The Best Project of All

I found the pattern for these darling booties on Etsy.  Made a pair today from a vintage double weave wool blanket.   Aren't they cute?  Velcro closings at the ankle.  The best thing is I will deliver them in person to my 9 mo. old granddaughter, Emily.  Yes, Nonna and Poppy are flying out west for a good visit with her, her parents and her Auntie.

... And More New Projects!

Regarding my knitting, I am trusting the book a little too much... or the book thinks I know more than I know.   About the time I began shaping the heel, I realized I should have been working on 4-5 double-pointed needles.  Oh, well, ripping out and starting over is a good thing!

Regarding the wool pillows I made before Christmas, I am still enthralled with vintage wool fabrics and so made heart-shaped pin cushions using old textile bobbins as a base.  Trimmed with vintage velvet, little red penny rug hearts, with vintage hat and corsage pins! 

To follow up I took a beginning one-day quilt workshop last Saturday through a local quilt guild.  There will be more classes throughout the winter.  I think I'm hooked!

Happy New Year! New Projects!

Just a quick hello in this new year of 2010.  My daughter gave me this knitting book with her niece/my granddaughter in mind.  It is full of delightful patterns and not too difficult for a beginning knitter ~ just what I need.  So I have jumped right into making a sweet and simple pair of socks.  The snow is coming down like crazy here today.  Hubby is watching the Rose Bowl.  Leftover snacks from last night's neighborhood potluck will make an easy supper. 

Sleigh Bells

An old-fashioned style Christmas in our circle of friends this year.... delightful!   We joined neighbors, their children and grandchildren on a sleigh ride through the snowy woods.  The horses were simply amazing taking us up and down hills to eventually stop at a warming cabin complete with hot chocolate and a sizzling fire in the wood stove.  The view was fantastic overlooking Lake Michigan and N. and S. Manitou Islands off the shore of Leelanau County. 

Christmas Eve found us at the charming home of friends where we shared a potluck supper and went to a candlelight service with traditional holiday music and carols.  

At home I set our dining table with my husband's Aunt Martha's etched clear and red fruit bowl and candle holders.   Always brings back fond memories of her.

Hope your holiday has been happy!

Happy Solstice

And tomorrow the days will begin to grow a wee bit longer.... day by day.  In the meantime, I am loving all the beautiful lights of the season.   One of the greatest pleasures of this season for me is putting on some good CDs and baking cookies all day!  Yesterday I made mincemeat bars, 7-layer bars, almond shortbread, gingersnaps, Russian tea cookies and two kinds of fudge.  We immediately wrapped and boxed them and today they are on their way to my husband's customers, to friends and family.  Enjoy your celebration of this beautiful season!

Vintage Sleigh Project

Here is the darling wood sleigh we have been enjoying making this season.  Found a homemade antique sleigh, refurbished and restored it, made a pattern from it and gave it a couple coats of paint.  Trimmed the hemlock tree and tramped in the swamp for some cedar boughs, tied them up in vintage velvet ribbon, and..... voila!   We have made several reproductions now and expect there will be more in the future.  It looks darling on the front porch.  One lady bought one from us to display her Victorian dolls!

Kitchen Window Panorama