Sharing colors and stitches with loving care...

Chemo Caps made with Caron Simply Soft and LionBrand Cotton Ease

This week has been the perfect time to get caught up on various charity knitting and crochet. These are some chemo caps heading different places, but they all have a special mission.  That's right, your projects have their own mission, people.  They enjoy spreading love, color, texture, and seeing the recepients smile.  There is no mission impossible for these guys.

Here's a fun and helpful article on color psychology entitled Do different colors affect your mood? by David Johnson.

Feel free to jump into a charity project with smokin' needles and hooks and let your legacy be love.

I'm on fire!

Margaret 

Looking for a charity?  Visit knit1forhteroad/Charity orgs section for a few ideas.

Other great sources:  Ravelry.com, CraftHope.com and CreatingTheHive.com

Craft Hope: Handmade Crafts for a Cause

©MargaretNock, 2011. All rights reserved.

Uncommonly upcycle...

It's Tuesday, sunny with just enough of a chill and I'm surfing the web for an upcycle project, while simultaneously putting my tax receipts in a slo-mo holding pattern.

Are you with me?  Check out the upcycle projects that await your attention.

Upcycled Knitting Envelope Tutorial from the fabulous Kala on her blog, Vegancraftastic.



Newspaper, Plastic Bags, Dog Hair...Upcycle Them into Yarn from CraftStylish member, Matt Embrey.



Upcycled Crochet Washcloth, as seen on Knitting Daily TV, Episode 611.  You will need to join or sign in (it's free) to the site to download patterns.

Sweater Potholders can be found at Uncommon Goods for those of you who would like to bypass project mode and go straight for the purchase to support the upcycle movement.  While you're there, take time to read the brief product story.

Are you starting to look at your old sweaters in a new way? 

Margaret (enjoying visions of upcycling and renewal - and a smidge of Spring cleaning)



Sweater Surgery: How to Make New Things with Old Sweaters (Domestic Arts for Crafty Girls)



Pretty Little Potholders (Pretty Little Series)


Playing with Books: The Art of Upcycling, Deconstructing, and Reimagining the Book

3 Beeutiful Things...Cherry Blossoms

Last Saturday, we took a trip to D.C. to see the incredible blooms at the tidal basin.  Here are a few pix we took.

©MargaretNock, 2011. All rights reserved.

Need more info about this event?  Visit National Cherry Blossom Festival  (March 26 - April 10) Find out more about the history of this gift of beautiful trees in 1912, from the Japanese.

Long walks, beautiful blooms, and the anticpation of something new.

This blogpost is dedicated to the survivors of the earthquake & tsunami, employees who stayed behind to work at the reactors and are continuing to work, the men, women and search & rescue dogs who are participating in humanitarian relief and cleanup efforts in Japan.

Margaret

Creating The Hive is the place to bee for crafty fun.

Cherry Blossoms: Traditional Patterns in Japanese Design

Cherished knitting traditions can be found ...

Last week, while I was at JOANN Fabrics & Craft Store, I scooped up the second special issue of  Knitting Traditions from Piece Work. This issue is full of the art and craft history of knitting.  It's such a lush and interesting assortment of patterns and stories that I know you will keep it handy in your knitting library. 

If you've been following along on Molly updates, check out my latest update on her and a Craft Month reminder (free pattern projects) I posted Friday on CreatingTheHive:

Crafty reminder and update on Molly...

Join us on CreatingTheHive.  Communicate with fellow crafters and artists on a site created to inspire.

Knit as if no one is watching!
Margaret (explore, create and inspire - woohoo!)




Knitted Fruit (Twenty to Make)


Knitted Vegetables (Twenty to Make)

It's a Spring Thing!

Molly ready for the next adventure.

©MargaretNock, 2011. All rights reserved.

Max on the trail.

©MargaretNock, 2011. All rights reserved.

Molly's going in for surgery tomorrow...minor, but still :( ...so I've spent the day with Molly and Max letting them do the things they enjoy most... getting muddy, barking at squirrels and birds until they fall over, playing rowdy fetch, and taking a long walk on the trail...their usual "Spring thing".  I think the dogs are on to something.  We should all take some time every now and then to enjoy the basics of life.

Give a happy thought for Molly tomorrow when you see a squirrel, mudpuddle, or rowdy dog barking and remember to be kind to yourself.  Figure out your "Spring thing" and do it.

Happy trails!

Margaret ( aka Molly's Mom) will be knitting and crocheting my worries away.

Creating The Hive is just the "Spring Thing" to enjoy. Start blooming here.




Mastering Color Knitting: Simple Instructions for Stranded, Intarsia, and Double Knitting

Knitting Without Tears: Basic Techniques and Easy-to-Follow Directions for Garments to Fit All Sizes

You know it's going to be a great day when...

you can view a giant knitted rabbit via satellite on Google...

A giant knitted rabbit in Italy can be seen from space by visitors to Google Earth

or can find eight one skein  free patterns to knit with Wisdom Poems Sock Yarn on NobleKnits.com

Enjoy the day!
Margaret (knitter by day, ghost hunter by night, to be continued)

Here's you invitation to spring into crafty fun at CreatingTheHive.



One-Skein Wonders

101 Designer One-Skein Wonders: A world of possibilities inspired by just one skein


Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders: 101 Patterns That Go Way Beyond Socks!