Drum roll please...

Hope you all had a great holiday - mine was rather peaceful, with only the occasional impulse to throttle someone marring the scene. The last of my gift knitting was completed on the 27th - a last minute request for a pair of men's socks. (Thuja - in Opal 6 ply...not a good choice. Should have chosen a thicker yarn. Blech.) But otherwise, I'm quite happy with the way that things worked out over here. Still munching on gingerbread too!

As for the giveaways, our two winners are:

The Opal goes to - Amanda! Congratulations, and I'm going to be slipping in some proper roving into your package for the next set of thrummed mittens that you make as an extra little treat. But the ones that you did make were postitively beautiful - go take a look, everyone!

And the BIG one is going to - Athena! Congratulations! I understand that you're a newish knitter...I just hope that I'm not going to make you into a yarn snob by starting you off with the good stuff. ;)

I think that I'm going to go and start on a new pair of socks for myself - Anastasia's been calling my name for sometime now. I've got more of that Crown Mountain Farms Sockhop handspun that I'd like to use up...here's hoping that it and the pattern get along. Also about to be started on the needles is a sweater for Mr. Ninja. I'm thinking of one of the ones from Son of Stitch n Bitch (I <3 that book) in some green Malabrigo. I figure that if I can get one sweater done for him each year starting now, we'll be set for Nova Scotia weather in about a decade of marriage.

December 23 and 24th.

Made it! Tomorrow's the big day - everyone's settled in, the presents are wrapped, and I'm baking my third batch of gingerbread cookies. Apologies for the lateness of yesterday's giveaway...I was busy mediating between all of the family. It's kinda hard when there's only one grandchild between both families and EVERYONE wants some face time with him. I've been bugging my siblings and Mr. Ninja's siblings - telling them that I want some nieces and nephews for Christmas next year.

Since I missed yesterday's giveaway, I'm going to post the giveaway for the 23 and the 24th together, and since I'm not anticipating having much Internet time for the next couple of days, I'm going to draw two winners from all those who comment on this post - likely on the 27th/28th or so.

So the giveaway for the 23rd - the winner of the knitpicks is Lesley. Congrats! The yarn up for grabs is this:

Some very pretty Opal sock yarn.

And for the final giveaway of this little Advent Calendar...

Told you it was a big one. Heh. Someone lucky out there in blogland is getting an awesome Christmas present - this is 8 skeins of Malabrigo in the Velvet Grapes colourway PLUS one of Nicky Epstein's books. Eight skeins = 1720 yards of yarn. Good luck, and good tidings to all for Christmas...and have a happy New Year.

December 22nd

Dashing through the snow...and through the mall. Quickie post:

Yesterday's winner - Geekzilla. Congrats, Lynne!

Today's giveaway:

It's some more Knitpicks Memories - but in the Red Hat colourway this time.

Good luck all!

December 21st!

Time is flying! Unfortunately for my sis-in-law, much the same cannot be said for her plane from New Zealand. So, she's been delayed until late today - which means that I'm going to be making 4 trips to the airport today. (Mom, Dad, brother & GF, and sis-in-law). Ungh. Anyone know a good recipe for apple pie? I have a feeling that I'm going to need some pie-like fortification soon.

In yarn-like news, I'm currently simmering up a batch of DK weight yarn...experimenting with some kool-aid, a skein wound into a centre-pull ball and a crockpot. I'll let you know how it goes.

Yesterday's winner was Tara. Congratulations!

Today's giveaway is a faboo ball of Malabrigo - not the merino, this is wool - in what I think is the Oceanos colourway. I could be wrong, as this has been in my stash ever since Malabrigo started selling in North America...so what, something like 4 years now?

Good luck all...

December 20th

Only 5 more days to go...

So the deluge begins today - both my brother-in-law and sister-in-law arrive today. I forsee much less knitting time in my near future, alas. But Eleanor is almost done! I just need to finish one pattern repeat and then the toe. I really wish that socktopia was up (I have a sneaking suspicion that it's a dead site now.) so I could link you the pattern...but it's a smashing design. I'll be knitting it again for sure.

Yesterday's winner was Linda. Congrats again!

Today's giveaway is some Knitpicks Memories sock yarn in Rocky Mountain Dusk. It's superwash merino and it knits up very prettily. Good luck everyone!

December 19th (Holy CRAP!)

Only a week to go, ladies and gentlemen!

So, I'm thinking that I can totally do 3 sets of mittens. Easy peasy and I'll be done like dinner. As mentioned last night at KOL, if things should get too hairy around here with all the relatives...I'm putting myself on bedrest and letting them all sort themselves out by their grown-up selves. Mr. Munchkin can hide out with me if he so chooses.

ETA: Screw it. I'm making my BIL a pair of machine washable socks and the parents-in-laws are getting slippers from Old Navy or somesuch. Neither I nor the babe need the extra and rather unnecessary stress engendered by this weird holiday guilt. So there. And onto a more pleasant topic...

Yesterday's winner is Carrice. Congratulations!

Today's giveaway is:

Good luck everyone. Just as a heads up - since we're headed into the final stretch, I'm letting you know that the giveaway on the 24th is going to be MASSIVE...keep an eye out for it.

December 18th

Had an OB appointment today - all's well with me and the babe. So to celebrate, Mr. Munchkin and I went and did something crazy. We cut his hair. I don't know about you, but wrestling a nearly 5 year old while simultaneously wielding a sharp pair of scissors almost never ends well for me. So, two bald spots later, he's more or less presentable for decent company.

So, I'm thinking about my Christmas list. My family is done, apart from a trip to Best Buy. (They're all getting something knit from me and something techy from Mr. Ninja.) My in-laws are sort of done...and the guilt of having knit just my sister-in-law a pair of socks (and no knits for any other the rest of them) is starting to weigh on me. So, I'm thinking of alternatives.

*Brother-in-law: I can totally knock off a pair of basic men's socks in worsted weight wool by Christmas. Right?
*Mother-in-law: This one's a little harder...maybe a scarf? From Old Navy?
*Father-in-law: Is this too mean? I'm thinking of a pair of pants and a new set of underwear. Click here if you want to understand where this idea is coming from...

On to the free stuff!

Yesterday's winners were Dorothy and Mom_of_Faith! MoF, please email me.

Today's giveaway is some beautiful Corriedale roving. I started to spin it on my drop spindle (please excuse the temporary bobbin), but stopped when I needed the spindle for something else...which has slipped my mind as to exactly what it was. Good luck all!