What To Do Next

I have an issue with my Oatmeal sweater.  See this?

It was marked as "Wool-Ease Chunky."  If it is, it's the loosest spun Wool-Ease Chunky I've ever seen.  It also had a brownish tint.  I started to mix it, alternating rows to use it.  I gave up after 3.

I took it out, and started with the new ball I bought.  I needed at least one extra one, as I was making it slightly larger than the pattern calls for, slightly longer than the pattern calls for, and I also wanted long sleeves, instead of bracelet length.  Does anyone say that any more?  Does anyone else even know what that means?  Bracelet length sleeves?  Just in case you weren't aware, it's that odd length between a 3/4 length and full length sleeve, right about where a bracelet would hit.  Hence the name. It was popular decades ago, probably in the 40's and 50's, when women dressed for dinner and wore hats and gloves in public regularly.  You weren't considered dressed without a hat and gloves.  I try to wear bracelets nowadays, but they get pilfered.   Princess loves them.  The other skein?  Well, I'm still in debate about that.  I'm thinking of making it into a hat.  It would be wonderful as a chunky cabled hat.  I don't know who would like to have it - do you?  How about a give away?  Leave a comment about something: what you're doing, what you like, what you don't like, if you prefer Cookie Monster or Rowlf, whatever, and I'll use a random number generator on Valentine's Day, and pick a winner.  Sound like a plan?  I've been very blessed recently, winning 3 contests within a month, and I'd like to share the blessings.  I'll let you pick - I can either send you the skein with a pattern, or I can send you the knitted hat.  No one is excluded; any country eligible!  Yay!

In other crafting, I wanted to make a simple skirt this month.  I know, it's sitting here almost at the end of the month, and I haven't even touched it.  Well, that's not completely true:

I brought it from the drawer it was stored in out to the table, and took this picture.  Isn't it lovely?  It's a gorgeous blue, with dragonflies in a lighter teal and surrounded with gold.  It's going to be a great looking skirt.  I also bought some blank canvases, and am coordinating with my SIL to use those for Little Man's room.  He needs a real boy's room, rather than a toddler room.  He needs a new bed, and he's getting a pirate theme.  It should be really cool once I'm done.  I'll show you pictures as it progresses.  In the meantime, I'm working slowly on cleaning the house, and organizing, and getting stuff to actually look like a home, rather than a house shaped storage facility.  It takes time, and that's scarce.  I know I'm not alone - everyone has their one room, or house, or place that just needs a little more work.  With 2 small kids, it's hard to have time to do what you need to do.  Someone always wants to play.  Playtime is always more important than cleaning with children.  I have painting, sewing, and more knitting to do.  Back to the sweater: it's not really working for me.  I tried it on last night, and it's too tight.  So, back out it goes.  I have some reading and planning to do, and see what I can do to modify the pattern a bit, and then move forward.  So much for having a warm big sweater soon.  I was hoping to just whip it out and be done.  Not so much now.  *sigh*  Oh well - more knitting to do, and that much I like.

I am also making progress on the shop front.  I have patterns that I need to revise and post.  It's going to take a little while, because although the patterns are written, I have pictures to take and I have some other techie type issues to figure out, and then they'll go up.  I'll keep you posted on that as well.

I'm also trying to take better and more pictures.  As a matter of fact, during the month of February, I'm going to take at least one picture every day and post it.  I may post those pictures only once a week, but expect more camera play time that month.  I'm finding the joy of manual focus.  You can do a lot with that, and I'm going to explore.  Lots of stuff going on here - how about you?

Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday to my Little Man.  Today is your sixth birthday.  I love you more now than the day you were born.  You have been my joy; I love watching you grow up.  You have learned so much in the few short years you have been on this earth.  God truly blessed us with a special gift - more precious than words can describe.  You are the brightest, handsomest, sweetest little boy I have ever known.  I love you more and more each day.  You are a true blessing, and I thank God for you daily.  You make me happy when I'm sad, laugh when I want to cry, surprise me when I least expect it, and love purely.  I am so proud of you and the young man you are becoming.  I hope one day you are able to realize the true joy you bring to me and your father.  I love you so much and wish the world and more for you.  Happy Birthday Little Man, and may you have many, many more.

