Merry Christmas Eve!!

Hello Knitters!!

First off I want to wish you all a very Blessed and Merry Christmas and Holiday Season!!  I hope you all are having a wonderful Christmas Eve!!  Mine is going a little different than I had planned.  I ended up catching either strep throat or a throat virus of some sort and had to go to emergency yesterday to get some medication for it.  My throat does hurt quite a bit, but I'm hoping the antibiotics kick in soon and I start feeling better quickly.  Due to the fact that I'm sick, I stayed home tonight from my Mom's side of the family's Christmas dinner because I didn't want to infect anyone.  So I'm spending the evening with the animals and I'm cleaning the house since we are hosting my Dad's side of the family here tomorrow night.  Thankfully it's not a sit-down dinner, just some small snacks, but the house still has to be cleaned.  Since my Mom's birthday is today, I thought I'd try and surprise her by getting as much cleaning done as I can before she gets home so that she doesn't have to do it all tomorrow.  I should get back to it!!  Have a great evening everyone!!

Happy Knitting!!

P.S. I still have some Christmas knitting to do yet, I wonder if I can get it all done in time?!?

Busy, Busy

Hello Knitters,

I hope you are all are having a great week and that you are pretty much ready for Christmas.  I'm sorry for missing Miniature Monday and Ten on Tuesdays this week.  I actually had things planned but I ran out of time due to my incredibly busy life right now.  I'm really starting to feel the pressure of the season!!  The countdown has begun and I'm so not where I'd like to be on my projects.  Knitting-wise, I have to finish a scarf for my Aunt R, turn the heel and finish the foot of a sock for my Mom, put the finishing touches on a tiny gift for my sister, and I'm sure there is something else that I'm forgetting.  I also have a few things to sew up yet.  The biggest project right now though is the baking.  I've still got at least three days worth of baking to do and I have to fit it all into what's left of today and all day tomorrow.  See, that doesn't leave me any time to finish up the other projects.  I'm really not sure what I am going to do....  Anyways, I just wanted to let you all know that I am still alive, just super busy.  I'll be back to normal once the holidays are over :-)  I'm trying to enjoy Christmas, but I think I'm doing a lousy job of it.  Hopefully I can get things back on track! 

Happy Knitting!!

Ballerina Bunny

Hello Knitters,

I finished my Bunny from Itty-Bitty Toys the other night and my amazing Mom seamed her up for me.  I made her into a ballerina by adding a tutu skirt and ballet slippers.  I took the idea for the slippers from the bunny that Brittany sent me in my Easter Itty-Bitty Swap package. 

I used Spud and Chloe Sweater in Watermelon and Popsicle, which was such a treat to work with.  I think I'm going to have to order some more of this yarn soon, it makes a really nice knitted fabric and is so squishy.  It's perfect for lovable toys!!

Here's a close-up of her slippers. 

She turned out even cuter than I could have imagined!!  The pattern is great and fun to knit.  I made her for my best friend/cousin's little girl A.  I think every little girl should have her very own bunny, don't you? 

Happy Knitting!!

Ten on Tuesdays

Hello Knitters,

Lately Mom and I have been watching the 25 Days of Christmas on ABC Family so I thought today's theme will be "My Ten Favourite Christmas Movies." 

1. White Christmas - I discovered this one only a few years ago, but it has become one of my all-time favourites. 
2. I'll be Home for Christmas - This one has been a family tradition since I was a young teen.  My sister and I liked to watch it together!
3. The Santa Clause (as well as the other two) - Tim Allen is such a great actor.
4. Mrs. Santa Clause - I really like musicals. 
5. Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman and Frosty Returns - Special ones from my Childhood. 
6. Snowglobe - An ABC Family Original Movie.  This is a really fun one that helps you take a look at how being in your own family, weird as they are, is sometimes the best thing.
7. The Berenstain's Bears Christmas - This one is my Mom's all time favourite.  She says its not Christmas until she has watched it.
8. The Nutcracker - I don't know what version it is, but it used to be shown on PBS when I was a kid.  Having been a ballerina as a child, my dream was to be in this production one day.
9. Christmas in Handcuffs - Another ABC Family Original, it's a fun one to watch.
10. Home Alone 1 and 2 -  A couple more from my childhood.

There is just something special about watching these every year at this time.  They've become a part of my tradition, and I really look forward it.  I enjoy watching the 25 Days of Christmas because they show old and new ones, and it's always fun to add to my list of favourites!

Happy Knitting!!

Miniature Monday

Hello Knitters,

Today's miniature is a little gingerbread man all decked out for the holidays.  I made him into an ornament that I'm going to give to my new brother-in-law for a stocking stuffer.  I know it's kind of cheesy, but I think it's cute. 

Happy Knitting!!

