Wednesday, December 2, 2009

WIP Wednesday and Dickens

The sweater for Finn that I began a few weeks ago is finally coming along a bit. The back is complete and I've moved on to the front. I love the way the striping pattern is working up, but I've wondered more than once why I decided to tackle stripes as my first sweater!


I've also been working on these little cuties. :)


I'm happy to say that most of my Christmas knitting is complete. One small thing left which shouldn't take more than a few hours. I'd like to get Finn's sweater finished for his birthday (which is on Christmas day), but I'm not going to stress about it. I generally try to have all my handcrafting and other present buying done by Thanksgiving so that I can spend the month of December celebrating without stress and living in the moment with my kids. I dare say they'd rather have the memories of things we do together than me out shopping every spare moment during the month of December.

The book that we've begun reading together this month is the classic A Christmas Carol. I found this lovely illustrated version at a favorite bookshop years ago and bought it knowing that when the time came, I wanted these beautiful illustrations to introduce the kids to Dicken's famous work. Unfortunately, Mickey Mouse beat me to it for at least some of the kids.

The ghosts are a little creepy in their watercolor luminescence, but the older kids seemed ready this year. They are thoroughly enjoying reading this together despite the often magniloquent language.


One of my favorite illustrations: the dance in Scrooge's past.




12 comments:

  1. I have to read this every year, listen to it on the public radio station on Christmas Eve, watch all the movies of the story- especially the old black and white. I am such a hugh Christmas Carol fan. I drive the family crazy about it!

    LOVE the little red bells! You are such a natural at knitting!

    lisa

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  2. Awww...those little red bells are awfully cute!

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  3. I love the red bells too! I'm thinking I might even be able to make those. If you feel so inclined, could you share how you made them? The book looks lovely too.

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  4. LOVE those bells! And thank you for sharing the book. That's a beautiful version, something to look for. Enjoy!

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  5. I adore those bells! Yes, I agree with the others... care to share a tutorial?

    The illustrations from the book are so beautiful, what a great tradition to start!

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  6. Hi Joy,
    That sweater is going to look great and your little bells are so beautiful :)

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  7. I loved that same book when I was little-- I remember reading it at 6, then going to see the play for the first time-- magic. I would wear all my skirts at once under a dress trying to make it look like one of the "fluffy" dresses in the illustrations.

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  8. the sweater is coming along beautifully and i do love stripes!
    nicola
    http://whichname.blogspot.com
    ps. can't remember if i told you i am having a give-away you and your readers might be interested in.

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  9. My plan this year is to read A Christmas Carol--I have it sitting right next to my bed!

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  10. I love those ornaments! I am trying to come up with a few more hand made ornaments to give out this year and I think I may have to make a few of these bells! Thanks for sharing!
    Suzy

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  11. Joy,
    I really like those knit bell ornaments. Do you have a pattern?
    Thank you for sharing.
    Warm wishes.

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  12. Ooh, I love the bells too...they would be a hit around here! Pattern, pattern?

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I love to hear what you think!