Greetings From Quechee Gorge, VT

There is nothing like spending a few days in a beautiful place like Quechee to get you in the Christmas spirit...Quechee Gorge was virtually a winter wonderland! Even though Rich & I are getting rid of nasty colds, we couldn't help playing in the snow with Tootie and enjoying all there is to see & do in Vermont.

On the way to Quechee (we just had to stop at Webs) where a few skeins of Dream In Color's Smooshy and Malabrigo Silky Merino just happened to jump into my basket...I have no idea how that happened...We also went to a charming shop in Vermont called Northern Nights Yarn Shop where a few skeins of Claudia handpainted yarn came home with us.

We stayed at the Parker House Inn (which I highly recommend); a gorgeous bed and breakfast. Our hosts were Adam and Alex and they made us feel right at home in their charming retreat. We did some shopping at Simon & Pierce, antique stores and enjoyed the local cheese and wines.

We also found an awesome little cafe & book store in Putney, VT where we had a nice lunch among all the homey decorations and holiday goodies...complete with a little kitty (that Rich fell in love with) and a dog for me. The pumpkin/apple soup & quiche were so great that we had to stop there for lunch on the way home as well & off to Basketville for a few trinkets too. We decided to pass on a quick stop at Green Mountain Spinnery...I decided that I did enough damage at Webs & Northern Nights to keep me busy for awhile...

Happy Holidays everyone!!! Now back to the business of crocheting, knitting & baking a multitude of cookes...

Peace To All

Christmas Is Quickly Approaching!!!

I can't believe Christmas is almost here...Guess I've been knee deep in crochet & knit projects to notice. Tootie just got her doggie collar for Christmas & I'm quickly checking off those last minute items that need to be sent...(Kelly)!!!

To get you in a festive mood - here is Tootie sporting her new collar.

A Most Awesome Phone Call!!!

Well as if I weren't doing enought cartwheels yesterday...I had a most awesome phone call. You will not believe who called me yesterday...drumroll please...(ok wait for it)...the very talented, wonderful DORIS CHAN herself!!! My very helpful mentor in the CGOA designing program called to congratulate me. It was so much fun chatting with Doris. She is so down to earth...just like gabbing with my old girlfriends. Doris - thank you so much for all your support. You are as great a mentor as you are a designer. I am so looking forward to book #3!
Kim Guzman has been very helpful too. Kim started spreading the word of the pattern release & she set up a designers page for me on Ravelry. Something that I probably would never have figured out how to do. Thank you Kim!!! One last thought...What an awesome feeling it is to see one of your designs worn by a beautiful model. Let's just say...my day has been made!

Could it possibly get any better than this???

Here Ye...Here Ye...It's Finally Here!!!

Yes I'm doing cartwheels...(well I'm thinking about doing them anyway)...The long-awaited Vintage Pineapples Shawl pattern is now available online here - http://www.caron.com/projects/ss_eco/sseco_pineapple_shawl.html The shawl features Caron's new Simply Soft Eco yarn. So run right out & buy some Eco yarn, look stunning & help out the environment all at the same time!!! A portion (sorry I don't remember the amount) of the yarn is made from recycled plastic bottles & you would never realize it if I didn't tell you.

So be "green" just like Kermit...Ribbit-Ribbit - so "hoppy" the pattern is available!!! Oh geez someone is just a little too excited...

Happy Crocheting

HAPPY FALL Y'ALL

It is absolutely beautiful around here this time of year! The sky is a deep shade of blue in sharp contrast with the different jewel toned leaves - autumn in all its glory.

This is the beautiful site I saw this morning while Tootie & I were going for a walk. It is also a great inspiration for a new design project! (mental note)

So while the squirrels are gathering their nuts to store for the long winter ahead, this "hooker" is gathering up her yarn & supplies & thinking of what yarn will go with what design for the long winter ahead. After all - hibernation isn't that bad when you have a wonderful husband, a warm cuddly dog & a basket of yarn to keep you company...Oh & of course a lot of walks too in between the flurry of falling leaves & snowflakes...

