It is never too early ...

... to start your Christmas craft projects. Here is my first ornament, a free redwork pattern from Red Brolly.

January Socks

I am continuing my one pair of socks per month goal this year and just finished the socks for January. Yarn is Opal 'Amazonas Franky', pattern is Vanilla Latte, background is a dusting of snow from last night.

Jahresdecke 2016/2016 Year Blanket

Die liebe Bella von Herzensuess hat auch dieses Jahr wieder ein tolles Projekt fuer uns - eine Decke, die ueber das Jahr verteilt hergestellt werden soll. Egal welche Technik, alles ist erlaubt.

Ich habe mich fuer eine Patchwork-Decke mit applizierten Katzen entschieden. Die Katzenvorlagen sind aus dem Buch "Claire's Cats" das schon eine halbe Ewigkeit in meiner Sammlung ist und ich werde 30er Jahre Reproduktionsstoffe aus meinem Vorrat verwenden. Ich muss nur noch ueberlegen, ob ich lieber per Hand oder mit der Maschine appliziere.

Dear Bella from Herzensuess has a great new project for us this year. A blanket that will be made over the year, any technique, anything goes.

I have chosen to make a quilt for myself with appliqued cats from the book "Claire's Cats" that has been in my collection for ages. I will use 30s reproduction fabrics from my stash. I only have to decide if I'd rather applique per hand or use the machine.

Feline Friday

Mr. Frankie

Mr. Leo

Blankets for the Cancer Center

One of my goals for 2016 is to make lap blankets and comfort shawls for the cancer center in our hospital. They have two knitting groups but since I can't drive and don't really do well in groups I will just happily knit and crochet away at home and then deliver them when I have a few ready. For now my goal is 6 blankets and 6 comfort shawls. This way I can indulge in my love of yarn crafts and not have to find room for more woolens in my house.

These are the first two finished blankets.

Feline Friday

The Red-Haired League

Pretty Miss Precious

2016

A new year, new hopes and dreams and plans, and not to forget - new craft projects.

Well, I have a gazillion of UFOs in all stages from just started to almost finished and they will be my main focus for this year. I will only start something new if I already have the material for it or if it is for charity. Cross stitch projects are a different story altogether. I have some that are ongoing, some that need finishing and I will start a few new ones (I do have the materials, just need to buy the pattern).

My charity projects for this year are knitting hats and scarves for the homeless shelter and making shawls and lapghans for the cancer center. This lets me play with different patterns, yarns and color combinations without filling my own closets with woolens. I mean, how many blankets does one really need?

I got a head start over the holidays and here is what I have so far. Two lapghans are finished, three more are on the needles and hooks.

I must confess that I find myself in a bit of a blogging slump. I no longer feel the urge to tell the world what I am up to and the cats said they don't want their pictures taken anymore either. Maybe they are just a little grumpy at the moment because Winter is finally making an appearance here and it is quite cold. For now I am just going to take it easy and see if my mojo returns.

Feline Friday

On behalf of the Cherry Family, MamaCat wishes you all a very

 Happy New Year!

Haekeldecke 2015/Crochet Blanket 2015

It is finished! I would have liked to take it outside for pictures but it has been raining a lot and the back yard is about ankle deep in mud and water, so I had to compromise and put it on the bed instead. I am very happy with how it turned out.

Sie ist fertig. Leider konnte ich keine Fotos im Freien machen, da Wasser und Schlamm derzeit meinen Garten fest  im Griff halten. Daher nur ein Foto der Decke auf dem Bett. Ich bin sehr zufrieden mit ihr.
Danke Bella Herzensuess fuer die tolle Aktion!

Feline Friday (on Saturday)

It finally stopped raining and the sun is shining, now the kitties are happy again.

From our house to yours

Winter Solstice

Cake is baked, wassail is simmering and the candles and greens are ready. Let's celebrate! Greeting the returning sun tomorrow morning is going to be tricky, we are supposed to have rain from here on till the end of the week, oh well, at least it is not cold.

Feline Friday

They have been very good with the tree, just sniffing and looking, no batting at ornaments or climbing.

Holiday Baking

Well, day one went well, so did days two and three, on day four however, disaster struck. I let the mince pies sit in the pan too long and they resisted removal. Nine out of twelve survived with minor injuries, three are completely destroyed and will be eaten tonight. One more day and then I am done for this year, oh wait, I have a secret plan for Monday, stay tuned.

Da 1 - Gingersnaps

Day 2 - Sugar Cookies

Day 3 - Gingerbread

Day 4 - Mince Pies

Day 5 - Barmbrack

It's Up

We bought a new Christmas tree this year. We gave our old one and most of the glass ornaments away after the kittens moved in in 2011 but this year I really wanted a tree and we hoped they are old enough now not to view it as a giant new toy. So far, they mostly ignore it. We also bought some shatterproof ornaments, just in case and the tree is pre-lit to avoid the cable salad that comes with stringing the lights yourself.

I also hung the garland above the french door again and this year I decorated it with wooden ornaments that I bought many moons ago at the christmas market in Stuttgart.

Feline Friday

Sunshine = Happy Cats

Handmade Gifts

I only managed to make one Christmas card, but I did get the presents finished that I had planned for this year.

Feline Friday

Merry Making

Slowly the Christmas decorations are appearing around the house. Yesterday I put my favorite kitchen ornaments up, the cookie angel, the happy hollandaise wreath and my beloved pudding cats.

Another Hat

This time it is my version of the 'Wurm Hat'. I changed the brim and there are less rows because I used a thicker yarn. I have yarn for two more hats, so stay tuned.