Holiday Crafting

Because there isn't quite enough to do around the holidays, what with getting the kids prepped for Christmas break at school and all the other random things going on, I decided to make Christmas (or Holiday or Winter or Seasonal or Etc.) cards this year. Of course the idea festered before I finally started them, and I'm not sure they'll get to anyone before Christmas - but everyone loves a New Years' card, right? Granted it was a bit of a process, but I'm kind of psyched about how they've turned out. The inside of the card features a sweet stamp with a generic seasonal greeting that I figure anyone can appreciate. It will very likely make an encore performance at future holidays.

Surprise, surprise, I went with a snowflake motif.

Adventures with Visors

My friend, K, is my hook-up for tasty treats from Durango, CO, where I lived for about 2 years. I babysat for her two older boys while living out there, and have knit several hats for her youngest. I get the best selection of coffee, honey, chocolate, etc in exchange for knitting things. Not a bad swap in my mind. Several months ago (okay, okay, it was probably late summer) I emailed her that I'd run out of the last of my Durango Coffee Co. coffee and had a craving for more. Shortly thereafter, coffee beans arrived in the mail, and email arrived in my inbox that she wanted a hat for herself, and she'd send me some ideas.

She decided on a visor beanie (pageboy, newsboy, etc), and sent links to two hats from REI: a cute visor beanie (Pistil Jax Visor Beanie) and a fun stripey beanie (prAna Multistripe Beanie). I hadn't make a visor beanie before, although I'd seen a few friends make them. I figured I was up for the challenge - especially the challenge of making the hat without a pattern. I can follow patterns, no problem, but always end up changing them so for this hat I figured I could just wing it.

A new venture

I've been knitting and sewing since I was young and imagine it will continue for a long time. I still have a small draw-string bag I sewed in 4H, as well as a pillow from junior high home ec. I'm pretty certain there are several small knit items hiding amongst my dollhouse and American doll things that are tucked away at my parents.


I decided I needed a way to share some of the crafting I do in my spare-ish time. The things I make are a mixed bag - sometimes for me, sometimes for gifts, sometimes for sale. Hopefully there will be some semblance of consistency to sharing what I'm working on, and at the very least, showing off previous work.


Most crafting happens to be knitting, which includes a wide variety of things from sweaters to hats to socks to whimsy's, and on, and on. I also do a lot of sewing - baby quilts, aprons, the occasional big quilt, miscellaneous bags, and clothing for myself, including at least half a dozen dresses that I made for various weddings and that, unfortunately, I've really only worn once or twice. Ooops. If only my job were more conducive to garden-party style dresses.


And now a plug for my ulterior motive:
I've been selling quite a bit of my knitting over the years. I think it started with a holiday craft show several years ago when I lived in Durango. Since I've been on the island I've taken part in the Silver Threads Artisan Craft show that happens in the summer and winter. In addition, I get fairly consistent requests. I've been known to knit for trade as well as for things like coffee and chocolate. Please don't hesitate to email me if you're interested in something you see or have in mind.


I also take on alteration and mending of various clothes, mostly for friends and local folks on island.