I've been working on designs more than personal projects, so the only picture I can show of my stitching is a scarf that I made with a few random skeins of Beadnik. (Everything else is a surprise)...

Happy Stitching!!!

Where Did September Go?!?

I must have blinked! What happened to September??? The month is almost over. It has been quite a busy month. Design projects, charity projects & Christmas presents have been flying off my hooks & needles. Here is a small sample of what I've been working on...Most are designs & Christmas presents (neither of which I want to show pictures of here)...because...well - they are surprises! It is pouring rain today, so it's really a great day to cuddle up in the chair & crochet without feeling guilty about not walking. Don't get me wrong...I really do enjoy going for a nice long walk with my awesome hubby (Crabby Dick) & my four-legged best friend (Tootie) BUT today is really just made for needlework.

The projects that I am showing here have been donated to the American Angels Group & will be going to our soldiers...a very small contribution but if we all work together we can at least give our soldiers a little comfort for all they do for us!!!

It should be a great crocheting weekend for all of us in the northeast...RAIN...RAIN & more RAIN through Sunday!

til next time...

Autumn...Getting In the Mood!!!

Can autumn be far behind?!? I think not...here's our first "little punkin". Here's a little something to get you in the mood for fall. We had fun this weekend enjoying Chris, Christy & Jenn Beth's company - a fun visit that I wish we could have more often! Jenna Beth is no longer a baby, she is turning into a very smart, adorable young lady.

I'm hoping to add another little pumpkin to the pumpkin patch...Bob, Leah & Nick I'm hoping you'll help me out here...I'd like to add Nicholas (because grandpa & grandma just don't look cute in these hats)...lol!

Until next time...

Making Good Use Of Those CGOA Classes!

Well...since I've been asking everybody if they are using the techniques they learned at the conference, I thought it was about time that I practiced what I preached. Here is a picture of my Felted Tunisian Entrelac Bag. The bags that I make are usually lined, but I think I'm going to pass on lining this bag. It really doesn't seem to need it & it might actually not look that great either (with the grommet thing going on).

Next...it's time to get busy with 4 "secret" projects in the works. It's really a good thing that I have (relatively) good organizational skills from my executive secretary days. I need them now!!! & no - I'm certainly not complaining. I couldn't be happier. There is a list a mile long of designs & swatches to make, patterns to write, & patterns to test; not to mention the "other" list which consists of my charity projects including, but not limited to, squares & afghans for the American Angels group, prayer shawls for church; scarves, hats & afghans for our local shelters. Oh yes & then there is Christmas. Could one actually crochet & knit in there sleep?!?

After all of the above is finished...I'll go back to working on projects using techniques from each & every one of the classes that I took in Manchester this year (& perhaps last years classes too). Thinking out loud here - Perhaps I can use the new techniques from the classes in new designs & in my charity projects! Lets see just how organized I am...lol

Guess I'd better stop blabbing here & get to work. Otherwise that list is gonna get even longer.

Have a great day every...Happy Crocheting!!!

Inspiration By The Ocean

Have you ever noticed...how vacations come & go so quickly?!? "Crabby Dick" & I just returned from a mini-vacation in Gloucester, MA. Being by the ocean is so inspirational & rejuvenating for my spirit! How can you not be inspired with all the beautiful sites. While in Gloucester, we spent time looking for a summer home...a little getaway to call our own.

The crochet & knit projects came along on vacation (of course). I needed a suitcase just to bring up the projects! Surprisingly...a lot of progress was made. Afghan squares were completed for the American Angels group, Kelly's crocheted afghan is almost finished & little Nick's knitted cardi is about halfway done...Will post pictures on Ravelry. I don't know how I got so much accomplished, because we really spent time enjoying the beauty that is Gloucester...Lots of walks at the beach, through the parks, etc. Rich & I really enjoy nature & the natural beauty of Gloucester. I must have been a sea captain in a previous life...lol! There's something about that salty air.

