Happy Canada Day!

Now that’s Canadian!

After the adventure of the exploding cans (long and messy story); we decided that Hancs pulled pork on a Bun with fries was the way to go on Canada Day.

So we were driving down the road and there waiting at the bus stop this was a tall kid. He had a hockey stick over his shoulder with a big Canadian flag tied to it. Canadian Eh?

Event: DKC Knit Frolic in Toronto Ontario Cda

Whata busy day Saturday! My friend Bonnie and I set out for Toronto, (about 45mins east) it was a lovely bright sunny day. 

First up went to the DKC Toronto Knitters Frolic with Bonnie Bedford-Jones who did a stellar job of getting us there even though the DVP was closed and traffic was heavy. Bumped into bunches of knit night friends and enjoyed all the enthusiastic fibre fiends, and the lovely knitted items they were sporting. Knitters are the friendliest bunch of people.

Fibreholics congregated at this incredible annual event!

This line looks long, and it was however this event is so well organized that we were in in no time!

We arrived nice and early as I was booked for a family occasion in the afternoon. Yes the line up was long but full of happy and enthusiastic knitters, festooned in beautiful hand knitted items. 

First stop The Purple Purl!

Always busy!

Found this lovely ball of Debbie Bliss Fine Donegal fingering in red. (What not blue or purple?)

Lovely Merino/cashmere

The off to Dye-Version

I invested heavily here last year, so restrained myself this year. 😉

The off to see the girls at Raventwist

Look at the delicious colours!

And I bought Charcoal gray :0)

I just love Starry fingering, this is Spider woman. I have a plan!

And in my perambulations I kept finding knitters that I know.

Some of the giirls from my Knit night group having too much fun!

and

Other lost souls, high on fibre fumes, also from my Knit Night Group.

And this rather talented friend

Wearing her latest creation

and another friend showing me her precious

I spotted this beauty at the frolic. 

It’s called “Vine Bolero” by Emily Johnson. Made in dk. Sadly either I am too fluffy or this pattern is designed for woman who are less Rubenesque! I am contemplating how much alteration would be required to make one to fit…

I stopped at the Fleece Artists Yarn tasting and received a lusciously soft skeinette of BFL,

The Volunteers were busy winding skeins into balls, to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society.

Very well organized too. You can go shopping and retrieve your ball, neatly wound for a small donation, very convenient!

These just followed me home! Raventwist- starry fingering “spider woman” Charcoal gray, Debbie bliss “Fine Donegal in Red. a BFL samplette from fleece artist. 2 small project bags. Lucet and tool, stitch markers disguised as a necklace, a needle case, notions case, a knitters abacus, a card weaving shuttle, and 3mm 40” magic loop circs.

The best part is enjoying the knitwear parade, I like how people are willing to tell you where the pattern for the item they are wearing came from and what it’s made of etc. Only knitters would get it.

One lady informed me that a knitters hand shake is petting something hand knitted someone else is wearing! Lol!

I guess a Spinners hand shake is picking chaff off of something hand knitted someone else is wearing!

Bonnie and I had a wonderful time. We headed home and as my fellas had to cross paths with us on the way to my next engagement, we decided to stop for a delicious lunch at a restaurant along the way. The guyz picked me up from there and we headed to Brantford Ontario, another (2 hours west) for Ashleys first Communion. 

Isn’t she pretty, and she was marvelous! Family and friends went out for dinner and a visit afterward.
We were quite a crowd, I love being part of this big happy family!

We had a great time with family and friends. It was almost midnight by the time we finally made it home.

Totally exhausted, but fell asleep with a smile on my puss!

WIP List = 13

1. Untangled #4
2. Without Moonlight #2
3. Yoga Socks – for Sick Kids rehab
4. Be a Little Different Scarf
5. Buttermere #2 – ran out of yarn!
6. EZ’s Baby Surprise Jacket – Fb/Kal almost done!
7. Zuzu’s Petals
8. His/Hers Socks 
9. Cabled Hood with Pockets 
10. Sea of Dreams Blanket
11. Isla lace Pillowcase edge  
12. Rose Harbour Shawl 
13. My Fair Cardi 
14. Simplicity Lace Scarf –  Kal/feb2015 almost done 

FO’s 2015 = 16

Other FO’s (not fibre) = 13 

WIPS 2015 = 14

Long-term Projects = 4

 Stash Used 2015 = 19

Yds of Handspun 2015 = 0

Sewing FO’s 2015 = O

Books 2015 = 5

cya next week :0)

I’m off on to my blogwalk

come join me in the blogpond :0 

I also have a Ravelry shop and an Etsy shop!

for my Literary blog, see Totally Austentatious.

