Let Us Dance

March is the time of in between. That time that cannot make up its mind.

In early Roman days it was the first month of the year. 

January and February had no place as of yet,

 making it a ten month calendar year. 

The new year began on March 1st 

and in many cultures and religions

is still celebrated as such to this day.

Why was this the case for the long ago Roman civilization? 

Because the hardships of winter were finally over, 

meaning they could return to the battlefields of war.

Today, March is the month that blesses us, once again, 

with the glories of an all encompassing,

 long anticipated Spring.

In the great order of the universe,

it perpetually brings back the fresh renewal of life.

For me there's always a return to bunny knits 

like the organic cotton baby hats

that I enjoy creating for little ones over and over. 

I don't know what it is,

 but there's something about seeing bunny ears 

on top of a child or infant sized head

 that just captures my heart and puts a smile on my face.

The joy of the process is in the finishing details

 of choosing the color for each crocheted rose,

whether to use a creamy glass pearl in the center

or a sparkly iridescent Swarovski crystal 

 and what type of ribbon to tie around the ears.

This particular March is bringing me back around to something else.

Something that was deep inside me long before I ever touched that first 

strand of yarn or took up my first set of knitting needles or crochet hook.

It has been embedded into the fiber of my being from the very beginning

and has always coexisted with all else I've done in life,

whether I chose to ignore it or give it voice...

My abiding love for the written word.

Reading it, yes, but what I mean here is writing it.

So in February I made a decision to nurture this part of myself again.

Now that March has arrived, bearing its promise of rebirth,

I am finding myself settling into the tempo of taking

 online courses with a goal of honing my writing skills

and eventually having some works published

 in the forms of poetry and freelance writing.

I spend my days in a merry dance of knitting, reading and writing.

This is an easy fit for me, as these are my favorite things to do already.

But it's been a lot of years since I had to do the reading and writing

part as assignments that will be graded by an instructor or professor.

Also, over the last few years, 

the knitting has worked itself into a full time job.

Therefore, getting all of these things accomplished, 

as well as living a packed full life in general,

is like watching my graceful granddaughter
as she performs a beautiful ballet.

It all has to flow in rhythmic step together.

I am currently taking three classes and am learning

once again the importance and value of time management.

It's all a bit challenging but I find myself loving every single moment.

I feel like I am in the early Springtime of my personal journey.

There is a road of adventure and growth in every step.

Words chase each other around and around inside my head

all day and night until I grab hold of them and work them into 

the order they are begging for.

Knitting, reading, writing...

Knitting, reading, writing...

Repeat...

This is the dance I am doing these days.

The song of my here and now soul...

The dance of my once and future heart.

"Let us read,

and let us dance;

these two amusements will never 

do any harm to the world."

~ Voltaire

Spring, The Time of Plans and Projects

"Spring is the time of plans and projects."

So said Leo Tolstoy in his classic novel Anna Karenina.

Several Springtime's have passed since I read that hefty tome, which I found deeply moving on so many levels of human emotion. Then there were those times it offered small tidbits that were simply straightforward, practical and ageless, like the reality that for most of us Spring really does seem to be the time of

plans and projects.

I think it must be because, just as the earth around us, we find ourselves awakening once again, stretching our Winter weary limbs and blossoming with new growth. The Spring rain washes over us, bringing with it the scent of anticipation and excitement of all the greenness and bright color we are on the verge of experiencing, as though we've never known it before and at the same time have never been without it.

Ahh ...

Springtime ...

I love it!

For many of us it is the time we plan family trips and visits and sometimes quick weekend getaways due to the fact the weather has finally turned lovely. We begin to make our plans well into the Summer and early Autumn months. There will be Spring and Summer holidays and weddings sprinkled here and there as well. Back yard barbeques and lots of family and friends to laugh and enjoy the longer days of sunshine with. Doesn't it just make you happy to plan it all out in your heart?

Then there are always the projects...

This time of year always finds me working on some type of bunny project.

