IT'S FESTIVAL TIME

This is the festival that starts off my knitting festival season. http://sheepandwool.org

I had the pleasure of attending the Maryland Sheep & Wool this past weekend, with my group the Knatural Purls.

Knatural Purl Gurlz

I gotta tell you that I have been going for at least 6 years now and it never disappoints.
It's just great to be amongst all those crafters and everyone is talking crafty talk, wearing crafty garments and buying crafty things.  You get to see people that you only chat with on Social Media.  It's just soooooo much fun. 

Outlander Chevron Shawl

First stop was Bijou Basin they have the most awesome yarn and Carl always has a big smile, a firm handshake and great conversation
http://www.bijoubasinranch.com

When the Cowl'd Wind Blows

Dragonfly Fibers (https://www.dragonflyfibers.com) was packed to the gills.  I didn't get to see her offerings, but I did get to have a quick chat with Kate about a design that I did with her Traveller yarn.
The pattern There Be Dragonflies is always a big hit at festivals.

Karida Collins
Neighborhood Fiber Co

Neightborhood Fiber Co  had it goin on too. That little tent was jumping and she had some great designs and beautiful yarn. There is also a wonderful MKAL going on in her Ravelry group with designer RosiG... the MKAL is almost over but the pattern is still for sale and there are lots of lovely pictures showing the progression of the beaded shawl.  

NFC & RosiG Spring MKAL
(http://www.neighborhoodfiberco.com)

Indian Lake Artisans (http://www.indianlakeartisans.com)
make hexagonal knitting needles. They were the nicest people and I enjoyed working with the needles. I purchased the maple wood needles because the size I needed only came in that bark but I really loved their cherry wood needles. Can't wait to start knitting with them. They also make fabulous yarn bowls.

Dances with Wools

Unfortunately, I didn't get to visit one of my favorites; Sheep Incognito. If you aren't familiar with this company please allow me to familiarize you. They have the cutest sheep artwork and I always look forward to seeing the new offerings.  https://www.sheepincognito.com
see aren't they cute?

Frog it All

Hold the presses!
I need you to sit down when I drop this next bomb on ya...

MY HAUL! Miss Babs; Joji Locatelli 3-Color Cowl pattern;
Indian Lake Artisan needles; Neighborhood Fiber Co T-Shirt; 

Miss Babs did NOT, I repeat did NOT have a long line wrapped around the barn when I went there. As a matter of fact, I was second in line WHOA!!!! If you have ever attended a festival where Miss Babs was a vendor, you know that NEVER happens! Guess it was my lucky day :)
Those three skeins of yarn in my haul are dreamy. They are a cashmere silk blend and OH SO SOFT!
Treat yourself to some.
Yarn: Miss Babs Sojourn
Pattern: Joji Locatielli 3-color Cashmere Cowl

Today is the first day of Spring...
Athough it's snowing outside in the wonderful NY and TriState area, I am still excited about the possibilities of Spring.

I can't help but swoon over all the meetups I can attend. My own SSK's (Sit, Sip, Knit) will be back on the menu.  The Knatural Purls haven't gotten together since Christmas... OH MAN! I am waaaay excited. You can't forget all the cool "Springy" stuff you can knit now... Shawls. Stoles,  light sweaters, halter tops and so much more.

Let's not forget all the impromptu meetups because of the warm weather and outside knitting... OH the possibilities are endless.

In Other News...
I finally got my Yarnit! What can I say? Everyone was right, this is the best thing since knitting needles :)  If you get a chance to get a Yarnit! Get it. 
www.theyarnit.com


On the Needles...

I am STILL working on the Spectra by Stephen West.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/spectra

It's my out and about project. I have quite a ways to go but I enjoy the project and it's pretty mindless knitting. I also have a few designs in the works that I hope to publish soon.

So What's on YOUR needles/hooks and what crafty goodness 

are you looking forward to this Spring?

Vogue Knitting Live Jan 17th - Jan 19th

This past weekend and for four  of its five years,  I had the opportunity to attend Vogue Knitting Live.

This knitting event happens in the NY area, the third weekend in January. For the past two years it's been held at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square. Knitters from near and far come together for classes, latest technology and yarny goodness. It's an opportunity to hob nob, rub elbows, take classes and take selfies with local and national Knitterati. Most notable Shirley Paden, Stephen West, Vicki Howell, and Norah Gaughan to name a few. We also got up close and personal with well known local designers RosiG of RosiG Designs, Tee Rivers of Tranquil Rivers, Steve Malcolm of ItTakesBallstoKnit.com and many others.

