Kittens, Kids Embroidery and Some Good Links
Good Evening Knitting and Stitching Friends -
December is upon us, isn't it? I am not quite feeling the pressure yet but I know it is coming. There are quite a few days left before the holidays and even if the to do list grows, it all still seems manageable. I'm sure next week I may not feel the same!
Tonight I want to let you in on a special gift idea I have for the young crafty people in your lives. While cleaning up for the Thanksgiving holiday, I found a couple of boxes of my 2004 book Kids Embroidery. What good are they doing sitting here? I'm offering them for sale to all of you to share with the young people in your lives. $19.95 plus shipping. I will also include a small piece of linen, an embroidery needle and a skein of embroidery floss. (Check out the price they are selling for on Amazon!)
I'll be happy to sign the book to someone special. Here is the link to order. More photos from Kids Embroidery below.
I shared a photo of my niece Celia last week in my newsletter wearing her gorgeous first handknit sweater. Here she is as a young girl embroidering a pillow she made for Kids Embroidery. Celia is in college now but she still enjoys spending time making things - especially during her school vacations.
If you are looking for a Christmas Stocking Pattern to whip up before the holidays, don't forget my two Collections shown below. $12.00 and they contain either 5 or 6 designs in many sizes. You can't imagine how many people are asking me to knit these via my Etsy shop! Sorry - NO CAN DO! Learn to knit Etsy folks!
Shown on Left: Kristin's Colorful Christmas Stocking PDF on my website here or on Ravelry here. $12.00 instant download
Shown on RIght: Kristin's Creative Christmas StockingPDF on my website here or on Ravelry here.
We have been sharing out lives with 7 little kittens born here at the farm. They are beginning to leave the nest - two went to a new home in Vermont today. Kittens are really such a bucket of fun.
Here are some fantastic things I found on the web this week.
• Smitten Kitchen has a nice Hot Chocolate recipe which you can pack up and give as a gift. Check it out here.
• Cara Romano makes beautiful jewelry coming silver and brightly colored wool. See it on her website here.
• Are you like me and not quite able to get used to the long warm-up period on these new fangled light bulbs? I have found a source for old-fashioned incandescents here. The Farmer wondered about breakage when shipping. I spoke with the company and they said they either replace or refund.
• I know many of you watch me on Knit and Crochet Now - the PBS t.v. series I am an "expert" on. (I'm still trying to get used to that idea, seven seasons in!) Annie's, the folks that now own the show, have a nice offer going on. For $24.95/year, you can watch ALL 65 episodes ON DEMAND, download ALL 170 projects and save 10% at Annie's Craft Store ALL the time! Check it out here.
• A few years ago, a yarn store I was teaching at gifted me a funky little handmade wooden "yarnspinner." The idea is you put a cake of yarn on it and it will sit at your feet and unwind neatly. I love this thing! I use it in my kitchen to hold kitchen twine in the windowsill and tie up my trash bags. I just found out that my friend Karen Minott, owner of Casco Bay Fibers, sells these clever handmade tools. Check them out here - $39. plus shipping.
• These embroidery portraits are amazing.
• These cross-stitch charts would be fantastic Fair Isle Knitting charts. While you are there, check out the incredible archives of embroideries and folk costume.
If you are local and looking for a grass fed Leg of Lamb for your holiday meal, look no further than our farm - Leyden Glen Farm. I'll be at the Amherst Winter Farmers Market the next 2 Saturdays at the Amherst Middle School from 10 to 2. Call or email for more info. Don't know how to cook it? No worries - I will tell you how! I have a few full legs (about 4 plus pounds) and many half legs (about 2 to 2 1/2 pounds).
That's it for this evening - enjoy your week friends!
Kristin Nicholas
Not too late to order my sheep-y holiday cards. You can purchase them as sets of 5 for $15.00 or as sets of 10 for $25.00.
If you would like them assorted, just leave a note in the order with how many of each.
Electonic gadgets are not going away. Might as well warm them up and protect them with a layer of felted wool. I've got a nice pattern that comes in 4 sizes called the Knit It • Felt It Tech Cozy. This pattern is available on my website here or on Ravelry here for $6.00
One of my most popular patterns has been the Knit It Felt It Zip It Bags. Makes a great gift. The pattern is sized in 4 different sizes from mini to large. Nice for organizing knitting needles and cosmetics and pens and pencils. This pattern is available on my website here or on Ravelry here for $6.00
Do you have a 4 footed friend who needs a new sweater? Check out my Dog In Sheep's Clothing Garter Stitch Dog (or Lamb) Sweater which is sized in 8 different sizes. There are instructions for customizing it too if your dog is a funny shape. This pattern is available on my website here or on Ravelry here for $6.00