So I knitted this hat for a friend.  She loved it.  Sadly this photo doesn't actually capture the beauty of the color.  I bought the yarn at my local yarn shop (cashmere, silk and merino) and got the pattern for free from an online source.  She loved the hat.  I will be doing a lot of knitting for Christmas this year.

I have truly begun to love homemade gifts.  Last Christmas I received chocolate brittle that was out of this world.  (Thanks Deittra and Ted).  A couple years ago Rod made me some bird houses that were quite beautiful.  This crappy economy paired with the realization that we don't need more stuff makes for a perfect situation for making handmade gifts.

Okay, I know, if I knit something for someone it'll be more stuff.  That's perhaps not exactly what I meant.  I just think the stuff you can buy at places like Brookstone are just silly.  As a society we spend too much money on dumb things.  Really, do you need more shorts or is that just a need that we have because we are empty??

I just learned how to make bracelets from hemp.  It's cathartic to be engaged in such an activity.  So, I better get back to it.