What's on your needles?

Yarnie items of the past.  Pic taken in MD last weekend.

Today has been a busy one.  I've been working on book editing, and going over photos, etc.  I haven't had any new projects on my needles that I can share at the moment with you, but I would like to know what you've been working on.  Please comment if you have a knit, crochet, or crafty project you are currently working on, and would like to share with the readers.  I love hearing from you.  As usual, the no spam rule applies here as the readers already have a phone plan, local friends and good mortgage rates... you get where I'm going. 

Calling all Etsians! If you have an Etsy shop and would like an interview, please see The Summer of Etsy Love.  This is a great opportunity to share your crafts, promote your shop, and give the readers some insight into you and your creative process.  All good!

Click click, knit knit...

Marg (zipping through the Monday to do list)

Start Spinning: Everything You Need to Know to Make Great Yarn

Etsy Delights!

Etsy Showcase

The weekend is a great time to peruse, pounce and add to your Etsy favs.  Here are some wonderful Etsy shops you might enjoy visiting and supporting.

Danger Crafts is filled with kits, patterns, notecards and more knitting and sewing fun to keep you busy all summer.  I just love the monster madness, cute bears, and kits.  All good here!

jcskyline's  has doodad's to use and make you smile.  I especially love the buttons. I'm in giggle glee mode right now just looking at them.  Stop by!

I Heart Glitter has some wonderful pocket watches.  I'm a sucker for a great watch and these definitely fit the bill.  The watch covers come in categories like movies, /theater, music/writers/art, hello kitty and more! Sooo fun and functional.

Visit the Etsy showcase.  Father's Day is June 20th!

If you have an Etsy shop, and would like to be interviewed here on this blog, please feel free to email me at knit1fortheroad@gmail.com and type Etsy Interview in the subject line. 

Have a creative weekend.
Marg (feeling creatively knitty)

You might also enjoy:
The Summer of Etsy Love
MEET Etsian LolaLynn!
Ateliermarla Brings You Sunshine and Vibrant colors!

Keep your hands crafty with The Xtensor

THE XTENSOR, YELLOW

It's time to consider hand health and relief from the pain of the repetitive motion of crochet and knitting.  Check out this handy, easy to use product from TheXtensor.com.  It stimulates the muscles of the hand, the extensor muscles and tendons and will relieve stiffness in your joints and carpal tunnel which are all common ailments of the crafty.  The Xtensor is the recepient of the Medical Design Excellence Award and is made in the U.S. at a certified green facility. Yay!  I think we have the perfect knitting and crochet accessory here. The uses for this product are exciting and I encourage you to read about it, join their facebook page and follow along on Twitter.


Here's to keeping your hands crafty, your mind creative, and your projects on their hooks and needles. 


Marg (paying homage to hardworking hands today)

Bibs, booties, Felici and more!

Felici Self Striping Sock Yarn available at Knitpicks.com

There are some new kits at KnitPicks.com that are perfect for a fun filled summer with the children in your life. They also offer some grownup goodies for your knitting pleasure.  Let's go!

Start off with bibs and booties!

When I Grow Up - Girl

When I Grow Up - Boy

Move on to the fanciful and friendly critters.

Critter Mitts Kits

Fanciful Friends Dragon or Unicorn Kit

Check out the new goodies for grownups...

A little something fabulous and fun for the sock lovers.

Sock Cocktail Kits,Choose Mojito Sock Cocktail Kit or Violet Martini Sock Cocktail Kit, or both.

Felici fingering weight and sport weight yarn in 16 yummy limited edition colors - hooray!

More new yarns for your knitting adventures.

I think we have a busy summer ahead.

Happy kit hunting and knitting.

Marg (enjoying the colors of Felici and feeling fine)

Sushi Wallet Knit Felting Kit

The Summer of Etsy Love

The summer of Etsy love is at hand.  I'll be starting Etsian interviews here on Knit1fortheroad soon.  If you have an Etsy shop, and would like to be interviewed, please send me an email at knit1fortheroad@gmail.com, and write Etsy Interview in the subject line. 


The interviews consist of 4-5 questions that you will need to answer.  Photos, in jpeg form, of items you'd like to feature from your shop, and any links or upcoming craft events should also be included. The questions will not be the same for every interview.  I try to do a little homework so that the questions will be as specific to your shop and craft as possible.  It's amazingly simple, quick and fun. Please spread the word to your crafty Etsy friends.


The summer series went very well last year and I look forward to meeting each and every one of you. You can catch up on your summer reading, in the meantime, by visiting the Etsy Interviews below this post.

Happy crafting, happy day.
Marg (so loving the Etsy life)

Happy Knitting Trails Ahead!