VKLive is also the time to see new yarny goodness. Dragonfly Fibers knows how to do that very well.  This year's offering Nautilace, they couldn't keep it on the shelves. A 400 yard skein of silk and camel.  All I can say is MMGood!!! This year's show stealer, however,  was a totally new gadget called TheYarnIt! This cutey patootie is rated as a Gotta Have It.  The YarnIt! holds your yarn,  your needles, your stitch markers and even has an over the shoulder strap so your knitting can travel with you. The YarnIt! also fits in your car's cup holder for those of you that like to knit at red lights :-)

Now all that is good stuff... but for me, FOR ME?!  Le pies de resistance is my Knatural Purls group. My knitting family is everything.  We spend a great deal of time chatting throughout the year, and we have a few meet ups along the way, but VKLive allows us ALL to get together; from PA to MA, even as far away as Vancouver we were in there.

So when you hear that VKLive is coming through your area, make it a point to get there and make it a new meet up for your favorite Knit folks. 

You're welcome.

So I realize that it's been a looooooong time since I connected with you guys and I have missed my Knittas so much!!

So much has been going on since we last talked!  I have been knitting and knitting and then I added DESIGNER to my resume :)

Check out my Who's Cowl'd design on Ravelry.
http://www.ravelry.com/designers/therese-ross-carter-formyknittas

Independence Day...

Today let's give thanx for those that are fighting or have fought for the freedoms that we enjoy in this country today!

Knitting, Family, Food and Fun...that's what this holiday will be for me.  What are you doing today?

Enjoy the day, drink responsibly and have lots of fun!

Knitwitchalaytah!

Knitter's Unite

So I went to the MD Sheep and Wool Festival held at the Howard County Fairgrounds in Ellicott City, Maryland...





WOW was all I could say! There are soooo many vendors and the grounds are pretty big OMG. It was a beautiful day for it, not too cold and not too hot, there were no bugs flying around, it was great...until I got sick UGH!
Who knew that amongst all those trees, grass and animals that your allergies would amp up to 1000 even after you took an allergy pill. Well needless to say, that made for a miserable day but other than that...

I got to see my favorite Creatively Dyed Yarns...Love Dianne's stuff so much. http://creativelydyedyarn.com/

I got to meet new vendors like Sheep Cognito...


if you didn't see this stuff you missed a treat.This one is called Reclaiming Dignity! http://www.charisma-art.com/


I met a husband and wife team that had the coolest ceramics and they make yarn bowls; The Lion Potter of Gettysburg. http://lionpotter.com/

The last vendor I met before my sickness took over fully was The Bee Folks and thank goodness I walked up on them when I did, because my throat felt like it had a gazillion spiders moving around in it and I wasn't able to talk anymore without choking. What they had were some really delicious exotic honeys and my new found favorite throat lozenges made with honey and there is a liquid honey center. They had Blueberry, Orange Blossom, Killer Bee, Brazilian Pepper honey and a whole variety that you wouldn't think of in a honey. http://www.beefolks.com/

I will make plans to go back again, but for now I am focusing on Rhinebeck baby!!!

Anyway, til next time Feliz Tejiendo and Knitwitchalaytah ♥

Happy New Year...

WOW...it's 2011, can you believe it?! I have so many things I wanna do this year and I don't know where to begin. I know people say start at the beginning but there isn't always a beginning, sometimes you have to make a beginning and choosing where to start the beginning can be daunting...like the reversible colored cables I wanna learn this year.

I am determined to sit down and figure out how to make my cables a different color while I am knitting, I already know how to do reversible cables (thanx to Knitty Gritty and Ms. Lily Chin) but not how to change the color whilst doing it. As some of you may know I have EVERY episode of Knitty Gritty on my DVR and I just ordered the device that will take those episodes and put them on DVD WooHoo! But I learned how to knit from watching that show. On Fridays I would declare "YAY, it's Friday" and I would print out the patterns from Knitty Gritty and sit up all night on Friday and Saturdays and just learn the new technique, I was soooo determined to learn how to knit and different techniques. Needless to say I had a lot of projects started, I am just getting around to finishing all my UFO's and I have been knitting now for 6 years. I could talk about Knitty Gritty forever and how much it helped me, but the point that I am trying to make is, you won't believe what you can do until you try.

