Marie Grace Designs

Vicariously...

When I was little I wanted Playmobil toys in the worst way. At the time it seemed to me that only rich kids got Playmobil toys so I certainly would never have any.

So when Tater started talking about wanting Santa to bring her a doll house and a toy family and when she played with a friend's Playmobil farm and talked about it for days afterward I knew I finally had my chance to get my own her Playmobil toys.

I also realized that it wasn't rich kids that had Playmobil... it was kids who's parents planned carefully for holiday shopping.

Santa brought the house and the little family and the little farm animals... chickens and goats and sheep, oh my!

Its been really funny because not only is Tater completely enamored with these little toys but so are the rest of us. Daughter The Older and Son The Younger spent a good bit of their Christmas morning playing with Tater and her toys rather than their own.

Of course, as with any toys that spark imaginative play there have been some pretty wild plots and story lines including a short span of time that closely resembled something from Alfred Hitchcock (I never said we were normal).

I've been lured away from knitting and cookie munching more than once and parked myself at the play table to toss my own ideas into the story lines.

The only problem I have found is that there are a few things lacking in these little toy sets so I set about to rectify the situation.

There was no yarn! No knitting! How was the little plastic mother supposed to warm her little plastic children with no yarn?!? There were sheep... with no fleece! 

Fear not... I've got it under control...

The sheep were tended near the garden and did grow fine fleeces...

And then it was time to shear the sheep! What a fine day!

After single-handedly shearing the sheep without getting dirty or even breaking a sweat the little plastic mother whipped up a new sweater for the little plastic baby!

I feel much better now.
Tater loved this whole little scenario so much she kept all the little yarn bits and keeps having sheep shearing day over and over again.
I might be in a little trouble though because now she wants to go outside to get some goose feathers to put on the little plastic ducks. Oy.

The consolidated holiday post...

Well, first of all... I so didn't plan to leave that last post about the rolled up newspaper up there for Christmas. I figured I'd have time to post some sort of fabulous festive little message to say "Have a grand holiday" to anybody that stopped by to read.

But instead I got so swept up with the things I wanted to get done that I completely forgot to post at all. So I left you all with visions of me beating various family members with a newspaper. Happy Holidays!

Here's what I was doing instead of posting pretty pictures of trees and paper snowflakes...

The MGD 3 Day Plan for Cookies and Sanity:

Day 1: Make a list of desired cookies and the ingredients to create said cookies. Shop for any necessary items. Put them all away. Go do something else. You're done for the day.

Day 2: Make any cookie batter or dough that can be refrigerated for at least a day. Do not bake... just make bowls and bowls of batter and dough and pack them all in labeled containers and zip bags. Clean up the mess. Go do something else. You're done for today.

Day 3: Bake, bake, bake. Also make oddities like Peppermint Bark and Fudge. Feel free to taste-test any and all varieties and share with the kids.( The Peace Keeping Tool mentioned in the previous post can be used in the event of overzealousness.)

See, I don't work well in messy or disorganized situations. Call it OCD or CF (Control Freak-ism) or whatever, its just the way it is. I find that breaking the job into smaller bits that can be easily cleaned up works well. It also makes the actual baking more fun because there's not much of a mess at all, just cooling racks and cookies sheets. Various sizes of ice cream type scoops are perfect for making tons of uniform cookie blobs all lined up on the cookie sheets and make it easier for the kids to help.

We gift a lot of cookies and keep a lot to share when company comes. My sister bakes a ton as well so between what she gave us and what we made ourselves I'm pretty sure we'll be eating cookies until June. I'm okay with that.

Gifting:

Though I never finish everything I'd like to, I feel like I did pretty good this year. The thing is that once you start looking around for really cute things to make you find that there are about a million cute things you could make if only you had the time. In an attempt to narrow down the choices this year I tried really hard to chose projects that would be useful in some way for the recipient.

