Secret Santa Gift Half way

I am half way there with my Secret Santa Gift.... 

Snowflake Christmas Ornament Pattern

Snow Flake Christmas Ornament Pattern
This Ornament is eas to whip up...so you can have allot of them on hand for gifts. And it will use up those bits of yarn you don't know what to do with.

MATERIALS

Needles:
4 double pointed needles (size 2)
Darning Needle
Yarn: Finger weight in Light Blue and White
(or any colors in your stash)

Notions:

Wool for stuffing and some optional lavender for scent

Due to unforeseen circumstances I have had to start charging for my patterns.
You may purchase this pattern at my Ravelry Store The Handmade Homemaker
 

$4.99

WIP-Wednesday

WIP Wednesday

Yes, I know it is June...but I have to fill up my Christmas Chest for gift giving. Plus I am thinking of re-opening the ETSY shop in the fall.  So I have started some knitted ornaments and I am reading over some ideas in The Christmas Craft Book.

This is a gift I am giving to my Son for Christmas...He is crazy over slippers this will be the third pair I have made him.  Can you see the little green bead marker?  My little girl made them...she is so talented.  I am going to put some on the ETSY shop for her.  She is so cute making them.  We went to the local KIP last week and she sat quietly making these and sold three pair.  Enterprising little minx.

This one is getting longer...it is my take with project. Its such an easy project and all my others are color working, so unless I am going to the local yarn shop to knit, I take this one.  Some people just don't understand that, yes, I need this much table space for my yarn (I have to switch them around so they don't get tangled) the chart and my little note pad so I can keep track.  My goodness don't they knit.

Don't Forget to stop by and Link Up With me on Sharing Saturday and Sunday...show off Anything that you have created, from knitting, sewing, homemaking, gardening, photography, wood work...anything that you have made with your loving hands.
Well, what is every up to?  what are you knitting? are you causing as much trouble as I am knitting in public?

White Christmas

For the First Time since I have been living in Georgia We had a white Christmas.  It started snowing Christmas Day...we all agreed that it was the best gift ever.

" I'm dreaming of a white Christmas...

 Where the tree tops glisten..."

I hope everyone had the magic of a Christmas Snow.

wonderful Word Wednesday

" Ah Friends, dear friends, 

as years go on & heads get gray, 

how fast the guests do go!

Touch hands, touch hands,

with those that stay.

Strong hands to weak, old hads to young,

Around the Christmas board

touch hands."

                                                                 -Wm.H.H. Murray

Silet Saturday and Sunday

Alex's Nutcracker Collection

Snowman Stitches Knitted Pattern

This is Stitches, he has a bit more detail than the other Snow People I have been making.  But he is oh so cute and tells a good joke...keeping you in stitches.


What You Need

Needles: 
Double Pointed Four each of size 7 and 4
Darning needle

Yarn:

White - Sport weight
Black - Finger weight
Orange - Finger weight
Red - Finger weight
Green - Finger wight

Other Items:

Wool fleece for stuffing
Beans for ballast

Stitches Pattern is Available at my store $1.99

Laughing All The Way

December can be a hectic time of year...OK lets be honest it starts up with the Costumes in October and doesn't end till a normal size paycheck comes in January.  I thought I would share a few tricks that might help, they sure have helped me Laugh All The Way through the holidays. 

1. Get a gift certificate at the grocer you shop at every week.  Make sure you check if they expire...yes some of them do.  Some you can continuously add onto.  Every week add money to it...this will more than pay for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years dinners.  I have even gone as far to pay for a week of food in November, leaving me with extra cash for holiday shopping.  This is also a good way to give a gift certificate as a gift...just add a little on it each week.  Great for teachers and unexpected guests.

2. Another food trick.  It doens't cost that much more to double a recipe. Make an extra one for the freezer or If you preserve food preserve one and in big bold letter put NOVEMBER on it.  My family has eaten like kings when we were paupers doing this.  Heck when pasta sauce and pasta are on sale buy an extra one.  Make a November/December shelf in your pantry. 

3. Target is another great place to buy gift certificates at.  If you don't use all of the gift certificate up on gifts you can use it on food in January or give it as a gift.

