It has been an upside down year for sure – this 2020….but I find myself driven today to share the photos from our last FMK (Friday Morning Knitting Group) celebration in December 2019. Our dear friend Jean is ill and I want to share these photos.
Archive for the ‘Christmas’ Category
Whoops! FMK Christmas Season Celebration 2019
Posted in Celebrations, Christmas, Friendship, knitting, tagged friendship, knitting on August 13, 2020| Leave a Comment »
Our Annual FMK Celebration
Posted in Celebrations, Christmas, Events, Friendship, knitting, Sewing, tagged celebrations, Cheesecake, Friday Morning Knit Group, Mexican Cuisine, Sewing on December 11, 2017| 1 Comment »
Yes…..it’s that time of year again where we celebrate our friendships within this holiday Christmas season. This is the second year that Karen K has hosted…..the setting is so lovely and so conducive to all mingling easily. Fourteen of us gathered and we are all so grateful to Karen for opening her home for this event. We laughed, we shared, we expressed our gratitude for years of friendship, we played the gift exchange game, we ate (catered from Picante), and we drank our favorite – margaritas…..Cameron and Sheri are the best bartenders. We, of course, were treated by Merle to her infamous cheesecake. No gathering would be complete without Merle telling her traditional story of the Christmas tree in her childhood….we beg her to tell it again each year and each year it’s like we are hearing for the first time. We missed Bonnie, Mayra, Patricia and Sandy. I love FMKG (Friday Morning Knitting Group)!
By the way, my sewing machine has been “smoking”…..reversible aprons and Christmas tree napkins.
Saturday Morning Knit Group Celebration
Posted in Celebrations, Christmas, Creativity, Friendship, Holiday, knitting, tagged Christmas, Food, friendship, Holidays, tis the season on December 18, 2016| Leave a Comment »
Yes…..it was time for another ’tis the season’ celebration. Yesterday it was the Saturday Morning Knit Group. Diane generously hosted this event at her home where 18 of this group of 20 gathered for this potluck celebration. We missed Alison and Susan. Maybe we need another “just because” event in the Spring. Well…we did talk about how fun the gathering was and how much everyone enjoyed the dishes. Here’s the menu.
Cornish Game Hens prepared by Bridgette were accompanied with……
Roasted cauliflower salad, egg casserole, green salads, tossed fruit bowls, scones with lemon curd, baked oatmeal, a potato dish and a curry dish. The salt and pepper chips with clam dip are always a hit. There were nuts and treats. Desserts included Rum-Mocha Walnut Layer Cake, ginger cake, pumpkin pie and cookies. All of this was accompanied with coffee and tea. We are saving champagne for our next celebration. Alice tells us that Rum-Mocha Cake recipe is very close in flavor to a family Hungarian torte that she use to make. Thanks to the chefs who chose recipes or adjusted recipes for those in the group who are gluten-free (gf). I thought the gf scones prepared by PJ were a smash….I will be making this recipe soon. Susan (who had to work) wrote, “Wow. Sorry I missed it, but I did derive vicarious enjoyment just reading the menu.
Alice’s recent post message sums up the lovely friendships that have formed within this group of knitters. “Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, whatever you celebrate! It’s my great joy to have shared this past year knitting with all of you, and to share in this morning’s feast!”
Many thanks to Rose for gifting us in a special way all in the spirit of thanks and friendship. And, of course, many thanks to Diane for hosting us all.
Looking forward to another year of knitting, creativity and friendship. Cheers!
FMKG Annual Celebration 2016
Posted in Christmas, Events, Friendship, Holiday, Jewelry, knitting, tagged Celebration, Christmas, friendship, Holidays, knitting, Tis the Season Celebration on December 10, 2016| Leave a Comment »
Once again we, the Friday Morning Knitting Group, gathered to celebrate the season….we’ve been doing this for so many years that I can’t remember how many. For all of those years (except one) we have celebrated at SkatesOnTheBay on the Berkeley Marina. This year one of our beloved, Karen K, opened her home to our “catered” order from Picantes in Berkeley. Some of us brought desserts. And let’s not forget the margaritas…..how wonderful that Cameron and Sheri make the best.
There were fifteen of our group of eighteen who gathered to share the love and friendship that has grown from our initial love of knitting that brought us together. We missed three of our gang- one traveling and two under the weather. We missed Connie, Patricia and Sandy but they were certainly in our thoughts.
The beauty of the setting in Karen’s home is that two tables were arranged so we could all see and hear each other…unlike restaurant settings where it has typically been a long table and we don’t get to visit easily with all. Well….we visited, ate, drank and had our “elephant” gift exchange. What a lovely time.
Round the table we go……
Desserts…
We toasted friendship and love…….and another toast for my news early this week that my PETscan was normal. Jewelry maker extraordinaire Mayra treated me with necklace like hers that I’ve been admiring….well coveting.
