two | pants!

Of all the Christmas crafting projects I tried this year, I think the Christmas pyjama pants were the biggest success.

I used Anna Maria Horner's Quick Change Trousers pattern from her Handmade Beginnings book. The pattern and instructions were very straightforward and they were a joy to make. I made four pairs in the 6-9 months size and one in the 18-24 months size. I used Alexander Henry's Yuletide Zoo in natural and green, and they were really perfect for the pattern - the pants are completely reversible, so I used one colorway for the outer side and the other for the reverse side (apart from the larger pair for which I used a solid, Kona cotton in grass, I believe). The turned-up leg openings allow you to see both sides, which worked really well!

Unfortunately, I think that due to the unprecedented weather conditions in Ireland, some of the pairs did not make it to their destinations before Christmas... No matter, I'm sure they will be kept for the next child or passed along.

There was at least one happy recipient though!

one

A habit, even one as ill-formed as mine, once broken even for a few days takes a long time to re-establish. Is it a cliché to say that "blogging more" is a new year's resolution? Ah well, I can only try.

So what of 2010? There are so many aspects of the year's end that I want to remember... the last-minute crafts and presents, the time spent running around Ireland to spend time with friends and family. But something I'll never forget is the weather. Ireland experienced the coldest December on record, and during the week preceding Christmas day, it seemed that the temperature never rose above 0 Celsius. There was travel chaos for many - we were lucky we had taken early holidays and made it home before the craziness began. The snow and ice made for some amazing photographs though - with everything appearing frozen solid, and a steaming-warm sea (so (relatively) warm that I even could take a dip on Christmas Day!).

The windscreen, early in the morning.

Barnesmore and Donegal Bay.

Benbulben.

A hungry robin. My mum kept the birds well-fed!

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Assaroe Lake, frozen (almost) solid.

Béal Átha Seanaidh.

A very cold Rory Gallagher.

A steamy sea, Christmas Eve.

Christmas Day Dip!

Mehhhry Christmas!

...geddit? Hope it's a great one, wherever you are!

Urgh.. what another long break from posting that was. Life and work were just really busy recently and left no time for anything else. But now I'm home in Ireland for Christmas, and hoping to have lots of time to blog! Which may be the case if the weather turns wintery again and we get more snow. I was gobsmacked when I saw the picture below - taken from a satellite on the 2nd of December... I have my fingers crossed for a white Christmas!