Fun with Color

I have worked on this new project maybe just a few times. The book is Color by Kristin (author: Kristin Nicholas). The project is called Mother-Daughter Mittens. I am doing the stitch count for the daughter size, though my gauge is slightly larger than specified because my main (green) yarn is a bit fluffier than the other yarns.

The main part of the mitten requires a lot of concentration (and I still made a few hiccups). However, this photo was taken Monday night. I did a bit more with the project on Tuesday, but have no further photos at this time.

I am planning for these to be “topless” mittens, so that my fingers will peek out above the middle joint. The pattern chart shows two sets of leaves, and I took one out to get the flower on the back before I bound off. It worked perfectly for length. It did mean that the thumb colors switched part way up, but I think that looks quite fun.

I’m not sure how much thumb I will knit, that may take some experimentation. A thumb is no big deal to knit a few times, anyway.

Coming Right Along

Since I took this photo, I have finished the main colorwork. I also made two ridges at the top edge, to echo the look of the cuff edging a bit. I did a little embroidery as well, some of which I like and will keep, and some of which I will take out and try again.

It’s very fun knitting, though this sort of chart does not have the soothing rhythm of a short, memorizable repeat. I like short repeats a lot, as far as knitting process goes. However, the look of this is worth some focus, especially considering the project is so small.

Yarns… these Make Me Happy

I’m using four colors of Nashua Julia yarn, three of which you can see here (there is a turquoise added now, thanks to friend Cynthia). The deep teal blue and the magenta I got at City Knitting in Grand Rapids, which closed their doors a few weeks ago. The lupine/periwinkle was given to me by nobody less than Kristin Nicholas herself, at Stitches East a few Octobers ago.

Maybe that green looks familiar? It is leftover yarn from the Yarn Garden Keys and Coins Andean-Style Hat. It is Cascade Cloud 9, which is wool/angora in a worsted weight. Really warm, really soft, and exactly the right color, when I know nowhere in Michigan to get any of the several nice greens available in the Julia yarn.

Both yarns are rated as worsted weight at 5 stitches/inch. However, the angora puffs up and gets fluffier as you work with it. The Julia is smooth. shiny, sleek and strong (I hurt my hands trying to break it rather than cut with scissors). It is wool, alpaca and mohair. The drape from the alpaca is noticeable, and the strength and color depth clearly bow to the mohair content. Nice stuff.

Happy Hands

I really enjoy hand sewing and embroidery. I had some fun tonight putting a few French knots around the tulip/flower shape. More photos as I progress!

I just heard from a friend in Philadelphia that Australian Freeform master Prudence Mapstone will be teaching there, in a few weeks. Here are the details for my fiber-art friends who may be interested:

World Renowned Freeform Artist Prudence Mapstone  (prudenceM  on Ravelry) will be teaching at Nangellini on

February 5th, 2010

Nangellini (this is a Ravelry Link, if you are a member)
832 South Street

Philadelphia, PA

www.nangellini.com

1 pm- 5 pm –FULL 
6 -10 pm CLASS AVAILABLE

Learn how you can take some very basic crochet and knitting stitches to create and build your own one of a kind artwork and art to wear!

Basic knitting and crochet skills are suggested.

Those who never tried freeform before, those who love it and do it all the time, and everyone in between is welcome in this class!

Class Fee is $50 
Participants also receive 10% off their yarn purchases during class.

To register, please call Nancy at 215-413-5001 or register at the shop. The first class filled so quickly, we have opened up a second. Please register asap to avoid missing out!

Visa, MC, Discover, Amex, and PayPal are all acceptable payment forms.

Payment required at time of registration.

Folks who have followed me for a while, know I love “knitting as art.” Thanks to Twitter and KnittingNews, I followed some links and found the home page of Robyn Love.

On Ms. Love’s pages, you might view a water tower cozy, the Knitted Mile, a few other yarn-media pieces and a few pieces which do not include knitting. All are creative and fascinating.

I met April, Isabel and Brandi for lunch last week. We exchanged Christmas gifts. I did actually knit this gift… wristwarmers for my 5 yr old friend.

Isabel loves everything I knit for her. Once upon a time, I made her a wrap/half-blanket. I told her I’d knit her a hug. She was not yet 4 years old at the time, but she “got it.” When she does not feel good, she will go curl up snuggling the hug, or wrap up in it.

