Knit Happens!

In my off-hours before Christmas (when I wasn't marking or complaining about how much marking I had to do), I managed to do some knitting. Some of these items were gifts, but I feel quite safe in showing them to you now, since all Christmas parcels were delivered and (I'm assuming) opened.


Clockwise from upper left corner:

Handsome Scarf from www.bernat.com knit with Patons Shetland Chunky for my friend Cheryl's husband.

Robin's Egg Hat (pattern can be found at http://onehundredhats.org) knit from Patons Softee Chunky for me. I like this so much I think I'll make more to give away.

Seed Scarf from http://twoandsix.typepad.com knit from Bernat Satin Sport in Raisin. I made two of these in the same colour - one for the OnlyChild and one for me, so now we match.

Slouch Hat (also from twoandsix) knit with the leftovers from the seed scarves. This was a 'guinea pig' version of the hat. The OnlyChild wants one but I wanted to see how it was made first. I think I'll have to make some changes to the pattern; it wasn't very 'slouchy' and seems a bit small for the style.

Another Seed Scarf, this one in Sapphire for my neighbour Shannon who loved mine when I visited her a few days before Christmas. Sometimes a few gushy compliments is all it takes...

Blue Bamboo Scarf (pattern from Stacy at http://goldenbirdknits.com) made for Cheryl. I can't even remember what the yarn was, but it was beautiful and tweedy.

And finally... another version of the Blue Bamboo Scarf, actually knit in Bernat Natural Blends bamboo yarn in a beautiful soft sage green. This one was for my mum, a perfect colour for her!

I also made a Handsome Scarf for Mr. P in black Softee Chunky. No picture - I think he's wearing it.

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In other news... Swanky was a big hit with the OnlyChild's best friend. I wish I'd had my camera - you should have seen her face when she opened it. She squealed, she jumped up and down, she hugged me and told me she loved me. Now that's gratitude!

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Okay, I'm off to get my hair done, grey covered, split ends snipped. I've packed up today's pile of marking (yes, it's all divvied up into daily rations - less overwhelming to look at that way) and I'll try to get something done while I'm under the dryer.

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I hope you're having a wonderful day!

Swanky

Swanky is finally done!

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A little lap quilt for the OnlyChild's best friend. It's not too late for a Christmas present - she's been away for a week and just returned last night.
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I got up this morning and headed straight to the sewing machine. Bernice was waiting, all threaded and ready to go.

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I quilted my little heart out. Sewed on binding. Hand stitched until my fingers bled.
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And it's ready to be wrapped and delivered tomorrow.
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That's good news.

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But I'm still feeling grumbly and miserable.

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Now back to that pile of essays...

Post-Christmas

So... how was your Christmas?

Ours was quiet, just Mr. P, the OnlyChild and me... as usual.

We opened our presents, ate our turkey, then spent the rest of the day in separate rooms... as usual.

Yesterday, we skipped the malls and the Boxing Day madness in favour of staying in pajamas and, for me, marking. Yep, back to the old marking pile.

Today wasn't much better, although I did put on real clothes. More stupid marking. I have over 100 essays left to mark.

I attempted to have a 'family night' tonight, but it didn't quite work out. Mr. P wanted to go to a movie, but we couldn't all agree on a movie and it defeats the purpose of going to the movies together if we end up in different theatres. So instead we got pizza and started to play a game. It didn't end well. Can you say 'cabin fever'? I'll be glad when he goes back to work.

I woke up Christmas Eve with a cold, so between the marking, the grumpy husband, and terrible sinus pain, I'm not a happy girl.

Some Christmas vacation, eh?

Blah blah blah. I'll be back when I have something nice to say.

The First Snowman (and other stories)

This is what started it all... this crazy snowman collecting. The First Snowman - given to me by my mother about 10 or 12 years ago.

He's perched quite happily atop two antique quilts I bought at an auction on Prince Edward Island.

Also in the cubbies above the front hall closet are these two darlings. The pink one on the right was a gift from the OnlyChild when she was in grade six. She bought it herself from a church craft sale and was so proud of her purchase that she gave it to me early. She tends to do that quite often.

This little fella is propped up with a bottle of something. Me, I tend to fall over when I have a bottle of something inside me...

And then there's the skier. He looks a little unbalanced - maybe he has a bottle inside him too?

We don't have a fire in our fireplace. It has been long sealed over, unfortunately. We do, however, have a snowman and snowballs in the fireplace. Ironic.

A picture to show the mantle with the Dickens Village houses and the mantle scarf I made a couple of years ago to replace the ratty old piece of quilt batting that was masquerading as 'snow'.

The OnlyChild's Christmas Eve present for this year - a set of pillowcases made from this tutorial. She will also receive new pajamas and a silly snowman plate-bowl-mug breakfast set (I couldn't resist).

The presents are wrapped, the stockings are hung, the turkey is defrosting and Mr. P is napping on the couch under a quilt with a dog or two.

