Happy New Year

2011 has been a rough year.  I can't say I am sad to see it go.  The ups and downs have been crazy.  Some things I have shared with all of you and a lot I have not.  But thinking back on it, it is a year I have survived and hopefully grown stronger, more compassionate and hopeful.  This year I have made hexagon bags, Japanese flower shawls and scarves, baby blankets,  and a knitted dress.  I have crocheted little purses, many scarves and cowls and completed several scarves and shawls on my loom.  I have been productive through all the ups and downs with yarn being my constant companion.  I have said it a million times that I think working with yarn in some form actually saves my life.  It centers me and calms me down when I feel like I am going crazy.  It challenges me in many different ways and makes me totally exasperated when a project doesn't work.  And the brilliant thing is when my project is not working out, or just back talking me too much I can put it in time out, or just plain throw it away. Yes the dress made from corn fiber yarn is still in time out and remember my circle vest disaster...it went in the trash bin long ago.  If only life were that easy.

I like to start the New Year on a fresh note.  Today I took down every Christmas item in my home and packed it away.  The tree came down and is at the curb with all the ornaments nestled back in their boxes.  The beds have been changed and the bathrooms cleaned.  After I make a batch of agave sweetened cookies the kitchen will be cleaned.  When I go to bed on New Year's Eve I like everything to be in its place so we start the New Year with a fresh clean slate.  I am getting ready for the change from the old year to the next.  Last year bloggers were very big into picking a word to represent their upcoming year.  I did not do it last year but I know I have no choice this year.  My word is CHANGE whether I like it or not.  My Mother will not make it through the year, she is hanging on by a thread and seems to rally here and there, but I know her time is very limited.   My Dad will not ever adjust to her loss.  My son will graduate and head off to college in the late summer.  My youngest will hopefully transition out of puberty which has been extremely hard on him.  And while it is all happening I will have yarn in my hands and blog friends to see me through.

My wish for you my dear friends is a New Year that brings you and your loved ones health, peace and happiness.  I know many of you have suffered a tough year for medical, financial, or personal reasons.  I wish for you to meet the challenges of the New Year with grace, patience and love.  We are all so blessed to have each other in this wonderful blog universe.  I am thankful for all of you everyday.  Tonight I will be home waiting up for my oldest to return.  At the stroke of midnight I will say a prayer for a better 2012 and I will include all of you.

Have a safe and happy New Year's Eve and a blessed 2012.

52 & 53 and I think we are done.....

 Hi everyone! I hope you all are having a wonderful holiday week.  I have been missing in action,  missing in blog action that is.  I have been taking a bit of a blog break so I have lots to catch up on, on all of your wonderful blogs.  These flowers above were sent to us on Christmas Eve as a wonderful surprise from some lovely friends.  They are so gorgeous I had to share them with you.

 My favorite Christmas gift was from my friend Lynda in North Carolina.  She found these little felt birds at a farmers market she frequents.  Are they not the cutest things you have ever seen? 

 Look at this adorable hat this grey bird is wearing. 

 And the red bird with her scarf and holly leaf and berries.  These lovely creatures just may be displayed all year, I can't imagine putting them in a box up in my attic.

 When I have a spare moment in the months of December or January you can usually find me in my bedroom on my loom.  I have been weaving instead of sitting at my computer and blogging, let me show you what I made.  The grey shawl/scarf above is made with very lite weight acrylic yarn with tiny sequins in it.  You can just barely see them in the picture above.  It is soft and really beautiful.  There is a tiny problem....I goofed up on the loom by turning the first corner in the wrong direction and made a beautiful shawl with a big flaw.  You can not see it in this picture but the very last section of yarn to be weaved in couldn't be, so I have a double strand that just makes the whole thing wrong.  I can use this as a scarf all bunched up so no one sees my mistake, but I know it is there so I would never give this to anyone.

