Growth Spurt????

There's a new attitude about meals around here in the last few days. It's a little like hobbit meals. First Breakfast, Second Breakfast, Elevensies, Lunch, Bottle for Nap, Afternoon Snack, Tea, Supper, Dinner, Bed time Snack......And then all the snacks in between!
We just can't seem to fill him up! I'm expecting him to grow out of all his clothes in the next few days. Probably while we're traveling.

Before and After

There is a one kid movement afoot in our house. It started with 'I can feed myself' and quickly shifted into 'I don't need a spoon'. Today it centered on 'feed me now'. He started eating when he got up this morning and didn't stop until I put him down for his nap.

Here he's spreading oatmeal in his hair in anticipation of his first real haircut. I did such a slack job on his bangs last week that I decided it was time to go for the whole thing.

before

after

He did really well, he sat still in the chair for a very long time though he looked in every direction the whole time. It's a big place with lots going on after all.

I didn't get the cabinet closed yesterday and it was discovered, of course. He spent over 15 minutes hiding out in there playing with the pots and pans.

I finished some knitting. This is the Ribbon Lace Scarf from Knitty.com. I was worried about having enough yarn, so I made it a repeat narrow than the pattern. Then I bought an extra skein after all. It's about 7 feet long now that I've pinned it out.

Then I decided to make Kevin a pair of felted clogs. I started with the largest size, but after hearing some felting stories I started over with the medium. I think they'll work well. I also made a pair for Mom for her birthday. They are very pretty but turned out about an inch too long so I don't know how much she'll wear them.

The sunrise on Saturday from our front porch

Was there a contest?

So seems like I had a contest running, I finally remembered. Random number generator picks Alison of Alianne Knits.

I haven't taken many pictures lately, but here's my favorite from the last couple of weeks. I have since butchered his bangs with another trim.

Etsy Update

I just wanted to let you know that I've updated my Etsy shop. I've added yarn bowls, whisk bowls, and mugs. There's still a couple of days to get items shipped to the west coast, and almost a week to get items out to the east coast.
http://www.potterknitter.etsy.com

Bump

Last week I thought how unfair it was to have a contest and then not post again. But then before I got to it, I hit a bit of a bump in the road.
Monday morning I woke up with food poisoning. Tuesday night I checked into the emergency room and had my appendix out early Wednesday morning. So much for the food poisoning self- diagnosis. Because of large amounts of infection and the compromise of some other organs that I'd like to keep, they kept me there until this morning on IV antibiotics. But I'm home now! I cannot pick up more than 15 pounds for a month, but I hope I'm finally on the mend.

Halloween

On Friday night Celo hosted the annual Halloween party for kids of all ages. It began with a hayride which stopped at about 6 houses for trick or treating. Then a chili dinner at the community center. There were a couple of dozen kids in and around the wagon and twice as many adults following along.

The boy couldn't really decide if he was having a good time or not. He liked the sound of the tractor, but mostly he just sat quietly and watched everything going on around him. He did better with the costume than we'd expected, he's gotten used to wearing a hat lately.

After many years of being called Kevin House it had to be a costume. Maybe he should have changed HIS name when we got married!

We had some special visitors join us for the fun!

In the background you can get a glimpse of the famous pumpkins. Over 100 pumpkins are carved and line both sides of the bridge over the river for the evening. A crew keeps them lit and monitors the huge crowds that come to see them. It's great fun. I didn't get a good picture of them, but if someone else posts one I'll link it up.

November Contest

November- it's kind of an in between month around here. Wildacres has closed as of today. The crazy of October is over, Holidays are still far away enough to be ignored. It's one of my busiest times in the studio as I get ready for the tour, but there's very few entries on the calendar so far. Good time for a contest right?

I've had this blog for over two years, I'm pretty impressed with that. It's been lots of fun, and through my blog writing and reading I've met some pretty neat people. But it's a strange feeling not really knowing who's out there reading. There are about 6 people that I know are regulars but I have no idea who's just here occasionally, or who pops in just when I send out a newsletter to my pottery mailing list. Hence the contest.

Leave a comment to any post written in the month of November and I'll put your name in the hat for one of my mugs, your choice of color.

