Wednesday, August 25, 2010

august ADVENTure

we've been busy tying up lots of loose ends in the home deco area this week, but I didn't want the 25th to slip by me without an ADVENTure update. Christmas is only four months away! can you feel the excitement and anticipation in my voice? here are my current completed projects:
Pattern: Dashing, by Cheryl Niamath
Yarn: Rowan Felted Tweed, color 147- Dragon (green); 1 ball
Needles: US 7 dpn
Mods: I made them a few rows shorter than the pattern.

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back in february, lisa sent me these for my birthday. I feel in love with them immediately and have used them on every trip away from home since. we travel... a lot. and these shoe bags were the perfect gift. in fact, I think they're the perfect gift for anyone on your list. there's something so special about putting your items into beautiful fabric bags instead of gallon ziploc bags, don't 'ya think?

with lisa's recommendation, I followed betz's tutorial for the bag and larissa's tutorial for the french seams. my fabric was purchased at joann's, and I used cording instead of the cotton twill tape. do you know how hard it is to find 100% cotton twill tape in black?? H A R D.

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seems like my cross stitch projects scream for me in the summer. during july and august I was able to stitch up these additional santas for my collection. I'll be sewing these into pillow ornaments just like the others. have I said how much I enjoy the small project size of these santas? perfect for toting around and stitching while I'm waiting for this or that. if you haven't picked up a hand stitching project in awhile, I encourage you to find a favorite and begin!
I'm anticipating a spectacular september, hope you are as well. blessings to you...

finished gift count: 9
finished santa count: 5
finished home deco count: 1

14 comments:

rosemary said...

you are so awesome!i love the colour of your dashing, the shoe bags are a super idea,and your santas are merry!
you need to come here and help me get organized :)
looking forward to sept. too...sort of...

The WoodLand School said...

Wonderful progress, Kristyn! I have a "thing" for fingerless mitts. As usual, your post inspires me :-)

Meg said...

I love how you work on Christmas gifts all year long. I am just now starting to think about Christmas gifts. This year I had a mid-summer knitting frenzy because I have several friends with big birthdays this month, so I really wasn't able to make my usual July start on Xmas knitting. I love your cross-stitched santas!

stitching under oaks said...

so much goodness in this post. I love those dashing...LOVE. The shoe bags turned out fabulously. You're making me want to sew up some more (maybe for myself!) And the santas are adorable as well...you are going to be sitting pretty in December. HO HO HO to you!

a friend to knit with said...

i agree with rosemary.
you really are SO awesome!!!

and so stinkin on the ball i feel inept!
(and the little reminder about Christmas made my stomach do a flip flop)

LOVE the idea of shoe bags. WHAT a great gift idea!
and dashing are one of my favorite fingerless patterns. wear mine in grey all the time.

(my word verification is "daling" which YOU are!)

From All Stitched Up said...

I love your production. The fingerless mitts are great ! I also like the shoe bags. My brother and his partner have everything and Christmas presents are hard for them. I had decided awhile ago to make them shoe bags. I have a nice piece of wool and flannel to line them with and I'm going to get them monogrammed. I think I'll make some like yours for my daughter for Christmas. You've gien me a start on my Adventure.

Gigi said...

Love those mitts! They look so squishy and warm and cosy.
And you are putting we last minute Christmas girls to shame. I must get on it!
And happy birthday to your mom! What a lovely happy looking lady -- like you ;-).

Gloria said...

You are an amazing lady! Beautiful creations...all of them!!!! I don't know how to knit anything at all, so I am totally in awe that you can do this!!
Your cross stitch Santas are adorable!! I hope your loved ones appreciate all the time you take to make these special gifts. God has to be smiling due to the generosity you have in your heart!!!
Blessings to you!!

At Home Mommy Knits said...

So great you have all those gifts ready. I had a half excitement and half trepidation reaction to your "four months till Christmas" :).....love it but there is so much to do.

~ The Jolly Bee ~ said...

You have many good things going on! Those shoe bags are a perfect gift. I really should make some -- but besides going to the lake, I don't really go anywhere. Hmph. I think I told you before that my mother made those cross-stitched Santas -- when I see your work, it reminds me of her and cosy Christmases at her house. You are going to be in such great shape come the holidays!

Allison said...

i've been getting the urge to cross stitch again, too. your santas are so cute. old-fashioned santas are my favorite.

Rebekah said...

those mits are adorable! You've been awesome with your ADVENTure this year!

Larissa said...

Kristen, you have been so productive! And everything looks beautiful. LOVE those mitts - and the awesome color that goes with everything! Love how you're thinking about giving all year long through your Adventure project - I was just talking with my kiddos about Tzedakah which is the Hebrew word for giving to others...maybe i'll start this with my kids this week so that they can begin making cards and small gifts for the holidays rather than wait til the last minute.

Anonymous said...

wow, your needlework is gorgeous. I would love to make some of those santas !!!! I found you through 'a friend to knit with' and LOVE her, and you are so comparable in blogging style (that is a HUGE compliment ;) ) I love your blog and you are definitely becoming a favorite of mine !!!