Craft Bonanza

Double feature movie day for me so I brought some knitting along. During the showing of the Hulk I knit some more on a stretch sock. It's for me. Yes finally a pair for me. I got 6 inches of cuff knit and an working on the heel. I'm slipping the stitches on the purl side for a slightly different look. I have to think hard on each row because my fingers want to do the opposite of what I want them to do. Knitting memory for socks is built into them. Love the color and feel.

My son got me a set of knitpicks cable needles and I used them to finish the top of this bag. It really needs a good blocking and will have to have a lining, I'm thinking with built in pockets. During the morning movie I worked on the knitted i-cord for the handle. It's going to need a reinforcement inside. This is sari yarn which is thick and thin and a little flimsy for construction projects. It's going to get done though soon.

During the last two days while I've been off it's been stitching time/dvd time. This is going to be a table covering (about 22 inches square when complete) with fall leaves on it. It has a nun stitch border with fringe. I'm about half way through stitching all of the leaves. I love the Caron watercolor threads that just keep changing colors for each leaf. This was a kit that I purchased at celebrationofnw.com from www.dutchtreat.com. It was very reasonably priced and included everything so you could start stitching right away. She had lots of great designs but this was one of her best sellers and I can see why.

Lots of projects to do and I can't wait to get started or finish them.

Holiday aftermath

What a great holiday it was this year. The socks were well received as was the carmel corn and beer. The cookie trees were eaten as was the coffee bread and assorted cookie platters. Two days of treats and visiting and a years worth of crafting is out the door and on it's way to new homes.

Tonite, after laundry and cat feeding it's a movie and craft fest for me. My son got me the set of knitting needles I had coveted from 'Knitpicks". It's the adjustable, cable, harmony set with tips from size 4 -11. This morning I pulled out a project from the closet and set it along with the new needles by the comfy chair.

The little gang of cats are happy that the house is going back to a state of normalcy for them too. They love visitors but want the guest bedroom bed to be theirs not the guests. They helped me strip the sheets and have enjoyed hiding in the covers and under the folds of the blankets draped across the chair. There has been a lot of kitty snuggles the last few days but they all know that it's time to get their nails trimmed and coats brushed for the new year.

It's been a great year for crafters everywhere and I'm wishing for another years of crafts in 09.

Branching out

Sackboy got eyes late Sunday nite and he's extremely happy climbing into his limited edition collectors box. I had a lot of fun knitting him and he's going to have a lot of fun over the holidays.

Here is the culmination of my Sunday baking. Yes I finally made another cookie tree. I managed inbetween the shoveling. For gifting purposes it then got a covering of fancy clear cellophane, a bow and and then put into it's special carrying case. I'm sure it made it to it's new home to be devoured.

The house is clean, floors washed, counters cleared, presents wrapped (almost) and cookies baked. I'm ready for a holiday.

Carmel Corn Day

Today was caramel corn day here at Pam's magical workshop. I had my helper Magpie, close at hand ready to assist with any baking emergency. She waited patiently each time I would go outside to shovel, or stir the pan. She's been following me around and just sitting next to me where ever I am, crafting, cooking, reading and sleeping. Such a great help.

I made five batches of carmel corn. It's a favorite of the family but couldn't get done without my favorite pan. This belonged to my grandmother and it the best candy pan around. I tried to think how long I've been making the corn and I think it's about 15 - 20 years. I know the kids were little when it began. I've got the recipe down to a science and it always get's done on a day about a week prior to christmas. Yummy, fresh and bagged up it's a great present. (recipe comes from the back of the karo syrup bottle but mine has no peanuts)

I had to just knit something fun this week and for a 'me' knitting project picked a 'barbar' the elephant from a Jean Greenhowe book. He is just adobrable and six inches tall he's a perfect playmate for a little child (or big kid) Jean's patterns are easy to follow and all I did in adaptations was to put a chenille stem in his trunk so he can be posed.

Sackboy, the newest Alan Dart creation is going to become a playmate for my son and his girlfriend. The pattern arrived on Tuesday, yarn was selected and the parts knitted and on the way home from work on Thursday I got some more brown chenille for his armiture. Last nite in between shoveling his little fingers got 'bones and he is almost finished. Sackboy needs some eyes and a mouth and perhaps a little decorative stitching. This is a very anticipated addition to the knitted universe. His zipper does open but beware as he might lose his stuffing.

