Ending the year on a good note

We have had a wonderful time with family for the past week and a half, and now it's time to begin thinking of what we want to do in the new year.

We had so much fun Christmas Eve! The guys all received stocking caps, which appear to be way too tight on them.

The kids all received gnomes, which generated quite a bit of laughter!

The adult girls all received fleece lined Christmas socks... way too warm for me, but the girls loved them!

Christmas Day was beautiful and warm. Daughter Alison took this picture of the sunrise.

The day after Christmas, Dave and I headed down to visit Mom in Alabama. We had a beautiful view of Mobile Bay from the dining area of the motel.

Dave was eager for an alligator sighting. It didn't happen, and I think he was pretty disappointed.

We had a wonderful three days with Mom. We did some shopping, ate out more than we should have, and helped Mom dispose of a whole lot of things she no longer wanted. One of the staff members was kind enough to take our picture before we headed for home yesterday.

I did manage to tat two Ice Drops while visiting with family.

I worked on this cowl on the way to Mom's.

I worked on this cowl on the way home from Mom's.

My shuttle collection is growing, especially with the ones I can't resist from Rita Richmond of Shuttle by Design!

Dave and I like to take our time undecorating the house, and we don't officially start until the day after New Year's Day. However, I have the itch to start a new batch of Ice Drops. So I boxed up the ones I have left from this past year. They're all ready for sharing next year. My shuttles are wound for 2020, and I hope to come up with some new designs.

Going through Mom's things with her, and spending time organizing my craft supplies has inspired me to start using up supplies that I have. It will be fun to see what I can create in the coming year!

Ready at last!

I just finished the fringe on my last two Christmas presents, scarves for two of my granddaughters. Now to get them wrapped and let the holiday fun begin!  I think I'm going to unplug until the new year. 

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Still creating!

This past week was filled with weaving and crocheting. I'm having fun, but I really am itching to tat!

Shhh! Don't tell!

I've accomplished a lot this week... Only four scarves and three pillows to go!

Keeping secrets

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and when I had bits of time here and there, I worked on Christmas presents. I can't show everything as someone in the family might stumble upon this post and guess that a gift is for him/her. 

I've been having loads of fun. Unfortunately, making Christmas presents has left little time for tatting. Once presents are finished (Christmas Eve?), I'm going on a tatting binge!

Christmas is coming!

...and that always means presents under the tree!

What is that I see? Tatting goodies? I have to get a closer look...

Wow! An origami pouch, Lizbeth thread, and blinged Starlit shuttles! I guess it must be time for a Christmas giveaway!

Yes, dear friends, this is a Christmas giveaway. Just leave a comment on this post for your chance to win this entire Christmas set. That's right... only one lucky person will receive the whole shebang!

When will the drawing be? I'm thinking about December 6, Saint Nicholas Day. Good luck to all!

Christmas bookmarks

I came to the sad realization yesterday that I do not have enough time to tat bookmarks for everyone on my Christmas list. So, I pulled out my 2x6" Weave-ette and got to work!

The bookmark at the top is really a pretty red, Cherry Red - Red Heart Sport. The next two are Clown #1720 sock yarn by Marks & Kattens. Next is Patons Grace - Spearmint, a 100% mercerized cotton. I wonder how it would tat? The bottom is a Christmas yarn that my friend Denise had on hand. It's a worsted weight and looks nice when finished, but it's a little thick for a bookmark. The bookmark on the right is some Lion Brand Baby Soft that I had wound on the loom and then forgot about.

If I have time, I'll tat little motifs to sew onto these.

One down...

I finally finished decorating my first ornament! I bought a package of 24 shatterproof ornaments about a week and a half ago. This decoration just sits on the ball... I don't think shatterproof means unbreakable. I want to be able to transfer the tatting to another ornament if I choose! I was inspired by a beautiful beaded ornament by Nancy Tracy at be-stitched.com, but I didn't want to put as much work into it as she did... I'm running out of time! Nancy used the Hen and Chicks pattern for the top part of her decoration because of its natural curve. I really like Nancy's pattern, and I may add to this after the holidays.