Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Yarn Along - Wingspan

These came off the needles and  hooks quite some time ago, but as they were birthday gifts, they had to stay all hush-hush!   
The Wingspan was a 40th birthday gift for my friend Amy, who has promised to send me a photo (she lives in the UK) of her wearing it, but well, she's not very efficient in the 'sending of pictures department' so I thought  I'd share it with you minus the lovely model herself.  I added two little curtain rings, that I covered with yarn, to the ends as I thought it looked a bit unfinished as it was.

And these little slippers were for Amy's youngest daughter, Charlotte. They are the same model as I used for Tino's  but I added an ankle strap and a wee flower.

And whilst I'm on the subject of gifts, look what I got!!!!
Yes, one of Lori's Yarn Along Project Bags with some extra fun ribbon, a whale fridge magnet and a lovely card.   I love getting things in the mail.  It always amazes me that someone far away has put my name on something and then days or weeks later, it arrives at my house - how many people touched it, did it come by plane (in this case - yes I think so) train or automobile?
Thank you very much Lori
I'm currently reading Unconditional Parenting - Moving from Rewards and Punishments to Love and Reason (Alfie Kohn).  Kohn argues that conventional approaches to parenting (he doesn't like the word discipline) such as 'time-out' and 'positive reinforcement' are too conditional in that they teach children that they are loved only when they please us. And that the basic need that all children have is to be loved unconditionally.  Obviously we all love our children unconditionally but Kohn asks the reader to consider whether their words and actions might actually be implying the opposite.   He advises 'working with' rather than 'doing to' children, and places great emphasis on talking things through and discussing with kids to find possible solutions to problems - "A child's preferences can't always be accommodated but they can always be considered and they need never be dismissed out of hand".

I like this book a lot.  I know from previous Yarn Along post that some of you have read it, what did you think?  I imagine it isn't everyones cup of tea.  Just last week I read an article on Yahoo 'No Spank You: The harmful impact of physically disciplining your kids' (May 2) and whilst it didn't offer up any new arguments against physical punishment, what was very interesting, were the readers comments.  I scrolled down at least 20 of them and they were all of the 'Spare the rod, spoil the child' opinion.  
Linking up with Ginny for Yarn Along

19 comments:

  1. Your shawl is amazing, just gorgeous love the slippers too!

    I loved that book it really provoked many thoughts for me. I don't believe that that many parents really do parent unconditionally I think most are conditional. Therefore when they hear of a book like this they cannot really understand what it is trying to say and they cannot believe that it would really work and if you do you are spoiling the child and loosing 'control' as a parent. Personally I don't believe either of these reasons to not at least consider what Alfie Kohn as to say.

    ReplyDelete
  2. morning, along a similar vein, I watched this video that is so awe inspiring, that I think it has revolutionised my approach to HSing my kids
    http://www.ted.com/talks/sugata_mitra_build_a_school_in_the_cloud.html

    Phenomenal that he embarked on this experiment in education. It gives such hope to the future, all we need for kids is a loving voice,

    Let me know your thoughts on it

    hugs
    Carle'

    ReplyDelete
  3. Adore your shawl, wonderful work!
    x
    Natalie

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love the Wingspan! I like tassels or pom pom on unsightly ends! Visiting from Yarn Along.

    Best,
    Sheila
    http://sheilazachariae.blogspot.com/2013/05/karens-carnival-scarf.html

    ReplyDelete
  5. The book looks wonderful. I will have to give it a look. I love your wingspan. What vibrant colours!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wah! That shawl is wonderful! And Lori's lovely bag - how special (and I love her Mollie Makes card - I have a pack and have been rationing them, only for letters to very special friends!)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Those slippers are so cute! I love them! The little bee buttons! Adorable!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great job on the shawl as well as the slippers. The flowers are adorable. :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. That is a very very lovely wingspan. And Unconditional Parenting is one of my favourite paradigm-shift parenting books. It set me on the track to positive, mindful, gentle parenting. :) (As my children grow up, they are unanimously declared a pleasure to be around - and they have never experienced violence. Kindness engenders kindness!)

    ReplyDelete
  10. I loved visiting your blog today! Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  11. beautiful shawl emma! your knitting is just gorgeous. i'm so happy your package arrived, i think the same thing, isn't mail and the fact that it connects us all a wonder?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh, love the wingspan! I've seen the pattern but I don't think I'm quite ready to attempt it yet. Awesome job!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Charming slippers and a truly lovely Wingspan - which has me wondering, once again, why I haven't made one yet.

    (Let me know how your April Showers cloth comes out.)

    ReplyDelete
  14. That Wingspan is gorgeous and the booties! Too sweet! Thanks for reading, commenting and sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wow, Emma! That is a gorgeous wingspan and a most lovely gift! The colors is lovely too!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Your projects are gorgeous! What an astounding package for Amy to receive in the mail. And you got one of Lori's Yarn Along bags! I've been admiring them SO!

    ReplyDelete
  17. What a beautiful shawl and buttons with bees?! Gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete