Saturday, October 04, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Summer Get Away
Our family got a few days away from the city at my sister's (and her husband's) cottage. Three days of relaxing and now I am looking up information on slowing down.
We saw some wild life such as this Blue Heron on the raft in the middle of our bay.
And this wee Dragon Fly
I did some knitting. Less than I had planned to but My mind was in planning mode. I am almost finished Nutkin!
And started Rainbow Socks with Regia Galaxy.
Then I was distracted by the Fairy Faces in the Sumach...
By Sunsets.
Can I go back now?
Monday, July 07, 2008
If I am Making Bags, It Must be Summer
As I was working on my latest bag it occurred to me that for the past several summers I have gone on a bag binge.
First there was the knit linen bags, then I spent a summer sewing big ass carry alls. Then one summer I made bags out of laminated magazine ads. Three years ago I was knitting Lopi bags for felting. Last year I was knitting small cable purses and sewing project bags out of remnants.
This summer I am back onto the felted bags again. This time I am combining colours and yarns. My Morrisseau bag and now my blue lagoon bag.
(I am doubling the yarn and to see how the felting will turn out.) Oh and I designed a market bag that is now being test knit out of Mission Falls Cotton.
Oh and the Sari Silk bag!
.
What is it about summer and bags for me?
First off bags and purses? I am not a frou frou woman who has a purse for every outfit. Admittedly I do have an assortment of purses and bags and I buy the occasional vintage one. Is it because I like sorting my "stuff'? Usually bags turn into big huge pits of disorganization even when I get ones with pockets and sections.
Maybe I am searching for the bag that will finally organize my "stuff" on its own! Now wouldn't that be a purse!!!? Yes that would be my dream bag! A bag that I could just toss everything into and the bag would take responsibility for organizing and making sure that the item desired would be immediately at hand at the perfect time!! A bag that would negate the necessity for dumping it out at cash registers or when looking for the car key! Kind of like Mary Poppins or a bag from Hogwarts. A purse that always carries what is needed even if the item was only thought about and not actually put into the purse.
Ok that one is solved. I am trying to create the perfect bag/purse with all the magical accessories it needs.
Why Summer? Well of course because school is out! It doesn't matter that I have been out of school for too many years that I care to remember. The fact is that summer was always the time for creativity to flow. A time when I didn't have to make something to fit a pre existing parameter.
So bags in summer it has seemed to be for longer than I can remember. Bags that only have the parameter that they are meant to hold something. Otherwise they are blank canvases that can be as wild as my mind allows. A bag or purse can be an accessory that has its own pursenality (I'm so funny).
When I knit a bag I usually just allow the colour and the yarn to dictate the end product. So I guess in that I am creating magical bags.
Tomorrow I felt the Morrisau and the Blue Lagoon Bag (should I felt the Blue Lagoon?).
I am already building the next one in my head and can't wait for it to happen!
First there was the knit linen bags, then I spent a summer sewing big ass carry alls. Then one summer I made bags out of laminated magazine ads. Three years ago I was knitting Lopi bags for felting. Last year I was knitting small cable purses and sewing project bags out of remnants.
This summer I am back onto the felted bags again. This time I am combining colours and yarns. My Morrisseau bag and now my blue lagoon bag.
(I am doubling the yarn and to see how the felting will turn out.) Oh and I designed a market bag that is now being test knit out of Mission Falls Cotton.
Oh and the Sari Silk bag!
.
What is it about summer and bags for me?
First off bags and purses? I am not a frou frou woman who has a purse for every outfit. Admittedly I do have an assortment of purses and bags and I buy the occasional vintage one. Is it because I like sorting my "stuff'? Usually bags turn into big huge pits of disorganization even when I get ones with pockets and sections.
