread out the Christmas energy, so everything does not all happen on one day.  And to mark the beginning of the holiday season, a time when we turn inwards as a family; staying home more and doing less....truly a quiet time..... It is okay to be different, and do what you believe. We have never felt resistance to our traditions; I believe because they are so right for us, and they are rooted in older traditions and this eases the way.
  On each night we light one more candle on our tree- from December 6th, until the Winter Solstice, so the tree is fully lit on the longest night of the year. The candles in the living room give off such a soft light, and this softness makes the long evenings pass more peacefully. On the Winter Solstice we exchange gifts with each other. A small family exchange that marks the turning point of the year.
  For most of my childrens growing up years, we lived in a place where the days are short in December, when the sun is low in the sky and barely passes over the tops of trees. And in the place where both of our sets of parents lived, making Christmas Day a social day of parties in town, rushing from family to family.  By choosing these traditions we honoured what was important to us, and had time to visit with everyone, honouring their wish to see us on the day most important to them. And this week, I feel honoured to act as a guardian of the Father Christmas spirit, more than 10 years into our handcrafted tradition. I carefully scribe my annual note on handpainted paper, eat my cookie and orange, and silently place gifts under the tree for my boys, nourished by the rhythm, love for my family and the Holiday Spirit.


Warm wishes,
Fiona