Molly and Max, my two doggies in residence, amaze and inspire me on a daily basis.  Today, I was struggling for a way to photograph a project and Molly led the way to a solution.  She normally has her nap on the bed, and today, she insisted on going to the sun room and sitting on the sofa.  This is something new for her and totally out of character.  Every time I left her, she would follow me, whine and stare at me in Yorkie fashion, and lead me back to the sofa.  I took the hint and sat with her for a few minutes.  The latest projects were right in front of us on a table waiting to be photographed. The light bulb finally went off in my head.  Molly would look perfect on the small blanket project. I took pictures of her right away.  This action alone, inspired me to finish these projects and move on with what I needed to accomplish today.

Children and pets are our helpers. They tune into our moods and share their wisdom in unbelieveable ways.  We just need to pay attention and rock the good vibes. 

Here's  message from Max to get your knit adventure on this weekend.
Happy Trails!

Marg (thankful)

What hue are you?

Earthues Natural Dyes

Today, it's time to explore Earthues natural dyes.  These dyes have rich color and are safe to dispose of making them a friend to Earth - and we all know Mother Earth can use all the friends she can gather.  When visiting the site, you are greeted as a friend and colorist, a wonderful word I haven't heard since art school. I love that!  My anticipation of pure glee builds from there.

Earthues has compiled a dye kit and packaged them in a fun reusable box. The dye is perfect for both animal and plant fibers with no heavy metals or tin.  Your color results will vary slightly, depending on the fiber you're using, but that's what makes your exploration unique and fun.  Each kit includes everything you need to dye up to 40 lbs of your own yarn or fiber, tools, instruction booklet and assistance.  You may also purchase Earthues colors individually.

Earthues are available at Halcyon Yarn and other retailers.  Visit the Where to buy tab on the Earthues site to locate a retailer near you.

I hope you enjoy an adventure in color soon. 

Marg (feeling the indigo hue this morning)
Hand Dyeing Yarn and Fleece: Custom-Color Your Favorite Fibers with Dip-Dyeing, Hand-Painting, Tie-Dyeing, and Other Creative Techniques

Vegetable Dyes: A Book of Recipes and Information Useful to the Dyer

Quick! I need my stitches.

Today's been pretty busy.  I've just sent in my new pattern book for editing and am looking forward to adding the finishing touches.  There will be more info later for you, plus giveaways as the completion date nears.  I've listened to your suggestions, comments and requests and have tried to include as many as possible in this next book.  Thanks to everyone for your interest and inspiration.  You keep me motivated.


Looking for event info and don't know where to go?  Here are a few links to help you find the scoop on upcoming events.  Knitting events will inspire and motivate you, so please don't miss out on an opportunity.


http://www.knittersconnection.com/


http://www.knittersreview.com/upcoming_events.asp


http://www.americasknitting.com/more_events.htm


http://www.knittinguniverse.com/flash/events.php


I'll be taking a much needed Monday mental health knitting break this evening.  I hope you'll join me.


Marg (Quick! I need my stitches.)

 

Knitty skies and light winds

A visit to Mount Calvert Historical and Archaeological Park this weekend reminded me of the importance of sewing, spinning and knitting in our history.  They have been excavating this area for artifacts representing over 8000 years of human culture, beginning with Native Americans of the Archaic Period (7500-1000 BC).  You can see many unearthed pottery shards, arrow heads, spears, household items, gun parts and glassware, but I naturally look for any proof of needlework of any kind wherever I roam, and was intrigued by these buttons and pins.  It's a wonderful place to take your children and for adults.  They have some hands on activities so if you are planning a trip or live in the area, check out their website for details on upcoming events.

I'll be posting another short history note soon from today's excursion involving the importance of knitting, spinning and weaving in one of Maryland's first farming communities.

Tomorrow there will be knitty skies and light winds.
Marg (two steps forward, one step looking back)
You might also enjoy reading:

Adventures of a Sock Monkey Visionary!
In search of the oldest knit artifact...

18th Century Knitting Patterns

Dollhouse Artwork Framed Colonial Girl Knitting

The Knit Princess

The Knit Princess is a super fun graphic novel by writer and self proclaimed obsessed knitter, Allison Sarnoff and the artist Melody Moore.  The storyline follows a young girl and her knitting adventures.  I love her message of improving your knitting skills, to not be afraid of trying new techniques, and the humor, of course. The fact that the Knit Princess is wearing a tiara definitely is a plus for me.  Who wouldn't want to wear a tiara while you're knitting?  We should all feel like a princess (or prince) when we knit.

You will want to check out the pattern section and the store on knitprincess.com.  I'm liking the Knit Princess Signature T-Shirt and of course you can purchase the first 2 volumes of The Knit Princess. There's even an official Knit Princess Tiara Hat pattern in the first volume.  Hooray!  You can also join The Knit Princess on Facebook and keep up with the latest scoop, meet other fans, and show off your Knit Princess knitting projects.  It's cool to be a princess.

I just love to start off the day with such a fun, creative and well illustrated idea.  Way to go ladies!

