purchase!

aunty em diapers are now available at Childish Things in Boulder, Co. This is very exciting! Childish Things is located at 2071 30th St, Boulder Co., 80301. It is on 30th between Pearl St. and Walnut, sort of behind Target. You know i would love to have you buy one of these beauties if you find yourself in Boulder.


in other news: have you done anything about The Handmade Fiasco? If not, please take yourself over here to sign a petition, or over here to vote that this is one of the issues Mr. Obama takes a look at (it is currently #1 in the Economy Topics and voting closes today!). The new Law passed and will go into effect on February 10th if it does not get amended. Ick. If you have had the thought that this really won't effect you or what you make, please take a moment to reconsider that it probably will effect some one you know (me!) who makes something (anything!) for children. You can also click the link on the side bar to read more.

Save Handmade

it's been going around the cloth-diaper-making community, etsy and many other craft blogs and forums: Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, a new law designed to ensure the safety of children’s products. Basically, it's lead testing for all products intended for children 12 years and younger. It will effect thousands of small businesses because the testing costs are crazy expensive. Sew, Mama Sew has a lovely, well worded post. And i am also using her links to refer you to TAKE ACTION.



please visit one or more of these websites to learn more and contact your representive to let them know that targeting the entire children's market will not only effect our overall economy but, it will also distroy local handmade goods & toys and small businesses everywhere. it will also take away all of the beautiful wood toys that get imported from Europe.

• Save Handmade Toys From the CPSIA
• TBW (The Baby Wearer) Statement Opposing the Consumer Product Safety Commission Improvement Act
• National Bankruptcy Day
• Mothering–Toy Safety Legislation: Good Intentions Lead to Catastrophic Results for the Natural Toy Industry
• Cool Mom Picks–Help Us Save Handmade
  

merry christmas: the holiday note

2008: road trip, originally uploaded by good little granola girl.

i sent this photography and a short note to family and friends in snail-mail version. But i only did 36 of those family and friends to save a bit of money. So, for all the other friends i have out there in internet-land i wanted to share it with you as well!

merry christmas to one and all. we hope you are well. i haven’t written a christmas letter in a few years so i thought it was time for an update. This year’s ‘theme’ was Road Trip. In May we drove to N. Carolina to meet our newest (and first) nephew, Max. He is really cute in all of his baby-goodness, and we held him a lot while we were there. being with family we don’t see too often was really nice. and did i mention holding the baby a lot? our next road trip took us to Nebraska to help my parents tow a late 1940’s spartan manor trailer back to colorado. my dad has since sold it, but it made for a fun, vintage (we even slept in it one night), laid back road trip (because one has to drive slow-ish when towing such a trailer). when september rolled around tom and i took a ‘driving tour’ of southwest colorado (and moab too). we camped, i took a zilllion photographs, and tom drove and drove and drove.

boulder is nice. i work as a nanny with 2 charismatic children. tom is still at REI. Throw in some knitting (for me) and bicycle tinkering (for tom) and that’s another year here at our home.

we hope you had a lovely holiday season (although, it is not over yet.)

diaper order #01

diaper order #01, originally uploaded by good little granola girl.

i have a had my very first diaper order generated from auntyemdiapers.com! it has been very exciting. so exciting in fact, that i went to denver to meet the women who was buying them (and we had cloth diapering 101). i loved every minute of it.

the website has been seeing some traffic, but i haven't been getting many emails with requests or questions. I'm sure people are looking for a way to order them. That is in the works and i have some creative ideas for doing it.

but i really should be sewing at the moment. i have another order to fulfill. yipee!

thanks ya'll

so this whole time, or least lately, i sort of thought that no one read this little old inconsistent blog. but then i posted about my new venture, Aunt Em Diapers, and i got all sorts of hits over there. It was wonderful watching the stats counter move up up up all day! So, i've come to the conculsion that this here blog does indeed have a visitor or more. and that makes me very happy indeed. And if you were one of those that got my email too, double thanks. The diaper business is very small, but i hoping that with the internet community, my friends and theirs it will grow a little bit. I also really want to focus on Local and perhaps, just maybe, I can sell my diapers in a few store in Boulder. I find it tremendously important to support local, handmade folks.




