Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Advent Days, Yarn Along, and a Handmade Holiday...

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It is snowy on this St. Lucia Day, but with a brightness to the sky that is bringing us lots of light.


And bringing lots of happiness to us on these December is a wonderful vintage Tasha Tudor book called Take Joy. So much goodness is this beautiful book! Holiday stories, poems, songs, recipes and delightful traditions!


I have so many favorite pictures from this book, I will post again one day soon and share some of them with you.


This year our handmade holiday seems to be all about knitted gifts. Mittens for the girls, the first ones I have ever knit. They are fun to make! I think I am going to add a bit of embroidery to these so I haven't sewn the seams yet...


Knitting i-cord ties for the winter bonnets. Chessa's green one is done too...

Finished knitting both sets of nesting bowls, but only half of them are felted yet.


The other day the girls made some holiday cards to send to relatives.


Chessa's of course all say "Love" on them.




And some made by Chloe...


I love all the angels!


Our St. Lucia crown has been serving as our table centerpiece, except for this morning when Chloe was wearing it.

And our Advent Angel continues her journey. Now wandering through the trees and joined by some animals.

(Some of you have asked if I made our Advent calendar and angel... Yes, I did. You can see how I made the wool starry path here. I actually meant to share the link last month in case anyone wanted to make one, but time of course got away from me...)


Now I will tell you, most of the above pictures where taken while I was in bed. A really yucky sickness has decided to visit our house. Jason was in bed for 8 days! All the symptoms are very mild, except for extreme horrible horrible dizziness. And just before Jason came down with it we had taken apart half our house, decided to move the girls bedroom, need to paint and redo the floor. We though it would be done in just a few days (or maybe a week) and now we are way way behind! The girls are sleeping on the couch bed and there isn't even space for a Christmas tree yet.

Fortunately now Jason is much better and probably by the weekend the project will be completed. Fortunately I am nowhere near as sick as Jason was but still need to really take it easy. (Thank you homeopathic remedies! Jason has been very over-worked lately, and we didn't even realize he was getting so sick, so we weren't taken care of him well enough...) Fortunately the girls are healthy.
Fortunately knitting is a very restful activity.

And when we are finally able to get our tree and do some more decorating things will feel all the more special and festive!


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13 comments:

Catherine said...

Loving all the angels too! Hope you all get better soon...

a little crafty nest said...

Oh dear, Renee, that sounds simply awful! I truly hope your girls don't get that sickness. Come to think of it, I think maybe Josh had the same thing a few months ago(?) when he couldn't get out of bed for 5 days.
But, on the crafty side of things...oh, how lovely! So much wonderful knitted lovelies! As you would probably guess, I am in love with the bonnets! I think sweet Sunshine would look darling in one of those! And the mittens...I am hoping to make my littlest a pair, too.
Please tell your two artists-in-residence that they are so very talented. I love the festive pictures! I really love them!!!
I've been missing you, Renee, and hope to be in touch soon:)
xo Jules

Cynthia said...

I do hope you are all feeling better! This is not a fun time of year to be sick.

Your mittens look lovely and I love the bonnet. Do you have a pattern source for it? I would love to knit my own daughter one.

Hope you are able to get your tree up soon. It does not feel like the holidays to me until the tree is up. :)

Crooked Moon Mama said...

Sending you healing thoughts! It looks like your gifts are coming along nicely.
xo

Linda said...

A beautiful post Renee, I am so sorry you have been ill, how awful, sending you love and light this Christmas.
Warmly
Linda

Tonya Gunn said...

Oh dear Renee, praying that this sickness will pass over your daughters.
I always enjoy seeing their drawings - so detailed and beautiful and your projects - what pattern did you use for the bonnet?
Warm wishes to you,
Love, Tonya

Tracey ~ Clover said...

I do hope this sickness leaves your home soon, it's hard to be sick and a momma!
Your handmade gifts are beautiful and inspiring. We are having a handmade Christmas here and I think we are all having the best time making our gifts, I will be sorry for it to end.

Mama Ash Grove said...

oh dear Renee, I am so sorry to hear you've been sick! Something about dizziness is So hard to take. I'd rather be sick with a horrible head cold than be dizzy. I hope you are all well and healthy soon, dear friend!
And, I also love Tasha Tudor- you must have quite a collection of her works!
Love, Mel

Heather said...

I love the bonnets! I would love to make one for Landon, so precious.

Unknown said...

Oh no, feel better soon! Love all the pictures. The mittens look so cozy.

Erin @ Wild Whispers said...

I love love love your bowls! Great work!

Heather Woollove said...

Love, love, love your knitted, fulled bowls!!! What wonderful gifts you have made for this year's giving!

Sarah-Our Island Home said...

So much beauty! Thank you for sharing!