Grab a Scary Movie, a bowl of popcorn, and ...

... a headless crochet hook?

Happy Halloween!!

I'm a barbed, barbed girl!

Lady Luck, please come visit me.  I need you.  You see, Murphy's Law stopped by for an uninvited visit this weekend and I need you to kick him out.  It all started with my children wanting to help by doing the dishes.  They didn't know I was in the middle of cleaning my earrings -- and I didn't know they took the mug I had them resting in until it was too late. 

My earrings went down the drain.  Mr. Dee, my real Prince Charming, came to the rescue and was able to save the pair he gave me upon the birth of our son, but the other two, one being a pair I've treasured for over 20 years, were not so lucky.  Either was Mr. Dee when he attempted to take pipes apart in search for them.  Since this blog is not about what can go wrong with old plumbing, I won't get into it.  Let's just say the earrings are gone.  Forever.

I know I should feel lucky that we have our home, and we have our health, and that we have each other, and that now we have new plumbing.  You see, it's just a phase of mourning the loss of the sentimental value that I am going through.  And your visit would be greatly appreciated.  Come when you can, OK?

                                                                        *    *    *

I was quite upset yesterday.  To help eliminate some of those sad & angry emotions, I decided to work some of them out.  I took out the felted bag I started from the workshop with Margaret, some roving from the recent Sheep & Wool Festival in New York, and 2 felting needles.

I looked the bag over see where I could add a touch of color and decided upon needle felting a touch of hot pink along the edges and tips of each rose petal.  Dangerous? Well, yes, because one slight misguided "punch" and I'd feel the pain of a puncture (or more) from a very sharp, and barbed!, needle!  Did I care? No.  Do I care now?  Yes!  Did I learn a lesson about mixing emotion and fiber arts together?  Yes!

So how do I feel about it today, aside from the Band-Aid on my finger?  Better.  I had a great conversation with my Mother this morning who revealed her own stories about losing items with emotions attached to them.  She was able to put it all into perspective, "Honey, at least you still have the memories attached to the pieces, and that will always be with you."  She's so right!  Thanks Mom! :)

Here's the bag before adding the needle felting; photo was taken before leaving the workshop (on left):

And here's the bag after barbing my finger, er, needle felting on the edge (on right):

Do I like the end results?  Yes, but next time I think I'll wear a thimble when I'm needle felting.  You know, just to be safER.  And, also, the next time I want to clean my jewelry, I won't leave it on the kitchen counter.  Tags: crochet, needle felting, lost jewelry, felted crochet

Update: 60 Scarves in 60 Days Challenge

I have decided not to give an updated count at the moment, and this is because we have about 3 1/2 days left to the Challenge.  We've already met the goal of 60 Scarves in 60 Days, but the big question here is: did we exceed beating last years' number?

If you've pledged creating a scarf, or have a new total, please let me know as I'd like to ensure I have correct totals for everyone.  On November 1st, I will post the final numbers AND post the winner of the drawing.  So please, ensure you let me know what your final number(s) are.

I spent yesterday properly weaving in ends, and then packaging up my scarves with hats and (purchased) gloves for our annual Salvation Army drive that my CGOA Chapter participates in.  During the winter, here in Connecticut, it gets plenty cold, and these sets will go towards helping those in need keep warm. Tags: Tags: 60 scarves in 60 days challenge, knit, crochet, dee stanziano

Dee's First Webcam Blog Entry

Lion Brand's first PodCast: http://yarncraft.lionbrand.com/?p=3
Dee found "The Batsford Book of Crochet" by Ann Sterns on eBay.
Amazon currently has copies available starting at $79.

KOC2 2008 - Road Trip??

It seems that Mary Colucci, the Executive Director of the Craft Yarn Council of Amerca, has been reading my mind when she wrote to me, "No one misses the New York Knit-Out & Crochet event more than I do! This month feels so weird--no Knit-Out committee meetings, no making crochet and knit starts or ordering port-a-potties!"

Yes, it does seem ___________ (insert your own adjective).  I was going to say weird too, but your adjective works just as well.  I miss the rides into NYC with Grace to attend the planning meetings, working on the starts used in the teaching tent, and preparing for the demonstrations I volunteer for.  It just doesn't seem to be Fall without the NYC KOC2 event we love so much.

So what is this crocheter to do?  Why, entertain the idea of attending the KOC2 at the Mall of America in Minnesota come February!  If I go, will you be there too?  :)

Right now Mr. Dee and I are working out the specifics -- if it's to be, of course I'll announce it here.  Don't know about the event?  Then here is the official press release from the CYCA:

Mall of America, February 16 and 17, 2008 (Presidents’ Weekend), promises to be the biggest gathering of knitters and crocheters from throughout the United States. More than 50,000 attended last year’s Great American Knit-Out and even more are expected this year.