The week that was

Last week was super busy! First true signs of spring, I’m still recovering.

Last Wednesday morning I went to Craft Group at Church

Working on Soapdish Ponchos/ Pot holders 

Dishsoap Poncho, dresses up a dishsoap bottle while drying.

and Drip Stoppers for tea pots and wine bottles

Drip Stopper PDF.

Great stashbuster for leftover dishcloth cotton.

and in the evening a Handspinning Demonstration at Farm Connections with the Durham Handspinning Guild.

Beth, Gwen and I getting ready to demonstrate for the public.

More progress on Romney finger roving

Planning on Christmas mitts for the guyz

Saturday, Bonnie and I headed for The Gathering in Port Hope Ontario Cda.

Wall to wall fibreholics, fibre fumes everywhere!

This was a Spin-in for the local Fibreholics. Some things followed me home.

Some hand dyed Romney wool, equal amount undyed Romney wool. A small spindle, heavy for it’s size, 33gms. I have been looking for a plying spindle with a little more heft. Also a selection of cabled dk cotton for Icord projects.

See posts for each event :0)

I’m also working on my carry along kal.

Without Moonlight bulky shawl, on Row 83

I have my purse project. 

I have some finishing modifications planned for this…think large button holes on finished edge!

and something to work on in the car. 

Be a Little Different Scarf, I started this on Sunday afternoon at the Knitting group meeting in The Fire House Bistro in Orono, north of us.

This week promises to be just about as busy, Dr. appointment, Craft Group, Knit Nite,  shopping and lunch with MiL and a possible lunch with guildiez. And I wondered why I was so tired last week?

WIP List = 14

1. Be a Little Different Scarf
2. Drip Stoppers – for church craft sale
3. Without Moonlight shawl – Kal
4. Dish Soap Poncho #2 – for church craft sale
5. Buttermere #2 – ran out of yarn!
6. EZ’s Baby Surprise Jacket – Fb/Kal almost done!
7. Zuzu’s Petals
8. His/Hers Socks 
9. Cabled Hood with Pockets 
10. Sea of Dreams Blanket
11. Isla lace Pillowcase edge  
12. Rose Harbour Shawl 
13. My Fair Cardi 
14. Simplicity Lace Scarf –  Kal/feb2015 almost done! 

FO’s 2015 = 9 + 2 = 11

Other FO’s (not fibre) = 13 

WIPS 2015 = 12 + 2 = 14

Long-term Projects = 4

 Stash Used 2015 = 15 + 1 = 16

Yds of Handspun 2015 = 0

Sewing FO’s 2015 = O

Books 2015 = 5

cya next week :0)

I’m off on to my blogwalk

come join me in the blogpond :0 

I also have a Ravelry shop and an Etsy shop!

for my Literary blog, see Totally Austentatious.

 

Event: The Gathering a Spin-in!

Bonnie and I went to “The Gathering” in Port Hope, Ontario Canada. As many of you know I am an avid Handspinner and fibreholic! 

Wall to wall fibreholics, fibre fumes everywhere!

Everyone sitting, is at their spinning wheels spinning and talking. The fibre vendors are around the walls of the gym. Picture taken from the entrance. I was amazed how many people I knew in this room. Lots of hugs and where have you been?

I haven’t gone to a spinning event for sometime, haven’t been up to it. Nice to be missed… Like coming home! Thanks everyone, especially Bonnie for a really delightful day!

Oh and somethings followed me home! 

Some hand dyed Romney wool, equal amount undyed Romney wool. A small spindle, heavy for it’s size, 33gms. I have been looking for a plying spindle with a little more heft. Also a selection of cabled dk cotton for Icord projects.

I’m off on to my blogwalk

come join me in the blogpond :0 

I also have a Ravelry shop and an Etsy shop!

for my Literary blog, see Totally Austentatious.

Event: Farm Connections Handspinning Demonstration

Great fun for the Durham Handspinning Guild. Our 2nd event of 2015. Our 1st event of the season was in February

Beth, Gwen and I getting ready to demonstrate for the public.

This was the 10th anniversary of Farm Connections.

We figure that we have demonstrated at almost all of them.

There were Goats 

Cows 

Piglets sleeping under heat lamps 

Chickens laying eggs that rolled down to a sorting machine. 

Not a very good pic, but really interesting.

All sorts of agricultural information on everything from soil to cooking classes.

We had a great crowd of kids and adults.

Great time was had by all!

I’m off on to my blogwalk

come join me in the blogpond :0 

I also have a Ravelry shop and an Etsy shop!

for my Literary blog, see Totally Austentatious.

