Happy Festivus

This post will be short, as Richard is patiently waiting for his laptop back. But I couldn't go another day without showing off the fab Christmas stocking I made for him:


Isn't it awesome? I'm very proud of myself, and don't mind showing it off. Red ultrasuede and bronze vinyl, with gold ribbon star. No pattern used, just freestyled it. Hee!

Christmas is almost here, and for the first time, family is coming here, rather than us traveling to San Jose. I'm planning a Mexican-themed dinner, with a corn chowder and roasted peppers, chicken & pork tamales, chicken enchiladas, stuffed acorn squash, rice, and beans. My sister Jenny is planning on handling dessert: tres leches cake. Yum. Hope everything turns out well.

Christmas is typically an idealized, overly commercial, high anxiety time of year. We all feel such pressure to be happy that we usually end up feeling miserable. After the year that Rich & I have had, I'm trying to just focus on the joy of everyday pleasures: family, friends, home. That's all I can ask for. I hope that all of you have a joyous and stress-free holiday season.

It's Alf!

This may be my favorite Christmas present that I've ever made. It's Alf, the Scary Elf!


Alf is about 36" long, and is a Christmas card holder! Just what everyone needs. Alf is destined for my dear friend, Carrie, who has a penchant for scary elves. Alf will be the "big" brother to the original scary elf, Kippy, who is a demonic looking poseable elf from the late 1960s.

I got the pattern for Alf from the 1966 edition of McCall's Christmas Make-It Ideas, one of my many vintage craft magazines. The minute I saw him, I knew I had to make him. Richard decided his name, as he looks slightly alien. He may not be quite as scary as Screech, the frightenly crocheted screech owl, but he does have sequins and pom poms. And he'll have a loving home, where his creepiness will be truly appreciated. I can't wait for Carrie's reaction.

It's beginning to look a lot like...

One more Christmas present done and checked off the list! I'm feeling very positive about my progress on knitted & crocheted gifts this year. I've finished 7 presents, started 3 others, and need to start (and finish) 2 more. For the record, this list includes 1 vest, 1 shell sweater, 2 scarves, a knit kerchief, 6 pairs of slippers (3 felted, 3 not), 1 afghan, and 1 jacket (sewn). Hurrah.

And when Christmas is over, I get to officially knit something for me! I think my first project will be the Bombshell Sweater from Big Girls Knits. For my birthday, my lovely sister Jenny gifted me with a shopping spree through the yarn store, and I picked up 4 skeins of Malabrigo Worsted in Melilla (brown to white to sky blue). So droolworthy.

Last weekend, Richard and I got the fattest Christmas tree ever. This is seriously a plus-size tree. We decided to go to Home Depot for the tree, because we were burnt out on over-priced Christmas tree lots. So, the experience didn't have the same ambiance as wandering through the lot, searching for just the "right" one, but for ease and cost, I'll do Home Depot again next year. Most of the trees were 6'-7' Douglas firs, which seemed awfull small to me, but they were at least 1/2 the price of similar trees at specialty lots. We ended up getting a 7 1/2' Noble (which we'd never had before, because Nobles are generally at least $100 at lots), and I'm in love. The line was ridiculously long, but the HD guys cut the end of the tree off (the better for it to absorb water in the stand) -- something I could never get the lots to do, and they bagged it in mesh to make it easier to transport. This tree is so fat that they had to get 2 guys to lift it onto the cutting table, and it almost didn't fit through the mesh-ing contraption. I love the fact that every day, when I come home, it just smells like Christmas.

This weekend, I have to work on Richard's new Christmas stocking. He specifically requested a stocking that looks like a cowboy boot, which should be fun. I'm sewing it, so it shouldn't take long. I'm taking the next two weeks off, so there is plenty of time for craftiness (and sleeping in). Photos to come!

Long time, no post

It's been a while since I've posted. I'm mainly here just to let you all know that I have not, in fact, fallen off the face of the earth.

This holiday season is hard for Richard and I, but we're pulling through as best we can. We're staying busy, and just trying to do whatever we feel comfortable with. I am almost done with my Christmas shopping, and about half-way done with my Christmas crafting. This weekend, we're going to go get our tree, do our Christmas cards, and maybe even start baking.

Because I don't really have much to talk about (can't even show off all my completed projects, since they are all presents!), I present a meme, sent to me by my sister Jenny.

1. What time is it? 4:57 pm
2. What are you most afraid of? If you've been a reader of this blog, you probably know
3. What is the most recent movie that you've seen in a theater? yikes, Wordplay? It's been a while
4. Where were you born? CA

5. Ever been to Alaska ? No
6. Ever been toilet papering? Yes
7. Loved someone so much it made you cry? Yes
8. Been in a car accident ?Yes
9. Croutons or bacon bits? Bacony goodness any day of the week
10. Favorite day of the week? Sunday
11. Favorite restaurant? hmm, hard to think of just one. I guess I'd say Luna Park
12. Favorite flower? Gardenia
13. Favorite drink? does a nice glass of Syrah count?
14. Favorite ice cream? Ben & Jerry's Peanut Butter Cup
15. Favorite fast food restaurant? Jack in the Box, but only when I’m really desperate.
16. What color is your bedroom carpet? No carpet, light Pergo
17. How many times have you failed your driver's test? once
18. What do you do most often when you are bored? I have to say, I'm not bored very often -- I always have a project or two on hand.
19. Bedtime? midnight
20. Ford or Chevy? Ford, but just because I happen to drive a Ford, not out of some burning loyalty
21. What are you listening to right now? New York Times audio edition
22. What are your favorite colors? orange, brown & green (you know, those 70s kitchen colors)
23. How many tattoos do you have? none, yet
24. How many pets do you have? 2 cats and a turtle
25. Which came first, the chicken or the egg? The egg.
26. What would you like to accomplish before you die? Have a great life, surrounded by family & friends.