They were fun to make. I gave them away to all my knitting friends and family this Christmas -- which didn't amount to that many people, which is why I had a bunch of them to give away!

I'm thinking about taking what I learned when I made the stitch markers and making earrings for next Christmas. My goal is to make nearly all of my Christmas gifts next year, spacing them throughout the year so that I don't have the mad rush next December. I actually think I might do it this year.

The year before last was the year of the Chinchilla scarves; this year, I didn't knit anything at all except one scarf for a niece who got left out the year before. Next Christmas I expect to give hand knitted scarves, handmade soap, and beaded earrings. We'll see, I guess, but I think the goal is reachable. Of course, it isn't without cost to make things, particularly when you're using sterling silver or silk yarn, but I'd much rather spend the money that way than buy something at the last minute that doesn't really reflect much, if any, thought.