Here’s the baby booties I was knitting that caused people to start planning baby showers for me.

Aren’t they the cutest things you’ve ever seen? Go on, admit it. This set is going to the grandson of a good friend from Korea. Let me just tell you that I’m not old enough to have friends with grandchildren. My friend Tammy (not to be confused with the Tami that lives down the street from me) just happened to start having children early in her marriage and she just married off her oldest daughter last June. Now her daughter is having a baby. Her daughter Lindsay was my chauffeur for a week when we all lived in Korea and Philip was off playing war games and I had failed to pass the written driving test for my military license. It was Philip’s fault, of course, because he gave me the wrong book to study. (In all fairness, this was the book that was given to him).

So Philip was gone and I was unable to legally drive and of course, this was vacation bible school week, so I was supposed to be driving back and forth to the chapel everyday. Lindsay was very sweet to drive me where I needed to go and didn’t even giggle when I failed the test.

Of course, I got 100% when I retook it.

ANYway - Lindsay is married and expecting a baby, so duck feet booties are in order.

(The pattern for these can be found in 50 Baby Bootees to Knit. I did them in Rowan Cotton Glace in some shade of yellow.)

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If you’re not a knitter/crocheter feel free to skip this post.  I’ll come up with something more interesting tomorrow.  For the knitters out there - I finally got my invitation to Ravelery!  Woohoo!  I’m having way too much fun adding stuff and poking around the place.  How come nobody told me about this earlier?

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I wasn’t supposed to be buying anymore yarn, let alone more patterns. But since I was left alone in a yarn shop for about 45 minutes, well, it couldn’t be helped. Actually, I did go with the intention of buying yarn for Bip’s next sweater. It started out to be Boo’s first sweater, back in our Korea days. I chose a pattern and purchased the stated yarn online. It arrived and I started knitting. I showed Boo my progress and he announced that he didn’t like the yarn because it was too scratchy and he wasn’t too thrilled with the look of the actual sweater either. Fortunately (for him) I hadn’t gotten very far.

So 4 1/2 years and two children later, I am adept enough at knitting to be able to switch from the listed yarn to one more suitable and a fast enough knitter (though still pretty slow, I think) to knit sweaters for children. I’m attempting the same sweater, this time for Bip, but with a softer yarn.

Here’s what I’m making. It’s a Debbie Bliss pattern from her How To Knit book. I’m using her cashmerino yarn. Yum!

This was all I was going to buy! It took me long enough to pick out, what with the store not having enough of some colors, then me picking out substitutes in the wrong weight and piles of yarn falling on my head. And somehow these beautiful sock yarns found their way into my hands. I’m not sure how since the sock yarns were in a completely different room. But they are so pretty, I just had to have them.

Don’t they look like ice cream? Double yum!

So I was paying for my yarn when Shanti showed up, claiming an accident between a car (not hers) and a grocery truck on the 14th St Bridge. We went to lunch and returned and really, my credit card should not have needed to leave my wallet again.

We were telling our story of the Lunch That Never Was to the enthralled politely listening customers and staff of the yarn store, when a sweater caught my eye. Not just any sweater, but a child’s sweater without buttons. This is significant because Pumpkin Girl refuses to wear buttons. Not as a closure, not as an embellishment. Just won’t wear them. She’ll tolerate a lightweight summer sweater to guard against the air conditioning in church, but that’s it. And when I say “tolerate”, I do mean barely. So finding this sweater on display just sent my plans into a tail spin. Forget the 2 huge knitting projects I’m already working on, the dishcloth I owe a friend and Bip’s sweater that I just bought yarn for. No - I must make this sweater. Here it is:

Pattern book in hand (another Debbie Bliss, this time The Cashmere Collection), I went in pursuit of more yarn. I picked this one, baby cashmerino in primrose.

Pumpkin Girl has given me her approval on both the pattern and the yarn color. The best part was when, at church that evening, I put my arm around her and noticed how cold she was. I whispered to her, “Your arm is cold.” She nodded. Then I said, “I should make you a sweater, ” and she giggled.

It’s important to treat your children well. They’ll be choosing your nursing home some day.

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My lace shawl (which I won’t show quite yet) is taking longer than I’d hoped.  I’ve  knitted (knit?) 1 skein and now have 4 to go.  I had to take a break and do something else or I’m likely to put it away and never finish it.  So I went poking around the house and wouldn’t you know it - I do indeed have a yarn stash.  And I was trying so hard not to buy yarn until I was ready to start a project.  Hmph.  At least it’s a small stash and fits mostly into one Rubbermaid bin.

I found an easy crochet pattern and whipped up this little bag in a couple of days.