April, her mommy, tells me that Isabel was trading off the hug and another blanket for nap time at kindergarten. Now she takes only the hug, it’s all she wants. That makes me feel very good.

So around the same time I made the hug for her, I made some wristwarmers. She loved them. I held two colorful yarns together to make them, but they were a bit small even then.

This fall, she found them, insisted that they fit, shoe-horned them on her feet, and proceeded to wear them to sleep in, she would not take them off. It was time for a new pair. A pair that fit.

So here you see my sweet one wearing her new pair. I used two multicolored yarns together, again. Both are primarily turquoise. One has bits of color that stick up from the surface, the other changes slightly with time.

She loves “blue” which encompasses cobalt to turquoise. I had a lot of turquoise yarn around (to say the least). She likes these.

Above is a photo of her in the new gift. Here below is a not-that-good photo of her “hug.”

Susan Hensel Gallery greets the new year with cozy cross stitch and frilly crochet that transgresses the historic boundaries of what is considered “a woman’s work.” Hand made felt and artyarn by Rachel Starr Suntop and unconventional counted cross stitch, piecework and crochet by Sara Christensen Blair explore issues of the body, of geography, and the changing role of the Feminine in society

Please join us in celebrating these two up-and-coming artists!
OPENING RECEPTION -Saturday, January 16, 7-9pm

Susan Hensel Gallery
3441 Cedar Ave S, Minnepolis

I could spend all day reading and looking at photos, from the Knitted Textile Awards Showcase 2009 (and the links to years 2005-2008 listed at the bottom of the page). Wowie!

These are students in the UK. They are incredibly creative and diverse. I love it. What an uplifting boost! Right when I am cold and merely inspired by the idea of warmth.

This is mostly clothing, although with incredible variety. There are also non-garment items in the mix. Very creative and very inspiring.

I don’t HAVE all day… must nibble a little at a time until I look/process it all. Then I’m sure I could start all over again.

The great news? After finishing the Keys & Coins Andean-Style Hat pattern, I have found some time to socialize with folks I love, and knit a bit. Not for work, either… for a change.

Pattern Deliveries: Lansing Area

First, I delivered patterns to Rae’s Yarn Boutique. She will end up with three store samples. For some reason I don’t have current photos of those hats, complete with ear flaps. Will need to get some processed and share them here.

Next, I delivered patterns to Lindsay of Yarn Garden in Charlotte, MI. Her sample has a favorite combination of colors for me.

The solid/Contrast Color is hot green Cascade Cloud 9, a wool-angora blend, two plies in worsted weight. It’s an unusual yarn which I enjoy very much. See photo top right.

Then, I delivered patterns and a sample to Rob at Threadbear Fiberarts. His sample is very different for me… well, the contrast is a soft turquoise but the multicolored yarn is Kaleidoscope in pinks, apricot, sand, and winter white. It turned out beautifully.

The solid color is Cascade Soft Spun, a yarn I had not used before. It was very compatible with the Kaleidoscope. The hat feels soft and good, as well as looking nice. Photo at left.

After that Business,  Now Pleasure

After all those deliveries, I have allowed myself the pleasure of knitting… for me and loved ones. Wristwarmers lead the list. I have no photos of those yet.

I made some Yak-Wool blend wristwarmers for woodsman Paul.  When I get photos I will tell more stories of this kind and knowledgeable man. The warmers are done but I have not seen him since I finished.

I made turquoise wristwarmers for my beloved 5-yr-old friend, Isabel. She loved the ones I made her 2 years ago. She squeezed her hands into them then, and swore they fit just a few months ago. The new pair is more her color and will fit her a long time. I did get a few photos, not here yet.

Now I’m a few rows from finishing a pair of (turquoise) wristwarmers for myself. I got a free skein of Zealana New Zeeland Possum blend yarn at TNNA and this is a good use for a single skein. (No, not like American Possum… soft and fuzzy and lovely. Yes, I know the whole story.)

Pair #178

AND I just finished my first pair of socks for 2010. They are not fancy at all. My feet are cold this time of year, and I keep wearing through all the bulky footie-slippers I’ve made in previous years. I have one pair of slippers/socks that Diana/Otterwise made me, but the rest of my warm foot gear is in sad repair, almost past darning again.

SO I found one sock in stash, an old First-Time Toe-Up sample from Rae’s shop. Found a small ball of yarn that matched it, but that did not weigh enough to make a second footie.