Look back to when you said "I could never do that" and then realize that you are now doing it, isn't that such a wonderful feeling of accomplishment? So I challenge all of you to try something new this year, you may be presently surprised.

Baby Hugs 2010

To all my Crafty Cronies...

the Psi Lambda Omega Chapter of AKA (Brooklyn, NY) is looking for crocheted or knitted blankets to deliver to babies in Neonatal ICU...the blankets should be made with love and large enough to fit the neonatal incubator (find the size online).

If you are interested email me at thereserosscarter@gmail.com and maybe we can do a Crafty Cronies meet up and help the community at the same time.

If you can't knit or crochet, purchased blankets are accepted. Thank you all so much...It takes a village to keep a child alive!

Is it only me?

Is it only me or is there just tooo much stuff on Ravelry...I get so lost in looking at patterns that I don't get much knitting done!

Oh well, Off to look at more patterns, look at more of my friends projects, and what they have queued or favorited LOL...I LOVE RAVELRY!

Come on...is it only me?

Feliz Tejiendo and Knit Witcha Laytah...tootles

What's on your needles...?

So a few months back, I was sooooo excited that it was football season and I was going to get so much knitting done...FAIL! I am still working on the same dang scarf that I started back then.

So my question is, what's on your needles? (said like the CapitalOne commercial LOL). Presently, I have the same scarf on my needles. I also have a shawl on another set of needles, fingerless mitts on another set, and a headband on another...WHEW! I wonder who will actually get their gift by Christmas LOL.

Anyway guyz, I am gonna leave you to go actually work on some of my projects. TTYL

Feliz Tejiendo and Knit Witcha Laytah...smooches

Rhinebeck and Stuff...

Well I have to say that I am not getting quite as much knitting done as I thought I would...but I did make it to Rhinebeck!!!

I was a first timer to Rhinebeck and I was not disappointed, my only disappointment was that my friend and I didn't plan to spend two days there, it won't happen again!

OMG I saw the most wonderful yarn and the people were quite nice and it was just an experience that I am glad I had. I met a nice group of ladies, who like me had walked the skin off their feet and needed to rest, while sitting and taking a break. I bought yarn, but not too much (I was on my best behavior) and I had some hot (lukewarm) apple cider.

I didn't take alot of pics, because my wonderful IPhone (the smartphone that was quite dumb in Rhinebeck) was not working properly, but I did take a few and I will post them a little later. All in all though I had a great time. Next year it will be a girl's weekend get together...I can't wait!

Are ya ready for some football??!!

I am sooo excited that football season has started...My dream for this season is for the Giants to win the Superbowl and for me to get all my Xmas knitting finished while I watch the games! I don't ask for much...tee hee!

Anyway, the game will start in about an hour and I need to get set up...soooooo I have just one question...ARE YA READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?!

Feliz Tejiendo (Happy Knitting in Spanish)
KWYL...smooches

I'm a Great Grammy...

Can you believe it and my child is only 14! LOL

Thanks to the wonders of matrimony I became an instant Grammy 18 months ago and as of July 9th...I am a GREAT GRAMMY!

Congratulations to Shanelle on her bundle of joy...LIAM!

WWKIP DAY EVENT!

Just a quick note to let you know that Sunday, June 13th is World Wide Knit in Public Day at the Grand Army Plaza Brooklyn Library. Hope you can make it!

Brooklyn Fiber Arts Guild’s World Wide Knit In Public Day event is this Sunday! Be there for all the fun:
Brooklyn Central Library at Grand Army Plaza
Sunday, June 13th
1:00-5:00PM

Learn to knit, crochet, enter the raffles, sign up for Guild membership, buy Cyclones Stitch n Pitch tickets, and grab a Lion Brand Goody Bag!

Come meet your fellow fiber crafters and just have a good time! Bring your friends and families too…there will be a family table for our younger friends to learn as well.

***********************************************************

WWKIP DAY was wonderful...it's always great to gather with a bunch of knitters and have a good time.

This photo is of one of the ladies that I taught to knit at the event...she was a bit camera shy, but OMG was she a quick learner! And she is still knitting strong...way to go Grace. Alrighty then...KWYL smooches and have a great day!

