Merry Christmas

I'm just not feeling it... merry that is... I'm not sure if it's the economy, the weather, work or the fact that I'm feeling a bit homesick at the moment, but this holiday season has been one huge bummer for me.

Typically I'm all about decorating and preparing for the holiday and watching holiday movies till there's no end. The Secret Santa Swap offered a huge push into the season and I totally enjoyed it, but there just seems to have been something missing that I haven't figured out yet.

Talking to my hairdresser a few days ago she said that she is feeling much the same and alot of her other clients were feeling the same to. So maybe it's something in the water?

So I finally do get to post photographs of the Secret Santa gifts I made for my swappee. She said she loved them and I'm so proud of them.

First is the scarf. It's just a basic striped scarf with seed stitch border. Made from Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light (I love this stuff).



Next is the Snowflake by Nora Gaughan. It's made from Berroco Pure Merino which is so spongy and soft, I love the stuff and bought extra to make one for myself (I have yet to do that because of other projects).


The remaning stuff I included was a few balls of yarn a crochet hook set and a book of crochet animals. My swappee loves to make little stuffed animals, amigurumi characters. They're cute and I was happy to send more supplies. I also threw in some little treats and such.

I also made Chris a hat, just a basic "plain vanilla" hat from The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns. It's simple 2x2 ribbed edge for 2 1/2" on DPN's switch to regular stockinette stich and keep going until it seems like it's too long and then decrease. Bland, plain and super easy. I made it in a day and a half actually. He digs it and barely takes it off.. which is all I ever ask for. Just kidding



I've also started another scarf, this is for our friend Carlos. He was talking to Chris and asked him if I'd make one for him. So Chris asked me and I had the perfect yarn just waiting to be turned into something (it's cheapy Vanna's Choice) in the perfect color for Carlos. I don't have a pic at the moment but I'm about half finished and I may run out of yarn. See Carlos is 6'5" so a regular length scarf will look like an ascot on him, so it has to be a little longer than normal. So I may have to fudge it a bit and add some color changes to it or lurk around Michael's or JoAnns until I can find a matching ball. Why can't Lion Brand make their acrylic with no dye lot like Red Hart does?? It's acryllic!!!

I've also finally, finally, finally gotten started on the Rona Lace Shawl, I could cry I'm so happy. It took a lot of trying and false starts but I finally got it and it's looking fantastic (again no pictures yet). I'm on row 30-something so if I've gotten that far with no major hair pulling, it's gotta be good... I have many hundred more rows to go, but it's a grand start.

I've also got a pair of socks started for Chris. Our weather has been a bit icky lately dipping into the 40's at night, rain and crud, it's so wonderful. Christmas day was all dreary just like it should be. But Chris being the true Californian that he is gets cold sooooo easily. So I'm making him a pair of socks. I work on those at lunch time and the shawl after work when I get home and I have quiet time that no one is talking to me.

So that's the update for now. Here's a sweet little picture of my neice that's just brightened my days... her first Christmas...