Merry Christmas to Ewe!

Wool is my favorite fiber when knitting.

Thus, I feel a certain affinity with sheep.

I design, knit and sew sheep!

So, it's a given I'd be attracted

to sheep holiday ornaments.

So much so,

I have an entire tree

devoted to them!



Two of my favorites are these two little guys,

one stringing lights,

the other bringing a gift.

This iced "sugar cookie" was a gift from

my sister Nancy several years ago.

One of a pair, this little girl always hangs next to...

...her constant companion.

My daughter Kate made this little leaping sheep from clay for me.

This very delicate blue ceramic sheep was the start of my collection.

Check out this gal's pretty holiday pumps!

Of all my sheep ornaments,

my favorite doesn't hang on the tree.

It is another of Kate's creation,

and it wouldn't be the holiday season for me

without it!

Wishing all of you the merriest of holidays!

Join me at Etsy Cottage Style this week

for their Twelve Days of Christmas. 

Treasures in the Mail Yesterday!

Recently I was a lucky prize winner on a favorite blog of mine -

Two Bags Full... hosted by Vicki.

If you're not familiar with this blog, please go visit it.

Vickie is one of the most giving people

I have met in blog land.

She is a neonatal nurse, a worldwide traveler

and travel writer, she takes gorgeous photos,

she's altruistic beyond words,

creates limited editions of whimsical knitted

"Nests" you have to see because I don't have

the words to adequately describe them.

She's an Etsy shopkeeper and finally,

a knitter and yarn lover.

Can you see why I was attracted to her blog?

She recently hosted a wonderful blog party

highlighting some of her favorite Etsy sites.

(That post alone is worth bookmarking

because it helps simplify  holiday armchair shopping!)

Yesterday I received the beautiful framed,

 charcoal sketch above.

It was donated to Vicki for her giveaway by

Kathy & Gwen at Gorby's Art & Antiques.

If you've visited here before,

you know that sketch will be right at home.

I haven't yet decided where it will hang,

but it will definitely find a spot before long.

Thank you Gwen (the artist) and Kathy!

Not only did I get the wonderful sketch,

but Vicki also tucked in a beautiful sugar cookie

from one of her favorite on line bakeries,

YouandMeConfections!

I've been munching on it with my coffee,

while writing this post.

Yummm....THANK YOU VICKI,

for the lovely prizes, your blog and you!

My Needles have been Clicking!



I've recently completed a series of knitted vests,

using my FUSION Yarn.

This red vest has a tab

and stick button for closure.

The green vest  has two wide lapels

which overlap and create a

fold back collar.

The closure is a large coconut button.

I call this colorway "Rain Forest"

because of its vibrant greens.

I particularly like the styling of these vests

because they are knitted sideways.

This gives them vertical lines,

which are very flattering.

Visit my Etsy Shop for

some great holiday shopping!

2012 Holiday Show & Sale Highlights!



What a party we threw last weekend!

It was our 4th Annual Holiday Fiber Show & Sale...

...and were we ever decked out!

As usual, the front entrance served as our check out area,

but there were plenty of goodies to tempt shoppers

from their first step inside.

Evidently, all our group has been working

especially hard this year,

because we had more inventory

to share this year than ever before.

With our hand knitted scarves, hats,

shawls, vests and jackets,

we also had some gorgeous

knitted and fiber inspired jewelry

and shawl pins, home decor items

and some really inspired wreaths.

We packed lots of goodies into my bedroom...

including soaps, lotion bars and lip balms made

by one of our group.

My "Pillow Vest" found display space on the bed...

...and the dresser showed off more jewelry.

We served refreshments in the kitchen

and tempted customers with some

of our tree decorations

and some good things to take home and eat.

My studio became our "Christmas" room

for our handmade ornaments, quilted stockings

and table runners.

And we even had room to squeeze in a few...

...shoppers!

This show is an incredible amount of work,

and would not be possible without the

talents and efforts of our group,

my sister Nanniepannie, who helps

me install it (AND clean up afterwards),

and everyone who comes and supports us,

while getting some holiday shopping done.

So, my heartfelt thank you to everyone involved!

So, another successful Holiday Show done

and time to say,

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

First Steps in Some Long Term Redo Plans

A few weeks ago I mentioned

the brown couch was being recovered.

I'm SO happy to see it gone.

What a difference a lighter upholstery makes!

I've also traded the rugs from this area

and the adjoining entry.

This is the first step in a redo of my living room.

I also plan to have slipcovers in an off white

made for the two yellow love seats in this room.

I would have had them made at the same time as the

reupholstery of the other love seat,

but the fabric store didn't have enough fabric.

So, I'm on the look out for that.

I recently brought home this painted buffet

for the dining room.

Have you ever noticed when you

make one change,

several more ensue?

The buffet that was here originally...

Got moved to the entrance,

so the buffet that was there...

...could be moved to the living room to

accommodate my new flat screen TV.

Yes, I've finally updated and come

into the new age of television.

Finally, the tall book case that did

house my old TV was moved to

a spot in the kitchen,

which has cried out for a tall piece

since I've lived here.

Perfect fit!

I'm now searching for just

the right fabrics for  new window treatments

and slip covers.

However, all that will have to wait

a bit longer.

Wonderful items started arriving

yesterday for our upcoming

Holiday Sale.

This week will be spent

decluttering and setting

up displays!