4.  Department stores are another great place, sometimes they carry toys.  But I use them for clothing, my kids are always growing and you all have had those moments when you kids are wearing "floods".  It is also a tradition to get my kids Christmas sweaters and PJ's each year. And I try to buy these in July off the Clearance rack.

5.  Gift certificates at craft stores like Michaels or Hobby Lobby are big with me.  Not only do I craft but my children do as well.  So I get allot of gifts hear, I also make ornaments as gifts and this is a good way to supply the last minute bead or two.

6.  I don't think I need to mention the after Christmas sales. I have a wrapping container, yes I have one just for wrapping paper that I bought after the holiday for $5.00.  Each year I go and buy paper, ribbons, bows and tags.  And I scan for some of next years decorations and gifts.  My husband collects Santa's (see Mondays posts) my son and doughtier collect Nut Crackers and Snow Globes. And I collect Snowman.  So I can get quite a few gifts out of the way. 

As you can see the gift certificate and after Christmas  idea is endless. You don't have to do them all just one would ease it up a bit. Also wait for the sales and the coupons.  Make sure keep an eye on expirations and you will have christmase done and paid for in October.  Spending the rest of the year being merry and bright.

Hear are the rundowns on Gift cards If you add to them every week (the stores I dont go to I only get one once a month for $25.00.  Setting aside $5.00 every week for it):

$5.00 = $260.00
$10.00 = $520.00
$15.00 = $780.00
$20.00 = $1,040.00
$25.00 = $1,400.00

There are weeks that I can put $25.00 in and weeks that I can only do $5.00.  But when it comes to the time I need it I know I will have at least $260.00.   I also use this for July, it is a tight month for us.  And it is also great for Vacation time as well.

Wonderful Word Wednesday

"For somehow, not only at Christmas, 

but all the long year through,

the joy that you give to others is the joy that comes back to you."

                                                                                                           John Greenleaf Whittier

We are ready to rock around the Christmas tree!  The hats have flashing lights and the top twitches back and forth like a cats tail and sings "We are Santa's Elves" The noses flash as well.
The kids love to wear these out in public and when they see someone who they think needs cheering up they push the button and watch the smiles appear on all the faces around them.  They pretend they are are on a secret elf mission to spread Christmas Cheer.

My husbands Santa Collection...No really he collects Santa's.

Silent Saturday and Sunday

Silent Night, Holy Night

Snowman Shivers

This little guy is always cold. Even hanging out in the Christmas tree by the warm lights.


Materials

Sport weight White Yarn, red, green and black

Finger weight Orange yarn

4 each of, Size 7 and 4  double pointed needles needles

Darning needle

Wool for stuffing

Instructions

With white yarn  and size 7 needle Cast on 30 stitches. Have a 12 inch tail.  Divide equally on 3 needles.

K 4 round
Next round: *K1, K 1*  in front and back of next st.  Repeat * -*. 

K 15 rounds

Next round: *K1, K2tog*.  Repeat *-*.
Next round: *K1, K2tog* Repeat *-* to last st, K1

Next round: *K1, K in front and back of next st* Repeat *-*.
Next round: *K1, K in front and back of next st* Repeat *-*.
K 6 rounds
Next round: *K1, K2 tog* Repeat *-*.
Next 3 rounds: K2 tog around.
Break yarn and pull through remaining stitches with darning needle and fasten off.

Finishing:

With black, embroider eyes
With green and two size 4 needles pick up two stitches on face and knit 3 rows using I-cord method.  Break yarn and draw through nose.  Fasten off both ends on top of head where they will be under the hat.

Scarf:

With Red and two size 4 needles cast on 6 stitches and knit 3 inches.  Tie red and green yarn for a fringed edge.

Hat:

With Green yarn and size 4 needles cast on 30 stitches, divided between 3 needles to work in round.

Next 4 rounds: Work in single ribbing (K1, P1) to end.

With red: K 6 rows

Next row: Alternate red and green K.

Next 2 rows: using green K.

Next 4 rows: K2 together across.

Attach hat hiding stitches.  Do the same for the scarf.

And now you have sweet, big bellied Shivers.  Please enjoy all my patterns but I ask that you use them for your own personal joy and gift giving.  As I make these for my income.  Thank you and happy knitting. 