I knit with the small ball, then unraveled the first sock from the top (luckily it was toe up). I knit two socks alternating between that original yarn and some other wool yarns held together to match the gauge. I have progress photos which I hope I will have time to share with you. I’m so busy having lunch and tea with friends on this “vacation” that I’m not sitting at the desk with multiple photos…

But here is the end result. Pair #178, finished January 3, 2010.

I started knitting socks in spring of 2001. I’ve made finer socks, but these will accomplish exactly their purpose. WARMTH!!!

I think of January as a month for knitters to splurge their knitting time/resources on themselves. I have called this “Selfish Knitting Month” in the past. Some folks do not like this phrase.

I do not find that word uncomfortable. If you do, I encourage you to embrace the idea of no-guilt projects, but call it something else. Whatever you call this month, I say take time for yourself, and do not feel guilty.

Pushing through Resistance

It’s funny, today I actually was feeling guilty about wanting to knit at all. There is a lot I can do on my computer right now, from accounting to new patterns to corresponding to those of you who take the time to comment.

I pushed through my “guilts” and listened to my chilly feet. They want warm layers. I don’t have enough outer layers right now. Here is an example… I knit both pairs in 2006. You can see them on my SockTour.

It used to be that every late fall, I would get out fat yarn and knit a few pairs of these low footies of very warm, very thick yarn. I have not done that in a few years.

I find shoes uncomfortable indoors, and slippers often do not breathe well. Outer layers I have made in previous years have been patched so much that they can not be repaired many more times.

A Surprise

Tonight I looked for some thick yarn with which to make a pair of warm slipper socks. Score! I found one completed sock (it had been a sample at Rae’s yarn shop). Inside that sock was a small ball of yarn (the same yarn is shown at right).

The sock weighs just under 25gm. The ball of yarn weighs less. BUT the sock was knit toe up and has over an inch of ribbing at the ankle. So I made a plan.

I will knit a second matching sock until the small ball o’yarn is gone. Then I will unravel the first sock from the top bindoff, until the two socks match.

I will then find some sort of accent yarn from which to create coordinating/contrasting cuffs. Voila!

I think this will work. I am busy knitting, no photos of this project right now. Knit, knit…

May I introduce to you, the “Keys & Coins Andean-Style Hat?” The pattern is final. I’m about ready to have a party!!!

(If you click the above link, you will be sent to the Ravelry.com page with more information about the pattern. You need a free membership to Ravelry to see it.

If you are not a member, it will offer you the opportunity. If you knit, I highly recommend it as a resource.)

Musings…

You know, some patterns seem to happen spontaneously, and quickly. My One-Day Neckwarmer fell into that category. I have had relatively few of those, but they do exist.

On the other hand, some patterns I have much passion for… and they can stump me. I get to a certain place and I just get stuck solving a problem for a while.

My ZigBagZ, the Chippy Socks for Kids, and the Road-Tested Legwarmers all required a time-out for a while. They have become excellent patterns for me, but they sure did occupy space on my “To Do” list for too long!

So, as you can see, I have been dealing with one more of those months-and-months patterns. I think this one took about a year from concept and first cast on, and just now, when I have become clear that it’s ready for a debut.

Big, Huge, Thanks!

I often try to do things alone. It is just impossible in this line of business. And allowing others into my process is often fun for them, as well. I’m learning.

This pattern included eight hats, many ear flaps (see three at right) three knitters, much advice and input from many who love me. Most but probably not all of them are in this list:

Rae
Emily
Jenn F.
Diana
Melinda
Anna-Marie
Elizabeth S.
The Thursday-Night Crowd at Rae’s Yarn Boutique

Thanks to those who have been asking, calling and writing to me, asking for this design. It really does help me to know that I touched something in you, that you see a bit of what I saw when I had that first dream of a project.

So here is a stack of “a few” hats I had in front of me for a photo shoot Sunday. Some have ear flaps already attached but tucked in. Some still needed flaps attached at that point. Honestly, I still have some flaps to sew, but the pattern was more important than the samples. At least, at first.

The Yarns

You will ask. I don’t have color numbers for most of these yarns, but I do have which yarns I did use for all of them. The Main Color/MC is the multicolored background yarn. The Contrast Color/CC is the solid used on the very bottom edge and for the circles, stripes, etc.

