Monday,December 10, 2012

The cold weather finally arrived during the night! It truly seems like December and soon to be Christmas now! I am so happy to be at home today. I have several things I want to get done. So, I am starting early.

Wanting to try the Lisbeth #3 cotton, I crocheted the Trick or Treat Doily in Christmas Colors and it turned out quite festive! It is blocked and drying on the counter and should be ready to go to the shop tomorrow. (Colors are a bit off due to the cloudiness this morning)

 

I worked on our Christmas tree today. It's beginning to look like it should although I didn't quite get all the ornaments on it. Maybe I can finish this evening after dinner while we watch the Texans! There's just a few ornaments left....

 

I had purchased a new poinsettia garland for the fireplace mantle in the living room. It is fluffed out and in place but it needs to be secured. It wants to come off the mantle if you just look like you might bump it!

 

Bella's Ornament

Bella's Ornament

Bella's Ornament

Bella's Ornament

 

Some of my favorite Santas -

 

 

I decided to start a few red baby hats for the charity knitting for St Luke's Hospital. I need knitting that is enjoyable yet I don't have to think about it! Red is always fun to knit with and baby hats are quick to finish. They should be fun.

My yarn room/guest bedroom is almost back to itself. It didn't take me as long as I thought it would to get it into order. I have always loved this room as it has large double windows providing a great view!

Joe has a great warm fire going this evening as we get ready to watch the Texans! I hope they succeed in beating the Patriots! I hope you have a wonderful evening too! I'm gonna go cast on for a baby hat.

 

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Trick or Treat Doily

If I had to make a choice, I would choose knitting over crochet - just barely though! I love crocheting with cotton thread to make doilies, table runners, table cloths - little bits of lace. I could not resist this doily when I saw it on Ravelry. I have stashed away Senso as it has been discontinued! I did stash orange, black and a pale orange thinking of Halloween. It crochets up quickly and looks great for the season. Just a few photos of it in our Halloween display in the shop -

Trick or Treat Doily

 

A bit closer -

 

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Vintage Flower Doily

Sometimes you can find the most amazing pieces of needlework in thrift shops, antique stores and flea markets. I always wonder about the person who created the piece. It is evident they loved beautiful things and had a desire to be creative.

I am always on the lookout for exceptional handmade pieces. For the most part, crocheted items are what you will see. I recently found a beautiful little flower doily! I gave it a good hand-washing, gently rolled it in a hand towel to remove excess water and pinned it onto a blocking mat. By blocking, you can really enhance its design! Never, never, never put any crocheted or knitted lace in the washer or dryer. They will be ruined forever.

 

On the blocking mat

Close up of pinning - I placed a pin under each petal to lift it up. I did not starch this doily as cotton dries fairly stiff on its own.

Both my Grandmothers were exceptional crocheters. I have wonderful memories of quiet afternoons spent crocheting to the hum of the air conditioning. My Grandmother, Mae, always had doilies about and would use mason jars to shape the ruffles on her larger doilies after laundering them. There would be a pot of warm, thick, goopy bluish starch on the top of the stove to dip the lace into before blocking. The doilies were then placed on the kitchen counter or table and stretched out to dry. In the hot, dry Texas summertime, it didn't take long!

My Meme, Luella, crocheted tablecloths and bedspreads. When my daughter, Kim, was a baby, I would go to Meme's house one day a week and we spent that day crocheting. She taught me to not only crochet but read patterns! Her simple tuna salad was my favorite lunch! Today, I credit my love of crocheted lace to them.

 

 

You will be richly rewarded for a little bit of time and effort

Close up of flowers