Knit-Out highlights include:

CELEBRITY CORNER

Debbie Macomber NY Times best-selling women’s fiction author, known to knitters worldwide for The Shop on Blossom Street, A Good Yarn and her latest Back on Blossom Street. Debbie will share her inspirational knitting stories, talk about Warm Up America! and even give a technique demo.

Vickie Howell Meet author and host of the DIY Network’s Knitty Gritty series. Vickie will be on hand to talk about her latest book Knit Aid: For Knitters on the Go, filled with lots of tips and tricks for hassle-free knitting, plus she’ll talk about the latest knit and crochet fashions.

The international finals to find the Fastest Knitter and Crocheter, cosponsored by CYCA and the UK Hand Knitting Association, will pit the fastest knitters and crocheters from the U.S. against those from the U.K., Canada, The Netherlands, and France. The competition is fierce but fun. Visitors who just want to see how fast they can go will also have a chance to test their skills.

PLUS…

FREE Beginner Knitting & Crochet Lessons

Technique Demos – Fun tips, tricks and project ideas

Yarn “Doctors” – Knit and crochet experts answer your toughest project questions

“The Season’s Best” Fashions <LISTYLE="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffcc?>Dog Gone Cute & Crazy Fashion Show – Woof

Kid Cute & Crazy Fashion Show

Kids Crafts Area – Learn to knit, crochet and make cool stuff!

Show & Share – Knitters and crocheters model and talk about their favorite projects

Displays • Giveaways • Door Prizes

PLUS…Sit, knit, crochet, join: Warm Up America!

Bring a 7” by 9” crocheted or knitted section to join into an afghan

Help us complete afghans for people in need in Minneapolis

Hotel & Travel Discounts
Because of this enormous enthusiasm for Knit-Out, CYCA, working with Country Inns & Suites, has arranged for a special Knit-Out hotel package with deeply discounted room rates:

Standard room with two queen-size beds is $95

King Suite room with a king-size bed is $105

The hotel has a free breakfast and is within walking distance of the Mall. (It’s the closest hotel to the Mall and also provides free shuttle service.) In addition, Knit-Out visitors will receive a goodie bag with a Mall of America discount coupon book and the hotel is setting up aprivate V.I.P. lounge with light refreshments where crocheters and knitters can gather to stitch and chat 24/7. To take advantage of these special rates, reserve your room no later than December 1st. Complete event details are available at: www.Knit-Out.com or visit the hotel web site and follow the special “Knit-Out” link to make your reservation: www.countryinns.com/knit. You also can call the hotel directly for a reservation at 952-854-5555 and ask for the Knit Out group rate or Central Reservations at 1-800-456-4000.

Special Northwest Airline Discount – US & Canada

Working with Northwest Airlines, CYCA has arranged a Knit-Out package that offers an additional 5-7% discount. (NOTE: Not all fares qualify for a discount.) Reservations can be made either online or by calling the Airline directly. Log onto http://www.nwa.com.. Complete the information as requested on the screen and at the bottom of the page when asked for ECert fare, electronic voucher or meeting agreement, select meeting agreement and enter WorldFile # NYVFR. This will bring up your flight choices and automatically apply the meeting discount to your ticket cost. Please note that not all fares qualify for a discount and the web site will return the lowest fare available. There is no ticketing fee to book online. You also have the option of contacting Northwest Airlines at 800-328-1111 Mon-Fri 7 AM-7:30 PM Central time and referencing WorldFile Number NYVFR. However, as with many airlines, when you call and book through an agent, there is a $10 non-refundable ticketing fee assessed for tickets issued by a Northwest agent.

Interested in volunteering to teach at the Mall of America Knit-Out, e-mail: info@craftyarncouncil.com

Craft Yarn Council of America • Post Office Box 9 • Gastonia, North Carolina 28053-0009
704-824-7838 or 800-662-9999 • Fax 704-824-0630 • www.craftyarncouncil.com • info@craftyarncouncil.com

Rhinebeck: the New York Sheep & Wool Festival, Part II

So, where did I last leave off? Ah, yes, I had just finished describing some of the "bling bling" that I purchased from The Rams Head Studio people, yes? The pin to the left is also from them and I think it really sets the tone of what the New York Sheep and Wool Festival, also known simply as "Rhinebeck," is all about -- the fiber!! And lots of it!
That and all the buttons and tools associated with playing with it!  {VBG}

After exhausing a weeks' worth of hunting online for the perfect "butterfly" buttons I wanted for the felted bag I have been working on, I found several at the Festival.  Right there!  And what a selection!  The children, Mini~Dee, Dee Jr., and The Kid, had fun helping me select them.