Gift bags for kids:

These little bags are a combination of a few different bag patterns. I put together the things I liked about each individual pattern to come up with one perfect gift bag. Each bag was made in a color chosen for the recipient and filled with things ranging from doodle pads, colorful pencils, and gel pens, to gift cards, and edibles. A total of 14 bags. Some with a bit of hand-stitching, each embellished or quilted in some way but each a little different.
Gift Hot Pads:

Yes, those red ones are shaped like ducks. Dad likes ducks... Mom's kitchen is red... it just worked out that way. The ducks were actually a pattern for place-mats but I figured hot pads would be more useful. The really funny thing is that while I was baking all those cookies I managed to burn my thumb to the point of blistering by using a hot pad with a thin spot in it... but I haven't made myself any new hot pads.
Gift tote bags:

These really great tote bags are a pattern in the book Simple Gifts to Stitch by Jocelyn Worrall, in fact its on the cover. Made from cotton ticking these bags are easy and fun to make. The pockets are formed by layering several sized rectangles on top of each other and then just sewing around 3 sides of the whole stack. I can totally see using the same technique to make other bags in various shapes and sizes. I had enough ticking fabric left after these 4 bags to make myself one!(Bags were gifted filled with goodies including homemade quick bread and jellies.)

Needle bags:

A while ago the seams on my needle bag gave out. Instead of buying a new one I thought I'd go ahead and make myself one. It turned out so nice I decided to make a few more to give to some knitting friends as gifts. Its a great way to use all those beautiful fat quarters I've collected along with some wool felt pieces instead of batting between the layers. There was a total of 4 but I forgot to take a picture before I put the first one in the mail.
Some knitting:

Tater's Little Knit Lamb was joined by Knit Mama Bunny. They are both patterns by Barbara Prime. I just can't say enough about these little cuties! I'm surprised by how nice they turn out because I've seen some really wonky looking knit toys before. You'll need a little patience when it comes to sewing the pieces together but its well worth the time and effort. I really enjoyed knitting them and I'm planning to keep the patterns close by so I have them to work on when bigger projects start to frazzle my nerves and I'm wanting something small and satisfying to stitch.

The doll (my own pattern) was given to my youngest niece... purple is her favorite color.

Gift hats:

These hats were relatively quick to knit. 2 strands of alpaca/merino held together and some simple stripes for variety. Much appreciated by the men.
I can't believe the big day has come and gone already but I know that, like us, lots of you are still visiting or being visited and the general holiday-ish-ness will continue through the new year. Its been really nice taking a much needed break from schooling and the typical day to day. I must admit that I've pretty much throw my hands up in surrender to cookies and clay ornaments for about 2 or 3 weeks and therefore have done nothing more than the bare necessities of laundry and dish washing.
I'm looking forward to relaxing for another week or so and also planning some real work, knitting work. I've got some new yarn, some plans, and even a newly accepted design in a very popular publication. After 2 rejections I read the the acceptance note and literally squealed so loud Mac Daddy came running because he thought I hurt myself! I can't wait 'til I can tell you!

A holiday peace keeping tip...

This time of year can be quite hectic and stressful so I thought I'd pass on one of my favorite tools for helping a busy mom keep the peace.

Introducing the Holiday Peace Keeper:

This simple tool is economical, easily replaceable should it become damaged, multi-functional, and completely recyclable.
It was originally designed to keep pesky husbands away from fresh holiday baked goods but recently it was discovered that this tool is also perfect for breaking up puppy wrestling matches in the dining room and waking up 15 year old boys when the garbage needs taken out.
Makes a great gift. Can be customized in many ways including using different colors of paper for outer layer, or embellishing with ribbons, stickers, and glitter.

Still vague...

So the big day is almost here and the kids are pretty much a constant buzz of activity and chatter.

They've painted and strung and fixed what the cat knocked down over and over again.

I took the easy way out and sparkled my clay ornaments... the ones I could grab before the girls got a hold on them. 

We're officially done with schooling until well after the holidays and all of us are relishing in the freedom. Schooling has become more challenging as the kids have gotten older so the breaks are much more appreciated than they once were.
I'm still sewing and knitting... mostly gifts so I'm still being vague on the photos and details. I'm really enjoying all the activity this year. The kids are older and more involved and the girls especially have been great company. They are both becoming more and more interested in crafting so all those funny mama visions I had of me and my girls sitting around the table with threads and scissors and chatting and planning are happening... with no prodding from me. 
I must say that I've read and heard so many stories about handmade gifts that are given to family and friends that aren't appreciated. I suppose people who don't craft have a hard time seeing the value in such things. Luckily all the woman in my family do some sort of crafting wether its sewing, quilting, knitting, or a menagerie of things so they always appreciate a handmade gift. The men would never turn their noses at a handmade gift either because they'd be beaten by the women.

I guess the only thing I didn't do as much of as I had planned was helping out more where there is need. I've started volunteering time at the local clothing bank. Being there reminds me that those in need aren't always in another country or state or town... they are also right here in our own communities.

