Lilolu

A Great Way To Display Your Yarn Collection

What a lovely way to display your yarn collection.  I just had to share. If mine was displayed as such, it sure would inspire me to pick up the knitting needles more often.  

Click on the picture to see it's source.

Free Online Sewing Lessons

image source: tsuacctnt

Homeschool blogger is offering four free sewing lessons for beginners.  Learn the basics of sewing with Janome’s Beginning Sewing Series. This series will help you get to know the basics of the sewing machine and the process of sewing, while at the same creating a series of fun and creative projects. 

 

You can sign up for four online sewing lessons at HomeschoolBlogger.com.  Separate registrations are required for each subsequent lesson.

Cute Things To Make This Autumn

 

With all the wonderful Autumn colors filling my neighborhood, I can't help but feel inspired to create.  There have been some great ideas all across the blogosphere.  Take a peek at these links:

 

1. Felt Acorns  - Moment to Moment
2. Spool Dolls - Crafty Carnival
3. Kaleidoscope Cowl - Sweet Fuz
4. Earflap Hat - Knittles
5. Tassle Earings - Thief and Bandit
6. Mustard Yellow Rose Pillow - Bed Buggs Boutique
7. Modge Podge Pumpkins - The Other White House  
8. Autumn Push Pins - Wood Pond
9. Birch Tree in Snow Capelet - Ellita's Flying Snail
10. Funky Burnt Orange Cowl - Lorilooms
11. Toilet Paper Roll People - Teawagon Tales
12. Softie Flip Doll - Prudent Baby

 

What is inspiring you?  Feel free to leave your link in the comment area.

Checkerboard

I've been experimenting with knit and purl and It has been so much fun.  The end result is this checkerboard pattern scarf, for Wolfie.  I can't wait to finish my other projects. 

  

Calling All Capital Region Knitters

 

When Cindy Spence, of Saratoga Needle Arts, announced she was closing her knitting shop many of us were disappointed.  Don't be too sad because from the sound of it she has been looking for a new adventure.  They will officially be closed Monday, January 24th and invite you fellow knitters to join them between 5-6 pm for a farewell glass of wine. 

I know...very sad...but all good things do not have to come to an end.  According to Cindy the business has been sold and will remain in Saratoga Springs. She will be helping the new owner get set up until May.  Cindy, wasn't able to state any more until the actual closing but she did say, "The new owner is SOOO cool, she's got great ideas and energy and I'll be backing her up and giving her 100%."  Sounds wonderful!  I wish Cindy the best on her new journey and I'm also excited the shop will stay in town. 

 

 

On another note...January 24, 10:00 am, Foster Sheep Farm will be giving their sheep their annual haircuts and invite the public to the Shearing Day Open House.  They will be busy in the barn sorting the wool as it comes off the sheep. Its a great chance for spinners to grab the fleece they want before anyone else gets to see it!! The farmhouse will also be open.  Stop in to get a hot drink and see all of the wool made available to you as roving, or yarn by local artists.

 

   

 

Saratoga Needle Arts in Saratoga Springs, NY

My journey in knitting only began a short time ago but my love for it is stronger than I ever expected.  So, when I first walked into Saratoga Needle Arts I felt like a child entering a candy store.  This local yarn shop has so many beautiful yarns and people to share your love for knitting.  With so much to do like knitting classes, charity knitting, social knitting, and Tuesday Tea, and even a book club, Saratoga Needle Arts is like a second home for many local knitters.

To my surprise, they sent out a mass email to their friends and customers stating they will be closing their shop for good, on January 29, 2010.  The joy of this social knitting spot does not have to come to an end though.  Here are the details as stated by, Cindy Spence:

----------------------------------------------------------

Always wanted to own a yarn shop?  Heres your chance!  We have a friendly and experienced staff - working and teaching - ready to inspire your customers, if you so desire.  Everything you need to keep this well loved local business going.

The sale for the business only.  Lease at the current location ends January 31, 2010.