Maybe I am searching for the bag that will finally organize my "stuff" on its own! Now wouldn't that be a purse!!!? Yes that would be my dream bag! A bag that I could just toss everything into and the bag would take responsibility for organizing and making sure that the item desired would be immediately at hand at the perfect time!! A bag that would negate the necessity for dumping it out at cash registers or when looking for the car key! Kind of like Mary Poppins or a bag from Hogwarts. A purse that always carries what is needed even if the item was only thought about and not actually put into the purse.
Ok that one is solved. I am trying to create the perfect bag/purse with all the magical accessories it needs.
Why Summer? Well of course because school is out! It doesn't matter that I have been out of school for too many years that I care to remember. The fact is that summer was always the time for creativity to flow. A time when I didn't have to make something to fit a pre existing parameter.
So bags in summer it has seemed to be for longer than I can remember. Bags that only have the parameter that they are meant to hold something. Otherwise they are blank canvases that can be as wild as my mind allows. A bag or purse can be an accessory that has its own pursenality (I'm so funny).
When I knit a bag I usually just allow the colour and the yarn to dictate the end product. So I guess in that I am creating magical bags.
Tomorrow I felt the Morrisau and the Blue Lagoon Bag (should I felt the Blue Lagoon?).
I am already building the next one in my head and can't wait for it to happen!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Newest Passion
Four weeks ago I started a class on Wire Work. I have had so much fun! Yesterday we learned how to bead and create Dragonflies. I wasn't really into it at first but ended up thoroughly enjoying the process of putting the beads together! Yum...colour!
Then we got into the Rock Wrapping. This is my favorite way to work with wire! No preplanned course to take. Just be one with the rock and wrap.
This first one is a landscape Jasper rock that I cut and polished about 20 years ago. The only rock I managed to ever cut and polish to date. The silver hanging bit was also done about 20 years ago while I was taking a jewellery course at George Brown College in Toronto. Both pieces have been waiting for the perfect moment to become something and last night was the time. I am so pleased with how it turned out!
This Chrysophase jumped into my hand while I was in my local spiritual shop. I was walking around with a piece of amethyst but was called by this rock so I threw down the amethyst and bought this piece.
Chryophase is supposed to help with a restful sleep and sharpen perception.
This class has renewed my love of jewellery making. I can't wait to do more.....when I am not knitting.
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
A Day at the Alpaca Farm
Last saturday Kniterary had a booth at the Spinning WHeel Alpaca Farm Open House. It was just so fun to be around these lovely beasts for a day. My booth (of which I took no picture) was set up beside an enclosure for the sheared Alpacas. They all look so pretty with their Fluffy heads and winter boots on! They are literally their winter boots too. When an alpaca is sheared the hair on the the leg is only trimmed because it does not grow as fast as the on the rest of their bodies. If their legs were also sheared they would be unable to keep warm in the winter!
Also in the alpaca enclosure was 2 lovely big white guard dogs and this funny, freindly pot belly pig.
When I grow up I want to have an alpaca farm with a pot belly big too!
Saturday, May 31, 2008
My creation
My creation
Originally uploaded by martianknit.
This is a fun mosaic Creation from Flickr.
The concept:
a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd's mosaic maker.
The Questions:
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One Word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name
If you click on the mosaic and go to Flickr you will see my answers!
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
EEEk!
I have been asked to go on the local television station to talk about Kniterary! I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow afternoon.
For those of you in athe Oshawa /whitby area. Rogers Channel 10 at 4PM and 11:30 PM are the air times.
EEEk!
For those of you in athe Oshawa /whitby area. Rogers Channel 10 at 4PM and 11:30 PM are the air times.
EEEk!
Monday, April 28, 2008
Friday, April 25, 2008
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Monday, March 31, 2008
Rhea helps with Fiona Visit
Fiona Ellis visits Kniterary
Originally uploaded by vhartog.
Fiona Ellis was in the shop on Saturday. Rhea minded the kits and books while the Twisting with the Cable Girl went on.
Saturday, March 01, 2008
The Hedgehog is a coming!!
