A Special Kind Of Love
by: Kirsten Hawkins
My grandmother taught me to crochet the moment my clumsy, chubby fingers could hold a crochet hook. By the time that I was six, she handed me her sewing needles to thread for her because her eyes could no longer see the needle's eye. When I was eight, my mother spent all of her precious off-work night-time hours making me a spring wardrobe that I can still describe in minute detail, right down to the rick-rack that trimmed the red kerchief that matched the tulip sprigged sleeveless dress. I can recall precisely the colors and patterns of the nightgowns my grandmother sewed for me. My brothers will tell you that they've never worn anything so warm and comfortable as Nana's knitted socks. I even remember the weight of the stocking cap my mother knit to match the checkerboard cardigan - that matched the blue one she knit for my brother.
There is a magic in handmade clothing that transcends the colors, the styles, even the quality of the handiwork. It's as if every stitch and every knot was imbued with the love of the hands that crafted them. And so it was only right that when I was carrying my first child, I picked up crochet hook and thread and started making the clothing she'd wear home from the hospital.
I didn't stop there, though. Making clothing for babies is more than a way to save money or create unique clothing styles. It's a way to surround them with love, to weave your wishes into the fabric as you shape and create each piece.
Over the years, I have sewn, knit and crocheted sweaters, sunsuits, dresses, short sets, blankets, quilts, hats and pants for all five of my children. Beginning with their homecoming outfit, each of them had special clothes that I'd designed and created just for them. I would say that it is perhaps a conceit, a fond wish of my own that my feelings about dressing my babies with my own hands would have transferred themselves to my children - except:
A month ago, I dropped by my daughter's apartment. The baby girl I dressed in a strawberry printed romper - each stich carefully placed by hand, each with a whispered wish and a blessing for her good fortune - is 22 now, a college graduate with a home of her own. Tossed over a table in the corner is a blanket I crocheted for her when she was three from odds and ends of yarn. On her walls are pictures of herself wearing a sweater I made for her - the same sweater, at 3, at 5, at 7. The same sweater now clothes the teddy bear sitting on her dresser.
Except:
My 19 year old son, fully grown and living on his own, still owns the knit baby blanket that wrapped him on his trip home from the hospital. He creates and makes his own clothes - imaginative and unusual - and in the patches on his jeans and his jackets, I find bits and pieces of shirts and shorts and sweaters I made for him over the years.
My 15 year old has tucked away the first party dress I made for her - when she was six months old. She never said a word to me about - I found it in her 'treasure memory box'. And the two youngest boys? At 10 and 12, they each have their favorite blanket - ones that I knit for them when they were born.
There is magic in your hands when you create clothing for your baby, the magic of a mother's love that is never, ever completely forgotten.
About The Author
Kirsten Hawkins is a baby and parenting expert specializing new mothers and single parent issues.
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Fathers Day is the 3rd Sunday in June
Fathers Day is the 3rd Sunday in June
by: Lucy Huffenstuff
Great gift ideas for Dad on Father's Day.
- Personalized crockery - plate, mug or bowl.
This is perfect when the children are young - Why not get the kids to put together a time capsule, with some photos of them with their dad, some other personal items and bury it in the garden
- There are gift experience companies, why not treat dad to drive a sports car or perhaps sky diving?
- Why not get some printable iron on transfers which you can print using your computer and home printer.
- How about baking a cake or some of his favorite biscuits?
- What about a photo album of a frame of photos of dad and the kids
- Name a star after the father - there are a number of online websites who offer this service
- Casting kits are great fun, get the kids to mould their feet or hands and paint them afterwards.
Although there...
Fathers Day is the 3rd Sunday in June
Socks > Fathers Day is the 3rd Sunday in June
Nail Fungus - No Need To Keep Living With The Infection
Nail Fungus
- No Need To Keep Living With The Infection
by: Richard Clement
Nail disorders are rarely disabling or even painful. But they are a nuisance. One of the most common problems is toenail fungus (medical name onychomysosis)-about 15% of people have it, including nearly half of those over 70.
This infection has received a great deal of press and advertisement time, as there are finally therapies that actually successfully eradicate these infections.
A fast overview of the disease can really help us to get rid of it.
The body normally hosts a variety of microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi. Some of these are useful to the body. Others may multiply rapidly and form infections. Fungi can live on the dead tissues of the hair, nails, and outer skin layers. An infection of nail fungus (called-onychomycosis) occurs when fungi infect one or more of your nails. Onychomycosis usually begins as a white or yellow spot...
