Yarn Resolutions for 2013

Several blogs I read are putting up "Year in Review" posts - sharing projects from the last 365. I think my biggest finish was the Beast-Ghan. It took first place in the State Fair and was quite an accomplishment due to the general size of the ... well.... beast.

I am not sure I'm ready to go digging through the remainder of my posts to try and figure out what is good to share again.

So what can I do... I can make resolutions!

I have never set resolutions before - not even for my regular life. I have lost weight (and gained weight) all without the help of some spoken promise on January 1. But this year, I am going to make some resolutions for my yarn life.

*takes a deep breath*

On a Winter's Day

(c) The Man: backyard lanterns (that probably need put away)

I feel somewhat obligated to make a last day of the year post. Many of the blogs I follow have been doing "round up" type posts, sharing images they have posted throughout the year - projects completed... projects in progress. Today for me has been slow and relaxing which is nothing to complain about.

Year of Projects 2: Update 15

Project Percentage Complete: 48%

Overall Percentage Complete: 35%

Number of Project Items: 98
Number of Added Items: 63
Total Items: 161

Total Completed Project Items: 47
Total Completed Items: 57

Building Traditions

I wholeheartedly believe families need tradition - things that they do that are special to each and every one in that family - to make them feel part of that family. They do not have to be major events nor do they need to be expensive - and this year, our family started a new tradition: handmade gifts.

We decided, about two months ago, to draw names. Each one of us pulled a name from the pile and that was the person we would make a gift for. Now - you could get that person more than one gift, you could get EVERYONE a gift if you wanted - but at least one gift for the person you drew had to be handmade. This is a continuation of something my dad's side of the family did at our family gathering - it was meant to keep things simple although I have to admit, some pretty funny gifts were made. Everyone really liked doing it and I hoped my family would too.

I was skeptical at first with how DC and Squirt would take it - would they take it seriously? Would they try their hardest?

What to do with Irish Wool...

(c) KerryWoollenMills.ie

A couple years ago my oldest, Rabbit, treated herself to a trip to Ireland as a gift for her college graduation.

On this trip, she brought me home a hank of yarn from Aran Sweater Market from Kerry Woollen Mills in Ireland. The color is "Raspberry Fleck" and seems to have come from Aran Sweater Market - while I do not know much about either of these locations, I do know I have some awesome wool from my oldest that needs to be crafted into something!

Christmas Giving

The Man wearing his Illini Orange and Blue Scarf

Tis the Season!

First and foremost, I want to wish all of my readers a very Merry Christmas (even if a day late) and a Happy New Year (which is not late at all).

This is a post to share all the items I gave for Christmas. I've been ITCHING to share them with you, no pun intended (wool... yarn... crochet... itch? *chuckles)

Crafting for Christmas

Squirt modeling the billed cap made on Christmas Eve

I think many fiber artists pick up yarn and hook/needle to create for the holidays. I'm not sure if your family is like mine or not - but homemade gifts are expected.

In light of both of those statements, I have no idea how many pick up their yarn on Christmas Eve ... I do.

Year of Projects 2: Update 14

Project Percentage Complete: 48%

Overall Percentage Complete: 35%

Number of Project Items: 98
Number of Added Items: 60
Total Items: 158

Total Completed Project Items: 47
Total Completed Items: 55

My Christmas Tree

My Christmas Tree is not a Christmas Tree of beauty and coordinating colors - in fact, it is quite the opposite.

Let me back up a wee bit - I do not like commercialized Christmas. Anyone who knows me well knows this. The idea that people run themselves straight in to debt to simply buy presents because they *have to* or people who decorate their houses like Clark Griswold - it all simply annoys me. I don't mind it overall as long as I know that those people are truly celebrating Christmas as it was meant - to celebrate the birth of our Lord Savior, Jesus Christ to the Virgin Mary.

WIP Wednesday

*stretches arms*

A'right - wow, two posts in one week. Go me!

This post is reserved for WIP Wednesday, although I must admit - I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to post about. The projects I'm currently working on are kinda "secret" - especially the one I am going to go work on when I close the lid of my laptop.

So alas, what do I show you?

Year of Projects 2: Update 13

Project Percentage Complete: 48%

Overall Percentage Complete: 87%

Number of Project Items: 98
Number of Added Items: 60
Total Items: 158

Total Completed Project Items: 47
Total Completed Items: 52

Blog Maintenance

Having been away for quite a bit, I returned to many new functions within blogger - which is nice. Granted, I could migrate away from the disqus comment box; however, blogger has yet to allow replying to a customized theme - you can use replies as long as your theme is not modified - which mine is... which leaves me to continue using disqus. Its not a bad tool - I'd just like to have it as self-contained within blogger as possible.

Another change you will notice is that I have switched over to Google+. They offered some more functionality, which I really liked - I had a generic Google+ account so I edited it for use with my Crochet with Cris blog - so now I'm "Cris Crochets" over there. YAY. I did add the gadget for being able to +1 the blog (if you feel so inclined). You can also follow me on Google+ if you would like. I did not add the listing of my Google+ Followers simply because I have not put any of the followers gadgets on the blog and I figured its best not to start now. That right bar is awful full as it stands!

I did have the option of a translation gadget but honestly - I don't think all the posts would translate well, especially the patterns. What do you think? Should I add it anyway and hope for the best when people go to use it?

Hmmmm I think that's about all I changed today.

I do plan on trying to update/cleanup my Year of Projects posts. Other than a few items and a kabillion ruffle scarves, I think I have been sticking to my list rather closely - which is kinda odd for me.

I wish you all a wonderful Sunday!
God Bless,
Cris

Holiday Entitlement?

the kiddos 'n me

This post is very much not crochet related although it does touch on crafting.... a little. Its a little bit more of a combination of a rant, confusion of modern society, and the idea of how people are raising their children with a sense of entitlement they really don't deserve.

Picking up the virtual pen...

I have lulled over the idea of writing another post on my forum to let everyone know that I am actually ok. I'm still here. I'm still crocheting... I did not, contrary to popular belief, fall off the face of the Earth.

But what have I been up to?