Saturday, April 30, 2011

Knit Outta The Box is Brilliant

Knit Outta the Box

The idea for Knit Outta the Box was born after Laurie Gonyea, founder and co-owner, became stranded at the airport by a delayed flight without any knitting in hand. Laurie scoured the airport looking for some sort of knitting project and came up empty-handed. All she could find were Sudoku and crossword puzzles and lots of coffee shops ... hence, the birth of Knit Outta the Box -- totally transportable knitting kits that contain everything needed to complete a simple, stylish project. The initial idea was to market the kits as a product for "desperate" knitters, and sell them to hospital and airport gift shops -- places where desperation could set in if knitters didn't have their knitting.

Just in time for Mother's Day, Knit Outta the Box is launching the following knitting kits. Silver Cotton Slippers are a super easy, double-knit slipper; Silver Cotton Mary Jane Slippers are a slipper version of the traditional Mary Jane shoe with a bonus pattern for a ballet slipper; and Silver Cotton Bath Set is a simple soap-sock and washcloth. All these kits feature Sifa (Turkish for "healing") Silver Cotton. Silver has been known since the time of Hippocrates to contain beneficial healing properties, making Sifa Silver Cotton the perfect material for slippers and bath accessories.

Click here for larger image. Click here for larger image. Click here for larger image.
Silver Cotton Slippers Silver Cotton Mary Jane Slippers Silver Cotton Bath Set

For more information about these kits and other products like these, please visit Knit Outta the Box.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Simple Weave Washcloth


Simple Weave Washcloth


Make these today. Your face, this cloth and your favorite facial cleanser will create a glow on your face to equal...
whatever makes you glow! When you want a small project in cool cotton to carry in the heat of summer knitting-
this will do perfectly. I know people think all cotton knit squares belong in the kitchen-
but make these in white and use them in the bath. 3 tied with a beautiful bar of fine french-milled soap is a gift I am proud to give.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

I Cannot Make This Stuff UP!!!!

Unique Tampon Angel

By: Ada Barber, Guest Contributor













Our guest contributor has a very unique craft. This is her story: Some people think this is great, others think it is gross and ridiculous… but I am a big fan of the tampon angel. A few years ago when I had my first Christmas tree, I had a trim-the-tree party and invited my friends over to make crafts to decorate the tree with. A lot of them were scared of being crafty, so I had some pretty easy ideas for them. My favorite was the tampon angel. Certain brands work better – I think ended up deciding Playtex worked best because it doesn’t just expand into a big rectangle.

Materials:

  • Playtex Tampons
  • Bowl of Water
  • Starch
  • Wooden Bead
  • Hot Glue
  • Fine-Tipped Markers
  • Metallic Pipe Cleaners
  • Wired Ribbon
  • Bows
  • Glitter

Steps:

  1. You start by taking the tampon out of the applicator and wetting it. I usually use a bowl of water with a little starch mixed in.
  2. Then you can shape the angel “dress.”
  3. I use a wooden bead for the head and thread the string through. You can use a little hot glue to keep the head facing the right direction.
  4. We used fine-tipped markers to draw the face in and metallic pipe cleaners to make halos.
  5. You can add yarn hair but most of my friends didn’t get that far.
  6. For wings, we tied pieces of wired ribbon in the middle to make a knot or used bows and hot glued them to the back of the angel. You can cut the ribbon to make it wing-shaped or leave it in a bow.
  7. Some people glittered theirs, others left them pretty plain.
  8. But overall, it is a very easy craft and I still hang them on my Christmas tree.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Knitter's Review - Review of Knitting Books


Knitter's Review - Review of Knitting Books

Please click on this link to get a look at a book of knitting that you have never seen anywhere before.
It would be a good coffee table book for a knitter! I am doing so many deferred maintenance projects
around the house I have not knit, blogged, read a book or watched TV for over a week.

My BIL and SIL drove to California from Michigan.
They are a force of nature to be reckoned with.
We are working all day, dinner at dusk, a nightcap and then off to sleep with sore muscles.
Then my dear Diane from Portland, OR- called to see if she could drop down- so we have a house full.
Happy Easter to all. Or Happy Feaster- as we will have 15 for potluck dinner here. I am thankful
for the loving help and being surrounded with such wonderful people!

