Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Chicken Party

Wanted to share some of the photos from our little chicken party at knitting group today. Most of them are Jennifers, six are Lori's, and three are mine. It was so much fun!



Viral Chickens


About a week or so ago, I was checking out Friends Activity on Ravelry, as you do. I noticed that one of my friends was looking at this pattern for Chicken Egg Cozies. I thought they were so cute, that I send the link to Jennifer thinking that she might like them. What I didn't know was that it was to become an obsession not only with her, but with my entire knitting group. I believe that several others are making them as we speak. I am hoping that we can get them all together tomorrow at our weekly meet-up. 


I'm not sure what it is about them, Jennifer says that they are "Happy". That's true, but I just can't stop thinking of the name "Chicken Egg Cozy". Its just hilarious. I couldn't stop laughing when I was sewing them up, the shape is perfect.   


Here is my little crowd








Don't you love the little combs on top of their heads. 



Saturday, March 19, 2011

Non Knitting 


Every year since I was about 11 years old, I have baked Hamantashen on the Jewish holiday of Purim. I've never been very religious, and its quite a minor holiday as well. For me its just a good excuse to make the cookies. I received this recipe from a woman that worked with my father ages ago. I've never really eaten another Hamantashen as this one is so good, it uses almond extract in the dough. 


This year, my youngest daughter announced that she wants to be a Chef when she grows up. Go her! We baked these together, prune and apricot.








Strangely, Lola doesn't look very interested





Thank you to Ruby Bernstein if you happen to read this, your recipe lives on!

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Field Trip...again


My knitting group is such a wonderful bunch of women. Not only are they all great knitters, but they like to venture out and see whats going on in the knitting world. Did I mention that they are all super nice, and fun as well! 


Today we took a short ride up to Knit New Haven. I had visited about a month ago, and thought it would be fun for the group to go for the morning. It reminds me so much of Stash. The owners, June, Julia, and Linda are always there, ready to help you find what you need or  just talk about knitting, spinning, or anything fiber related.  There is a big table in the middle of the shop, inviting you to sit down and knit, sort of like another yarn shop I remember very well. 


I have been in a little bit of a slump the past week. The Crochet Club installment for this month has me baffled. The photos of the finished product are not what I was expecting, so I've decided to wait a while before I begin. My Cusp sock is in limbo after a mistake that made me unpick 10 rounds on size 2mm/US0 needles. I am in need of a new project. Ta Da!





Its Cormorant by Norah Gaughan. I've been eyeing it on Ravelry for a while. It calls for Berroco Ultra Alpaca, a yarn that I've been wanting to use again. A perfect solution to my doldrums. I'm using Salt and Pepper, 6207. Let the swatching begin!


While we were there, Jennifer continued her quest to make a Cluck of Chickens





They are Chicken Egg Cozies, can you stand it. I can't wait to see them finished. 


Here we are with our purchases





Don't forget lunch at Judies if you are in New Haven. They have the most fabulous bread, and its still warm when you buy it. Yum!

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Time Out


The past couple of weeks my knitting and crochet projects haven't been the most fun. I was frantically working on my Crochet Club for this month. This month focused on beading, which was beyond boring! It was tons of work, all in single crochet (of double for those of you in the UK). It was driving me crazy, but I finally forced myself to finish so that I could get a week away from it before the next installment arrives. Here are a few photos of some pieces so far. 








I think its going to be fantastic when its finished, but I can't say that I am entirely enjoying it. I guess my first love is knitting, and its taking me away from that, and I'm not happy!


My other project, the Cusp sock isn't going well either. I made a big mistake along the way, and had to unpick a bunch of rounds. That is when I decided to do a quilting project. 


Maybe I was inspired by last weekend, or maybe it was the fact that I have had this quilt since November waiting to go in the spare room. Back in November I went to a sample sale at Denyse Schmidts studio. I am a big fan, and grabbed a bargain. The problem was that it was a $350 quilt that I got for $75. The matching pillow shams were $65 each, and I needed three, so I decided to make my own. I ordered matching solid fabric, which has been sitting around since December. When all of my other projects got annoying, it was time to break out the sewing machine. 


First of all, I got to try out the new quilting extension table that I bought last year





Here I am trying out my new Walking Foot





I wanted to make them in the spirit of Denyse Schmidt, nothing would be exactly square, and the quilting didn't have to be straight. Basically the idea was for it to be all wonky (one of my fave British expressions).  Here is one after quilting. 





and here is the finished product, on the bed








I think there is going to be more quilting in my future. Back to knitting for the weekend though.

Saturday, March 05, 2011

Two Seconds of Fame


This weekend is the Fabric and Fabrications Quilt Exhibit at the Southport Congregational Church. I went last year with Jennifer and Lisa. Unfortunately, Jennifer is away, so it was just Lisa and myself this year. This is the ninth year of the exhibit, and it features over 150 quilts. They never use a quilt twice, so thats about 1000 quilts that have been shown so far. Some of them date back to the 1800's, and most are hand quilted and/or embroidered. Even if you don't like some of the designs, you can appreciate the work that went into these works of art. 


Here is a small example of some embroidery. Keep in mind that this is only one square of not one, but two matching quilts. 





This is a bit farther away





The best part of the day, aside from the lovely lunch that the ladies put on, was the fact that Lisa and I were the subject of several photographers. We appeared in not one, but two articles today.


The first from the Fairfield Patch. You can scroll through the photos to find us after you read the article, or here we are


Quilt2


The quilt we are in front of was one of our favorites, a modern quilt done by several different people in the same style. 


Then we appeared in the CT Post along with this photo. Don't we look mesmerized. 


Quilt1


If you can't make it today as its getting a little late, try not to miss this fantastic exhibit next year. Who knows, maybe you can enter one of your own quilts, they are always on the lookout!



Thursday, March 03, 2011

Make and Mingle

About a year ago, through the Westport Young Womens League, I discovered a hidden treasure in Fairfield called Make and Mingle. I'm pretty positive that I've mentioned it before. I tell everyone about them! Its a shop dedicated to all things crafty. There are fantastic fabrics from all of my favorite designers, sewing classes, ribbons, buttons, hand made items, the list just goes on. Anyway, I was over there a while back talking with Alexcia, the lovely and super creative owner about my favorite subject...yarn and fiber....what else! She mentioned that she was thinking of ordering the new Amy Butler yarn as it would go well with the fabric that she already stocks. Being a knitter herself, she wanted have some yarn around the shop.  


Here it is, the colors are lovely.





Its called Amy Butler Belle Organic DK, 50% wool and 50% cotton. 





I used it to make a pair of  Saarjtes Booties. They are awaiting buttons from Alexcia. I'll be bringing them over today. 





If you are interested in knitting classes at M&M, you can contact Alexcia. I'll be the teacher!