Tea Time with Winter Gratitude - excellent!

I'm so excited!  My package of Winter Gratitude arrived today.  Hopefully you checked out Monday's episode of Cool2Craft Live TV and saw the demo by Candace Liccione.  If not - no worries, here's a  link for you to watch...
Candace Liccione – Winter Gratitude Tea – Inspired at Home LIVE TV  The theme of the entire show was Gratitude and I found every project uplifting and inspiring. It was such a nice break from the winter blast duldrums. You can visit the archives to view Cool2Craft Live TV episodes at your convenience.

Back to tea talk...

You can check out the delish ingriedents and purchase the tea on the Cool2Craft Marketplace.  Great price and wonderful tea...perfect for a cozy afternoon of winter knitting, crocheting and other crafty endeavors.

Near Graysonville, MD?  Visit Candace's shop in person. Wye River Designs  has a creative and relaxed atmosphere. Enjoy crafty goodness, classes, teas, and items for wellness. You can even get a sense of the relaxed environment on the website, so make sure you check it out.

It's a new year.  I hope you'll join me in taking the opportunity to focus on wellness and expanding your creative horizons.

Margaret (that's me over on the distant horizon cheering you on.)


You may also enjoy reading:

Every time a crafter creates, a fairy earns her wings...


CreatingTheHive awaits your arrival.  Join this dynamic arts & crafts community here!

Special Olympics, Scarves, and Smiles...

Special Olympic Rib Crochet Striped Scarf.  Yarn is RedHeartSuperSaver in colors Turqua and Blue.

I couldn't help myself, I really got hooked on this pattern.  It was easy, quick and colorful.  It's not to late to participate!  Check the website for guidelines, deadlines and ways to donate to this worthy cause.  You can even keep it local by choosing the state you'd like to send your scarf or donation, too.

Your spare moments + happy hooking & knitting = smiling and grateful faces.

I'm seeing a 2011 trend for you already. Woohoo!

Margaret (embracing the color blue today)

CreatingTheHive is the place to bee!  Did I mention, it's free, fun, and friendly?  Get your craft on here.

Knitting projects to keep your busy needles happy all year round - right here!  Makes a knitty Valentine's Day gift for yourself or the knitter in your life.

Martin Luther King Day

Today is a special day and a good time to look with enthusiasm toward our country's (and the worlds) future.

I hope you will become inspired to dream big dreams, have hope for the future and love in your heart.  Face each and every challenge with courage. Live a rich and full life.

The Life And Words Of Martin Luther King Jr. (Scholastic Biography)

Margaret

Your Invitation to Celebrate, Shine and be Creative...

Have a copy of knitsimple magazine 2011 winter issue? You'll see Rachel of Yarnigans in the knits + that section.

You may remember Rachel's delightful knit kits from my blog interview with her last October (Meet Rachel of Yarnigans) when I had the good fortune to meet Rachel and her knitty creations at the Snowhill MD Festival.  Rachel is also a CreatingTheHive member.  Do stop by her shop on Etsy and her page on the Hive and say hello.

I so enjoy seeing you all get the credit you're due.  We all need to take some time to celebrate each other and develop our own creative flair.  The best gift you can give yourself is to be your true creative self.

You're creative, beautiful and shiney new every day...and your latest knitting project, the bomb!

Margaret (still stitching my way through the winter blast)

Start your creative adventures this week by joining the fun at CreatingTheHive.

Are you ready for a super snack down?

The Ultimate Super Bowl Book: A Complete Reference to the Stats, Stars, and Stories Behind Football's Biggest Game - and Why the Best Team Won


Playoffs, ProBowl, SuperBowl - 'tis the season for snacks and snacking.  Here are a few links that I found helpful with recipes to soothe the savage armchair football enthusiast.  Now normally I would be posting about knitting, but this weekend I've been vegging out on football and I began searching for recipes.

Looking for easy recipes! Go here .

Need more?  Jog on  over to Over 30 recipes and snack ideas.

Want more healthy options?  Check it out right here.

Seeking Southern comfort food solutions to snacking down?  Visit here.

Do you want ideas on how to make your celebration more green this year?  Check out this article from Greenzer.com on ways to make your Super Bowl snacking more earth friendly.

This completes the snacking portion of this weeks blog installments.  I hope you've enjoyed this small, but tastey treat break from your knitting.

Margaret (ready for a snack down and a new knitting project)

Crafty inspiration is at your fingertips on CreatingTheHive.  Buzz on over today and Join in the free fun. 

Super cute CraftStylish Project - Recycled Dog Sweater

How to Make a Recycled Dog Sweater - CraftStylish by Cal Patch

I just love the project, the sweater and the dog - perfecto!

My inner geekery,3D Printing, and free patterns!

Finally, my crafty friends... we have a handy new item called the 3D Printer called Thing-O-Matic from Makerbot. My inner geekery is ecstatic at the possibilities.  Okay, a bit pricey for many, but still, the technology is here to stay.  Need the full blown scoop - snag it here and bask in the possibilities...and thank you Christina Ginn, CNN Producer for the heads up.

Okay, talk me down to Earth now, and let's move on to some free patterns for the weekend.

