Cyberlicious Monday Knitting

Links to puruse on Cyber Monday...

Noble Knits

Webs

Elann

Knit Picks

What a way to start the week!

Sadly, my friend Rachel-Marie is closing her business, KnittyDirtyGirl.  Please support her as she moves through this time of transition.  She is currently accepting offers for items in her shop.  I have had the pleassure of getting to know Rachel-Marie  (she is featured in both of my books) and knitting with her delightful yarn.  I can't wait to see what her next venture will be.  I know it will be wonderful.  Thank you Rachel-Marie for all the hipster goodness.

Justine Telfer, of MixTape Zine has just published Issue 14. This will be the last issue of MixTape.  It has been an honor to be a small part of this exciting craft mag and I will miss the beautiful crafty issues. You can still purchase issues here.

Marg.
(enjoying the chilly weather)

©Margaret Nock, 2010.  All rights reserved.

Cover Me Amazing, Knit Knitavian Style

The Place to BEEE! CreatingTheHive

Decorate and Celebrate...Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving from our home to yours....

Today, I thought I would share some of the baking and decorating with you.

Pumpkin Pies w/wreath from knittydirtygirl on Etsy.com and free pattern, Luscious Lime Placemat livens up your festive table.  Visit the Free Pattern page on knit1fortheroad for more free projects.

 Friends and family near and far

A beautiful embossed card by Eileen Hull

Wreath from PeachParlor on Etsy.com

Wreath from thelittleprints on Etsy.com

Scarecrow and pumpkin play

There are so many people and celebrations to be thankful for this year.  We hope you enjoy the holidays and celebrate your gratitude.

Margaret and Dave on the Chesapeake Bay

Add a Holiday Handmade Tradition

Nemours Masion and Gardens, Wilmington Delaware

This past weekend, Dave and I took a trip over to Delaware to go to Nemours Mansion and Gardens.  If you are ever near Wilmington, you should definitely take a tour of the Dupont mansion.  It's a grand home, but with surprisingly homey touches that you will appreciate. It was a home that was definitely enjoyed and lived in. One of the the items under the Christmas tree, that was retrieved from the attic, was a box of Party Crackers.  Some of you may not be familiar with this English and Austrailian party favor, but I have fond memories of my Grandmother placing Crackers on her dining table for guests during different holiday celebrations.  Some are fancy, some are silly, and some are handmade.  When I returned home, I did a little research on how to make your own.  Enjoy the links and the pictures as you prepare for the Thanksgiving Holiday, I hope you'll embrace something from your childhood and add a new handmade tradition of your choice during the holidays.

Get the scoop on how to make your own...

Christmas Crackers USA  and Supplies to make your own Crackers

How To Make...Christmas Crackers

How to How To Make...Christmas Crackers

Marg (ready for pie making duty)

You might also enjoy reading about Alfred DuPont...

Alfred I. du Pont: The Man and His Family

Quick Knit and Crochet Weekend Projects to help children ..

Here are a couple of charity projects for children that are really fun to make over the weekend.


Every year I make some little teeny tiny caps for the Caps for Good project for Save the Children.  I enjoy making baby caps and the patterns are always so much fun.  Grab the scoop here.


While I was on Creating The Hive today, I came across this post, Amigurumi needed for critically ill children from Stacey Trock aka FreshStitches for the Casey Cares Foundation.  Stacey gives you the who, what when, and where on helping critically ill children with your adorable handmade Amigurumi toy.

I hope you'll consider these projects and celebrate this season of giving each and every day.


Autumn Blessings,

Marg


Cuddly Crochet: Adorable Toys, Hats, and More

i love a Cool 2 Craft Creative Play Parade ...

Download the background here + your float = creative play

View all of the Floats submitted here.

There's still time to join in the fun.  Use the handy dandy background and place your float in the parade- easy breezy.  Make it about you, your crafty passions, or whatever inspires you about the season.

For details on this fabulously fun project go here.  Visit Candace Jedrowicz here and on The Hive!  Grab the cool crafts on Cool2Craft here.  Skip on over to where p.j.'s and crafting are encouraged on The Cool2Craft Pajama Party.  You can also find Cool2Craft and Tiffany Windsor on Creating The Hive.

Come on, try it - you know you want to.  I'm more knitty than crafty and I made one...I even got out the glitter.  Can you tell which one is mine?  Hint...yarn.

Hey, is that you in the background- 2nd row, 3rd person in - sporting your snazzy Knitavian Shruggle?  You look stunning, girl!

See you in the parade.

Marg(once road a pony in a parade - i didn't want to get off at the end-i was only four)

Click, click hear us knit...

My quick knit project last weekend...

 

©Margaret Nock, 2010.  All rights reserved.

©Margaret Nock, 2010.  All rights reserved.

Hat and Scarf made for The House of New Hope.  Pattern is from Knit Knitavian Style:Savannah Chunky Slouch Hat and Scarf. 

©Margaret Nock, 2010.  Knit Knitavian Style. All rights reserved.

 I substituted Lion Brand, Woolease Thick & Quick for the charity project.  It also knits up quickly.

Remember to always check your gauge when substituting yarn.

Read Randi's blog post The House of New Hope on Creating The Hive.
Background fabric for these pics is from CottonColors on Etsy.