Petite Purls - Winter 2010

Hello Knitters,

The Winter 2010 Issue of Petite Purls is now live!!  It is full of gorgeous designs and fun projects just waiting to be made.  I wanted to share a few of my favourites with you all. 

Cascade by Raya Budrevich - Which is a raglan-style baby cardigan with a beautiful lace leaf motif edging on the button band.  They have the sample knit in a grey colour, but I'd knit mine in a bright medium green I think.  Super cute for any little one in your life.

Petite Ballerina by Libby Grant - I used to be a ballerina as a child and remember being freezing during the winter months at class.  This adorable little wrap would have been the perfect accessory to ward off the chill!!  I like how the cable detail adds a little something special to it without taking away from the simplicity of the design. 

Leg Ups by Laura Nelkin - I don't have any babies of my own, but I've always thought that little leg warmers would be an awesome thing to use to keep their chubby legs cozy during the winter months.  This pattern comes sized from baby to adult so that everyone can get in on the fun!  The brioche stitch makes them extra pretty and is something that I've been wanting to try for a long time.  I think these in a baby or toddler size would be just the thing to get my feet wet with ;-)  And I must say that the little model is super adorable!!

Oliver by Jenna Swanson - Is a fun take on the sweater jacket.  It is knit in Spud and Chloe Sweater so it would be super soft and comfy to wear and the stripes add a fun playful element.  This is a design that could be made for a girl as well  just by just changing the colours. 

Uptown Girl by Shelley D. Jones - Leopard print is very big this season and what could be more stylish than this cute hat?  I really like the way the designer added pink to the mix for a fun take on the traditional colours and the bow is the the perfect thing to top it off.  I would honestly wear this myself!! 

Owlet by Odessa Reichel - I'm a big owl fan so this was immediately a project that jumped out as a "must make."  I was even more excited when I seen that the sizing goes from toddler all the way up to adult.  So now I can have my own pair!!  The pink and white colours are so much fun and add a nice pop of colour.  I think these are the perfect thing for the cold Canadian winter since the designer made them with that in mind!!  Also, these would be a great step into stranded colourwork.

Jack Frost by Katie Startzman - This toy is based on the description of Jack Frost from the Laura Ingalls Wilder book "Little House in the Big Woods" of which I was a huge fan as a young girl.  I used to think Jack Frost was this scary little skinny man who was sort of mischievous, but this design paints him in a magical light!  I'm honestly almost relieved to be able to have a different way of looking at him from now on.  I can't think of any kid who wouldn't want this hanging in their room during winter. 

This issue also includes some sewing and crochet patterns as well.  There is a sewn pixie hat, which is very cute as well as a crochet snowflake hat and crochet ear warmers. 

In the Show and Tell section I found among all their wonderful reviews that Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood of the Craft Sanity Podcast (of which I'm an avid listener and highly recommend) now has a Craft Sanity magazine available either online or in print.  You can check out more on her website here.  She does such an awesome job on her podcast that I can only imagine this being nothing but a fantastic magazine!!  Congratulations Jennifer!!

Their Renaissance Mom series is interviewing Meg McElwee of Sew Liberated.  And you have to check out her craft room, it's amazing!! 

They also feature some great articles including; festive quilted holiday coasters, and how to find time for knitting.

All in all it's a wonderful issue and I highly recommend you to check it out!!

I hope you all have a great weekend.  I'm off to start dreaming up what projects I'd like to make first....after all the Christmas knitting is done of course ;-)

Happy Knitting!!

Happy Friday!!

Hello Knitters,

I hope you all are having a wonderful end of the week.  It seems to me as though the whole thing flew by and I'm amazed it's Friday already!  I did finish decorating my room last night, although there are two more things I'd like to put up, I'm just not sure where.  I even cleaned up my room as well, so it feels like Christmas in here now!! 

I thought today I'd share a few pictures of some finished projects.  But first I want to show a better photo of me wearing the fingerless gloves Mary Rose knit for me.  Aren't they just lovely?  I wore them shopping the other day and got such nice compliments on them. 

The next picture is of the hat I knit for my cousin's husband.  The pattern is Modern Rib by Susan B. Anderson from Spud Says!  I made one just like it last year for my sister's husband and he really liked it, so I thought it was a good pattern to use again.  I knit it in a soft navy blue wool so it should be nice and warm. 

And lastly, this is the lap blanket I made for my Grandma's gift.  If you remember, it was my first real crochet project.  I fnally got the boarder finished on it, and I must say that I really like how it turned out.  I really hope that she likes it and that it keeps her nice and toasty warm over the cold winter months. 

Well, that's all for today.  I need to get back to my knitting.  I'm trying to knock out a few gifts this weekend and I should get a head start on them.  Have a great day everyone.

Happy Knitting!!