Under the Red Umbrella

Book Review - The Underside of Joy

2012-01-19T18:48:00.002-06:00

I was crying by the 18th page. The Underside of Joy by Sere Prince Halverson takes off at a run from the first chapter, immediately drawing you into the vivd world of Elbow, CA, a small town on the coast of Northern California.

The plot is not terribly unique - after the death of Ella's husband, Joe, Ella is enveloped in a custody battle over her two step-children, Zach and Annie. It's the compelling language and beautiful setting that sets this book apart, and makes you feel as if you're living the story. We're thrilled with descriptions of beach and Redwood forests that make it seem like Elbow is something out of a fairy tale. As Prince Halverson describes Ella's love for it, you can't help but love it yourself.

Ella becomes as close to you as your best friend. The friends and family surrounding her are full of life, down to the smallest town "character." Even her dog, Callie, comes to life as she comforts Ella through her trials. Who hasn't had a pet that stuck their nose under the covers at just the right time?

And her children - Zach & Annie - are completely real. They are bubbly and emotional, saying the wrong things at just the wrong time, and sometimes the right things, too. The whole family in Elbow comes to life and fill the pages with an idyllic small town scene - albeit filled with tragedy.

The second chapter wasn't the only time I cried - after taking this emotional roller coaster with Ella, you're bound to get a bit verklepmt over the outcome - but there are lots of lovely, warm moments in the book as well, and you won't be able to put it down.

Sometimes I do paid reviews for BlogHer Book Club, because I love reading, but the opinions expressed are my own. I promise, the next post will be about crafts.

a sister sweater

2012-01-16T13:08:00.000-06:00

This Christmas, my sister, Meghan, requested a sweater. She is a sweetheart, though, and qualified the request with, "But I don't want to make you crazy like you were last year!" After making two sweaters last Christmas (for my mom and my great aunt), I was not eager to make any more.

But she said it's ok if it takes a bit longer. So here it is, 6 days after her birthday, and about 25% done. I'm heavily modifying this pattern and knitting it with Knit Picks Andes del Campo in Vineyard Heather. It's gonna be one snuggly sweater coat!

And don't worry - I still gifted her Boy Meets World dvd's on Christmas Day.

I love... Pom Poms

2012-01-13T12:21:00.001-06:00

During one of my pre-holiday trips to Joann's, I stumbled upon a selection of Clover's Pom Pom Makers. Now, you should understand that my pre-holiday trips to Joann's are sad, depressing affairs. There's only one store in Chicago, and it is overrun with every single crafty person in Chicago, from crazy bargain scrap-bookers to intense home-sewists. Shopping there is not the peaceful retreat it was in the suburbs of Michigan. So I admit - I've made a few escapist purchases, and these pom pom makers fall into that category.

Best. escapist. purchase. ever.

I used every single yard of "scrap yarn" and every ball of fuzzy yarn in my stash and created fun holiday packaging. I made approximately three thousand pom poms in 2 hours!

Katie's tips for making excellent pom poms, while using up ugly stash yarn:

1. This is the time to use fun fur. It makes amazing pom poms.

2. If you have weird variegated yarns to use up, mix them with a coordinating solid yarn. This technique created this muppet pom pom:

3. Mix different weights of yarn, who cares!

4. Use a lot of yarn for a nice, full pom pom.

5. Always dress your bunnies in pom poms:

Next on my pom pom to-do list: purchase this heart-shaped pom pom maker, and make a pom pom garland (like this and this)!

Festive Short Row Sweater

2012-01-09T11:11:00.002-06:00

I went a little crazy when I opened up my google reader in November and saw Purl Bee's Short Row Sweater. Yes, I was supposed to be knitting commissions, finishing up Christmas ornaments, and prepping for the holidays. But all I could think of was this gorgeously simple sweater!

I resisted its charm until Allyson started talking about it, and even picked out the perfect yarn for a Christmas sweater - Knit Picks' Stroll Glimmer. 90% reasonable fibers - 10% SPARKLE. It conveniently went on sale during black friday, and I ordered 3 skeins in Potion.

I cast on between Christmas projects and ended up knitting most of it while I was home for the holidays. Nothing better than slogging through endless stocking stitch while watching Manor House and Downton Abbey.

What? It doesn't look sparkly? Blame the weirdly-sunny day for washing out these photos!

I finally finished on New Years Eve, and laid it out to block with hours until the celebrations. Because I knit this on size 6 needles, instead of the recommended size 5, with fingering weight yarn instead of sport, it grew a lot in length. I was worried that in addition to being cropped in the back, it would be cropped in the front. My worries were completely ridiculous - when wet, the sweater reached my thighs. So I did something wild - I threw it on the radiator, and it was dry in a few hours and ready for NYE karaoke.

I knit the largest size - 40" bust - on size 6 needles and I almost ran out of yarn. Just a pithy handful left when I finished, and I took a row off the neckline and armhole ribbing. The one downside of knitting at such a loose gauge - it's totally transparent. I tried to wear it without a shirt underneath and you could see my brassier. Tacky. The good news is that it's loose and airy and looks great with a skirt or jeans.

the tiny bit of leftover yarn

how I wore it on NYE - tights & new boots

And I have to say: I've read a few comments online saying this sweater is only for "skinny" people. Dudes - I am not skinny. Because of the relaxed shape and fun back, this sweater is good for all shapes and sizes. Take it from a curvy girl.

Dolly Knits - Winter Gear

2012-01-06T12:38:00.001-06:00

I looooved American Girl dolls when I was little. By the time I was 13, I had four: Samantha, Felicity, Kirsten and a Girl of Today (the one above). My sister had a few, too, and we were both totally obsessed. We didn't have a ton of outfits and accessories, though - holy, expensive!

So when my sister told me that my niece, Madigan, would be receiving her first full-sized American Girl doll, and her baby sister, Emlyn, would be gifted a Bitty Baby, I knew I had to knit them some less-expensive accessories.

I scoured Ravelry for good patterns, but my findings were a bit lacking. There's a lot of dowdy dresses, but not much in the way of cute, modern accessories. So I came up with my own pattern!

Bitty Baby Winter Gear for Emlyn

American Girl Winter Gear for Madigan

The idea for the hat was based on Pickles' From Norway With Love Hat - but it's doll-sized! I knit a matching double-knit scarf with hearts, and came up with little mittens.

I'm planning to put together a little pattern so all those American Girl Doll-lovers out there can have their own set!

Bitty in her Winter Gear

Happy 2012

2012-01-01T21:35:00.002-06:00

In 2011, I knit some sweaters, quit my job, started my own business, decided to move to LA (moving date: February 1st, 2012), did seven craft shows, sewed more tiny felt things than I care to count, started teaching classes, and got back into comedy. I also only cut my hair once- the longest I've gone without changing it, fell in love with juicing, and started exploring the world of crunchy, natural, chemical-free body care. Which meant I failed at making deodorant and ended up with a rash in my armpits!

This year has been quite the ride, huh? Here's to 2012, which is already shaping up to be a year of changes.

little red mitts

2011-12-31T09:47:00.000-06:00

I started the Christmas-knitting-season facing two garbage-sized bags of yarn. We had to move all textiles out of the house due to a bed bug infestation, and I finally realized just how much yarn I have. Kind of a shock for someone who considers herself a minimalist when it comes to stash, but I had been gifted yarn, bought pretty one-skeins, and saved the ends of projects. When we finally moved it all back inside, I dumped out those two bags and started matching patterns to yarn (none of it sweater quantity), vowing to knit and gift all of it.

These pretty mitts were the first thing I finished, and I couldn't help but keep them. The pattern is Susie's Reading Mitts, and has since disappeared from the internet. They were knit with one and a half skeins of Blue Sky Alpaca's Melange, and I cannot say enough about this yarn. It's the perfect blend of warm, soft, and silky.

The pattern has just enough interest (hello, picot edges!) and shows off the yarn perfectly. In short - I had to keep them.

a hat for the boy

2011-12-29T10:02:00.000-06:00

When Chris and I started dating, I knit him the obligatory boyfriend hat, which he finally "lost" last year. As the weather turned cold, I promised to knit him a new hat, and he picked out Jared Flood's Turn A Square hat (rav link). The boy's got good taste in patterns!

I used up some left over Eco Wool from my Owls Sweater, and the light stripes are a mystery worsted weight yarn. I followed the pattern exactly, and even learned how to make jog-less stripes. Overall a stash-busting, new technique-learning success!

Christmas photos!

2011-12-27T11:52:00.001-06:00

It's been a whirlwind Christmas! This is what my dining room table looked like on Friday - wrapping central. I wrapped while watching White Christmas, one of my absolute favorite Christmas movies, and drinking out of my giant Twilight cup. What - you don't have a giant Twilight cup!?

This year I wrapped my festive packages with yarn pom poms and Oh, Strumpets! tags (they did a fun giveaway on their blog). My family spent Christmas day commenting on their "fuzzy balls!"

On Friday night, I performed in my Christmas sketch show. This show gets more and more fun every time we do it, it's strange that there are only two performances left!

After the show, Chris and I went out for our Christmas Eve Eve tradition - sushi. We love Tank Sushi, and this year went all out, ordering rolls, calamari, and kobe beef sliders. We went home and opened up our stocking presents, and had a perfect evening.

Now I'm home in Michigan, it's snowing, and I haven't taken a single photo! Hope your Christmas was lovely!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T12:45:00.000-06:00

Hope your day is merry and bright!

Bunny outtakes here.

Tutorial: Last-Minute Fabric Trees

2011-12-21T22:30:00.001-06:00

Here's a great last-minute decoration - Fabric Christmas Trees!

I wanted to make these last Christmas, after seeing a ton of cute tutorials floating around blogland, but it took me a whole year to get my butt in gear. I finally rounded up my materials and put together a little tutorial so you could make some, too.

