Are you ready for Christmas?

What a time of year! It is not enough time in twenty-four hours!

Yes, I’m talking about Christmas. If you are like I am, I mean if you like to make presents with your hands, it would be better to start work on them in the summer time! What could be better than a gift which was made with love, with fantasy, or with hope?

I’m not a very good organized person and what would I do without my lovely Etsy where I can find everything what I was going to make by myself but I didn’t. Just allow me to guide you there or let me share how happy I’m with my purchases for my friends and relatives for Christmas.

First of all I need to tell you I have been a knitter for more than 30 years. But, if you are a full time working mom and wife it is not easy to make something like Muza does in her shop.

Or look at TatianaOrlova shop, where Scandinavian knitting designs are combined with Russian warmth. Wow, this is really a knitter’s winter fairyland!

 
If you are looking for warm gift don’t hesitate to visit these next shops where my friends are making very artist items!

          From left to right: CozySeason, woolsolution, SocksAndMittens

Maybe because I live in Alaska I prefer wool and natural materials. They keep you warm and comfortable on cold winter days. But could you imagine how beautiful and soft wool could be in a scarf which was made using nuno felt technology? Look here and I’m sure you can’t go without a purchase!

From left to right, from top to bottom: YanArt, manonknits, JaneBoFelt, galafilc

I can’t be quiet when we are talking about embroidery. This is my new passion and I’m just in the beginning of my study. That is why I strongly recommend you visit Lana’s BelleCoccinelle shop! There you will find amazing art work! Look around and enjoy!

Also I would like to introduce you the shop of talented Ukrainian artist Natalka and her skrynka shop. You can find a lot of choices for gifts there.

And to end, I just want to tell you that I’m a proud member of Rusian Artists team on Etsy. And if you want to find something really unusual and made with love of high quality just type RUSTEAM in search column of Etsy website and you will be surprised how many talented people belong to our team.

Yes, Christmas is almost here. Don’t be sorry if you are late with buying presents for this great holiday. Just think of the future and I’m sure you will be back!

Allow me to wish you a Merry Christmas from my Rusteam’s friends!

Happy shopping! Happy holidays!

Sincerely,

Happy Frog,
a proud member of Russian Artists team on Etsy

Some thoughts on knitting

When I was a teenager I had a friend Katya. Her mother was a talented designer. That is why Katya always had the amazing dresses, jackets, hats and scarfs. For her mom it was a hobby to make garments for herself and for her daughter. One day Katya came to me to invite me for a walk. She was wearing an unusual hat and gloves. I was thrilled.

“Where did you get them?” I did ask my friend. “My mom made it for me” Katya said proudly.
“Wow, Katya, you are so lucky! Your mother is so talented! I wish my Mom could knit and teach me to do that” I said with jealousy.
“You know, my mom could teach you how to knit! She was trying to teach me but I really don’t have the patience for this. Let’s go for a walk and after we can talk to her.”

Katya’s mother showed me how to knit and crochet. 

That was thirty years ago, and I have enjoyed this hobby ever since. And I found a lot of benefits of knitting. You can make something memorable for your family. You can make gifts for Christmas and Birthdays for your friends or co-workers. You can create a very unusual jacket or hat.

 You can be a real artist working with different colors of yarns and fibers.

When you are a woman on a budget you can save a lot of money making garment for your children. But from the other side you can make money if you will knit items for sale.

What could be better than to do something for your family? What could be sweeter, softer and warmer than a blanket which a future mother makes for her baby? Or what if you would crochet a tablecloth or lacy center peace for your family holidays? Imagine your children and grandchildren coming to visit you on Thanksgiving Day and having your family’s traditional tablecloth on the table. It is great, don’t you think?

When Christmas is coming we all are looking for presents and gifts. Of course, you can buy presents but if you will make a scarf or hat for your boyfriend or husband it will be a very unique present.

Pick out his favorite colors and your soul mate will appreciate this gift even if it was three sizes too big! Just because you spent your time making this hat or scarf only for him, just because during the time while you were making those items you were thinking of him.

Everyone likes to be complimented. Are you on tight budget? You can save a lot of money by knitting yourself an unusual outfit.

 It is very pleasant to make something that people will like. Yes, it takes time. But believe me, to make a hat or scarf is very easy. Choose a pattern, choose your favorite colors, make a cup of tea or coffee, turn on your favorite DVD and enjoy your knitting during your free evenings.

Alaska’s winter is a perfect time for knitting. And Alaska is a perfect place for a knitting business. If you will learn how to knit hats and gloves or mittens you can knit them even for sale. A lot of stores take stuff for consignment. People like handmade items. You will benefit if you will use natural materials, like wool or cotton.

I like to knit. When I see a handmade outfit I always compliment the person who wears it. This garment keeps you warm not only because of wool but and because of positive energy, because of love which hands put in each stitch.

Try to knit. I’m sure you will like it.

Story by Alena HappyFrogFromAlaska