Firefly Blog

When Mia was born, it became impossible to get in and out of our gate at home with the stroller.  First we used an old newspaper tie we found in the trash to hold the gate open, then we upgraded to a dirty old shoelace.  I don’t know how this solution became so permanent, but with how hectic things are, I realized I might need to get the shoelace an anniversary present.  It’s one of those humiliating things that one feels the need to explain to new guests that arrive.  You don’t want to sound completely neurotic making excuses before they’ve even stepped into your home, so you keep quiet and inwardly wonder what the available options are for chic gate safety with toddlers around.  I wouldn’t dare say this to my husband, but I wanted to blurt out on several occasions, “Wouldn’t it be lovely to adorn the gate in something similar to what camels wear with all those colorful tassles?  Maybe some bells?”  If I were ever to find something suitable, I would have paid top dollar, but nothing crossed my path.  While at the hardware store, I found myself pondering the possibilities in the “rope” section.  Could I make a large sailor knot bracelet?  For $5.99, I was going to give it a shot.

 First I googled how to make one and found an excellent tutorial here.  While the tutorial is totally awesome, directions are not my strong suit.  I opted to let memory navigate since I practically got dizzy trying to follow the second diagram.  After a few failed attempts at both understanding the tutorial and my eight year old memory, I somehow managed to make my way and voila!

I am not sure how great it is, but at least I can put my mind to rest until I am able to ask a camel, “Do tell where you got that fab get up?”

posted 11/07/2011

Are you like me?  So many ideas, so little time?  I started this project and about four hours in, I realized I vastly underestimated the time it was going to take me to finish.  I intended to wrap the entire branch most of which is not shown in the photo.  Eventually I let the project go.  Let this be a reminder to all to be forgiving as we try with best of intentions to craft Halloween outfits, plan Thanksgiving dinners, shop for table decorations and quell the urge to reorganize the home for family that are coming to town.  Most of all, keep your wits about you when once again, no matter how many times you told yourself this past July you would do things differently, you find yourself paying for rush shipping and wrapping presents in the wee hours of the night knowing that you have to be at Aunt Suzy’s house at 7am with coffee in hand.

posted 10/21/2011