Where should I start? I have so much to blab about today, but I'll try to be quick because I'm leaving soon for an Arne and Carlos colorwork class, FUN, and I'm sure you have a busy Saturday too! But first, the blanket--I started this two years ago when I was determined to use up my years of leftovers, and use them up I did, this being my 5th blanket made of scraps!
I've shown many pictures of my home, but you all love my sewing room the best. I know how you feel because I'm the same way; I love when makers show their creative spaces. I've made a few changes since I last shared it, so come on in and let's poke around!
Today I have the sweetest little sweater knitted from the dearest vintage pattern I own. I'm sure that as a knitter you are very familiar with cabled owls, but do you want to know the story behind them? And how this pattern has been knitted for decades, and more likely 100 years or more? Knitters have been manipulating stitches into cables to resemble owls for a long long time and while no one has been able to accredit the design to any one person, it took one shop owner to finally write the pattern down for knitters around the world to enjoy.
It's artichoke season! I recently learned that almost one hundred percent of commercial artichokes from the USA are grown in California, and most of those are grown in Monterey County, about 50 miles from where we live. We have visited Castroville, the self-appointed Artichoke Capital of the World, many times on our way home from Carmel-By-The-Sea. In spring, the road stands are filled with gorgeous artichokes. Yes, I do think they are gorgeous! We eat them frequently when in season, but I'm always amazed at how newcomers from out of the state or country aren't always that familiar with them.
In celebration of artichoke season, let me share how to choose, prepare, and eat an artichoke. I think you’ll find they are lovely and worth the trouble. Also, read to the end and you'll see my Easter table set up a few days early!
One of the biggest declutter challenges I had to face was when I decluttered my hand knits and handmade crafts. First, it's important to acknowledge that as makers, we’ve poured hours of hard work, creativity, good intentions, and big money into each item we handcraft. We had high hopes we'd love it forever, but like everything we own, we usually find that our tastes have changed and we no longer wear or use it. It may also be worn out and shabby or terribly out of style. Giving away things we once loved is hard enough, but having made the darn thing adds an extra complication. There are some nasty roadblocks and landmines on that particular road to declutter, but if we tweak our attitude and set a few rules in place we can comfortably release those lovingly handmade items. Here's where I hope I have some good advice for you. I have built up my declutter muscles pretty well over the last few years and I've been able to put some new strategies in place when I find I have too many knits and crafts crowding my space.
I have just completed my deep cleaning. 👍 I started in January and it's now March, so you can see I like to take my time. To keep me on task I kept a to-do list and checked off completed tasks. That was a good feeling! I gave myself days off and some days only worked for ten minutes, but little by little, the house was reset and clean. But this is not a post so much about how I deep clean, but a post about how I tidied up my drawers and cupboards, then put a system in place to keep them tidy--forever. I know it works because I've been doing it for years.
Halloooo! I have the absolutely cutest sweater pattern to share today--a hoodie festooned with bears in hats! I laughed out loud when I saw the pattern, purchased it on the spot and then forgot about it. Then I got on my stranded colorwork kick, gathered my yarn together and made it in one month! I made between