I am one of those that love photographs: i could just eat them up. So if you are curious to see more of the diaper photos, please head on over to the flickr and see them all. I did all the photography and film and a manual camera. And then do please, feel free to send them along to anyone you think might also be interested.

thanks to all my little birdies for spreading the word.
kindly.

aunty em diapers

aunty em diapers, originally uploaded by good little granola girl.

for some of you, the ones who read this, occasionally, because i post occasionally, you might have read (a long time ago) that i had a project i was working on.. but keeping it under wraps. well, i am ready to present that to ya'll now!

I introduce you to: Aunty Em Diapers. Cloth diapers and (soon to be) diaper covers for babies.

the fabric, snaps, patterns and more fabric have taken over the craft room, but in a really exciting new way. And i have new toys too: a snap press and a new sewing machine and webpage that is all mine! And i'm hoping a serger will be in the near future (gotta make a little money first).

It's definatelty a project i am really happy with and really look forward to pursuing. Take a look at the new website for all the information. if you have any questions, i'd love to hear from you.

oh, and one more thing: I'm on twitter now. i've even got it in the side bar here, so if you twitter too, give me a tweet, little birdie.

hello. blog much?

the nanny, originally uploaded by good little granola girl.

well, i'm around. i've also been lying around. on the couch. i found out i had strep after days of a wicked bad sore throat, feeling lousy and having to cancel my knitting party (which was the worst part of being sick. boo hoo). but while i was feeling lousy, i was also missing work. so my 'charge', Axel, sent me a wonderful picture. This was super exciting for two reasons. Number One: it still rocks to get mail with a stamp, from the postmaster, in the mailbox. i loved opening it up to see what was inside. Number Two: check out the glasses! This little boy has gone from totally scribbling, to drawing images (and telling you what it is he is drawing) in what seems like overnight. i know that's not true, but is was a quick transition. I'm so in love with this picture, that i fell compelled to show everyone.. so i am. on the internet.

pumpkin hats and other warm woolies

pumpkin hats, originally uploaded by good little granola girl.

hello autumn. may i greet you with some knitting? wrap yourself (your head for starters) in wool. then for your chilly nights we have something for your feet as well.

these little pumpkin hats were made for my nephew max (the dark orange) and my little friend Ave (the lighter orange). i rather enjoyed making them sort of different, as no two pumpkins are really the same. similar yes, but not the same.

i also am have a felting frenzy.

so quick and so rewarding. i'm wearing my new slippers now and i am rather tickled with them. i put a wooly fleece lined leather sole on the bottom, so i don't slip and break my ass.

at the moment i don't feel like i have many knitting projects but,i am surrounded by wool all over the couch.

more photos. now in film

SCAN0174, originally uploaded by good little granola girl.

so, just incase you didn't get enough pictures of southwest colorado-- now you can see more. i have all the film photographs up at the flickr. i like these ones much better. but i knew i would.

oh, yes. and i know. in my last post i typed 'right' instead of 'write'. oops. too tired to go back in and fix it. but i will.

and hey! stick around. i might share some knitting with you soon too.

awww. Colorada

awww. Colorada, originally uploaded by good little granola girl.

so autumn is here. and i am in love (do i say that a lot? i am. i love fall. the coolness. the apples. the squashes. the colors. everything about it delights me). tom and i took a loverly trip through southwest colorado and moab and needless to say, i took a lot of pictures-- out the car window (not this one. we stopped for this one). i can't really put to words the beauty of it all, in a way that would make me happy. so you'll have to head over to the flickr (click this here photo-graph) to check it all out. i have more pictures on film, but they are at the developers now. i am hoping they turned out well, with a certain softness that film holds.