Sorry to say, I haven’t been well…

I haven’t been doing much actually. 

Starting in October. Had some issues with my health, followed by CT scan (that they cancelled at last minute after all the prep  due to allergies) and then 2 MRI’s, because one is just not enough! Then 3 weeks in bed with a nasty cold and most recently twisted my back and am unable to straighten up.

Totally unprepared for Christmas. Unlike last year, almost no handmade gifts.  Having to trust my guys to come up with something. Trying to Shepherd them threw Christmas baking, we’ll see how that goes.

However, if someone could add about 3 weeks to December, I would be very grateful!

However the tree is up (missing a bunch of decorations, but it’s up).  Hopefully the New Year will bring about good news and a better news. 

KW Knitters Fair!

The Kitchener Waterloo Knitters fair in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada 

One aisle of this very busy event

Two Auditoriums of fibery goodness! 

I apologize that I didn’t take more pictures, too busy shopping :0)

Kept bumping into knitting friends from far and wide. Had to travel 2hrs to see Shelagh who lives a few blocks away from me lol

Saw some really great patterns, bought this one.

Hue and Value, can be purchased on Ravelry.

What I toted home with me!

Four balls 50gm in fingering for fairisle sock knitting and a ruler needle gauge.

Books

The Pattern Companion Knitting,  Cabin Fever: Need a circular yoke?, The Very Easy Guide to Fair Isle Knitting by Lynne Watterson,        Gloves by Susette Palmer

Unfortunately I haven’t been doing much knitting since the partially successful removal of a few finger nails.

Warning: don’t start moving around furniture at 3am. Wait till the fellas get up in the morning… Trust me on this!

I am knitting at 1/4 speed, and I keep getting killed playing Might and Magic IV :0(

But I am eating through my stack of books, so there is an upside! TTFN

WIP List = 9 

1. My Favourite Top-Down Clog Socks 
2. Left over Cowl started feb 23/14
3. Cabled Hood with Pockets Started Sept 27/13
4. Foots First Sox My design Started Jul/11
5. Sea of Dreams Blanket 85% done started Mar 9/13
6. Isla lace Pillowcase edge  60% done started June 18/13
7. Rose Harbour Shawl 85% done started Jun 28/13
8. My Fair Cardi Started Apr 8/14
9. Simplicity Lace Scarf 

FO’s 2014 = 34

WIPS 2014 = 9

 Stash Used 2014 = 60

Ravellenic 2014 FO’s =  8

Yds of Handspun 2014 = 313 yds

Sewing FO’s 2014 = 

Books 2014 = 23 + 2 = 25

Thanks again, cya next week :0)

I’m off to visit Tami’s, then on to my blogwalk

come join me in the blogpond :0

Fair fun!

Well I had a great fair this year! 

We demonstrated Handspinning and Knitting on Sunday.

This is last years pic as I forgot my camera. Gwen was ill and couldn’t come and it was nice and warm, so no sweaters. Otherwise everything is just the same ;0)

5 -1st prizes 

 4 -2nd, 2 -3rd, 1- 4th, 3 honorable mentions 

I didn’t include the non-winners in this photo

1st – Dress socks 

Special feature: Simple texture design goes down the back of the heel.

1st Hat 

Andy Cap

1st Mittens 

Front and back

1st Boot Cuffs (other knitted)

Really pleased with these!

1st Handspun skein 

Handpainted superwash Lambswool “Mixed Gladioli” from Alchemy Fibre Designs

2nd – Glass sweatsuit 

3rd – Shawl 

Glam shell Shawl

3rd – Socks work 

Toddler Tootsies

2nd – Handcrafted jewellry 

Bracelet

2nd – Artical Handspun 

100% wool

And I won a $30.00 gift certificate from my LYS, for most points!

All in all lots of fun!

And the Funniest blog post of the week! Lol 

WIP List = 9 (doing a little list trimming)

1. My Favourite Top-Down Clog Socks 
2. Left over Cowl started feb 23/14
3. Cabled Hood with Pockets Started Sept 27/13
4. Foots First Sox My design Started Jul/11
5. Sea of Dreams Blanket 85% done started Mar 9/13
6. Isla lace Pillowcase edge  60% done started June 18/13
7. Rose Harbour Shawl 85% done started Jun 28/13
8. My Fair Cardi Started Apr 8/14
9. Simplicity Lace Scarf 

FO’s 2014 = 34

WIPS 2014 = 9

 Stash Used 2014 = 60

Ravellenic 2014 FO’s =  8

Yds of Handspun 2014 = 313 yds

Sewing FO’s 2014 = 

Books 2014 = 23

Thanks again, cya next week :0)

I’m off to visit Tami’s, then on to my blogwalk

come join me in the blogpond :0

Frolicking good time!

