Someone is one!!!

Hi there!

Just popping in to let you know that Petite Purls is one year old!...and they are celebrating with a terrific giveaway! 

It's hard to believe that this time last year only one issue of Petite Purls {summer 2009} was out there.  Thanks to a lot of online buzz, I discovered that first issue shortly after it went live, and I was immediately blown away.  Finally an online knitting 'zine devoted to clothing, nurturing, and celebrating children!  It was pretty much true love at first sight, so of course I was thrilled when last July found me feverishly knitting the Ladybug Coat for their Fall 2009 Issue.

Truth be told, I can't say enough wonderful things about this great online magazine and its creators, the lovely Allegra and Brandy.  If you're not familiar with Petite Purls, pop on over and check it out...you'll be glad you did...patterns, reviews and more!  Since the magazine's debut they have continued to add and expand.  The magazine now includes features on sewing, crochet, toy making, interviews with amazing crafters, designers, authors, bloggers and indie artists, and more, all devoted to creating and crafting for children...and all completely inspiring.  It's actually not entirely surprising that Petite Purls has come so far is such a short time—like I said Brandy and Allegra are incredibly talented and they work tirelessly {and I am beginning to suspect that they may have figured out how to survive without sleep...how else could they accomplish so much and make it look so effortless and flawlessly gorgeous?}.  

Entering the giveaway couldn't be easier...scoot on over here to see what you can win and then just leave a comment.  Lots of wonderful patterns and prizes are up for grabs, including a signed copy of Fairy Tale Knits.  Entries will be taken through today, July 1, 2010.  Best of luck!!!!

~xoxo
alison

May flowers...

Hellooooo!...remember me?  Forgive me dear reader, it has been a whole month since my last post.  Many, many apologies for my disappearing act.  I wish I could say that I had some wonderfully dramatic story as an excuse, but the sad reality of it is that I don't.  Real life, some big decisions, and just day to day stuff has gotten in the way of my normal day to day.  I guess you could say that I took a trip down the rabbit hole, because that's sort of how it feels.  Does that ever happen to you?...where the days fill up with big and little things, where mind and body are totally preoccupied with worries and joys, with mundane errands and big decisions, with coming to terms with the here and now as well as with what's around the corner and the all changes that are part and parcel of this journey.

So after all of that, I think we all need a little pick-me-up, bit of color...some May flowers!...

This wreath is made of knitted and felted flowers.  It's an idea that has been rolling around in my brain for a while and one that I have been anxious to share with you.  I am planning to write this pattern up and to possible sell it or offer it on Ravelry, but I thought I would include the directions for one of the flowers here right now {call it a peace offering}.  I made the flowers out of some Cascade 220 and Patons Classic Wool that I had hanging around.  I used a double strand of yarn for most of the flowers and worked them with a size US 11 needle.  This gives a really dense felt—one that really holds its shape.  After the knitting was done, I popped the flowers in a pillow case and threw them in the washer and ran them with hot water and a little detergent.  After they were felted the way I wanted them, I used the spin cycle to remove the excess water, formed the flowers to the shape I wanted, and let them air dry.  I wanted to use only things that I had on hand for this project, so I raided my button box to embellish the flowers.

The directions that follow are for the roses {red and purple} on the wreath.  They are the same flowers that I used on the Flower Fairy Coat and Cloche in my book Fairy Tale Knits

 ...the only difference is that I felted them for the wreath.
 CO 10 sts
Row 1:  Knit
Row 2 and all even rows through Row 8:  Purl
Row 3:  Knit front and back in each stitch—20 sts.
Row 5:  Repeat Row 3—40 sts.
Row 7:  Repeat Row 5—80 sts
Bind off after Row 8, leaving a 10" tail, cut the yarn and fasten the last stitch off.  Use the tail of the bound off edge to sew the flower together.  To sew the flower, first roll it up like a cinnamon roll and sew the bottom edge of the flower so that it maintains its shape.  Weave in ends.

