Goodness Gracious!

It's hard to see, but the topper to my tree is a knit sheep!

Well, it's nearing the end of the year... I haven't done much yarn-y stuff lately because of ongoing wrist and arm troubles... I didn't despair this season though! I used the opportunity to support local merchants and small artisans instead of crocheting and knitting like a kookoo for everyone on my Holiday list! It was a different approach for me (as I usually knit and crochet like a kookoo for everyone) and I liked it! So less stressful and so nice to see all the great hand made and local stuff that is out there!

Some nice textures....

At the beginning of the month I ran a Beginner Knitting workshop through a wonderful organization called, "Spark of Brilliance"! It was amazing and we had such a fantastic time. I'm going to be working with them as much as I can in the future! The lovely space where the workshop was held is called, "10 Carden". It's a wonderful co-op space for socially innovative community based organizations and businesses. WOW!
I'm going to be doing some co-facilitating with Birdeye Family Programs coming up soon! Check out these great posters! We will be working together lots in the New Year and I will post much more as the events happen. The posters are for a Kid's Community Quilt Project and an ongoing event we're calling, "Crafternoon Tea"! 

I'm working on a broomstick lace shawl!

One of the fun things about December is that, in addition to many holiday parties, Christmas and New Year's Eve, three of my immediate family member's all have Birthdays! I did get to make a little something for my 2 year old niece that LOVES bracelets. The problem is that the always fall off her little person wrists so, I crocheted fun colours around a hair elastic and made her a stack-o-bracelets! The kids at her party all dug them and she very nicely shared them with her little buddies.

This fall we have had a really great "in theory" bird feeder. It sticks to the window so the birds come right up and it's all very exciting.... we had finches, cardinals, blue jays, sparrows, juncos, chickadees and SQUIRRELS! In fact, the squirrels were so BAD they kept on pulling down the bird feeder and gobbling up all the seeds for themselves. The birds were left chirruping at the window like, "Hey man! Where's ours?!".... Now everyone is punished and no one gets the feeder until we figure out how to discourage the squirrels. Especially Mocha - he didn't even care if I banged on the window and told him to get lost! They are very sneaky and bold!

Get outta here!:

All the birds now hide in the tree and screech at us...:

The Empire

I'm so excited to be running a beginner Knitting program through Spark of Brilliance! It's coming up in a few weeks and FULL!


So, since my lovely trip to upstate NY there has been a wondrous skein of yarn made by Jill Draper sitting in a place of honour on my shelf. I'm going to be crocheting an EPS sweater in tandem with my friend Jenne in San Francisco. The lovely Cal Patch has already made a sweater from Empire using the EPS in crochet and I will be emailing her and calling her for advice. I really want to make a longer sweater that is sort of "belled" from the waist with a boat neck and 3/4 bell sleeves. A cozy one! I will be using one of my lovely new magic wands (hand-turned wooden crochet hooks by Willette)!


In other news - there are lots of things brewing that I will share shortly - just not now... secrets... shhhhh.....

Also, I had a great time with a group of amazing kids at The Children's Art Factory doing a Monster Making Workshop! Here are some pictures:


Birdeye Family Programs and myself as Fibreperson will be running a few other fun programs through the Children's Art Factory in December and January! Just read these and email me if you need more info!!:

The Community Quilt Project
Hey kids, would you like to help us make a quilt? This is a creative group project that brings happiness to our community. We are calling on kids aged 7 - 12 to join us in making quilt squares. You can embroider, do appliqué, needle felt, paint - anything you want to make your square unique. Then, we will sew them together to make a quilt that will be displayed at the Children's Art Factory and other public places around Guelph! The quilt will ultimately be donated to a not-for-profit that helps children and families in our city. Participants will make two squares, one finished as a banner and ready for hanging at their home, the other will be for the Community Quilt. All materials will be provided. Ages 7 - 12. Thursday, December 29th OR Wednesday January 4th from 1-3pm. $25 per child all materials included!
Sign up by emailing: alisamcr@gmail.com
This program is co-hosted by Birdeye Family Programs and Fibreperson!


