My Needles have been Clicking!



I've recently completed a series of knitted vests,

using my FUSION Yarn.

This red vest has a tab

and stick button for closure.

The green vest  has two wide lapels

which overlap and create a

fold back collar.

The closure is a large coconut button.

I call this colorway "Rain Forest"

because of its vibrant greens.

I particularly like the styling of these vests

because they are knitted sideways.

This gives them vertical lines,

which are very flattering.

Visit my Etsy Shop for

some great holiday shopping!

2012 Holiday Show & Sale Highlights!



What a party we threw last weekend!

It was our 4th Annual Holiday Fiber Show & Sale...

...and were we ever decked out!

As usual, the front entrance served as our check out area,

but there were plenty of goodies to tempt shoppers

from their first step inside.

Evidently, all our group has been working

especially hard this year,

because we had more inventory

to share this year than ever before.

With our hand knitted scarves, hats,

shawls, vests and jackets,

we also had some gorgeous

knitted and fiber inspired jewelry

and shawl pins, home decor items

and some really inspired wreaths.

We packed lots of goodies into my bedroom...

including soaps, lotion bars and lip balms made

by one of our group.

My "Pillow Vest" found display space on the bed...

...and the dresser showed off more jewelry.

We served refreshments in the kitchen

and tempted customers with some

of our tree decorations

and some good things to take home and eat.

My studio became our "Christmas" room

for our handmade ornaments, quilted stockings

and table runners.

And we even had room to squeeze in a few...

...shoppers!

This show is an incredible amount of work,

and would not be possible without the

talents and efforts of our group,

my sister Nanniepannie, who helps

me install it (AND clean up afterwards),

and everyone who comes and supports us,

while getting some holiday shopping done.

So, my heartfelt thank you to everyone involved!

So, another successful Holiday Show done

and time to say,

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

First Steps in Some Long Term Redo Plans

A few weeks ago I mentioned

the brown couch was being recovered.

I'm SO happy to see it gone.

What a difference a lighter upholstery makes!

I've also traded the rugs from this area

and the adjoining entry.

This is the first step in a redo of my living room.

I also plan to have slipcovers in an off white

made for the two yellow love seats in this room.

I would have had them made at the same time as the

reupholstery of the other love seat,

but the fabric store didn't have enough fabric.

So, I'm on the look out for that.

I recently brought home this painted buffet

for the dining room.

Have you ever noticed when you

make one change,

several more ensue?

The buffet that was here originally...

Got moved to the entrance,

so the buffet that was there...

...could be moved to the living room to

accommodate my new flat screen TV.

Yes, I've finally updated and come

into the new age of television.

Finally, the tall book case that did

house my old TV was moved to

a spot in the kitchen,

which has cried out for a tall piece

since I've lived here.

Perfect fit!

I'm now searching for just

the right fabrics for  new window treatments

and slip covers.

However, all that will have to wait

a bit longer.

Wonderful items started arriving

yesterday for our upcoming

Holiday Sale.

This week will be spent

decluttering and setting

up displays!

Holiday Shopping, Wrapping, Tagging...All Done!



NOT...

But, this picture of my window seat

was just now snapped.

These are actually empty boxes,

wrapped in holiday fabric

and will be used to decorate

the front porch for the upcoming

holiday season. 

(The ONLY thing I have a jump on

this year.)

Wishful thinking on my part...

The Countdown Has Begun...

Nanniepannie and I are now working diligently,

getting ready for our upcoming

Holiday Show.

We're now less than two weeks away

and it seems every moment is scheduled

for some job or duty.

The invitations went out last Friday,

delivered with the little holiday fairy above.

The mice are finished and...

...the guys are being joined this year

with some gals.

What's on your agenda this week?

New Hats!



New this week in my Etsy Shop!

The Daisy Hat

It's a fun, cloche style hat with a

wide fold back brim.

The brim is a blend of 15% mohair and 85% wool.

The crown is knitted in my own boutique yarn,

FUSION

This colorway is "Rain Forest."

This colorway is "Peacock."

Each hat comes with a knitted flower,

attached with a corsage pin. 

(It also looks great on the lapel of a jacket.)

Do you have a stylish, fun hat for this

winter season?

The REAL Tomatoes are All Gone...



...but you can still make a mighty fine

Tomato Sauce for freezing.

This is a good all purpose Tomato Sauce.

The recipe makes a lot, but it freezes well.

3 (28 oz.) cans diced tomatoes, drained

4 (8 oz.) cans tomato sauce

2 medium sized sweet onions, diced (about 2 cups)

1 large green bell pepper, diced (about 1 1/2 cups)

1t. black pepper

1/2 t. ground red pepper

1/2 t. dried crushed red pepper.

Other than dicing the onions and peppers,

there's no more work to do other than opening cans

and doing some measuring.

Stir together all ingredients in a large bowl. 

Makes about 12 cups.

Use immediately or store in an airtight

container in the refrigerator up to 7 days.

Or, you can freeze it.

I use 1 quart, zip lock bags.

To make filling them easier

place a bag, open over another container.

I use a one pound plastic coffee container.



Place 2 cups of the tomato mixture in  a 1 qt. bag.

Seal bag, squeezing out excess air.

Repeat procedure with remaining tomato mixture.



Place bags flat on a baking sheet,

and freeze up to 3 months.

Once they're frozen solid, you can stack them upright

to save space in your freezer.

Thaw in the refrigerator 24 hours.

Now you're all set with a tasty tomato sauce all ready.

You can make a

QUICK SALSA

by stirring together 3 cups of the tomato sauce with

1 1/2T. chopped fresh cilantro

1T. fresh lime juice

Cover and chill 1 hour before serving.

Serve with tortilla chips.

Or, for a quick dish of pasta,

saute some fresh mushrooms,

add to the heated tomato sauce and serve over

pasta of your choice.

Add some freshly grated Parmesan Cheese and

dinner's ready!

This week I'm sharing with
What's Cookin' in the Cottage Kitchen at
Etsy Cottage Style

Tasty Tuesdays at 22 Shades of Green

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum