Well, let's see - I have Thrummed mittens on one set of kneedles, a pair of hand spun socks on another set of mittens.  I'm waiting patiently for a friend to finish making me 2 more bobbins for my antique wheel that I use for reenacting.  I have more of my Icelandic sheep's wool to process for more special presents that won't quite make it for this Christmas.  I have a project that needs to be warped on my LeClerk counterbalance loom.  I have a dress that needs to be altered for my granddaughter for her dance and I have this sudden craving for my cinnamon raisin nut bread that takes 5 hours to make from start to finish.  No, I have nothing to do - oops, got to go feed those sheep before they get too restless.  Thank you for your wonderful newsletter and all other publications!!!  Merry Christmas and a productive New Year!

oh.. sounds busy & lovely . just as winter should be..

I have to admit my wheel is sitting still.. I was in a hurry to get the wool spun & now I am putting off coloring it.. just not sure what I want to do.. so many choices

I am knitting a Louisa Harding hat for my teen daughter out of a beautiful red with sequins yarn.. Oh........ she looks so pretty in red..

I do have some totes to sew.. so maybe I will do that today..

pleasent  baking :-)

Lisa

Except for my monthly guild meetings, spinning is seasonal for me. I love the falling snow, because it excuses me from outdoor chores, and I can stay inside, leave my wheel in the living room, and spin away. Already I have a box of teased Corriedale waiting for my combs.

Love the photo of your daughter. We made gingerbread cookies for the Christmas tree this weekend.

--Marianne Pelletier

Except that my children are grown your day sounds amazingly like mine...what could be better than a creative, handmade life!  Thanks for sharing yours :-)

It seems like as the weather gets colder and the land gets grey I want to spin with beautiful colors, right now spinning with merino and silk in red and greys and doing the long draw.  After watching the dvd spinning for lace, trying out my hand at spinning thin with rovings and love seeing the bobbin fill up with color.  Going to ply with a dark burgundy that is a merino with llama.  Not sure what type of sweater I will make but cannot wait to see how it comes out.  Love reading about others and getting inspired from others.  Linda

I'm busy finishing hand-made gifts like everyone else.  I jump from knitting socks for my husband (who thinks they are for myself).  I guess I'll have to knit in secret as the foot grows l-o-n-g to weaving a scarf for my aunt to felting the mittens already knitted to spending time at my spinning wheel to washing skeins of naturally dyed yarn...  WHEW!  But I love every minute of every project.  Happy Holidays!

I dread the darkness of the winter and usually want to hibernate.  In the last few years I have tried to take up a new hobby to take my mind off it.  Last year I attempted to play the piano (electric keyboard) to no avail but was an education.  But this year I have found spinning - wow!  I have always loved all sorts of textiles and got into crocheting again recently, and in response to the riot of fabulous yarns around, I wanted to have a go at creating my own.  I am having so much fun, and spend the hours between actually making the stuff speculating on e-bay about what to put together next.  My house is fluff from top to bottom and I don't care (scooping it up and saving it for felt...)  Like any new convert, I am running round like a mad thing showing all onlookers, willing or otherwise, the product of my current possession.  Thank you for allowing me to be part of a community and not just a solitary nutter!

I don't have a minute right now to tell much of a story but I would like to tell you how much I enjoyed reading this. Your joy is palpable and I thank you for sharing it. Merry Christmas and your Grandma's cookies will be in our home tonight:)

Here in Sydney, Australia, summer officially started 1st December, today will be 27c and luckily I live a few blocks from the beach and bays.....wish we had some snow - I love to hibernate, seems silly in this heat to spin and knit etc., but then when autumn arrives I wonder why I didn't spin all through summer...I just love the post from the member who "let her house fluff pile up and then will spin it"- great sense of humour!    I have a room full of Alpaca fleece - must go and have another look at it!  Merry Christmas everyone and happy spinning etc.  Lulu

I'm a "hopper" this time of year also.  I find myself going into the kitchen to grab a drink of water...only to come out an hour later with stew cooking in the crockpot!  All the  bobbins on my wheel are full.  There are three different knitting projects in various stages.  My loom is half warped.  So, here I am in my office....started to run an invoice...but I just had to check my emails.......I LOVE this time of year!

I tried your Gran's gingerbread cookies today. I don't have a 'ginger bread man' cutter, so improvised. My husband's comment? DELICIOUS. Thank you for sharing.

Sincere Best wishes for a  Joyous Christmas and Health and Happiness for the New Year, to everyone there who take pleasure in stimulating our grey cells, and providing relevant information about everything spinnable.  

When cool weather is on the horizon, I am almost frantic to start new projects, buy more yarns, and generally create.  I'm a life long knitter, and decided today to look into beginning to spin . . . resisted the urge to stop at the LYS and purchase a drop spindle and roving until I scout the internet for information.  My brother is a cabinet maker, so I think I can encourage him to make a few spindles for me from exotic woods.   Can't wait to give it a try!

Linda in Lafayette, Indiana.