I used all cotton yarn, the same stuff I used for Bip’s hat, but because it’s crocheted, it feels much stronger.   The pattern couldn’t be easier and  it’s worked from the bottom up, so the ball of yarn can sit in the bag as it grows.

When I finished the bag, I still wasn’t ready to go back to the shawl.  So I started another big 4 skein project - Clapotis.   It’s a sort of shawl-scarf thing.  Like most of my knitting projects, I started this one mulitple times before I got it right.  I think I restarted this one 5 times.  Argh.  But it’s coming along nicely now.

I’m using Lorna’s Laces Shephard Worsted in Watercolor, instead of Lion and Lamb like the pattern calls for.  This project is for me to keep and L&L is a bit too expensive to spend on myself. Now I’ve got two big projects going - I predict they’ll take me 10 months of alternating between the two to finish.

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Whew! The Jesse Tree Swap is completed and all the packages have been taken to the post office. I was going to share a little bit of the behind the scenes goings on, but let’s just get to the good stuff.

Everyone did such a wonderful job with their ornaments. I can’t say enough about each one of them. I had so much fun opening the packages as they arrived and marveling over the different interpretations of each symbol.

I also want to say a big THANK YOU to Mary Chris who drove up from Virginia to help me pack and mail the boxes. She’s also hand delivering 4 of them. If not for her, I think I’d still be trying to unload my car at the post office.

And so without further ado, I present, in no particular order, the Jesse Tree Craft Swap Ornaments of 2007:

Bethlehem Prophecy

God’s Forgotten Scroll is Found

Ruth and Boaz (Sheaf of Wheat)

In the Beginning

Sacrifice of the Son (Lamb)
(due to a miscommunication, 2 sets of sheep were made. The other one is similar)

Christmas Star

Bronze Serpent

Noah’s Ark and Rainbow

Angels Proclaim the Miraculous Birth

Joseph in Egypt (each colorful coat is different)

The New Covenant

Prophecy: Prince of Peace

Prophecy: Good Shepherd

The Fall of Adam and Eve (the apple is a truer shade of red and looks less like a tomato in person)

Tablets with 10 Commandments

Prophecy: Suffering Servant

Return to Jerusalem: Preparation for Messiah (Brick Wall)

Exile and Persecution (Fiery Furnace)


David and Goliath (Slingshot)


Mary, Mother of All Living (each ornament has a different picture of Mary)


Prophecy: A Shoot From the Stump of Jesse

Light of the World

Prophecy: The New Creation (Lion and Lamb together)
(image copyright Stampin’ Up! 2007)

Birth of Jesus

The Blessing to Abraham (Tent and Camel)

Jonah

The Promised Land: Canaan (Cluster of Grapes)

Passover (Door with Blood )

More information about the Jesse Tree can be found here: The Jesse Tree

Details on how to organize your own Jesse Tree Swap are here: Jesse Tree Craft Swap

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Part 2 of 3

When I read an article in Faith and Family magazine about organizing a Jesse Tree craft swap, I knew I wanted to do one.  I thought about it briefly, then dove right in.  I asked the crafty-in-a-good way ladies on the 4 Real Learning forum and the members of my local Catholic homeschool group to participate.  I crossed my fingers and prayed that I’d get the required 28 sign-ups.

The basic idea is that 28 people agree to make 28 of the same ornament before a given deadline.  The ornaments are then collected and distributed and returned so that each participant has a full set of 28 different ornaments.

Most people make their own set of Jesse Tree ornaments.  There are many advantages to doing your own - you get to decide exactly how each will look, you can have consistency in your ornaments by making them all similar in style, you don’t have to worry about deadlines and postage or someone dropping out of the swap.

On the other hand, being involved in a swap also has its advantages.  Primarily, it is easier and faster to make 28 of the same ornament.  It’s cheaper too, especially when you are dealing with supplies that come in packages, spools or sheets.  You only have to come up with one design, and once you’ve worked it out, you can set up an assembly line to work quickly.  Plus being involved in a group with a deadline helps you to actually complete your ornament.  Many of the participants in my swap mentioned trying many times to create a Jesse Tree for their family, but petered out before Advent was over.

