It's almost Christmas!

Tomorrow the white-bearded gentleman will race around the world delivering gifts to the good boys and girls; Mum's will stuff the turkey, sometimes with the help of Dad; children will rise early and wrapping paper will carpet the floor.

Somewhere in the midst of all this activity we will remember the reason for the season, and everywhere voices will ring out with Merry Christmas.

 

I wish all my friends a very Happy Christmas, and peace and Happiness for the coming year.

Almost Santa Time

The festive season is fast approaching and I have been busily [a little like Santa's elves] stitching and knitting gifts for family as this year I have almost abandoned the Christmas shopping blitz that leaves the nerves frayed and the purse empty. 

 

A few dishcloths knitted with bamboo cotton yarn ... I am still using two that I made this time last year, they last forever!  And wash like a dishcloth!

 

A piece of fabric offered up in a Forum giveaway recently atracted my attention ... Mmmm, golfing tees.  I had in mind a quilt for an 'almost' family member, and found to my delight there was sufficient to construct a cushion to go with the quilt.  Perhaps it will grace an armchair in the cooler days of winter?

 

And another cushion; yes, I think it could truly be said I like making cushions.  However they can be a useful gift!

In Two's

I have had Internet connection problems, which did have an upside [apart from frustrations] of giving me more time to make things.  Oh yes, the Internet is a distraction from creative activity.

 

The Calico Angels are bliss to construct, and another two to the Angel Family caused no problems.  The best part of making these Calico Angels is the fact that imagination can play a part ... what to make the 'halo' from?  What should the angel carry and how should the wings look?  All these questions come into play to give each angel a distinctive look.

 

While turning pages of the ever growing library of magazines [can one justify owning over a hundred?  Not that I am game to count them as I fear the total is well over 100] I came across a pattern for rather cute pincushions.  Once again the colours and embellishments chosen can add to the varied outcome.  I chose the same fabric and named the pincushion twins, Violet and Viola. 

Don't you just love their prissy mouths?

 

Little things

Sometimes it is pleasant to make little things, items that take a day and are completed.

 

A couple of sewing accessories fall into that category.

A sewing machine apron

 

and

an armchair caddy

 

Earlier this month I constructed a Calico Angel to send to family as part of their Christmas decorations, and this morning as I was trying to sort out what was what do you think I could find that Calico Angel?  No!  I decided to make another.

Then, later, a sudden thought entered my [previously empty] mind.  Where else would one store a Christmas decoration if not with other Christmas decorations.  Yes, it was there ... now there are two Calico Angels to be posted away.

Promises and Borders BOM ... finished!

During 2012 I have been working on Jenny of Elefantz  BOM, "Promises and Borders".   This morning I completed this delightful quilt, and am proud to say all the stitching, sewing together, quilting [not perfect, but I am improving] and binding.

 

The Promises and Borders quilt is now ready for posting to New Zealand.

Christmas is coming

I notice on my forays around Blogland some folks have exactly how many days to Christmas ... one down to the second countdown! 

 

Eldest son, his partner, and his daughter are off to my old home town for the holidays and will spend Christmas with two of his brothers, and youngest son's partner and their little son.  I have chosen to stay on this side of the Tasman ... until later ... albeit we will be looking after their dog and house. 

 

However there is a way I can make my presence felt amongst the Christmas cheer, and that is a few decorations to remind them of 'Mother'. 

The above adaptation of an Anni Downs design, All Hearts come home for Christmas, should help them to remember Christmasses past when the family gathered at home.

Body washer

In the DTE Forum a inquiry for a shower pouf pattern was requested.  Not crochet, but in knitting.

 

I searched the Internet for a pattern [plenty of crochet ones, few in knitting], adding a link.  But in my usual hurried manner I neglected to read to the end of the pattern where some had replied that it was difficult to make up.  This fact was pointed out.  I needed to know if the pattern was actually viable, so hunted out the end yarn of several dishcloths, and last night, casted on.

 

The pattern was frustrating ... too many stitches increased making it extremely difficult to actually knit a row.  However I perservered, and resorted to using a round needle for a few rows, which made the task easier.

 

Reading to the end of the pattern I wondered how to make it up ... but with the knitting complete there only remained the task of making it up.

 

I looked on the Internet ... no luck.I re-read the pattern [if in doubt read the pattern!], threaded a needle and began following the instructions. 

 

The completed body washer may not be elegant, but the pattern did work out ... my joining in of new colours was without any rhyme or reason, just the fact that I had finished one ball and needed another colour being the only condition.