Then there was trouble...

It's been wet and rainy all week.  And then, yesterday, it got super cold.  Today, it's cold and there are patches of black ice out.  We're all going to take it easy and slow today.  I really would love to try this for today:

French Onion Soup Sandwiches

I bet they smell as wonderful as they look.  Currently, there is a cacophony of birds outside.  I'm not sure what they're chatting about, but I'd guess it has something to do with the cold and the end of the rain, and now the trouble getting to the worms in the ground.

Little Man wasn't exactly thrilled with his sweater at first, but he warmed up to it (no pun intended).  I haven't gotten him in it yet, but then, he's at home and warm enough.

I was trying to finish Gemini, but with the turn of cold weather, I want something big and warm and I want it now.  So, I cast on this last night:

I'm not abandoning Gemini, just setting it aside temporarily so I can be warm.  I think Gemini will be a good transition sweater (from fall to winter and from winter to spring).  So it can wait a few more days.

Secrets

I have a few secrets I want to share with you.  There are a couple of ones that are minor, and others that I've alluded to over the past few months.  Here's the first one:

Child's Classic Raglan Pullover by Jane Richmond

Little Man's birthday sweater is done.  It's had all its ends woven in, it's been washed and blocked, and it's ready to wear.  Here's my next project: Gemini.

I'm ALMOST done with the body.  I have about 24 rows (in my estimation) to finish on the bottom, and then on to the sleeves!  The pattern doesn't actually call for sleeves, but since I'm making it out of merino, instead of a linen blend, sleeves would be more fitting.  Besides, I still have a LOT of skeins left, and I hate having unused yarn.

So, here's more secrets for you: the major ones.  For those of you who actually know me personally, you know about my day job - not exactly my favorite.  Well, over the course of the past year, not only have I suffered from depression (now on anti-depressants and in counseling to combat it) but my hubby and I have discussed starting a business.  Now, here's where it gets good: specifically, we've talked about a yarn shop.   We know where we want to open, what we want to carry (within certain limitations - some of our favorites, some local yarn and fiber, and some things that we're not fond of but think will sell well), and about how much we think it will cost.  The only thing stopping us from packing up and moving and starting it (it would be a couple of hours from where we currently live) is the money.  No, I'm not asking you to send us anything (although we wouldn't say NO :D ) but I'm just sort of "letting the cat out of the bag."  We're starting slow, getting all our ducks in a row.  We're gathering some more information, getting some of the hard work on the back-end lined up (web presence in particular) and slowly working on it.  This is one of those "need to finish" items on our list.

This was not a path we would have chosen.  In my last job, a supervisor told me I should start my own business, which I adamantly refused.  I didn't want that responsibility.  Now, I think it's something I'm willing to take on.  God has His own timing, and it's not ours.  There is always something to do, no matter how dark it gets or how many doors seem to close.  I will keep you posted on the progress of things regarding this.  We will let you know when things finally settle and come together.

This year holds a lot of promises and plans for us.  How about you?

New Traditions

I think we're going to have a new tradition for the children.  I'm going to knit them a sweater for Christmas and their birthdays.  I'm almost done with Little Man's birthday sweater, and he got his Big Blue Sweater for Christmas.  Princess will get a sweater for her birthday as well (it's not until September) and I have a cardigan to reknit for her as well.

The new year is proving to be interesting.  I am attempting to finish things, and so far, not too bad.  I'm not perfect, just like anyone else, and things fall by the wayside.  But, there's a few things I do want to finish this month:

1) Gemini

My Purple Gemini

2) A Simple Skirt

I have a lovely length of a dark blue dragonfly cotton print, and I want it for me, and I think I want a skirt.  I'm trying to branch out of my comfort zone in sewing, and the best way I can do that is to try to tackle one project a month.  Yes, I know I still have 2 quilts, actually 3, still waiting for me.  I know I said I was going to finish what I start.  However, I've had this fabric for a couple of years, and so I am completing what I started.  I just started this WAY back.  Well, sort of.  At least I'm using what I have instead of running out and buying more.  I have also had the brilliant idea of how to expand my wardrobe on the cheap.  It's called Goodwill.  But not in the way you expect.  How many people go there looking for flat sheets to make into skirts?  Or for sweaters to rip out and knit new ones?  I'm exploring the concept of reusing old things.  Making things from what's already there.  Consuming less by consuming old things others don't want.  Recycling into handmade items.  I'm reaching back into the depression era mentality and going with either what we have or what we can reuse.  What about you?  Are you interested in recycling old clothing, or just buying new?  Can you not imagine wearing something re-purposed, or does the thought of something new off the rack drive you to tears?