For inquiring minds...What initiated my trip down the rabbit hole?...nothing bad...actually some really good stuff.  We {well honestly, my oldest child, but the rest of us have been along for the ride} have been in the midst of some decision making.  Please indulge me in a mama moment {this is the part where I go on about my kids, so if you're just here for the knitting, you might want to skip this part}.  My girl applied to and got into 10 colleges...YaY!...a good thing, right?  Well, yes!...terrific!...the only down side is that we are not quick deciders...our lot agonizes over decisions...we weigh...we talk...we avoid thinking about it...we distract ourselves...we panic...we think...we research...we surf...we talk...we make lists...we talk some more...we decide...we rethink...we talk...and then we start all over again...until the last...possible...moment...and then we usually end up at the place where we started, where our first choice, the decision we thought we were going to make is, in fact, the decision we do make.   There have been many twists and turns on this road during the last month, and I admit to a brief emotional detour of my own {oh how I will miss my sweet girl and at the same time am so happy for her}.  But she/we made it through and have come to the other side. I'm proud of her—it's a big decision and a difficult one, choosing between such good things.  And that's where we are now, on the other side of this first really big decision, at last happy and excited, looking forward with much joy...in time for graduation, just as it should be.

Thank you for indulging me and for being there.  I am truly happy to be back among my friends in blogland.  I hope each of you are enjoying a wonderful spring and that things are good in your neck of the woods.  Things here will be pretty chaotic for a bit, with end of the year festivities, family coming in for graduation and what-not, but I will try to pop in before too long to share some knitting, maybe another flower and to catch up.

xoxo~alison

The remains of Thanksgiving day and a December Giveaway...

Hello, hello!...so good to be back with you...I hope you had a great weekend!  Thanksgiving come and gone.  It's good-bye Turkey Treats...

{don't ask...all I can say is be careful what you start...you never know what will become a family tradition}

...and hello December... Already!...WoW!  You can just feel the energy out there...all the making and planning and busy-ness.  My mantra this year is simple and special, even so this week already looks like it will be a blur, a good blur, but a blur none-the-less.  I will stop in later and do a proper post...soon, very soon...to share a little of this...

...and the pattern and details for this ...

...but in the meantime, it's time for this...

The nice people at SewMamaSew are sponsoring this fun event.  What a great idea and a such a wonderful way to connect with some of the amazing people out there who are crafting and creating...people like you! 

This sounds like too much fun and, even though I am a Johnny-come-lately to blogging, I am so happy to be playing along this year.  I will be giving away this...
 

...a copy of my book, Fairy Tale Knits, and maybe a handmade goodie or two, just for holiday spirit.  {FYI—The pattern for the fingerless gloves in the picture will be included in an upcoming post}

To those of you who are new to this blog and might be asking yourselves what this book is about, I offer these words...

Fairy Tale Knits is my first book and it's a collection that is very near and dear to my heart.  It is full of designs inspired both by classic fairy tales, but also by the imaginary world and play of children.  Each design is meant to delight the wearer by invoking the feeling of the fairy tale world without being costumey.  These are the kinds of clothes that my kids  loved wearing as young children and still do—I've had many requests to size more than a few of these designs up for the teens in my life.  They are clothes—comfortable clothes with a bit of whimsy and fun thrown in for good measure.  The book also includes non-clothing items, like pillows, bags, wall coverings and blankets—colorful, functional and decorative items that are meant to appeal to a child's sense of style and imagination..kings, queens, pirates, mermaids, and  classic fairy tale characters—they are all there.  A complete gallery of the designs can be found here. 

So what about you?...who is your favorite fairy tale character?  Is there a fairy tale character that you would like to see represented in a child's garment or item?  If you would like to be included in this giveaway, just leave me a comment stating who /what is your favorite fairy tale or fairy tale character and I will put your name in the hat!  And to those of you outside of the US, I will happily ship to you as well—so please don't hesitate to sign up!

This giveaway will be open until December the 6th, when we will pick the winner at random.   

Have a great day and happy knitting!...xoxo—Alison

Show and tell...

Oh my!  Things really are getting away from me!...

I just realized that I never posted about the trunk show and Fairy Tale Knits book signing that the lovely ladies at Yarns Unlimited in Bloomington, Indiana are hosting this Saturday, October 10th from 1-3 pm.