If you are interested in setting up a Jesse Tree swap, here is where you can find the documents I used:  Jesse Tree Craft Swap.  You will need to modify them for your own needs.  If all your participants are local, your job will be easier as you can meet in your parish activity room to swap ornaments together.  If the ornaments will be mailed to you, here are some additional instructions you’ll want to provide:

• ornaments should be packaged into one gallon size ziplock bag.  Participants should label their bag with their name and address.  They can use a 2nd bag if needed, but should not put each ornament into its own baggie.
• ornaments should be wrapped if needed to ensure they arrive safely.
• set a deadline for you to receive the ornaments by.  Allow yourself at least one week to process, package and mail the boxes out.
• Participants should send ALL of their ornaments.  They should NOT keep their own ornament out.
• Have everyone include return postage.  This gets a bit tricky.  Most of the time they can just purchase return postage and stick it in the package before it is sealed.  However, some of the ornaments were very light and it was clear that the return postage would be higher.  I would recommend setting a postage amount, say $6-$9 and have everyone include that set amount in their package.  Return any unused postage with the ornaments.

Keep good records. I thought I was doing a pretty decent job, but I found out too late that two different people made the same ornament.  We worked out a solution, but I feel terrible.  I could have avoided the whole mistake had I sent everyone a list of what each person was making and had them all double check.

Have a waiting list of swap angels.  Those are the people who are willing to step up at a moment’s notice when someone drops out.  Every swap has someone who needs to drop out, sometimes at the very last moment.  Swap angels come in and rescue the whole thing!

Well, there you have it, the basics of organizing a Jesse Tree Swap.  It seems overwhelming, but with enough time (I started sign-ups in mid-October) you can easily pull it off.  I wrote this post because I know that someone will probably ask me for help in organizing a swap in the future.  My next Jesse Tree post will show you the behind-the-scenes nitty-gritty of the swap, plus pictures of the finished ornaments.

Find more information about the Jesse Tree here:  The Jesse Tree

See the completed ornaments here: Jesse Tree Ornaments

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But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. Isaiah 11:1

Part One of Three

So what exactly is a Jesse Tree?

Well, it’s simply a tree decorated with ornaments that tell the story of Jesus’ ancestors and of the events leading to Jesus’ birth. The name is taken from Isaiah 11:1,”But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom.” (Jesse, you’ll remember is the father of King David.) During Advent, one ornament is hung on the tree each day. You can read an accompanying scriptural passage or just say a line or two about the meaning of the ornament.

From CatholicCulture.org :

THE STORY OF THE JESSE TREE Jesse was the father of the great King David of the Old Testament. He is often looked upon as the first person in the genealogy of Jesus.

In Church art a design developed showing the relationship of Jesus with Jesse and other biblical personages. This design showed a branched tree growing from a reclining figure of Jesse. The various branches had pictures of other Old and New Testament figures who were ancestors of Jesus. At the top of the tree were figures of Mary and Jesus. This design was used mostly in stained glass windows in some of the great medieval cathedrals of Europe. The Cathedral of Chartres (which was dedicated in 1260) has a particularly beautiful Jesse Tree window.

Interestingly, there is not one set of “right” Jesse tree symbols. You can do a search for them on the internet and in books, but most lists will vary in some way. If you want to start a Jesse Tree for your family, pick a list that appeals to you. Many of them have scriptural readings associated with each symbol. Or combine lists to make it unique to your family.

Ornaments can be anything you want - purchased or found items or you can craft some or all of them yourself. Fun foam, sculpey clay, felt- anything that works for you.  You could even print out pictures from the internet and tape them to the wall in a tree shape.

The Jesse Tree is so much more than a count-down to Christmas.   It is the telling of the story of God’s love and the promise of the Savior.  If you’re looking for a way to really emphasize the holiness of Christmas, the Jesse Tree can be a simple but effective tool.  While I think that the Jesse Tree is primarily a Catholic thing, there is no reason that other Christian denominations can’t start this fun tradition.

In Part 2 of my Jesse Tree Series, I’ll talk about the Jesse Tree Craft Swap that I am hosting, along with information on how to organize your own swap and some valuable lessons that I learned.

More information about the Jesse Tree Swap here: Jesse Tree Craft Swap

See the completed Jesse Tree Ornaments here: Jesse Tree Ornaments

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In a rare convergence of prior planning and creativity, the children and I made lanterns for Martinmas, which isn’t until November 11. I was planning on making them last year, but early in November we went on vacation and our house flooded, landing us in temporary housing for a couple of weeks until we could move into a new house. Kind of ruined our plans.

This year was different. I knew what I wanted to do and when I wanted to do it. I had all the supplies on hand anyway, so it wasn’t that hard to pull off.
First we read up on St. Martin of Tours. I was pleased to find out that Boo had already learned a little about him at his Religious Ed class, so I let him tell what he remembered of the story first. Then we talked a little bit about Martinmas traditions, including the making of paper lanterns, parading around and singing songs.

So now I present our Martinmas lanterns. You probably have most of the supplies at home, if not then you still have time to run to the store and get them.