These is a tiny project just 2 inches wide. Can you guess what it is? No, it's an emery holder. You sharpen your needles in it and can also store a needle under the decorative cover. Fun to stitch, it's a present for my mom.

Mom likes to have fancy needlework tools to use and show at her meetings. I just love making stuff. It's a good matchup.

Here is the backside of the promised gingerbread hand toy and fingerpuppet. One puts his/her fingers down the back of the big guys legs and he just walks all around the table. The fingerpuppet is good for tiny fingers or a pencil.

Their fronts feature friendly embroidery that looks like real raisins and frosting. I can't wait to read ' the gingerbread boy' with a real boy to play with at the same time.

What's next in the magical workshop. Another storm is brewing and I have some items to wrap. The cards got written but await a trip to the post office. I decided to create a gingerbread cookie tree so that's on the baking list for tomorrow. My daughter is looking forward to helping me decorate it when she comes to stay. I've learned to my peril that when you make these cookie trees you should really let them dry and cool for a day prior to assembly. They can droop otherwise and you get a leaning tower of cookie.

Magical workshop

The last two days have been a funfilled baking extravaganza here in my magical holiday workshop. Yesterday I managed to make seven types of dough and bake six kinds of holiday cookies. In between batches of cookies a little gingerbread boy and gingerbread fingerpuppet were assembled. The gingerbread boy is so cute.

Today it was swedish coffee bread baking day. While the dough mixes and rises it gives you 20-25 minute periods of time to get everything else done. That meant wrapping presents, laundry and other household chores. Tonite after all the bread was done and cooling it was time to work on the cat quilt. I trimmed the edges even, cut the binding and attached it. I even did fancy mitered corners. Now it's pinned around the edges and it ready for the final hand stitching.

So what is left for the holidays, a lot. Holiday cards, a quilt, mermaid something, present for a niece, wrapping and mailing a box, and the important caramel corn day. I'm even hopeful that an afternoon movie could be fitted in. We'll see about that, probably a dvd and handsewing will take it's place.

Holiday countdown

I've been remis about blogging all the time but I've been concentrating on just finishing up the crafting. This week I really pressed on with the quilt for my son and last nite at 11 pm it came totally off the quilt frame. Yeah!! Tonite the quilt frame got put away and out came the vacumn cleaner. After the cleaning then the table for trimming and prepping for the binding. This is a big project but is one of pure love. Sometime between everything I had time to stitch this adorable shopping penquin. She's going strong with all of her packages. The sock needles are at rest but others are working on an Alan Dart gingerbread finger puppet. It's crunch time for crafters but between it all comes down to a gift from the hands and heart. Craft on.

Pair # 18

I'm almost at the end of my sock teather and I'm glad it's getting nearer the end of the year. What was I thinking at the beginning when I thought a pair of socks for every one in the family. Well this is pair number 18 and it's for a gentleman. I've not assigned socks to actual recipients yet but that's coming. I think the socks need to get together for a group photo shoot. Right now they are all together and it looks like a lot to me.

The Paton's stretch yarn was a new yarn for me and knit up nicely and is stretchy so I'm hopeful that means a good fit. It's a fine yarn so it didn't knit up fast but it hold the stitch definition well so you could do more patterning with it. It was available at a local craft store at a reasonable price. One ball made one sock with a tad bit left over. Good value for the yarn.

My house is decorated, the lights are on outside, bills paid and another pair of socks done. Now it's back to the quilt and oh yes the holiday cards need to be taken care of. But Yeah!! another pair bites the dust.

Quilting the nite away

Last nite I quilted one entire border of the cat quilt but had to put down my needle for the evening. I'm realizing that I can't just keep quilting for hours anymore. My hands get a little tired and achy so instead I switched chairs and picked up my knitting needles and worked on my stretchy light brown sock. With the thin yarn I didn't get as much done but then with a cat watching my every move and keeping track of the moving, wiggling yarn I think I did well. Tonite after work and again tomorrow I'll get quilting and finish another side. Every day a countdown to a deadline.