Friday, December 30, 2011

Cupcakes


Hello!!

I'm quickly popping in to say that since I've finished all the Christmas knitting, as well as my swap requirements for the newest Itty-Bitty swap I joined, and even got the Lizzy Bennet's Shawlette done (except for blocking), I started something new just for me - Cupcakes Mittens by SpillyJane. 

I'll be back tomorrow to explain more, but right now I need to get some sleep if I'm going to be able to stay awake past midnight tomorrow night.

xoxo

P.S. Daniel came over for a visit last night, and he is doing great!!  It was so amazing to actually see him in person and to see what a miracle the Lord has done in him!!

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Merry Christmas

Hello!!

I just wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and say thank you for being such wonderful readers.  I truly think of you all as friends and I feel so very blessed!!  I hope each one of you has a Christmas full of love, laughter, caring, sharing, and remembering what the Season is really about.  Without our amazing and loving Saviour's birth, we wouldn't have anything to celebrate. 

I thought I'd leave you with a few photos of some cookie basket assembling,


and some Christmas swans :)

Warmest Wishes,
xoxo

P.S. I just wanted to add that I did finish that miniature for the stocking stuffer!!  

Friday, December 23, 2011

It's Christmas Eve, Eve!!

Hello!

I had to sneak away from my cleaning to quickly tell you all that the cookies are baked and most of the baskets have been assembled and some delivered, with a few more scheduled to go out for delivery with my Dad in the morning.  So, that means that the cookie baskets are pretty much done!  I actually pulled it off - with a lot of help and a ton of hard work, but it was worth it!  Now my sister and I are cleaning up and getting things ready for our family dinner tomorrow. 

Tomorrow is also my Mom's birthday!  I have her cake baked up and I will ice it in the morning.  I was going to do that tonight but it has a whipped cream icing and so it needs to go in the fridge.  However, the Christmas ham is in the way, but by morning it should be in the oven.

I even checked my knitting list, and I am done, except for I'd like to knit a little miniature for a stocking stuffer if I have time.  I haven't told anyone this since they already think I'm crazy, so I thought it might be best to knit it up tonight once everyone is asleep.  I'll let you know how that goes!! 

I should get back to the cleaning!  I hope you are all having a wonderful start to the Christmas Holidays!! 

xoxo 

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Mid-Week Report

Ho Ho Ho!!
Things are coming along great!  I got more cookies baked today and even got my Mom to help me with icing the sugar cookies.  I still have a lot more to do, but I'm getting there.  Tomorrow is going to be a big baking day, so once that is over I should have a good idea of where I stand with the cookie baskets.  I don't know if I've ever mentioned about the cookie baskets before or not, so in case I haven't I will explain: every year I bake up all these different kinds of cookies and then Christmas Eve day, my Mom and sister put together these beautiful baskets to give as gifts to family and friends.  This year we have to assemble the baskets a day earlier since we are having Christmas dinner at our house on Christmas Eve, so with that, and the fact that I thought there was an extra week before Christmas, I'm having to rush a bit with the cookies, but I have faith that it will all get done. 

I still have not looked at my knitting list to make sure I have everything I need finished....I think I might be avoiding it a teeny bit.....but really, it's probably best not to know right now when I can't do anything about it, well, at least until the cookies are done.

xoxo

Monday, December 19, 2011

Motivation

Hello Again,

I rarely post twice in one day, but I had to share this.  If you need a little motivation, check this out.  I want to be like that.... 

xoxo

One More Gift Down

Hello!!

I've got one more gift finished!  I knit another cowl using the Bernat Really Big yarn, this time in the Amazon colourway.  It's for my Auntie Ruth, and since she has dark hair, I think this will look really pretty on her.  Again, it was a quick knit and I'm really happy with the end result!!  Now I just need to wrap it up.  I will be back soon with an update on how things are coming along, at the moment, I don't really know!!

Much Love, xoxo 

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Please Tell Me You're Kidding!!

Happy Holidays!