Crafternoon Tea
Are you a crafty momma? Knit-star? Is crochet your thing? Perhaps even an embroidery lover? Maybe you'd love to learn but just don't have the time?
Join us for Crafternoon Tea! A time where you can work on what ever your crafting desires may be while your tots are only steps away working on their own little projects.
Starting in January 2012, we will be offering this crafty group for tots 2 1/2 - 6 years old and their parents! The cost will be $25 which includes hands on supervision and all the crafting supplies for your little one, tea for you, and, if you need a project to work on, we will have kits available too! There will be help and instruction in knitting, crochet and embroidery available. Please keep an eye out for further information on this group, which will run bi-weekly from 1 - 3pm starting in January.
This program is co-hosted by Birdeye Family Programs and Fibreperson!

November (already!?) Classes....

Here are some classes I'll be teaching in November and some to look forward to....
Oh, and please use the "follow by email" feature to get all my updates!

First of all, I'm so excited to be working with The Children's Art Factory! I will be teaching classes exclusively for children! Check it out:

Monsters! Aliens! Creatures!
Can you think of a funny monster? A scary alien? Maybe a silly creature!? Come and have fun with pompoms, felt, googley eyes and other fun materials and make that monster come to life! Ages 6 and up! Sunday November 6, 12:30–2:30pm.
Just drop-in for Monster Mayhem! If you need more info please email: alisa@thechildrensartfactory.com.


Beginner Knitting for Kids
You can make all sorts of things if you know how to knit – want to try?
This class is for those of you who have never knit before and want to get started. We will learn the knit stitch, the purl stitch and how to cast-on and bind-off. Ages 7-9. This is a three-week class, the dates are Tuesday November 15, 22 and 29, 6–7:30 pm. The cost is $60, which includes all materials. Please register by emailing: alisa@thechildrensartfactory.com.


Making Yarn with a Drop Spindle!
Hey Kids! Do you want to make your own yarn! Want to learn about sheep?
Using a drop spindle, you can learn to spin your own yarns! Inexpensive to start, this is a great hobby! Ages 7-9. This is a three-week class, the dates are Wednesday November 16, 23 and 30, 6-7:30pm. The cost is $60, which includes all materials. Please register by emailing alisa@thechildrensartfactory.com.


Also, keep an eye out for these fun workshops and crafting days coming up at The Children's Art Factory:

The Community Quilt Project
Hey kids, would you like to help us make a quilt? This is a creative group project that brings happiness to our community. We are calling on kids aged 7 - 12 to join us in making quilt squares. You can embroider, do applique, needle felt, paint - anything you want to make your square unique. Then, we will sew them together to make a quilt that will be displayed at the Children's Art Factory and other public places around Guelph! The quilt will ultimately be donated to a not-for-profit that helps children and families in our city. Participants will make two squares, one finished as a banner and ready for hanging at their home, the other will be for the Community Quilt. All materials will be provided. Ages 7 - 12. Thursday, December 29th OR Wednesday January 4th from 1-3pm. $25 per child all materials included! Sign up by emailing: alisa@thechildrensartfactory.com

Crafternoon Tea
Are you a crafty momma? Knit-star? Is crochet your thing? Perhaps even an embroidery lover? Maybe you'd love to learn but just don't have the time?
Join us for Crafternoon Tea! A time where you can work on what ever your crafting desires may be while your tots are only steps away working on their own little projects.
Starting in January 2012, we will be offering this crafty group for tots 2 1/2 - 6 years old and their parents! The cost will be $25 which includes hands on supervision and all the crafting supplies for your little one, tea for you, and, if you need a project to work on, we will have kits available too! There will be help and instruction in knitting, crochet and embroidery available. Please keep an eye out for further information on this group which will run bi-weekly from 1 - 3pm starting in January.

