Check-In Post - Dec 13th 2025

[badly_knitted]

Hello to all members, passers-by, curious onlookers, and shy lurkers, and welcome to our regular daily check-in post. Just leave a comment below to let us know how your current projects are progressing, or even if they're not.

Checking in is NOT compulsory, check in as often or as seldom as you want, this community isn't about pressure it's about encouragement, motivation, and support. Crafting is meant to be fun, and what's more fun than sharing achievements and seeing the wonderful things everyone else is creating?

There may also occasionally be questions, but again you don't have to answer them, they're just a way of getting to know each other a bit better.


This Week's Question: Does anyone have any plans for making Christmas gifts or cards?


If anyone has any questions of their own about the community, or suggestions for tags, questions to be asked on the check-in posts, or if anyone is interested in playing check-in host for a week here on the community, which would entail putting up the daily check-in posts and responding to comments, go to the Questions & Suggestions post and leave a comment.

I now declare this Check-In OPEN!

Comments

[badly_knitted]

No crafting today. Made a mad dash into town this morning for some dark brown yarn and thankfully managed to get some. Also brought Christmas cards, in case I can't get any made for the neighbours, and some new craft glue in case I DO make cards.


Craft fair was in the square, only a handful of stalls, but the one with crocheted amigurumi was there. Got one as a gift but I resisted the temptation to buy another one for myself. I already have a stegosaurus and an axolotl. Also, the stall with crystals and crystal jewellery, so I spent WAY too much there, because I cannot resist. I wanted everything, but I tried not to blow all my money. Did get a big moss agate heart that is stunning, and a polished chunk of orbicular jasper for myself, and a gift for a friend. Crystals are my biggest weakness. I adore them.


And I saw Kevin the classical guitarist. Yay!


Tomorrow, hoping to attempt the knitting of a bigger bee.

[meridian_rose]

My younger nephew has developed obsession with rocks and crystals. He got some geodes to break open for his birthday! Also he loves dinosaurs and axolotls - my sister actually has two live ones, but he's after a toy one that swims in the bath for his next birthday in March! So I think he'd love all your shopping :D I've got a fair amount of crystals/semi-precious gems myself :)

[badly_knitted]

Crystals are great, they're fun to collect and not too hard to get. I also heartily approve of an interest in dinosaurs!

How cool to own real axolotls! I love them. Now I want a toy one to swim in the bath with me... I didn't know they were a thing!

What's your favourite crystal? For me it's a toss up between the many varieties of jasper, and moss agate, although labradorite is hard to resist too.

[meridian_rose]

Labradorite is amazing and one I don't think I have. People are always buying me birthstone Carnelian but I also love onyx, snowflake obsidian, Cornish serpentine, and haematite - though that's a heavy stone and you have to be careful not to do yourself or someone else damage with a big enough haematite pendant :P
I recently learnt on an antiques show all about Blue John and now I'm fascinated by seeing some for real.

This is what nephew has his eye on for birthday https://www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/toys/fashion-and-dolls/pets-alive/pets-alive-by-zuru-interactive-swimming-axolotls-assortment/p/241058
I think it's sweet when we get more unusual animals featured as crystals, toys, models :)

[badly_knitted]

I love Carnelian, it was my favourite when I was a kid, and I have some stunning pieces. One I bought for my late mum looks like an owl's head. Cornish serpentine is lovely, so are the others. Yes, haematite is the weightiest stone, but it does make for a great pendant.

Blue John is fantastic. It comes from not all that far from where I live, but it's not easy to get these days, and I think quite expensive. It's getting a bit rare. I think I do have a piece somewhere. I have WAY too many crystals though.

The swimming axolotl is adorable. I might treat myself to one. I agree, the rarer animals deserve more publicity. I've been fascinated by axolotls since the first time I saw one on a nature documentary. They're so amazing!

[spiralicious]

You sound well prepared and like you showed amazing restraint.

Yay, Kevin!

[badly_knitted]

I still had shopping to do, otherwise I might have spent every penny I had with me on more crystals that I don't need but they're so PRETTY!

Always good to see him.

[spiralicious]

Crystals are very hard to resist.

[badly_knitted]

And I already have hundreds! But sometimes they just WANT ME so I HAVE to buy them!

[spiralicious]

They are sneaky like that! Okay, sneaky is not the right word, but I couldn't come up with a non-awkward way to say, "siren-like."

[badly_knitted]

Yes, it's that darn siren call...

[spiralicious]

:D