Warm coats, hats, and blankets are always in need. I'm hoping to have a plan in place before next year's cold weather sets in so that there will be more available here in my town for those who need it. Details to follow as they become available. I encourage you to see if there's some way you too can be helpful in your own community wether its by donating time or items... just do what you can. Every little bit helps.

I did manage to send these girls to knew homes... I hope they make some little girl's day a bit brighter.

We're off to the grocery store to collect a few more baking supplies. Its bitter cold today so I'm looking forward to firing up the oven!

He's a hick now!

Ya know way back when Mac Daddy and I started dating I was the hick and he was the guy that worked for the big company and had a title and letters behind his name.

 

As well as it went I always wondered if I was really what he thought he would end up with.

He went to the gym, I went fishing.

He had a townhouse, I had an old farm house in the woods and a big dog... not to mention 3 kids.

After 7 years... I finally figured out how it all worked out and why... see... Mac Daddy was a hick all along.

And now I have proof.

We got our first real snowfall of the season yesterday. It was beautiful and just in time for us to set up the tree and decorate. I couldn't have planned it better myself.

Sometime between the garland and the stockings Mac Daddy excused himself and headed for his boots and gloves. My first thought was that he was going to salt the front porch or clear off the steps. Maybe hike to the barn to check the critters.

Next thing I know I hear the roar of the tractor. Okay... he's doing something manly with the tractor in the snow in the dark. I was more occupied with the kids and the dogs and the hanging of sparkley things to really pay attention to what he was doing.

Fast forward to this morning. I figure a lot of people that are camera happy like me will have crispy white pictures of our first holiday snowfall. Macro shots of crusty frozen twigs and clumps of icy grasses.

Me? I've got tractor donuts in my yard.

Yup... he was a hick all along.

Our favorite clay ornaments....

I'm pretty sure that just about every parent has whipped up a batch of homemade clay at one time or another. I think we've tried just about every clay recipe we've ever run across.

Some are better than others and some just have different purposes. We have a play-dough recipe that stays soft and colorful for practically forever and won't dry out a long as you keep it in a zippy bag. We make a new batch from time to time and I think the making is as much fun as the playing when its done.

Still, we had a difficult time finding a baker's type clay that we really liked. The typical salt/flour stuff distorts too easily and I wasn't fond of the texture. Some clays didn't dry well... they would crack or get grainy of just plain stink while they baked.

Then we found this simple recipe and fell in love. I don't even remember where it came from... I have it scribbled on a piece of paper in the back of my recipe binder.

Simple ingredients. It does need to be cooked but is well worth the extra time and effort.

2 cups baking soda

1 cup cornstarch

1 1/4 cup water

Mix the baking soda and cornstarch in a heavy pot. Add the water and stir to start mixing. Put on the stove on medium heat and bring to a boil stirring constantly.

In a minute or two the watery mixture will begin to thicken and then will quite suddenly take on the characteristics of mashed potatoes... take it off the stove as soon as it does this and dump it out of the pot onto a cookies sheet in one lump. Cover the lump with a damp dish cloth and leave to cool.

Once its cool it can be divided into smaller chunks and worked with hands... big and small. It will have the smooth silky consistency of fondant! Soft enough for even the youngest of helpers to enjoy.

Roll it out on a surface lightly dusted with cornstarch to about 1/4 inch and cut into shapes freeform or with cookie cutters. We gently stamped some pieces with regular rubber stamps. Don't forget a small hole for a ribbon if you wish to hang them.

It can also be used for small sculptures though it will be a bit more risky to dry nicely. We have 2 small ft snowmen drying on a windowsill. 

Pieces will air dry if left on their own but can be hurried along in an over set to 250.

Dried pieces will be pure white and smooth. Its the closest you can get to homemade porcelain. Sturdy enough to be handled, fragile enough to be precious.

Dried pieces can be sanded, painted, adorned with baubles and sealed. We're planning to paint tonight though I think I'll keep some just like they are.

Extra dough... if you have any... can be put in a zippy bag and kept in the fridge for a long time. I've found that portions kept in the fridge for a while will be a bit sticky once warmed back up with the working of hands. Just work in a little more cornstarch until its no longer sticky.

Like Martha... but cheaper...

Have I ever mentioned that I'm obsessed with Martha Stewart? I don't mean obsessed like stalking I mean obsessed like I have her show on DVR and watch it at 3 am. 

