Next on my reading list is Nora Caron's "Journey to the Heart" which is getting rave reviews and flying off the bookstore shelves....it sold out in the first week of publication!! While I wait for my copy to arrive I'm working on a series of felted bags and a new shrug design. Did I mention I moved into a new studio? It's simply fabulous...just a few minutes from home but miles away from distractions. Moving the stash was an interesting experience...I knew I had allot of yarn but now my family also knows how much I actually own! LOL!! And I'll be spinning more as soon as I replace the drive band on my wheel...a sweet (but teething) kitten decided to use it as a chew toy

At the end of May we visited Pierre Charette on his farm and had a marvelous day. Soon after our visit some of his female alpacas delivered their babies and to my delight (and surprise) he named one of them after me!  You can see Wendy here, in case you don't read French she is in the third photo...isn't she sweet?!!

We went to visit Pierre Charette on his farm recently. He raises Shetland and Babydoll sheep, alpacas and angora rabbits. I was very impressed by his knowledge of everything fibre related...he's even written a book! (which is at the top of my wish list...hope DH reads this) He graciously gave us the grand tour of his farm and workshop. I tried not to drool too much over his spinning wheels or carder or felting machine or loom but when he started pulling bag after bag after bag of fibre from a row of chest freezers (was glad to see I'm not the only one who has used a chest freezer to store wool) in his workshop and asked us what kind we wanted my head was spinning! After much thought I managed to make up my mind and purchased 2 lbs of alpaca and 1 pound of Babydoll fibre which I can't wait to card and spin! Luckily it's just an hour drive to his farm so I will definitely be back for more!

Un gros merci, Pierre!!!!! J'ai absolument adorer notre visite

A few pics of Flower and Fiber Fest organized by Comm'un-Tricot :

visitors watching a tatting demonstration

learning how to use hand carders

modeling a vendors beautiful work

the "hammock quality-testers" gave it an A++

Thanks to all the participants and visitors...we had a fabulous day. Hope to do it again next year!

Here's an item for my wishlist and if they ever actually produce these  I DEFINITELY NEED WANT MUST-HAVE one (or twelve) LOL!!

iToast Touch

I realize it has been quite a while since I last posted here....many things have happened, some good , some not-so-good . One of the good things that has happened is our knitting group Comm'un-Tricot has grown by leaps and bounds in the last few months. We've received many generous donations of yarn and knitting supplies which are being transformed into fabulous items (pics coming soon) to be donated to local charities. Our members are so motivated to knit for others that we are in the process of registering as a non-profit organization. We are also organizing a Flower and Fibre Festival  as a fundraiser for the group. The festival will be held on April 26, 2008 from 9AM to 7PM at Pavillon Desrochers, 249 rue Provencher, Mont St. Hilaire. To stay up-to-date or for more info see the Comm'un-Tricot blog

Every winter DH builds a slide for Zack and his buddies to play on. This year as soon as he was finished and it was ready for hours of snowy fun the weather changed and it rained and rained and rained.  DH, being the dedicated Dad he is, worked like a madman out in the downpour scavenging snow from the neighbour's yards in an attempt to prevent total annihilation of the slide. His efforts paid off and he managed to save the basic structure. The weather finally co-operated with colder temperatures and a few centimeters of fresh snowfall and the fun was on again! What a guy!

Comm'un-Tricot, the knitting group that Emmanuelle and I started together is celebrating it's first anniversary!!! I'm thrilled and looks like our second year is off to a fabulous start...not only is membership growing here in Mont St. Hilaire, we've been approached by two individuals who are interested in starting a Comm'un-Tricot group in their area...so there may soon be a Comm'un-Tricot Gatineau and a Comm'un-Tricot St. Lazare. If you want to join one of the groups or perhaps start one in your area just drop us an email at "info @ creationswedesign.com" Here is a link to the calendar for the Mont St. HIlaire meet-ups. Additional dates will be added as they become available.

Recently Comm'un-Tricot has received several very generous donations of yarn, needles, pattern books and even a knitting machine! Members are donating their time to knit and crochet items for various local charities. This has led to our decision to register the group as a non-profit organization....the paperwork is now in progress!

Becoming a non-profit organization leads to fund-raising and with that in mind we are planning a "Fiber and Flower Fest" in the early spring. Stay tuned...will post more info in the coming days.  If interested in becoming a vendor at the festival email us at "info @ creationswedesign.com"

Never mind diamonds...give me cashmere! Just received my order from www.colourmart.com and I'm thrilled!! Love the yarn, love the colors, LOVE the prices!

My dilemma now is I'm knitting dishcloths...I'm on the 6th one this week and need to make one more to restock my supply. Time to knit like the wind so I can be done with the dishcloth cotton and swatch my yummy cashmere....might have to dig deep for strength and self-control!

Received another request today for slippers (or socks) for another gentleman who is in the final stages of cancer....his feet are severely swollen and he is unable to find anything to fit. So will attempt more marathon knitting this weekend. With lots of rain in the forecast (and the possibility of freezing rain) I won't be venturing outdoors too much or too far and hopefully can quickly complete the much-needed pair of size 14's.....

Beginning this week my knitting and crochet designs are available as e-books on Lulu.com.  

Kelly Doll Crochet Animal Costumes: Bunny and Lion as well as a knit Barbie dress pattern called Maeve are ready for purchase and download right now. More designs will follow.....after the Marathon Slipper/Socks are done.

Last week we had our first major snow storm of the season and this is a shot of a tree across the street...we are expecting more of the white stuff this weekend....will be perfect weather for staying in and finishing up some Christmas knits and maybe getting some spnning done....still have a few pounds of Rambouillet to card and spin as well as a brand new shipment of Icelandic fleece that has been sitting in my work area and taunting me LOL!!!

The skein above is one of my first attempts at spinning....it's now part of one of the Busy Knitting group members stash. It's called Grassfire and is a blend of Corriedale wool plied with a commercial sock yarn. Really hope she likes it!! 

Finished this pair of crochet wristwarmers...they are a variation on my original pattern because the client wanted them longer on the arm and shorter on the palm...I like the modifications and have a pair for myself on the hook now too!

The slippers were possibly the fastest knitting I've ever done. They are for a gentleman who is in hospice care in the final stages of cancer. His wife requested a pair of wool slippers to try to keep his feet warm. I knit, seamed, lightly felted and delivered these men's size 11 slippers in about 12 hours.

A few weeks ago Ms Ariane Desrochers, a reporter from the Radio-Canada program Macadam Tribus, came to interview our knitting group Comm'un-Tricot....She contacted me again last evening to let us know the interview will air tonight Dec. 7th at 8PM. If you like you can catch the show on 95.1 FM or online at their website 

Guess it's been a while since my last post...I was busy working on preparations for a craft show where I was both an exhibitor and on the committee organizing the show. As much as I enjoy the work I doubt I'll do it for a third year. Think I'll share some of the "fun" and let someone else take over the craft show responsibilities in 2008.... especially since I've started helping out in the library at my son's school and absolutely love the work and the kids. The weekly knitting group I host is also another project that has been keeping me very busy. The group has close to 50 registered members in 10 months of existence. After an article about the group appeared in the local paper we received a humungous donation of gorgeous wool which we've decided will be used for local charities and anyone who needs help. Well I'd better get busy....I have a bunch of booties I want to have ready for our next meeting.