Wonderful Word Wednesday

A charming story is told of Pepita, a poor Mexican girl who had no gift to present the Christ Child at Christmas Eve Services. As Pepita walked slowly to the chapel with her cousin Pedro, her heart was filled with sadness rather than joy. "I am sure, Pepita, that even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable in His eyes," said Pedro consolingly. Not knowing what else to do, Pepita knelt by the roadside and gathered a handful of common weeds, fashioning them into a small bouquet. Looking at the scraggly bunch of weeds, she felt more saddened and embarrassed than ever by the humbleness of her offering. She fought back a tear as she entered the small village chapel. As she approached the alter, she remembered Pedro's kind words: "Even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable in His eyes." She felt her spirit lift as she knelt to lay the bouquet at the foot of the nativity scene. Suddenly, the bouquet of weeds burst into blooms of brilliant red, and all who saw them were certain that they had witnessed a Christmas miracle right before their eyes. From that day on, the bright red flowers were known as the Flores de Noche Buena, or Flowers of the Holy Night, for they bloomed each year during the Christmas season.

Advent Basket

Advent Basket

I decided to do an advent basket, that way we could take it with us when we camp.  

Thus when the basket is empty its Christmas.

I got the idea from Linda at Natural Suburbia where she gives a tutorial on how to make these simple little treat bags.

Flossy The Snow Woman

Get Flossy's Knitting Instructions at my Ravelry Store $1.99


Flossy is a sweet old gal, a little plump but that from all her good cookin'   She is always in an apron, stirring a bowl and humming...usually "Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow."  She never gets to the warm and cozy firelight part.

MATERIALS
Size 7 double pointed needles
Size 2 Double pointed needles
Darning needle
Knobby Yarn White
Finger weight yarn red
Finger weight yarn green
Finger weight yarn black
Finger weight yarn orange

 

WINTER Snowman Finger Puppet Pattern

WINTER SNOWMAN FINGER PUPPET PATTERN

Get Frostbites pattern at my ravelry store $1.99

What you will need
White knobby yarn
Black finger weight Yarn
Orange finger weight Yarn
4 Size 3 double Pointed needles
Darning needle
Wool Stuffing

 

Santas Helpers

I tell my children that Santa has some extra special elves that do not live at the north pole. Some of them make gifts, some wrap gifts, some who are very special get to dress as Father Christmas and listen to children. We have a very special one that we visit every year, being an elf myself I recognize him as one of the top elves. I am a gift maker/wrapper elf. This elf really decks the halls, invites you to wonder around looking at the lights, take pictures, sit in his sleigh and even has a snow machine. You can see his home a mile or more down the road. He passes out candy canes to the children and hands an extra one to Mom for a child that's too shy to come and sit in his sleigh. He never asks for donations for the astronomical power bill I'm sure he has. But we joyously give this special top notch elf an envelope with something to help with the Georgia power envelope. And we think its well worth it. If you live in the Atlanta area and want to visit him he is on Brookwood Dr SW, Austell. Take the East West Connector head South on Brookwood Dr SW (Near Hobby Lobby) Cross over Anderson Mill Rd and he will be on your left. He also has parking set up.

Christmas Tricks

* * * * * * * *

Christmas Lights

Use clothespins to hang your Christmas lights with on the house, greenery, shrubs and other odd places.

* * * * * * * * *

Christmas Tree

Keep it Fresh:

Crush 4-6 multivitamin+iron, 2 cups of corn syrup, 2 tablespoons of bleach, Fill the rest of the way with very warm water.

* * * * * * * * *

Or try this one

1 Cup of Molasses and fill the rest with cold water

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Greenery

Spray your greenery with hair spray. It will trap moisture in the needles and help them keep there look better. It will also prolong the looks of ribbons and bows.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Knitted Socks

Alex Socks

OH he is getting so big. His foot is now the same size as mine. UGH! I know he will really like these I will just tuck them away with the hat for Christmas. Now its on to Trinity's Hat. I am going to make one just like I did Alex (scroll down) but in pinks and purple and mix up the patterns a bit. Keep on checking back I will have those how to disks soon. Starting with you guessed it SOCKS. LOVE YA!