I mean obsessed like I steal old issues of Martha Stewart Living from a friend of mine that has a subscription.

I mean obsessed like I leaf through her books and envision my floor painted with white milk paint and my dining table set just so with little name cards that I hand embossed just so the kids know where to sit when they have their PB and J. Then I open my eyes and want to cry at the dog hair and applesauce that are stuck to the end of the counter.

I mean obsessed like if there's a holiday or a celebration or it's Tuesday or Wednesday and I need a project I go charging to the computer and hit my bookmarks so I go straight to Martha dot com and find my perfect solution.

I knew it was bad the day I stood in a bookstore and held her book "Martha Stewart's Housekeeping Book: The Essential Guide to Caring for Everything in Your Home" in my hands like it was a long lost treasure. I stared at the cover and wondered if this was where she kept them... all those little secrets I didn't know. Like how to get the dust off the back of the TV and how to get beer stains out of a bra (don't ask).

I actually went home and told Mac Daddy I wanted him to buy me that book for a gift. He was stunned.

But I'll tell ya... that woman is nuts.

I don't know about you but my local grocery store doesn't carry cheese I can't pronounce and I would need a gardner (like the one she has) here full time to get the ferns in my shade garden to grow so nicely.

Sheesh... its a good thing.

That said... I'm all about cheap knock-offs and hands-on goodies so she's a great inspiration.

We managed the Snowball ornaments just fine on our own (been there done that) and Tater has a paper chain to count down the days (I'm pretty sure its mocking me).

But those Jasperware Onaments?!? They stole my heart and every ounce of my holiday crafting mojo the moment I saw them (in the issue I stole from that friend). I went serching for the cookie cutter/presser thingers she recommends and almost had a seizure... $38 for ONE cutter/presser thinger! ONE!

I have never loved  a cookie or an ornament enough in my life to pay $38 for a cutter/presser thinger. Ever. 

But I was truly enamored at the sight of those beautiful ornaments. So the girls and I have been working on regular old clay cookie cutter ornaments and I must say we're having just as much fun. And we got our cookie cutters and rubber stamps at the craft store with a coupon in a really big blister pack. 

Take that Martha.

Our morning... from his point of view...

Just because its been cold rainy and grey for days. Just because I've got no pictures to show. Just because I'm crafting in secrecy. And just because so many of us live with dogs that we love... but aren't always sure why.

Here's our morning... from Tucker's point of view... because if I tell it from mine there will be way to many curse words...

The morning had dawned quietly and hazy. It was just as gray and cloudy as the day before but much colder. The sky seemed low somehow, like a visible pressure holding the heavy wet air down on the surface of the earth. His breath condensed and rose lazily into the air above his snout.

The people had set his breakfast bowl on the porch as usual but today there was a helping of meat atop the dry kibble. He ate leisurely knowing that there was plenty to fill his belly. The top of the water in the bucket that was kept near the door for him had frozen solid overnight and had to be cracked so he could get a drink. The boy had been out early and broke through the ice with the handle of a gardening tool.

With the food bowl licked clean and the meal washed down with a long drink of icy water he sat at the edge of the porch observing his place. He gazed across the muddy yard into the woods behind the hill. That was one of his favorite places to go in the summer when it was too hot to be in the sun. He would cross the hill and find a flat spot of dirt amongst the trees and shade and lay there for hours napping and chewing sticks. With the winter weather so cold and wet he had been staying closer to the house, closer to the warmth and security of the family.

He eyed the chickens. One of the hens had a bald patch on her back from a few weeks ago when he had managed to catch her and pin her down, pulling feathers from her back with great abandon and spitting them out onto the ground. The mother of the family had caught him in the act and cuffed him hard across the muzzle. The hen survived and he spent a day in the house being punished verbally again and again. The evil eye of the mother was enough to make him sit in his corner of the kitchen with his head hanging. He didn't like it when he the people were angry with him. They withheld affection and instead eyed him with an indifference  that made him quite uncomfortable.

He sauntered off the porch and made his way to the edge of the woods to do his morning business then returned to the side of the house. He followed the scents of the grass and the rain and the smell of the small creatures that had run through the yard here and there. Occasionally he would pick up the scent of an unfamiliar dog or even a fox and take a few moments to push his sensitive nose as far into the soggy soil as he could trying to get a clear picture of who or what had been in his place.

