They're kind of squat, with peely fingers and short nail-beds. Whiles ago they looked awesome with long-ish acrylic nails, French manicured, but who has the money or the time for that after having children?
Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I have them, I use them a lot, my hands. Anyway, that was a silly thing for me to bring up.
I made this yesterday. (I hope you like it, Amy!)
I just think it's kind of weird that now all my hands do is cook or clean or
tend or type
when once upon a-time-I-can-hardly-remember they did not much at all.
I can't knit with fancy hands anyway.
At Christmas we do a handmade gift exchange, with my best friends. It can be something you make yourself or buy on etsy, etc. Saturday I went up to the Renegade Holiday Craft Fair in Chicago with Sarah and checked off every single person on my list! (Including myself.) All by local artists. Love that.
some other things I'm working on.
Sometimes I just need to make things.
I SO year you on this one. I am knitting slippers for Amelia right now (From Little Turtle Knits, SUPER easy and fast pattern), then starting on a couple hats for my Mom's friend's daughter (did you follow that?). She is 21 and was just diagnosed with leukemia. She will be on chemo for at least 18 months. So, I am going to knit up a couple of hats for her.
ReplyDeleteI love knitting and am kind of sad that I am moving somewhere that is so warm I won't be able to bundle up in my woolens every winter. I will have to start finding some great short sleeve sweaters and wraps for the girls and me :)
The eternity scarf looks so cozy. Is it kind of a tube construction?
ReplyDeleteMegan- yes! It's made in a tube- like a big circle.
ReplyDeleteSteph
We are giving only handmade gifts this year (minus the legos that my 5 year old is crazy about). I'm knitting a pair of wrist warmers right now... with wool yarn I bought at the Salvation Army. Now *that* was a score!
ReplyDeleteI need some of those fingerless glove!!!! Now I have to find time to learn to knit and time to knit them LOL
ReplyDeleteOoh ooh ooh! I didn't know Renegade had a holiday fair! I went to the one this summer and fell in love.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe how long your hair is next to that lovely scarf. Maybe one day you can teach me to knit and I will learn how to hold the needles. I admire your talent.
ReplyDeleteLike your mom said, the first thing I noticed was your hair. (it looks good!)
ReplyDeleteand here is where I get jealous of your talent. Your hands make gorgeous things, be proud of them all!
Love all your creations. You should do a tutorial video for all of us knitting wanna be's. I crochet and am getting reaquainted with it but would love to knit.
ReplyDeleteYoue hands do beautiful work. I see it and so does He!
Blessings this Season and always!
Jen
YAY!!! I love it!! The scarf is so pretty. I don't know many people who sew or knit, so I just love having a piece with a personal connection. Thank you!!
ReplyDeleteI love that you make things. I've been wearing my scarf non-stop and get so many compliments on it!
ReplyDeleteAlso - your hair does look gorgeous in that top photo. I feel like this is a silly, girly question, but do you curl it or is that natural wave? I'm thinking about adding more layers, but I don't think my hair would do what yours does there. :)
thanks again, steph. xoxo
Oooh- I'm trying to learn to crochet(well, sometimes. when I remember to practice.). I'm not doing very well. I have been sewing up a storm, though, & trying to actually make gifts that my loved ones will be thrilled with & proud of. I sortof cheated & bought stuff for all of the boys, and a camera for my in-laws, but for all of my girls, I'm sewing. I'm nervous that they won't be 'enough', but am trying to wash those thoughts away. I love seeing what you make...I'd even love to do a trade sometime(if you want, of course). :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, Steph, and YES! Your hair looks great!
My hands used to be what I would call "gracefully artsy." I've never had manicures, my nails have been kept short ever since I discovered a love of painting (and other messy things).
ReplyDeleteNow that I'm almost 30, I see the very beginning signs of wear from doing all the things wives and moms do. My nails are still short, since I still deal a lot with all things messy - though they rarely touch paint any more.
Painting. Something I miss so much, but will have to wait. Like so many other things.
And that's okay. I like what my hands have been given to do now.
My hands are looking sad after all of this knitting, pot scrubbing, and child bathing....but, oh what they can do!
ReplyDeleteYour knitted items are just beautiful!! I love them! Happily plugging away at another scarf between cookie sheets as we speak :)
Love you- wish I could be part of your BFF gift exchange- it sounds exquisite! xo
This is a totally apt post. I read and watched the creepy crazy interview with a hand model on yahoo today. Because her hands have to be perfect for her job, she wears gloves all day and never opens a door or does a dish. It dawned on me that she misses a heck of a lot of life and love and adventure because she has to always keep her hands first in her mind.
ReplyDeleteSince getting married and moving to Canada, my hands haven't seen a manicure or more than a couple of days of fingernail polish, and they do look a lot older and more worn. But as I've thought about all that they have accomplished in these 4.5 years, I had to admit that there is no way I'd trade any of it for the most beautiful manicure in the world. All that kayaking, climbing, diaper changing, making meals for my family and others, cleaning for my family and others, rubbing sore necks and backs, picking berries, canning fruit, making creative gifts for loved ones and even people I don't know personally, cradling a sleeping child for hours on end, and a whole lot more were accomplished because the hands were strong and filled with care and love. Which in my book is better than a lucrative modeling contract any day.
And your hair? I always love your hair. You can do such fun things with it and make it the coolest colors.
Anyway, I hope we mamas learn to love our hands, winter-time dryness and all. There's a whole lot of lovin' wrapped up in each line and wrinkle.
Mom hands are the best, in so many ways :-)
ReplyDelete"Sometimes I just need to make things." Amen to that!
ReplyDeleteAnd where, pray tell, is YOUR Etsy store my dear? I want one of your fabulous scarves!
ReplyDeleteIt's silly but before I was a mom, I used to think parts of my body were mostly for only beauty ... my hands, breasts, stomach ... and now I realize that it's much more about what these body parts do than what they look like -- create, nourish, harbor/protect.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth's scarf and gloves are just beautiful, Stephanie.
I like the idea of doing a handmade gift exchange with friends. It's so nice to support local artists and businesspeople.
ReplyDeletestephanie@metropolitanmama.net
I so get this. I have been creating up a storm lately and I love it. My hands are chapped and calloused and not long ago my daughter told me they are starting to look old, but I don't care, I love crafting with them.
ReplyDeleteNo ma'am! Your hands can also snuggle your babies, wipe away the tears, make owies feel better, dress your beautiful little girl in adorable clothing, guide your boys into young men, comfort hubs after a long day and make wonderful treasures for your dear family and friends. Just to name a few!
ReplyDeleteBetter you than me. I canNOT knit. Crochet, yes. Knit, no. I don't drop stitches... which is the common complaint. I add them. Some times two or three per row. I don't know HOW, but yeah, there it is. I can't knit.
ReplyDeletesuch lovely things you are knitting up. i've been knitting up a storm, too. and i love the more last minute knitted gifts book...i've checked it out of our local library at least 3 times already!
ReplyDeleteWhat a gift it is to be able to make beautiful things with your hands for people you love. My poor hands can only create disasters. :) Please, oh please, sprinkle some of your skill in the wind blowing towards Virginia. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd you make such beautiful things too!
ReplyDeleteI love that last bracelet. SO CUTE! You have great hands!
ReplyDeleteI *love* the handmade gift exchange. And the gray scarf. I'm sending a picture of it to my knitting mom.
ReplyDeleteThis is an amazing post. I love my hands and all they have done, all they do, and all they will do. They have done so much, I can't wait to see what they get do in the future.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the seed stitch! I think it's my favorite!
ReplyDelete