Christmas Goodies

In the past, Christmas around here has been, well, pretty gluttonous. Rack up those credit cards, wipe out the savings account, forget the bills - just buy, buy, buy!!! This year we just couldn't do it. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds and we don't want to be paying for this year's Christmas in 2015! So we told the kids to be very specific about what they wanted. If they wanted to buy someone something, they had to be sure it was a gift that would be appreciated and/or used. If they could make the gift - well, that was even better. And, still better yet, if they could make the gift out of stuff around here - yarn and fabric stashes - that would be wonderful. They took the message to heart and worked their fingers to the bones. The picture above is our living room on Christmas morning. You can actually see the floor and the furniture! That's a first! RL and I set $$ limits on each other and stuck to them. R was the appointed elf who kept us both on track - letting us know when the other was a little ahead and we needed to step it up!

This is what Santa brought to me! A Fine Fleece, which is a beautiful book. I can't wait to try my hand at some of the sock patterns. Of course, Santa brought the sock knitting book by Ann Budd - looks like a great book and my annual calendar by Susan Branch.

The yarn is the beautiful kettle dyed sock collection from Knit Picks. Isn't it great? It came with six toe up patterns, so I guess I'm going to have to suck it up and learn how to knit toe up socks!

The other big surprise was the circular interchangeable needles from Knit Picks and the beautiful wooden cable needles. Santa totally surprised me this year!

R is making this beautiful linen towel for me. She went through the fabric stash and found all the fabric and set to work. She is making a second one too and I will be sure to post pictures when she's finished. She took a small break to help her brother work on a project for me. She was disappointed that she didn't finish, but how on earth could I be upset with her when she gave of herself so willingly to help L create something?

What was it? Hmmm, looks like some sort of pouch....

It has the date embroidered on it...
It has numbers of dpns embroidered on each little pouch and a pocket for stitch markers.

R told me that L wanted to make something so they went through the fabric stash and found the black fabric and ladybug fabric. L drew a picture of what he wanted to make and she took the pattern one step further with all the details. She had him do all the embroidery himself! She taught him how to use the sewing machine and off they went! Now how many 18 year old boys do you know who are willing to spend three evenings with their older sister sewing on a machine and by hand for their mother? I don't know any. This is truly a gift that will be special to me forever because L wanted to make something for me and because R gave of herself freely and put her own gift making on hold to help L.

Here's a goodie I found stuffed in the bottom of my stocking! More beautiful sock yarn from Knit Picks. It's Imagination Hand Painted Sock Yarn in Wicked Witch. I was informed that the name was not a reflection upon myself. Hmmm, wonder if I should believe that? Some days it's a dead on reflection, I'm sure!