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We are ready for Christmas and for our réveillon de Noël, which as per family tradition, will consist of meat pie after Midnight Mass (which actually takes place at 8:00 pm at our church, not at midnight as the name suggests).

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To all my bloggy friends, and to those I actually know in person:
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Joyeux Noël à tous et à tous une bonne nuit!

Two hundred

In case you didn't know (and you probably didn't), this marks my two-hundredth post! Yay me!

I thought about having a celebratory giveaway...

but I think I'll wait a little bit. You see, in early January I will also be celebrating my first year of blogging and in late January I will be celebrating a quite significant birthday...

so I will have a party sometime in January for all three wondrous occasions... and you're invited!

But first we have to get through Christmas.

A few years ago, when we first moved to the city, Mr. P and the OnlyChild bought me five pieces of the Dickens Christmas Village, with the idea that we would add to it each year. I love it, but I still only have five pieces. This suits me just fine, given the fact that there is limited space in my little old house to display anything.

Our tree is up and decorated. Each one of us had a part in the decorating this year. Mr. P started, I tidied up (haha) and the OnlyChild put her own decorations on it after.

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(By the way, not one of those presents is for the OnlyChild. Honestly, we have not wrapped a thing for her yet.)
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Here is the 2009 edition of the annual cross-stitched ornament I make for the OnlyChild. This year she wanted a cupcake (the trend continues). I was happy to oblige, as this was an exceptionally quick and easy pattern. Start to finish, the entire ornament took less than two hours. Yes, for once I wasn't toiling over it on Christmas Eve. You may not be able to see, but I embellished the frosting with little bead sprinkles.

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Not all ornaments in the cross-stitched collection are actually cross-stitched. This is one of two that were made from another method. This particular year marks the adoption of Bernice (my sewing machine) into the family. A tiny log-cabin quilt for 2001.
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My mum's friend Ola made me these crochet snowflakes the first year I was married - eighteen years ago. I wish I had more of them. Maybe she still makes them and I can put in another order.
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I love this little angel. I got her when I was four. That year we were living in Norway at Christmas time, so I always refer to her as my Norwegian Angel. Mr. P and the OnlyChild don't get the fuss, but I think she's beautiful. I don't really remember the story behind my getting her, but she means a lot to me. (Mum, are you out there? Do you remember how I got this angel?)
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This is a limited edition light bulb snowman. I think I made two or three of these. I know Mum has one; maybe my friend Kim does too. I think he's pretty neat. His nose is a piece of leather and looks just like a dried up old carrot.
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Didn't you know that Santa was a Scot? Here he is wearing the family hunting tartan. Very stylish, wouldn't you say? We had him custom-made about five years ago.
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So, there you have it - another peek at Christmas in my house. There's more to see.
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Marking update: I have one-and-a-quarter inches marked so far, a little behind my target but I took yesterday off. Still plugging away...

White Christmas

It's officially Christmas Vacation here! Woohoo.

Woohoo?

When I say that I'm dreaming of a white Christmas, I mean white, as in paper. Here is my stack of marking, all of which must be done by the time school starts again on January 4.

The bottom pile in the file folder is essays (I estimate about 140 of them), the middle set is assignments for one class, and the top consists of assignments for my grade 12 social studies class. I left another entire class of tests and assignments sitting on my desk at school. They can wait.


I thought it would be fun to measure it. Seven-and-a-quarter inches of marking. I have to admit, I was a little disappointed. It looks like so much more than 7 1/4".

I would have exaggerated and said at least a foot of marking. (Never mind the Canadian metric system - I still work in feet and inches, and pounds and ounces. I just can't do temperature in imperial measurement.)

So, I will update my progress in terms of inches of marking completed. Unless, of course, you've heard enough about my stupid marking trials and tribulations and just want to enjoy your Christmas...?

Deeeaaar Santa,

How have you been? I hope you've had some time for rest and relaxation during this busy season.

It's been a long time since I wrote, but believe me, you have been on my mind. I have wonderful memories of past Christmases and always appreciated how well you treated me when I was a young girl.

Santa, I have a few Christmas wishes this year. I really, really want to go back to Paris. Can you help?

Perhaps that's too big a wish. I don't want to appear greedy, so I'll give you some other ideas. Like you, I ♥ love ♥ red, so how about some Inkwell Reds fabric from The Fat Quarter Shop?

Or a fat quarter bundle of Cayenne 19th Century Reds...

Or some yardage of this beautiful Rouenneries Turkey Red Josephine?

I like this Blush fat quarter bundle, too, even though it's not red.

Santa, I know you're busy making sure that all the good little children's Christmas wishes come true. I've tried very hard to be good this year. I've worked hard and haven't complained - well, okay, I have complained a lot. Oh maybe I haven't been that good after all, but I'll be better next year. Promise!

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xo

Rachel

(Want to play? Go here to send your quilty Christmas wish to Santa.)