Someone (Judy) pointed out to me that a few posts back I had alluded to big changes that I couldn't at that point talk about.
Sorry to leave you all hanging!!
The big change is the expansion on Kniterary and the imminent arrival of HedgeHog Stitchery in one of the rooms on the 2nd floor.
HedgeHog Stitchery will be supplying Durham Region with Cross Stitch and other needle arts supplies. Vickie H. will be stocking the room and be running the room on Saturdays. She is in the process of getting her web site up and running but for now you can check her out at her blog.
Vickie is an amazingly gifted woman who will be able to offer lots of support for cross stitchers as she has with knitters in Kniterary.
Also upstairs is a full classroom and an extra room that I hope to be able to invite local artists to show their wares on consignment. I am hoping to concentrate on Textile artists.
Stay tuned for the official arrival of the Hedgehog!!
Sorry to leave you all hanging!!
The big change is the expansion on Kniterary and the imminent arrival of HedgeHog Stitchery in one of the rooms on the 2nd floor.
HedgeHog Stitchery will be supplying Durham Region with Cross Stitch and other needle arts supplies. Vickie H. will be stocking the room and be running the room on Saturdays. She is in the process of getting her web site up and running but for now you can check her out at her blog.
Vickie is an amazingly gifted woman who will be able to offer lots of support for cross stitchers as she has with knitters in Kniterary.
Also upstairs is a full classroom and an extra room that I hope to be able to invite local artists to show their wares on consignment. I am hoping to concentrate on Textile artists.
Stay tuned for the official arrival of the Hedgehog!!
Saturday, February 23, 2008
And still more Knitting
At the shop I am organizing an Cable Afghan Knit a Long. All the cable patterns have flower names so I am doing my squares in greens and carnation peach.
This is the first square. Rose Garden.
I have almost finshed my Berroco Comfort short row bag. It is all together and blocked but it really needs a lining.
I think that the colours may be hard to match so it may be a while.
I do like the colour combo though.
I am almost comleted my Pullover from Weekend Knitting by Teva Durham. Instead of cashmere I used Patagonia Nature cotton.
It will be a great summer warmer!
I just love the colours in this yarn
Don't you?
More details about this project are on Ravelry where I am martianknit.
This is the first square. Rose Garden.
I have almost finshed my Berroco Comfort short row bag. It is all together and blocked but it really needs a lining.
I think that the colours may be hard to match so it may be a while.
I do like the colour combo though.
I am almost comleted my Pullover from Weekend Knitting by Teva Durham. Instead of cashmere I used Patagonia Nature cotton.
It will be a great summer warmer!
I just love the colours in this yarn
Don't you?
More details about this project are on Ravelry where I am martianknit.
Monday, February 18, 2008
My Weekend Away
On Saturday I put Vickie in charge of Kniterary and I went on a trip to see my sister in eastern Ontario.
The drive was really good. Clear highways et al..
On Sunday we went first to the Textile Museum in Almonte. Not much there but a Cross Stitch display and a cute little store. They have bigger displays when it gets warmer because half the building is not heated. I will have to go back in the summer I think. Beside the museum are condos that have been built in the manufacturing part of the mill. I so want to buy one there but I am sure they are very pricey!
Later in the day we went around the corner of my sister's place in Oxford Mills to Hollyhock Alpacas.
Hollyhock Hill Alpacas
Quality breeding stock, breeding, fiber and products. Visit us soon, to learn more about these amazing animals - their history, their care, and their luxurious fiber. We are located in Kemptville, Ontario 613-258-4806
Phone:613-258-4806
Fax:
Street address:1920 County Rd. 18
City:Kemptville, Ontario, Canada
I am in love with Alpacas!
This guy is the main male in the group. Because of his grey coat alot of the offspring also have grey. Apparently it is not a very usual colour.
Isn't she a little beauty? Such a pretty face and happy eyes. The owner told my sister and me all the names but I no longer remember them. This sweety I remember is 2 years old.
