happy september! (is there anything more representative of september than pencils?)

it has been a little crisp around here in chicago these last few days, reminding me of all that fall has to offer. while most people get refreshed in spring for clean up and organization, i believe fall is my season of restoration. i blame it on the fact that i’m a libra and that i moved recently into a new home & neighborhood. lots of ideas for design, projects and organization all around me. trying to find the balance.

while i am cleaning up around here on my blog, i thought i should ask you, my readers, what categories you would like to see here more often?

so far i fill these pages with joyababy, photography, meals, travel, projects from my creative journal and birthdays. please share in the comments section if you have any other wishes or which ones you like best.

also, i have been recently asked what are my favorite places to visit online. so, i am going to list a few here that i most frequent. my family +home + joyababy schedule doesn’t allow for a lot of exploration online and i know that seems odd for being online a lot, but it is true. most of the places i frequent have been passed on by friends or linked from other favorites. so if you have places you love online, please share!

my online stops …

for inspiration, creative ideas, projects and design boards.

for whats new and hot in the parenting, product and family world.

for an abundant amount of ideas and inspiration for creative play.

for cool gift ideas for the little ones or the latest must-have iphone app.

for tried and true recipes, yes i am classic when it comes to food.

where i can live vicariously through a year of family life abroad.

for my everyday reading of fashion, inspiration, gifts & now motherhood.

for insightful writing and a warm, inviting family life.

for reflecting on life, gratitude and love (and yoga).

where i enjoy beautiful photography of a beautiful family.

for delicious confections, style, photography and great reading.

when domino magazine folded, i found happiness here and here.

when cookie magazine left the paper world, i started reading this.

eye candy and tools for crafting and inspiration all here.

loving good paper * good design makes me want to live in pacific northwest with newly launched design workshops and live in utah to take classes here.

because i am a modern parent and i am very at home with mothering naturally.

for hunting down unique items and gifts by color.

for my love of photos of anything for inspiration.

for stocking up on art supplies and paper supplies.

where i search for fabric and decor ideas most often.

i don’t really shop for clothing online because i always like to try on stuff (true for the kids sometimes too).

however, i like to get inspiration online for fashion

and for the kids here.

that’s it for now. do you have a favorite place to be online?

this past summer i posted about by love for knitting and a few projects i was working on. we also had a joyababy giveaway contest where one lucky person received a joyababy lux blanket and a set of hand knit booties to match.  we are considering adding an heirloom hand knit item to our bgenerous joyababy sets in the future. i continued to knit off and on throughout the summer and fall. i started a few ambitious projects like a pram blanket and footed leggings. i also did a few easier ones including a matching grey hat and booties to be worn home from the hospital by the baby. i can be completely honest and say, i was not able to find the time (or comfort level or quiet) at the end of my pregnancy to finish the more complex knitting projects. because i am relatively new to knitting, any pattern where i have to count and remember where i am at, was impossible with two little boys running around playing. after the baby was born, my mom suggested that a friend of her’s finish the blanket for me (she’s a knitting pro!) and that way the 6 x 18 inches of work that took me hours and the beautiful yarn from purlsoho would get used by the baby! because we all know that if you thought you had no time at the end of your pregnancy with two little ones, adding a third, a newborn, was not going to free up any more quiet time. i just received it back over the holidays and it turned out beautiful. i will share photos of it in a future post.

but here are the sweet grey booties and hat that i knit for my baby. these photos are great aren’t they? at the hospital i delivered at, they use the photography company bella baby for their newborn shots. so no newborn baby photo under a bright light in a hospital cap and onesie. they welcomed photographing the entire family too. amazing work in a hospital room! you can see i ended up purchasing the entire set and rights to print- perfect for birth announcement & christmas cards.

all images are copyright of joyababy 2011

the pattern for the knit hat and booties is from “vintage knits for the modern baby“. the pattern for the hat runs small so if i did it again i would size up. it did fit my baby, weighing eight pounds at birth, for a few short weeks.

my grandmother in india used to spend hours knitting, in dim lighting might i add. she would knit up sweaters and footies, overalls and hats, even clothes for our tiny dolls. the sweater i wore home from the hospital was one she knit and my boys both wore it home from the hospital in recent years.

something about expecting a baby makes me want to knit (nesting anyone??). i first attempted knitting while waiting for my second baby to arrive. i knit up a few pairs of booties and a hat. i didn’t learn about gauge and types of yarn, instead i just went to a local craft store and bought whatever looked good. the baby arrived five days late and about three pounds heavier than his older brother and needless to say, the booties and hat would not fit him at all. this is why gauge, needle size and yarn all matter.

this time, i decided to do my research. i spent some time reading about the various yarns, fibers and needles. i  decided to buy quality yarn and needles at purl soho (a must visit for all crafters if you are in NYC or if not, online). i even watched countless videos on youtube showing me knitting techniques that i had not mastered before. i highly recommend this for self-teaching. next, i ordered a few books with patterns that i loved and would actually buy even if i wasn’t knitting them, like: vintage knits for the modern baby by hadley fierlinger and baby knits for beginners by debbie bliss. for free patterns, check out thepurlbee.com, tipnut.com and craftzine.com among others.

if you shy away from knitting because you think its old fashioned or too vintage for your tastes, take a look around purl soho and see the array of colors and types of yarn that you can create from. also, shop around for clean lines in patterns and simple silhouettes. and if you are not expecting a new bundle of joy any time soon, knitting up gifts for a child, a friend or for yourself can be just as fun and rewarding!

i do want to share a few tips, one of the most important being that if you are like me in any way (have a house full of noisy little ones and own your own business-which means answer all emails and calls) you will need quiet time for knitting. there is a lot of counting and memorizing involved. i also recommend that if you are taking on the challenge of a more complex pattern, that you right down which rows you have completed as you go along. also use those nifty yarn markers or pins to help you remember when to switch a stitch, a change in pattern etc.

there is a peaceful and relaxing side to knitting. like anything handmade, it is amazing to see something take shape right before your eyes as you create it. and if at the very least, it reminds you of why a cashmere, hand knit sweater costs so much the next time you are shopping!