Storybook Dolls to Knit is Available: Really! It IS!

I was absolutely ecstatic to get my hands on my very first copy of Storybook Dolls to Knit!!! I hope you will be, too! Despite the snafu with Barnes and Noble and Amazon.com, who seem to think it's out of print already, it's available, really, it is! I'll be back with more details soon! And I've ordered a case of them, myself, which will be available on my website as soon as they come in ... and if you want me to autograph it, just let me know! As with all my designs, I will be here for help if you should run into any bumps or trouble spots while knitting, felting or embroidering.

Oh! One thing that made me so happy: There are step-by-step instructions for my designs ... including the embroidery! The cd of the stories is fabulous, too! The narrator is terrific! I do so hope you'll give these designs a try. I know you'll be glad you did!

Day-After Valentine's Feast!

I LOVE these Russel Stover Caramel-Marshmallow candies.
Just look inside!

This is what happens the day-after Valentine's Day! GO! GO now and buy yourself a bagful! Drugstores usually have them 50% by now, but you have to sort through the box. Don't be fooled by the coconut hearts or the plain caramel ones or even the plain marshmallow ones. Only the caramel-marshmallow combination will do!

I'm half-a-century old!

I am blowing out my 50 candles! (Well, just two actual candles ... with the "50" sentiment!) I had a cupcake in there, smothered with ice cream and fudge sauce. YUM.

Here is my birthday present! A vintage (somewhere in the 1960s) Candyland game! Complete with the ICE CREAM FLOAT card! (Which was my all-time favorite!)

I realized the other day that I really haven't been posting anything for awhile. It's not that I don't want to ... in fact, there are TONS of things going on ... even little silly things every day that might get a chuckle or two, but there just doesn't seem to be any time to take decent photos ... and really, let's face it, even a funny post needs a photo or two. Even though these photos aren't very good, at least there's something to look at while you read. Anyhow, yes, my birthday was the big one this year. The one where now I am starting to receive the AARP magazine in the mail! (How did they know how old Randy and I are, anyhow???) I can't believe it, myself, as I still feel the same as I did 20 years ago. My brother and I were reminiscing about how, when we were little, my Dad would talk about World War II ... and we thought that was ANCIENT history, but in reality, it had only been 25 years or so. Now, to think that I graduated from college 28 years ago is really shocking! But, there it is!

White Christmas! (Well, Day After Christmas!)

Scenes from a Christmas Snow! It started snowing last night ... and it's still snowing today, December 26!

I Miss My MOM!

I switched out the fall decorations on my Mom's grave and put some winter/Christmas ones in the vase. I really don't visit the cemetery very much because I've never felt my Mom is there ... I know her body may be there, but she's safely in heaven ... and her presence is with me all the time. And this is a good thing because I can't help but think about her all the time, anyhow ...and talk to her all the time ... as she was such a huge part of my life ... but right now, during this season of Christmas, I miss her SO much that it hurts.
Today is December 8 ... a Holy Day ... the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Every year, we would go to Mass and then go out Christmas shopping on this day. It was like the official start of the season. Well, at least the official start of our Christmas shopping! While I was at Mass this morning, it was all I could do to hold back my tears. I really hate crying in church, but that's one of the places I always feel like crying these days! I so wish my Mom could be here.
Last year, we went to Macy's for our Christmas shopping ... a few days after December 8, in fact! I remember there was a lot going on last December. Anyhow, we had a really good day, even though it was cold and drizzly and my Dad wasn't doing that well. Mom wanted to make sure she had presents for everyone. She gave my sister and me cozy, flannel pajamas ... a wallet for Kent (something he always wanted and it still looks pretty good a year later!), those super-soft warm blankets with sleeves for Colette and Amelia and a pair of warm-up pants with pockets for Randy ... she got boxes for every gift, too. She sped around Macy's with her walker, looking so cute in her white wool coat and little red gloves. Gosh, I had no idea last year, as we did such a simple thing as head to the mall, that that would be the last Christmas shopping I'd ever do with my Mom.
One day last week, I was out driving past my parents' old neighborhood, and "We Need A Little Christmas" played on the radio. That became my Mom's favorite Christmas song over the years. It seemed to sum everything up so perfectly, especially the line, "For I've grown a little leaner; grown a little colder; grown a little sadder; grown a little older ... And I need a little angel, sitting on my shoulder ..."

Baking Day!

Festive Felted Chain Garland Pattern

Let's decorate!

Izzy and Brown Bear are getting ready to decorate for a birthday party ... and Snowman and Gingerbread Man already have the Christmas spirit! Whether you want to decorate for Christmas or anytime of year, the knitted/felted festive garland pattern will be just right! I also used a very thin, lace-weight yarn held together with some Gold Rush sparkle and came up with little links perfect for a small garland or even a fashionable necklace!

Each link in the garland chain is knit within the next, so there are no seams to worry about and nothing to come apart! Give it a try! You can find it at the Pattern Box in the holiday section. Go there now!