Bunnies and More Bunnies!

 Spring has finally arrived here in my corner of the world, and Easter is only a few short days away. A very welcome time of year, as the winters here in Alberta are often very cold, and very long. But without those long winters, you would not see the joy that the arrival Spring seems to bestow on my part of the world.  Everyone seems to have a little more bounce in their step (which my also be in part to the fact that they are no longer wearing heavy snowboots), as they walk their dogs, and get out in the fresh air. Garden centres and home improvements stores seem to bustling with people that are planning projects for the warmer weather and the sunshine to come.

Me? I am in full BUNNY mode. I been enjoying the jackrabbits that visit our front lawn under our Faerie tree, and noting that their fur is starting to be more brown than white - a welcome sign! And, every year at this time, I pull out my yarn, and with a slight bunny-like twitch of my nose, I get started...

Nothing says Spring like knitting and crocheting bunnies! Making bunnies is one of my own spring traditions. And there are so many wonderful designs out there, I thought that I would share some with you.

This is one of the first bunnies that I made, one of Spin A Yarn Crochet's wonderful free patterns, called the Ragdoll Bunny. I added a "L" to her dress for my granddaughter...Miss "L" loves when I add a monogram to her toys!  These Ragdoll patterns are very easy to follow, and they make a wonderfully cuddy toy. I have made several of these bunnies - they make the perfect baby gift as well! Very cute, with a homespun feel. (Just as an aside, I am really glad I cut my hair....yeesh!)

Last year, I made this little knitted bunny, using a pattern I found on Ravelry. (If you haven't joined Ravelry yet, and you are a knitter or a crocheter, you definitely need to check it out!) Be warned, once you go down the Ravelry rabbit-hole (I told you it was all about bunnies) you may never come out!  This pattern is called Dutch Rabbits by Rache Borello Carroll. 

I made this one for my eldest granddaughter a few years ago. This one is the Baby Bunny from Claire Garland, also know as Dot Pebbles. Claire has so many beautiful rabbit patterns, and her designs are like no others. I will admit that this one was challenging, but it was a fun challenge, and I am still really proud of it! I must also mention that when I had a question about the pattern, Claire responded to me personally with help. I was so impressed...

As for this year, I admit things have gotten a little out of control.

These little bunny cups will be filled with treats on Easter morning. You can find a similar pattern here, at Repeat Crafter Me's blog.

I also made this cute little Baba Bunny. Isn't she cute? 

I made several of these Chubby Bunnies from A Menagerie of Stitches. They are fast, and easy, and so, so, squishy! These were a big hit at my craft sale last weekend. I kind of wish I had kept at least one for myself, but I guess I could always make some more...

I worked this little love up in an afternoon, from a free pattern from One Dog Woof. I made mine itty bitty, but as you will see on her blog, you can get a very different look with textured yarn. 

And last but not least, my personal favourite for this year, is a pattern I found on another fantastic blog, All ABout Ami. It is actually a pattern for the Chinese New Year Rabbit. The more I worked on it, the cuter it became. I think my granddaughter will love it. I can't wait to see her face when I give it to her! 

Which bunny pattern is your favourite? I would love to hear if you have created any bunnies yourself, do you have any favourite patterns?  Please share in the comments below...and feel free to friend me (sapphire252) on Ravelry!  

A Tale of Two Dragons

I love to knit and crochet. So when my youngest granddaughter, Evelyn, turned 3 in January, I decided that I would make her a dragon to cuddle. (Evelyn LOVES dragons!) 

I found a pattern online, grabbed my crochet hook and started to make Evelyn's dragon.  I wanted to use some soft snuggly yarn, and so I pulled some of my favourite velvety yarn from my stash.  I had enough yarn to make the head, but not more than that! I thought that I could purchase more of the same colour, but I was surprised to discover that the yarn I had used was discontinued, and not available anywhere. For some reason, this is a lesson that I never seem to learn - always make sure to have enough yarn BEFORE starting a project! 

So I ditched my first attempt, and then revisited my yarn collection. I found some lovely yarn that would do the trick. In about a week, I had completed my project, and added a few personal touches - an "E" for Evelyn and a number 3 to commemorate the occasion.  and I am happy to say that it was a huge hit with Miss Evelyn. She loved "Dixie Dragon".  

A few weeks later, Evelyn was over to visit. As she was searching for "treasures" on my bookcase, Ev pointed out a "dolly" that she wanted on the top shelf. It wasn't a doll - it was the head from my first attempt at making her dragon. She really wanted to see the thing, so in true grandmother fashion, I did not say no, I pulled the sad lump off of the shelf and I gave it to our little girl. Evelyn was quite enamored with this special toy. She hugged it, and kissed the "unembodied" head, with true affection. "It needs eyebrows, Grandma..." she told me with the authority that only a three year old could have. "It needs a body, Evelyn!" was my reply. "I love it, and it's for my home." she announced. 

