Another shawl has been completed and is ready to be wrapped up to give away for Christmas. This is for Little Buddy's Physical Therapist. Orange is her favorite color, the jury is out whether that orange can be paired with purple, an odd combination I know. Will she like it? Who knows? Will she wear it? I might never know that either, but I will gift it to her none the less. Making a present should be about trying to make something you think someone will like. But as we all know handmade gifts aren't for everyone.
This is my version of the ever popular Virus Shawl. I again added all of those chains 1's in the second row of the shell, and chain 2's in the third row. I like the shawl to be more airy, less dense. Made with Queensland Collection Sunshine Coast yarn in the color Kings Plains. I used just under two skeins so approximately 550 yards, and my favorite size H hook.
I swear this not working for four days in a row is incredible. I have gotten so much done and have so much energy. It is amazing what getting up really early and working long hours does to you. Now I would not want to do this all the time, I'd be bored silly, but for a few days it is lovely. This is what normal people must feel like. They get things done, they post and read blogs, they are not completely whacked out all the time. It is lovely.
I had to make a quick trip to the ER with Mr. 20 on Friday evening. He had a re-occurrence of his nasty abdominal pain. We had to get pain medication and anti-spasm medication. Thus the increased time to work on this shawl. Thankfully we caught it all very early and he was released that evening. Last time it was so bad he had to spend four days in the hospital. He is back on softer, blander foods for the next few weeks until he is done with exams and we can get him home from school.
I am also happy to see we have not killed each other as a family. While all of you always show such family bliss, we are a group of strong personalities and all this togetherness can be a bit much. It helps when the two school football teams, of the two oldest boys, have won their big games this weekend. So sorry that Mr. 20 had to watch the second half of his whirlwind game in the ER. As for today that family bliss might be shaken as we are about to do round two of the family photo session for the Christmas card. Why is it all those family photos of cards are always so intimidating? They show blissful moments of families on incredible vacations or enjoying each other so much. Our family is always arguing and I will have to tame the older boys eye rolling because they have to take a family photo once or twice a year. Maybe I will take a photo of a non smiling Little Buddy turning his head away from the camera and be done with it.
I wish you all a wonderful Sunday, or Monday depending where you are. Wish me luck on that darn photo.
29 comments:
The shawl's beautiful and I'm sure the recipient will love it, it's such a lovely colour. I'm sorry to hear that Mr 20 has been ill again, I do hope they get it all sorted out as it's such a worry when it's something that reoccurs in this way
I don't think every family is always blissful. Ours is definitely Not. The Blissful Family is a Facebook Fallacy, perhaps.
The shawl reminds me of a campfire. It's beautiful.
I think the shawl colors look lovely together and I'm sure she will love it. Poor Mr. 20! That's no fun once let alone twice. Hope they can get to the bottom of that for him soon. I'm guessing most of those perfect looking family photos you see out there took many many do overs to reach that on perfect shot. You are brave for even attempting it. ;-)
Ah yes, that photo... been trying to get one of all four children but one is always in a huff. Good luck! I can't imagine any colour combination that I like more, orange, pink, purple. Perfect. I am sure Little Buddy's physical therapist will love the shawl. Wishing you Mr 20 a speedy recovery and you a good week.
I love the shawl and I think the colours work well together.Our family now numbers 11 and trying to get a photo with everyone looking at the camera is well nigh impossible!!!
It's all about expectations. :-) The shawl is beautiful. She will love it! Hugs, Regula
My family is also filled with strong personalities. My jaw pain is off the charts today. I loved having my family around this weekend, but it was also super stressful! We are definitely not a postcard-perfect group. But at least we got to see our children, and that makes it worthwhile!
That shawl is gorgeous, so I've decided the name isn't fitting. Virus has such negative connotations!
I love the shawl,it has been on my list for ages but it doesn't stand a chance this side of February. Ooh dear, the Family Photo, there are some corkers in my albums. Why is it that sibling war breaks out 24 hours before the photo shoot?
The shawl is beautiful and fun and I'm sure the Pt will love it!
Ha-the perfect family?! We are all adults and used to doing things our own way-coming together for a few days to a week can wear on everyone! Add picture time and yowzer! lol Just grin and bear it-it's wonderful to BE together and that's the wonder of it all!
I think she will love it!
Beautiful shawl and those colours do work together really well. If only everything was always blissful... son is 29 now, but daughter is a teenager, how I struggle through those teenage years, sigh xx
The shawl is beautiful! I'm sure she'll love it and wear it proudly. I wear one of my shawls each time I go out in the world almost all year. I'm ready to change from my autumn colored C2C triangle to my red alpaca one for the holidays.
You could do a humorous card photo with everyone shouting at each other.. lol. And honestly, we don't have family bliss around here all the time as I'm sure you realize. Having our 41 year old son and his wife and two boys living here now for 5 years and now our 44 year old son bunking in until he gets his life back together.. it's not Ozzie & Harriet. LOL!
