Cup Cozies

Jason calls them cup sweaters and I gave fourteen away as gifts this week. I found this fabulous pattern on Pinterest and couldn't help myself. There is something about the texture or assortment of colors or immediate gratification that makes me want to make another even now. The angel ornaments are made with my embroidery machine. Each morning I would get up and shower and then set the machine up and get it ready to begin working on the angels. Depending on the morning and what I had going on I could often get two completed before leaving for work. The cup cozies required a little more of my attention but I love choosing the button to add the perfect amount of contrast and detail. Add Dollar Tree mugs, hot chocolate mix, homemade cookies and the gift is complete.

Boot Cuffs and Scarves

I am ready for cooler weather! As I sit in my classroom listening to the refrigeration unit blow, I think, how can this be the beginning of December? I want to wear scarves and boots and warm weather garments. Have you noticed all the cute boot cuffs? On Ravelry there are some beautiful knit patterns but I wanted to work something up quickly for a friend who sent me a text with a picture and asked if I could make her a pair so I chose the crocheted set pictured here. I love that she wears them with such sass and excitement. People like Stephanie are the best people to make gifts for!

Pinterest

I love cool presents that include specialized wrapping or packaging as part of the gift. Have you been on Pinterest? They have lots of lovely ideas for packaging gifts and directions for fabulous handmade items that would thrill any gift loving soul like myself.

Heather, my beautiful co-worker and friend, gave me this lovely "sundae shake" for Christmas and I haven't had the heart to disassemble it and use the needles nor the yarn because that would mean unwrapping it! But, today I had the pleasure of presenting with her during our professional development sessions and we "Rawked" as she would say :) and it makes me want to get creative and present her with a gift to show my appreciation. The questions is - do I unwrap (she loves pink) and make her something special out of the sparkly contents or choose another yarn?

Hmmm. We will need to ponder this for a while.