a bit of a review

As I was looking through the past year's photos, there were a few things that stuck out...
First, I don't take enough pictures of my kids.
Second, I didn't take many pictures in summertime this year. Odd.
Third, I made some very pretty stuff. Mostly not for me.
Fourth, I drank a lot of tea.

But all in all, it was a good year.
I'm looking forward to the next one.

December 26

Wow, I kind of disappeared, didn't I?

I fell into a hole full of knitting and sewing and purchasing and wrapping and food and family... and I'm thankful to say that I survived. It was a good Christmas, if slightly hectic at times. Here's me playing catch-up:

the day 5 gift that finally arrived... late... thanks, Canada Post!

gorgeous canvas coasters

















a pretty scrabble tile pendant

a very cute little zipper pouch and a little fridge magnet

a beaded necklace with a domino pendant, and a snowflake pendant

a madonna and child picture - I love the texture of the background!

a clockwork paper doll

two presents to show today... The day 12 gift is a tea bag holder book - this'll get a lot of use, I'm pretty sure! I'm always carrying tea bags around with me. The day 13 gift was for us to open on "our" day. So I opened it on day 3, when everyone else opened the one I made. I just had to keep it secret til the end. So now you see... it's a little picture to add to my art wall :)

These were very very fun swaps to participate in! I'm sorry they're over. But next year I get to do it again. Woot!

December 17

I'm running out of steam. I just want it to be Christmas already so that I can enjoy the holidays.

matchbox by Nathalie  Thompson

I took a trip to Ikea for some present shopping... how lovely to let Ellie play in the playroom so I could buy her presents without her seeing. I can't get away with anything with her, like I could with the other kids. I bought all their presents one year, in their presence, and they hadn't a clue. It was fun!

This was the gift I opened for the 12 days of Christmas countdown. It's actually another day 4 gift, but my day 5 package hasn't arrived yet. Oh, Canada Post, you do make my life interesting! Anyhow... it's a gorgeous little leather (? I think?) purselet, just the right size for a cell phone or ipod. I love the colour of it!

I'm also undeservedly lucky in my assigned partner for the Sweet Goodness Winter White Swap! My partner went totally above and beyond the requirements. I just about fell over when I saw the box she sent. Yes, box. As in big. Veryvery big.

There's a gorgeous little crystal and silver dish (with silver-coloured chocolate coins inside), a pretty silver-trimmed candle, a photo holder, some PEARS! - lots of pears! three big gold ones and a jar (so cute!) of little silver ones, my favourite chocolates... I had so much fun opening all the little packages. I think I might have screamed a little big. I definitely squealed. And boy, oh boy, did I feel bad about the little envelope of stuff I sent to her... I think I need to send more. She definitely deserves it!

December 16

Crazy day!!! I feel like I got nothing done. Oh, wait. I didn't actually get anything done.

matchbox by Beth Ellicot


















I ran around a fair bit, and had good intentions... but we all know where those lead to, don't we?

Oh, wait. I'm lying. (See, I'm on the road there already!) I did get a package mailed off. To the UK. I really really hope it gets there before Christmas. They did say 7-14 days, so there's a chance.

There was actually another giftie to open today, but the one that's slated for tomorrow hasn't gotten here yet, so I'm saving today's for tomorrow.

Tomorrow.
Hopefully I'll accomplish a bit more than I did today.

December 15

Only 10 days til Christmas! I'm finding it hard to believe that.
I finally put up the tree last night... just a few more decorations to put in place. Then there's a menu to plan, and presents to wrap and ship... and buy...

This was my contribution to the 12 days of Christmas gift exchange... mug cozies. I had to laugh, though, when I got a couple of emails this morning asking me exactly what they were... one very kind lady said that she loved the birdie a lot, but could I please let her know what it was for so that she could place it on the right thing! I guess I should have put a little note in with it...

matchbox by Corbi Beshears


This verse was a good reminder to me today.

 "But Mary treasured all of these things, pondering them in her heart."

I often forget to stop and think about why I'm doing what I do, and I forget to treasure the little things in my life. I get myself into autopilot mode, and don't take notice of what's going on around me. So I'm going to make an effort to do that more often.


Today I'm treasuring:

• snuggles from my daughter
• eggnog in tea 
• the sound of melting snow
• the smell of cinnamon sticks
• warm slippers on my feet
  

December 14

matchbox by Becky Hunt




There are two byhand gifts today...

this gorgeous paper bag book...

and this sweet little snow-globe ornament.

And on a completely unrelated note, I am very very very frustrated with blogger's formatting... any suggestions on how to make the pictures go where I want them to??? I'm tearing out my hair here!

December 13

Happy Saint Lucia Day!

matchbox by Cheryl Lennox
















We got our snow, finally! It made for an interesting drive home from church, including one corner at which the car did NOT go around the curve, but instead slid straight into a sidewalk. I was very glad that there were no other cars in the way, and that we did not continue over the sidewalk and down the hill...