Materials:

1. Fabric - I used wool flannels*

2. Felt for the bottom of the trees

3. Styrofoam cones - they sell these at crafty stores (Joann's, Michaels, etc)

4. Glue gun

5. Scissors

1. Trace the bottom of the trees onto the felt, and cut a circle about a half inch bigger than the bottom of the tree. Glue the felt circle to the bottom of the tree, cutting notches as needed so you can glue the felt to the sides of the cone.

2. Cut pieces of fabric for the sides of the tree. I used 3-5 pieces of fabric for each tree. Some can be scalloped, some can be straight. Experiment and use the sizes and shapes you like. I let the edges of my fabric fray a bit, so they look rustic.

3. Securely wrap the fabric around the cone and glue in place with just one little dot of glue in the corner - that's all you need!

4. Continue adding pieces of fabric, overlapping the other pieces, and gluing in place.

5. Before you wrap the final piece of fabric, glue a matching circle of fabric to the top of the cone. Wrap and glue the final piece of fabric, overlapping the top circle.

I made mini trees, too, using just one or two pieces of fabric. They make the perfect display with my crochet stockings!

*A funny story about this fabric - my best friend from high school gave me a huge bag of vintage flannel that belonged to his grandmother. Some are just pieces of fabric, but some are parts of pants or skirts, all from the 1960's-70's. He gave this to me about 10 years ago, and I am just now using this amazing fabric!

Giveaway Winner!

2011-12-19T09:08:00.001-06:00

Thanks to everyone who entered my giveaway for The Road Bag!

Carmen, you'll get an email from me soon.

Thanks for all the sweet compliments on my "teddy bear" bag. It was fun to read all the entries - I had no idea that when I asked for crazy holiday stories, I'd get such a wide variety. Funny, touching, sad, awesome stories, with enough floods, fires, and bad weather to last a lifetime!

I wanted to share a few especially lovely and amusing comments:

"Craziest thing that ever happened to me was answering the phone at my grandparents house and having it be the cops. I thought they were calling about a noise violation (we were loud) but instead someone had dialed 911 nineteen times in fifteen minutes. Turns out my little cousin was dialing 911 repeatedly because my other cousin wasn't letting him jump on the bed when it was his turn. The cops showed up to his complete surprise and gave him a very stern talking to." - Christine G.

"When I was a young girl, our tree was so dry and mom was burning a candle well needless to say the tree caught fire! We were absolutely lucky that it had only burned the tree but we had the cutest little Charlie Brown Tree because it was so close to Christmas that there were no trees left!" - Living in LaLaLand

"The craziest thing is perhaps something that happened today. My husband and I are both unemployed, and a dear internet friend instructed me to 'be home between four and eight' and safeway.com delivered about $200 worth of groceries to us that she had ordered from WA. Pretty amazing, and I am in shock every time I walk through the kitchen to see how much food there is." - Dreaming Monet

"My house is always crazy during the Holidays! I remember a time where my dad decided to deep fry the turkey in the back yard. My sisters and I were upstairs... windows open, enjoying the nice weather- when all of a sudden this giant flame shoots up and practically singes our eyebrows off! Luckily, my dad was fine- can't say the same for the turkey." - Ann C.

"A couple years ago, one of my packages did not arrive by Christmas eve, as promised. I called customer service for the merchant and spoke with a very nice fellow in India, who, when I relayed my tale, exclaimed, "So now you have no presents under the Christmas tree? JESUS CHRIST!" I often wonder if that call was monitored." - flashingreds

Crochet Granny Square Christmas Stockings

2011-12-14T12:18:00.000-06:00

This past weekend I put the finishing touches on a pair of crochet granny square Christmas stockings.

I was inspired by this post from Danielle of Thompson Family-Life, and then took to Ravelry to look for a pattern. Since their search function is magic, I found this vintage pattern in no time.

the original pattern laid on my giant motif

I wanted a multi-colored stocking so I charted out an idea for six colors. After crocheting up one motif using the original pattern, I thought it was too small, and subbed a double crochet stitch for the half double stitch. I need a big stocking!

I used a size H crochet hook and two types of roving yarn - Caron's Sheep(ish) and Stitch Nation's Full O' Sheep, joined the motifs as I went (as opposed to sewing them together) and the stockings turned out perfectly.

The stockings are hanging on the bookcase, ready to be filled. Chris and I decided that this year, instead of buying expensive presents, we would simply fill each other's stocking with small presents, and open them together on the 23rd before we go home to Michigan. I'm excited to watch our stockings fill up over the next few days!

Giveaway Day!

2011-12-12T06:56:00.000-06:00

Hey friends and welcome, new faces!

Once again, I'm participating in Sew Mama, Sew's Giveaway Day! Remember this lady:

Yup, I'll be giving away my Road Bag. It's a hand-knit, felted wool bag with a big pocket on the back and a repurposed strap. Very cute.

To enter:

- Leave a comment with your email address - that's all!
- If you'd like, tell me about the craziest thing that has ever happened to you during the Holidays

- For extra entries, follow my blog, tweet/facebook about the giveaway, tell your grandma about it, go outside and yell it to the neighborhood (and leave a comment telling me about it)

I'll leave the giveaway open until Friday, December 16th at 5pm. I'll randomly pick the winner and notify them via email. Good luck!

fun things to do this weekend

2011-12-09T11:22:00.001-06:00

I've been a busy girl for the past few weeks, prepping and rehearsing for two events opening this weekend:

Last night marked my return to comedy with the opening of Happy Holly-daze, a holiday sketch show playing at the Cornservatory in Chicago. There's songs, jokes and plenty of cross-dressing, so come check it out! Each sketch involves a drinking game, so definitely BYOB.

If you're in Michigan, tonight is the start of the week-long Holiday Art Sale at Two Twelve Arts Center in Saline. A wide variety of local artists are peddling their crafty wares, so it's a great place to buy handmade for every member of the family.

Ryan Gosling wants you to make things by hand

2011-12-08T18:02:00.001-06:00

Have you seen what Ashley of One in the Hand made?

Yup, that's my contribution to Ryan Gosling Handmade. I've been giggling all day!

catch-up in photos

2011-12-05T00:06:00.001-06:00

1. view from my new desk at work. 2. Mini-booth at the Urban Folk Circuit

3. Playmobil Nativity 4. Christmas tree is up

5. My favorite mug makes temping better! 6. The Prince of Peace arrives atop a bun

7. Granny square stocking 8. Snow in Michigan (none in Chicago, yet!)

9. Met a bunny on a leash at the Christmas Parade 10. My little brother marches in the Christmas parade, playing trumpet

11. Donny & Marie in Detroit

Blogging has been a bit sparse lately. To say I've been busy is an understatement: in addition to the crafty pursuits that make one crazy around the holiday season, I've also be preparing for a holiday sketch show and I got a temp job. So at the end of the day, after working from 8am to 5pm, then rehearsing from 7 to 10pm, blogging is a hard choice to make when I have a stack of projects to be completed sitting in front of me. Etsy orders going out, craft show prepping, and the usual present-making.

So I thought I'd catch you up with my trusty iphone (thanks, Instagram) and say "Hello" and "How are you?" and "What are you working on? Have you seen anything cool lately?"

it's beginning to look a lot like...

2011-11-28T12:56:00.001-06:00

We spent all day yesterday decorating the apartment while listening to Christmas music - She & Him and Michael Buble. The lights are hung, tree is up and we completely rearranged the dining room to accommodate a new hutch. Is there anything more refreshing than rearranging furniture? My favorite is that little nook created by the blue chair and the accordions.

Just a reminder, free shipping in my etsy shop until midnight with the code "FREESHIP." Happy Cyber Monday!

Give Thanks (and Free Shipping)

2011-11-25T16:56:00.001-06:00

I mean to post this yesterday, but then someone was not cooperating with the photo shoot. Sigh.

Happy Thanksgiving! I have so much to be thankful for this year - family in Michigan, friends in Chicago, friends all over the US, and friends made online that span the globe. I'm feeling all tingly and lovey right now, and I just listed my felt ornaments on etsy, so let's do this: The coupon code "FREESHIP" will get you free shipping on everything in my etsy shop until Monday.

Hope you have a great weekend, and if you're in Chicago, come out and see me at the Urban Folk Circuit handmade market tomorrow at the Double Door from noon to 5pm. Love you guys!

It's the day of the show, y'all!

2011-11-19T08:21:00.001-06:00

Today I'll be at the DIY Trunk Show at the Broadway Armory from 10am to 5pm!

There will be over 100 amazing artists, so it's the perfect opportunity to start (or finish) your holiday shopping. The Broadway Armory is located at Broadway and Thorndale, right across from Moody's in Chicago. All the info you need is here.

Wedding Present Idea: Instragram Tinybook

2011-11-14T17:28:00.001-06:00

You may remember that earlier this year, I attended three weddings in two months, and captured it all using the Instagram app on my iphone. Well, I had a bit of an ulterior motive...

I gifted each couple these tiny photobooks! Ordered from Printstagram, each little book has 24 photos from each wedding.

The quality is pretty amazing for how small they are, and they're magnetized to stick to the fridge.

A cute & unique post-wedding present!

FO Week: Advanced Embroidery (Class!)

2011-11-10T11:16:00.001-06:00

I finally finished and photographed a bunch of stuff, so it's FO Week!

I finished this little moon-inspired embroidery as a sample for my next class with the Sweatshop of Love!

Here's the description:

"Advanced Embroidery – Fill ‘er Up!: In this sequel to the Beginner Embroidery Class, you’ll learn all the techniques you need to fill in large areas with embroidery, and walk away with a bubbly sampler. You should be comfortable with straight stitches and french knots. Monday December 12th from 7-9pm. $25, additional $6 for materials"

Click here to sign up!

FO Week: Habu Kusha Kusha Scarf

2011-11-09T14:13:00.000-06:00

I finally finished and photographed a bunch of stuff, so it's FO Week!

The Habu Kusha Kusha Scarf*. 300+ rows of stockinette. Tiny needles. One super boring, yet whimsically airy scarf.

