greetingarts

wrapped up

I'm no good at those end-of-the-year wrap-up posts.  I feel like I should say something meaningful, a grand summary of what goals I've accomplished, highlights of the year, resolutions kept.  But, truthfully, all that makes me a little sad.  I like New Year's Eve for the promise it brings, the fresh feeling, the endless possibilities.  I can swear a little less, be much more patient, create anything in the coming year.

I had grandiose plans of making my relatives go green this year, and I was going to sew up reusable grocery bags for everyone at our Christmas gathering.  But after I finished up the gifts for Becca's class, I'd run out of time.  I haven't completely given up on the bags, just couldn't make them for Christmas 2007.  The tutorial was incredibly well written and the end product something I was really proud of, so I'll be making more.  Probably even one for myself (gasp!).  I may even make a zippered drawstring pouch to hold it, with a strap that I can attach to the inside of my purse or backpack so I'll always have it with me.  My problem is that although I have reusable bags, I leave them in the car and forget all about them until the bagger is bagging up my stuff... doh!  Anyway, considering it took me all day to make the two I did manage to complete, I gave up and turned to tissue and coffee cup cozies instead. 

I had made a matching set for Becca's teacher, and thought it made a nice presentation, stuffed with a holiday-patterned tissue pack.  My computer ate that photo, but it turned out well so I made more.  The coffee cup cozy was made with insulated batting, so it should work very well.  That's good for saving at least a few cardboard sleeves a year, so I guess that's a tiny little score for the environment.

And my other finished handmade gift was a scarf, knitted using this pattern as a guideline, for a very special 6 year old who lives in a cold, snowy part of the country.  Hope she likes it!

I'm still not done with all the Christmas knitting, but the crucial one is almost picture-ready (it's coming, Peter!), and the other can now be for someone's birthday present in November, instead.  And so it begins already.  Maybe since I started the day after Christmas, I'll do a better job finishing up my handmade presents in 2008.

Thanks, 2007.  I can't believe you're saying goodbye so soon.

blue + white

Playing with her Christmas present (and, no, I didn't pay that price for it... not even close!  Sheesh!), Jessie made her first recognizable, non-scribble drawing.  I'm so glad I captured it before it disappeared.

merry merry

May your days be merry and bright.

And may there be peace on earth and goodwill toward siblings.

Much love to you all!

why do they call it pennsylvania?

"Is it because they use pencils there all the time?"

I made 20 of these felt thingies, tied to glittery pencils, for Rebecca's classmates.  Closeup photos of each are here.  I wanted them to be removable, though it would have been easier to just glue the pencils inside them, but I know Rebecca, for one, would have been sad to see the pencil dwindling down to a nub, and would wonder and question and whine about saving the little felt thing.   So I can only guess that at least a few of her friends would feel the same way.

So in the long run, threading a ribbon through the back layer of felt was a lot easier.  I had a lot of fun making these, quiet time in front of the TV, listening to Food Network shows, Christmas specials.  But, as with almost everything I've planned, it was a lot more time consuming than I'd thought.

Like the Christmas cards, about 20 of which got sent out yesterday, still have a bunch more to go.   Don't know if they'll actually all get done or not...

There are many, many things left to finish (uh, actually they need to be started, first), but some projects were completed that I was really proud of.  I can't show anything else, since my computer ate a bunch of my recently downloaded photos (sob!) and also because all of them are gifts.   But I know I've been quiet lately, and I didn't want anyone to think I was a slacker.

Tomorrow, the girls, daddy and I are going to enjoy and afternoon of Princesses on Ice, an early Christmas gift for all of us.  My husband hasn't had a day off in quite a while, the kids are excited about the skating and all the princesses, and I'm looking forward to not being able to sew or knit or bake or do anything except listen to the music and see the beauty, and get lost in the magic.

pink + blue

Walt Disney Concert Hall, April 2006.

snowflakes and swaps

My ornaments for the 2nd Annual Holiday Ornament Swap were all packed up, addressed and mailed yesterday, I hope everyone likes them.  They're about 2" or so in diameter (I'm not really sure, I didn't measure), just the right size for a tree, I think.  I embroidered two circles of felt with a snowflake pattern, added some glass beads, and sandwiched a scalloped circle of white felt in between.  The inspiration came from here, scroll down to see the coasters.

And here's a closeup of the bookmark I sent for the Crafty Daisies Bookmark Swap.  I crocheted a snowflake, added a long chain tail and a little circle at the end.

Fun stuff.  Now I've really got to get started on those cards... it's okay if I send them out on December 20th, right?

all i want for christmas is my two front teeth

So this

finally became this last night at dinner.  We both survived the first tooth coming out, and I think the babe did a lot better than Mommy, who was utterly squeamish and, quite frankly, a little freaked out about the wiggly, bloody little front bottom teeth with the two completely emerged mutant permanent teeth peeking out from behind the baby ones.  She was so proud, so excited.  I got all teary.  My baby girl.  Tooth.  Gone.  Someone get me a tissue?

I told Rebecca that the Tooth Fairy needed to collect *clean* teeth, and that she'd first have to be notified before she would come visit, so it was fine to wait another night before putting the tooth under her pillow.  After the girls were in bed, with the tooth safely wrapped up in a Kleenex and lying in my jewelry box, I quickly sewed up a special little pillow I've had brewing in my mind for weeks.

It's about 3" x 3", made of felt, hand-stitched with perle cotton, two little scrapbooking brads for eyes.

And on the back, a tiny heart pocket for the fallen tooth.

I think the Tooth Fairy checked her email today, and will be paying us a visit before dawn.

green + white

July 15, 2004.

better to give

Thanks for indulging me and sympathizing with my whiny post,  I think I'm over it now and moving on with the spirit of giving.

A little girl needed a hat, so I knit her a wool one with earflaps. 

But, knowing she had two siblings, I just couldn't send a package without including a little something for them, so I crocheted a horse purse for Emma and a knit up a princess crown for Mary.  Hope they like everything, and that Elizabeth has very warm ears all winter long.

In an email, another friend mentioned her lack of an advent calender this year, and I wanted to give her a little pick-me-up since 2007 has been pretty tough on her.  So I mailed off a set of 24 plain white die-cut boxes that she can decorate, fill and hang.  I also sent her these because I can't wear them myself, and she deserves them.  Always making socks for others, now she has her own pair.  Not for feet, but oh well!

And finally, here's my box of mittens for Lynne and her project.  No, I didn't knit all sixteen pairs myself, a few incredible people from my knitting guild pitched in and together, we filled a box that I'll be mailing off tomorrow morning. 

I feel better, and now it's beginning to look - and feel - a lot like Christmas.

orange + tan

This week's color photo comes from Jessie's latest exploits with the new minivan.  I know it's probably wreaking havoc on the automatic car door's mechanism, but she just looks so darn cute, and I know she won't be this small for too much longer, so I just can't help but laugh when she hangs onto the handle for a ride.  I know I should be firm and not open the door until she's let go, but I'm just a softie, I guess.