The Very Long Update - Part Deux

And now to continue...

For this year's Christmas exchange, I received a wonderful package from Nancy!

There's a pack of note cards and matching notepad with my initial, a pack of pins, a fabric bag filled with See's peppermints and a dark chocolate bar (See's is my favorite!), a Stacy Nash Primitives chart (Fancy Peacocks Hanging Pinkeep) with the floss, some lovely paisley fabric, a beautifully sewn sewing pocket two skeins of WDW, crocheted pot holders, and two lovely stitched pieces from the Y is for Yarn from the Y&Z chart by Prairie Schooler - a pinkeep and a scissor fob! WHEW!









As soon as I saw the inside of this sewing case, I knew it would be perfect for holding my double pointed knitting needles and the large pocket in the back is perfect for my circulars! And since I knit, but don't really crochet, the pot holders are really appreciated :)








Here's the outside of the case with the great peacock fabric (Nancy knows how much I love peacocks!) and the back of the fob.







And here's a close-up of the sewing set. They're filled with crushed walnut shell, which gives it a wonderful feel.


Thanks again for everything Nancy!



I sent a package to Gaby - and I just found out today that it finally arrived after over three weeks - I was all set to stitch a replacement piece, so I'm really glad it showed up.

I forgot to take a pic of the entire package, so I snatched hers :).













I stitched Gaby Reindeer Parade by JBW Designs from A Few Favorites and made it into a Trinket Tray.

I used the instructions I found here. This was the first time I've tried this kind of finish and I had a lot of fun with it. I used a Christmas plaid taffeta, which gave it a nice stiffness.









Then I let the knitting bug take over!!






I really wanted to stitch a mini stocking and I found this wonderful pattern!! It's from the blog Little Cotton Rabbits. I love how it turned out! I'd like to make a whole bunch of them and hang them on a garland.



I knit slipper socks and ear-flap hats for Dad my Step Mom and DH this year for Christmas.








This is the third pair of these same socks I knit this fall. They were made with Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick with a free pattern from their website called New Cottage Socks The first pair I did in Wheat and kept for myself, the second pair I did in Cranberry and donated to a silent auction and this pair was for my Step Mom in Blossom. I added the suede bottoms because they have hardwood floors.













I knit two pair of these slippers, also a Lion Brand free pattern - called Knit Slipper Moccasins made with Wool-Ease Chunky. The first pair was for DH in Walnut and this pair was for Dad in Bluebell.








For the hats, I knit this one for SM in Wool-Ease Thick and Quick Raspberry. The pattern is Snowstorm (also from Lionbrand.com)














This hat for Dad is made with the same yarn as his socks with an added cream crocheted boarder. The pattern is Ski Hat with Ear Flaps and can be found here.

I used the same pattern for DH's hat, but I still need to take a pic - I just finished the ties on it yesterday.





I wanted to give something to DH for him to unwrap, since I gave him his slippers as soon as they were done and he saw me knitting the hat, so I made this neck warmer. The pattern is from the Bernat website. The yarn is Debbie Mumm Traditions in Adirondack.















My most favorite thing I knit this year was this guy! I found the pattern surfing on Ravelry and it was love at first sight - LOL. The pattern is by Danial Yuhas of Molting Yeti. I used the same yarn as the neckwarmer and it was SOOOO much fun to make! I've already started on the Christmas Trees and I hope to make the Octopus after that.












He looked adorable sitting on top of DH's stocking Christmas morning.


I think that's actually it for craft updates!





I made some additions to my Christmas decorations this year - mostly in my kitchen. This is all stuff I had, but I arranged them differently.








Here's my little kitchen tree - I just wish I had room in my kitchen for a bigger one! LOL











And since I have so many ornaments I took all the balls and piled them in some of my antique silver pieces and put them on the soffet.














And last, but not least, here is this year's Christmas stitching tree (with the addition my little knit stocking!)