food, crochet, merriment
It is a well-known and highly documented fact…
that the best kind of friend in the world…
sends…
you…
CHOCOLATE!!
For big occasions…
for little occasions…
and better yet, no occasion at all.
My wish for you this holiday season–is love, hope, rock & roll and a big box of chocolate under your tree…
after that…
world peace is a given.
Browsing around as some of us do…ahem…I’ve stumbled upon some really clever gift ideas–some of them quick and some are more involved. It’s always more fun to work them up myself and show you–but sometimes imitating the cleverness of others would be like re-inventing the wheel…or the Cheeto.
And you know how I feel about Cheetoes.
This creative planet just goes on and on…
Adorable “Crayon Roll” at Skip To My Lou.
“Easiest-Ever Baby Headband“ at Hooked on Crochet
“Simmering Pot Recipes” at Fragrant Home
“Covered Clipboards” right here at Gracious Rain -shameless plug
“Alien Abduction Lamp” at Dollar Store Crafts
“Monster Repellent” at Little Birdie Secrets
“Personal History Prompt Jar” at Gracious Rain- 2nd shameless plug
“Needle Book” at Nini Makes
There now…something for anyone and everyone.
Go forth…
Create.
Did you have a favorite Christmas doll when you were young? Do you still remember when you first saw it under the Christmas tree?
Some of the memories of Christmas morning are so vivid to me that I swear I can still smell that new plastic whenever I see the pictures.
Oh, I remember the tinsel sparkling in the darkness as we tiptoed into the front room–long before we were suppose to. There seemed to be a tangible feeling of fresh magic just moments after Santa had left, enough magic in fact to make two covert children feel positively sick and shaky with excitement.
Then, finally, finally–when we were officially allowed to get up and the lights were turned on—oh…it took our breath away. Complete enchantment!
And even though I am many decades away from those days–I still have many Christmas morning reminders around me.
For years I kept some of my favorite dolls–from ancient days–in boxes in the basement or garage, never quite willing to give them away or give them up.
So a couple of years ago, I thought about those dolls and how rotten it must be for them to be stuffed away in those boxes. Don’t get me started on whether or not toys are alive–I’ll take you down.
ANYWAY–I took the dolls out, cleaned them up and now they decorate my room. When I wake up each day it’s like I’m reliving 15 Christmas mornings all scooped up into one.
After all these years, I’ve come to the realization that growing up is highly overrated…and in my case–
entirely unnecessary.
Here it is—“the” pattern. The reason it is called “everybody’s slippers” is because you really can adjust the size to work for babies, children and grown-ups pretty simply.
As you can see, I’ve made them for everything that walks on two legs at this place. My friend Lynnette has asked for the pattern since last year and I guess I’m about ready to try my hand at writing it all down. The pattern I’m sharing will be for a woman’s slipper. Be kind–I’m new in these parts.
If something is unclear–please email me.
Here goes…
I”m using Peaches and Cream 100% cotton–it isn’t as sturdy as wool, but I like the feel better. Choose the yarn you like most against your skin–that will be the best. I use an “I” or “J” hook.
Chain 29.
Row 1: Single crochet (SC) in 4th chain from hook and in each stitch across. Chain 4 at the end of row and turn.
Row 2-13: SC in back side of each stitch across. Chain 4 and turn (the chain 4 will make a small loop at the end of each of these rows).
Row 14-18: Double Crochet (DC) in each stitch across. Chain 3 and turn.
Row 19: Decrease–Insert hook into next st and draw up a loop–four times. Yarn over and draw through all loops on hook–for toe.
Row 20: Decrease this row by drawing up a loop through remaining stitches as one…
Pull stitch through all remaining loops on hook.Fasten off.
With needle and yarn, sew the top part of slipper foot together leaving the ankle area open. Sew up the back of slipper as well. Turn slipper right side out.
Chain two 65 stitch “laces” and thread them through the loops at the top of the ankle area of slipper.
Tie in a bow.
These slippers make wonderful Christmas presents and can be made to fit any foot just by increasing or decreasing the starting chain and making more or less rows to fit the individual foot.
Good luck!.
Oh, and in case you didn’t know–today is National Donut Day.
Take the appropriate precautions.
——————-
Womens’ Slippers
Chain 29.
Row 1: Single crochet (SC) in 4th chain from hook and in each stitch across. Chain 4 at the end of row and turn.
Row 2-13: SC in back side of each stitch across. Chain 4 and turn (the chain 4 will make a small loop at the end of each of these rows).
Row 14-18: Double Crochet (DC) in each stitch across. Chain 3 and turn.
Row 19: Decrease–Insert hook into next st and draw up a loop–four times. Yarn over and draw through all loops on hook–for toe.
Row 20: Decrease this row by drawing up a loop through remaining stitches as one…
Pull stitch through all remaining loops on hook.Fasten off.
With needle and yarn, sew the top part of slipper foot together leaving the ankle area open. Sew up the back of slipper as well. Turn slipper right side out.
Chain two 65 stitch “laces” and thread them through the loops at the top of the ankle area of slipper.
Tie in a bow.
These slippers make wonderful Christmas presents and can be made to fit any foot just by increasing or decreasing the starting chain and making more or less rows to fit the individual foot.
Now, I figure this is an event worth celebrating–wouldn’t you say? Maintaining a daily blog for one whole year has been a pretty wild experience–and very, very good for my brain. So, since this is my cute little blog and I like to think I’m queen of the whole world–we are going to have a celebration…my kind of celebration.
To thank you all for your kindness and comments, I’d just love to invite you over to my house for cake and ice cream, but alas, I’m quite certain we’d have so much fun and make so much noise that somebody’d get arrested…likely me. So I propose an alternative to anyone doing time on my account. Here it is:
Answer the questions: What has been your favorite post, recipe, or project on Gracious Rain in the last year? and What would you like to see us do in the coming year?
Get this—Each person answering both questions, between now and midnight, TODAY October 20, 2009 will receive a gift from Gracious Rain for our Blogiversary. It could be anything from my favorite book to one of our cute little craft projects all finished–just for you. Perhaps you’ll get a pack or Ding Dongs. Or maybe…just maybe, you’ll receive the very last ticket to the New Moon premiere left in the theater. You never know–until you speak up. Oh, and after you comment, you’ll need to send your name and address to Launi@GraciousRain.com. Yeah, I’ll need that.
It’s such a good day to celebrate.
I hope you’ll join us.
Thanks for being friends with us.
love,
If you’d like—Read the very first post–from back when we were pups and had no clue what we were doing. :]