Raining Cats and Dogs!

While it has been an exceptionally rainy few months, I'm not referring to the weather at the moment. Instead, I'm here to introduce two more sock creations!! First, using only one sock per animal, and the tiny ankle socks to boot, I made this adorable pair of kitties!!

I used the arm seam method I had seen while in Taiwan earlier this year. It was easy and I love the look it creates!

Then I added a little crochet flower with a pearl bead in the center to make one girl and one boy. The idea was for each of my kids to have one, but Pretty had other plans when she saw them.

One for the right hand and one for the left!

(this face was too funny to keep to myself.)

I had to take them from her and fight her off to get the shots of just the cats. They are just the right size for small arms to hug!

Then the "Dogs" part. I bought the cute little blue dog while in Taiwan, and always planned to recreate it, but it wasn't until my mom called me Sunday morning to tell me we were celebrating my nephew's birthday that night at dinner that I was inspired to go for it. I knew he would love a dog, so I went to work.

It turned out great. Obviously much bigger since I'm pretty sure the blue one was made from little kid (if not baby) socks, and mine was made from a pair of women's normal dress socks.

I added a few details not found on the blue one, like a little tail.

And some french knot freckles. This dog was so fun to make, and my nephew did love it. He even tried to share his ice cream with it. Now that's love for a 6-year-old.

Pretty's Black Apple Doll

I have plans to make Pretty a large fabric doll that has several outfits for her to change and play with. But at 9 1/2 months old, she is too young for such things. But a Black Apple Doll is perfect. Perfect size and no loose clothes or accessories to worry about.

So that's what I made her for Christmas. 

I love the flowers in the hair and on the dress. And my embroidery is getting better. . . sort of. . .

From the moment Pretty saw this doll, she has been in love! I've never seen a child attach so quickly to a toy as she did to this doll! She clings to it at night, when she's tired or upset. And with our house being attacked by the cold virus this last week, she's had plenty of upset moments where only giving her this doll has worked to calm her down.

look at the whites of her fingers with how hard she's gripping it!

It warms my heart every time I see her clutching it to her.

Or inspecting the flowers.

Or giving it kisses.

I love this doll, and I LOVE that Pretty loves it!

Let the Countdown Begin!!

Well, they are done! I finished the last two today, but they are ready! Here are the last 9 ornaments for my advent calender:

Peppermint candy, a star for the top, bell, and ball ornament.

Santa Claus and a snowman.

A snowflake.

And what kind of Christmas would it be without pumpkin pie? In my house, growing up, we never left cookies for Santa. It was always a piece of pumpkin pie.

 And I'm sure you were thinking, "What's up with the crazy heart?" Maybe this will help:

All done! It was fun to put them all up for this picture.

And also very sad to put them back in the pockets. Anyone else have trouble deciding which pocket to put each one in? I want them all up for the whole month!! Merry Christmas Season!!

the first wave of advent ornaments

Since I had already made the first part, I wasn't paying too close attention to the assignments. 2 weeks ago, when I read, "cut out your tree shape" I moved on and thought I had done that so I was still good. Then this last week the assignment was, "Make another 8 ornaments." 

Um. Another 8?

And then, of course, I was making baby shoes, so here is what I was able to accomplish since I started on Saturday night. 15 of the 16 isn't bad!

Holly Berry, Drum, Mitten, and Candy cane

Gifts 1, 2, and 3

Dove, Buddy the Elf, and Stockings for each kid

Baby Jesus, Angel, 3 Wise Men, The Shepherd's Sheep

There are several I used the template provided at Homemade by Jill, but the ones I made up are by far my favorites. Even the stockings that I used the template, I added little stitched names and it makes it that much more personal. I learned new tricks making these. I've never known how to do the edging called a blanket stitch. And I learned how to do a French knot, which is what I used for all the eyes and for the hair on Buddy the Elf.

Anyway, these are the ones I'm really proud of:

Baby Jesus in a Manger  

The 3 Wise Men

(This is the one that kept me up until 1am last night)

The Angel

(with an Asian husband, my red-headed self will always be outnumbered, 

so I had to do the red hair. . . not to say I think I'm an angel...)

True Candy Cane

(maybe you've heard this story, but supposedly it's only a true candy cane if it has one large stripe for the Atonement, and 3 little stripes for the Godhead, so I added in the little ones)

The Shepherd's Sheep

(I didn't want to make yet another tiny person, so I decided the sheep could represent for the Shepherd in the Christmas story)

Buddy the Elf

(if you haven't seen the movie ELF, you are missing out!!)

This is so much fun! And after pushing through 15 ornaments in 3 days, I think finishing the last 9 in a week is going to be a sinch!