If you don't get a response to your comments, it's because you are set to no-reply and blogger won't give up your email address. I'd love to be able to reply to every one!

Studio Past

Another potter and blogger Michael Kline posted a before and after shot of his studio in progress this week. It made me remember this shot we took of my studio in progress. That's my wheel on the left with the cardboard box and the tupperware with the green lid. The mirror was taped to the front so that I could see what I was working on. You can't really see much else in this shot, but believe me, it was all this full of crap. But I had to get some pots made anyway, so I did. I'm so glad it didn't last long. Only two years!

Snow!

We had our first snow yesterday morning. I didn't expect more than flurries, but we had a good dusting on the ground and it kept up all morning. Did I take pictures? Of course not. If you really want to see, here's one!

We had a good visit with my grandparents in the last two days. I wish we could have spent more time with them at Wildacres, but the boy got to bed way too late as it was. We slept in this morning and went late to preschool. Again, did I take pictures? Want to see one anyway?

I've been making lots of pots (you'll have to go back on your own for those pictures) to prepare for the
Toe River Studio Tour coming up December 6-7.

And since I couldn't end without a picture.


No one eats in peace around here any more. Even when he's had his own breakfast he has to check out what we're having.


A shot to show off the mouthful of teeth

Rogue Finished!

I finally finished my Rogue Hoodie a few weeks ago. I started it in August of '07! In the spring I was four rows from the finish when I discovered that one arm was 4 inches longer than the other. So, I put it away for the summer and just pulled it back out a few weeks ago. I'm very glad to be done with it, and I've gotten to wear it twice already.

Rogue Hooded Pullover
Malabrigo worsted


And a kiddo picture just to keep my grandmother coming back! We had black beans for lunch, can you tell?

Some of everything

I had no idea it had been a month since I'd posted. Lots of catching up to do. For this one, walking is mastered and now it's all about climbing. We've moved the lamp, we're starting to learn to push in the dining room chairs after finding him on the table, and everything has been moved back from the edges of the desk and tables.

There has been lots of knitting. I finished a pair of socks. I'd been working on these mostly in the car for several months. The yarn is a cotton/wool blend that I was given for my birthday this year. I've also finished my Rogue sweater! But there's no pictures yet. I really like it, but it's not perfect. That probably means I'll wear it more often and not worry about it getting worn.

I fired two kiln loads of pots last week. With help from local potter and kiln guru John Britt I had the best firings in a couple of years. About half the pots are already gone, I'm caught up on smaller orders, the galleries are restocked and I've had some sales in the last week. Just enough that I have a good display left in the studio and just enough that I'm motivated to get started throwing again. I'll firing again around Thanksgiving to be ready for the Toe River Studio Tour the first weekend of December.

I did a demo and talk for a group at Wildacres today. It was lots of fun. They were very interested and had lots of good questions. Then they bought pots!

And finally, just for kicks, a sight that I never thought I'd see again.
I have mixed feelings.

Registered to Vote?? It's not to late, at least here in NC.

Walking

This weekend the boy decided that walking was the preferred method of transportation!
It sure keeps him occupied.

With some help from Mom and Dad, Kevin and I managed to make 8 gallons of spaghetti sauce yesterday. We really missed not having any last year. Now we should be set for a while.

Preschool!

First day of school.

On Wednesday the boy had his first day of preschool. He didn't have much to tell us about it, but I think he had a great time. He'll go two mornings a week for 4 hours. They spend most of the day outside on the playground and taking walks through the neighborhood. The kids range from 1-5 and everyone does everything together so there's lots of interaction. I'm sure he'll be following right along in no time.

A few months ago I made a promise to myself to make teapots on the first day he was there. They just require too much time and focus to do at nap time. I threw 8 and I've managed to get half finished and the other half are trimmed and just need to be assembled.

Then on Wednesday evening we went to Wildacres for dinner. That's my parents on the left and Dad's parents and sister on the right. We try to get in as many visits as possible, but a two hour drive makes for fewer than we'd like.

