Hello All,

Just a quick post to show what I've done for the December Sketchbook Challenge Holiday Colors.  I didn't really have much time so I used something I had already done to make a Christmas card.

I'm quite fond of this image.

There are many more posts for the challenge on their flickr page and their blog.  I was so admiring a Journal Quilt made by Frieda Oxenham that I went to her blog and got lost in the beauty!

Hello All,

It's been 11 days since I last posted to this blog.  I took a nice trip to see my daughter, son-in-law and new grandbaby.  It was great.

The holiday busyness has crept in too.


Because knitting is a stress relief for me, I've been knitting like crazy on the scarf even though I don't know who will receive it. I sewed up the sides, but I'm thinking I'll just fringe the ends in a mix of the green and brown.  It will be nice.








Yesterday I found a youtube video by Cat Bordhi about knitting a moebius scarf which is what I had in mind for this scarf but obviously didn't accomplish.  Cat Bordhi Moebius video How to Get Started.  She also has a blog where I found a free pattern for a moebius cowl that I want to make.  Cat Bordhi Moebius Lacy Cowl.  

Yesterday and today I've been making holiday treats, fudge, cookies and cupcakes.  I still have shopping and wrapping to do also.  Best get busy!

I'm linking up with Wool on Sundays.

Hope you all have a great holiday!

ABS X-mas Ornament Blog Hop

Hello All,

Welcome to my ABS X-Mas Ornament  Blog Hop Page!

One of the things I enjoyed as a child at Christmas time was the ribbon candy, not so much for it's taste but for the beautiful colors.  The beads I made out of Paperclay tinted with acrylic paint and gold leaf reminded me of ribbon candy. I made tubes, disks and drum shaped beads.

The Paperclay Beads, Pink, Gold and Green

 The drum shaped beads reminded me of little presents so I "trimmed" them with seed bead ribbons and bows.

The Gifts

Then I decided that a wreath would be a nice way to use the little presents so I took some 24 gauge gold tone wire and wrapped it several times around my cloth measuring tape (it was wound up).  It just happened to be a nice size, but anything round would have worked.  I took some seed beads and attached the disks to the bottom of the wreath as dangles.  Who doesn't like dangles!

The Beginning of the Wreath with the Dangles

Then I used more wire to attach the presents to the wreath one on each side of the dangles.  With the ends of the wire I wrapped the wreath with seed beads.

Almost Done,  Dangles, Gifts, Seed Beed Love, and Adorning the Hanger

Using a separate wire I wrapped the hanger section with seed beads.  Can you tell I like seed beads?  I'm very pleased with how it turned out.  Now it has a home on my son's tree.

On the Tree, Isn't it Beautiful!

For those who love to bake at Christmas I want to share a link for some delicious molasses cookies.  Jamie Deen's Old-Fashioned Ginger Crinkle Cookies They are a nice change from all the chocolate making the rounds.  Instead of rolling them into individual balls and flattening them I like to roll them into logs and slice them.  I skip the whole rolling them in sugar part too.  I hope you enjoy them.

Thank you for visiting my blog.  I'm linking up with the ABS 4th Annual Ornament Blog Hop.http://artbeadscene.blogspot.com/2013/12/ornamentbloghop2013.html.

Knitting Progress Report

Hello All,

I don't have much new to share this week.  I've been knitting away on my brown scarf.  It's longer but it doesn't look substantially different so I haven't taken a new picture.  I did buy some yarn to coordinate.  It's a Lion Brand, Amazing wool and acrylic blend in a "Rainforest" coloration.  It's an ombre of olive greens and brown.  I think it will be lovely together.  I'm thinking that when I switch to the Rainforest I'll use a stockinette stitch.  Sorry for the blurry photo but I just wanted to show the color.

Enjoy your week and try not to be overwhelmed with holiday busyness.  It's important to relax and enjoy your family.

I'm linking up with Wool on Sundays.

It's December, Already! Bring on the Knitting!

Hello All,

Wow, it's December already!  Why does it always seem to sneak up on me?

I can tell it's winter because I've been bitten by the knitting bug.  I bought some Ultra Pima by Cascade back in October.  It's a chocolate brown.  Yum.  There was a pretty shawl made up in the yarn store which I had thought to make.  But I'm not concentrating very well when I'm knitting, so I just decided to do a garter stitch.  It's hard to fumble that.  What I really like about this yarn is the feel of it.  It's soft and drapey.  I've used one of the two skeins I bought and it's not nearly long enough.  More decisions, should I buy more of the same or something to coordinate.  I'm thinking a heather or fleck would be nice.












I'm thinking that once it's all done, I'll stitch it into a tube and join the ends for a continuous tube.


I'm linking up with Wool on Sundays, even though this is cotton yarn.

Be creative and stay warm.

Hello All,

I've completed my Art Bead Scene November Challenge piece.  Cezanne's Basket of Apples is a rustic painting which inspired my rustic necklace.  I used Paperclay to create my art beads.  First I colored the Paperclay with acrylic paint, then I added some gold leaf. Then I shaped my tubular beads.  I created a double-eyed headpin for each tubular bead.  I created dangles with the red and orange gem chips. I decided to keep it simple stringing my beads on hemp cord.

Hope you're all having creative fun.

Hello All,

I finished my scarf and even made a hat to go with it.  I was going to make a slouch hat but changed my mind once I got going.  I knitted several rows to make a rolled brim.  Then I was concerned it would be too loose so I did some ribbing.  The body of the hat is seed stitch to go with the scarf.  I got off track and made some wrong stitches which made a line.  So I went with it.  I deliberately made the same ridges at different points along the way to make that first error fit in.  I like it.  Foolish me, I thought that if I was using a circular needle I would be able to decrease right to the end.  I got stuck and ended up buying some double point needles.  It was the first time I've used double point needles and it was a bit awkward.  I'm happy with the finished product.

They definitely keep me warm.

Hope you're having fun creating beauty.