I get it - I felt really zen while knitting it - but I don't know if I'll wear it. It's kinda like - there is no purpose in it other then to meditate while knitting it. That, and it was something different for me.

But it did bring me to the macaron truck, so it's not all bad.

*I first typed "Kesha Kesha Scarf," and then thought to myself "No, that can't be correct!"

FO Week: Little Cabled Belt for Aidez (with pattern!)

2011-11-08T15:11:00.001-06:00

I finally finished and photographed a bunch of stuff, so it's FO Week!

Ok, I know what you're thinking: C'mon, Katie, you finished your Aidez weeks ago. That does not count.

But look closer!

Yup, the belt. I knit up this matching belt to keep the darn thing closed.

Would you like to knit one for your Aidez, too? Here's the recipe:

Little Cabled Belt for Aidez

CO 14 stitches

Row 1: k1, p1, k1, p2, k4, p2, k1, p1, k1

Row 2: p1, k1, p1, k2, p4, k2, p1, k1, p1

Row 3: k1, p1, k1, p2, Ear of Corn Pattern (RT2, LT2), p2, k1, p1, k1

Repeat rows 2 and 3 until belt measures about 65 inches, or desired length, ending on wrong side (row 2). Bind off.

FO Week: Navy Lace High Waisted Pencil Skirt

2011-11-07T11:56:00.003-06:00

I finally finished and photographed a bunch of stuff, so it's FO Week!

When I was at home in Michigan a few weeks ago, my sister, Meghan, asked me to teach her to use the sewing machine. We've both been obsessed with lace skirts, so I drafted a simple pattern off this picture.

I love the way mine turned out! It's a high waisted skirt with four pleats on the front, a matching lining, side zip and lapped waistband. Meghan's is the same, without the pleats, in a lovely teal color.

I can't wait to wear it during the holiday season!

weekend in numbers

2011-11-07T00:17:00.003-06:00

Number of:

Days Chris has been growing a mustache for Movember (click for his page): 6

Macarons from the Macaron Truck: 7

Ornaments sewn: 30

Bowls of pumpkin oatmeal eaten: 2

Christmas presents cast on: 1

ps. This week shall henceforth be known as FO Week! I finally had time this weekend to photograph a bunch of finished projects, some from over a month ago. Whew. I'll post them all this week!

A Day in the Life of a Costume-Stitcher

2011-11-01T16:10:00.001-05:00

So I meant to post this little video last week, but I had a hard time because the original was rotated and I could not figure out how to right it. I finally downloaded this app and did it on my phone, but there was a bit of a loss in quality. It's not terrible, so I hope you still enjoy it!

ps. I'm katiecanavan on twitter!

Halloween Weekend in Numbers

2011-10-31T09:19:00.002-05:00

Number of:

Last-minute costumes prepped: 2

Dollars spent on costumes: 15

Bowls of homemade Potato Roquefort soup consumed: 1

Slices of homemade bread consumed: 1

(all made by Chris)

Last-minute costumes worn (to great effect): 2

"What, you're just old-timey? WAIT YOU'RE MARY POPPINS!!!" said - 1

Pieces of this outfit I had to buy: 1

(Just the umbrella - yes, I already owned every other piece of this costume)

Rooms reserved at Lincoln Karaoke - 1

Dudely Rosie the Riveter at karaoke - 1

Amazing muppets* at karaoke - 2

Statler & Waldorf at Karaoke - 1 (pair)

socks** finally being finished - 1

* Yes, everyone was dressed as muppets, because we were going to throw a muppet-themed Halloween party, but it was thwarted by the bugs. Chris and I were going to go as Gonzo and Camilla, also thwarted by the bugs.

** I am whipping through all unfinished projects. The Habu scarf is done and I am determined to have a pair of socks by the end of this week.

steppin' out of my comfort zone with a Habu Textiles scarf

2011-10-29T09:02:00.000-05:00

I had never heard of Habu Textiles until my friend, Susan, asked me to attend a workshop with her in August. There were tons of samples and they talked through reading a Japanese schematic pattern, and my interest was surprisingly piqued. You know me, I'm usually drawn to thick, cable-y sweaters - not light, airy Japanese designs!

But I couldn't help but be drawn to the skinny cones of merino wool and silk stainless steel. What strange fibers to knit with! What tiny needles I'd need!

I bought a kit, simply named "Kit 78." Through a little Ravelry research, I discovered that the pattern is the Kusha Kusha Scarf, which was also published on the Purl Bee.

So that, my friends, is my excuse for knitting an entire scarf in stockinette.

the bugs...

2011-10-27T22:22:00.001-05:00

It's been a rough two weeks. Sometime last week I began to suspect that we had bed bugs. Yes, bed bugs. So we bagged up every textile in the house (including 3 bags of fabric and 2 bags of yarn), and an exterminator came. Since then, we've been working our way through all the laundry you see in the picture above. Needless to say - I've been a bit negligent with my online duties.

Wish me luck on the laundry, and I'll do a craft-related post tomorrow.

the finished Aidez cardigan!

2011-10-20T08:44:00.002-05:00

Aidez is finished!

Pattern here.

I cast off a week and a half ago, and seamed it up last weekend. Kind of a bitch to seam, but I love the finished look! I've been busy doing some freelance costume stitching, so these pictures were taken in the early hours before heading to work, when it was definitely cold enough to wear this wooly sweater.

I love the finished sweater, knit in Cascade Eco Wool. I made no changes to the pattern and knit a size Large. My gauge came in a little skinny, and my measurements fell between the Medium size and Large size, so I went with the bigger size. Total success.

I love all those cables - am I the only one who finds cables totally addicting? The only problem I have with this sweater is the lack of closure. I wore it all day on Monday and ended it up pinning it closed with safety pins while I was working. I think I'll be knitting a little belt, so I don't have to wear it like this:

Want to knit one of your own? You're in luck - the Sweatshop of Love is hosting a knit-along for this sweater, and they just cast on!

weekend in numbers

2011-10-16T22:08:00.003-05:00

Number of:

log brooches stitched: 5

doses of Sudafed taken: 4

boxes of tissues used: 2

mini fair!

new mini craft show set-ups designed: 1

craft fairs attended: 1

dollars made: 2

snaps bigger than my thumb

hours of freelance costume stitching: 12

bear suits sewn & trimmed: 4

bunny ears made: 2

Tomorrow: Urban Folk Circuit!

2011-10-14T22:53:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow - Saturday - I'll be at my first Chicago craft fair since June, the Urban Folk Circuit craft market!

It's at the Bottom Lounge in the West Loop from noon to 5pm. There will be live music, food & drink, and plenty of craftiness, so come out and say hi!

ps. My shop page is all updated with future craft fairs, if you'd like to know where I'll be over the next few months.

Featured Blogger, Huzzah!

2011-10-12T23:43:00.000-05:00

I was the Featured Blogger on Blogher today! Welcome, if you just clicked over!

In other news:

got back to Chicago late Monday night
immediately came down with a cold
been doing some freelance costume-stitching
finished knitting Aidez - just seaming, now!
finished sewing a self-designed, lace skirt with my sister
have a new embroidery class offering with Sweatshop of Love - go here for details!

aidez progress

2011-10-06T16:17:00.000-05:00

I was doing so well. Prepping for craft fairs, sewing, painting and ignoring my Aidez cardi. Then I saw this.

So now I'm one back and half of each front through it, and can't put it down. Why are cables so addictive?

Ps. I'm still at my parent's house in Michigan until next week, when I will resume my regular posting/sewing schedule. If you're in Michigan, I'll be at the Liberty Local fair at the Ann Arbor Art Center this Saturday and Sunday!

two weddings in two weeks (in instagrams)

2011-10-03T10:43:00.001-05:00

This past weekend wrapped up what I like to call "WEDDING FEVER 2011." This year, Chris and I were invited to nine weddings, and attended four. I captured the last three using Instagram on my iphone - do you you use it? - and I think it makes for some intimate pictures of my experience of each wedding. I hope the couples (and you) enjoy these photos as much as I do!

Erica & Jeff - October 1st, 2011

Lizz & Sherman - September 23rd, 2011

the weekend in numbers

2011-10-02T22:29:00.004-05:00

Number of:

brooches left to sew: 0!

new designs: 5

seasons of Six Feet Under watched while sewing: 1

dresses planned, shopped for, and started: 1

dresses that went terribly, horribly wrong: 1

dresses I ran to the mall for, in a panic: 1

(it's one from Banana Republic "Mad Men" line!)

weddings attended: 1

dances danced: 72933293

baskets of late-night kettle corn consumed: 2

Behind the Scenes at the Saline Harvest of the Arts

2011-09-30T08:42:00.000-05:00

Last Saturday, after Lizz's wedding, I set up my red tent at the Saline Harvest of the Arts. Chris and I stayed up late on Friday for wedding fun, so Saturday morning was pretty rough. To top it off, it was freezing, I couldn't find any of the warm clothes I packed, and I forgot part of my display in Chicago.

Things started to turn around when I was awarded a ribbon for Honorable Mention for Best Display, despite forgetting part of it! I love putting together my display, so I was quite proud.

Here's a look behind the table. I like to have everything laid out and ready to go, so when there's a sale, the customer doesn't have to wait. This works really well when I have a booth space, but I got a little apron for my next indoor fair.

And the best booth assistant. Chris is so friendly and outgoing; he was chatting up all the old farmers in Saline. I am so lucky to have him and my family around to help with running my booth.

Book Review - Lunch Wars by Amy Kalafa

2011-09-29T11:06:00.000-05:00

I started watching Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution last year because, let’s face it, Jamie is cute, and food is delicious. After seeing him make “chicken nuggets” from leftover chicken pieces, including pureed bones and blood, and having kids enthusiastically raise their hands to sample one, I knew something was wrong with America. These kids couldn’t even identify a raw potato!