Distaff Day

Saturday was Distaff Day for the Peachtree Spinning Guild.  They sweetly invited us to go, since my hubby went into the Antique Spinning Wheel group on Ravelry to purchase this for me.

The Original Wheel

Now, she looks like this:

You might not be able to tell much difference, other than the lack of a Christmas tree behind her.  She's been oiled, cleaned a little more, and she's been spinning.  She told both of us her name: Betty. Since she's from Eastern Europe, we decided to call her Bettina.  She spins fast, but true, and she's light and easy to work with.

As you can see, I've already been spinning on her.  I bought about 8-10 ounces of Corriedale last year.

It's far from perfect, but I'm a spinner now.  :)  I've been bitten by the spinning bug.  I also promised a picture of this:

You can't see the color really well for some reason, but it's a fuschia color.  It's actually quite lovely.  Now on to some projects.

Natural Alpaca

Fiddler's Mitts by Ysolda Teague

Classic Raglan by Jane Richmond

I forgot that while we were at the Distaff Day, Gale Evans from Gale's Art was there, with LOADS of fiber.  She had a great deal on all natural alpaca, and I couldn't resist the lovely icy grey.  Below that, is my attempt at the Fiddler's Mitts.  I started these several months ago, and when I tried them on, they were too tight.  So, I started them over.  They are giving me tension issues: part of this one is tight, while the other part is loose.  Like spinning, it's going to take some getting used to, so I'm going to take this one out, and let it sit for a while.  Maybe I can work on it later.  So, to the frog pond it goes.  The last picture up there is Little Man's birthday sweater.  He loves red (it's his favorite color, as he likes to remind us several times a day).  It's a plain basic sweater and I think he'll get a lot of use out of it.  As for the selfish knitting, Gemini is close to the increase rounds.

We learned a lot at Distaff Day, and we were invited back for another guild meeting.  It would be lovely to go, and we might in February.  We're going to build a basic tool kit for it, and hubby is looking forward to adding to our collection.

I still have to work on my simple skirt, and the kids' quilts.  Sewing has been put on the back burner, as I have to clear the table and move the sewing machine back to the dining room table so I can use it.  Now, if you'll excuse, Bettina would like some attention.

Follow Through

One of the biggest lessons I'm learning is follow through.  I know it sounds childish in some ways, but as crafters, we sometimes have a tendency to get sidetracked, and have lots of UFOs hanging around.

My very own Mallory

I finished a Mallory for myself, just a couple of days after Christmas.  I really wanted one, after making 2 for gifts, and although it's a bit wider than those, I love it.  I made it wider on purpose.

Gemini - In Progress

Lacy Back - or Front!

Here's my TV knitting - my Gemini.  I started this before the holidays, in November.  I'm about 12 inches into the body, and when I try it on, it fits nicely.  Of course, it's a long way from being done.  I realized as I started pulling out the yarn for this sweater that I have A LOT of it.  So, I think I'm going to make it long-sleeved.  Or at least 3/4 length.  It makes more sense when it's cold to have a nice sweater.  I actually don't have that many of them.

In keeping with the theme this year of "following through," I hope to post more pictures of finished objects.  I'm trying not to procrastinate on finishing things.  I have a bad tendency, like most people, of putting undesirable tasks off, lamenting how horrible it is, or how long it will take, when in reality, it won't take very long, and if I'd stop complaining about it, I could be done with it already.  In the words of Lewis Caroll in Alice in Wonderland, "She generally gave herself very good advice, (though she very seldom followed it)."  So, it's time I take my own advice, and changed the way I thought about things.

Trying to be better than you are is hard work.  It's always an uphill battle, although it's an admirable goal.  Anything worth anything is worth fighting for, and being a better person is always a fight.  "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." James 1:2-3.  These are my verses for the year.  Words to live by - I am trying to find the joy in my trials, and get the promised steadfastness.  It's sure to make for an interesting journey - would you like to come along?