Can you tell it was raining? This lady has the messy hair to show it!
The males and females are kept separate but close to each other. Almost all of the females are pregnant from their June breeding. The gestation time is 11 1/2 months so I'll be back in May or June to see all the wee babies!
This male seems to be wondering what we are doing there.
These ladies are hoping to get some of the food the farmer was giving to the males. He did share with them later.
Apparently Alpacas love to eat but don't need that much food. The 10 or so males only eat 1/2 a bale of hay a day (which Brian said was a very little amount). Did you know that Alpacas make really good therapy animals too? They are so calm, so seemingly accepting.
Today we went into Ottawa and saw a small exhibit by Bobbie Burgers who does incredible Acrylic paintings of flowers.
Then we wandered around for a bit during this first Family Day Holiday in Ontario.
Once done we headed back to Oxford Mills where I gathered all my stuff and prepared to return to reality at home.
Highways were still good thankfully. Busier but accident free.
And now to knit.
The drive was really good. Clear highways et al..
On Sunday we went first to the Textile Museum in Almonte. Not much there but a Cross Stitch display and a cute little store. They have bigger displays when it gets warmer because half the building is not heated. I will have to go back in the summer I think. Beside the museum are condos that have been built in the manufacturing part of the mill. I so want to buy one there but I am sure they are very pricey!
Later in the day we went around the corner of my sister's place in Oxford Mills to Hollyhock Alpacas.
Hollyhock Hill Alpacas
Quality breeding stock, breeding, fiber and products. Visit us soon, to learn more about these amazing animals - their history, their care, and their luxurious fiber. We are located in Kemptville, Ontario 613-258-4806
Phone:613-258-4806
Fax:
Street address:1920 County Rd. 18
City:Kemptville, Ontario, Canada
I am in love with Alpacas!
This guy is the main male in the group. Because of his grey coat alot of the offspring also have grey. Apparently it is not a very usual colour.
Isn't she a little beauty? Such a pretty face and happy eyes. The owner told my sister and me all the names but I no longer remember them. This sweety I remember is 2 years old.
Can you tell it was raining? This lady has the messy hair to show it!
The males and females are kept separate but close to each other. Almost all of the females are pregnant from their June breeding. The gestation time is 11 1/2 months so I'll be back in May or June to see all the wee babies!
This male seems to be wondering what we are doing there.
These ladies are hoping to get some of the food the farmer was giving to the males. He did share with them later.
Apparently Alpacas love to eat but don't need that much food. The 10 or so males only eat 1/2 a bale of hay a day (which Brian said was a very little amount). Did you know that Alpacas make really good therapy animals too? They are so calm, so seemingly accepting.
Today we went into Ottawa and saw a small exhibit by Bobbie Burgers who does incredible Acrylic paintings of flowers.
Then we wandered around for a bit during this first Family Day Holiday in Ontario.
Once done we headed back to Oxford Mills where I gathered all my stuff and prepared to return to reality at home.
Highways were still good thankfully. Busier but accident free.
And now to knit.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Practice makes Perfect
I have been busy knitting. As always my needles are never empty.
The latest on the needles is the Fiona Ellis scarf Practice Makes Perfect. The yarn that it was originally done in for her book Inspired Cables is no longer available so I decided to try it in Estelle's Alpaca Cashmere Tweed. I am not sure I like it. The yarn is just not luxurious enough for this particular pattern. I like the yarn well enough but just not for this pattern.
So I decided to try it in Debbie Bliss Alpaca silk Aran. Much Much better. Also more expensive. The silk adds the necessary sheen and the drape is going to be fab. The picture is not great and I haven't got much done but I can tell already.
Right now I am knitting the DB scarf by copying what I have done on the Estelle scarf. I forgot the pattern at the store. I am going to have to pop by today to get it.
