I got a full-width warp onto the floor loom, with the idea that I'd have fun doing some Saori-inspired freeform stuff. But I didn't, and I don't much care for what I did instead:
So I guess I cut it off and call it a sample. Somehow the freeform mixed weft etc only looks right to me in plain weave. This is threaded 1234321 so I don't know what to do next! (Someone said they wanted to hear about my failures? well... ).
Anyway. I also had a delusion that I'd make each of the girls and my nephew a quick quilt for Xmas. None of the little ones have quilts, I kind of stopped making them when middle girl was born. I cut out the 95 million squares (they're going to be more or less i-spy quilts) and now I have to sit down and piece them. Maybe tomorrow.
Lately I have been thinking that I want to make THE HOLIDAY SEASON fun for my kids- rather than just have a stressful countdown to one morning of greed followed by anticlimax. Lo and behold, this blog is all about that very idea. We're going to do Sister Diane's salt dough ornaments one day soon. Today we baked Pfefferneusen and made the dough for ...I forget --ukrainain honey cookies (see photo below for reactions to the baking experience)?
Christmas in Australia is weird (seems weird to me, having spent my childhood in the snowy northern hemisphere). It's hot. All the foods I associate with holidays are inappropriate here, in December. We still eat them, as do many birthright Aussies, but it always seems crazy to be roasting beef (in our case) when it's 40 degrees C out. Here in exile, especially with my mum gone, and my dad and his wife mostly having chosen to spend Xmas as far away from the kids and grandkids as they could get, it's become a time of year that just isn't that joyous for me.
But since I have these kids, I am TRYING to make my own way now, make some traditions that they may one day find they have fond memories of, although they are in no way derived from any holiday traditions in my family, which were mostly based around extended family. It's hard work but I'm hoping that some of these practices may gain momentum and start to take on a life of their own. Already my 5 year old is saying that she wants things to be "the same as last Christmas" which I guess is nice. So, we are having the same things, but adding a few new ones too to see if any stick.