 Hot off my loom is this lovely shawl.  It is made of my favorite yarn Cascade Eco Duo a combination of baby alpaca and wool.  Oh I wish you could feel how soft and yummy this shawl is.  I think this could be a shawl for so many purposes. 

 I decided to try a crochet border on this and I love it.  I think it gives the shawl a bit more stability and finishes off the edges a little bit more professionally.

The grey color of the shawl varies which creates a bit of interest and depth.  So those are finished projects number 52 and 53 for me for the year.  I am pretty sure that will be it for 2011, well unless I go crazy and finish my Noro vest or get another shawl done quickly.

My sister Claudia of Mockingbird Hill Cottage fame is opening an etsy shop.  I think I will be placing a few things in it as I really don't have time to keep my own etsy shop up and running.  I will be placing a few woven items in hers when she is ready.  I'll let you know when it is open just in case you are interested.  

I hope that you are all having a great week and I promise to start getting caught up on your blogs very soon...well when I can pull myself away from my loom that is.

Merry Christmas

 Merry Christmas to all my wonderful blogging friends.  Hope you have a safe and wonderful Holiday filled with love and Peace.

Some Last Minute Projects and a Merry Christmas

I have been busy this week trying to get some last minute things completed.  Have I wrapped presents?   No.  Sent cards?  No, for the first time in 20 years.  I have been busy and trying to carve out a little time to myself.  When things are really crazy around my house, or when I just need some time to myself I often retreat to my room where I can work on whatever project is on my loom. I have showed you my rectangle loom before.  I had it set up to make this long cotton scarf and I have been piddling away on it whenever I get the chance.

 This loom is really interesting.  You can only set it up so the side width is divisible by the length.  Which is often the exact width and length you think you would like until you take everything off the loom and the width suddenly becomes a lot smaller and the length a lot longer.

 This simple cotton yarn I got on sale at my local yarn shop was perfect for this weaving project.  It had a good soak and the fibers really connected beautifully.  See the spaces when the scarf is on the loom? They have come together beautifully in the finished product.  I love weaving, it is such a nice way to work with yarn.

 As the scarf above is finished projects number 50 for me for the year, below is 51.  This quick shawl is a present for my friend Terri.  She doesn't read my blog so I am safe showing it to all of you.  This yarn came in a big ball with the fringe already cut up from Alp Oriental Just For You.  Do you remember the last shawl I knitted and posted about a few days ago, a gift from my friend Amy?  This is the same pattern.  You get this beautiful ball of yarn, cast on and start knitting.  As you move on the yarns change so it is really fun to see what is next.  Terri's favorite color is purple so when I saw this I knew I had to make it for her.

 I hope she likes it.  It isn't very long and I wish they had more fringe but other than that it was a fun, quick knit to make for a friend.

 Her Highness reached her peak in color two days ago.  I couldn't grab my camera to catch her beauty, but I think she still looks amazing.  I decided to read up about the Orchid Cactus or better known as the Christmas Cactus.  Basically everything I read I am doing wrong.  She gets too much sun and water.  I never prune back her leaves.  I don't put her in a dark room with very little water for two months so she will bloom.  So I am just going to keep doing what I was before, lots of sun and water, and lots of humidity.  I will bring her in if we get near freezing and I will continue to re-pot her as she needs that every year.

I leave you with a knitting Santa and an Elf holding a ball of yarn.  Love this gift from some friends a few years ago.

Christmas Ornaments

 I have to admit that I scoff at putting up a tree for Christmas.  I know it is most un-holiday like of me but I still feel that way every year, that is until it is up.  Last night we put up our tree with two grumbling boys that would rather be doing there own thing.  But as we put up the ornaments it became a trip down memory lane.

 The first ornament to go on the tree is the oldest one we have.  It comes from my husbands grandparents.  It is so fragile I only let him handle it. 

 I love the ornaments that remind me of the special stages of my kids lives.  My youngest was in love with Laa-Laa the Teletubby.  He was even dressed as her for Halloween one year.  She was his best friend for years and was like another family member of ours.

