Toni's Staff Pick

Toni's favorite new items in the store this week are some new cards by C.C. Barton, a local artist from Salida, CO. The company is called "Artists to Watch" and they publish the work of independent artists from around the world. C.C. Barton's designs are prints of her wonderful watercolors of rabbits with fruit or flowers. You have to come in to see them. Buy one or more to give and keep one for yourself just to enjoy: I even framed one for myself.

Joan just gave this card for my birthday--I will definitely be looking for a frame.

Day Number Six

Less than a week ago I started knitting this"Old Way Gansey" designed by Ann Budd. Our first granddaughter was born during this time so I got lots of knitting time while staying at our son and his wife's house. Today I am in hopes of some great time spent watching movies and knitting on this. The person I am gifting this sweater to (Ryan) just married my niece. They will be living in Alaska so I knew a wool sweater would get lots of use age up there. The Ella Rae yarn is a delight to work with and I loved this color way--Chile Pepper. In two more weeks they will be returning from their honeymoon so I best quite blogging and get my needles flying. Oh, I also started reading Knitting Ganseys by Beth Brown-Reinsel. These sweaters have quite a history. Tami, if you are looking for this book it is at my house :) Happy knitting.

Knit # 1 of 2011

It's wear a cowl day at Serendipity tomorrow. Joan has to finish up her last few rows on her cowl and she will be wearing it. This is my first knitting project to be off the needles in 2011! It took three different tries of knitting different projects with special yarn I have had in my stash for a couple years. I think this lace cowl is a perfect fit for this sock yarn.

How I am knitting up some projects in 2011. I have 10 white paper bags each filled with a project and pattern in mind. Once a month I will draw one out and knit away. It is painful for me to pick new projects some time ( well really most of the time) Call me crazy but I just casted on a sweater to see if I can knit the whole sweater in three weeks. Photo's to follow.

My Heritage

My Grandby, Ida Mae Schnieider, handed down a tradition to this granddaughter I am very thankful for. Grandby saved her egg and milk money to purchase this book. I don't remember her knitting very much but she did all sorts of other hand crafts. She was a crocheter with thread and tatted beautiful lace. I still have some pillows with her work on them. I wasn't interested in tatting (now I wish I would of paid more attention) but she taught me to crochet, quilt, and embroidery. My mom took time to teach me to sew and knit plus to make a meal that my someday family would enjoy eatting.

Here is my new sock book. Thanks once again Tami for this gift!! I will be casting on some socks very soon. These will be a gift of love for sure. I am looking forward to gaining knowledge of my skill by the study of knitting some of these socks. There is a person in Alaska that just got married that would love to wear a pair I think.

Hand Made gifts for others

During this season of giving we were blessed to see the hearts of such loving people in our community. This crocheted vest was made for her son. It is such a pleasure for me to assist people in finding the perfect yarn for their gifts of love.

Hats for the NNICU

Carol needed a little help getting started on the magic loop so she could knit her hats for the neo natal intensive care unit. Large hospitals that deliver many babies are such good places to send these hats. You can use up some of your scrap yarn. We are still knitting for charities on Wed. mornings at the shop so come in and lets make some of these little hats. Serendipity will be collecting items for charity all through out the year, we would love to spend time around the table sharing conversation and knitting for a cause with any of you this coming year.