Create from the heart today, and consider the infinite possibilities of a knitful life.

Click, click, hear us knit.

Marg (same goes for crochet and on and on...)

Pretty Things: Calling All Knitters!

Pretty Things: Calling All Knitters!: "I recently met knitter extraordinaire Margaret Nock at a coffee shop here in my town. I 'met' her on CreatingTheHive.com and we found out w..."

You can also see the entire post here on the Hive Calling All Knitters!


Thanks Lori - so glad I met you on the Hive.
Margaret

Timeless Tuesday

It's a rainy Tuesday here on the Eastern shore and time to consider adding a little cheerful color to your knitting and crafting day...

Timeless Totes has a vast array of toting goodness that any knitter or crafter would love to gift, put on their holiday wishlist, and basically get dreamy over.  There are so many options, designs and colors.  Here are some of my favs for knitting and crafting...

Perfect for knitting and crochet...

Handy for your fat quarters...

Enjoy hours of fun with this sturdy Needles and Notions Tote to take with you for on the go knitting, and crafting. 

Interior View...

Visit the main website here...and Joann.com for new Timeless Totes and sale prices.

Tote it, create it, and enjoy the creative life today.

Marg (enjoying stitches, satire and sipping tea today)

Creating The Hive - the new place to bee!

Just relisted...



©Margaret Nock, 2010.  All rights reserved.

The Whole Kit and Kaboodle ...



©Margaret Nock, 2010.  All rights reserved.

Wowza Wrist Warmers



Dave and Margaret's Excellent Crafty Adventure...

Left to right: Tiffany Windsor, Elizabeth Taylor, Margaret & Dave Nock, Eileen Hull, and Lorine Mason.

Pic by Mike!

I love this ring created by Tiffany Windsor.  For more of Tiffany's beautiful items, visit the Marketplace at Cool2Craft.

It's so nice to meet local crafters.  Thanks to Eileen Hull (barn owner and crafty lady) and all the vendors and helpers who made the Barn Sale possible...Cool2Craft and CreatingTheHive members for getting the word out about the event.

Margaret (holiday knitting on my mind)

Eco-aware Experience

©Margaret Nock, 2010. All rights reserved.

Here's one slipper made with Red Heart worsted in lavender for The Pink Slipper Project.  Pattern and yarn suggestion is from their website.  On to the next slipper and finishing touches.

This weekend is the wonderful Water Fowl Festival in Easton, MD. It's a really fun event, so if you're in the area, you should definitely come visit.

If you're attending or know someone who is, please remind them to pick up the trash and the doggie poo. Everything that falls on the ground can end up in the Chesapeake Bay and beyond into surrounding states.  The residents are caring and welcoming, but they also have to pick up after these events.  It can be overwhelming and costly to a small town when large crowds of people come through. 

If you're reading this, you're already eco-aware. Yay! I love that about you.  Visit CBF.org if you're interested in what has been happening and what is being done for the Chesapeake Bay area.

Enjoy the beautiful blue planet this weekend. Knit new stitches with natural fibers, and think green, green, green. Not so hard you get a headache, but you know, a bunch.

I'm embracing my inner KnittingDiva, Eco-Warrior Woman and a dash of Glitter Girl today as I work on Christmas ornaments, gifts and slippers for the The Pink Slipper Project. (also on CreatingTheHive)

Join Creating The Hive and get inspired every day.


Marg - so wishing I had those cool wrist cuffs to ward off evil - Go Wonder Women,Guys and Girls!  Don't forget to add the bling to your cuffs for extra zip, zap, blam...and add glitter for extra kapow!

Waking Up in the Land of Glitter: A Crafty Chica Novel

   

1, 2, Free!

©Margaret Nock, 2010. All rights reserved.

Coats and Clark has some new patterns, yarns, charity news and a free Holiday ebook with 26 patterns...I know, exciting.

New!  Yummy free crochet ShimmerCowl or Give Me Warmth Scarf projects...a free knit pattern called Hat & Scarf for I'Homme for Dad, hubby,brother, son or male friend in your life.

Have a look and find a nice weekend project.

Marg (getting into glitter, yarn ornaments, and paint today)

Veteran's Day in the U.S.

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”
President John F. Kennedy


Love and gratitude to all who have bravely served their country.
 
In memory of my ancestors Vincent Tharpe and Jeremiah Pierson for standing their ground during the Revolutionary War...

Members of the Walsh, Williams, Ansley and Jaeger families who fought during the Civil War, WWI and WWII...
 
and my father, Thomas, who navigated over the Himalyas, one of the most dangerous places to fly in the world. China/Burma/India Theater in WWII.
 
There are businesses who offer discounts to veterans today and year round.  You can find some of them here.
 
Marg
 

They had me at beardcap...

©Margaret Nock, 2010. All rights reserved.

Are you missing the DIY patterns from the show KnittyGritty?  Check out Vickie's latest blog entries for some of your favs being reposted by the designers that were on the show. 

A good place to look for jolly fun is at Caron International.  They're celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas and featuring free patterns to the countdown. 

Weird and wonderful department:

Visit Vík Prjónsdóttir and check out the beardcap.

Marg (did I have you at beardcap?)