Ever since that fateful day, I’ve taken an interest in food education, and food in the school systems. So when the chance to review Lunch Wars by Amy Kalafa for the Blogher Book Club came along, I thought it would be a good read. I love books on food and the science of food. However, not having kids or being involved in any sort of school system, I completely underestimated this book.

What I thought would be the telling of Kalafa’s struggles with her child’s school and the sub sequential movie she made, Two Angry Moms, turned out to be a step-by-step guide to starting your own food revolution. Kalafa goes through each hurdle - from starting a blog to gain support, to creating a wellness committee at your school, to taking on the USDA - and does so in minute detail. She provides suggestions for everything from getting kids to try a new veggie to how to build a community garden. Kalafa is thorough with a capital T.

Because of this thoroughness, and because I am not the intended audience for this book, I was totally bored. I skimmed through the second half, stopping fully only to read the chapter on international lunches (lunch time in France is awesome). So it wasn’t for me - but if you’re the parent of kids in school, I highly recommend it.

This is a paid review for Blogher.com, but the opinions expressed are my own - see the part where I say "I was totally bored."

New Embroidery Class at the Sweatshop of Love

2011-09-27T08:08:00.000-05:00

I'm teaching an embroidery class this month with The Sweatshop of Love!

This is a great beginning class for anyone who wants to learn the most basic of the basics. From the SoL website:

"Beginner Embroidery: Learn to embroider and get a head start on holiday gifts, or embellish your sewn and knit projects! In this two hour class, we’ll cover all the hand sewing basics, learn six stitches including the french knot, and finish a 4″ sampler. Monday, October 24th from 7pm-9pm. $25, and add $6 for materials."

Allyson also offers knitting classes, so if you're interested, head over to the Sweatshop of Love calendar to see the full schedule.

the weekend in numbers

2011-09-26T09:06:00.000-05:00

Number of -

Friends who got married - 2

Veils forgotten - 1

Mother of the Bride's that saved the day - 1

Bridesmaids - 4 (one not pictured)

Times I redid my hair - 3 billion

Beautiful pictures taken at the DIA - a million

Craft fairs - 1

Ribbons won - 1

New friends made - 1

WEDDING FEVER WEEKEND

2011-09-23T07:21:00.002-05:00

Today I'm up early to get ready for my friend Lizz Kim's wedding!

Me & Lizz in 2007

I'll be taking a little blog break this weekend, since I also have a craft show tomorrow. I'll leave you with this ADORABLE video that some friends made after my friend Allison gave them a mounted mustache for their wedding. Perfect wedding gift!

See you next week!

Colette Pattern's Macaron Dress - Blue or Pink?

2011-09-21T13:50:00.000-05:00

Awhile ago, I ordered two Colette patterns - Macaron & Parfait. I sewed up the Parfait dress over a year ago, and it's been worn quite a bit, but the Macaron pattern has languished, unmade. Until now - last week I mentioned to my friend Erica that I was considering sewing up a dress to wear to her wedding, to which she dubiously responded, "Katie, my wedding is in TWO WEEKS." Sounds like a challenge to me!

I chose a beautiful, soft velvet in a dark blue for the main color of the dress. I think it will make a nice late Autumn, early Winter dress. Now I've always envisioned my Macaron having a transparent yolk, and after visiting the fabric store, I chose some lovely scalloped edge lace. But here's the problem - I can't decide which color to use.

Blue velvet with hot pink lace.

Or blue velvet with matching blue lace.

I'm tempted to make up both versions and see which looks best on me! What do you think - blue or pink?

Daisy Stitch Handwarmers

2011-09-20T13:35:00.003-05:00

After I cast on my Aidez cardigan last week, I suddenly realized that what I really needed was fingerless gloves! It's exactly fingerless-gloves-weather. Luckily, I had queued The Purl Bee's Daisy Stitch Hand Warmer pattern on Ravelry.

This pattern is awesome! Not only is the daisy stitch pattern interesting, its the perfect way to use up odds and ends of yarn. I used two colors of Wool-Ease, one color of Cascade 220 (recognize it from my Beatnik?) and one color of Stonehedge Fiber Mill Shepard's Wool.

I made three little changes - I knit the daisy stitch on size 9 US needles, I added 8 rows of Daisy Stitch before the tumb, and I took out the row of daisy stitch in the thumb. Instead I just worked 3 rows of 1x1 rib.

They're a little tight, due to the Daisy Stitch, but I think they'll stretch out in time. I've been wearing them while sewing brooches for my upcoming craft fair - perfect!

the weekend in numbers

2011-09-19T08:18:00.002-05:00

Number of:

Rehearsals for Dumb Angel - 2

Times I cried (from awesomeness) in rehearsal - 2

Dinners with good friends who live in the suburbs - 2

Brooches cut out - 65

Brooches sewn - 11

Episodes of Lost watched (for the first time!) - 5

Birthday celebrations - 1

Songs sang at karaoke - 1

Bottles of wine shared - 2

Songs sang by my "Beach Boys" (above) at karaoke - 1

ps. Today is my birthday, and we celebrated a bit on Saturday. This morning I woke up earlier than I have in the past 3 months, so it looks like 28 is a responsible year.

the theater stuff: Dumb Angel

2011-09-18T16:46:00.000-05:00

Some of you may remember that in real life, I'm involved in theater, and I wanted to tell you about my new project - I'm directing a reading of a new play, Dumb Angel, for the Ruckus Theater. There are three performances - two this weekend and one next week - and if you're interested, there are tickets for sale here.

Dumb Angel is a collage tribute to the life of Brian Wilson, and the first act is directly transcribed from a recording of the Beach Boys' recording session for "Help Me, Rhonda." In the play, the actors playing the Beach Boys sing the song multiple times in 4-part harmonies. Which means I've woken up singing "Help Me, Rhonda," for the past 3 weeks.

Makes a girl want to pick up a ukulele...

Yup, my music is off-camera to the right.

upcoming craft shows

2011-09-16T08:47:00.000-05:00

After doing two craft shows this summer, I feel like I've been bitten by the bug! I love setting up my booth, figuring out new ways to display my crafty wares, and talking to customers face to face. In the next month I'll be doing two craft shows, both in Michigan:

This first is downtown in my hometown of Saline, MI. I'll be at the Saline Harvest of the Arts on Saturday, September 24th from 10am to 7pm.

The second is the brand new Liberty Local at the Ann Arbor Arts Center (click for address) on October 8th from 10am to 6pm, and October 9th from 12pm to 5pm. I'm really excited to be part of this new Handmade Craft Fair!

Here's the description from the website: "With two floors of indie craft goodness, Liberty Local will be held in the historic Walker Carriage Building, home of the Ann Arbor Art Center. Think of it as an indoor indie artists’ market, showcasing the best in independent craft." Awesome.

Why do two shows in Michigan? I'll be home for two weddings on September 23rd and October 1st, so I figured I'd make a week or two of it. I'm planning to pick apples with my nieces, make brunch with my family and see The Lion King with my sister. A nice autumnal getaway!

The Renegade Haul

2011-09-15T00:01:00.000-05:00

I spent a very sweaty Sunday afternoon at the Renegade Craft Fair with my friend Kathryn. The weather was beautiful, and it was absolutely packed. We stopped by Allyson's booth, where she was peddling my yarn ball brooches, and made a full tour.

I bought a great-smelling bar of soap from soapily ever after and picked up a few fun postcards (Lisa Chow and Twig).

I absolutely love this little bunny necklace from The Foundrie. I almost got one of their plastic charms, but Kathryn convinced me to go for the silver. How cute is that packaging?

I like shorter necklaces - this one hits at the perfect spot. Just a few purchases, but money well spent!

Thanks, Craft!

2011-09-13T11:39:00.002-05:00

I was featured yesterday on Craft!

They did a little blurb about Nixon's Presidential Seal, and I was pretty excited to see it. Welcome if you've just clicked over from the article, and thanks, Craft!

weekend in numbers

2011-09-12T11:49:00.002-05:00

Number of:

impulse projects started - 1

plays seen - 1

rehearsals for Dumb Angel - 2

parades watched from my dining room - 1

marching bands in parade - 3

bottles of wine shared - 1

yarn brooches made - 21

special Sweatshop of Love brooches made - 2

episodes of Weeds watched while sewing - 10

Renegade Craft Fairs attended - 1

hours spent sweating at said fair - 2

people who ran directly into me at said fair - 6827

Vintage Crafts - Nixon's Presidential Seal, finished in Crewel

2011-09-10T09:47:00.000-05:00

I posted in July about a special commission I was working on - The Presidential Seal, worked in crewel. I've finished stitching, and it turned out so well!

This was a great opportunity to brush up on my crewel stitches - I especially loved the stitch used on the leaves.

Wanna see the back? No one ever shows the back of their projects, but I'm not shy:

After I framed it and glued down the fabric, I covered the back of the frame in brown paper. I love this nice clean look.

After Chad (he who commissioned this piece) saw my last post, he sent me some fun pictures. Here's Nixon and Elvis, chilling in the Oval Office. You can see the crewel seal on the wall on the right side.

And here's a picture of the actual piece stitched by Julie Nixon:

It's fun to compare Julie's work with mine. She did some stitches that were very different than those suggested in the kit, which makes me think it was manufactured after Julie made her piece. Look at how things catch on!

Summer Thrifty Finds

2011-09-09T10:36:00.000-05:00

I haven't had a ton of time to thrift this summer, but I have had a few really good finds that I wanted to share. Can you tell I'm playing catch-up on posts?

Check it - a vintage Samsonite shoulder bag, patchwork leather clutch, pastoral pendant necklace, teal polka dot dress (to be refashioned) and the mother lode - a beautiful red student size accordion.

After playing my accordion in a show earlier this year, I realized it was much too large for me to carry around. It's really built for a larger person than I, and caused some serious back pain. So I started looking for a student-size accordion, occasionally checking Craigslist. Then, while visiting a new thrift store near my house, I found this baby. It's perfect!

