Tuesday, January 2, 2018

Silent, and Soft, and Slow


Yes Christmas has come and gone again already.
It comes in a hustle and leaves with a flurry...
But I am always reluctant to let it go and so I hang on for just a bit longer...
And though I love Summer days of open house breezes and carefree front porch swinging, there is still something about a crisp, cold, clear, sparkling, snowy Winter that is almost magical to me at times. The sight of the bright January sunshine drenching a fresh fallen snow and transforming it into a field of glittered white takes my breath away, even from my kitchen window.
I just have to stop and give thanks for the glorious beauty of it all.
Though all the presents have been given and received, the mess torn away and disposed of, I am still feeling quite festive. The Spirit of Christmas lingers on with me during these cold, snowy days of the new year. It has been so long since I created a blog post that I have so many things to share.    
Therefore, this one will look a bit like Christmas
and for those of you who follow my
Facebook pages or Instagram, it will be somewhat of a repeat. Sorry about that!
I made these pretty faire isle knitted hats early in the season using
This yarn is so soft and scrumptious you have to feel it to believe it... and it comes in the most wonderful soft, subtle colors. Definitely a favorite luxury fiber of mine. So if you want to treat yourself, or a friend to something special in the new year, make it using this fabulous fiber.
{or contact me for something custom ;-) }
Of course there were stockings and mitts crocheted and knit up as well.
There were hats galore with big fluffy pom poms... because somehow we all seemed to know we needed to make ready for the frosty days that lay ahead and nothing warms body and soul as well as soft, hand knitted items made of merino wool, alpaca, cashmere and love.

There was even a custom order on my Etsy Shop for some tiny stocking caps with pom poms
and little pumpkins to be used as egg cozies.
I guess even the eggs were anticipating a cold winter...

There were mittens too.
Knit in that same exquisite Purl Soho Flax Down fiber. 
The first Saturday of December ushered the Christmas Season into my home with my annual Christmas Open House. There were five of us here this year selling our handmade items and baked goods. It was our best year ever with a heartwarming turnout of nearly one hundred people passing through the house during the day. We were overjoyed. And again, if you were one of those people, we thank you and we look forward to seeing you here again every year on
the first Saturday in December. 
The following weekend in December brought us to Peoria Ballet's Nutcracker Performance with my granddaughter Gabby having three roles this year. I have pictures of her in just two of her costumes.
It was a beautiful performance. Not only did I have the pleasure of watching from the audience but I chaperoned during the Saturday evening performance and was able to watch some of it from the stage.
All in all it's been a wonderful, magical and very blessed holiday season.
And as I said before, my spirit still lingers in Christmastide... after all, the twelve days of Christmas start on December 25th so I'm not so very behind. Although others around me are pulling down their decorations and storing them till next Christmas I'm not quite there yet. My kitchen cupboards still look festive and there are corners of the house that bear traces of old fashioned yuletide.
It all looks Wintry to me so I'll keep it for just a while longer...
I'm still enjoying steaming hot cups of my favorite Christmas teas too.
and my absolute favorite
Taylors of Harrogate
One promise I made to myself was that after a year full of nonstop knitting for "work" I would take just a little break and make one thing for me  before starting up the new work year. Once again, expecting a cold winter, I decided on a new pair of mittens.
There are a few reasons for this choice:
1) My hands are always cold
2) My custom order book already has orders into Eastertime,
therefore I needed something that I could knit quickly
3) Mittens are my all time favorite thing to knit
4) Whether it be real mittens or even cookies shaped like mittens,
all things mitten - like  warm my heart and bring out my inner child...
for some reason they cause great delight in me.
I have the first one finished and am actually further along on the second one than this picture shows.
Here are the details in case you are interested in making some yourself.
The pattern is very well written and easy to follow and the yarn shows the stitch definition beautifully, making the cable work stand out perfectly.
So here goes...
I ordered the kit from Kitterly
and you can find it right here
It will let you choose from a good selection of colors of Ewe Ewe Yarns So Sporty
which is a 100% Merino Wool Superwash. I chose Brushed Silver 
The kit includes a set of double point needles and a cable needle.
My gorgeous Rosewood Yarn Bowl is from Knit Picks.
Click the link to go straight to it if you're interested in it. 
I have to say I really love mine.

I pray this finds you all having had a very
Blessed Holiday Season
and entering the New Year in 
Good Health and Great Joy
with the special
Peace of Winter
settling in around you.

As for me I am taking things...
Silent,
and
Soft,
and 
Slow...
{just like the Winter Snow...}
for a little while...
And praying that in this New Year I will be filled anew with
"the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, 
to the glory and Praise of God." 
Philippians 1:11

Snowflakes
Out of the bosom of the air,
Out of the cloud-folds of her garments shaken,
Over the woodland brown and bare,
Over the harvest fields forsaken,
Silent, and soft, and slow
Descends the snow.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

8 comments:

  1. Beautiful post today my friend and beautiful knits. You are so talented. I hope to knit a sweater this year, sounds so simple but last year all I wanted to do was crochet, it seems it took less thought and therefore less stress. So glad you had a wonderful holiday. Happy New Year.

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    Replies
    1. My Dear Meredith ~
      I've had you and our Little Buddy on my heart this Holiday Season...
      Thank you for your kind words, as always my friend.
      Yes! Knit that sweater! My goal is to knit more Faire Isle this year.
      I have times where I crochet more as well because I just need the change.
      Happy New Year to You and Yours!
      Love,
      Danette

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  2. Hi! I stop by your blog often and never comment but just had to tell you how beautiful your hats, mittens, stockings, and pumpkins are. You are one truly talented lady! Happy New Year!!!

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    Replies
    1. Well my goodness... how you have truly Blessed me!
      Thank you so much 😊
      Your kind words mean more than you know.
      So sorry that Life has been a whirlwind and it’s kept me from my beloved blog ...
      I hope to do better in the upcoming year. I appreciate your visits and your comment!
      Happy New Year to You and Yours!
      Danette

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  3. I just love your blog posts. Everything looks so beautiful, from those gorgeous flowers in the first picture to those so pretty, girly Christmas cookies. I love them! I can't believe how much you are able to make. Everything is beautiful. Those egg cozies are adorable! I am going to attempt a sweater this year!
    Happy New Year. Stay cozy. xo Deborah

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Deborah! Those gorgeous flowers were a gift from my sweet neighbor/friend. They were perfect on my dining room mantel. And the beautiful girly Christmas cookies were handmade by my sister who is a professional baker. She bakes for people nonstop like I knit and crochet for people nonstop. As far as how much I am able to make... I show such a small amount on here and even just a fraction of my work is sold on my websites. The majority of my business is local and custom ordered. It really is my full time job :-)))
      You make that sweater! They are not hard... if you've ever done a baby sweater then you've got it. Same thing just larger. We want to see it on your beautiful blog.
      Happy New Year to You!
      Danette

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  4. Such a wodnerful post, and I've enjoyed following along with some of these on your INstagram! Those cookies looked AMAZING. You've knit so many wonderful things, it's incredible! Love all those hats and mitts. Stay cozy, my friend.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Sweet Julie! I always love seeing what you're up to on Instagram too! I hope you are able to stay warm in your far north climes my friend!
      Happy January,
      Danette

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Thank you for taking time to chat with me ~
Your comments make me so Happy!
Have a lovely day.
Danette