So… here they are, the yarns used in the photo just above. The list starts with the top hat and works down.

• MC: Noro Kureyon, dark greens/purples; CC: Nashua Snowbird, light green marl (Snowbird is thicker than the others, at 73 yd/ 50gm).
• MC: Crystal Palace Mochi Plus, rainbow; CC: Berroco Lustra, turquoise.
• MC: Elegant Yarns Kaleidoscope, pink/apricot; CC: Cascade Softspun, soft turquoise.
• MC: Noro Kureyon, turquoise/purple/wine; CC: Cascade Cloud 9, hot green.
• MC: Mondial Bizarre, orange/yellows; CC: Debbie Bliss Rialto Aran, muted teal.
• MC: Noro Cashmere Island, purple/green/blue; CC: Southwest Trading Karaoke, solid turquoise.

The yarns for the top 2 and bottom 2 in the stack, were from Rae’s Yarn Boutique. The green/blue hat third from bottom, is from Yarn Garden in Charlotte, Michigan. The one third from top (also shown at the beginning of this post) was from Threadbear Fiberarts.

The rainbow hat pictured below is in a small adult size without earflaps, modeled by the lovely A. who is I think 16 years old now? Maybe 15. I can’t keep track.

Some folks like flaps on looser hats, and this pattern has sizes from Newborn to Adult XL, which should allow for a bit of adjusting for personal preference.

The Pattern, Near Lansing, Mich.

All of these are Lansing-Area Shops… all shops where I teach. All shops where you will be able to get the patterns very soon. Rae’s should have this on Monday at some point.

The Quick Answer for Non-Lansing Folks

So where can you get this pattern instantly, at 4am? Or, assuming you don’t have access to Lansing, Michigan at this point? Mind you, I recommend supporting local shops as much as possible, but we all know that this blog reaches beyond my own corner of the world.

Right now, you can buy a downloadable PDF document if you Click This Buy-Now Link.

I am using Ravelry and PayPal to make this possible, but you need neither a Ravelry nor a PayPal account to make that purchase. A credit or debit card will work, and PayPal makes sure that it is a secure transaction, and that neither Ravelry nor I know any of your financial information.

I finished a pair of socks for Brian today. Their name is Pair #177. However, they are partially cloned from Pair #135, which I finished in early October of 2006. (Ravelry members can see my project page here.)

The original yarn is Socks that Rock Heavyweight. It has no nylon in it, so there is no surprise that they did eventually thin out.

I considered darning them, but there were thin spots from the toe through the heel and even up on the lower section of the leg portion. There was no way to darn these successfully. (Photo below is the original pair on their first day. The colors are off, but it’s a clue to how they looked.)

In good form (following my Norwegian ancestors who wasted nothing), I used the un-worn-out top leg portion of pair #135 as the top of this pair.

You Bet, I Cut. Otherwise I’d Toss!

I had to discard about the bottom inch of the leg because the fabric was weak. The leg was short already, and I wanted the new pair to be more generous. Therefore, from about 2 inches above the ankle, I reknit until I marked a place for the afterthought heel.

For an inch or so, I alternated the old yarn with the new, to make it have a better color transition.  I think I really succeeded. They do not look awkward as if I started with a new yarn.

Yarn Choices

The old yarn is a light worsted weight. The new yarn is actually two strands of sockyarn held together as one. I used a strand of a grass green Kroy 4ply, and a strand in army green, of what I believe is Regia but which may be Socka or some other standard sockyarn (it came in 50gm rounded balls).

I’m thinking that using the two colors of green together as one yarn, was a big help in the transition between the multicolored handpaint, and the new parts of the sock.

For those socknitters who are still with me, both pair #135 and #177 were knit  top down. Both had afterthought heels. The first pair was a bit snug on Brian, so I think he will enjoy wearing this rendition even more.

The Ups and Downs of Long-Term Creative Projects

I’m now pleased with the new pair. I sure had a few hiccups on the way, though!

The project started probably last June. We were on a road trip and I thought I would darn socks in the car. Instead I cut off the leg and started in on the knitting. I got most of the feet done in that week, if I remember right.

Then life got in the way. I knew where this project was, but it sat patiently for months.

When I got it back out? It looked like I needed to make two heels and the socks would be done. So I made the heels. I had Brian try one sock on. It was at least a half inch too short, maybe more. I figured I had to rip two toes and do it again.