This necklace came from the same shop, and I love it. I'm sure it's not really antique, but I love how large it is, and the illustration is the sweetest.

Have you found anything lately?

a little sample Cossette

2011-09-08T09:46:00.000-05:00

I took a little project along with me to Liz & Joseph's wedding - Never Not Knitting's Cossette Wrap. I knit this up as a sample for Sifu, so I didn't exactly chose this project myself. I thought it was pretty and all, but I wasn't very excited to knit something for the store. I mean - do I haveta!?

Lisa, the owner of Sifu, is my lovely model.

But let me tell you - I LOVED knitting this. The construction is awesome, despite all the stockinette. You shape the whole thing with short rows, and then simply change colors for the decorative edging. No picking up stitches!

I used Malabrigo Worsted, and I love these colors. I wasn't sold on the pink when it was wrapped in the skein, but it looks awesome knit up.

Except for one little problem... do you see it? Above? How the top part is completely different, despite being the same dye lot!? Maddening, but luckily the wrap is for the store, and can be a teaching piece. "See, kiddies, sometimes things are unfair. Like dye lots."

I seriously can't get over the edging. I think I need to knit one for myself. After all the sweaters, that is.

Etsy = Updated with Headbands & Curios!

2011-09-07T13:28:00.000-05:00

My etsy shop is finally updated! I added leaf headbands & mounted curios, take a look here.

My friend, Sharriese, agreed to be my headband model, and I wanted to share some of the outtakes from our photo shoot:

Sears Portrait Studio

"You open the door for a blind date, and the man is TINY!"

"Make a Katie-face".... apparently this is what I look like?!

Ps. I know some of you expressed interest in pieces I posted back in June. I chose not to list all of these on etsy, but some are still available, or I can custom-make a headband or bracelet for you. If you're interested, please email me at katiesredumbrella@gmail.com!

thinkin' about sweaters

2011-09-07T09:07:00.000-05:00

On Monday, the chilly weather swept in, and I just knew I had to cast on a new sweater.

I've been thinkin' and wishin' and hopin' about Aidez for a month now. It's so slouchy and comfy looking, with cables to keep things interesting. And there are some pretty awesome finished sweaters (including Elly's and Julie's) on Ravelry, so I think this one's a winner! I'll be knitting it in Cascade Eco-Wool, which I just picked up today.

Other autumn-appropriate sweaters that caught my eye:

Cloudy Sunday by Hillary Smith Callis - I love this one, but I can't decide which yarn to knit it with. I feel like this would lend itself to a blend, yes? It would do well in something with a bit of drape. Think how cute it would be with a long sleeved t-shirt layered underneath.

Delancy Cardigan by Alexis Winslow - Chevron stripes! I love this one, but it's duking it out with...

Paulie by Isabell Kraemer - See? They are both wonderful in a shawl-collar-y, thick-and-thin-stripe-y, garter-edged way. And since my heart cannot decide, I shall not cast on. Well, at least not yet.

Psst - Last year's sweaters are here.

Liz & Joseph's Rainbow Wedding

2011-09-06T10:04:00.000-05:00

Two weeks ago, Chris and I flew to Rockledge, Fl to celebrate the nuptials of our good friends Liz & Joseph. They had a stunning rainbow wedding at Joseph's parents' garden center. In addition to the beautiful foliage that always lives there, Liz & Joe completely transformed a warehouse, painting murals and decorating like crazy. I played music in the wedding (uke) with a three-lady band, and despite the heat we had a really great time.

The Road Bag, finally

2011-09-05T23:20:00.005-05:00

Ok, so about a month and a half ago, I blogged about Kelley Deal coming to Chicago and doing a workshop on her Road Bag at Sifu Design Studio & Fine Yarns. Finally, I have completely, totally, ultimately finished the bag!

The workshop was awesome - Kelley is super nice and we had a lot of fun chatting and knitting and eating cupcakes.

The bag is knit in Cascade Magnum, which is a super chunky wool. After you've knit this huge bag, you throw it in the washer and felt the HECK out of it. I think I washed it three times to get it really close-felted.

The finished product is so cute. It kinda looks like a cartoon bag! Soft and a bit fluffy. I chose to make a strap out of an old belt I found at the thrift store. I cut the ends to an appropriate length and then hand stitched it around the metal rings, which you put in before felting. I added a huge snap to close the front flap.

The pocket on the back may be my favorite design feature. I must have pockets in my purse, so I'm glad Kelley and I were on the same page.

Here's the finished bag - somewhat - modeled for perspective. Can you tell I was experimenting with the self-timer? You can practically see up my nose and for that, I apologize. Next time it'll be better.

Erica's Pistons-Themed Bachelorette Party

2011-08-31T11:23:00.000-05:00

I think I've mentioned I was invited to quite a few weddings this year. Nine. I'm in the home stretch, and the last wedding of the year is on October 1st. We threw the bride, Erica, a little bachelorette party a few weeks ago.

Erica is a fancy lady, but she loves her sports. And I was just so tickled by the thought of her carrying around a cooler in a lingerie shop, so my co-party-planner and I decided that Erica's party should be Pistons themed!

We put together the whole party in the afternoon, then headed to G Boutique, a lingerie store in Chicago. It started with a nice red & blue theme for the food. Add a huge bin of cheese balls labeled "Basketballs - Made of Cheese," and a cooler labeled "Bride Juice," which contained Erica's favorite mixed drink. We finished it off with some simple basketball cupcakes and called it a party.

I found the perfect crown at Target and covered up the Snow White emblem with a felt basketball.

All the ladies attending dressed in red & blue. And yes, it was a bachelorette party. Apologies if your 3-year-old is looking over your shoulder right now. Tell him it's a muppet. A muppet and.... candy? No wait, cleaning products?

G Boutique is located in the Bucktown neighborhood of Chicago. Despite the somewhat shady website, the store is adorable! You can see a bit of the decor behind Erica in this photo. The owner did a little *toy* demonstration and was very funny and knowledgable. I would highly recommend them for all your lady-like needs.

ps. This is the first time I've ever used the label "sports" on a post. It will probably be the last.

long time, no...

2011-08-28T22:25:00.001-05:00

Hello my bloggy friends. It is I, Sir Thomas More. The rabbit. Not the historical figure.

Katie has had a crazy week, so I offered to update her blog, since I am so good at typing with my nimble paws. After planning and prepping for her friends' wedding last week, she sent me to the bunny hotel, where I ate hay and stared at other bunnies. It's been awhile since I've had quality time with other buns, and I really loved it. When they took me home on Monday, I got so upset that I took a bite out of every piece of furniture I could. Take THAT, humans!

Then Katie was sick for a few days, but now we are both feeling much better and have resumed our daily snuggling. And by "snuggling," I mean I let her pet and groom me. I do not groom her, because I am top bunny around here, and it would be beneath me. Can't you tell I'm distinguished? Helloooo - I have a salt & pepper coat. If that's not distinguished, I don't know what is.

Katie will be back tomorrow with lots of crafty projects to show you!

Fondest Regards,

Sir Thomas More

New Blogher Book Club Review - The Kid

2011-08-17T18:16:00.000-05:00

My new review for Blogher's Book Club is up, here. The Kid by Sapphire, is the sequel to Push, and is not for the faint of heart. My feelings toward this one were a bit complicated, and the other reviews are worth reading. Find them all here.

Scrappy Swap with Caitlin from Salty Oat

2011-08-10T13:07:00.000-05:00

I am so excited to show you the fruits of a swap that has been in the making for almost a year. Yup, it was this post last October that started it all. I offered to knit some tiny candy corn for Caitlin of Salty Oat and she suggested a swap. Well, fast forward about 7 months, and we finally agreed that we would much rather do a sewing swap. The parameters were as follows:

1. We will assemble packages of fabric scraps and swap

2. We will create something with said scraps and our own scraps

3. We will swap this scrappy item

This was so. fun. Here's what Caitlin made for me:

Beautiful quilted placemats that go so well in my dining room! I love how well our scraps go together with the linen. Caitlin's sewing is impeccable.

And here's what I made for her:

A patchwork chevron tote bag! I used this tutorial for the chevrons, and lined it and put in a little embroidered pocket. I just love a good embroidered pocket.

Just listed - Balls of Yarn & Needles Brooch

2011-08-09T10:09:00.000-05:00

Just a quick post to say that these little balls of yarn & needles brooches are now in my etsy shop, here.

I need a better name for these guys, right?!

This weekend in Saline...

2011-08-08T16:50:00.000-05:00

This weekend at the Saline Summerfest...

I hung out under my red umbrella. My mom told me she almost put up on her facebook to "Visit Katie in her red tent!" before realizing that might not be the best turn of phrase...

Also - check out my new banner hanging behind me. Exciting stuff.

I took part in a collaboration with my fellow vendor - You Look Delicious. Lookit that Man-Eating Arctic Unicorn wearing one of my mustaches!

We came up with a new hanging brooch display. Later we backed it with white paper, and I think it worked quite well.

Many people admired the huuuuge mustache... but no one purchased it. I'm sure it will find its way to a happy home soon.

I came up with a new brooch design. This one has been in the works for awhile, so I'm glad it's finally realized.

I hung out with my sister a lot, due to her manning the 212 Arts Center booth, which was just two down from me. She bought me a frozen hot chocolate when I was covered with sweat, so I pretty much owe her my life.

I made two purchases - a pretty quilted pouch from Hip To Piece Squares and a beach glass ring from Annie O'Kane. I love both!

My review of A Good Hard Look on BlogHer's Book Club

2011-08-05T12:52:00.001-05:00

Hi, friends! My second review for BlogHer's Book Club is up. A Good Hard Look is my kind of summer reading, so check out my review here.

More Craft Fair Fun: Saline Summerfest

2011-08-04T15:02:00.001-05:00

I've been a busy bee, prepping for my second craft fair.

I'll be heading to my hometown of Saline, Michigan for the Saline Summerfest. It starts tomorrow, August 5th, from 5pm to 9pm and continues on Saturday, August 6th, from 10am to 8pm. If you're in the area, come out and see me!