Over the many years I have been knitting these hats with bunny ears I've used a few different fibers and liked them all, however the last couple of years I have finally decided I prefer them knitted in Knit Picks Organic Cotton the very best. For one thing it's organic and for baby skin especially I think that is always an excellent idea. It is super soft and has no dyes or chemicals of any kind.

It also has enough body to it to make those ears stand straight up.

It eliminates any wool in the fiber against delicate baby skin

but is still an all natural fiber.

 I do sometimes work with blends that have a little synthetic in the mix but, generally, I prefer an all natural fiber, whether it's plant or animal sourced.

The Organic Cotton also makes a beautiful little "cotton tail" pom-pom.

I just love that finishing touch!

Now...

Although it's Springtime,

I oftentimes knit off season due to the fact I am filling custom orders.

I actually enjoy this because it keeps me all over the place in my day to day work, ensuring that I never get bored

{as if I could get bored with knitting or crocheting!}.

I recently shipped off an order to a customer out of state who wanted

some pumpkins knitted in the colors of Auburn University.

So, in March when I am usually elbow deep in all things bunny

I was knitting and stuffing pumpkins.

The order was for a half dozen. Three in each color.

I always knit my pumpkins in a double thickness of 100% Wool and stuff them within an inch of their lives {or my life...}.

The wool used for these was Cascade 220.

These plump pumpkins found their way to their new home last week and now I am finally putting the second sleeve in this lacework sweater that I had set aside for several weeks. I was able to let it wait because the customer who ordered it doesn't actually need it until early Fall.

This photo shows the first sleeve. Today's project is to finish the second sleeve then work the ends in so I can wet it and block it and sew on some pretty buttons. The entire sweater is worked in the round from the top down using Cascade 220 Superwash Wool. The sleeves were meant to be worked in rows back and forth but I decided to convert them into working in the round as well and am doing them on double point needles. I always knit round things in the round if at all possible. It only makes sense, as far as I'm concerned. This makes the entire sweater completely seamless.

A final note on the yarn used for this sweater ~

For those of you who have never worked with Cascade 220 Wool in the Superwash and might be worried that it is scratchy, it is NOT. It is a lovely wool to work with, offering beautiful stitch definition and enough softness even for a child's skin as long as there is no actual allergy or sensitivity to wool. Plus it can be machine washed in cold water and tumbled dry.

It's time for me to lay this sweater project to rest

 because there are more bunnies waiting to be made for the next custom order...

It is, after all,

 Spring.

"She turned to the sunlight

And shook her yellow head,

And whispered to her neighbor;

"Winter is dead."

A.A. Milne

When We Were Very Young 

Bunnies Make Me Smile

What is it about

Bunnies?!

Or even just things made to look like bunnies...

with bunny ears

&

bunny tails.

They're just so 

cotton pickin' cute!

I have been working hard on my Etsy Shop.

Some of the bunnies have hopped on

and a few have already hopped off :-)

Here is a little 

Bunny Parade...

The first 3 are Pocket Bunnies.

The next few are Bunny Egg Cozies.

I did this little fella for myself in a crochet pattern

I had never tried before.

{As I am allergic to chocolate I figured this is a good way to sneak a bit of it in}

While I think he's cute,

I prefer the Debbie Bliss knitted version.

The only thing I change about the pattern is I convert it to 

knitting in the round.

I really don't see any reason to knit them 

flat and seam them

when it's so much quicker and easier

to do them up on double pointed needles.

I hope you have enjoyed this early 

Springtime Parade

because

that's

The End

Sweet Baby Bunny Hat

I can't get enough bunnies in my life these days! I love bunnies year round. I always have. They're just so darn cute! But in the Springtime, especially as Easter approaches, my days are filled with creating the darling little critters. Every year I make these bunny hats to sell and they are always very popular. This one is on my new Etsy Shop ~ Front Porch Knits. I'll take a few to the local boutique this week also.

I am knitting them out of a lovely blend of pima cotton and silk that is delightfully soft. I love the sheer ribbon bows tied around the ears for the Little Miss. This hat can also be worn by the Little Mr. just as easily by simply removing the bows. And the real kicker? The fluffy pom pom cotton tail in the back!

Happy Bunny Trails To All Of You Today!