Update on Christmas Crafting!!!

I love Christmas.  I haven't said it to anyone else yet, but I keep saying, "Merry Christmas" to my hubby.  He thinks I am crazy for saying it so early, but why not say it?!  We've got our Christmas tree up and our mini Jonah Christmas tree and the other small decorations - that means it is time to say Merry Christmas.  So to you, reading, whoever you may be, "Merry Christmas."  And I mean it!

Christmas is wonderful for so many reasons.  But I wish to discuss my favorite reasons of all... CRAFTING!  I feel like such a crazy when I say that, but ya know what?  I don't care.  Crafts are awesome. And if you don't think so too, you're either crazy or you've never crafted a day in your life.  I suggest you try it out.  Because, like I've said... It's amazing.   You get to spend your time wisely, doing something that actually bears a physical, giftable, result.  Here is an update on what I've been up to when I can get my mind off of Christmas.  As the goal this year is to make a Handmade Holiday, I think I'm doing pretty well.  While we purchased gifts for most, I am making a bunch of gifts to coincide with the other gifts.  I'm not even that excited about the purchased gifts. Here is what I've been working on.  If you are family, you will probably see one of these gifts or two go to one of your kids.  If you have a notion that your kid would like a particular item, please let me know so that I can be certain that one gets to your wee one...

<----- Piggy's alllllll finished!  Isn't she cute?!  I think I will name her Penelope, after a Russian Pot Bellied pig one of my aunts had when I was growing up.  She will be going to one of my many lovely nieces.  Merry piggieness! 

Here is the Martha Stewart Tutorial. 

If you would like one, let me know - there is only so much of the sweater left.  I am going to make a grey/white/pink one for Jonah...because he said he wanted one... but I think because I have been spending all this time making stuff for other kids.  It's ok.  I can understand that.

Say hello to my new little lady.  The picture on the left was from before I gave her a multi-colored leopard print dress.  She is not entirely finished yet as I have to paint on her face.  I went Black Friday shopping at JoAnn's where they had fantastic deals on fleece and flannel!  And this lady is one of the many creations to come from that shopping trip.  Her head is made of BRIGHT red yarn.  This was probably the most challenging/time consuming part, but it turned out great.  Whoever the lucky little girl is who get this will have a lot of fun doing her hair... and to prevent fraying of the yarn hair, I just tied a little knot at the end of each strand.  LOVE IT!

Bunnies galore!  I have made a few bunnies this year so far.  I like bunnies.  They have big, cute floppy ears and because of that, you can make their bodies look like anything = hard to mess up.  Gotta love that! 

The one on the left is denim with some tan cotton remnants from some Pillow cases we made in Young Womens for ConKerr Cancer: A case for smiles.  

The one on the right was made out of a pair of gloves from JoAnn's that cost a whopping $1.  I made the bunny in about an hour and a 1/2 and it was my first time.  The best part (that you can't see) is his little bunny tail. 

Obviously, I have been going a wee bit nuts about all of these projects, but they're keeping me focused on the goal - a fantastic Handmade Holiday.

To the left is a washcloth I knitted up one night when I couldn't sleep.  My mom and I make soaps and bath salts and sugar scrubs and all sorts of fantastic things every year and I thought it would be fun to wrap up the bars of soap in knitted cotton wash clothes. The great thing about the Stockinette stitch (the pattern in the center of the cloth) is that its smooth on one side and rough on the other.  I use these washcloths a lot and I love them!

This blue bear on the right is something I did out of boredom - again.  Because I didn't have a pattern, he is a little bit funky, but I love him!  I think he's going to one of Dave's nephews, but again... I just have to finish his face.  I must have something against faces or something.

On to the personal/family note...
Thanksgiving was fun!  We had a huge Family/Friend celebration at the Trolley Stop.  I will add pictures of the plethora of food that was there.  Here are pictures of my cupcakes!

This is Kentucky.  We visited KY on Thanksgiving weekend.  It was gorgeous!  Can't you tell by the pictures!

Brothers and Sisters with Babies!  To the left is my brother, Jay, with his daughter and his work gear.  We had a surprise pizza dinner for my step-dad at South Park Tavern. It was a ton of fun and he hated us for surprising him.  They have great pizza and 1/2 off their L and XL pizza's on Mondays.  Ha. Ha.  To the right is Dave's little sister, Amanda, with her little cutie Conner while we were in KY for Thanksgiving. Isn't he SO adorable.  He's got some squeezable cheeks, for sure.