Happy New Year!

People have a lot of traditions for New Year's Day - like eating black eyed peas and collard greens (for money) and doing what you want to do on that day throughout the year.  Growing up, I had those traditions as well.  If today is any indication of what I'm going to be doing throughout the year, then here's what it'll look like: eating good food, playing with my children, working, and taking a nap.  It's not all bad - most of it is good.  I probably should have planned more things like more knitting time, although I did fit some in, working with my new spinning wheel, and some other things.  I should probably have taken down my Christmas decorations and cleaned, and undertaken other domestic activities to be productive.  It was rainy here all day, so outside activities were out of the question.

Yum!  Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

How was your New Year's Day?  Did you have great plans, or did you just lie around the house?

A New Year

Another year is ending.  A new year is beginning.  Many people take this time to look back over the past year, and look ahead to the coming year.  I am no different - except I'm probably looking back a little farther than just the past year.  The past two years have been really rough - those of you who know me personally know that.  I went from having a great job, or at least a good one, one that I liked to having no job, to having one that is far from perfect.   I went from being in the best shape of my life to the worst.  I went from being pregnant to having the most beautiful little girl who is a joy and a pleasure to watch and listen to and love.  I went from never being sick to being sick constantly.

I had my fair share of trouble the past couple of years, and now I have some health issues that are beginning.  I've been on anti-depressants, gained weight, and now have blood pressure medicine that I'm taking.  This is less to complain, and more to explain where I want to go.  In order to know where you're headed, you have to know where you've been.  So, now you know where I am, so my goals will make more sense.

I don't really do New Year's Resolutions, more goals.  Sometimes I start them in the middle of the year, or month, or just on a Monday.  Have you thought about goals?  Do you want to get healthier, explore a new location, or learn a new skill?  I'd like to do 2 of those - the get healthier and the learn a new skill.  I want to get off all my medications, which really should only take some diet and exercise. I also want to learn to spin on my new wheel.

I want to grow a great garden and cook and bake more at home.  I think it's healthier than anything you can buy.  I want to use what I have, and spend more time with my kids.  I want to clean up our house and yard, and build a playhouse for our kids.  

There is a lot I want to accomplish this year.  Getting a new job is also on my list, but I have less control over that one.  I have been close this past year, and got passed over for internal referrals.  It happens.  So, instead of trying to improve my career, I'm going to improve my life.  What about you?  Any plans for this new year?  It's a blank page, ready for you to write the next chapter.  

Christmas Catch-up

I didn't get to post pictures of the last few presents before Christmas, but I did take pictures before wrapping them.

Here's the Mallory for my husband's aunt.  I used 2 colors of Vintage, and striped it.  It turned out really well.

These socks were for my FIL.  He really liked them - knowing they'd be warm.  I based them on the Yarn Harlot's Sock recipe.  Little Man picked out the color.

These were the same, just bigger.  Little Man once again picked out the color, but these went to my brother.

I did the same for my husband in black.  I had been promising him socks for a couple of years, and finally just did it.  All of these were out of Classic Wool DK from Paton's.  I made them on size US 6, which in retrospect probably wasn't the best of ideas, but they will work.  I probably should have gone down a needle size or two, but I had the 6's and since that's the recommended needle size, I just went with it.

Now, that was all the gifts given.  Now for the gifts received.  I got a bag full of Cascade Eco +, that I forgot to take a picture of, but it's a fuchsia color.  I love it.  I'll post a picture of that later.  For the other stuff:

My brother gave me a lovely tea pot.  I have a feeling this will be one of a few.  I love it.

This is my favorite.  My husband, in all his wonderfulness, found an antique wheel.  It's a saxony wheel, and I get to learn how to spin on it.  I have to figure out how it works, but I have it, and it's mine.

In my limited knowledge, here's the flyer.  It still has bits of fiber in it from previous use.  I love that.

Here's the wheel itself, and our current make-shift drive band.

I'm still not sure what this piece is, but it looks like a lovely feather.  I think this is the draft hole, where the fiber feeds to spin.  I'll have to do some more research, unless one of you lovely readers can tell me.

