That is why I was so very excited when I heard from Potter Craft Publishing that she was coming out with two tip books. 

First there is Lily Chin’s Knitting Tips & Tricks: Shortcuts and Techniques Every Knitter Should Know

And they top it off with  Lily Chin’s Crochet Tips & Tricks: Shortcuts and Techniques Every Crocheter Should Know

It’s like putting Lily in slow motion, or better yet pause!!! I can have her tips handy, by throwing the book in my knitting bag, and taking her along! The books are the perfect size for that!

Each is jam packed full with her terrific ideas, shortcuts and tips! If you are a visual learner  like me there are plenty of diagrams and drawings to help you figure things out as well!

So grab a copy for yourself and take Lily along with you wherever you go!

Disclaimer: A review copy of this book was supplied by the publisher.

This!

It is always fun to see one’s book out in the wild! I suspect I will be hearing from my Mother about this when she opens her email!

Kay and Ann are funny gals and if you haven’t seen their latest little piece of work well here it is:

But I digress! This IS Bookish Thursday after all! Mason-Dixon Knitting: The Curious Knitter’s Guide their original book has just been released in paperback! This makes this great fun book just a little more affordable and portable! At least it won’t weigh your knitting bag down as much!

I love the fun approach Ann and Kay have to their craft, it is contagious. The patterns and stories in this book are delightful and fun! There are some great easy gift patterns in there that would suit just about any occasion! In fact after I received the book in the mail I went right away to cast on a log cabin blanket! I need a baby boy gift Pronto and a receiving blanket size log cabin blanket is definitely doable!

If you haven’t picked up this book yet you might want to grab a copy! I think you will love it too!

Disclaimer: A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.

Oh and snow. But here in Northeast Ohio.. that’s a given.

February… looking forward to getting the puppy home, getting some projects done and other things!

But mostly I want to try to get back to blogging so look out!! Here I come!

I had the crazy idea of 52 projects in 52 weeks small projects to get me going and I might just start it!! Might be a month later than I expected but hey that’s ok.. there are still 52 weeks ahead of me right?!

I did and I found out that she was right!  Merino was one of the wools that I tried and loved.. and the Morehouse Merino farms yarns are a great!!

In the fall an oldie but goodie Morehouse Farm Merino Knits: More than 40 Farm-Fresh Designs came out in Paperback!! I hadn’t seen it before so I jumped at the chance when offered a copy!

It’s a great book with some cute patterns! I mean how can a mom of boys not be drawn to this:

Luckily my middle son LOVES sweaters! So I really need to knit him up one of these!!

All the patterns in this book just scream out warmth and comfort and home! All the things you would expect and more. They have something for everyone.. even the family cat!! So if you are looking for some great patterns to work with some GREAT wool.. this book is for you!

I love  Whenlen Chia’ a.k.a. Twinkle’s knitting patterns. If there is one of her patterns in a knitting mag, I am there.. case in point the last two issues of Vogue Knitting that didn’t last 5 minutes on the shelf because I was there to rescue them!

If you love her sense of style you probably also like her line of ready to wear clothing! Then on the other hand, if you are like me, you can’t even touch one of the lowest price pieces in her line with a ten foot pole.. sigh..

Well turn that frown upside down, because Twinkle has decided to share some of her patterns for sewing with us as well!!

 Twinkle Sews: 25 Handmade Fashions from the Runway to Your Wardrobe is a great book full of 25 sewing patterns by Whenlan. Super cool!!

The best thing is that there is a disc included with the patterns on pdf format! Oh do I wish my knitting pattern books came with that.. at least just a digital copy of the charts!!

A great book full of fun styles overall!!

Disclaimer: A review copy was provided by the publisher.

It will be good practice for the ‘real’ husband sweater, and pick me up out of the knitting doldrums. 

First up: Just the Right Words: Over 400 Messages and Motifs for Cardmakers and Crafters  This little book packs a punch! If you are looking  for a phrase, saying or something to write in a greeting card this book has something for pretty much any occasion. You won’t find yourself at a loss for words with this little volume on your shelf!

Next up is No One Cares What You Had for Lunch: 100 Ideas for Your Blog A couple years ago I joined the Blog 365 challenge, It certainly was a challenge!  It was hard sometimes to come up with ideas fro what to write about. So I picked up this book. It’s a great little book full of ideas to jump start your writing!

