Hi all!
I just wanted to pop in today and wish every one a very Merry Christmas! I’m sitting at my folks right now, snuggled up in a blanket, sipping coffee and listening to a chorus of sparrows chirping their heads off in my parent’s bushes. I actually thought my mom had one of those bird nature cd’s on, but nope, it’s the real deal right outside the window. Lovely!
Here in Iowa it’s turned out to be a beautiful White Christmas with 6inches of snow being dumped on us. It was so lovely watching snow fly all of yesterday.
(this is from a few year’s back, but I love this picture and it’s a similar amount of snow so you get the idea)
I did some simple hand stitching yesterday to put the finishing touches on a friend’s gift and wove in the last ends on my sister’s hat. I’ll just have to get a picture in it, she looks so pretty. Both were a big hit and I’m so happy I spent the time to finish them up even though it was a bit chaotic in the end there.
Everyone has loved their little crocheted snowflakes that I starched up. Nothing like another issue of clm to get the job done. I wrote an article on what’s the best way to starch a snowflake and compared 4 methods in the Decmeber issue. Which means I had 3 snowflakes to give away and one to keep for Jason and I.
From now on I’m going to make one project in each issue a gift for someone else because it seems like that above every other tip and list and intention is what actually gets my handmade gifts made. It will be a little handmade holiday feature – the first 6 months of the year focusing on patterns and projects for specific people. The last 6 months on mass making to put together baskets for friends and family – like preserving lemons like I did this past year or making a ton of little snowflakes or mitten ornaments and a yummy cookie recipe that travels well both in the car and in the mail.
It’s funny, I’m sitting here, out of the office, really enjoying my time away from work, and I’m getting all excited about getting back to work. I love the new format for craft leftovers monthly and am excited to bring the digital edition to life finally. I’m going to actually start working in color for that. So fun. And this first issue in January? All about pampering yourself, being good to your body, and whipping up some home spa remedies to melt away the stress. Maybe you don’t live up north like I do, but for me, the end of January is the most depressing time of the year and it will be so nice to have a stock of bath salts, nourishing shampoos, soaps, and lip balms. Delicious teas for boosting the immune system, and the tools and techniques for giving myself a foot massage and pedicure.
Anyway, enough shop talk, my daddy-o is calling me to set the table and eat a delicious breakfast.
Have a very Merry Christmas! I’ll see you all on Monday with a fun new tutorial and loads of ideas for using that pile of wrapping paper – so save at least some of it!
Happy Crafting and Holidays!
Kristin