I’ve been having fun slowly catching up with all of your New Year’s posts. Lots of inspiring stuff out there with lots of resolution-making! I gave up making New Year’s Resolutions a few years ago when I realized at the end of the year that I’d accomplished very little of what I’d set out to do. So, this year, I just hope to get a few UFOs done. Everything else is what I say every year, so I’ll say it to myself this year and save myself the embarrassment of failure.
I can’t believe the new year is here already, and sadly, the end of my two week break. Boy, that sure went by fast. The good: Lots of fun family gatherings with games and goofing off. (The cousins got a Wii Fit — what a hoot!) The bad: Too much cleaning and cooking. The good about cleaning: The dungeon disaster from all the Christmas sewing has been conquered. The bad about cleaning: There’s a hefty pile of UFOs waiting for me on my tidy work table. And just so that good cleaning can outweigh bad: I did the yearly thimble polishing which resulted in a new winter blog banner. Yay!
One of the New Year’s posts that caught my eye is Nanette’s post to remember Christmas ideas for Christmas 2009. She and Cheryl are making lists of their ideas and plan to start in September to execute those ideas in order to be better prepared for Christmas next year. I think that’s a great idea — I never get everything done that I’d like to do for Christmas. One of the things that I did this year, that I’d like to remember for next year was to wrap presents with the receiver’s picture on the package.
It started out as an attempt to avoid having curling ribbon on the packages as TheEmptyNestChild eats curling ribbon (which, you may remember, results in very expensive surgeries to remove those ribbons). I printed everyone’s picture and ran them through my little sticker machine. I really wish I’d done this when the kids were little — we used to have the kids pass out the gifts when we opened them and having pictures there would have made it so much easier. Anyway, go check out Nanette’s post — she’s listed some great ideas for next Christmas!
Do you remember the hats that I knit(ted?) before Christmas to send to Jean for donation to the homeless in NYC? Well, Jean gave away a ton of prizes to those who participated and I won this beautiful shawl that she made! It arrived during the mayhem of the holidays so I didn’t manage to get any pictures of it until today. It’s absolutely beautiful! I’ve never knit anything with such a fine yarn.
When SweetiePie was here this afternoon, she very kindly agreed to model the shawl so I could get some pictures. You really should click on the second picture to see the beautiful detail and precision of the stitches. Thank you SO much Jean — I just love it. It’s just perfect — it will go with everything and while I would normally reserve it for something very dressy, just look how pretty that gray looks with the denim of SweetiePie’s jeans! If you haven’t visited Jean’s blog, you should, especially if you’re a knitter or love beautiful pictures (she recently posted some gorgeous sheepy pics.) Jean was one of the first blogs I found a few years ago and she’s still one of my favorites!
(Oh, and pardon SweetiePie’s goofy pose in that third picture. She gave that pose some fancy European modeling name that I’ve forgotten — it looks more like an Arnold Schwartzenegger Girly Man pose to me!)
I hope you all have a good week! I’m not looking forward to going back to work, but returning to the routine will probably be good. (Yeah, if you believe that…) And don’t forget, if you’re interested in a chance at a bunny, leave a comment on my blogaversary post!
XOXO,
Anna
Yes, Monday. Back to work. Ho hum.I love the loafin’ around life. But, heh, heh – some long weekends coming up pretty soon!! Happy new year!!
I just love your new header with the snowmen. How cute is that? Pretty dang cute if I say so myself!!! Yes, Nanette and Cheryl are pretty awesome to come up with something so fun. I look forward to seeing all the goodies that they and others share with us.
My anxiety child is already fretting and crying about going to school tomorrow. It should make for a difficult morning getting her moving toward school. I am NOT looking forward to it but, I will be up and early getting ready for work.
Have a great week!!!
Oh my goodness. The shawl looks like angel lace. It’s beautiful. Routine is good. Sometimes I think I got more accomplished before I retired. You have a tendency to make lists and structure your time better than if you have all the time in the world. Oh, well. Retirement is sooooo much better.
Your new header is tooooooo cute.
Wow, just checked all those prizes – she did have a ton! You really lucked out with that gorgeous shawl!!
Hi Anna! I love those photo labels – what a fab idea! And your new shawl is gorgeous!
I know what you mean about resolutions – I only put mine up in the vain hope that one day I will accomplish even one!
Lucy x
Oh my goodness, the shawl is stunning!
Love your idea of using pictures on the presents – what an original and fun idea!! I am going to see if I can scout up some baby photos of all my family members for next Christmas!
I’m not usually a shawl girl, but that one is AMAZING!
The shawl is just gorgeous, maybe someday…
I’m so looking forward to being back to the routine today. I’ve sent my youngest off to school, my other two are back to their schools and now it’s back to work for me. I’ve loved the break, but do much better with my routine! Have a great day!