Many moons ago….
Posted in Ceramics, Christmas, Creativity, Family on April 5, 2016| Leave a Comment »
Indeed many moons ago I painted this ceramic plate as a Christmas gift for my niece Sundee. This “Mary Quite Contrary” plate hung in her room for years….then in her daughter Shelby’s room….and now it hangs in baby Aria’s room. Who knew that I created an heirloom that would be enjoyed by three generations. Warms my heart!
The Week Before Christmas
Posted in Christmas, Crafting, Creativity, Family, Holiday, Sewing, tagged Creativity, Fat Quarters, Gifts on January 4, 2016| Leave a Comment »
I believe it was the Saturday before this past Christmas that I woke to dive into Facebook….well right after I got coffee….yep always looking for new ideas as well as connecting with my friends. This idea for potholders got me fired up. I remembered I had some fat quarters of fabric that I purchased at a quilt show some time ago. I dug into my stash. Here are the results.
I really enjoyed making these. If you like to sew and want a quick gift, I highly recommend that you try this project.
“tis the Season – Saturday Knit Group
Posted in Celebrations, Christmas, Creativity, Friendship, knitting, tagged celebrations, friendship, knitting, Recipes on December 31, 2015| Leave a Comment »
The Saturday morning group had their second celebration on Dec 19th….the first one was a joint birthday celebration which was followed up with this ‘tis the season gathering.
There were so many wonderful happenings. Susanne came down from Chico (she and her husband retired there last year). The cooking theme was desserts….there were many wonderful choices. Maurie couldn’t join us because she was sick but she still sent her GF (gluten-free) cookies. We had so much on the table including champagne, cookies (many made by Diane and Maurie), cakes, egg dishes, baked brie with homemade cranberry sauce, cheeses, and fruit….I fear I may have missed some of the dishes. Here are two recipes from the dishes on the table. The Biscotti was made by PJ using her friend’s recipe which is posted on Channeling Nonna’s blog. I loved this cookie and will be making it soon. Another dish (also prepared by PJ) that many of us “loved” was the Bacon Onion Marmalade.
We even found time to knit when we weren’t eating. The latest showings were worn by PJ and Susanne. PJ’s stunning red cowl was inspired by the pattern for Oliva Cowl from Swan Islands…the yarn was of the same name.
Susanne’s Wallaby Hoody Sweater (pattern from Vogue Knitting) was a beautifully knit garment and fit her perfectly. You may recall my posting from a while back when the sweater was in its infancy stage.
An Original from “Karen L”
Posted in Celebrations, Christmas, Quilting, tagged Christmas, Creativity, friendship, Quilting on December 9, 2015| 2 Comments »
Karen L quilts and quilts when she isn’t working. This beauty is one of her latest…..made for her sister. I love the design and the colors. The fabric is Michael Miller and the design, color choices, quilting and embellishment are Karen’s creation…..so beautiful.
Latest “showings”
Posted in Christmas, knitting, tagged Christmas, friendship, Gifts, knitting on December 7, 2015| Leave a Comment »
On the left….going down
- Sheri’s latest is The Strandwanderer scarf knit in Miss Babs Zombie Apocalypse yarn.
- PJ has designed what could be the best neckline for a baby sweater which is almost complete. Look closely at the photo and you will see that the back shoulders lap over to the front leaving a flexible rolled cowl for the neckline. I am thinking that every parent will appreciate how easy it will be to dress their child in this gem.
- Alice had many things to show and tell a couple weeks ago….
- …..the recently completed Christmas stocking which is chock full of stitch detail.
- ……the beginnings of a new vest project – Laurien Vest
- ……the Lineau Shawl knit with Art Yarns Milano.
- ……the multicolored scarf was knit in Madelinetosh fingering weight, and the pattern is “Watchet” from the book Curls.
- I recently gifted my niece Betsy with the Lacey Arches Infinity cowl that I knit from yarn in my stash…whoops don’t remember the brand but it is wool. I added the rose brooch to brighten it up.
As Elizabeth Zimmerman said……”Knit on!”
“Tis the Season Celebration -FMKG
Posted in Celebrations, Christmas, Friendship, knitting, tagged celebrations, Christmas, friendship, knitting on December 5, 2015| Leave a Comment »
We have been together as a knitting group (Friday Morning Knit Group – thus FMKG) and friends for years! We began this year’s celebration with the “white elephant” gift exchange….you know the one where each person takes a number……then the person can either select from the unwrapped gift or bump someone who has unopened their gift. We put a limit of 2 on how many times a gift could bumped/stolen. What do you think is best…..2xs, 3 xs or unlimited?
In the midst of gifts, eats and champagne some knitting was accomplished. At noon we took our celebration to Skates on the Bay.
Now photos from Skates!
Karen H was so kind as to take “mug” shots…..and thanks to Jan for the above table photos.