Monday, April 11, 2011

I Want Jane Eyre's Shawl


indigirl: stylish knits, modern life- how to: substitute yarn


Dear Knitters-

I went to see the newest version of "Jane Eyre" in theaters now. Early in the film Jane is shown wearing a shawl that caught my eye. I instantly thought to myself- that is a side to side garter stitch shawl with short row ruffles. I want to knit it. I got home after ten pm and logged on to the internet to see if the pattern was up yet. I can always count on other intrepid knitters to do the heavy lifting. I was so happy to see the pattern posted for free. You can find it by Googling Jane Eyre shawl and enjoying the search- or you can click here for a direct link via 'Exchanging Fire"

This morning I found the yarn in my stash that I want to use. It is a nice silk and wool blend. However it is a worsted weight and the pattern calls for the use of fingering weight. I am going to start swatching and hope to have a good piece to show the girls at Knitwits Wednesday night. The link to indigirl has an excellent tutorial on yarn substituting that you should read. I never like to reinvent the wheel. Credit goes to those who go before me and make this community of knitting such a pleasure to be part of...

Sincerely,

Your Headknitwit

Friday, April 8, 2011

Have You Ever Been To A Glass Ranch??

Be sure to put this local event on your calenders.

Glass Ranch Studio 16th Semi-Annual Pre-Mother's Day Weekend Sale & Glass Blowing Demonstrations
Saturday, April 30th & Sunday, May 1st 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
20307 Beech Lane Escondido, CA 92029 by Lake Hodges in Del Dios
Blown Art Glass ~ Fused Glass Sculpture and Jewelry ~ Garden Sculpture
by Artist Couple
Garry Cohen & Cherrie La Porte (760) 745-7020 cherrielaporte@cox.net
FacebookVisit Glass Ranch Studio on Facebook

You are invited to a FREE EVENT at Glass Ranch which is like no other event in San Diego County!! The studio is owned by professional glass artist couple, Garry Cohen and Cherrie LaPorte and semi-annually we offer an open invitation to come, bring your friends and family for a memorable time, watch live glass blowing demonstrations by Garry Cohen and guest glass blowers at our private studio. Listen to live music in our eclectic sculpture garden by Swift Pony on Saturday and the Hilltop Ramblers on Sunday & purchase our new local handcrafted blown art glass, sculpture and unique glass jewelry for yourself and Mother's Day gifts at great prices.

Also visit two other Art Studios and Gardens by Lake Hodges, the same weekend April 30th and May 1st. Look for yellow art show signs, Glass ~ Fiber ~ Paint, in the Lake Hodges / Del Dios area all within a 5 minute distance. Here are the details:

* Lake Hodges Artists' Spring Show & Sale *
9814 Carson Place, Escondido, 92029 by Lake Hodges in Del Dios
(760) 740-9700 jean@jeanshandwovens.com www.jeanshandwovens.com

Enjoy the green of spring in Del Dios at our new Spring Artists' Show and Sale. Artist's work includes pottery, hand painted silk, jewelry, wood, paper and paintings with hand woven clothing from the studio of Jean Degenfelder.

* Cathy Carey’s Free Art Studio and Garden Tour *
2048 Ridgecrest Place, Escondido, CA 92029
(760) 489-9109 cathy@artstudiosandiego.com www.artstudiosandiego.com
Artwork includes: Spain, Tuscany, Maui and southwest paintings, Paintings of many local scenes. Hand painted jewelry. View the one acre gardens of succulents to tropicals overlooking Lake Hodges as seen in San Diego Home and Garden magazine.


Thursday, April 7, 2011

Rest in Fleece: Woolen Coffins Offer Green Goodbye




Rest in Fleece: Woolen Coffins Offer Green Goodbye

This is a brilliant idea. I think our country needs to get in on this trend and we knitter's can be proactive and begin to knit our own! Please click on the blue print to see the article that is no joke and very interesting!

Friday, April 1, 2011

Remodel Completed


You know my roof has been leaking, the bees have been swarming, and I have lots of deferred maintenance at my house. I called on my fellow knitters to pitch in and this is the result. Now I have a house patched together with love and yarn. That is support in the most creative way. My good friend, Kim Rado-Kornbluth owns the quilting shop- Starry Night Hollow. She got her quilters to come over and artistically cover the house. Check out her shop for incredible quilt inspiration. That is the only real thing in this post- Happy April Fool's Day- with love....