Christmas Angel

This is my Bronwyn from a few years ago.

 

Bronwyn is my youngest child and she still believes in Santa. Given that she is my baby, I am loathe to have that part of her childhood disappear into memory.  This year she has been asking 'Is Santa real?" "How does he deliver presents to everyone?" and so it goes.

We were driving the other day and Bronwyn was wondering what colour mittens Mrs.Claus was going to knit for her this year.  This filled me with mild curiosity.  I asked her more and she informed me that Mrs. Claus had knitted her a nice pair of lavender mittens last year.  Interesting.  I wonder when I had bought her lavender mittens and I could not remember telling her who made them for her.  I'm sure I am not the only parent who buys stuff through out the year and forgets...
 



The well worn and much loved lavender mitts, knitted by Mrs. Claus.

 

Bronwyn's desire for a new pair of hand made mittens caused me a panic.  I knit and I crochet but I certainly do not make mittens.  Also, given the late date, most craft fairs were over and I don't know anyone who I could call in a favour.

 

Crap.  Double CRAP.  Profanity Friday CRAP.

 

 

I did a search of kijiji and found a person who knits hats and scarves - no mention of mitts.  I sent an email anyway.  It turns out she did knit mitts and would happily sell me a pair of them.  Astonishingly, she knit me mitts in a few days.  I paid her extra because she was charging too low and she also donates her hats and scarves to her church.  The extra cash could pay for some more wool.

 

Here are the mitts she made for me:

 

 



So nice of her to make these mittens for me.

 

Pretty awesome right?!  This may be Bronwyn's last year of believing in some of the magic of Christmas, and this is one of those special things she will remember.  I made a little card from Mrs. Claus saying she read the request in Bronwyn's letter to Santa.

 

 

I hope you have a Merry Christmas and you have a chance to do something special for someone this holiday season.

 

Live High,

 

Heather

 

 

I'm linking here: http://www.sugarbeecrafts.com/2014/12/take-look-tuesday-16.html

First Made by Me in May

If this weather does not get warmer, I will be wearing all my scarves for Made by Me May....


Throughout the month of May I am taking the pledge to wear something I have made at least two days a week.

Today is casual Friday and I have a few meetings with community members and I think I can risk the uber casual outfit.  I can't be the only person who is dog tired on Fridays?

Here is my comfy crocheted sweater.  It is big, cozy and perfect for a spring that just won't start:

Cool.  I am super cool.

I made this sweater twice, last year I made it much larger.  I like to forget I am only five feet tall and made the original for someone closer to six feet. I pawned if off on one of my staff.

 





Here is Esinam, much taller, younger and prettier.  I hope she wears that thing!

 

So here it is, done my first Made by Me May. 

 

 

Live High,

 

Heather

Crocodile Stitches

In the waning days of winter, I wanted some colour in my wardrobe.  Everyone in southern Ontario seems to be dressed in black.  It serves the purpose, black holds the dirt and you look at least decent on the way to meetings.  But after a while the dreary days and lack of colour just makes you a little depressed.

Here is what is left of the wool

I got some wool for my birthday recently and one ball of it was a beautiful royal blue.  Last year, I made a cool crocodile neck warmer from a pattern I purchased from Zoomyummy.  It was a challenge, it looked so difficult that I did not thing that I would be able to make it.  Like all things, a read of the instructions showed that it was some simple double crochet.  I made the original with left over wool I had kicking around.

The original was colourful, but not too professional.  I wore it once on a casual day but mostly I wear it  for walking the dog.

When I got the royal blue wool, I thought that this was the perfect wool to revisit the neck warmer and make it in a more professional colour.  (Not to mention that I happen to have a coat that happens to match the wool perfectly!)

I made this one a bit tighter so you can get the feel for the crocodile stitch, it looks more like a ruffle.

Here is the completed neck warmer.  And yes, that is me in my basement in my jammies.  Don't judge....

Dressed, my neck warmer and the coat.

So what do you think?  As I purchased the pattern, I cannot share it with you, but here is the link to Petra, tell her I sent you and make one or two for yourself.  Hopefully, we will not need neck warmers for too long.



I'm linking here.




Live High,


Heather

Silver Scallops Scarf

close up on the stitches

My office is freezing.  I keep a large black wool cape behind my office door.  We have space heaters in everyone's office for the extra cold days.  I started this silver scallops scarf to add to my collection.  I wear it to my office on the not so cold days to add a bit more style to my outfits.  Winters for me are mainly pants and turtlenecks.  I hate being cold and this extra long scarf makes my days nice and toasty.

It is a simple pattern that anyone can make.  It take s a bit to make and it took me longer because I get a sore back from sitting so long. Click  to check out the pattern here

I wore it to a meeting recently and recieved a request to make one for my friend Jennine, I will, happy to, it just may arrive for the warm weather.

Live High,

Heather

Scarves for Jennine

A few weeks ago I met my friend Jennine for a 'London Fog' (Earl Grey Latte of awesomeness).  It was early January and I needed some artificial sunshine provided by my hot pink bomber jacket and my hand crocheted pink scarf with assorted crochet flowers.  It makes me smile.  Jennine, a true friend, did not laugh at the pink jacket, make jokes that I was stuck in the early 80's, pretending I still got it.  No, she looked past all that and commented on the scarf.  She said she would like one.  Being addicted to crochet, I was only too happy to make her one.



Blue-Grey Scarf with soft pink cherry blossoms



I had to find just the right colour, tasteful, unique, perfect for Jennine.  I came across some smokey blue wool and knew that this was the right wool for a scarf.  I made it up right away; it was a simple pattern easy to put together. I had promised a scarf with flowers and a scarf with flowers my friend was going to have.  I found a ball of soft pink that would be awesome for cherry blossoms.  I made a stack and sewed them to the scarf.  What do you think?

Like any addict, I can make excuses for indulging in my addiction.  What if she did not like the blue grey scarf? I would HAVE to make her another one; just in case.  I made my 'usual',  a long variegated scarf with scallops that I can make with my eyes closed.

Jennine and I have a lunch meeting schedule and the weather reporter has called for even more snow for the next few days.  What better time to hand over the scarves and visit the stash of wool in my closet to plan the next round of crocheting.