When is a Pair not a Pair?

Mistake. Apparently one sock was an inch shorter than the other, and that was the one Brian had tried. I don’t remember anything about this from earlier knitting sessions… but clearly in looking later, I’d added more toe to the sock Brian did NOT try on. There were extra yarn ends to support this idea.

You can guess what happened next. I didn’t know they were different. I ripped out a toe to reknit it… but I ripped out the one that was the RIGHT length. Whoops!

I realized it at that point, when I put the socks next to one another to compare. The one I’d ripped, was missing a toe but the same length as the one which had a toe knit. Sort of funny, in retrospect!

The good news is my motto: “If you liked knitting it once, you’ll like knitting it again.” On Christmas morning I had two toes to reknit and I finished those. I worked in all the yarn ends (far too many) after lunch.

Fuzzy Wuzzy was a Pair… #135

Then I took a “Sweater Stone” to the old parts of the socks. They had a lot of pills on them from being well-loved since 2006. The stone is a mild pumice which is gentler on knitted fabric than a sweater shaver, yet it removes pills very well. In the photo below, I’ve used the stone on the left leg but not yet on the right.

So now the legs looks newer than they have in years. And the feet are truly new. I’m pleased. Brian’s also happy to have a usable pair again. Win/Win.

My Turn?

Now I get to work the ends in on a neckwarmer I knit in bits and pieces this last week (mostly while waiting in line). Rae gave me the kit of yarn, lovely Debbie Bliss Cashmere, for a variation on my One-Day Neckwarmer. I need only work in ends, block, and wear. Can’t wait!

Well, I also have work to do. I allowed myself 2 days of not doing work knitting, though I do have a test knitter on task for the “beanie” variation of the Keys & Coins hat.

I did do some photo editing for that pattern today. So, starting 12/26 I’m back to that job again, and it’s going very well.

Results

On December 23, around 4pm, I finished the decorative painting at Altu’s restaurant. There were still construction guys all over, so I could not take final photos, but I will. It looks very nice, I’m happy for her and proud I did it as well as I did.

Butterflies

Funny, I love the “dreaming” phase of creative projects. I often do not like the “executing ideas/work” part of the process. When I sewed, I disliked it from cutting until sewing it enough to put it on, for example.

The truth is, the executing part is full of uncertainty. There are no guarantees, just educated guesses. If you do not love the process, there are a lot of “butterflies in the stomach.” That is, until you are at a point where it’s clear things are working out.

In knitting, I do in fact enjoy every stitch in most of my projects. When I have a lot of purls in a row (as with my most recent not-yet-finished sweater), I don’t enjoy it as much. However, I only knit with yarn I like and I usually do the sorts of knitting I enjoy doing (colorwork and plain stockinette, knit in the round, using good yarn… but not so much cables or lace).

So the good news is, I got through the butterflies with Altu’s project. It only took me two full days and two shorter ones. It looks wonderful, Altu likes it. I like it. The construction crew likes it. Score.

More Kudos for Mom

Other progress? Ordered the first printed copy of Mom’s books. We told them to print so we can see how we did putting together the documents which make up the book.

I am having trouble with finding out how to use a non-standard copyright notice on a book printed by lulu.com; if anyone knows any hints I surely would like some. They used to have excellent service, both phone and online chat. Now they offer email only and I’m not hearing back from them.  But in any case, we have a book coming for Mom, and she’s delighted.

A Little Selfish Knitting: My Reward

Rae gave me a wonderful chunky cashmere yarn kit to make one of my One-Day Neckwarmers. I have been doing a few rows every once in a while for the last week. Wednesday I knit a bit on it while waiting for Sushi take-out, and then knit on it more at night.

I need to hide the yarn ends, and then I need to block it (get it wet to even out the stitches and help it un-curl… and in this case, soften the cashmere even further). Maybe I can even wear it on our walk on Christmas day? That would be so sweet!

Christmas Knitting?

Well, it wasn’t intended for Christmas, but I started a project for Brian months ago. I took an old pair of socks that were too worn to be darned… and cut off the feet, and started re-knitting the feet again.

This re-using still-good knitted portions of older items was once common practice. I’m Norwegian… they did this often. Why not do it still?

