Giving Back

                            Almost Halloween. That means it's almost time for Christmas.
                                   When days are shorter and the sog and bog of
                                        November chills everyone .

                                         I'm rather prolific when it comes to making stuff.

                                               I  just can't help it.

                                               Can't just make one thing. Have to make a zillion of them.

                                           And this is the year I really took a fancy to  LED candles.
                               So proceeded to repurpose old clear glass candle holders.
                         They were just going to be given away.

                                  After some figuring out, learned how to smother the glass
                            with glue then grind glitter and coarse ground sand on the outside.
                       Takes a couple of days to harden.  It was a hoot to make these.
                                              Like being a little kid at craft time.

                                         Makes swell LED votive holders.

                                     I got so enamoured of the LED lights, that I bought several.

                              Well,  I found such a deal on Amazon , I bought more than several.
                                                               Just couldn't help myself. There's even a remote control.
                              Got to be that everyone coming over just had to try turning  on the candles
                                     by pushing the buttons.

                                                 So as soon as it's sunset......

                                            And everything settles down outside.

                                             And the cats have all gone home.......

                                               Those candles   start flickering away.

                                      I also started making rustic snowflakes this year.
                                  They have no real use, but they can be used as tags, or ornaments , or cat toys....

                                              They were a scream to do. Such an old fashioned thing to make.
                                                Hand crocheted.
                                            Again, couldn't do just a few. Too fun.
                                            Dunked  in glue then sand and glitter then scrunched to be crunchy.                                                         Once dry,  they are rock solid. Glitter. Glitter.

                                         Spencer liked them as well.

                                          After snowflakes  ( or maybe during....all a blur) worked on hats.

                                           Little bags. And hats. I liked the hats best. More useful.

                                               So I made as many as I could with different shades.
                                       Found a pattern, then changed it  to make it more simple.
                                    Double crochet, on the round. Same with the little bags.        
                                     Double crochet in the round and split chain to  make handles.

                                           A few will be gifts, the rest given away.

                                            Whatever is left  I might split between
                                         Angel Tree , or  the Women's  shelter. Not sure yet.

                                                But nothing wasted. Something for everyone.
                                             And for some of those people in need will be used.

                    "Giving is more joyous than receiving, not because it is a deprivation, but because in the act of giving lies my expression of aliveness." (Erich Fromm)