All this knitting of the scarf is taking me away from what I really need to finish! Betty! It is almost there. I am assembling. I need to put aside the scarf for today and focus. The client is picking it up on Tuesday. I will be so glad to see it leave the store. Betty and I will be breaking up after a long tormentuous relationship. Whew.
Also done recently was felted hearts. Small and fun and quick.
The bag below is done in Berocco's Love It. I improvised the pattern all the way and now have the task of writing up the pattern. It took 2 balls and will make a great beach bag.
Soon Kniterary is starting a cable Afghan knit a long. Below is the first square. The cable is In the Rose Garden. We will be doing 9 12" squares and then assembling them in fall just in time for cold weather.
The latest on the needles is the Fiona Ellis scarf Practice Makes Perfect. The yarn that it was originally done in for her book Inspired Cables is no longer available so I decided to try it in Estelle's Alpaca Cashmere Tweed. I am not sure I like it. The yarn is just not luxurious enough for this particular pattern. I like the yarn well enough but just not for this pattern.
So I decided to try it in Debbie Bliss Alpaca silk Aran. Much Much better. Also more expensive. The silk adds the necessary sheen and the drape is going to be fab. The picture is not great and I haven't got much done but I can tell already.
Right now I am knitting the DB scarf by copying what I have done on the Estelle scarf. I forgot the pattern at the store. I am going to have to pop by today to get it.
All this knitting of the scarf is taking me away from what I really need to finish! Betty! It is almost there. I am assembling. I need to put aside the scarf for today and focus. The client is picking it up on Tuesday. I will be so glad to see it leave the store. Betty and I will be breaking up after a long tormentuous relationship. Whew.
Also done recently was felted hearts. Small and fun and quick.
The bag below is done in Berocco's Love It. I improvised the pattern all the way and now have the task of writing up the pattern. It took 2 balls and will make a great beach bag.
Soon Kniterary is starting a cable Afghan knit a long. Below is the first square. The cable is In the Rose Garden. We will be doing 9 12" squares and then assembling them in fall just in time for cold weather.
Recent personal events include my 51st birthday. How did I ever get this old?
The children started their second semester at highschool. Both have math this semester.
It is closing in on a year since I purchased Kniterary and a few big changes are on the horizon! Exciting changes! I can't wait to tell you about it but I must not for now!
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
I am a Dweeb
I have been playing a bit of Solitaire on the computer.
No, that's not the dweeby part.
I have my deck picture set at a lovely drawing of a palm tree on a beach with the sun shining. It makes me feel sunny and warm.
No not dweeby yet.
As I am playing the sun will occasionally smile and wink at me. I am not imagining it. I guess the deck is animated to do it.
The Dweeby part is that I always smile back. Always. It makes me feel happy. I feel as if the sun is smiling only for me and me alone.
I just love it when my sun says hi to me.
What a Dweeb.
No, that's not the dweeby part.
I have my deck picture set at a lovely drawing of a palm tree on a beach with the sun shining. It makes me feel sunny and warm.
No not dweeby yet.
As I am playing the sun will occasionally smile and wink at me. I am not imagining it. I guess the deck is animated to do it.
The Dweeby part is that I always smile back. Always. It makes me feel happy. I feel as if the sun is smiling only for me and me alone.
I just love it when my sun says hi to me.
What a Dweeb.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Sorority Night at Kniterary
I invited a group of ladies to Kniterary on Tuesday evening. I all I think there were 20 in the shop. It was crowded but fun.
We were knitting the flower of or Sorority, the Yellow Rose. Some people were very experienced knitters some were beginners. I was so pleased to see the beginners give it an honest try! We all ended up with roses to felt. 
Afterwards there was fruit dipped in a chocolate fountain and cider.Yum!
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Swallow Tail Shawl
Swallow Tail SHawl pre block
Originally uploaded by martianknit.
After nearly a year I am pleased to announce the arrival of my Swallowtail Shawl!
Only blocking left to do!
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