Well, the head of the second dragon went home with Evelyn that day, and is part of the menagerie that sleeps in her bed at night, along with Dixie Dragon, of course! 

 

I am the QUEEN OF OVERTHINKERS, and this project, like all others involved me questioning whether I had done the pattern justice, and whether it was good enough to give as a gift to my granddaughter.  Evelyn taught me a valuable lesson:

It doesn't really  matter WHAT you make, or how well you make it - as long as it is made with love! 

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Wrapped Up In Love

I became a grandmother for the first time in October of 2016.  Several months earlier, my daughter came over to visit me. She sat me down and she handed me a ball of the softest cream coloured yarn.  She said, "Mama, I need you to make me a blanket out of this." Then she handed me a photography of an ultrasound. 

I searched for a pattern that would highlight the lovely texture of the yarn, and ended up with this lovely basketweave pattern.  As I worked, I dreamed of the grandchild I had not met yet, and how we would wrap the new baby up in this warm cosy gift from me. It is said that when you knit a gift for someone, that there is love woven in with every stitch. That certainly was the case with this special project!

My granddaughter will be three in October.  This is her favourite blanket, and it makes me so happy to see her comforted by it.  Those stitches contain lots of love from Grandma! This blanket has been washed more times than we can count, as it gets dragged back and forth to daycare for nap time, and gets used at home as well. 

In January, I will be blessed with another grand-baby, as my oldest son and his wife are expecting their first child. I am planning to use the same pattern to make a blanket for the new arrival, and you can be sure that there will be a lot of love going into every stitch for the new little one, from Grandma!

Chloe's Night Light

My granddaughter is almost three years old. I cherish these times with her, I know too well how fast children grow up. 

Last weekend I had the chance to babysit my granddaughter overnight. When I do that, we have a special sleepover in Grandma's bed.  We have a special pillowcase that we use on her pillow, embroidered with flowers by her great-great grandmother years ago. And even when the summer evenings bring bedtime before the sun sets, when my room is not dark at all, we have to use Grandma's special night light. This night light comes from another great-great grandmother, who left this world 24 years ago.

My Grandma Vincent was a very special lady. Born in 1905, Grandma Vincent would share stories of  teaching in a one room school house, and would do up my hair in 1920's pin curls. She would host tea parties, and patiently watch our amateur variety shows that my brothers and I would perform in our living room.  I told her all my secrets. She was everything that was loving and gentle and graceful.  I want to be a grandma like her. 

Grandma was also a writer of poetry. Sweet and silly little tales of her childhood memories, of day to day life, or poems she would give as a gift at a niece's wedding shower, or to welcome a new baby.  I put all the poems together into a book after she passed, and gave them to family members for remembrance.

One of these poems is about her friend Chloe, whom she met on a flight back from California.

 My Friend Chloe! 

February 3 1979

They say, "Don't talk to strangers!"

But that isn't good advice

For it's my guess,

that you will miss

Meeting someone nice.

That's not just a speculation

And I'm the one who should know

On returning from my vacation,

I met my dear friend Chlo!

We started to talk and she told me

She was coming to my hometown

Where she was a total stranger

And feeling a little "down".

Her daughter had married and gone away

Just as mine did way back when...

And I knew how her heart was yearning

To see her dear daughter again.

So I got to know her better

And found her sweet and kind

So don't be afraid of strangers

There's some wonderful ones to find!

Grandma, being as kind hearted as she was, arranged for my cousin to drive Chloe to her daughter's home. Chloe was touched by the kindness, and the two ladies started a friendship that continued for many years. They became very dedicated penpals. At one point, Chloe sent Grandma a special gift, this dove night light.

When I was a child, and had sleepovers at Grandma Vincent's little studio apartment, she always lit the special dove night light, the gift from "dear Chloe". A lady I never met, but was my Grandmother's friend.

At some point in time, when Grandma knew she was getting older and may not be able to be on her own much longer, she gave the night light to my mother, who had always admired it. Grandma said, "it will make me happy to see you enjoying it, even more than me keeping it myself."

And now, my mother gave it to me, so that I can enjoy it with my granddaughter. She calls it "my special light". And I know that Grandma Vincent is smiling at us, because a little gift from her dear friend, is now being loved by a fifth generation.

And I am reminded, that being kind and gracious can give you some of the most precious things.