So if you are having a little ‘bloggers block’  you might want to pick yourself up a copy!

I finished a pair of Mrs. Roosevelt’s Mittens for my mother.

She is president of her local historical society up there in upper state New York, not sure of the exact historical society.. but that means she gets to rattle around in all those historical houses and such and will be going over to the Roosevelt’s “cottage” next weekend. So I hope to pop these in the mail to her so she can wear them when she goes!

I was able to use the leftovers from the cashmere blend socks I made for Laura  at  Handwerks and since I didn’t think I had quite enough to make the whole mittens with it I added a stripe of some of Scout’s nice merino sock in there on the first mitten, which turned out to be a good idea!

The picture doesn’t lie. One mitten turned out slightly larger than the other I am going to block that out so they match. (I hope!)

Then off to the post office with them!! The pattern is easy peasy, I might make myself a purple pair with a narrow yellow strip to use up the rest of the yarn!!

I don’t think that there is a design in this book that I wouldn’t like to knit!

The designer does some mixing yarns in some pieces to add to the interest of the simple designs.  This adds to the interest of the project and increases the possibilities when you are looking for yarn for the projects as well.

The directions are clear and diagrams are provided for all the patterns.

Even the most complicated pattern in the book is made easy with clear instructions and charts.

To add to the fun there are knitting Haiku sprinkled throughout the book!

If you are looking for simple, elegant and beautiful patterns this is the book you want!

Disclosure: A review copy of this book was provided.

Had my parents dubbed me Invasive Species Controller, it might have made those endless hours of weed pulling a little more interesting.. Doesn’t it just tug at the imagination? Battling for life and limb with an ‘invasive species’?

One of the things I hope to do this year is get a little gardening going. Of course I think that every year, but hey who knows this might be the year I fight back some evil weeds in my garden area and get it done!

It’s sure worth it. I might not have thought that when I was young, grumbling and mumbling about having to constantly pull weeds, but when I had a taste of those peas right off the vine, or the blueberries.. oooh those blueberries I sure wasn’t complaining!

Don’t throw them out! Turn them into some great bags!!!

 Refashioned Bags: Upcycle Anything into High-Style Handbags by Faith and Justina Blakeney is a fun book full of great recycling and upcyling ideas to make bags out of just about anything!

The directions are clear and easy to follow. They have included a lot of great illustrations to help with constructing the bags!

Peppered throughout this book are bio’s of other bag designers who use interesting recycled materials to create designer bags!

Overall this is a terrific book. If you are interested in making neat unique bags you will love it!

Disclosure: A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.

I finished a scarf for my friend Kim in Canada. Known to Rhett and Link fans as Kim the Canadian call screener!!

It’s really fun because you can roll it up in a little packet like this!

Hopefully she will get it before next year! I put it in the mail today!

What sets this stitch dictionary apart is that it also includes sections one Double Stitches, Slipped Stitches and Cast off Stitches which you don’t always see.

The other feature that sets this dictionary apart from others is that it includes a chart for every stitch. This makes it easy to follow for those, like me, who prefer a chart over written directions on occasion.

Over all this is an excellent stitch dictionary, and I would recommend it as a great go to book. The photos are clear, the directions concise and easy to follow. The charts are a great feature!

The only complaint I have is that it is missing what pretty much every stitch dictionary I have come across so far is also missing.. a good index that lists the stitches by name! When I am looking for a stitch pattern I would love to be able to flip to the back and look it up and hone right in on it and get going with my needles, rather than searching for the pattern I need! But since this feature is missing in most of them I will just browse.. on occasion I find something even better that way!

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was sent to the author from the publisher.

Any Cast Off magazine in the last 2-3 years. If you do I probably have em’

I will unload those for $5.00 each which will include shipping in the US.

Name any Vogue magazine from the last 2-3 years.. I probably have it.

These will go for $7.00, again shipping included.

If you are interested in any Interweave Knits Magazine from 2006-2009 you might be in luck. Just ask..

The regular issues will go for $7.00 the special holiday issues are negotiable..

I have a Verena Fall 2008   $5.00

I have Rebecca #36 in English $8.00

I have a bunch of Crochet! magazines from 2006-2008 ask and I will check to see if I have an issue you want.

These will be $4.00 each.