I'm also excited to be teaching some classes at the lovely Greenwood Quiltery this month too! (click on the link to contact them for more info and to sign up):

Sock Knitting!
This is a two-part class where students will learn the basics of sock knitting. We will be working on four needles from the cuff down. Please know how to work on 4 needles, read a pattern, cast on/off and be available for both classes. Thursday November 3 AND Thursday November 17, 6 – 8 pm. $35 For both classes; materials additional.
Contact Greenwood Quiltery to register.


Drop Spindle Spinning
Entranced by handspun yarns?! Give it a “whorl”! Using the drop spindle, learn to spin your own yarns. Inexpensive to start, this is a great portable hobby!
Saturday November 5 AND Saturday November 12, 6 – 8 pm. $35 for both classes; materials additional. Contact Greenwood Quiltery to register.

Dutchess County Sheep and Wool AKA Rhinebeck

Oh boy! Did I have a great time with Cal Patch and Jill Draper and all the other lovelies at NY Sheep and Wool Festival this year!

Since there are so many blog posts about how amazing the event is - I'm going to say it with pictures!

Cal and I in our finest - Day 1.

Cal and Chris from Into the Whirled!

Cal spinning in her Spinning Guild's booth!

The first tea and scone.

Cal doing some Saori Weaving - I am obsessed...

Cal and Jill!

A sheepy terrarium...

In our finest - Day 2.

Testing out HAND TUNED crochet hooks at the Willette's booth!

Award winning Cotswold Ram.

This is a close up of his gorgeous fleece.... ahhhh....

A funny sign.

Judging some Angora Goats.A toasty pile of Shetlands.

The next two pictures I love because the sheep look so smart.

The next few pictures are especially for Sel et Poivre. She really wanted to see the new Hodgepodge Farm chickens. The first picture is of the "older girls" roosting - notice the black blob under the branches? Those are the "new girls" (well one is a rooster!). They are not welcome to hang with the big kids just yet. The bottom picture is just of the newbies. Two hens and (what was supposed to be a hen) one rooster. He has a very teen-aged and crackly "cock-a-doodle-doo" going on.

In other news... there is still availability in some of my classes at Greenwood Quiltery - check them out for info.

Also, I'm going to be starting to teach at the most amazing new art space for kids! It's called, "The Children's Art Factory" and they are amazing. Some really great people and some great ideas! I will keep everything posted! In November, I'll be teaching Beginner Knitting and Beginner Drop Spindle Spinning for kid-os ages 6 - 9! I'm also going to be doing a Monster Making workshop there in a few weeks - I'll post more very soon.....

September was busy.... I'm back!

Me doing a demo at the Wellington County Museum and Archives!

Wow! I'm glad that things have calmed down a bit and I have time to post!

First of all I'm going to be teaching several classes over the next few months at the beautiful Greenwood Quiltery! Beginner Knitting, Entrelac, Sock Knitting and Drop Spindle Spinning! Please contact them for more details : 519-822-2790.

I will also be offering some children's classes though The Children's Art Factory. I met with Melissa, the amazing owner of this new space for kids. The space is inspiring and so much fun. I will post more when the details are all worked out! In the meantime, if you have a little one, please bring them to this creative space!

This past weekend was the Harvest Home Festival at The Wellington County Museum and Archives. It was a celebration of the history of the area and of fall! There were antique tractors, delicious pies, sheep shearing, lace making, candle making, music and wool preperation and spinning (by me).

Showing the kids how it's done:

Drumcarding up a storm:

Creepy Museum Doll:

I had a great time talking to people about the art of spinning and how wool is taken from a sheep and made into something you can make hats, sweaters and socks out of. There were many children that were so interested which made me very excited for the future of spinning! My father even got into the festivities by being pulled into a square dancing demo - he did well!

I also sent in my OHS homework. Second due date and one more to go. The October due date is sneaking up on me and I have to get a move on it!

S and Z homework before and after:

In The Grease homework before and after:

Grist homework before and after:

Next? I'm off to the Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, NY..... I can't wait to see my friends Cal Patch, Jill Draper and Christine Eschback.

I'm taking the train down to the Hodgepodge farm and I'm so excited to watch the county zip on by! I'm sure I'll have many pictures to share.