I am so honored to be participating in this event, doubly so since it is the 30th anniversary of the shop.  Yes, you read right...Yarns has been helping spinners, weavers, dyers and knitters for thirty years.  Needless to say, this shop is a very special place, full of inspirational staff, positive energy and support for fiber enthusiasts from all walks of life and all levels of expertise.  When I moved to this area 13 years ago it meant leaving a town that I loved and a community of talented and supportive friends.  Yarns Unlimited made that transition a little easier for me (as they have for so many others)...by welcoming me with open arms and providing a warm and instructive environment.  Honestly, I can't say enough about this wonderful place.

So please, if you are in the area, come by and celebrate with us!...there will be food, fun, and, of course, lots of yarn.  I will be signing books and will have all of the samples from Fairy Tale Knits with me.  If you are unfamiliar with the book, you can read a review here.  I will also bring the Ladybug Coat (Fall Issue of Petite Purls) for show and tell.  I'd love to meet you if you can make it!...I'll be the one behind a big pile of little kid knits!...xoxo—Alison

And the winner be...

Today is the day!...It's time to pick a winner, and as predicted this was just way more fun than anyone should be allowed to have on a rainy Thursday afternoon!  It started with the cabin boy coming home from school and immediately beginning a search for socks with holes in them, because as I was reminded, "All pirates wear socks with holes in them, Mom."  Alas, none were to be found—I did away with them in a back-to-school pitching  frenzy.  But undaunted, the lad donned his pirate kit and forged on...

Who will it be mateys?  Aaarrr...let me reach into me bag here....

 

Aye, we've got a winner here and her name be...

Joyce Anna!  Congratulations!  I'll be contacting you via Ravelry and sending this off to you soon! 

 

Woohoo!  If you'd like to see the exciting video footage of the actual drawing, here it is!

And now because I am so happy that you stopped and because I don't like to think of anyone going away empty handed, I present you with yet another cookie recipe.  These are the lad's favorite...Pumpkin Chocolate Chip!  He doesn't look too happy to share, does he?...he is a pirate after all...

 

Aaahh...the joys of virtual sharing...you get to share your cookies and eat them too...

The recipe for these cookies is written on a piece of notebook paper that is tattered and stained and well worn—my favorite kind of recipe.  It was given to me by a friend, back in the dark ages when I was still in college.  I don't know where Thor got the recipe, but it is definitely a keeper, and as you can see we love it around here.

Thor's Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup pureed pumkin

1 beaten egg

1/2 cup veg oil (we use canola)

1 cup sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 cups all unbleached all purpose flour

1 tsp cinamon

1 tsp milk (yes, 1 teaspoon—weird I know)

1 tsp vanilla

1 pkg chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

There are no other specifications for this recipe—you just dump everything in the bowl and mix until smooth.  I usually add the ingredients in the order given in the recipe, but it doesn't really seem to matter how you do it as long as it all goes in and gets incorporated.  Scoop rounded spoonfuls onto a parchment-lined baking sheet (you can use a greased baking sheet and eliminate the parchment paper, but I am lazy and am a firm believer in the virtues of parchment paper—you can even reuse it if you want).  Bake cookies for 10 to 12 minutes.  Cool and devour.

These cookies have a soft, cake-like crumb and are positively sublime when they are warm from the oven and the chocolate is still soft.  Pair them with a cup of coffee or a cold glass of milk and it's perfection....mmmmm....

Thanks again to all of you who commented and entered the contest!  What a fun and nice bunch you all are!  xoxox—Alison

Aaarrrr...there be yarn here...

Avast me lovelies...Happy September 19th!...aye maties 'tis International Talk Like a Pirate Day!

No, I did not make this up...we discovered this fun day a few years back and my crew was immediately all over it.  Around these parts (or should I say port) it is mainly just an excuse to swagger around and growl "aaaarrrrrr" a lot, not to mention a golden opportunity for countless bad piratey puns...what's not to love?!

In honor of this fun, if geeky, holiday I will be initiating the next yarn and book give-away.  I will be giving away a signed copy of Fairy Tale Knits along with the yarn to make either the pirate sweater or the pirate lass dress/jumper.  The yarn is Tahki Cotton Classic.  The sweater is a comfy slouchy style and is sized for children from 12 months to 8 years (finished chest measurements from 26" to 35").

The dress/jumper has a fitted bodice and full skirt and is sized from 6 months to 5 years (finished chest measurements from 18" to 26").