Sun and Sand

We spent a week at Carolina Beach


Waves were enjoyed

Walking in the sand was pretty cool

Digging in the sand was even cooler

The pool was downright cold, but not as bad as the river

And when it was too windy for the pool, a pan of water on the porch was just as much fun

Teeth

I've been watching for teeth the last few days, he's been a little fussy and feverish a couple of times. Number 4 on the bottom is close to the surface. This morning I stuck my finger in since he won't let me look anymore. Instead of the front tooth I found a molar! He certainly is an easy going kid.

Two for One

Two posts in one week! As promised another finished knit. I started this sweater in March, but there was not much motivation to finish it in the heat of the summer.

By the time he needs it, I think it might even fit. It's big enough that it should last at least until next spring. The pattern is the Child's Placket Neck Sweater.
This is the third one I've made so far and probably won't be the last. I dyed the yarn myself too. I love kettle dyeing, there is so much variation in the color without it being busy.

In the pottery world, it seems to be the summer of the berry bowl. (They are upside down here) All the galleries are selling them as fast as I can get them in. I've got 18 regular ones for the next firing. There are a few smaller ones in the picture, a special request from Janice. And of course when I need one I always make 3.

I just like the way mugs look all lined up in a row. When they are dry but haven't been fired they are very soft in look and feel. Both shelves looked even more impressive, but there is a big batch cooling in the bisque kiln. It will still be several weeks before I have enough pots for the big kiln and the final glaze firing.

Haircut

Since his bangs were hanging below his eyes we had to break down and have a little trim. Kevin's only request was that it didn't look like I'd used a bowl. It wasn't my greatest achievement, but not bad for the first time. I'll do better next time.

He now has 7 teeth and he's taken a few steps on his own. As soon as he figures out how fast he can go, he'll be walking all the time. Climbing is the new favorite activity. Couch, hearth, rocking chair, stairs, anything he can get up onto and hang off the side of.

I finished my Misfit Lite socks!

I've got several projects almost done, so maybe there will be a few more knit posts in the next couple of weeks.

Misfit

It's been hard to get any computer time lately and when I do. I've been working on getting a pattern written up and published! Check it out.

Misfit Socks


Pattern available Here!
Yarn: Dream in Color Classy from The Loopy Ewe
Color: Lunar Zazzle


Everyone in the house is thrilled,
or maybe it's just the watermelon.

Misfit Lite

So really there's been two patterns.
Several of my test knitters requested a lighter version of the Misfit Socks.
So, I present Misfit Lite!


Pattern: available Here
Yarn: Tess Designer Yarn Super Socks & Baby

Birthday!!!

We all survived the first year! Better than we could have expected. We have one great kid. He sleeps, he eats, he usually has a good reason when he cries. We've become parents. Before he was born Kevin would NOT hold a baby. Saturday evening he was handed a 5 week old and he didn't panic, he even had a conversation with the little one. Now that's a changed man!

On Saturday we had a big community party with another of the babies who had a birthday this week.



Then Sunday we had a family party with the good stuff.



His first taste of sugar! Dove right in face first. He wasn't quite as enthusiastic as I had expected, but he was so full from a huge lunch that I can't blame him. He did really like the bite of ice cream I gave him later.

Etsy Update

I just posted a new batch of Yarn Bowls to my Etsy shop!
http://www.potterknitter.etsy.com

Life as normal

The tour is over for another round and now life can get back to normal. Or at least as normal as it ever gets. We had a great weekend and lots of fun hanging out in the studio with family and friends. The traffic was great on Saturday despite the heavy rain most of the afternoon and enough on Sunday that we didn't drive ourselves crazy. The tour got some good national press this time and we had visitors from all over the East, even some who flew in for the weekend. Yeah! to the PR committee!

In the most important family news, my brother Lucas and Elaine have finally gotten engaged! We've all been nagging him for years to get on with it.

With a deadline for motivation, we finally got the quilt square hung. More details when I can take a better picture, or at least one without Kevin's truck and ladder.

In baby news, we've got a climber! Stairs, hills, people. He thinks this table was made for him with the shelf underneath.

I finished Kevin's socks this evening just in time for his first Father's day.

The week to come consists of getting to bed on time, packing up lots of pots for galleries and delivering some, finishing a few knitting projects, getting my car worked on, haircut, and maybe even getting back to the studio. Sounds relaxing after last week.