I awoke this morning to find all my windows frosty. I live in an old cottage with old windows. Winter is beginning to take hold and force me to heat my drafty little place. I went outside and put out fresh food for my stray that I feed and saw that the grass was crunchy and rimed. Kitty came running as soon as I shut the door. I must find some way to create a nest for her when the weather gets really bad. A nest she will use.

I finished the medieval turnshoes Wednesday evening and have updated the shoe demo on my website. That felt good. I’m starting to feel like my old self again. I’ve got new designs for all kinds of things dancing in my head. Sugarplums every one.

What I have in the works for Yule:

• 12th century gothic wool tunic for a Yule feast in December. I will be wearing it over the embroidered tunic I recently posted photos of here. I have some lovely brocaded gold silk in a vine patten that I will use as embellishments at the neck, biceps, sleeve cuff, and hem. Little by little I will embellish it with embroidery and perhaps some pearls. Right now all I need is to get it wearable.
• Wall banner for my parents based on the peace dove image below. It will be an applique in cottons. I found some lovely hand dyed cottons at a local sewing store, one in stormy purples and pinks, the other gold with purple spirals. Both are similar to the watercolor effect in this image. I plan on embroidering the leaves and spirals in the background in contrasting colors.
  

• Applique piece for someone who reads my journal – design and fabrics are selected
• Needle felted cutie beast for someone who reads my journal – materials are gathered
• Knitted shrug for my sister in law with a cool button in faux bone – half knitted, need to make button
• Socks for bro
• Astronomy kit for 5 year old nephew
• Earrings for mom
• Something for dad, the hardest man to give presents to

I am also working on a lovely soft black wool vest for myself. The appliques are attached but not embellished. Until I embellish it isn’t obvious what the design is. It’s long and loose and very soft and cozy. It is wearable, just not fully embellished.

I’ve finished my Samhain wool felt banner and it’s hanging over the kitchen altar. It makes me smile every time I see the space.  I just realized that it is mostly finished. I forgot to put straw on the broom.

Frosty cozy happy blessings