Now I Can Share

Now that everyone has received their gifts, I can show you what I’ve been up to.

I made this for Sandra and she loved it.

It’s easy to make – it’s all in the yarn!

Then I made these for her:

She loves fingertip towels in her washrooms and since they have 4 bathrooms in their house, she can never have too many. I’m glad she’s the one cleaning them and not me!

I got a lovely surprise just before Christmas when these arrived from my friend Joan in Alberta.

Aren’t they adorable! Almost makes me want to go and cook something so I can use them – almost, but not quite!

She also sent me this gorgeous wallet.

The black strip on the left is all divided for credit cards and the thinner black strip on the right is a zippered compartment. I could never make anything this fiddly and have it turn out so well – thank you Joan – you how how much I appreciate it!

Sandra & Darren surprised me yesterday with this wonderful shadowbox gift. The detail is incredible and I am really inspired now to get my sewing room redecorated so I can hang it on the wall.

Ben had a ball yesterday opening all the gifts wrapped in tissue paper. He isn’t really interested in what’s inside, he just loves to rip off tissue paper. I got a few pictures, but they didn’t turn out very well.

The joke of the day was Leo and I gave each other the same present - an iPad. Since I had his engraved, mine is going back. Thank heavens he didn't buy his from Apple and get it engraved too. I think we can live without 2 iPads!

I’ve started to empty out my sewing room today. I want to replace the flooring, paint the walls and have some storage shelves built in the cupboard. I have a feeling that by the time I move everything out of there and into our bedroom, we won’t be able to move. Hopefully this will motivate us to get it done quickly.

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas and I wish good health and happiness for you in 2011.

The Countdown Begins

What a busy time of year it is.  Why is it that you see all these great ideas for hand made Christmas gifts about 2 weeks before the big day?  I read somewhere recently – why doesn’t anyone tell me Christmas is coming – and that’s kind of how I feel right now! 

‘Tis the season for parties, dinners, Open Houses, pot lucks and brunches but I’m ready to get back to normal.  I’m also ready to stop eating so much!

I did get my second sock finished, but you’ll have to take my word for it, as I don’t have a picture and I’m too lazy to go and take one.  I’ve got another pair almost done too.  These things are very addictive so if you haven’t tried them yet – don’t!

Since the recipient received this gift, I can share it now. 

I just quilted it with some silver metallic thread which I’m not sure you can see in the pictures.

I also made these towels for my two little adopted grandsons.  I’m not sure what I was thinking when I did these – there were over 40,000 stitches on each one – for a hand towel.  At least I know I’m crazy!

Check out the look on Alexander’s face – it was worth every one of those stitches!

While I’ve been running around like a chicken with my head cut off, Ben & Molly have been chilling.  They have each claimed a chair – but I think they have it backwards.  The chair without the arms is supposed to be the ladies chair – it is my understanding they were made that way to accommodate a lady’s knitting needles.

We were at my girlfriend’s today for brunch and my adopted granddaughters gave Ben his Christmas present – doesn’t he look thrilled!

What Happens In Vegas Stays In Vegas…

except this sock.

I hate to miss out on anything and it seems like everyone is knitting socks on circular needles right now.  I started this in the airport in Toronto and worked on it while we were in Vegas.  You are supposed to knit 2 at a time, but I thought I’d learn to walk before I started running, so just started out with one.

I can’t believe how addictive this is!  Just what I need, another addiction.  I did this on Number 2 needles with a 75% wool, 25% nylon yarn and I love how it turned out.

I’ve been busy working on Christmas gifts, but because they are gifts, I can’t share most of them with you right now.  I’ll be giving this one to Sandra today, so I can show this little table topper to you.

It’s got penguins on it, so I hope she likes it.

I made this tote for my Mum.

I made her one several years ago that she never lets out of her sight.  It’s starting to fall apart, so it was time for a new one.  It’s fully lined and has 2 large pockets inside which you can divide if you wish.

She loves to gather and hoard so I hope she will be willing to give up her old one.

We had a great time in Vegas – did lots of window shopping, had some great meals, saw a show and walked for miles and miles.   We also managed to play the slots too!

We stayed at The Venetian and had a beautiful suite on the 27th floor.  Our room overlooked the Wynn golf course right next door.

Since Vegas is a city full of bling, I brought my own bling along with me.  I purchased this little wallet in Houston last year and embellished it with crystals.  It was so much easier than dragging my large bag around with me.

Of course, it couldn’t compare to these gorgeous Judith Leiber purses we saw!!!!

The one we priced was $4,295 – a real bargain!!!

Everything was decorated for Christmas and was so pretty.

We saw so many to die for shoes, but these were my favourite.

Then we get to the food!  I wanted to try one of these, but never did have the opportunity.

The gelato:

How’s this for a chocolate fountain!

I’ll share the rest of my pictures another day – don’t want to bore you all at once!