Let's check out some RAV patterns, shall we?
Simple Skyp Socks by Adrienne Ku
Star Crossed Slouchy Beret byNatalie Larson
Stolen Moments Wrap by Amy Swenson

Consider the possibilities while you're knitting this weekend.


Margaret (Time, Space and Knitting - all good) 

Crafty Creating The Hive awaits your creativity!  It's free fun for all. Join in the fun right here.

Here's one of my favorite DVD Documentaries!
The Future We Will Create: Inside the World of TED

Be the sizzle for your hooks and needles...

Special Olympics Scarf Project made with Red Heart Super Saver, Blue and Turqua

The yarn for the Special Olympics Scarf Project arrived this morning and I wanted to share a pic of my scarf in progress.  The pattern is the Special Olympics Rib Crochet Striped Scarf and rated easy.  You will find it on the back of the wrapper.  There is still time to participate and fun patterns to choose from.  Visit the website here and get the details on yarn colors, patterns and deadlines.  You can even pick the state you'd like to knit or crochet for. 

I encourage you to keep your needles and hooks warm.  Help them get their sizzle on this winter and make a difference - one project at a time.

That fabulous be the change idea and attitude works for knitting and crochet, too...but you totally get that.

Sizzle on!

Margaret (never met a warm scarf I didn't love)

Creating the Hive has a crafty charity knit and crochet can do attitude too.  Join in the fun here and let the crafty times roll.

Special Olympics (True Books: Sports)

 

2 fun 2 make 2 at a time..mystery revealed!

Do you have doubts about trying to knit two socks, mittens, or anything at one time?  Here are two videos that will help take the mystery out of this technique.

Liat's Limitless Cast-On for Two-at-a-Time Anything! Part 1

and  Troubleshooting

Thanks to LiatGat of KNITfreedom for taking the time to make these helpful lessons.

Today, I'll be celebrating the coming snowfall by cooking vegetarian chilli and knitting the boyfriend hat - a special request from my college age step daughter.  How can I resist?  Pics soon.

Snowed in?  Grab your knitting, your favorite hot beverage and treat yourself well for the next few days. 

Margaret (feeling a chill in the air)

2-at-a-Time Socks: Revealed Inside. . . The Secret of Knitting Two at Once on One Circular Needle Works for any Sock Pattern!



Sock II: How To Knit Two Socks at the Same Time DVD


Knitting More Circles Around Socks: Two at a Time, Toe Up or Cuff Down

I'm blogging from Endless Possiblilties Avenue and ...

Today, I'm blogging from Endless Possiblilties Avenue and Miracles in the Making Blvd. 

I rec'd one of my favorite catalogs from Halcyon Yarn. For me, it's a place where all of your dreams of knitting, crochet, weaving, spinning, felting, fiber finds, accessories, kits, rug punch, patterns and kits come together in one colorful place.  It's a place to dream and envision your next adventure and partake of delicious possiblilites to help you grow with your creativity.  Okay, now this is the part where I hone in on my favorite items...

If you're like me, you would love for Autumn to last a little longer and it's possible with the Autumn Beaded Bag Kits - These lovely kits will inspire you no matter the season.  You may also purchase the pattern alone and revel in the color choices -yippee! I love options, don't you?

Skip on over to sturdy Rug Punch Tote Bag Patterns, Felted Bags , and the Knitted Carpet Clutch.

My favorite accessory, if I had to just pick one, has to be Debra's Garden Socks and Lace Needle Gauge Pendants in beautiful colors with matching drawstring bags.  Pretty and practical.

I've mentioned the endless creative possibilites portion of this blog.  Now, I'd like to share the miracle in the making part for us all to consider.  It's so necessary that we step up more in preventing violence in our communities and schools. A great start would be to be more responsible and thoughtful with our words and actions in our everyday lives.  We also need to ask more questions.  Does your child's school or university have a policy to handle complaints or reports of abuse, unstable behavior, or threats?  If so, what are they?  Is help being readily provided for anyone suffering from mental illness, bullying, drug addiction, or sexual abuse?  Are we, as bloggers, hard working people, teachers, celebrities and politicians alike being more responsible about the messages we put out there? Are there ways we can use our own creativity to make a difference?  I think we all have a lot of work to do. 

More knitting, less violence with our words and actions is what we need on Miracles in the Making Blvd.

Margaret (I hope that you will look for and feel the miracles in your life and community this week)

Here are two of my favorite books that have helped me recover from sadness and tragedy in my own life.  You might find them helpful, too.

Illuminata: A Return to Prayer

Everyday Grace

Late night sock knitting again?

Need a little refresher course or have questions about knitting socks?  Here are some handy dandy resources to help you out with your late night sock knitting frenzy.  Oh - maybe that's just me...enjoy!

The Fiber Gypsy

Knitsnbytes

Socknitters

Update on Molly:  She's pretty much recovered and is putting back on the weight she lost, so we are very happy and grateful for her recovery.Here's the original post on CreatingTheHive, in case you missed it.
If you have, or know someone who has a dog please read...


Enjoy the Hive every day...it's free fun for all.  Dive in here.

Margaret (can't wait to see who makes it through the playoffs)


Getting Started Knitting Socks (Getting Started series)

Toe-Up 2-at-a-Time Socks

Socks from the Toe Up: Essential Techniques and Patterns from Wendy Knits