Happy New Year!!!

I am very happy to see 2011. Last year was not the best for my family with the cancer diagnosis of my mother and a series of very expensive car problems...including my van being totaled after hitting a dear who jumped out in front of me!!

I'm hopeful and excited for this new beginning of the year. I always feel like this is a wonderful time to think about what is most important to me and focus on making those things a priority. My faith and family top this list and I hope that this year will draw us all closer to the Lord in our daily walk. As my children grow I find peace in knowing that God will guide and direct me as a mother to raise them with His love.

I am also very excited to jump into new designs and creations for my Etsy shop. I am so passionate about what I do and simply love being creative. It absolutely soothes my soul and brings me joy. I tried my hand at creating a knitted trinket bowl and a beautiful set of washcloths. I have some new ideas for a few secret creations for the home that I'm excited to work on. And as always I have been busy knitting for babies...lots of itty bitty hats!! Blessings.

I admit I am obsessed with adorable little hats for baby. Here are a few of my latest...

Thankful for my journey of this past year

This past year has been a crazy but amazing journey for me. As Thanksgiving approaches I find myself feeling gratitude for all the pain, stress, sadness and happiness that made up this past year. I'm a mom of 3 amazing children. My twin girls are 9 years old, Gabby and Emma and my little boy Scottie is 3. I'm so lucky to be able to stay home with them and watch their growth and every milestone. It is definitely the hardest job I have EVER had. As my girls grow a bit older and begin developing their own opinions, I realize I am in for a roller coaster ride as puberty approaches. They are wonderful and so loving but they both can be a challenge some days. Scottie, too, is taking me on a whirlwind of emotions these days....boys are so different from girls.

This year has also been challenging due to the unexpected cancer diagnosis that my mother received in the Spring. She is almost 80 years old and so strong but this beast really took her down. She went through hell and back this summer with radiation treatments and a month long hospital stay, followed by a month long rehab stay. She is now home and working so hard to get her normal life back. Today she was able to stand all on her own and actually clean her kitchen...an amazing inspiration of strength and determination. She has taught me so much!!

This year I have learned to trust in my Faith and know that God Almighty is with me through the good AND the bad. He gave me strength and unbelievable patience. He guides me each day as I go through the life of unexpected challenges and blessings. I am so thankful for Him.

Well, along with all this madness I have found time to continue working on my passion of fiber art. I absolutely know in my heart that my love for creating has helped me through this past year. When I couldn't endure any more I picked up my needles and created something I loved and was proud of. It rested my soul and gave me peace. For that I am so grateful.

Blessings to all this Thanksgiving!

Lots and lots of new babies....

I am so excited to be overwhelmed with orders for new babies!!! I am currently working on 7 orders for baby items...blankets, cocoons, hats! So much fun!

My newest creations

A few new items to share. All handknits are available in my Etsy shop www.knitsandwhatknots.etsy.com.

The adorable photos are the work of my new favorite person Kory Chase. She is a photographer based in Maryland. She recently used several of my newborn props during her photo sessions. She is amazing. To see more of her beautiful photographers visit her on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/epochvisuals/) or on her blog (http://blog.epochvisuals.com/). Thank you Kory!!!!

A day in the life...

I never thought being a stay-at-home mom would bring such unbelieveable chaos to my life. I really imagined, all those years ago, that it would be hard, tiring, rewarding and well...blissful. I couldn't wait to just go about my day with my children and my home and just...be. Now that I have 3 children I realize that yes, it is hard, tiring, rewarding and blissful but it is also CRAZY. I think it's the uncertainty of what the coming day will bring that has be baffled lately. This fall has been a trying one for my family. We all were sick over a 3 week period; our one daughter being hospitalized for asthma complications brought on by the swine flu. Then I stepped down wrong on my ankle (while making sure my toddler didn't fall down the steps) and tore a ligament; putting me on crutches for almost a week. This doesn't work out too well with 3 kids, a dog, two cats, 4 fish, 2 hermit crabs, and a husband (can't forget him).

So, my thought for today is Expect the Unexpected. Life is a mystery and I am thankful for each day, no matter how crazy. I wouldn't change my life for anything. I have been given so many blessings. God is good. Thank you God for showing me the good within the bad.

Fun floppy flowers

I recently found a fun pattern for a chrysanthumum flower but wanted something a little more whimsical so I used the pattern but changed it up a bit. Here is what I came up with. These professional photos were taken by Brenda Horan and they are so cute! The flower looks great on this little cutie pie! Brenda's work can be seen at www.BrendaHoran.com. Thanks so much Brenda!

If you are interested in purchasing a flower pin please visit me at www.knitsandwhatknots.etsy.com. Thanks!