After Christmas

Well, we're back to normal (whatever that is) but the deadlines are met and we're almost onto 2007. I must admit I did not meet my deadlines for my UFP's. I still have a list for next year. Finish Dan's sweater, finish the Lucy sock, finish needle felting nomes, finish sewing felted sweaters, finish beading felted bag, make felted scarves, make more needle felted nomes, cut out felted figures for Advent Boxes. It seems I got nothing done! hmmmm

New projects for this year: samples for the shop for spring and summer
In the next year I want to complete: Afghan for sister
Knit Christmas sweaters for grandchildren
Make a 2 sweaters for me and a vest (I've started these already)
Complete Summer shell (started two summer's ago)
Knit a pair of socks (started in November)
Shop samples, shop samples, shop samples........

I think the list will get longer as the year progresses but at least I have it on paper so I can check them off as they are completed. Right???

I did complete a hat for my sister, one felted sweater, and a couple shop samples. Not a total
loss.

My sister arrived on Thursday - a little late due to Denver's storm. We had to look for boots and long underwear immediately due to cold (it was truly like spring, but these people from Phoenix and Florida freeze at 40 degrees). Visited the grandchildren and crashed at home. It was a whirlwind of a holiday. My sister broke her contact lens Christmas Day and fell on the step and bruised her ankle, thought it was broken but ice and alieve saved the day. It was better the next day.

Basically, the holiday went like this. Went to "C"'s for buffet and dessert, went home to bed, woke up and went to "N"'s for brunch, open packages, went home (quick nap) made dinner, ate again and went to bed. That's what Holidays are about - right?

The next few days we went to a couple movies. "The Holiday" which we thought was charming - real escapism and "The Dream Girls" which had none of the music I was looking forward to and 2 1/2 hours of a semi-opera was a little too long.

Now we can take down and put away all the decorations and try to remember where they are next year.! Hope to see you all next year.

We had an outstanding December at the shop-thank you customers. Happy New Year

ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY

Our Annual Christmas Party for Creative Fibers was a week ago. Catherine, Denise, Nancy and Traudie arrived about 1:00 PM. Shelley was ill and could not make it. We all brought something to share and it was great! Nancy brought some Norwegian Goat Cheese sliced on cracker bread with sliced cucumbers and tomatoes or top it with cranberries (ligonberries). The cheese is brown but it is good!

Traudie brought some wonderful Norwegian cookies baked on a wafer (I cannot remember the name right now). Catherine brought Pickles with cream cheese wrapped in corned beef. It was a huge hit. We all agreed we don't put pickles out for dinner anymore, just special occassions. Is that because of the salt??? I made a pasta salad with Brie, tomatoes and pasta, plus a tossed salad and some warm garlic bread. And, a little wine!

We always bring a White Elephant gift to exchange and play the dice game until everyone gets something. We have very interesting gifts. Denise brought the most appropriate--A WHITE ELEPHANT!

Nancy made Rosette cookies on the deck. They need to be fried and it was so mild out side we were able to cook and knit on the deck (as seen in the top photo) We had such a great time. These woman are such a great help to me all year - I cannot appreciate them enough - Thank you again!

CHRISTMAS WIP

It has been a great December afterall. Hurried but very fun. The shop has done very well and I've seen lots of people I haven't seen for awhile.

WIP are coming right along. I won't finish by Christmas but I sure made an effort. I finished the felted sweater-chest size approx. 24", I'm guessing it would fit a 5/6 age child.

Lucy's Christmas Stocking - 5 years in the making-she turned 5 this year (actually it was only 3 years in the making)

Dan's sweater is coming right along and I may finish it by Christmas if I can really get some time. Wish me luck and I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and very good New Year!

I want to buy some time!!!!

Knitting for the Holidays

I did it again. Every year in November I get inspired to knit something for everyone I know. I don't know why I don't get this inspiration sooner in the summer time. (when I could actually get it all done). I have made a resolution: This year I will write down or put a pattern in a folder with the persons name on it. Then I will work on getting these done during the year. Sounds great, doesn't it? Well, I'm going to try. If you have any other great ideas for this problem please let me know.

Currently I have half a mitten left for my daughter, one wrist mitten or cuff done (one more cuff and a hat to finish) for second daughter, a sweater for my son (plus he now wants a hat for broom hockey), a half a sock for Joshua and Ellie, A hat and collar for my sister and a Christmas stocking for Lucy which is more than half done. Yikes!

Then we go to the sewing projects. I have two felt bags to sew for the grandchildren (church bags) hand puppets for both of them. I also have three felted jackets to finish, a couple of felted bags to embellish for the shop Botique and on and on.....I just hope I don't get inspired to do anything else.

Today is put up and decorate the tree. Today is also 42 years since my mother died on this day of a brain aneurysm. I still miss her like yesterday. I was 18 and my sister was 14. My mother loved Christmas and always was crafting before Christmas. Maybe some of you remember making the styrofoam balls decorated with sequins and beads stuck in the styrofoam balls with pins. It really hurt your fingers but were really lovely. She also would decorate the outside of boxes to look like a shirt or a blouse using the wrapping paper. We would bake cookies and pies and have our whole family over for the holidays. We were packed in our tiny basement --we loved it. One of my uncles would dress up as Santa Clause and pass out the presents. It was crazy! We all went to bed tired buy happy!

My mother also got into the flocked trees. We had white and pink ones. Bachman's was her favorite. I think we also had one of those white trees (some kind of plastic for the branches) you put a spot light on it and it changed colors. Some years everything was all white or all pink or alkl gold. It changed each year. She would make her own ornaments and arrangements. I still do the same thing at my house. It's usually a theme of some kind. I love flower arrangements and table settings. I don't bake as much anymore. I eat it if it's there. But I do bake some and give it away.

I heard Wynona sing "Oh Holy Night" on TV last week. It was incredible. She has such a great passionate voice. It was mesmerizing. I think she has new Christmas Album out this year. What are your favorite albums? I have a great one for sale in the shop that is all instrumental called Clarity for Joel Setterholm and Lowell Michelson. It's great!

Have a great week knitting and crafting.