This contest will remain open until Wednesday, September 30th.  Just leave a comment to this post or  leave a comment in any of the upcoming posts this month mentioning that you are interested in participating in the give-away and I will add your name to the drawing.  We will hold a random drawing for the winner on Thursday, October 1st.  If you do enter, please be sure to leave some way for me to contact you (email, blog address, etc.) just in case you are the winner.

Well that's all for now dearies.   I'm off to get me mum—she be visitin' this week (oops...sorry, slipped back into character).  Anyway, yay!...I can't wait to see her...I love having my mom around.  We are all very excited around here, even if it does mean grumbling about getting rooms clean and what-not.  I hope you all have a great weekend full of swashbuckling adventure and lots of fun!...xoxoAlison

Ladybug show and tell...

I am so happy today to be able to share a little secret that I've been keeping!  Back in July I submitted a design to the fabulous new online zine Petite Purls and it was accepted!...I was surprised and thrilled and am still absolutely over the moon about this!  I love this zine—love the look of it, the idea of it, the whole thing.  The first issue was so beautiful and I feel so honored to have a design in their fall issue.  It's strange even after writing a book full of designs and having other published patterns under my belt, I still can't believe it when I get a new design opportunity.  It feels utterly unbelievable and beyond wonderful that I get to spend my days doing something that I love so much!  Plus, Allegra one of the editors of Petite Purls reviewed my book!  How cool is that!...Thank you to Brandy, Allegra and Joan of Petite Purls for this wonderful opportunity!  It was a complete joy! 

The Ladybug pattern accompanied us on our family vacation, and I worked on it in every state between my front door and New England...I kind of love that!  It was finished after our return home, amidst all of this.  The pattern was a fun and easy knit and the yarn, Baby Twist by Alpaca with a Twist, is a dream come true.  It is soft and lovely to knit with and the fabric is truly scrumptious, light, soft and drapey but with substance, not at all flimsy, if you know what I mean.  I'll definitely be knitting with more of this stuff. 

Then it was time for a quick photo shoot.  Some of you might recognize my adorable model from a couple of the patterns in Fairy Tale Knits.  Let me tell you, this little girl is a trooper.  This shoot had to be postponed because of...well...life...illnesses, vacation schedules and squeeze in an out of town funeral and you get the picture.  We literally had one open window for this shoot and it just happened to be the hottest, muggiest day of the year—really.  You know the kind—I walked outside and my glasses immediately fogged over (and we keep our air conditioner set in the high 70s).  It felt like walking into a steam bath.  But I want to tell you that this little girl was a champ.  She put on that Alpaca coat and worked it.  This really reinforced my belief that natural fibers breathe—she never once asked to take this jacket off.

I thought you might like to see some scenes from the shoot...
New shoes!...always a good way to start!...

Almost ready...

So cute...

 

Let's try over here...

Look a leaf!...that looks fallish!...

 

Enough modeling!...see ya!...

As you can see from these shots, I had a lot of help.  Thank you to little Eleanor, her wonderful parents, to my sweet daughter and dear spouse for getting up early and out on this steamy day!  It was fun!

A walk in the woods and a basket of goodies...

Thanks so much to all of you who left comments yesterday! I can't tell you how much I appreciate your warm wishes and how very much each and every comment means to me—thank you. In addition, I am thrilled to hear that there is interest in a book/yarn give away!...yay!

I just got back from a short walk. It is truly beautiful here right now...love all the shades of green and how the light filters through the trees...

So to celebrate this beautiful day, the waning of summer, and the roses that are still gracing my garden, I would like to share this basket of goodies with you...


This gift will include yarn for the Flower Fairy Cloche and a signed copy of Fairy Tale Knits (to view a gallery of patterns included in the book click on the image of the Cinderella dress in the side bar). This is the hat that Alana and I discussed on Episode 23 of the Never Not Knitting podcast. This hat is knit in the round, has an I-cord hat band and is festooned with roses and leaves.


The Details ~
If you are interested in this offering, please leave a comment to this post by Wednesday, September 9th. On Thursday, September 10th, we will choose a winner at random and send the package!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

ps—If you commented on yesterday's post, you will automatically be included in this drawing : )