My "Hannah Kearney Tribute Coif" sketched by Heather Halpern.

I’m stunned by the photo-realism of Heather’s work! Look how she captured the nubby texture of my felt hat above, and also of her lovely daughter’s hat… AMAZING!

See more of Heather’s 2012 Sketchbook, and let her know what you think… Heather has only recently begun to share her work publicly. Please tell her: we want more!

Hanover High School Boy's Hockey Coach, Dick Dodds and the first-ever CCM felt toque.

My 1st-ever felted beanie-type hat, designed with your Favorite Guy in mind!

Hockey demands warmth, comfort and style for all it's gear, especially hats.

Coach Dodds and the 1st-ever CCM felt beanie.

Upon seeing this felt hat for men, my own Sweet Man assured me I’d hit a homerun with the new design. He immediately requested his own, in brown.

Andy needed his own felt hat, in earth-tones.

Happiness is a comfy, warm felt hat in the middle of winter.

I’m planning on knitting up a dozen-ish of these new men’s felt hats for the 2012 Sunapee Fair. Let me know if your Favorite Guy has favorite colors…

Nothing says festive like hand-rolled pastry...

I use the "Deluxe Flaky Pastry" recipe from "Joy of Cooking" for my pie crusts.

Sprinkle with sugar for an extra-awesome New Year!

Wishing you and yours all the best in the New Year!

My felted knit hat, "Jungle Flower" won this year's Dorr Mill Award at the Sunapee Fair.

Each August, visitors to the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen’s Sunapee Fair can visit CraftWear, a glorious collection of fine, handmade art-to-wear.

The LNHC CraftWear boutique offers one-of-a-kind jewelry, clothing and accessories.

The CraftWear Exhibit at the League of NH Craftsmen's Annual Fair, 2011.

Many thanks to Dorr Mill, for the award. I’m delighted by the recognition, especially considering the talent of my fiber artist peers.

Hand-knit stocking ornament, circa 1999.

I love having a bit of the outdoors inside.

Hockey player keychain, plus handmade sequin & seed bead ornament, circa 2008.

An evergreen tree trimmed in bright colors, set with little white lights… so cheerful!

A classic glass bell ornament and a handwoven grass star ornament from Labrador.

And I love how the tree is the gathering place of gifts, a symbol of abundance and joy.

A vision of plenty and good cheer - Maine, 2011.

In the spirit of the season, I present you one of my favorite holiday songs… enjoy!

Happy, happy holidays, one and all!

So, what’s your favorite part of the holiday season?

Each kit comes with knitting and felting instructions, yarn enough for one hat, and a bit of satin ribbon, for lining the finished hat.

Each hat uses two skeins of yarn, and I’ve got a full selection of gorgeous colors:

Just select the color/s, choose your payment type (PayPal, personal check or credit card), and send me an email (ccmhats AT gmail DOT com).

Felted hat kits cost $45 (which includes shipping in the US). Additional skeins cost $10 each.

There is such tremendous joy in making something yourself. Consider giving the gift of fiber-love this year… your favorite knitter (and I) will thank you!

Elise Lockton takes a break from searching for polar bears in Iceland.

All you felt hat owners, lovers, and friends, thank you. Thank you for rocking my felt hats, and for taking a bit of me along into your world. I am blessed, and I am thankful.

Here’s to you!

Mom's china hutch and fancy gold dishes always presided over our dining room.

When my Mom passed away in 2008, one of the hardest things to do was clear out her little home.

Gold leaf on white china was the height of elegance in the 1950's when Mom & Dad married.

I was anxious about her fancy dishes. The ones she got as wedding gifts in the 1950′s. The dishes we ate every holiday meal from. The fancy gold-leaf dishes that could not go into the dishwasher, let alone the microwave.

Happy Thanksgiving (circa 1982)!

They are more than dishes to me. They are the spirit of my Mom during the holidays. I’m thankful I was able to get them safely across the country. Tomorrow, I’ll get to use my Mother’s dishes for the first time.

Wishing you a cup of kindness this holiday season.

Happy Thanksgiving, one and all!

As much as I’m a hockey addict, I’m also a public radio junkie.

This hand-crafted NHPR membership mug from 2007 is right at home in my hat studio.

Today, I found myself in the rink parking lot, having a “driveway moment.” I was enthralled by a story about the new headquarters for the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen in Concord, NH.

There will be a Grand Opening reception tomorrow, October 26, 2011, from 3pm – 8pm, which I’m hoping to attend. See you there?

Thank you, Virginia Prescott (of NHPR’s Word of Mouth) for the “moment”!