Starting off on a new foot

I didn’t want to say this is the right foot, as it implies I’ve been on the wrong foot up until now.  I’d like to think of it more as the well-intentioned foot.  Either way, 2012 is new and I want to do some new and different things with my time, my energy and my heart this year.

To wit, this:

Click on the image to go to the donation page, and llet’s maybe start of 2012 with some good works.  If you are an animal lover, and have $20.12 to spare, consider donating to the Humane Society before the clock turns to 2012.  They do good work and are responsible for 100% of the love (and 100% of the dog hair) in my life.  I love them, nonetheless.

And, if you, like me, love to read, why not make sure someone else gets to experience the joy of books and reading, by making a donation to RIF?

Click for the link to donate (your time, your things, or your money!)

These two places, plus Hope for Paws, rounded out my 2011 charitable contributions.  They were small, but they got all I had to give.  Here’s to 2012!

Let’s just be honest

We’ve all done it.

This is why what happens is worth it

I made bunches of these Fiddlehead Mittens for Christmas gifts.  I didn’t line any of them, and they were just fine.  Because I’m greedy, I made a pair for myself, though, and I did line them.  And, it was totally worth it.  They are awesome, and so warm, it’s like I knitted them from yarn made of fire.  Bring it, winter.

Yum, yum, yum. On to the next pair!

This is what happens

When I have time off from work, I always tell myself I’m going to do something grand.  Finish up the quilts languishing in the to-do bin, weaving in ends and boxing up shipments for Chicago Textile Works & Black Sheep, tidying up the house, stripping the kitchen cabinets (I did start on that, though… or, at least, I moved the equipment and the tarp from the car and into the kitchen), installing new blinds… You know, generally fixing my life and getting stuff in order.

I eventually get around to things, but it takes a while.  That’s why I was okay with cutting my visit home short, because I knew I’d waste the first day back in my house.  As per usual, I looked around at all I’d planned to do and decided to knit linings for a pair of mittens (for me) instead.  What is wrong with me?

I'm going to keep these for myself!

Knitters, you’ll note that green sliver on the bottom left of the picture?  I’ve been looking for that stitch marker for weeks.

Grindstone

Is your nose back to it, too?  If so, this might help when you find your joy-to-the-world-peace-on-earth-love-for-fellow-man spirit on the wane.

Click to experience the nicest place on the internet. (No kittens, either!)

Recovery

He’s got it just about right, that one.

This is what we do after a long drive home and back.

We’re both recovering from a glorious 5 days away from work-work, home-work, and textile-work where all we did was eat and nap and shop and laugh and laugh and laugh.  I hope it’s true what they say about laughter burning calories because I only went to the gym twice over the holiday break.

It reminded me how lucky I am to have a family full of crazy people who, at the end of the day, love each other and take each other’s ribbing in the spirit with which it’s delivered.  It was, really, a great holiday.  If there was a downside, it was that Dad and I didn’t get to enjoy the annual ritual of watching Jeepers Creepers (I and II).  We settled for Mansquito, though, which was almost as good.  I dropped off lots of finished goods to Eula, and three of them sold while I was in town, which is a wonderful motivator to get cracking in 2012.  Success can’t be far off …

I hope you and yours had just the holiday you’d hoped for and more.  Back to the grind tomorrow — sorting through images from the product photoshoot for Chicago Textile Works and hope to have them up by Friday!

Peace on Earth

“The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.”

Peace, joy, and happiness to you and yours this season.  Here’s to finding common ground, being kind to each other, and following our dreams in 2012.

Click to view. If they can do it ...

The hits just keep on coming

Two pairs of Fiddlehead Mittens done, one half of the final pair on the needles.  Here’s proof:

One mitten and two thumbs to go! Merry Christmas!

And I don’t even KNOW these babies

I’m getting out of Dodge on Wednesday.  If all goes well, I’ll be setting foot on hallowed Ohio ground by 5pm.  If all goes as I expect, I’ll be there Thursday afternoon.  Whatever.  I’d just like to say, look at these baby sweaters:

And, I don't even know those kids.

Now, on to hats for Aria Patel, who I do know… kind of.  Merry, Happy, Blessed [INSERT HOLIDAY HERE].  I’m going to curl up on the couch with Russell Jenkins and practice telepathic knitting.

There are HOW many days until Christmas?

Looking around the joint, realization of how much I’ve yet to do is starting to set in.  All I can say is, “Oh, no.”