Marg (considering how I would look in a tiara - hmm)

You might also enjoy reading:
The knitty ten... Handknit Heroes

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo is a time to celebrate Mexican heritage and pride in the U.S. Here are a few things you can do to take part in the festivities.  If you have any favorite ways you celebrate, comment and share with us.

First stop is a visit with the wonderful Crafty Chica (Cathy Cano Murillo) for some crafty ideas that will have you smiling with glee.  So much glitter, so little time.  We love the Crafty Chica for her wit, honesty and warmth and for helping us to become the ultimate glitter girls.

Crafty Creations #18: Cinco de Mayo at the Abilene Public Library.

Cinco de Mayo Recipes from kitchendaily.com.

Cinco de Mayo for kids and teachers.

I hope you'll find time to celebrate life, love, and freedom this week, wherever you are.

Marg (I can't believe it's May already)


Crafty Chica's Art de la Soul: Glittery Ideas to Liven Up Your Life

The Crafty Chica Collection: Beautiful Ideas for Crafts, Home Decorations and Shrines from the Queen of Latina Style (Quarry Book)

Fiber World of Wonder

Vendor info from MSW

Some items from the event

This past weekend, I attended the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival in Howard County, which had free admission, I might add.  My side kick this year was my husband, Dave.  He's one of those Renaissance men who is comfortable in just about any environment - even one where it's mostly women shopping, shopping, shopping!  There were quite a few men in attendance this year - many more than I have seen before.  Were they there to support their wives or keep an eye on the spending?  Without a secret survey, we'll never really know.  There were men there to shop for there own knitting and fiber needs, so that's definitely a wonderful thing to see.

I was happy to see many of my favorite vendors  there and they were super busy. I was unable to visit too long with them during this event.  The turnout of crowds was early and large on Saturday and most vendors had very good pricing. This provided goodies for every budget. Good news for many of us hit hard by the up and down economy.  While walking around, I caught shoppers' comments regarding purchases and cost was a huge factor in their decisions.

These events always include demos, classes, contests, music, sheep shearing, competitions and are an adventure for the entire family.

When you attend any event, it's important to have a strategy of some kind to keep you focused in your search for the items on your list to see or buy.  It's also a great idea to go with other people who have been before and have an idea of what to see first, etc.  I was lucky to go along on a bus full of knitters and crocheters the first time to MSW and I got some valuable tips.  We all hit the main building first at the end of the main row, and then worked our way back down to the gate and around. This allowed us to look and shop before it got too crowded in the main building.  It's always a good idea to go around the rows a couple of times in the main building and compare prices.  I have noticed really great pricing in some of the vendors on the right hand side of the gate every year as well.  This can vary from year to year so get to know your favorite vendors and where they are - download the info online or get it at the information booth when you go in.  Simple tips that save you time and energy on a warm day.

Vendors were selling and people were buying wisely in this fiber world called the MSW Festival. I encourage you to keep attending events and discovering new vendors and friends.  There's something for everyone and you'll see so many new and exciting products, ideas, and people.  Just another wonderful way to expand your knitting world.

Thanks to all the wonderful vendors brave enough to come out to the festival and to all who attended and supported this event.

Have an event filled year!

Marg (looking toward the next event with glee!)

You might also enjoy:

MATSURI MODIFIED MADNESS

 LLAMAJAMA IS FIBER FABULOUS!

Mother's Day Crunch Time

This weekend was filled with the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival in Howard County on Saturday and visits to historical sites outside of Baltimore on Sunday.  I'm recovering from overload and will have more to report on Saturday's event tomorrow.  In the meantime, I found these quick Mother's Day (May 9) projects that might inspire you on your quest for the perfect crafty present for the Mom in your life.

Kid friendly Mother's Day Crafting at Kaboose has quick, easy and affordable craft ideas for Mother's Day.

Needle & Wool knitters Brooch from CraftBits.com and contributed by Eva.  This brooch is a perfect gift for the knitting mum who inspired you to knit.

How about a recipe for a soothing body scrub to relax Mom?  Try this one from Marigold Lane for a
Lavender & Rosemary Body Scrub.

You might consider decorating a basket, toolbox, garden planter or hatbox with items that your mom will love. Consider an indoor herb garden kit, handmade beaded and vintage jewelry, hat sticks, or silk scarves for the hatbox, tools and gardening gloves, shoes, and apron with a girly flair or floral print for a tool kit and planter, and your favorite premixed packages (or your own) recipes for scones, bread, cozies and coffee/tea combinations for a basket.  Add an easy tie and reusable bow made out of material and wire for easy tying from your local craft or sewing store.

Go crafty, and enjoy the magical results this week. 

Marg (going crafty style today)

Visit Knit1fortheroad free pattern section.

You might also like reading:
SEEKING SCRUMPTUOUS STITCHES?
Mother's Day Ideas
Checked your wow today?
Shrug your worries away.


14k Yellow Gold Overlay Sterling Silver "A Mother Holds Her Child's Hand For A Short While And Their Hearts Forever" Heart Pendant, 18"