Productive Day!
When I woke up yesterday morning, I was thinking about Christmas presents. I hadn't thought about what to do for new friends I've made here... I decided I wanted to a little gift for the ladies in the patchwork and knitting groups, they've really helped me feel part of the community here so quickly! I will do some patchwork Christmas ornaments for them. I also decided to do a knitting needle roll for one friend who really helped include me in things here to get to know people. She just started knitting this year and loves knitting!!
I started this roll yesterday morning and got it done fairly quickly... It was based on one I saw in Stitch-n-Bitch book by Debbie Stoller, and I just used my knitting needles as a guide, very much done on the fly. I was happy to finish a Christmas project so quickly. I think I'll leave a few knitting needles in the roll as well!
I also got 8 ocean waves blocks done now. I will stop working on these till next year, as I want to focus on the Dear Jane blocks for the swap, and the patchwork ornaments, I think I'll focus on those today in between looking after a little sick girl and playing hide and seek with her crazy younger sister.
I also finished
my mom's scarf for Christmas. Yesterday afternoon I pulled out a knitting ring I got in Sweden (Barbara has made a hat for her DH with one on her blog). I started late afternoon, and by the evening I had done this hat, so now mom has a hat and scarf and some slippers for Christmas this year. She is hard to buy for, and appreciates handmade gifts, so she is one of the few recipients of handmade gifts this year. My friends in Waterford, my old area, love my chocolate chip cookies, but we plan a January visit to bring those (life just flew by at the speed of light, no time for a road trip now!)I've started reading a lot lately, finishing Round Robin and Cross Country Quilters by Jennifer Chiaverini, will have to get some more in the States! I read the first one already, and find them quick fun reads, filled with interesting relationships... I also started on our January book club book, House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus III. It isn't as light but is absorbing reading as well. I finished this month's book a while back: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, a book told from the view of a high functioning autistic teenage boy, very interesting to understand how an autistic person sees the world.
As well as crafting and reading I managed to get the house clean, play with kids and cook dinner, a rare day for me, non-stressful, productive day!!
Labels: gifties made, progress, reading, scrap quilt
posted by Cathi at 8:54 AM
17 Comments:
Love the needle roll, did you use a pattern and was it hard to do?
Good luck with House of Sand and Fog, I don't hate many books, but that was one I just...well written, but just too depressing.
If you are interested in Autism, then can I recommend "Freaks, Geeks and Asperger's Syndrome; A User Guide to Adolescence" It's written by a 13yr old who has Asperger's and is aimed at other Asperger's kids. Very interesting, I learned a lot.
Your package is in the mail and may arrive before Christmas, I hope, but with South Africa Post all things are (im)possible.
I read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime and loved it. I have taught some Autistic kids and this gave an insight into their behaviour.
You are really going to town! The needle roll is a good idea, and your knitting for mom is terrific.
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Your hat looks really cosy. It seems a lot to knit in one day! Hope Aine is better soon and Aisline escapes the bugs.
sounds like you've been really busy with the knitting and other "crafty" bits. I love the ocean wave blocks, but can't imagine how long each must take...
I read both House of Sand and Fog and the Curious Incident and liked them both, but I wish the endings would have been better. I like tidy endings. :)
My goodness Cathi - you have certainly got a lot done! Very thoughtful, homemade gifts that you are doing. I know the receipients will love them. Sorry to hear your daughter is sick - that's tough on everyone.
WOW--you've been very busy! LOVE that needle roll! That scraf fro your mom is lovely. Homemade gifts warm the heart most! The wave block is looking good.
Like Ruth and Laurie Ann, I didn't enjoy "House of Sand and Fog," had a real hard time with that one, couldn't warm up to it at all. I need to read "The Curious Inciden..."
Happy Crafting & Happy Days! :o)
Gracious, you have really been busy. Looking good...........
You've been very busy lately. :-) The needle roll reminds me of one Mama made for her crochet needles. Wonder whatever happened to it?
Wow!! You have been super productive! I'm so swamped with work - can't wait for vacation. Love seeing what you're up to when I take a break!
I didn't read the book House of Sand and Fog but the movie with Ben Kingsley was great.
Your mom's hat and scraf are great! I'm sure she'll love them. I also read The Curious Incident... a while back and really loved it.
What a wonderful gift the needle roll will be....good idea.
I like what you did with the scarf - especially the way the gray fades into the black. The hat came out nice too!
The needle case is very handy. I made something like it for tableware, a long time ago. One for knifes, one for forks and one for spoons.
Your mothers scarf is nice. Good looking with the "special pattern", I don't know the name in English.
The ocean waves is terrific. I'm thinking about doing the same, but with my blue scraps. Maybe the same way Barbara is doing it.
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