This yarn....

So, I had a request for a custom crochet order:  3 newborn hats, a baby cocoon and 2 ear warmers.  GREAT!  I love custom orders and I love-LOVE doing any type of crochet...

I looked and looked for a yarn for the cocoon; the picture provided was of a chunky pink knitted cocoon, beautiful - I assumed the request was for something similar in colour, shape, weight, size, yada-yada-yada, as the provided picture.... We-ell, we all know what happens when people assume things.... that's right, I look like the ass! Ok, so that's just when I assume things and don't clarify instructions, you'd be surprised at how often this actually happens to me - no, seriously...

Aaanyway, I found this yarn...

photo: Bernat.com

in Baby Pink.  It is LUSH, fluffy soft, SUPER CHUNKY, with a chenille-like quality.... and hand-achingly difficult to work with - for me anyway... DID NOT WORK for it's intended purpose - the cocoon... and aside from that, after I started working on the cocoon with said yarn, the customer contacted me and informed me that she'd like the cocoon in an oatmeal colour - neutral - for boy or girl... DUH!!  Of course she would, why didn't I ask in the first place.  Hindsight is 20/20 people, and I totally see that conversation clearly in my head - now.

So here's part of the finished custom order, missing the ear warmers...



custom order photo props

Everything turned out great... I loved the little grey hat with the poms and yarny flower, so cute!  In the end, the customer raved about everything and was 100% satisfied.... Love hearing positive feedback :)

So.  Back to 'this yarn', the pink stuff.  Can't return it, already started using it.  What do I do with it?  I absolutely DISLIKE (because hate is a very strong word) working with this stuff.  My hands knot up in an arthritic seizure just thinking about it... ouch!

I needed a quick project.  Something that would be both satisfying for my inner crochet goddess (ok, my withered inner granny) and do the beautiful chunky fabric some justice... Of course, more baby hats!  I love making baby hats.  I wish I had the insight when I was pregnant with my 3 monkeys to have made each of their newborn hospital hats - bah, no sense living in the past - what's done (or not done) is done...

Here's the end result of this botched yarny purchase....

 

two cavity-inducing, plushy, snugly hats.  I love them!  These lovelies will be posted on my 3 monkeys FB page and listed FOR SALE!

Cheers!

Julie ;)

Hmm... Should I or Shouldn't I?

So after a very LOOOOONNNNGGGGG hiatus, I find myself back here in this little space. 

A TON has happened over the last little while and I certainly have lots to share... I'm at a place right now where I'm wondering, 'should I or shouldn't I'?

I have missed sharing with my friends in this space, and I've never really been a quitter - maybe a postponer - but not a quitter.  With that said, I am committing once again to connecting with my friends here....  I can't promise a daily dish, but at least a weekly spoonful....

Cheers!
Julie ;)

Water Bugs and Dragonflies by Doris Stickney

Down below the surface of a quiet pond lived a little colony of water bugs. They were a happy colony, living far away from the sun.
For many months they were very busy, scurrying over the soft mud on the bottom of the pond. They did notice that every once in awhile one of their colony seemed to lose interest in going about. Clinging to the stem of a pond lily it gradually moved out of sight and was seen no more.

"Look!" said one of the water bugs to another.
"One of our colony is climbing up the lily stalk. Where do you think she is going?"

Up, up, up it slowly went....Even as they watched, the water bug disappeared from sight. Its friends waited and waited but it didn't return...

"That's funny!" said one water bug to another.
"Wasn't she happy here?" asked a second...
"Where do you suppose she went?" wondered a third.

No one had an answer. They were greatly puzzled.

Finally one of the water bugs, a leader in the colony, gathered its friends together.

"I have an idea". The next one of us who climbs up the lily stalk must promise to come back and tell us where he or she went and why."

"We promise", they said solemnly.

One spring day, not long after, the very water bug who had suggested the plan found himself climbing up the lily stalk.

Up, up, up, he went. Before he knew what was happening, he had broke through the surface of the water and fallen onto the broad, green lily pad above.

When he awoke, he looked about with surprise. He couldn't believe what he saw. A startling change had come to his old body. His movement revealed four silver wings and a long tail.

