It's beginning to feel a bit like......

After what seems like an eternity, I did actually get my crochet hook out the other day.

I really didn't want to think too much, you know, straining the brain about what to make.  I just wanted to feel the comfort of a familiar friends, wool and hook - shared with tea, blankets and the dog.

What better spot to call in at, but our dear Miss Lucy.

 

I knew she had tutorials and patterns for quick little numbers like this flower.

 

 

 

I didn't care if I didn't finish it (which I haven't yet......), it was just for the fun of it.  Which is often the best way, no pressure, no time limits.  Bliss.

 

 

And on the seasonal front, I've been 'tizzing up' daughter's bedroom. 

 

 

Found these gorgeous hand made baubles in the local Cheese Factory shop.  The lady at the post office made these.

 

I fetched some twigs from the garden and hey, presto!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hope you are having a 'non-frantic' lead up to Christmas.

 

 

 

 

cheers

Fi





Ships Log - and a few of Fi's Christmas treasures

Ship's Log.

No land in site.

It's the week before Christmas, on a Monday morn, on the east coast of Australia.  The natives assure us that this is the time for blistering heat, buckets of perspiration and the constant whir of the strange beast called the air conditioner....

I am sorely tempted to mark these ideas down to mere mythology, or perhaps the deranged and fanciful imaginings of a water-logged mind.

The journey has been long. 
We started off from the Port of Winter some months ago now.  We sailed around the coast of Spring, with the rain lashing against us, relentlessly.

We spied the harbour of Summer, from the crow's nest, some time ago, hope swelling in our hearts - finally sailing in on the first day of December.

We have checked and rechecked our charts for navigational errors - surely we must have taken a wrong turn somewhere!

But, alas, no.

It seems this is to be our lot for this harbour.

Rain, rain and more rain.

I fear mutiny.

Written by my hand,

Captain Fi

This 19th day of the month of December, in the year of our Lord, 2011.

On a much happier note, I really wanted to share with you some of the Christmas bits and pieces that I get a lot of pleasure from.

Isn't it the little ordinary things in a day that can add up to make it extraordinary?

Now, you can take the girl out of the snow, but you sure can't take the snow out of the girl!!  I might be in Oz, but you can't beat a snowman at Christmas.  I love this little pair. 

Now, if I was uploading my posts in chronological order (which I'm not today), you would recognise this garland as 'wot-i-woz-up-to-at-the-cheeso-', but seeing as I haven't posted that yet, you won't.

I only made this garland yesterday, but I think it has to go on the favourite list.

This is my new addition for this Christmas (apart from above-mentioned star garland).

It is my early Christmas present from my darling one, a new nativity scene.

I was drawn to the simplicity of the figures.  That somehow fits in with a stable birth - don't you think?

And this is the 'old' nativity scene.

I bought this about 17 years ago.  It is an entirely different look to the smaller, new one, but still very beautiful and it has been with me through many Christmases (sp?), good and bad.  

This one is sitting on a dresser in my bedroom, so I get to look at it when I go to sleep and when I wake up.

A few years ago, however, there was an unfortunate accident.  Can you see Mary's hand?  No, because it broke off.  Shame.

Now, I pondered whether to save this one for a separate post, as this one falls into the category of 'Fi's Perpetual Christmas Card List'.

Fi's what?

Perpetual Christmas Card List.  I save my favourite cards each year, that I can't part with.  Either because of the beautiful picture, or the beautiful words.  My family have now taken it as a personal challenge to come up with a 'perpetual'.

So far, my mother is winning with the tally.  This is one of hers.  I've had this one maybe 10 years.
I was thinking of doing a post with my perpetual cards altogether, or something,...

Now, this piece is quite special (to me, anyway), because I painted it.

It is a design by Jo Sonja Jansen (who else?) that I painted, mmmm, let me think - about 18 years ago.

Oh my gosh!  Did I just say 18 years!  Where did they go?

I hope my daughter appreciates it, as she will be the inheritor of it, one day.

Well, looking through those treasures has cheered me up some and brought a bit of sunshine into another wise dreary day.

Cheers

Fi

Same Design - Different Look

Just to show you how changing a few simple things of a design can give you a completely different look.

These are the same as the Christmas Holly Wreath earrings, with different colours and an extra row of stitches.

Tip: With earrings, I like to sew the beads onto the back as well as the front, that way they look nice from all angles, if they are the dangly type.

On another note - I don't like to throw away the Christmas cards that get sent to me that I particularly like.

I keep them and recycle them (put them back on display) year after year.

This particular card (in the photo) is one that my mother sent me some years ago.  I love it.  In fact, most of the ones I can't bear to part with came from her.

My sister has made it one of her life ambitions to send me a card that is deemed worthy of the 'display every year' category! (I actually put one of hers in, just to keep her happy, but... ssssshhhh!!!!....don't tell her that!)

Maybe next year, Ill scan them in and post them. 

Perhaps we could have a show and tell best Christmas cards session.

Cheers

Fi

Christmas Earrings - Tutorial

Ok, here goes.

Disclaimer: - I DID iron the table cloth, but sometimes, they just don't cooperate.......

P.S. (I am wearing these earrings as I post this, because I'm growing quite attached to them, I'm really getting the Christmas love feeling..)

Holly Wreath Christmas Crochet Earrings

Well, I have just finished sewing the holly berries on to my Christmas wreath earrings.

I want to attempt a step by step for these, but I think it is getting too close to glass of wine time for that much concentration!

I will have a go at it tomorrow, I am really looking forward to doing this.

I have written up instructions (and published books) for many painting projects, but NEVER a crochet project - my mum will be so proud....

By the way, the santa in the background is so cute - you just touch him and he wobbles - you know, like those wobbly headed dogs you used to see in the back windows of cars.

Have a good night, and Ill hopefully see you with a set of instructions tomorrow.

Cheers

Fi

Ho Ho Ho - Santa Slippers

Isn't that just the cutest face?

I found this pattern at raverly here, and was going to crochet them for myself, but ended up giving them to my husband, just cos they look so darn cute on him.

I wanted to do them in wool, but couldnt find the right red in the local Lincraft store (not a great selection), so I went for the cheap acrylic.  Now that they are made, I'm glad I didn't go for an expensive yarn - because the bottoms are already filthy!

So, now I can officially join the "I crocheted something for Christmas 2010" club.

Cheers

Fi