Happy New Year!

A new year and a new decade. Wow. Time just zips by.

I had a glorious Christmas with all my kids. My only complaint is it went too fast but I already have some trips planned to go to the Orange family and Island kids.

I made a lot of my gifts this year so now I can show some of them.

Aprons sewn for the gals,

mini kleenex holders with caribeners so they can clip them in their purses;

hand embroidered kitchen towels for each - a Kitty theme from Sublime Stitching (so much fun and fast. You should try it)


and Recipe card sets of all their favorite recipes throughout the years. I took a class from Archiver's store back in November and had to make two. It took me about 3 full weeks of working on them little by little to finish but it was well worth it. Both sets of kids LOVED it. Again, it is all their favorite recipes and now they have them at their fingertips...

For the guys, little elf ornaments but I failed to take a photo of one who was knit in Island Boy's favorite NCAA football team. Here is one that I knit for Orange Boy who likes BMarley. I do not even remember where I got the pattern but I think it was on a yahoo! group for quick gifts I had found. Anyway, Orange Boy loved it; complete with dreads!

Now for my new knitting project. Yes, I am still working on the top down sweater I started several months ago and just have the two sleeves left now. But at Knit night a couple of weeks ago, Pat, who is an awesome knitter, had been commissioned to knit a customer a vintage baby sweater. Oh my gosh, it was the cutest thing and because I love owls and birds so much, I knew I had to hunt the pattern down.

It is a Penny Straker pattern and I found them in stock at Dublin Bay Knitting Company and bought two patterns and also yarn. The yarn I chose is Dale of Norway, Baby Ull in a cream color but they have lots of different colors. Dublin Bay Knitting - great online shop and super fast service! So I got out my #1 and #2 straight needles and have already started. I even swatched! But didn't make any adjustments because it is a cardigan so this one will be a little larger than a 6 month size. I don't know if I will make the matching bonnet or not. I LOVE tiny needles and skinny yarn!

Here is a photo of the front of the pattern... I also bought the next size up for toddlers and small kids.

So I am happy to start the new year with a new project! Hope your New Year is off to a crafty start...