Happy, happy Christmas!!

We just got done traveling for 8 days and are home again! I am gearing up to start enjoying this quiet time over the next week or so. Wishing all of you lovelies a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Happy Birthday, sweet Jesus! I love you beyond measure!!

Leon, doing his best Santa impression :)

A sneak peak

Here's a sneak peak of some of the making I've been up to for this Christmas season. This is going to be for E. Ravelry notes are here.

Hooping!!

Even though it's December, we are still hooping up a storm over here. Here are a few pictures of how amazingly easy it is to make your own hoop. The detailed instructions, (and how I learned how to make a hoop,) are found here!!

First you need to buy irrigation tubing. The higher the PSI the heavier the hoop. I get the 160 psi at 3/4" diameter. Grab a few, (or a lot!) of the 3/4" connectors. The connectors look like this:

You'll also need something to cut the tubing. I use a hack saw but I think a pipe cutter would work a lot better. Then measure the tubing so it comes right up to your rib cage. About 42" in diameter is a great beginner size. Cut your tubing then stick one of the ends in some boiling water. This will make it pliable enough to stick the connector in.

Then, stick a connector in that end. Boil the other end for a few seconds and then join the hoop together.

I usually tape that seam with duct tape, just to give it a little bit more security. Now you have a hoop!

You can buy some colored electrical tape and tape that hoop up. Have fun with it! And hoop away!!

Happy hooping!!

Thanksgiving 2011!

For Thanksgiving a few weeks ago, we hosted our first ever vegan Thanksgiving. It was not nearly as hard as I thought it would be and even my dad liked it! (He ate all of the Tofurkey left overs...) My sister, Jennifer, who is also vegan was such a huge help in the kitchen. I love baking and cooking with her. She did the Tofurkey and the green bean casserole. I made a pumpkin pie, sweet potato casserole, corn bread muffins, & mashed potatoes. It was all so yummy and cruelty free!! We were all so thankful that we got to spend that time together and just hung out for a few days. In not too long, our little family will be making the trip back to IL to spend a little time before Christmas with my family.
Here are some pictures of all the yummy food!

Now, I think I need to go cook! All those pictures are making me hungry!

It's That Time Again!!

That time where I get quiet around these parts. Time to savor this quick holiday season with my lovies. Time to keep chugging away at the making going on around here. Time to savor each moment and love, love, love.
Here's one of the projects that's already under the tree waiting. It's the Meret beret by Wolly Wormhead. I do love their patterns!

This hat was made about two weeks ago as a gift for a friend. It's the first hat I had done in a while, since last years colder months, and I'd forgot how much I like making hats. We just have so many that I hadn't made any in a while.This one took a while longer than most, since I did two repeats of the lacy pattern. But yes, I love how it turned out and that color!! Oh that's my favorite color right now.

Here's the ravelry link.


Also, time for some linky love. Here's some links to what I'll be up to during this next month!

This sweater is the easiest kid sweater I've made ever! I love it so much that I've made it 5 times in the two years that I've been knitting. I also love how easy it is to customize. I just finished E's last week and will be starting on A's shortly. They are their big mamamade gift for Christmas.

I am loving all the Christmas ornament goodness over at Craft Snob. So. Good!! I will be making at least a few of them with the littles and will hopefully be back over here to show them off.

Have you heard this yet? Oh, Florence.

I'll also be making our wrapping paper with the girls this year again out of recycled paper bags. These will only be for the gifts we bring to Illinois next month, as we use fabric for our gifts here at home. Christmas will be here before we know it! Go get crafty!!

jewelry making

Lately, I've been on a jewelry making kick. I had forgotten how much I LOVE making jewelry. Similar to sewing, making jewelry is very quick and I can make something out of nothing in less than an hour. I usually don't make jewelry though, because I only wear what I absolutely love. I am not one to go to jewelry parties or spend money on jewelry. I will, however, (and enjoy,) make jewelry for other people or special occasions. I think the last time I made jewelry was for my wedding, three years ago!

Instead of making something knit for my brother and sister-in-law, (which I totally should have, since they are in Alaska and all,) I decided to do something different for them this year. This little charm necklace and earring set was made for her and has since safely made it all the way up there. She loves chucks and has two kitties, so the charms were appropriate.

And this little ^guy^ is mine. I love mustaches and all of their awesomeness. And I'm spreading that love today, too. I've got another "care" package on it's way to IL with a mustache bracelet and some other goodies going to an Aunt today.
Have I mentioned just how much I LOVE giving and gifting. It fills me up <3

for the love of Cowls!!

This year I have grown to love cowls. I think I might love them even more than scarves. I started with a very simple pattern and have been hooked since then that I've even made four more since. I think they are going to be great gifts for others and they knit up so fast! Here are some of the others that I have either made or really like: Super Bulky Cowl; My granny square inspired cowl; the first cowl I ever made; & this is one that I really want to try.