Features:

Well-established business that currently offers two aspects:  retail and classes

Loyal customer base in Saratoga Springs, NYas well as throughout the country!  We've grown in large part to the proximity of the Saratoga Springs Downtown Convention Center.  Even without a shopping cart site up and running...yet...we do extensive shipping all over the country.

Sale Includes: Great selection of popular lines of yarns, as well as books, patterns, accessories, and needles.  All fixtures, vendor and customer lists (1900+ contacts), industry contacts, color cards, 2 new computers plus current Quickbooks Financial and POS system, and shopping cart website almost ready to launch!  You'll receive my advice and consultation...for what it's worth! 

This business has also provided some spin-off business:  we sell patterns by local teachers and designers.  We also try to have local yarns, which sell very well, particularly during the Summer season.

If interested please contact me asap...we will be closing up shop by January 29th.

Cindy Spence

w) 518-583-2583

c) 518-944-4363

cindy@saratoganeedlearts.com

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My hope is for someone out there to save this wonderful social knitting spot.  If I could, I would buy it myself.  Please pass this along so we can save Saratoga Needle Arts.

 

 

The Other Trouble Maker

 

Yesterday Henry had his paws on my camera and computer and now Oscar has his on my knitting project.  My Hubby thinks maybe I shouldn't have taken up knitting a few months after getting a kitten.

 

I can't blame the little guy.  How could he not be tempted to play with these when the're hanging around all the time.

   

Originally, I planned on using this basket for holding my produce, when shopping at the grocery store.  It quickly became convenient for keeping knitting projects.  Maybe I should make this basket into a cozy cat bed instead. 

 

What would you use a basket like this for?
 

His Majesty and the Crocheted Crown

This crown was inspired by a pattern I found on the Living Crafts site.  I didn't exactly follow the instructions.  This is my own twist on the crown.  We're not sure if it will be his birthday crown or just for play.  Maybe we'll use it for both.  One thing I am sure of is how much he loves it.

He is so full of silliness.  He giggled through all these pictures.

 

No surprise here, my youngest, decided to join in on the silliness.  By the way, this is not a hat.  It's a purse my mother was working on that night.  He placed it on his head and started making silly faces so I could take pictures of him too.  

 

Just to give you an idea about how wacky he can be, this is a cropped version of his class picture.  That morning he told us he was going to make a silly face for the photo.  We didn't take him too seriously.  Boy, was I surprised, when I got the pictures the other day.  The little rascal did make a silly face.  This is now one of my most treasured photos of him.  My babies are quite dependable for a good laugh.

 

Do you have any silly photo stories?

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 

He Pulled Through!

In the past, I mentioned how sick my kitten has been.  Well, he relapsed and got worse.  After a few tests and an unmentionable amount of money, he remains undiagnosed.  At this point, we were hand feeding him, carrying him to the litter box and praying for him regularly.  The vet said there was a chance he wasn't going to make it.  There were times we found him in the bathroom with his paws on the heater.  Really, I am not making this up.  He was always seeking heat.

My heart really went out to him when I found him like this.  I decided to crochet him his own blanket.

He's not too happy I disrupted his sleep.  My daughter joined in on "Project Warmth"  and crocheted a wrap for him.  Not bad for her very first project.  He really seems to like them both.

Well, last night something wonderful happened!  He began eating and drinking on his own.  Then we found him being quite playful.  We truly feel a miracle has happened.  Our little Oscar has pulled through.  Now we just need him to gain about three pounds. 

 

It's a great day!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

My First Completed Scarf

The first scarf I attemped didn't turn out as I wanted, so I passed it along to my kitten (who always sleeps on it) and started a new one.  Here is the finished product.  Sorry for the fuzzy picture.

The name of the yarn is called Jo-Ann Sensations Angel Hair Yarn .   I just love this scarf.  It's sooo soft and warm.  Two days ago I started on a matching hat.  Wish me luck!

 

Tell me about your first crocheting or knitting project