Roll Out The Head Gear!

 Pick up those needles and let's get some hats knitted for the cold weather that is coming in January and February....

How cute is this one?  Audrey Hat is available on their website

along with other patterns to knit up quickly.

Love this unique design!  Check it out #kalmknit

Carten Hat is a speedy knit! 

Des Amour Designs

Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! Feliz Navidad!

 

See You in The New Year!!  May your holiday be blessed--Peace and Contentment my friends!!

Late Baking & Making!

                                                                            Here we are down to the last minute and guess what — we decided to bake and make some goodies-- Our son is hosting Christmas at his house and he keeps asking about that cheese log he loves so much--so does everyone else!

Actually, it's a famous secret but I'll share here so you can keep it a secret in your household--this cheese log takes only four main ingredients--processed cheese, pecans, chopped garlic and chili powder!  That's it!  

So, here's what you do--add processed cheese to bowl--I use that V cheese-but any processed cheese will work, might taste as good--to that add chopped garlic (amount depends on how much garlic you like--add more or less--)I add about 1 Tbsp-- sometimes more!

Then add chopped pecans--these work the best--amount depends on you!

Using your clean hands--mush it all together!  just as simple as that.  Form into

logs--I guess you could make a ball--but logs work bests---

lay out some plastic wrap, spread lots of chili powder down,

roll your logs in the chili powder making sure to cover every inch of the

logs.

I got five logs--wrap and put in refrigerator--the longer it

sits the better the flavors marry!  I've been known to freezer for

future use--this is the by far the best cheese log in our family!

and to us, it's all keto friendly!!

Going down memory lane I came across my Granny's recipe for

coconut impossible pie--such memories!

I haven't made this recipe in ages--so, let's make it keto--

instead of oleo--butter

instead of sugar--monk fruit sweetener

instead of flour--coconut flour

keep fingers crossed it works!! and taste good!

It turned out beautifully!  And it taste delicious!!

Thanks Granny!

Hubby is making his famous eggnog and pralines (don't know if we

can make pralines keto)

I'm also whipping up this easy peazy vegetable dip--better than

store bought!  We'll have it as a starter while we open gifts

Christmas morn.

Seeing Stars for 2021

 

It's never too early to begin seeing stars for 2021!  I love Natalia Bonner!

She is giving us STARS!  a whole year of Stars for 2021!  Each 15th of the month,

she will present the piecing for a star and then on first of each month, she will walk you 

through the quilting!  All this is free!  You can purchase her class--check out 

Piece and Quilt for information.

Hat Not Hate

Lion Brand launched their anti-bullying campaign in 2018 to encourage people to make, wear, and post handmade blue hats, adding #HatNotHate when sharing on social platforms

Hatnothate is an incredible camp to help bring awareness and hopefully an end to school bullying.  We are encouraging people to make, wear and post handmade blue hats.  Therefore, you can download this exclusive and free Clinton Hill Cashmere hat pattern to make your own BLUE hat or to knit and donate to the cause.  Plus check the Hatnothate website above for more info.

Pattern from Lion Brand Patterns/yarns

Gauge isn't important!  Any blue yarn will work--

find your special pattern to knit and help stop bullying!

Donate if you prefer!

Clinton Hill Cashmere

Woven Christmas...........................

Every year I bring out this Santa--my first woven piece that 

was made by in the 1970's--another first--double weave!

He's ugly but in my eyes he's beautiful!

Here is his back--he just lies around, doing nothing but

perking my spirits up!

One year I wove tartan yardage for the family--actually, I

wove two different tartans--With one I made these Santas--think there

are 8 of them--for others I wove a different tartan to make another 8

Santas!  Whew!  That was the good old days!

There were also Tartan pillows for some--If I weave a special fabric--

not very often do I save something for us--

What are your Christmas woven memories?

 

Memories of Christmas

 It's almost like Christmas Carol--when you begin to unpack all those tree trimmings and decorations for the house--the first ghost appears with memories of Christmas Past!  

I love Santas!  This one was special as it was hand carved, gifted by our

daughter a Christmas 20 years ago--isn't it funny how you can 

remember these things but can't remember what you did yesterday?

My Santa on the left is painted on a gourd!  Yes, a gourd!  you can hear the seeds inside when you shake him--it's like his belly is shaking not like jelly!  The Santa on the right is painted on a cypress knee--you know the Cypress trees that grow in bayous--love these too so much!  Each in their own special way.

Oh, and these special pottery pieces are so precious!  When we lived in Puerto La Cruz,

Venezuela we would take trips into the mountains and visit the artist of

Los Altos--we had our favorites--this artist was one of those very wonderful

people--she worked with clay from the region and made this Mary and Joseph

and Angel for us!  Upon learning we were moving back to Texas, this lovely

lady presented me with Baby Jesus!  Oh, so wonderful!  

Each year I unwrap each piece to bring back those warm fuzzy

feeling again!

My Granny made this nativity ceramic set many moons ago--she

has been living with the heavenly angels for 40 years--I miss her but

each year this set sits in our entry way to remind us that

Christmas is about Jesus and the reason he came to save us!

This piece was gifted to us by my brother--he thoughtfully bought when he

was visiting Israel one year--this is carved from an olive tree.  Oh so lovely

to hold in your hand and rub over the smooth surface.

What memories do you have of Christmas Past?

Let's Knit--

 

Oh My Gosh!  Another Sampler Scarf--I love this

even though I've not finished my Japanese scarf from 2019--

designed by Toni L Lorenz

Fogbound Knits is where you can find this mystery pattern

$2 till December 12--check it out.

