Wrap It Up!

Today, I hope to "wrap it up," and by that, I don't mean gift wrapping.  A few years ago, I realized that I really did like gift wrapping...if I didn't leave it until the last minute.  So now, I wrap things as soon as they're finished...or bought...

No...For a change, I'd like to be ready for Christmas a few days early.  The shopping (which I'm not overly fond of).  I'm heading out to buy groceries and stocking stuffers later, and I have one more gift to purchase.  Hopefully (though no promises), that's it!

And then I can devote the rest of my time to a few last-minute crafts...and Christmas baking.

Eight days left, people!

Featured on Inspired Mama's Page...

Transformation Thursday: "Snowman Cushion" Guest Post by Cindy Bailey

Snowman Cushion - Creative How-To Project by Cindy Bailey

If you're creative and into recycling, this is a project that will suit you to a tee!

Instead of using canvas or investing in fabric paints, I buy old (but clean) white sheets from a Thrift Store and I've discovered you can paint and make all kinds of neat things.

This project is designed especially for Christmas...

Snowman Cushion

Materials:

A 12" X 12" piece of old white sheet.

2 - 12" X 12" pieces of fabric for front and back of cushion.

Fine black permanent marker.

Acrylic paints.

Recycled hat - preferably a Santa hat, but any winter hat will do nicely.

Polyester fiberfill stuffing.

Sewing machine.

Needle and thread, embroidery cotton, other embellishments of your choice.
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How to:

• Press all materials before getting started.
• From the white sheeting, trace a circle using a dinner plate (or something similar), and cut out circle.
• Draw snowman's coal eyes, coal mouth, and carrot nose, using permanent marker.
• Using orange acrylic paint, paint nose. I also touched up the eyes and mouth with black paint to make them stand out. (You might also choose to use black buttons for the eyes and mouth.)

• If your winter hat is fabric, lay it flat with front facing, and cut in half at the sides.
• If you're using a knit hat, lay it flat with front facing and do not cut or it will unravel.
• Whip stitch the hat to the top of the snowman's head. 

• Machine or hand stitch the snowman's head to your front cushion fabric.
• Placing right sides together, sew front and back of cushion together, leaving an opening for stuffing, and being careful not to catch Mr. Snowman in your sewing.
• Stuff with fiberfill stuffing.
• Stitch closed opening of cushion.

• Embellish the snowman as you choose. I went around the edges of my snowman with light blue embroidery cotton, using a blanket stitch. You could also knit a small scarf and attach it to the snowman's neck. Sky's the limit here. Be creative!

Like I said, this is an ideal "recycled" Christmas project. Recycled sheets, recycled hat!

Other project suggestions: Tote bags/purses, lunch bag

s, decorator cushions. I've also made a denim and plaid quilt - with painting on the denim, curtains... 

If you'd like to find out more about Cindy's projects or see her work, you can find her at the following links:

Blog: http://cyndeebee.blogspot.com/

Email: (please use "crafts" in subject line): CyndeeBee@Hotmail.com

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And Pictures...

Can Only Stay A Minute...

Like most other devoted knitters, I'm into the Christmas rush.  Several projects on the go, most close to completion.  So when I'm actually on the home stretch...or finished...I'll take the time to get pictures and post.

Ta-ta...

Restless Knitting...

Whenever I get close to the finish of projects, I want to abandon them, and start something new.
I'm almost finished 3 different things...but I'm forcing myself to stick with them.  Not typical for me.  Usually, there's a trip into the craft room, where my yarns are placed in baskets on the wall, and I do my "shopping trip" for the next project.

I won't, I won't, I won't...

But if I can't resist temptation, which yarn should I use next???

Delicate, but distinguished...

Right now, I'm working on a man/woman scarf/cowl set.
The customer told me that both recipients like earthy tones.
So bearing that in mind, I chose a taupe wool from my stash.  The wool was purchased at a rummage sale, and it appears to be at least 10 years old...
Thankfully, it's not too fragile.
(I've got beautiful purple wool that's ancient, but it breaks easily.  So I mix it with a new, and sturdy wool...)

I got started on the scarf last night, and I'm keeping the pattern simple, but detailed enough, to show a pattern.  I'm mostly using a moss stitch, but I've added a "K3, P1" pattern in one section, and St st section, as well.
I like moss stitch for scarves, because there's no curling at the edges.

I'll write out the pattern at a later date (because, yes...it is an original...)

Christmas Dinner...Today?

I make a lot of jokes about celebrating my birthday for an entire week, or about how my family celebrates Christmas for the entire month of December.
Well, we're starting Christmas in November this year!

Before the American Thanksgiving...
and before we have our first snowfall...

This first Christmas is at my parents' house today, and it's with my ex-brother-in-law, two nieces, one nephew-in-law, two nephews, a niece-in-law...and 3 little ones!  You have to have little ones at the Christmas celebrations...

So at noon, there will be turkey with all of the trimmings.
Then I have to dash home, and my daughter and I will get ready for a concert tonight.

And...I promise...this is my last "busy" day for about a week.
I have fibromyalgia, and I can function fairly well, as long as a rest day follows a busy, or an outing, day.  I've had three busy/outing days in a row.  There is absolutely no doubt that I will crash and burn tomorrow...
And the dreaded chronic fatigue will kick in.  Hopefully, it will only last a day.  Not two or three...

Dashing out to get ready now.
There will be pictures later...

It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

Most days, you can find me, from morning until night, sitting on the couch, surrounded by a minimum of five knitting projects.  It must be that time...

Yes!  It's Christmas Knitting Rush time!

I probably have one of the longest couches ever made (8 feet long), and from October on, no one is allowed to sit there.  Except me.  And my many projects.

On the go right now:  A cabled cushion for my sister...A raspberry cowl for donation...A multi-colored headband...A blanket - multi-colored - for another sister...A Size 2 hoodie in dark turquoise...A gray and white-striped cowl...
And, of course, another dozen or so balls of yarn for my pending projects.  I'm showing incredible self-discipline, because I haven't started any NEW projects.  Yet.

(But don't get me wrong.  In a corner of my bedroom are a whack of old projects that have been set aside, until I get past my Christmas rush...)

It's crazy, isn't it?  My hands stay busy for at least 12 hours a day, and still I'm anxious to get onto new things.

Today, I took an order for a lap afghan, and a matching scarf and cowl, for a boyfriend/girlfriend gift.

That's okay.  It's the weekend.  I can stay up all night, if I wish.