Certified Instructors class

I took the Certified Knitting Instructors class this weekend and OMG what a wonderful class!

I think Ms. Arnetta is the bomb teacher and she knows her stuff. I can't wait to incorporate all that I learned into my knitting and teaching.

Thank you CYCA and thank you Ms. Arnetta for a wonderful class, chock full of information...

We now return you to your regularly scheduled blogging...LOL

Feliz Tejiendo!
KWYL (knit with you later)

Happy Easter..

Some people dye eggs for Easter, well this year I'm gonna do something a little different...

I'm dying yarn!

Kool-Aid...check
Wool Yarn...check
Tutorial...check
High Hopes...check
Yeah Baby (in my best Austin Powers voice)!

The wonderful people at La Casita were so patient while helping my sister and I choose a yarn, and the owner gave us tips on what to do and what NOT to do when dying yarn, I just wanted to put her in the bag too so I wouldn't forget all the helpful advice.



Oh well, I'm off...stay tuned for The Adventures of Kool Aid Yarn Dying...hmmm that's kinda long, gotta come up with a better name : )


As always Precious Purls,
Feliz Tejiendo, have a great day and
Happy Easter to ya!

The Wait is Over...

Little Nathaniel arrived on March 30th at 8:56PM...we were all so excited to meet Master Nathaniel and he didn't disappoint...what a darling boy.

I nicknamed him Popeye because when we saw him he had one eye open and one eye closed...in any case we all call him LOVE.

Thank you all for sharing my journey with me, now I am off to go spend some time with "Popeye" and his mother.

Feliz Tejiendo and have a great day!

HEY KOOL AID...

ok so I just found out that people dye their hair with Kool-Aid...OMG! People drink this stuff, I used to drink this stuff as a child, imagine what it must be doing to your insides...but I digress. I also found out that you can use it to dye yarn...well well now you're speaking my language. I've been wanting to learn how to dye yarn for months now. I was waiting for my baby girl to have her baby, because she is my craft partner and I thought we had to use a toxic dye and I didn't want her or the baby around that...BUT THERE'S KOOL-AID!

So I may have mentioned before that I gave up purchasing yarn for Lent...but now that it is only 1 week away, I have been perusing the KnitPicks site and drooling at all the yarn but particularly the dyeable yarns. Woohoo can't wait...Went to the grocery store and bought my Kool-Aid and can't wait for next Sunday, of course that is also the day that the baby is due, so I probably won't be dying any yarn for a few more weeks. In any case, I am alot closer to realizing my dream than I was a week ago.
Precious Purls what have you been wanting to do and just haven't gotten around to it yet...get around to it honey!

TTYL! Feliz Tejiendo!!

Happy Spring Precious Purls...

Although Spring has officially sprung, someone forgot to tell Mother Nature...it was 29 degrees this morning...GEESH! Could somebody please send Mother Nature the memo?!

Guess what...bunting finished! FINALLY! Hopefully I will be able to post some pics with him in it, even if we just put it on him to take pics and take it off. I hope the baby gets to use it as he is due this week and hopefully it will be cool enough for her to at least bring the baby home in it...I know from my mouth to God's ears LOL. Can't wait for the little munchkin to make his entry into the world and we get to meet him.

TTYL Precious Purls...buh bye now.
Feliz Tejiendo!

Oh MaJay...

It was 9 yrs ago this month that my Great Grandmother passed away. We affectionately called her MaJay, short for Mother Geraldine. Whenever I knit, crochet or cook, I am reminded of her and all that she taught me. She was the craftiest woman I've ever known...she was always making something. She made jewelry for all of us and church friends, there was rarely a birth in the family that went without a newly crocheted blanket, she was a caterer and she could sew.

She taught me how to crochet at the tender age of 8 and my cooking lessons went on well into her 90's, I was always calling with questions of how to make something. When my daughter was born, she crocheted the baptismal dress and beret for the christening...I was floored, I didn't even think she could still crochet, she was about 92 when she made that.

I really miss her and I really wish that I had been more serious about crafting to get all of her knowledge before she left. I do think that she is smiling down proudly looking at all the things that I am doing and learning, and I am looking up and smiling back at her because she was my first teacher.

Oh MaJay how I miss you so...and I want to say thank you for sharing your love of crafting.