I have another "thing" starting today as well... I'm a member of the Byhand Artists yahoo group, and we have, for a couple of years now, done a 12 Days of Christmas gift swap.  We make small (envelope-sized) gifts to open on the twelve days leading up to Christmas. This year there were a few extra people who signed up, so on some of the days there will be 2 gifts to open. I really look forward to this swap! So here's day 1. Well, one of the day 1 gifts... one of them has not yet arrived here. Canada Post is so annoying that way.

December 12

Yes, I'm cheating. I missed posting for a few days, so I'm taking advantage of blogger's handy little back-dating feature... You'll still love me, right?















matchbox by Katie Hogue




The bobbins in these matchboxes belonged to Katie's grandmother, which I think is very cool!

December 11

Almost missed it today!!!

I've had my hands full of knitting and icosahedrons.

And watching the snowfall that never happened. Seriously, the weather people hype it up so much, and then we get a few flakes that just blow away as if they never existed... oh well. Fingers crossed that we do get some snow soon. Or else Ellie will start thinking that I'm lying to her.

matchbox by Jill Smalley

December 10

Our sunny weather is over... it was glorious while it lasted. The forecast is for snow for the next week, which means I'm stuck using my flash for my photos. Sad.

matchbox by Glenda McNeil


But wait, there's happiness today, too! The thrift store was very good to me today. I got some picture frames for a project that I will show you when it's done (now I'm really motivated!), some more yarn for Christmas knitting, some vintage ornaments (which didn't photograph well in the non-light, so I won't show them today) and a basket to put them in on my mantle, and these:

Two of my favourite things right now - a birdie and some pears. I'm thinking of spraying the pears Heirloom White, but I also like the green. Hmmm. What do you think?

I did some needle felting today, as well. This is my first attempt, and I think I'm in love. It's soooo fun! And easy! I can't think why I didn't try it before.

And, the best for last... this came in the mail today. Isn't it gorgeous?

Those colours! And the name! Can you see it? I know the flash kind of faded it out... it's called Corvid. How perfect is that??? Too bad I have to wait til after Christmas to knit it.

December 9

Happy Wednesday :)













matchbox by Barb Johnson

December 8

Another sunny, cold, windy day here. I'm glad to be staying home, sitting beside the fireplace, with a blanket on my legs and my knitting in my hands!

Oh, wait, haven't you seen these before???

But have you made Niku-Jaga yet?

December 7

matchbox by Debbie Linton

















Happy Monday.

There was no crafting done today... it was put-plastic-on-the-windows-so-you-don't-freeze-to-death day. The cold weather has arrived on the normally-balmy west coast, and we're headed for several days of (wait for it) -8C degree weather. That's 18F, in case you're not metrically inclined.

I know, I know, we've got it easy here.

But below-freezing temperatures and single-pane glass aluminum-framed windows don't make for happy me. Especially at night. With my head right under one of said windows. So they were plasticked. And I will be warm. And happy.

December 6

Happy St Nicholas Day!

matchbox by Cindy Molieri



















I hope Sinterklaas left you lots of presents in your shoe this morning!

And now, in the news I'm sure you've all been waiting for, the all-knowing random number generator has chosen the winner of my giveaway!

And the winner is Pacokeco, who wrote:

I could not believe my eyes when I came across this giveaway! Somebody pinch me - this bag is gorgeous! I wish, I wish, I wish...

I had a great time reading what everyone is wanting for Christmas... I was thinking about tabulating the results, because it was kind of interesting how many people said things like "I just want a vacuum cleaner... lame, I know" or "I know it's boring, but I just want a new washing machine". Lots of people also are in the same boat as I am right now, just wanting a happy day with family; and a huge majority want crafty supplies for sewing or knitting.

I hope you all will be well satisfied with their gifts, and have a happy Christmas Day :)

December 5

There's one day left to enter my Giveaway! Comments will be closed at midnight PST, and a winner announced on Sunday. Thanks to all of you who have checked out my blog - it's been fun reading your comments :)

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Happy first Saturday of December!

matchbox by Donna Kauffroath

 

And consider yourselves warned... if you spend all your time knitting, this is what your kitchen will start to look like:

Thank goodness for teenagers who can be coerced into helping out with the clean-up!

December 4

Note: my Giveaway is still open for a few days :)

Happy National Cookie Day!
I'm not celebrating that event... but I did inadvertently take part in National Wear-Brown-Shoes Day today. Who knew???

matchbox by Glenda McNeil

And, just for the record, top-down mittens patterns ROCK! Especially if you knit the thumb from the other end of the yarn before you finish knitting the wrist part! I made the pattern up, and it does need a bit of tweaking, but the mittens are lovely and cosy, and now I can send them away in the mail!

One more thing done, a million-minus-one to go!