Friday, December 14, 2012

At Play








Here's just a small peek into some of the creativity and play that's been happening around here this week. The boys have been hammering and drilling away some little wood projects -I'm not sure exactly what yet...

The smallest as learned to carefully line up my old cabbage patch and strawberry shortcake dolls and then march through their freshly created order like Godzilla, growling. Her older brothers insist that this wasn't taught, and that she's just naturally awesome. I think she's pretty awesome too.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Yarn Along


I decided a few weeks ago to make up a few of these stars-
not as a garland like the pattern suggests, but just as individual ornaments for gift toppers, or a little something to hang on a bottle of wine etc.
 I used utility twine which isn't very pliable so the stars don't have a real "point" to them, but I like the way they turned out regardless. I'm not even 100% certain that this twine is even cotton or acrylic...i'm thinking it might be paper, It's really hard to tell.
I might make up a few more though in something different just to see how it turns out.




I'm also making a few of these for gift exchanges-owlie coffee cup cozies. In order to fit in the whole owl these do turn out a little long, so maybe they're not suitable for a small coffee cup, but lucky for me, I don't think I have any friends that would actually order only a small. Yeah, not happening. I still need to block this out and add some peepers!

I really wish I had bought more of this yarn though-it was a really cheap clearance sale early this autumn. At first glance it looks like grey marl, but then if you look really closely, there are tiny bits of colour running through it, like little pieces of bakers twine. I only bought one skein of this colour, and another in pink. Definitely kicking myself now.

I have a few other projects on the go that i'd love to post but i'll have to wait until after Christmas so I don't give anything away!

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Wind All the Things! A Daybook Entry


Outside my window: a grey morning with drizzle. It's warm though, maybe we'll take a walk later.

I am thinking: of my daily tasks and what order I should do them in. Our living room is in shambles after getting some furniture out of the house and some new (used) furniture into the house. I've finally gotten my Christmas decoration bins out of the living room and put back in the basement.

I am thankful: for my new yarn winder and also a new serger! (I may have gone a little overboard with the yarn winder but I couldn't help myself.) A friend at church gave me the serger and I can't wait to set it up.

In the kitchen: I haven't started today's bread yet (well, tomorrow's) but aside from bread, I'm hoping to make some of these Lemon Ricotta Cookies. I've never made them before but I happen to have a huge tub of Ricotta cheese, and I've been wanting to try these for a while. If they're good I might include them in some Christmas baking for gifts.

On the needles: I have too many projects going on right now, but in short, working two pairs of slippers for the boys. I'm making them with leather soles and crocheting the tops. Also working on two cowls, and one hood/hat for gifts. I'll explain more tomorrow for yarn along.

I am wearing: The most comfortable yoga pants ever, cushy thick socks, a domo t-shirt and a knit cardigan. My hair is up in a twisted bun, held up by a paint brush. I may not look classy, but i'm cozy!


I am creating: Later today I hope to work on a little set of wooden peg people for Lotte for our nativity set. All the people that came with it are glass and not very play friendly, and I really want her to be able to play with it. Growing up we had an antique plastic set and the heads came off, and my sisters and I used to switch Mary and Joseph's heads. We were horrid children.

I am wondering: how long Lotte will nap today-her sleeping has been horrendous again lately.

I am reading: I have been getting some crafty (and yummy) Christmas inspirations though from a few fun magazines, like the British Country Living Magazine.

We are learning: About India. We had friends visiting over the weekend who are missionaries in India. The boys soaked up all the tales from far away and are so fascinated by them all. As I tucked them in to bed they were still rattling off some of the details of the stories, just in case I had missed out. I smell a homeschooling project coming on.

I am listening to: Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong. What would the Christmas season be without these two?

P.S I was recently inspired by a friend who used some prompts for her blog post so I'm borrowing her idea and tweaking it a bit with a few of my own.