More Gifts I've Made

I am on a handwork strike at present, but here are some gifts I made over the last year. Besides these (follow this link). And lots of these (another link).

Organization for Maren.

Hats for Operation Christmas Child gift boxes.

A soft and nubby pot holder awaiting the right home.

And two little bunnies for future babies.

Best of all, each gift is made of left over yarn from my stash.

Gifts I Made

For Joseph's 3rd birthday.

For Evangeline's 1st birthday. 

Trimmings

The Great Bedroom Cleaning is done, and though Hannah and I are physically a little worse for wear, our bedroom sparkles down to the trimmings. Thankfully our lovely curtains are made of very fake and wrinkle resistant material. All that needed a quick steam press were my dresser scarf and the dainty, crochet-edged linen cloth that currently adorns the shelf above my bed. While I was in the mode, I ironed my latest lace makings. More pillowcase trimming to come.

A Happy Break

Things I love:

- hand made lace

- pretty pins

- organic cotton pillow cases

- combining all of the above into a restful break from the ever pressing treatments and tasks of the day

Sunday Projects: Sketching Succulents and Crocheting Lace

 

Sunday Project: Pillow Lace

A few favorite things:

Creating and making my bed with knit and crocheted lace. 

Destashing our basement of craft supplies.

Sharing the creative fruit of these years of illness with friends.

Remembering God's promises and sharing them with others.

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

- Matthew 11:28-30 -

Stay at Home: II

Late March Dad and I did the much discussed project of dropping off our 25 year old or more wool fleece from our sheep days to be processed at a mill a nice little drive from home. While this was not technically staying at home, we kept social isolation and saw no one but dogs, alpacas, and sheep.

2018 in Review: Handwork

Rose Hat: Hannah's and my first test knitting of a new pattern for Reywa Fibers.

My Work Basket

I completed a luxurious merino wool shawl which is now reserved for special days.

Knitting, product photo shoots, and maintaining our Etsy shop fill our spare minutes. 

March 30: Crocheted Lace

I went a bit crazy with crocheted lace this early spring. What else do you do when you are primarily stuck on the couch, must keep your hands busy, your yarn is out of stock and you have a suitcase full of old crochet thread in the basement?

September 5: Product Tags

Some parts of business seem to take endless amounts of time and have so many steps. Designing, printing, cutting, corner rounding, hole punching, string cutting and attaching product tags is a case in point. Doing the afore mentioned on the deck while listening to a good audio book helps.

Behind the Couch

...is my basket of everyday life. Yarn, books, stationary, pens, tablet - all within handy reach and lug-ability.

Crochet in the Parking Lot

My bag of crocheting goes everywhere with me right now... even to the Sam's Club parking lot.

Loose Ends

My life has one less loose end in it. Actually, I wove in many loose ends in a more than fifteen year in the making project. Fairly well knit but poorly joined blocks now sport a charming picot border creating a shabby but happy doll blanket.

Stash

Inside our table linen and this-and-that closet...

...is my stash of hangers for sale.

Martha & Ellen

Knit & Crochet Butterfly

 

Hannah crocheted the wings and antennae. I knit the body. Hannah sewed it all together.

This adorable butterfly going in my Etsy shop today!

Ahh! Color & Wool Happiness

And Here It Is

My Etsy shop, Handmaiden.

 

Welcome to Handmaiden!

 

My love for handwork goes far back. Before I was ever born. Before my parents were born. Handwork was a part of everyday life for my ancestors. It gave them a way to add beauty to their homes. A way to pass hours with friends or long, northern winter evenings. A way to give special gifts to those they loved. And most of all, a way to provide clothing and comfort for their families.

 

Even farther back, my loving Creator imagined a universe. Then He made it. On planet earth He placed people, stamped with many of His characteristics. One of those characteristics is - you guessed it - creativity. So you see my love for handwork goes very far back.

 

Times have changed since my ancestors lived, yet I carry on Great-Grandma's making of afghans and doilies. Grandma's embroidered dish towels that she reserved for holiday dish washings are replicated by my hands - though not nearly as beautifully. Mom's hand knit mittens made from wool raised and spun by her hands (with a good dose of sheep raising help from Dad) have kept my own hands warm for two decades. I am now giving mitten knitting a try.

 

For the last few years handwork has become a great gift to me. It has been my creative outlet and help through hours of weakness, pain, and weariness while fighting disease. Now I invite you to enjoy this gift with me that was passed down to me by my family and Father.

 

Together we will pass on a gift to vulnerable women - the gift of hope, dignity, and true Life. For each item I sell, my family sews and donates one LuoPad. Learn more about the LuoPad project at gainusa.org/onewoman. Thank you for being a part of this life giving project!

 

Soli Deo Gloria*,

Elsa

 

*or SDG as Johann Sebastian Bach signed his musical scores. Translated "For the Glory of God Alone."

Up My Sleeve

I have had something up my sleeve for many months. It remains there still (up my sleeve, that is) but will soon be revealed. Stay tuned for an exciting announcement in a few days!

 

Starching Snowflakes

Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, Christmas can officially come in my book. Still there are some parts of Christmas that must come before Thanksgiving, like preparing homemade gifts. Hannah is making something amazingly beautiful out of these snowflakes for some special people. But that's a secret.