Thursday 22 November 2012

Multi -Coloured Capelet



I just finished these 2 capelets.  I started with the red one and had so much fun mixing up my scraps of yarn, I had to make another .  I purchased the pattern from the designer , Danielle Comeau in Woodstock at the Fleece Festival.

Tuesday 13 November 2012

Needler's Retreat

a room with a view
this was my happy place 
I was so honored to be an instructor at the Needler's Retreat in Gananoque.  Of course Debbie Wilson of https://sheepsahoy.com/home/ was our hostess with the mostess!  I taught knitting with wire. We made a bracelet , while I gave tips and tricks how to knit with wire.  Everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves and that made me very happy.  Thank you Debbie for having me.  I had a great time.





Sue Atkinson, lil ol me , and of course Lucy Neatby! The 3 instructors at the Needler's Retreat
check out those mirrors!  this was in my room. The Knitters Gone Wild video will be out next month !
Debbie Wilson , our hostess with the mostess

Wednesday 31 October 2012

Awesome score at the local thrift shop.  A sexy orange leather coat with white stripes.  I want to be driving in a 1970's yellow corvette when I'm wearing it.   A black leather Roots bag both in perfect condition. The jacket was 29.99 and the purse 14.99, plus I had a coupon for 5 dollars off.

The pile of orange yarn is Manos Maxima that I bought from Yarn Forward, in hopes of making Natalie's new cowl pattern.  Yes she's dones it again!  A new pattern .  I don't think she sleeps.  It's called Wrapped Ribs Scarf/Cowl http://natalieservant.ca/

I loved this colour so much I'm planning on making one right away.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/turtlepurl  Turtlepurl dyed this yarn.

Next on the agenda is teaching wire knitting at the Needler's Retreat in Gananoque.  
Have a happy halloween !

Friday 26 October 2012

Sunday 21 October 2012

Purchases

I want to share with you the purchases that I made at the Woodstock Fleece Festival. 

I love these colours together, so hot and intense.
raw silk laceweight, some yak bamboo, and a few patterns

I like to buy patterns  to use up my yarn when I go to festivals , lord knows I have enough yarn!  

Thursday 18 October 2012

Woodstock Fleece Festival

I went on the road to the Woodstock Fleece Festival with Debbie Wilson of Sheeps Ahoy. https://sheepsahoy.com/home/ It was about a 7 hour drive from Ottawa , but for some reason it went by in a blink.  I think it was because the company was so darned good.
Debbie (wearing her Redbud Vest) and I in the Sheeps Ahoy booth
Debbie wearing her yarn ball bracelet that she sells.
Kate Davies Sheep Heid, and Rams and yowes blanket, kitted up 
This booth was Shall We Knit . Such an impressive set up., chandelier and all!
Anne Blayney in da house!
Halifax the Alpaca

One of the highlights was having Anne Blayney ( of the Chawton Mittens  http://www.knittingdaily.com/blogs/daily/archive/2011/10/17/what-would-jane-knit.aspx) come to see me and purchase a shawl pin .  The picture above is of Anne pinning the peacock blue shawl pin onto her friend's shawl..
Thank you Debbie for the wonderful opportunity.  Same time same place next year?  ;)


Thursday 11 October 2012

Congratulations once again goes to my friend and talented designer Natalie Servant

It's called Manhattan Bridge http://natalieservant.ca/   A great project to try double knitting out.

I will be at the Woodstock Fleece Festival this weekend with Debbie Wilson of Sheeps Ahoy.  We are leaving early tomorrow morning.  I will post pictures as soon as I get back.  Have a great weekend everybody.


Sunday 23 September 2012

More Twist

  • A few more pictures from the Twist Festival .



A beautiful shopper with an amazing tattoo!
lace making in progress 
a little spinning going on
There was a fiber art exhibit . I loved this piece by  Judith Dufresne
Laura Sheppard buttons
a sock making machine 

Sunday 16 September 2012

Twist Festival








Finally I am back .... I have good excuse for not blogging.  It seems I have been living in a state of constant crisis. I have been busy with Doctors, specialists, Detectives, Police Officers, Principals, Vice Principals, a root canal  ..... the list goes on.  I yearn for an uneventful month....maybe then my eye would stop twitching! 

So let us speak of fiber, ahh that beautiful  comforting salve for the soul.  Well, my soul at least.
A while back , I was a vendor at the Twist Festival http://www.festivaltwist.org/ in Saint -Andre -Avellin , PQ.  With a car packed of  my jewelry , mannequins, Natalie Servant's patterns http://natalieservant.ca/ and my vending partner's fiber, Yvonne and I hit the road.


A yarn bombed entrance 

lucky us, our booth  was a corner spot

Yvonne's beautiful yarn http://www.yvieknits.ca/

 that's me with my stitch markers, smiling through a  mouthful of  unbelievable pain

The Yarn Harlot and Kim of Indigodragonflyhttp://indigodragonfly.wordpress.com/

The Yarn Harlot discussing colour at the Riverside Studio booth http://www.etsy.com/shop/katsriversidestudio?ref=top_trail

The lovely Celine en laine wearing one of my pins.  I traded one of her designs for a pin !http://www.celineenlaine.blogspot.ca/


I will do some more blogging about Twist.  The real pleasure is meeting like minded people and sharing your passion.  I had a lovely time , I only wish that I hadn't been in so much pain with a tooth ache.

