I've finished my Holiday Sweater! It took 2 days to make and I weaved in the ends yesterday afternoon waiting for school pick up.  I love the way the yarn looks in this pattern, and it is so soft! I could easily wear it with a tank and not feel scratchy! Love artyarns, love, love, love it!!

The pattern is from Tahki Stacey Charles 2nd Edition Crochet book called Java Sweater (java is the name of the yarn it is made in.) I remember designing this at the beach - and I love the way it looks in both yarns. I held the artyarns double for this top.

Remember when I said I was scaling back on the handmade gifts? Yep, I've done it again - I went to my LYS and just went off! Here is the booty I came away with yesterday. 

As all professional shoppers do, I couldn't resist buying myself a gift, and so here you have the LAST Addi click set available at Knit knack for ME! I am already using them working on this great scarf from Laura called Just Enough Ruffles - what a great pattern! I need 3 teachers gifts by next Friday - so quick projects are in order for the next week!

Shopping

 I am REALLY good at shopping, really, just ask Mr. Fantastic - he'll tell you.... I should win an award or something. I am hummin' along on my Christmas shopping - yesterday, I scheduled a trip to the Mall. Yes, I was showered and ready to rock, nice and relaxed... happy to be a little ahead of the game in the shopping department! My trip was very successful..... I am almost completely finished, even the gifts that need to be shipped are purchased and ready to be wrapped - which reminds me, I even have my gift wrap purchased! I feel good, I feel like I am not going to be worried and waiting in endless lines, no! Not me, I am going to enjoy this Holiday if it kills me!

My sweet niece has a birthday, just a few short days before the Big Day and I always try to get her something great.... this year, I've done it. Our gift is going into the Gift Hall of Fame! I just know it. Here is the box......

Yes, I know..... it is a little over the top, but you know what? She deserves it! Anyway, remember a few paragraphs ago, when I was so happy about my scheduled trip and not waiting in lines, etc.? My elation turned to complete annoyance when I opened the mail today and got this......

Yep, 25% off my entire purchase! I guess I will be going back to the store and waiting in line, to get my Credit!!!!! 

Christmas Crafting

Well, Thanksgiving is over and it's time to get into the groove of my holiday gifting!!! I am scaling things down quite a bit this year in terms of handcrafted gifts. I won't be able to show any of my progress because my entire family reads this blog!!! I will show my teacher gifts. 

This beautiful yarn is from Artyarns and is called Silk Mohair Glitter. A quick run to my LYS on Sunday (holiday hours are sweet!) and I found this beautiful stuff tucked in a corner. It really looks like ice and snow and will make a beautiful Christmas top for ME!!!! I think I am going to do a variation on something I have already designed - we'll see.

Dumplin' couldn't resist being in the photo!

I am Thankful for Cookies

Baba was my maternal grandmother, she passed away when I was 9.... For every special event, I try to bring Baba's Sugar Cookies - it makes me feel like she is there. They are the old fashioned roll out, cut out kind that are simple to make, but take some time. While I make these I think about my mother and my grandmother. I think about happy Christmas times, and funny Halloween cookie decorations. I think about decorating the holly ones (because I am better at those, mom!) and staying up late at night to get ready for Cookie Parties.

Baba's Sugar Cookies (make them with love)

1 stick butter 2 cups four

1 cup sugar 1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 egg 1/2 tsp salt

1 T. milk

1 tsp vanilla

Soften butter and mix sugar, egg, milk and vanilla together. Mix in all other ingredients. Form into ball, wrap in plastic wrap and chill. Take from refrigerator and roll out dough. Cut with cookie cutters. Use up all scraps.Bake in 350 oven about 10-12 min or until done (my dad likes them dark!)

Frosting:

1 stick butter  

1 box confections sugar

1 tsp vanilla

3 T. milk

Mix together with electric mixer - add food coloring.

I was thankful that my mother taught me from a very early age, that even though someone you love has died, they are still very much a part of our lives. They live through memories, smells, dreams, basements, knitted and crocheted garments made especially for you... and yes, even in delicious cookies. Happy Thanksgiving! 

Happy Thanksgiving

Yesterday was the Thanksgiving Day Feast at Dumplin's school (man, I'm going to miss this school next year!) Today I will be baking for Thanksgiving - I love to bake! I am going to make apple crisp pie, pecan pie, and Baba's sugar cookies. I will try to show pictures tomorrow with a recipe. Have a great day!

I've been trying to upload the video of her singing, but I've been here for an hour and it isn't working.... I'll try later.

Welcome to the Family!!!

On Friday we had spectacular news!!!! My brother Gus and his girlfriend Jenni (the aunt of the most adorable baby M from 2 posts below!) Got Engaged!!!

I kept looking for pictures of Jenni alone, but every picture I found she is either with my brother or with one of my children. That to me speaks volumes about the kind of person my baby brother is going to marry. My children ADORE her and my brother is over the moon in love..... I couldn't be any happier to have Jenni as my sister-in-law. Jenni is a kind, patient, funny and beautiful girl in every way, she lets my brother be himself and loves every bit of him. I wish you many years of love and laughter..... Welcome, welcome Jenni - we already love you!

My Blonde Brain

Here is the way my brain works.....

Last Friday I bought a new pair of black boots (surprisingly I did not have black boots - well, I do but they are healed boots and I wanted flat boots - oh, I did buy a pair of flat boots in London last year, but I can't tuck my pants in them.....) I needed to design a sweater to go with them.

On Saturday, I went into the stash I brought out this deliciousness! It's malabrigo worsted in the colorway Paris night. I had three skeins. My idea was to crochet a short little swing sweater with a pleat in the back, and mid sleeves (because I dig the shirt hanging out of the sleeve look). I found a stitch pattern I love and went to work..... and on Sunday ran out of yarn. Crud!!

On Sunday I was blessed to be able to attend an event at my LYS. I was able to meet Gina Wilde of Alchemy yarns and listen to her very inspiring, wonderful, colorful, spectacular story about writing her new book shibori knits and the story behind Alchemy yarns. I was so moved by Gina and Austin that I wanted to buy every last bit of the yarn in the shop. What I did buy became this. 

My friend Lady V knit a beautiful scarf in these yarns and to touch it was so soft, so beautiful, I had to make a crochet version. My scarf is made with 2 skeins of Monarch and 1 skein of Haiku held together. The colorway is tea leaf, and it is green (I know, shocker!!!)  To quote Lady V, when working with these two yarns together it is "hand candy". I had to remind myself to slow down, so that I could savor how wonderful it feels to create with these spectacular fibers!

Well, I really wanted to finish the sweater design I started on Saturday and my LYS was out of the color - so I started another one. This time in a hand painted yarn that is 30% wool and 70% acrylic that can go in the washer!!! It became this:

How cute!! I love, love, love this and I am working on the pattern and will offer it as a class after the holidays at knit knack.

I am now hopelessly addicted to Haiku and am working this morning on a crochet shawl design that can be a huge scarf or a shawl this time in a beautiful brown colorway called Montreat Path.....

I am doing all this because...... you know it - I have a crochet deadline on Dec. 1st!!! Got to get started on that bad boy! See you Monday...