What an exciting and exhausting weekend!

Bonnie and I headed out bright and early on our DKC Knit Frolic Adventure to Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 

Bonnie, my partner in crime.

First I have to say as a knitter, if you’re ever in Toronto at this time of year… This is an absolutely all knitters must attend event.  Send the Family off to see the Ontario Science Centre around the corner and put your shopping shoes on, and take a big bag!!!

We arrived as it opened at 9:00am, the line was long but moved very fast. 

Lots of people and even more goodies!

Bumped into a bunch of friends,

very creative people,

3 of them will be creating people very soon :0)

Loot

I was a little naughty 9 skeins, 4 patterns, a yarn bowl, and Karbonz sock dpns!

Yarn from Dye-version, Breeze stretch Bamboo sock, Pink Petal Bamboo sock, Purl Princess BFL sock and Patterns for a scarf, and a cowl.

Patterns: Simplicity Lace Scarf (Pink Bamboo) and ZigZag Cowl

Luscious – Misti Alpaca Cotton/silk from Purple purl

3 skeins lovely Raventwist fingering “Starri” 75% wool/ 25% nylon

2 balls of sock yarn!

I have been looking for a yarn bowl for a while

Patterns: Candelabra Crescent Shawlette by Provenance knits

Twig and Leaf Shawl by Anne Hanson Knitspot

and the inspiration!

Zuaber Ball sweater!

This shawl pin was tempting :0)

Serendipity vest: Shelridge Yarns

Chance of Showers, I really want to make this one!

Knitters who inspired me

Faberge shawl on Ravelry

Gorgeous Entralac vest

A delightful time was had by all!

FO’s 2014 = 19

WIPS 2014 = 10

 Stash Used 2014 = 40

Ravellenic 2014 FO’s =  8

Yds of Handspun 2014 =

Sewing FO’s 2014 = 

Books 2014 = 11 + 1 = 12

Thanks again cya next Friday :0)

I’m off to visit Tami’s, then on to my blogwalk

come join me in the blogpond :0

Merry Christmas: 4 more sleeps :0)

Wishing you all  very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!

Still working on a few last minute odds and ends. The Boyz are baking, the Furry children are napping, and I am writing to you, and contemplating the gifts that need wrapping. This has been a busy year, my son graduated University, and promptly went back to college. He also managed to become bionic, having a titanium collar bone installed after a very nasty break running for the bus on his way home from his first day of work. The Job is going splendidly despite the rough start. My Husband and I continue to do well. I am still waiting for some medical tests, but they are in no hurry so we will take this for a good sign. Jack and Willow continue to live the lives of riley, napping, eating, cuddling and getting into trouble. We were pleased to attend two weddings this year.  We also attended my Aunt’s  funeral, she will be greatly missed.

This year has been full of knitting, some sewing and many fibrey events with my dear fibreholic friends. What fun! All that remains for me to say is thank you for your interest and support. I have enjoyed this years Blogging and hope you will come back next year to see what mischief I can get into.

Northman Mittens 

These are my holiday project, I am just put-putting away on them, no hurry :0)

Buttermere  My Kal for Dec most likely finish in Jan

Almost ready for the lace edge, woohoo!

Last Minute Mittens 

Little something for a friend I will be seeing in the new year :0)

Current WIP List = 12

• Buttermere  my Kal for Dec 
• Shoulder Shawl  v2 started Nov 14/13 
• Northman Mittens  Started  Dec 2/13
• My Favourite Scarf Ever  Started Nov 2/13
• Cabled Hood with Pockets Started Sept 27/13
• Iced Cardigan  Started Oct 1/13
• Foots First Sox My design Started Jul/11
•  SPROUT – Growing Roots sweater 60% done started May 17/12
• Top Down Swing Pullover – 98% done started Jan 1/13
• Sea of Dreams Blanket 75% done started Mar 9/13
• Mile a minute afghan – crochet 50% done started Apr 24/13
• Isla lace Pillowcase edge  52% done started June 18/13
• Rose Harbour Shawl 75% done started Jun 28/13
• Fanflower Fling  50% done started Jul 12/13

 FO’s 2013 =  112

WIPS 2013 =  15 – 3 = 12

 Stash Used 2013 = 99

Sewing FO’s = 4 

Books 2013 =  41 + 1 = 42

Thanks again for visiting,

cya  next week :0)

I’m off to visit Tami’s, then on to my blogwalk

come join me in the blogpond :0)

Find me at my Etsy shop: Willows Pocket and on Ravelry.com