First post of 2013!

Yeah I know - I'm a little behind on things. That's because I did a whole lot of N.O.T.H.I.N.G. on my time off. Nothing piled on top of nothing. Glorious! (A bit of exercise excepted. I had to make up for slacking off earlier in the month so I stuck to THAT at least.) So it's been a bit of a slog since Wednesday catching up on things: Def Con 5 house cleaning, errand running, end of year business stuff (ENDLESS), etc. Every time I think I am getting close to being done, I find another 3-4 things to add to my to-do list. Grrr.

I'm starting to see some real progress now on my 'list' though and everything is back up for sale in the Bead Shoppe and Etsy, so yay for that! Tweaks are still needed to some things but that will come in time. All the Christmas stuff is now packed away too, which makes me feel better. I added some super cute things to my decorations this year, like this Williraye nativity set and a super-cute Stovepipe hat snowman. 

Do I need any more snowman for my collection? No, but I couldn't resist him! (Also got a big WOOD hanging that looks just like him for hanging outside. *love* At least I keep the snowman out (or most of them) until spring so I get a decent amount of usage out of them. :)

I did keep myself busy during my off time though - and not just with eating shortbread cookies. (Of which I did. A lot. Like......A LOT, A LOT. *sigh*) There was a flurry of book reading (6-7 finished!) and gift knitting and even a little knitting for myself. I finished a pair of socks for my mother but the quick pic I took of them is terrible so I'm not going to post it. She loved them so that is all that matters. These FoxHall gloves for the hubby were a big hit too:

The pattern includes an option to make a 'pop top' finger for texting (as seen in the bottom pic) and, I tell you what, I get major geeky points for putting that in. MAJOR. :)

I also made myself a hat too but, ugh, just don't like it all. (Thank you Monkee for being my model.) It was a kit (pattern + yarn) for a Habitat hat from Brooklyn Tweed and the pattern is quite lovely but I've got a serious case of the 'dislikes' over the yarn. Looks great, very warm but.......it's sooooooooo stiff. Almost as if it were already felted? I think knitting up jute twine would be about as joyful as this was....FOR ME. I like more bounce, more elasticity, more drape, more SOMETHING. All I know is it is not for me as far as FEEL. (There is no doubting it LOOKS fantastic.) When I take 5 days to whip up a simple hat with CABLES - which I LOVE to do - then you know something is wrong.

The pom-pom was my attempt to make me feel better about it. (Didn't work.) Also, I just wanted an excuse to buy some fancy-pants (but not at all expensive) pom-pom makers. Nothing happier-making than a good pom-pom session. :)

Sooooooooooo, I bought some cheap-o, plain jane, Lion Brand Fisherman's Wool (a classic!) and started another  hat. (Pattern is called Wurm. Heh.) It feels like it SHOULD so I am happy. (Alas, this hat also doesn't fit Monkee. Poor hatless Monkee!)

Oh well. That should do for now. I thoroughly enjoyed everyone's posts over the holidays - seeing all the wonderful decorating, projects and family pictures! Can't get enough of it. I even got to spend some time browsing Pinterest - which I hadn't done in ages. I really can't get enough of seeing all the inspiring things people come up with! Here's to an even bigger and better year this year!! :)