Here’s our basic supplies. A sheet of 12×12 cardstock for each lantern and tissue paper. 12 x 12 cardstock can be found with the scrapbooking supplies at your craft store. Or ask a scrapbooking friend, she’ll have a variety of colors to choose from and will most likely be happy to give you some.

So here we go! Cut 2″ off one end. Save the scraps!

 Fold 3/4″ from the cut edge and glue it down. I used a Fiskars paper cutter with the scoring blade to help fold the cardstock. You can use the flat edge of a butter knife to score the paper, then use the handle to flatten the fold down.

 Draw a line 2″ from the bottom edge, score along that line…

 …and cut notches. Be careful not to cut past the line.

Draw figures or shapes to cut out. If you enlarge the above picture, you can see that I sketched with pencil first, then outlined with a black marker to make it easier to see where to cut out.

I highly recommend basic shapes about 1″-2″ in size. The moon and stars on Pumpkin Girl’s lantern were about right. The little girl was way too detailed, even for me to cut out. I also marked off about 1″ on the right where the paper will overlap when glued together.

Below is Boo’s lantern. His has fall leaves which were easy to draw and simple enough to cut out. Remember that card stock is much thicker than paper, so simpler is better. However, his tree was much too big and open.

 I highly recommend not drawing anything that is grounded on the bottom line, like the little girl and the tree. It weakens the lantern when you glue it together. Stick to things that are free floating like the leaves and stars.

Cut the shapes out carefully. The sharper the scissors, the better.

Cut tissue paper to fit the inside of the lantern. Don’t go crazy measuring and trying to get a perfect fit. You can use one piece for the whole lantern or use smaller pieces in different colors for each cut out. Glue the tissue paper over the cut-outs. Make sure you get the glue right up to the edges of the cut-outs so that the tissue sticks well when the lantern gets rolled up. I had my children use glue sticks for this part since tissue paper is so fragile.

Glue the short sides of the cardstock together to form a tube with the tissue paper inside. Overlap the edges where marked and use paperclips to hold together while drying.

Push the notches down to make a base. Here we used white glue because the cardstock didn’t want to behave itself. I also used scrap pieces of cardstock to make it stronger. For Boo’s I used the top of his cut out tree, for Pumpkin’s I used cut a 3″ piece from the strip we cut from the very beginning.

 Below are the finished lanterns. You can attach a ribbon or string across the top so that the lantern can be carried on a stick for Martinmas lantern walk. Or leave as is for a table decoration.

 Of course, these lanterns are highly flammable! Please don’t use real candles with them. We are using those fake tealights that are widely available. You could also use chem light sticks.

 So there we have it - simple paper lanterns for Martinmas.  I hope you enjoyed my little tutorial.   I can’t believe that I both made crafts with my children AND remembered to take pictures for the blog.

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… to me!  Ho ho ho, look what arrived yesterday:

For the non-knitters out there, it’s an umbrella swift and a ball winder.  I’ve wanted one for a while, but couldn’t really justify spending the money when 2 ladder back chairs and my own hands will accomplish the same thing.  However, having this pile waiting to be turned into usable balls of yarn:

I decided I needed the swift and winder. It’s an early Christmas present, since they are kind of expensive.  Almost as expensive as the yarn waiting to be wound.  Ahem.  (I will not create a stash of yarn, I will not create a stash of yarn, I will not…stop laughing, Shanti!)

After dealing with cryptic Japanese instructions like “Thrust the yarn guide in over a boss posititioned at the reverse side of the base until clicking” and no instructions for the swift, I got it all set up.

So instead of spending 30-45 minutes winding one hank of yarn (and that’s IF I don’t tangle it,which has only happened once) it only takes 10 minutes to turn one of these pretties

into this:

And that’s including the time spent figuring out what to do. Let’s just say I love it.  Thanks, Philip!

By the way, Someone is getting a Christmas present  made from that yummy newly wound ball of yarn.  (It’s Lorna’s Laces Lion and Lamb and worth a small fortune every penny. ) I can’t tell you more than that.  But for more inspiration on handmade gifts, Dawn at By Sun and Candlelight is hosting The Loveliness of Handmade Gifts on November 8th.  It’s not too late to submit pictures or a post to this fair.

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I’m a knitting roll! I started this pumpkin hat for Bip yesterday and finished it up this afternoon. Very quick and easy. I used this free pumpkin hat pattern , but I added one extra set of knit 7, purl 1 to accommodate Bip’s big punkin head.

Bip really likes his hat and especially enjoyed putting it on during church today and grinning at the people behind him.  All  from the front row, of course.

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