He loved this place, this life. The people were good to him making sure he always had plenty to eat and a warm dry place to sleep. The children loved him and rubbed his ears and called him cute names with their soft little voices. The man often took him outside while he worked either in the garage or near the barn where the goats were kept. The mother would often lay her feet on his side as he snoozed near her chair in the kitchen. She would rub him with her feet and talk softly to him, words he didn't understand but with a clear tone that conveyed her admiration.

Today's cold damp air invigorated him. He always preferred the cold to the hot and the wet was even better. He took a lap around the property staying within sight of the house. Not quite a walk, not quite a run, loosening his muscles and taking in the heavy air. He stopped once and again to pick up a stick or a rock to carry for a while. Carrying things made him feel proud, like he was working, and he would hold his trophy high and prance so everyone could see his wonderful find.

He came around the front of the house near the porch to investigate the flower bed which was surely waterlogged on a day like this. This was a place he shouldn't be yet somehow he could never stay away. He had gotten in more trouble over this flower bed than anything else. See, he was a digger.

Flower bed wasn't really the proper term for this patch of saturated dirt. In the warmer months flowers grew here, asters and lilies and hostas, but they were all withered and asleep for the winter. Only a few soggy stems and decaying leaves were left. He snuffled at the wet clumps that a few months ago had been purple asters. He used his nose to push at the clump smushing it further into the mud. The cold mud smeared on his nose sending a bolt like icy lightning through his nerves. He tensed with anticipation and stressed a little, knowing he shouldn't be doing this but helpless to stop himself. The mother would certainly catch him and there would be harsh words.

He pawed at the clump feeling the wet on his footpads. More scents were released as he further crushed what was left of the asters and mixed them with the mud. He took tentative bites at this plaything and took a few swipes with his paws in the mud close by. The sticky mixture of soil and peat and rain oozed between his toes and stuck to his muzzle.

He dug more seriously. His claws tore away chunks of heavy sodden earth with each pass. His breath quickened and he was soon panting. Thouroly enjoying himself, he forgot all about the trouble he was likely to be in once the mother caught on to what he was up to.

Before long there was a sizable depression in the ground. He continued to dig occasionally repositioning himself for more leverage. He would stop and shove his nose deep into the hole and take in a deep breath practically sucking up all the different smells that were wafting from the pungent muck. His snout was covered with mud, his paws heavy with the wet.

He continued to tear at the earth widening the depression. Mud flew into the air. His legs were soon muddy clear up to his chest. His snout was covered with muck. His thick fur spattered with the brown paint of his game.

His tongue lolled from his mouth. His ears were erect and sharp. His tail like a run away pendulum. The rain continued to fall more like a cold mist that blanketed every surface. The smell of his own damp coat mingled with flavor of the dark soil.

Some far away drive held him in its grip. The smells and the cold all felt so natural, so inviting. Feeling the sharp cold and the soggy wet satisfied a hunger he couldn't understand and couldn't ignore. He lost himself in the pure joy of his activities running fast tight laps around the crater he had made and then diving back in, his front legs and his head practically disappearing into the earthen cavity.

His muscles quivered with energy. He stopped digging to run a full lap around the property at top speed and returned once again to take a few swipes with his soggy paws.

Again he took off at a run, this time turning back toward the porch. He stopped at the water bucket for a drink plunging his muzzle into the icy water and gulping. He trotted across the concrete porch, his paws making a distinct thwap with each hurried step. He left behind a trail of thick gritty footprints so perfect they seemed intentional, like the brush strokes of an artist across a clean canvas.

His trip across the porch would bring an end to his fun. He had inadvertently trotted right past the big window at the front of the house. On the other side of the window was the mother, clearing the breakfast dishes off the table. She caught sight of him running by and knew he was up to something. She yelled his name and even through the closed window he heard her clearly. He stopped and gazed at her through the window. She saw his mud smeared face and immediately knew what he had been up to.

The front door flew open and there stood the mother, an angry look on her face. She spewed sharp words in his direction and then in one fluid movement turned and shut the door and disappeared back into the house. He sat on the porch confused. 

Within moments the mother returned. She stood in the open doorway and gave him the words that meant he was to go inside. Hesitantly, he complied. The mother took a firm hold of his collar when he crossed through the doorway. She had spread towels on the floor, the same ones he often laid on when he was damp from a rainy day. The dry scents of people and soap and clean towels were a sharp contrast to the heady aroma of the outside world. The mother led him along a path of towels and he could see his destination, his crate. He knew he'd be spending a good part of his day there at least until he was dry and could be cleaned up. He left a trail of perfect cocoa footprints across the white towels identical to the trail he had left across the porch.