we did a lot of camping while on our trip. i had so much fun and i'm getting the hang of it quite well. i was 'put in charge' of the tent. it became a joke that i was The High Priestess of The Tent. This is funny to us, because when i first met tom (and didn't have any camping experience. and he did. lots!) i was sort of shy about it all. and i said to him, "i'm nervous about going camping with you and your friends, because i don't know what the hell i am doing. and ya'll do. and i don't want to look foolish or prissy in front of your friends." Turns out, that was never an issue, because camping isn't really hard. and i'd like to think i have some sense. i think i was having a girly moment. anyway, we have lots of fun now and i am totally comfortable camping.

wow! looks like i can right a decent blog post. humph!.

black and white film

My creation, originally uploaded by good little granola girl.

so, i have this pentax k1000 camera from high school-- from when i was pursuing photography in and the photo editor for the school paper. i learned to develop film and print photographs. i had a few other successful photography adventures as well. but then i just sort of stopped using it. sure i had other cameras: a fancy (to me) canon eos that was more automatic and a canon elf that used that funny drop-in style film.

and then the whole digital fun began. i stopped using film all together. i quickly adjusted to the insta-quality of digital and downloaded/uploaded photos to my hearts content. who needs film when you can take endless photographs?

but then i remembered my simple pentax. i got it down off the shelf, dusted it off and replaced the battery. i decided i wanted to take some real black and white photos. i bought film, loaded it into the camera and promptly but it back on the shelf.

it sat there for about another year.

then i started looking at cafemama's flickr. she uses film, get's her pictures scanned and then uploads them to flickr. i love the texture and richness of her photographs. her images are simply and beautiful. i'm convinced it's the film.

so when i needed to do a little project that required a little photo shoot (that i wanted to look different from all the other digital stuff) i knew i needed to use film. and my simple yet elegant, pentax camera. it's totally manual, but i definitely enjoyed planning out my shots. i had to use the black and white film that was already loaded into the camera. these shots are what turned out.

i am in love.

bon iver- skinny love

Ratatat - Black Heroes

uh? what year is it?

uh? what year is it?, originally uploaded by good little granola girl.

dudes. here's a trippy way to waste time. i can't believe the stuff on the web. what the hell. but i'm totally smiling at all the dumb pictures. you can do this too you know. one of the pictures totally made me look like my mom, which was sort of crazy, because even though i look like her daughter, i don't look just like her. crazy huh.

okay, well that's enough carnival style fun for me.

my work table

my work table, originally uploaded by good little granola girl.

i was inspired by cosymakes to share my work spaces... complete with notes to clue you in on what's what. it was a lot of fun. i've got a lot of sewing going on lately, but there is some knitting stuff there as well. there are many more photos over at my flickr that can give you a well rounded view.

got a little project brewing

got a little project brewing, originally uploaded by good little granola girl.

i've been a way a while, huh? i guess i'm not feeling feeling very bloggie; like sharing. that's not so say tho, that i'm not spending obsessive amounts of time looking at blogs and spending time on flickr. i am. and i expect updates all the time. but when it come to my own, i'm a slacker.

i've been working on a little sewing project, hoping it will grow into a little income as well. i've been teaching myself to silkscreen print. there's a lesson in patience i should have practiced better, but didn't. i don't feel ready to reveal more, until i have it all in order.

have i mentioned flickr lately? like 800 times. well, i'm enjoying it tons and tons, (that any the 'friend activity' on ravelry. they expanded it, and i get to see so much more.) and i tend to put more pictures there. at this point i'd have to say, that if you want to see more of 'me' that's were the images are. it's the part of this blog i've always enjoyed the most. the pictures.

alright, i think i'm off to try making brown rice pudding with coconut milk.

cheers.

the game: fiber

the game: fiber, originally uploaded by good little granola girl.

you've seen it here and there... and i wanted to play too. So when i saw the 'fiber edition" i knew it was the one for me.

