Which brings me to part of why I haven’t been painting and drawing: I don’t feel quite right about continuing to use materials to make objects that just live in my studio. I’ve been thinking about this for a while, then Father John Misty sang a song about it on his most excellent “Fear Fun” album! Thanks, Father John, for saying it and singing it better than I ever could.

So, with that off my chest, here’s my latest completed knitting project! This is a modified version of Scarlett’s Cardi from Ravelry. Found the most excellent bone buttons at Button Button here in Vancouver. I started out wanting something chunky and cozy, like a classic cable, but ended up choosing something quite different.

You like?

It was a bigger hit than I expected and she spent most of Christmas morning wearing it! Super win!

Dad’s always repairing a vintage __________.

Mom is an amazing cook, but shouldn’t be allowed near sharp objects…

… especially when she’s drinking.

The eldest daughter loves to make art. She took an art class with me at Arts Umbrella, and decided we both belonged to an exclusive group of “real artists”.

This photo is an accurate representation of how much their cat moves.

Their youngest daughter is very tiny for her age (and healthy!), so I got a kick out of making her smaller than the cat. Plus she’s got the grumpy face and destructive power of a hurricane.

It’s an advent calendar with a craft beer for each of the 12 days of Craftmas. Who needs cheap chocolate or silly little toys when you can have craft beer?! We got the idea when we saw a commercially-produced advent calendar in the liquor store, but the beers inside couldn’t be vouched for and the price tag was well beyond us – plus making one is more fun! Husband picked the beers while I made the calendar.

The lucky recipient has been uploading a video for each day and will be reviewing beers as quickly as he can chill and drink them!

From http://jilliantamaki.com/short-comics/sexy-halloween/

Original art (including a couple of my pieces) for $100, $200 or $300. Why not sort out some Christmas/ Hanukkah/ secular Winter holiday presents early?! I do love checkin’ stuff off a list.

It was so wonderful. All puppets in real environments; puppets made of old melted plastic bottles and bags, acorns, sticks and detritus driving cars made of wire and who-knows-what. Another example of the glorious creativity that grows from limitation. CGI has nothing on this. How does one become a Czech animator?

It’s 10×10″ and done in watercolour. I took a botanical illustration course a few years ago, which came in very handy. Sis liked it, so I hope Grandma does too!