Whirlwind!

 

We have been in a whirlwind of activity around here since my last post. Dave has been decorating like I've never seen him decorate before, and our house is very festive both inside and out!

I took on way too much this year by deciding to make gnomes for all of the middle school and high school students, but I finished! The last gnomes were passed out this past Monday. No, I did not take pictures of all the gnomes I made. There was no time!

This past week was Secret Santa week at school. The National Honor Society students choose a staff member and surprise them with a small gift each day. Breakfast on Friday morning leads to the big reveal. My Secret Santa did a fantastic job of keeping her identity secret. I only figured out who she was on Thursday through process of elimination. Some are better secret keepers than others!

All of our Christmas presents were wrapped this week, except for one that I thought about at 2 o'clock this morning. I'll have to get that wrapped today. Joanne and family are arriving from Georgia today, so we will get to enjoy Christmas with our littlest grandchildren this year. They're not so little any more. Sophia is 11, and Kara and Janko are 9. 

Family will be in and out all week long, which always makes the Christmas season more enjoyable for us.

Yesterday, I decided to make some Christmas hedgehogs for family. Not everyone will want one, so I feel no pressure to mass produce. I'm just going to have some fun!

Since my blog posting has been very irregular this past year, I'm going to take the opportunity now to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy and healthy new year!

Slacker?

 

I guess I've been a slacker as far as blogging goes, but not with my crafting! I won't bore you with multiple pictures of gnomes. I have finished quite a few over the past few weeks. All of the 7th and 8th graders now have gnomes, and I'm working on them for the 6th graders. My plan is to give all middle school students a gnome before Thanksgiving, and I think I can accomplish that. I have 15 finished as of this afternoon, and I need 33. I just need to keep cranking!

Busy day

 

I kept myself very busy today. I found a cute Beaded Fidget Hedgehog pattern on Etsy, and I just happened to have everything I needed close at hand. I made the blue one first. I miscounted the rows for the eye placement. I think the purple one looks much better. I chose to use yarn for the eyes instead of safety eyes. I pulled the pony beads out of a tin without looking. Maybe I'll choose colors for the next one.

I finished another strip for my Mix & Match afghan. The pattern is extended double crochet. I have enough strips to make an afghan, but they're mostly blue. I'll keep making strips with the different patterns and choose how to put them together later.

Today was a three gnome day. I need to make three more, and then I'll pass them out to the 8th graders. I plan on finishing gnomes for the 7th graders by Thanksgiving and the 6th graders by Christmas. I love giving away gnomes!

I finished the first front panel for my Harvest Cardigan. I think I'll finish the other front panel and the sleeves before tackling the changes to the back panel. All in all, I had a fun filled Sunday!

Tollway Tatters to the rescue!

We had our monthly Tollway Tatters meeting via Zoom this morning, and it was just what I needed. Despite my efforts to be very careful, I tatted one too many spokes on this round of Renulek's Snow Doily.  I didn't want to cut the treads, so I was very slowly untatting 13 rings and the adjoining chains. Let me tell you, that was a very frustrating and painstaking task. 

When I was trying to decide what to work on during our meeting, I decided that untatting while chatting might be just what I needed. I was right! It took me almost three hours to finish taking out the rings and chains, and then tatting them correctly. In fact right before signing off, I realized that I had twisted the final chain. I said my goodbyes, took a few minutes break, and then fixed that final mistake.

Mistakes seem to be my thing lately. Yesterday, I finished the back pane of my Harvest Cardigan... or so I thought. When I started crocheting the first front panel, I realized I had crocheted more than half of the back panel using the wrong stitch. That's what I get for setting a project aside for a couple of weeks. My plan is to finish the first front panel, and then I will rip out the part that I crocheted incorrectly. There's not a big difference in the look, but there is a big difference in the drape of the fabric.

I'm thinking that's it time to focus on one project at a time!

Nothin' but gnomes!

 

I've been working exclusively on gnomes for the past week. Some of the 8th grade girls have been making pompoms for me with the hope that I would use them on gnomes. This picture is of the 14 gnomes I made to give to 8th graders. After taking the photo, I made four more. Now, all of the 8th graders taking art this semester have a gnome. Next up, I will make gnomes for the other half of the 8th grade who are in STEM class this semester.

I forgot to take a picture of the gnomes I made for the AP Euro kids, but six of them were delivered yesterday as well.

What's next? I need to finish one more scarf for my group of 7th grade girls. After that, I'll be back to cranking out gnomes for the 7th and 6th graders. With all of these gnomes, one would think that my yarn stash is dwindling. It is not!

Keepin' busy

Last week was busy with routine doctor visits, car maintenance, shopping, and crafting. With all of the activity, I simply forgot to blog. Yesterday, I decided to take some pictures of what I've been doing.

I purchased some inexpensive plastic wast baskets to sort project that I'm cranking out on my Addi circular knitting machine. One is for gnome bodies, one for gnome hats, and one for twisted headbands/ear warmers. Yes, I am trying to organize my crafts!

Inspired by daughter Joanne, I went Christmas shopping at Cracker Barrel after my car maintenance appointment. We're not decorating for Christmas yet, but there's no reason why I can't get a little shopping in!

I worked on Renulek's Snow Doily while watching the Bears game yesterday. I've been neglecting it for the past few weeks. It felt good to make progress on it yesterday!

Mom and I went yarn shopping on Saturday. We found these baskets on clearance at JoAnn, and Mom was inspired by some beautiful yarns. She'll be busy cranking out more throws in no time!

A former student was visiting at school last week, and I admired the sweater she had made. She sent me the link to the Harvest Cardigan pattern. I purchased it right away, ordered the yarn, and started it on Friday. It's crocheted in panels. This should keep me busy for a while!

I'm making good progress on this Ruddock scarf for my 7th grade girls. I have one more to knit once this one is finished.

I finished the Double Crochet panel for my Mix & Match afghan. Yes, I have started another panel!

While straightening up my craft corner, I found a gnome I hadn't finished. I added the bell to his hat, gave him a beard, and he is now in my basket of gnomes waiting for a new home.

I'm having a little bit of fun!

Another bookmark finished

 

Yesterday and today were slow craft days for me. Even though I didn't accomplish much, I did manage to finish another Curds & Whey bookmark. This has become one of my favorite patterns from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konnor.

I've been asked about my photograph background. It's the lid to my new tatting basket.

We went to Shipshewana, Indiana this summer and stopped at an Amish basket maker, where I found this beautiful basket.

There's a lovely little tray that, when organized, holds my current project.

There's plenty of storage in the bottom, so I can keep lots of supplies close at hand. Now all I have to do is organize my corner of the living room. It has become quite messy!