Christmas 2013
Christmas 2013 has been a roller coaster ride for me and my family. I started December off feverishly trying to finish handmade gifts for family and friends. I managed to get them all done in time, a miracle. Then our daughter had her second surgery of the year to remove the hardware from her collarbone, a soccer injury she had in March. She is so brave and so strong, she is my rock. Her recovery has been fantastic and less painful than the original break. I’m so glad she is on the mend now and can return to playing soccer soon.
While being home with her after the surgery, I was able to design a few new things, such as an ornament cozy, a wine bottle cozy, and a soap cozy. I will be busy writing up these new patterns very soon.
We enjoyed an evening out by taking the family to see Dave Koz and Friends perform a Christmas show. To my surprise, at the end of the show, the entertainers signed autographs and took pictures with you. I got to meet one of my favorite singers Oleta Adams! I’ve always wanted to see her perform in person, but then meeting her on top of that was amazing!
Next came Christmas Eve and we started a new family tradition, smores in the backyard with our new fire pit, a gift to my husband this year. The kids were so excited about making and eating them, they had about 4 or 5 each! Oh to be young again and able to eat so many sweets.
Then on Christmas Day, we had 18 family members over from morning till night. Our cousin Vicente from Italy was the farthest traveler along with Richard from Washington State. It was 83 degrees that day and we celebrated mostly outside – it was the best Christmas ever. My son & daughter received a Kindle of their own from my Mom, and now I will have access to our one and only computer to write and post more often. It is one of my New Years’ resolutions, to write on my blog and page more consistently. I also plan to design more patterns and write down all the ones in my head, and to donate once a month to the crochet group I belong to Elk Studio-From the Heart, which feels more like my crochet family – supporting and helping one another, I’m so lucky to have found them. Projects I have on the horizon are: clean out and organize my yarn stash, it’s embarrassing, and to make a blanket with all the yarn scraps. Donate crocheted hats to the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympians, we are huge sports fans and I’m really excited to get them in the mail.
I’ve also joined a Ravelry Cal group hosted by Beatrice Ryan Designs, and making a blanket with them starting in January. Hopefully I’ll find time to make a coin purse, shawl and hat for my cousin Bobby’s 1920 themed wedding in February. Also in the works is to organize and host handmade hat donations for the participants of St. Baldrick’s Foundation which is a fundraiser at a local High School coming up in March. These are a few of my upcoming events, and in-between I’m sure there will be lots of smaller projects to accomplish or go on my “wish I had more time to make that” list. Here are some of the gifts and items I’ve made this month. Enjoy and thanks for reading! Have a great day, Carolyn
So glad your daughter is recovering well! It’s wonderful to read about your holidays and how new traditions have begun. Congrats on getting your computer back…..ha ha…..
I’m so honored you are a part of ELK Studio – From the Heart and appreciate your generosity.
Love all your projects Carolyn as you are so very talented. I look forward to seeing your future projects!
Thank you Kathy, you’re so kind!
Carolyn,,, What a wonderful Christmas time for you and your family… So happy for your daughter to recover so well! I love all the projects you!!
I am blessed to know you in my crochet family and cant wait for the upcoming CAL with you!!!
I’m excited for your CAL to start too Elena. Thank you!!