Only one day left on my antibiotics, and I am feeling almost one hundred percent better after the most recent bout with bronchitis! As was probably obvious by my minimal postings, I was too ill for almost any sort of cerebral activity — and definitely for all physical ones! But without anything to do, man was I bored. So I dug casually into the old crafts closet, in between  popping antibiotics and sucking down codeine,  and found a mostly-untouched batch of Sculpey clay! I’d been wanting to play a bit with Sculpey while I was home anyway, so I quickly brainstormed for something that I could leave with my parents, would actually be USED, and ended up with this:

Clay nativity!

By far the figures that turned out the best are the three kings:

I especially love how the blue king’s mustache turned out. However, out of all the figures, my favourite is the lying sheep, who quizzically would like to ask you…

“Baa?”

Tags: crafting,nativity
Categories: uncategorized
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I have two very good excuses for disappearing off the blogosphere in the past few months. Firstly, I was in fact working feverishly on a crafty-type project, but it was a gift—thus, no blogging (but more on that!). Secondly, I caught a case of “Hallo, I’m Typhoid Mary,” which began with a supposed-but-untested case of the H1N1 and followed by a lovely viral infection. What I hope is the death throes of my bout of illness was the most severe case of strep throat I’ve ever had—I’m still finishing up my pills, which are the same size (though not shape) as the painkillers we used to give to horses. HORSES, PEOPLE.

So what was I working on so feverishly amidst my fevers? Why, a Christmas nativity—but not the one posted previously! Although it’s the same pattern, it was a different set, to the detriment of my mother’s set. However, it was her idea, so she wasn’t allowed to complain. You see, my sister-type-friend Katze got married two days after Christmas, and I believe in giving heirloom-type-gifts for weddings (fun fact: Katze is one of the few people who calls me Lysse all the time. Thus, her parents, in-laws, sister, and husband all know me as Lysse. I’m not sure any of them know my full name…). Lo, so the stars aligned: Christmas wedding + heirloom = Nativity! I was working on it feverishly until the week of Christmas, and still bear the brand-new callouses to prove it. At one point I was knitting so much that I put a hole in my finger. The crease at my joint couldn’t take the pressure anymore (literally), and split through the first layer. I slapped a bandage on it and soldiered onward.

And thus came to be the Wedding Nativity.

Now I have to finish Mum’s for NEXT year.

Note: Nativity pattern is “Christmas Crib” from Jean Greenhowe’s Christmas Special book, available from several online retailers.

Tags: knit,nativity
Categories: knit, maintenance
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So, on promised pictures, we have my cousin Leah’s stackable cats!

The StackCats were made of handspun (or handdyed… I don’t exactly remember which) Scottish wool. Mmmm. Sooo much fun to knit with! The cats were made from a pattern by MochiMochiLand and have been sworn into the service of attacking people who enter my cousin’s dorm room. Yay!

Other knitted deliciousness: a Golden Snitch!

Pattern here at Inner Child Crochet

And, finally, my mother asked me to knit her a nativity set. Unfortunately, I only finished Mary and Baby Jesus before Christmas:

However, since my mother got to pick the yarn, I’ve worked with WONDERFUL yarns, especially this absolutely delicious soy-wool blend. I’m currently working on Joseph, or rather, his robe–his body is finished. I’ve decided I really can’t STAND cotton yarn; I’ve gotten such huge blisters/calluses from knitting with it. Ugh.

But anyway.

SEE YOU IN THE NEW YEAR!

Tags: fandom,nativity,stackable cats
Categories: crochet, knit, projects
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