The Hunt Is On!

While out running some errands, I asked Nathaniel to pick up some Stiffen Stuff for me. I use it a lot this time of year to stiffen the snowflakes I make. To my horror the stuff has been discontinued and there wasn't anything comparable available! I wasn't with him, but he's no dummy, and the lady working the crafts department was too helpful. She tried giving him a recipe for homemade stiffener and I think his eyes just glazed over and everything went over his head. The only ingredient he could recall was cornstarch. I'm sure I could find oodles of recipes online, but I'm rather partial to the premixed stuff at the store. Gah! Does anyone out there know of another product available that works just as well? I need something that will really "stiffen stuff"!

In crochet news, things are finally moving along smoothly with the blue baby blanket I've been working on. I don't have any recent progress pictures so you'll just have to trust me on this one. One thing that is helping is the fact that I've actually been wanting to crochet which is nice. To keep myself from getting burned out with the baby blanket I've been doing little side projects. I think I mentioned them before...? I made several snowflakes but since I don't have anything to stiffen them I haven't taken any pics. I did get a small tree skirt made. It's for a little tree I had on a table on our front porch. I was very pleased with how it turned out. I tried making one for the tree inside, but for some reason I kept goofing it up and finally just gave up on the whole thing.

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Santa was very good to me this year and I'm thinking of getting one of those round knitting looms with some of my Christmas money...they're Knifty...ha! I've been down the knitting with sticks route, but it just goes too slowly for my tastes. I guess I should be more patient and practice more, but I can't help my flaws! They're fairly cheap and look like fun. Anyone out there ever played with one? I've seen a few patterns online for these looms, not a lot, but enough to spark the imagination and to learn the basics. After that I'm sure it would be fairly easy to come up with my own. We'll see.

Happy Holidays From My Heathen To You & Yours

It's Alive!!!

Yeah yeah yeah, I know I suck at updating, but do you see that little countdown thing up there? Yeah. Christmas is coming...fast! I've been busy crocheting, decorating, wrapping, baking, etc...all the necessary things that need doing to prepare for the upcoming holiday. I almost kinda like all the hectic-ness. I have all of my Christmas shopping done now with the exception of a diabetic cook book for my Grandmother and a pail for all the sugar free candy I got for my Grandfather. Not too shabby. I think this is the earliest I've ever been done shopping! Nathaniel asked me last night if I could whip up some doilies for his Grandmothers. I found two patterns that should be fairly simple but still look nice. Here's hoping I have enough thread to finish both projects. I really want to avoid WalMart at all costs for the next few weeks. I've been working on snowflakes too. I don't have a printer so sitting in front of the computer crocheting got a bit tedious (and was cutting into my tv time) so I started making the patterns up as I went along. I've been pleased with them so far. As soon as they are starched I'll post some pics. Well, there ya go, that's the update! Hope everyone is staying sane out there!