52/52

"A portrait of my girls, once a week, every week, in 2017."

Christmas morning smiles

You were up before the sun, and down to the living room to see what Santa had brought, before racing back up the stairs to get Dad and I out of bed; your excitement was contagious. The morning passed in a blur of unwrapping gifts, Christmas wishes coming true (the ice cream truck and the camper for your dolls), and intense playing. Despite the excitement in the air, there was a peace about the morning, a sense that right there in the living room, with my girls, us all in our pajamas together, was the best and most perfect place to be.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.

Inspired by The 52 Week Project at Practicing Simplicity.

51/52

"A portrait of my girls, once a week, every week, in 2017"

Quietly reading....together

Inspired by The 52 Week Project at Practicing Simplicity.

Christmas Succulents

Each year as I consider the people on my Christmas list, there is one person for whom I know a handmade gift is ideal - my Oma. She loves handmade, treasures these gifts (she still has the picture I drew her in kindergarten hanging on the fridge), and receiving them makes her very happy.

Last year I crocheted her a butterfly, and a few years ago, an owl...and she loved them both.

This year I decided to make her a little pot of crochet succulents - Christmas succulents, if you will.

I've made quite a few little crochet succulents this year, but this one is by far my favorite. I found a handy little trick to make the 'dirt portion' (light brown) a perfect circle rather than a hexagonal circle and it has made all the difference. The 'dirt' fits better into the pot and as a result the succulents themselves sit better when they are sewn in place. I am quite pleased with this little garden and I can't wait to give it to my Oma on Christmas Eve.

I don't crochet many gifts for Christmas for the plain and simple reason that there are not many people on my list who are that interested in crochet or handmade gifts. But when I do give a handmade gift to a loved one and they love it to bits, well that makes me very happy indeed.....

Pattern for Succulents: Five Little Monsters
Pattern for a Perfect Crochet Circle: Spincushions
Yarn: scraps of Stylecraft DK

50/52

"A portrait of my girls, once a week, every week, in 2017."

It's bitterly cold outside, and after walking home from school what better way to warm up than with a mug of hot chocolate topped with marshmallows.

Look at those smiles! I love you girls so much.

Inspired by The 52 Week Project at Practicing Simplicity.

P.S. Can you believe it - only two weeks to go until the end of the year!!??

Seven Hundred

This week I published my 700th post, an accomplishment that gave me reason to pause and reflect.

Some thoughts as I consider this milestone:

• The content has changed over the years since I started sharing in this space. I used to do a lot more paper crafts, whereas now I am more focused on yarn. This caused me some angst for a while as I felt like I was deserting something that used to be a huge part of my life, but I am settling, happy to simply enjoy my changing interests and loves. 
• I love how this space chronicles what I have made...and looking back I can see that I have made a lot.
• There have been moments when I have loved this blog, and there have been moments when I thought I'd quit.
• I've stressed myself out over how often I am posting or not posting. Completely unnecessary. I think I have now reached a place where I am okay with what it is and with whatever happens, placing no unnecessary pressure on myself. I have a job and a family, and this is a hobby....no stress needed.
• I am seriously considering no longer posting photos of my girls in this space. As social media becomes a part of their lives (it's not yet, but I can foresee that it will be in a few years)  I think it may be time to give them a bit more control/influence over what about them is shared with the world. Maybe it is time to make this space about my story only?
• I am cautiously considering designing some crochet patterns of my own. I do believe that I have the experience under my belt to make this happen, I just need to get started. I am excited about the challenge, though a bit nervous.....but really, what do I have to lose?
• A site redesign, or at minimum a little tweaking, may be needed.
• Should I include some of my newer interests here: simplicity, minimalism, cooking?
• I am really proud of myself; I never anticipated I'd make it this far.
• Seven hundred posts....are you serious?

49/52

"A portrait of my girls, once a week, every week, in 2017."

Decorating gingerbread cookies!

It's hard to know what you girls love more - the decorating of the cookies, or the eating of the cookies. It's a toss up for sure, and for good reason.

Inspired by The 52 Week Project at Practicing Simplicity.