 As you know my oldest son swims and so this is a special ornament.  When he is older an puts it on his own tree it will be a reminder of a sport that he excelled at and that was such a big part of his life.

 The most precious ornaments are those that my boys have made.  Here is my oldest in kindergarten. A cupcake paper, a picture and glitter how simple but it means so much.

My youngest in his kindergarten ornament in his favorite Packer outfit and stickers of all of the things he liked, which were apparently trucks.

This ornament was in my fathers family.  It was the first one we put on the tree when I was young.  I keep it in a special china cabinet as it was damaged when I inherited it, and it has never hung on my own tree.  It is so special thinking of all the Christmas' it has seen.  All the past family members that have celebrated around the tree where this was hanging.  Christmas is a  wonderful season and I will take my old, worn out ornaments any day to a fancy theme tree will all the flash and glitz of modern life.

A Christmas Tour

Since I have not been knitting, crocheting or doing anything with yarn.  I thought I would drop in some Christmas pictures so you can think that I have at least been doing something.

 Hanging in my hallway.  My favorite St. Nick.

 This cloth Santa sits on my wooden rocking cow.

 My yarn ball Santa purchased last year.

 My felted ball Santa purchased a few weeks ago.

 On my mantle is my collection of Santa's.  In Florida we have these huge boxed mantles.  I hate mine.  You see I am a very old soul.  I love old things with meaning.  I fell better around older furniture and houses with character.   I would love a big wooden mantle with a mirror hanging over it.  I would love to decorate it for each season instead of this monster.

I surround myself with antiques and things that have an older feel about them.  People are always surprised when they come in my home because it feels much more like a northern home than one located in the sun state.

This is my hall tree.  A very fun place for me to display all sorts of fun things.  This big stuffed Santa has been with us for 19 years, he is still in pretty good shape even after years of being climbed on and wrestled by two little boys.  To the left are my Grandfather's golf clubs.  He made them himself and taught my father how to play golf with them.  

Hope Christmas is popping up all over your home and you are finding sometime to catch your breath in this busy time of year.

Ms Cactus and 47,48 & 49

 Here is my finished projects number 47 and 48.  A drop stitch scarf and another crochet cowl.  I am officially done with cowls.  I have made way too many of them this season.  I have enough for lots of presents so that is perfect, but I am done I tell you, done.

 This is number 49.  This is the beautiful yarn my friend Amy gave me for hosting the Holiday Knitting party this year.  The yarn is Feza, Alp Oriental, Just for you.  It comes in a big ball with the fringe already made up.  It was a very fast knit and I love the way it looks.  I have been spending hour after hour watching my son swim by live feed from Austin, TX.  I was unable to go to this meet so I have been sitting on my behind knitting away.  This yarn changes as you go so it keeps your interest even if the pattern is really simple.  My son did not do well these past few days, actually he did horrible so having the comfort of yarn in my hands has been a help.  Can you see what is peeking out the left side of the picture?

 Ms. Cactus is in all her glory right now.  I am stunned by the beauty of this cactus.  And let me just say she is huge!  I got her three years ago as a small plant for my kitchen table.  I have re-potted her three times and I just might have to do it again after this flowering cycle.  She loves this spot on my lanai, I move her in only when temps drop down to freezing. 

Ms. Cactus you are so gorgeous, I hope all these compliments do not go to your head!  

Happy Weekend.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

I have been in a little frump about Christmas.  I usually am this time of year.  Trying to get everything done for Christmas while doing everything else I usually do definitely makes me a Christmas Grump.

I decided to try to make some Christmas items to brighten my home and help to put me in the  Christmas Spirit.

I made this very funny looking Christmas tree from an idea posted by The Lazy Hobby Hopper.  This is a pattern from Michael's. I have to admit that I am not that great at following directions so this is my free form attempt at a Christmas Tree.