Questions:
1. first name: emily marie
2. favorite yarn: beaverslide dry goods
3. first thing you made with yarn: a cotton garter stitch dishcloth
4. favorite color: earth brown
5. which designer do you currently have a crush on: helloyarn (love her flickr stream)
6. your favorite handmade gift you received: a vintage red & white quilt
7. your dream project: a farm. dream big right?!
8. your favorite notion: bamboo knitting needles. can't do much with out that notion.
9. what will you make next: a wool cardigan, maybe like this one even.
10. what do love most about yarn: the variety
11. which one word describes your craft: peacefulness*
12. what is your main inspiration: the simply organic nature of knitting.

* i found this to be extremely challenging as all of my 'one word' descriptions were rather abstract feelings and i'm sorry, but white sandy beaches just didn't fit into my fiber/knitting love.

in nebraska there was a trailer

in nebraska there was a trailer, originally uploaded by good little granola girl.

my dad purchased a 1949 Spartan Manor trailer from a fellow. So we went to help tow it back to Denver this past weekend. It's beautiful inside: birch wood everywhere. You can click on the picture to get to good ol flickr for more pictures of the inside. And if you'd like a little history on Spartan head here.

i can see you.

i've got new specs. need i say more. round and cute.

on the corner of baseline and 27th way

on the corner of baseline and 27th way, originally uploaded by good little granola girl.

sometimes it's the little things that catch your eye while you wait at a red light in your car. i was heading to the bank (boulder to lakewood) and i saw this while still in town. it was one of those things that made carrying my camera around in my purse (heavy) lately worth it. i wanted to catch more of those 'small things'. i wonder who made-- and why they thought to do it there.

p.s. i now have a 'pro' account at flickr and can do so much cool stuff. if i don't have you a contact.. i'd love for you to be one.

sewing day

sewing day, originally uploaded by good little granola girl.

it's been a great, quite at home sewing. my dress in green. my cutting board is green. my sewing machine is green. my fabrics are green. there must be a theme here.

aunt and uncle

aunt and uncle, originally uploaded by good little granola girl.

i am an aunt! for the first time. i'm super excited about it. yes, i am auntie em and tom is uncle tom to our nephew max. he lives in north carolina and we have been there to hold him... lots of holding indeed.

we rented a car (a prius = great gas mileage) and drove to see the Werner family a couple weeks ago (i'm just getting around to posting something). we had a great time. i especially had a great time. it was all so comforting.

there is more over at the flickr

yarn in the light

yarn in the light, originally uploaded by good little granola girl.

the light has changed. spring is here. and i find it very soothing.

i'm back to knitting after my quilting project and it feels so good.

threads

threads, originally uploaded by good little granola girl.

i've got a quilt i'm working on-- with lot's of colorful stitching. the light was coming in just right the other day. i love a basket filled with color.

thank you soulemama-- what a marvelous way to end the day.

why not take a picture of myself?

i keep getting distracted while cleaning the house (like to take this self portrait). i feel like i'm seven: time to clean up the ol' bedroom and all i can manage to do is jump on the bed with my dress-up clothes on and sing to myself in the mirror. it must be the sunny weather we are having here. okay, gotta go tidy something up.

sheep mobile

sheep mobile, originally uploaded by good little granola girl.

happy spring to you all. i am enjoying the hunt for spring flowers and creating new knitting projects.

saving light

saving light, originally uploaded by good little granola girl.

while my body (and mind for that matter. i'm having trouble guessing the time) is taking a bit of time to adjust to the time change, the light is just beautiful in the evening. i can't get enough of finding it hit different spots in the house.

these pictures were taken while i was cooking dinner monday night.

just beautiful.

my collection

my collection, originally uploaded by good little granola girl.

i don't often think of myself as a "girly-girl", but apparently i like soaps, lotions and lip balms.

this is my little cabinet where i keep home-made soaps, my Burt's Bees collection and all the salves, balms and creams i keep. i like to look at it. i like to think about which soap i'll use next, and i love to open it up and smell it.

baby legs project

baby legs project, originally uploaded by good little granola girl.

