Are you ready for a crafty weekend?

The Sugarloaf Crafts Festival is just the thing to help put you in a festive mood.

Where:  Gaithersburg, Maryland, Montgomery Co. Fairgrounds

When:  November 18, 19, 20, 2011
Grab a coupon!

Artists and Crafters Galore!  See the list here.
Check to see when it's coming to your area.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend with creative verve!

Margaret

Yesterday was so chilly and windy that I decided to sport a new knit hat (knit pattern coming soon to MargKnittinARound on Etsy) and the Autumn Harmony Versatile Cowl (available now as a free download) on Knit1fortheroad.com in the Free Pattern Section. 

Follow along on Twitter @knit1fortheroad and CreatingTheHive, the craftiest place to be.

Creative easy listening for the weekend...

Need a fun way to customize your knit, crochet or other needlework gift?  Check out Customize Your Project with Birthstone Colored Yarns by Zontee at LionBrand.  She's come up with a quick and easy round up of the colors associated with each birthmonth.  You can catch more ideas by downloading Yarncraft to your Ipod, computer, etc and bring it along with you this weekend. 

Creativity doesn't have to stop at the front door, bring it along with you wherever you roam.

Margaret (watching my creativity roll with the heatwave---soo cool)

©MargaretNock, 2011. All rights reserved.

Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!
~Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Thinks You Can Think! 
quotegarden.com

Your crafty invitation for the fun and free new community is here!  Join us on Creating The Hive.

 
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 [Blu-ray]

Knit Knitavian Style: Allow your knitting adventures to begin.
Knit all year round. Patterns, inspiration, interviews, resources and more!

Crafters, knitters, and crocheters gather round...

50-80% Off at Hurt Book Sale at Interweave...

Crafters, knitters, and crocheters gather round.  Here's a chance to snag those best selling books that you've been wanting or perhaps missed at incredible prices.  Stock up for gifts and future inspiration.  Some books are overstocked and others may have a minor ding.  No biggie, and a great price makes a crafter grin one of those pudding grins in no time.

I just love good news and a good bargain.

Morris Arboretum of University of Pennsylvania -taken by Dave June 2011

Margaret (working on a stitchy situation over here)


Looking for more crafty goodness?  Here's your invitation to CreatingTheHive, the crafty place to bee!

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

Doodads Day

Every knitter and crocheter needs a doodad or two to add to their project bag.  Here are a few trendy, handy, and functional ones that will make you smile.

In good measure....enjoy the delightful tape measures that are full of whimsy, lightweight and portable at tomo and timo on Etsy.com.  They make a wonderful gift...

The Twice Sheared Sheep is loaded with items to fit any budget.  There are so many goodies on this web site that you're going to want to browse every section.  Do check out my favs, the marker buddies.  They make multi-tasking easier.

Okay, no knit/crochet bloggie would be complete without mentioning a new yarn opportunity.  Give Red Heart's newest edition a try.  Mystic combines soft alpaca with durable acrylic.  It's great for sweaters, cardis, hats, and scarves.  It's your new "go to" yarn of the season.  Oh - and the colors!  I'm liking Stone right now.

Try taking a short break with a little knitting or crochet to dispel the Monday Madness.  It only takes a few stitches to recover.  Works every time.

Margaret Nock. All rights reserved. 2010

Colors of Your Life Crochet Scarf (ready to wear) from Margknittinaround on Etsy.com


Marg (enjoying the colors of my life today-hope you are too)

CreatingTheHiveCreatingTheHiveCreatingTheHiveCreatingTheHive...join in the crafty fun.

Interview with Bettina of Glass Dragon Bears

Bebe

I met Bettina of GlassDragonBears on Creating The Hive Arts & Crafts Community.  Bears have always been one of my favorite toys since childhood and I was so touched by Bettina's creations that I just had to interview her.  Please welcome Bettina of Glass Dragon Bears in your finest knitty and crafty fashion.


Q. Bettina, when did your love of bears begin?

A. We lived in post-War London when I was a child and toys were few and far between. My bear was always there and very well-loved.

Harry

Q. What tips can you give the person who is a little hesitant of needle felting?

A. Start with something simple such as a ball… have a good 6” foam block and keep your fingers out of the way! Once you’ve mastered the basic felting process, you’ll feel less hesitant.


Q. Super advice! Bettina, your bears have so much personality. I know your skill has much to do with that, but I have to wonder if you look at them sometimes and see their little personalities developing as they’re created. How much is technique and how much unfolds through the creative process?


