Catch Up

I have quite a list of completed projects. I’ll start with a chunky cardie I made for me to wear around the house. A nice easy pattern that knitted up quick. I’ve added pockets since taking this photo.

I also finished a waistcoat for Grandson which he had chosen. To be honest the mis matching of the yarn pattern jarrs with me. I did try a bit of matching but it wouldn’t work. But then, why be like others out there when you can have unique!

So now the post gifting catch up. The pattern for the December Year of Squares came out.

I soon had it made and all pieced together for a gift.

I knitted son Chris a sweater. I had to do some imaginary cuddling to work out his size and I’m over to moon I got it spot on!!

Each year I try and make the kids a bauble. This year it was to be a set of cross stitch ones but after completing this one I realised they were taking a little longer than I hoped. They’re on tiny plastic canvas and quite hard on the fingers. Anyway, this one has been gifted to Elsa’s lovely au pair who is many miles from home at a difficult time.

I did manage a few Arne & Carlos balls so Elsa and Chris had matching, if opposite, hearts from me instead.

I was lucky to have early access to the Black Sheep Wools Betwixtmas project so made this up too.

I was asked if I would become an admin on their facebook page and they gave me this as a thank you. I admin 8 other groups and moderate a couple more but none are as big as this one (just coming up to 10k) so it’s taken me a little while to get up to speed. A lovely group though. Mine is the Rowan Island Blends version and it’s beautifully soft.

Our Christmas as a whole has been lovely. It’s felt distilled down into a more meaningful time of being happy with the small stuff. Benta at SLikStitches gifted me one of her lovely Gingerbread Tomte. She has been making loads of these throughout lockdown and selling them off to raise funds. He is hanging out with my quilt one from last year.

Today has been peaceful and pottering. My favorite gift was from granddaughter Olivia aged 6.

All her own work!

Taking an idea from Margaret at CraftyCreek I made it into a very special Christmas small.

So the close of the year I have been quite creatively busy. I have actually learnt quite a lot about myself this year. I’m learning to recognise things I may like but I don’t need to actually do them myself. I am learning to slow down, to not rush in with mad ideas or hopes or wants because I don’t actually always really want that. I did a abstract portrait class with Ardith Goodwin because I enjoy her work. I even own one of her portraits (having a person or face in art in this house is incredibly rare!! I don’t like seeing people in art!!) but, though the course was good and I was doing ok, I didn’t love it. I suppose all the tidying and sorting has made me realise how many different balls I’ve been juggling and it’s muddied the waters a bit. I have a huge long arm quilting machine that never gets uncovered anymore and a kiln that never gets heated up now. I should move them on really they’re just more clutter. It’s so un me thinking like this! 😄

It’s been a while since I updated my table!! It took a bit of sorting to be honest. All done for now though and I’m rather pleased I started it at the beginning of the year. Look at all those dark newly finished projects! I HAVE been busy despite the weirdness of it all and losing the will to create. Even if there is a lot of yarn stuff in there it’s kept me busy and my brain engaged. I don’t need to scratch the arty itch as often as I used to. I am satisfied just creating, whatever.

Other than that I have been posting off this lot! It was 250 GSP Rescue calendars and 150 packs of cards. In the end we had 16 calendars left. Not bad going if you ask me!!!

The village has been very supportive this year but especially these past few weeks. Lots of little incentives for the children to remember nicer things about the year. Last Sunday the sun shone and we had Father Chrismas (not a spelling mistake) being driven around the village by Milly giving out sweets and collecting donations for the food bank. Our sleepy little village had a really busy, happy vibe about it and quite a large van was filled to help others.

I’m now off to go into recovery mode and perhaps start up a new table for the New Year.

Stay Safe wherever you are and lets all hope 2021 is a huge improvement on 2020!!!

Thank you for still reading XXX

All the Christmas makes on show!