Friday, December 25, 2015

Merry Christmas- 2015!

Christmas at our house...


                   ...came a week early (due to the schedules of my far-flung children).


                                            We spent a wonderful day together...

                           
                                                 ...filled with laughter and food...
   


                        ...and I'm finally at liberty to share the most exciting news of all:


                                        My first grandchild will arrive in the Spring!

                                                            (Woot woot!!!!!) :)


                                   After noticing that our string of Christmas cards...

                                   ...was just the right height for such shenanigans...


             ...my tall son-in-law posed charmingly with my 'Caps For Sale' moustache!


                               He was also so delighted with Lydia's new felt purse...

                                            ...that he **pulled a Dawn Edwards!!

                                         (**definition: turning any purse into a hat)


                          Using leather punches, shoe polish and woodburning tools...


                              ...my daughters completed their new leather purse kits...


                                                    ...in very individual ways...



                                ...and each child received a tin of 'Thinking Putty'...

                               (one 'glow in the dark', one clear, one magnetic, etc.)...

                           ...because everyone deserves a great toy for Christmas!! :)


                                 Wishing you all a festive and love-filled day today!

                                                       Merry Christmas!!!

Thursday, December 24, 2015

Charleston- Part 5 of 5 (Making Felt!)

Removing the resist and turning the hat right-side out.


                                           After additional rubbing and rolling...



                                                ...the project nears completion.



                                                     Blocking the finished hat...
                                              

                                            ...on an upended spackle container.


                                               (Hand hemming will come later.)



                                          Continuing the 'blue and white' theme...

                        ...my friend combines white merino wool and bright blue silk hankies...



                                       ...to make her first ever wet-felted potholder!
                       

                             Her granddaughter seems rather pleased with it, too! :)


                                                                             
                                                  Next time: it's Christmas!                   

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Charleston- Part 4 of 5 (Making Felt!)

Snippets of variegated wool yarn...


                                        ...are placed on the surface of the resist...



                                    ...and covered by a thin layer of merino roving.



                                            The project is flipped to side two...



                                     ...and, after additional wool 'nests' are added...



                                         ...the wool 'rays' (from layer one)...

                                ...are wrapped up and around the edges of the resist.



                                            Additional merino roving is added...

                                        ...for a total of two layers on each side.



                                                  Mid-way through felting...

                             ...the resist is starting to buckle as the project shrinks.



                              Checking to see whether it's safe to remove the resist.



                                               Next time: the finished hat...

                                      ...and a bit of felting with a 'newbie'! :)

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Charleston- Part 3 of 5 (Shopping!)

From hipster stores...


                                                      ...featuring cunning...



                                                    ...and clever gift items...



                                                ...to local, handmade goods...

                                                ...sold at an outdoor market...



                                                  ...to covetable kitchenware...



                                          ...and festive Christmas decorations...            

                                      ...Charleston was an enjoyable place to shop!



                                        Next time: a bit of Charleston feltmaking! 

Friday, December 18, 2015

Charleston- Part 2 of ? (Food)

Macarons, Florentines...

...and two flavors of Buche de Noel...
      

                                               ...tiny air-brushed chocolates...

                                          ...that look like miniature works of art...



                                      ...filled pastries, bagged and jarred sweets...



                                                  ...hearty (and spicy) meals...

                              ...including stuffed French toast and biscuits (shown)...

                                     ...plus Southern favorites like boiled peanuts...

                                       ...hush puppies, and fried and pickled okra...



                                             ...plus a store filled to bursting...



                                       ...with every imaginable food and drink...



                                                 ...including unusual sweets...



                                                         ...in all varieties!



                                                           Next time: shopping!

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Charleston- Part 1 of ? (Christmas)

             In this run-up to Christmas...

           ...festive wreaths...


             

            


            

              

           

           


           

                                                         ...decorative planters...


           

           


       

                                                     ...flower-festooned stairways...


       


    ...and glittery baubles...

      ...all adorn homes in downtown Charleston, SC.


      

      Stately Christmas trees...



                                                              ...chandeliers...


                                                         ...and alpine scenes...


                                             ...take pride of place in an elegant hotel.


Next time: local food!