Then we were off to start visiting the various barns and check out all the goodies available for adoption.  Everything was so tempting, but I behaved!  I kept my sights narrowed onto felting supplies -- from needles to variety fiber packages.  

After some time had passed we heard Margaret had arrived, so we started our way back to the Author's Tent.  We stopped along the way so the children check out the Tortoises when out of nowhere -- ZAP!  I was attacked by a bee!  Now being highly allergic I should have just gone into sheer panic and started screaming "Medic!," but I didn't as I didn't want to frighten the children.  I stayed calm and we went directly to the First Aid where I was treated promptly.  Fortunately for me it turned out to be a bee bite and not a sting!  I didn't need to use my epi-pen and be rushed to the nearest hospital!  Whew!  So I'll take a bee bite and a loss of shopping time over that ANYTIME!! 

After being observed for a lengthy time by the medical folks for any possible alergic reaction, I was given the green light to continue on with enjoying the Festival.  After lunch we made our way back to the Author's Tent.  There were a lot of big name Knit authors there, but with me not being a knitter, I didn't know who they were.  We hooked up with Margaret, and had fun chatting with her.  She treated the kids to balloons, and I treated myself to an autographed felting book -- "Hand Felted Jewelry and Beads: 25 Artful Designs" by Carol Cypher -- oh the possibilities!  (But that will be another blog entry for another time!)  

One vendor completely blew a sale: earlier in the morning I gave the children spending money that they could use to purchase whatever they fancied.  They had their eye on some felted goodies by one vendor but couldn't afford their prices.  (That lead into a great conversation of handmade value vs. machine made value.)  As we wondered on, we stopped at another vendor selling drop spindles.  My son reached out to investigate one that had caught his eye and just as he did a man yelled at him, "Hey kid! Don't touch that!"

Dee Jr. was taken aback; those that know him know he is a good boy, not a wild child needing to be brought under control.  He had done nothing wrong; he looked at me nearly in tears.  I took this to be a great opportunitty to teach another life lesson.  I turned to my son and said, "Do you see the error in this man's selling approach?"   I watched my son blink hard to fight back the tears.  I continued on, in front of this man, saying "...had this man asked you if you were interested in learning how and explained the process to you, you might have made a purchase here with the spending money in your pocket."  Then I turned to the man and said, "Too bad for you,"  and we walked away.  This was the only negative, aside from the bee attack, we experienced.   All the other vendors embraced the children's visit, which, IMHO, is good because they are tomorrow's fiber artists!

Fortunately, Nancy, another member of the HHCC CGOA Chapter, had a much better experience in getting a drop spindle for her young daughter -- and she tells me she's now a pro at spinning with the drop spindle! ... you can read about it here.   (I do want to note there were many vendors selling drop spindles, but the man that yelled at my son dampened his spirits.  I told Dee Jr. I have a drop spindle from a previous Sheep & Wool Festival and if he wants, he can use it.  We'll see if his interest in it perks up again.)   

As the day quickly started to wind down, we ended our adventure with fried dough and a scenic drive home with the sun just starting to set over the orange and red tree tops.  I'm thinking that for next year, I just may need to go with a two-day pass!  Tags: new york sheep & wool festival, rhinebeck, crochet, rams horn, drop spindle, knit

Rhinebeck: the New York Sheep & Wool Festival

Here in New England, it is always a spectacular sight to witness the beauty the Fall season has to offer.  And so it was one of those spectacular days of not just of sight, but also in weather, that I attended the New York Sheep & Wool Festival this past weekend.

Joining me in the ride to the fair grounds were Mini~Dee, Dee Jr., Grace (our CGOA Chapter President), and Priscilla of By Hook & Needles.  The commute was stunning: rolling hills of farms and fall foliage.

Our first stop was the Authors Tent.  A quarter to eleven in the morning and it was CROWDED!  We went in quickly to see Margaret had found she wasn't there yet.  We did find Mary Beth Temple who has a new book out called, "The Secret Language of Knitters."  (Click onto Mary Beth's picture on the left to visit her blog.) We met at the CGOA Conference this past summer and our daughters not only became the best of fiber friends, but they had also rocked the runway together.  The girls were ecstatic about meeting up again!

On the top of my "must visit" vendors list was "The Rams Horn."   I had emailed them days prior requesting they bring their crochet "blingbling" with them -- and they did!   I purchased the pin you see on the right, another pin, and now a new item they're offering: a corded necklace featuring a USEABLE crochet hook!  These items are not currently featured on their website, but if you're interested, just send them an email!


OK ... that's it for now.  I'll be back with more details and pictures later when my DSL connection is restored.  Stay tuned!  :)
Tags: the New York Sheep & Wool Festival, crochet, crochet jewelry, the rams horn studio