One thought (of many) on vacation was...Just how many fiber artists that attended the Knit & Crochet show in Manchester have applied the techniques they have learned in the classes they attended? I'm very curious about this. If anyone would like to post in comments, I'd love to hear the responses. I really want to experiment with the wonderful techniques that I learned this year. One of many great classes was Darla Fanton's Entrelac In The Round. The Entrelac Bag is blocking & I can't wait to finish this. I'd also like to work on the Illusion Crochet technique (another great class by Darla)! & Myra Wood's Freeform Creative Lace as well.

Til the next post...

Description Of Pictures

Here are a few of the pictures from NH. Guess I'll add more later (if I can figure out where to put them)?!?

The first picture is Vashti Braha & Doris Chan. Vashti is wearing one of Doris' lovely shawl creations. Doris is sporting my Ribbed Sambuca sweater; the second picture is Rita Weiss wearing her beautiful vintage wedding jacket & the third picture is (from right to left) Dee Stanziano, Nancy Smith & yours truly...up to no good as usual!

Wanna See Some Pictures From CGOA?!?

I finally figured out how to (upload/download) WHATEVER!!! a few pictures from the CGOA conference in NH. Apparently I either can't (or just don't know how) to add a slideshow at this point; so hopefully there will be a few pictures added here...Keepin' the fingers crossed.

Later!!!

Hookers Migrate To New Hampshire...

Yes...The rumor is true! There was an invasion of hookers in Manchester, NH (knitters too). Starting around the 22nd of July (even sooner for some - DEE!!!) hookers & knitters from all over the country gathered in NH for what could only be described as a fiber free-for-all!

I must say that I sure enjoyed the event for both business (& a little monkey business) as well.

While I did manage to get some pictures at the event, there aren't any from the fashion show (we were just too far away). If I can ever figure out how to navigate this blog & figure out how to post the pictures here I will certainly do so! I'm sure there will be many great pictures posted of the event. Surprisingly, there were many wonderful crocheted garments this year (even MORE so than last).

Classes were awesome, shopping was great & you couldn't ask for better company! I don't want to start naming names because there are just too many to list & I'd fear of leaving someone out...lol. What a great rush it was to see Doris Chan (my mentor)wearing one of my designs down the runway; and I must say that it was a great pleasure to meet the wonderfully talented Jenny King who traveled all the way from Australia to teach.

Every day was a fashion show! There were so many talented people & so much inspiration all in one place...Now to get off of Cloud #9 & get back to work!

OOPS!!! Before I forget - I was informed by Cari Clement (from Caron Intl) that I could blab just a little...The Vintage Pineapple Shawl pattern will be available for free on the Caron site & Ravelry too. There is no set date yet, but it will be coming. There will be 2 versions, the black one pictured (which is crocheted with 2 skeins of Simply Soft) & also a second version made with the beautiful, new SPA yarn. The SPA version will be a shorter capelet. So please check back on the blog if you are interested in the pattern. I will certainly post on its availability. There are a few more surprises in the works...(but those I cannot blab about).

Til next time!
Karen

Almost Forgot ~ Check Out That Ravelry!!!

Hi Guys ~ I almost forgot...If you've got the time & are a member of Ravelry. Please check out my work there. For some reason I find it much easier to post pictures & such on Ravelry. My ID there is karend325. Please feel free to add me as a friend. Hey we could all use a few more friends!

Take Care
Karen D

Getting Ready For CGOA Conference In NH

Well the time is coming near...when all the knitters & happy hookers will be making their way to Manchester, NH. This will be my second year in attendance. What an awesome experience it is...every fiber artists dream come true! Getting a chance to meet all the wonderfully talented designers, editors, publishers & of course Jean Leinhauser & Rita Weiss.

Most of today has been spent packing up supplies, writing down phone numbers & contacts, getting the homework together, etc.

Hubby (Crabby Dick) as seen here...also started a blog of his own. His blog is about the trials & tribulations of being married to me (a fiber artist). I'm sure there are some disgruntled partners out there...that at times feel left by the wayside while their partners are busy "playing" with the yarn, sticks & hooks. So...if you're so inclined, please feel free to check out his blog too - http://fibreartistspouse.blogspot.com

Til Tomorrow ~