Puppy Paws

The pads are a mix of crochet, embroidery and needle felting.  The second photo is the real dog's paws, the ones I am trying to make.  Not quite there, but coming along.

The Underdog

Literally.  I am making a dog and I will be needle felting onto this crocheted one.  There have been a couple of versions, but this one looks dog-like and stands.

Japanese Knitting Book

  

  

Can't go to Sydney and not go to Kinokuniya.  Only bought one book this visit, a Japanese knitting book.  I thought this might help with learning the chart system of Japanese knitting since they are smaller patterns.

Glass Domes

  

  

  

I received a glass dome for Christmas, so all the domes got a wash and a re-arrange.   There are too many for the chest of drawers they are on so three were moved onto another cabinet.

And Some More Reindeer, Finished

  



  

The group of six reindeer that I was working on are finished, and just in the nick of time on Christmas Eve.   All but one has been gifted and off to their new homes.  The last little one looks a little sad, but then had a big adventure on his way home from Sydney to Melbourne.  I received a lovely glass dome for Christmas and it worked very well as a travelling capsule for the little one.

Christmas Gift Wrapping

  

  

This year was toadstools. I made the toadstools for the window at Can Do Books last year. The were around the bottom of the tree the gnomes were on. They are little crocheted toadstools on clips. Non-shiny green tinsel was the perfect ribbon to clip these to the gifts.

Merry Christmas

Have a wonderful day with family and friends. Xx

Missing Reindeer

I got a message from my friend yesterday that I sent a reindeer card to her Mum and forgot to put the card in. I concede that I am quite capable of doing that, forgetting the card, but I don’t think I did. I was so pleased at receiving a card from them because I had misplaced their new address and I wrote out the envelope and walked around to the post office to post it, I didn’t even take my handbag, just some change in my pocket. I think I would have noticed an empty envelope because the scarf made it lumpy. But where could the reindeer be?  Hope he is having a nice time wherever he is.

Jo's Reindeer

I finished one of the six reindeer and he is off to his new home with my friend Jo.  I will be trying to finish the other five in the next few days.

And Some More Reindeers

In various stages of making.  One needing antlers, ears, a nose and scarf, one body nearly sewn, one ready for sewing and three needing leaves on their trees.

And Back to the Reindeer

Finished the embroidery and beadwork on the houses and presents, now working on the trees and leaves.  Two are ready to make up into reindeer.

Christmas Cards

 

  

The Reindeer Army of Christmas Cards.  This year I made my cards out of reindeer.  I photographed front and back of the reindeer, printed on cardstock, made wrapped wire antlers, glued the head with the antlers sandwiched in, and made a scarf.

And Some More Reindeer

Red embroidery finished.  Started on white french knots.

And Some More Reindeer

Everything sewn down and some of the embroidery started.

And Some More Reindeer

Managed to do quite a bit yesterday.   Trees made and sewn down, windows cut (not in the picture), doors cut, presents cut, knitted or crocheted.  They are all pinned, so now to sew and embroider.

And Some More Reindeer

Rooves are on.

And Some More Reindeer

Making six more little ones.

Swift Cover

    

  

I finished the crocheted bag for the new wooden swift.  The yarn is from Fibresmith, their own hand-dyed.  I wanted a bag that would separate and protect the parts but be all together.

Little Puds

Today is the last Sit&Stitch for the year at Can Do Books.   Thought I would take something along.  They are little truffles in the shape of plum puddings.  Basically cake and chocolate.

One of the Reindeer

Not sure if I showed all the reindeer as I made them this year.  This one was made early.  He is a large felt reindeer with a large blingy buckle, crocheted belt and several pom poms on his long skinny scarf.

New Swift

  

I bought a new swift for helping with winding skeins of yarn into balls.  I had a wire one that clamps to the bench or table and I have been fighting with it long enough.  It would fall off the desk or the little clamp that holds the umbrella bit up would fail and the yarn would slide down and loosen or fall off.  So I bought this Amish-style wooden swift.  It sits on the table, no clamps and spins nicely.  The pegs are adjusted to fit the size of the skein.   It all pulls apart for storage.  Just need to make a bad to hold it all.

Glynis' Reindeer

And done.

Happy Anniversary

Today is Piers' and my 33rd Wedding Anniversary.  We originally got together because of knitting.  We were both in the Navy and living at the WRANS quarters, Greenwich House in Toorak here in Melbourne.  I was a cook in the Navy and was working at Greenwich House.  I had a duty weekend coming up and nothing to knit so I asked the residents if someone would like to buy the wool, I would knit them a jumper.  There were two takers, one was 6'6" tall and very broad, and Piers.  I said sorry no to the first and got my knitting patterns out for Piers to look at.  We got to know each other and chatted while I knitted.  The photo is of Piers in his first Joyce Jumper.
My Mother-In-Law tells the story that when she heard the cook was knitting Piers a jumper she said her boyfriend would be very happy about that.  And Piers said there was nothing more than chatting and knitting, nothing for the boyfriend to worry about.  When Piers said I was knitting him a second jumper, she said her boyfriend really wouldn't like that at all, Piers said "I'm her boyfriend now"
Happy Anniversary Piers, love you lots and lots and lots. xx

Glynis' Reindeer

Embroidery all done.  Now to sew them into reindeer.

Last Night's Dinner

  

Homemade flatbreads, a series of dips and some chicken.  The flatbreads are easy to make but require a little bit of planning as it needs time to rise.  They are so much nicer than bought ones and so worth the effort.