I found the socks today, they looked finished except for afterthought heels. So I finished an afterthought heel for Brian. It was too short. Redid the heel, still too short. Luckily, since I’m knitting down from the old cuff, I have a toe that is easy to rip out and reknit. Will be doing that.

It would be SO good if I could finish those on Christmas day!  It has been a long time since I’ve finished anything for him, and his old socks are slowly wearing thin. I’ve got yarn designated for him, but haven’t had time to act on that.

The good parts are… Brian has relatively small feet for a guy… and the yarn I’m using is two strands of fingering/sockweight yarn held together as one. On size 3 US /3.25mm needles. This will not take too long, and I’m finding it satisfying to realize it could be done so soon.

Sleep well if you can. I feel for parents of Santa-anticipating children tonight. I’m not that tough.

Painting, First

Today I spent a bit over 8 hours at Altu’s restaurant. The good part? I am painting her newdecorative basket-weave stripe and it looks great. It’s not done, but it’s perhaps 80% done.

After fussing and mulling over options (what colors, size, placement), we nailed a good combination of details. I’m glad.

Knitting, Next

I came home, had dinner after 10pm, put on warm cozy clothing, and went back to work on the Keys & Coins hat pattern.

I got a few new photos taken for illustrations in the pattern (but not downloaded from the camera yet). I finished an ear flap. I now have a whole pile of ear flaps which need blocking and sewing onto their hats.

Wednesday, I hope I have a lighter schedule. I get to sleep in, then Altu and I will enjoy lunch out, away from the restaurant. I will return there to finish at least all the painting in the main restaurant (I am not sure if I am doing the hallway, and if I am, that will wait for later).

THEN I get to come home. I can put 100% on the pattern finalization. I just got an approval from Ravelry.com for my “Featured Pattern” advertisement for that pattern. The ad starts on January 1. Right now I’m thinking the pattern will be ready for sale by the end of this week, about a week before the ad goes live.

Sleep, Last

For now… must sleep. I have not had this much trouble sleeping a full night in years. Too much to do!

Holiday Exhaustion

I have spent effort to keep my holidays “lite” for several years now. This year has been the best ever. My family gathering was around Halloween. Then we had a rather low-key Thanksgiving, and the Christmas parties started around December 8.

We just finished our last party on Sunday. I did not commit to any gift knitting, though I knit a few tiny socks and one tiny mitten as ornaments. Holidays lite.

So why am I without enough sleep? I’m so groggy I am confused about what day it is, what hour it is. I have no kids, no baking to do. Our tree is up (without ornaments) and I may or may not decorate it, I like the tinsel tree just by itself.

Wiped.

Painting Developments: Good

The good news? I think we figured out what is going to work as a decorative “basket” border at Altu’s new space. I was there just a short while today, doing another mock-up on brown paper, to tape to the wall and see how it looks from a distance.

I think I can paint Tuesday, because I think this design will work. I may not finish, but I believe I can make a good stab at it.

My Hat Pattern, You Ask?

So here I am at home tonight, knitting “like the wind” as Brenda Dayne of Cast-on podcast would say. I just finished the final test/proof knit of my Keys & Coins hat, at least the hat part. I still need to test the ear flap directions (I’m not the only one testing, for the record).

So now I have some minor editing to the pattern text as it’s currently written. I need to make flaps. I need to take photographs (which is best accomplished during daylight, hard to do on the shortest day of the year).

It is exciting, though. I took a sample hat with me to a Christmas gathering on Sunday. The folks there who knit, were quite excited about my design. It was fun to see how others do “get” what I am also passionate about.

Aiming for Sleep

And with that, a few edits, then some sleep. Altu’s restaurant needs me soon.

Photo: Rainbow version of Keys & Coins hat, this is a small size. The multicolored/main yarn is Crystal Palace Mochi Plus in a rainbow colorway, and Berroco Lustra in turquoise is the solid.

The young knitter, K., who attends my Knitting Rocks! program most regularly, brought me a little gift for our last session in 2009. Check this out:

It’s a gift card to a Biggby Coffee. This company is now franchising all over the USA, but it started in Lansing, Michigan, where I live. It’s a favorite spot for artful folks, I love it there.

K. wrote the inscription inside, by herself. Good kid. (She is in 4th grade, if I remember correctly.)

I did not realize until I got this home, that the Candy Canes are taped to the card in such a way as to make two hearts. HOW SWEET. Awwwww…