And last, but not least, is the treadle.  There are a few issues, like woodworm holes, but I think that adds character.  They're not active, and there's not many of them.  To me, there's just enough to make it endearing.

There was more.  Oh, so much more.  He bought me yarn.  Above, is some Jo Sharp Rare Comfort in Pine.  It's a dark grey-green color, and I have 2 skeins.  Below, is more Jo Sharp, 5 skeins, in Earl Grey.  He unknowingly continued the tea theme.

This is the same, in a lovely ice blue color.  There are 4 skeins of this.  Can't you just see this in a GORGEOUS shawl?

He also bought me 10 skeins of Adrienne Vittadini Veronica, in a medium grey color.  It's an eyelash yarn, and I'm already planning some fun stuff with it.  I can make several of these, maybe a couple of these, and maybe one of these.

This was the pièce de résistance - lovely hand-dyed chenille DK weight yarn from Kindred Spirits.

There is between 450 and 485 yards per skein.  I'm already imagining an Effortless Cardigan in this.  It's lovely and soft, and hand dyed.  It needs a plain pattern to let the yarn shine through.  It's grey and purple and pink, all in muted dark tones.  It's beautiful.  Didn't he do good?

I also won a contest from Luvinthemommyhood.  I got some Birch Organic fabric in Set Sail and the Flag Day pattern from Lunden Designs.  Little Man will LOVE the resulting quilt.  I haven't decided yet if I want to add more fabric to it to make it a twin size quilt, or make it as is (crib quilt) for him, and then still make him a twin quilt as planned in the Sarah Jane fabric of Out to Sea.  Realize this was ultra exciting for me as I never win anything.  Okay, rarely do I win.  I've won 3 things in my life - once in 4th or 5th grade, when Coca-Cola had those pop-up cans with prizes, I won $5, which was stolen.  Then, at an office Christmas party 3 years ago, I won a Flip Video.  And now this.  I just don't win stuff.  But this was awesome, and all of it arrived in time for Christmas.  This is an awfully long post - don't hold it against me.  I've been so busy with Christmas, and I haven't had a chance to blog much, so I guess I'm making up for it. :)

Best Christmas Ever

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.  I know I did - we had people a LOT over the 2 days (Monday and yesterday).  And the presents: mostly for the kids, and boy did they enjoy them.  Princess got a kitchen and jewelry and shoes (both play and useful shoes).  Little Man got Legos and science stuff and Mommy finally finished his star sweater.

All the Christmas gifts were well received - loved by all.  That was wonderful.  We had the old fashioned stockings for all our visitors, which included homemade apple butter and pumpkin butter.  I got a call this morning from one of the recipients saying he ate half the jar of apple butter this morning with some Whole Foods bread.

Then came my presents.  Can I tell you wonderful my husband is?  He not only bought me yarn (and a whole box of it) but he created a Ravelry account (dbrown73 - go say hi!) and researched antique spinning wheels for me, but HE BOUGHT ME ONE.  Yes, I got a BEAUTIFUL antique spinning wheel, that works and is mostly complete (the drive band is missing, like most, but easily replaced).  He really researched, asked around, checked out different models, learned about the parts, and then bought one.  The one he purchased was beautiful.  Sure, it might have some woodworm holes in it, and it's old (hence the ANTIQUE part), but it's beautiful.  I think her name is Betty, and I haven't tried her out yet, but I will.  Oh boy, will I ever.  I will definitely post pictures soon.  Here's what it kind of looks like:

Thoughts

Most of you know that I stick mainly to craft-related posts, but I feel the need to write something unrelated this morning.  In light of events that transpired on Friday, I know I cannot say any words that others have not put more eloquently, heal hearts more rapidly, or change anyone's perspective.  However, Friday morning's events weigh heavily on my mind and heart, and here is the best place to release.  This is not about gun control becoming more strict or less strict, or mental illness awareness.  Those are debates for another time and another place, and ones that I would rather have face-to-face than here.  Those are opinions, and everyone is entitled to them, and everyone is entitled to express them.  Again, that is not something I am moved to express at this time.