These are quick knit for those small treasure gifts--like

gift cards--you can find the free pattern here

How about doing something for someone else by joining in

Warm Up America

Friends Forever 2021

 Friendship is to be cherished!  I love my friends!  Our times together are the best!  2020 put a damper on many friendships--we couldn't gather, we couldn't spend quality time, we couldn't share our ideas or our challenges--oh, there is internet, but there is something about being in person and hugging, shaking hands--laughing, joking, crying.....................2021 is going to be a different year!

Friends together is a block created and designed by

Pat Sloan and Jane Davidson

Let us celebrate FRIENDSHIP in 2021!

Last Minute Gift

 I have a friend who dearly loves OUTLANDER series.  She watched all the shows, read the books and talks nothing but Outlander--Claire, Brianna, and that hunk of a man--Jamie!

What should I gift her?  Garment from Outlander series based on patterns

from Handy Little Me

These are Brianna Fingerless Gloves--easy knit and quick!

I will not make them so long though-

Not to be forgotten--is the Brianna Fraser knitted cowl!

Gift Ideas 

Animal cloths is another stop for me--

one of my friends loves animals--so let's pair a dishcloth with

animal friendly handmade soap.

This friend loves cats!  oh my! how she loves her kitties!

So a knitted cat dishcloth for her paired with soap she will

love!

off to get my needles going!

Advent Knitting

 One of the ways I celebrate the season of Advent is to begin a new knitting project--each day there will be a pattern to knit--as I knit I might listen to The Bible Recap or a Christmas story or just place myself in the mood with some Christmas music.  Each day is a blessing--one that I'm happy to have that my hands can knit and my mind can rejoice!

My favorite knit along is a mystery designed by Tricia Weatherston--I think I've knitted the scarves the past 5 or 6 years.  This year is no different--Here is her description:  "It is a rectangular scarf. It is modular, knit in garter stitch of mitred squares. Dig into your fingering weight leftovers and gather as many or as few colours as you would like. My intention is for this year’s scarf to be colourful and cheerful in what has been a challenging year for all.

This scarf is a mystery knit, and the clues are released between 11pm and midnight. The first clue will be released on Nov 30,2020. The information pdf has a practice square, which is also the first square needed for the scarf.

The scarf is free until Dec 26th, 2020, at which time it will be taken down to amalgamate all the clues into one pdf and add images. Once it is back up on ravelry it will be for a fee."

Another Advent knit is designed by Julie Kubitsky

"This makes a square hap shawl. The center square is worked as a diamond from corner to corner fading thru 5 colors. Then you pick up around the edges of the square and work an old shale border with 2 repeats of old shale in each of the 5 colors."

Kat's Advent Scarf is one to use up all those tiny bits of yarn that just

sit in your stash!  

And away we go with our knitting during this Advent celebration!

No Shopping Here!

 Nope!  No Shopping on our agenda this weekend--just plans for a quiet time at home--eating leftover turkey and looking forward to Sunday when our daughter performs her original songs at Cowboy Church--She has been blessed with good lyrics and good musicians to assist her along the way--

in the meantime, as we try to complete a few chores around the house, I'm working on my loom!!  Yes, I finally sat down to retread my warp and begin a way vision of tea towels--

So far, I've found very few mistakes!  But, just wait till I begin to throw that shuttle, that's 

when those nasty mistakes will appear..

Here we go--yes, there were couple mistakes--mostly, missed

dents in the reed and 3 missing threads in the warp--not bad, I say!

Weaving along and already I'm thinking about the next warp--

do you do that?  I/m not even finished with this one, but I'm moving

onto the next one--

Up I jump to pull out my yarns--here is what I gathered--I'll

look at these for a few days--or weeks--I'm thinking that purple up

front could go back into the closet!  

Gobble! Gobble! Gobble!

 

Mapping..........................

 Mapping has taken a whole new meaning!  Have you seen this?  you can go down the rabbit hole if you visit this site!

I'm in awe!  I sat for an hour just watching these fascinating ways to do mapping--it's genius!  and an interesting way to use computers.  A friend is using Mind Mapping--something totally different--not something I'm going to do--besides, it takes way more time and brain power than I have!

Enjoy Skullmapping site!

Treadling We Go!

The fever has struck!  I pulled out some dyed cotton baggies that have been aging for some time now--

I've been wanting to spin these colorful fibers--actually, I want to downsize my stash!

Is that possible?

Let's begin with these two--

This nicely dyed fiber is 80% Pima and 20% Mohair--

spins smoothly.  It took me about 5 hours to do 2 oz.



Now to go to the other bag--80% Pima Cotton, 10% Mohair, 10% cashmere--whoop whoop!  Luxury mixed with plain Pima cotton!  

When I placed them side by side--it's not the same red, is it?  The one on the left has more blue color--

Guess it doesn't matter when they're plied together, it will look great!

I'm off to ply these two together and share the combination 

Should Be Doing This, But I'm Doing That

Have you ever set a goal for yourself and then promptly didn't complete that goal?

Found something else completely off track to do instead?

I have about 10 quilts that need to be bound--stitch on the binding

and do the hand stitching

I did cut the binding, pressed a couple and then guess what?

I looked over to the corner and saw the file cabinet and

said to myself, " Self, wonder what's in there?"

And Self got up from the sewing chair, walked over to the

file cabinet and began to open drawers............

I went down the rabbit hole!!

Oh gee whiz, here are patterns I want to create!  I pulled them out

and began to process my fabric selection for each of the patterns--

I guess it's called "Procrastination!"  

Oh sorry, just thought of something else I should be doing--

looking in my yarn closet...................

I'll see you later to finish this post...............