fun mail....

I got some fun mail again! I love it when I open the mailbox and don't cringe from stacks of bills!!!!

I was in Amy Lyons ornament swap and sent in a few of these ornaments seen here and here.

I got these in return...I left them in their packaging to protect them since Christmas is over so forgive the glare.

This one may be used in February...hmmm...



Too cute, with a little bell....


this beaded tree is a work of art and labor of love!


a cute angel....

and the favorite...twinkle bear! This ornament WAS wrapped in cellophane too....but Kaela ripped it open before I could stop her!

super easy crochet wrist warmers

I made these wrist warmers for Kaela for Christmas this year.



I chose a fluffy, warm yarn that covers mistakes well but you can easily do this with cotton or wool, just adjust the hook size accordingly.

You will need:
Lion's Brand Homespun yarn
Size "I" crochet hook.
Blunt tapestry needle
Scissors

These directions are for small wrist warmers. They extend about 3 inches beyond the wrist bones and end at the middle knuckle on your fingers. You can make them shorter or longer, just increase or decrease the beginning chain. You'll need to hold it against your hand to get an idea of where you want it to end.

• Row 1: Chain 25. This wrist warmer is worked length wise. BUT, you can easily work it width wise if you are familiar with crochet.
• Row 2: Turn, in second chain work one double crochet (dc) and then work one dc in each chain across to the end. Chain 1, turn.
• Row 3-? and edge: Continue working dc across as you build your rows. Make sure you chain 1 at each end and to keep the line even as you go.
• When the wrist warmer is wide enough to go around your hand/wrist comfortably, it is time to work the little edge at the top. Do NOT fasten off.
• You will have something that looks like a square:

I wanted the edge to be cute so I made one like this:

• When you get to the end of your last row chain 3 instead of 1, turn.

• Skip one stitch and then slip stitch into the next stitch. It looks like a sort of little bump.

• *Then chain 3, skip a stitch, slip stitch into next stitch* across the top.
• At the end, fasten off, and using your needle, sew in the end.

this is what the edge looks like once completed:



now to sew it up!

• Thread your needle with 18" of yarn and starting at the bottom, make a knot with your yarn and then as you stitch up the side, enclose the tail of the yarn inside a few of the first stitches.
• Continue to stitch up the length of the wrist warmer. You'll need to slip it on at least once to see where it hits your thumb so you can make a hole for it.
• Once you are ready for the thumb hole, slip your wrist warmer on.

• Make a little slipknot under the thumb as a reinforcement. The weave the yarn up to right about the thumb. Then stitch the hole around your thumb closed. I found it easier to do it with it on...see?

• Once your thumb is done, take off the wrist warmer and continue stitching up the side.
• At the top, fasten off and weave in the tail. Work second wrist warmer the same way.
• At this point, you are done!  I didn't add a thumb for this pattern, but you can, just attach the yarn and sc around 8-10 stiches for 3-5 rows!

that darn cat

We took our Christmas decorations down yesterday.

Apparently, Suki felt that once the ornaments were off the tree, it was her's and she kept jumping into it.

She would NOT get out either........she was quite content, sitting in a fake tree, trying to chew chewing on the fake branches......


Here is the 'look' she gave us each time we tried to get her out!


Each time we pulled her out she would circle the house and jump back in.

Snow Fairy

I googled "Snow Fairy" for ornament ideas...

here is the photo that popped up....



Talk about getting a BLUE MOON! hahaha!

catching up....

I made the kids a few Christmas presents that I couldn't share before the holidays.....

I made Kaela some wrist warmers


and a sock monkey hat...



I made Matt a hat too.



The hat and sock monkey pattern came from the Happy Hooker crochet book....I just LOVE that book!

We made pet cozies and toys again this year for the local animal shelter. We cut it close to the wire this year and delivered them the 23rd!
We added some food and treats to round out the delivery before taking it by.



cat nip noise makers....Suki LOVED these. I guess I'll have to make a few for our own kitties.


tassel toys for kitties too...I came home from work DAILY to find these had been dragged out of the sewing room.


pull toys for pooches....Ginger and Mojo stole approved


The sweet animals are in desperate need of forever homes and no matter how hard I try, I always cry when we are there.

The time and effort we put into our meager donation helps us feel better since we can't possibly take them ALL home! (But if there is ever a hedgehog amongst the homeless, consider it MINE.)

Holiday in Texas

We went to Texas between Christmas and New Year's to see Dean's family. You can tell we were really excited about going as we pulled out of our driveway...

10 hours later, we pulled in, and saw the neighborhood was full of deer......so lovely!
They hung out in the front and back yards of everyone's homes.
They slept in the yards, unafraid of people.

Remember those little hats for little boys...here they are....a hit!
the gnome doll was a hit too...with someone's little brother!

I made a scarf for Dean's grandmother. She looks great and liked the scarf. Dean was enjoying visiting with her.

and she really loved all the attention from ALL the grand kids and great grand kids!

I think his mom enjoyed having them around too......


and as usual, we all laughed a lot.



Even though we got to see everyone, part of the trip was a bit messy...both kids got sick as dogs and stayed in bed for 2 days!
Because of that, we didn't stay with Dean's other sister in Houston. We just spun by for an hour....long enough to contaminate them all but I forgot to take pictures.

It was the first time we'd been back to our beloved state since 2005....and oh boy, I am READY to move back!

Happy New Year!!!

I think it will be another enchanting year.......