His belly was full, his body warmed. His mind was clear and his chest full of cool crisp air. He knew he was in trouble but he also knew these moments didn't last long. For some reason these people thought enough of him to put up with his occasional adventures. For all the times he causes trouble he must do something right as well because they continue to feed him and rub his ears and talk sweetly to him.

Tomorrow he will not dig in the flower bed. Tomorrow he will not chase a chicken. Tomorrow he will spend his day snoozing at the feet of the mother in appreciation for her understanding and tolerance. 

So is his life. The life of a dog. A family dog.

Horton hears a what...

Well the Christmas spirit is in full swing here.

The DVR and the patient teachings of older siblings has made it so that Tater can not only watch every animated holiday special known to man but she can also fast-forward through the commercials and rewind her favorite parts over and over and over and over....

I'm having a blast stitching and trimming and collecting and planning. I must say that I think I'm actually enjoying it all and not stressing much at all which is a gift in itself, for me.

Mac Daddy got home from NYC safe and sound and brought me a gift or 2. A Japanese knit stitch book from that great bookstore and a Battlestar Galactica "FRAK" mug... he knows me so well.... knitting and Sci-Fi and alien curse words... what more could a girl ask for?

The holiday crafting saga continues and I'm still totally consumed with all things small and stitchy. The tawashi are still too much fun and please oh please don't tell Tater that Tucker got a hold of the first amigurumi and did what any 8 month old puppy with more brawn than brain would do and promptly ate it. Well, not really ate... more like dismembered. I'm working on another and pretending I don't know where the first one is.

I was doing okay balancing things I'd like to make for the holidays and things I really need to get done for various reasons until I found Barbara Prime's patterns for little stuffed toys. As much as I love to knit I've never been a big fan of knitted toys but these are fabulous! I've pretty much thrown everything else aside and done nothing but giggle and knit up these perfect little beings.

I started with this little sheep, which is a free download if you, like me, would like to give one a try before you commit to a purchase. I made him with a bit of alpaca and some nubbly white yarn I found in my stash. He was super easy as the instructions are clear and even the sewing up went very well. Barbara also has some hints on her blog to help with the little details that make these toys so nice.The yarn I wanted to use for the little sheep really wasn't thick enough for my liking so I kept to the specified needle size and used 2 strands of the yarn held together... perfection! A nice dense knit that holds shape well and makes a sturdy little lamb.

Sweet little toys for all the sweet little people on your holiday giving list!

Once Little Lamb is done helping me keep my other handmade gifts organized he's going to be a nice surprise in Tater's stocking but I figure he's safe to show you because though Tater has been doing quite a few things on her own lately I'm pretty sure logging on to the computer and reading my blog isn't one of them.

Really... if this little lamb and the rest of Barbara's critters don't make you giggle.. your heart most definitely is two sizes too small.

Tis the season for a little hook'in...

So Mac Daddy left at the beginning of the week to go to NYC for work stuff. That left me and the kids and the critters here to entertain ourselves which can be a little scary sometimes.

With the holidays fast approaching I figured I would get some gift-crafting done so I went rummaging around here and there and gathered things and measured things and knit things and sewed things. 

I get really annoyed that I have all this stuff going on but can't post any of it here because as weird as it seems some of my friends and family actually read this blog and I won't have any of that peek'in stuff going on. I guess we'll have to have an after holiday show-and-tell sort of thing.

During all this secret crafting I discovered 2 things... I still like hook'in and ETSY is a bad, bad place for lonely crafters with Paypal accounts who surf the web in the wee hours of the morning.

Once the kids were in bed and the puppies were both snoring and farting at my feet (bad dogs!) I clicked around Etsy... I'm not sure how it even started... next thing I know I'm downloading amigurumi and tawashi and digging around for my hooks that I haven't used in years.

Luckily I keep all my crochet hooks in this funny old tin with a hinged lid and it makes one heck of a rattle when you go digging for it.

So anyway, while Mac Daddy was taking in the sights in NYC (that's the tree at Rockefeller Center up there in the pic... he sent it from his iPhone) I was check'in out the sites, too. No holiday traffic for me... just some electronic documents, some yarn bits and some hook'in to go with some House reruns.

Psssttt..... somebody please tell me there's something suitable for tawashi other than acrylic... maybe hemp? Bamboo?

More holiday crafting coming right up...