~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~ Ginny at small things

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Did you have a merry Christmas Day? We did … and since we’re Catholic, we continue Christmas for the full 12 days until the Feast of the Epiphany (traditionally celebrated on January 6th). So we’ve actually just started our celebrations.

My Christmas Day was filled with wonderful, wooly items … go figure, folks think I might like knitting a bit! Anyway, the yarn-along this week is devoted to showing off … showing off the delightful items folks picked out for me. The red wool, direct from Santa, is Cascade’s Eco+ … a bulky wool that knits up marvelously (I made the Lovin’ Winter Walks jacket out of it) … and St. Nick brought enough for me to make a hip-length, Aran-inspired jacket. I’ll be self-publishing the design, so I can post progress reports as I go. Included in the surprise package was a book I’ve dog-eared from the library: The Knitter’s Life List which is a fabulous read and one of those I’ll delve into when I need a spurt of inspiration or just need a knitterly moment.

My wonderful daughters added a bit of wooly inspiration: Kit made me knitting needles from a pair of chopstickes; Kotch (20 and home from college for break) picked out the sheep stitch markers and adopted a sheep ornament — both bought from Dog House Yarns when I wasn’t looking.

And speaking of Dog House … my lovely boss gave me a yarn-bowl I’ve been coveting since I saw them back in September. This yarn bowl, made by local clay-artist Anna Branner, is so cute … don’t you agree? The back has one white sheep grazing with all the dark ones … a quirky twist on the cliche which makes me smile.

Oh, and lest you think I didn’t buy anything for myself … well, I couldn’t resist these two books from Amazon (both at amazingly reduced prices!) …. Wrapped in Lace: Knitted Heirloom Designs from Around the World by Margaret Stove is a classic with not only gorgeous lace designs but also tips about repairing antique lace and designing your own knitted lace designs. The second book (a hardcover, no less) is by hand-knit designer Veronik Avery and has gorgeous, classic designs with a bit of a modern zing to them … Knitting Classic Style: 35 Modern Designs Inspired by Fashion’s Archives.

As far as actual knitting … I’ve progressed to the leg of the toe-up/two-at-a-time sox, so on the home-stretch! I’m also finishing up some fingerless mitts for a couple of my men … we open our stockings on Little Christmas, so I’m NOT late with my Christmas knitted gifts (that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it!).

So, what’s on your needles and reading table … any exciting knitterly gifts for Christmas? Come play along at Ginny’s!