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*H*A*P*P*Y* * *H*O*L*I*D*A*Y*S*!*!*!*
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((hugs)), Teresa :-)
Love the colors on the shawl. It reminds me of one of those refreshing tropical drinks that you sip on the beach. Love those, too:)
Good luck on that photo. I think most of us are in search of that family bliss, too. It just doesn't show up much on our blogs.
I hear you, there are a few strong personalities here as well. Sorry Mr 20 has been unwell again, I do hope he's better very soon. Love the shawl, I hope it will be appreciated, it really is a thing of beauty. Wishing you a good week, glad you've had some good days off. CJ xx
Haha you sound like a very normal family to me. I'm just glad there wasn't video tapes rolling during our years of training and raising Simcha! You've made a lovely shawl and it's a wonderful gift. But I know what you mean about now everyone appreciating something handmade. I mainly knit for my mom who absolutely adores my socks and wears them daily for her naps.
Normal photo ops for family for sure. I finally got Owen to uncover his eyes when we had one taken at our anniversary party. And Lydia didn't cry! Gotta love it. We had a busy but good day. I just caught up with blog reading after I finished mine today. So behind in posts! Oh well, life is busy and yesterday I cut 15 1/2 inches off two curtain panels. Too long but no short ones in size I need. Good thing they were on sale! Hemming comes next. Have a good week and glad you got some things accomplished. Hopefully your son will heal up and be well completely! Hugs!
Glad you've had some good quality time at home. Perhaps one day I will try to make the virus shawl. You sure are whipping them out right and left. I swear, you finish more projects of substance than I do and I have all the time in the world. :/ My boys will be here in a few weeks and I'm hoping to get any kind of decent picture of the four of us. It's not often that we are all together. Good luck with your holiday photo.
Your shawl turned out beautifully and the person who receives it will be very blessed indeed. I’m so sorry about your son having to be back in the ER again. I’m glad that it is a fairly quick fix this time and I will be praying for him.
Strong personalities! I think most families have a few of those. I think the faces that we see on blogs and Instagram and Facebook sometimes, actually most of the time, aren’t the real story. Very few people have perfect lives as I’m sure you well know. I’m praying you have an easy week this week as you have to re-enter “real life” and work woes and stress again.
Blessings always,
Betsy
It is clear your family is full of love. A bit of too much togetherness will give a dose of reality to any family of adults. Im so sorry Mr 20 was in the ER!!! Ugh. Mere 2017 not your year~
We aren't even attempting cards until everyone is home late December. So New Years cards for us. It is always difficult to get a photo you love. We took photos for Al in OKC with her cats and the outtakes are hysterical. She decided to include them in a collage. It came out cute!
Love your shawl. Hope your cold is well gone! Hi to Lil B
I knew that shawl was going to be a show stopper. Those colors are just glorious.
LOVE the colors in that shawl! I'm sure it will be well loved & worn frequently. Sorry you had an ER trip but glad it turned out ok & you got in a little extra shawl time. As for the family photo, how about a purposely bad one? My great aunt once had a super bad year & wrote one of those Christmas letters that are normally sappy sweet, but her's was comically horrible because of the bad year she'd had. It was so well received, she kept up the tradition for the next few years. Taking my lead from her plus the fact my kids seem to think they are in the witness protection program.... we do awful family photos each year. Which ever way you go, good luck!
Pretty pretty shawl! My SO and I opted out of family Thanksgiving this year, went on a hike at a state park instead. Forced togetherness is not our thing.
Thank you so much for this post. I always love your blog but reading what you say about you arguing came at just the right time as I feel like I argued with my partner all weekend this weekend, and my children argued with each other (which is normal for them) and what with work stress and a few other things it all felt a bit much today. It's nice to know we aren't alone in our non-perfect lives. Thank you for sharing.
PS Sorry that Mr 20 was in hospital but glad that he is ok.
beautiful shawl..hope you had a nice thanksgiving..
It's a gorgeous shawl! Wonderful present!
That is good your son is doing well and got the meds he needs. Nice shawl! they will love it. Good luck on your photo!
Hello dear lady, beautiful shawl and also love your grey short sleeved cardigan. I too hate making sleeves in the round.
It has been such along time since I visited your blog.I am struggling enormously with trying to get on top of the social media that is necessary when you are a designer. I'm feeling completely overwhelmed by it all. I decided I am going to get back and reconnect with all the lovely people in blog land who share their real lives not the picture perfect staged versions. Its very hard work.
So glad you re still here sharing all the wonderful makes and your families life . Hugs
H
The Shawl is so Beautiful she should love it,I would.So sorry about Mr 20,that must be awful for everybody not least him.No family is Perfect we are after all Human.Huggles to all xxx
What a nice present! I think she would be very happy with this beautiful shawl!
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