Okay, I know I said that I wanted this Christmas Season to be less stressful and more about the small things and enjoying life.  Well, today I realized that I have one less week than I thought I did before Christmas is here.  I mean, I thought there was one more extra week.  Like I kept saying to myself, "Oh don't stress about that Christmas gift you need to knit.  It's big needles and chunky yarn, and plus you still have another week." or "start making my cookie list?  Oh, why worry about that already, I still have one more week."  Until this morning when my most wonderful Mother told me the cold hard truth - next week is THE week before Christmas, which by the way is on the Sunday of that SAME WEEK!!  How did I miss this??  I mean come on here, I have been opening a gift each day as part of the Advent Swap, and I hang up another number every day on my Advent bunting!  It's not like I'm not aware of what day it is; it is clearly December 14th.  So how did this happen then?  My guess is that it is because I never looked at an actual calendar that showed all the days of the month on one page.  Somehow by not seeing "the big picture" I missed out on the fact that there is only 10 Days left before Christmas - and yes, I did just count that right now, and no, I don't feel the best at the moment....  So now this leaves me grasping at all the fragments of my broken plans and trying to piece something together that will work.  My Mom just walked by and said, "It's amazing what you can do in 9 days" - gotta love her and her enthusiasm.  I think I'm going to go and lie down for a bit and think.  I'll report back in a few days to let you all know how it's going.  Wish me luck!!

xoxo

Monday, December 12, 2011

A Cowl for Mom

Hello!

This cowl is a birthday present for my Mom.  She picked out the yarn the other day and said she'd like to have a cowl like the store sample, so here it is.  The yarn is Really Big by Bernat and the pattern is the Knit Cowl that is included on the label.  It uses big needles and the yarn is a super bulky, so this was a very quick and easy knit.  I think she'll like it!  I like fast projects like these, especially around the holidays!!

Today has been a busy day of Christmas shopping in the city.  Now I feel like I need a nap!  It's been raining here all day and since we have no snow it doesn't look very Christmasy.  I can wait for the snow a bit longer though, at least until all the shopping is done! 

Have a great evening!
xoxo

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Star Advent Bunting

Happy Saturday!!

I finally got the Star Advent Bunting done this past week!  It's all hung up and I'm enjoying putting up the numbers for each day!!  Who would have thought that such a small thing as that could bring me such excitement?? 


I didn't do the lovely little felt and fabric numbers like Lucy did for hers because it was getting too late for me to make them, so what I did instead was cut out bigger and smaller circles from construction paper and then wrote the number on a small one and glued it onto the middle of a big one.  I punched a hole in the top of each and hung them with coloured paperclips like Lucy did, and I think all in all, they turned out very cute.  Maybe for next year I will make the felt ones, since I'm sure they will last a lot longer and be prettier. 


To hang them, up I chained a nice looooonnnngggg chain and strung each star through the two side points.  I attached two hooks to the wall, and tied the ends of the chains into loops and attached those to the hooks.  The hooks are the kind that you can easily remove, so that will be great once the holidays are over. 

I have to admit that every so often I come into my room to admire it!!  The combination of the colours, the cute little star shapes, and seeing them all strung up together just makes me so happy!!  I think that's one of the best things about handmade items.

xoxo 

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

December Is Here

Hello!

Wow, my last post was November 30th!  It doesn't even seem like it's been that long!  This beginning part of December has gone by rather quickly, but I hope it starts to slow down soon so I get the chance to enjoy it a bit more. 

I am almost done my Christmas gifts, I think.  I still have a few finishing details to do on a couple of projects, but most are at least done the biggest part.  I hope that by the end of this week I will have them all completed and wrapped up under the tree.  That's my goal anyways.  We will see how it goes.

The light levels have been pretty low here over the last bit, so I haven't taken many pictures.  However, I took one this morning of a cowl I finished up over the weekend when I was at my sister's house. 


This is the Thick and Quick Ribbed Cowl and I used a skein of Knit Picks Swish Bulky in Saffron that was in my stash.  I really like how it turned out.  It's soft and cozy around your neck, just as a cowl should be.  I'm still not sure if this will be a gift or not.  I also knitted up another cowl, which is waiting for the right buttons, and finished up my Mom's Christmas socks, but they still need their heels put in yet. 

Over the past while I've worked on the Sweet Flower Granny Blanket as well as a few tiny gifts that I will share when I get some better lighting for pictures.  Oh, and I almost forgot to mention that when I was really stressed out last week, I started a Milk Run Shawl for myself.  What better way to curb stress than to start another project, right?  Actually, I think not, but it helped distract me until I could get a few other things under control. 

I've also been enjoying opening up my daily gifts from Jessica!!  It's such a bright spot in my day!!  I usually open my gift while having my morning coffee, since that is the best way to enjoy a present I think.  All I can say is that I have been spoiled, spoiled, SPOILED by Jessica.  I'm enjoying it all immensely!!

I hope you are all having a great start to the week.  I will try to post more often now that I'm aware of my tardiness! 

See you soon, xoxo