A. Back in the early ‘90’s a bear artist by the name of Steve Schutt sent 100 copies of a bear head pattern to other bear artists and asked them to make it and send him pictures. He received pictures of 100 different bears. Each maker does things differently and views the process through his/her own experiences… and those differences result in a unique creation. BUT there is that moment, when stuffing the head, that decisions are made which determine what the final bear will look like.

JohnPeter

Q. Please tell us how you came up with the name Glass Dragon Bears, Bettina.


A. I worked in stained glass for years. I enjoyed doing it but arthritis in my hands made cutting glass more and more difficult. I had made bears for my daughter (another bear lover) and so switched over to making craft bears. Then I discovered mohair and have been creating artist bears ever since. I’ve kept track and I am now at 5845!

Santa Ornament

Q. Where to you find such adorable props for your bears and do you have a favorite Glass Dragon Bear holiday?


A. I love “hunting “for accessories or making them! My husband loves trains and antique radios and you’d be surprised what I find for my bears at the shows he goes to! As for making them, I knit hats and scarves, make peanuts out of polymer resin, needle felt fruit, sew pincushions for my bears to hold… and so on.


This year's favorite holiday was the Teddy Bear Reunion in the Heartland. This is a bear convention held in and supported by the whole little town of Clarion, Iowa. It happens once every 5 years. We went to demos and classes, heard talks by bear authors, held a huge auction and held a two-day salesroom. The town’s groups such as the Kiwanis supplied almost all the meals for all of the convention goers for 4 days! There was even a parade! Profits support the town’s museum! By the way attendees came from as far away as Australia, the UK, Germany and New Zealand and all over the US. 


What a wonderful event.  Thank you, Bettina for sharing your love of creating bears and sharing your creative journey as an artist. 


You can learn more about Bettina and The Glass Dragon Bears on the following links:


Blog
ArtFire
Creating The Hive

Carolee Crafts' Creative Style!

I met Caroline on Creating the Hive.  She is one of the friendliest and talented U.K. crafters I've met.  Some of her fav materials for crafting are textiles, lace, ribbons, beads and,  in her words,  "anything that I can turn into a gift or card."  Enjoy a crafty moment with Caroline, as she shares a bit of her crafting vision and her mixed media world with us today.

Q. Caroline, how did you find the Creating The Hive, the online arts & crafts community?


A. I believe it was a link through Make Mine Pink, it was mentioned so I took a look, liked what I saw and joined.

Q. A home based business can be challenging and sometimes isolating. Do you have a strong supportive crafting community in the U.K.?


A. I have one firm crafting buddy, Jill, we met up this year through a forum and are forging ahead with our own plans to re-educate the buying public about handmade. We meet for coffee every other week and constantly email throughout the day. Her support is invaluable and to find a like minded person has certainly made the isolation less so. To be able to talk to someone who understands my passion and the obstacles out there, the saying ‘a trouble shared is a trouble halved’ could not be more right.

 

Q. That friendly support is so valuble.  I noticed, Caroline, your love of fabric, beads and ribbon in your work. Many of us mix materials together and would be interested in knowing how do you edit your designs and manage the different materials.



A. I start off with an idea, normally colour based, I have such a stash of materials so do not have to go far to shop! Pull the colour palettes out, select beads and trim, laying out and overlapping fabrics until I have an idea of what looks good. Draw up a pattern, then start cutting and stitching, sometimes adding more, sometimes less.

Q. Caroline, what kinds of projects do you enjoy making for Carolee Crafts and what is the ultimate crafting tool that you can’t live without?

A. At the moment I am into evening bags, small pieces I hope of art, each piece is individual, which suits my personality, not good at doing a production line, love to make a project them move on to a new creation.


Crafting tool: could not live without my sewing machine, hate being without it and have now found a man that services in my home, so only without it for about 2 hours.

Q. Caroline, is there anything else that you would like to share with us about your business, Carolee Crafts, and your love of creating beautiful gifts and cards?



A. Live your dream, don’t let others detract you from what you want to do, follow your passion. Times are hard but to be able to create helps, be prepared to change direction and become aware of the current trends. Most of all love what you do, to me creating should never be a chore it should be a joy.

Very sound advice for all of us.  Thank you so much for being here today and for sharing your thoughts, passions and advice with us, Caroline.

Please visit Caroline on the following links:

http://caroleecrafts.blogspot.com/

Carolee Crafts on Facebook

Twitter

Creating The Hive