Saturday, December 27, 2008

Smilia Snow Project


Well the closest thing I made this month regarding SNOW was this snowman hat and scarf set.  I guess if you have ans "Sense" at all when in the "Snow" you'll be smart to sport this set, ya think?

Smilla project


Here's my project for Smilla...a knitted snowflake that I'll add to my dishcloth collection. Pattern is a freebie from Berroco though I made it with Sugar n Cream yarn.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

My favorite ornament!

This year I would have to pick my little Blue Crab. I think it is adorable. And that is just what we will be having for Christmas dinner.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Ugliest House Decoration entry


This photo was just taken today. It is of the trailer across the street from me. I think she paid $150 for that santa last year. This year she added the stockings. Any way this is my entry for the Ugliest house decorations contest!

Smilla Project and Favorite Ornament

I made snowflakes for my Smilla project - about a dozen of them from the pattern on the Drops Designs Countdown to Christmas Calender. This one was crocheted with a silver metallic crochet cotton. It has an amythest colored bead hanging in the middle, which is hard to see in the photo.
If you haven't been counting down the days at Drops Designs - go on over and catch up. The patterns are darling, and although I won't get any more of them done this Christmas, I may start on them in January for next Christmas!







And for this year's favorite ornament, I would have to pick this darling ornament made for me by Sharon.

Friday, December 19, 2008

Favorite Ornament




I had a really hard time choosing a favorite, but I finally settled on this little needlepoint angel. I stitched her more than 25 years ago. She reminds me of my three red-headed daughters, all grown now with families of their own.


Joan in West TExas

Project for Amilla's Sense of Snow


Well, this little guy is more whimsical than bleak, but what better project for Smilla's Sense of Snow than a snowman?! He is knitted and felted, with beads for arms.

Joan in West TExas

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Holiday Swap

I have been so spoiled by Sharon C.!!!!!!!!1

Look at this adorable ornament that she made for me - It is so precious, I just love it!



And the rest of my spoils...I am totally overwhelmed. The book is Slayride by Dick Francis, published in 1973 (I remember that year well LOL) I can't wait to read it. The recipe is for Light Ginger Cookies - these are my DH's favorites but he's only had store bought until now - won't he be surprised when I actually bake him some? The green you see in the picture is a package of Christmas tree peeps (the package has been opened since the picture was taken) But there is more - much more! The yarn is Zen Garden in my favorite shades of blue. I've never knit with this yarn before and it feels so soft, I've been sitting here squeezing it! And there were two knitting books in the box - One Ball Knits, which has been on my wish list for a long time, and a vintage (there's that word again!) knitting book, Sasha Kagan's Big & Little Sweaters and some fabulous colorwork designs. The kind of book you just want to look through again and again. Okay - I'm not done yet! Some sticky notes in the shape of a J, a Christmas pencil with gingerbread men erasers, a tiny notepad, a needle gauge, Christmas stickers, and a touching note telling me how much she enjoys the Whoduknit group -OMG - like I said I'm overwhelmed. Thank you so much Sharon.

Favorite ornament

Our tree is very eclectic. We have so many ornaments (700+ . . . my very anal husband has them inventoried . . . he is just a tad OCD) that I only buy dated ornaments for the kids each year and only when we find something unusual or special. We bought this ornament in Celebration, Florida, in a tiny little shop. Dave wouldn't go in the store because of the smells (candles, perfumes, etc.). So we found this little room in the back that was Christmas Central. I made the kids go out and get Dave because I knew that he would go nuts. We bought four or five ornaments. This is my favorite:



Monday, December 15, 2008

Thank you Heather!


After reading today that Heather had mailed the box on Saturday I was pleasingly surprised to find the box on the porch when I came back from lunch!
Dont know if you can clearly see everything - Joanna Fluke's Candy Cane Murder (I enjoy all her books so know I will enjoy this one) -a very intriguing calendar Thomas Barbey Photomontages - cookie mix with whisk and dishcloth (will make this for the grandkids) - jergans hand cream which I can use year round but especially now - foot spa (and if you read my blog you will know that I wish I had had this with me this weekend) - tissues for someone jsut finishing a cold! - M&Ms in the tube (such a great storage case!) - lip gloss - and the best of all - a handmade angel for my tree!!
Thank you so much - I feel spoiled!!!