With a few decorations it doesn't look so bad.  My sons thought I was a crazy woman decorating this tree.

Here it is next to my beautiful Christmas cactus.  It is starting to bloom and boy is it beautiful.

 As I live in Florida and we are not going to have a white Christmas so I decided to make some snowflakes to brighten my windows.  You all know this pattern from Lucy at Attic 24.  For the life of me my link did not work with the crochet snowflake, hope you can find the pattern somewhere on her blog.  I am sure there are many more snowflake patterns out there in blog land to make if you can't find this one.

 I have them in my family room and kitchen windows and love to see them spinning gently in the breeze.

I have made a whole bunch, they are fast and fun.  I am making four more for coasters for an extra present for a friend.

And a very special thanks for all your lovely friendship comments in my last post.  You all mean so much to me.

And a very, very, very special thanks to two very special blog friends for giving me the Liebster Blog Award.  I am just so touched that you would think that I am worthy.  Mary Margaret at The Worry Bird and Liz at Crochet in Color.  Mary Margaret is going through a fascinating journey, please head over to wish her well.  Liz makes these unbelievable crochet projects, you will be amazed at her gift.  I love awards but I have such a hard time deciding who should get one.  I love all of you so much so I am giving one to everyone who visits Mereknits.  You all brighten my day and I am thankful for all of you.

Knitting Group

Today I read a study in the newspaper that said our close friends have dropped from three to two in the past decade.  That sounds so sad to me.  Friends are what keep us going in good times and bad.  I consider myself very lucky.  I have some wonderful friends.  I'd say I have three extremely close friends, and many more that I can count on.  I have friends from college that I don't talk to very often, but would fly across the country in a minute if I needed them.  What I don't think the study took into account is blogging friends.  We are there for each other, sending congratulations when necessary and prayers and positive thoughts when needed.  Friendship takes on all sorts of different forms these days, it may not be as traditional as in years past but it is just as important for our well-being.

 These lovely ladies arrived at my home yesterday for our annual Knitting Group Holiday Party.  I had them over for lunch, which I forgot to take a picture of to show all of you I really can cook, well occasionally anyway.  I really like this group of women.  We are all so different but yet have knitting or crochet in common.  My good friend Amy (peeking her head out in the middle of the picture) formed this group several years ago.  I had had a group at my house for several years and did not want the responsibility anymore so Amy picked up the slack.  We meet twice a month at each others homes.  It is just a lovely way to connect.

 We swap presents, and yes these women can be brutal swapping your present right off your lap.  I got this lovely Noro....yes my love/hate with Noro will continue for a while longer.

  As I was the hostess I received these lovely yarn ball ornaments.

And Amy gave me this very fun shawl project.  I think I will be hosting again next year to get more fun surprises.  For my present I made a Queen Anne Lace scarf and had a wonderful skein of yarn, hope that it was well liked by the recipient.

I am blessed to have wonderful women in my life.  I am including all of you in that statement.  I have grown to cherish all of my blogging friends.

So here is to all of you out there in blogging-land.  Hope you have a wonderful, safe and healthy weekend.  Hope you find time to do something you really love during this crazy time of year.

Christmas Gifts

I have been making Christmas gifts here and there for several months now.  When I am done I throw them in a plastic bin in my closet.  I just keep adding and pile one project on top of another.  I think it is time to see what is in there don't you?

 My bin is a bit overloaded.  Lets take a peek.

 Wow, there is more than I remember.  The ones I am not giving away for one reason or another have been taken out of the pile, so lets see what is left.

 Four scarves.

 Six cowls.

 Two shawls.

 A very dark picture of the remaining cowl I have to finish.  This is my car project and has not been worked on for some time.

And my last scarf, a drop stitch pattern with chunky yarn.  I should be able to finish this in no time.

It will be so fun to wrap these all up and send them on their way for Christmas.

How are you doing on your Christmas projects?