Nail Fungus - No Need To Keep Living With The Infection
Socks > Nail Fungus - No Need To Keep Living With The Infection
Dog Fleas
Dog Fleas
by: Rita Hutner
Dog fleas can cause more than itching.
They are difficult to control, but, left unchecked, they can cause your dog very serious health problems.
Simple facts about dog fleas:
Fleas are probably the most successful creatures on the planet in terms of reproduction. There are over 2,400 species and they are difficult to control for a variety of reasons: One female flea will produce 25,000 offspring in one month. An unfed adult can live for several months. The chemicals used to eradicate adult dog fleas have no effect on the eggs. Fleas are very good at mutating to resist new pesticides.
Fleas are a menace to dogs! They cause allergic dermatitis, tapeworms, and anemia. Most of the eggs are not laid on the dog but in the dog's bedding, in the rug, and on the furniture. It is extremely difficult to eradicate fleas completely. The most you can hope for is to control them and to keep your dog reasonably comfortable...
Dog Fleas
Socks > Dog Fleas
Print Ads ? Alive and Still Selling to Readers Near You
Print Ads ? Alive and Still Selling to Readers Near You
by: Julia Hyde
The print ad is not dead. Although some people will tell you otherwise. If they do, they?re wrong. In 2003 advertisers spent nearly $60 billion to place ads in magazines and newspapers ? more than five times the amount spent on Internet advertising in the same year. And if that?s not confirmation that the print ad is alive and still selling, I don?t know what is.
So how come many business owners shy away from print advertising? Part of the problem is that they mistakenly believe people don?t read much anymore, and that a print ad will be a waste of their time, and their money. They?d be wrong, again.
If you don?t believe me, consider the following:
- 63 million newspapers are distributed in the U.S. every day. In fact more newspapers are published today than at anytime since World War II.
- In the first half (January to June) of 2004 the top...
Socks > Print Ads ? Alive and Still Selling to Readers Near You
Make Houses for Sale More Appealing
Make Houses for Sale More Appealing
by: Paul Grunlerder
Making Houses for Sale Look Like Homes
Are any of your houses for sale out there? If so, beware the appraiser! Appraisers not only use objective criteria for evaluating houses (i.e. location, structural integrity, they also use subjective criteria (i.e. landscape, paint, overall appearance).
Buyers depend on appraisers and inspectors, as a rule, to check out construction details but tend to rely on their own feelings and impressions of how houses look and feel to make their buying decisions. Five tips for positively influencing those decisions with ease follow.
1. Houses that are clean and clutter-free are more attractive than houses that are not. Many of us, who live with clutter, lose sight of that fact. Others of us live with clutter because we believe ourselves too busy to tidy things up on a regular basis. If you find managing clutter to be overwhelming, check your bookstore...
Make Houses for Sale More Appealing
Socks > Make Houses for Sale More Appealing
Winter Camping Can Be Lots Of Fun
Winter Camping Can Be Lots Of Fun
by: Gray Rollins
Camping is a fun adventure for the whole family. Every camping trip takes a little planning to be sure you have necessary supplies and safety equipment. However, camping during the winter has specific cautions that should be taken. Being prepared for anything is essential during the cold.
Clothing is particularly important during the winter. Whether staying at the campsite or venturing out for a hike, it is important to maintain your body temperature and avoid ill effects of cold weather such as hypothermia. Always wear a hat. Up to eighty percent of your body heat can be lost through your head, so wearing a hat is essential. Dress in layers. Wear several layers of clothing and choose outer clothing that is waterproof. Wear warm, wool socks. Wearing two pairs of socks is advisable for warmth and comfort. Always wear boots that are suited to cold weather and are waterproof. Keeping your feet...
Winter Camping Can Be Lots Of Fun
Socks > Winter Camping Can Be Lots Of Fun
The Secret Source of Clear Content
The Secret Source of Clear Content
by: Susan Raab
You can do anything in four easy steps!
An outrageous claim, no? But I can prove it. Because you're doing it now.
Imagine your laundry basket. What are you going to wash today? Ah, socks. How will you wash them? In the machine. Now you do the wash and when the socks come out of the dryer, you wonder, "are they done?" Are they really clean and dry? Are they both there? Don't you have to match them and fold them and put them away? Because what you really want is socks that are ready to wear. And soon enough, they'll be back in your laundry basket again.
This is the circle of life: you decide what you want to do and how you want to do it; then you do it and check whether it's really done. The pattern's easy to see with a simple project, but when you're facing a complex project like writing a book, it's easy to get muddled.
To get where you're going, know where you are.
Many...
The Secret Source of Clear Content
Socks > The Secret Source of Clear Content