My fave ornament

These are stitchmarkers that I made but I am also using them on my tiny tree as Christmas ornaments. cute huh? Hugs Patt

Ornament Contest Entry


Although not gold plated, or cut from Waterford Glass this ornament is priceless to me, and certainly my favorite this year. It is the hand print of my first grandchild,who is now 6 months old, and this her first Christmas.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Can't wait for next contest


Ohhhh what a nice box of goodies Vigdis sent for contest prizes!! CAn't wait for the next one.

Hugs Patt

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Prizes! We Have Prizes!!!


When Vigdis told me that she was sending some things for the Whoduknit prize locker along with something for me to keep - I had no idea she would be sending so much! Her package arrived from Norway today along with a note saying I get to pick some things for myself and put the rest in the prize locker. Just look at all the goodies. There are also some knitting books, cross stitch books, and some of her beautiful stitch markers and dpn holders. Thank you so much Vigdis for your generous gift to Whoduknit (and me!). We Love you! Be watching for new prizes in the prize locker for the next contest!

Saturday, December 06, 2008

Swap Goodies from Danielle


I found a moment to take a picture before embarking on a business trip. My goodies from Danielle include:
  • The obligatory hand-crafted ornament wishing me "joy"
  • A great holly-patterned paperback book cover with built-in bookmark
  • The book A Catered Christmas (it's going with me on the plane!) Yummy recipes included in the back of the book.
  • A bookmark reminding me to be young at heart
  • Soft yarn in Christmas-y colors. I don't think I'll have time to do something up this year, but I think a scarf in time for next Christmas. (Too soft and pretty for socks!)
  • A great Christmas bracelet that mimics ornaments. I always wear theme jewelry to work near Christmas. This will be perfect!
  • Glass stitch markers. These remind me a lot of old-fashioned ornaments or tree lights. I'll be using them all year. They are really pretty.
  • Recipe for Friendship Squares (mmmm!)
A truly enjoyable package that got me right into the holiday spirit. Thank you so very much, Danielle!

Sharon C.

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Dead Until Dark Scarf



Well heck, since we're still posting today, here is my rather uninspired vampire project. Yes, it's another scarf, already tested in the New Jersey cold on a business trip. It does cover the neck all up and toasty warm. No one will suspect your other-worldly activities! (I would have liked to do one of my favorite series more creative justice but just too much travel and work to manage.)

Dead Until Dark Project


Well, I'm jumping on the wagon with yet another neck cover-up, LOL. Mine is just a simple scarf, all garter stitch (I've found that one or two extra shifts a pay period are not very conducive to crafting - or housecleaning, but who cares about that? - so I needed a quickie!). I had this yarn at the bottom of a tote and I only vaguely remember buying it - I'm not a big fan of eyelash yarn but I love the color. And with 4 more inches of snow coming tomorrow, looks like I can use it more than Sookie, LOL. ~ Valerie K

Monday, December 01, 2008

Dead Until Dark Project

I finally finished my Dead Until Dark project. It is a scarf called Love Bites. I found the pattern on ravelry. It is a free pattern. It seems most people want to cover the "fang" bites from the vampires. I decided to embrace the fang bites instead. This scarf consists of two sets holes twice throughout the length of the scarf which represent those fang bites. There are also three sets of dropped stitches. I used yarn I purchased on my alpaca tour this past fall. It is mystery yarn meaning it is what was left over from the large drum carder at one of the farms we visited and it was then hand spun. There was 312 yds 108 gm.

Here is the yarn in a skein when I first purchased it.
Here is the scarf partially finished.

Here it is finished.
Here is a close up of the holes which are yarn overs and knit together.

Oh, No! Not Another Neckwarmer!


It seems as if this was a no-brainer project. Poor Bill; Sookie will have so many neckwarmers he won't be able to get his fangs on her. Mine is made with Malabrigo merino, which is oh-so-soft. I used the My So-Called Scarf pattern. I really like how it turned out, and there was enough yarn left over to make a pair of fingerless gloves (which I left at school). I can see why so many people swear by Malabrigo. It's incredible yarn! Teddy is a sweet model, isn't he?