the mid-December gasp

So, erm... yeah.
It's the middle of December. Life is flying by as fast as usual.

Not much else to say, really. I'm living in denial, but making Christmas presents anyhow, just in case the Christmas fairies forget to show up at my house in the next couple of days. The next thing I need to do is to start planning Christmas dinner, since apparently it'll be happening at my house this year...

a glorious sunrise in my rear-view mirror.

frosting.

the perpetually-blooming rosebush.

Ellie's ballet recital.

23 days... feeling cheeky

I'm slowly pulling boxes of decorations out from the storage area under the stairs.

(side note: we've christened it 'Harry Potter'. As in "Can you please get me a jar of pickles from Harry Potter?" Or "Where's the sleeping bag?" "It's in Harry Potter." This confuses our friends and makes us laugh.)

I found these blocks at a thrift store last year, and set them out on my mantle. This year, I've got other things above the fireplace, and the shelves in the china cabinet aren't big enough to hold long words.

The obvious solution was to hit up the anagram generator for words that would fit.

Right? That was the obvious thing to do, wasn't it??

24 days... and a winner!

There's nothing like doing things at the last minute, is there?

Please tell me I'm not the only Mama who spent a good portion of the day creating this year's Advent calendar!!

I used a combination of tutorials and pictures found whilst wasting time researching online. Also, I spent the last month or so collecting empty toilet rolls, much to the bemusement of my husband.

"Honey, why are there 20 empty toilet rolls in the cupboard?"

"Oh, I don't know. I just thought they might come in handy one of these days."

I like being cryptic like that.

I covered the rolls in old book pages, then flattened the bottoms and ran them through the sewing machine. I used a leather needle (a needle intended for sewing through leather, not a needle made of leather... just in case there was any confusion) and zig-zagged across to make a little pocket. Then I glued on the numbers, and they were all ready to hang up.

I also took great joy and delight in the fact that I bought the fillers in the presence of my daughter, and she had no idea what they were for. Of course, she is only 5, and we didn't do an advent calendar last year, but still. I'm easily amused.

Each little tube contains a tiny ornament for the tree in her bedroom, as well as a small chocolate for each of the kids, and a verse to read.

The countdown has begun!

Also, (please forgive the delay), the all-knowing random number generator has chosen the lovely Jessica to have the joy banner! Congrats, Jessica! I hope overseas posting will still allow you to enjoy it this Christmas!

First Sunday of Advent

Today is the first Sunday of Advent. On the advent wreath, the first candle that is lit is traditionally the candle of Hope.

Hope remembered. The Messiah, the Saviour, foretold by the prophets.

Hope fulfilled. He was born, lived among us, sent the Holy Spirit to remain with us.

Hope looked for. He will come again.

I admit to being optimistic by nature. I can't help but think, when things have gone all pear-shaped, that the situation will improve, given time and (perhaps) effort. I remind myself that things could be so much worse. I choose thankfulness for what I do have.

This year, I'd like to give some of that hope to others who are in those so-much-worse situations. I'm planning for Christmas to look a little different than it has previously. I'm joining the conspiracy. Think about it.

29 days

I'm starting to feel Christmas-y. In fact, sometimes I'm startled by the fact that it's still November. The first of the decorations are up on the mantle.

Now I need to start sewing. Only 29 days to go!

30 days ... and another giveaway

Well, that took a little longer than I had anticipated...

I always think "oh, I'll just whip these up in no time..." and it always takes so much longer than I'd thought. You'd think I'd have learned by now...

But anyhow, here's my stack of little christmas banners for (yet another) swap, all ready to be sent out. After I wrap them. Which will, no doubt, take longer than I have left time for.

And I've made an extra one to give away here. Just leave a comment - I love getting comments :)

36 days... an ornament tutorial and a giveaway

It almost snowed at my house today. The raindrops were thick and slushy. The mountains around town are frosted with white. I stayed indoors and made stuff.

These ornaments are for a swap that I'm part of.

If you want to make one, you'll need:

• 5 squares of paper... mine are 2.5" square, and are from an old German book I picked up at a thrift store.
• 2 squares of decorative paper that are one quarter the size of your paper squares... mine are 1.25" square, and made from a piece of red scrapbook paper with a 1" square glued onto it.
• 9" of 1/8" ribbon
• a bead... I used a 6/0 Japanese glass bead
• a decorative charm and jump ring
• glue/paper cutter/scissors/pliers/needle and thread

To make:

Fold the larger paper squares in half lengthwise, then crosswise, then on one diagonal. Bring the diagonal folds toward each other, sandwiching them between the two square parts of the paper. Repeat for all pieces.

Glue the folded squares together: holding one folded piece, apply glue to the upper square. Lay another folded piece on top of it, making sure that the folded points are together. Repeat till all pieces are glued together in a stack. If you've done it correctly, the pieces should be able to fan out like in the photo. It's very important that the folded corners (i.e., the centers of the pieces of paper) are all together, otherwise it won't work.

Glue the ribbon to both sides of the stack of folded papers, having the cut ends of the ribbon toward the folded point, and looping over top of the open point. Make sure that the ribbon is not twisted. Then glue the decorative paper covers over the ribbons.

Put a bead onto the ribbon: Push the threaded needle through the bead, around the ribbon, and back through the bead. Then pull on the thread til the ribbon comes through the hole. Push the bead down toward the paper.  

Add the charm to the ribbon using the jump ring. It needs to go onto the ribbon loop above the bead, so that it acts as a block, preventing the bead from being pulled off of the ribbon.

 And there you are! You could (theoretically) hang up the ornament as is, all closed up like a little book; or you can pull the bead up to the top of the ribbon, fan open the pages, and put the covers back-to-back, and pull the bead back down to make a 5 pointed star.

This is, in fact, a little book. You could decorate the pages, or make it bigger and put photos into it, or whatever you like. I was thinking it might also be fun to make 24 of them and use them as an advent calendar... just open one a day.

There's one of these up for grabs... just leave me a comment and I'll pick a name in a couple of days.

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 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?