Since this festival my line of pins and markers went to the Kitchener -Waterloo fiber festival thanks to Debbie of Sheeps Ahoy https://sheepsahoy.com/home/.  And some huge news is that my line will now be carried in Toronto!!!!  at Lettuce Knits! http://www.lettuceknit.com/ I love that store so much and I am honored to be carried by Sylvie.

Tuesday 21 August 2012

The Loop

Great news!  The Loop in Halifax  is now carrying my line of shawl pins and stitch markers.  Mimi is fabulous and friendly and I am thrilled.



Mimi took this picture with her phone and posted it on facebook :)  I love the owl stitch markers , and so do everyone else, they are always  the first ones to go.

We are down to the crunch for the Twist Festival and I think I'm ready.  Now if someone could pull my tooth out so I could get rid of this pain I would be all set !

Wednesday 15 August 2012


I have been working hard at building my inventory for the Twist Fiber Festival in Quebec http://www.festivaltwist.org/.   I will be sharing a booth with Yvonne of YvieKnits http://www.yvieknits.ca/.  They are expecting tons of people and The Yarn Harlot will be teaching !



In the meantime I knit the huntress shawl by Jennifer Chase-Rappaport  published in Knitscene 2012 . I love it so much and plan on making another in a DK weight. It was easy and enjoyable and I loved the construction of it.  When I posted it on Ravelry the designer " liked" it immediately and we chatted a little back and forth. She's very sweet and I appreciated hearing from her. 




Monday 30 July 2012

I spent the weekend at the trailer with my mother.  It was a relaxing weekend spent eating , drinking , talking , knitting, kayaking and walking.  Oh.... and sleeping in the hammock. I LOVE napping outside in the hammock, the sound of birds chirping and chipmunks scurrying around chasing each other lull me to sleep.
 It's been a while since I was in the kayak.  We kayaked among  the ducks and dragonflies circling around us and occasionally landing on me.

Wednesday 18 July 2012

Summer

Summer is finding me very busy.  I will be updating my Etsy shop today, which is a long process of taking and editing pictures and making everything look pretty.  I have some orders to fill and I am building up my inventory for the Twist Festival in Quebec.
Hoping Summer is being good to you . I leave you this until my next post.



Saturday 7 July 2012



Natalie is a super talented and prolific designer that I have the honour to have as a friend.  It's always so much fun to model for her.

I can't wait to knit this one up for my very own.  The bee motif is so beautiful and exemplifies summer for me.

http://natalieservant.ca/ please visit her site and peruse her designs .


Wednesday 27 June 2012

Sugarspun Shawl

Congratulations to the talented Anja on her beautiful crochet shawl design.  I think crochet needs Anja.  Her designs redefine crochet in my mind.  No longer do I think of granny squares and the 70's because of her.  Anja's designs are light and feminine and I look forward to more of her creations in the future.  Keep up the beautiful work Anja ! xoxo  http://buntart.babyl.ca/


Sunday 24 June 2012

A great big thank you to Anja for the most exquisite hand knitted gift.  They are delightful and delicate and I love them dearly.  All I did was pose for a few pictures for a few of her new crocheted designs.  I can't wait to see them published.  I love what Anja can do with crochet.  She does beautiful work.



http://www.etsy.com/shop/buntart?ref=ss_profile  go check out her etsy shop called Buntart!

Tuesday 19 June 2012

Spoons


Lately I have been sourcing spoons for new jewelry designs.  Especially silver plated ones.  I love the tarnished, mellow look of them.  I usually find cutlery at thrift stores bagged up, hoping for a special one in amongst the stainless steel ones.  The problem now, is that I am falling for the cutlery , the beauty , the age of them. With antique , or vintage items I can't help but imagine the stories they could tell , if only they had a voice.  On my spoon journey I have found a lot of little souvenir spoons that are old , a tangible reminder of a special place or memory.
One of these little spoons knocked me over.  Inscribed on the spoon was the word "Dauphin"  That is the term used for the eldest son of the King of France from the 1300's to 1800's.  Now what do you think this spoon is a reminder of?  A lover's murmur of endearment ? I think there is a love story in there somewhere.

there are hallmarks on the one under the Dauphin spoon...I love hallmaks  it is so fun to research them

Thursday 7 June 2012

Great Northern Yarns

I had a moment of weakness the other evening and ordered yarn online.  Not just any yarn though.  Red laceweight, 90% Mink, 10% Cashmere,  656 yards of it,and it was on sale! Keep an eye on his website.
http://www.greatnorthernyarns.com/index.php/ 




MINK!  It says right on the label "No animals are harmed making this yarn. Healthy, stress-free mink sheared once a year produce the most lustrous fibers".


I can't wait to knit a shawl with it.

Tuesday 5 June 2012

Antique Cars

At our local Mall there was a car show.  It was a beautiful thing. To see so many old cars that have been lovingly restored.  There is so much attention to detail in these beauties, such pride of ownership.  I smiled the whole time I was there.

mmmm  Paradise by the dashboard light
self portrait 
beautiful  gazelle hood ornament, the owner of the car was thrilled with this shot :)