As a wife, a mother, a sibling, a friend, I cannot pretend to know the grief those in Newtown, Connecticut must be feeling, nor do I honestly want to imagine it.  I know I have experienced loss, and even the loss of a child, but it does not compare to their experience.  This atrocity affects everyone around the world, not because of its geographic location, but for two main reasons.  First and foremost, it attacks our sense of mortality and humanity.  It brings home the reminder that we all perish, and we do not know when.  Secondly, it was an attack, a blatant evil attack, on innocent lives.  This was pure evil attacking pure innocence. That disturbs even the most unshakable.  I grief as a mother, for those who lost their children.  This hits me hardest.  To have your child ripped away in such an unceremonious manner is a burden not many can bear.  The thought that there are Christmas presents that will not be opened in a few days' time, that Christmas pageants will have missing characters, that parents were robbed of the chance to hold their children once more and say "I love you" tears at my heart.  I hope that you, as I do now, am reminded that life is short, and to hug a little tighter, kiss one more time, hold a little longer, and whisper "I love you" a little more often in coming days.

All that said, my thoughts are turned to another Parent who watched His Child die.  He also sent His Son off one morning, and was separated from Him as well.  God sent His Only Child to earth, to live in this mortal coil, and to one day perish.  I am sure that Mary also felt a bittersweet moment when she first held her baby boy.  To love Him so deeply that you feel as though your heart would break from all the love, and to know that you must give Him up to the hands of evil and cruel men one day.  I know that feeling as well (without the cruelty) - but her firstborn was something extra special.  Let us remember God suffered a deep loss, that we might gain.  It does not answer any of our questions, the "why" or the "how,"  but there is One who knows more than we could ever hope to learn.  It does not stop the parent or friend from grieving for their loss.  Grieving is what we should do.  I also pray that God, in His infinite mercy, wisdom, love and justice, is holding all 20 of those children in His arms, cradling them.  And just as He has gathered those children together, He has looked into the face of that evil destroyer, and said "depart from me; I never knew you."  I also pray for all you, that you may remember lessons forgotten, memories buried, and turn to Christ this Christmas season.

Stolen Moments

I'm a stealth knitter - I knit whenever I can, whether I'm supposed to or not.  I knit in unusual places, like the bathroom and while sitting in traffic.  I know, that can be dangerous, especially in Atlanta traffic, but I am careful.  I hate wasting good knitting time, and I've learned I can get a few stitches done at a red light, and even more when there's a line of cars at a red light.

Now, I'm stealing knitting time for myself.  I have Christmas knitting left to do, but most nights, before finally going to sleep I steal a little time for myself.  I quietly work on Gemini for me.  I doubt I'll get it done for Christmas, but a row here and row there add up.

I also now have the yarn to make a Mallory cowl for myself.  This one might get done for Christmas.  If I hurry.

I finished another sock, cast on for the match and now I'm about halfway done with it.  I also think I've given up the idea for the kids' quilts for Christmas.  Oh, the quilts are not going to be abandoned, and I still want to work on them.  As a matter of fact, I got the sashing needed for the squares.  But, I'm being sneaky - I'm hoping to have at least the tops done, and show them off while family is here.  Then, perhaps, if she's not COMPLETELY oblivious, my grandmother will offer her sewing machine to me.  It's a lovely 1940's Singer sewing machine, complete with cabinet storage and foot treadle.

I think it's black, or maybe green, and old, and simply wonderful.  There are no bells and whistles on it, and it probably needs to be cleaned, but I think it's adorable.  It makes straight and zigzag stitches, and I think there's a buttonhole foot for it, and not much else.  It's simplicity itself.  And that is what makes it perfect.  No computer screen to die, or microchip that will get fried during a storm, or thrity-thousand moving parts that could break and cost me an arm and a leg to replace.  This machine has seen a lot - two children growing up, night shifts, recitals, at least one war, grandchildren, and now great grandchildren.  This heirloom is one that should stay in the family, and be used lovingly.  I don't know if I'll actually get it or not, but it's nice to hope that I will.  I'm not the only granddaughter, nor am I the favorite.  I'm okay with that - I've known that for the majority of my life, and have accepted it.  But, I am the one who does more crafting and I even finished one of my grandmother's projects.  She had started a crewel project ages ago, and I finished it sometime in high school I believe.  It was a simple embroidery floral pattern, as a wall hanging.  It's probably in storage somewhere, and I may drag it out if I can find it and hang it up somewhere.  Maybe in Princess's room.  But, in the meantime, I'm going to hope that I get this machine, and I can finish my quilts on it.  I possibly could finish them on my machine, but the problem is that the feeddogs don't work as well as they should.  Something's wrong with them, and that's affected the tension.  I make it work, but I don't know how it'd work with the 3 layers of a quilt.  I guess we'll see when I get there.

