It’s been a strange month, or it feels that way, as far as my makings go.  I haven’t had one new thing to show you all month, and we are 3/4 of the way through!  I’ve not been idle, however.  I’ve been working away on Christmas/holiday ensembles.  So far, I have two for the Little Darlings completed with another two in the works for them.  My 11″ Kaye Wiggs Millie is getting something, and of course, my new 10″ Boneka Rose will get a holiday dress too.  After that, I am planning on making something for Patience, Puki Puki, Patsy, and Gracie.  Fingers crossed that I don’t run out of time.

Here is my pile of Christmas/holiday fabric and holiday colored yarn.  I am NOT! buying any more fabric this year since I bought more than I could use last year.

In progress . . .

I desperately wanted to add these bright foil lined red beads to the white lace; they picked up the bright red edge in the ribbon perfectly.  The only problem was that all of the seams on the dress were sewn up, and I didn’t want stitching to show through to the lining.  With care, I was able to keep the hand stitching thread between the lace and lining.  I am knitting a fuzzy mohair/silk sweater for this dress in pure white.

I finished the hand sewing on Millie’s dress this morning.  Do you also feel like you get bonus time when you get up in darkness and get right to work?  I got Millie’s dress 100% done early this morning:  hand sewing, snaps, buttons, and belt loops.  Yay!  This dress is made out of a tiny snowman print, and Millie would love one of those needle felted snowmen that I made last year.  I actually want to take a day next week and make a “bunch” of them.

My hubby and I celebrated our 25th anniversary on Monday.  We spent the day in downtown Chicago at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Any works of art with sewing catches my eye.  This painting from around the year 1900 depicts Renoir’s 4-5 year old son sewing.  I guess it was the fashion for young boys to have long hair.  It’s gorgeous, isn’t it?

Afterwards, we stopped at a restaurant called Cindy’s.  The balcony overlooks Millenium Park, Lake Michigan, and parts of the city.  You can see “the bean”, entitled Cloud Gate, above my head.  (Everyone here calls it “the bean”.)  You can also see some of the trees with their leaves changing color.  Everything still looks (and feels) pretty summery.

Today is my hubby’s birthday.  We’re hoping to include our daughter in “present opening” via FaceTime.

I hope you have a nice weekend!  Thanks for visiting with me today.