I created a few new things for this fair - can you spy a giant mustache?

This little school of fish are my favorites, though.

Vintage Crafts - Nixon's Presidential Seal

2011-08-03T11:33:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, a guy came into Sifu and asked if anyone knew how to do crewel embroidery. He had a crewel kit that he found on ebay, and he wanted to commission someone to sew it for him. I agreed - obviously - and he told me the story that goes along with it.

Apparently Nixon had the same seal, done in crewel, hanging in his office! His daughter made it for him when he was elected president. I did a bit of research and found this paragraph from The Making of the President 1968, by Theodore H. White:

"By the time Nixon woke, at about nine o'clock, the election had jelled on television for the nation, as for political operators. Haldeman found Nixon, about nine, already awake, sleepy-eyed and in pajamas; now, for the first time, Nixon turned on the TV sets and watched the reports. ABC had already conceded him the election; as Haldeman and Nixon watched the screens, NBC also conceded; and Nixon, still in pajamas and bathrobe, walked down the hall to his daughters' bedroom to tell them, too. But they had already heard the news and Julie was ready to present to him the gift she had been secretly sewing for him for several weeks - the Presidential seal, done in crewel."

Pretty great story - no matter what your thoughts are on Nixon. I'll post updated pictures when I'm done!

Embroidery Workshops at Sifu in August

2011-07-29T16:00:00.001-05:00

I'm teaching a few embroidery workshops at Sifu Design Studio in Chicago during the month of August. Each 3-hour workshop is a great way to take your embroidery skills to the next level, or learn something completely new. All materials are included for each workshop - B.Y.O.Hoop if you'd like. You can sign up online and view the whole calendar here, or call the store to sign up - 773.271.7438.

Ribbon Embroidery - $40

Wednesday, August 3rd, 6:00 - 9:00pm

This romantic technique has been around for hundreds of years, and is perfect for embellishing clothing and home goods. In this workshop, you'll learn the basics to create ribbon motifs and how to combine them into a charming work of art.

Fancy Stitches Embroidery - $40

Wednesday, August 10th, 6:00 - 9:00pm

A workshop for the experienced embroider who is ready to learn a few fancy stitches. In this workshop we'll learn five decorative stitches and create a sampler to hang on your wall or give as a gift.

Punch Embroidery - $40

Saturday, August 13th, 2:30 - 5:30pm

Create a patch for your letter sweater! Punch embroidery uses a special tool to push loops of thread through fabric in a specific design, creating a fluffy, soft picture. In this workshop, we'll learn the basics to get you started with a project of your choosing - bring a sketchbook with your own ideas or use one of our patterns.

Applique Embroidery - $40

Monday, August 22nd, 6:00 - 9:00pm

Appliqué is great for everything from t-shirts to home decor to covering a hole in your favorite garment. We’ll cover heat and bond, quick turn, reverse appliqué, traditional appliqué with blind stitch, and blanket stitch.

Make Up Your Mind - the complete sweater

2011-07-25T12:38:00.000-05:00

And here it is, my summer sweater:

I planned it, I knit along, yet somehow, this sweater fell a bit short of the mark. I'll admit - I'm not really a summer sweater kind of girl. I prefer to knit thick, cable-y, dead-of-winter type sweaters. But I stepped outside my comfort zone, and knit the Make Up Your Mind sweater.

The design itself is awesome, Julie did a great job. But it's not really me.

It looks awesome in these pictures, and I love the color. But it's a cotton sweater, and it got wet, and there was some unfortunate stretching... ok, I maybe flashed a bit to much of the ol' chest. Good thing I was wearing a bathing suit underneath - that's all I have to say!

Ps. Photos were taken by my friend Melissa on Lake Michigan after a huge thunderstorm last week - isn't it beautiful!?

Instagram Update

2011-07-22T11:10:00.000-05:00

I've been taking a ton of pictures on my iphone using Instagram, a free app. It's so easy to take pictures and tweet them - I've become a bit addicted! I want to share them here as well, so here's a round up of Instagram photos from the past two weeks:

1. New bangs cut 2. Embroidery embellishments for a class I'm teaching 3. Ombre cloud 4. Pink Lemonade cupcakes from here 5. Portobello burger & potato salad dinner 6. Balloon lady at the Chicago lakefront 7. Headbands in progress 8. New bedspread from Ikea

Vintage Glass - a collection

2011-07-21T18:20:00.001-05:00

I've been meaning to photograph some of my collections for awhile now, so when Casey from Elegant Musings posted that she wanted to do a blog tour of collections, I immediately emailed her. Can you tell I'm motivated by others?

I present my installment of:

Hello class, I'm Katie, and this is my vintage glass collection:

I started collecting vintage cut glass in 2005, and it all started with a green glass vase. I loved the color and the elegance, and I easily started a collection. It didn't hurt that there's a profusion of glassware in thrift stores. Six years later, I still check the glasswares section when I'm thrifting.

Although it started with green glass, I quickly expanded to blue, gold and white - known as "milk glass." My collection is not mere decoration, though, I use it in every room in the house. Vintage glass makes great storage containers for craft materials, jewelry, cooking utensils - you name it, there's vintage glass to store it. I even store my button collection in vintage glass!

The humble beginnings of my glass collection in 2005 (taken with my first digital camera - oh, technology!):

This weekend at Sifu - Kelley Deal!

2011-07-19T21:52:00.000-05:00

This weekend there's an awesome event happening at Sifu Design Studio, the yarn store where I teach classes and work. Kelley Deal is coming to knit with us!

From the Sifu website:

"Kelley Deal of The Breeders, and author of the book "Bags that Rock" will visit Sifu Design Studio & Fine Yarns starting July 22 for a book signing and meet & greet! At 7pm, she will host Sci-Fiber Friday - our free, weekly Sci-Fi movie screening. July 23 and 24, Kelley will be back to teach a two part workshop on her awesome felted bag, "The Road Bag." Plus, all day Saturday we will be hosting The Urban Folk Circuit, the only traveling year-round craft fair in Chicago, in our back parking lot. Saturday night Kelley and her new band R.Ring will be playing across the street at Transistor.

Sign up now on our website for this once in a lifetime chance to knit and felt a bag with Kelley Deal. The class is $80 for both days, materials not included, but readily available in kits at the store for $60. "

I'll be there on Saturday and Sunday at the workshop, and if you're in Chicago, I hope you'll join me. Sifu is offering a special deal for my blog readers - half off the price of the class! Just use the code "KATIESBLOG" when you sign up, and I'll see you there!

MUYM Progress

2011-07-15T09:57:00.000-05:00

When I joined Allyson's knit along and chose to knit Julie's Make Up Your Mind sweater, I was skeptical. I don't really believe in summer sweaters - who wears a sweater in the summer? They're hot, even if sleeveless, and I sweat. Plus everyone knows sweaters belong to winter! But I had no idea how awesome this sweater would be to knit on the road.

Cellular stitch on Thursday morning

I had a bit of a false start - since I'm using different yarn than called for, I swatched a bit skinnier than gauge. I decided to compensate by casting on for a size 48. After knitting about two inches, I tried on the sweater and even though it was only two inches, it was a baggy two inches. So I pulled the whole thing out and cast on size 44.

Knit through cellular, checkerboard and in the midst of linen stitch on Saturday

From there it was smooth sailing - I added two extra inches of cellular stitch to the bottom of the sweater, and about an inch to the bust, as per Allyson's KAL recommendations.

Took a few days to work the Hindu Pillar stitch and finished off with some lace

I love knitting this! Or did, since I'm actually done at this point (stay tuned for FO pics). The design is really smart - every few inches you switch up the stitch pattern, which creates shaping without increasing or decreasing. That also makes it perfect for travel - no stitches or rows to count, just a new stitch pattern to keep things interesting.

My Outer Banks Vacation in (iphone) Pictures

2011-07-12T11:08:00.001-05:00

Like the rest of my Outer Banks vacation, these photos are a little lazy. That's to say - they were all taken on my iphone. I took another camera, I swear! But when it came down to it, I just didn't use it much.

I decided to post the best all in one huge entry - Enjoy!

Meghan and I set off on Friday - sisterz road trip!

Extremely idyllic landscape in Virginia

Crossing the bridge to OBX after two days of driving!

Finally at the beach.

Mi mama.

Pops.

Look how hip my little brother is!

We attended the 4th of July parade in Duck, NC, which was adorable.

Currituck Lighthouse

Lighthouse keeper & dog

No trip to the East Coast is complete without a lobster dinner.

aaand we're back!

2011-07-08T17:48:00.001-05:00

I returned home this morning after my week-long trip to the Outer Banks, NC.

Little did I know that it would also be a week-long vacation from the internet. I'll admit - it felt kinda nice. And since I have a new fangled iphone, I was able to keep tweeting, if not blogging.

I'll do a full post with vacation photos (and vacation crafts!), but right now I have a pressing question: What blog posts did I miss this week? I'm dreading looking at my Google Reader, so link me if you found or posted something awesome.

vacation knittin'

2011-07-02T07:20:00.000-05:00

On Thursday morning, I set off on an adventure. The first leg was less than glamourous - I took the Megabus home to Michigan - but yesterday my sister, Meghan, and I drove for nine hours through two states, heading towards the Outer Banks, NC. The Outer Banks is one of the most beautiful places in America, and our family has vacationed there since 1997, so I'm glad to be on the road.

But I definitely need knitting...

Luckily, Allyson from Sweatshop of Love is once again hosting a Selfish Knit-Along! The sweater I've chosen is Julie Crawford's Make Up Your Mind, and I'm knitting it in Knit Pick's Comfy Fingering in Seafoam. My tropical color choice is definitely in the minority, but it will go perfectly with the new swim suit I ordered from Victoria's Secret.

I'll be on the road for six hours again today before reaching OBX (the Outer Banks according to popular bumper stickers), so I'll have plenty of time to make major progress on my sweater. A good thing, considering I cast on three weeks after everyone else!

