The Organized Elf

Did This Help?

I blame myself for not being more on top of leading the Organized Elves,  but this project, while useful to me, didn't seem to get a lot of participation. 

It was important to me when I hatched the idea that participants be able to contribute posts, and I thank everyone who did.  In the interest of saving money, though, I'm going to down-grade my Typepad membership to a level that doesn't allow additional contributers. 

I'm not shutting down this blog entirely, just yet, though.  I will keep it up as I decide if there is another, perhaps more useful way I can use it.  I will remove the additional contributers, though.

Thanks so much for your participation, and I hope you check back here to see what's doing!

Happy New Year to you all!!

Just over a month...

Wow!  It's the holiday season.  How has your crafting and planning been going?

Yesterday I took out the holiday cards I bought at the end of last season (I stored them in my closet; I didn't want to have to unpack all of the holiday decorations to get to them).  I reviewed the list I made back in January, and I asked Neal to add anyone I may have forgotten.  Over the course of the next few days I plan to get the envelopes addressed and stamped, and I'll write the cards next weekend.

I've been doing a lot of on-line shopping as well, especially via Etsy.  What are your favorite sites for online shopping?

Ornament

Each year I get my four godchildren an ornament as part of their Christmas gift.  I was planning to make ornaments, but then I saw this one.  Perfect!  My order is in, and I can cross that off of my Organized Elf list.

How are you doing with your list?

Soap question :)

Hi there, fellow elves! :) I have sort of a random question. I'm in the process of kicking my holiday crafting into high gear, and I have to give a lot of gifts to random female members of my boyfriend's family. Now here comes the weird part. I have about 10 bars of bright purple Ivory soap (don't ask. A gift from my grandmother last Christmas. She means well, but has no clue). I'm a body wash girl, so I'll never use the bar stuff. Is there any way to safely melt down commercial soap so I can repour it into cute molds? I can knit up a few washcloths and towels to make adorable gift sets for some of these random females, and I'd get the added benefit of clearing out some of my stuff.

Any suggestions?

DH's Christmas Socks

I have finished DH's Christmas Socks!!  Waaa Hooo!!! I had No Second Sock Syndrome.
See detail on my blog at: ChezKnit

CanadianKiwi

more washcloths

Now there are four and I'll be making two more.





I also finally blocked a scarf I finished knitting back in March. I'll post it when I can get a picture that shows the color accurately. The scarf is a lovely lavender but the pic made it look like a sickly grey.

Some Progress, No Pictures

I posted about this on Holiday Headstart as well.  My camera and computer aren't talking, so I don't have pictures, but the other night I knit up a dishcloth...I'm thinking of using a fancier pattern as the one I used leaves me feeling "meh". 

I am crazy for the embroidery I've been doing, though.  I finished one in a set of tea towels, and I plan to do a few pillow cases as well. 

I've also been mulling over Girl on the Rocks adorable Weavette projects.  I love the needlebooks and pincushions, and I think I may need to make the cocktail napkins as well.

How goes your holiday preparation?

Two more washcloths

I finished two more washcloths in August. now there will be a pause for birthday present sewing before the holiday making can continue.

cross-posted to Holiday Headstart

Bookin' It

I have been thinking about Christmas, I just haven't had time to blog about it.

One of my favorite things to give to a child is a book. I have a lot of people in my life right now with children (none of my own yet). I would love to make things for all of them, but that isn't always possible. So, throughout the year I keep an eye out for books that they might like that are on sale or a good price and store them until it is time for a birthday or holiday. These books in particular are for a friend of mine who has 4 boys. They are interested in the usual boy things of pirates and swords, so I thought this group of books would be fitting. I am also planning on getting each one of them a $10 gift certificate to the local book store so that they can pick out some books for themselves. I really believe in encouraging children to read and the best way to do that is to find books that they will enjoy reading.

The other thing that I like to stock up on are little things for stocking stuffers. I found this little thing while my husband and I visited our old college town. It was for sale in the bookstore there. I think it is just perfect for a little stocking stuffer for another child in my life. So, take a look around for little things that might work like this and stock up when you see a good price.

My grandmother used to travel a different country every year while I was growing up. She would usually go in the Spring, but would stock up on gifts for the whole year. It was always a guarantee that we would receive something from that country for Christmas. I really like the idea and I have been trying to implement it in my own life, only without the travel part.

How's Things?

Hi Elves, how ya doin'? 

The leaves here in CT are starting to change.  I've seen tinges of red around all week.  This tells me that not only is fall around the corner, but so are the holidays.  Have you had a chance to make anything for your gift list?

I'm pretty pleased to share that I'm halfway done embroidering the first of a set of two towels with an adorable Sublime Stitching pattern.  These will be for Neal's best friend; last year I made her a sock dog, and she went nutty for it, so I know she likes dogs and handmade things.  I think I'll go through my list and see if there are any other people who might like a set of embroidered towels.  I know I would!

I also wanted to share this great idea: coffee cozies.  While I couldn't find a tutorial, I think if you have some sewing skills, it would be easy enough to take a paper cozy from your local cafe and use it as a template. I see a lot of potential for embellishing these, and I think I like the fabric ones much better than knit and crochet ones I've seen around. 

Let us know what you're thinking about doing next to prepare for the holidays, ok?