Conundrum

There's been good news and bad news around here.  The good news is that I've been busy on Christmas.  The bad news is that I haven't made nearly as much progress as I had hoped, and I haven't had as much time to blog.

On the good news front, last weekend we went to my family Christmas party.  We haven't been in 3-4 years, so it was nice to see all who showed up (not everyone did, which is normal).  They changed it from a Sunday in December to a Saturday in December, which makes recovery for us a little easier.  However, since Hubby let his license expire (he thought he had to renew next year), this meant my 7 hours of potential knitting time was cut to 0.  I drove THE. WHOLE. WAY.  The drive itself wasn't that bad, but with 2 small children in the car and a grumpy hubby, it made for a less than pleasant trip.  I should clarify, lest you think he was angry about something in particular, that his grumpiness was somewhat understandable.  He had a headache, the sun was blaring down on him the whole way there (exacerbating his headache), and he couldn't drive.  He happens to enjoy driving, to an extent, and to be unable to drive, not unwilling, changes things.  It's like anything else - the one thing you CAN'T do is the one thing you WANT to do.  After some ibuprofen and a little nap, he was in better spirits.

Quilting is proving more math than I anticipated.  Also, a little slower than I had hoped.  My original vision for Princess's quilt has changed slightly, and requires more funds for more fabric.  In the meantime, I hope to start on Little Man's quilt, but I sort of need his opinion.  I could do it on my own, and I'm sure he'd be fine with it, BUT...he's at an age where he wants to be involved.  I'd rather keep him in the loop than not and have him interested (potentially for longer than normal) than just do it without him.  It sounds like a lot of hassle, but with this kid, you pick your battles.  He's a highly independent and strong willed (read: STUBBORN as the day is long - a summer day, that is), which has a good and bad side to it.  Learning to pick your battles with him, as with anyone, is key.  He also enjoys Mommy-time, and who am I to refuse my child that enjoyment?  There will come a time when he wants virtually nothing to do with me (except when he needs money or car keys), so I'm relishing what time I can get now.  Besides, working with him is a lot of fun.  He has a very creative imagination and can carry on wonderful conversations.  He asks lots of questions, and he enjoys talking to me.   I enjoy it too.

I haven't taken any pictures recently, so nothing really new to show you, but I will share this lovely one with you I took a few weeks ago:

You can't ask for a better picture, now can you? :)

Rearranging and the Great Cookie Bake-off, part 1

I've been crafting a LOT, which is why I've been quiet around here.  I have 3 more Christmas gifts to knit, and then I'm still working on the 2 quilts for the kiddos.  In the meantime, here's all but two of the finished gifts:

Little Red Riding Cowl (in pink) for my grandmother

 Malabrigo Rasta Chunky Cowl (seed stitch) in Ravelry for my mom

Malabrigo Rasta Chunky Cowl (for some reason I can't find the pattern I used) for my MIL 

Mallory Cowl by Luvinthemommyhood's Shannon for my SIL 

Catherine Cowl for my dad

Surprisingly, Little Man took these pictures for me.  Not too bad, given it's his first time behind a camera.  Here's a fairly decent picture of Skelf as well:

It's not my preferred picture, but I have to say, he did a good job.  I have also finished another Mallory cowl for my husband's aunt, and I just cast off socks for Hubby.  I have 2 more pairs of socks (DK weight, so fast knitting) and a scarf to do.  There are 26 (almost 25) days until Christmas.