Summer Goals

2011-06-28T15:52:00.000-05:00

This summer, since I'm lacking the structure provided by a 9-5 job, I thought it would be a good idea to make some solid summer goals. Most are self-explanitory, and some are already somewhat complete. A little more info:

1. I have a vintage Schwinn cruiser that I let get all rusty. I think it needs a new paint job and one of these!

3. I have a serious lack of upper body strength, and it's starting to annoy me. I downloaded the "Hundred Pushups" app for my iphone, and I've already built up to doing 22 pushups. Whew.

4. Every summer I wish I had gone to the beach more, so this year I'm putting a number on it.

5. Last year I totally failed at growing things.

6. I'll write more about this later, but it's this sweater in particular.

8. In prep for the last movie!

9. Not to sell, not to worry about - just art for art's sake.

ps. Check out the new blog design and let me know what you think! Meghan made me a lovely new logo/banner, and I changed things up just a little to reflect it.

My first Blogher Book Club review

2011-06-26T17:48:00.000-05:00

I mentioned awhile ago that I am now part of the BlogHer advertising hub, and that includes reviewing books for their Book Club.

My first review - an >ahem< honest and constructive criticism of What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen - is up on the BlogHer site now. Click over to read!

Something New: Felt & Fabric Brooches

2011-06-24T09:46:00.000-05:00

Ok, this is my last round of beautiful photographs of my work - I swear! (All beautiful photos by Meghan Canavan)

I decided to change the design for my heart brooches. I added vintage fabric to a felt heart, and then hand embroidered the whole thing, adding cute buttons along the way. The effect is very summery.

This yellow one is my favorite:

After making the hearts, I thought circles would be cute. They look like girl scout badges, right?

Have a great weekend - hope your weather is better than our's in Chicago (cold-ish but still humid)!

Something New: Bracelets

2011-06-23T11:06:00.000-05:00

Just like the headbands, I'd been planning to make bracelets for awhile. I love the way they turned out - the perfect pop of color!

They come in two shapes: hearts & circles. Like the headbands, they are hand cut with hand embroidered accents, and then machine sewn together for durability. They snap shut with a little pearly snap.

Once again, all photos by my lovely sister, Meghan.

Something New: Headbands

2011-06-22T09:46:00.001-05:00

I wanted to add some new designs to my "line" for the craft show. I'd been thinking about making headbands for awhile, and this was the kick in the pants I needed!

The shapes are all hand cut, with hand embroidered accents. They are machine sewn together to make sure the elastic band is sewn in nice and tight. I wore one each day of the show and they are comfortable and cute! They'll be in my etsy shop later this week - hopefully Friday.

The leaf headband was the big seller of the show - I only have 3 left.

All photos by Meghan Canavan, that talented little photographer!

10 Things I learned from My First Craft Fair

2011-06-21T09:10:00.000-05:00

Helloooo!

1. Don't be afraid to talk to people. Some people want to talk while shopping, and some don't. I found that a simple greeting made it easy for me to gauge people's interest and help them shop if needed. Also - I was a little nervous that someone might steal my stuff, and greeting people is a deterrent. And talk to the other merchants! Everyone seemed distant at first, but I was really glad that I made the leap to chat with them - we made friends with the ceramic artist next door!

2. Get a dolly. No more lifting for me - my shoulders are killing me.

Like father, like daughter. And there's Meghan in the background.

3. Family is invaluable. My whole family came to help this weekend and keep me company. My sister, Meghan, drove in on Thursday and stayed through Monday. She made me a new logo, hand-wrote all my signs, drank beers with me and did a lot of the heavy lifting (literally). When things got a little slow on Sunday, we traded off leaving the booth and shopping. Who else would do this but family? Sidenote: we both fell off our chairs within a 24 hour period - Meghan on Sunday night, me on Monday at the yarn store. Yup, we were tired.

4. Have one awesome thing that catches the eye and draws people in. For me, it was the "Mounted Curios" display. People would laugh and point, and then they would come and look at the rest of my stuff. One kid even walked toward it like a zombie, chanting "mustachesssss." I think next time I'll make one giant mustache and see how it goes!

5. Branding is awesome... to a point. So many people commented on the "brand" of my little booth. There were lots of "cute" comments and I was the only red tent on the street (Under the Red Umbrella-tent!). Turns out there's a reason for that - red tent means the light looks red, which means your merch looks weird. At least I looked less pale?

6. The tent is not waterproof. Luckily it only sprinkled for about a half hour on Sunday morning. Whoops.

7. Practice your set-up beforehand. I set up my table at home beforehand, and took a picture for reference. At the fair, I was able to get the table up in 10 minutes!

8. Square is a lifesaver. If you're thinking of getting into small business, go for this card reader. It works with your phone, and takes a small percentage of your transactions, but the best part is the app it comes with. You can manage cash and credit card transactions, easily calculate sales tax and take pictures of your sold items. Very useful!

9. People either love or hate the mannequin head. Little girls kept petting that blonde wig, and some people were outright afraid of it. Meghan and I named her Lulu.

10. Relax a bit and have fun. On Saturday I was a ball of nerves and only left the tent for about 10 minutes. But on Sunday, I was feeling a little more relaxed and took some time to step outside the tent, do a little shopping, and eat a corn dog, and I had a much better time because of it. It's a fair - have fun!

photos from the craft fair

2011-06-20T23:07:00.000-05:00

Well - I did it. I went. People looked. I sold. I'll do a word-y post tomorrow, but in the mean time, a few iphone photos from the craft fair:

And a few butterbeers for good measure...

beaded bracelets - my post-craft show reward!

2011-06-17T14:48:00.000-05:00

Awhile ago, I read that when you are running your own business and want to stay motivated, it's important to reward yourself for a job well done. In this case, I bought my reward before the job was near finished, but it's helped me stay motivated!

After Danielle from Thompson Family Life posted about beaded friendship bracelets, I could not stop thinking about them. They are the perfect summer bracelet, especially the chevron style. So I bought a bead loom last week, and told myself I'd save it for after the craft fair. So far - so good.

There's another specific type of bracelet I want to make:

A Pretty Little Liars bracelet! If you haven't watched this ABC Family show - it's deliciously bad teen melodrama. Each girl in the show has a beaded bracelet with her name on it, and they play a big part in the plot. My sister and I are both love this show (guilty pleasure), so I bought us beads so we could have matching bracelets.

I hope everyone has a great weekend - I'll be back Monday with lots of pictures from the craft show!

Craft Fair Prep = Intense

2011-06-15T13:16:00.002-05:00

The past week has been a little crazy with craft fair preparations. As I mentioned last week, I had to take a surprise trip to Michigan, which interrupted my crafting schedule. After that, I hosted a bachelorette weekend for my friend, Lizz, who is getting married in September.

So Sunday afternoon, I was ready to get back in the studio, and came up with two new products: a cuff-style bracelet, and some fascinator headbands.

Bracelets in progress

My sister, Meghan, is coming to Chicago tomorrow to help me out. She is a wonderful photographer, so better pictures are to come, but in the mean time, I thought I'd share some peeks at what my desk looks like. A bit trashed, but for good reason - bracelet making!

And here's one of my headband designs on my awesome model. She looks good, right? I actually think that glass head is really creepy, but maybe the sunglasses help the creep factor? Or do they add to it?

Side note: sometimes I actually wear that wig. Yup.

Chris built me an easel to display all my mounted plaques and embroideries, and I painted it with chalkboard paint. I think once everything is hung up, it will look really cute.

So things are looking good! Once again, the craft fair - Custer's Last Stand Festival - is this Saturday and Sunday in Evanston, so if anyone is in the area and wants to come say "Hi," I'd love to see you!

Ps. Thank you to everyone who has left me comments over the past two weeks - due to a crazy schedule, I haven't responded, but please know they are appreciated! You guys are the best!

The Holy Grail :: Hand-tooled Leather

2011-06-10T12:28:00.000-05:00

I had to take an unplanned trip home to Michigan this week, which unfortunately disrupted my craft fair prep schedule. But on the bright side, I got to visit my favorite Antique Mall - right off 94 in Coloma, MI.

And I found my holy grail:

I love hand-tooled leather purses and always look for them when thrifting, but have never found one in usable condition. I was hoping to find a shoulder bag, but this clutch was in such pristine condition, with a lovely $20 price tag, I could not pass it up. It will be perfect for all the summer weddings - it's big enough to hold camera, phone, keys, lip products, etc.

I also picked up a few vintage buttons. I love using these in my sewing projects.

A word about Antique Malls - I usually find that they are overpriced, and not for the faint of heart. They can be huge and overwhelming, but if you're willing to sift through the piles, you can find something great!

The Perfect Prop

2011-06-06T22:29:00.003-05:00

Although I quit my 9-5 job, I will not be completely jobless this summer. I have a part-time job at Sifu Design Studio - a yarn store in the Andersonville neighborhood in Chicago. I will also be teaching classes at Sifu this summer, and they sell some of my art. But on Mondays and Wednesdays, I'm just a regular yarn store employee.

And today, that meant finding this:

Need the perfect prop for modeling your hairy vest? Look no further than this naked baby.

Ch-ch-ch-changes!

2011-06-04T10:35:00.001-05:00

There have been some big life changes around these parts. Those of you who follow me on Twitter know (from the incessant count-down): I quit my corporate 9-5 desk job.

The reasons for this were at least two: 1. To devote my time to art & small business; and 2. Chris and I are moving to LA.

Pie! I just had to take a picture.

After visiting LA a few weeks ago, Chris and I fell in love. To leave a 45-degree Chicago day and step off the plane into 90 degrees was heavenly. I'm tired of this cold, endless winter (she types on a day where it's already 85 degrees at 10am). Also - it will enable me to pursue another dream - acting for a living. I'm hoping to break into the world of film, and LA is the place to do it.

