Holiday Craft Fairs

One of my favorite things about the holiday season are the craft fairs. I love to go and browse all the wonderful handmade items for sale.

I always have to walk around the whole craft fair a couple of times before deciding on my purchases. I usually see a lot of things that I want to go home and try to make myself. The things I buy are usually things I either don't know how to make, or have no interest in making and would rather pay for another crafter's fine workmanship! I went to a couple of craft fairs this weekend and picked up this beautiful quilted table runner for my sister - it's reversible so it can be used after Christmas as well. The little Santa ornaments are painted on the back of spoons and the handles of the spoon are bent down for hangers. These and the snowman ornament will probably be for swaps at staff holiday parties. The bag in the back is for me. They were being sold as Bingo bags - apparently avid bingo players (up here it is called beano - I'm not sure why, but I think it has something to do with the bean suppers that often accompanied bingo games in the past) anyway - they use the pockets around the sides for their daubers (the things they use to mark their paper bingo sheets. I was informed that they like to use all different colors - the reason for all the pockets. I'm not sure what they use the inside of the bag for - maybe their money? I looked at these bags and saw 'knitting bag' written all over them.

Knitting needles, crochet hooks, tape measure, stitch markers, etc. can go in the pockets, and the project in the bag of course.

Now I have to get things ready for my own craft table at our school's holiday craft fair. Do any of you do craft fairs? This will only be the second one I've ever done, and I'm not sure about pricing. Any advice? I'm selling mostly felted bags, but I have some scarves, neckwarmers, headbands, things like that.

Snowy Saturday

We're getting our first snow of the season today - I don't think it will amount to much, but it's been snowing since early this morning and the roads are 'greasy' so I'm staying hom and Christmas shopping on line - my favorite way to do it!

I'm also trying to get my Holiday swaps put together and in the mail early. For one of the swaps (won't say which one although I don't think my pal knows who I am) I made this cowl and

"Calorimetry" (headband)

And look who stopped by to model the Calorimetry I made for her?

I was going to save it for Christmas but she arrived hatless and I couldn't wait to see how it looked on her.

So....cute!

She's a perfect model!

Rainy Sunday

But at least it's not white - I'm not ready for snow yet! And it's a great day to knit and read and be lazy.

I finished the HMGA mystery #3 and never guessed at what it was until the last clue. It's a hoodie with a neckwarmer - very cute. But also very big. I'm thinking of felting it a little bit since I knit it with wool.

This will be great for recess duty on cold days this winter! So I probably won't be gifting it.

I also finished another small HMGA - this adorable ornament. I used Aunt Lydia's crochet thread in gold. I'm going to make more, some in silver too, but it can also be knit in sock yarn. I think it would be really cute in a self-patterning sock yarn.

I'm in a couple of holiday swaps and I think a few of these would be great in a package along with some other goodies.

That ticker at the top of my blog is beginning to scare me! As usual, my goal of handknit gifts for everyone is not going to be met!

Happy Veteran's Day

We had a Veteran's Day assembly at school yesterday. The Cub Scouts led us in the Flag Salute, the National Anthem, and sang God Bless the USA. They also read papers they wrote on what Veteran's Day means to them and a few local veteran's spoke. It was simple but very moving.



So today please join me in giving thanks to all of our veterans past and present, (including my DH who served 22 years in the Navy) and praying for those serving in the current war to come home safe and soon.

And oh yes, I'm thankful for a day off in the middle of the week too!



The picture on the right is my father who fought in WWII.

Whatcha Building?

I don't think my DH really understands my compulsive knitting, but he has never complained about it (probably because I have pointy sticks in my hands). He does try to take an interest and often when I settle down in my favorite chair to watch t.v. and knit he will look over and ask "Watcha building?" So I tell him it's another felted bag, or a scarf, or a hat, or socks or whatever, and he says, "Oh, that's nice." Last night he asked "whatcha building" and I said, "I don't know" - "You don't know?" "Nope - I have no idea. It's a mystery knit and I'm on Clue #5 of 7 and I don't have a clue what it is." I think he's more confused than ever about my knitting now! This is Mystery Knit #3 from the Holiday Mystery Gifts KAL Group


Clue #1 said the size is Adult Female - Well - I don't think it's going to fit this adult female! I have two more clues to go - and I can't wait to see what it is. This group is so much fun.

These two gift bag got a much better response from DH - he thought they were very pretty. They are the Evergreen and Christmas Rose gift bags from Handknit Holidays. I love them too - almost too much to give away!

And, yes, I do have another felted bag on the needles, and a second sock, and a project for Whoduknit, and a neck-warmer.............

Maybe I do knit too much? Nah....

that's not possible. I just wish I could figure out a way to knit more - so much yarn, so many patterns, and so little time!

SURPRISE!!!!

What's the best way to surprise someone with a birthday party? Have it a month before their birthday! My DD invited us to their lake house for dinner last night and since it was my DHs birthday last week I figured she would probably have a birthday cake for him. My sister and her dh were up from NJ visiting so they came too and when we opened the door there was a large box wrapped in birthday paper - and then....out popped Tori yelling surprise. It took me awhile to figure it out but it was a birthday party for my dh, me, my sister, and her dh. All the birthdays in Nov. Dec. & January taken care of!

And, not just any party- but a "Casino Night" with dice and card games, bingo, and prizes! The whole place was decorated in a Casino theme - the kids were wearing 'casino night'
t-shirts with 'staff' on them. And even Casper was dressed for the occasion.!
What a great surprise!

Yes We Can!

One Day to Change the World

A few WIPs and FOs

Another felted bag in progress.
I'm trying to get a few finished in time for a holiday craft fair at the school next month.

I'm knitting this mock cable neck warmer with the Araucania yarn I have left over from my fidget neck warmer and I think I will have just enough. If not, it will become a headband!

This was a mystery knit on the Holiday Mystery Gift-Along Group. I had no idea what it was even after I finished it - looked like a miniature slipper. But when the photo was revealed - it turned out to be a chapstick holder keychain. What a great stocking stuffer! What a great group this is!

Here is Mspalmtree's Traveling Scarf (Noro Combo Group 37) I added the panel on the bottom - this time I added on to the original panel in crochet.

Hope you like it Nancy!

And, yet another felted bag (I can truly knit these in my sleep.

Happy Halloween

OFF TO SEE THE WIZARD (Teenage version!)

WHITCH WITCH AM I?