Pretty much all of these are in gently used condition, generally with some shelf wear and a few wrinkles here or there.. just like us right?!

Leave me a comment and I will get back to you!

Oh.. if you want to see for sure what I have you can look on my library page on Ravelry! I am also destashing books so inquire or make an offer on any books you might be interested in too!

I mean what’s the difference between Merino and Cheviot? My friend has a flock of Cheviot and she keeps telling me their wool is no good.. so really is that true?

I also have been dabbling with spinning and was curious what the different wools would result in when spun and which would be good for a beginning spinner.

If you find you have these questions then this new book is definitely for you. Clara covers all the bases. She discusses all the breeds out there and what the qualities of their wool are. She also talks about the ‘itch’ factor of wool and ways to handle it.. something important to me!

If you work with wool, or plan to in any fiber art I encourage you to grab a copy of this book and educate yourself on your fiber!!

Not to mention there are some cute patterns in there!!

Like this:

And this..

and this one the Hill Country Hat which is available online!

Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the publisher.

I have the Knitting Guild Christmas dinner tonight.. so I have a pretty dishcloth ready for that.. I made myself some nice long fingerless gloves, and I have a scarf for my friend in Canada nearly completed.

Next up a little surprise project for our Loom Knitters Circle subscribers.. can’t tell you what it is then it wouldn’t be a surprise would it..

Generally I have been swamped with life.. what with some serious business at our church that is pretty time consuming and emotionally consuming, with helping one of the youth there with some difficult times, and with  some obsessing over looking for a new pup.. I have been busy… Thats not mentioning the usual stuff.. homeschooling and the like..

oi! How DO I do it all? Dunno.. don’t ask.. can’t tell you..

I can tell you to look for some book reviews and giveaways in the upcoming weeks!  Perhaps a little destashing. too! So stay tuned!!!

A local composer had turned his book into a musical that was performed at local school districts. They had one of the groups of students come and perform some of the songs from the book as Hudson read the book!

It was pretty neat. Brian posted a bit of video about it.. click here.

This time we nearly got out of the museum without anyone touching and breaking something!! Of course the FIRST thing one of our kids touched fell down!! Fortunately it was a foam board sign at an exhibit that looked like it had fallen down a few times already!! Eeks.. it wasn’t held up by much just double stick tape..

Other than that we all pretty much came out unscathed. It’s  a nice museum if you are in the area you should visit!

Hey well I got the deal I wanted.. so it’s all good! And hey I didn’t even have to stand in line to check out!

Click here to see the teaser! When I see her post details I’ll let ya know!!

Click on the pick below to go to the loom along Flickr group!

It was about 4 planes in 48 hours! I took another short trip to Texas this time for my brother’s wedding!

Since then my camera has turned into a brick! So that sort of puts the brakes on because what is a knitting blog without photos!! eeks!

I will try to get Brian’s camera to cooperate and see if I can’t get some pics of items I have finished and have in progress! (That would be a total of Two!!)

And I think we will have a little destash action this week and I have some new books to tell you about, and even a give away!

So stay tuned I am trying to bounce back and get going again!

(Let’s just say Caleb would not survive the Rijksmuseum!)

We ended the trip with a stop at the museum shop where they each got one of these guys:

Julian has been doing alot of this since then:

Not bad! Oh.. and for those of you in the know.. look at his hand and tell me what that is on there! 

But alas, I am on my way to the post office to send them off to her! Look for them on the Handwerks website soon!

Remember how I said that my parents were coming in on Tuesday? Yeah.. you do?

Have a look at my calendar..

I’ll wait have a good look..

so you notice anything? Anything off? Anything contrary to what I have said.. what you do? oh.. you mean the calendar that I have been looking at several times daily says that they are scheduled to arrive on Wednesday?

DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!!

Well then it’s a good thing we rushed all day Tuesday to get everything ready!! Have a look.. the guest suite…  

Brian finished the laundry room and put up the entryway ceiling pieces..

And the kids cleaned the living room, the school room, washed dishes AND cleaned in their rooms! (Azia even scrubbed the kids bathroom!)

They wore themselves out! So when I realized at 1 a.m. Wednesday morning that they were actually arriving the NEXT day.. well.. er..

oops!

I think I will never ever live this one down.

And when I said to Brian: “This is the biggest bonehead mistake I have ever made, isn’t it?” he replied: “Well you married me!”