And the last big change, pertaining specifically to the blog: I am now part of the Blogher advertising hub. Not much will change, but I will occasionally post or tweet sponsored content, and I will post links to book reviews I write for Blogher.

A pile of fabric from Caitlin of salty//oat - we did a swap!

So, my questions to you, my lovely readers:

- If you work from home or are a SAHM, how do you keep yourself motivated and on track?

- What kinds of posts would you like to see more of? Are you interested in outfit posts? Book posts? Food posts? Craft posts only?

- How frequently would you like to see these posts? I'm thinking of upping my posts!

Inspiration from the Giveaway Entries

2011-05-31T22:35:00.003-05:00

Thanks, once again, to everyone who entered my giveaway. So many of you left awesome links, so I had to share, since I know you're not going to comb through 300+ comments!

This cute game would be the perfect way to use up little scraps of awesome fabric.

Speaking of scraps, this map of the US made of scraps is amazing, and you can make one, too!

I love this beautiful rock collection.

Refashion a men's shirt into a lovely ladies blouse.

This embroidery would make the perfect wedding gift for the nine weddings I was invited to this year!

And the giveaway winner is...

2011-05-26T14:16:00.000-05:00

Thank you so much to everyone who entered my giveaway for Sew Mama, Sew's Giveaway Day! I had a record-breaking 334 entries. And welcome to new readers!

The winner of the giveaway is Michelle who blogs at Sew Shellz!

Thank you to everyone who left a link to something inspiring - I have to do a round-up post tomorrow, there was a lot of stuff I want to share!

If you'd like to give feedback on the Giveaway Day, head over to Sew Mama, Sew and check out this post.

It's May Giveaway Day!

2011-05-23T00:47:00.002-05:00

It's that special day: Sew Mama, Sew's May Giveaway Day!

I love participating in SMS's Giveaway Day - hundreds of blogs will be giving away fun stuff all week, so visit the link to check out what you can win.

This time, I'm giving away a copy of Amy Karol's Bend the Rules with Fabric, and two fat quarters of vintages linens.

If you haven't read the Bend the Rules books, you'll love them! Very inspiring stuff.

To enter you must:

Leave a comment on this post before 9pm on May 25th
Leave your email address in the comment
Live anywhere on planet earth

If you'd like, you can leave me a link to the most inspiring project you've recently come across. I love new inspiration!

The winner will be chosen at random on Friday morning. Good luck, and happy Giveaway Day!

Craft Fairs, oh my!

2011-05-20T15:05:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, I happened upon an awesome chance to apply for the Custer's Last Stand Festival of the Arts, a huge street fair held in Evanston, IL, just north of Chicago. You may remember Evanston as the setting of your favorite teen comedy, Mean Girls. No? Just me?

Well, I was accepted to the craft fair portion, which means - I will be participating in my very first craft fair! I'm really excited, and I'm crafting non-stop, including a lot of new things, like those tiny mounted bunnies, owls and hearts above.

And of course - mustaches in many sizes and shapes. I've ordered a tent and decided that I should "get into" this whole craft fair thing. So stay tuned for more craft fair updates between now and June 18th & 19th!

LA Trip or "Ugh, beautiful!!"

2011-05-18T00:06:00.002-05:00

And now for the official slideshow:

My Trip to LA

by Katie Canavan

The lovely woman seated next to me on the plane was crocheting, so of course I had to strike up a conversation with her! She gave me this phone cozy at the end of the trip - so kind!

Chris and I were in awe of the beautiful "mountains" you can see from everywhere in LA. Chicago is flat, people, so these are mountains to us.

We went to the Getty Center, a beautiful museum at the top of a hill, and took this silly video before we looked at all the art.

The gardens at the Getty Center were spectacular.

See? Crazy (sexy) beautiful!

Chris is so LA - talking on the phone and wearing sunglasses at the same time.

Melissa, our lovely host, took us hiking in Griffith Park. We hiked up to the observatory, which was a good opportunity for me to realize how out-of-shape I am.

Once again - hiking up a mountain - not something that happens in Chicago.

Chris, Melissa and I spent an afternoon at Santa Monica Pier. We rode the roller coaster, shopped a bit, and ate good food. I insisted we take off our shoes and wade in the water and it was quite cold. Despite this, children were happily swimming!

We had a really great time, and got to see so many of our Chicago friends we've been missing. It was such a great break from the (still) dreary Chicago weather, and I can't wait to go back.

ps. more photos here

Crafty Peep Swap

2011-05-11T23:34:00.000-05:00

Earlier this Spring, I signed up for the Crafty Peep Swap on Becky's blog, Strumpet's Crumpets (the most awesome-ly-named blog, right?!).

At the time I signed up, I was going through somewhat of a creative slump. Nothing serious - more like crafting apathy. Sigh. Let me tell you - ain't nothing like a swap to help you get your mojo back!

But, not only do you get to make something awesome - you get to RECEIVE something. My swap partner was the delightful Katelyn of the blog likes & loves. She made me this cute wall decoration, with a bunny on it! You know how I feel about bunnies...

It goes perfectly in my living room. A nice bright little corner!

I made Katelyn this embroidered wall hanging. The flowers are felt applique, with embroidered accents. I put it in a patchwork "frame," and I love the way it turned out! I was a little sad to let it go, I'll admit, but I shall comfort myself by making more.

Thanks to Becky for hosting this lovely swap!

Ohio Knitting Mills Knitting Book Winner!

2011-05-10T10:35:00.000-05:00

Congratulations, Elizabeth!

You won the Ohio Knitting Mills Knitting Book. I'll email you later today!

and we return...

2011-05-10T00:35:00.000-05:00

Chris and I just got back from a little trip to LA. We ate a lot, visited with good friends, and took a few (ha) pictures. I'll post a bit later this week, but in the mean time - it's nice to be home.

ps. Last chance to enter the Ohio Knitting Mill Knitting Book giveaway!

pps. Above picture is the Gardens at the Getty Center

Giveaway - The Ohio Knitting Mills Knitting Book

2011-05-03T22:01:00.000-05:00

This past Christmas, my mother gifted me The Ohio Knitting Mills Knitting Book.

I'm a sucker for vintage and vintage-inspired patterns, so I requested it, thinking it might have a few fun patterns. The photography looked amazing from the promo pictures online, and I love a knitting book with great photography - just inspiring, you know?

I was not prepared for the wealth of information this book contains! Not only does it have great vintage-inspired patterns with gorgeous photos (for men and women, both), it includes the entire history of the Ohio Knitting Mills. From inception to designers and designs, there are lots of interesting details about running a knitting mill in the early 20th century. Each pattern is inspired by not just one sweater, but many, and there are great photos of these lovely vintage sweaters.

Now, if you're like me - you'll love the mix of interesting history and hip patterns, with a great visual aesthetic. Lucky for you, when my mom ordered this book for me, she accidentally clicked twice, and ordered two. So you can thank Jean M. Canavan for this giveaway.

To enter:

Just leave a comment!
For fun, tell me which decade inspires you most (I love the 60's. So much fashion packed into 10 years!)
Leave your email in your comment - written like this: katie (at) gmail (dot) com
Open to everyone

The giveaway will close Tuesday, May 10th at 9am. I'll pick the winner randomly at that time. If you're bored, hop over to my mom's blog and thank her for accidentally sponsoring this giveaway. She's a really talented watercolor artist, so there's lots to see!

Good luck!

Pyrex find!

2011-05-02T00:03:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago I met up with my friend, Susan, to do some knitting. Instead of actually knitting, we ended up eating cupcakes and shopping. That counts as knitting, right? ....

As we were perusing some fancy antique stores, Susan excitedly cried out, "Katie! I read your blog, and... they have Pyrex here, and I think it's your pattern!"

Sure enough, stashed down on a junky shelf in the back of the store was this:

A nice addition to the collection! And an excellent example of a good friend.

Liberty Crochet Collar Top

2011-04-29T19:23:00.000-05:00

All my careful planning has come to an end and I present to you:

The Liberty Crochet Collar Top

That's what I'm calling it, since I'm entering it in Rae's Spring Top Sewalong.

After crocheting the collar, I went on the search for the perfect fabric. I originally planned to use a vintage sheet, but none of them really popped. And then I found this Liberty of London scarf. I bought it last year at Target (Liberty for cheap!), and I loved the pattern, but the drape was just not working for me. It was much to voluminous to be worn as a scarf - it was strangling me. So it was relegated to the fabric stash, and has now found new life as a top.

My first attempt was a complete fail - I cut the body of the top much too large, and it looked... horrible. Like a mumu, but short. I let it sit for a day or two - let my frustration subside - and then ripped out all the seams and started again.

I cut about 5" off the sides and added a curve to the neckline and back. I gathered the fabric in the front to give it some shape, since I decided against darts. It's completely lined with muslin, so there are no facings. And this time, it worked.

Muslin lining - Can you tell which hem was sewn by me and which was sewn by the nimble-fingered (machine) employees of Target?

The next version will have a thicker collar (better to hide the bra strap), but other than that, it's perfect! I'm planning to wear it with high-waisted skirts - a favorite summer time look that combines the hippie look with a 1930's aesthetic.

And look how good it will look when I'm pregnant*! I will probably never wear it like this.

These pictures (except the hem close-up), were taken by my lovely sister, Meghan. And why do I look so unhappy, you ask? Because it was really bright outside, and my eyes are extremely sensitive. I swear - I like the top, sewing, and Meghan, despite my expression.

*I will not be pregnant anytime soon, Mom, don't get excited.

friendship bracelet winner

2011-04-25T07:52:00.000-05:00

Everyone's a winner when it comes to friendship, right?

And since only 5 of you entered my friendship giveaway - you all win!

Congratulations Meghan, Allyson, Sloane, MafiosaGrrl and Nicky!

I'll send each of you two bracelets of your choice. Look for an email from me later today.

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T09:08:00.000-05:00

From Katie, Chris and Sir Thomas More (the bun)

ps. adorable outtakes here and here