Now about those cookies...I'm going to throw together a spreadsheet listing out the differences in the ingredients, because I'm that kind of baking nerd and I live in Excel.  It won't be hard to do - just toss all the standard ingredients up and put the measurements underneath.  Then, time to compare with each taste of cookie.  It's amazing what taking the same ingredients and changing the ratios slightly can do.  We finally baked what was left of all 6 previous cookie doughs, and baked the big one as well, so we have 7 different types of chocolate chip cookies.  No, seriously.  We have 7 different kinds of chocolate chip cookies - and I had to STOP myself at 7.  There are probably THOUSANDS of chocolate chip cookie recipes out there, and I limited myself to only 7.  BTW, thanks to all the ladies in the Luvinthemommyhood group on Ravelry for passing their favorites along to me.  As we've tasted the cookies each week, Little Man has rated every one a "10".  Let's face it, he's a kid who loves chocolate chip cookies, so it's not like he's really picky.  There were a few he wasn't a fan of, probably because they weren't baked so well (sometimes I got them a little overdone).  But, they are all good.  No lie, really.  Trust me, I tasted each one with him.  And then some.  *grins*  Once I have that spreadsheet done, I'll post links to all the recipes, and even post the spreadsheet, so you can see the comparison.  It should prove rather interesting.  Oh, and here's a picture of the first of the quilt blocks for Princess's quilt:

A lot of them look similar, but each one is unique.  I'm still figuring all this quilting stuff out, and I'm working with all I've got.  We've talked about rearranging some furniture, so that maybe, just maybe, I could eventually get my grandmother's old Singer sewing machine (from the 1940's or 1950's) out of storage and start sewing on it.  That's the machine my mother learned to sew on, and made all kinds of dresses, pants, formals, and anything and everything else she made before she was married.  It's a basic machine, not a lot of bells and whistles, but I like that.  I don't need 250+ embroidery stitches.  I just need a machine that won't un-thread itself every 20 inches or so.  I'm still working on making good, solid, straight seams and not sewing too fast to ensure that the seams are straight.  Let's hope that rearranging will work.

Headaches

I now only have 5 Christmas gifts left to complete.  There are 27 days until Christmas.  I may be able to make it, but 2 of those 5 gifts don't have to be actually finished, as they are for my children, and they aren't that interested in the gifts anyway.  They may be belated Christmas gifts.  I do have some travel time coming up, which should help complete at least one of those final 3 and get started on another one.

I'm taking a cue from the Yarn Harlot this year, and I've made a Christmas Planner spreadsheet.  Sure, it may sound a little Type-A, but it helps tremendously.  I've got my gifts in there, my food, my stockings (we do old-fashioned ones, and I like to make sure everyone has one - they actually come out more like gift bags, but one of these years they might actually be in stockings, or shoeboxes, as in days of yore), and my Christmas card list.  I can keep all the pieces together this way, and hopefully just use it year after year, unless someone moves.  It's easier than manually transferring all the names and addresses to a new planner each year, and it will also be easy to do a mail merge for labels for the cards.  Yes, I know - it's not exactly handmade, but let's face it - how many people actually send out Christmas cards anymore?  I don't get all that many (not that I ever did, but I did get more than Charlie Brown) and most people would rather send an email than an actual card or letter.  I'm not doing the whole "Family Letter" thing - to be honest, there haven't been that many changes in the past year to write about.  Maybe one year, if we have a HUGE year full of massive, major, life-changing events happen.  But for now, everyone just gets a picture of the family with Christmas wishes.

The presents for my kiddos are quilts.  Here's the interesting thing: I'm the first one in 2 generations to do this.  The last one who actually quilted by my knowledge was my great-grandmother, after whom I'm named.  Go figure - I've picked up a lot of her stuff.  I've been working with my sewing machine, which is about 8 years old, and although it was expensive at the time (over $300 on sale), it's a cheap machine.  I have to keep the tension on 0 in order for it to work; otherwise, the thread is all screwy on the back.  But, it does what it needs to in order for me to start these quilts.  I'm learning as I go, mainly because 1) no one else in my family does this and 2) I could take a class if it weren't for 2 big deciding factors - time and money.  I could possibly squeak out the time, but the money is another issue.  Perhaps one of these days I can take a class, and then I'll figure out all the things I've done wrong.  Or maybe, I'll wait on the rest of the quilt tops until after the first of the year, take a class, and then complete them.  I started on the one for Princess, and I can tell there's some issues with the pieced blocks - squaring them up will be a trick and a half.  But, if I can make some mistakes, learn from them, and fix them, then so much the better.  I like learning experiences.