Giving Thanks

1. Spending time with family and friends
2. Wonderful kids--human and canine
3. The ability to have a job doing something I love

These are just a few of the things I am thankful for.  In the spirit of "paying it forward", I would like to share with you a very small token of my appreciation for No. 3.

Handmade gifts, ornaments that are soft and fluffy like snowballs...
This one uses only 40 yards of Rowan Kidsilk Haze.  You start with a clear plastic ornament.  I got this one at my local Michaels on sale for .99.

Then you knit a lace sleeve in the round on double-pointed needles.  After you start the decreases, you place the ornament inside the sleeve and continue to knit around it.

When you get down to 12 stitches, you put your working yarn onto a tapestry needle and run it through the remaining stitches, pulling them tight to close up the end.

To make the mini pom-pom, I used the fork method...

A couple of silk hydrangea blooms under the pom-pom add the finishing touch. 

Snowball Ornament pattern is my gift to you--I hope your holidays are filled with joy and handmade wonder.