I love your new banner, very cute! Even though there was some bad in those 2 weeks you seemed to be very productive. I have to say I went over to Jean’s blog. Those sheep look very cold and like they stayed up too late, their eyes are all red and blood shot. Maybe they were just worried about looking good for the pictures. The shawl is absolutely beautiful! You were a very lucky girl!
What a gorgeous shawl! Lucky you! Your banner is just the cutest! Enjoy your first day back to work!
Jen
Love your new banner! My goodness, what a lovely shawl. Yes, you should wear that all the time. I love the stickers, too! Fabulous idea.
Love the new banner, it’s too cute! I’m finally catching up on blogs.
Beautiful Shawl, it’s so delicate looking, and I love that pose.
It’s back to life over here too. It’s good and bad, but quite peaceful and quiet, I must say.
It is good to get on with things, glad you got your sewing room sorted! That shawl is glorious, lucky you!
I’m glad I’m not the only weird one that was thinking what I could do better next year. One thing I know for sure is we’re not going to travel as much. Way too exhausting!
The shawl is gorgeous and your efforts with the hats is commendable. I love the photo pictures on the gifts, it’s a brilliant idea. I’ve already started on Christmas 2009, always do right away after Christmas. Some of my major purchases for the women on my list are made at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show the first 2 weeks in February, so some fun shopping is coming up soon. I keep a binder dedicated to Christmas in which I post my lists, gifts tucked away, recipes, and decorating ideas. It’s fun to read that other folks also like to prepare ahead of time, too.
Great shawl! I think I need to start now to get everything done for next Christmas!
I love the sticker idea! We don’t do ribbons or bows because of the cats. These would be just the things to dress up our gifts!
I’m glad others have already started thinking of Christmas 09…my folder of ideas is already starting to fill up.
Making a list is a great idea! And I love the photo tags-really fun!
The new banner is a hoot! Perfect timing because I hear we’re in for it again. I usually get your weather a day later.
Thanks for all the kind words. I think it looks awesome with jeans and you should wear it all the time!
LOVE the photo labels. What a great idea – can I steal it from you for next Christmas?
The shawl is stunning. I can’t imagine how much work went into making that. What a lucky girl you are!
Good luck with the UFOs.
Gorgeous shawl. Just wanted to wish you a happy happy 2009. I hope you have all wonderful moments and I am really thrilled to have met you over blogland. Hugs.
Brilliant wrapping idea, kudos xoxox Clarice
Oh your new header is dang cute – love the use of the thimbles – so clever Ms Thimbleanna as usual. What a great idea for packages – will try and remember this one – oh ya you said to write it down. But then won’t I have to remember where the notebook is, LOL. What a score on that beautiful shawl – WOW the workmanship is amazing and it looks so cute on sweetiepie. Hope your first week back is a good one.
Hugs – Karen
Hi there Anna…I went back to work yesterday. I was dreading it, but I have to say it IS good to be back to the routine. Your new header is divine…you know I love a good thimble : )
The shawl is lovely. Great idea about the stickers. I’m one to shop way ahead of the holidays. I just cannot stand to shop and less so when the malls are packed! Of course, DD ends up with more present because I forget what I purchase! lol Keep well!
I love your phototag idea! You are just so clever, Anna! And the shawll… how beautiful and so delicate (even when it’s ala Arnold!).
Happy, Happy New Year!
xoxo,
m
Your freshly polished thimbles look gorgeous – well worth the effort :-)
Thanks for the great idea with the photo stickers – they look fab too. I’m going to have to check out those links as I was so unprepared this Christmas!
The shawl is exquisite – what a work of art and so kind too.
xxx
The shawl looks so soft and light. Love it.
Very cute bannerand the photo tags, too–you are so creative .
What a lovely gift….you lucky gal. See, good things come to those who do good. Very nice. Oh, and I like the packages….really cute idea, although I do not have a sticker machine. Hmm. Oh and I saved the best for last…..I LOVE THE BANNER, you are so clever. Anna, Anna, you are definitely Thimbleanna. I hear you about going back to work. Me too.
lovely quilts.. very Christmas colory indeed. thanks for sharing,
Love the girly man pose. You know we like us some Arnold here in Ca.
What a beautiful shawl. Congrats on the win.
Great idea with the face stickers.
Lovely quilts and what a nice present.
Beautiful, beautiful quilts! Lovely! Suzie
I noticed your new banner right off! So cute :) The shawl you received is beautiful! I don’t think I could ever . . .
What a wonderful idea, Anna! You have revolutionized gift wrapping – I will never look at it the same way again.
The shawl is beautiful, and I think the Arnie pose shows it off very well.
The new banner is marvelous and so Anna!
Happy New Year!!!!