so there is a design brewing in my head: for baby legs. does that sound creepy? i know there are many patterns available for longies: those adorable little 'sweaters for the bottom half' that work great with cloth diapers as soakers, keep those little legs warm in cool weather, and are just plain fantastic to have ( i suppose if you are one of those natural fibers type). but i want to create my own pattern. with short rows. that's all i'm saying for now.

thanks for the comments on the Old Man Werner Sweater-- that wool, from beaverslide dry goods, is so freakin' soft-- no scratch what so ever.

i'm using flickr to help me blog. it might just be the trick to keeping up with it: keep it simple.

old man werner sweater

old man werner sweater, originally uploaded by good little granola girl.

this a tom's new beloved sweater. i self patterned every detail of it: i'm most proud of the collar, in which i used short rows to shape the garter stitch. the wool: is to die for. it now has leather buttons on it too.

there are more photographs over at the flickr, and details over at the ravelry (granolaGirl).

p.s. i had a birthday on the First. I'm twenty seven now. just so you know ;)

february sweater #2

february sweater #2, originally uploaded by good little granola girl.

how sweet. a little baby sweater. i cranked this out for a friend's baby shower. i totally forgot to take a photograph of the completed sweater-- but i love the color of this one.

wearin' o the yarn

wearin' o the yarn, originally uploaded by good little granola girl.

what? you haven't been reading this blog? you say there is nothing new here? ever!

well, you are right. i've lost a little blog momentum. but i'm still alive and well-- and happily knitting. i have some more completed projects i should post. hey, i'm do that. right now. just little messages. not full-on documentation.

omg! i saw crocuses yesterday. be still my beating heart.

these are new...

... if you haven't seen it on ravelry. (do i really need to link?!)



selbuvotter mittens (finally, the right size). Elemental Affects Natural Shetland Fingering Weight, US 1 & 2 needles.


zeebee hat-- reynolds soft sea wool, us 3 needle. great pattern. but you absolutely have to make a GAUGE swatch! it's in the math, people!



big blue hat (not for me, but i make a lovely model): self design pattern. twinkle soft chunky wool, us 15 (never again. i lost all sense of dexterity using this mega yarn and needle. it was like knitting in slo-mo).




that's right. i cut my hair. i got a 15 inch braid cut off. i was O-V-E-R the whole long hair routine. Not being a big fan of brushing my own hair, the long hair made for some unpleasant times. not to mention, the time it took to dry in the winter, the long hairs that i was finding EVERYWHERE. it was time for it to go. and i'm quite happy with it!

and that's the recap for you.

caps for nova

during all the holiday knitting i made nova a darling little hat. it was totally inspired by lotte-- so sweet and fair, i knew i had to make one. she looks that-much-more-elf-like in her red snowsuit, but she hates sitting around in it. so it really wasn't worth all the fuss for a simple photo.

specs: Sweet Baby Cap, size US 1 and 2 needles, a wee bit of shetland jumper weight yarn in two shades.
******************************************************

earlier, in the fall, i made her a baby heart hat because... well, when you know a sweet baby they need sweet baby heart hats, right. now i have photographs (because we were having a little photo session).

the pattern is from Piecework, march/april 1999. but it was adapted from a pattern in Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitting Workshop.
I used two different color-grown shades of organic cotton and size US 6 needles.

so, it's 2008

apparently, it's all the rage in the New Year to have blog post. it's high time i posted one of my own. mostly i have picture to show this time. enjoy.

with knitting and a good fire on christmas night.

a lovely bloom

i created a workspace all my own.

a hat for nova-- i'll have to get a shot of her wearing it, adorable.

the shawl continues to grow.

a new sweater for tom. we call The Old Man Sweater. this picture was take prematurely. i had to pull it back to where you see that other yarn running through ( i had thought i might need to do it, and i didn't want to pick up all those stitches. i never pulled the yarn holder out when i started to join the arms to the torso). turns out i made the torso too short and the sleeves too small. now, i have the length proper and 1 new sleeve made, with the second on needles.

very wooley thrummed mittens: a christmas gift to my mother.

the end. happy stitching in 2008.

in the next post: my new quilt project and what was the search for the perfect image transfer to fabric.