2009 Completed Projects

I really couldn't remember any completed projects from this past year as I sat down to look through my pictures, besides the most recent socks of course.  I could only think of all the things that have kept me away from all the sewing and knitting that I would like to be getting done... the new full-time often overly demanding job, my youngest starting kindergarten and the demands of two girls in elementary school with homework and class parties and projects, the planning of a wedding and setting up of a new life with my dear hubbie, several bouts of various sicknesses running through the family the last couple of months... at first thought these events kept me away from my favorite past-times, but with a closer look at the pictures I realize that even when life is throwing crazy demands at you, you find time to work in the things that you love.

Socks were knit on the sly as the girls slept or we were out in Idaho, I fit in some less demanding projects on weekends like finishing a quilt that had been lingering for quite some time, whipping up easy skirts and dying yarn with my mom and aunt at a class.  And when my crafty endeavors were too big for the time I had available, close family and friends, and even internet friends, stepped in and helped me get everything completed. 

Those are now my favorite things... the wedding shawl my mom helped me finish and the ring pillows she helped me design and make.  The napkins that several people contributed to and the first quilt made mostly by my daughter but with lots of help from her proud mama.  It may not be all the things I wanted to do, but this collection represents a need to create and fitting that need in when possible.  I know 2010 will be no less crazy and possibly even more so, but I look forward to fitting this addiction into all the little cracks between living.  I hope all of you find the time to do something you love every chance you get too!  Happy New Year!

The Socks Really Did Get Done!

I'm still not quite sure how, but the socks for the youngest child which looked like this on December 19th:

were actually under the tree for her to discover Christmas morning.

 

It's all a blur of furious knitting.  Knitting while on work conference calls, knitting at holiday parties, knitting while watching movies until 3am several nights.  Somehow a flat of yarn became a pair of socks in just 6 days. 

I wish there had been someone to witness me doing the kitchener stitch on the toes in the wee hours of Christmas morning, but it was just me, the tree and the cat.  I know I'm not the only crafter that turns into a complete maniac right before a big gift giving event, I read many a blog of people in the same frenzy.  There is nothing like giving something you put your heart into and having your 8 year old tell you that gift made it the best Christmas ever, or having your five year old refuse to take her handknit socks off for two days.  The calloused fingertips and carpal tunnel were totally worth it!

 

Once again, the Ribbed Socks For Kids free pattern from Spud and Chloe.

I'm Sure The Next Pair Will Go Much Faster

Alright, it's crunch time.  I finished big sister's socks and now it's time to crank out some for the little sister feet.  I am inspired by The Yarn Harlot's post yesterday where she cranked out a pair of socks for herself in a day basically because she was bored.  I have seven days to make some for little bitty feet, no problem right?  Don't worry, I work best under pressure.

This pattern is the Ribbed Socks for Kids free pattern from Spud and Chloe.  Just a basic sock pattern sized down for little feet.  I didn't want to do anything fancy since they will probably outgrow these by next year.

Time to get knitting!

There Aren't Many People I Would Wait Four Hours to See For 30 Seconds

Who could possibly bring hundreds and hundreds of people out on a dreary cold Monday night in Atlanta to wait for hours to meet her? Apparently Pioneer Woman can! Ree Drummond stopped over in Atlanta yesterday while on her month long cookbook tour and I hauled the kiddos down to meet her.

Little did I know they had started selling wristbands the day before, or that we would have to wait four hours and the kids wouldn't get to bed until 11 on a school night, but I have to say it was worth it. Ree was as cute and sweet in person as you would believe her to be on her blog and she even had her sister Betsy and friend Hyacinth with her.

 

We were sitting right on the other side of the rope from them for many hours and I made several observations:

1) Ree drinks a lot of coffee.

2) Southern hospitality is alive and well if you could judge by the piles of cards and sweets and goody bags they had going.

3) Pioneer Woman has QUITE the fan base going a LONG way from the ranch.

4) She only went to the bathroom ONCE. Did I mention she drinks a lot of coffee? She must have been dying, talk about commitment!

5) No matter how crazy the fan or what the strange request might have been, these ladies were cheerful, smiling and gracious the entire time. They signed. They took pictures. They gave out free t-shirts. They chatted. They hugged babies. Really, after about 2 hours I would have been like man, I've had enough of you people.  That's a lie, I would last about 3.2 seconds.  But they were still smiling and laughing when we left with hundreds of people and hours still to go.

And, to top it all off, Bakerella had come through the line and left a whole box of cake balls (they were so cute and I didn't even get a picture!) and Betsy offered my obviously famished and droopy children some. Sam actually didn't want hers (I don't think she was expecting cake to be in the middle) so I got to have one of Bakerella's creations, yum! They had little miniature cookbooks on top of them!

I really don't know what magical fairy dust was sprinkled on my children to make them behave and entertain themselves so well, but even with the long wait it was quite an enjoyable evening (the fact that Borders ran the whole event really well definitely contributed to this).

One good thing about the four hour wait, I got started and made quite the progress on hubbie's Christmas scarf, about time!