Even as he struggled, he felt an impulse to move his wings...The warmth of the sun soon dried the moisture from the new body. He moved his wings again and suddenly found himself up above the water. He had become a dragonfly!!

Swooping and dipping in great curves, he flew through the air. He felt exhilarated in the new atmosphere.

By and by the new dragonfly lighted happily on a lily pad to rest. Then it was that he chanced to look below to the bottom of the pond. Why, he was right above his old friends, the water bugs! There they were scurrying around, just as he had been doing some time before.

The dragonfly remembered the promise: "The next one of us who climbs up the lily stalk will come back and tell where he or she went and why."

Without thinking, the dragonfly darted down. Suddenly he hit the surface of the water and bounced away.

Now that he was a dragonfly, he could no longer go into the water...
"I can't return!" he said in dismay. "At least, I tried. But I can't keep my promise. Even if I could go back, not one of the water bugs would know me in my new body. I guess I'll just have to wait until they become dragonflies too. Then they'll understand what has happened to me, and where I went."

And the dragonfly winged off happily into its wonderful new world of sun and air.......

From: "Water Bugs and Dragonflies : Explaining Death to Young Children"
by Doris Stickney

Life Lessons....

So, it's been a while... a long while.
I've taken a bit of a mental break.  A much needed break.

While I love this little space, it does take much effort and time to keep up.  I guess I went through a sort of burnout.

I LOVE CRAFTING, THRIFTING, RE-CREATING, YOU-NAME-IT... but, it all takes time.  And when you have 3 littles under foot, you just need to put some things into perspective.  Family first.  Family FIRST.

Don't get me wrong... I've never struggled with priorities.  Anyone who knows me, knows that I put my children and husband first and everything else falls into place after that.... and me?  Well, I'm usually last on that list.  That is, until 2 months ago.  I realized that if I didn't start putting ME a little higher on that list, then all else in my life would start to failing.

My girl-babe is starting school in the fall.  Oh. My.  I don't even want to think about it.  My whole life, I feel, was formed, shaped, guided-by-fate to be a mom.  And I know I'll always be a mom to these 3 little wonders; but, in all honesty - I am the woman who could have been a mom to TEN little wonders.

But, my resolve...

My resolve...

I know I can only have three.... and my time to be the full-on-full-time mom is coming to an end. 

I needed to take stock.  Put ME first. 

Holy Crap!  Did I just say 'Put ME first'?

I did.  And, I have.

Time to reclaim this body of mine.... time to think of what I want out of this life (aside from the obvious - my family).

I've joined the gym.  Working with a trainer who is amply qualified to kick my A**!  And - I'M LOVING IT!  I. LOVE. IT.

I am a consultant for an AMAZING direct sales company which I believe in WHOLEHEARTEDLY!

And, when September finally comes, which I know, inevitably, it will.  I will have some free time to fill with another Mom-preneurial side business....  but, until then....

Drink in EVERY. SINGLE. MOMENT I have left with this sweet little lady and her brothers... I cannot miss a thing.  I owe it to her, I owe it to her brothers.  And most of all, I deserve - DESERVE - to relish every second while I can - while they'll still let me.

I had the best compliment a mom could get yesterday on Mother's Day...

'My mom is as special as LEGO.'

I love my life... what else can I say?

Happy Belated Mother's Day.  **Miss you B  ((((HUGS))))**

;)

GOING ON VACATION!

So, I know it's been a very slow start to the year here at 3 monkeys inc blog.... I've been busy starting new business ventures, trying to get the kiddy-kats settled back into school routine, hockey-hockey-hockey, getting ready for a much needed family vacation....

I'm going to say good-bye for a little while.... this isn't the end of 3 monkeys inc - not even close.... it's just a much needed rest to rejuvenate - revitalize - and quite frankly, think of some new things to talk about....

I'll be back at this blogging game once holidays are over (at the end of February).... I'm POSITIVE I'll have so much to talk about that you'll be sick of listening to me ;P

Thanks for understanding dear friends....
Adieu - for now  ;)